Plan 9 from Foggy Bottom

Cartwright works at the State Department, where he has the second most terrible job – he’s an expert on Middle Eastern politics.  (The most terrible job at the State Department, by the way, is serving as an expert on Latin American economics.)  He visits my office for a consultation about once every five or six… Continue reading Plan 9 from Foggy Bottom

Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov!

My one o’clock consultation appointment today was Ivan Hukutchakokov, from the Russian Embassy.  He flopped down, obviously miserable, on the couch by the window.  Clients who do that are almost always caught up in a highly intractable situation. “Is highly intractable situation,” he confirmed as he sat up half way to open his laptop and… Continue reading Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov!

Idle Hands Continue to be Devil’s Workshop

My dear sister Rose stopped downtown for lunch on Thursday, and, as usual, she chose the restaurant, opting for the Occidental, a truly venerable Washington institution that’s been around since the turn of the last century.  In 2006, it moved next to the Willard Hotel, where the Round Robin Bar is located, and regular readers… Continue reading Idle Hands Continue to be Devil’s Workshop

Facebook Privacy Doubleplusungood, Citizen

This morning, Cerise and I slept late and had a scrumptious brunch (or so she told me).  But afterward, I had to head for the den and work.  It wasn’t so bad, really.  Brunch involved some lovely chilled strawberries and whole wheat bread, and before sitting down and pounding away at the world’s problems, I tossed… Continue reading Facebook Privacy Doubleplusungood, Citizen