Memphis

No, not the famed city of the Pharohs, but the equally famous city on the Mississippi. I was there for a conference on Multiple Launcher Rockets. I had not been in Memphis since I drove through it, on my way from San Francisco to New York in 1971.
Besides the intriguing art of killing your fellow humans in a cost effective way, I discovered many interesting places in that town. The Peabody hotel with the daily Duck family walk. The Lorraine Motel, where a wreath marks the spot where brother Martin was assassinated back in 1968. Beale street, the birthplace of the blues, where I was privileged to hear some genuine American music. (No I did not see Elvis and did not go to Graceland.)
I enjoyed riding the 1930's trolleys that completely revived downtown. And yes, I had to try a delicious rack of ribs, Memphis'pride. The view along the Mississippi reminds one of Huck Finn, or even Voltaire and his "Meschacebe". The whole city has an air of real America , compared to the Washington area. There you can see the courthouse where most of Grisham's interminable trials take place.
But I had to go back to Virginia in a cramped NW Airbus. There I learned that GW Bush's fortunes kept on deteriorating. He now is upset at latinos singing the national anthem in Spanish. If he really spoke Spanish, by the way, he might be less puzzled.....
Apparently it is nothing compared to Jacques Chirac's troubles. A good old fashionned State scandal is brewing in Paris, to really finish him off with a bang. It seems like Chirac tried to falsely imply that his rival Sarkozy was involved in bribes on a Luxembourg secret account. It turns out the account is not secret, Sarkozy's name was falsely added to the list and...surprisse surprise, M.De Villepin's hand is all over the place.
Oh well, I will go on the bank of the Potomac, and enjoy our wonderful spring with a good book. Il faut cultiver son jardin.