I can help with one of your questions. It is a very discerning question, and I can tell that you are operating as you should, vigilant, aware, and ever watchful. Salt of the Earth, backbone of society, caretaker of the culture. That sort of thing.

There's an olive in your manhattan at the direction of Tom Ridge, Office of Homeland Security.

It is symbolic, much like an American flag on a Japanese car, a United We Stand poster at the reading room in the library.

It is to be interpreted "Oh live, Manhattan"!

Carries the same patriotic connotations as "Remember the Alamo", but in that case it was salt in the wound. Or salt around the tequila. It's late. I don't remember.

If you see a manhattan without an olive, and the FBI has issued a warning to to watch out for terrorists, call your local Field Office. Could be a coded message.

If you seen an olive without a manhattan, do not call. Keep close watch, though, "heightened awareness" as they call it. If anyone is acting suspiciously, besides yourself, call the Field Office.

It's Sunday, somewhere, and I think I'll head off and dream of going to Mass. When you do that you don't have to go to the real thing.

But that's another story.

Regards,

Arf