Yesterday we pointed out that lending money to national governments may not be the best use of one's money. Concerning national government debt, Detlev Schlechter said, "Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole." And who could blame him? Just a couple of days ago, the debt of the U.S. government reached a symbolic ...read more

Travel day, good patrons! We're in transit from our family stronghold in Central Florida to join our colleagues in Baltimore for a little Christmas cheer. We haven't much time before we have to shut down our laptop in accordance with FAA regulations. But we still aim to be useful. We're continuing ...read more

Just in time for the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, the U.S. seems to be goading yet another Asian empire into hostile action.... We note the passage of the anniversary in our typical Whiskey way: pissing off everyone in the room. Depending on your take on the Japanese "sneak ...read more

Stick a fork in the debt supercommittee. Because just in time for Thanksgiving, that dumb bird is done. "WASHINGTON (AP) — It's just about over for a special deficit-reduction supercommittee, which appears set to admit failure on Monday, in its quest to sop up at least $1.2 trillion in government red ...read more

Is it just us, or does the world seem to be becoming a much more dangerous place lately? Does it feel like, in these uncertain times, violence born of frustration could strike at any minute? Herman Cain seems to think so. We read today in The Christian Science Monitor: "Herman Cain on ...read more

"The debasement of paper money continues..." That's how our friend Detlev Schlichter signs off his weekly reports on his website, papermoneycollapse.com. It's appropriate. Now more than ever. On Monday, we sent you Detlev's latest on the continued debasement of the euro. We also reported on Bundesbank president Jens Weidmann's opposition to further ...read more

As soon as the noose settled around his neck, Guy Fawkes broke free from the hangman and jumped off the scaffolding -- guaranteeing a quick drop with a stop sharp enough to break his neck cleanly... It seems like an odd result for a man to be in such a hurry ...read more

We were stuck in Chicago O'Hare. Our connecting flight to New York had been delayed by several hours. What made it all unbearable, however, was Cornel West. The television monitors are inescapable these days. We're not sure when it happened, but there's hardly a corner of the waiting area to hide ...read more

We're mad as hell this morning...and more than a little sad...and it's not just this relentless Seattle grey... Yesterday, we gave our take on how college has thrown a monkey wrench into the wealth-creation machine that used to be America. One Whiskey Shooter responded: "Gary, "You put it so clearly and so well ...read more

College is not necessary for most people. It never was. In fact, the preoccupation with college has left America bereft of its former ability to create wealth. An unhealthy cultural myth has flourished that says everyone must go to college and get an advanced degree, even if it's something for which ...read more