Human Action I

I've begun the epic task of rereading "Human Action" by Ludwig Von Mises. I've gotten through part I of his introduction so far, and it's simply delightful. I remember the first read-through being more plodding, but I'll wait until I get into his epistemology until I judge him this time.

To begin, Mises speaks on how economics revolutionized our understanding of the human condition and the rules of human interaction, by organizing, defining, and explaining social phenomena. According to Mises, not only is market activity explained by these economic rules and terms, but also all other human activity, i.e. human action. I can't help but be reminded of the applications of neoclassical theory to areas outside the economic sphere by the later Chicago School, from Law and Economic to Economics of Crime (Freakonomics with Steven Levitt).

It's interesting rereading Mises after being more thoroughly educated in broader economic history and context. Not just in terms of where and why these ideas are being drawn from and presented, but also the imprint left on the economic tradition.

Wish me luck in completing Von Mises' magnum opus!

CNN: "Hulu to charge subscription fee"

Damn You, Rupert Murdoch!

"Popular online video service Hulu will start charging subscription fees sometime next year, says News Corp. Deputy Chairman Chase Carey.

While speaking at a recent Broadcasting Cable summit Carey announced his plans for Hulu: “I think a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of our content. I think what we need to do is deliver that content to consumers in a way where they will appreciate the value. Hulu concurs with that, it needs to evolve to have a meaningful subscription model as part of its business.”"

Oh well. Guess I'll have to watch my TV elsewhere. Or pirate it. Hear that, News Corp? Your attempt at profiting from Hulu has just led me down the awkward spiral of piracy. Yarr!

Watchmen Saturday Morning Cartoon Show!

Homecoming wrap-up

"It's cold and wet as fuck out there, and you may want to just quit and go home and get out of this miserable weather, but it's homecoming, and that means that you're going to go out there, and play it good. That means, you go out there, and play it with Spirit, Pride and Excellence. That means you go out there, march in step, play in time, and raise your bells! C'mon, it's homecoming; go out there and make me proud!" - Runnan Yang, CLS Homecoming Game 2009

I suppose it's cliche to write about the big game, but I'd like to think my tale's a tad bit different, given that I didn't play in the game. It didn't matter to me that we won forty points in the lead and with a running clock, just as it wouldn't have mattered to me if we'd lost with the same conditions.

What mattered was how the band came together. A mass, devoid of leadership and ridden by strife just a few days before, came together into a unit that Homecoming game. Cynics and Sceptics became Believers and Leaders.

And the trombone section, my section, the section infamous for never following directions, maintaining discipline, or even playing at all, that trombone section stuck together and played an incredible show.

It was cold and rainy and miserable, but it was the best Homecoming game that I could ever have had.

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, you just got moved up to second choice college. And I just got my Why Swarthmore essay topic.

Two for one!

Disney Buys Marvel

"Entertainment giant Walt Disney is to buy Marvel Entertainment in a shares and cash deal valued at $4bn (£2.5bn).

The deal means Disney will take over ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters, such as Spider-Man and the X-Men."

Lame. I predict more crappy movie adaptations of Marvel stories.

Remember what Warner Bros. did to DC? De. ja. vu.

double kilograms
double velocity
double momentum



Enter object mass in kilograms

Enter object velocity in metres per second

Momentum equals mass times velocity

"The Object momentum is" + momentum

// Program 2.3 Converts kilometres to nautical miles


import java.util.Scanner;

public class NaughtyMiles

{

public static void main(String [] args)

{

Scanner reader;

reader = new Scanner(System.in);

double kilo;
double distance;
double degrees;
double naughty;


System.out.print("Type the number in kilometres, and then press enter.");

kilo = reader.nextDouble();

distance = kilo / 10000.0;

degrees = distance * 90.0;

naughty = degrees * 60.0;

System.out.println("the number of nautical miles is" + naughty);

}

}

2.2

public class Yield

{

public static void main(String [] args)

{

System.out.println("*******************");
System.out.println(" * * ");
System.out.println(" * * ");
System.out.println(" * YIELD, * ");
System.out.println(" * * ");
System.out.println(" * EH? * ");
System.out.println(" * * ");
System.out.println(" * * ");
System.out.println(" * * ");
System.out.println(" * ");

}

}