So, four of the six Nobel prizes for 2006 – economics, medicine, physics and chemistry – were awarded to Americans.
The other two, the literature and peace prizes, went to a Turkish writer and a Bangladeshi economist, respectively.
It’s heartening to see that in spite of our reputation for intellectual mediocrity, the US is still recognized by a respected international organization for academic and professional excellence.
Played for Fools
Yet more pre-midterm bad news for Republicans: a new book “Tempting Faith”, due out next Monday, documents how the Bush administration has been playing evangelical Christians for fools, using public funds to manipulate them for political purposes while characterizing their leaders as “out of control”, “goofy” and “the nuts”.
Sales Down, Prices Steady
This, from the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds:
2006 median sales price: $369,000.00
2005 median sales price: $365,000.00
2006 sales volume: 4,809
2005 sales volume: 6,332
He’s Back
Jay Severin, the right-of-center political analyst turned radio talk show host, cut a profitable deal with his former employer, local station WTKK, who bought out the syndicated version of his “progrum” in order to return him to his old 3-7 late afternoon/early evening slot.
Cashing In (or Not)
The DJIA is at record highs these days, but except for my friend the recently retired teacher, I don’t know anyone who’s cashing in.
All of Bush’s talk about how great the economy is doesn’t translate to real security or financial stability, not in these parts anyway.
Boston Herald business columnist Brett Arends sheds some light on this in his article “Bush economy nothing to broadcast”.
Fall of the Mighty
Although our global stature has declined precipitously under Bush, Americans like to take comfort in the country’s reputation as the seat of capitalism and the strongest economy in the world.
That myth was debunked this week by the World Economic Forum, which dropped the rank of US economic competitiveness from #1 to #6.
I Don’t Get It
Deval Patrick is the candidate to beat in today’s primary elections, and I’ll be darned if I can figure out the basis for his popularity.
Summer Recap
This was the summer that I
– went fishing with Bob;
– saw Tiger Woods win the Deutsche Bank championship at TPC;
– attended the Woods Hole Film Festival with CC, saw Chubby Checker at the County Fair, Entrain at Heritage Plantation, music services at the churches of two friends, the Cape Cod Cat Show, the Mashpee Commons Seaside LeMans, an open house at Emme’s camp and BJ’s annual lecture in Wellfleet…
Gardener’s Diary
I’ve written before about starting flowers from seeds, something I tried for the first time this year.
It’s provided a new dimension to my gardening, and I’m hooked.
Enough Time
For years, I had miserable, long commutes, the worst on public transportation and others almost as bad on traffic-clogged, nightmarish highways like Route 3, both North and South.
The average commute in Massachusetts is well under half an hour, and this week, I’ve been reminded what a difference in lifestyle a “normal” round-trip to work can mean.