John Cochrane, a finance professor at

the University of Chicago, would like to

thank Congressman Paul Ryan for picking

up the tab for a $350 bottle of wine they

shared at Bistro Bis on Capitol Hill

last Wednesday night.  He would also

like to thank Clifford Asness, a hedge

fund manager and the endower of

his professorial chair, for picking

up the tab on a second $350 bottle.

Talking about monetary policy

makes him really thirsty.