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.

Government 101 — Now and Then

Professor Werner Moss, the patrician head of the Government Department at William & Mary in 1960, didn’t teach it exactly the same way to both Kincey and I, but as an observation, I think he would agree with Rat. But … Continue reading

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Political Analysis that Seems to Make Sense

From recent Washington Post posts Raw tensions over race and gender shape midterms, reflecting schism in Trump era The National Republican Congressional Committee released an ad on Sept. 12 about Democratic congressional candidate Antonio Delgado. (National Republican Congressional Committee) By … Continue reading

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Plain Talk About How We Think About Our Largest Island Colony

I’m posting this in PottersWeal.com rather than Wake Me When We’re Great Again because Yarimar Bonilla’s op-ed in the Washington Post really addresses the issue of how the USA treats its colonies (and, to a lesser extent, how some US … Continue reading

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Washington Post: Central American Security Conference Scrapped amid U.S. Tensions with Guatemala, El Salvador

Another triumph of American diplomacy. Thanks Secretary Pompeo — https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/central-american-security-conference-scrapped-amid-tensions-with-guatemala-el-salvador/2018/09/07/03571c6c-b2fd-11e8-a810-4d6b627c3d5d_story.html National Security Central American security conference scrapped amid U.S. tensions with Guatemala, El Salvador Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, center, places a sash on Gen. Manuel Pineda Saravia, right, during the … Continue reading

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Ellie Mannette — THE Steel Pan Man — 1927-2018

On this, the date of the annual Carnival in Brooklyn, an appropriate time to celebrate the accomplishments of the great steel pan designer and promoter, Ellie Mannette, and his Mannette Musical Instruments. of Morgantown, West Virginia. Ellie of course was … Continue reading

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Reviews of Two Hard-Headed Critiques of Modern American Society

This first from the Sunday — NY Times Book Review: Nonfiction Meet the ‘Change Agents’ Who Are Enabling Inequality Inside view at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last year.CreditCreditMichel Euler/Associated Press Review by Joseph E. Stiglitz                                                                 Aug. 20, … Continue reading

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When I Wasn’t Paying Attention . . . .

This Associated Press dispatch by Ellen Knickmeyer (from the National Post) discusses another major underlying government-wide policy change that the Trump Administration thinks it will get away with. This policy says that energy efficiency, and specifically limiting petroleum product use … Continue reading

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Bedtime Story for Kids

The Russian objective is to make the truth seem unknowable.

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More Insight on the Cost and Pace of Hurricane Recovery, 12 Months On . . .

From the current issue of the St. John Tradewinds <https://www.stjohntradewinds.com/event/july-24-vi-national-park-strategic-planning-discussion/&gt; July 24: VI National Park Strategic Planning Discussion July 24 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Contact: Steve Black, 340.776.6201 ext 240 Dave Worthington, 340.776.6201 ext 237 The public is … Continue reading

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The Advantage of Computers

Computers permit larcenous idiots to design ever more opaque systems for overcharging. The Russian objective is to make the truth seem unknowable.

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