And So It Goes

Given the recent hoo-ha over currency exchange rates (a bit of economics that affects me directly), I've started rereading Paul Krugman's The Accidental Theorist, hoping to get a better handle on the whole issue, which involves, among other things, the US current account deficit, the Bank of Japan's interventions to keep the yen weaker, the question of whether the dollar needs to be weaker (or, really, how soon the dollar should be weaker), and if 80's-style trade protectionism will make a comeback. The Economist devoted much of its recent Survey on the World Economy to this (last week's issue, still at your local library if you're interested), and so did William Pesek in a recent column.

Much of this stuff, is, admittedly, over my head, but I know enough to be bothered by some neo-protectionist rhetoric I'm hearing from folks back in the States. Give me some time, I might even be able to articulate my concerns.

Eric Gower, author of The Breakaway Japanese Kitchen (which I own a copy of, and have mentioned here before), is participating in an interactive discussion on The WELL (http://www.well.com/conf/inkwell.vue/) for the next few weeks, moderated by Frako Loden of Berkeley and Ed Ward now of Berlin (regular listeners to NPR's Fresh Air will know him as the rock historian commentator). Eric discusses his creative, Western-style uses for Japanese ingredients. Took a look, and ask questions if you like.