SLINGS AND ARROWS

Years ago when I left a particular computer company that the owner was shoving up his nose, pharmaceutical grade, I acquired a beeper. Which I finally ceased using when it had become apparent that the only times I could call someone back was when I was home or at the office. Beepers stopped making sense in San Francisco when pay phones disappeared.

For over two decades everyone except terrorists have used cell phones. They are, obviously, not popular in the Arab world. Or Pakistan.


"Get rid of it, Abdoul, it attracts missiles and bombs and drones and people of other religious or cultural traditions who have threatening auras!"


And, dutifully, Abdoul would put it on silent and hide it in Saleem's coat pocket. Because.

The other day, every doctor and drug dealer in Lebanon had an exploding pocket. Because they had switched to pagers so that the Sinaloa cartel couldn't track them. Pharmaceuticals are a major Lebanese industry. They're more enterprising than Northern European Turks or Albanians in that regard. Sleazier, too.

It's so sad. All those fancy blue jeans ruined.
They were stylish, and skin tight.
Hip huggers.

Instead of pagers and walkie-talkies, perhaps use carrier pigeons?

Or maybe not.


Please, talk among yourselves.



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