US and N. Korea Wrestle in Deep Kimchee

I was relaxing at my home in Great Falls, Virginia this morning, reading Kierkegaard around three in the afternoon when my land line rang, and Caller ID revealed it was a satellite phone call from none other than Kim Jong-un, Glorious and Infallible Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea. As faithful… Continue reading US and N. Korea Wrestle in Deep Kimchee

Office of Personnel Management Can’t Manage to Keep a Secret

Weeknights at the Round Robin Bar tend to be quiet, uncrowded and convivial – unless it’s a Friday, when things become a bit more, shall we say, kinetic. Last night should have been one of the former, naturally, but it definitely wasn’t. When I walked in, there were Horn and Hardart, going at it hammer… Continue reading Office of Personnel Management Can’t Manage to Keep a Secret

Kim Jong Un’s Secret North Korean Surprise

Around one forty-five on Thursday afternoon, while concluding a consultation with a Slovakian economic analyst, I heard my desktop computer chime softly announcing an IM from Gretchen.  It said that a “Mr. Kim” wished to speak with me immediately.  Seeing that, I turned to my guest and made a polite excuse concerning a request for… Continue reading Kim Jong Un’s Secret North Korean Surprise

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

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