August 2007
RIP Michael Jackson
No, not that Michael Jackson: this Michael Jackson, the Beer Hunter, passed away today, after suffering for years from Parkinson’s Disease. More than any other person, Jackson developed the language to talk about the finest beers in the world with the sophistication and appreciation formerly reserved for wine. See more here. Without him, […] (via Buffalo Wings and Toasted Ravioli)
Yet another reason to love Tyler Cowen’s blogging
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I don’t know anything about economics, but I’m fascinated by the field for its often counterintuitive insights into things everybody thinks we already know. That’s why I love reading Marginal Revolution, the wonderful and entertaining blog by Tyler Cowen, author of the just-released Discover Your Inner Economist. In this morning’s post, […] (via Buffalo Wings...
Daily Outrage: Second Life “Community” Conference
I just spent a disappointing and frustrating weekend in Chicago for the third Second Life Community Conference. I’ve been to a lot of conferences of all kinds, at various levels of formality and informality, run by all kinds of organization or by no organization at all. I don’t think I’ve ever attended a conference where […] (via Buffalo Wings and Toasted Ravioli)
Naomi Klein’s book on Disaster Capitalism
Naomi Klein (see previous post) also discussed her new book “The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism.” More information at NaomiKlein.org. She argues that rather than simple privatization and small government, the new approach to upward redistribution is what she terms “hollow government” in which the post-911 US government operates through contracts with private profiteers to promote...
The problem is not a lack of big ideas or big...
Food for thought from the news:
Canadian journalist Naomi Klein, speaking at the American Sociological Association annual meeting recently, says the problem for creating progressive economic alternatives is not that we lack big ideas — viable universal health insurance is not a new or unkown concept, nor is the idea of basic human rights, democratic control over economic institutions. Nor is...
A Critical Perspective on Economic Inequality
A Critical Perspective on Economic Inequality
Here are some of my initial thoughts on what distinguishes a critical view of economic inequality — a view that the idea of class may help illuminate but which also may be described by a more robust vision of equality.
The problem of economic inequality involves a) conflict b) comprehensive inequities c) power and privilege, not just natural...
Local Economic Justice Conference
The University at Buffalo and Cornell University ILR will co-host the conference High Road Runs Through the City: Advocating for Economic Justice at the Local Level, Sept. 27-28 in Buffalo, NY. This event will bring together policymakers, activists and academics to explore how local democracy can be strengthened to further progressive visions of urban economic development. The keynote speaker...
