Charles Bierbauer
@cbierbauer.bsky.social
Retired long-time journalist--Eastern and Central Europe, DC, PA--and academic--University of South Carolina dean, Penn State. Still dabble in the enigmatic aspects of politics.
Now is the time to separate what American consumers "want" from China from what they "need" from China. And decide whether the added tariff cost is worth it. Or we can start knitting our own socks.
April 11, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Now is the time to separate what American consumers "want" from China from what they "need" from China. And decide whether the added tariff cost is worth it. Or we can start knitting our own socks.
Trying to determine what worrries me most. Tariff wars? Stock market nosedive (and what it does to our retirement)? Cozying up to the Kremlin? (I was once a Kremlin watcher during the Cold War.) Selling out traditional allies? The grift? Doge?
Decided it's our grandkids' future that worries most.
Decided it's our grandkids' future that worries most.
March 11, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Trying to determine what worrries me most. Tariff wars? Stock market nosedive (and what it does to our retirement)? Cozying up to the Kremlin? (I was once a Kremlin watcher during the Cold War.) Selling out traditional allies? The grift? Doge?
Decided it's our grandkids' future that worries most.
Decided it's our grandkids' future that worries most.
Ironic that the seat of the Russian government in Moscow is known as the White House.
March 3, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Ironic that the seat of the Russian government in Moscow is known as the White House.
It's been a while since I've spoken it, but my degree in Russian may not be as out-of-date as I might once have thought when the Soviet Union collapsed in the '90s.
March 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It's been a while since I've spoken it, but my degree in Russian may not be as out-of-date as I might once have thought when the Soviet Union collapsed in the '90s.
If all the restraints, watchdogs, oversights are removed, who’s left to tell the emperor he has no clothes? (Apply metaphor as appropriate.)
February 11, 2025 at 10:11 PM
If all the restraints, watchdogs, oversights are removed, who’s left to tell the emperor he has no clothes? (Apply metaphor as appropriate.)
Think I slept through Super Bowl halftime and most ads. Then changed the channel (even though I grew up an Eagles fan).
What did I really miss?
What did I really miss?
February 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Think I slept through Super Bowl halftime and most ads. Then changed the channel (even though I grew up an Eagles fan).
What did I really miss?
What did I really miss?
Fell asleep during first half of Super Bowl. Missed halftime show. Missed? Watched PBS’s “All Creatures.” Creatures more interesting than football. Caught last two minutes of Super Bowl. Miss anything?
February 10, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Fell asleep during first half of Super Bowl. Missed halftime show. Missed? Watched PBS’s “All Creatures.” Creatures more interesting than football. Caught last two minutes of Super Bowl. Miss anything?
Does it count if you get the Super Bowl commercial but have no idea who the celebrity is? Or recognize the celebrity but have no idea what the commercial is about?
February 10, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Does it count if you get the Super Bowl commercial but have no idea who the celebrity is? Or recognize the celebrity but have no idea what the commercial is about?
Today's reading assignment for the Trump administration is Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People."
⚡️Trump to lay off nearly all USAID staff worldwide, NYT reports.
The cuts will reduce the agency from 10,000 staff around the world to just 290, three sources with knowledge of the layoffs said.
The cuts will reduce the agency from 10,000 staff around the world to just 290, three sources with knowledge of the layoffs said.
Trump to lay off nearly all USAID staff worldwide, NYT reports
The cuts will reduce the agency from 10,000 staff around the world to just 290, three sources with knowledge of the layoffs said.
kyivindependent.com
February 7, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Today's reading assignment for the Trump administration is Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People."
New to Blue Sky. Welcome tips on how to get the most out of it. [Left Twitter/X because, well, you know....]
February 6, 2025 at 8:12 PM
New to Blue Sky. Welcome tips on how to get the most out of it. [Left Twitter/X because, well, you know....]
After an extended hiatus from Twitter (or whatever it's known as), thought I'd give BlueSky a try. Too chaotic a time not to have a voice in the discussion. I'd welcome hearing from former--and new, of course--followers. Retired journalist and educator now living in North Carolina.
February 6, 2025 at 7:50 PM
After an extended hiatus from Twitter (or whatever it's known as), thought I'd give BlueSky a try. Too chaotic a time not to have a voice in the discussion. I'd welcome hearing from former--and new, of course--followers. Retired journalist and educator now living in North Carolina.