brandonrobison.net

I recently finished reading Discover Your Inner Economist by professor of economics at GMU Tyler Cowen. I won’t provide a full-on book review, as you can already find several of those at Amazon. I’ll merely say it was an enjoyable, easy-to-read-and-understand book for applying economic thought to traditionally non-economic issues in life. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in knowing how economics can be applied to subjects other than the economy, and/or how freaking rad econ can be. Maybe I’m biased.

An interesting thing happened to me while I was reading the book. In one chapter, Professor Cowen makes the assertion that we are likely to view others as acting similar to how we act. He gives the example of how a promiscuous man who has slept with numerous people will likely think that to be normal activity, and that others probably sleep around about as much as he does. I remember trying to think of aspects of my life that I project onto others in this fashion and having a few “aha” moments.

But the best one came the very following day, when I met with my doctor. Without getting into a whole lot of detail, I’ve been having some issues with my doctor lately in regards to prescriptions I use for my diabetes. To make a long ordeal short, he’s messed up multiple prescriptions, causing me a few hundred dollars in unnecessary expenses. My sole purpose in going to him on this occasion was not for my regular six month checkup, but to tell him how big of an idiot he’s been lately.

After making my case, his reply astonished me… and it can be summarized in a succinct statement he made: that I expect too much of him.

Yes, my doctor told me I expect too much of him — because I expect him not to mess up my prescriptions.

The real irony of his statement is that my previous two (serious) relationships ended for the very same reason. Apparently, I expect too much of people.

And that’s when I remembered what I had read about the promiscuous man. In the same way that the promiscuous man thinks others are just like him, I expect from others as much as I expect from myself… and we all know I expect a lot from myself. Perhaps I think too highly of myself, or perhaps I am being cynical, or perhaps a bit of both, but I realized I should probably not have the same standards for others as I have for myself.

But who knows? Maybe it’s not so bad to be idealistic.

ps. Dr. Robert Roth is was my doctor. I wouldn’t recommend him.

I guess I shouldn’t make such a broad, sweeping statement. But tonight, while perusing Facebook, I found a friend who proclaims to be a Republican, espousing (among others) the following beliefs:

• I believe that to improve jobs and the economy, the government should reduce regulations and unleash the market
• Only allow legal immigrants though tightly controlled borders

Ironically, the above two were listed in that order.  “Reduce regulations and unleash the market,” while simulataneously increasing regualations for who can work (ie. “tightly controlled borders”)… Is it just me, or does this seem like a blatant contradiction?

With the recent completion of the US-95 freeway expansion in northwest Las Vegas, a new form of revenue has arrived for the state: the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane. A few months back, when the freeway and the HOV were brand new, the lane was exclusively for 2+ passenger vehicles. But here’s the secret I’m going to expose, right now, on my website: within the past month or so, they’ve started posting signs with very small printing that state specific times the HOV is in effect. The times are 6am-10am and 2pm-7pm on weekdays.

The thing is, it’s apparently a secret, and nobody knows about it. So I frequently take advantage of the HOV to get through traffic.

And evidently, it’s also a secret from those who enforce the law… As I was driving in the HOV just past 10 this morning, I noticed a darkly tinted car pull up beside me. I could faintly make out a computer system in his center console area, and knew immediately it was a cop. I was speeding a little, but generally going with the flow of traffic, so I didn’t think twice about it… til he quickly dodged behind me and pulled me over.

As he came up to my window and asked for my license and registration (“Papers, please! Show me your papers!”) I asked him why he had pulled me over. “Well, don’t you know you were in the HOV lane?” was his reply.

“Yes… but it’s past 10. I’m allowed to be in the HOV lane. There are signs all up and down the freeway that say so.”

“… really?”

He then tried to save face by pointing out my excessive speed, though I think we both knew it wasn’t a good point to be made, as everyone was going that speed.

He let me go, “with a warning.” …lucky me.

And stupid him.

ECON261 STATISTICS I : A-
ECON307 ENVIRONMENTAL ECON : A-
IS301 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS : A
MATH127 PRECALCULUS II / TRIGONOMETRY : A-
MATH132 FINITE MATHEMATICS : A
MUS125 HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC : A
SCM352 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT : B

So, three (solid) As, three A-s, and a B. That translates to a 3.73 GPA for the semester; if those minuses weren’t there, I’d have a 3.86 GPA for the semester.

By the way, my classes for the upcoming several months are as follows:

Summer Term 2
BUS395 CURRENT ISSUES IN BUSINESS
ECON303 INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMICS
MATH181 CALCULUS I

Summer Term 3
MATH182 CALCULUS II

Fall
ECON359 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECON441 ECONOMETRICS
ECON463 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY RELATIONS
MATH251 DISCRETE MATHEMATICS
MATH283 CALCULUS III
MATH330 LINEAR ALGEBRA

Yep. From here on out, it’s nothing but fun classes.

Tonight, Ashley and I went to see a special showing of the live action Death Note. Death Note is an anime/manga in Japan, but they recently made a “real” movie with real live actors. I guess it’s popular enough that they dubbed it in English and brought it here, as well, but only for two nights in select theaters. The theater we went to, by the way, was completely full. Anyway, on to my review…

The story is about a smart kid named Light who happens upon a notebook which gives its owner power to kill anyone whose name they write on its pages. Initially, upset by the poor enforcement of justice by the police, Light uses it to kill criminals and other shady characters. But then as the police begin to investigate the “criminal murderer”… Light starts killing off cops.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. But before I say why, I have to tell some of the weaknesses.

Negatives:

• Although not a flaw of the movie per se, the audience was completely retarded. This was definitely the worst part about the whole experience tonight. I am one of those people who likes to go to movies at midnight on opening night to enjoy the film with other people who are crazy enough to lose hours of sleep on it. These types of audiences are usually the most fun, the most enthusiastic about what’s going on, etc. The people tonight were just morons. They shouted out random, stupid, unfunny things almost on a minute-by-minute basis. I wanted to shoot someone, or myself. So yes, not a true flaw of the movie… except that indirectly it is, as it seemed to only draw dolts (myself and Ashley excluded).
• Voice acting was… not that great. The guys weren’t too bad, but the girls sounded completely fake… like they were reading a script for a Disney Channel show. But this was supposed to be a real adult flick, not some kid show. Had it been rated, I’m sure the multiple F-bomb droppage would’ve invariably garnered it an R-rating.
• The Death God (go to the above site to see pictures of him in anime-form) was terribly animated. I mean, he looked like a computer-rendered version of what you’ll see if you look at his picture on the anime site. They really skimped on the budget here, evidentally. It made what would have otherwise been a pretty serious story kind of cheesy.
• Did I mention the audience was retarded?

Now for the cool. I don’t have a specific listing of items, just some general thoughts.

Light is a very likeable character. Even when he starts killing off completely innocent people, you still like him.  The way Light alluded the police and was able to pull off his shennanigans, especially during the last part of the story, were very fluid, original, and interesting. I generally felt the story was well thought out and holes in the story were hard to be found. It keeps you guessing up til the end. And most of all, the ruthlessness of Light (even though I’m not usually into that kind of thing) is just fantastic. Supporting characters (like the top “detective” L) were also very likeable. Lastly, the music was pretty good.

Though not the best movie or story I’ve ever seen, it was definitely enjoyable and I’d recommend it to anyone.

A couple days ago, my truck’s brakes died on me and I had to put it in the shop. During that time, I borrowed one of the company trucks to be able to get around and do my route. Though I typically listen to CDs while driving, the car I was in was CD-player-less. So I listened to NPR.

Though I got my truck back, I’ve continued listening to NPR the past couple days. This morning, the local portion of the broadcast had a featurette on how Ohio is considering (or has recently) enacted legislation placing a cap on the interest rate payday loan businesses can charge their customers. They then began discussing that idea for Nevada.

The radio host had three guests; two were in favor of such legislation (one was actually the legislator from Ohio responsible for the law) and the other was against. The host himself seemed to favor such legislation as well.

I decided to call in to contribute to the discussion. My call went something like this:

“I’m sure most people listening to this will have the sort of knee-jerk reaction that it is a great idea. I’m not calling to say it’s necessarily a bad one, but with my schooling in economics I’ve come to view policies in a slightly different way. The proposal you’ve been talking about — placing a cap on interest rates — seems like it will have quite a similar effect as a minimum wage, in the way it will affect lower income people. I’m sure there are many low to lower-middle income families and individuals who use these payday loan services…”

At this point the host jumped in and took over. Though I wasn’t asking about the demographics of payday loan customers, I assumed that’s what he assumed, because he then started asking the panel (minus the one opponent, who had mysteriously disappeared) what income-levels were average for payday loan services. According to them, everyone uses payday loans.

Though I never really said that the middle and upper classes don’t use them, I guess that’s what they inferred, because that’s what they talked about for the next several minutes until they shut me off the program.

Had I been given the chance to finish what I was really going to get to, it would have been this:

“For example, we know that minimum wage laws harm the lowest income families and individuals. By placing a ‘cap’ on how little employers can pay their employees, a sort of wedge is created which causes unemployment to go up. So, while some are helped by this (in the form of slightly higher wages), many others are harmed (by not being able to work at all). The reason payday loan businesses charge such exorbitant interest rates is because they are taking a huge risk. If a cap is instituted, these businesses will have to be more selective in whom they give loans out to. In the same way that minimum wage laws create a wedge and harm many of the lowest income people, placing a cap on interest rates will make it so that these lowest income people — the people with really bad credit, the people who need the loans the most, etc. — will not be able to get them. In the process of trying to ‘help’ people with legislation, you will simultaneously create a negative unintended consequence.”

I finally put something up on the about me page — check it out up at the top of the site. You know, the little tab that says “about”…

(click to enlarge)

I started a new customer today for pest control service.

While in her garage, passing by between her car and the wall (there was about 2-3 feet clearance), I walked by the passenger-side rear view mirror and… got bit.

Normally, you would assume a smoothly rounded mirror and it wouldn’t hurt much to run into it (I try not to run into things, but sometimes it happens!)

Unfortunately for me, this was no ordinary mirror — instead, it had been broken/shattered so that in the place of a smoothly rounded item was instead a dagger-sharp piece of impending death. Or pain, at least. Anyway, before I knew it I sliced open my hand. This picture was taken a few hours later (thanks to Ashley and Brittany on the photography).

It’s not my style (at all) to discourse on issues of love. Frankly, I find it cheesy when others do it, and so I try to refrain from it myself. That said, some people have gotten on my case about not being vocal or public enough about expressing my feelings. If you’re not into this sort of thing, skip this post: it’s mushy.

1. While your girly, emotional side sometimes gets the best of you, you are on the whole a very logical, rational, and reasonable person.
2. You are dependable and always willing to help me.
3. You smell nice.
4. You know all the bones in the body (and who remembers that?).
5. You’re willing to try out new foods, even though you frequently don’t like them.
6. You’re witty, funny, and silly, and your humor and cheerfulness always make me laugh and be happy.
7. You are willing to sacrifice for/with me in my educational and life goals.
8. You watched One Litre of Tears with me.
9. You listen to J-pop and video game music.
10. You’re the only person I might consider putting up on the same level of “anally organized” as me.
11. You have a cute nose.
12. You understand the subjunctive mood.
13. You like my favorite bands.
14. … and my favorite movies, too.
15. You like Lily, even though she’s fat and gets hair all over the place.
16. You listen to and agree with most (if not all) of my crazy ideas about politics and the world (I would say this ties in closely with #1).
17. You are creative… especially with the business ideas, which is something I wish I were better at. I’m pretty sure I’d admit you’re better than me at it.
18. You keep up with all of my expectations.
19. You like to be healthy.

Maybe I’ll come up with more later. But that’s a decent start.

I love you, Ashley.

I have been working as an exterminator (no, we don’t call it that anymore) pest control technician (no, that’s outdated, too) Pest Management Professional (right — that’s what we’re called now — PMPs for short) for almost two years now. In that time, I have never had to deal with bees to any large extent. In other words, I haven’t ever had to get rid of a hive or swarm of bees… until today.

If you don’t have time to read the full story of my experience, here’s the short version: it was freaking awesome.

Interested now? Read on.

I pulled up to the location at just past 10am. The hive was located inside a telephone box — you know the ones with the metal lids out at the end of driveways next to the street. Unfortunately, there was a 5-6ft tall tree that had branches sticking out all over in front and around the box. So it made for a slightly annoying time in the process, especially after I drenched the hive.

Now, most people don’t know, but bees are not killed with poison: they are killed with liquid detergent. That’s right. Don’t hire an exterminator if you get bees (unless you fear for your life). All you need to do is dump soapy water all over them.

I prepared my five gallon bucket with the appropriate mixture of soap and water, got suited up in my bee suit (I will undoubtedly put video and pictures up the next time I do this… I didn’t think about taking pictures this time, as I didn’t realize how much fun I was getting into). Once I was already, I poured about 3-4 gallons down the small hole in the cover.

From my vantage point, since there weren’t many bees entering and exiting the hive, I assumed it wasn’t a very large hive (then again, I have NO experience doing this, so who am I kidding?) After dumping in the water, I used a screwdriver to pry up the cover. To my surprise, the whole box was filled with honeycomb… and a hell of a lot of pissed off bees that hadn’t gotten hit by the soap-water. After getting up off the ground (I seriously fell over because I was so surprised / scared), I quickly dumped the remaining water on the hive.

This is where I started having problems.

For whatever reason, when I picked up the bee-killing-materials from the office yesterday, they only gave me a couple cups of soap. I had used it in my previous 5-gallon mixture… so I was out. And there was still a lot of honeycomb to saturate.

But the bigger problem was the fact that I thought I had gotten the majority of the bees.

When I walked back to the hive to brainstorm what to do next, I heard the most intimidating buzzing sound. I thought, “Maybe there’s still a bunch of bees UNDER the honeycomb somewhere…” As I looked intently on the mostly-destroyed hive, I saw out of the corner of my eye, about 3 feet away from my head on the nearby tree, a small football-size swarm of (I’m estimating) a few thousand bees.

I crapped my pants.

And then I ran, like a little girl, to the other side of the street.

Here I was — stranded with no soap — and a football of bees. So I did what any rational person would do… I knocked on doors. I found a guy with some detergent (who wouldn’t give their detergent to a guy in a bee suit?) and this was the coolest part:

For any of you who played Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and remember the boss Granfalloon, the swarm basically fell in the same fashion as I blasted them with a high pressure shot from my backpack-sprayer filled with soapy water. I stood there for about ten minutes, steadily spraying, as chunk after chunk of clumped-together bees were destroyed.