Ciao!

Bolivia or Kollasuyu?

Technorati tags: Bolivia politics

Apparently one of Evo's confidants, Román Loayza (executive sectretary of the CSUTCB & MAS senator) made controversial statements regarding the upcoming constituent assembly. These include suggestions that the country's name be changed from "Bolivia" to something else, like "Tawantinsuyo" or "Kollasuyo" — along w/ changes to the flag & other national symbols. Now. The national symbols are a product of nearly two centuries of history. So it's obvious that many people have deep, emotional attachments to them.

Posted by Miguel at 05:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The opera

This weekend I attended the opera for the first time in my life. I'll readily admit that I was quite excited, perhaps overly excited. Forgetting my suit (and not noticing until I'd arrived 150 miles later in Chicago) was a bad sign, however. I managed (w/ K8's help) to cobble together (and cheaply) a jacket/pants combination that could pass as "dressed up" enough for Chicago's Lyric Opera.

Now. I didn't fall in love w/ opera. Though I can clearly see what all the hype's about. The symphony music was great, the singers were fantastic, and the set design & lighting was really well done. It just wasn't "spectacle" enough to meet my expectations. Mostly, I just couldn't empathize w/ the main character (one of only three non-chorus characters), Orpheus.

But for $20 tickets, it was a great experience nonetheless. And I look forward to seeing something more swashbuckling or spectacle-filled. Like maybe something by Verdi? Or something w/ mail-clad Vikings? Or something w/ songs that everyone recognizes? You know, so I can walk out of the theater humming along.

Sadly, it seems there's no opera in the spring/summer. Why is that?

Posted by Miguel at 04:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Fire the Senate?

Technorati tags: Michigan politics

A movement recently started to try to create a single, unicameral legislature for Michigan. The Fire the Michigan Senate campaign has until 4 July to get 317,000 signatures to get their proposal on the ballot. The proposal's to eliminate the state Senate altogether, and transfer all legislative powers to the state House. So far, only Nebraska has a unicameral legislature.

Posted by Miguel at 09:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Sick & repaired

This week I was out w/ the flu. Then my truck was out w/ a dead starter. Fortunately, I also got my IRS refund this week. We're both fixed now, and ready for action again. Mostly, I'm writing my way through Chapter 6.

This weekend, K8 scored $20 tickets to the Lyric Opera of Chicago. I've never been, and I'm looking forward to an evening of passing myself off as haute bourgeoisie. Will anyone spot me? I wonder. The production's Orfeo ed Euridice, first performed in Vienna in 1762.

And, w/ that, I'll get back to looking for patters in election data.

Oh, but tonight's Olympic figure skating. This is hands down my favorite olympic event. For so many reasons. The men's event was phenomenal; tonight's the women's long program. You should watch.

Posted by Miguel at 05:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Decline of the MNR?

Technorati tags: Bolivia politics MNR

[NOTE:The following few paras were written for a brief section of my dissertation where I discuss the recent 2005 elections. I'm satisfied enough w/ them as a coherent, individual argument to post it here. But it's not meant as anything other than a preliminary draft of a small section of a much larger work.]

The decline of the MNR (the political party with the longest historical trajectory in Bolivian politics) in the 2005 election should also be taken in context. While the party’s fourth place finish (6.47%) was its worst ever, it did remarkably well when compared to the virtual disintegration of ADN in the 2002 election (3.40%). After Sánchez de Loza’s overthrow in October 2003, public sentiment against the MNR (particularly in La Paz and Cochabamba) was extremely high. In the two years leading up to the December 2005 election, the party was highly divided over issues of leadership, policy platform, and future strategy.

Posted by Miguel at 06:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

An Evo-Chavez split?

Technorati tags: Bolivia politics Evo Morales

Some interesting Bolivian developments this weekend. Evo's moving closer to the US, and being pushed farther from Chavez. In large measure, by Chavez himself.

Posted by Miguel at 09:51 AM | Permalink

Why electoral formulas matter

Technorati tags: Bolivia politics Evo Morales

It's always easier to call for a constitutional assembly than it is to actually call a constitutional assembly. What do I mean? Well, one of the key priorities for the new Bolivian government is to call for a new constitutional assembly to write a new magna carta for the Bolivian polity. This was one of the demands of the 2003 October protests, it was promised by Mesa, and was part of Evo's campaign platform. To be fair, it was part of everyone's campaign platform. But once you decide to have a constitutional convention, you then have to decide who gets to go. Or, rather, how we decide who gets to go.

Posted by Miguel at 08:33 PM | Permalink

Evo's winner-take-all politics

Technorati tags: Bolivia Evo Morales

Evo's now been Bolivia's president a little less than a month. At first, there were many encouraging signs. He made overtures, showing he's willing to compromise on coca eradication (holding to coca crop limits set by Mesa's administration) & hydrocarbons investment (ensuring he wouldn't confiscate transnational holdings). In short, Evo seemed to accept that coca crops should be limited to internal consumption (though he's seeking legitimate, international markets) while controlling against narcotic uses for the crop. Similarly, Evo seemed willing to court much-needed international investment (though he's seeking to renegotiate contracts that better protect Bolivian interests).

Posted by Miguel at 07:04 PM | Permalink

Happy V-Day

Went to Chicago, spent time w/ K8, returned from Chicago. It was a fun, quick trip involving a fondue dinner, some winter olympics (which I love more than the summer games, go figure), a small apartment party (I made sure to pick up some Tuborg Danish beer), and a screening of The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.

Posted by Miguel at 06:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

1947 Canadian Nickel

Certainly not the oldest coins I've found, but an interesting one nonetheless. Today, I came across a 1947 Canadian nickel. It's interesting, because it's the last year that the British monarch (in this case, Edward VI) was also Emperor of India. So the inscription on the face is:

"Georgivs VI D:G:REX ET IND:IMP:"

"George VI by grace of God King [of Great Britain & Ireland] and Emperor of India"

Anyhow, it's a pretty neat find in a pocket of change. I'm sometimes amazed at what I've found in pocket change. The oldest so far is an 1899 Indian Head penny; the farthest was a 1990 Five Pence British coin (found in a roll of dimes from my bank, of all places).

Also, today I finally found a Kansas D quarter, nearly completing my 2005 state quarters set (I'm missing West Virginia D). Haven't come across the new 2006 Nevada quarter yet.

Posted by Miguel at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Political activism

I accidentally got caught in a 10-minute conversation w/ Lyndon LaRouche supporters today. I was just making my way from my car to the political science office, and I got trapped. That's 10 minutes of my life I'd like to get back. The saddest thing, was that the starry-eyed kid who was trying to convert me (it had the same kind of feel as when you stumble upon a Jehova's witness) couldn't make a sentence that didn't include some sort of pseudo-jargon. Though the reference to Alexander Hamilton sort of threw me for a second. A conspiracy-theorist socialist was endorsing the economic theories of a mercantilist nationalist? Did I miss something? Bottom line, I just couldn't quite figure out what the kid thought he believed. Only that he believed it very passionately, and thought I should, too.

But I gotta give them credit for being outside, w/ an information table, on a bleary February day. I guess that's worth something.

Posted by Miguel at 06:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

February blues

The first weekend of February was wet, cold, and dreary. Except K8 was in town, which made things considerably better. There was some Battlestar Galactica watching on Friday, followed by Big Boy & bowling at Harpo's with friends on Saturday. We had to wait for free lanes (didn't count on league bowlers), but it was a great time.

Now it's back to the grind, trying to wrap up various work projects on a bleary February winter day. I miss the 50 degree weather we had just a week earlier. Spring can't get here quick enough. Then again, I've too much to get done by then.

Posted by Miguel at 04:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Te of Piglet

Technorati tags: danish cartoons censorship

Posted by Miguel at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

In Greenspan we trust(ed)

I know I'm not nearly as big a fan as Bay Jo. But I've never really known an American economy without Alan Greenspan at the helm. He was Fed Chairman for about as long as I've lived in this country. Um. Good luck to the next guy.

Posted by Miguel at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)