Hit & Run > We’re the Government. We’d Rather Pay for It – Reason Magazine

This is one of the reasons why defence contracting costs can go through the roof. This man wants to donate a high grade piece of marble and the costs of transporting it to the US military graveyard to fix a break on the Tomb of Unkowns. The cost of the marble, selected from the same Read more about Hit & Run > We’re the Government. We’d Rather Pay for It – Reason Magazine[…]

‘unhealthy’ habits cost less

This is the second time I’ve seen one of these calculations, and they’ve always made sense to me: according to the Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and Environment, which found that while “a person of normal weight costs on average £210,000 over their lifetime”, a smoker clocks up just £165,000 and the obese run Read more about ‘unhealthy’ habits cost less[…]

Driving Licence points have one winner: Insurance companies

Hardly surprising, but putting points on a person’s licence isn’t going to stop them speeding. Or at least, not the 3.7 million motorists in this study. It increased the insurance company’s profits by around $36 million, as they charge more insurance fees if you get points. The way to stop drivers from repeat speeding offences, Read more about Driving Licence points have one winner: Insurance companies[…]

Cure for Cancer, no money

Welcome to the sad state of the world: here we have a possible inexpensive treatment for a variety of cancers which won’t get funded, because the molecule involved isn’t patented, so probably won’t get funded by pharmacutical companies due to ‘market forces’.

Agriculture is the root of all evils

To science we owe dramatic changes in our smug self-image. Astronomy taught us that our earth isn’t the center of the universe but merely one of billions of heavenly bodies. From biology we learned that we weren’t specially created by God but evolved along with millions of other species. Now archaeology is demolishing another sacred Read more about Agriculture is the root of all evils[…]

Faster cars crash less

I always knew my driving habits were safe! according to an analysis of more than 12 million passenger cars insured by Progressive, the third-largest auto insurer in the United States. It found cars with more than 200 horsepower actually generate 17 per cent fewer claims than those propelled by less than 200 horsepower. From here

Yahoo Buzz Game

Google isn’t the only player to experiment – Yahoo has its own public research page. The Tech Buzz Game is a very interesting fantasy prediction market for high-tech products, concepts, and trends. In the Web Application Frameworks market, I’m betting on Rails.