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

GOP and Dems Alike, Everybody Wants to Pound Julia

Poor Mexico – so far from God, and so close to the United States. – Mexican folk aphorism, often erroneously attributed to José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori Cinco de Mayo isn’t Mexican Independence Day; that’s September 16.  It isn’t the date of the Mexican Constitution – that’s February 5.  It isn’t the date… Continue reading GOP and Dems Alike, Everybody Wants to Pound Julia

Bo Xilai and Bo Guagua – Beaux Yeux or Bo Zeux?

He began calling early Thursday, trying to get a telephone consultation appointment, but I was booked solid.  Since we were working this weekend, Gretchen finally managed to fit him in on Saturday afternoon. Bo: Hello?  Tom Collins? Tom: Yes. Bo: This is Bo Guagua.  How are you? Tom: Fine, thanks.  And you? Bo: I’ve been… Continue reading Bo Xilai and Bo Guagua – Beaux Yeux or Bo Zeux?

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

Scalia Says Obamacare Tastes Like Broccoli

It was a mighty glum Mortimer Groenteboer of the American Fruit and Vegetable Council who came to visit my office on the afternoon of Friday March 30.  “He looks,” Gretchen opined in an instant message shortly before showing him in, “like he was weaned on a pickle.” And so he did.  A more unhappy Washington… Continue reading Scalia Says Obamacare Tastes Like Broccoli