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We Meant Well on List of Ten Best Foreign Service Blogs
Ok, to be fair, there are probably only eleven foreign service blogs left, but top ten is top ten.
Dave Seminara, himself a once-Foreign Service Officer, has pulled together a list of the best foreign service blogs, along with some commentary to help you sort out what might appeal to you. Dave does caution:
There’s no doubt that [Van Buren’s We Meant Well] experience has had a chilling effect across the board, so visit the sites below to get the low-down on the Foreign Service lifestyle and the travel opportunities, not the dirty underbelly of how diplomacy plays out overseas.
As for his description of We Meant Well, Dave writes
You might not agree with Peter Van Buren but you will want to read his blog, which is sometimes offensive but never boring.
It is here I must take offense. I am aiming at near 100% offensive, and bristle at the accusation that I am lamely only “sometimes” offensive. Hmm. I shall have to speak to the staff about this.
Seriously, Dave is a friend of this blog and I am sure he meant well in his remarks. Check out the entire list to see what’s out there in the surviving foreign service blog universe. But hurry– these types of blogs tend to disappear at the whim of a Secretary of State who when she isn’t proclaiming freedom of speech abroad is crying out “Off with their heads!” at home.
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Kyzl Orda said...
1Ha, if people wanted a tea and cookies blog, they can read Silvia’s Cucina or the Barefoot Contessa. There’s nothing more neutral than espresso-spiked almond cocoa spread. “It is what it is.”
The topics du jour are always thought-provoking and I like the accompanying photos
On one hand it is surprising there are not more blogs by Foreign Service out there; but sorry to say, it is much safer to compete for hearts and minds of people “from the visa waiver countries” from the safety of one’s den in jammies. As someone who wants to know what’s really going in our world, there are more informed, clear-eyed blogs like this one and the comments by others are just as insightful
10/6/12 12:01 PM | Comment Link
Meloveconsullongtime said...
2“nothing more neutral than espresso-spiked almond cocoa spread”
Gives me an image of Hillary Clinton fudge-packing with a strap-on.
10/6/12 7:03 PM | Comment Link
jo6pac said...
3I am aiming at near 100% offensive.
You’ll just have step up your game. That shouldn’t be to hard, right;)
10/6/12 7:29 PM | Comment Link
Lafcadio said...
4Give Semainara some credit, those two idiots, Consul at Arms and the Diplomad, didn’t make his top 10. And if there were only 20 total foreign service blogs, these two would rank # 29 and 30.
I won’t dignify either with a link.
10/7/12 11:52 PM | Comment Link
Consul-At-Arms said...
5@Lafcadio: Thank you for your support.
v/r,
CAA
10/10/12 1:02 AM | Comment Link
Dave Seminara said...
6We definitely meant well. Keep up the good work, Peter. As long as your offending the right people, you’re on the right track.
10/12/12 2:06 AM | Comment Link
Raquel said...
7Oh, well… at least it does feel good to be listed among the ‘survivors’… [smiles!] Especially when we were listed as a good resource for families in the Service. We just tell/share stories & challenges… and luckily, the stories are somehow surviving, which is good. Loved the comment [to Peter] about ‘keeping us offending the right people’… just laughed so hard! Great day to everyone!
04/23/13 7:46 PM | Comment Link
Raquel said...
8Apologies… I did meant well, and tried to say ‘ keeping up offending the right people’… unfortunately, came out the very wrong way! Sorry! 😮
04/23/13 7:48 PM | Comment Link