Russell E. Saltzman on banking on the fringe :
The Liberty Dollar has turned out to be a precursor to the contemporary community currency movement. Liberty Dollars inspired a lot of wannabes who have produced an array of alternative if not exotic currencies: Lakotas, Texas Republics, Cabools, Dixie Dollars, Boulder Gaians, andthis will warm Randian heartsGalts. (The Lakota coinage, if you were wondering, has no connection with the Republic of Lakotah, but thats a whole different story.)
Also today, Richard Sherlock on a Mormon scholars journey to Catholic faith :
Early in the evening of May 28, 2010, I am attending Mass in the majestic Basilica di SantApollinare next to the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce in Rome. From Utah I have come as a scholar to deliver a paper at an international conference on the work of the great Catholic philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand, and I have come as a tourist to see the Eternal City for the first time. Mass is being celebrated in the basilica for those attending the conference.
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You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.