My family and I escaped the sodden Northeast for a week in — where else? — the Pacific Northwest. I apologize, especially to several readers who wrote in alarm and withdrawal, for not posting my customary notice that I would be gone for awhile. It won’t happen again (the radio silence, I mean…). A belated happy new year to Jewish readers, an auspicious Ramadan to any Muslims who read this, and happy Thanksgiving to Canadian ones. [If you want to be prepared, I will be travelling again for several weeks in February…]