Category: Uncategorized
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#46: Astoria (Part I)
The finale of my trio of trips to the Pacific Northwest in 2024 came to a close with the historic coastal town of Astoria, Oregon. I had already experienced the disappointment of seeing poor governance tarnish the beauty of Seattle and Portland, and was still holding onto hope that the delight of small town America…
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#45: Zurich
As the largest city in Switzerland and a worldwide financial hub, Zurich lives up to a reputation described by one travel agency as “A sophisticated city with cosmopolitan luxury and an incredible atmosphere.” Statements like these are commonplace on the websites and brochures of hospitality industry businesses looking to claim a percentage of a person’s…
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#34: Pretzels and Beer
Continued from Blog #33: Munich Security Conference Hallway reputation. Personal brand. Leadership shadow. Regardless of the buzzwords we use to describe the way others think about us in the workplace, a bad reputation can be hard to shake. The concept isn’t exclusive to humans, either. Amsterdam banned the smoking of cannabis in public in an…
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#27: UNGA 78
Note: The events described below took place prior to the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack in Israel and the ensuing actions of representatives at the United Nations Security Council meetings which have been the subject of much criticism. Nearly 200 flags stood waving in the cool September breeze coming off the East River which separates…
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#18: The Perfect Storm Part II
Continued from Blog #17: The Perfect Storm Part I The quintessential tourist – wide-brimmed hat, floral button-down shirt, camera hanging from a neck lanyard, calf socks with sandals – is everything the seasoned traveler strives to avoid. It’s not that we care what other people think about us. After all, we’ll very likely never see…
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#17: The Perfect Storm Part I
In the fall of 1991, six men boarded the 72-foot commercial fishing vessel Andrea Gail in Gloucester, Massachusetts and steamed towards the notoriously rich waters of the Grand Banks. It was late in the season, but Billy, Bobby, Murph, Sully, Bugsy, and Alfred Pierre needed the money from one last catch of swordfish. With a…
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#15: Academy Life Part III
Continued from Academy Life Part II “Do you live there?” Yes. Well, sometimes. We actually rotate through multiple locations in various U.S. states. Some are government training campuses with no-cost college style dormitories. Think of a university, small military base, or large business campus. It is common to find a convenience store, library full of…
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#5: Day 1…Or Day 776 – On Government Time
2 Years, 1 month, and 15 days. That’s how much time passed between the submission of my application and my first official day on the job. Federal government. I swear the clocks move slower and the calendars are longer in Washington, D.C. That being said, I know the next few years of my domestic assignment…
The Dark Passport 