marijuana / the economy

Our meeting, Monday, February 23, has these suggested topics:
1. Decriminalization of marijuana

• Palm Springs dispensaries
  
• How’s it working in Holland?
  

2. The Economy: What’s New

• The new $75 billion housing relief plan
  
• Catchwords: systemic failure, moral hazard
  

Regarding item #1:
Desert Sun: Medical pot shops OK'd by city (and earlier)
The Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project
Wikipedia: Drug policy of the Netherlands, Arguments for and against
George Will: Bootleggers’ Delights (also applies to item #2)


Regarding item #2:
MSNBC: Housing relief plan won't help all at risk, Why do I have to pay my neighbor’s mortgage?
David Brooks: Money for Idiots
Newsweek: We Are All Socialists Now

Previous posts: The Stimulus Package, Wall Street and Main Street

Updates on the economy:

Desert Sun: Economy shrinks at fastest pace in 26 years

This American Life (upcoming): Bad Bank

The Stimulus Package

The adopted topic for our meeting on Monday, February 9, '09, is:

• The Stimulus Package

See:

President Obama's first press conference

Wikipedia: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Homeostasis

Charlie Rose: A conversation with David Brooks (24 minutes), The Financial Crisis

some cited economists opposed to stimulus: Robert Barro, Jim Heckman

NY Times: Economic Stimulus

KCRW: To The Point

Econtalk: Cochrane on the Financial Crisis

listen to the audio or read Fiscal Stimulus, Fiscal Inflation or Fiscal Fallacies.

My earlier blog entry Wall Street and Main Street

NPR piece: How To Gauge Whether The Stimulus Is Working

PBS Frontline: Inside the Meltdown (including systemic risk, moral hazard)

Slate: Searching for an Optimist at Davos, More Gloom, Please, Stimulate First, Ask Questions Later

Jon Stewart: Solving the Economic Crisis

intelligent life? / local recommendations

The suggested topics for our meeting on Monday, February 9, '09, were:

1. Are we alone in the universe?
   
2. What local stores and restaurants do you like especially?
   

Regarding item 1: 

a book on the subject from the 60's: Intelligent Life in the Universe

      refers to Drake's equation, here's my take on Drake

from Netflix (and sometimes on cable): Cosmos: The Complete Collection

Regarding item 2: 

Here's a list of recommendations by residents of SCPD as of 1/15/09, Ruth's List.  Updates usually come out after the middle of each month but require subscription to Yahoo SCPD.  

Speaking of SCPD, their monthly magazine is available for perusal here News and Views.