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April 30 Thoughts on the AmishI have a habit of forgetting to write what I had planned to write but couldn't in an earlier sitting. A few blog entries ago, I posted some photos of our trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, better known as Amish Country. I didn't have time to write, so I mentioned I would write about our trip later. Sometimes I neglect to follow up on my prognostications. Of course, Dear Reader, you can always remind me if you were waiting with anticipation to read what I wrote that I planned to write. You haven't said much lately, so I don't think you mind too much if I neglect to follow up on some topics. Of course, I still plan to write an entry on Argentinian wine, but I have to wait until I have more time to devote to a deeper analysis of the South American wine industry.
We officially went to Lancaster to shop, but I saw our trip as a chance to visit Amish Country and glimpse Amish life for the first time. (For a more detailed description of the Amish and their faith, visit Wikipedia's Amish web page.) My mental image of the Amish was influenced by such diverse sources as the movie "Witness," the 1985 thriller that launched Kelly McGillis' movie career, the Farrelly Brother's movie "Kingpin," featuring Randy Quaid as an Amish bowling prodigy, and "Weird Al" Yankovic's hit song "Amish Paradise." Obviously, the outsider's view of the Amish tends to filter them through a skeptical lens, painting them in terms that might not be entirely flattering and even quite misunderstood, likening them to "country bumpkins" who are backwards because they refuse to assimilate into the dominant culture. I wanted to see the Amish for myself, like an adventurer visiting a unique culture for the first time. I was impressed by their ability to maintain their own culture in the face of modernity and their fervent industriousness. Call me crazy, but the cultural intricacies in the United States are still diverse despite the advent of pop culture and mass production.
I admire the fact that in spite of the development all around them, the Amish still manage to maintain their cultural identity. It seems so easy for those not committed to the Amish community to leave it and "join" modern society. I'm sure many have, but the Amish community in Lancaster is quite vibrant. The Amish mingle freely with contemporary America, driving their horse-powered buggies on roads and highways and shopping for goods at various retail outlets scattered throug the area. During our visit, I saw at least two Amish horse carriages parked in front of convenience stores (I don't think they were purchasing gasoline). I suspect that in spite of their frugal image the Amish are actually quite wealthy. Most of the land put to contemporary uses such as strip malls were once owned by the Amish and sold at some time in the recent past. In fact, many Amish farms in Lancaster County are so large that they could easily sell for millions of dollars if their owners chose to sell them.
Amish are also very industrious. When we visited Plain & Fancy, an Amish-style restaurant, gift store, and convention center (no joke), I noted a bevy of Amish goods. Quilts, agricultural products, trinkets, you name it. Some were Amish-style souvenirs made in China, but many of the products available were made locally by Amish families. What did they do with the money they earned? I wondered. After all, they own their property outright, and they don't owe use technology that costs money such as cars, televisions, or telephones. I did a little online investigating and uncovered some interesting tidbits about Amish finances. For one, Amish do not pay Social Security, but they do pay taxes, including property taxes. They rarely, if ever, use banks and public services, and they are responsible for making sure that everyone in the community receives adequate levels of education, health care, and financial security. Because they don't invest their money, their capital is tied up in their land and what it can produce. The Amish must be industrious by necessity to ensure that they can fulfill their financial obligations to the government and to the Amish community. Still, I cannot help but think the Amish at present are doing very well. Life must be pretty good for them, even without cars, electricity, and buttons. April 28 Your very own cattle ranchI searched for photos of the Paraguayan countryside, and I came upon this most unusual advertisement. An aged farmer in Paraguay wants to sell his 28,247 acre cattle ranch affectionately known as "Estancia El Dorado." The ranch is about 44 square miles, with one square mile equal to about 640 acres.
Sooner or later this ad will be taken offline after a buyer has been found, so here is the original ad:
So, how much would you pay to own your very own cattle ranch? Well, the ad doesn't say, so I guessimated the price. A 49-acre ranch for sale in Paraguay is now on the market for just 500,000 euros, or 10,204 euros per acre (http://www.viviun.com/Real_Estate/Paraguay/). At the current exchange rate, the price would be $13,931 per acre. Assuming that the price per acre doesn't fluctuate significantly and not taking into account the cattle and other fixtures on the property, the purchase price of Estancia El Dorado would is about $393,508,957. Realistically, though, you might be able to buy the ranch at a slight discount for $300-$350 million. Or maybe the owner is desperate to sell and would settle for $250 million. I don't have that kind of money. Do you? One silver lining--$600,000 will buy you a 50 acre ranch in rural Paraguay. Not a bad deal at all. If you could make a living from it. April 27 Illing and chillingOur life here lately could be characterized by one simple adjective--ill. Illness has swept through our family for the past couple of weeks. First our son fell ill with a stomach flu he probably picked up at his "school," a child care center co-located with my training facility. He was sick for about a week and out of school for three days, and he's still coughing a bit. Next, he gave it to my wife, who has had a sore throat and nasal congestion for about four days. I got sick yesterday, and I am home today. Other than a sore throat and chest congestion, I feel fine. However, my Spanish instructor was so concerned about possible contagions that I decided to stay home ("concerned" is a polite term). I suppose that I am, but I'm in a state of limbo where I feel guilty staying home because I feel sick but I'm not too ill. I don't mind taking the day off--I don't really appreciate her attitude and patronizing, drill-sargeant teaching style, so I'm more than happy to stay home today and self-study Spanish. I will be more productive staying home instead hearing every five minutes not-so-subtly in a practice question that I need to go home. I don't need that.
It's a shame that none of us are feeling well, because lately the weather has been better. Today it's cold and overcast, but the weather since last Saturday has been spectacular. The forecast says that sunny weather will return on Sunday. I hope we all feel better by then so we can enjoy it. Sunny weather has a habit of mocking you when you feel miserable, taunting you by daring you to enjoy it, which then makes you feel even worse.
When we lived in Korea, we hardly experienced illness. Back in the states, however, we seem to be getting sick quite often. I've heard that that is common. When you mingle with other former expats who just returned from exotic locations worldwide, you find yourself prone to succumbing to whatever nasties they brought home from overseas. I would venture to guess that we will feel healthier in Paraguay, because we won't be exposed to so many new contagions. The same was true in Korea. Many people who live here in the Washington, D.C. seem to face a higher risk of illness. After all, people live here from all over the world. It is perhaps the most diverse city in America, and with it comes most of the pathogens one can contract overseas. In this respect, I can't wait to get back overseas. We often say that being in Washington is more of a hardship than being overseas. In terms of illness, so far that has been true. April 25 Lancaster County tripFor the shutterbugs: I posted photos of our recent trip to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Better known as Amish Country, Lancaster County is the eclectic home of many Amish and Mennonite families as well as one of the most intimate-sounding towns in America, Intercourse (second only to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico). I'll try to add a few more words about Lancaster County tomorrow. Enjoy! April 24 10 Things to Do in Paraguay and South AmericaI updated the "Things to Do" list featuring ten new things to do if you travel to South America. Well, actually, it's a Paraguayan-centric list of things we plan to do while we're in Paraguay. Still, it includes some other South American destinations such as Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. I'll see in a couple years whether we did them and whether the list includes the top ten things we plan to do while we're in Paraguay. Do I think you should include a trip to Paraguay if you travel to South America? Most definitely. If you do, let me know.
Blog Note: Tomorrow I will try to post some new photos from our trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Amish country). April 23 Top Ten Things to Do in KoreaNow that I am no longer in Korea, I think it's time to archive this top ten list. I put together this list at the beginning of my tour in Korea. It's a list of the top ten things you can do while visiting Korea. How many did we do? I/we did all of the to a degree. We didn't visit a hot spring, but the chimjilbang was fun. I never visited the World Cup Stadium in Seoul because it isn't much of an attraction, but I spent time in the Olympic area to the southeast in Gangnam. Which would I eliminate from the list? Probably the sports tour. In hindsight, there isn't really much incentive to visit either the Olympic or World Cup sites unless you're a sports historian or there's an event at one of those sites. Instead, try visiting the Korean Folk Village in Giheung, 45 minutes south of Seoul, or if you don't have time, visit Namsan Hanok Village on the northern flanks of Namsan Mountain in Seoul. You could also visit one of Korea's other fine national parks, particularly Wolchulsan National Park in the south or Odaesan National Park just south of Seoraksan.
In the next few days I'll replace this list with a new list of top ten places to visit in Paraguay and South America.
Top Ten Things to Do in Korea
Blog Notes: I finally managed to upload new music to World Adventurers. You might notice a new song tonight. It's a little ditty called, "Ñambo Pajha Ñorairo" featuring Paraguayan harp and guitar. I figured out that the Windows Media Player module on this site was out of date and needed to be updated. I did that, but the sound quality appears to be average on the new song. The scratchy sound you might hear seems to caused by delays in streaming the song from Paraguay (it's on a site hosted by a Paraguayan web site). I plan to update some of this site's basic features over the next few days. I'm trying to archive some of the Korean information to make room for more information and media from Paraguay and South America. Please excuse the mess! April 22 Paraguayan musicWe had a very busy weekend. The sun was shining (finally) and we were out and about. On Saturday we went to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (a.k.a. Amish Country) for a day of shopping and sightseeing, and on Sunday I went to a friend's wedding. I have some new photos to post (finally), but they'll have to wait for another day.
I was trying to update the music on this site tonight. I found some great Paraguayan music to stream on this blog, but Spaces made some changes and won't let me update the link. I'm not sure why it didn't work, but I'll try to update it over the next couple of days. In the meantime, feel free to check out the Paraguayan music web site I found with some great music clips. Here's the URL:
Paraguayan music features a special harp that gives it a unique sound of its own. It's very beautiful. At times, the clip I chose actually reminds me of traditional Korean music, which is also relies heavily on stringed instruments. More on this topic later--I spent too much time already tonight trying to update that darn link. I'll try again tomorrow. April 17 Tepid response to tragedyI searched the Korean news media web sites for the Korean perspective on today's events. I thought the official response to the massacre at Virginia Tech was tepid at best and tasteless at worst. President Roh Moo-hyun sent his condolences to the families of the 32 victims at Virginia Tech who died at the hands of 23-year-old Korean student and U.S. permanent resident Cho Seung-hui. However, President Roh concluded by urging Americans to show restraint in response to the tragedy. Although I do hope that Americans show restraint and do not rush to judgment in light of today's revelations about Mr. Cho's identity, I thought President Roh's conclusion was in bad form and faith.
I was also dismayed to find that the major left-wing Hankyoreh newspaper neglected to publish any articles or commentary on today's tragedy. Instead, it chose to complain about the number of slots available to Korean students who want to sit for the TOEFL test, the test required for foreign students to study in the United States. It also published an article on documents released about the U.S.' alleged involvement in a "civilian massacre." Blow it out your nose, Hanky. You may not be a friend to the United States, but you should be ashamed.
I hope that Americans do not personalize this tragedy and use it to single out Koreans who live, study, or visit the United States. The vast majority are good people, and Koreans should not fear reprecussions because of one man's actions. However, I am very disappointed by Korea's public response to this tragedy. For a nation that focuses incessantly on its own public image and is highly sensitive to how it is perceived on the world stage, Korea should know that it needs to handle this tragedy with care and respond appropriately when one of its own commits such an atrocity. April 16 Tragedy in BlacksburgI don't know what to write about what happened today at Virginia Tech other than it happened just 250 miles from me and yet is a world away. Perhaps it is better to write nothing at all and await news of this terrible tragedy. People are already speculating about the who, what, where, when, why, and how, and the blogosphere is in chaos trying to scoop what happened today.
What a shame. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by this tragedy.
April 15 The end of the Internet universeI found the end of the far reaches of the Internet today. The Internet is a very big place with information on virtually everything...
...except for a full version of Robert Southey's epic poem, "A Tale of Paraguay" published in 1825. Southey, who? Thou might aske if ye, like mee, be navght an accoemplished scholare of English literatur. You know, Southey, the English poet who was a member of the "Lake Poets" which including the distinguished William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It was Southey who first penned the famous children's story, "The Three Bears." I read about Southey's tale of Paraguay in another book and wanted to read it. Southey never visited Paraguay, but he used lands such as Paraguay (and Brazil and the American frontier) as settings to extrapolate his political ideals. In "A Tale of Paraguay," Southey turned the prose of Jesuit Priest Martin Dobrizhoffer into an allegory promoting the idea of missionary colonialism in the British colonies, just as the Spaniards and Portuguese permitted in their colonial empires.
I searched the Web for a full version of this poem and found several books on Southey's poetry, but I could not find a full version of his poem. Instead, I found snippets of it available here for your reading pleasure (click on the links):
Unfortunately, to read the entire poem, I have to locate a book of Southey's poetry and either check it out from the library or buy it online. The copyright on this poem expired years ago, so "A Tale of Paraguay" is an excellent example of a work in the public domain that should be available online. Of course, some publishers are still profiting from Southey's work by publishing collections or analyses of his poetry.
Today, I found the end of the Internet universe. His name is Robert Southey. April 14 The automobile dairiesI read an article in The Economist about the Argetinian wine industry and its quest to overtake the Chilean wine industry as the largest in South America. Chilean wines are the most famous in South America and considered by many to be superior to Argentinian wines. However, in reality most Argentinian wines are on par with Chilean wines and even superior. Here is a link to the Economist article:
Unfortunately, the article is now only available only to those who subscribe to The Economist, so I will refer to the article and discuss Chilean and Argentinian wines in a future blog entry. Tonight I want to write about my South American dream inspired by Che Guevara and South American wines?
What, you ask, do wine and Che, a deceased revolutionary, have to do with one another? Simply put, travel. During 1951-52, Che Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado embarked on a journey through Latin America on a motorcycle. His famous journey is well chronicled in his autobiographical account of his trip, "The Motorcycle Diaries." Che and Granado traveled from Argentina to Miami, Florida for over a year. During their journey, they passed through South America's wine country, which at the time was a shadow of what it is today.
While I have no plans to travel for a year and re-enact "The Motorcycle Diaries" on a 500cc motorcyle, I dream of taking my family on a road trip by car from Asunción, Paraguay to Valparaiso, Chile through Argentina and back over the course of a week or two. I think that the best way to explore South America is on the ground. This route is not considered overly dangerous, and we would visit Córdoba and Mendoza, Argentina, two of the country's secondary cities, as well as Santiago, Chile. The highlight of our trip would be a multi-day stay at a hacienda (ranch) in the Argentinian wine country near Mendoza, where we would relax, ride horseback, and enjoy Argentinian barbeques and wine in the shadow of snow-capped Andean peaks. We would also tour Argentinian and Chilean wineries and eat seafood in Valparaiso. More than any other trip we're planning, this is the one I want to do most of all before our tour in Paraguay ends. April 11 Making progressI took my Spanish language progress test today. I started Spanish about five weeks ago on March 5 and will finish at the end of May. The results were mixed. I tested about where I should be, and my tester commended me on my improvement in a very short period of time. Nevertheless, she gave me a 50% chance of achieving the required level of Spanish by the end of May. She said that it is very difficult to achieve that in just seven weeks, but she also said that she was optimistic that I could do it given my past performance. The news is not as positive as I would have liked to receive, because it means I have to work even harder. I haven't worked as hard as I probably should, although I have to give myself credit for learning quickly and meeting my target set thus far. My wife is also doing well. She started Spanish from scratch about two weeks ago and is already trying to make complicated sentences. She's more bold than I would have been had I started from scratch.
OK, now back to studying Spanish... April 10 Featured Blog: Global Incident MapThis month's featured blog isn't really a blog at all, but it functions like a blog in that it is a news aggregator. Someone sent me a link to a web site called Global Incident Map (http://www.globalincidentmap.com/), a "global display of terrorism and other suspicious events" as described by the web site. The site graphically and interactively depicts incidents occurring around the globe as reported by news outlets worldwide. If nothing else, it is visually stimulating and could leave you feeling a bit uneasy about the state of the world today.
Three thoughts came to mind when I checked out this site. One, most of the incidents reported on the site occurred between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, the world's climactic hot zone. This may be because tempers flare in the heat, but with a noticeable dearth of incidents in places such as Russia, China, South America, and Africa, it's also likely that the site isn't aggregating incident reports in those regions of the world. Two, the site still reminds me that the world is a dangerous place even when crime that doesn't rise to the level of a "suspicious event" occurs.
Finally, the number of incidents occurring in the United States reminds me that America is also a dangerous place. 9/11 and other tragedies aside, the average American often feels safest at home. That isn't always the case. We will be heading to Paraguay soon. We have heard that crime is high in Paraguay and on the rise, especially petty theft and the occasional carjacking and larceny. We've been advised on some precautions we should take to avoid being victims of crime or terrorism, including running red lights at night, avoiding taxis, and driving indescript vehicles. While these may be necessary when we're in Paraguay, we have to remember that we are potential victims wherever we are, even in the United States. I feel fortunate that the worst incident to have happened to us was finding our car stereo stolen one morning about 10 years ago. I can only hope and pray that that's the worst that will happen to us.
Check out the site and read some of the related articles. It's quite sobering. April 08 We're, IncorporatedI did something yesterday I've been thinking about doing for about three years. I filed to incorporate our investment portfolio into a limited-liability company (LLC). Brilliance Equity, LLC (BE) will serve as our primary investment vehicle in real estate, private equity (startups), equities, and bonds. I will gradually roll most of our personal investments into this LLC. It is currently a sole proprietorship, but in the future it could expand to become a full-fledged private equity firm. I'm currently working on a business plan to turn it into a multi-partner firm. I consider this my hobby now, but I also want to make sure that if or when we jump off this international merry-go-round I'll be able to do something I enjoy doing. I dread having to jump back into the private sector working for a company doing a job I don't really like. There's no better job for me than the one I'm doing now.
I waited to pursue incorporation because I thought it would be difficult to incorporate, but it's surprisingly easy to do. The firm's address in Houston, Texas offers us a virtual presence in the United States. The LLC will actually be incorporated in the State of Delaware, where more businesses incorporate than any other. Why incorporate? There are actually many reasons, but here are a few: http://www.corporate.com/should-i-incorporate.htm. I used another company to incorporate, so that's not a sales pitch for corporate.com. Research your options if you decide to incorporate. Some are cheaper than others. You can do it for a few hundred dollars. Make sure though that you have a reason to incorporate--that you have enough assets to justify incorporation.
I was inspired to incorporate by Steve Feinberg, who founded Cerberus Capital Management. Founded in 1992 with $10 million, Cerberus' holdings in 2006 were approximately $24 billion. If it were a public company, it now would be one of the largest companies in the U.S. Is incorporating about getting rich? Of course, building wealth is a factor, but more than that, it's about finding fulfillment in doing the best job you can at something you love. Incorporating provides you more benefits than being unincorporated if you have a sizeable portfolio. I already have another full-time job, and I will do the best job that I can at that job, but I also enjoy investing and am intent on maximizing my investments' potential returns. It's wholly possible to succeed at private equity and keep your day job. You just have to be smart about your investment choices. April 07 The terrible tearerMy son went to the trash area to throw away some garbage and a box. I had to flatten the box, and my son said, "Dad, please let me help!"
I asked him, "Oh, are you a tearer?"
"Yes!" He responded enthusiastically.
He helped me tear up the box and dispose of it.
I told him, "That was absolutely tearable."
"Yeah, terrible!" He replied.
"So are you a tearable terror or a terrible tearer?"
"Both!" He answered happily, smiling.
He might have actually understood me. Not bad for a young kid! April 06 Happy Good FridayHappy Good Friday, Dear Reader. Do you think it is oxymoronic to wish someone a Happy Good Friday? I always thought it bit odd to wish someone happiness on the day set aside to observe the death of Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, have as good a Good Friday as you can. Most of the Federal government is open, but the stock exchanges are closed, and some people have taken the day off to observe this somber day when Jesus died on the Cross on Golgotha (Calvary) in Jerusalem. I took the day off today to observe Good Friday.
When did Jesus' death occur? Some claim that the dates established to observe Good Friday and Easter, the day when Jesus rose from the dead, are incorrect. Other claims the dates correspond to the worship of the Germanic goddess Eostre/Ostara. However, historical research suggests that Jesus was crucified in April. More specifically, Jesus may have died either on April 7, 30 A.D. or April 3, 33 A.D., depending on the year of Jesus' birth and the passover date immediately following his death. The year 2007 is 1,987 years after death of Christ. Although it occurred many years ago, I believe the date is still as relevant today as it was nearly two millennia ago.
Happy Good Friday to you and yours. April 04 ¿Que Hora Es?Someone sent me the link to a hilarious spoof on Mexican telénovelas produced by Cedric the Entertainer. ¿Que Hora Es? is a telénovela for "people who had three weeks of Spanish in the fourth grade." If you recently started learning a language, like my wife, or you remember the days when you spent time learning a foreign language, you'll appreciate the humor! Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pCBGeny1DM. Enjoy! April 03 The Honorary ConsulLast week I finished "The Honorary Consul," a classic novel set in Northern Argentina during the Alfredo Stroessner Era. Considered by Graham Greene to be one of his finest works, it's a story of intrigue dealing with the rebel struggle against the Paraguayan government and a dictator who ruled the country ruthlessly for 34 years. My wife bought it for me as a Christmas present because of its Paraguayan theme. I'm spending more time lately reading up on Paraguay because it is a fascinating country and it diverts my attention from learning Spanish 24/7.
"The Honorary Consul" is a tragic story with a plot twist that redeems itself at the end. The characters are vivid, and the story reflects many of Greene's passions--Catholicism, women, and Paraguay, a country pre-eminent Paraguayan writer Augusto Roa Bastos aptly called "An island surrounded by land." Set in 1973 during the height of the Stroessner regime, the book captures well the isolation that surrounded Paraguay and the struggle for release from tyranny. Violence and action are minimal, as befits a classical novel instrumental in the naissance of a new genre, the spy novel. The protagonist, a tragic figure named Dr. Eduardo Plarr, is a far cry from James Bond, and his mistress, Clara, a former prostitute and wife of the Honorary British Consul, Charles Fortnum, is no Bond girl. The central figures in the novel, writer Julio Saavedra, Colonel Perez, Dr. Humphries, and Father Rivas, are flawed humans caught up in a drama precipitated by events beyond their control--the oppression of the Stroessner era, a botched kidnapping, a child conceived by Clara that belongs to Dr. Plarr but claimed by her ignorant husband, the Honorable Fortnum. I loved this book, even though at times the frustrating tragicomedy left me desperate to intervene. It is truly a classic, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys spy novels.
"The Honorary Consul" is the third book I've read this year. In January I finished "America (The Book)" by Jon Stewart and "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini. So far I've exceeded one of my New Year's resolutions--spend less time at the computer. I read more books this year than I did during 2006. I'm currently reading "At the Tomb of the Inflatable Pig," a travelogue on Paraguay by writer/journalist John Gimlette. The books' vignettes are as absurd as the book's title. I am enjoying it immensely. I also checked out a couple of texts on post-World War II Paraguay. Very few English-language books on Paraguay have been published since 1995. Most eonomic and political white papers and analyses on Paraguay are dated--most publish data gathered two or three years prior to publication. A flurry of scholarly works, books, and even movies on Paraguayan politics and history were published between 1986 and 1996, but the flood receded to a trickle in recent years. I have been a Paraguay sponge lately, sopping up any tidbits I can learn about what I now believe is one of the most interesting countries in the world. April 02 Remembering the FalklandsThe news story about British sailors captured by Iran reminds me of a crisis between Great Britain and another nation that occurred 25 years ago. 25 years ago today, on April 2, 1982, the Falklands War began when the Argentine military occupied the Falklands Islands, or Islas Malvinas in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Two weeks earlier, the Argentine Navy occupied two other sparsely-populated archipelagos, the South Georgia Islands and the South Sandwich Islands. All three island groups are disputed territory. They remain territorial possessions of the British, although the Argentinians claim sovereignty over them as well as a large section of Antarctica. The British also claim virtually the same portion of Antarctica. The Falklands War ended on June 12, 1982 when the Argentian military surrendered to the British. Wikipedia has a lengthy article on the Falklands War describing it in gory detail:
Paraguay was not directly involved in the dispute (it was not officially a war, because neither the British nor the Argentinians declared war during the conflict). However, it affected Paraguay because Argentina has traditionally loomed large in Paraguayan history, and their relationship has generally been less than amicable. Many Paraguayans were sympathetic to the British in this conflict. The "war" was one of the seminal events of the latter half of the 20th century in South American politics. To this day, territorial disputes between Argentina, Chile, and Great Britain over territory ranging from the Beagle Channel to the Falklands to Antarctica remain unresolved. Paraguay is not involved in any of these disputes. However, it lost territory to Argentina following its defeat in the War of the Triple Alliance (1864-70), and its territorial claims were never fully resolved by treaty.
Blog Note: Cousin Wade, ya' got me. You're right...I played a practical joke when I said I was quitting World Adventurers. You either know me too well or I was too obvious. When MSN Spaces Live features World Adventurers on "What's Your Story?" yet again, why should I quit now? :-) I'll give you a call soon. Peace. April 01 Goodbye and thanks for visitingI don't have any time to blog, so I've decided to quit. Goodbye and thanks for visiting World Adventurers. |
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