President Bush has been uncharacteristically quiet on the subject of an embarrassing incident involving the Secret Service, which has yet to receive a public attaboy similar to those he gave Michael Brown and Donald Rumsfeld. The reason, perhaps, is that this time, the failure struck close to home. The Guardian writes (November 23):

The US secret service are supposed to take a bullet for those they protect. Just don't expect them to put themselves out for a handbag.

Being surrounded by a phalanx of agents with wires sprouting from their ears did not save Barbara Bush, the president's 24-year-old daughter, from having her bag and mobile phone stolen at a Buenos Aires restaurant, according to an ABC News report yesterday.

[cross-posted at And, yes, I DO take it personally]

the good news is that at least peru isn't having to contend with a fujimori comeback...

this is a change from my usual photoblogging of beautiful or unusual scenery or places... but, hey, i took the picture only two hours ago and i thought it was cool... so there...

The government yesterday [December 1] signed a two-month price accord with the country's leading supermarkets to lower prices by 15 percent in its latest effort to rein in galloping inflation. The agreement was the first major announcement by new Economy Minister Felisa Miceli and requires cuts in the prices of food, clothing and personal hygiene products until January 31.

oops... i said in a post earlier today that the cut was for three months... it's not... it's for two...

[cross-posted at And, yes, I DO take it personally]

Yesterday, the Boston Globe reported on a very interesting development involving Venezuela and the state of Massachusetts.

With the greatly increased energy prices and the winter already here for many in the northern states, this is really good news and puts our domestic oil companies to shame.

   

A subsidiary of the Venezuelan national oil company will ship 12 million gallons of discounted home-heating oil to local charities and 45,000 low-income families in Massachusetts next month under a deal arranged by US Representative William D. Delahunt, a local nonprofit energy corporation, and Venezuela's president, White House critic Hugo Chávez.

Today, Argentine President Néstor Kirchner is meeting in Caracas with Chávez.

Violence broke out in Argentina this afternoon as more than 1000 protesters demonstrated against the Bush visit, interrupting the Summit of the Americas.

Calling Bush a fascist, and shouting "Down with Free Trade," they ignited fireworks, burned a bank, broke windows, and hurled tear gas, as 10-20 businesses were destroyed.

Bush returned to his hotel, but the Summit still plans to hold a plenary session.

Story is still uh, "breaking," even after two hours.