That Russian Spy Ring

The New York Times story about it contains several highly amusing lines. For example, Jessie Gugig, 15, said she could not believe the charges against Richard and Cynthia Murphy, because Mrs. Murphy “was an accomplished gardener”:

“They couldn't have been spies,” she said. “Look what she did with the hydrangeas.”

Then there's this:

The alleged agents were spotted in a bookstore in Lower Manhattan, a bench near the entrance to Central Park and a restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens.

Yep, those are definitely the places to

gather information on nuclear weapons, American policy toward Iran, C.I.A. leadership, Congressional politics and many other topics . . .

And here's a lesson for everyone:

Lila Hexner, who lives in the building next door, said Ms. Foley told her she was in the real estate business. “She said they were from Canada,” Ms. Hexner said.

Counterespionage 101: Never trust anyone who claims to have come from Canada!