Author Archives: mkevane

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About mkevane

Economist at Santa Clara University and Director of Friends of African Village Libraries.

Shangaan Electro from South Africa

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Le Monde denounces the coup in Burkina Faso

M. Compaoré a donné un bien mauvais exemple. A sa suite, plusieurs pays (Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, République démocratique du Congo, notamment) ont été le théâtre d’une dérive politique autoritariste. Leurs présidents ont concocté des projets de réforme constitutionnelle destinés à leur … Continue reading

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Likely denouement for Burkina Faso?

Popular resistance to the coup d’état attempt of Gilbert Diendéré of the Presidential Guard unit (RSP) seems to be overwhelming.  There are photos from lots of cities and towns of anti-coup demonstrations and mobilizations.  Chérif Sy, president of the transition … Continue reading

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Permission to bloviate now granted: No scholarship on popular resistance to coup attempts #Burkina

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Permission to bloviate now granted: No scholarship on popular resistance to coup attempts #Burkina

Was the exclusion of the CDP a strategic mistake that led predictably to the coup?

The transition parliament voted in April 2015 a new electoral code that had a new clause (that read as if written by a 20 year old) excluding persons from running for office who had supported modification of Article 37 of … Continue reading

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L’appel de Cheriff Sy, Président du CNT

Des éléments du RSP ont fait irruption dans la salle du Conseil des ministres aux environs de 14h30 et ont pris en otage le Président du Faso, Chef de l’Etat, président de la transition, SEM Michel Kafando, le Premier ministre … Continue reading

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Early hours of coup attempt in Burkina Faso, the morning is crucial

Elements of the Presidential Security Force (Régiment de sécurité présidentielle, or RSP) attempted a coup in the afternoon in Ouagadougou at the Presidential Palace in Burkina Faso.  They have taken President Marcel Kafando and Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida (who … Continue reading

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Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Leslie grabbed Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke by chance at the university library’s pop reading shelves.  I remember seeing it and thinking, “Far too long.”  Leslie got several hundred pages into it and then stopped.  Idly, because … Continue reading

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Djibril Bassolé and Yacouba Ouedraogo are now out, apparently, so it is between Roch and Zéph, with Bénéwendé maybe, maybe. coming out of nowhere?

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Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Djibril Bassolé and Yacouba Ouedraogo are now out, apparently, so it is between Roch and Zéph, with Bénéwendé maybe, maybe. coming out of nowhere?

Puerto Rico trying to claw its way out of the fiscal and economic crisis

Gov. Alejandro García Padilla of Puerto Rico has offered a comprehensive proposal for reversing the territory’s downward spiral. Unlike prior proposals, which focused solely on restructuring Puerto Rico’s debt or cutting its spending, the new plan recognizes the urgent need … Continue reading

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What does the Federal government’s CollegeScorecard say about the earnings of SCU students in comparative perspective?

We do very well, thank you.  Here is the summary article from Kevin Carey at The New York Times.  The data is here.  Of course, our students are much more likely to come from wealthier and well-educated families, compared with … Continue reading

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Valère Somé names a torturer in a book just published, « Les nuits froides de Décembre, l’exil ou… la mort »

Valere Somé says that Jean-Pierre Palm tortured him and others while he was imprisoned after Thomas Sankara was killed.  Somé also accuses Salif Diallo of having tortured Saran Sérémé.  Very serious accusations.  The only other occasion I can think of … Continue reading

Posted in Burkina Faso, History, Politics | Comments Off on Valère Somé names a torturer in a book just published, « Les nuits froides de Décembre, l’exil ou… la mort »

Four great movies on Korean Air that you should watch

On the flight to and back from Korea I saw some excellent films that I highly recommend.  Airplane film choices are now so excellent (for people like me who like obscure movies) that I am starting to look forward to … Continue reading

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Heading off to The 9th International Symposium on Library Services for Children and Young Adults in South Korea

The 9th International Symposium on Library Services for Children and Young Adults is hosted by the National Library for Children and Young Adults (NLCY) in South Korea. The conference starts on Tuesday Sept. 8 in Seoul and Buyeo Island. Lots … Continue reading

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Nice profile of Balai Citoyen in Burkina Faso

http://www.dw.com/embed/480/av-18680759

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Can I go back to school and get a PhD in Economics?

A career in Economics…it's much more than you think from American Economic Association on Vimeo.

Posted in Teaching macroeconomics | Comments Off on Can I go back to school and get a PhD in Economics?

Photographs of me from college

Thinking about today’s selfie generation.  There are very few of me at college until the final semester of senior year and the summer that followed.  I actually do not think I have ever seen a photo of myself during the … Continue reading

Posted in Personal Kevane life | 1 Comment

IFLA Day # 4

Started to morning bright and early at 8am with colleagues at the Section for Children and Young Adults.  The chair of the IFLA section was passed from Viviana Quinones to Ingrid Bon.  Ingrid turned straight to me: What about this … Continue reading

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Lithuania in South Africa

I visited the museum today. Spooky to think that somewhere in South Africa are distant relatives of mine.  One of our grandmother’s uncles (something like that) emigrated here in the 1880s, along with 30,000 others from Kaunas. The Jewish Museum … Continue reading

Posted in Personal Kevane life | 1 Comment

Day #3 IFLA: Evidence skirmishes

After another delicious and friendly breakfast at Dutch Manor Inn (I feel sorry for all of you delegated staying at the Westin!), I headed down to catch the long morning session on evidence and library impacts. Got to hear the … Continue reading

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