Big Brother’s Minions Fear Congress Will Be Un-PATRIOT-ic

Saturday evening, after dinner at Del Campo in Chinatown (which paradoxically features South American cuisine, by the way), Cerise, having been given two free tickets by a friend serendipitously connected with the show, and having subsequently promised to go as a personal favor to that individual, went with me to see The Orginalist at Arena… Continue reading Big Brother’s Minions Fear Congress Will Be Un-PATRIOT-ic

Sugar Honey Graham Discovers 20th Century Technology

This morning, just as I concluded a consultation about Boko Haram’s latest overtures to ISIL with a distraught Nigerian diplomat, Gretchen buzzed me on the intercom. “Mr. Collins,” she told me, “there’s this old Southern lady on Line Two. She sounds exactly like Woody Allen imitating Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire.” “Did this… Continue reading Sugar Honey Graham Discovers 20th Century Technology

Did Petraeus Betray Us? Only His Mistress Knows for Sure!

My dear sister Rose’s oldest son, Hank Jr., came down to DC this week from Rhode Island, where he is studying art at Brown, in order to curate some recent modern art acquisitions for the Smithsonian. He brought along his current girlfriend, Lorelei, who is an English major. Hank Jr. dropped by my office on… Continue reading Did Petraeus Betray Us? Only His Mistress Knows for Sure!

Obama Impeachment Mania Continues to Deny Reality

My final consultation on Friday was with Richard Putzenkopf, a senior member of US Representative Jack Kingston’s staff. “These are great times for the Republican Party, Tom,” he observed as he sprawled on the couch in my office, threw his attaché case on the coffee table and fetched a Microsoft Surface tablet from within. After… Continue reading Obama Impeachment Mania Continues to Deny Reality

U.S., Germany and Russia Play Spy vs Spy vs Spy

Friday night around eight o’clock, the Round Robin Bar was packed with revelers fortifying themselves for the Fourth of July fireworks display, which we here in Washington were lucky enough to have escaped the wrath of Hurricane Arthur to witness. The Round Robin is located in the Willard Hotel, right across the street from the… Continue reading U.S., Germany and Russia Play Spy vs Spy vs Spy