Anyone interested in what will happen to Social Security, the US budget and economy, Medicare, etc. should read The Coming Generational Storm by Laurence Kotlikoff and Scott Burns, published by The MIT Press earlier this year. Kotlikoff is a very well-respected economist who reminds us that the world doesn't end after the 75 years of the projections someone mentioned. Every year after 75 you include in your projection multiplies the shortfall.
A study commissioned by Paul O'Neill (before being fired as US Treasury Secretary) calculated the US government's fiscal gap: the difference between the present value of the government's future income and expenditures, making various assumptions, using various projections, etc. The study's authors came up with a $45 trillion dollar shorfall (it's now up to $51 trillion, thanks to the Medicare drug benefit). They also came up with what it would take, starting immediately, to pay that $45 trillion off. Here are our choices (The "Menu of Pain"):
*A 69% increase in federal income taxes
*A 95% increase in payroll taxes
*A 106% cut in federal expenditures
*A 45% cut in Social Security and Medicare
This report was initially (before it came in) supposed to be included in W.'s 2004 budget. It didn't make it, but you can read it here:
http://www.aei.org/docLib/20030723_SmettersFinalCC.pdf
Happy reading. The Kotlikoff book is actually a fairly easy read for what it is--he's very good at explaining difficult economics and accounting concepts and has a fair amount of humor. It was favorably reviewed in the WSJ, and has cover blurbs from five different Nobel laureates in economics. So it ain't no shabby work.
In response to a post up near the top:
I heartily second the Peabody-Essex Museum recommendation. Take either the Rockport or Newburyport train from North Station (in Boston, orange or green line T stop) and get off at Salem. The PEM is within walking distance, and the Chinese house is fascinating. You can almost see the ghosts of all the generations of ancestors who lived there.
Plus, they have a painting by my great, great, great grandfather in their collection, which is pretty cool.
To be precise (and maybe a bit picky), ANGELS & VISITATIONS is a collection; an anthology is a set of stories by multiple authors
Yes, of course you are correct and I was distracted. I acknowledge and honor the nitpick.
Randall: Neil Gaiman also has a short story anthology, which is wonderfully varied. Just so you know, my husband (definitely not a sff fan) read _Neverwhere_ at my insistence and his response was "That's not fantasy!"
You might also check out Charles de Lint, if you like urban fantasy based in North America. Actually, come to think of it, C dL has lots of good female leads, and writes both short stories and novels. I prefer his novels; others like the stories. Most are set in the fictional city of Newford, where strange things happen to good people, mythical beings walk the streets more or less invisibly, and worlds intersect. Most of the characters are some type of artist, mostly visual or musical.
I second (or third or fourth or whatever it's up to now) the recommendation of _Tigana_ and anything by Guy Gavriel Kay (although I haven't read his latest yet). Also Stephen Brust. I love his Phoenix Guards series, but they are very stylized and require both a good sense of humor and a generous measure of patience.
I'm glad to know I'm not alone in my dislike for George R.R. Martin (totally unengaging--I'm not sure I made it to 150 pages) or _Snow Crash_.
Whatever floats your boat.
Virginia to Ohio? Heh. That's nothing. Try Kentucky to East Hampton, driving your own truck and towing the car on a trailer behind. Through NYC. And then moving back again a year later. Now *that* qualifies as "not entirely easy."
My entry in the competition:
BA, Classical Studies, with in inclination toward museums (like someone else who posted), College of Wooster (OH).
MA, Publishing and Writing (as of this past Monday), Emerson College (Boston).
Current job: none
Nancy, are you stil in the Boston area? Need another proofreader or copyeditor (I never crawl out onto ledges)?
I watched the Disney TV movie of _A Wrinkle in Time_ the other night, and while I wasn't entirely pleased with it, it did make me want to go back and reread the book, which I did. Which led me to a question:
Does anyone know if the idea of tessering and the tesseract pre-dated the book, or if M. L'Engle created it?
"Do things that will make you more attractive"
I should have that covered, what with internships, class projects, and good recommendations.
As for the English degree, I certainly hope it's not a requirement, since I don't have one. I'm hoping a master's in publishing will trump any measly English degree.
"I believe it's one of those cases where it's really hard to get a low paying job and impossible to get a high paying job."
Shucks. I will refrain from plugging myself and and hope my restraint when surrounded by so many publishing types apparently in-the-know is admired. [returning to lurkdom]
Dan: Strangely enough, that gives me hope.
I read my parents' Pogo books when I was too young to understand them, but loved them anyhow--will have to dig them out next time I go home. Remember the character who spoke in black letter? Rather ominous to a child, really.
So, one of the letters responding to that article on Salon (J. A. Doe is known as SIA (for self-important author) on another list) commented that it's really hard to get a low-paying job in publishing. I'm a newbie around here, so please pardon if I overstep my bounds, but anyone have any hints for getting one of those low-paying publishing jobs?
| Year | Number of comments posted |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 12 |
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