Science article on the Ad Astra organization of Romanian scientists

Reaching for the stars in Romania. Nice article on Ad Astra, Romanian science and education in general-- and also nice brief profiling of Razvan Florian and Liviu Giosan, the Ad Astra "founding fathers". A bit annoying that Science is reacting only now in this regard, but better later than never...

Update: in the same Science edition, "At home in Bucharest, for better and for worse"

Chapter 11 for Detroit's automakers

Best sentence I've read today:

If Chapter 11 cannot save GM, then nothing can.

This is from the recent VoxEU opinion by Joshua Rauh and Luigi Zingales, proposing a bankruptcy to save General Motors. Inter alia, the ideas in Rauh & Zingales might address Richard Posner's worries concerning Chapter 7 versus Chapter 11 in the US Bankruptcy Code; on the other hand, naturally, Gary Becker does not need further convincing that bankruptcy is the only viable alternative for GM, Ford and Chrysler alike.

Econlinks (& more)

• Greg Mankiw's memo to the President-Elect; there is a chance Obama might actually listen, given how fast Mankiw's comment changed things here :-).

• The secret pleasures of Dr. Doom: and you still wonder why Roubini has so many fans among the young economists?! :-).

• Do not let this reach Transylvania (the current economic crisis did so, already...) :-).

• The playmate indicator, via Alex Tabarrok on MR. I guess I didn't feel the economic crisis just as yet, at least in this regard :-).

• Finally for today, all you bloggers may want to check out what type of blog you have. I am a "Mechanic" (ISTP) right now, was "Scientist" (INTJ) some weeks ago, looking forward to enter other categories in the near future.

Wine of the Year: Casa Lapostolle, Clos Apalta Colchagua Valley 2005

Wine Spectator's best wine for 2008 is a Chilean wine produced from a blend of Carmenère, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon; see also the video commentary by Wine Spectator's Senior Editor James Molesworth.

The other wines in top 10 look very exciting as well. For instance, I just can't wait trying the Portuguese Quinta do Crasto: a task for my good old Portuguese friend, Miguel? :-).

Check out as well my posts about the top wines of 2007 and 2006.

My whereabouts in the next few days

Time for tea, research & more...