tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45234143570445039432011-07-08T02:29:11.343-04:00Master of None is a blog that focuses on and harnesses my greatest asset: a very short attention span. I feature articles on how to get started in a variety of hobbies and gadget-fests. If you like special-purpose gear, you'll love the Master of None blog! I also rant about economics, behavioral theories and generally anything else that interests me.Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.comBlogger141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-71702984351364449242010-05-13T13:18:00.000-04:002010-05-13T13:18:39.478-04:00

All Present-day Life Arose From A Single Origin - Science NewsAgain, His Noodly Appendage intervenes to make the facts look like they support that crazy "evolution" idea.Seriously, this kind of thing is the coolest. Almost as cool as unit analysis. Almost.

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-46283982903334453592009-05-13T04:55:00.000-04:002009-05-13T05:09:40.005-04:00

I have to say this is pretty cool:Where are you in the movie?I think that the Princess and Wesley are about to enter the Fire Swamp here, but I'm open to other comments.Also, put a lid on the "middle aged" comments. Yes, I am at minute 46 of a 1:36 movie. That means I am a full TWO MINUTES away from the middle. Still on the first reel.I got my life expectancy from the link at the bottom. Luckily

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-64409766474191971672009-04-30T15:21:00.000-04:002009-04-30T15:21:49.455-04:00

No comment neededPew Research Center: The Religious Dimensions of the Torture Debate

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-28382279904278811012009-04-27T09:03:00.001-04:002009-04-27T09:19:19.259-04:00

The new phonebooks are here!The new phonebooks are here!Addictive Tips uses my graph!So doesCnet!It's this kind of spontaneous publicity - your NAME IN PRINT - that makes people! I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now.Thank you to IMDB for the verification on the quote.

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-1803069351203846782009-04-14T10:37:00.001-04:002009-04-27T09:18:47.641-04:00

Via US Food Policy blog.Why and how do insurers write this kind of policy? It's like picking up nickels in front of a steamroller AFTER AGREEING TO HAVE YOURSELF CHAINED DOWN TO THE ROAD!These shipments were already known to be in violation of trade rules. Why underwrite this risk?PRESS RELEASE:Kelley Drye & Warren LLP Files $1 Billion Lawsuit on Behalf of Domestic Producers Against Insurers and

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-87276458836144303142009-04-13T20:48:00.001-04:002009-04-27T09:17:45.603-04:00

Neat site. Scary data.I made this chart in 10 minutes after finding the data on the US Census site.1980-82 is "100"Here is the question: What happened in 1980 with healthcare? It was tracking with everything else. I think I understand the sudden drop in Apparel as part of the post 1989 opening up of trade and the drop in commodities. Did the health insurance system change?Comments welcome.

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-15354726772411167572009-02-26T17:27:00.001-05:002009-02-26T21:15:27.069-05:00

OK, so this is Part 1 of 2 on different factors to consider on incentives.A lot of healthcare plans are trying out incentive plans to encourage patients to take action to make themselves more healthy. A laudable goal, plus a healthy insured party is a cheaper insured party, so everyone wins except for the providers of chronic and acute care.Here's the first wrinkle:http://econ161.berkeley.edu/

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-65987928385347707652009-02-26T17:27:00.000-05:002009-02-26T21:27:57.703-05:00

OK, so this one is at least explicitly about medicine. It's also about our local tempest in a teapot - the fact that certain high-falutin' institutions of higher medicine in the area (BIMDC, par example) get a whopping 15-40%! larger reimbursement for procedures.Now part of this is due to a big negotiating advantage given the size of their ownership company, but it's also because a very large

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-60338155932129998512009-02-26T10:00:00.000-05:002009-02-26T21:07:37.263-05:00

This is a very, very good, direct, no nonsense, easy to understand way to explain the mortgage part of this little sitch we find ourselves in:William K. Black: The Two Documents Everyone Should Read to Better Understand the CrisisBasically:1. Before it tumbled, S&P management (at least a particular manager) actively discouraged testing of the underlying "tapes" of the supporting files on bundles

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-54149814168364414702009-02-24T09:49:00.000-05:002009-04-27T09:18:47.641-04:00

This is as close to potlatch as you can get, I think, and it's green, to boot:Recession hits 'I am rich' application - vnunet.comThis is an iPhone app and Android app that costs $1,000 or $200, respectively. It's only function is to display a jewel on the screen to inform others that you bought it. So you can impress people.I think it is a little too direct, though. We normally like to dress up

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-11880691444897744452009-02-23T16:40:00.000-05:002009-02-23T17:11:26.815-05:00

Here is a set of random comments and then a conclusion that may have some truth to it. Not claiming an original thought, but here goes:1. People like to be entertained by people more talented than themselves. You can go into a lot of evolutionary/biological reasons for this, but it remains that people have paid to be entertained by others for quite some time, so they must want that. For more

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-22656419207596415222009-02-03T16:33:00.001-05:002009-04-27T09:19:42.760-04:00

I just did this:I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm aMoney Managing Lifelong Learning Believer it was fun!

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-71590034232666366932009-01-30T16:09:00.000-05:002009-02-03T16:45:41.069-05:00

Hi!First post is on learning languages. I love to learn just enough to start to be able to read newspapers, maybe understand pop songs, order in restaurants, etc.The most important tool for this undertaking is...How To Learn Any Language: Quickly, Easily, Inexpensively, Enjoyably and on Your Own By Barry FarberThis little book is just the right advice for taking the plunge, and concentrating on

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523414357044503943.post-41680336960510836342009-01-30T15:38:00.000-05:002009-04-27T09:19:32.027-04:00

Hi!This blog is at least 5 years in the making. I first came up with "Accidental Hobbyist" as a name, based on a good friend of mine (thanks, Steve!). I was commenting that I don't really seem to have a single outside interest. He replied that I did - I collect hobbies.I just about wore out my ancient copy of the Whole Earth Catalog looking at everything from beekeeping to (apiaries) to model

Layne Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07365074409002030423noreply@blogger.com0