Some of my readers pointed out, kindly but sternly, that I am living in the past in a way I hadn't considered. Muchas gracias, crew, for demonstrating vividly that I can be at least as dense as the next racist, homophobic, intolerant, Neanderthal, semi-literate redneck. (I am always fascinated by how ...read more

The interesting excerpt from Trace Mayer's book made me smile ruefully because his solution to the problem is better than mine. He wrote the book first, so references to Chapter Six make it clear that this isn't all he knows about the subject. He has the luxury of not attempting ...read more

I suppose it is an article of faith here in the Bar that the first nation to adopt a true gold standard is going to have a commanding advantage internationally? If not, it is here in the Whiskey Redan, deep in the heart of Texas. A "redan," you will recall, is ...read more

"One can but count on the wine one drinks today." Thus sayeth L. E. Modesitt, Jr., an author and a fine piece of wisdom I commend to all of you. I don't know if Mr. Modesitt regards himself as a philosopher and an analyst, as I am, or "just" the creator ...read more

My afternoon at the courthouse was instructive and disturbing. I have concluded that none of you, dear patrons, have any more chance than I did of getting on a jury even if you don't do what Esssie (over on the Texas Ring) described as "Auntie Mame Goes To Court!" I'm ...read more

In theory the USA is a country which detests slavery. Well, not counting welfare, bonds, the IRS, the EPA, public schools, and addictive entitlements that remind us of opium dens in old San Francisco. I am talking about being forced, literally, into involuntary servitude, complete with being told where you will ...read more

Tuesday the Fed auctioned off another $37 billion in 4-week T-bills. My first thought was that this is reminiscent of "payday loans" shops, except the rate of interest is far lower when the question is, "Buddy, can you spare $37 Bil' until next month?" but the mechanics were very interesting ...read more

Most people think that "special drawing rights" have something to do with the IMF and don't affect anyone below the top levels of the banking industry and heads of state if they have ever even heard of them. We here in the Whiskey Bar not only know what SDR are ...read more

If you were in charge of the educational system, what would you do and why? Mull that one over while I tell you how I would go about it, and I'll make it easier by stipulating grandly that price is no object. Snicker. Will people never stop falling for my sucker ...read more

Shooters, Ron Holland is the most reading fun I've had since discovering C. S. Stirling, and a couple of more articles like the last two may set that mark back to C. Northcote Parkinson. Dear glory, a man who writes elegant prose, has a brilliantly logical mind, and understands the ...read more