My Impromptus today is the usual mishmash, of things political, cultural, linguistic, etc. I begin with the word “woke,” go on to Texas Republicans (Tony Gonzales, George W. Bush, and Ronny Jackson), and end up with a baseball player from the Naval Academy and a piglet named “Olivia.” Check it out here.

Let’s have some reader mail. In an Impromptus last week, I wrote,

I know of a man — a professor of music — who addressed an ensemble before him as “ladies and gentlemen.” One of the students reported him to administration — which admonished him. The phrase “ladies and gentlemen” implies there are only two sexes, you see.

A veteran middle-school teacher writes,

“Ladies and gentlemen” is how I would often greet classes. In middle school, it is, of course, more than a greeting — it can mean, “Please be quiet and pay attention.”

When I was in grad school, I decided that I would address my future students as “ladies and gentlemen.” I even wrote a short paper on the subject for a class in classroom-management techniques.

The phrase is aspirational for me — I want my students to behave like ladies and gentlemen.

But that phrase has become too risky now. Which is a pity, and an outrage. It is just plain nuts.

Responding to my piece on Félix Maradiaga, the democracy leader in Nicaragua, a reader writes,

Greetings from Houston, Jay. All I can say is, Mr. Maradiaga is a better man than I am. I can only aspire to keep hatred out of my heart toward the thugs who rule these countries, and I’m continually amazed that these political prisoners don’t wash their hands of their country upon release. Thank the good Lord for families such as the Maradiagas. Thank the good Lord.

Amen.

In that previous Impromptus — the one in which I talked about “ladies and gentlemen” — I mentioned Kiss, the rock band, which, after 50 years (exactly), is conducting its farewell tour. A friend writes to recount a story.

Once, in New York, he and his wife had a limo driver, who had ferried around many celebrities. Betty asked, “Who have been the nicest celebrities?” The driver answered, “Mr. T and Gene Simmons — you know, the guy from Kiss.”

(One night, I was in a restaurant with Bill Buckley. As we were going to our table, Mr. T was coming the other way, leaving the restaurant. Bill and Mr. T brushed up against each other. I don’t think either recognized the other. I could only grin.)

(I think I should try to interview Gene Simmons. Very interesting guy.)