About Global Watchdog

GWMAC stands for Global Watchdog Media And Commentary. The site has been running since 2014.

Who I Am

I’m Dr. Michael Alan Wood — teacher, writer, traveler, and professional student.

I spent 13 years teaching English at universities in Japan, starting in Nagoya in 2003 — including stints at Chukyo University, Aichi Prefectural University, Kinjo Gakuin University, and the Nagoya Institute of Technology. Then I came home to Georgia, where I taught Spanish in public schools for 11 years before retiring.

In between, I did a year of law school — and realized I didn’t actually want to be a lawyer. I’d always been fascinated by technology, so I went to work with a company called CLO Systems that specialized in motorized TV mounts controlled with a remote. I ran Motorized Mounts, selling their X-Arm and S-Arm mounts — and I still have my X-Arm today. When CLO Systems went out of business, I worked with Lift My TV in the same space.

Somewhere in there I taught myself HTML and website building from scratch, and ended up building around 150 websites for small businesses. I also started a guerrilla marketing company, helping small sites with tiny advertising budgets squeeze the most traffic out of every dollar — which, if you think about it, is exactly what I do here.

I hold a PhD in linguistics, the capstone of a doctorate I started more than 20 years earlier. Before that: Mercer, Oglethorpe, Emory, Heriot-Watt, Aichi Gakuin. I’ve been called a professional student, and I won’t argue.

I speak Spanish and Japanese. I’ve traveled to 88 countries and counting, and I’m hoping to see plenty more while I’m still able to. I’m owned by a 17-year-old cat named Miss Kitty.

What You’ll Find Here

This site covers what I’m interested in: consumer advocacy, product reviews, Georgia politics and education, science explainers, language, technology, and travel. If you’ve read my flea treatment guides or dashcam reviews, you know the approach — I do the research, test what I can, and tell you straight what’s worth your money and what isn’t.

EduLingo

I also run EduLingo by Dr. Wood, my Teachers Pay Teachers store with Spanish teaching resources — PowerPoints, exams, bundles, and full curricula, all built from my 11 years in the classroom. You’ll find my teaching guides at https://gwmac.com/edulingo/.

How This Site Makes Money

Through Amazon affiliate links and reader donations. When you click a product link and buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. No display ads, no popups — just honest recommendations. That’s what keeps the site running and independent.

Get in Touch

Have a question, a correction, or a story tip? Head to the Contact page and send me a message — I read everything. If you’ve got a consumer complaint or a tip about something happening in Georgia schools or local government, I especially want to hear about it.