As you know, recently the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, interrupted Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez with a “why don’t you just shut up?” (por que no te callas?). I thought it was a hilarious and much needed exchange with the Venezuelan President, who usually comports himself with all the grace and dignity of a [...]
Archive for the 'Americas' Category
Ecuador’s Economist President
Published by December 28th, 2007 in Americas, Democracy, International Affairs and Personalities. 3 CommentsMeeting Overview 09/18/07
Published by September 19th, 2007 in Americas and Meeting Records. 0 CommentsThis week’s topic: A North American [here, NA for convenience] Union
BL: Whackos on the Right are concerned about a “loss of sovereignty” that would result from a union between Canada, the United States and Mexico. For example, they think NAFTA subsumes our independence.
Mark: How would a NA Union be different from NAFTA?
BL: It would be [...]
From the BBC:
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has threatened to nationalise stores that sell meat above a government-set price. …”If they [the stores] insist on violating the interests of the people, the constitution and laws, I will take away the warehouses, the shops, I will take away the supermarkets and I’ll nationalise them,” he warned.
The line [...]
Pinochet & Thatcher
Published by December 20th, 2006 in Americas, History, Margaret Thatcher and Personalities. 1 CommentAlthough there are several interesting posts on AU that I have yet to properly comment on, I state it is my intention to do so now that my exams are over. I also don’t mean to break momentum on respectable topics, but wanted to share some excerpts of an interesting essay in The Telegraph about [...]
The Next Costa Rica? Part II: William Walker
Published by December 17th, 2006 in Americas, History and Personalities. 2 CommentsMy favorite part of the article, however, has to do with the evil universe (or perhaps just 1850s) version of our American Emperor– no, I do not mean Douglas MacArthur, who was Caesar– but the beloved Norton I. Enter, William Walker. From the article:
Nicaragua is no stranger to American visitors with grandiose plans. That perfect [...]
Excited that one of my most favorite topics (Dedekind cuts) had been brought up, I did something wild: I checked my email. And in it, I found the latest edition of NYTimes Travel Dispatches. This one caught my eye: The Rediscovery of Nicaragua. It catches me eye for two reasons:
It’s an article about Nicaragua whose [...]
It looks like our man Hugo Chavez has retaliated against the United States, which blocked some Venezuelan air carriers due to safety reasons 10 years ago. Now, Continental and Delta are completely banned, while American is restricted.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the decision was unjustified and violated a 1953 aviation agreement between [...]
