The morning meal was served in traditional socialist fashion - very slowly, with the courses out of order so that the jelly arrived half an hour after the toast and the coffee didn't come until we'd called for the check. However, it was hard to be angry at a place that had ice cream, beer, and cigarettes on its breakfast menu.

The American political system is like fast food - mushy, insipid, made out of disgusting parts of things and everybody wants some.

Predicting innovation is something of a self-canceling exercise: the most probable innovations are probably the least innovative.

El Salvador has the scenery of northern California and the climate of southern California plus - and this was a relief - no Californians.

Some people are worried about the difference between right and wrong. I'm worried about the difference between wrong and fun.

It is important to remember when reading Adam Smith or even when just thinking about Smith that the era that he lived in, we're not talking about poverty in a day when it meant not enough bedrooms for the kids, an old car, a black and white television. We're talking about a whole world where poverty meant not enough to eat.

If a journalist shows a facility for praise he's liable to be offered a job in public relations or advertising and the next thing you know he's got a big office, a huge salary and is living in a fine home with a lovely wife and swell kids - another career blown to hell.