Features by David Deutsch

2010-08-19 In Transit: San Fran Tran (part 1)
For a mere $20 I got three-day unlimited access to the MUNI system, which included buses, the cable cars, and the trolleys, which looked like New Jersey diners on wheels.
2010-07-28 In Transit: More on Libertarianism
A libertarian blog determined that I am “completely fucking clueless” and said my political beliefs were somehow akin to “initiating violence against” people, or something.
2010-07-14 In Transit: Travel Planning and the Digital Divide
Like most new business owners, I’m pretty much broke. But I have to go to San Francisco for business. So what’s a broke, self-employed guy to do?
2010-07-10 In Transit: My Three Years
I dusted off my resume and began applying for jobs to prepare for graduation. And so I applied for jobs. Then I applied for more jobs. And then I applied for yet more.
2010-06-30 In Transit: Could Afghanistan’s Riches Destabilize the U.S. Economy?
Yes, I know this is a loaded question. But if it’s true that past is prologue, the discovery in Afghanistan of one trillion dollars in mineral deposits …
2010-06-16 In Transit: Can Recessions Be Good Things?
This recession has been more painful than most: food bank reserves are depleted, children are going to bed hungry, and career opportunities have been thrown in reverse.
2010-06-02 In Transit: A Nation of Toll-Roads: Why Libertarianism Can Never Work
Libertarianism has been in the news a lot lately, thanks to Kentucky Republican Senate nominee Dr. Rand Paul. And we are much better off because of his candidacy.
2010-05-08 Chinatown Buses: Getting More Than You Pay For
Every time I visit my native East Coast, I am amazed at all the cool stuff I did not take advantage of: I did not visit Ford’s Theatre. I never visited Gettysburg.
2010-03-17 The Bus Stigma
My first assignment as a Federal Transportation auditor was an examination of excessive customization of transit buses. Manufacturers were complaining that local …
2010-02-17 Haiti and the Southland
Haiti has, for obvious reasons, been on the top of the news cycle lately. There isn’t a lot that can be said about the catastrophe that isn’t strikingly obvious.
2010-01-07 Feeling Warm and Fuzzy With Green IT
Making IT green requires a concerted and focused effort by all stakeholders in an organization because IT is a really big consumer of energy and it impacts everyone.
2009-11-30 We Killed the Electric Car
Not long ago, I saw an amazing documentary called Who Killed the Electric Car? This film tracked the rise and fall of the GM EV1 electric vehicle …
2009-07-22 The Structurally Irrelevant
One advantage to sinking yourself $85,000 in debt and getting a Masters from USC is that every so often you actually learn something.
2009-06-18 Fear the Auditors
She squinted, put on her reading glasses and slowly said, “Am I reading this right? Does this say he billed for a … spanking tour?”
2009-05-29 Don’t Fear the Auditors
A group of serious people in serious suits with serious looks on their faces comes barging in.
2009-05-14 Malthusian Planning
Panic, famine, social unrest, and maybe the return of Gozer the Destructor.
2008-12-17 The Expo Line: What the Hell?
Building a mass-transit system in an earthquake zone. Ummm …
2008-10-17 Bubbles, Part II: Green Power, George Carlin and Housing L.A.’s Poor
A cabal of ultra-rich people at the top of the economic heap?
2008-07-10 Dutch Tulips, The Boston Massacre, and Housing L.A.’s Poor
Economic bubbles (and their associated mass hysteria) are fascinating phenomena.
2008-06-07 Bent Flyvbjerg: Teach Your Kids It’s Not a Dirty Word
He’s probably the world’s leading expert on wasteful public works projects.
2008-05-01 Los Angeles’ Mass Transit System Is a Form of Neo-Apartheid
“Was that your Civic?” he half-snickered, not even trying to conceal his amusement.