Ephesians 5:18 Says Nothing About Beer

Today’s A-Hed in the WSJ tells the story of twenty-six Trappist monks at St. Sixtus Abbey in Belgium who have found themselves cursed by the trappings of success. Since 1839, the bald-headed brewers have been selling Westvleteren beer in order to cover the basic expenses of the monastic lifestyle. Problem is, the beers they brew [...]

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Death and Taxes

Up until the Hundred Years’ War in the 14th and 15th centuries, royal European governments were expected to be funded more or less out of the pockets of the ruling family. Levying taxes directly on the subjects was rare, as governments were obliged to follow the legal maxim of cessante causa cessare debet et effectus [...]

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Why I Went To Hamburg

Well, the comments got started off a bit slowly, but in the end I’m satisfied with the reader participation in response to the query posed in my last post.
None of you, however, was able to guess correctly. I did not go to Hamburg for the Balzac coffee (though I do believe I walked past a [...]

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Geriatric Relations Sour

I’m making a trip to Hamburg today. In fact, I’d already be on my way if some old lady hadn’t stopped me to ask how to use the ticket machine and delayed me just long enough so that I looked like an idiot pressing the “door open” button on the train to no avail just [...]

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I Wonder What Size Sea Raidens Were…

Well, it’s officially Thanksgiving back in the States, so I’d thought I’d engage in the time-honored tradition of naming one thing that I’m thankful for:
I’m so very thankful that I do not live 390 million years ago, where every day would evidently be spent trying to avoid BEING EATEN ALIVE BY 8 FOOT-LONG SEA SCORPIONS! [...]

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