David Ricardo, and Free Trade

Recently I decided I need to know more about business and econmics and the way thing work in that world, or rather, in the world in which we live yet the average person really knows very little about. With the upcoming elections in November, it is so important to be INFORMED, rather than choose a candidate based on an emotional or uninformed basis. Personally, I try to investigate the issues, but there is always more to learn, subtleties that play into an issue. In our tech age of sound bites and fast moving snippets of information, we hardly allow ourselves time for reflection and study. We want an answer to a problem, and we want it NOW.

So, recently, I have been watching the Nightly Business Report (PBS) religiously, following Wall Street Journal and Financial Times articles, and I purchased a book by someone I feel gives an objective and informed look at politics and economics. That person is Arthur Laffer, and the book, "Return to Properity". It is a great read, in layman's terms, and he is fair and honest regarding both sides of the political spectrum. He reveals a common sense approach to our current world situation from an economics approach. Some it is so "common-sense" that you want to hit yourself on the forehead, and say, "YES, I get it!"

Interestingly enough, he refers to a historic figure from the 18th Century, David Ricardo, who lived from 1772-1823. An English political economist and stock trader, he was a member of Parliament, a business man and financier. He amassed a considerable fortune.

His most important contribution was the LAW OF COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE, a fundamental law in favor of free trade among counties and of specialization among individuals. This law refers to the ability of a person or country to produce a particular good or service at a lower marginal and opportunity cost over another. Even is one country is more efficient in the production of all goods than the other, BOTH countries will still gain by trading with each other, as long as they have different relative efficiencies.

Ricardo wrote a book "On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, that gives an interesting example of trade between England and Portugal:

"In Portugal it is possible to produce both wine and cloth with less labor than it would take to produce the same quantities in England. However the relative costs of producing those two goods are different in the two countries. In England it is very hard to produce wine, and only moderately difficult to produce cloth. In Portugal both are easy to produce. Therefore while it is cheaper to produce cloth in Portugal than England, it is cheaper still for Portugal to produce excess wine, and trade that for English cloth. Conversely England benefits from this trade because its cost for producing cloth has not changed but it can now get wine at a lower price, closer to the cost of cloth. The conclusion drawn is that each country can gain by specializing in the good where it has comparative advantage, and trading that good for the other."

Of course, these theories are always tested in the "real" world, and they include subtleties and nuances that will have a particular effect, but all in all, it gives us something to think about, when we are tending, or perhaps rushing toward isolationism and protectionism in the US. It is a bad policy  not to know or care (in our arrogance) what's going on with different countries and their political systems. If we do not have "to-do's" with them, trade being a great way to be involved, then we miss the boat. We miss the chance to know first hand what they are up to, and we miss the opportunity to "help" each other. And, as Sun-tzu (Chinese general and military strategist 400bc) once said, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Or, for biblical scholars, from Luke 19:43, " The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side."

We generally NEVER learn from history. We think we know better, but human nature is human nature. Things always go better when we look our adversary or competitor in the eye and try to find a way to shake hands, find some common ground. It becomes a win-win for all.

Highclere and the Earls of Carnarvon

My daughter and her husband just got back from England! (Ahh! Can you hear the whistful sighs?!) They are big fans of England and of Downton Abbey, as am I. They visited the "Abbey" or as it is actually known, Highclere Castle, that is used for the filming of the series.

I am hoping to visit there soon as well, to see all the actual rooms and the magnificent grounds. I am familiar with the fact that Highclere is maintained by the current Earl of Carnarvon, whose illustrious ancestors include the 5th Earl, George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, who was the silent backer for archeologist Howard Carter and the discovery King Tut's tomb in the Valley of the Kings! Here he is at left and below left in all his early 1900's splendor.

I looked into the Peerage of Carnarvon in the 18th Century. Though the peerage was created in the 1600's, by 1793 the title was bestowed on  Henry Herbert, 1st Baron Porchester, as the Earl of the Town and County of Carnarvon. Whew! Here he is above at right.

By the way, the peerage system was created as a legal system of titles held by the nobility, giving them a right to represent certain regions, counties, etc in the House of Lords or Commons.
Henry Herbert served as Master of the Horse for the Royals at the time.  The position goes way back, actually to Ancient Rome where the title was Magister Equitum.  Generally speaking, though, the Master of the Horse serves in all matters connected with horses, stables and coachhouses, the stud, mews and in times past, the kennels for the hunting horses.

So, Herbert must have been a very busy man, and also a lucky one, having the opportunity to live at Highclere!

Cats keep you on your toes!

I saw a delightful blog entry from http://betweennapsontheporch.net the other day regarding the blogger's wonderful cat Mr. Maxx. I emailed back about the cats that have shared my life over the span of about thirty years. I have loved them all, each with their individual personality traits, behaviors good and bad. Cats are really quite wonderful, and very affectionate in their own endearing way.

But it was not always so! Since ancient times, cats were always  regarded as mysterious, strange or dangerous. Superstition about them doesn't help, especially when they are black in color. Frankly, all my cats have been black, and I feel especially lucky to have enjoyed their company.

In the 18th Century, they were not regarded very well at all. Dogs had a proper place in man's life, especially the darling lap dog, or the elegant hunting dog who worked in tandem with his owner. There are many paintings featuring "The Hunt", or dogs seated respectfully with their human family. But though I searched high and low, I did not find too many paintings with cats included in the domestic scene. This one at left from the mid-1700's shows a scrawny cat, not very lovable.

I did find one appalling print by Hogarth (at left) that depicts cats being used and abused in a most ugly way. They were tied together and thrown into a fighting match to see which would survive. Hogarth made the drawing as a reminder of the cruelty inflicted on animals.

Cats are usually depicted as a menace. See the painting below. The cat is ready to pounce, and disrupt the scene. They were good for chasing down mice and rats in town, and on shipboard, but dogs gain the favor when it comes to domesticated furry friends.

In the Orient, though, cats are regarded a bit differently, as our many things when looking on from the Asian perspective. The Japanese poet Issa (1763-1827) documented cats in the following haikus:

On the cat's grave
in First Month
....dried sardines

Wild cat--
after making love
he's the town pet


ten kittens
ten different
colors

Notice that Issa looks at them as they are, nothing more. All three of my cats have been quite different. But, it's a matter of perspective! The Ying and the Yang. My first, Lucy Long, was mean to everyone, but not to me and my daughter. My second, Opal Putin, was a delight to everyone, but her long hair left tufts everywhere. My current cat, Blackie Norton, causes no trouble at all, but she prefers to live outside my door. She rarely comes in. But, I like to let them be as they are.

Cats keep you on your toes! If you want to read a delightful account of them, try Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T.S. Eliot. It's a joyful read, especially for cat lovers who will understand all.

An Irish Delight!

While on my lunch hour this day, I heard some beautiful music on our local public radio. I had to know what it was, with viola di gamba, guitar and flute. Reminiscent of the Irish countryside, or maybe slightly Colonial, I surmised. When it was over, I heard its name and the composer! The O'Carolan's Draft by Turlough O'Carolan! Just charming, and I was happy to note that my musical ear was correct.
Turlough lived from 1670 - 1738, born in County Meath, in Ireland. Part of a farming family. Early on he was noticed for his intelligence, and began writing poetry. He was tragically blinded by small pox, and could not work the farm any more. He began the long tradition of the wandering poet minstrel, eventually composing hundreds of pieces for harp (214 survive). He lived until the age of 68.
There is a placque in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin that proclaims O'Carolan as the "last of the Irish bards."
Give a listen to a version of the Draft...a delight for a Friday afternoon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Ebt1uI2OI&feature=related

To buy or not to buy, that is the question!

Recently I was questioning the benefits of apartment living v. homeownership. It is a question that has plagued people looking for a quality long-tem investment, and as the past several years have come to show how precarious even that market can be, I have come to believe that you can only purchase a house because you want it to be your HOME, your HAVEN, a space that is a sanctuary, place of safety and protection against the outside world. If you purchase because you think you will make money on the deal, think carefully, or think again.

This prompted me to look into the history of apartment dwellings in the 18th Century. At that time, only a small minority of the population lived in any idea of luxury, or individual homes as we understand them today. In England, the leading architect of the day was Robert Adams (1728 - 1792), who created the Neo-Classic style, designing many country houses for the gentry. Think of the manor houses on acreage of land in the English countryside on sprawling, rolling greens. But the poor folk, and they were the majority, lived in just one room.

The apartment concept goes way back, to Ancient Rome, with the "insulae" or apartment-type space where lower and middle class Romans, or plebs, dwelled. Insulae means island, becuase these units took up a whole city block. The ground floor was usually used for commercial space, with lodgings above. Think of today's mixed use developments that urban architects taut as the way of the future. Living and working in the same general space.

The relationship between landlord and tenant was established, but it was not until the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1709 was enacted, that put some fairness into the equation. Most generally, leases were mainly used for agricultural purposes (land for farming deals), but by the 18th Century, and migration to cities for employment, did the concept of leasing living space really come into its own, and both landlord and tenant needed some kind of binding contract. (By the way, and interestingly enough, the Code of Hammurabi, a well-preserved Babylonian law code (at right), was the first expression of contractual law, dating back to 1772BC!!!)

People who visited 18th Century London were impressed with the crowds of people and services available, but the city itself was neither charming or clean with most people living in terrible conditions. After the Great Fire of 1666, the town was hastily rebuilt, and then came an enormous surge in population looking for work. Urban planners slapped up houses and tenements, with little attention to safety or the codes we require today. These buildings, if they exist today, and many still do, look charming and quaint, but they were full-on danger zones. And the neighborhoods were also unsafe, with undesireables lurking everywhere in unlit or barely lit streets and alleyways. Many people lived in these dwelling BELOW grade, which is still common to see in London. Wrought-iron gates at street level give way to stairwells leading down to apartment units with small windows to let the light in. This type of dwelling is even prevalent in better neighborhoods, in the Georgian row houses.

As always, apartment living does have its drawbacks, though rules and regulations of Fair Housing entitle the tenant to enjoy their space in relative peace and tranquility. When we study the housing alternatives and housing conditions of the past, it can be said that we take a lot for granted today. We assume that architectural and engineering drawings are in order, that plans that are signed off to begin construction are correct, that we only have to decide if we like a house's style, or its location, or its layout. And, of course, if we like the price to purchase, or rent! Under today's economic conditions, we can "pick up" a house on the cheap, a foreclosure or short-sale, but we don't always know what "as-is" entails.

I am reminded of the age old Latin expression, Caveat Emptor! Let the Buyer beware!

An Unusual Momento!

As I await my trip to London, which is only a month and a half away now,  I have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to watch many programs on the British Royals, the castles, the history of England, courtesy of PBS, the Queen's Jubilee and the upcoming Olympics. It's a wonderful prelude to my vacation.

Last night I watched a program about the Queen's collection of jewelry, crowns, antiques, artifacts, paintings, even her swans that grace the River Thames! The swans are counted yearly by a man titled the Swan Marker, a tradition kept since the 12th Century! He dons a swan feather in his official cap. I just love it!

In this wonderful and varied Collection, there is an item I did not know existed! The Musket Ball that killed Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805)! It is housed at Windsor Castle in a very elaborate pendant locket! It is a bit morbid, in that it actually carries some of the braid and cloth from Lord Nelson's uniform. He was hit by a sniper from on high, the bullet entering his shoulder and running through to the spine, where it was lodged. Causing paralysis, and him bleeding out, he died on the ship, HMS Victory, with his surgeon Dr. Beatty and officers around him. He did know, though, that the battle had been won.

 

Of course, Lord Nelson was THE hero of the sea battles during the Napoleonic Wars. He was given a state funeral, with procession up the Thames, and a resting place in the crypt at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. I have paid homage there a couple times.

The surgeon, it is said, removed the lead ball, and had it placed in a locket, wearing it for some time in tribute. It was later presented to Quenn Victoria, becoming part of the Royal Collection of historic objects. You can see it in the Grand Vestibule of Windsor Castle!

Deepe Pimlyco, The Well of Glee!

Though I enjoy living in the high desert of the Southwestern United States, there are two other places that I just love. One is Washington DC, and by extension, Alexandria and Williamsburg, VA. Filled with 18th Century history, the opportunities for exploration abound!
The other place is London! I will have the chance to visit there very soon, and I am elated. Of course, London's history goes way, way back to ancient Roman times when the area was established as Londinium. You can still see Roman walls here and there within the "city" area.

When I visit London, I will stay my brother who has lived there for quite awhile now in the area of Pimlico, north side of The Thames, in the City of Westminster, not far away from Westminster Abbey, MI5 Headquarters and the Tate Britian Museum.
The area was known as Ebury, or The Five Fields, but by the early 18th Century, it was renamed Pimlico, which may have something to do with a person, perhaps "the master of a house once famous for ale of a particular description." This quote comes from a note in Gifford's edition of Ben Jonson (Jonson the playwrite contemporary of Shakespeare).

Another explanation comes from Rev. Brewer describing the area as "a district of public gardens much frequented on holidays. According to tradition, it received its name from Ben Pimlico, famous for his nut-brown ale. His tea-gardens, however, were near Hoxton, and the road to them was termed Pimlico Path, so that what is now called Pimlico was so named for the popularity of the Hoxton resort."

Further research reveals that if indeed it was a brew, Pimlico was brewed from the middle ages to the Tudor period, supposedly a strong ale, considered "wicked"! There is even a poem from 1609 that says:

Strong Pimlyco, the nourishing foode
To make men fat, and breed pure blood;
Deepe Pymlyco, the Well of Glee,
That drawes up merry company.

It is said that it was served in a pub in "Hogsdon", now Hoxton, run by Elinor Rummin, the "Alewife of England" Now, there's a title for you.They say that the beer was probably very lightly hopped, and extremely sweet, and slightly smoked, the primitive method of malting at the time.

So, I think when I find myself in London at my brother's doorstep, we should toast my arrival with the Well of Glee!

Inspired by the Greats!

Inspired by the 4th of July, I decided to watch the HBO John Adams series again. It had been awhile since I viewed this wonderful account of Adams, his roll in the Revolution, his life over the span of 91 years. That's a very long life for that timeframe!

And one of the most poignant and incredible facts is that both he and Thomas Jefferson, his fellow patriot, political enemy, and reconciled friend, both died on the same day of the same year! July 4th, 1826!

As older men, they had shelved their disagreements in favor of a wonderful correspondence between Jefferson at his Monticello home, and Adams at his farm in Braintree. These letters are priceless, and give us a sense of these men as human, not cold, marble statues or static portrait paintings.

Many of the original letters can be seen in Washington DC at the Library of Congress and National Archives, but there are myriads of books that have published these treasures. I like the idea of reading them, and have found one book in particular that I think I will look for: The Complete Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Abigail Adams - The Adams Jefferson Letters, Edited by Lester J. Cappon.

They are two of the greatest figures of the American Revolution: one surly, stubborn, short and stout (Adams); the other elegant, entrancing and effectual.

They are the Ying and the Yang of the political spectrum of the times, one a proponent of a strong Federal government (Adams), though not the type of intrusive interference we are experiencing today from our federal government; the other (Jefferson) a true republican, an anti-federalist, a champion of state's rights. But the term "republican" is not the same as the Republican party of today. Jefferson believed in the revolutionary cause of the citizens of France or of any peoples seeking to self-govern. He is quoted as saying, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure." But, I particularly like his "whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government". Well-informed! The operative word here.

And here's a good one from Mr. Adams: "There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." And another: "Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide"

Adams said that in 1814; if that isn't a prophetic warning! If they were here right now, they would probably say to us all, "Shame on you!" We are squandering our liberty; caving in to being "politically correct". That is an obnoxious, insiped term. We set no standards, everything is ok, as long as it's pleasing and immediate. God help us.

Walking the Walk!

On the 4th of July, I was afforded the wonderful opportunity of leaping back into history, and donning 18th Century attire, courtesy of my friend at http://dressedintime.blogspot.com. She asked me along to represent the 1770's with her at the annual Summerlin 4th of July Parade (Las Vegas, NV). Quite a festive event, it was well attended by all kinds of groups, including Star Wars Storm Troopers, a collection of Porsche auto enthusiasts, a Scottish Bagpipe troupe, to name a few.

Our entry was with the Southern Nevada Living History Association with representation from ancient Roman soldiers, 1700's, Civil War, World War II. It's a wonderful group who do some re-enacting work, one planned for this coming October, an actual Civil War battle staged in Spring Mountain Ranch.

My costume was really beautiful (at left), completely handmade by my Dressed In Time cohort (below at right), with such detail. I was surprised how many parts and how many layers there are to an outfit of this timeframe, with the various undergarments, that support and enhance the exterior look.

The day was overcast in the early morning, a bit humid, with some drizzle, which added to the ambiance of the eastern seaboard, the 13 Colonies, Williamsburg,Virginia and what the Colonists must have endured during the summer months. All those clothes, and no air conditioning! Gee, are we spoiled!? By ten 'o clock it was really sweltering, but did not diminish the festivities.

The experience was so much fun that now I want to participate more often, plan an outfit, sew the clothes. I love reading history, particularly the 1700's in America as well as Britian.This gives one the chance to do more than read and imagine. You are actually a living part of historical events!
I look forward to another chance to "walk the walk"!

A Moment to Reflect!

Generally, we celebrate the Day of Independence in a grand manner. Parades, fireworks, red/white/blue everywhere! And rightfully, too, considering that there was a time when it looked like the plan for independence would fail, were it not for very persistent and dedicated men and women who could envision the dream, and worked and fought extremely hard to accomplish the goal.

The signing of the Declaration of Independence, considered the birthday of the Nation, was only the beginning. Now the Colonists were resolved to bring Independence to fruition, with a long war ahead. The war still on two years later, General George Washington celebrated the 4th "with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute." Nothing more, nothing less. I can imagine him sitting quietly with his men, maybe listening to gun shot in the distance, maybe around a camp fire after a long, arduous day, maybe looking up at the stars and thinking of Mount Vernon, his beloved home.

 

The Fourth of July should also be a time of reflection. Just as George honored his men, we too should remember those who are keeping us free. Personally, I know someone who is in Afganistan right now, a fine person who I'm sure would rather be at a festive barbeque tomorrow. It can't be easy, but he is there for us all. Let us remember to say a special prayer for our military tomorrow as we lift a glass and cheer the bright lights in the sky!

Wedding Bell Blues

I was saddened last week by the news of the break up of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. It may seem trivial in the scheme of national and world events that are shaking our world right now, but it does have further ramifications in terms of society and our the way we see ourselves.

I am not a big fan of either of them, but it seemed that they were so happy. There was reason to celebrate. Though there were some laughs at Tom's joyful couch jump, it was kind of nice to see unbridled enthusiasm for marriage, the man asking, "Will you?", the girl saying "Yes!" That was only five years ago.

Unfortunately, the idea of marriage and the wedding has changed so much. Every since the commercialism following the industrial age, women going to work while men went to war, traditional roles changing, it seems some of the true meaning has departed. In the high profile celebrity world, it's all about THE BIG DAY, and not making a life over the long haul. And so, as we follow the celebs, we get caught up, too. Even a great deal of happiness is never enough. We always want something more, something better to be found heaven-knows-where, with that illusive thing that begins to haunt, and next thing we know, we need to go in search of it, and leave valuable things behind.

In the 18th Century, of course, there was pomp and excitement for the big day, but some of the customs were quaint and simple and charming. The bride and groom were expected to wear their best, but they did not have to go to the lengths couples are expected to go to today. Gowns are costing, in some cases, $5,000-$10,000; shoes, $1,000. The cake $1,000. There must be the party before the party (bachelor and bachelorette events, and some of these are pretty tawdry). The list of extravagances goes on and on.

In the military wedding, the bride wore her best, the man his military uniform. I just love the passing under the swords on the way out of the church! And the cake was cut with a sword as well. How chivalrous!

A bride of the late eighteenth century did not sew the last stitch of her wedding dress until it was time to leave for the church. Note: SHE must not sew the last stitch; she or her family probably made the gown. The hem of the gown often had a blue band around the hem, a sign of purity. The white dress was a sign of joy, not purity!

It was said that the first one to buy something after the wedding would dominate the relationship. Brides sometimes arranged to buy a pin from a bridesmaid! ha ha!

In Germany, the bride would step over piles of broken dishes. The night before was the "Polterbend", where friends and family smashed all the chipped crockery getting rid of the old, and make way for the new!

Granted, in the earlier 1700's, ceremonies were more elaborate, with towering powdered wigs and satin breeches for the upper echelon and the royals, but by the end of the century, the French and American Revolutions changed everything. The common man ruled, and the extravagances of the elite were overthrown. The spirit of democracy brought simpler guidelines and etiquette. The ancient Greek revival brought streamlined empire gowns. Veils were replaced with wreaths of myrtle and roses. Funny how the political scene can play a part.

Don't get me wrong... it's wonderful for the DAY to be as beautiful as possible, as long as the couple doesn't forget why they are there. Sadly, I guess Tom and Katie did (not katydid!)