Back

I’m in England (I did not post this in advance because it’s literally for a single business meeting and then I’m going right back, there’s zero downtime) and here is my impression thus far:

• first sign in airport: “it is a criminal offense to be rude to the police”

• first sign in subway: “report everything the least bit odd to the police”

• sign on the side of the road: “Have you paid?” literally exactly what it said, no context. Powerfully ominous

• police sirens: every five goddam minutes. I don’t think I’ve ever heard sirens in Amsterdam even once??