Car runs on compressed natural gas or regular gas, the compressed natural gas tank is filled to capacity, but I should think about filling the regular gas tank (currently on 1/3, because we don’t use it much, regular gas being 3 times as expensive).
My wife says that may be we should stock on food too, after all 90% the food that comes to this monstrous urban conglomerate (20th largest in the world) comes by truck…
Yeah. The food distribution systems that very many people on the planet rely on are actually pretty fragile.
Milei’s answer (on his way to CPAC, where Security Minister Patricia Bullrich is already hobnobbing with Steve Bannon) to the governors (Now supported by all but 2 of the other governors, and those 2 from small provinces) was basically “bring it on”.
So… any books on how to survive national dissolution?, if it get to fighting about the right to put the 3 stars in national team shirt things could get REALLY ugly.
(Yes, I take refuge in black humor, it’s a national learned trait).
The governors have set a date for the oil cut-off, tomorrow (!).
There are rumors and counter-rumors swirling about, with the central government saying that they already agreed to send the money to Chubut but the governor’s people didn’t read the email (apparently sent to a gmail account(!!!)), and the governor’s people denying it…
It may offer a face saving way for the central gov. to give up Chubut’s money (and only Chubut’s) and not lose too much face, wether it would work is anybody’s guess.
There have been some resignations in the government that may be important, not ministers but the rank inmediately inferior.
Anyway, interesting times…
It seems like the crisis has been averted, for now, a federal judge ordered the national government to send the money to Chubut, the government is going to appeal but everything will probably go back to the previous simmering state for a while at least, no oil cut offs today.
In other news the the president’s spokesman (“vocero”, I think it’s the same job Scaramucci did for Trump), should pray that things end well, otherwise his physical integrity will be in doubt.
Asked about the government closing an institute managed by the Madres de plaza de Mayo he jokingly answered “I’m very glad this thing has dissapeared”)
Staggering through this a bit at a time may be the best you’re going to get for a while.
I’d keep the cupboards and gas cans full anyway, just in case; and encourage the neighbors who can to do likewise. Easier to accomplish while not in immediate crisis.
I buy my replacement case of TP at Costco a lot more earlier than I used to four years ago.
What an awful thing to joke about. Almost like doing KGB “jokes” at a Moscow open-mic night - but from an official? Ugh.
SunWife now insists that we keep at least one full 30-roll pack in the garage at all times. Of course, she uses a lot more than I do…
As I said, he better hope things don’t end like in 2001, the queue to rearrange his facial features starts in Tierra del Fuego…
Is it true about the mosquitos?
That there are a lot of them, yeah, in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas mind you, the country is a bit bigger than that (even if those who live in B.A. will never accept that truth).
There was a real infestation last week or so, a lot less now.
“Freedom” Update, day 87
Having found no response to their demands (of not having their, already very low, salaries reduced) teachers are about to strike again.
Couldn’t go to work today because, drivers not having been paid, 50% of bus lines in Greater Buenos Aires are on strike.
In the last 3 months 3,6 million people fell into poverty.
The fiscal surplus obtained by draconian measures (see above), is dwindling fast (probably due to the economic depression generated by these same measures) and will probably disappear altogether next month.
And three businessmen who were in a closed doors meeting with the Presidengue have leaked that he said (about the governors and representatives that are not voting his laws) “who they think they are? I’m going to piss on them all” and “If they keep fucking with me I’m going to close Congress”.
Just another normal day in Freedomlandia.
Does it help that I suspect a lot of us in Guntopia, I mean, 'Murrica are probably taking notes ahead of a worst case scenario for next year?
(aside, I feel comfortable making the Guntopia joke, and I’m a freaking Gun-owner!)
Seriously though, and all shame upon my nation for this, I strongly suspect that overall we’ll make a poorer showing of standing up for our rights and the norms of a civilized society, or if not, devolve into a luke-warm civil war if it goes to worst case scenarios. I’m proud of what you personally and many others are apparently doing to make your resistance felt and almost entirely peacefully despite what El Jefe and his cronies are saying.
I’m wondering how many Americans will have that kind of courage if the 'Pubs prevail in November.
I’m wondering if I’ll have it.
Frodo,
Agreeing with all parts of this.
Frankly, no, they say misery loves company but I fear for y’all too and the fact that Bolsonaro’s attempt to perpetuate himself via Trump-like shenanigans in Brazil failed (at least in part) due to Biden’s condemnation of it makes me me fear for what would happen if Milei tries to do the same here… with Trump in the White House.
You guys are being too generous with me, so far the only things I’ve done have been to march in one protest and a lot of bitching in the internet.
I’m going to march again on the 24th, in the annual demonstration in remembrance and repudiation of the 1976/03/24 military coup, a normally massive march that this year will hopefully be extremely massive just to remind those in power against any funny ideas.
But those are “safe” marches, extremely massive and well organized.
I wasn’t in front of congress getting hit, gassed and arrested by the police and neither, to our shame, were most of us “center”-minded people, only the extreme left was there, their ideas may be wacky or unworkable, they make the Popular Front of Judea seem unified, but you can’t deny that their hearts and huevos are in the right place.
Assorted tdibits, re: my OP:
Science:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00628-1
Education:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/argentine-universities-critical-situation-inflation-soars (paywalled but " Rectors call for budget increases and wage rises for staff or institutions will soon be unable to function" is enough)
Arts:
It’s like every day we wake up to another shitty announcement.
Thought this was a worthwhile addition to this thread. Looks like populists looking after themselves first isn’t just a US phenomenon
I doubted about commenting on this.
The worst part is that he not only blamed previous presidents for a decree that he signed.
He then said he “hadn’t realized” that the decree raised his pay.
So, he either does not read what he signs, doesn’t understand it, or has minions who sign for him.
I’ve always said that our elected functionaries have ridiculous wages, I think a McDonalds mid level executive takes home more money than the President and that’s no way to manage a country of this size.
But when they were in campaign they rallied constantly against raises for representatives or the executive branch so…