Category: Uncategorized

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How My Life’s Course Was Set, at 19, Aboard a Swedish Freighter, Heading for the South Seas

Gotham Canoe OFFERINGS ABOUT CONTACT A Marine Memoir in Six Parts By Barry D. Wood PART I Slowly, silently the big ship slides away from pier 34. Nudged up close to the hull, the tug has taken hold of the mooring line and begins to guide the Swedish merchantman out into San Francisco bay. There’s a short toot and then a voice in Swedish over the … Continue reading How My Life’s Course Was Set, at 19, Aboard a Swedish Freighter, Heading for the South Seas

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Uncategorized

Americans: Anxious and Worried

In September the long-delayed Frank Gehry designed Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial was dedicated in downtown Washington.   Understated and situated in a park-like setting across from the Air and Space Museum, a visitor strolls among  panels depicting Ike’s childhood, war service and presidency. The most compelling statue is of General Eisenhower addressing troops setting out from Britain for the D-Day landing.   Ike went on to become the … Continue reading Americans: Anxious and Worried

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China, Uncategorized

Shenzhen–Where China’s Economic Miracle Began

Shenzhen, 2019 In 1980 Shenzhen was an unimportant fishing village adjacent to Hong Kong’s new territories. Its population was 30,000.  Today Shenzhen on a per capita basis is China’s richest city. Its population is 13 million, having become the world’s fastest growing city ever. Shenzhen is a technology center–headquarters for Huawei and Tencent. It has the world’s 4th biggest container port and China’s 5th busiest airport.   During … Continue reading Shenzhen–Where China’s Economic Miracle Began

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American History, Uncategorized

Dangerous Life of Michigan Lumberjacks

MESICK, MI: In the 1880s Michigan was America’s biggest producer of lumber.  Magnificent stands of hard wood and white pine had been purchased on the cheap by timber barons who made great fortunes clear cutting Michigan forests. By 1930 it was gone.  But the hard-living men who sweated sawing and hauling giant trees became the stuff of legend like cowboys in the American west.   Lumberjacks (they called … Continue reading Dangerous Life of Michigan Lumberjacks

Unknown's avatarBarry D. Wood4 Comments
Uncategorized

Midwest American Economy on Life Support

KALAMAZOO, MI:  You have to be blind to believe the US economy is rebounding sharply from the corona virus lockdown. There is no “V” shaped recovery. At best it’s a U, with business activity mucking along the horizonal bottom of the “U.”  During seven late July days traveling in the Midwest, I visited places where commerce was just barely ticking over. City centers in Cleveland, Detroit, … Continue reading Midwest American Economy on Life Support

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