HONG KONG:  I took the Chinese authorities at face value when they added Guangzhou to a list of cities where visas are not required for visits of less than 72 hours. Accordingly, I booked a ticket for the four-hour Japan Airlines flight from Tokyo to Guangzhou and then a return to Tokyo from Hong Kong in the special administrative region 80 miles to the south.  … Continue reading Bumps on the Road to Guangzhou

In this podcast Alec Hogg, publisher of South Africa focused biznews.com, leads a discussion reflecting on the extraordinary career of George Palmer, the long serving editor of the Financial Mail in Johannesburg.  Palmer died in early January just short of his 93d birthday in Palm Springs, CA.  Under his tough and demanding leadership  the Financial Mail in the 1970s courageously resisted government bullying and maintained … Continue reading What Made George Palmer a Great Editor and Financial Journalist?

When the steaming soup arrived at the table, I impulsively seized the shallow bowl with both hands, cupped it to my lips and gulped it down. Moments later I was appalled at what I had done. It was the action of a starving man and I was merely chilled to the bone from hours of walking the frozen streets of Prague.  It was March 1992. … Continue reading Čelakovice, 1992 A Glimpse into Life in Communist Czechoslovakia

October 25, 2017 “I wanted to combine my interest in meeting new people and learning about their lives; riding my bicycle from Estonia to Albania to explore the new Europe, and writing about a part of the world rarely written about these days,” says Barry Wood, the author of Exploring New Europe: A Bicycle Journey. The book is part adventure story, part an economic primer … Continue reading Transatlantic Magazine Editor Robert J. Guttman Reviews Exploring New Europe

On November 1, 2017 Barry discussed the Silicon Valley’s role in the world economy at a forum at the American Center in Prague. His power point slides are included. Silicon Valley   Continue reading Silicon Valley as Global Center for Technology Innovation