Monthly Archives: March 2008

McCain’s Take on Purim

Posted on March 20, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Kevin John Heller brings us McCain on the Jewish Holiday Purim.

Really, about all you can say to that is, Oy vey.

Posted in Politics: McCain | 4 Comments

UM Health Ethics Program Recognized by WHO

Posted on March 20, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

UM health ethics programs get global nod – 03/18/2008 – MiamiHerald.com The University of Miami has been name a World Health Organization Collaborating Center on ethics and global health policy, a prestigious designation that raises the school's profile on ethics research.

The decision by the Geneva-based WHO is a recognition of the school's Ethics Programs research on public policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, among other places.

“The WHO collaborating centers are institutions such as research institutes, parts of universities or academies, which are designated by the director-general to carry out activities in support of the organization's programs,” according to the WHO website.

There are more than 900 WHO collaborating centers in 99 member countries, working in areas ranging from chronic diseases to nursing. But only two other collaborating centers in the world specialize in ethics. UM's ethics programs are directed by [UM Business School] law professor Anita Cava and ethics professor Kenneth Goodman.

I'm currently involved in a project on ethical and legal issues relating to medical devices that communicate health data to and about patients with these folks. I would claim credit for having good taste in my choice of collaborators, except that they found me…

Posted in U.Miami | Comments Off on UM Health Ethics Program Recognized by WHO

Wasserman Schultz Deserves Her Bad Publicity

Posted on March 20, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

According to Blast Off!: My date with Debbie, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz isn't happy that some local blogs have been beating up on her for her stab in the back of our three strong local Democratic Congressional candidates.

Well, I'm sorry, but I'm with Daily Kos: Why we fight, or, why Debbie Wasserman Schultz is a problem: if she has a leadership role in the DCCC, not to mention Senatorial ambitions, this just won't do.

Update: More about this from Daily Kos. I think the nickname “Debbie Dubya” may be a little harsh, but I understand why people are upset about this.

Posted in Politics: FL-18 | 3 Comments

Evidence of Media Bias

Posted on March 19, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Media bias is real and pervasive. Here's a great example: McCain compounds al Qaeda gaffe by repeating for a fourth time. Does this become a big story? Is it looped on TV? Does it get half the attention something a friend of Obama's said? Nope. Nope. And nope.

Posted in The Media | 2 Comments

Liquidty Trap Watch

Posted on March 19, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Two days ago, Krugman said, “the one-month Treasury rate was 0.57; the three-month rate was 0.825” and he worried about a liquidity trap.

Then then Fed cut the discount rate 0.75%, to a low low 2.25 %. Would the T-rate crater? Apparently not.

This morning, Krugman says, the one-month T-bill rate is 0.539, the 3-month rate 0.728. Working the math out on my thumbs suggests that the change in the T-rate was a lot smaller than the cut in the discount rate.

I think this is actually sort of good news. It seems that although the Fed is running out of ammo, there's still a little elbow room left….

Update: for a gloomier view, see Calculated Risk, Financial Crisis: Third Wave Still Growing.

Posted in Econ & Money: Mortgage Mess | Comments Off on Liquidty Trap Watch

They’re Coming

Posted on March 19, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Robert's Stochastic thoughts sees the future in the side mirror.

Posted in Science/Medicine | Comments Off on They’re Coming