Rope-a-Dopenhagen

Dr. Kelvin Heissmann was by no means a happy camper when he visited me today for a consultation.  He’s the resident climate change expert at the Global Concern Institute, an NGO headquartered here in Washington, DC.  True, that recent business with the e-mail hackers at the University of East Anglia didn’t do his blood pressure any good,… Continue reading Rope-a-Dopenhagen

The Case of the 1,069 Purloined Letters

Around eleven this morning, Gretchen let me know that my nephew, Henry Palikowski, Junior, wished to arrange for a telephone consultation today whenever I had the free time in my schedule.  I certainly had no problem with that – because while Congress sometimes stages a circus this time of year, as it is doing at… Continue reading The Case of the 1,069 Purloined Letters

The More You Learn, the Less You Know

I was having lunch today at Tosca, a nice Italian bistro on F Street, and midway between the guance di maiale brasate con cannellini, ragu di shiitake e Marsala and the gettuccine alle olive con ragu di cinghiale e castagne arrosto, my cell phone rang.  It was my dear sister Rose. Rose: Tom? Tom: You… Continue reading The More You Learn, the Less You Know

The Secret Life of Dr. Stewart David Nozette

His worst enemies can’t imagine a more bitter fate than the things a man will do to himself for his own foolish reasons. – Yiddish Proverb Shortly after ten this morning, a short, plump, dowdy, dark woman well over 40 wearing a black hat, a deep brown blazer, extremely sensible shoes and a dark dress that… Continue reading The Secret Life of Dr. Stewart David Nozette

Surgeon General’s Warning – Microsoft Can Be Dangerous

Monday night, while I was relaxing at home with a snifter of Hennessy XO and an Ashton aged Maduro No. 30, my dear brother Rob Roy called and asked a favor.  Would I, he inquired, give his old buddy Myron a free telephone consultation?  Well, blood, as they say, is thicker than water, so I… Continue reading Surgeon General’s Warning – Microsoft Can Be Dangerous