Building and maintaining our highways is expensive. But here’s a quiz question: on interstates 95 and 84, what costs a half-million dollars a mile to construct? The answer: sound barriers. Why are we spending that kind of money to enshroud our interstates simply to protect the peace and quiet of its neighbors? Didn’t they know that living that close to a highway came … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Who Should Pay for Sound Barriers?
Columnists
Letter From Paris: A European in Washington
On Jan. 27, Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit the White House during Donald Trump's era. The prime minister's red dress matched the US president's red tie and they both seemed determined to cheer each other for the wonderful things they were about to accomplish together. On the eve of Brexit, it was crucial for the British visitor to obtain US support. For … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: A European in Washington
A la Carte: Craving a Crunch? Enjoy These Cashew Butterscotch Bars
It has been a while since we had a one-two-almost-three punch snowstorm. On the Wednesday before the storm, I had a meeting at 6 p.m. and then another at 6:30 (I was about 15 minutes late for the second one). In the first, my condo board meeting, we talked about the fact that snow was on its way. We tried to figure out whether it was really going to be a tough one, or not. I … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Craving a Crunch? Enjoy These Cashew Butterscotch Bars
Letter From Paris: How France Copes With Ongoing Terrorism Threat
Two years after the "Je suis Charlie" massacre, how does it feel to be in France today with the threat of terrorism? Numbers seem to speak for themselves: France, which is the most visited European country, saw a decrease last year of almost 50 percent in the number of tourists visiting - from 84 million to 42 million - while website commentaries lament empty hotels, … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: How France Copes With Ongoing Terrorism Threat
Reading Uncertainly? ‘Divergent Paths – The Academy and the Judiciary’ by Richard A. Posner
Judge and Professor Posner explores the apparent diverging paths of our judiciary, especially the Federal, from the academies that teach our would-be lawyers, some of them advancing to become judges. This is a sobering view. Forgive me for an extensive quote, but it summarizes in one page the 400 pages of his thesis: “ . . . at this writing the United States exhibits an … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘Divergent Paths – The Academy and the Judiciary’ by Richard A. Posner
Talking Transportation: Why Metro-North’s ‘Quiet Cars’ Aren’t Quiet
What happens when a good idea goes bad? Consider Metro-North’s 'Quiet Car' initiative. Sixteen years ago a group of regular commuters on Amtrak’s early morning train to DC had an idea: why not designate one car on the train as a 'Quiet Car', free from cell phone chatter and loud conversations. The railroad agreed and the experiment proved a great success. Now all … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Why Metro-North’s ‘Quiet Cars’ Aren’t Quiet
Letter From Paris: Extraordinary ‘Shchukin Collection’ Currently on View in Paris Attracts Massive Crowds
It is the first time ever that the masterpieces of the Russian art collector Sergei Ivanovich Shchukin have traveled abroad as a collection. Until now only separate works have been seen in the West. In the 1979 "Paris-Moscow" major retrospective at the Pompidou Center - a huge exhibition from Soviet state museums - there was no mention anywhere of the origin of the art … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Extraordinary ‘Shchukin Collection’ Currently on View in Paris Attracts Massive Crowds
Letter From Paris: A Transition Like No Other … And a French Take on Trump
We Americans are always interested in knowing what the world is thinking of us. From my listening post in Paris, I can say that for months the Europeans have followed the US presidential elections with fascination. With only a few days left until Jan. 20, everyone here is watching the transition between a cerebral Democrat president and a "sanguine, non- principled" … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: A Transition Like No Other … And a French Take on Trump
Reading Uncertainly? ‘Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics’ by Richard Thaler
This is the engaging story of the development and rise to practical significance of “behavioral economics,” the recognition that we “Humans” (as Professor Thaler calls us) are inevitably flawed in our dealing with finance and the market. It is also the personal biography of the author, along with many of the most important thinkers of the past 50 years. The idea that our … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics’ by Richard Thaler
A la Carte: Welcome the New Year with Oyster Stew
Just once were we far away from home on New Year’s Eve. It was at Key West and it was wild. We ate dinner at a restaurant. I don’t remember much of the dinner (it wasn’t the champagne, honestly, it wasn’t.) But it was the first time I’d tried creamy crème brulée. Remember, it was the early 70s, iceberg lettuce was the only lettuce in a supermarket and I’d never tasted … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Welcome the New Year with Oyster Stew
Letter From Paris: Like UK’s Cameron, Italian PM Matteo Renzi Gambles His Future on a Referendum … and Loses
On Dec. 4, 2016, 60 percent of Italians responded "No" to the referendum question on constitutional reforms posed by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. His aim was to modify the electoral laws, thus reducing the role of both the Senate and regions, and thereby enhancing his own power. This was a dangerous attempt at undoing the safeguards built into the 1948 constitution and intended … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Like UK’s Cameron, Italian PM Matteo Renzi Gambles His Future on a Referendum … and Loses
Talking Transportation: All Tickets Please!
Imagine you’re in a store and you see somebody shoplifting. You’re embarrassed to say anything or to make a scene, but inside you’re pissed-off. You pay for your merchandise, so why should that guy get it for free? And if he’s ripping off the store, doesn’t the merchant actually make you pay more to make up for that loss? It’s morally wrong and it’s just not fair. Yet … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: All Tickets Please!
Recycling in Old Lyme: Electronic Waste
LymeLine.com is publishing a series of articles in association with Old Lyme’s Solid Waste and Recycling Committee -- these articles lay out best recycling practices. Previous articles have covered Old Lyme’s current curbside trash and recycling program; the safe disposal of medications; the recycling of paint, and the recycling of mattresses. In this article we cover the … [Read more...] about Recycling in Old Lyme: Electronic Waste
A la Carte: Pot Roast is Perfect Between the Holidays
It has been a busy holiday season, beginning at Thanksgiving. I will light my candles on my menorah beginning Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, the first time I can remember Hanukkah beginning on Christmas Eve. (In the Jewish calendar, which sometimes has an extra month, Hanukkah can arrive from November through most of December and is an eight-day holiday. I do not remember my parents … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Pot Roast is Perfect Between the Holidays
She’s Back! Nicole Logan is Here Again With Another ‘Letter From Paris’
We are absolutely delighted to welcome back Nicole Prévost Logan and her Letter From Paris column! Nicole stayed longer than usual in Essex this year in order to see the outcome of the election and celebrate Thanksgiving. She has now returned to Paris and here is her first column of the 2016-17 series. We know this will please the many readers who have been asking about … [Read more...] about She’s Back! Nicole Logan is Here Again With Another ‘Letter From Paris’