Robert J. Samuelsen writes on economic issues in the Washington Post and Newsweek. Unlike many columnists with an axe to grind, he makes a big deal about facts and figures. The government’s annual poverty statistics were released last week, indicating poverty, as they measure it, had fallen three tenths of a point, to 12.3%. Samuelsen … Read more
Here’s an interesting (and humorous) feature in today’s New York Times on personal sanitation issues when hiking in the high mountains – No More Privies, So Hikers Add a Carry-Along – New York Times SUMMIT OF MOUNT WHITNEY, Calif., Aug. 29 — The highest outhouse in the continental United States is no more. High-altitude sanitation … Read more
Well, this turned out to be an even easier day then I expected. Judy Anderson went down to Sloan Kettering with me, the traffic was light, and things were on schedule at the hospital. So I actually was taken down to the Interventional Radiology Department on time at 11 o’clock. And I was back up … Read more
As I mentioned in a post awhile ago, the medi-port, which was "installed" August 30, 2005, so that my chemotherapy would not play havoc on my arm veins, is coming out Tom Faranda’s Folly: Today’s appointment with the Lymphoma Guru. When the chemotherapy was being scheduled the suggestion of the medi-port was made by the … Read more
Our plans for an overnight hike Tom Faranda’s Folly: Off with Tim for a hike on the Appalachian Trail turned instead into a day hike on Sunday. We started out late, so I had already shortened the walk, but Tim was just uncomfortable about the whole thing. Joe had opted out of going ten days … Read more
There’s been a lot of publicity about Mother Teresa in the last couple of weeks, based on the publication of some of her correspondence, Mother Teresa: Come be My Light. (I’ve ordered the book from Amazon). Much of the analysis has been half-baked and ignorant. Here is a good analysis in the Evangelical publication Christianity … Read more
Last weekend we were in Boston at an Anderson family wedding, which you can read about here. Tom Faranda’s Folly: An Anderson wedding in Boston Joe and Tim were with us, and here are some pictures from the rest of our trip. This is Friday, the day we arrived, watching a street performer doing his … Read more
Tim and I are taking off for an overnight hike, starting at the NY-CT. border and going about ten miles today to the "Telephone Pioneers Shelter" where we’ll pitch our tent. And then tomorrow another 7-10 miles, depending on how we feel, along the trail. Brigid is going to drop us off and pick us … Read more
Brigid and I were fortunate enough to be invited to the wedding of Lee Anderson, the daughter of our good friends Bob and Judy Anderson (Judy gets mentioned a lot on this weblog, since she also works for with me). Here’s Lee and Tony (who works for the City of Cambridge) escaping from St. Ignatius … Read more
DEEP THOUGHTS BY MEN WHILE FISHING Two men are out ice fishing at their favourite fishing hole, just fishing quietly and drinking beer. Almost silently, so as not to scare the fish, Bob says, "I think I’m going to divorce my wife.She hasn’t spoken to me in over 2 months." Earl continues slowly sipping his … Read more