No Starter Packs. Retired int'l trade expert seeking engaged, progressive voices. Interests: travel, languages, photography, birds, gardening, cooking. I block MAGA/Nazis/porn/crypto. Francophone/Deutschsprachig. This Yinzer votes straight blue.https://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mxgmqutkmc2vSouth African jurist Navanethem Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize.09 Oct 2026 09:07 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxgmqutkmc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mwdjwdgafc2kSharing this picture of off the southeast tip of Greenland. We had an unusually clear view from 38,000 feet yesterday early afternoon. This is not for sale.25 Sep 2026 10:13 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwdjwdgafc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mvaof63uds2wTwenty-five years ago, I saw the smoke from the Pentagon. Reporting from Greece, every European I meet can distinguish between the American people and the ignoramus in the White House.11 Sep 2026 13:30 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvaof63uds2whttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mu4csgmpd22aAny day now Cleveland is going to claim Lake Erie. [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Aug 2026 02:27 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu4csgmpd22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mto5rkeizc2e"Trump Widens Beef Imports in Bid to Lower Prices" NYT. Trump thinks lower prices will encourage cow-calf operators to expand. Tell me you know nothing about either agriculture or economics. #econsky22 Aug 2026 11:20 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mto5rkeizc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mr6zu36wys27Came out during the Vietnam war and is still relevant [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Jul 2026 00:09 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr6zu36wys27https://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mqxdzvjodc2u#EnglandFrance I almost quit watching at the half18 Jul 2026 22:50 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqxdzvjodc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mq5dxu4hic2yThis [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Jul 2026 14:40 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5dxu4hic2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3monum6fuds2x2 pints of grape jam and 10 oranges later, I finally got sight of a flashy male Baltimore Oriole, one of a pair who taunt me from the woods. Now I waste the afternoon waiting with my camera... #birds19 Jun 2026 17:29 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3monum6fuds2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mmmgykenn22jThere Has Never Been an Example of Presidential Corruption Like This https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/opinion/trump-doj-slush-fund-criminals-corruption.html?smid=bs-share24 May 2026 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmmgykenn22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mikbzr3l422jWe have a White Nationalist National Guard reject at DOD and a brain-worm-infested quack at HHS but, sure, let's fire the women first. (Not saying they aren't also horrible at their jobs but still.}02 Apr 2026 22:48 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mikbzr3l422jhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mh6l67rsys2uBased on the morning headlines, it seems that no one celebrates the Ides of March anymore.16 Mar 2026 13:34 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh6l67rsys2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mg5vivm3d22gI grew up with this poster on the wall. Of note, the artist is a Jewish woman.03 Mar 2026 13:41 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg5vivm3d22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mffsdz2rrc2wBingo. [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Feb 2026 23:41 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mffsdz2rrc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mcshbcyojk2nFrom today's NYT, confirming my trade sources in Wash DC-- "If the Supreme Court strikes down President Trump’s tariffs, the Trump administration plans to begin replacing them almost immediately with other levies, Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative, said in an interview."19 Jan 2026 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcshbcyojk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mcnbyc44cs2bWith apologies to my decades-long friends in Denmark! Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/us/politics/trump-eu-tariffs-greenland.html?unlocked_article_code=1.FFA.TNA2.O73Wu4WdwX8Q&smid=bs-share17 Jan 2026 18:54 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcnbyc44cs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mc22xxgx3k2zUnpopular idea -- "Abolish ICE" is catchy but ICE is both "Immigration" and "Customs Enforcement," the latter serving a purpose re: weapons, drugs, other illegal imports. ICE operations should be limited to a narrow band on the border plus airports plus customs entry ports. But until then, fuck ICE.10 Jan 2026 03:28 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mc22xxgx3k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mbzgq6wba22iImportant point. Decades of work to build alliances (including some by me) have been thrown away. Rebuilding those will take decades more -- while the EU, Mercosur, and Canada move on with the US. Why should companies with a global presence re-invest at home given bigger markets elsewhere. #econsky [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Jan 2026 21:26 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbzgq6wba22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3mbz5gu7fts2tWhile the US walks away from long-time economic and strategic partners, the EU is forming a much larger trading block. Canada is also disengaging from the US, which turned its back on our closest and best ally. #econsky E.U. & South America Form Free-Trade Zone https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/business/economy/european-union-mercosur-trade.html?rsrc=flt&smid=bs-share09 Jan 2026 18:39 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbz5gu7fts2thttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3m7ljnfifes2tAndean Flamingo, Machuca Wetlands (north of San Pedro de Atacama), Chile. 14 Nov. 2025. #birds09 Dec 2025 21:50 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7ljnfifes2thttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3lr4b2nuzb22wWell-timed citation: "...police everywhere, justice nowhere." -- Victor Hugo in July 1851. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Jun 2025 16:14 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lr4b2nuzb22whttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3lpoqje57sk2tWhile rare, my windows may have claimed an Eastern Wood-Pewee. I have it wrapped loosely in a towel and am hoping it is just stunned. Sad because I love my backyard #birds21 May 2025 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpoqje57sk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3lnzvxtc7o22qNow following #langsky. I love languages. In chronological order, I have studied French, German, Spanish, & Italian. It helps to have lived in France, Germany, Switzerland, & Italy. The first language is always the hardest.30 Apr 2025 13:34 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnzvxtc7o22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3ln76556xlk2zThis is what calls to your Congressional representatives can accomplish -- I have a meeting with my GOP House Rep., on Wed., 4/23. I will focus on trade & tariffs (see bio) to argue that Congress needs to re-assert its authority on this issue. Never think that calls to your MOC are in vain!19 Apr 2025 22:19 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3ln76556xlk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3llwaehfp322dThe U.S. government has economists specializing in international trade at the International Trade Commission and U.S. Trade Representative. This people could have done a real assessment of "unfair" import competition. Instead, the Trump Administration is relying on 9th grade math.03 Apr 2025 15:39 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3llwaehfp322dhttps://bsky.app/profile/rlwood.bsky.social/post/3llu6jvt4w22pI have been talking with a local reporter about tariffs, and we have a follow up call after the press conference/ speech/ whatever. So, I am now obligated to watch it. Argh!02 Apr 2025 20:01 +0000at://did:plc:xo7iwqmz3rhrdrokrev5dpp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3llu6jvt4w22p