Did some neatening in the home office tonight. I have too many cords. I have a suitcase full of duplicates, and I have a small container full of duplicates that is easier to reach. So I have duplicate duplicate containers. Then there’s the travel cord-carrier which has two of everything in case something shorts out of pure malice. I also have a duplicate travel cord-carrier, fully stocked, just in case. In short, I have too many cords.

I guess I’d better put them in the duplicate cord drawer in the storage room. Then, in two or three years, sit down and winnow them out again.

As long as I had the energy, why not sort and straighten the closet? I have too many green sweaters. They have different hues, or if they have the same hue, a different texture or fabric. To my surprise I have three pairs of green slacks. What was I thinking? Was I anticipating period of employment as a Lucky Charms mascot?. I fold them and put them away and remind myself that I am lucky to be thus burdened.

I should note that while I am doing this I am charging all the portable batteries, something I do when I get in these moods, because the power could go out and I’d be really mad if they were all at 10%. One of them is from an Away luggage, which I got when I did ads for them. It was a clever innovation: never hunt for an outlet again! Just plug into your suitcase! I thought the suitcases were pretty cool and was happy to endorse them, but then the company cancelled all the ads when they learned that not everyone on the podcast network was pro-choice. Entirely their right, of course.

Don’t know about you, but I love luggage. I have two matched pieces in - get this - black. Yes. If ever you wonder “what fascinating, intriguing person belongs to this black luggage on the carousel?” It’s me. For the big international jaunts I have a blue suitcase that matches my eyes. My wife had a red one from the same brand, and it matches her hair. It got destroyed on the last voyage. Always fun when it tumbles on the carousel and you see they’ve taped it up.

But, you ask with keen interest, leaning forward, biting your nails, do I have those velcro sleeves that wrap around the handle, so you can recognize your black one as it makes the round? I do! Red for wife, when she uses the black bag, and yellow for me. They're stored in the duplicate backpack that has all the travel stuff, including the duplicate duplicate cord cases cases.

I just noticed that there is a baseball cap from the Cancun tennis resort hanging a hook inside the closet in my studio.

Correction: there are two.

I wonder if I'm somehow compensating for my father's twin's early demise.

Coffee shop update! No, I really don't care either. But you can experience a bit of my exciting, thrilling, urban life vicariously. So. There's construction at the 333, our rival building.

Now we have pictures of what they intend it to be.

All spare spaces become cluttered as time goes on.

We were checking into a hotel, and were sent to room 96. It was at the end of a long broad bright hall with touristy kiosks, so guess this was a tropical vacation.

Sara was storing the dog in the kennel. When I got to the room I was surprised - it was right on the hallway, in an depressing area -

- and the room was big, square, and empty, except for two comically undersized bed-mats. There was also a small yippy dog that had been left behind.

I had to take it back to the front desk, but was stopped by some people who thought it was just too cute.

And now, a related feature that will provide some Friday amusements:

Earlier this week I showed a bad cigarette ad, conjured by AI while making bans for the Advertising section. There were many.

In a way, this is a good slogan.

Beer. BEEEER!

1940s ad for coffee. In all the coffee ads, they're two-fisted quaffers.

Puff up your hair, fire up a joint, and have some java:

That phrase repeats in all the coffee ads the AI made. The logo is a good attempt to make a 60s European logo, no?

As I said, bad with smoking:

The good ones - or the less risible ones - will roll out in 2025. Bet you can't wait.

It's the little things.

It's always the little things. Your answer is here.

And that's it for Fridays! Ha ha kidding, of course it's not.

Cliff Richards, the "British Elvis."

He never did get married.

The Shadows, his backing band, had some hits on their own. The British Ventures, you might say

Now we're done. Four pages of Lucre! And of course the Friday column at the Substack.