Money Isn’t Everything, but It’s Mighty Handy if You’ve Been Kidnapped in Iraq

My very last consultation last Friday was “Ahmed.” That’s what he calls himself, and since he invariably pays cash, I couldn’t care less what his real name is. Historically, he’s been a very, very good customer – no matter how much I charge, he always pays up. And every time he calls to book an… Continue reading Money Isn’t Everything, but It’s Mighty Handy if You’ve Been Kidnapped in Iraq

Gulf States to Take Action on Refugee Crisis

As regular readers of this Web log know, Gretchen and I make special preparations for visits from my client “Ahmed.” These involve scheduling him as the last consultation on a Friday, preferably before a long weekend such as this one, which includes Labor Day on Monday, installing new filters in the office air purification system,… Continue reading Gulf States to Take Action on Refugee Crisis

FIFA Fie Fo Fum! An Evil Giant Bumbles, Stumbles and Falls

Early this afternoon, Merdoso Donnato Pompino, representing the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, paid me a visit for a consultation. Obviously still on Naples time, he arrived twenty minutes late, and obviously a completely self-absorbed, if obviously aging jock, he nevertheless spent another ten trying to get Gretchen’s telephone number. What the hell, as far… Continue reading FIFA Fie Fo Fum! An Evil Giant Bumbles, Stumbles and Falls

US Courts Taliban in Doha, Karzai Livid

Another working Saturday for Gretchen and me, necessitated by roiling international finance markets precipitated by Ben Bernanke’s remarks on Wednesday that the Federal Reserve might just let up slightly on Quantitative Easing.  Considering all the highly negative things the heavy-hitting market mavens have said about QE, I must say the irony hung heavy about my… Continue reading US Courts Taliban in Doha, Karzai Livid