Category Archives: Politics

U.S. diplomats were pretty clear today in disapproval.  Of course, the effects depend on how the message was delivered in person, and the hints of consequences to follow if the message were ignored (as seems likely, at this point).  The … Continue reading →

The right data: Since 1990, 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have had leaders try to rewrite their constitutions to do away with term limits. Seven 64 percent of these leaders succeeded Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Namibia, Togo, and Uganda. … Continue reading →

President Blaise Compaoré, and his political party the CDP (led by Assimi Koanda) announced this week they would seek to amend the Constitution in order to permit President Compaoré to run for another term. Opposition announced big demonstration October 28.  … Continue reading →

Rémi Carayol writes that his sources indicate Blaise Compaoré will try on October 30 to have the National Assembly pass by 3/4 majority an amendment to the constitution permitted a second re-election (that is, a third term).  Oddly, Jeune Afrique/Carayol … Continue reading →

Correction- they voted to put consideration of the question on the agenda, apparently. Still not clear because no news stories have emerged of what exactly was decided today. Apparently after not even a full day of consideration!  No hearings about … Continue reading →

One of the most well-respected journalists in Burkina Faso.  He does not mince his words. Completely opposed to Blaise Compaoré’s attempts to revise the constitution to permit himself to run for another presidential term. Il y a une constitution qui … Continue reading →

If the referendum passes and he wins the presidential elections in 2015, another 5 years term would mean he will have been president from 1987-2010, a total of 33 years. There are two legal obstacles, that I hope the opposition … Continue reading →

I have not been able to track down the source of this quote attributed to Baldwin: “You write in order to change the world … if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you … Continue reading →

Bruno Jaffré writes: L’ambiance est délétère et plus la crise s’approfondit plus la colère gronde. Alors qu’il suffirait que Blaise Compaoré respecte la constitution, comme il a juré de le faire, par le passé, qu’il accepte d’organiser les élections sans … Continue reading →

The good news is that the talks are officially comprehensive.  The bad news is no date for next meeting.  How about tomorrow? « Premièrement, la question de la révision de l’article 37 de la Constitution, deuxièmement, la question de l’installation … Continue reading →

Annoncée en fin de semaine dernière dans un contexte marqué par des débats « houleux » sur l’article 37 et la mise en place du Sénat, la rencontre de ce jour qu’on peut qualifier de « premier pas », jette … Continue reading →

http://www.newyorkfed.org/charts/ff/

Today, my eighth day, was the end.  I was feeling light-headed and sleepy almost all day.  My weird rash, where patches of skin feel like they are on fire, was diminished, but still there.  Then about 8pm this evening, I … Continue reading →

ARSENIC ALB 30 – to counter: the great debility with low vital power, the exhaustion after even slight exertion, the mental and physical restlessness, the sense of fear he was fraught with, the depressed spirit, the aversion to food, the … Continue reading →

Various neurologic sequelae can occur with persistent chikungunya fever.Approximately 40% of those with CF will complain of various neurological symptoms but hardly 10% will have persistent manifestations. Peripheral neuropathy with a predominant sensory component is the most common 5-8%. Paresethesias, … Continue reading →

The cost-effectiveness of public intervention seems like it must be higher than for any other disease.  If it gets to 100,000 deaths, even if the valuation of life is as little as $10,000, the loss will be in the billions … Continue reading →

A year ago, hedge funds were bit players in Puerto Rico and municipal bonds in general, long regarded as a sleepy market dominated by mutual funds that buy and hold the same bonds for years.Hedge funds began descending en masse … Continue reading →

So I got Chikungunya unfortunately. My symptoms started yesterday morning, and built all day, and by nighttime the joint pain was all over… you know it is bad when you wake up at 4am looking at your gnarled hand and … Continue reading →