I'm on another "research" trip in Europe, to soak up as much western civilization as I can before it further self-destructs into quasi-oblivion under the baleful influence of America—or more precisely, in thrall to the crusading crackpots who have hijacked America.

Most hotels in Europe provide the NYT, international edition, free of charge at breakfast, so I glance at it more than I should. I terribly miss the International Herald Tribune in days of yore The NYT bought the Trib out. Alas, the IHT is not coming back, any more than Jean Seberg or SX-70 film.

[In the IHT, I would enjoy and be educated by their foreign policy columnist, William Pfaff. Here was a man with wisdom and judgement you could count on. The fact that he lived in Paris, outside the Washington orbit, probably had something to do with it. Comparing Tom Friedman to Pfaff is to compare a dwarf to a giant.]