Review: James Monroe: A Life by Tim McGrath Published by Dutton, 2020 586 pages; 151 pages of notes, bibliography, and index As the fifth and last of the founding fathers to serve as president, James Monroe was enormously popular with American citizens, a popularity enhanced by his tours of the United States in 1817 and … Read more
In twentieth century England, the phrase “Thank you for your custom,” is shorthand for “Thank you for having chosen our establishment as a place to exchange your money for the goods and services we offer.” (I’ve heard the shorthand phrase many times as a young man watching retail-based British Comedy television shows like Open All … Read more
Think about the last time you heard the phrase, “There are less people here than last year.” Probably very recently, perhaps on a New Year’s Eve broadcast where a shivering rookie newscaster is commenting on the obvious decline in party attendance during a pandemic. Now think of the last time you heard anyone say, “There … Read more