I’ve been doing this project of learning about Africa one nation at a time for about a year and a half now, and I have read a lot of academic books. In some of these small countries, the only people doing the research are those looking for more and more obscure dissertation topics. I expected to… [Read More]
Blog
I’m Charlie, and I am a warrior for free speech. So should you be.
I’m not Daniel Pearl, James Foley, or Edward Snowden. I’m not Steven Sotloff, and I’m really not Charlie, either. I’m a freelance writer with a specialty in business and finance. One of the most controversial stories I’ve written was about gray markets for quilt fabric. A typical reporting gig takes me to a plush conference… [Read More]
Thoughts for a Monday
It’s 5:18 am. My kid and I are standing in the garage, trying to figure out how to get the door open. The opener’s motor is making an odd sound and the door is stuck. We know there’s a way to open it by hand, but what is it? I wake up my husband, he… [Read More]
Djibouti, by Elmore Leonard
Djibouti is a small country with a major role in world trade. It has about 800,000 people and a deepwater port on the Horn of Africa that serves as a connection between Europe, East Africa, the Middle East, and on to Asia. It was once French territory and retains strong ties to Paris. I try… [Read More]