woodpile - firewood delivered today

We like the woodstove and the heat it generates, and the cats really like it, especially on those otherwise cold days.   Delivered today...

collapse

I frequently think about what I refer to as the banana-republification of the United States.  Just watching, it seems hard to understand what a country of our wealth, innovative spirit, and successful history can no longer afford, or perhaps - chooses to no longer to afford.

Here is an article on that theme by Glenn Greenwald in Salon, "What Collapsing Empire Looks Like":
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/08/06/collapse

I think we've increasingly moved to a winner-takes-all style of economy, and in so doing we've managed to also develop a winner-breaks-it style of economy that is anything but resilient.  Perhaps these winner-takes-all policies are really golden-goose-killing policies.

I think of the lottery winners who squander their winnings and wake up one day to realize they've lost it all and and only in that moment of realization recognize what they now wish they had done differently.  Or athletes that  sign a big contract only to see themselves in bankruptcy court because they failed to treat their good fortune wisely.   I have optimistic friends who see emerging innovative ways-of-living and economic models of activity that may result in more success again for our country in the future; they turn away from the dystopian view I might see in Glenn's article.  I hope they are right.

Boston Globe on Fisher Cats

The Boston Globe has an article today about Fisher Cats locally.   We've seen a Fisher around our house for at least three years now.  A beautiful creature (similar to the one to the left) he's graceful and dangerous-looking.

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2010/08/04/house_cats_be_warned_fishers_are_back_on_prowl/

"strike at the root"

Excellent 18min video from TedXBoston, - Lessig's plea to "strike at the root" of the problem facing us today.   He makes a strong case that our Republic stands in the balance, and the root of the problem is the effect of corporate funding of Congressional campaigns.

No one has said it better, in my opinion.  Its worth the 18mins, check it out here:  Of/By/4

 http://lessig.blip.tv/file/3945764/

Andy Grove on job creation

Best, most succinct article on basic problems in America's ability to create jobs.   For a while I've been telling people that American companies have been creating millions of jobs in the last decade or two.  Just not here.  Grove puts seasoned analysis behind my sloganeering.

Read it here, thanks to Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-01/how-to-make-an-american-job-before-it-s-too-late-andy-grove.html

a quick snap from the garden

it is prolific this year.  more to come.

(note, still learning to take photos with camera on Droid.   not too good at focus yet.)

Recently, in Bermuda:

We traveled around the island of Bermuda for a few days recently.  Here are a few non-consequential snaps.

sheep on the fort

from Fort George

flying

So, if you live around here...

...and are interested in local history, you might be interested in this book.  I found a link to it  recently, thanks to Google:  http://books.google.com/books?id=QGolOAyd9RMC

Its a history of Middlesex County, written in 1879, by Samuel Adams Drake.    Its a lot of fun to dig into.

I thought I'd put this here for the permanent record.

recent flooding

Some recent flooding scenes in Concord.

Can I make it?

When Calves Have Gills

Fording Lowell Road

Thats Too Bad!

local flooding

So, three days of very hard rain have led to a fair amount of flooding in our local towns.  Here is the road we take to leave our little cul-de-sac.  Daunting, but navigable so far.

road flooded