Is this what the Chinese, to quote their famous saying, mean by 'living in interesting times?' If so, I can't tell if these are the best of times or the worst of times…and like Tolstoy, the trick is to assume it's both, wonder if you are living in war or in peace…and decide it doesn't matter. Just get on with your blog. I have been indoors for something approaching three weeks. With the viral doomsday clock already ticking, I shut the doors rather permanently and decided not to open them Read more [...]

I was sitting in our local Azerbaijani crêperie…and every neighborhood should have one…and just finishing my breakfast when something caught my eye. It was a word on the pepper container. Kirkland. The Seattle suburb near the headquarters of Costco which also serves as the Costco house brand. Everyone has purchased Costco mayonnaise, Costco handkerchiefs and so on. But damned if I'd ever thought I would see Kirkland branding the world leader in lethal virus competition. Why is this important? Read more [...]