Tyler Cowen asks 4 nerdy questions. Ok, I'll play along.

1. What do you maximize?

In a world of limited resources and curved utility functions, it doesn't make sense to maximize only one thing. I get warm fuzzies from doing lots of things. These things include: sex, being a husband, running, being a dad, hiking, traveling, having a successful career, good food and drink. Some things that are not high in my utility function but apparently are in others': electronics, music, jewelry, the beach, more than one kid, more than one woman, fancy cars/houses/clothes.

2. Can you offer a simple model of yourself, using one a few equations or a paragraph or less?

I would offer up this system of equations.

U = f (Xi) = f(SEX, HUSBAND, DAD, RUNNING, HIKING, FOOD/DRINK, TRAVEL...)

Xi = f(MONEY)

MONEY = f(WORK)

I work hard to get money so I can get/have/keep the things I like.

3. What is it you hate?

Um. I don't really care enough about most things to actually hate.

Increasingly I hate nationalism and all its manifestations: World Cup, Olympics, immigration debates, etc.

Still I fly an American flag at home and I was pumped about Floyd Landis winning the Tour. Go figure.

4. What is your most absurd view?

I think that in a world without government people would just "get along" with each other. Really. I think that. Ample evidence notwithstanding.