I read about John McCain’s new economic plan and wow, does he give the Dems some great ammunition. The WSJ, conservative and Republican as it is, put it straight. The Senator who voted against George Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy twice is now espousing both these cuts and more. […]
Oh, how sad, the rich have been vanquished in Nantucket. A few months ago I wrote about the effort by some of Nantucket’s richest citizens to dredge sand from the ocean in order to prop up the cliffs beneath their seaside mansions on a bluff in Siasconset, and how this […]
I saw a provocative ad in the NY Times a week ago, and tonight read a review on MSNBC…it was for a movie made by pundit Ben Stein called ‘Expelled, No Intelligence Allowed.” At first blush, and even after watching a trailer, I didn’t get what the movie was about […]
Last night’s film stayed with me for a long time. Todd Field’s “Little Children” used a narrator, the sonorous Will Lyman, who set the stage from the opening scene, where a trio of gossiping, sniping suburban housewives in a park sat apart from a fourth young mother, who just didn’t […]
It’s a beautiful warm spring day and as I sat in my favorite seat by the windows in front of the cafe, I read about an ambitious man in India whose stock is plummeting….despite the fact that his company is the fifth largest supplier of wind turbines in the world. […]
Dave Lenson came into the cafe on Monday afternoon with sad news. He said that Buddy Rubbish was near death, having been rushed to the hospital on Friday night with severe chest pains. Yesterday’s Gazette had the story of the death of one of the funniest guys in the Valley. […]
Today is public speaking day. I always enjoy that. Whether it’s a wedding day toast, a eulogy, or a talk to a class, give me a script and I’ll have fun up on a podium. My first stop is the Holyoke Lions Club, where I’ll be a featured speaker today […]
Like many Costco shoppers I have been eying large flat screen TVs every time I walk past them en route to the dry good section for cafe supplies. I’d just love to see an HDTV on my wall. One brand that has the most tantalizing price point is Vizio. I […]
I’m just back from Oz and prepping for an appearance on Brad and Bo’s WHYN-AM Morning Show. Listen at 8:05 Tuesday morning, and I’ll share some of these tidbits. Here is the complete list, since the segments are usually pretty short. 1. There is no tipping in Australia. So a […]
My trip to Melbourne was memorable. I only wish that it wasn’t so damn far away! The flight was not bad, no delays and no lost baggage, but when I reached Holyoke at 1 am, I was ready for a long sleep in a familiar bed. It’s great to be […]
Often I compare these journeys to eating tapas. There’s a little bit here, a taste of that there, and you never really settle into a groove because it’s time to go when that finally happens. This week in Melbourne has been splendid, and I must say that Oz is as […]
In Melbourne, the arts are a seriously high priority. Whether it’s public art in city squares, or nurturing the art of new clothing designers or performers, the arts are a big part of the experience of visiting here. Even the highways coming into the city are lined with gigantic steel […]