Freakonomics a Chart-Topper
On the list of illegally downloaded e-books, that is.
Here’s the Washington Post with the story, and here’s the N.Y. Times.
The underlying study claims that more than 9 millions copies of books were illegally downloaded last year. Read More »
Italy’s Culinary Paradox
Food is fiction, after all, and there are many advantages to keep telling beautiful stories that brighten our day by enriching our palette. Plus, the moment we might start thinking about the culinary implications of a riot, things can become pretty tasteless. Read More »
Freak Shots: Honest Mistake or Snack Gouging?
Blog reader Abe Mirrashidi sent us this photo of a vending machine at his workplace which has a most unusual pricing scheme. The Cheetos and Doritos in “A0″ and “A2″ sell for $.65, and are identical to the Cheetos and Doritos in “B0″ and “B2,” both of which go for $.75. You can guess which slots get sold out first. Read More »
When Radio Kills
During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) broadcast anti-Tutsi propaganda and called for violence against Tutsis, which many experts believe significantly contributed to the violence. An interesting new job-market paper by David Yanagizawa seeks to determine the precise role that RTLM played in the genocide. Read More »
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