Specialization and the Division of Labor, Baby

When people stop trying to satisfy all their personal needs themselves, and specialize in particular tasks, and when they trade with one another to take advantage of each others' specialties, everyone's standard of living generally improves. That's the theory laid out eloquently in the first few chapters of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations.

A great practical example of that theory is this splitting axe made by the Finnish company Fiskars. Damn this is a fine piece of workmanship. Much lighter than a typical splitting maul, but totally kicks butt over same. You can split more wood faster with this thing than Paul Bunyan hopped up on crack.

So you go you crazy Fiskars Finns, and you keep those axes coming. And if you ever want to talk about education reform, drop me an e-mail.