Photo of the Day
November 28, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 27, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 26, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 25, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 24, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 23, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 22, 2008
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The Big Three Sucked Anyways
November 21, 2008
<br>The only topic being discussed on American and Southern AM radio is concerning the federal bailout package and the recently proposed initiative to save the "Big Three". In regards to the first, I have always been a staunch opponent of the bailout. Banks made loans that were too risky, consumers borrowed more than they could really afford, and both deserved to suffer the consequences of their bad choices.
I also thought it to be ironic how during previous years homeowners received absolutely no federal assistance, while loaning institutions were to be bailed out shortly after screaming for help. For decades certain sectors of the population did not have the means to purchase their own home, but once Floridian middle class families become affected, everybody begins to panic.
The Big Three bail out is even more ridiculous. These companies in recent years have invested their efforts in producing larger, affluent, gas-guzzling vehicles only to have them sit on lots as consumers turned to smaller, more efficient cars in face of rising oil prices. Declining sales in such vehicles is something that I believe to be positive, even if it means that large vehicle manufacturers have to fold so that more efficient companies will take their place and fill in the new demand.
A traditional "bail out" is out of the question for me, but I would feel different for an over-all nationalization. I'm all for Hugo Chavez-style nationalizations of sensitive and ailing industries, but under the condition that the public coffers benefit from any profits and royalties that are earned. Using tax dollars to bail out corporations only to hand them over to private investors later down the road is simply a bad deal. Using tax dollars to invest in an industry with hopes to earn back a profit in the name of improved health or education is another issue. Despite this, I have doubts on the federal government's ability to run a corporation (its record as a nation builder is bad enough).
One must ask themselves if it is even worth to save an economic system that depends on rampant consumerism and tax dollars.
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Photo of the Day
November 21, 2008
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'Bama Ramblings
November 21, 2008
Sorry for being so out of touch during the last week.
Not only am I starting a new job, but I was in-between phone numbers, I had yet to have a sturdy Internet connection, and I have been in the process of moving. I am renting a nice little duplex in the Historic District and
I have no curtains so for a few days my neighbors would see me wander around the house in pajamas. 
Those who know me in person know that I've always been a sort of exhibitionist so it didn't mind me at all. I finally got around to pinning up some old sheets that my father lent me over primary windows to avoid any embarrassing Youtube videos that might pop up when I'm rich and famous.
Crystal got in on Tuesday. Since then we have been running around catching up with old friends, buying stuff for the house, and U-hauling her stuff from a Columbus warehouse. She's in New York for the weekend so I've finally had a chance to sit down and use the computer without getting a mean mug expression from her. Ja!
We spent the first few nights sleeping on a floor mat without any heating or adequate bedding. It was the first time I've ever tried sleeping in 60-something temperature.
It's nice to have running water with such high pressure (in rural Puerto Rico the bathtub can take maybe half an hour to fill up). It's also nice to have more stores open late enough to tend to a 3am Slim Jim crave. It's cool to be able to put a piece of paper on the table without having it become a sheet of mush after a day of Puerto Rico humidity.
But it sucks always having dry lips. It sucks having a dry face in general. I miss being able to U-turn over a median. I also see how much I've taken for granted a sunny day or even the pitter patter of the rain hitting plantain leaves. But boy is that sweet tea quite tasty.
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Photo of the Day
November 20, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 19, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 18, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 17, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 16, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 15, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 14, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 13, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 12, 2008
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Hector Ferrer Sucks
November 11, 2008
I grew quite happy when Anibal Acevedo Vila resigned as President of the PPD. I believed his resignation to signal a new start in the party and a switch back to its progressive roots. Those who stood remained as the few remaining leaders of the PPD - Willie Miranda Marin, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, Jose Aponte Jr. - were all staunch autonomists and nationalists. Little did I think that another monga like Hector Ferrer would be unanimously elected President of the party.
Sila M. Calderon and Anibal represented the more conservative wings of the party and on economic and social issues had few differences in comparison to their PNP counterparts. Hector Ferrer is a continuation of those policies and lacks the charisma of his fellow PPD leaders. As leader of the Chamber minority during this past term he has done nothing but rubber stamp all of Anibal's policies and lead a gang of monga Representatives. Ever since I heard him refer to union leaders as "nothing but a bunch of communists," he has become one of my least liked members of the party.
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Photo of the Day
November 11, 2008
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Photo of the Day
November 10, 2008
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Parking Lots are Ugly
November 9, 2008
Cars are ugly. Sure, a car might look nice, but when you conglomerate a mass of cars - each with different sizes, colors, and shapes - the result looks unattractive. Hiding parking lots from public few and minimizing their ugliness is a planner's worst nightmare. They may try to hide them with trees, limit parking to alleyways or off-site lots, or house them in a multi-piso, but we haven't found a way to eliminate the eyesore entirely.
(Just an observation. If you were waiting for my suggestion on how to eliminate uglycarism, than too bad.)
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Photo of the Day
November 9, 2008
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Alabama Flea Market
November 9, 2008
So I was driving to Eastern Alabama in search for a nice rental unit when I see an array of rebel flags and sporadically parked vehicles in the distance. I pull off to the side of the road and notice a flea market. Yea!
When I was a child my mother would occasionally take me to these things, but since it has been years since I've gone, I decided to do a bit of exploring. I had a great time, I must say, and was amused by the variety of products and people. Candy apples, swords, 8-bit Nintendos! I'll be sure to head back once I am settled down.
These markets are very similar to those found in Puerto Rico, but tend to be more spaced out. Puerto Rican pulgueros tend to be cramped together and have an abundance of pirated DVD stands and things of the likes.
Back to the trail...
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Photo of the Day
November 8, 2008
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Homegrown Driving
November 8, 2008
I have grown used to the Puerto Rican style of driving. This includes treating stop signs as yields, treating yellow lights as green lights, interpreting the first few seconds of a red light as a yellow light, U-turning over medians, driving in reverse on a shoulder to back up into a missed exit, and parking on the side walk. Though I have defended this way of driving as efficient, effective, and laissez faire, I understand the need to "behave" when I'm in stateside. Despite this, it's quite tempting to pull off one of these moves when you're lost. The fact that there are less police cars patrolling around add to that temptation.
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Southern Talk Radio
November 8, 2008
Though I am quite optimistic of the journeys to come, my first complaint is with the AM dial's talk radio. Station after station aired nothing but conservative talk shows, which though entertaining, lack any sort of diversity in political opinion. I am accustomed to Puerto Rican talk show programs that feature members from opposing political parties or intellectuals who can't really be categorized into any specific ideology. The first hour or so was entertaining, but after a while I yearned for the spice and diversity of a simple argument.
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'Bama Jamma'
November 8, 2008
I really haven't had a chance to talk about it during previous weeks but if you haven't heard already heard, I was recently offered a position in a stateside local government.
I was to stay in the Municipality of Aguas Buenas until elections and then re-locate to Alabama where I would continue working in the area of community development and public administration. These previous weeks have been quite stressful as I have been overseeing the transition process, working elections machinery, and ultimately, relocating.
I arrived last night into Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport and will be staying with my father in Columbus. I start my new job on Monday and Crystal flies into Atlanta on Tuesday to join me. Yes yes, I know it's quite a big change from the mountains of Puerto Rico to the depths of Eastern Alabama, but I am quite fond of the Southern U.S. I'm looking forward to the sweet tea, corn bread, and fried chicken.
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Photo of the Day
November 7, 2008
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