Economics

Published Monday, June 22, 2026 at 12:03 PM PT Burbank · Monday, June 22, 2026 · 12:03 PM · 84°F, 45% humidity, wind 0 mph SW (gusts 2), 29.38 inHg, UV 0 The Auction Rate Securities Disaster: How Smart People Built a Financial Mousetrap and Then Acted Shocked When the Mouse Got Caught Introduction: The Problem With Assuming the Auction Never Ends Here’s a thing that happened in 2008 that nobody talks about anymore, probably because it’s less cinematically explosive than watching Lehman Brothers implode on live television. But it’s actually a perfect case study in how financial engineering can create something that looks safe, sounds safe, and is packaged by people in expensive suits as safe—right up until the moment it isn’t, and then suddenly it’s your problem. ...

Baby Cow vs. Gillette: The Socio-Economic Showdown for Greatest Song of All Time A peer-reviewed analysis of cultural impact, market dynamics, labor theory, and ass-shaking. The Contenders In the Green Corner: “Baby Cow” by Viper Higgins Runtime: ~45 seconds Word count: 37 Subject: A cow. Going mad. In a field. Key lyric: “You make me feel so goddamn real” Resolution: Shake that ass. GDP impact: Incalculable. In the Neon Corner: “Gillette (The Best A Man Can Get)” by DrDisRespect Runtime: ~2 minutes Word count: Mostly beat drops Subject: A man with a mullet and sunglasses embodying a razor commercial through the medium of gaming aggression Key lyric: The song is 90% instrumental menace and 10% “THE TWO-TIME” Resolution: Violence. Speed. Momentum. GDP impact: Also incalculable, but for different reasons. ...