Neither snow nor rain......

Above is the lead in to the postman's motto. But pity the poor delivery man in Kabul, Afghanistan where very few streets have names and there are dozen of Mohammads in every block. He rides a bicycle over unpaved roads and tries to deliver 100 parcels per day. While he doesn't contend with snow he does tolerate 90+ fah temperatures. The story reminded me of the situation in Japan told by our manager in Tokyo during the 1960s. It seemed the postal authorities permitted you to designate your house address and everyone wanted Chome Number One. Figure that out on your bicycle.
tjs

Primarily Political XXXI

Quote of the week: Re POTUS - "there is no vacation from grievance and frustration." - Peter Baker NYT.

Whoever coined the phrase "Fire and Fury" must have had an affinity for alliteration but was not the Good Book's "fire and brimstone" adequate?

Recent wet weather has spawned wild mushrooms springing up on lawns and gardens. Don't eat them! Recall the disgruntled ex-employee speaking of his employer  - "They give you the mushroom treatment - First they keep you in the dark, then they cover you with manure, and finally they can you."
tjs

Retail.

The famous Saks Fifth Avenue store is feeling the squeeze from Amazon as are other retail emporiums. Their entire second floor is a wellness center featuring salt baths and other amenities. It is not selling merchandise - rather making the customer feel good. In a similar vein it is said that in 1935 they opened a ski center teaching skiing lessons while selling ski gear. This is surprising as 1935 was in the middle of the Great Depression when the only downward slopes were in the stock market. But that would take superb salesmanship of the highest order.
tjs

Gender Equality

This just in from Copenhagen: The biographer of Prince Henrik of Denmark,  has announced that the Prince Consort no longer wishes to be buried next to his wife of fifty years, Queen Margrethe II because he was never made king or king consort. "He said he loves his wife, but has difficulties with the Queen as an institution." His grudge has been festering for some time going back to a grievance about not having his own salary and having to ask his wife for pocket money for cigarettes. Most guys could sympathize with that but the law on gender equality does not apply to the Royal Court.
A twin glass sarcophagus is being prepared, but alas, the Queen may rest there alone. To paraphrase Richard III "My hearse, my hearse, my kingdom for a hearse."
tjs

Hardball

When Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) of Alaska voted NO and helped sink the skinny repeal bill, it did not go over well in the administration or with the new Interior Secretary. He is the fellow who arrived to work on the first day on horseback and controls vast real estate in Alaska. It is alleged that he made veiled threats of retaliation against the people of her state. As a former congressman he should have known that Sen. Murkowski is the chairwoman of the committee that funds appropriations for the Interior Department. Biting the hand that feeds you! Poor horsemanship with a touch of saddle sores.
tjs

Making Merry

The late Drew Pearson was a famous investigative reporter in Washington, D.C. spanning the years from FDR to early Nixon. He began his column, Washington Merry-Go-Round in 1932 and it was a must read by all within the Beltway. He was both feared and cultivated across party lines. I thought of his title while observing the revolving door going on in the White House. And it's a far cry from the carousel I rode as a child chasing after that elusive brass ring.
tjs

My Gal Friday

When I was about forty I entered the hospital for a tonsillectomy. I recommend you do it younger. I had the procedure on a Thursday, spent a restless night and was discharged in the morning which was a Friday. As I was to spend the weekend at my family home, I stopped at my apartment for weekend supplies. My cleaning lady came on Fridays and as I burst thru the door unannounced, she was having a cup of tea with a neighboring cleaning lady. They stared at me in surprise and as I couldn't speak I reverted to sign language and was soon out the door leaving them to interpret what they had just witnessed, perhaps by searching thru the tea leaves.
tjs