PoliBlog: A Rough Draft of my Thoughts

The Military and Politics in Chile

Steven L. Taylor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:17:55 +0000

The NYT has a piece on the relationship between the military and civil society in Chile and how the earthquake has played into it: After the Earthquake, a Military Chile Can Love Again.

As political scientist and fellow blogger, Greg Weeks, notes in the article:

“This is the first real troop presence since the end of the dictatorship, and obviously raises a certain amount of nervousness. But it marks a return to a normal civil-military relationship.”

Indeed, I think that there are more political scientists quoted in that piece than I have seen in some time, if ever.

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Barney at Lourdes

Steven L. Taylor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:09:28 +0000

Barney at Lourdes

Not something one sees every day.

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Lourdes

Steven L. Taylor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:06:06 +0000

Lourdes

365.72 (3/13/10). I think that of all the many churches in and around Bogota, Lourdes is my favorite.

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Campaigning

Steven L. Taylor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:02:09 +0000

Campaigning

Liberal Party Presidential candidate Rafeal Pardo posing with a supporter.

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Campaigning

Steven L. Taylor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:01:43 +0000

Campaigning

Liberal Presidential candidate Rafael Pardo and Chamber of Representatives candidate Isabel Londoño and a campaign event for Londono at Crepes y Waffles.

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Iván Cepeda Campaigning

Steven L. Taylor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:00:54 +0000

Iván Cepeda Campaigning

Polo Democrático Alternativo candidate for the Chamber of Representatives, Iván Cepeda, handing out flyers the day before the election in downtown Bogotá.

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Estimated Cost of Chile’s Quake

Steven L. Taylor — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:05:17 +0000

Via the BBC: Chile puts quake damage at $30bn.

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Former Astronauts Disappointed by Moon Decision

Steven L. Taylor — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:59:14 +0000

Via the BBC: Obama Nasa plans ‘catastrophic’ say Moon astronauts

Former Nasa astronauts who went to the Moon have told the BBC of their dismay at President Barack Obama’s decision to push back further Moon missions.

Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, said Mr Obama’s decision would have "catastrophic consequences" for US space exploration.

The last man on the Moon, Eugene Cernan, said it was "disappointing".

I suppose it is hardly surprising that astronauts would be disappointed in a cut back in space exploration plans. Still, one does have to wonder if such grandiose projects are legitimate at this time of ballooning deficits and debt.

And don’t get me wrong: I would love to see a more vigorous effort at space exploration, at least in the abstract. Paying for, however, is the trick.

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Call Me When They Have One Powered by Coffee Grounds

Steven L. Taylor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:03:01 +0000

Via the UKPA: Coffee-powered car completes 250-mile trip.

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Old and New

Steven L. Taylor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:19:50 +0000

Old and New

365.70 (3/11/10)

The Iglesia de la Porciúncula reflected (along with a high rise) on a glass office building. The church, built in 1919 (which is young for many of the cathedrals in and around Bogotá) for Franciscan monks, but is now surrounded by a financial district.

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