Ciao!

MIR & MBL out

Technorati tags: Bolivia politics

Bolivia's National Electoral Court has rescinded the juridic personality (legal status) of several national & regional parties. Including two established pre-2003 parties: MIR & MBL. The decision was made after several of the electoral fronts in the July 2006 constituent assembly election did not meet the electoral threshold. Parties that don't meet a minimum voter threshold, are responsible to pay for their portion of the cost of printing ballots; failure to pay the debt leads to loss of legal status.

Posted by Miguel at 10:44 AM | Permalink

This is not good

Technorati tags: Bolivia politics

There's been questions brewing about Jorge Alvarado, the head of YPFB (the Bolivian state-owned oil & gas company). He was finally removed by Evo, replaced by a former subordinate (Carlos Ortiz Banzer), according to today's La Razón. Up to the last minute, Evo defended Alvarado against all accusations.

The "not good" part has to do w/ the fact that nearly all the whistleblowers w/in YPFB, those who confirmed the misconduct allegations against Alvarado, have also been sacked. Some of the allegations included questions about whether some of Alvarado's contracts violated Evo's nationalization decree. Apparently, he still defends him, calling his opponents "conspiring against the nationalization process."

Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz Asamblea de la Cruceñidad has began challenging the "totalitarian and exclusionary" nature of Evo's regime. They've publicly stated their intention to resist any effort by the central state to impose its will on the lowland department.

Posted by Miguel at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hit the ground running

Well, my first day of classes at Dickinson is over. Though it's too early to have any real "impression" since all I really did was introduce myself, hand out syllabi, and briefly outline the upcoming semester. But so far things have gone well enough. Tomorrow I meet my Latin American politics students (today was all intro to comparative politics) & we'll see how that goes.

But it's amazing how much busier I am than I'd anticipated. Besides orientation, there was just a host of little details to finish before classes began. Having my own office — one that isn't shared w/ anyone else — has made me want to devote some time & thought to its organization. And I should note that my new Brother labelmaker & I have become fast friends. Having a personal, in-office printer is also great; I've taken to typing up my class lecture (though I don't really "lecture" of course) notes, rather than trying to read my scrawl.

Yesterday was Convocation. I missed Thursday's sign-in ceremony (though I glimpsed parts of it from my office window). I'm incredibly fascinated by the traditions (old & "reinvented") of a small liberal arts college. Having never attended one (I'm a proud product of public state universities, thankyouverymuch), I'll admit that I sometimes feel a bit of an outsider. But the traditions, I'm sure, will grow on me soon enough.

So what is the Sign-in ceremony? See, the oldest building on campus (Old West, built in 1803, the college was founded in 1773) has a set of broad front doors. These are almost never used. They're used by students only twice: on the day they enter the college, when they "sign into" the college (I believe they do literally sign their names somewhere), and on the day they graduate. Otherwise, the doors remain closed and students, faculty, and staff enter/exit from the side doors. Quaint. There's also, of course, pomp & circumstance, and speeches of various kinds to mark the occasion.

Convocation involved more people. Namely, the new faculty. We assembled at the alternate location (because of rain, an auditorium replaced Old West) in our academic regalia. I'll admit to feeling a bit on the outs, wearing only my masters' robes — which are not nearly as fancy as the doctoral robes — though I wasn't the only one. We sat on the stage, stood at the appropriate time, and listened to a series of speeches about Dickinson & what a liberal arts education should be. The college president is clearly a charismatic, insightful, and introspective character (his speech on how education is "broken" was quite a departure from the "rah! rah!" speeches one normally hears).

Overall, I'm pleased w/ my introduction to a small, East Coast, private liberal arts college. I would've never thought of going to one as a kid (mostly, because the idea of it as a possibility for "someone like me" never crossed my mind), but I can see that the learning community here is certainly different. It's going to be an adjustment, that's for sure.

But the faculty are nice, even informal. It's such a small group, that I already know the Dean & Provost (who are one and the same person) on a first name basis. It's also nice to know the Vice President of Academics is a Deadwood fan. There have been welcome back picnics & other social events. I especially appreciate them for K8's sake, since she's quickly meeting new people in the quaint little town that is Carlisle (pronounced Car-LYLE), which is a sharp contrast to metropolitan Chicago.

Once the weather's nicer (it's been drizzly all day), I'll walk around campus & take some pictures. But trust me when I say that it's lovely. And have I mentioned that I have an office w/ a view?

Well, tonight there's a faculty pick-up soccer game. I even bought new cleats (having lost mine somewhere along they way). That should be fun.

Posted by Miguel at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Brief Pennsylvania update (some Annie news)

We're almost moved in; just a few things left to get to. And I'm trying to get back into a writing routine. But. You know. Interruptions, interruptions, interruptions. But the finish line's in sight, it should be just a matter of time. But all my course prep work is done, the syllabi copies are sitting on my desk, I've got almost two weeks of lectures mapped out, and I've set up my next semester courses (just the titles, not much else). Still slowly catching up w/ email, blogs, news, and the rest of the internet. We hit a snag w/ our cable internet install at home (another one of those interruptions that ate up my whole morning). But soon.

Posted by Miguel at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Still moving in

Still setting up my office. But things are looking good. Perhaps by tomorrow I'll get a chance to really catch up on Bolivian news, blogs, and get my office iMac all set up to mirror Kaneda (who now has new little rubber feet to keep him cool).

Funny how hard it is to find a bookend. There wasn't a one at Target. Which just reminded me how much I miss Meijer. Now I have to learn to run out to Giant (groceries), Home Depot (tools), Target (underwear), Office Max (bookends), a package store (wine), and a beer distributor (blue laws are incredibly funny here). Where I back in Michigan, I'd have gotten all in a single trip out to Meijer's. Oy vey.

But Carlisle seems really nice so far. The apartment's slowly coming together. We've painted the living room (yellow) & dining room (blue); we'll start on the bedrooms & kitchen this weekend. But I love having a nice, big, long back yard. It's awesome. We're eating all our meals outside.

OK. Back to office organization. As I listen to WIDR 89.1 on iTunes. A little touch of home in the midday.

Posted by Miguel at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Greetings from the Keystone state

We've arrived safe & sound (but rather tired & sore) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. This is the first moment of internet I've had in several days, but I still have to set up my office. Hopefully, we'll have internet access at home in a day or two, and can post more. Perhaps even pictures? We'll see. There's much work to be done (painting, organizing, artwork placement, etc). Also, the previous tenants were less-than-tidy, so there's some minor details that need tending to, at least before we can feel comfortable hosting people. But by month's end, we hope to be ready. More later.

PS: We're now registered drivers/voters in Pennsylvania. It's kind of exciting.

Posted by Miguel at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Coms down

I'm in the process of moving from Chicago. And since Comcast is a less-than-efficient legal monopoly (I do not, under any circumstances, recommend their online order processing), we won't have cable/internet for about a week after we're in Pennsylvania. So email will likely be slow (depending on how soon I can get into my office at Dickinson). See y'all on the other side.

Posted by Miguel at 07:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Some thoughs on Evo

Technorati tags: Bolivia politics Evo Morales

Two Bolivian intellectuals discuss Evo Morales in today's La Razón. Both articles are found here.

Posted by Miguel at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bike to Lake Michigan

Our last few days in Chicago. We didn't get to do all the things we wanted to, or visit all the people we should've. But it's winding down now, ever so quickly. Most of our stuff's packed & ready, almost all the upcoming wedding events have been settled, and we're starting our last weekend before we're Pennsylvania bound. Yeah. It's exciting.

Today we went for a bike ride to picnic in Wicker Park. Then a ride to the Lake Michigan public beaches, past downtown, then back again. Probably 10 miles in city traffic. And I gotta say this for Chicago: The traffic here respects bikes. Not "tolerates" — "respects."

Tonight K8's parents are taking us out dinning at Italian Village. I'm sure there are much fancier, better places in the city. But. Italian Village is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. It just is. Since I've been living in Chicago these past weeks, I've been dying to eat there again. Tonight's the night.

Posted by Miguel at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tum ta tum taah, dum da DAAH!

K8 & I went to see Raiders of the Lost Ark last night at the Music Box Theater in Chicago. I've never seen the film in 35mm on such a large screen. I felt like a kid again. We both had a great time. It was the perfect ending to fried bologna sadwiches at a biker bar (Twisted Spoke) & soft serve dip cones from Dairy Queen.

Today it's her birthday. And it's too hot for anything but DVDs & air-conditioning (though tonight we're headed to dinner at Tango Sur, an Argentine steakhouse in Lincoln Park). The DVDs were my choice; the parameters were "something you pick, and a romantic comedy." What did I pick? The Hidden Fortress & How To Marry a Millionaire. Gotta go w/ the classics, eh?

Posted by Miguel at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Our Brand Is Crisis (a review)

Technorati tags: Bolivia politics

Finally saw a screening of the documentary Our Brand Is Crisis. It's a documentary about the 2002 presidential campaign of Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (aka Goni). The film is worth watching if you're interested in Bolivian contemporary Bolivian politics, even though the film is clearly not about Goni or Bolivia, but about the campaign team run by James Carville (a Democratic campaign strategist). So the film tells us much about how the consultants interact w/ their Bolivian clients (Goni & his MNR team); it doesn't tell us much about Bolivian electoral politics.

Posted by Miguel at 02:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)