Pronto*

Bolivia inches closer to approving new constitution

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:26:10 -0500

The Bolivian political crisis is back to a respectable simmer. Even though the dialogue between government & opposition broke down several days ago, both sides agreed to throw the issue back into the legislature (where it should’ve been dealt w/ anyhow). MAS agreed to call back its protesters, allowing the legislature to deliberate in relative peace.

Spread prediction: Obama wins 303-235

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:19:34 -0500

It’s the day of the second presidential debate, and already the momentum has shifted back to Obama.

The Big Mac peace theory

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:43:21 -0500

This Friday my research methods class hands in a brief (1½-2 page) assignment based on Thomas Friedman’s 1996 column, “Foreign Affairs Big Mac I.” Based on Friedman’s whimsical observation, they’re expected to develop a testable hypothesis & sketch out (in very broad strokes) a research design to investigate the cause of his observation that “no two countries that both have a McDonald’s have ever fought a war against each other.” Of course, the controversial assertion was been put to rest by the Russia-Georgia war of 2008. Still, I’m curious to see what my students come up w/.

Javi's fall trip

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:11:34 -0500

We took a weekend Fall trip up to Dickinson, to visit friends. It was a great change of pace & a much needed break from our typical routine (we barely touched the internet and/or work-related reading). Javi entertained everyone w/ his new skills. And he seemed to enjoy his trip to the apple orchard & pumpkin patch. We left directly from The Mount (K8 & Javi drove up w/ me at 6:30 am!) after my classes. We got back Sunday afternoon. Here are some pictures taken throughout the weekend (we seem to regularly forget to pull out our cameras, amidst all the excitement).

Javi walking (almost)

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:13:55 -0500

We just got back from a visit w/ friends in Pennsylvania (it was great, more later). While doing laundry, we discovered that Javi learned a new trick.

Unless they give you $2,300, vote them out

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:34:42 -0500

So the Senate passed a (oh so slightly) modified bailout package 74-25-1. Both of my (Maryland) senators voted for it. Unfortunately, neither is up for reelection this year. Now it’s up to the House. If my representative (John Sarbanes) votes for it, I will vote for his Republican challenger in November (and I don’t currently even know his/her name). Why? Because I want my $2,300! (my estimated share of the $700 billion).

The opposition's criticisms of Bolivia's draft CPE

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:52:08 -0500

A number of observers have wondered what were the specific criticisms of the new draft constitution (CPE) put forward by the opposition. Yesterda’s El Deber published a brief outline of the opposition’s seven criticisms (and the relevant articles of the draft CPE). I’m simply giving rough paraphrased translations below:

Bolivian comedy troupe in Florida

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:06:01 -0500

If you’re in the Florida area & want to see some a live Bolivian sketch comedy show (think Saturday Night Live), check out the Chaplin Show in Miami (Saturday, October 4) & Naples (Sunday October 5). You can also check out their official website, though it has no video clips.

Baltimore Comicon reading suggestions

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:30:33 -0500

Last Saturday, Javi & I went to the Baltimore Comicon. We hoped on Light Rail & rode down to Inner Harbor. It wasn’t nearly as large as I had imagined, but it was still a lot of fun. And Javi was a good sport.

Javi's favorite food: Cheese!

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:00:20 -0500

JICA tops USAID

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:26:42 -0500

In my American Foreign Policy class, I’ve been trying to impress on the students the impermanent (and historically recent) nature of US global hegemony. That’s why rather than starting the course w/ the postwar period (when the US emerged as a superpower), we started w/ the 1898 Spanish American War (arguably when the US emerged as one of the “great powers”). That starting point allows me to challenge the conventional wisdom many undergraduates have about the US & its role in world affairs. Today’s Washington Post story about Sadato Ogata & the Japan International Cooperation Agency is particularly appropriate. As of today, JICA is the world’s largest bilateral aid organization. After acquiring a government bank, it is now 2½ larger that USAID.

Where's my $2,300!?

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:23:40 -0500

The proposed bailout plan failed today. Good! Wall Street got angry about that, and stocks took a tumble. Not good, but I still don’t care. I have only one question for Washington: Where’s my $2,300!? I also find it amusing that left wing Democrats & right wing Republicans were able to find common ground. And no amount of arm wrangling by the White House is going to do the trick, I don’t think. Join my Facebook petition and ask: Where’s my $2,300!?

Ecuador approves new constitution

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:39:16 -0500

Voters in Ecuador approved a new constitution (by almost two thirds), according to preliminary vote counts. This gives Correa an important victory.

Ecuador's constitutional referendum

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:31:32 -0500

Ecuador is holding a referendum on a new constitution today. The measure includes a number of “radical” social, economic, and political measures: a stronger role for the government over strategic industries (oil, telecoms), writing off some (but not all) international debts, an attack on large landholdings & land redistribution measures, allowing the president to have two consecutive terms (but not “indefinite” reelection), health care for senior citizens, and recognition of same-sex civil marriages.

Bolivia negotiations break down

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:06:59 -0500

Bolivian negotiations have broken down after the government refused to negotiate the language in the draft constitution (it had earlier agreed to open the draft up for revision). Now Evo announced that he’ll approve the draft constitution, peacefully or not (“De buenas o de malas”). The statement was made at a MAS gathering in Cochabamba; he also announced a march on La Paz to force the National Congress to pass a bill for a referendum on the draft constitution.