Impromptus today is a smorgasbord, offering presidential politics, international affairs, and the Olympics (which could fall under the category “international affairs”). Some mail?
On Friday, I had a column concerning J. D. Vance and his oft-stated views about people with children versus people without children. I made various remarks, including this: “In my view, people with children should not gloat about it or congratulate themselves for it. They should be grateful.”
A friend and reader writes, “Never gloat about your children. Save it for your grandchildren.”
Another friend and reader writes,
Having children does not necessarily make a person a better voter or a better citizen: more informed, less selfish, more concerned about the future. While I was working as a cashier, I once heard two women talking. One was lamenting that her WIC benefits were about to expire since her youngest child was about to turn five. The other woman advised her to “just have another baby!” This was no joke, but serious.
Also in that Friday column, I had a note about stamps — well, one, actually: one U.S. stamp honoring the late Alex Trebek. I thought it was nifty. A reader writes,
After reading today’s Impromptus, I went to the USPS website to look at the Trebek stamps and was shocked to learn that a first-class stamp is 73 cents! When they came out with “forever” stamps the USPS stopped putting the amount of the postage on the stamp. I doubt that most anyone knows how much it costs to mail a letter today. I remember when it would be major news and provoke congressional action when the Post Office wanted to raise the cost of a stamp a cent or two. Those were the days.
A cup of coffee and an Impromptus is a very civilized way to start my day. Thanks.
And thank you.
In a column last Tuesday, I had some notes about Virginia Tech, and photos too. The buildings are made of what the university dubs “Hokie Stone.” A reader writes,
My alma mater, Dickinson, founded by Benjamin Rush, has a similar thing. They actually own a limestone quarry, so that all the main buildings on campus, whether constructed today or 200 years ago, use the same stone. I always liked that.
Dickinson College, like Virginia Tech, is a very handsome place.
Friday, I had a note about the word “unique.” According to my understanding, it means “one and only”; “sole.” So it cannot be modified with “most” or “very” or what have you. A reader writes, “Thanks for writing the uniquest column out there.”
Ha. (Speaking of funny: Do you know this old joke, for little kids? “How do you catch a unique rabbit?” “Unique up on it.”)
In that same column, Friday’s, I had a note about Bob Newhart and Don Rickles, those legendary comedians, who were great friends.
A reader writes,
After I finished my career in the Air Force, flying fighters for 21 years, I went to Delta Airlines, and had a great career of 16 years flying for them.
On one flight, we had Bob Newhart and Don Rickles, with their wives, flying from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. They were in first class. When we got to L.A., they were at the front of the line to get off. But there was a problem with the jetway and we had to wait five or ten minutes.
In the meantime, Bob, Don, and their wives provided us with a comedy show you couldn’t have paid a million dollars to see. It was a wonderful interaction, which I have never forgotten. Bob and Don were so kind and just damned funny.
Wish I had been there. Thank you to one and all.