Symposia notes that Alistair Cooke is extant at 95. When we were at Cambridge (King's) many years ago word was still circulating that he was a true gentleman, having left small piles of debts when departing Jesus. From his urbane memoirs we recall his horror at the Americans' passion for early morning breakfast meetings.

Attended a wine tasting in Queens last night, Sacre Bleu; the East River is the moat protecting what remains of civilization.