Online Shopping Guide

SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance Review

I just finished this book about a week ago and decided to come on here and see what others were saying. I just read through all of the 33 one star reviews and laughed the entire time.

The majority of these reviews do one of two things:
1 – Posit that it is a major departure from the first book or
2 – Use the words “faulty research,” etc. etc and counter the books arguments with anecdotal stories or things they personally calculated from a website or worse info on wikipedia. These ones I find especially hilarious and will provide examples

Here are the counter-arguments

1- I see no major departure from the first book. The only departure I see is the political implications of the subject matter. To be specific, the subject material of the first book will be better received by those who consider themselves “liberal.” Example: several posters note that his first book was more logical and that it is ridiculous that in this book they posit such “absurd ideas” as not using booster seats or that drunk walking is dangerous. How in any way is this different than the first book positing that abortion may have a lagging affect on crime rate? (arguably one of the most memorably and oft-cited parts of the original? In all examples given they note correlation (which is exactly what econometric analysis does [correlation, not causality]). Following the description of the correlation, they discuss implications. For example, regarding abortion, they posit that abortion and crime are related but that it would be horribly inefficient for a society to kill thousands of unknowns in the effort to possibly prevent one murder twenty years in the future (last page of chapter 4). Similarly he concludes that from the drunk driving vs. walking numbers it would be absurd to decide to drive drunk instead because u have the potential of harming others instead of just yourself (as well as other reasons). Likewise, he repeatedly states that car seats for certain ages definitely DO provide a benefit and any attempt to not use them or drive recklessly is absurd. Upon careful reading you will find this standard upheld for most arguments in both books. The problem is people let their personal, political, religious, convictions get in the way and they get to “oh i support abortion and dubner says it lowers crime” and forget the rest or “but i love my kids and feel good about their carseat, damn that dubner”, without recognizing what is actually being said. Am i saying that every reader should accept the positions put forward in this book as absolute truth and not question any of the ideas? ABSOLUTELY NOT. IN FACT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT DUBNER HIMSELF WOULD WARN AGAINST. ALWAYS QUESTION! WHAT IS AT WORK BEHIND THE NUMBERS. Unless I am horribly mistaken, that is the ONE UNIFYING THEME of these books. DUH. However, rating this book one star and the reason you put forth is something that was clearly stated in the book just demonstrates ignorance. My efforts here are to correct that.

2- I feel that this problem stems from the casual tone of the book, as it takes on a more qualitative than quantitative form than most econ-related books. Without an understanding of the basics of economic research and econometrics the casual reader oftentimes can confuse issues and feel that the information and data was easily gather and put through some rudimentary vetting process (like and excel spreadsheet correlation) which couldn’t be further from the truth. Therefore they counter it with such laughable points such as:

Marlissa:
“I’m a mother, certified CPS technician, and traffic safety researcher, and I would not have anyone transporting my children without their car seats, based on the studies that I’ve examined.”
Anecdotal, no references (or even a single study named). Her follow up to comments on her review says:
“In addition, the FARS data cited in the book only includes crashes with fatalities. Some instances where a car seat saved a child’s life would not be included in this data set, if there were no other fatalities in the crash.”
This makes it seem that the book ignores the injury-avoiding potential of child seats (which the book clearly covers). Besides the point that the FARS data set covers ANY fatality (adult/child/driver/passenger/distinction does not matter). The presence or absence of a child seat is in no way a determinant of whether someone (ex: driver) dies, which would include it in this sample. Therefore there is no selection bias. Therefore, your point is unfounded and invalid.

Dana A Nuccitelli:
“In one chapter they basically encourage drunk driving by suggesting it’s safer than drunken walking.” -laughably erroneous

The one-star reviews are a must read for anyone with any knowledge who is looking for a good belly laugh. I won’t even bother calling out the rest as anyone who would side with them won’t be convinced by logical arguments anyway.

One reviewer gave it 1-star because it is “full of crackpot ideas” and says “CO2 isn’t the main cause of global warming.” If you have no desire to find factual information yourself and are so ready to accept the ideas of Al Gore or the media (read over-dramatization of shark attacks, SARS, global warming, swine flu, etc) without considering those of factual reports, scientific opinions, or statistics, then you are lost anyway.

In short, there are a few good critical reviews in which reviewers state issues with the book and I enjoyed reading their reasoning. However, the vast majority are along the lines of stupid anecdotal points which is the whole message of this book “Look at the numbers not what ‘you heard from someone who heard from someone’”

SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance Feature

• ISBN13: 9780060889579
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance Overview

The New York Times bestselling Freakonomics was a worldwide sensation, selling more than four million copies in thirty-five languages and changing the way we look at the world.

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner return with Superfreakonomics, and fans and newcomers alike will find that the freakquel is even bolder, funnier, and more surprising than the first.

SuperFreakonomics challenges the way we think all over again, exploring the hidden side of everything with such questions as:

• How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa?
• What do hurricanes, heart attacks, and highway deaths have in common?
• Can eating kangaroo save the planet?

Levitt and Dubner mix smart thinking and great storytelling like no one else. By examining how people respond to incentives, they show the world for what it really is—good, bad, ugly, and, in the final analysis, super freaky. Freakonomics has been imitated many times over—but only now, with SuperFreakonomics, has it met its match.

SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance Specifications

Book Description

The New York Times best-selling Freakonomics was a worldwide sensation, selling over four million copies in thirty-five languages and changing the way we look at the world. Now, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner return with SuperFreakonomics, and fans and newcomers alike will find that the freakquel is even bolder, funnier, and more surprising than the first.

Four years in the making, SuperFreakonomics asks not only the tough questions, but the unexpected ones: What’s more dangerous, driving drunk or walking drunk? Why is chemotherapy prescribed so often if it’s so ineffective? Can a sex change boost your salary?

SuperFreakonomics challenges the way we think all over again, exploring the hidden side of everything with such questions as:

• How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa?
• Why are doctors so bad at washing their hands?
• How much good do car seats do?
• What’s the best way to catch a terrorist?
• Did TV cause a rise in crime?
• What do hurricanes, heart attacks, and highway deaths have in common?
• Are people hard-wired for altruism or selfishness?
• Can eating kangaroo save the planet?
• Which adds more value: a pimp or a Realtor?

Levitt and Dubner mix smart thinking and great storytelling like no one else, whether investigating a solution to global warming or explaining why the price of oral sex has fallen so drastically. By examining how people respond to incentives, they show the world for what it really is – good, bad, ugly, and, in the final analysis, super freaky.

Freakonomics has been imitated many times over – but only now, with SuperFreakonomics, has it met its match.

From Superfreakonomics: Where do you stand on the freak-o-meter?

Four years ago, you were cool. You read Freakonomics when it first came out. You impressed family and friends and dazzled dates with the insights you gleaned. Now Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner return with Superfreakonomics, a freakquel even bolder, funnier, and more surprising than the first.

Have you been keeping up? Can you call yourself a SuperFreak? Test your Superfreakonomics know-how now:

Question 1: 5 points
According to Superfreakonomics, what has been most helpful in improving the lives of women in rural India?
A. The government ban on dowries and sex-selective abortions
B. The spread of cable and satellite television
C. Projects that pay women to not abort female babies
D. Condoms made specially for the Indian market

Question 2: 3 points
Among Chicago street prostitutes, which night of the week is the most profitable?
A. Saturday
B. Monday
C. Wednesday
D. Friday

Question 3: 5 points
You land in an emergency room with a serious condition and your fate lies in the hands of the doctor you draw. Which characteristic doesn’t seem to matter in terms of doctor skill?
A. Attended a top-ranked medical school and served a residency at a prestigious hospital
B. Is female
C. Gets high ratings from peers
D. Spends more money on treatment

Question 4: 3 points
Which cancer is chemotherapy more likely to be effective for?
A. Lung cancer
B. Melanoma
C. Leukemia
D. Pancreatic cancer

Question 5: 5 points
Half of the decline in deaths from heart disease is mainly attributable to:
A. Inexpensive drugs
B. Angioplasty
C. Grafts
D. Stents

Question 6: 3 points
True or False: Child car seats do a better job of protecting children over the age of 2 from auto fatalities than regular seat belts.

Question 7: 5 points
What’s the best thing a person can do personally to cut greenhouse gas emissions?
A. Drive a hybrid car
B. Eat one less hamburger a week
C. Buy all your food from local sources

Question 8: 3 points
Which is most effective at stopping the greenhouse effect?
A. Public-awareness campaigns to discourage consumption
B. Cap-and-trade agreements on carbon emissions
C. Volcanic explosions
D. Planting lots of trees

Question 9: 5 points
In the 19th century, one of the gravest threats of childbearing was puerperal fever, which was often fatal to mother and child. Its cause was finally determined to be:
A. Tight bindings of petticoats early in the pregnancy
B. Foul air in the delivery wards
C. Doctors not taking sanitary precautions
D. The mother rising too soon in the delivery room

Question 10: 3 points
Which of the following were not aftereffects of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on September 11, 2001:
A. The decrease in airline traffic slowed the spread of influenza.
B. Thanks to extra police in Washington, D.C., crime fell in that city.
C. The psychological effects of the attacks caused people to cut back on their consumption of alcohol, which led to a decrease in traffic accidents.
D. The increase in border security was a boon to some California farmers, who, as Mexican and Canadian imports declined, sold so much marijuana that it became one of the states most valuable crops.

Answers and Scoring
Question 1
B, Cable and satellite TV. Women with television were less willing to tolerate wife beating, less likely to admit to having a “son preference,” and more likely to exercise personal autonomy. Plus, the men were perhaps too busy watching cricket.

Question 2
A, Saturday nights are the most profitable. While Friday nights are the busiest, the single greatest determinant of a prostitute’s price is the specific trick she is hired to perform. And for whatever reason, Saturday customers purchase more expensive services.

Question 3
C, One factor that doesn’t seem to matter is whether a doctor is highly rated by his or her colleagues. Those named as best by their colleagues turned out to be no better than average at lowering death rates–although they did spend less money on treatments.

Question 4
C, Leukemia. Chemotherapy has proven effective on some cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and testicular cancer, especially if these cancers are detected early. But in most cases, chemotherapy is remarkably ineffective, often showing zero discernible effect. That said, cancer drugs make up the second-largest category of pharmaceutical sales, with chemotherapy comprising the bulk.

Question 5
A, Inexpensive drugs. Expensive medical procedures, while technologically dazzling, are responsible for a remarkably small share of the improvement in heart disease. Roughly half of the decline has come from reductions in risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, both of which are treated with relatively inexpensive drugs. And much of the remaining decline is thanks to ridiculously inexpensive treatments like aspirin, heparin, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers.

Question 6
False. Based on extensive data analysis as well as crash tests paid for by the authors, old-fashioned seat belts do just as well as car seats.

Question 7
B, Shifting less than one day per week’s worth of calories from red meat and dairy products to chicken, fish, eggs, or a vegetable-based diet achieves more greenhouse-gas reduction than buying all locally sourced food, according to a recent study by Christopher Weber and H. Scott Matthews, two Carnegie Mellon researchers. Every time a Prius or other hybrid owner drives to the grocery store, she may be cancelling out its emissions-reducing benefit, at least if she shops in the meat section. Emission from cows, as well as sheep and other ruminants, are 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than the carbon dioxide released by cars and humans.

Question 8
C, the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines discharged more than 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which acted like a layer of sunscreen, reducing the amount of solar radiation and cooling off the earth by an average of one degree F.

Question 9
C, doctors not taking sanitary precautions. This was the dawning age of the autopsy, and doctors did not yet know the importance of washing their hands after leaving the autopsy room and entering the delivery room.

Question 10
C, the psychological effect of the attacks caused people to increase their alcohol consumption, and traffic accidents increased as a result.

Scoring
32-40: Certified SuperFreak
25-31: Freak–surprises lay in wait for you
16-24: Wannabe freak–you’ve got some reading to do
1-15: Conventional wisdomer–you’re still thinking in old ways

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jan 20, 2010 02:10:05

Online Shopping Guide :Wireless Best Price For You The High Quality Products

Shopping for car insurance is not the most fun compared to other activities. But how much money you can save any inconvenience this may take away point.

When it comes to car insurance, many people make the mistake of being the first automobile insurance policy arrives.

Ask a waiver of time and effort to shop comparing prices for car insurance top the list for most consumers in error when it comes to shopping forCar insurance. Fortunately, because of the Internet comparison shopping is much easier when it comes to car insurance.

Online Car Insurance Buying Tips

More people continued to buy the advantage of convenience and speed of the line car insurance, now more than ever before. But to continue with so many people flocking to appear on the convenience of shopping online auto insurance a lot of mistakes.

Make sure you take theTo compare the time, not just the price, but the type of alert, and the exceptions when you shop for car insurance.

The speed at which you shop and compare prices on Smart Insurance Shopping. But make sure that you want to compare oranges with oranges.

Take lots of notes in the examination of the numbers, cover and exclusions.

The benefits of insurance shopping online

1. Comfortable – and 'can purchase and compare pricesYour comfort in your time. You can comparison shop in a bathrobe and slippers to 2.30 clock or your lunch hour at work.

2. Speed comparison shopping – you can store many times faster than by phone or in writing, various insurance companies. Because you can quickly buy the comparison more likely to do so – and therefore save money.

3. Can deeper search faster and more thoroughly than most of opportunities online.

What affects your insurance rates

1.Where you live:

Unfortunately, living in a great center of population at higher risk, such as traffic accidents, theft, vandalism and other insurance risks.

2. The type of car you drive:

The type of car you drive determines the price to pay for car insurance. The sexy, flashy, more high performance cars with the best price. According to the statistics of insurance, these cars tend to attract the majority of speeding tickets, directions and higher repair costs high.

3.Driver / Owner Profile:

Insurance companies look at four important factors. (1) driving record (2) Family (3) Male or female (4) of age. Generally, married women aged over 25 represent the lowest (fewer claims submitted) claims. On the other hand men under 25 years, the most risky drivers (presented by higher credit cost) for the statistics of insurance.

4. How many miles you drive: The more miles of driving the more risk you have to be involved in an accident, according to insurance –Statistics. If you increase your car for business This is also your prices.

The High Quality Products Best Price For You Online Shopping Guide : Apparel