Today's Boston Globe articles

1. Local culture:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/11/15/with_membership_dwindling_boston_athenaeum_steps_up_marketing_itself_to_a_new_generation/

A line exists between preserving tradition and following it blindly. Fortunately, the Athenaeum has embraced modern times and welcomes new, young members, many of whom subscribe to its creed and mission. In fact, being traditionalist is elitist, and runs counter to America's democratic and literary principles.

2. Foreign Relations:

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2009/11/15/obama_visit_highlights_new_us_china_relations/

Obama's trip to China will be very interesting to follow. As the article presciently suggests, the issue of the US budget and China's lending may well trump geopolitical concerns.

3. History: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/11/15/did_we_learn_the_wrong_lessons_from_the_fall_of_the_berlin_wall/

I don't think a popular association of the fall of the Berlin Wall and people power exists, at least not strongly. Germans and others understand the role geopolitics played, esp. that of the Soviet Union and Gorbachev. I do think Gorbachev's motives for inaction deserve further study.

4. Religion and Economy:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/11/15/the_curious_economic_effects_of_religion/

Sociologists may disagree, but Max Weber's Protestant work ethic theory is valid, and recent empirical findings may bolster it. The apparent association between religion and economic growth may be insignificant, but the "ethic" resulting from religious beliefs, including self-discipline, sense of adventure, and association of failure with hell and success with godly calling, does affect personal economic behavior and that of nations.

5. Biodiversity: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2009/11/15/whats_killing_the_bats/

Bats may not be cute and sacrosanct, but they are essential to biodiversity and ecological balance. The fungus in question might not be spread by humans, but human actions including climate change probably altered the conditions in caves to support fungi populations. Large-scale human alteration of cave climates may be necessary to restore the bats' habitats.