For all of the controversy surrounding the so-called Big Dig in Boston, with its mismanagement, shoddy work, corruption and waste, the total bill is about $14 billion. America’s presence in Iraq is now costing the United States $12 billion each and every month. And what, exactly, do we have to show for it, besides 4,000 dead Americans and record high gas prices?
6 comments March 9th, 2008
As a follow-up to my tribute to the late Norman Hurricane Smith, the Beatles’ first recording engineer at EMI, I’ll send you over to this link, where Seth Swirsky tells of his meeting with Norman.
Also The New York Times has a good obituary for Norman, with some details I haven’t seen elsewhere, including confirmation that the alias Hurricane Smith came from the title of a 1952 movie. At this link.
1 comment March 9th, 2008
A year ago in these parts there was talk of drought. The outdoor watering ban in town went from voluntary, to odd/even mandatory, to an outright prohibition. Those days are gone, thanks to plentiful snow and rain. As a result, our sump pump in the basement has kicked in early this year. Here’s a video of cute, little Sumpy in action. The suspense builds for fifteen seconds before he kicks in. He hangs out with his dehumidifier friend, who is probably still a month away from waking up from his hibernation.
And now it’s time to get myself physically and mentally prepared for a 20-mile run! Marathon Monday, April 21, looms large.
1 comment March 9th, 2008