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

When is a War Not a War?

0 implied HN points • 02 Nov 07
  1. The concept of a 'War on Terror' is not as straightforward as traditional wars with clear enemies and endpoints.
  2. Wars like the 'War on Terror' are more metaphorical projects than traditional wars like WW II.
  3. Taking people as prisoners without trial until the 'War on Terror' is over raises ethical and legal concerns.

Las Vegas

0 implied HN points • 21 Oct 07
  1. Las Vegas thrives on industries like gambling, entertainment, and luxury goods.
  2. Even if not a consumer, the city can be enjoyed in small doses.
  3. It can remind some of the excess and grandeur of certain eras or industries.

Climate Complications

0 implied HN points • 30 Aug 07
  1. We don't know enough to predict climate changes or human impact on climate.
  2. Effects of carbon dioxide are stronger in cold, dry areas rather than hot areas.
  3. There is a tension between "naturalist" and "humanist" views of the world.

Do Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton Read This Blog?

0 implied HN points • 26 Aug 07
  1. The post mentions how Barack Obama promised to stop DEA's medical marijuana raids if elected.
  2. The author suggested prominent Democrats support the federal government respecting state medical marijuana laws back in 2005.
  3. It is noted that Barack Obama appeared to have listened to the suggestion from the author regarding medical marijuana laws.

Subjectively Right, Objectively Wrong: A Moral Question

0 implied HN points • 24 Jun 07
  1. Acting based on subjective justification can lead to objectively wrong outcomes.
  2. A person who acted in self-defense due to a mistaken threat should not be considered a criminal.
  3. Government and individuals can be subjectively innocent but still be objectively guilty, leading to complex moral questions.
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Stocks vs Bonds: A Puzzle and Half a Solution

0 implied HN points • 05 Jun 07
  1. Stocks historically provide better returns than bonds.
  2. Investors puzzle over why more people don't shift to stocks for higher returns.
  3. One proposed solution involves individuals having inside information affecting their investment decisions.

Justice vs Efficiency: An Example

0 implied HN points • 20 May 07
  1. Legal systems can discourage harmful behavior through fines, with money going to the state under criminal law or the victim under civil law.
  2. The justice argument supports compensating victims, while the efficiency argument leans towards allocating money to others to incentivize precautionary measures.
  3. Economic efficiency can be maximized by encouraging individuals to reduce the likelihood and cost of potential harm through appropriate incentives.

While I'm telling companies how to run their businesses ...

0 implied HN points • 20 Mar 07
  1. A simple suggestion for airlines: board passengers based on row number for efficiency.
  2. Efficient boarding methods can significantly reduce the time to load a plane.
  3. Consider implementing practical changes that can benefit your business operations.

Global Warming, Carbon Taxes, and Public Choice

0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 07
  1. Imposing carbon taxes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the economic solution for negative externalities.
  2. The effectiveness of carbon taxes is questionable due to unrealistic estimates of costs and potential misuse of revenue.
  3. Acceptance of catastrophic global warming scenarios could lead to politically motivated interferences and labeling of dissenting views.

Barack Obama, "Our Kind of Black," and Evidence on Discrimination

0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 07
  1. Some black individuals may not see Barack Obama as their type of black due to his ancestry.
  2. The success of West Indian immigrants in the U.S. challenges common explanations for the situation of Afro-Americans.
  3. The difference in success between Afro-Americans and West Indian immigrants is attributed to cultural factors rather than racial prejudice or genetic inferiority.

Dum Vivimus, Vivamus

0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 07
  1. The importance of living life to the fullest each day.
  2. Having diverse interests and pursuing them passionately.
  3. Staying connected with loved ones and sharing experiences.

Global Warming: Confusing Moral and Practical Arguments

0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 06
  1. The question of fault for global warming is irrelevant to the controversy.
  2. Prevention measures for global warming are crucial regardless of the cause.
  3. It's important to have evidence of serious negative effects in the near future before taking costly precautions against global warming.

Darwin, Reproduction and Religion

0 implied HN points • 16 Nov 06
  1. Darwinian evolution may impact birth rates and religious beliefs.
  2. Human variation in taste for having children could be genetic.
  3. Technological advancements may alter the factors influencing birth rates and religious beliefs.

Concerning Status

0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 06
  1. Having surplus employees at a fancy hotel can create a sense of high status for guests.
  2. The difference between fancy and regular hotels may include paying for status provided by extra employees.
  3. Feeling comfortable can sometimes be related to interactions and social dynamics in a hotel setting.

Unschooling: The Advantage of the Real World

0 implied HN points • 10 Feb 06
  1. Teaching kids about the real world is important
  2. Creating a synthetic world with rewards for tasks may not teach real-life connections
  3. The real world teaches cause and effect better than rewards without real purpose

What’s Wrong With Steroids?

0 implied HN points • 06 Nov 06
  1. Steroid use in sports is considered bad because it goes against the rules of fair competition.
  2. Banning steroids in sports can be seen as a way to protect athletes from potential long-term harm.
  3. Competitive sports focus on relative performance, so improving all athletes equally may not bring benefits.

What an Electric Vehicle Costs

0 implied HN points • 21 Jul 06
  1. A commercially viable electric car may not have been produced due to lack of evidence from other auto firms.
  2. Tesla Motors announced a fully electric sports car with a price range of $85,000-$100,000.
  3. While electric cars may not be viable for mass market use, they could find a niche in the expensive sports car market.

What Matters and Why?

0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 06
  1. People value genuine experiences over illusions.
  2. Engaging in meaningful activities is more fulfilling than just seeking pleasure.
  3. There is a debate about the impact of technology on real-life experiences and what truly matters.

Talk Radio Ads

0 implied HN points • 04 Jul 06
  1. Ads on both left and right-wing talk radio shows are often promoting similar products or schemes.
  2. Listeners of both left and right-wing talk radio shows may share a common trait of credulity.
  3. Switching between right and left-wing talk radio shows can provide different perspectives and insights.

Usenet as an Information source: Example

0 implied HN points • 14 Jun 06
  1. Usenet can be a valuable source of diverse information and perspectives.
  2. It's important to critically evaluate information shared online.
  3. Engaging in online discussions allows for learning and understanding different viewpoints.

Recycled Worries: Ed Schultz v Daniel Webster

0 implied HN points • 11 Jun 06
  1. Capital is fungible, so if one country pulls out investments, it can be replaced by another.
  2. Oil is a global commodity, so if one country stops selling to the US, another will provide it.
  3. Foreign investments mean other countries have invested in the US, not the other way around.

Should Contracts Made Under Duress be Enforceable?

0 implied HN points • 20 Mar 06
  1. Contracts made under duress may produce benefits for both parties, but enforcing them can increase the likelihood of similar situations in the future.
  2. The choice of enforcing contracts made under duress depends on the balance between increased occurrences of duress and the decrease in damage caused each time.
  3. The concept of duress applies to various contexts, such as prisoners of war, peace treaties, and agreements with dictators, raising ethical and practical considerations.

Peak Oil?

0 implied HN points • 10 Mar 06
  1. Predictions of running out of oil have consistently been proven false over the years.
  2. Economics can help understand the situation of depletable resources like oil.
  3. Insecure property rights may lead to earlier pumping and selling of oil, affecting prices.

Christmas Books: 2

0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 06
  1. Book 'Chimpanzee Politics' shares stories of chimp behavior resembling human characteristics and rational thought.
  2. Experiment with buried grapefruits showed chimp's rational behavior and strategic thinking.
  3. Dominance among chimps is not only about physical strength but also involves complex political alliances.

Understanding Accounting: The Short Version

0 implied HN points • 10 Feb 06
  1. Debit and credit terms in accounting often mean the opposite of what you would expect.
  2. Double entry bookkeeping means every item appears twice, once on the left, once on the right.
  3. Assets and liabilities have different effects on equity in accounting principles.

Moral Luck: Part III

0 implied HN points • 25 Jan 06
  1. What you deserve should only depend on you, not external factors.
  2. Differences in wealth or income due to accidents of birth cannot be deserved.
  3. One response to everyone deserving the same outcome is that it may not be practical in a society.

Gay Marriage: Both Sides are Wrong

0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 05
  1. The debate around gay marriage is not just about legal rights but also about symbolism.
  2. Some believe allowing gay couples to marry would imply societal approval while others see marriage as specific to heterosexual relationships.
  3. One proposed solution is for the government to redefine legal relationships in gender-neutral terms rather than defining what marriage is.

My First Post

0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 05
  1. The author started a blog inspired by a speech criticizing 'consensus science.'
  2. Chicago style workshops are praised for promoting in-depth discussions and real-time thinking.
  3. A mistake in a scholarly article was only caught when presented in a Chicago workshop model.

M.F.

0 implied HN points • 16 Nov 06
  1. Cattle die, people die, but a good name lasts forever.
  2. Remembering to honor those who have left a positive impact.
  3. Share the wisdom of timeless truths.

Should I Shut Down this Blog?

0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
  1. The author is contemplating shutting down their blog after starting a new substack.
  2. The author is unsure if there are still readers who prefer the blog over the substack.
  3. The author has been running the blog for eighteen years and is hesitant to shut it down.

Anyone in Europe Want a Talk?

0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
  1. David Friedman will be in Europe for speaking engagements.
  2. He will be in Lisbon on April 22nd and 23rd, speaking at Oxford a week later.
  3. If anyone in Europe wants to arrange a talk between April 23rd and May 4th and cover expenses, they can contact him.

The 2022 World Freedom Index is Out

0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
  1. The 2022 Human Freedom Index is out, ranking nations by both economic and personal freedom.
  2. The top 10 freest countries include Switzerland, New Zealand, and Finland.
  3. Freedom has decreased in many countries compared to the previous year.

Travel notes: My Toys

0 implied HN points • 28 Jun 08
  1. The Asus eee 900 laptop is lightweight, runs Linux, and is very convenient for travel.
  2. The Panasonic Lumic DMC-TZ5 camera has a useful setting for taking notes by photographing maps.
  3. Having gadgets like a compact laptop and camera with useful features can enhance the travel experience.

Reviving the Living Paper Project

0 implied HN points • 23 Aug 17
  1. David Friedman developed computer programs to enhance learning by visualizing economic concepts.
  2. The Living Paper Project aimed to create interactive tools for teaching economics.
  3. Efforts are being made to revive the Living Paper Project and make it accessible through JavaScript programs.

The Most Exciting Maybe of the Year

0 implied HN points • 15 May 17
  1. Research suggests possibility of reversing aging in mice
  2. Results are early and might be inaccurate
  3. Opens up potential for truly reversing aging, not just slowing it down

Explaining Trump

0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 17
  1. There are two ways to explain Trump's actions: as stupid or as strategic.
  2. Trump may be making seemingly odd decisions to push the Democratic party left.
  3. Including green card holders in the immigration order could have been a strategic move to rally his base.

Two Visions of Anarchy–My Exchange With James Scott

0 implied HN points • 10 Dec 16
  1. James Scott discusses stateless areas where people resist joining states due to difficulties in maintaining a state.
  2. Scott's book 'Seeing Like a State' explores how states try to simplify societies for easier ruling, but often cause harm in the process.
  3. An important theme in Scott's work is 'high modernism,' the idea that we can dictate how people should live based on modern science.

More Inventions I Would Like To See

0 implied HN points • 19 Nov 16
  1. Improved shower control with separate hot/cold and volume settings
  2. Use of bluetooth earpieces for quiet conversations in noisy places
  3. Consider social norms and preferences before implementing new technologies

Wishful Thinking on Election Night

0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 16
  1. Having Hillary Clinton as president with a Republican-controlled Congress was viewed as a potentially better scenario.
  2. There was a consideration that Trump voters could support the entire Republican ticket while anti-Trump Republicans could still support other Republican candidates.
  3. Early voting results in Ohio showed the Republican senator leading by a considerable margin and Clinton ahead of Trump, suggesting a mixed outcome.

Two Maps I Would Like to See

0 implied HN points • 20 Aug 16
  1. When considering a move, it's important to compare housing prices for similar properties in different locations.
  2. A web map could be used to input house preferences and get price estimates for various places.
  3. In addition to housing costs, understanding crime rates in different areas is crucial for decision-making.