Economics of Smuggling I'm writing this because it is a complex subject, and too much of what is being said and written about it is soundbites. There is a long history of smuggling. I want to look at some examples of smuggling from American history. First, we will look at a recent and semi-humorous example. Then we will look at the first serious attempt at controlled substance prohibition in the US. Along the way, we will examine the effectiveness of seaborne interdiction. First, the funny side of smuggling. Some of us may remember the days when Coors was a western regional beer, and any that showed up on the East Coast was smuggled. Many of us remember a Burt Reynolds movie, "Smokey and the Bandit." It shows us nearly everything we need to know about the economics of smuggling. Demand, restricted supply, and people willing to perform a service. More seriously, from 1920 until 1933, it was illegal to make or sell alcohol for human consumption. We got even more movies dur...
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Unexpected Cousins Adventures in Genealogy Setting the Stage About a year ago, I became aware of America's World War II experiment in Q-ship operations. In the days immediately after Pearl Harbor, the US Navy was forced to deal with the problem of German U-boats operating off the East Coast. The German sailors referred to it as the second Happy Time. This was in reference to the lack of effective anti-submarine work. In an effort to curb the submarines, the Navy purchased two old coastal freighters. The ships Evelyn and Carolyn were purchased in 1941 from the A. H. Bull shipping line. Over the course of 1941, they were converted into AK-type cargo ships at the Portsmouth Navy Shipyard. The true purpose of the conversion was to create a ship that, on first glance, looked like any other cargo ship running up and down the US coast. Hidden behind collapsing panels and movable screens were guns and depth charge gear to hunt submarines. First Mission On March 5, USS ATIK was commissioned...
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My original blog, Sharp Edge of the Sphere, died from a combination of boredom, job issues, and forgetfulness. Rather than attempting to restart the old blog, we have opted to perform a reboot. Moving forward, the blog will focus on the lessons of history, genealogy, and current events. Stand by for updates on one of my projects - ensuring that the men of the 111th Field Artillery who fought during World War II are honored and remembered.