Catching up on some reading....

I actually had a bunch of interesting reads yesterday, but after Lesley's amazing day in Kona - we had to postpone some of those to today.  Then of course, you have the Sunday papers which give you a huge array of subjects to choose from.  So here goes.

The area that I lived in NYC for many years was the subject of a recent article in the NYT.  Abingdon Square, which no one seemed to know how to find unless you lived there, was actually at the corner of West 12th Street and 8th Avenue - the heart of the West Village with great restaurants and bars.  Anyway, it made me reminisce a bit....

Did you know that the current mayor of Paris is selling the city's much heralded wine collection?  Apparently the current party in power does not entertain as much as his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, so they do not need as huge of a stash.  Also there is some concern of the official wine cellar being at risk for a flood (last time there was a flood from the River Seine was 1910).  That must be some great wine. 

Hershey just purchased Dagoba Organic Chocolate.  Marc, do you have any analysis of this acquisition?  Lots of acquisitions by both Hershey's and Mars.  Interesting to see who ends up the winner here.  I am definitely a Scharffen Berger and Jacques Torres fan, but Marc is the authority in our household.

Continuing on the food theme, the NYT published another article by R.W. Apple Jr.  I talked about him a couple of weeks ago, and this subject is for those of you who love to combine travel with your love of food and wine.

Switching gears - think you can do a better job running the country?  In a takeoff on fantasy sports, we now have 'Fantasy Politics'. Sal, I know you have little interest in professional sports but this may worth checking out.  :-)

Keeping on politics, our friend Nat told me a few weeks ago about some of the blogs he reads including Andrew Sullivan's.  Mr. Sullivan, who just wrote a new book, was profiled in today's NYT.  Nat, if you get his book - let me know what you think.

Election Day is quickly approaching and it seems like absentee voting is definitely on the rise.  As it continues to become less than the exception and more the norm, look for changes in the election cycle.  Should be interesting.

Finally another holiday that I forgot to send a card to my loved ones about - Happy International Caps Lock Day!