Overheard on a Flight from Tampa to New Orleans

Four bachelor-partying men discussing (a) the best ways to encourage wives to lose weight and (b) how to avoid getting into fights with a member of the group who was reputed to be a bad drunk. All over Bloody Marys at noon.

Simple Pleasures: Comfortable Socks

Despite being way down there at the ends of our legs, feet are remarkably sensitive appendages. When struck or stubbed, they smart viciously, and over many centuries of mutual exploration, lovers all over the world have discovered the unique erogenous electricity of the tender regions of the foot.  But in the cooler months of the year, few things can compare to the soft caress of a good pair of socks. They protect us from hard edges and unyielding surfaces and hold our most distant parts in a warm embrace. Whether slipped into a shoe or worn alone, good socks are good friends.

Christopher Hitchens on Mortality

It is horrible to see oneself die without children. Napoléon Bonaparte said that.

What greater grief can there be for mortals than to see their children dead. Euripides said that. 

When we talk about mortality we are talking about our children.

I said that.

                  From his review of Joan Didion's forthcoming book Blue Nights.

A Perfect Commercial Experience

Joined an online audiobook subscription service. Downloaded two great books (Skippy Dies by Paul Murray and State of Wonder by Ann Pachett) at no charge, as part of the introductory offer. Listened to them.
A couple of months pass, and I am having difficulty getting into the audiobook website. Password doesn’t seem to work. Maybe I forgot it, but my efforts to reset my password all fail. Worrisome, but I am not too concerned because no charges have appeared on my credit card statement.
Eventually I get an email indicating that there was a problem signing me up for the service and that, as a result, my subscription has been terminated.
Smile.