Author Archives: Bruce

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About Bruce

Work for sustainable development of small islands and the Chesapeake Bay; ex-Peace Corps (Volunteer and staff) in LA & Caribbean; cruised Caribbean on S/Y Meander for three years; like small tropical islands, French canals, Umbria, Tasmania, and NZ. Married 52 years to the late Kincey Burdett Potter (see Kincey.org). President of the now-sunsetting Island Resources Foundation.

Knee-Capping Core Responsibilities of Critical Federal Agencies (yet again)

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Bruce

From Catherine Rampell’s column in the on-line Washington Post <https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-is-draining-the-swamp–of-needed-experts/2019/08/08/7ec457e4-ba12-11e9-a091-6a96e67d9cce_story.html&gt; , print edition on August 9th, 2019. Opinions For Trump and his cronies, draining the swamp means ousting experts Mick Mulvaney at the Justice Department in Washington on July 11, … Continue reading →

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No-take marine areas help fishers (and fish) far more than we thought

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Bruce

[Good overview of current research in a fast changing theme, but neglects the importance of rigorously enforced MPAs as “seed stock” in post disaster recovery after massive events such as mega hurricanes — this effect is being observed in some … Continue reading →

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Even Worse News about the Bureau of Land Management

Posted on August 5, 2019 by Bruce

Climate and Environment Trump’s pick for managing federal lands doesn’t believe the government should have any Weashington Post Online < https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/trumps-pick-for-managing-federal-lands-doesnt-believe-the-government-should-have-any/2019/07/31/0bc1118c-b2cf-11e9-8949-5f36ff92706e_story.html > By Steven Mufson July 31 President Trump’s pick for managing federal lands doesn’t think the federal government should … Continue reading →

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Insights into our current Governance Crisis

Posted on August 5, 2019 by Bruce

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[Bad] TV Really Does Turn Your Brain to Mush

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Bruce

[from the July 20th on-line Washington Post.] How trashy TV made children dumber and enabled a wave of populist leaders Monitors at RAI television studios in Rome display Silvio Berlusconi’s message announcing his political debut on Jan. 26, 1994. (Franco … Continue reading →

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Possible Need for a Tweak to “Pure” Capitalism

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Bruce

[Washington Post, page A15, July 25, 2019, < https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/24/private-equitys-role-retail-has-decimated-million-jobs-study-says/?utm_term=.6bc7148b27ac > Graphics at the website.] Private equity’s role in retail has killed 1.3 million jobs, study says Women and people of color have been disproportionately affected by closures at debt-saddled stores … Continue reading →

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Reasons People Think Government, including the Military, are IDIOTS

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Bruce

From the Washington Post, 10 July 2019 < https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/washington-state-sues-navy-over-expanded-flights-on-island/2019/07/09/bfcc156a-a289-11e9-a767-d7ab84aef3e9_story.html?utm_term=.5acbcebc8fbf > How many admirals were busted back to midshipman for this stupid plan? Oh, about zero. How many admirals should have been busted back to midshipman for planning 100,000 takeoffs and … Continue reading →

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Caneel Bay Being Held for $70 Million Ransom

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Bruce

From the <http://newsofstjohn.com/2019/06/03/caneel-bay-leaseholder-wants-70-million-to-walk-away/&gt; Go to the website to see the pretty sensible 46 comments. . . . Great island story. Maybe they can get Jeffrey Eptstein to take over the lease and set up a (wink, wink) summer camp, ya … Continue reading →

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Gerry Mander

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Bruce

Ah yes gerrymandering. Only the R’s do this, right? See attached lest we forget the father of all modern gerrymandering. After the election de Lugo won in 1980 Phil Burton gave us room in his office to use during the … Continue reading →

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Gerry Mander

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Bruce

From the Washington Post, 14 May 2019, page A17, or <https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/my-district-was-gerrymandered-the-damage-is-easy-to-measure/2019/05/13/199c61e8-75b8-11e9-b7ae-390de4259661_story.html?utm_term=.3379840b9614 > — also copied at Pottersweal.com – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – … Continue reading →

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