My friend, Steve, is rereading all of the "classic" economics tomes (think Wealth of Nations et al).  An admirable pursuit, indeed.  Since my reading speed these days is just slightly more highbrow than The Bobbsey Twins, I will not be emulating Steve in this endeavor.

I did want to refer folks, however, to a great article in the September 6th New York Times Magazine by Paul Krugman entitled "How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?"  In the article, Krugman (who is an economics professor at Princeton) does a great job of keeping the discussion centered on economics and out of the shoals of political posturing.  As a result, it's a great summary of the flaws in the descendants of free market and Keynesian economics.

The article is lengthy indeed, but well worth the investment.  Especially if, like me, you prefer a primer to an exhaustive review of the literature.  (Go Steve!)

Dan and I just finished watching (courtesy of netflix.com) the HBO special on John Adams.  Amazing performances all around by Paul Giamatti as the title character, Laura Linney as Abigail Adams, Tom Wilkinson as Ben Franklin and Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson.

The film helped me grasp, in a more visceral way than I had before, just how delicate the state of our nation was when it was born.  For those who admire politics over principle, there is plenty to like in the film's portrayal of Benjamin Franklin.  For those who prefer principles over the strum and drang of political wrangling, Adams is your man (despite my disagreement with the Alien and Sedition Act).

But for sheer strength of character, I admire the fictionalized version of Abigail Adams the most.  She brought out the best in John, called him on his stubborn nature and his pride, and loved him with passion and humor.  (Necessary in the loving of curmudgeons...just ask Dan who loves yours truly!)

At the end of the movie, there's a moment where John is walking with his son, Thomas.  He has a moment of nearly ecstatic vision wherein he says, "Abigail was always after me to appreciate the [pedestrian things] in life."  He tries to fall to his knees, exclaiming, "Praise always."  Thomas is bemused but as someone who daily counts the blessings of egrets, butterfly bushes and the monarchs they attract, thistles that some count weeds...well, words to live by indeed.

I highly recommend viewing the series if you have not!

Wow, it's been a long time!  I've been tempted to blog a few times since my surgery (7 weeks ago today), but this is the first time I've actually had energy to log on.

(Okay, and maybe I've been hoping that Congress could come up with some kind of health care legislation in the same amount of time it took me to regrow 75% of my liver.  Dreamer!)

At any rate, I've been reading (mostly trashy) books, watching television and movies, and napping.  Today was my first "big" walk with Hal and Charlie and it seems to have done the trick for garnering me some energy.  (It's 5:46 and I haven't had a nap yet...that's some kind of record.)

The main item drawing me back to the blog today is not a general update; however, it's to recommend a film from among the many that I've watched.  Called Sin Nombre,  written and directed by Cary Fukunaga, the film is presented with Spanish subtitles.  Despite the challenges usually entailed by subtitles, this is a highly engaging film--part thriller, part love story, part political statement--that asks important questions while telling a compelling story.

I'd say Fukunaga is a man with a future in film.  He's done just about every behind the camera role in film making.  It's clear from the film he put together in Sin Nombre, that his apprenticeship paid off.