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From my observations, running a restaurant is a tough, tough job. For one to stay in business--at the same location, mind you--for 60 years, a lot must be going right.
The Apple Pan, at Pico and Westwood in West Los Angeles, has tried "to do simple things exceedingly well". Happy anniversary, folks.
Slate article claims that the average price of a U.S. wedding in 2006 was "nearly $28,000".
Attention, my two daughters: unless the S&P hits 10000 in the next ten years, your old man is unlikely to be willing to pay $28K (in today's dollars).
I usually find it interesting to see who colleges and universities invite as commencement speakers. Here's a list of more than 100. (Prince Radu of Hohenzollern-Veringen?)
Got a social problem? The market usually responds.
Much like the response to Hurricane Katrina, private companies are far ahead of the government in answering Americans' needs, this time for more accessible and more affordable health care. Political leaders across the country seeking to expand government's role in health care should take note.
(Link via my wife.)
The primary Craig Newmark tells newspaper publishers that they're screwed.
He also states that this is a time of "creative destruction". Here at the Door, we applaud references to famous Austrian economists.
And he reveals that he has a "bizarre fascination with Keith Olbermann". Here at the Door, we sigh and murmur, "Nobody's perfect."
The absolute truth, truth that needs no further elaboration from me: "79 Percent of Americans Missing the Point Entirely".
According to a Georgetown University study released Tuesday, 79 percent of Americans are missing the point entirely with regard to such wide-ranging topics as politics, consumerism, taxes, entertainment, fashion, and professional wrestling.
"Pros and Cons of the Top Twenty Democratic Presidential Candidates".
5.
JOE BIDEN
Pro: Technically still running for president.
Con: Dude. Come on.
"Most Photogenic [Chess] Players". If you know what they mean by "photogenic" and I think you do.
I haven't read Joel Best's Flavor of the Month: Why Smart People Fall for Fads yet, but this is one hell of an interesting beginning:
I could not have—and would not have—written this book without the inspiration provided by various administrators at the three universities where I’ve spent nearly twenty-five years chairing academic departments. Department chairs attend many meetings at which the future is unveiled, priorities are articulated, and innovations are announced. Over the years, I have been assured that our university—if not all of higher education—was about to be transformed by affirmative action, the Pacific Rim, assessment, active learning, cooperative learning, distance learning, service learning, problem-based learning, responsibility-based management, zero-based budgeting, broadening the general education requirements, narrowing the general education requirements, capstone courses, writing across the curriculum, multicultural education, computer networking, the Internet, water (don’t ask), critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and I don’t know what else. I have gone on retreats; participated in program reviews; served on task forces; puzzled over mission statements; written five-year plans, three-year plans, and niche reports; and listened to proclamations from provosts, assistant provosts, deans, associate deans, and wannabe deans. I have been assured with tight-lipped seriousness: “This is not a fad.” Still, after all these amazing transformations, today’s universities do not seem all that different than they were when I was a student.
Three opportunities to use all that mad crazy bandwidth you have:
"Nike's 20 Greatest Commercials". #2 is better than #1, but it's close enough.
"Top Ten 'Shit's About to Hit the Fan' Moments in Movies". Fine, fine list.
The infamous event Robin Williams described as "a battle of wits against an unarmed woman": Madonna on Letterman, 3/31/94.