The View From the Outback

• Thoughts While Staring at the Ceiling Fan
• Civil Service Is a Threat to National Security
• Emotional Aid & Comfort to the Enemy
• A U.S. Occupation of Iraq? What a Dreadful Thought
• Fall TV - Initial Reactions
• Senators Malaprop
• The Obdurate and Divisive Senator Leahy
• The Mail-in Rebate Scam
• Suggested Reading From Past Columns

The best public utterance of the month: On PBS, a Native-American writer and poet was giving us a tour of a late-night supermarket, as he is an insomniac. "If you want to live the good life, you have to shop where the whites shop," he said. As he breezed down the aisle, he commented on the large variety of items available. "You got beauty products never tested on any animals. So, I guess the animals are still homely."

My disdain for Adam Sandler as an actor is well-documented in the Outback. The Christian Science Monitor   on Oct. 11 ran a headline: " Surprise! Adam Sandler can act." They were referring to his role in "Punch-Drunk Love." We'll see how this works out in the long run. Don't hold your breath waiting for him to win an Oscar.

Katherine Harris, the former Florida Secretary of State, was the subject of one of the most vicious character attacks in our recent political history for her role in the botched Florida elections. She did only what her oath of office required her to do. Ms. Harris is running for the U.S. House and is expected to win the seat. I defended her during the turmoil of the election and afterward. (See: March 24, 2001 Outback, "Florida Secretary of State Literally Begged Networks Not to Call Election Early") I also wrote her a strong letter of support, for which I received a letter of thanks. Her book, "Center of the Storm," has already sold 60,000 copies. There are a lot of folks in DC who will be trying to get her to work "compromises" with them. Some of those people may have to crawl on hands and knees to seek that cooperation. Go Katherine. Get out your whip and enjoy the ride.

A man who is a member of Earth First! fell 50 feet from a tree and died. He was protesting logging. It was his first, and last, "tree sit." I must refrain from writing what I am thinking.

In a 10/07/02 update to the Outback for Sept. 30, 2002, I suggested that if the clowns on the N.J. Supreme Court, who allowed the Democrats to substitute a candidate for Sen. Torricelli after the statutory deadline, were not reversed (by the Sup. Ct.), the repercussions would be immense. The Supreme Court refused to hear the case, no doubt still licking wounds from Bush v. Gore. In the Oct. 10, 2002 issue, The Wall Street Journal   ran an editorial on the subject. They point to the election in Hawaii, where the Democrats are trying to get a substitute candidate on the ballot for Rep. Patsy Mink who died recently. According to the law in Hawaii, her name must remain on the ballot. Republicans are trying the same thing in a township election in New Jersey. The Journal said: "If the Supremes find themselves deluged with this sort of thing in coming years, it will serve them right." What a mess this is going to be.

A note to Susan Lyne at ABC, who thinks that personal video recorders (PVRs) will never catch on. HP has announced a line of PCs dubbed the "HP Media Center" PC. Among its capabilities is a Personal Video Recorder.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is going to publish all of its course materials online without a fee (www.mit.edu). (I hate the use of "for free.") I will take advantage of that bonanza, and after I completed several courses, I will print fancy diplomas. Then, I can appear on TV shows as an "expert" - with my MIT degrees. Damn, I forgot. I don't live in the East, where all the TV experts live.

Sen. Tom Daschle won his first U.S. House race by 139 votes. I wonder if any of those people would like to take back their votes?

Netscape 7.0 looks like it is a worthy competitor to Internet Explorer. They finally put in a Print Preview function. It automatically imports the IE 6.0 Favorites as Bookmarks. It has a quick- launch bar for your favorite sites, just like IE 6.0. My favorite new feature is that when you right- click on a Web page link you can either can open a New Window or open the link as a New Tab. This is great for drilling down through links or chasing links on a Google search. You never lose your original page, and you can Tab back and forth among all the open pages. Nestscape is also probably not as prone to security holes, as most hackers seem to target IE 6.0 and Outlook. There is also Mail and Compose for HTML - and so on. A free download at www.netscape.com, and without a lot of hassle.

Johnny Carson, the Tonight-Show legend, has emphysema, and had heart by-pass surgery a while back. But, at age 76, he still plays tennis and appears to have an active life. I would be active too, if I had his wife. How many of you remember Alexis? She is about 25 years his junior and could easily have been a babe on Baywatch. She is listed on one entertainment site as a former "secretary." Years ago, there were a few pictures of her in the media. Then, she and Johnny went into virtual seclusion. As I recall the story, she was walking on the beach in front of Johnny's Malibu home and ran into him one day. They chatted and she later became Mrs. Carson. Simple. How many days, weeks, or months did she have to walk there to finally meet him? My kinda girl. Have a plan. Work the plan. Today, they call that stalking. Semantics.

I suggested in the Outback for Sept. 30 that Sen. Torricelli was disingenuous during a speech on the floor about establishing a commission to probe the intelligence community and other government failures that lead to "the" attack. Michael Barone, of "U.S. News & World Report," writing in the WSJ for 10-2-02, said: " I will miss Bob Torricelli. He was a good source .... but always ready to admit a political motive when other politicians would have insisted that they were acting only for the public good." We need more honest hypocrites in Congress.

Federal Reserve figures indicate that the average household owes more than $6,800 on their credit cards. This is pretty scary. Did any of these people ever think about taking out a loan at less than 10% to replace their 12.5 to 20% credit-card interest? Or better yet, don't buy more than you can afford. That's an un-American concept. It is no wonder that arguments over money are the number one problem in marriage. Mortgages and new cars you can't afford and credit card debt that never gets paid off. That's a formula for anxiety, tension, and a good bit of shouting - and a lot of booze and a lot of pills - and a black eye here and there.

"The West Wing" on NBC is down in ratings in the coveted (but misguided) 18-49 demographic by 33% since last season. I am heartened by this. I loved this show when it first came on and called it one of the best dramas ever to hit TV. Then, Martin Sheen began his irresponsible and intemperate attacks on Gov. Bush during the presidential election. Among other things, he publicly called Mr. Bush "a white knuckled drunk." From then on, every time I saw the face of Martin Sheen on TV, I had a visceral reaction that I would like to see some serious physical harm come to him. I could no longer watch one of my favorite shows. I continued to be mystified at the high ratings of the show, since half of the country (give or take a few votes) voted for Mr. Bush. Were a lot of Republicans watching West Wing? Once again, it seemed to prove that there are no consequences for the often outrageous conduct of celebrities.

Civil Service Is a Theat to National Security

For more than a year, I have been writing with as much passion as I could about the negative effect Civil Service has on an efficient federal government. Seldom do I find much to cheer about in a congressional hearing. But, during a hearing of the Joint House-Senate Intelligence Committee, looking into "Intelligence Community Reforms," I heard some remarks from two influential DC figures that brought me great joy.

Sen. Bob Graham, Democrat of Florida, asked the witness panel for ideas to enhance the personnel standards in the intelligence community.

The first response came from Lee Hamilton, former Democratic Congressman from Indiana. Lee had been Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee during part of his 1965 - 1999 tenure in the House. He has more recently been on a blue-ribbon panel, the Hart-Rudman Commission, investigating intelligence operations in the U.S. government. As you read his remarks, remember that he was a long-term Democratic member of the House, and that the question was asked by a Democratic senator.

(Excerpts from the answer of former Congressman Lee Hamilton)

"The personnel, or the Civil Service system in the United States, has now become a national-security issue.... There is too much rigidity in the system. There is not enough allowance for incentive.... And it is an exceedingly serious problem in our government. And it has national-security consequences.

I've had the experience of running a congressional office. And I've also had the experience, as I am now having at the Wilson Center, of running at least part of my employees there under the federal system. I would absolutely assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that you would not tolerate in your office the kind of management restrictions that operate today in the federal government. You could not run a senatorial office!"

Speaking about the work of the commission he serves (or served) on, he said:

"We have to look at the Civil Service system.... And we have to find ways and means of getting more flexibility into it. If we don't, we are gonna choke ourselves to death."

(The staff employees in the House and Senate are NOT under Civil Service. In fact, the House website lists four points of information about jobs in the U.S. House. Point 4: "Employment with the U.S. House of Representatives is at-will." Isn't is fascinating that those who are holding up Homeland Security legislation over the "rights of Civil Service and union employees," do not have employees who work under those rules.)

The second response on personnel matters came from retired Lt. Gen. William Odom, who also served as director of the National Security Agency (NSA, our electronic-intercept agency).

"I endorse Mr. Hamilton's points with all the force I can. .... I'd much rather have people in uniform. I know how to hire and fire people in uniform. If they're not in uniform, it's hard to - you just - you know - you can't hire and fire them." (Subdued laughter in the background)

"The intelligence business is warfare. And if you don't look at it that way, you're going to be beaten. Would you run the (an) NFL football club that way? Would you choose your quarterback on this kind of basis (Civil Service rules)? Well, I don't want to choose my agents. I don't want to choose my analysts on that basis."

(The hearing was televised on C-SPAN. During Gen. Odom's testimony, they regularly flashed a legend on the screen that called him the former National Security Council Director 1985-1988. Actually, he was the director of NSA from 1985-1988.)

Emotional Aid & Comfort to the Enemy

In the Outback for Sept. 30,2002, I wrote the following:" When will we be able to stop marking every moment in our history as either "pre 9/11" or "post 9/11"? And when will the references to "Ground Zero" drop to less than a thousand a week? Although the attacks were a cataclysmic event, and the first major attack on American soil, they were neither the beginning or the end of our civilization. Soon, we as a nation need to start putting the event into historical perspective."

As I listened to the thousands of references on TV to "9/11," I thought what joy this must bring to the terrorists. They must be thinking "We really got to them. That is all they talk about." As my Marines Drill Instructors said at Paris Island, "Suck it up, Marine." At a minimum, we need to put on a good face and quit letting the terrorists know how profoundly they affected this country. It feeds them like gasoline on a fire.

You can make an analogy to the media obsession with the sniper in the Washington area. Every newscast, national or local, covers the story in depth. One thing a terrorist wants is feedback to let him know he is having an effect. Well, the media is doing a good job of that. One guy was put on camera and said that our kids were safe. Then a child was shot. Coincidence? Maybe. There was even a program on TV that decried the excessive media coverage as rewarding the sniper with feedback about "how he had stuck fear into the public." Then they went on to discuss all the shootings.

A U.S. Occupation of Iraq? What a Dreadful Thought

The White House is working on a plan for the military occupation of Iraq after the end of a U.S.- Iraq war. This sends chills down my spine. If there is not a clear mandate from the mostly toothless U.N. (it is time to s--- or get off the pot) to use force to enforce weapons inspections, and the U.S. attacks Iraq on its own, or with only British help, it is hard to comprehend the negative consequences around the world. If you think 9/11 was a problem, just wait for the aftermath of a unilateral invasion and occupation of Iraq.

I joined the Marines during the Korean War (conflict) and served in the CIA is SE Asia during the Vietnam war. I lived, worked, or traveled in about 30 countries. I have seen the results of our often muddle-headed foreign policy up close. Never did I think I would live to hear the U.S. government talk about pre-emptively invading - and occupying - another country - without the support and overt assistance from a large group of other nations. This is lunacy.

There is a very good chance that even if the country were occupied, nobody will be able to find Saddam Hussein. We still have not found a rag-tag terrorist who lives in caves. In 1916, we sent nearly 11,000 men to find Pancho Villa in Mexico. In 11 months, the troops never saw Pancho. Pancho Villa met his death at his retirement ranch. He was assassinated! We can't find the guy who blew up the abortion clinics - in our own country! Some people have been watching too many movies. Various military experts say that our chances of catching Saddam Hussein are "slim to none."

Writing in the Oct. 11 issue of the WSJ, retired Lt. General Thomas McInerney outlined his scenario for the "liberation" of Iraq. It all looks very good on paper, if we knew where all the targets were that the General refers to - and if most of the Iraqi army surrenders immediately. And if. And if. And if. He says: " ... a campaign that will be over within 30 days and have fewer casualties than we had in Desert Storm with a smaller attacking force." This from a man who spent most of his adult life in the Air Force. How seriously should we take a man who says there will be fewer casualties than in Desert Storm?

Also remember that this is also the man who spent 35 years in the Air Force and appeared on FoxNews during the Afghan campaign with maps to tell us what both our air and ground-war strategy should be. Ain't a big pension enough? Do these people have to get on TV and talk about stuff they know little about? Or write about it in the WSJ?

As far as I can determine, there were about 125 to 148 U.S. combat deaths in Desert Storm. A stray Scud missile struck a barracks and killed 28. An AC-130 gunship went down killing 13. Some were killed by friendly fire. But, the ground battle was fought at arms-length, mostly with tanks and artillery. Fighting an urban battle - in a city of about 5 million people - is inherently more dangerous, especially when many military installations are in what appear to be civilian buildings.

I go back to my original solution (Outback, Aug. 2, 2002). Find someone in Iraq that you can bribe with $5 billion (billion, not million) to kill Saddam Hussein. Experts on TV, including the leader of the Iraqi opposition, claim that Hussein has no support in his own army, that the Iraqi people hate Saddam, and on and on. If he is so despised and alone, then how hard could it be to offer someone a life of opulence to take him out? There is one small problem with this approach. The shooter might very well be killed by loyal Hussein guards. Well then, is there not one person in Saddam's entourage who is willing to take a chance on dying to free the people of Iraq from the oppression of the current regime? Even members of the German high command tried to kill Hitler and nearly succeeded.

The House and Senate have approved the use of force against Iraq. The joint resolution emphasizes that we need to work with the U.N. and exhaust diplomatic measures before resorting to force. Rep. Dick Gephardt said that the resolution was not an endorsement or acceptance of President Bush's policy of pre-emptive military strikes. For once, I agree with Mr. Gephardt.

I watched many hours of the Senate debate, which was a daunting task, since the same points were made over and over and over and over. Apparently nobody listened to the speeches by those who proceeded them. Both sides made good arguments. Then there was the lone wolf, Sen. Byrd from W. Virginia. He is obsessed with not giving the president any power and took up way too much of the debate time with his irrational diatribes and amendments. There is a point where the wisdom of age turns into the ramblings of senility.

Retired Marine General Anthony Zini, a former envoy to the Mideast for the Bush administration, thinks the administration seems unnecessarily rushed about taking on Iraq. He said that he thinks Saddam is "deterrable and containable at this point."

This is "the" defining moment for the United Nations. The Security Council seems lukewarm to pass a new resolution requiring Iraq to submit to unconditional inspections and disarm or face military retaliation. The French are dragging their feet, among others. Did the terrorist bombing of the French oil tanker get their attention? Iraq may have had nothing to do with this attack, but in time we will no doubt see the fingerprints of Iraq on terrorist attacks with weapons of mass destruction. This is not "a diversion of our war on terrorism." It is a logical extension of that effort. But, we need many partners in this effort, just as we have for the war on terrorism.

Fall TV - Initial Reactions

NBC's "Boomtown" is getting much good press, but it was not in the Top 20 in the Nielsen ratings for the period Sept. 30 to Oct 6. I watched two episodes. It is simply too confusing and disjointed for me. My simple mind can't keep up. I'm tuning out. Schizophrenics who hear multiple voices and people with multiple personalities should enjoy this show.

"Less Than Perfect" on ABC is another show about a TV station. I watched the first episode and decided to watch the second to see if it was as bad as I thought it was. It was worse. Among other things, Andy Dick, as the kids say, "creeps me out." I can find no merit in this show. Yet, ABC has ordered a full season of episodes. If LTP makes it to the next season, I will be very surprised. Of course, no program can please everyone. I just can't see what anyone is excited about with this travesty.

For all the hoopla about new "smash hit comedies" on ABC, not one made the Nielsen Top 20 for Sept. 30 to Oct 6. Only "Monday Night Football" on ABC made the TOP 20, as #11. As I noted earlier, John Madden has calmed down and seems more serious and introspective in the booth. There appears to be a genuine respect and mutual admiration between he and Al Michaels. I no longer mute the TV when Madden is speaking. Even I can be forgiving.

Gill Bellows is gone from "The Agency," the CBS CIA drama. And not a moment too soon. Mr. Bellows is a dull, monotonous, lifeless actor, who was not very good in "Ally McBeal" and worse in "The Agency." I love this show, but I am biased because I was in Technical Services in CIA, which is featured prominently in the show. I never watch "Alias," since it is CIA science fiction - a caricature of real intelligence work. I know, I am a lone voice on this. Whatever turns you on.

So far, I find NBC's "Good Morning Miami," enjoyable. It may have legs. I would watch anything with Suzanne Pleshette in it. She is the class act of older actresses.

I watched one episode of "According to Jim" on ABC only because my former neighbor in Dallas and tennis buddy, Mike Ditka, made a short appearance. I find it hard to accept that the character played by Courtney Thorne-Smith (Cheryl) would be married to the likes of the Jim Belushi character (Jim). It reminds me of the dufus they cast as Bette Midler's husband in the ill- fated "Bette" show. Beautiful people usually pair up with beautiful people, unless one partner is very rich or famous - then all logic is thrown out. And there was entirely too much shouting. Mr. Belushi must subscribe to the "if you can't act, yell" school. That was a one-time deal for me - unless Mike comes back.

As I said before, Hispanics are funny and fun-loving people. I enjoyed the first two episodes of "George Lopez" on ABC and hope it stays around.

You could not pay me to watch any of the new doctor shows, just as I never watch "ER." I have seen enough of the inside of a hospital for myself and in visiting my friend who eventually died of a brain tumor, to find any appeal in the genre. Enjoy all the blood and guts. Someday they will be your own - and it will all not seem so romantic.

"Scrubs" on NBC is not really a doctor show like the rest. It is a comedic spoof, and although it has its moments, its tries too hard to be clever and ends up being trite. Two episodes of that were enough for me. I'm not that desperate to be entertained.

I watched one episode of "Life With Bonnie" on ABC. It was too frantic for me. In real life, they fired all the writers. Bonnie Hunt and the cast want to write the show. Since I like and admire Bonnie Hunt, I will check back and see how they are doing, but it will have to be a West-Coast delayed recording on my satellite TV. I will not miss "Frasier" for "Bonnie."

"JAG" on CBS continues to produce timely, topical, and quality shows. Finally, maybe Harm and Mac will get together in the sack. It is simply too much of a stretch to accept that those two could have worked together for several years at JAG and not found a mutual sexual and emotional attachment. It is reminiscent of "The Nanny." There was no way Mr. Sheffield could have lived in the house with the Nanny (Fran Dresher), without finding himself late one night slipping into her room with a glass of Champagne. We had to wait years for that to finally happen. My patience with Harm and Mac is exhausted. Get it on.

"Becker" is back. The chemistry between Becker and the Nancy Travis character is terrific. Nancy Travis is terrific in any context. The actress who plays Linda (Shawnee Smith) does such a superb portrayal of many of the empty-headed employees of today that she has set the bar high for all other such performances. "Jake," the blind newsstand operator, is flawless in his role. And so on. Once of the best ensemble casts in recent memory.

Several issues back, I mentioned that I thought that Pat Sajak and Vanna White ("Wheel of Fortune") had become "an item." They are driving me nuts, since I have always felt they belonged together. I can't find anything in print to support the idea. Now, they often come out holding hands - way too long - before Vanna departs for the board. On a couple of shows, they hugged at the end of the show. As they start to move apart, Vanna gives Pat one of those "thanks so much for last night" looks. They both have exchanged some rather tell-tale comments in recent shows.

Dr. Phil is doing well on his CBS show. I watch a segment now and then, when I have an adequate supply of Kleenex. One thing that impresses me is at the end of the show when he goes to his wife, who is seated in the audience. He takes her hand as they walk out together. When was the last time you saw anything like that on a TV talk show?

Senators Malaprop

Politicians love to give grand speeches, even when making a simple opening statement or asking a question in a committee hearing. Sen. Pat Roberts, while addressing former Congressman Lee Hamilton during an Intelligence hearing, said: " You were just as pre-essent as usual." The word is "prescient." In a later hearing, after the original draft of this paragraph, Sen. Roberts heard several committee member pronounce the word "prescient" correctly (perhaps to send him a message). He said in open hearing that he thought that it was "pre-essent," but that he now knows it is "prescient." Congratulations, sir. One less malapropism in the Congress.

Sen. Mary Landrieu of Lousiana, speaking on the Senate floor about the Iraq regime, said: " ... a regime that has been recalcient." The word is "recalcitrant." She is a lovely lady and does have a Louziana accent, but I replayed the digital-hard-drive recording five times. It always came out "recalcient." If yur gonna use them big words, git 'em right.

You hear speakers on the floor in Congress say that they want the right to "revise and extend my remarks" (which will appear in the Congressional Record). Now, you know one reason. There ought not to be a right to "revise" remarks that will appear in the Congressional Record, otherwise is not a true "record" of what happened in Congress.

Sen. Leahy, speaking on the Senate floor, was complimenting the work of the female senator from Texas. He called her Senator Hutchinson over and over. She must get tired of this. Sen. Tim Hutchinson is from Arkansas. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is from Texas. You would think that with only 100 members, they would know the names of all of their colleagues.

All of which reminds me of what a wit said, way back in grade school. Nobody need ever be considered to be a failure. They can always serve as a bad example.

The Obdurate and Divisive Senator Leahy

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D. Vermont, continues to be one of the most obdurate and divisive members of Congress. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he has once again stonewalled a Bush judicial nominee. Sen. Leahy refused to even let there be a vote to bring the nomination of U.S. District Judge Dennis Shedd before the committee. Among other things, Judge Shedd is said to have a poor record on civil-rights cases he has adjudicated.

Once again, the Democrats have invoked "their litmus test" for judges and refused to let the Senate even consider a nominee. The nominee is from South Carolina and Sen. Strom Thurmond (R., S.C.) says that Sen. Leahy had promised to give Judge Shedd a vote, but backed out. Sen. Thurmond took the senate floor to denounce Sen. Leahy, saying that in 48 years in the Senate, "I have never been treated in such a manner."

President Bush is said to be "Mad as hell" at Leahy. Join the club, Mr. President. Pray for a Republican Senate majority, if for no other reason than to muzzle the out-of-control Leahy.

The Mail-In Rebate Scam

I buy an inordinate amount of hardware and software for which there is often a rebate offered. But, they put as many hurdles in your way as possible, in the hope that you will not go to the trouble to file for the rebate.

First, you normally need boxtop or tab from the box. A lot of people throw away the box - and a week later decide to apply for the rebate.

The rebates forms are often so small that you have to read them with a magnifying glass. There is no room for all the required information. I try to cram all the information in, and then I type out a duplicate form. How many are willing to do this?

You can't use a PO Box as a mailing address. I don't actually have a mailing address or a mailbox at my house. I am forced to use the rural-route address at my ranch on the forms.

You always need a copy of the sales receipt. You have to carry the receipt to the office (if you're not retired), or to a copy shop, or have a scanner/copy-machine at home. Another hoop for you to jump through. Give up yet? They hope so.

Some software upgrade rebates ask you for a photocopy of your original CD. It is not easy to photocopy a CD so that the printing shows on the copy. Or, they will ask for the title page from your manual. The manual may be several years old and piled in the back of a closet or possibly discarded.

They usually ask for your e-mail address and phone number. The phone number is "in case we have a question about your rebate form." Please. It is to put my phone number on a telemarketing list or sell the number to listers. If you have a question, send me an e-mail. A simple solution. Always give a phony phone number. I use an old, but out-of-service unlisted number I had a while back.

I know that the vendors have to have some "certification" of your right to the rebate. But, why don't they just give you an in-store rebate on your purchase price? Everybody would get the discount that way. Only a small proportion will send in a "correct" rebate form and "proofs." And when you send in a rebate form, they have your address, e-mail, and phone number. This is great for spam lists, selling mailing lists, and so on.

Don't let them beat you down. When you open the package, study the rebate requirements and put aside all necessary documentation, box tabs, etc. I try to mail my rebates withing 24 hours, so I will not be tempted to "let it slide." I have gotten more than $300 in rebates for monitors, CD- ROM drives and software in the past year or so. But, it has been a struggle. Once, I stumbled upon www.wheresmyrebate.com and discovered that a $40 rebate was being denied because I had used my PO Box address. It took a letter and duplicates of the documentation (which I always scan into a file) to free up the rebate.

Update May 22, 2003:

I still have not received a $10 rebate from Home Depot for a heat gun I bought on Dec. 28, 2002 - and immediately sent in the form and required receipt and bar code. I do now receive the Home Depot flyer in the mail, and that is all they cared about I guess.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Richard C. Rhodes

You are welcome to quote sections from this page - or the whole page, as long as the source URL is included. Of course, I would be flattered if anyone linked to this page. It is very hard to be the writer, editor, fact checker, copy editor, and publisher of anything. So, I welcome corrections of fact, notes of misspelled words, and so on.

Suggested Reading From Past Columns

Click Here for Suggested Reading List

Archive of Back Issues

Back Issues

Media List of Addresses and e-mails

Media List

Postal Service State Abbreviations, etc.

Postal Service Abbreviations

Back to Richard's Home Page

Richard C. Rhodes