Thirty years ago, Philip B. Crosby wrote Quality Is Free, in which he explained how a business that improved its products could earn higher profits. The basic insight was that the earlier you catch a product defect, the cheaper it is to fix: Catching a defect during your outgoing quality assurance testing is a lot cheaper than dealing with a product return from a customer, … [Read more...] about Public Defense Is Free
Archives for September 2010
Buzz My Bell
Here's something you don't see everyday in the news:Stable hand charged with assaulting horseA worker at Arlington Park racetrack has been arrested and charged with having sexual conduct with a horse.The horse's name was "Buzz My Bell". Given that, and the fact that she was prancing around naked in public, I think she was just asking for it. Besides, how do they know it wasn't … [Read more...] about Buzz My Bell
Some Geeks are Creepy
Google had a bit of an embarrassing security problem recently. An engineer did a very creepy thing and spied on teenager's Google accounts while interacting with the teens online. Apparently no laws were broken but Google, obviously, fired the engineer. Google's statement about the incident underwhelmed Greg Laden: Sorry Google, we are not impressed. We'd like to see an … [Read more...] about Some Geeks are Creepy
Cops Protest for Right to Beat Up People in Wheelchairs
Just a quick note to point out something that really annoyed me this morning. Chicago cops are protesting at police headquarters.Before the marchers stepped off, several hundred officers were gathering in front of police headquarters, carrying signs including "More police/No Weis!!", "Simply resign" and "Free Cozzi," referring to Officer William Cozzi, who was convicted of … [Read more...] about Cops Protest for Right to Beat Up People in Wheelchairs
Are Restaurants That Hire Illegal Immigrants Ethical?
I just noticed that ethicist Jack Marshall has addressed the ethics of hiring illegal immigrants: Are Restaurants That Hire Illegal Immigrants Ethical? No. Sigh. I agree with a lot of what Jack Marshall has to say about ethics. For example, he's dead-on to call out the Obama administration for this censorious nonsense. But when it comes to economics issues, especially having … [Read more...] about Are Restaurants That Hire Illegal Immigrants Ethical?