iPhone 5? Foxconn and Apple Think no Different than J.P. Morgan

Late yesterday afternoon, my last appointment was with Poppy Stackpush, Special Assistant to Tim Cook at Apple, Inc.  Unlike most of my visitors, she had no briefcase, which might be expected, but she also had no computer – not a laptop, notebook nor pad.  Instead, her sole item of professional equipment was an Apple iPhone 5,… Continue reading iPhone 5? Foxconn and Apple Think no Different than J.P. Morgan

Utterly Bad, Good ‘n’ Ugly – Eastwood Makes Obama’s Day

This Labor Day, the humidity in Washington was so intense, when I woke up this morning, all the windows were dripping with condensation on the outside.  That’s because I had the air conditioning on the inside at a pleasant seventy-two degrees all night.  We are expecting the remnants of hurricane Isaac, too, but the family… Continue reading Utterly Bad, Good ‘n’ Ugly – Eastwood Makes Obama’s Day

Bulls Stampede to Facebook and Get Slaughtered

Around three o’clock yesterday afternoon, my brother-in-law Hank started camping out in my reception area, pleading with Gretchen to find time for a meeting.  That happened at five, when a consultation with the deputy secretary from the Embassy of Mali was abruptly canceled.  “Tom,” Hank stuttered as he rushed in and threw himself on the… Continue reading Bulls Stampede to Facebook and Get Slaughtered

Greeks Fear the New Drachma Won’t Be Worth a Continental

Another working Saturday ended rather late today, at six, culminating in a consultation with Dr. Vilaremetaftia Kolodaktilo, Principal Secondary Assistant Mattachine Attaché for High Culture at the Greek Embassy here in Washington.  His usual concern over the years has been the return of Greek antiquities from places like the Getty Museum to their rightful situations… Continue reading Greeks Fear the New Drachma Won’t Be Worth a Continental

The GSA – Uncle Sam’s Landlord Knows How to Live

Ballantine and I went to college together, which is to say, we attended it at the same time and were in several of the same classes.  The last I knew, he was in the Senior Executive Service with GSA Region 9, which is out on the west coast.  So I hadn’t seen him in quite a while… Continue reading The GSA – Uncle Sam’s Landlord Knows How to Live