Q&A: Tim Harford author of Fifty Inventions that Shaped the Modern Economy “Very often the stuff that changes the world is not inherently remarkable. It’s just a cheap way of doing something.” (Behavioral Scientist)
Quote of the Day
"What these large chains [like Starbucks and McDonalds] do is valuable, even if you never use them. They effectively raise what I call the ‘threshold of crappiness’ in the sectors in which they operate."
(Rory Sutherland)
Autos
- Some first hand experience in the cold with the Nissan Leaf. (mrmoneymustache.com)
- GM ($GM) purchase Strobe a startup focused on laser-imaging technology (nytimes.com)
Environment
- Only now are we realizing the effect of soil on climate change. (bloomberg.com)
- The costs of climate change are likely understated. (news.nationalgeographic.com)
- Jeremy Grantham is worried about climate change accelerating. (barrons.com)
- China is cutting back on its scrap importation. (wsj.com)
Air travel
- There is an insane glut of used private jets. (bloomberg.com)
- Can hypersonic or suborbital flight ever make financial sense? (bloomberg.com)
- On the end of the Boeing 747. (nytimes.com)
- How to pick an on-time flight. (wsj.com)
Technology
- Blockchain is one option to help create a better national identity. (bloomberg.com)
- Why we need to get rid of SSNs. (wired.com)
Science
- Why we humans are covered in hair. (newscientist.com)
- We're still debating how life started on Earth. (businessinsider.com)
- Mars is a dead end. (washingtonpost.com)
- Half of the universe's missing matter has been found. (newscientist.com)
- How do some species continue absent sexual reproduction? (npr.org)
Health
- Exercise need not a healthy heart make. (washingtonpost.com)
- Global childhood obesity is on the rise. (cnn.com)
- Why you should get a flu shot. (popsci.com)
- Vaping saves lives. (marginalrevolution.com)
Psychology
- What evidence is there that meditation has benefits? (scientificamerican.com)
- On the benefit of wallowing for awhile. (melmagazine.com)
- Adults need to play more often. (bigthink.com)
- How to listen to your gut. (wsj.com)
Tablets
- The Amazon ($AMZN) Fire HD 10 is 'good enough.' (wired.com)
- Get the Amazon Fire HD 10 today: (amazon.com)
Drink
- How craft brewers can serve as community hubs in rural America. (npr.org)
- The story of Anchor Steam beer. (eater.com)
- A secular shift: young Americans are drinking less hard liquor. (wsj.com)
- A beer made from excess bread. (bloomberg.com)
- How to be a good bar regular. (melmagazine.com)
Music
- R.E.M's 'Automatic for the People' is 25 years old. (billboard.com)
- Spotify didn't kill radio (yet). (qz.com)
- In defense of hair metal. (marchshredness.com)
- Tom Petty was a music video innovator. (nytimes.com)
- The management secrets of classic rock bands. (work.qz.com)
Books
- Some solid advice for prospective authors. (medium.com)
- No time to read? Try the Blinkist app for 20% off. Read or listen to the key insights from the best nonfiction books in a matter of minutes! Try now. (blinkist.com)
Sports
- One reason why you should bet against the Golden State Warriors this season. (dealbreaker.com)
- Aaron Brown, "People in sports know the spread." (bloomberg.com)
Smart speakers
- All the smart speakers on the market, compared. (techcrunch.com)
- Sonos is trying to transform itself into an agnostic platform. (fastcompany.com)
- Get your Sonos speakers today at Amazon.com. (amazon.com)
Video
- Hulu is poaching content from Netflix ($NFLX). (bloomberg.com)
- Showrunners say Amazon ($AMZN) doesn't have its entertainment act together. (qz.com)
- 'Star Trek: Discovery' is a key to CBS' ($CBS) push into online. (bloomberg.com)
- Movies Anywhere aims to centralize all your video assets. (arstechnica.com)
- MovieGrade wants to take on Rotten Tomatoes. (businessinsider.com)
Relationships
- David Buss, "Evolution did not design humans for lifelong matrimonial bliss." (aeon.co)
- Evidence that online dating is changing society. (technologyreview.com)
Earlier on Abnormal Returns
- We just celebrated our 12th blogiversary. (abnormalreturns.com)
- What books Abnormal Returns readers purchased in September 2017. (abnormalreturns.com)
- Podcast links: two pros talking. (abnormalreturns.com)
- What you missed in our Thursday linkfest. (abnormalreturns.com)
- I did a Q&A with Drew Voros at ETF.com. (etf.com)
- The US is the home of the world's biggest money managers. (abnormalreturns.com)
