Groveling, sniveling, whining, knee-hugging apologies to all for yet another absence of Radio Derb. I have been sunk deep in wanton hedonism this past couple of weeks — roses, flung roses riotously with the throng, etc. Now Labor Day has passed, the kids will be back at school tomorrow, and normal service will be resumed.

August is always a mess, in spite of having been named for one of the more sober and industrious of the Roman Emperors. In France, everyone just takes the whole month off; and the French, while often obnoxious, are not stupid.

My subject line refers to the punchline of an ancient New York City joke, thus:

Two acquaintances encounter each other in the Garment District. The conversation proceeds as follows:
S: Benny!
B: Sammy!
S: Haven’t seen you for ages! How’s everything? How’s business?
B: Don’t ask! Listen: April and May, business was so bad I wouldn’t wish it on Yasser Arafat. Then, June and July, I lost all my orders from April and May! But you don’t want to hear about my problems. How’s everything with you? How’s the family?
S: Don’t ask! Listen: just this past week, my wife left me, my son dropped out of college, and my daughter married a goy! What could be worse than that?
B: August!