Better the Putin You Know than the Putin You Don’t

As the day after Christmas before a weekend, this Friday was a federal holiday, but to about half of my clients, that didn’t mean squat. For quite a few of them, it was just another Friday, either because they’re not Christians and they don’t care a fig about when Jesus was born, or, like Dr.… Continue reading Better the Putin You Know than the Putin You Don’t

Russia Proves that Missile Launchers, Morons and Airliners Don’t Mix

Things had been comparatively quiet here in Washington until a couple of weeks ago, allowing Gretchen and me to take Saturdays off. But as the planet’s various political herpes sores erupted everywhere upon it once more, like those which appear on nervous, lonely thirty-something women the night before the big two week Caribbean cruise with… Continue reading Russia Proves that Missile Launchers, Morons and Airliners Don’t Mix

Putin’s Olympic Gold Fever Heats Up

While I was stuck here in Washington with all the world’s problems and rotten weather to boot, Cerise made it out of town last weekend for a nice trip to St. Croix.  And as luck would have it, thanks to winter storm Pax, despite her planned return on Thursday she was stuck there until at… Continue reading Putin’s Olympic Gold Fever Heats Up

Sochi Olympics – Bolshoi Bungle on the Black Sea

The Debt Ceiling Spectre again haunts Washington DC.  Suspended since October 17, 2013, it rose from the dead, like Osiris, or Jesus, if you prefer, on Friday, and promptly at noon, the United States of America was technically broke.  Thanks to various sleights of hand on the part of the Treasury Department and the Federal… Continue reading Sochi Olympics – Bolshoi Bungle on the Black Sea

Edward Snowden – Raskolnikov, Robin Hood or Rat?

Yesterday afternoon, Dr. Margaret Scheisshower, Senior Deputy Assistant for Policy to President Barack Obama, paid me a visit.  She demonstrated her forthright nature by striding into my office and selecting the chair positioned directly in front of my desk. “Mr. Collins,” she opened in a well modulated contralto with a slight Chicago accent, “the Administration… Continue reading Edward Snowden – Raskolnikov, Robin Hood or Rat?