Speaking of colloquy being better than soliloquy, last night I heard from my brother. That’s actually the shortened, familiar form of his full name, which is “my Younger, Smarter, Richer, Better-looking Brother.” [Not that these attributes represent significant accomplishments…the bar … Continue reading →

As most readers of this blog are aware, I’ve argued repeatedly that colloquy is better than soliloquy…I look forward to guest posts, and have been thankful for the few I’ve received…from John Plodinec and Akiva Fishman in particular. A diversity … Continue reading →

Every two years, at the start of each new Congress, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) publishes a High-Risk List, a compilation of “agencies and program areas that are high risk due to their vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and … Continue reading →

With all the kerfluffle about sequestration, the Hagel and Kerry nominations, and the pope stepping down, maybe you missed this. Every two years, at the start of each new Congress, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) publishes a High-Risk List, … Continue reading →

se·ques·tra·tion (n.) 1. removal or separation; banishment or exile. 2. a withdrawal into seclusion; retirement. 3. Law. a. the sequestering of property. b. confiscation or seizure. The news media are agog these days about the upcoming federal budget sequestration. As … Continue reading →

In a Friday conversation, a colleague shared that the previous post failed to capture the true cost of Sequestration’s landfall: “There are many difficulties working in government…the agencies, and the Cabinet Departments, just like big organizations in the private sector, … Continue reading →

For as long as any of us can remember, hurricane landfall has been popularly conceived by both the public and the media as the place and time where the eye of the hurricane comes ashore. Of course, that’s a bit … Continue reading →

On February 3, the New York Times reported that Governor Cuomo had proposed to spend up to $400M to buy out properties destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, demolish and remove the homes, and allow the vulnerable land to remain undeveloped shoreline. … Continue reading →

If like me you lead a sheltered life (and most readers of this blog fall into that category), then maybe your idea of a bad time might be the Irish “troubles.” Some 3000 people out of a northern Irish population … Continue reading →