Hedwig's Theme

Back by popular demand: BBC Proms with the main theme from "Harry Potter."

Crank it up.

"The Case Against Education"

Caplan’s subtitle promises to explain “why the education system is a waste of time and money.” He exempts the teaching of essentials like reading, writing, and basic math, and professional and vocational programs that develop in-demand job skills. As for the rest of the curriculum, forget it. “Teach curious students about ideas and culture,” he suggests. “Leave the rest in peace and hope they come around.” The core question that Caplan addresses is why employers so richly reward high school and college degrees, when the content of the coursework has so little to do with the jobs employers offer. Yet college graduates earn substantially more than high school graduates, who earn more than high school dropouts.

Read all of Gene Epstein's review of Bryan Caplan's new book in City Journal.


[Photo by Good Free Photos at Unsplash]

Quick Look

The trailer for "Miss Bala."

The Human Dimension

It can be easy, far too easy, to make decisions about people while forgetting that they are human. On paper, people can be moved about or given extra tasks and assignments or refused time off and the human dimension is not considered. On paper, no one has a breakdown or has to explain a harsh schedule to a family.

Decision-makers, the reasoning goes, are supposed to be cool operators and taking exhaustion, families, pride, and sacrifice into account is regarded as social worker stuff; a sign of weakness or excessive sensitivity.

I've noticed, however, that many of the toughest decision-makers do consider those "soft" concerns. They know that neglecting them carries a price. Over time, indifference to stress and hardships can drive off even the most dedicated employees. 

And if enough good people leave, the indifferent boss may learn what stress is really like.

[Photo by Mubariz Mehdizadeh at Unsplash]

How I Spend My Weekends

Eclecticity Light has the video.


[Photo by Alex Rodriguez Santibanez at Unsplash]

Should Be Periodically Re-Read

Shine On

John Podhoretz can't tell you how much he hated First Man.

Quick Look

The trailer for "Our Brand is Crisis."

Good News!

Anderson Layman's Blog is back in action.


[Photo by Mwangi Gatheca at Unsplash]

"Magnetic"

There was a great TV commercial with two young guys on an elevator, each of them totally focused on their smartphones, obviously engrossed by their choice of social media. One of them, without looking up, asks the other, "Hey man, you on Woo Woo?" The other responds, without looking up, "Yeah, man. Everybody's on Woo Woo." Later the two are on the elevator again. One asks, "You still on Woo Woo?" The other says, "No, man. My mom's on Woo Woo."

- From Magnetic: The Art of Attracting Business by Joe Calloway

[Photo by rawpixel at Unsplash]