Two posts that hint toward a shaky future for Facebook.
Who Needs Another Social Network? (Bits Blog)
Did Microsoft Overpay for Its Facebook Stake? (DealBook Blog)
Earlier: Facebook: destined for obscurity?
---
Charter Communications joins the band of Internet service providers spying on their users. Also, computer security expert Bruce Schneier on the importance of data privacy.
Charter to Snoop on Broadband Customers' Web Histories for Ad Networks (Threat Level Blog)
Can Charter Broadband Customers Really Opt-Out of Spying? Maybe Not (Threat Level Blog)
Our Data, Ourselves (Wired)
Earlier: The end of privacy
Sunday, May 18
Tuesday, May 13
Returning purity to sports
The Doping Dilemma (Scientific American)
How We Would Fight Steroids If We Really Meant It (Freakonomics Blog)
Two articles that attempt to address the question of how to combat doping (the use of performance-enhancing drugs) in sports. The first piece, from Scientific American, makes a case for why there is so much pressure to dope in the world of professional cycling, and then constructs strategies designed to change the incentives for doping such that there is a strong incentive not to dope. The second piece, from the Freakonomics Blog, provides a creative, remarkably simple solution for discouraging doping... I like it! (The commenters on their blog are far less enthusiastic about the plan, however, and provide some great commentary.)
How We Would Fight Steroids If We Really Meant It (Freakonomics Blog)
Two articles that attempt to address the question of how to combat doping (the use of performance-enhancing drugs) in sports. The first piece, from Scientific American, makes a case for why there is so much pressure to dope in the world of professional cycling, and then constructs strategies designed to change the incentives for doping such that there is a strong incentive not to dope. The second piece, from the Freakonomics Blog, provides a creative, remarkably simple solution for discouraging doping... I like it! (The commenters on their blog are far less enthusiastic about the plan, however, and provide some great commentary.)
Tuesday, April 29
A Second Look (Math and econ edition)
This is the first post in what will become a regular feature on this blog: A look back at previous posts that are related to newly-discovered content.
Further support for prediction markets.
Trading on the Wisdom of Crowds (Wall Street Journal)
How accurate are prediction markets in U.S. elections? (Yahoo! Answers)
Earlier: How to predict the future
---
What are your odds of dying from a given injury?
Odds of Dying (National Safety Council)
Earlier: Suicide hotlines
---
Economists, on the question of organ markets as a solution to the organ donor shortage.
Human Organs for Sale, Legally, in ... Which Country? (Freakonomics Blog)
Financial Compensation for Organ Donors is Working (Marginal Revolution)
Earlier: Kidneys for sale?
Further support for prediction markets.
Trading on the Wisdom of Crowds (Wall Street Journal)
How accurate are prediction markets in U.S. elections? (Yahoo! Answers)
Earlier: How to predict the future
---
What are your odds of dying from a given injury?
Odds of Dying (National Safety Council)
Earlier: Suicide hotlines
---
Economists, on the question of organ markets as a solution to the organ donor shortage.
Human Organs for Sale, Legally, in ... Which Country? (Freakonomics Blog)
Financial Compensation for Organ Donors is Working (Marginal Revolution)
Earlier: Kidneys for sale?
Sunday, April 27
Frequent flying
We Love to Fly and It Shows: Inside the World of Mileage Running (Wired)
A fun look inside the strange practice of "mileage running," in which the goal is to accumulate a large amount of frequent flyer miles at the lowest cost per mile. Practitioners actually try to add as many connections as possible into their flights (as long as it doesn't increase the cost), solely for the purpose of racking up additional miles. The most dedicated mileage runners travel to faraway places purely to earn miles, and don't actually spend any time at their destinations!
So why take up such a hobby? It sounds like the main motivation is receiving the perks associated with being a frequent flyer, as well as the joy of solving a complex problem and feeling like you are "beating the system."
Strange, but true.
A fun look inside the strange practice of "mileage running," in which the goal is to accumulate a large amount of frequent flyer miles at the lowest cost per mile. Practitioners actually try to add as many connections as possible into their flights (as long as it doesn't increase the cost), solely for the purpose of racking up additional miles. The most dedicated mileage runners travel to faraway places purely to earn miles, and don't actually spend any time at their destinations!
So why take up such a hobby? It sounds like the main motivation is receiving the perks associated with being a frequent flyer, as well as the joy of solving a complex problem and feeling like you are "beating the system."
Strange, but true.
Wednesday, April 23
The more things change...
All change? (Economist)
Without question, liberals in the U.S. have (for years) been desperate for the departure of George W. Bush from the presidency, confident that a change in leadership will turn the country around. This Economist article warns that at least in the area of foreign policy, the likelihood is that the next President (regardless of who it is) will not make drastic policy changes, nor should they.
A highly opinionated, thought-provoking piece.
Without question, liberals in the U.S. have (for years) been desperate for the departure of George W. Bush from the presidency, confident that a change in leadership will turn the country around. This Economist article warns that at least in the area of foreign policy, the likelihood is that the next President (regardless of who it is) will not make drastic policy changes, nor should they.
A highly opinionated, thought-provoking piece.
Monday, April 21
Facebook: destined for obscurity?
Everywhere and nowhere (Economist)
Although I love Facebook, and have always felt that they offer the premier online social networking tool, my gut tells me that as a company they may very well fail. Part of the reason is that they are a one-trick pony: They do one thing, and they do it really well. But what's the likelihood that in ten years (or five even), they will still be the dominant player in the social networking arena? Contrast that with Google, who is still king of online searching, but at the same time seems to be releasing a new product every other week in an attempt to diversify their offerings.
This very smart Economist article adds some meat to my argument. It asserts that closed social networking tools (like Facebook), which force you to visit their website and use their specific tools to communicate with your friends, are "a drag" and will ultimately lose out to "open social networks." These open networks would be integrated into your core Internet tools (such as e-mail), would infer your "social graph" from the actions you already take (who you e-mail the most, or how you tag people in your address book), and would be transparent and work almost automatically. In short, they would remove the annoying and needless complexity of managing your online social life (your profile, photos, groups, friend lists, etc.) through mulitple websites.
There are already existing tools (such as FriendFeed) which can aggregate your online life into one space, but these tools do nothing to break down the barriers between the various closed social networks. Something more revolutionary is needed, and I have no doubt that it is technologically feasible.
The only question is: Who will be the one to innovate, and who will fold as a result?
Although I love Facebook, and have always felt that they offer the premier online social networking tool, my gut tells me that as a company they may very well fail. Part of the reason is that they are a one-trick pony: They do one thing, and they do it really well. But what's the likelihood that in ten years (or five even), they will still be the dominant player in the social networking arena? Contrast that with Google, who is still king of online searching, but at the same time seems to be releasing a new product every other week in an attempt to diversify their offerings.
This very smart Economist article adds some meat to my argument. It asserts that closed social networking tools (like Facebook), which force you to visit their website and use their specific tools to communicate with your friends, are "a drag" and will ultimately lose out to "open social networks." These open networks would be integrated into your core Internet tools (such as e-mail), would infer your "social graph" from the actions you already take (who you e-mail the most, or how you tag people in your address book), and would be transparent and work almost automatically. In short, they would remove the annoying and needless complexity of managing your online social life (your profile, photos, groups, friend lists, etc.) through mulitple websites.
There are already existing tools (such as FriendFeed) which can aggregate your online life into one space, but these tools do nothing to break down the barriers between the various closed social networks. Something more revolutionary is needed, and I have no doubt that it is technologically feasible.
The only question is: Who will be the one to innovate, and who will fold as a result?
Saturday, April 12
How to predict the future
Betting to Improve the Odds (New York Times)
In my opinion, one of the greatest developments to come out of the Internet is the ability to effectively harness the knowledge of a wide variety of people (also known as "wisdom of the crowds") for projects such as Wikipedia. With Wikipedia, the goal is to organize and share information, but the wisdom of the crowds can be used for many other purposes.
This New York Times article discusses "prediction markets," in which individuals can essentially place bets on the outcome of a particular event (such as "Will Hillary Clinton be the Democratic nominee for President?"). Placing bets ("trades") in a prediction market is kind of like stock trading, except that the "share price" stays between 0 and 100 and reflects the current probability (in the minds of the traders) that the event will occur. In the Hillary Clinton example, her market at Intrade is currently trading at 15.4, meaning that traders believe her current probability of clinching the nomination to be 15.4%. If a trader thinks the likelihood is greater than 15.4%, they can buy shares (hoping the market will go up), and if it does they will make money. Eventually, all markets resolve at 100 (if the event happens) or 0 (if it does not happen), but in the meantime the share price is determined purely by trading activity.
I'm a big fan of prediction markets because the traders have an incentive (i.e. making money) to research the most likely outcome of events, and thus as long as the markets are being actively traded, the markets should demonstrate the probability of an outcome occurring much more accurately than polling, individual research studies, or any other predictive tool. Furthermore, those individuals with insider information and/or expert knowledge about these events have the greatest incentive to participate in prediction markets, which should further increase the accuracy of the markets.
The Times article describes how prediction markets are now being used internally by corporations as a way to improve their forecasting, such as predicting whether a new product will launch on time. As long as there are incentives (such as money or prizes) for predicting outcomes correctly, the "wisdom of the crowds" should indeed shine through in the market activity.
Legitimate concerns do exist about prediction markets, such as the possibility that someone could profit from participating in a market in which they can determine the outcome, or other types of market manipulation. As well, there are markets that could be considered tasteless, such as the Pentagon's failed Policy Analysis Market (in which bets could be placed on the likelihood of terrorist attacks) or the Celebrity Dead Pool (in which bets are placed on who will die this year).
Regardless, I have no doubt that prediction markets are here to stay, and will increasingly be used to tap our collective wisdom. And as long as participation increases, incentives remain, and systems are put in place to prevent fraud, prediction markets should only become more and more accurate.
In my opinion, one of the greatest developments to come out of the Internet is the ability to effectively harness the knowledge of a wide variety of people (also known as "wisdom of the crowds") for projects such as Wikipedia. With Wikipedia, the goal is to organize and share information, but the wisdom of the crowds can be used for many other purposes.
This New York Times article discusses "prediction markets," in which individuals can essentially place bets on the outcome of a particular event (such as "Will Hillary Clinton be the Democratic nominee for President?"). Placing bets ("trades") in a prediction market is kind of like stock trading, except that the "share price" stays between 0 and 100 and reflects the current probability (in the minds of the traders) that the event will occur. In the Hillary Clinton example, her market at Intrade is currently trading at 15.4, meaning that traders believe her current probability of clinching the nomination to be 15.4%. If a trader thinks the likelihood is greater than 15.4%, they can buy shares (hoping the market will go up), and if it does they will make money. Eventually, all markets resolve at 100 (if the event happens) or 0 (if it does not happen), but in the meantime the share price is determined purely by trading activity.
I'm a big fan of prediction markets because the traders have an incentive (i.e. making money) to research the most likely outcome of events, and thus as long as the markets are being actively traded, the markets should demonstrate the probability of an outcome occurring much more accurately than polling, individual research studies, or any other predictive tool. Furthermore, those individuals with insider information and/or expert knowledge about these events have the greatest incentive to participate in prediction markets, which should further increase the accuracy of the markets.
The Times article describes how prediction markets are now being used internally by corporations as a way to improve their forecasting, such as predicting whether a new product will launch on time. As long as there are incentives (such as money or prizes) for predicting outcomes correctly, the "wisdom of the crowds" should indeed shine through in the market activity.
Legitimate concerns do exist about prediction markets, such as the possibility that someone could profit from participating in a market in which they can determine the outcome, or other types of market manipulation. As well, there are markets that could be considered tasteless, such as the Pentagon's failed Policy Analysis Market (in which bets could be placed on the likelihood of terrorist attacks) or the Celebrity Dead Pool (in which bets are placed on who will die this year).
Regardless, I have no doubt that prediction markets are here to stay, and will increasingly be used to tap our collective wisdom. And as long as participation increases, incentives remain, and systems are put in place to prevent fraud, prediction markets should only become more and more accurate.
Thursday, April 3
A uniquely American business
Illegal Globally, Bail for Profit Remains in U.S. (New York Times)
A fascinating article about the uniquely American business of bail bonds, in which private businesses post bail for criminal defendants in return for a fee. Though the system lends itself to corrupt practices and leaves a great deal of decision-making power in the hands of private citizens (who are free to set their own fees and accept or reject clients at will), the article suggests that it is actually remarkably effective at ensuring that defendants appear in court or are captured if they do flee -- all at no cost to the taxpayer. (Score one for American private enterprise!)
This follow-up post on the Freakonomics blog by economist Ian Ayres also argues in favor of the bail bond system: His research shows that the market competition inherent in the system serves to reduce (not increase) judicial discrimination against minority defendants, and may also serve to protect poor defendants.
A fascinating article about the uniquely American business of bail bonds, in which private businesses post bail for criminal defendants in return for a fee. Though the system lends itself to corrupt practices and leaves a great deal of decision-making power in the hands of private citizens (who are free to set their own fees and accept or reject clients at will), the article suggests that it is actually remarkably effective at ensuring that defendants appear in court or are captured if they do flee -- all at no cost to the taxpayer. (Score one for American private enterprise!)
This follow-up post on the Freakonomics blog by economist Ian Ayres also argues in favor of the bail bond system: His research shows that the market competition inherent in the system serves to reduce (not increase) judicial discrimination against minority defendants, and may also serve to protect poor defendants.
Friday, March 28
Sicko and health care: Guest post #3
Post by Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, M.D.
About the Canadian health care system:
Pros: Universality, administrative simplicity, equality, high quality, free choice of doctors and hospitals (not true in the U.S.)
Cons: Quickly escalating costs (because doctors are paid fee-for-service and have an incentive to over-order), rationing of health care results in wait lists for elective surgeries (but this is completely blown out of proportion by the American media - you don't wait for emergnecies).
Is it a better system? Depends on your definition of "better." If by better, you mean more affordable and equitable, then definitely. If by better, you mean more technology, then definitely not. By my criteria, I think Canada has a better health care system for the vast majority of diseases, but if I had a rare disease or needed super-specialized care, I'd opt for the U.S. As an average citizen, though, I'd much rather deal with the Canadian health care system than the American one. As a doctor, I'd also much rather deal with Canada since there'd be fewer insurance hassles and you wouldn't have to worry about your patient's financial status - they'd get the care they need.
About the British health care system:
The British health care system (NHS) is an incredibly inexpensive, economically efficient system. It has one of the strongest primary care/preventive care systems in the world. Unfortunately, it suffers from massive wait lists, old facilities, and a lack of specialists. This is mostly due to a lack of funding, though the recent British government has been putting a lot of money into the system. I think Sicko portrayed only the good parts of the NHS, but it portrayed them very well - virtually free care, strong popular support, good pay for doctors (not quite as good as the U.S. but not bad either).
About the French health care system:
I don't have first-hand knowledge of the French health care system, but it's regarded to be the best in Europe by the WHO [World Health Organization]. It's true that people pay taxes out the wazoo for the system, but on the other hand, they got extremely high quality care.
About the American health care system:
Obviously, this movie was up my alley since I worked on universal health care in DC for a year. I think it did a great job of humanizing the problem - the stories that I heard were all very familiar, but that didn't make them any less devastating. I don't think the movie was intended to give a fair comparison of the American health care system to other systems - I think Moore intended to just shatter some illusions that Americans have about third-world health care in socialized systems like England/France, and he did that very well. The best part of the movie in my mind was the end where Moore had a monologue about American values (e.g. why can't we be a place that's willing to take care of others). Changing values is the crux of all social change, and I was thrilled that Moore seemed to recognize that.
Did I think the movie is fair? Of course not - it's liberal propaganda, in some ways. But like I said, I don't think it wasn't supposed to be intellectually fair, but rather about raising awareness, changing perceptions, and hopefully chipping away at some of our misguided social values.
Kao-Ping received his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis and is currently a resident at Boston Children's Hospital. Previously, he worked for the American Medical Student Association on the issue of universal health care.
Earlier: Sicko: Is Michael Moore right?
Earlier: Sicko and health care: Guest post #1
Earlier: Sicko and health care: Guest post #2
About the Canadian health care system:
Pros: Universality, administrative simplicity, equality, high quality, free choice of doctors and hospitals (not true in the U.S.)
Cons: Quickly escalating costs (because doctors are paid fee-for-service and have an incentive to over-order), rationing of health care results in wait lists for elective surgeries (but this is completely blown out of proportion by the American media - you don't wait for emergnecies).
Is it a better system? Depends on your definition of "better." If by better, you mean more affordable and equitable, then definitely. If by better, you mean more technology, then definitely not. By my criteria, I think Canada has a better health care system for the vast majority of diseases, but if I had a rare disease or needed super-specialized care, I'd opt for the U.S. As an average citizen, though, I'd much rather deal with the Canadian health care system than the American one. As a doctor, I'd also much rather deal with Canada since there'd be fewer insurance hassles and you wouldn't have to worry about your patient's financial status - they'd get the care they need.
About the British health care system:
The British health care system (NHS) is an incredibly inexpensive, economically efficient system. It has one of the strongest primary care/preventive care systems in the world. Unfortunately, it suffers from massive wait lists, old facilities, and a lack of specialists. This is mostly due to a lack of funding, though the recent British government has been putting a lot of money into the system. I think Sicko portrayed only the good parts of the NHS, but it portrayed them very well - virtually free care, strong popular support, good pay for doctors (not quite as good as the U.S. but not bad either).
About the French health care system:
I don't have first-hand knowledge of the French health care system, but it's regarded to be the best in Europe by the WHO [World Health Organization]. It's true that people pay taxes out the wazoo for the system, but on the other hand, they got extremely high quality care.
About the American health care system:
Obviously, this movie was up my alley since I worked on universal health care in DC for a year. I think it did a great job of humanizing the problem - the stories that I heard were all very familiar, but that didn't make them any less devastating. I don't think the movie was intended to give a fair comparison of the American health care system to other systems - I think Moore intended to just shatter some illusions that Americans have about third-world health care in socialized systems like England/France, and he did that very well. The best part of the movie in my mind was the end where Moore had a monologue about American values (e.g. why can't we be a place that's willing to take care of others). Changing values is the crux of all social change, and I was thrilled that Moore seemed to recognize that.
Did I think the movie is fair? Of course not - it's liberal propaganda, in some ways. But like I said, I don't think it wasn't supposed to be intellectually fair, but rather about raising awareness, changing perceptions, and hopefully chipping away at some of our misguided social values.
Kao-Ping received his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis and is currently a resident at Boston Children's Hospital. Previously, he worked for the American Medical Student Association on the issue of universal health care.
Earlier: Sicko: Is Michael Moore right?
Earlier: Sicko and health care: Guest post #1
Earlier: Sicko and health care: Guest post #2
Tuesday, March 25
The end of privacy
A Company Promises the Deepest Data Mining Yet (New York Times)
An Inalienable Right to Privacy (Coding Horror)
Is privacy possible in the digital age? Privacy through obscurity used to be a great strategy; the idea was that there are so many people "out there" that there's virtually no chance you will be noticed. And even if you were noticed, even if information was being kept about you, what are the odds that the information from various sources would be consolidated into one place? Who cares if you download porn, or search the Internet for information about depression, or write love notes to your secret girlfriend? And what are the chances that the information will fall into the hands of your boss, your spouse, or your insurance company?
In the digital age, I'm sad to say that privacy through obscurity has thoroughly collapsed. Once companies realized a few years ago that consumers will rarely pay for content on the Internet, the focus shifted to targeted ads as the primary way to generate revenue on the Internet. And with that shift, there has been a mad dash to collect and consolidate as much information as possible about every Internet user. There is a lot of money to be made by gathering as much information as possible about you and selling that information to every company that might want to market to you.
This short New York Times piece describes the efforts of one such company, Phorm, that has developed a tool to track every single action you take on the Internet. They are trying to negotiate deals with major broadband Internet providers in the U.S., such that their tool will be used by the Internet provider to generate massive amounts of data about each of its users, which will then be sold to third parties. Three major Internet service providers in Britain have already signed on with Phorm, which gives Phorm access to the surfing habits of 70% of British households with broadband.
This technology is not new, for sure: Spyware and other covert mechanisms for tracking your Internet activity have existed for many years. However, participation by Internet service providers represents a fundamental shift in the power and scope of this technology.
I can only begin to address the implications of technology that can compile a profile of your complete Internet behavior, especially when that profile will be connected to and meshed with the other digital data that exists about you. Unquestionably, your personal data will be sold without your permission. It will make its way to individuals and companies that you wish didn't have access to that data. It will be lost (probably without your knowledge), it will be filled with errors (which you probably won't be able to correct), and it will be sold on the black market. Imagine if you could purchase a file listing the complete Internet habits of any individual for a small price. Would you buy it, to learn about your potential mate, or to get back at your ex? Would your potential employer buy it, to learn about your personal habits? Would your insurance company buy it, to see if you have written any emails about a medical condition? This is just the beginning.
Still not convinced that your privacy is worth protecting? This post on Coding Horror argues that you should protect your privacy, even if you don't think you have anything to hide.
An Inalienable Right to Privacy (Coding Horror)
Is privacy possible in the digital age? Privacy through obscurity used to be a great strategy; the idea was that there are so many people "out there" that there's virtually no chance you will be noticed. And even if you were noticed, even if information was being kept about you, what are the odds that the information from various sources would be consolidated into one place? Who cares if you download porn, or search the Internet for information about depression, or write love notes to your secret girlfriend? And what are the chances that the information will fall into the hands of your boss, your spouse, or your insurance company?
In the digital age, I'm sad to say that privacy through obscurity has thoroughly collapsed. Once companies realized a few years ago that consumers will rarely pay for content on the Internet, the focus shifted to targeted ads as the primary way to generate revenue on the Internet. And with that shift, there has been a mad dash to collect and consolidate as much information as possible about every Internet user. There is a lot of money to be made by gathering as much information as possible about you and selling that information to every company that might want to market to you.
This short New York Times piece describes the efforts of one such company, Phorm, that has developed a tool to track every single action you take on the Internet. They are trying to negotiate deals with major broadband Internet providers in the U.S., such that their tool will be used by the Internet provider to generate massive amounts of data about each of its users, which will then be sold to third parties. Three major Internet service providers in Britain have already signed on with Phorm, which gives Phorm access to the surfing habits of 70% of British households with broadband.
This technology is not new, for sure: Spyware and other covert mechanisms for tracking your Internet activity have existed for many years. However, participation by Internet service providers represents a fundamental shift in the power and scope of this technology.
I can only begin to address the implications of technology that can compile a profile of your complete Internet behavior, especially when that profile will be connected to and meshed with the other digital data that exists about you. Unquestionably, your personal data will be sold without your permission. It will make its way to individuals and companies that you wish didn't have access to that data. It will be lost (probably without your knowledge), it will be filled with errors (which you probably won't be able to correct), and it will be sold on the black market. Imagine if you could purchase a file listing the complete Internet habits of any individual for a small price. Would you buy it, to learn about your potential mate, or to get back at your ex? Would your potential employer buy it, to learn about your personal habits? Would your insurance company buy it, to see if you have written any emails about a medical condition? This is just the beginning.
Still not convinced that your privacy is worth protecting? This post on Coding Horror argues that you should protect your privacy, even if you don't think you have anything to hide.
Saturday, March 22
Sicko and health care: Guest post #2
Post by Laurin Taylor
I've lived in London for nearly 7 years now and I was entitled to NHS health care as soon as I got here (as I was a student planning to stay for more than 6 months). I haven't seen the film so I apologize if I am telling you something you already know.
The way it works is that you register at a doctor's office in your borough (an administration area, kind of like a county), and all your medical records get transferred there. When you need to see a doctor, you call and are given an appointment. There is a lot of whining about waiting lists and substandard care, and to be sure, the NHS IS underfunded - BUT I have never had to wait more than a few days to see a doctor for a non-urgent situation. And the two times that I have had an urgent situation, I went to a hospital and was seen right away. AND when you're done seeing your doctor, you walk out and go home. There is no money involved. I pay money when I need a prescription filled. I think the current rate is £7.80, which is about the same as my parents pay co-pay on my dad's insurance. If I were pregnant or had recently given birth, or if I were over or under a certain age, or disabled or on income support, I would not pay for my prescriptions.
I also pay for my NHS dental treatment - I think a check-up and clean cost me £15 last time. That might have included X-rays. I cannot remember.
The NHS also covers more specialist treatment, surgery, mental healthcare and abortions. I have heard a lot of tales about 18 month waiting lists to see a mental health specialist, but I seem to recall that when I needed this service, I was given a referral by my GP and was seen within a month.
The lack of universal healthcare is on the list of my major reasons I have no plans to ever move back to the States. I no longer understand the mentality that people should have to choose between buying food, or paying the rent, and being able to go to the doctor when they get sick.
And by the way, my take home pay is about 70% of my gross monthly salary. That's AFTER tax, national insurance and my pension contribution.
I was always on my dad's insurance when lived over there [the U.S.], so I never really thought about having to pay for health care. I think I was kicked off the plan when I turned 22. Is that the age that people are expected to have decent jobs by? What happens if you want to go to grad school or travel? And how easy is it to get a job that provides affordable health insurance right after you graduate from college? I'm honestly asking, because I don't know.
Just as a PS - I've had the flu for the past three days. I read this morning that 3.6 million people in this country have rung in sick to work this week. With such an epidemic, you'd think that doctor's offices would be swamped, right? I rang mine at 8:30 AM and was offered an appointment at 11:30 AM.
Laurin grew up in the U.S. and is now a British citizen living in London.
Earlier: Sicko: Is Michael Moore right?
Earlier: Sicko and health care: Guest post #1
I've lived in London for nearly 7 years now and I was entitled to NHS health care as soon as I got here (as I was a student planning to stay for more than 6 months). I haven't seen the film so I apologize if I am telling you something you already know.
The way it works is that you register at a doctor's office in your borough (an administration area, kind of like a county), and all your medical records get transferred there. When you need to see a doctor, you call and are given an appointment. There is a lot of whining about waiting lists and substandard care, and to be sure, the NHS IS underfunded - BUT I have never had to wait more than a few days to see a doctor for a non-urgent situation. And the two times that I have had an urgent situation, I went to a hospital and was seen right away. AND when you're done seeing your doctor, you walk out and go home. There is no money involved. I pay money when I need a prescription filled. I think the current rate is £7.80, which is about the same as my parents pay co-pay on my dad's insurance. If I were pregnant or had recently given birth, or if I were over or under a certain age, or disabled or on income support, I would not pay for my prescriptions.
I also pay for my NHS dental treatment - I think a check-up and clean cost me £15 last time. That might have included X-rays. I cannot remember.
The NHS also covers more specialist treatment, surgery, mental healthcare and abortions. I have heard a lot of tales about 18 month waiting lists to see a mental health specialist, but I seem to recall that when I needed this service, I was given a referral by my GP and was seen within a month.
The lack of universal healthcare is on the list of my major reasons I have no plans to ever move back to the States. I no longer understand the mentality that people should have to choose between buying food, or paying the rent, and being able to go to the doctor when they get sick.
And by the way, my take home pay is about 70% of my gross monthly salary. That's AFTER tax, national insurance and my pension contribution.
I was always on my dad's insurance when lived over there [the U.S.], so I never really thought about having to pay for health care. I think I was kicked off the plan when I turned 22. Is that the age that people are expected to have decent jobs by? What happens if you want to go to grad school or travel? And how easy is it to get a job that provides affordable health insurance right after you graduate from college? I'm honestly asking, because I don't know.
Just as a PS - I've had the flu for the past three days. I read this morning that 3.6 million people in this country have rung in sick to work this week. With such an epidemic, you'd think that doctor's offices would be swamped, right? I rang mine at 8:30 AM and was offered an appointment at 11:30 AM.
Laurin grew up in the U.S. and is now a British citizen living in London.
Earlier: Sicko: Is Michael Moore right?
Earlier: Sicko and health care: Guest post #1
Nuclear power, reconsidered
As Nuclear Waste Languishes, Expense to U.S. Rises (New York Times)
Due primarily to concerns about energy independence and global warming, there has been an increased debate in the United States about nuclear power and its role in our energy future. Although the many of the 2008 Presidential candidates have expressed support for increasing the usage of nuclear power, the ongoing problems with Yucca Mountain and other waste disposal issues make me hesitant to endorse such plans. It seems, quite simply, that the problems associated with nuclear power have never been fully resolved, with each generation of scientists and politicians trying to push the problems onto the next generation, hoping that they will be the ones to figure out comprehensive solutions.
Due primarily to concerns about energy independence and global warming, there has been an increased debate in the United States about nuclear power and its role in our energy future. Although the many of the 2008 Presidential candidates have expressed support for increasing the usage of nuclear power, the ongoing problems with Yucca Mountain and other waste disposal issues make me hesitant to endorse such plans. It seems, quite simply, that the problems associated with nuclear power have never been fully resolved, with each generation of scientists and politicians trying to push the problems onto the next generation, hoping that they will be the ones to figure out comprehensive solutions.
Saturday, March 15
Sicko and health care: Guest post #1
Post by Larry Markham
Here are a few comments about the Canadian system, especially from experience with my mother:
Earlier: Sicko: Is Michael Moore right?
Here are a few comments about the Canadian system, especially from experience with my mother:
- When you're sick and need to be in the hospital, there is no wait. They take care of you and keep you as long as necessary. The quality of care is very good, just as good as the U.S. The cost is minimal, unless you choose to pay extra for a private room.
- Poor people and rich people are treated the same.
- There is a waiting list for elective stuff like hip transplants. Rich people can go to other countries if they want it done quickly.
- I've heard that certain equipment (MRI?) is much less plentiful in Canada.
- No paperwork. No insurance companies aguing about everything. This is a big cost saving, and a huge time saving for the consumer.
- The doctors make less money, and some leave for the U.S. to make the big bucks.
- Some people have a hard time finding a doctor who will take new patients.
- Nobody goes bankrupt because of medical bills. This factor alone justifies using the Canadian system.
- People retire early because they don't have to worry about medical costs. This is a huge difference. People in the U.S. are afraid to retire before 65 when Medicare kicks in.
- The government decides when and where new hospitals are built.
Earlier: Sicko: Is Michael Moore right?
Tuesday, March 11
Life imitates art
The Wire's War on the Drug War (TIME)
The writers of the critically acclaimed HBO show The Wire respond directly to one of the thorny questions their show inspires: What should we do about the drug war?
I guarantee their answer will surprise you.
The writers of the critically acclaimed HBO show The Wire respond directly to one of the thorny questions their show inspires: What should we do about the drug war?
I guarantee their answer will surprise you.
Sunday, March 9
Sicko: Is Michael Moore right?
Michael Moore's 2007 film Sicko about the American health care system took me a bit by surprise when I first watched it: I thought it was smart, well-made, and actually quite funny. But I still came away from the film with a fundamental question that many others have also posed: To what extent is Sicko "correct" in its judgment that the American health care system is inferior to systems found in countries such as Canada, France, and the United Kingdom? I'm sure that in any country, you can find both horror and success stories about the quality and accessibility of their health care, and Moore did indeed find many compelling examples of how the American system fails people in ways that other systems do not. But what is missing from the picture he paints?
Criticism of Sicko is not hard to find; here is one of the more thoughtful pieces I read, and here is a longer piece by MTV's Kurt Loder. But I tend to trust people I know much more than any random article on the Internet, which is why I am calling on those of you with experience with other health care systems to contact me with your comments:
e-mail: contact [at] kevinmarkham [dot] com
Or, just post your comments below.
These reactions will be featured in a series of guest posts on this blog. I look forward to your thoughts!
Criticism of Sicko is not hard to find; here is one of the more thoughtful pieces I read, and here is a longer piece by MTV's Kurt Loder. But I tend to trust people I know much more than any random article on the Internet, which is why I am calling on those of you with experience with other health care systems to contact me with your comments:
e-mail: contact [at] kevinmarkham [dot] com
Or, just post your comments below.
These reactions will be featured in a series of guest posts on this blog. I look forward to your thoughts!
Searching for answers
The Most Depressing Day of the Year (TIME)
Dangers (xkcd)
Google is such a fun tool. Besides its pure search engine capabilities (helping you to find the web pages you're looking for), it has amassed an extraordinary amount of data that is right at your fingertips. One way to mine the data that Google has captured is to look at it as a "voting" mechanism: Use the number of search results for a given query as a proxy for a vote in favor of that idea.
Can't decide whether to spell "traveling" with one 'L' or two? Search for both variations, and see which one has more results in Google. Not sure whether author X or author Y is the true source of a quote? See which author has more search results linked to that quote. It's not the most rigorous scientific method, but it is quick and has the benefit of drawing from a vast data source.
The TIME article takes a look at this phenomenon, as does this fun comic from xkcd (my favorite webcomic).
Dangers (xkcd)
Google is such a fun tool. Besides its pure search engine capabilities (helping you to find the web pages you're looking for), it has amassed an extraordinary amount of data that is right at your fingertips. One way to mine the data that Google has captured is to look at it as a "voting" mechanism: Use the number of search results for a given query as a proxy for a vote in favor of that idea.
Can't decide whether to spell "traveling" with one 'L' or two? Search for both variations, and see which one has more results in Google. Not sure whether author X or author Y is the true source of a quote? See which author has more search results linked to that quote. It's not the most rigorous scientific method, but it is quick and has the benefit of drawing from a vast data source.
The TIME article takes a look at this phenomenon, as does this fun comic from xkcd (my favorite webcomic).
Monday, March 3
The future of voting :(
One way not to conduct Internet voting (The Risks Digest)
Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results of 2008 Election Early (The Onion)
As the Internet and technology become more and more ingrained into our daily lives, it's inevitable that there will be an increased demand for Internet voting as part of our elections. Certainly, Internet voting could deliver both cost savings (for the government) and convenience (for the voter); it would seem to be a technology worth exploring.
I was curious to hear that Democrats Abroad, the organization that represents Democrats living outside the U.S., was holding a "Global Primary" (which awards actual delegates to the Democratic National Convention) in which Internet voting was offered as an option. While the mainstream news focused on Obama's decisive win in the Global Primary, I focused my attention on the technology, and was not surprised to find that the "whole process was neither secure nor well run".
Voting technology in the U.S. continues to disappointment me, lagging leaps and bounds behind other high-tech industries that show evidence of constant innovation. Thankfully, the solutions are out there, and I am hopeful that all levels of government will develop the political will to ensure that our elections are both secure and accurate.
In the meantime, the "Onion News Network" delivered one of the funniest satires of our electoral process that I have ever seen.
Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results of 2008 Election Early (The Onion)
As the Internet and technology become more and more ingrained into our daily lives, it's inevitable that there will be an increased demand for Internet voting as part of our elections. Certainly, Internet voting could deliver both cost savings (for the government) and convenience (for the voter); it would seem to be a technology worth exploring.
I was curious to hear that Democrats Abroad, the organization that represents Democrats living outside the U.S., was holding a "Global Primary" (which awards actual delegates to the Democratic National Convention) in which Internet voting was offered as an option. While the mainstream news focused on Obama's decisive win in the Global Primary, I focused my attention on the technology, and was not surprised to find that the "whole process was neither secure nor well run".
Voting technology in the U.S. continues to disappointment me, lagging leaps and bounds behind other high-tech industries that show evidence of constant innovation. Thankfully, the solutions are out there, and I am hopeful that all levels of government will develop the political will to ensure that our elections are both secure and accurate.
In the meantime, the "Onion News Network" delivered one of the funniest satires of our electoral process that I have ever seen.
Saturday, March 1
One Nation, Under Canada, Above Mexico
Contest: A Six-Word Motto for the U.S.? (Freakonomics Blog)
Freakonomics author Stephen J. Dubner challenged his blog readers to come up with a six-word motto for the United States, and as of this posting, over 1,300 entries have been submitted in the comments section. I looked through a few hundred of the responses, and found them to be both highly entertaining and informative. I think they provide a great insight into how the U.S. is viewed from both inside and outside of the country, albeit largely from a cynical perspective.
Dubner's follow-up post, commenting about the contest and picking his "top five" entries, is also worth a read. (My pick is #3; you can find out who won here.)
Freakonomics author Stephen J. Dubner challenged his blog readers to come up with a six-word motto for the United States, and as of this posting, over 1,300 entries have been submitted in the comments section. I looked through a few hundred of the responses, and found them to be both highly entertaining and informative. I think they provide a great insight into how the U.S. is viewed from both inside and outside of the country, albeit largely from a cynical perspective.
Dubner's follow-up post, commenting about the contest and picking his "top five" entries, is also worth a read. (My pick is #3; you can find out who won here.)
Friday, February 22
The downfall of Romney?
What Is It About Mormonism? (New York Times Magazine)
I have always found it to be strange that even among my most open-minded peers, disdain for Mormons (or at least a wholesale rejection of their beliefs) is commonplace, and jokes about the Mormon faith and culture are accepted far more casually than they would be if the topic was race or gender. Given these personal experiences, I was surprised how well Mitt Romney did (at least for a while) on the Presidential campaign trail, and even more surprised how little attention was paid in the mainstream press to the challenges any Mormon candidate for President would face in this climate.
I was glad, then, to see this article in the New York Times Magazine, which helped me to better understand the history of the Mormon church (better known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and how views about church members have evolved in this country over the last two centuries.
I have always found it to be strange that even among my most open-minded peers, disdain for Mormons (or at least a wholesale rejection of their beliefs) is commonplace, and jokes about the Mormon faith and culture are accepted far more casually than they would be if the topic was race or gender. Given these personal experiences, I was surprised how well Mitt Romney did (at least for a while) on the Presidential campaign trail, and even more surprised how little attention was paid in the mainstream press to the challenges any Mormon candidate for President would face in this climate.
I was glad, then, to see this article in the New York Times Magazine, which helped me to better understand the history of the Mormon church (better known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and how views about church members have evolved in this country over the last two centuries.
Wednesday, February 20
Culture of an epidemic
Death March (New York Times)
South African journalist Jonny Steinberg, in a new book about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, wanted to find out why people in his country still aren't getting tested for HIV and/or obtaining treatment for AIDS, despite the presence of strong AIDS treatment programs in certain areas. His answers are a stark reminder of how much the practice of medicine is a function of culture as well as science.
South African journalist Jonny Steinberg, in a new book about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, wanted to find out why people in his country still aren't getting tested for HIV and/or obtaining treatment for AIDS, despite the presence of strong AIDS treatment programs in certain areas. His answers are a stark reminder of how much the practice of medicine is a function of culture as well as science.
Thursday, January 24
An election solution
A Paper Trail for Voting Machines (New York Times)
I have read about some pretty sophisticated systems for creating verifiable election results, but the system described in this article is my new favorite. It's reliable, it's easy to explain, it doesn't depend too heavily upon technology, and it's powered by the average citizen. What an elegant solution!
Earlier: Elections we can trust
I have read about some pretty sophisticated systems for creating verifiable election results, but the system described in this article is my new favorite. It's reliable, it's easy to explain, it doesn't depend too heavily upon technology, and it's powered by the average citizen. What an elegant solution!
Earlier: Elections we can trust
Sunday, January 20
Lost and found
Driver cited in Bedford train-car crash caused by GPS mishap (The Journal News, NY)
Satellite navigation systems send trucks down the wrong routes in Britain (Christian Science Monitor)
Don't get me wrong, I love my GPS. Even though it can be a minor visual distraction, I maintain that it makes me a safer driver because (1) I get lost less frequently, and so it becomes less likely that I will speed in order to avoid being late; and (2) I don't have turn my attention away from the road to look at printed maps or directions.
Unfortunately, there are inherent risks when you become overdependent on a technology, and GPS is no exception. The stories linked above are recent examples, but there have been other instances in which disaster may have resulted from relying too heavily upon computer-generated directions. For instance: James Kim and his family became trapped in the Oregon wilderness during a 2006 snowstorm because their route led them down a road that was closed for the winter; he died after eight days when he left to find help. Although it now appears that faulty computer-generated directions may not have been to blame in this particular instance, it is not at all unlikely that a similar situation could happen in the future.
Satellite navigation systems send trucks down the wrong routes in Britain (Christian Science Monitor)
Don't get me wrong, I love my GPS. Even though it can be a minor visual distraction, I maintain that it makes me a safer driver because (1) I get lost less frequently, and so it becomes less likely that I will speed in order to avoid being late; and (2) I don't have turn my attention away from the road to look at printed maps or directions.
Unfortunately, there are inherent risks when you become overdependent on a technology, and GPS is no exception. The stories linked above are recent examples, but there have been other instances in which disaster may have resulted from relying too heavily upon computer-generated directions. For instance: James Kim and his family became trapped in the Oregon wilderness during a 2006 snowstorm because their route led them down a road that was closed for the winter; he died after eight days when he left to find help. Although it now appears that faulty computer-generated directions may not have been to blame in this particular instance, it is not at all unlikely that a similar situation could happen in the future.
Tuesday, January 15
An alternative reality
Even in a Virtual World, 'Stuff' Matters (New York Times)
Ever since I heard about the growing popularity of Second Life and other online virtual worlds, I have been curious about what attracts people to them and what exactly you "do" there. This New York Times article is easily the most interesting and accessible one I have read on the topic, and it provides some great insights into how the real world can (unexpectedly) be reflected in a virtual world.
Ever since I heard about the growing popularity of Second Life and other online virtual worlds, I have been curious about what attracts people to them and what exactly you "do" there. This New York Times article is easily the most interesting and accessible one I have read on the topic, and it provides some great insights into how the real world can (unexpectedly) be reflected in a virtual world.
Friday, January 11
State of the Union
The Mac is back (Economist)
The Comeback Kid, part two (Economist)
There is an absolute deluge of media surrounding this year's Presidential race, and I expect the pace of news will not slow until the nominees for each party have been all but decided. These two articles provide a smart analysis of how each party's candidates are currently stacking up, with typical Economist wit and flare -- and are a great way to cut through all the fluff coverage that's out there.
Earlier: Elections we can trust
The Comeback Kid, part two (Economist)
There is an absolute deluge of media surrounding this year's Presidential race, and I expect the pace of news will not slow until the nominees for each party have been all but decided. These two articles provide a smart analysis of how each party's candidates are currently stacking up, with typical Economist wit and flare -- and are a great way to cut through all the fluff coverage that's out there.
Earlier: Elections we can trust
Monday, January 7
Not just a game
Why We Compete (Washington Post)
A fantastic series exploring the question of why sports continue to thrive, despite the huge variety of diversions available in today's world. Post writer Eli Saslow penned all eight pieces, profiling sports ranging from the traditional (golf) to the extreme (BASE jumping) to the ancient (the ba' in northern Scotland). My favorite story in the series examined the Barkley Marathon, a 100-mile race so ridiculously difficult that only six competitors have ever completed it in the 60-hour time limit.
Why do you compete?
A fantastic series exploring the question of why sports continue to thrive, despite the huge variety of diversions available in today's world. Post writer Eli Saslow penned all eight pieces, profiling sports ranging from the traditional (golf) to the extreme (BASE jumping) to the ancient (the ba' in northern Scotland). My favorite story in the series examined the Barkley Marathon, a 100-mile race so ridiculously difficult that only six competitors have ever completed it in the 60-hour time limit.
Why do you compete?
Thursday, January 3
The sky is falling!
In 2008, a 100 Percent Chance of Alarm (New York Times)
A good counterpoint to the new "conventional wisdom" that every anomaly in our weather (hurricanes, wildfires, record temperatures) is inexorably linked to the global climate crisis.
Even if this provocative article isn't well-balanced, it reminds me of two truths about today's media giants: (1) they capitalize on our fears in order to draw in bigger audiences; (2) in a world of round-the-clock news, they have no choice but to create interesting stories out of nothing in order to constantly provide the new content we demand.
Earlier: Hacking climate change
A good counterpoint to the new "conventional wisdom" that every anomaly in our weather (hurricanes, wildfires, record temperatures) is inexorably linked to the global climate crisis.
"Today's interpreters of the weather are what social scientists call availability entrepreneurs: the activists, journalists and publicity-savvy scientists who selectively monitor the globe looking for newsworthy evidence of a new form of sinfulness, burning fossil fuels."
Even if this provocative article isn't well-balanced, it reminds me of two truths about today's media giants: (1) they capitalize on our fears in order to draw in bigger audiences; (2) in a world of round-the-clock news, they have no choice but to create interesting stories out of nothing in order to constantly provide the new content we demand.
Earlier: Hacking climate change
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