What we read while shedding a tear for Dick Enberg…
- Richard Epstein offers 10 reasons to fear the healthcare bill, while David Frum explains why the Republicans botched this one. Meanwhile, NPI Favorite Tyler Cowen offers a back of the envelope analysis of how he thinks the bill will evolve. Bryan Caplan, meanwhile, offers some arguments for a separation of health and state. And, finally, Randy Barnett opines on the constitutionality of the bill.
- Food and statistical analysis are two NPI (or Josh) favorites. Michael Lander combines them, performing a statistical analysis of pizza ratings in NYC to find that coal ovens are the most significant determinant of a highly-rated pie.
- We also kinda like sports and sports journalism (if you hadn’t made that inference). Highlights this week included Joe Posnanski on the instant classic between Kansas State and Xavier (which you should read if only for his critique of that infamous Buffalo Wild Wings’ commercial), College Hoops Journal‘s interview with CBS lead play-by-play man Jim Nantz, Bob Klapisch’s take on Doc Gooden’s latest troubles, and The Awl‘s tribute to the Tim-approved but Josh-despised (well, despised is too strong, but you get the drift) Steve Somers of WFAN. Good evening to you and how you be?
- Think of the oldest picture of a brain you have ever seen. This one is almost certainly older.
- Happy Pesach to our Jewish readers. In honor of the Jewish holiday, we explore whether anti-Semitism kept Hank Greenberg from breaking Babe Ruth’s record in 1938. The answer: No, probably not.
- Ben Stiller has a new movie coming out soon and, surprisingly, it looks kind of good. He has also been surprisingly funny and self-deprecating recently, like at the Independent Spirit Awards and on Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis. Brings to mind the Stiller of old, when he was in one of the funniest movies of the last decade and on one of the funniest shows ever.
