I'm Often Amazed At The Way Politicians,

Disney World Has Acquired By Now Something Of The Air Of A National Shrine. American Parents Who Don't Take Their Children There Sense Obscurely That They Have Failed In Some Fundamental Way, Like Muslims Who Never Made It To Mecca.

Remember How Margaret Thatcher Came To Believe That Abroad Was More Important Than At Home? Didn't Do Her Much Good.

Kind 'guardian' Readers Have Been Forwarding Me Round Robin Christmas Newsletters For Years Now: Lengthy Missives Full Of Perfect Children, Exotic Holidays, Talented Pets And Endless, Tedious Detail. The Notes That Accompanied Them Revealed They Had Inspired In The Original Recipients Everything From Mild Irritation To Absolute Rage.

Canada Is Not So Much A Country As A Clothesline Nearly 4,000 Miles Long. St John's In Newfoundland Is Closer To Milan, Italy Than To Vancouver.

In Washington, The First Thing People Tell You Is What Their Job Is. In Los Angeles You Learn Their Star Sign. In Houston You're Told How Rich They Are. And In New York They Tell You What Their Rent Is.