Richard J. Salvucci, Villanova ’73 Don’t worry. I’m not about to try to bask in Pope Bob’s reflected glow–although I may be one of a very few. I’ve had my differences with Villanova for fifty years. I studied there. I taught there briefly and then went on to greener pastures. I have occasionally suggested thatContinue reading “Habemus Villanovam”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Suicide Hill
When I was a little kid–oh, oh, here we go–we made do with the “toys” that Mother Nature gave us. Since I was a little kid in an urban environment, 66th and Haverford in Philly, toys were frequently trees, hills, pot holes, walls, dog defecating grounds, abandoned beer bottles, and various swearing neighbors, usually maleContinue reading “Suicide Hill”
Selling Off The Swamp and Other Nonsense
https://substack.com/home/post/p-159546801 Normally, I figure the best way to explain anything in economics is to reduce it to a level that I can understand. As I’ve been repeatedly reminded by former students, that’s generally not worth spending time on. But my former colleague Shana McDermott has written a piece on this DOGE nonsense–at least the publicContinue reading “Selling Off The Swamp and Other Nonsense”
Penn Wynne, Redux
Fly, Eagles, Fly! Ok. Now that I got my daily dose of filiopatriotism out of the way, we can return to more serious stuff. My faithful readers (hello?) know that I am sort of hung up on the history of Haddington (West Philly) and Penn Wynne (Montgomery Country, just outside the city limits). I grewContinue reading “Penn Wynne, Redux”
So Far, So Bad
This is really not so much of a blog post as the start of trying to work out why Mexican independence got off to such a shaky start in the 1820s and 1830s, although, really, it is mostly confined to thinking about what went on there in the mid-1820s. And, to be even more specific,Continue reading “So Far, So Bad”
Economics is Everywhere
Economics is Everywhere. No. I didn’t invent the phrase. Daniel Hamermesh, a labor economist who I wish I had had as a colleague instead of the one I suffered with, is responsible for the useful observation (and accompanying textbook, which I assume, in a fifth edition, is doing very well). Actually, for years now, thisContinue reading “Economics is Everywhere”
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”
Gimme A Break, Muskrat
Originally published 11/17/2024. I told you so. Now try listening We’re not even into Agent Orange’s Real-Life Redux, and already I’m sick of him. And, frankly, I know I’m not alone. While his cabinet choices of vile pigs, equally dubious semi-babes and other assorted deplorables may be truly disgusting, his Feckless Friends Without Portfolio areContinue reading “Gimme A Break, Muskrat”
Morta Sotto Il Carro
Maybe she slipped and fell. Or maybe, in the early evening, just around sunset, she just didn’t see it coming. You know, little kids are always running around, playing, especially in groups. A group of children playing in a city street. Nothing unusual about that. Maybe tag. Maybe something else. It’s not as if itContinue reading “Morta Sotto Il Carro”
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)”
This Game Is Over, Salvucci Sez 