Economics made entertaining (rated 5 stars)

The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World

by Alan Greenspan

Sometimes, The Age of Turbulence wanders into the territory of pontification. Mostly, though, I found that Greenspan’s conservative and libertarian views do not cloud this fascinating presentation of his substantial knowledge of economics and unique perspective on the last few decades of history.

This book would make excellent fodder for a book discussion club (except that it must take at least a year to cover!). I plan on listening to it at least one more time, and may very well buy the book for more detailed examination.

Caveat: I’ve listened to the audiobook on my daily commute to work, and often found it a little hard to focus on the material. It requires some concentration to get the maximum understanding of the material.

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Tank twenty-six

Total miles: 10475. Trip miles: 413.9. Gallons: 7.348. Price per gallon: $2.899.

Screen mileage: 54.8 mpg. Tank mileage: 56.3 mpg. Usual commute plus a long interstate trip at highway speeds of 65+ mpg.

Another rare inversion of the tank to screen mileage. I tanked up at a different pump this morning.

Tank twenty-five

Total miles: 10061. Trip miles: 432.8. Gallons: 8.393. Price per gallon: $2.859.

Screen mileage: 55.9 mpg. Tank mileage: 51.6 mpg. Usual commute. I used the heater a couple of times, it's been that cold.

Morning fill-up, usual pump. There was a light rain.

Tank twenty-four

Total miles: 9628. Trip miles: 424.0. Gallons: 7.385. Price per gallon: $2.819.

Screen mileage: 58.4 mpg. Tank mileage: 57.4 mpg. Mostly 45-min commutes, a few highway trips. The weather has been cooling down.

I tanked up at the usual pump, this morning. It was raining lightly.

Mine island

Mine island
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Today's hike: 2 h 10 min | 4.4 mi | 2 mph.

This section of the Metacomet is really quite beautiful. I should come up this way more often.

For more views along the Hanging Hills section, go have a look at Connecticut Museum Quest.

Black snake

Black snake
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Up near Castle Craig, I met up with a black rat snake stretched out across the trail. It did not demonstrate any reaction to my presence. I photographed it from all sides and hiked on, giving it an admonition to be off the trail by the time I returned, which it was.

Castle Craig

Castle Craig
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Today, I went for a hike along the Metacomet trail once again. After the ignominious events of last week, I felt the need to jump back on the Hanging Hills horse and prove that the Metacomet is no challenge for me.

I drove up to the parking lot of Hubbard Park, planning to hike up to Castle Craig from there. However, there was a suspicious character hanging around the lot, and I decided to look for a different parking spot. I drove up to the Castle itself, where there was plenty of parking and no suspicious characters.

I had planned to hike west, but was inattentive and hiked east instead. I didn't get lost, per se; that would have been really annoying!

I've hiked this section of the trail before... there are some very nice views up near the Castle. The day was excessively hazy, but I enjoyed the hike nonetheless.

House

House: Season Three

Season 3 of House surpasses the previous 2 seasons (which were extremely good, already). I admit that I'm completely smitten with the cynical, pill-popping character of Dr. House. But even if that weren't the case, I'd still find this program the best thing to happen to TV since Buffy hit the airwaves. Brilliant scripting, delivered masterfully. Pass me the Vicodin, I'm hooked!

Tank twenty-three

Total miles: 9204. Trip miles: 434.5. Gallons: 7.905. Price per gallon: $2.839.

Screen mileage: 58.0 mpg. Tank mileage: 55.0 mpg. Mostly 45-min commutes.

I tanked up at the usual pump, this morning.