American Democracy 1776 – 2024

At long last, after years of campaigning, rallies and rhetoric, and after billions of dollars spent to sway the opinions of a tiny sliver of the electorate residing in seven of its fifty states, the US 2024 elections have concluded. The people have spoken, and what they said was Donald John Trump will be the… Continue reading American Democracy 1776 – 2024

Royal Caribbean Poop Cruise Shivers the Industry’s Timbers

My four o’clock appointment on Wednesday was with Richard Branleur Couilles-Baiser, formerly of Montreal, Quebec, but today the chief industry lobbyist for the International Alliance of Holiday Cruise Ship Associations, a trade organization headquartered here in Washington DC.  He strode smartly into my office, tossed his briefcase on the coffee table and perched jauntily on… Continue reading Royal Caribbean Poop Cruise Shivers the Industry’s Timbers

Zuma Unleashes the Dogs of Rhetoric on South Africa

Thursday afternoon, I welcomed Duki Bongo MBozo, who is First Under Assistant Delegation Secretary for Tourism Development at the South African Embassy here in Washington DC.  His consultation appointment was of an emergency nature, and he had been attempting to make one with me since early Wednesday. “That woman,” he fumed, as he sat down… Continue reading Zuma Unleashes the Dogs of Rhetoric on South Africa

Gawker Goes After the Creepshot on Reddit

Hard at work in my home office today, around two o’clock, I kept the HDTV on the wall tuned to coverage of Felix Baumgartner’s 24 mile high sky dive attempt.  He was just going through the pre-jump check list when my land line telephone rang.  Caller ID revealed that it was my dear sister Rose’s… Continue reading Gawker Goes After the Creepshot on Reddit

Utterly Bad, Good ‘n’ Ugly – Eastwood Makes Obama’s Day

This Labor Day, the humidity in Washington was so intense, when I woke up this morning, all the windows were dripping with condensation on the outside.  That’s because I had the air conditioning on the inside at a pleasant seventy-two degrees all night.  We are expecting the remnants of hurricane Isaac, too, but the family… Continue reading Utterly Bad, Good ‘n’ Ugly – Eastwood Makes Obama’s Day