I have always had a special fondness for the Palm Springs area. I love the Salton Sea. I love the aerial tramway and the world it leads you to. I love the stark desert. I love the modern architecture from the 1950s and 1960s. And given a familial connection to the community, I have many … Continue reading
Yesterday, I wrote the letter below to a relative in Italy… After I sent it, I realized that it is entirely applicable to the majority of the world’s population given the generally loathsome nature of all of our respective political “leadership” and that my dear readers might do well to also contemplate such possibilities. My … Continue reading
An unconventional route to happiness (or at least less stress) occurred to me back in 2000. I elaborate on it here for the first time… Back in 2000, I was stopped at a Chevron (CVX) fuel station and was filling my car up with gasoline which, at the time, was selling for a record price. … Continue reading
Troy was an international trading emporia. The city’s markets would have been filled with gold and ivory from Egypt, copper from Cyprus, silver from Anatolia and amber from the Baltic area. Continue reading
Rocca Salimbeni and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena We are in front of the impressive former stronghold of the Salimbeni family, wealthy Ghibelline merchants and bankers. In the 15th century, their fortress home was confiscated by the Commune of Siena which placed the toll post and the “Monte Pio” later incorporated into Monte dei … Continue reading
Crippling bureaucracy has, unfortunately, become embedded in Italy’s soul. And crippling layers of bureaucracy invite corruption from people desperate to navigate the system or to get something done. And corruption opens the door to organized crime… I know what I’m talking about because my chick is Italian (Like a real Italian from Italy – not … Continue reading
Over the past several months, I have heard the question as to whether or not Mexico is a failed state raised a number of times. As part of the “Mexico Series” I have been posting over the last year or so, it is time for me as an International Relations academic to address that question… … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 