Exasperated Calculator: Star Trek & Economics

  • Seeing individual atoms

    A [picture from the frontiers of atomic force microscopy](http://www.newscientisttech.com/article.ns?id=dn11272&feedId=online-news_rss20). ([Via](http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/))

  • My next desktop

    [Just as soon as I have enough money for seven screens](http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/every-nerds-dream-desk-setup-240775.php).

  • Peer Review 2.0

    [A new journal with an interesting refereeing strategy](http://andrewleigh.com/?p=1353). Hope it works.

  • Thought scientology was nuts?

    Apparently [L. Ron Hubbard didn’t believe calculus worked](http://www.rr.cistron.nl/xenu/quotes.htm#calculus). ([Via](http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2007/02/23/scientology-nuttiness-part-dydx-calculus/))

  • Wish we had the New Yorker

    [Two great cartoons](http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2007/02/my_two_favorite.html) from Brad DeLong.

  • Investment strategy and the PSS

    As a Commonwealth Public Servant I’m lucky enough to be in the Public Service Superannuation defined benefit scheme. Back when I joined the Public Service this was a really nice scheme. You get a (generous) defined benefit linked to your final salary in the public service, and you get a big contribution from your employer.…

  • You can’t measure happiness

    Nice explanation from John Quiggin about [why happiness measurement just doesn’t work](http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/22/whats-wrong-with-happiness-measurement/).

  • The DDR lives!

    East Germany still lives, with [one island left in the Carribean](http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2007/02/20/79-east-germany-lives-on-as-a-tiny-carribean-island/).

  • The perils of GPS

    The UK is now [posting signs that say ‘ignore SAT NAV’](http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/20/uk-posts-signs-to-ignore-navigation-systems-avoid-perils/) because of idiots who don’t think.

  • Maybe Gary Larson was right

    Apparently [computer gamers make better surgeons](http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/20/gamers-make-better-surgeons-study-says/). ([This page has the cartoon I’m referring to](http://www.mpdailyfix.com/2006/04/nintendo_aims_for_the_grey_mar.html))