Examination: Current Events
Please review the material for each question, then fill in the blank.
1.
The student demonstrators in Tehran are protesting at the embassy of, and shouting death to, ____________.
A) the United States
B) Russia
Going Green
How many people does it take to create a trend? A revolution?
This one made the rounds a while back, but it is interesting to think about it in the context of events in Iran over the last several months.
Batman, Higgs and Nuclear Terror: Dinner With Jim
Jules Alexandre Grün (1868-1938*), Fin de Souper, 1913.
Oil on Canvas, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tourcoing, France
At a recent dinner discussing the prospect of nuclear terrorism, the Cowboy found himself contemplating that Batman of particle physics: the Higgs boson. Why Batman? Well, the Higgs boson is dark and elusive, and kind of like a cosmological super-hero.
First though, you are probably wondering whether the frighteningly-high probability of a horrific terrorist act decimating an otherwise lovely city makes for appropriate dinner conversation among polite company. Hmmm… Good question. The topic sort of encompasses religion (nihilism, the afterlife, eschatology) and politics (mutually assured destruction, containment, non-proliferation), so ostensibly the answer would be “no”. Well, it was stimulating and oddly entertaining nonetheless.
Muddling On
Last week was a good one for Brazil. We are consistently told that Asia will lead the world out of recession. Except that’s not the whole headline. In its entirety it reads: Asia and Brazil will lead the world out of recession.
Chicago #4. Tokyo? No way José (that’s the Portuguese pronunciation please – zhoze). Spain? European colonialists need not apply in the post-post-colonial era. Não, não, não. In 2016 Rio will host the Olympics!
And if you are into those frivolous little sporting events, take note: Brazil will host the World Cup in 2014.
Of course in the post-post-colonial era, globalization-epitomizing economic involvement is bem. Mostly. So how about the hottest IPO of the year… any guesses? Banco Santander. Like the first headline though, we’re missing the important bit: Banco Santander Brasil. Suddenly its São Paolo-based sub looks like the most valuable part of that Spanish empire. And lest the irony be overlooked, Brazil is providing the lucre for a 21st century Spanish empire. In your face, Portugal.
How Does A Revolution Begin?
Things have gotten very interesting over the last few days in Iran. Here are some good resources to follow the developments:
Andrew Sullivan (dedicated Iran coverage)
BBC Persia (in Farsi)
Nico Pitney (HuffPo)
This is how revolutions begin. But more often than not, revolutions fail. One can’t help but think about the basic prescriptions for taking power:
