Calling Mexico
I sent a message this morning to an attorney I know who, a few years ago, moved to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. I had a simple question: how does he have a U.S. Dallas-based phone number (with 214 area code)? I've not called the number, but I believe he once told me it rings to his office in Mexico. I'm interested in knowing how it works and how much it costs.
Another Birthday
My Falba-based brother is having a birthday tomorrow, June 12. It's a milestone birthday, so if you know him, call him to wish him a happy birthday. For his birthday, I think he'd like 100 acres of land and some cattle (along with a cash stipend of about $200,000), so if you have the abilities and the inclination to make a gift of such on his birthday, I'm sure he would be grateful.
Phillipine Independence Day Corresponds to My Brother's Birthday
June 12 is also the anniversary of the 1898 Philippine revolt against the colonial government of Spain, which Manila celebrates as the Phillipines' independence day. Apparently, not everyone is happy about that, as near-simultaneous bomb blasts occurred in various places around the Phillipines in connection with independence day; the bomb blasts are asserted to be related in some way to independence day.
Chilean Student Protests
Students participated in a national strike in Chile last week. President Michelle Bachelet promised to address students' needs by implementing various reforms intended to improve the quality of Chile’s public education system. In a speech a week ago Thursday night, she offered to finance the college entrance exams and transportation fees for the poorest 80 percent of Chile’s public school students. She also promised to increase the number of free school meals given to students, to provide scholarships for technical students during internships, to increase family subsidies, and to repair dilapidated facilities in the nation’s public school system.
The President’s plan will cost upwards of US$137 million annually, according to Finance Minister Andrés Velasco. In 2006, the funding for the plan will come from existing government revenues, while thereafter the costs will be paid for, in part, by new revenues coming to the government as a result of windfall copper profits. What the article I read in The Santiago Times did not say, though, was whether the students' demands for what amounts to nationalization of the school system are being seriously considered. As I have written before, I hope not.
Scary Mexican Politics
Andrés Manuel López Obrador is running for President of Mexico as the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) candidate in what is becoming a very, very tight race. A few days ago, on the day of the last presidential debate, an armored car carrying Celia Gurza and her three children (Gurza had threatened to release videotapes said to show aides of López Obrador taking bribes) was fired on by gunmen. National Action Party (PAN) candidate Felipe Calderón, who had fallen behind recently, is now closing the gap. No one seems to know who might be behind the attack on Gurza, but speculation is that López Obrador's forces are, while other speculation is that Calderon's people staged the shooting to set up their opponent. Pundits are now saying Calderón will win by a slim margin, but it's really too tight to call, from what I have read. Regardless, the violent attack on Gurza's vehicle and the charges being flung by all candidates makes for a scary race. July 2 is election day in Mexico.
Beijing Vice Mayor in a Bit of Trouble
The Vice Mayor of Beijing Municipal Government, Liu Zhihua, was stripped of his post due to 'corruption and degeneration', state media reported Sunday. The decision was made during a meeting during the Standing Committee of 12th Beijing Municipal People's Congress, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Believe it or not, I do not care about this. I'm not sure why, but this matters not a whit to me.
Spaniards Rally Against Government Plan to Enter Talks with Basque Separatists
Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards demonstrated in Madrid on Saturday, demanding that the Spanish government cease plans to enter into peace talks with the Basque separatist group ETA. The organization is blamed for more than 800 deaths in its fight for an independent homeland in northern Spain and southwest France. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish prime minister, had advanced the plan as a way to end 38 years of violence. ETA had declared a cease-fire in March of this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment