Newmark's Door

"'Another nail in the coffin for learning styles' – students did not benefit from studying according to their supposed learning style"

I have to say I was always skeptical of the "kinesthetic" learning style.

"The End of Peak Oil"

While I think it's a little early to declare "the end," it sure is trending strongly that way. 

How's this for a really bad prediction?

In 1920, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that "the world's supply of recoverable petroleum" was no more than 60 billion barrels.  It was wrong.  The world has already produced 1,400 billion barrels of oil.  Worldwide, there is about 1,700 billion barrels of oil in reserve – nearly a 60-year supply at current production rates.  And the size of the ultimate resource is likely to be greater than 10 trillion barrels.

"Why not taxes?"

John Cochrane with an excellent answer to the "Democratic economic establishment".

Their bottom line, really, is that entitlements and deficits are not a problem. They put the blame pretty much entirely on the recently enacted corporate tax cut.   (I'm simplifying a bit. As did they, a lot.)

By contrast, we focused on entitlement spending -- Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, pensions, and social programs -- as the central budget problem, and entitlement reform (not "cut") together with a strong focus on economic growth as the best answer. 

"The Peltzman Model of Regulation and the Facebook Hearings"

A big knock on economics--mostly macroeconomics, but that's another post--is a supposed lack of refutable hypotheses and accurate predictions. Well, here's Alex Tabarrok using an acclaimed microeconomic theory to make a prediction. Keep track and see how it turns out.

"A Startling New Discovery Could Destroy All Those Global Warming Doomsday Forecasts"

As always, one paper--particularly a paper that "counter[s] the centuries-long paradigm"--needs lots of confirmation. But it could get very interesting soon.

"America's Quietest Routes"

If you want to go where the people aren't. (Link via Kottke.)

Evolution at work

"City mice have nearly evolved into a whole new species".

"Costco infuriates customers by constantly moving things around the store — and employees say it's a brilliant strategy"

Supposedly Trader Joe's and TJ Maxx also use the "treasure hunt" approach to some degree. I can't argue with success, but I'm not a fan.

"Inside Hidden Hills, Shangri-La to the Kanye Set"

Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, and Malibu are apparently old and busted. Hidden Hills is the new hotness.

"Listen to a 23-Year-Old Bruce Springsteen on One of His Very First Live Recordings"

The spirit is very much there, but he picked up some polish later on. (And Little Steven, too.)