Many of my long-sleeved shirts have two buttons on the cuffs of the sleeves. I never use the inner buttons. Does anyone?

The history book group discussed The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of the American Founding (2025) by Joseph J. Ellis. The contradiction is that while the Founders preached freedom and equality, many were slaveholders and others tolerated slavery. However, I also thought about what Phil Klay wrote in Missionaries: “Men are weak. Don’t ask if they’re good or bad. We’re all sinful. Ask if they’re better or worse than the times they lived in.”

Pennsylvania allows people getting a driver’s license to register to vote at the same time. An audit found that out of the 200,000 examined applications a single noncitizen had applied to vote, but he was not registered. Republicans, however, want more bureaucracy, red tape, and hurdles to prevent noncitizens from registering. Their cost-benefit analysis concludes that 200,000 people should be harassed by the government and have to present birth certificates or passports or other documents to the voting registrar in order to register. All that to prevent that one noncitizen from attempting to register.

Trump’s press secretary is going on maternity leave. I wonder if Karoline Leavitt gets a paid leave, something many pregnant women in this country do not get.

A person on a neighborhood social media site asked if there were any local “Great Dame Breeders.” You can make up your own joke.

After cutting the nail, she said, “My big toe is a disgrace.” I thought this should be part of a song lyric, something along these line: “My skin is heavenly./My figure divine./My hair is golden./I’m the picture of grace./But oh lordy, lord,/My big toe’s a disgrace.”

I left the Metropolitan Museum after viewing its Literary Poster exhibit. I wandered down Fifth Avenue. I saw that the street was closed. I asked a police officer at a barricade what the event was. He replied, “The Greek Independence Day parade.” “Who knew?” I said. He told me that I was in luck and could see it because it was about to appear, and it was short. I walked a few blocks south and coming north were people in uniform carrying a blue and white flag, a second flag saying, “Correction Officers Hellenic Association,” and a third flag bearing “1895.” Soon similar contingents came from the police and fire departments. I spotted a couple standing on a bench waving smaller versions of the blue and white flag. I asked them, “From whom did Greece get its independence?” The man answered, “The Ottoman Empire.” Showing off what I thought was my new historical knowledge, I asked, “1895?” “No,” he said. “1821.” The man paused and then continued, “But maybe 1895 by Greek time.” I responded, “That’s not true. The service in Greek restaurants is fine.” He smilingly said, “That’s because we Greeks love our food.”