Favorites February 22nd 2022

Today’s date had a lot of 2s in it. Also, it was Tuesday, so there’s that. As Randall Munroe quipped: “Today’s date will never happen again”.

Alan Cole @AlanMCole

The scale of CEQA public policy disaster at UC Berkeley is just unbelievable. fullstackeconomics.com/an-outdated-en…

There's still a possibility that it gets overturned at the California Supreme Court. Quite a demonstration of the horribleness of CEQA.

Jeremy Hoffman @jeremyhoffman

We need this so badly. I wonder how we could solve lawn equipment noise and pollution. Last week my son and I had to bike through a block-long cloud of haze from a pollution-spewing leaf blower. What could I do? Call the cops?

David Zipper @DavidZipper

France is deploying noise cameras that automatically issue $150 fines to owners of illegally loud motorcycles and cars. Paris Deputy Mayor: “Noise reduces the life expectancy of Parisians by nine months. It’s a matter of public health.” https://t.co/5gz0azFcdG

This is really interesting, I wonder whether it's legal to set something like this up in a California City.

Andrew Prokop @awprokop

Shot: McConnell says releasing a GOP agenda before the midterms would be a liability Chaser: Rick Scott releases an. agenda with a proposed tax increase on half of Americans, seemingly including retirees politico.com/f/?id=0000017f…

Hey, for once the Republicans made a message discipline mistake! There Was a lot of dunking on this, some of it is pretty funny.

Scientific American @sciam

Physicists have finally solved the long-standing mystery of why water moves faster through narrower nanotubes.

scientificamerican.comQuantum Friction Explains Water’s Freaky FlowPhysicists have finally solved the long-standing mystery of why water moves faster through narrower nanotubes

Possible real world applications include: "For example, understanding flows through carbon nanotubes could improve water desalination processes"

Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias

This is the whole deal, it just matters a lot at what level of geography we choose to make policy.

Heidi Groover @heidigroover

In this Zillow survey, 71% of Seattle-area residents said more apartments would have a positive impact on housing affordability, but only 53% would support an apartment building in their neighborhood. Among homeowners: 45%. https://t.co/FOPrQwDqGh

People know what the right thing to do is, but if you give them to vote about their neighborhood they're totally against it.

southpaw @nycsouthpaw

Macron’s aide says he thinks Putin is deteriorating. wsj.com/articles/in-uk…

Yikes

Alexander Berger @albrgr

Good paper finding that an air quality warning system in South Korea massively passed a cost-benefit test just based on day-of healthcare costs, not to mention any actual health or longer term benefits: nber.org/papers/w29637

Justified by same day healthcare costs! Wow!

November 2021, San Francisco

If you’re unimpressed by this photo, that’s fair, my editor was also unimpressed.