So, in the course of an accidental career, I was briefly attached to the staff of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. It was an odd thing for a career intelligence guy, and quite interesting. Secretary Thompson was interested in what the well-manicured briefer from the three-letter-agency had to tell him […]

(Former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson). We have shared an interesting year, haven’t we? There is more to it than what we are told, of course, and there are several large moving components to the madness. One of the latest new wrinkles is an old one, and brings back memories. You might be interested in a […]

The dawn was brilliant, the only way to describe it. Our intense blue sky was populated with puffy white wisps of the alternative. They tell us the brisk chill air is from that renegade jet steam which will be with us for a week, a cousin to the one that paralyzed us last month. But […]

The Staff Meeting at Socotra House Publications was mostly peaceful this morning. It was a matter of great relief and a demonstration of solidarity among virtually all the editorial personnel. We recognize and applaud the signs displayed by some members of the formerly indigent members of the newly expanded Compliance Department. Given social fluidity, we […]

Dark and drear in the Piedmont this morning- not as cold as during the big storm last week, but the skies are gray and a chill rain is pouring. My joints are all complaining, knees throbbing, shoulders aching. Spring is coming, though. The Lady in Red on the flatscreen assures us that the warmth is […]

Deep regrets. Satellite connectivity in the Piedmont is- erratic. Like the other renewables… I need a new footnote, since I mostly agree with common sense, but everything seems a little…you know. “Off.” There is a minor controversy over a nominee to be assistant Secretary of HHS, for example. When I was working there, the Deptu […]

(Our Governor signs in the next Public Health Emergency). Thank God. Now we know. The Editorial Staff here was getting alarmed. I have noted in the Daily about waiting for the next declaration of a public health emergency that will enable our nice, but appallingly inept, Governor to continue to rule us by emergency order. […]

These are historic times. I know, I know, I have been muttering about that for almost a full year. I think I was right, but that is an example of how historic things are. We talked about the massive intrusion of cold and chill yesterday, so I will give you an example. This is the […]

There is some unsettling stuff flying around this morning. You know, the Presidential spokesperson is in a tough position, and I feel for her. The COVID thing is tiresome now, not that it wasn’t before, and unaccompanied minor kids are being held in the same facilities that have been used for a decade. I am […]

As you are unfortunately aware, it was project time down on the farm in Virginia’s lovely Piedmont. We had sunshine for nearly two days, and naturally the residents here were stunned and disoriented. Thankfully we are back to normal this morning under gray skies spurting chunks of ice and unfrozen rain this morning, so we […]