Author Archive
What to do with an economy on the rocks?
In today’s New York Times, there are four articles by four noted economists suggesting alternative approaches for improving the current economic conditions: It’s a Time to Listen, and to Obey the Laws of Arithmetic Put Away the Wish List, and Help Households Bounce Back The Mood Always Matters, So Restore Confidence First The Real Mandate […]
November 8th, 2008 by alephnaught
November 7th, 2008 by alephnaught
The unopened bag at 7-11
I am a creature of habit – ask any of my friends, or especially my spouse. Most mornings, I drive over to a nearby 7-11 and buy two Diet Mountain Dews and one Diet Coke, and take them to work to drink over the morning. So, the Indians that run the store know me – […]
November 5th, 2008 by alephnaught
November 1st, 2008 by alephnaught
Tank Girl 2
Title: Tank Girl 2 Author: Alan Martin (Author), Jamie Hewlett (Illustrator) Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Titan Books (March 1, 2003) ISBN-10: 184023492X ISBN-13: 978-1840234923 This wasn’t as good as the original Tank Girl comic; too complex, too many attempts to do too many things on one page. But, there were high points, especially the “Summer […]
October 25th, 2008 by alephnaught
October 19th, 2008 by alephnaught
Some data to support the concentration of wealth
I’ve been writing about the concentration of wealth in the United States here and here for example; now the New York Times has provided a series of graphs on the US economy since Harry Truman’s Presidency that shows this trend: So why would we continue a tax policy that places more and more of the […]
October 18th, 2008 by alephnaught
Bernini and Illuminated Manuscripts at the Getty
The Bernini show at the Getty Museum was due to finish in just over a week, so we decided to go see art on a hilltop. The Getty Museum is a huge complex just off the 405 heading south from us. You pay $10 for parking; that’s it, there’s no entrance fee. There’s a tram […]
October 17th, 2008 by alephnaught
Redistribute wealth? That’s what taxes do
I saw part of the last debate between Senators McCain and Obama. I’ve read a number of articles and seen news stories on TV about “Joe the Plumber.” And everyone is concerned about “redistributing the wealth” as if its some socialist (or, if this was the 50’s, communist) plot. Taxes by their nature redistribute wealth, […]
October 15th, 2008 by alephnaught
Minted: The Story of the World’s Money
Title: Minted: The Story of the World’s Money Author: Think Books (Editor) Hardcover: 156 pages Publisher: Think Books (January 1, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1845250478 ISBN-13: 978-1845250478 I love books about money and this one was fun. I got it at Hennessey + Ingalls in Santa Monica. This book is full of anecdotes about money. […]
November 9th, 2008 by alephnaught