The Wiki Man
How oneupmanship ruins things for everyone
‘There’s a little bit of a fascist in all of us. For some, the tragedy of human want may provoke…
Four gadgets to take on holiday — and two to leave behind
One inarguably good thing about electronic publishing is that it solves that old quandary about what books to pack for…
Holiday kit – should it stay or should it go?
One inarguably good thing about electronic publishing is that it solves that old quandary about what books to pack for…
Why we’ll never go back to smoking indoors
What would happen, I wonder, were we to rescind the smoking ban as Nigel Farage wants? My guess is not…
How good laws change our ways
What would happen, I wonder, were we to rescind the smoking ban as Nigel Farage wants? My guess is not…
Adam Smith is the father of more than one sort of economics
Gandhi would test his resolve by sleeping between two naked virgins, an avenue not really open to me, as my…
Adam Smith vs the measurebators
Gandhi would test his resolve by sleeping between two naked virgins, an avenue not really open to me, as my…
The six things that'll change when I rule the world
But why did the food [in England] stay so bad after refrigerated ships, frozen foods and eventually air-freight deliveries of…
Six ways to a better life
But why did the food [in England] stay so bad after refrigerated ships, frozen foods and eventually air-freight deliveries of…
How user-friendly is your house?
Old Glaswegian joke: ‘Put your hat and coat on, lassie, I’m off to the pub.’ ‘That’s nice — are you…
How user-friendly is your house?
Old Glaswegian joke: ‘Put your hat and coat on, lassie, I’m off to the pub.’ ‘That’s nice — are you…
This strategy won Eurovision. It could also save your life
Oskar Morgenstern grew up in Vienna, John von Neumann in Budapest. Clearly the same Austro-Hungarian intellectual spirit which gave rise…
When brave is better than good
Oskar Morgenstern grew up in Vienna, John von Neumann in Budapest. Clearly the same Austro-Hungarian intellectual spirit which gave rise…
Why I no longer want to live in America
A few years ago I would have quite liked to live in America. I’m not sure now. For one thing,…
A land of extremes
A few years ago I would have quite liked to live in America. I’m not sure now. For one thing,…
What do you get if you cross a suitcase with rollerblades?
A 14-year-old at an American school recently caused a stir when he claimed that the US government could save over…
Ideas that breed
A 14-year-old at an American school recently caused a stir when he claimed that the US government could save over…
You can buy happiness. Here’s how…
If you are reading this article online, perhaps you could go to the comments section and let us know what…
You can buy happiness
If you are reading this article online, perhaps you could go to the comments section and let us know what…
The engagement-ring theory of property bubbles
Google ‘the bread market’ and you get 135,000 hits, mostly from specialist food industry websites. Google ‘the property market’, however,…
The diamond-ring theory of housing bubbles
Google ‘the bread market’ and you get 135,000 hits, mostly from specialist food industry websites. Google ‘the property market’, however,…
The plan with three brains
A good human chess player with a good computer trounces the best human or computer playing alone
Three minds are better than one
This month Daniel Kahneman turned 80. Long revered among experts in the decision sciences, his work reached much wider public…
What the O.J. Simpson jury didn’t know (and schools should teach)
During the O.J. Simpson trial, the prosecution made much of the fact that Simpson had a record of violence towards…
How to give yourself a better chance
During the O.J. Simpson trial, the prosecution made much of the fact that Simpson had a record of violence towards…
