Category Archives: Travel and other broadening experiences

From 84 Charing Cross to Mickey D’s: It’s Worse than Spengler Thought

This is London. I am seated in the cafetería at Marks and Spencer. My life is not at risk. I expect no sympathy. I expect even fewer readers. Vox clamans in deserto or no, it is Christmas season in a world capital. And not just any world capital. As Ed Murrow would say, “This isContinue reading “From 84 Charing Cross to Mickey D’s: It’s Worse than Spengler Thought”

Convergence, Big Time (with apologies to Lant Pritchett)

I have been trying to write this damn thing for a long time. I’ve started. Discarded. Started. Discarded. Started again. Ah, I say. What’s the use? This is above my pay grade. There is no sense publicly demonstrating you don’t know what you’re talking about. But then, like the Hound of Heaven, maybe the HoundContinue reading “Convergence, Big Time (with apologies to Lant Pritchett)”

Happy Valentine’s Day, Andrés Manuel

Pa todos mis amigos de Mexico, sin rencor y sin politica, pero sí con mucho amor. Let me make it clear from the outset. I do not regard this as any more than a glorified opinion piece. It is not an academic study. No one has reviewed it. And I, as much as anyone, amContinue reading “Happy Valentine’s Day, Andrés Manuel”

Mañana, Ahorita, and Fuhgeddaboudit

As I gaze out over the wreck of our once-great (small “g,” this is not political) society, it occurs to me that some modification of American English may be necessary to accommodate our changing notions of time horizons and rates of discount. This is Econ-talk for whether we think doing something now (like right now)Continue reading “Mañana, Ahorita, and Fuhgeddaboudit”

A King Fit for A Mall and Other Travel Stuff

So, for the first time since Covid, I got out of Dodge, otherwise known as San Antonio. Yup. I took the plunge to go see my daughter, Rosie, in Germany, where she is a free-lance bass player and all-around interesting person. It took more nerve than I thought I could summon up. See, I amContinue reading “A King Fit for A Mall and Other Travel Stuff”