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

A Story Idea

0 implied HN points • 21 Jul 16
  1. A drug or technology could enable perfect recall of past experiences for self-education and entertainment.
  2. Having the ability to replay events repeatedly may lead to improved skills and insights, but could also result in dwelling on negative experiences.
  3. Advancements in surveillance technology could potentially lead to a future where every public event is recorded and accessible.

Thoughts on the Election

0 implied HN points • 08 Jun 16
  1. Having Hillary Clinton as president with a Republican House and Senate is seen as the least bad outcome by the speaker.
  2. A Republican Congress may not resist moves to expand government size and power if they were initiated by a Republican president like Trump.
  3. The speaker believes Trump may be in a position to do more damage than Clinton, and suggests that gridlock could be a better option to consider.

Question for any Historians Reading This

0 implied HN points • 17 Apr 16
  1. The novel setting is a fantasy world with technology similar to 14th-18th century Europe and weak magic.
  2. After a surprise attack on the capital, the situation includes looting, burning, and a defending force holding out in the citadel.
  3. The author seeks historical sources to understand how invaders might handle situations like imposing curfews, recruiting locals, and controlling city gates.

Thoughts on the Election Campaign

0 implied HN points • 12 Mar 16
  1. Trump may face challenges at the convention if he doesn't have enough delegates, but the party leadership could potentially deny him the nomination.
  2. One reason the Republican leadership might not deny Trump the nomination is fear that his supporters will stay home on election day if they feel the nomination was unfairly taken from him.
  3. In politics, the decision of who to support can be based more on team loyalty and the image of a strong leader rather than policy support.

An Experiment

0 implied HN points • 29 Feb 16
  1. The author attended a conference and gave a talk on feud as a form of law enforcement to a libertarian group.
  2. The author responded to a critical summary of his talk by reaching out to the author of the summary, suggesting to add links to the original content for readers to listen.
  3. The author recommends the book series 'Ancillary Justice' as very good stories with original ideas, but advises reading them only if you have free time.
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Tinder in the 19th Century

0 implied HN points • 23 Jan 16
  1. The 19th century had issues with disorderly behavior in public houses.
  2. Some public houses were considered suspicious meeting places for young individuals.
  3. There were concerns about debauchery and drunkenness among boys and girls in certain clubs.

How Can Law Be Enforced Against the Executive?

0 implied HN points • 10 Dec 15
  1. Opponents can ask courts to block ongoing actions by the executive branch.
  2. Impeachment is a possible way to hold the President accountable for serious violations.
  3. Challenges arise in holding government officials accountable, especially when crimes are viewed as offenses against the government.

Tourist Class Sleepers?

0 implied HN points • 10 Oct 15
  1. Consider offering sleeping accommodations on overnight flights at a cost between ordinary tourist class and business class.
  2. The challenge would be designing seats that can convert into beds without compromising space and convenience.
  3. Providing tourist sleeper options at a reasonable price could attract more business travelers looking to maximize time at their destination.

Hillary, Crichton, O'Rourke, Coulter and GKC

0 implied HN points • 27 Sep 15
  1. The recovery of emails from Hillary Clinton's server raises questions about her qualifications and competency.
  2. Michael Crichton criticizes the shift of science from truth-seeking to persuasion tactics.
  3. P.J. O'Rourke's critique of Ann Coulter's tweets misunderstands the reasons behind candidates' focus on Israel.

Modafinal, Steroids, and Competition

0 implied HN points • 26 Sep 15
  1. Competition in economics is different from competition in sports.
  2. Smart drugs can enhance productivity and benefit individuals and society.
  3. Steroids in sports raise questions about the impact on athletes and fans.

Did Ahmed Make a Clock?

0 implied HN points • 18 Sep 15
  1. Ahmed was praised for his skills by his father for fixing various electronics
  2. Concern arises about whether the media's portrayal of Ahmed as an engineering prodigy was accurate
  3. Debate about whether school officials and police overreacted in the situation

Immigration, Welfare and the EU

0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 15
  1. Immigrants from poor countries may come for welfare, affecting the generosity of welfare systems.
  2. EU's free migration puts pressure on national welfare systems to adjust transfers or level of redistribution.
  3. Offering asylum with unattractive terms can help distinguish real refugees from migrants seeking benefits.

Dear TSA: Give Up Already

0 implied HN points • 03 Jun 15
  1. TSA airport inspections still missing simulated bombs and weapons
  2. Consider alternative precautions like armed pilots and reinforced doors
  3. High TSA costs may lead to more deaths from people choosing to drive instead of fly

How to Lie While Telling the Truth

0 implied HN points • 27 Apr 15
  1. The post discusses how a quote can carry two messages but one may be misleading.
  2. The example in the text demonstrates how a statement can be seen as a lie even when taken literally.
  3. It raises questions about the authenticity of information and people's reactions to misinformation.

Slandering Charles Darwin

0 implied HN points • 16 Apr 15
  1. A scholar wrongly attributed a quote to Charles Darwin about Gypsies and Jews.
  2. It is important to verify and fact-check information before spreading it.
  3. Misrepresenting historical figures can impact the accuracy of scholarly work.

The Rhythm Method and Population Growth Rates

0 implied HN points • 09 Apr 15
  1. The rhythm method can be an effective form of contraception for married couples wanting to control the number of children they have.
  2. Catholic doctrine on contraception may discourage non-marital sex while allowing for family planning within marriage.
  3. High birth rates in some poor Catholic countries may be due to factors like incompetence in using the rhythm method or cultural preferences for large families.

California Drought—Getting Worse or Getting Better?

0 implied HN points • 03 Apr 15
  1. News stories about California's water shortage may focus on low snowpack, but rain stored in reservoirs also supplies water.
  2. The total water in California's reservoirs seems to vary, with some reservoirs up and some down, possibly balancing the snowpack reduction.
  3. Figures for the change in total water in reservoirs during the California drought are not readily available.

My First Novel: A Belated Comment

0 implied HN points • 19 Mar 15
  1. The novel explores different societies based on historical models, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Harald's military strategy involves logistic warfare and offering loot to his troops as incentives.
  3. The success of the Vales and the Kingdom against the Empire is attributed to the extraordinary talents of key individuals, not necessarily the systems.

Better than Facebook

0 implied HN points • 02 Feb 15
  1. Facebook conversations often lack depth and become more about supporting one's 'team' than understanding the arguments.
  2. Online communities like Slate Star Codex offer higher quality conversations and interactions.
  3. Finding individuals who are reasonable and active posters can lead to more valuable online interactions.

Climate and Elite Opinion

0 implied HN points • 12 Dec 14
  1. Elite opinion and mass opinion about global warming often sharply differ.
  2. Countries where the elite is more influential are more likely to take costly actions to reduce global warming.
  3. The U.S. stands somewhere in between other western developed countries in terms of support for climate action.

Intuiting Large Numbers: A Facebook Exchange

0 implied HN points • 22 Nov 14
  1. Income distribution can be misleading due to humans' difficulties in intuiting large numbers.
  2. Even if a few families held most of the wealth in the past, their share was relatively small compared to the total income.
  3. Transferring all income from the rich to the rest of the population in 1900 would have equated to just a few years of economic growth.

A Debunker Debunked

0 implied HN points • 07 Nov 14
  1. Scientists can sometimes manipulate data to fit their preconceptions.
  2. Stephen Jay Gould criticized Samuel George Morton's work, but modern anthropologists found flaws in Gould's critique.
  3. Gould was known to misrepresent the work of those he disagreed with.

Bitcoin, Anonymous ECash, and Strong Privacy

0 implied HN points • 23 Sep 14
  1. Strong privacy in online transactions is possible through concepts like anonymous digital cash.
  2. Chaumian digital cash, though not currently existing, would allow for anonymous transactions through a real-space bank.
  3. Bitcoin, while not fully anonymous, could be used as a digital currency in a world of strong privacy.

What We Could Learn From Dan Kahan. And Perhaps Shouldn't

0 implied HN points • 09 Jul 14
  1. People often choose beliefs based on fitting in with their group identity, rather than evidence.
  2. It's important to consider whether our beliefs are influenced by group identity and if they are truly well-founded.
  3. Believing something because the evidence supports it may seem good, but could come at a high social cost.

Another Good Article by Dan Kahan

0 implied HN points • 27 Jun 14
  1. Public conflict over climate change stems from people's personal significance placed on information.
  2. Disbelief in global warming is not necessarily linked to scientific ignorance.
  3. Belief in global warming or evolution is influenced by one's social and cultural affiliations.

Interesting Post About the Climate Argument

0 implied HN points • 23 Jun 14
  1. Democrats and Republicans have differing beliefs on climate change, but know what climate scientists believe.
  2. The climate change debate has turned into a status conflict between the two sides.
  3. Most online climate change debates involve insults rather than substantive arguments.

Heat Content, Temperature, Oceans, and the Pause

0 implied HN points • 19 Jun 14
  1. Surface and atmospheric temperature has been stable for over a decade, defying IPCC predictions.
  2. Ocean heat content is measured differently than atmosphere, which can make data less alarming.
  3. Heat going into the ocean has less impact than heat going elsewhere, based on IPCC calculations.

Korean Puzzles

0 implied HN points • 10 May 14
  1. In Korea, most people have the last name Kim.
  2. In Seoul, there are food vendors everywhere but obesity rates are low.
  3. Despite the abundance of food vendors, obesity is uncommon in Korea.

How to Board an Airplane

0 implied HN points • 01 May 14
  1. South-western's airplane boarding method is efficient by letting passengers choose seats as they board.
  2. An alternative boarding method could be lining passengers up by seat number to reduce waiting time.
  3. Airlines could consider adjusting their boarding process for better efficiency.

John Cook's Response to My Criticism

0 implied HN points • 23 Mar 14
  1. John Cook responded to a criticism by David Friedman, but didn't address the main point of the criticism.
  2. David Friedman's main objection was that the 97% figure Cook referenced didn't accurately represent the data.
  3. There is speculation as to whether Cook deliberately misled readers or misunderstood the criticism.

The Claim that the "Missing Heat" is Going into the Oceans

0 implied HN points • 22 Feb 14
  1. One argument is that 'missing heat' from global warming is stored in the ocean, not pausing climate change.
  2. Calculations suggest we may not have accurate data to confirm this claim.
  3. Data on ocean heat content shows a slower rate of increase, contradicting expectations of faster warming if 'missing heat' went into the ocean.

A New Dining Custom

0 implied HN points • 03 Feb 14
  1. Seating arrangement can impact conversation at a dinner event
  2. Proposing a solution to shift seats every five minutes can help meet and converse with everyone
  3. Gradual seat shifts allow for smooth transitions between conversations

Is (insert name of newspaper/blog/TV channel) Biased?

0 implied HN points • 30 Jan 14
  1. News sources select stories based on what they think is important and informative.
  2. News coverage can be influenced by prior beliefs, leading to biased reporting.
  3. When evaluating news sources, consider their honesty and competence.

Me vs Mankiw on Global Warming

0 implied HN points • 30 Jan 14
  1. Mankiw supports a carbon tax as the best policy for dealing with global warming.
  2. Friedman argues that the effectiveness of a carbon tax depends on how it is actually implemented, not just in theory.
  3. Friedman emphasizes the importance of considering how proposals like a carbon tax will be executed in reality before supporting them.

Bogus Title, Good Story

0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 14
  1. The story is about how a doctoral candidate used statistical techniques to find true love on a dating site.
  2. The protagonist was able to create an attractive profile without lying.
  3. After going on more than fifty dates, he found someone he is now engaged to.

More Chapters for the Third Edition of _Machinery_

0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 14
  1. Draft chapters and appendix for the third edition of Machinery of Freedom are available for feedback.
  2. Considerations for appendix content like including URLs instead of addresses.
  3. Author seeks input on potential topics to cover in new chapters based on past writings.

Wanted: A Better Way to Egosearch

0 implied HN points • 20 Jan 14
  1. The author discusses the challenge of finding relevant conversations about oneself online.
  2. Usenet and DejaNews were once useful tools for egosearching but have lost functionality over time.
  3. The author seeks a way to search the web specifically for conversations about them, excluding links and self-promotional content.

The Only Evidence in Christie's Favor

0 implied HN points • 09 Jan 14
  1. Christie's involvement in the bridge scandal remains unclear.
  2. The incident raises concerns about Christie's competence in selecting his team.
  3. The Port Authority official's actions resulted in significant costs for commuters.

More on RSA/NSA

0 implied HN points • 27 Dec 13
  1. RSA accepted a payment from the NSA to use a weak random number generator in their encryption software.
  2. The algorithm used by RSA, DUAL_EC_DRBG, could have a secret backdoor that allows decryption of encrypted messages.
  3. The cryptographic infrastructure using DUAL_EC_DRBG during this time may be insecure against the NSA.

Will the Obamacare Mess Hurt Hillary?

0 implied HN points • 17 Dec 13
  1. The Obamacare issues might impact Hillary Clinton in upcoming elections.
  2. Hillary Clinton's association with Obamacare could potentially harm her popularity.
  3. There is a possibility that the failing health care system might lead Hillary Clinton to propose a different healthcare system in the future.