The Word Merchant

The Word Merchant by Stephen Heins explores environmental impacts, energy policies, and the economic dimensions of renewable versus traditional energy sources. It critically examines green energy initiatives, climate change narratives, and the role of fossil fuels, with an emphasis on factual information and questioning mainstream environmentalist perspectives.

Environmental Impacts of Energy Sources Economic Analysis of Energy Policies Debates on Renewable vs. Traditional Energy Critiques of Climate Change Narratives Political and Economic Influences on Energy Environmental Advocacy and Activism Global Energy Security and Infrastructure Ethical and Human Rights Perspectives on Climate

The hottest Substack posts of The Word Merchant

And their main takeaways

AIDS in Africa: Disturbing Evidence

0 implied HN points • 06 Dec 09
  1. AIDS transmission may not be mainly through vaginal intercourse in Africa, as believed.
  2. Evidence suggests that sloppy medical procedures, like needle reuse, could be a significant factor in AIDS transmission.
  3. Research indicates that high rates of AIDS infection in Africa may be iatrogenic, caused by medical practices.

Jennifer Roback Morse: Defending Marriage, Misrepresenting Smith?

0 implied HN points • 19 Jun 10
  1. Jennifer Roback Morse supports conventional marriage and opposes same-sex marriage, arguing for a society with stable family structures.
  2. Morse misrepresents Adam Smith's views on economic behavior and regulations in her essay.
  3. The difficulty in finding Jennifer Morse's contact information highlights a growing trend of one-way communication online.

A Possible New Edition of my Machinery of Freedom

0 implied HN points • 07 Jun 10
  1. Potential new edition of 'Machinery of Freedom' book
  2. Chapters may include topics like property rights, privacy, Ayn Rand, and more
  3. Author seeking suggestions for additions to book content

Choosing Choice Architects

0 implied HN points • 25 Apr 10
  1. Be cautious of converting libertarian paternalism into ordinary paternalism by manipulating choices.
  2. Consider mechanisms rather than outcomes when discussing transport regulation.
  3. Choosing choice architects between firms and government agencies can impact nudging individuals towards their best goals.

An Entrepreneurial Proposal

0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 09
  1. Consider selling high-quality replicas of historical jewelry to online customers for a more reasonable price than museum replicas.
  2. Utilize craftsmen from low-income parts of the world to create these replicas, ensuring unique items for customers.
  3. Explore various market niches where online marketing and hand-craft technology can offer customers unique and special items.
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Dreaming as Virtual Reality

0 implied HN points • 07 Sep 09
  1. Dreaming might not be a full sensory virtual reality experience.
  2. Dreaming could be more like reading a book than watching a movie.
  3. Dream memories from dreams might fade rapidly.

Technology, Economics, and What We Watch

0 implied HN points • 04 Mar 09
  1. Television ads are affected by DVRs because viewers can skip them, impacting advertising revenue.
  2. Viewers watching live TV, like sports, are more likely to watch ads, affecting ad pricing.
  3. Easy copying of digital content leads to a shift from movies to online games due to piracy concerns.

Marginal vs Average Tax Rates

0 implied HN points • 07 Oct 08
  1. Both candidates' tax plans can raise marginal rates for many middle income tax payers.
  2. Understanding how much poorer individuals will be after paying taxes is crucial.
  3. High marginal rates can impact people's decision on working, affecting the economy as a whole.

A Simple Proposal to Make Exam Grading Easier

0 implied HN points • 21 May 08
  1. Consider implementing software for students to take exams on computers for easier grading.
  2. Using dedicated laptops for exam-taking could be a cost-effective solution to grading handwritten exams.
  3. An idea to swap laptops between classes during exams can make grading simpler and save time.

FLDS and arithmetic

0 implied HN points • 28 Apr 08
  1. 53 girls between 14 and 17 are in custody in Texas
  2. 31 of the girls either have children or are pregnant
  3. There is some discrepancy in the numbers reported by the Texas authorities

Primaries: Symbol vs Reality

0 implied HN points • 09 Mar 08
  1. Democratic primaries are not necessarily determined by who wins each state.
  2. This year's Democratic contest uses delegate proportional allocation rules.
  3. The final decision may be influenced by superdelegates regardless of state victories.

His vs "His or hers"

0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 08
  1. Gender neutrality in writing can be important when trying to emphasize that a person could be either male or female.
  2. Using 'he or she' instead of 'he' may be seen as politically correct, but it can be cumbersome and detract from quality writing.
  3. Although lack of gender-neutral pronouns in English is a concern, there are different ways to maintain clarity in writing without always resorting to 'he or she.'

Wanted: A Title

0 implied HN points • 07 Sep 07
  1. The book is about potential technological revolutions and their impacts over the next few decades.
  2. The working title 'Future Imperfect' is a play on words, reflecting both optimism and caution in technological advancements.
  3. The author is looking for suggestions to improve the title of the book to better reflect its contents and attract readers.

Needed: Voices for World of Warcraft

0 implied HN points • 13 Apr 07
  1. Players of World of Warcraft use software to talk to each other.
  2. The mismatch between character appearance and voice can break immersion in the game.
  3. There is a need for software to modify voice to match character gender, age, and race.

Why Do We Give Gifts?

0 implied HN points • 28 Dec 06
  1. Economists find it puzzling why we give gifts when money could be more practical for the recipient.
  2. Giving a gift can be a way to signal altruism and show that you care about the recipient.
  3. Gift giving can demonstrate care from both a short-term, pleasure-maximizing self and a long-term utility-maximizing self.

Concerning Talk Show Hosts

0 implied HN points • 03 Mar 06
  1. Many political talk shows focus on portraying 'our side' as wise and virtuous, while demonizing the 'other side'.
  2. Some talk show hosts prioritize being dramatic and confrontational over being genuinely nice or sympathetic.
  3. Few talk shows stand out for their ability to maintain a balanced and entertaining approach to discussing politics.

Amazon Has a Pirate Edition of my First Book for Sale

0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 23
  1. The author's self-published books are unavailable on Amazon due to account shutdown.
  2. There is a pirate edition of the author's book being sold on Amazon.
  3. The pirate edition is mislabeled as the first edition and priced higher than the author's current version.

Impossible Beliefs

0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 21
  1. People may be unwilling to admit when someone on their side lies out of loyalty.
  2. In politically charged disputes, loyalty may override the acknowledgment of falsehoods.
  3. Challenges exist in finding examples where individuals defend untrue claims due to distrust in the media.

Fauci, Lying, Greyhound Racing, and Trump

0 implied HN points • 05 Jan 21
  1. Polls about vaccine acceptance do not determine herd immunity.
  2. Fauci adjusts his statements to motivate people similar to a greyhound race tactic.
  3. Lying for the greater good may erode trust in authority figures.

Rothbard, Reagan, and Rand

0 implied HN points • 03 Oct 20
  1. Murray Rothbard viewed political conflict as a war between good and evil, not a conversation of differing beliefs.
  2. Rothbard used nominal figures instead of real figures in his arguments, making them seem much larger than they actually were.
  3. Rothbard and Ayn Rand shared similarly arrogant and certain approaches to arguing their positions, but eventually had a falling out.

How to Keep Home Schooled Kids Out of College

0 implied HN points • 02 Sep 20
  1. University of California is eliminating standardized tests for admissions
  2. Home schooled kids may struggle to demonstrate academic qualifications without traditional grades
  3. Consider alternative ways for home schooled kids to showcase their abilities

The Russian Vaccine

0 implied HN points • 12 Aug 20
  1. People are concerned about the Russian vaccine's lack of evidence and early release.
  2. Safety of drugs cannot be guaranteed for all long-term risks before widespread use.
  3. Delaying vaccine introduction may have significant costs in terms of lives lost versus potential risks.

Ayn Rand's _Fountainhead_ and the New York Times

0 implied HN points • 30 Jun 20
  1. In Ayn Rand's 'Fountainhead', there was a conflict at a newspaper about taking a certain position.
  2. The conflict at the New York Times over an op-ed showed a divide between older and younger staff members' views on publishing differing opinions.
  3. The decision at the New York Times reflected tensions between traditional liberal views and a desire to suppress opposing viewpoints.

Looking for More Volunteer Voices

0 implied HN points • 01 Apr 20
  1. Author is seeking more volunteers to record quotes for an audiobook.
  2. Specific voices needed include William F. Buckley, H.L. Mencken, and more.
  3. Ideally, quotes should be recorded in.wav format and sent to the author via email.

What I Have Been Up To

0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 20
  1. Hidden Order audiobook available on Audible
  2. Produced audiobooks for The Machinery of Freedom and Harald
  3. Brothers, the sequel to Salamander, to be released soon in print and kindle

Speaking Trips Next Year

0 implied HN points • 04 Nov 18
  1. David Friedman has speaking trips planned for the east coast next year.
  2. He will speak at the annual ISFL get together in D.C. on January 19th and at Saint Vincent College in LaTrobe, PA, on March 13th.
  3. He is open to giving talks at other locations on those trips.

My Europe Trip: Schedule

0 implied HN points • 28 Mar 18
  1. The schedule for the Europe trip is now definite.
  2. The trip includes visits to various cities to give talks on different topics.
  3. Events include discussions on law, market failure, and economic analysis.

A Little More on Climate and the Food Supply

0 implied HN points • 17 Sep 16
  1. Different crops are used for food at varying rates - 85% of rice is directly consumed by humans, while only 15% of maize is.
  2. Predictions about the impact of climate change on crop yield vary - some studies show a negative effect, while others predict a positive effect.
  3. Overall, the effects of climate change on food supply are uncertain, with potential positive and negative outcomes.

President Carson

0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 15
  1. The author finds Ben Carson interesting as a presidential candidate.
  2. Ben Carson lacks experience in politics or administration.
  3. Success as a president would depend on Carson's ability to build and lead a competent team.

Word Processor Advice Wanted

0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 15
  1. Microsoft Word 2011 Mac had bugs causing issues with page numbering and formatting.
  2. Seeking help from experts or switching to an alternative word processor were considered solutions.
  3. Final resort was simplifying layout to work with Word or resolve bugs by tinkering with formatting options.

Icelandic Turkey: A Culinary Experiment

0 implied HN points • 26 Dec 14
  1. The recipe involves wrapping a bird in layers of dough, sage, and bacon before baking.
  2. Icelandic turkey was made by adapting the traditional Icelandic chicken recipe.
  3. The experiment with Icelandic turkey turned out well, yielding juicy meat and tasty bread.

How Much Does Control of the Senate Matter?

0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 14
  1. Control of the Senate can impact judicial appointments and passing legislation.
  2. People often vote not to change the outcome but to support their political party.
  3. Viewing elections as a contest makes the process more interesting.

What Would/Does Modern Polygamy Look Like?

0 implied HN points • 27 May 14
  1. Polygamy can take different forms like polygyny, polyandry, and even group marriages.
  2. Technological advancements like reliable contraception and paternity testing have changed the landscape of polygamous relationships.
  3. Modern polygamy can address issues like gender imbalance, raising children, household services, and income sharing in unique ways.

My China Trip

0 implied HN points • 27 Mar 14
  1. The author is planning to visit Xiamen, China for a conference.
  2. The author intends to extend the trip to include stops in Seoul and Hong Kong for talks.
  3. Interested parties can suggest other places for talks along the route like Taiwan, Shanghai, or Singapore.

Partisanship, Global Warming and Immigration

0 implied HN points • 22 Feb 14
  1. Arguments about global warming are often driven by partisanship on both sides.
  2. Threads on climate discussions can lead to broader disagreements unrelated to the main topic.
  3. Immigration debates can reveal conflicting views on equality and morality.

Jason Brennan Defends, I Reply

0 implied HN points • 21 May 13
  1. Social justice may not have a precise meaning but involves a cluster of related ideas in philosophy.
  2. Theories of social justice consider moral justification of coercive institutions in relation to the interests of the poor or least advantaged.
  3. The incorporation of social justice into libertarian philosophy requires a clear understanding and explanation of what a 'special concern' for the poor entails.

Academic Orthodoxy: Official Lies

0 implied HN points • 01 Apr 13
  1. Academic orthodoxy includes beliefs such as race not being a scientific concept and differences between men and women being culturally determined.
  2. Many of these orthodox ideas are considered false or controversial.
  3. Challenging these beliefs in public discourse on college campuses can lead to silencing or pushback.

Christmas Books

0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 12
  1. The author presents biased and unbiased book suggestions for Christmas gifts.
  2. The biased suggestions include books on medieval and renaissance cooking, technology, and economics.
  3. Unbiased recommendations feature books on chimpanzee politics, psychology, historical figures, and fantasy novels.

Salamander and Central Planning

0 implied HN points • 03 Feb 12
  1. Central planning fallacy assumes one person controlling all resources can achieve wonderful things, but that's flawed.
  2. Optimizing resources in a society is a complex problem, harder than it seems, and might have unintended consequences.
  3. Setting up mechanisms for central control may not ensure benevolent use of resources, and individuals could act in self-interest.

How to Destroy the Publishing Industry: Take Three

0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 11
  1. Self-publishing is now easy and affordable, removing the need for traditional publishers.
  2. The functions traditionally provided by publishers, such as editing, can be outsourced directly by authors.
  3. Finding a reliable filter to identify quality self-published books is crucial to revolutionizing the publishing industry.