SamGompers has left 77 comments

SamGompers comments on Youth In Revolt! The Punk Kids in Medellin 'R All Right!

Sounds like they've been listening to a lot of early Clash records . . . I like the sound . . .takes me back to '77 and the Hammersmith Palais . . .

SamGompers comments on Interesting blog....

Great blog! Finally, the internet redeems its many-splendored primises. Venceremos!

SamGompers comments on The BIG differences between Colombia and U.S.

Lol . .thanks Cat . . even nice boys like to get dirty once in a while!

SamGompers comments on Colombian Peso Up

Capitalism lives off the profit margin between labor costs and market price. In manufacturing, labor costs are usually kept down via what some economists call the "capital for labor" substitution - - i.e. automation and machinery replacing labor. When you can't squeeze more value out of labor via technology, you start searching for cheaper wages. And then the race around the world is on . . . Economists thought for a long time that the service economy worked differently. You couldn't buy a milkshake in Korea and have it shipped to Kenosha. However, capital is always smarter than its theorists. Even the service economy can be off-shored, once you've trained people to read, write, and speak English. Call centers, tutoring, customer support, web services are all being off-shored to cheaper labor spots like India and (formerly) Ireland. According to some lawyer friends of mine, even legal briefs are now being prepared by para-legalists in Mumbai. The U.S. even imports its nurses and doctors, not to mention janitors and shelf stockers, from developing countries nowadays. I.e. globalization isn't just about finding sweated labor in underdeveloped countries. It's about importing and exporting expertise as well. Looking objectively at the U.S. - - I'd say that the only international economic powerhouse we have left is the higher education system, which still manages to crank out more knowledge than most of the rest of the world combined. (Interesting, that this is something the Cubans latched onto a couple of decades ago after they had been beaten up for so long in the sugar market - - i.e. developing their scientific and technical knowledge capital and exporting it around latin america.) I don't expect the dollar to strengthen significantly until after all the recently created fictitious capital (i.e. mortgage loan industry and associated instruments) has been flushed out of the system.

SamGompers comments on The BIG differences between Colombia and U.S.

Protestant vs. Catholic? Pretty outmoded way of thinking about U.S. society. How many of either regularly attend church services? How many of either see their religion as anything more than something done on Sundays? Spain wanted its colonies to remain dependent on the mother country - - especially economically. The spanish discouraged and outlawed trade, except between Spain and colonial capitals. The Spanish system of colonization also discouraged the kind of mercantile capitalism that developed under Britain's colonialism. So, for hundreds of years, nascent capitalism was throttled in most spanish colonies in favor of an older land-based feudalism (more akin to the plantation economy of the U.S. antebellum South). The legacy of this history for Colombia (as in much of the rest of latin america) has been quite tragic.

SamGompers comments on Colombian Peso Up

Unions were NOT the great enemy of the automakers in post-WW II United States. In fact, both labor leaders and management looked to unionization and the contract as ways to stabilize wage and work relations. Union contracts in the auto industry gave carmakers a level of predictability, order, and control on the shopfloor. (Remember the turbulent 1930s - - when wildcat and sitdown strikes were the bane of car making. Unions gained great power when they persuaded manufacturers that they, the unions could effectively discipline workers.) The symbiosis between unions and management underwrote three decades of high profitability, prosperity, and a "middle-class" way of life in places like Detroit, Flint, Youngstown, etc. Healthy unions and activist states are responsible for expanding middle classes. Say what you want but the "European model" - - close cooperation between State and unions - - still manages to sustain higher qualities of life. The U.S. is sinking backward into a more "developing nation" arrangement - - less fettered capitalism, more of a "risk" society for workers, weaker state. This always favors the cultivation of economic elites rather than the broad distribution of security and prosperity. Now that we're locked into a "Walmart" economy - - dependent on low wages, low prices, import commodities - - don't expect the dollar to ever achieve the strength it once had. Or rather, the only way the dollar will achieve former strength is if the other major economic players - - Japan, China, Europe - - decide to shift to the "Walmart" style of economics, something that doesn't look likely.

SamGompers comments on So what will happen now?

I think Chavez will work some more with FARC to start releasing more hostages. His electoral failure last year has made him more politically vulnerable at home and tarnished his international reputation. Of course, now that he's got Ollie Stone working for him - - we may see the total capitulation of FARC, eradication of coca, and 30 straight days of warm, sunshine in Bogota - - all captured on film! The neutralization of FARC remains a big problem for Uribe. As the Tupac Katari (Bolivia), Montoneros (Argentina), Tupac Amaru (Peru), Sendero Luminoso (Peru) movements and groups et al. illustrate, there is no single model for neutralizing insurgencies. Political drama in Colombia, however, can only continue to help Chavez in Venezuela.

SamGompers comments on leaving Colombia

Yeah, I think it depends on what passport you're traveling under. If with a British passport, I wouldn't worry as much about the cedula. If with Colombian, I'd start by contacting your airline (which might be easier than dealing with police or government bureaucracy) and ask them. As Jaramillo says - - in any case, make sure you bring a copy of the denuncia and whatever other documents relating to the crime and your report to the police. I believe someone higher up is definitely "massaging" the numbers on crime in Colombia. Perhaps the political crimes are down - - but street crime seems to me to be the same as ever, maybe worse.

SamGompers comments on Shakira

I missed it - - but if it was a live performance, she's a scab for crossing the WGA picket lines. Could be an allegory for outsourcing, this time outsourcing entertainment labor.

SamGompers comments on HUGE HOSTAGE SCANDAL!

anybody got any updates on the situation?

SamGompers comments on Cuba verses Colombia...

Que bola? I traveled to Cuba annually for about 6 or 7 years straight (1996-2003) - - usually combining "business" and pleasure. I love the place. I also love Colombia. I'm gonna tackle Terry's post point by point: Stuff to see: Obviously, Colombia is a bigger place, but Cuba is a big island with everything from mountains to beaches to big cities to villages. I could probably spend a full year in either place without getting tired. History/culture: quantity is not always quality. Colombian history is fascinating - - but Cuba was at the crossroads of the New World for three centuries, and its current history is as complex and "global" in significance as its days spent as a jewel in empire's crown. Plus, the Cubans have a strong, loud sense of history - - the number of museums, historical houses, sites, etc. in Havana is probably equal to the institutionalized history sites in all of Colombia. (Where else, for instance, could you find a stark, elegant monument to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg plopped down in the middle of a small parque? Or get your photo taken sitting next to John Lennon on a park bench?) "Restored" colonial cities: Havana is like the Macondo of ciudades viejas - - it's all right there but all about to fall down. The work done to preserve Cartagena's old city is stupendous. Sure, it's smaller and not the capital - - but as a "restored" city, hands-down winner is Cartagena. (As a city pure and simple - - there is no caribena city that can hold a candle to La Habana - - size, diversity, complexity - -and sheer weirdness.) Safety: Tourist police crowd every corner of Habana Vieja and Vedado, this makes it safe but also very clammy. I.e. the interactions between cubanos and visitors are highly regulated and controlled, especially in these tourist sectors. If you're a light-skinned yuma, try walking down the Malecon hand-in-hand with your novia negrita. If I gave you 10 CP for each time you get stopped, you could treat me to a nightlong mojito marathon at the Hotel Nacional. Forget about trying to spend the night with your novia - - either at her place or hotel or nowadays even casa particular. The flip side of security is control. IMO, Colombia is one of the safest S.A. countries (so long as you stay out of the FARC zones). Cities like Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, Barranquilla are very safe compared to cities like Lima, Rio, Salvador, Quito. Sure, there are some evil barrios - - but Havana also has some pretty evil barrios (try Cayo Hueso in Centro). Looking at safety overall (security and freedom etc.) - - I would definitely choose Colombia. Dyonissian fun: Cubans love to dance - - Colombians love to party (personally, I think the Dominican culture of dance rivals that of the Cubans). Put the music on and the Cubans are off to the races. Set out the beer, or rum, and collect the friends and the Colombians are gone in 60 seconds. I have had the wildest times ever in Colombian bars with a group of friends and some good alcohol, music optional. For me, it's not the quality of the dancing - - but how much joy the dancing or partying involves. IMO, Cubans are manic-depressives, albeit beautiful bi-polars - - who swing from exhilarated joy to dark pessimism depending on the company, time of day, and stimulants. Colombians (and I don't want to stereotype more than necessary) have smoother transitions and are generally able to achieve extreme states of artful mellowness. Getting business done: forget about it in Cuba - - the whole culture has been shaped by a gross bureaucracy and the business "climate" resembles, on a good day, something out of Kafka. Not so in Colombia - - where entrepreneurialism runs fast and deep. Cubans generally look to get some profit as quickly and cheaply as possible, consequences be damned - - Colombians generally want to start and sustain a business, and see business as a long-term proposition. Price: until three or four years ago, Cuba was a real bargain, if you knew where to stay, where to go, who to hang out with. I had the most incredible meal on one visit in an illegal restaurant set up in a huge pre-Revolution apartment in a decaying building on the Malecon for about five bucks. Things have changed a lot since then - - especially with the convertible peso and the further throttling of private enterprise on the island. Colombia is a cheap destination by almost any standards - - again if you avoid the Decamerons and the tourist traps. Obviously it's difficult to compare both places - - each has much to offer and each is very different. However, which would I prefer to travel to? Colombia - - sin duda.

SamGompers comments on Photos Link?

Seems the photo contest is being held on flickr. Try: http://flickr.com/groups/pbh_photo_contest/ Also worth checking out on flickr, the following groups: http://flickr.com/groups/colombianphotography/ http://flickr.com/groups/fotosdecolombia/

SamGompers comments on I'm in love with Catalina Sandino Moreno . .

In the Church of Catalina Sandino Moreno, "Lucy" (played by Guilied Lopez) is definitely an archbishop! (However, no schisms allowed . . . .)

SamGompers comments on Cartegena base- looking for great snorkeling

The Archipielago is a great place to chill for a couple of days. You can find some great beaches - - the water is pretty placid and calm, but everything playa-wise in general is cleaner than what you'll find in Cartagena or Santa Marta. I've stayed at Punta Faro on Isla Mucura - - a family run hotel that is clean, affordable, and very laidback. There's some decent snorkeling, but I didn't find the scuba very impressive. (http://www.puntafaro.com) A friend has stayed at the much bigger Decameron on Isla Palma - - he tells me it's like Decamerons everywhere, resort-style accommodations. Though the beaches are nice. There is also Hotel Mar Abierto on Isla Fuerte - - again a smaller, folksier operation. (http://hotelmarabierto.galeon.com). Almost all of the above are a 2 - 3 hour boat ride from Cartagena. For Punta Faro and Mar Abierto, you need to check on departure schedules - - as during the off-season there are only 2 trips or so per week. All in all - - the Islas are great places to relax, enjoy the sun and beach, and turn down the volume. Also, they tend to be more reasonable, in my experience, than the resorts/hotels sprinkled over the Islas del Rosario.

SamGompers comments on CouchSurfing.com

I've never used couchsurfing.com - - a variation of this idea however is home exchange, where you "trade" houses with someone from another country. You borrow their house, they borrow your house. Once in a while they're still in the house - - and often you visit their house but they never end up at your home (because they're not visiting your city, etc.). I've used homeexchange.com - - to stay in Barcelona and in Natal (Brasil). The crowd at homeexchange.com is a bit older than the couchsurfers. Homeexchange.com doesn't have many places to trade in Colombia - - you could try intervac-online.com, which I've never used but apparently has more places to trade in Colombia. Good luck.

SamGompers comments on Cartegena base- looking for great snorkeling

You'll find plenty of decent snorkeling in Islas del Rosarios . . . especially in the underwater national park that was established there some time ago. It's staffed by marine biologists who are usually pretty happy to give folks a great educational tour. Try the Cocoliso Resort (http://cocolisoresort.com/site/index.html). Nice place to chill.

SamGompers comments on

Ditto to Mononoke - - Caracas was the hotspot in the late 70s through late 80s, thanks largely to government corruption and the increasing flow of oil. It was THE place at the time to sell U.S. luxury goods (as opposed to B.A. which was more euro-oriented). It was also the place to be assigned if you worked for a US-based oil company (as my stepfather did), especially compared to other postings like Jakarta or Cairo. The women were and are of course phenomenal. During the oil boom - - the country never thought of itself as a tourist destination (with upper-middle class Venezuelans jetting off to NYC and Miami) except for Isla Margarita, where rich folks from Caracas went to enjoy the beach and get away from the poverty, crime, and pollution of La Capital. All that has of course changed - - some for the worse and some for the better.

SamGompers comments on Volunteering in Medellin

Agreed . .. .I've been investigating "volunteer vacations" and $760/wk is one of the cheaper ones. I just browsed a website that wanted to charge $2000/wk so that you could help tutor and mentor kids in Salvador, Brasil. $2000 is an excellent monthly salary in Salvador. I suppose there are some administrative costs - - the kind most any charity requires. But "volunteers" donate free labor and in most charities administrative costs are taken up by grants or other donations. I guess in the end everything is vulnerable to the for-profit economy - - even humanitarianism.

SamGompers comments on Teddy Bears To Colombia

Nice project! What if you charged a bit extra for the teddy bear and started a fund to help out a school in Medellin? or a clinica? I.e. it's great to give teddy bears to these kids - - and it would be great to use the teddy bear donations to help support a more collective project as well. Just an idea . . . Also, what is the connection between Colombians and Winnie the Pooh?

SamGompers comments on For rent a small cabana on the Caribbean

Sounds really intriguing . . .do you have a website or photos? Thanks.

SamGompers comments on Destination Choco

Hey, I read that piece in Outside magazine - - about the remotest place on earth to get a cold beer. It was a nice travel piece, though obviously vivified for Outside (armchair adrenalists). Nobody is saying you can't to the Buena - Quibido route by boat - - only asking why do so when there are faster, more convenient ways to get to Choco. That is, unless you're an Outside magazine writer getting paid per word for hot copy . . .if that's so, I've got a very remunerative route that will take you around Isla Gorgona and then meandering through the Darien Gap . . .

SamGompers comments on Top 101 cities with the most residents born in Colombia (population 500+)

Gringoinbogota says on Friday December 7th, 2007 4:00: In general I feel Colombians, unlike Mexicans come to the US and learn the language and move on up the social ladder. They are intelligent and interprising and don't have a chip on their shoulder or some ideal that they are going to invade and take back America bullshit swimming though their heads. In other words they are better educated. --------------------------------------------------- Sorry, but this is just total baloney - - and an uninformed indulgence in stereotyping. First, there are millions of "Mexicans" who have lived in the United States for generations, many who have roots in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas before these were even states. Second, Mexicanos come here for one reason: to make good! Same reason Colombianos come to the U.S. Third, because of the proximity of Texas and California, and because both economies have now become agro-service economies, with high demands for unskilled labor, Mexicans enter the U.S. job market in the lowest paying occupations available - - picking artichokes, cutting grass, cleaning homes. Maybe that's the reason why they don't appear to you to want to "move on up the social ladder" - - because they are stuck in low-wage, super-exploited jobs, difficult for anyone to rocket up the social ladder from there. Colombian immigration has a different dynamic - - which includes a strong contingent of professional and middle-class "homesteaders." Given the relatively smaller numbers of Colombian immigrants, this group seems more visible. In any case: Viva la Raza!

SamGompers comments on Top 101 cities with the most residents born in Colombia (population 500+)

This list is totally bogus. They rank according to the "percentage" of Colombians . .. so 3 Colombians living in a town of 6 people would quality as 50%! Notice that New York City is hugely under-represented - - with Queens coming in at #73 with 3% for a population over 2 million. If you do the math, that's about 60,000 Colombians compared to around 300 Colombians in "Victory Gardens, NJ," the top spot. To get a more accurate picture, I'd multiply the Queens numbers by a factor of five to include illegal, semi-legal immigrants. You also would have to add in Colombians in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn (excluding Staten Island) for an accurate picture of Colombians in NYC. U.S. Census data reports that Colombians were the largest group of legal South American immigrants - - at around 700,000 - - in the U.S. (see: http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/acs-03.pdf) I would bet my bottom peso that both percentage-wise and absolute-number wise, the two top cities in the U.S. for those born in Colombia would be Miami and New York City, hands down. If you consider the New York City Metropolitan Area - - which is a more accurate way of looking at things and includes outlying New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester "commuter" suburbs and cities, the numbers go even higher.

SamGompers comments on Destination Choco

Ditto to what Morrongo says - - it is possible but not advisable unless you are really familiar with Colombia or have someone very valuable riding shotgun (so to speak). Buenaventura is like the wild west . . . though there are touristic spots up and down the coast. I wouldn't even bother flying to Turbo - - instead check into direct flights to Quibido or Capurgana or Nuqui/Bahia Solana from wherever you are in Colombia. Try a travel agent - - as these flights are often part of package deals to hotels along the coast and, once hotel, air, and meal costs are included, can actually be quite reasonable.

SamGompers comments on

Yeah, as an ex-EFL instructor - - the writing is usually the most difficult. Is she writing emails to you in english? Or internet chatting in english? Not a bad idea for practice. Also, you might want to send her some kids' books - - around the level of "Great Illustrated Classics," comic books can work too. Movies in english with spanish subtitles, as in DVD's, are good. Plenty of decent, basic, free stuff on the web - - sites, YouTube, etc. KanTalk is a site where she can find a charitable english language helper/teacher. You probably have thought of all these things. Really, in my experience, the best way to learn english quickly is total immersion - - might be tough in Cali, though Centro Colombo can help. Good luck and slainte.

SamGompers comments on Getting organized before I get out of here (gym and book question)

If you're weightlifting, you really shouldn't do more than 1 hour of heavy iron 3 or 4 times a week. For maximum development, the most important things are good diet and, especially, rest. I do worry about young athletes who overtrain - - and seriously risk injury. If you're doing an hour of cardio every day, six days a week, more power to you. These days I try to vary my cardio - - between gym, pool, and most importantly walking and running. You'll expend a lot of calories exploring Santa Marta/Parque Tayrona. Even more if you decide to trek into the Ciudad Perdida. I bet you can find a Bodytech gym in Santa Marta. If not try this gym: Gimnasio Club Address: Cr.12 Calle 26 esq. City: Santa Marta Departement: Magdalena Phone: (57-5) 423-1082 Fax: (57-5) 423-1082

SamGompers comments on The word Gringo...is it offensive or not?

Gringo is also a popular term in Brazil - - where it's used (non-perjoratively) for "foreigner." (Maybe the brasilians imported it from the rest of latin america?) I don't think gringo is an intrinsically derogatory term - - though like almost all words - - it can be used in a derogatory way depending on who is saying it, where they are saying it, to whom they are saying it, and why they are using it. I always let my future novias know where I stand when they ask, "De donde eres?", my answer: "Soy gringo puro!"

SamGompers comments on

First place to investigate is Centro Colombo Americano de Cali - - http://www.colomboamericano.edu.co/ . This is part of the system of Centro Colombo Americanos throughout Colombia - - places to take english, learn about the U.S., and get some help to study in the U.S. The TOEFL exam has four parts: reading, listening, speaking, writing. It's a very rigorous exam. If your novia doesn't have much experience with English - - it will take at least a year of intensive study to prepare for the exam. If she already has experience, maybe shorter.

SamGompers comments on Getting organized before I get out of here (gym and book question)

What exactly is it that you do in a gym for 2 - 3 hours, 6 days a week? Speaking as an ex-gymrat, sometimes the best thing you can do for your body is to get out of the gym. Some books on Colombia: Frank Safford and Marco Palacios, Colombia: Fragmented Land, Divided Society (an overview of Colombian history - - somewhat plodding style of writing, but comprehensive) Marco Palacios, Between Legitimacy and Violence:A History of Colombia, 1875 - 2002 (best academic history of modern Colombia) But . . .one of my favorite books about Colombia - - Michael Taussig, My Cocaine Museum (a very well-written book by an accomplished American anthropologist about daily life, the place of the visitor, politics, and culture on the Pacific Coast)

SamGompers comments on Medellin Hotel -the Mansion

The Medellin Mansion is a pretty infamous sex tourist joint run by an Australian in exile. Unless you're heading to Medellin to engage in sex tourism, definitely not a place to stay.

SamGompers comments on Beachhouse in El Rodadero for rent

Looks beautiful . . .a couple of questions: exactly how far is it from la playa? (can you google map it?) What are the rates for two for a week? Thanks.

SamGompers comments on Socialist Revolution in Colombia

Not all latinos or colombianos come to the U.S. to flip burgers. This from the New York Times Real Estate section this Sunday: Foreign Buyers Take Manhattan . . . . This enthusiasm for Manhattan real estate isn’t felt by just a few enterprising foreign buyers. Real estate brokers say that they are seeing more sales to foreign buyers than ever before and that these buyers are helping to fuel the Manhattan market. . . Not all buyers are investors, of course. After Ana Maria Ruiz, 22, who is from Bogotá, Colombia, got an internship at the Colombian Government Trade Bureau in New York, she needed a place to live. Her parents, who run a general hospital in Bogotá, tried to rent an apartment for her, but decided against it because of the costs involved and because they had no credit history in the United States, which put off prospective landlords. Renting a studio for a year in one building would have been expensive: $33,600 in rent, with half of that amount paid upfront, plus an $8,400 broker’s fee. “My mother said that renting was like throwing your money in the trash,� Ms. Ruiz said. She added that her mother, Clara, already had some experience in foreign investment. She is making almost $1,600 a month renting out a one-bedroom apartment she bought near the Louvre in 2006, Ms. Ruiz said. And since the weakened dollar had made the Colombian peso more valuable, her mother decided to buy an apartment in New York where Ms. Ruiz could live for a year. With help from their broker, Jamie Breitman of Bellmarc Realty, the Ruizes found a $499,000 studio at 145 East 48th Street, with a view of the Chrysler Building. Clara Ruiz arranged for a $100,000 mortgage through Merrill Lynch, where she had a private banking account. Once her daughter moves out of the apartment, Mrs. Ruiz hopes to rent it for $3,000 to $3,500 a month. . . . full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/realestate/04cov.html

SamGompers comments on Socialist Revolution in Colombia

Oh yeah .. forgot to add this:

SamGompers comments on Socialist Revolution in Colombia

. . the social democratic (not socialist) noose is already tightening around Colombia's fat cat capitalists . . . Venezuela . . . Bolivia . . . Argentina . . . .Brasil . . . Ecuador . . . it's only a little bit more time before we see a social democratic revolution in Colombia . . and about time too .. . at least the pimps would pay taxes on their income . . .beggars, whores, neoliberal elites, and others of that ilk would only be "re-educated" . . .hasta la victoria!!!! . . vencermos!!!!

SamGompers comments on

New York City is booming with tourists! Somebody still wants to visit the U.S.A. Immigration is up as well. Plenty of people want to live in the U.S. I agree that Bush has dragged the U.S.'s international image through the mud and sand - - and, given the current Vegas odds, things should change come November. Three cheers! As for visas - - the present government has elevated political spectacle over common sense and reason. The visa situation is affecting the numbers of tourists, but it's also affecting the number of PhD students and researchers who work in the U.S. as well as other categories of people who contribute greatly to society and the economy. On the other hand - - everytime I travel to Brazil, I have to go through a ridiculously complicated visa process, which includes visiting the Brazilian embassy (usually multiple times). So . . the U.S. isn't the only sinner here . .

SamGompers comments on

By no means does Canada have a "tiny" economy - - but rankings conceal big differences. The CIA Fact Book figures are pretty accurate: EU = $13 billion; U.S. = $13 billion; China = $10 billion. These are the big players. Canada ranks at 14th biggest - - but it's GDP (PPP) is barely over $1 billion - - that's a huge magnitude of difference. I.e. the top three nations are each 13 times larger than Canada in GDP. Imagine if your next-door neighbor had 13x your income - - that would put him or her in a whole different league financially. The U.S. will remain in the top tier for some time - - for tons of reasons - - including the age-old guarantor of economic power: military power. I like Canada, and some of my best friends are Canadian. (And, if it weren't for Canada - - my pops might have ended up bleeding to death in some forgotten jungle in SE Asia - - I owe you one, O Canada!).

SamGompers comments on

No doubt the U.S. is heading for some kind of recession/contraction. Looks like the housing implosion is going to ripple throughout (with help from other factors). The thing to keep in mind is that the U.S. is still the most powerful financial player in the world - - i.e. what happens in the U.S. eventually happens everywhere. It looks like the big economies are all starting to cool off. (Sidepoint: I expect China to hit the skids in some form pretty soon - - the "Party" leaders are barely able to keep the lid on the boiling pot as it is.) Some relatively small economies (like Canada) with some oil independence may be able to insulate themselves more than others - - but other smaller economies (i.e. Colombia) will feel the effects more strongly. One major factor behind the strengthening Colombian economy is its integration into the world financial markets over the past decade. With that dependence come benefits (boom) but also drawbacks . . .

SamGompers comments on Nice guy and Colombian Girls

White, barely-spanish speaking, American "nice guy" = ticket out of Colombia and into the land of milk 'n honey, three bedroom ranch house, new car, cable t.v., etc. One of my funniest memories: ex-novia and I are sitting on the beach at El Rodadero with her single girlfriend. Lazy Sat. afternoon, watching the beachgoers wander by. Along comes a slightly overweight, very pale-skinned guy in his 50s wearing a U.S.C. tank top. Friend turns to girlfriend with a faint grin, motions to U.S.C. dude walking by and mutters: "Pollo a la plancha." They both crack up.

SamGompers comments on ¿Mujeres de la Vida Facil?

lol . . "We'll go back to talking about Art Carney"????? . . that's the funniest line in the whole "interview" . . .

SamGompers comments on Mortgage in Colombia

If you already own a home - - the better route might be to take some equity out of your house to pay for the S.M. apartment en todo . . . much lower interest rate, less complications on the Colombian end.

SamGompers comments on

. . . even a strong uptick in exports isn't going to help the U.S. economy . . . . the mortgage/housing industry fallout continues (big finance firms announcing big losses and writeoffs) . . . despite stagnant wages, consumer spending has been keeping things afloat . . . now, unable to tap home equity or buy into equity, say goodbye to the last source of consumer purchasing . . . lower interest rates haven't helped anyone except for that brief burst on Wall Street . . . trouble is - - if the U.S. economy enters recession (following in the wake of the current housing recession) a lot of other national economies are gonna follow suit . . . maybe one reason why Uribe is making nicey-nice with Senor Chavez . . .

SamGompers comments on ¿Mujeres de la Vida Facil?

. . . poor, little education, lots of unemployment, cheap drugs, . . . it's a bad road, but not irrational .. .

SamGompers comments on

In re credit card debt in Colombia - - about 15 or so years ago, I remember an Irish friend whipping out a bank card to pay for something in an eatery (in Dublin). I was surprised - - here in the U.S., credit cards were not yet being sent out blindly by the dozens to potential customers; my friend was solidly working-class (sheetrock hanger). I.e. I was surprised at the credit card penetration at that time in Ireland. Thanks to the "Irish tiger" - - my friend has done pretty well for himself. I'm even more surprised at the spread of credit cards in Colombia. I have friends there who have temporary contingent, pre-carious employment - - who will often have two or three credit cards in their wallet or purse. These are folks who are solidly working-class - - even when they can find employment. I.e. based on my anecdotal experience/evidence - - it seems like Colombian banks are very liberal with this kind of consumer credit. I.e. I agree that consumer debt and default may be a pretty big issue in the near future - - especially if the Colombian economy cannot generate steady, widespread employment.

SamGompers comments on

Not to get too involved in what looks like a personal squabble, but . . . I think most economists would agree that there is a bit of "semi-rational enthusiasm" in Colombia these days. (The over-building "boom" in Cartagena - - where you can see internal and external capital in reckless search of returns - - is showing all the classic signs of a bubble.) I don't want to argue about "bubbles" - - I'm interested in getting opinions on where some of you think the capital coursing through Colombia's financial veins is coming from? External - - U.S., Europe, Brasil, etc.? Internal? Finance, credit, housing - - where is the flow pumping up these sectors coming from? We've seen how the subprime/derivative situation in the U.S. has escaped the border - - 28 days later in U.K. Does anybody see effects rippling southward into Colombia?

SamGompers comments on The Oppenheimer Report: Latin American Schools Don't Measure up In Today's World

Wouldn't be the first time that Oppenheimer got things ass backward - - see his 1992 book, "Castro's Final Hour: An Eyewitness Account of the Disintegration of Castro's Cuba." That's a "final" hour that's been dragging on for more than a decade since he wrote the book . . .

SamGompers comments on The Oppenheimer Report: Latin American Schools Don't Measure up In Today's World

One possible conclusion from the Oppenheimer article and the World Bank report on which it is (loosely) based: educational attainment and economic achievement are not necessarily related. For example, among OECD nations, the U.S. routinely scores in the median range for educational achievement, participation, etc. - - yet it's gdp/capita and other economic data routinely put it in the top region. Educational opportunity is a supremely important value - -but one shouldn't expect that expanding educational opportunity equals the key to success in a "globally competitive economy." (Cuba is a good counter-example here - - highly educated population but still low on the gdp/capita scale.) Oppenheimer plays up the India contrast but a recent (2007) OECD report about India begins with the following: "There is an urgent need to improve education in India. Public expenditure on primary and secondary education is somewhat lower than in other emerging economies, but substantial private outlays result in overall spending being similar to that in developed OECD countries. Nonetheless, despite recent gains, the level of literacy is low and children receive on average only ten years of education, three years less than in many emerging countries." Finally, OECD and UNESCO data agree that, in relation to other latin american nations, Colombia is somewhere in the middle of the pack in regards to educational participation, attainment, duration, literacy rates etc. E.g. - - Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brasil, Peru, Bolivia outrank Colombia (50%) in net secondary education percentage, with Colombian positioned above DR, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica etc. (http://www.uis.unesco.org/TEMPLATE/pdf/ed2001/Amerique_latine_ENPDF.pdf) GIven all the variables involved - - I don't see much to be gained from participation in global educational tests. What's the point of "knowing" that Colombian high school students aren't as good in math as Japanese high school students? This kind of "world cup" approach to education won't guide Colombia to creating more social opportunity - - even if Uribe comes up with some kind of plan to allow Colombian students to transfer to Japanese schools.

SamGompers comments on A Language, Not Quite Spanish, With African Echoes - - NY Times

Swinn - - thanks for the great video!

SamGompers comments on Tailor in Bogotá

LOL . . true about the Boss labels . . . the label isn't so important - - it's the style of suit, kind of "American Banker" vs. "European Media Exec." Thanks - - I'll pay him a visit on my next trip to Bogota . . .

SamGompers comments on

Yeah . . .I think you should do the math and see how much you gain or lose if the dollar goes to 2200 by December. The larger the purchase price - - more room either way. Colombian real estate is hot! If it were me, and I wasn't buying a $25 mil investment property, and I wanted the apartment 'cause I wanted to enjoy Medellin, and I had a decent amount of the purchase price in hand - - I'd pull the trigger and buy the place. Despite stark's repeated doomsdaying - - I don't see pit or heaven for either dollar or COP - - just a variation within historic patterns.

SamGompers comments on A Language, Not Quite Spanish, With African Echoes - - NY Times

. . yeah, I thought it was amazing - - how much history that language contains! . . .so close to Cartagena, but never heard of the town or the language . . . lol . . guess that's why I subscribe to the Times