The War on Prices: How Popular Misconceptions about Inflation, Prices, and Value Create Bad Policy

The War on Prices: How Popular Misconceptions about Inflation, Prices, and Value Create Bad Policy edited by Ryan A. Bourne

Prices are an indication of the marginal value that buyer and seller place on an exchange. They don't explicitly represent the value that went into creating something or even the worth of the object. Water is required to live, but is cheap. Prices help allocate resources to those who are willing to pay for them.

Prices of individual items go up and down to match the desires of buyers and sellers. Inflation is typically caused by changes in money supply and velocity. Price controls may cause mismatches in supply and demand and may not alter inflation. Consumers will respond to artificially low prices by consuming more. Producers will respond by producing less or reducing quality. This can lead to shortages and lead to everyone being worse off. (Though it could possibly lead to alternatives.) Artificial prices may often substitute one cost with anther. Instead of paying in money for something, people may need to pay in time by waiting in a long line or hunting for a hard to find item.

The negative impacts of price controls can be far reaching. During World War II, the US implemented wage controls. To get around these, workers offered fringe benefits, such as health insurance. This became the de facto way that health care is obtained in the US and results in a complicated system that exists today and is very difficult to disentangle.

People also are not stupid. Is there a "pink" tax requiring women to pay more than men for the same products? If it were truly so, women would just buy the men's version. However, the female products are often different in ways that females value more. The "gender wage gap" is also explained by forces. (After all, what company wouldn't want to employ as many people as possible for a fraction of the cost?) Early career men and women in the same profession tend to earn the same. However, women tend to gravitate to less risky and less remunerated careers. They are also more likely to take time off for childbirth and child rearing. They are more likely to value flexible work schedules. (Increasing maternity leave for women can make this even worse, by encouraging them to take more time off, thus limiting experience. Perhaps more paternity leave is the answer?) 

The book looks at many other examples. The general theme is that meddling with prices will impact the economy and will often have unforeseen consequences. People are quick to adapt to find new loopholes in a regulatory environment. The more more friction there is in pricing, the slower the economy will adapt. It reminds me of an interesting analysis of the German industry. Labor has a seat at the board and influences actions of the company. This makes it very friendly to existing workers. However, this also makes it difficult for pivots to electric cars and other significant changes. Will they have much of a role in the future industry?

What is the best way to regulate a market? Is allowing uber-wealthy a necessary cost of doing business? How do we appropriately set markets for externalities (like emissions, deforestation, etc.)? The current regime of regulating the response to regulations doesn't help.

Transport for Humans: Are We Nearly There Yet?

Transport for Humans: Are We Nearly There Yet? by Pete Dyson and Rory Sutherland

Transportation planning often focuses on speeding up time. This is great for freight, but fails humans. Psychology can inform planners of the best way to improve systems for humans. The conditions of the transport and status may make a greater impact than the actual speed. Counteritivite improvements may be difficult in practice, even though they would theoretically help. (A variable speed limit that is lower than the maximum would help everyone to get there faster at a consistent speed. However, drivers have difficulty seeing how driving slower can make them faster.)

Planners often focus on the part of the system they control, without looking at a whole system. A train operator may shave 5 minutes off the travel time. However, a user would need to add time to travel to the train station and to arrive there early for security and check in. Reducing those times would reduce travel time without added expense.

The comfort of the transportation can also make a big difference. The Concord was fast. The 747 and descendents are much slower, but they have lay-flat beds in first class. The wealthy ended up opting for comfort over speed. Trains with clean windows or seat-back trays provide a more comfortable experience and make travel time feel shorter.

Numbers can also be misleading. A small speed improvement on a slower road will provide greater benefit than a similar improvement on a fast road. People don't care about "average" travel time. They want to know if their trip will arrive on time. Deviations and unexpected changes are of significant concern. Providing accurate up-date status on train arrivals greatly improves travel experience.

Will transit planners actually shift their focus to making transportation for people? Will they actually focus on making a good walking and biking experience for entire routes? It has yet to be seen.

In Covid's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us

In Covid's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us by Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee

This is a liberal Democrat criticism of the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a deeply disturbing of policies that focussed on the short-term good of the elites, while paying lip-service to the concerns of the marginalized. There was an established body of research regarding pandemic response. Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions had minimal effectiveness. School closures created much more harm than good. (I even recall reading from public school and health experts at the start of the pandemic that school closures should not be implemented - shortly before they were implemented.) Some limited control of the spread of the virus may be possible very early in an outbreak. However, by the time it is present in the population, it is probably too late.

Alas, early in the pandemic officials lost their mind. A paper in Britain painted worst-case scenarios an advocated lock downs. China showed how super stricts lock downs contained the spread of the virus. (Alas, China only provided a censored version of data on their lockdowns and its effectiveness. They also had a much more draconian approach to lockdowns than would be bearable in an open country like the US.) American officials advocated for these lockdowns. Personally, I thought it was a stupid idea. But, hey we were among the first to have schools closed and be required to work from home. It was a great time for a Hawaiian vacation. Then isolation was great for introverts - especially during the cold time of year. Even if it seemed horrible for society, it was something that I personally didn't mind. Perhaps this was what contributed to the stupidity. The elected officials would easily work remotely and liked it. If they wanted to have a social event, they would sneak out and do it (like when California leaders went dining in violation of their own lockdown.)

Even worse, critics were silenced and contrary opinions were attacked. "Facts" were controlled based on political expediency. Masks were said to be ineffective  when there was a shortage. Then they were mandated for all, even in conditions were they did not provide benefit. Mention of a Chinese lab origin was not permitted. Criticism of lockdowns and social distancing measures was treated as "anti-science" and not open to debate. Trying to prevent immediate COVID-19 deaths was the prime motivator, with little consideration given to anything else. The public health experts were given full control without considering others. The result was actually more deaths and various significant negative outcomes throughout society. Those most disadvantaged ended up with the worst outcomes. 

The teacher union advocacy was prime indicator of nonsense. Some unions would go to the extent of calling it racial genocide to force teachers to return the the classroom. This help contributed to longer school closures, especially in blue states where the union welded more power. This left children without any real education. Yet teachers could seemingly show up and zoom and get their paycheck. (Where were the demands for certifications for remote education.) The poor students were hit the worst. They did not have an environment at home where they could learn.  Even worse, many of these parents were "essential workers". With no school and no day care options, grandparents would often care for children. This meant they could not isolate and would be more exposed to the virus. By forcing more "isolation" of populations less at risk, we forced less isolation of those at risk. This is the exact opposite of what should be done.

The short-term approach to the pandemic was witnessed in the criticism of Sweden. They actually followed the longstanding pandemic advice and did not impose large-scale closures and lockdowns. They did encourage voluntary measures, especially among vulnerable populations. In the short-term they did have a surge in deaths. However, over the long term, they had a lower excess mortality rate than other countries. They also had much more positive educational and psychological outcomes for the country.

A long term approach seems obviously simple. Isolate vulnerable populations. Let others continue their lives and build up herd immunity. Ensure other aspects of life are not severely impacted. Alas, the short term focus ended up dominating, to the detriment of the long term. The lack of adequate data exacerbated the problem. Stories would come out with 10-20% death rates, making this seem dire for the population. Alas, the denominator of this group was people with comorbidities who required intense hospitalization. Many others were asymptomatic or only had minor symptoms. With these in the group, the actual impact was closer to that of a bad flu season than the end of humanity.

Is there any hope for pandemic handling in a democracy? How much did the silencing of dissent make things worse? I wonder how much this lead to mistrust and vaccine hesitancy. What will happen the next time?

The Convenience Store by the Sea

The Convenience Store by the Sea by Sonoko Machida, translated by Bruno Navasky

The book is a simple heartwarming tale of the lives of many people whose lives are connected via a local convenience store, "Tenderness". The store manager is charismatic and cares for others. He really seeks the best and love to help others. He has his own fan club of older women. A woman pursues her passion of manga and helps others. (Her son thinks she is having an affair in a later episode.) There is a schoolgirl who sneaks treats and befriends another girl who is bullied for being different. (The later finds out she was caring for her dying father.) A retiree finds the joy of being a substitute grandfather and is helped in the process. He shunned convenience stores at first but found they can be helpful. The many episodes are all fairly independent, but tie together. In the end there is a classic mixup where the manager sister comes to the store while the manager goes to the family home (and they don't have cell signal.) It all works out after the everyone in the community rallies together to help. The characters are universal, though it is strongly placed in Japan with many subtle bits of Japanese culture.

Time to Think Small: How Nimble Environmental Technologies Can Solve the Planet's Biggest Problems

Time to Think Small: How Nimble Environmental Technologies Can Solve the Planet's Biggest Problems by Todd Myers

Libertarianism and environmentalism can go together well. Small scale, bottom-up improvements can exceed top-down mandates. Some general principles are remarkably simple. Energy costs money. People like to save money. Making it easy to reduce energy saves them money and encourages more savings. Mandates can backfire. I have a house that was built at a time when GU24 sockets were mandated. This was a hard mandate to encourage more efficient lights. However, this used CFLs which are expensive and hard to dispose of. Shortly thereafter, LED bulbs with standard sockets became popular. These are cheaper, use less energy and are easier to dispose of. The top-down failed by mandating something, while the bottom up got something better. The author alludes to similar cases of energy markets. The west coast had heavy regulation which limited innovation possible. Even west-coast startups were first to launch out east.

The book describes many technologies and companies that have done small things to improve the environment. Many have succeeded despite the difficulty of battling against entrenched interests and regulation. Microgrids can provide enhanced resiliency and greater efficiency (since electricity does not have to travel as far.) However, they do not fit in well with the large scale regulated utilities. Providing better knowledge about electricity usage can help users cut back on waste. Small scale clean up innovations can help reduce oceanic garbage. There are many other examples. Small improvements that spread can have a much bigger impact than large mandates that people are reluctant to use. Nobody came down and said: "we will require everyone to use a vehicle that ways 10 times as much as them to get around". However, people gradually started to use cars. Government came in to "improve" some of the problems with cars by creating highways to reduce congestion, safety standards, fuel economy standards, parking requirements, etc. These were attempts to improve issues, but they have also created additional issues and entrenched the poor environmental policy. The small solutions are the ways to move away from this, but that may require breaking away from the existing government challenges.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert

The letters of the alphabet climb up into the coconut tree. Then they come crashing down and need to untangle the pile. This is one of the greatest ABC books. It is quick and has a great rhythm to it. The story is interesting, and has some simple, but great images. (The injured letters are especially interesting, letters are tied up, have loose teeth and other fun things, even though they are just basic "font" letters.) It is easy and fun to read.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

The tale of Willy Wonka and Charlie starts out fairly "normal" and then gets zanier. Charlie Bucket lives a poor but happy life with his parents and all four grandparents. Nearby is the giant chocolate factory. One day the enigmatic factory owner announces a contest where 5 lucky customers can visit the chocolate factory. They just need to find the golden ticket in their chocolate. Charlie's grandpa makes a special purchase of a chocolate bar. Alas, no golden ticket. Later through some special luck, Charlie is able to get a chocolate bar and finds the golden ticket. The other kids are all extremely spoiled in different ways.

The chocolate factory is a marvel of high and low technology. The workers are mostly Umpa Lumpas who have been rescues from their land. They happily work and sing, but never leave the factory. There are also squirrels that manage nuts and other strange "employees". Wonka went to extremes to make sure nobody stole his ideas. These ideas included everlasting gobstoppers, gum with special powers and many more such as a teleportation TV.

The other kids ended up meeting cruel ends as they gave into their vices. This left Charlie as the lone kid remaining. He then found out he inherited the factory as he shot off in the great class elevator. The other kids had been "restored" and received their lifetime supply of chocolate.

There is a moral tale in the book, but the delivery is what makes it great.

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? (Bright & Early Books)

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? (Bright & Early Books) by Dr. Seuss

Mr. Brown can make sounds of various animals and other things of natures. This book is filled with "sounds" and verses describing the sounds. It is fun to read the book out loud. "Boom Boom Boom. Mr. Brown is a wonder! Boom Boom Boom. Mr. Brown makes thunder!" It lends itself to many fun read-aloud opportunities (such as having the kids read the "sounds")

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Arthur Dent is not having a good day. He is hungover and sees his house about to be destroyed to make way for a highway bypass. He meets his friend, Ford Prefect who takes him to a pub and tells him the earth is about to be destroyed to make way for an interplanetary bypass. (Shortly after it is destroyed, these become no longer needed.)

Things get crazier. They hitchhike a ride on a Vogon construction ship that is building the bypass. They don't like hitchhikers, but their help does. They are using the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy to make their way around. Earth's entry is just "Harmless" (though will be updated to "mostly harmless".) They are tortured with poetry and try to talk their way out of punishment, but end up being shot out of the ship into space.

They get picked up by zaphod beeblebrox on the Heart of Gold ship. This ship is powered by the improbability drive. It was almost impossible for them to be picked up, and thus the ship's improbability picked them up. Many other "improbable" things happen. (For example, Dent knew Beeblebrox from his time picking up a girl he liked at a pub - and the girl is here.) They end up in a place that makes custom planets. They are about to get nuked before the missiles turn into a sperm whale. They have a babelfish that translates any language to be understood (and just happens to have evolved that way.) They also learn that answer to life the universe and everything was 42 and earth was created to find the question - but it was destroyed just a bit too soon. Mice were the most intelligent creatures. Dolphins were trying to tell people that the earth would be destroyed, but people just saw it as tricks.

The book is filled with memes and humor. It goes quickly, but is zanily entertaining, while also providing witty societal commentary.

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

This audiobook has very good narration. Anne is an orphan who lost her family. An old brother and sister in rural maritime Canada want an orphan boy to come help them on the farm. They get Anne instead. They want to send her back. However, the super chatty Anne ends up winning them over. She is always talking and daydreaming. She has various mishaps, such as messing up recipes, getting her friend drunk and dying her hair green. However, she also has also been very helpful at times (such as helping a sick kid.) She is always innocently chatting and dreaming. She is also a a smart, hard worker who is loyal to others. She ends up winning a scholarship to study away from home. However, she decides to stay so she could take care of her guardian (who is now alone after her brother died.) Anne just can't help but drive you crazy while making you want to love her.

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

An elementary school boy (Jess) looks forward to being the fastest boy at his rural Virginia school. However, a girl (Leslie) moves in and ends up beating all the boys. This leads to the gradual ending of the races. (They would not want to race with a girl.) At first he keeps his distance, but gradually he becomes good friends with her. She has moved out there with her family from the DC suburbs. They spend time together and become good friends. They also work to help avenge a "mean girl" who took treats from his little sister. Later Leslie helps console the mean girl from her separate issues. Jess and Leslie have their own little place in the woods by a creek that they call Terabithia.

One day, Jess's teacher invites him to come to DC with her to tour a museum. While on their way, Jess thinks about inviting Leslie. However, he justifies not doing it. When he gets home, he finds that Leslie has died. This is hard for him. The tail end deals with him dealing with the grieving process. He first denies it, later accepts it, and then decides to use some of Leslie's family's lumber to build a bridge.

It is a well-written exploration of friendship, fitting in and dealing with death.

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

The title gives a clue as to what this book contains. It is a bunch of scenes that make sense, yet are nonsense. The words are easy to read. The rhyme and rhythm are great. There are fish and randomly-named creatures. There is also a bike for three (with a "pusher" up the hills.) It is a fun book that is easy and fun for beginning readers.

I Wish that I had Duck Feet

I Wish that I had Duck Feet by Theo. LeSieg (Dr. Seuss), illustrated by B Tobey

A boy wishes he had duck feets and imagines how he would use them. Then he realizes the problems. He pivots to think of various other animal appendages the same way. Finally, he thinks of what it would be like to have all of them as a "which-what-who". This doesn't turn out too well. He finally realizes he was fine just as himself.

The words have a great rhythm and rhyme as they tell a good story. The pictures add significantly with the rival boy and the "crush" girl playing good supporting roles.

The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat by Dr, Seuss

The Cat in the Hat is a classic that works. The meter and rhyme are very well executed. The vocabulary is simple, yet the story is rich. Beginning readers can easily make it through much of the book. The book also launched the careers of Thing One and Thing Two. The two kids are bored at home during a rainy day. The Cat in the Hat comes to introduce fun. The fish doesn't like it at all, but the kids are willing to go along. However, things get very well out of hand and a huge mess ensues. The cat is able to quickly clean things up with his "cleaning up machine" just before mom gets home. Do they kids tell their mom about it?

Olivia

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Olivia is a rambunctious young humanoid pig that is loaded with energy and opinions. She loves trying things (and can get really good and building sand castles.) She spends a long time picking out her clothes. After seeing a Jackson Pollock painting at the museum, she tries to paint a similar one herself - and gets in trouble. The art is fairly sparse, with mostly greys and red, but an occasional photograph of a real painting. Both the art and the story are refreshingly good for both adults and children.

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg

Communicating and connecting with people is the key to build strong relationships. Those that can communicate well tend to get along better. Some people are born with natural skills, but others can learn. Some simple things to do are showing interest and relating. Responding to nonverbal cues in nonverbal manners is key. When two people exhibit the same type of laughter, they better relate to each other. (Though if they show different types of laughter it may cause a rift.) Showing vulnerability and struggles that one had previously are also valuable.

The book includes examples from various fields. In the initial pitch for "Big Bang Theory", some geniuses had no social skills. However, people couldn't relate. Adding somebody social that exposed her feeling allowed the others a foil and helped the performance. A CIA operative tried to recruit a spy. She turned him down out of feer. However, after dropping the recruit pitch and letting her walk, he shared his concerns about his career. She relaxed and decided to join. For dealing with anti-vaxers, doctors could present facts to no avail. However, relating to concerns about life and family did bring about some desire for vaccines. 

In general, people need to show concern for others concerns and let them make choices on their own. Nonverbal communication can be as helpful as verbal.  

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart

We often talk about "consumers". However, in the long run, very little is actually consumed. Most good we buy are used for a little bit and then disposed of in landfills. Attempts to improve this often look at the "cradle to grave" lifespan of goods, but many of these just delay the inevitable. Much recycle is "downcycling" to lower quality goods that are then landfilled. Critical components are often not extractable and thus are lost in the recycling. There are also many dangerous chemicals that are part of the process. Environmentally friendly options often have negative parts. The recycled paper may contain harmful components from the previous life and be hard to read. Items may also include components from other countries that are not subject to similar environmental standards.

This book advocates for an alternative to "reduce, reuse, recycle". Even if we reduce our footprint, we still have a significant negative footprint that will add up over time. Instead, we should look for ways where what we have can make an improvement. An example would be a plant where the manufacturing process makes the outflowing water better than what came in - all while carrying out its purpose. Rather than trying to be less bad, we can be "more good". Truly sustainable processes would lead to continual improvements. Rather than reduce the human footprint, we should work to make it positive. This is a different, albeit much harder approach.

Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?: . . . and Other Questions from the Astronomers' In-box at the Vatican Observatory

Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?: . . . and Other Questions from the Astronomers' In-box at the Vatican Observatory by Guy Consolmagno SJ and Paul Mueller

Two Jesuit scientists discuss the interaction of faith and science. In their few both are complementary as they address different concerns. While many "miracles" could be explained by science, that is largely irrelevant. God is beyond the universe. Miracles may be understood via science or they may not. It is largely irrelevant. 

Historically, there was no conflict between faith and science. Most science research was done by monks and other men of faith. The Bible was interpreted by the priest for the congregation. Both science and faith were used to explain the world. The Bible was seen as a source of truth. This truth may be communicated through figurative stories or literal truth. (The Bible even includes multiple accounts of the same event with different facts.) Only after the protestant reformation did people start interpreting the Bible as fully literal. This resulted in conflict, especially when the biblical accounts did not match the current state of science. This conflict relatively recent conflict is only among small groups on the science or faith side that seek the conflict. Historical figures like Galileo known for the "conflict" between church and science were actually caught in a political conflict rather than a faith/science conflict.

This book is an excellent exploration of how faith and science work well together, even though that is the "side" topic. The Chicago Art Museum is used as an introduction to faith and science. There are different ways to appreciate art. Different art provides different insights. Even the same artwork can be explored from different ways.  This is similar to how we look at the world. The bible has multiple creation accounts. Science also has gone through various theories of the creation. Quantum Theory and Relativity conflict with each other, yet they both work to explain natural phenomena. Pluto was once thought to be a planet, but now part of a new class of "dwarf planets". Science changes. Having a background in faith and science helps one to look at the big picture and better understand the world than when focussing entirely on one. 

The Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

The narrator of this audiobook, Ralph Cosham, would often narrate under the pseudonym Geoffrey Howard.

Gregor woke up one day and discovered he was a bug. It was just a "oh, I'm a bug and not human". He is slow getting out the door. His family and even his manager try to come and get him out. Later they learn that he is a bug. His sister is the only one that regularly attends to him. Others protect him but generally avoid him. He was a primary earner in the house, so his "bugification" creates some stress. Eventually, he fades from view. They clean out human furniture from his room to make it more comfortable. They send him food, but he rarely eats. His room gradually becomes a junk room. His family takes on tenants to make ends meet. Eventually, while his sister is playing violin, Gregor goes out to listen. This freaks out the tenants (who are neat freaks.) Gregor shortly after decides to give up on life and dies. The family acknowledges his passing and opts for some privacy from the tenants. Then they go on with their lives. They are somewhat relieved that they don't have to tend for him anymore. They can now move to a smaller apartment and live financially well with their new work.

This can be seen as part of a struggle of caring for somebody that has challenges. They may have changed to be different. At first you see them as who they are. Gradually they become more of a burden. Eventually, there is a relief when you no longer need to care for them anymore. There may be a hope they can return to how they were, but an exit is a more likely outcome.

Telling this story primarily from Gregor's view helps emphasize the changes that are made. He was not killed, he just gave up. He was capable of thought and realized his change. However, he could not do anything about it. He gradually adopted more and more to the life of a bug. Eventually he stopped eating and stopped living. The world and his family was not capable of giving him a life that he felt worth living. He couldn't provide it for himself either.

Gregor's sister was the one that had cared for him. She also played violin in a way that pleased Gregor, but not the tenants. The family barely noticed her until Gregor's pasing. Only then did they realize she had blossomed into a woman. The first thing they thought to do then was to marry her to somebody. Is this good or bad? Is it another form of control or more freedom?

Exhalation

Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang

Exhalation explores a number of philosophical topics in Science Fiction short stories. Each story also provides a short "why I wrote it" section. (This can be one of the best part.) The first story was an "Arabian nights" type setting that explores a door that lets you go see time in the future. People can explore the future, but can't really make any changes in their life. (As an example, one man goes to see his future self and discovers that he is a frugal miser with huge amounts of hidden wealth. He feels it would be better to spend money and takes all of that money. Alas, his life of wealth is short lived and leads to him hoarding money due to getting robbed and accused of not "earning" it.

A few stories look at different approaches of freewill. One person analyzes their own brain. In another story, people can "fork" their lives in alternate ways. 

One story looks at "virtual people". These AI beings are allowed to grow on their own and are held somewhat like pets and live in virtual worlds. They want additional freedoms and rights, but are they mature enough?

There is one story that looks at communication. It combines a thread of adding written language to an oral communications tribe with a technology that allows people to replay at will any previous event. Is the "real truth" better than the way that we remember things? We may remember a great experience from childhood. However, if we replayed it, we may see that other participants were reluctantly participating. Does this make it worse? Do we really want the "real truth"?

The stories include:

"The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" 

"Exhalation" 

"What's Expected of Us" 

"The Lifecycle of Software Objects" 

"Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny" 

"The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling"

"The Great Silence" 

"Omphalos"

"Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom"