Spanish Immersion Blog

Fujimori Gets Sentenced to Jail

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:40:00 +0000

Here is some interesting political news from Peru. Eric

General Information on Peru

Official Name: Republic of Peru
Capital: Lima(Current local time)
Government Type: Constitutional republic
Chief of State: Alan Garcia Perez, President
Population: 28,674,757
Area: 1,285,220 sq km
Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, and a large number of Amazonian languages
Literacy: Total Population: 87.7% Male: 93.5%; Female: 82.1%
GDP Per Capita: $6,600
Year of Independence: 28 July 1821
Web site: http://www.peru.gob.pe/

Peru’s Ex-President Gets 6 Years for Illicit Search

This was the first prison sentence for President Alberto K. Fujimori as he stands trial on various other charges, including murder and forced disappearance.

As Ex-President Faces Trial, a Reckoning for Peru

A country that may have preferred to forget about the methods used by Alberto K. Fujimori to vanquish insurgents and economic instability is now being forced to deal with them.

50 Year Anniversity in Cuba

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:01:00 +0000

By SIMON ROMERO

Published: January 1, 2009 - Reprinted from NY Times Online

Cuba marked the 50th anniversary of its revolution on Thursday amid somber assessments of a struggling economy, even as its Communist leaders exalted the resilience of a political system that has endured 10 United States administrations.

Fidel Castro, 82, whose group of bearded rebels waged a guerrilla war that toppled the strongman Fulgencio Batista on Jan. 1, 1959, remained behind the scenes during the subdued festivities on the island nation, grappling with an undisclosed illness that forced him into seclusion more than two years ago.

“I congratulate our heroic people,” Mr. Castro said in brief comments published by Granma, the newspaper of Cuba’s Communist Party.

Mr. Castro’s younger brother, President Raúl Castro, 77, addressed the nation Thursday night from the eastern city of Santiago. But instead of jubilation, the younger Mr. Castro, who officially became president in 2008, seems to have been preparing Cubans for more hardships as the revolution enters its sixth decade.

Speaking from beneath the same balcony where Fidel Castro declared victory over the Batista government, President Castro said the revolution would survive another 50 years.

But he also referred to a speech by his brother a few years ago, in which he warned that “this revolution can destroy itself,” The Associated Press reported; if that occurred, Raúl Castro quoted his brother as saying, “it would be our own fault.” Nearly all of the time since Fidel Castro seized control of the country has been spent under a United States economic embargo. Cuban officials said in December that the economy would grow 4.3 percent in 2008, about half the rate that had been expected.

Even though Cuba’s economy has been stabilized in recent years by the provision of about 100,000 barrels a day of subsidized oil from Venezuela, it is dealing with a host of other problems.

Hurricanes wrought damage last year, while agricultural disarray heightened reliance on food imports. The younger Mr. Castro has introduced halting reforms like allowing Cubans to buy cellphones or stay at hotels set aside for foreign tourists, but average salaries of about $20 a month put such luxuries out of reach for most people.

Scattered flags and small banners with slogans appeared in recent days in the capital, Havana, but otherwise events surrounding the revolution’s anniversary were in keeping with the somber economic mood.

Illustrating just how long the enmity between Cuba and the United States has persisted, the incoming United States president, Barack Obama, who is 47, was not yet born when President Eisenhower ordered the first sanctions against Cuba in 1960.

But while Mr. Obama has signaled the possibility of dialogue with Cuba’s leaders and the lifting of some restrictions on travel to Cuba, other nations in Latin America and elsewhere have gone much further in efforts to make Cuba less isolated.

The presidents of Brazil, China and Russia have all visited Havana in recent months, pledging greater economic cooperation. At Mexico’s initiative in December, Cuba was admitted to the Rio Group, a diplomatic association of Latin American and Caribbean countries. And in October, the European Union formally renewed ties to Cuba.

“While the U.S. is dithering, virtually every other major actor in world affairs is becoming more engaged with Cuba,” said Daniel Erikson, director of Caribbean programs at the Inter-American Dialogue, a policy research group in Washington.

Still, Cuba’s enduring revolution, which has secured advances in education and health care, faces other challenges. It has one the hemisphere’s lowest birthrates, 1.6 children per woman, and one of its highest life expectancy rates, 77.3 years. Emigration of thousands of young people each year also erodes its population of 11.4 million.

Some Cubans find opportunity in a society in which revolutionary fervor wanes while other needs prevail. One 33-year-old resident of Havana said he studied international trade, but gave up a legitimate career in business because of a lack of job opportunities.

Now he works on the black market. “I have my own business; I sell Viagra pills,” said the man, who did not want to be identified for fear of running afoul of authorities. “You can’t buy them in Cuban shops, so that is a pretty good business considering that the Cuban population is growing older every year.”

Big Crash in Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:11:00 +0000

The skies are very safe for the most part, but sometimes there are crashes around theworld, like this one in Mexico.

clipped from www.mexicodaily.com

The Guardian
Cargo jet crash in Mexico kills US pilot
| By OSCAR VILLALBA | Associated Press Writer | PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico (AP) - A plane carrying a load of auto parts crashed Sunday as it was trying to land in northern Mexico, killing the pilot and se... (photo: AP / Vanguardia Saltillo)

Spain Information

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:27:00 +0000

With Sergio Garcia winning the Players Championship, it is time to learn more about the great country of Spain. Some key facts are below, plus two news stories.

clipped from topics.nytimes.com

Official Name: Kingdom of Spain
Capital: Madrid (Current local time)
Government Type: Parliamentary monarchy
Chief of State: King JUAN CARLOS I; Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, President of the Government
Population: 40,448,191
Area: 194,884 sq. mi., including the Balearic and Canary Islands; about the size of Arizona and Utah combined.
Languages: Spanish, Catalan-Valenciana, Galician, Basque.
Literacy: Total population: 97.9%; Male: 98.7%; Female: 97.2%
GDP Per Capita: $27,400
Web site: http://www.la-moncloa.es/

Spanish Voters Go to Polls in Fierce Rematch
By ELAINE SCIOLINO and VICTORIA BURNETT
Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero on the left and Mariano Rajoy on the right will battle in Spain’s general election on Sunday.
March 9, 2008

New Museum in Madrid
COMPILED BY LAWRENCE VAN GELDER
A new museum of contemporary art, the CaixaForum, has opened in Madrid. Artists represented in its opening show include Cindy Sherman, Anselm Kiefer and Georg Baselitz.
March 7, 2008

Spanish Language is Everywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:24:00 +0000

As the three stories show below, Spanish is becoming the language to learn in the US.

clipped from topics.nytimes.com

Telemundo Is Said to Have Struck Deal in Mexico
By BILL CARTER
Executives involved in the deal said that Televisa had agreed to include multiple hours of Telemundo programs on one of its Mexico-based broadcast television stations.
March 17, 2008
MORE ON SPANISH LANGUAGE AND: CABLE TELEVISION, TELEVISION, MEXICO, NBC UNIVERSAL, TELEMUNDO, ZUCKER, JEFF

On Local Radio, an Accent on Spanglish
By NICOLE COTRONEO
Long Island’s Hispanic population has tripled to about 350,000 since 1980, according to 2006 census data, and one radio station is trying to secure the audience.
March 2, 2008
MORE ON SPANISH LANGUAGE AND: ADVERTISING AND MARKETING, RADIO, LONG ISLAND (NY)

If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Spanish
By HILLARY CHURA
An increasing number of American parents want their children to be bilingual if not multilingual.
February 2, 2008
MORE ON SPANISH LANGUAGE AND: CHILDREN AND YOUTH, LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES

Paulina Rubio Video

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:52:00 +0000

Plenty of Belize Information Below

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:14:00 +0000

Are you thinking of going to Belize? Well, you can learn plenty by reading the posting links below.

clipped from travel.nytimes.com

Away from the high-end resorts and the increasingly crowded beaches of this popular Central American country is a lush interior, thick with rain forests, Mayan ruins and intense wildlife.

Multimedia

Slide Show

Inside Belize

Away from the country's coastline, Belize can feel like an end-of-the-world place.

SURFACING: AMBERGRIS CAYE, BELIZE

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem in Caye, Belize

By CHARLES RUNNETTE

July 30, 2006

Bobbing off the coast of jungly Belize, south of hard-partying Yucatán, with one pedicured toe in the Caribbean, Ambergris Caye is ripe for picking.

A Belize Hideaway, Even for the Fish

By DANIELLE PERGAMENT

May 29, 2005

The three-acre island of Ranguana Caye, perched atop a barrier reef, has just three cabins for overnight guests.

A three-night chartered cruise off the coast of Belize doesn't offer much privacy, perhaps, but the honeymooners have the rest of their lives to be alone.

Dominican Republic News

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:16:00 +0000

Since the Cap Cana Golf Tournament this weekend is in the Dominican Republic, we thought here at Spanish Immersion Online to give you some information on the country.

clipped from topics.nytimes.com

Official Name: Dominican Republic
Capital: Santo Domingo (Current local time)
Government Type: Democratic republic
Chief of State: Leonel Fernandez, president
Population: 9.37 million
Area: 18,704 square miles, about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: Total Population: [87%] Male: [87%]; Female: [87%]
GDP Per Capita: $8,400
Year of Independence: 1844
Web site: Presidencia.gob.do (In Spanish)

Santo Domingo Journal

A Subway: Just What’s Needed. Or Is It?
By MARC LACEY
The new subway in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is still under construction, but it has already become a hot topic of conversation.
September 3, 2007WorldNews

Dominican Republic Gives Tournament Ultimatum
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The president of the Dominican Republic’s baseball league said the nation would pull out of next year’s World Baseball Classic if it was not chosen as a site.
March 5, 2008

Paraguay facts and news

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:15:00 +0000

Please click the links below to read about the great country of Paraguay.

clipped from topics.nytimes.com

Paraguay

A list of resources about Paraguay as selected by researchers and editors of The New York Times.

C.I.A. World Factbook country profile

State Department -- history and overview

BBC country profile

News and online media

Official Name: Republic of Paraguay
Capital: Asuncion (Current local time)
Government Type: Constitutional republic
Chief of State: Nicanor Duarte Frutos, President
Population: 6.7 million
Area: 157,047 square miles; about the size of California
Languages: Spanish, Guarani
Literacy: Total: 94%
GDP Per Capita: $4,800
Year of Independence: 1811
Web site: Presidencia.gov.py

After an opening wipeout against Argentina, the United States is hoping to bounce back against Paraguay tonight in the Copa América. The Americans took an early lead against Argentina on Thursday, then gave up four straight goals. With a poor goal differential, the United States probably needs at least a tie against Paraguay to keep alive its chances of advancing.

Uruguay News and Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:41:00 +0000

Here is some info on Uruguay.

clipped from topics.nytimes.com

In Uruguay, Bush Finds Friendly Ear and Taste of Home
By JIM RUTENBERG
President Tabaré Vázquez is a leader seen as willing to buck the trend of regional anti-Americanism.
March 11, 2007

General Information on Uruguay

Official Name: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Capital: Montevideo (Current local time)
Government Type: Constitutional republic
Chief of State: Tabare Vazquez, President
Population: 3.5 million
Area: 68,000 square miles; slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: Total population: 98%
GDP Per Capita: $10,900
Year of Independence: 1825
Web site: Presidencia.gub.uy

Anyone, Anything, Anywhere
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Uruguay has leapt ahead of its neighbors by being the first to understand what can be done in today’s increasingly flat world.
September 22, 2006

Three Stories on Puerto Rico

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:38:00 +0000

Here is some info on Puerto Rico.

clipped from topics.nytimes.com

Puerto Rico’s Governor, Under Inquiry, Sees Politics
By DAVID JOHNSTON
The Democratic governor of Puerto Rico says he has been improperly made a target of Justice Department prosecutors.
November 2, 2007U.S.News

Scrutiny for Puerto Rico Over Animal Treatment
By KIRK SEMPLE
Families claim that city employees and contractors flung dozens of animals from a 50-foot-tall highway bridge into a ravine and left them to die.
March 9, 2008

Puerto Rico’s Political Melodrama Plays On, With Its Governor in the Lead Role
By KIRK SEMPLE
The investigation into charges of campaign finance violations relating to Gov. Aníbal S. Acevedo Vilá has captured the imagination of Puerto Rico’s political class and news media.
February 24, 2008

Costa Rica Cities I visited - Test of Google Embed Maps

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:27:00 +0000

View Larger Map

Argentina News Below

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:40:00 +0000

clipped from topics.nytimes.com

World news about Argentina, including breaking news and archival articles published in The New York Times.
Related: Argentina Travel Guide

Argentine Leader Faults U.S. on Inquiry
By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner lashed out at the United States on Thursday for meddling in Latin American affairs.
December 14, 2007WorldNews

Buenos Aires Journal

In Macho Argentina, a New Beacon for Gay Tourists
By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO
The Axel Hotel, a Spanish import that opened in November, symbolizes Buenos Aires’s increasingly aggressive effort to court gay dollars and euros.
December 3, 2007WorldNews

In Argentina, the Campaign of ‘Queen Cristina’ Focuses on Global Relations
By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO
Critics of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s election campaign say she is conveniently ignoring serious domestic problems.
September 25, 2007WorldNews

Tourism Still Strong in Costa Rica

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:32:00 +0000

This story shows how folks still want to go to Costa Rica, despite a downturn in the US economy.

clipped from www.ticotimes.net

Hold Really Still, Mommy...
Colleen Chesky, 5, peers over her mother Jeanne's shoulder to watch a butterfly Wednesday at the National Museum 's Secret Garden . Visitors like the Cheskys, from the U.S. state of Michigan , continue to pour into Costa Rica at a strong clip, according to tourism officials, despite fears of economic slowdown in the U.S.

Si Te Vas Shakira

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:10:00 +0000

Nice Salsa Music

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:40:00 +0000

Costa Rica Travel Information

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:37:00 +0000

Here is some good information from Costa Rica Guide.

clipped from costa-rica-guide.com

The Costa Rica travel and vacation guide website is a companion to the Toucan Guides waterproof travel map.

Home to detailed information about all the adventures shown on the map from canopy tours to butterfly gardens. Descriptions of the rain forest, turtle nesting beach and volcano National Parks include maps, hours, hiking trails and what to do.

Every tourism location page automatically maps out hotels, activities, and other parks in the same region so you don't have to search around for them.

So whether you’re considering travel to Costa Rica on an all inclusive tour, an ecology expedition to spot animals, a surfing safari, real estate shopping or you just want a relaxing vacation on the beach, pick a topic from the menu on the left and welcome to the Costa Rica guide…

Mexico Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:33:00 +0000

Here are some facts about Mexico.

clipped from www.thenewsmexico.com

Situated in the southwestern part of mainland North America and roughly
triangular in shape, Mexico stretches more than 3000 km (1,850 miles) from
northwest to southeast. Its width is varied, from more than 2000 km (1,200
miles) in the north and less than 220 km (135 miles) at the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec in the south. Mexico borders two major bodies of water, the
Pacific Ocean (with the Gulf of California between the mainland and the
Baja California peninsula) to the west and on the east the Gulf of Mexico
and the Caribbean Sea that lead to the Atlantic Ocean. Here are found
coastal plains, whereas central Mexico consists of high plateaus and
rugged mountains, including volcanoes, the highest of which is the
Pico de Orizaba at 5 610 m.

Ferry Service has Trouble in Costa Rica

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:37:00 +0000

I rode this ferry when I was there.

clipped from www.amcostarica.com

Paquera ferry operators lose battle in supreme court

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Sala I of the Corte Suprema de Justicia put the Ferry Peninsula out of business Thursday.

The Poder Judicial reported that the high court, which deals in civil
matters, agreed to bar the Asociación de Desarrollo
Integral de Paquera from running its ferry.

The association said this would affect the income for 60 families in
Paquera. It estimated it would lose 46 million colons (about $92,000) a
month.

Naviera Tambor sought the injunction. The company owners and operates
two ferries, Tambor I and Tambor II, between Puntarenas and Paquera.

Mexico News

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:33:00 +0000

Here are some stories about Mexico from the NY Times.

clipped from topics.nytimes.com

Highlights From the Archives

Drug Trade, Once Passing By, Takes Root in Mexico
By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.
As cartels have grown in power, they have opened up local markets for cheap forms of highly addictive drugs.
October 3, 2007WorldNews

With Bombings, Mexican Rebels Escalate Their Fight
By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr. and ANTONIO BETANCOURT
The shadowy Marxist rebel group that has rattled Mexico in recent months by bombing natural gas pipelines has a long history of financing its operations with kidnappings.
September 26, 2007WorldNews

Mexico City Journal

A Tower Fight, but Just What Borough Is This?
By ELISABETH MALKIN
In Mexico City, the fight over what would be Latin America’s tallest skyscraper — at 984 feet — takes on a tinge of high drama.
September 20, 2007WorldNews

Columbia Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:31:00 +0000

Colombia is a country located in the northwestern region of South America. Colombia is bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the North by the Atlantic Ocean, through the Caribbean Sea; to the north-west by Panama; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Besides the countries in South America, the Republic of Colombia is recognized to share maritime borders with the Caribbean countries of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Central American countries of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.^[4]^[5]

Colombia is the 26th largest nation in the world and the fourth-largest country in South America (after Brazil, Argentina, and Peru), with an area more than twice that of France. In Latin America, it is also the country with the third largest population after Brazil and Mexico.

Colombia has the second largest Spanish speaking population of the world after Mexico. It is largely recognized for its culture and is also one of the largest manufacturers in South America. Colombia is also one of the most ethnically diverse nations because of large-scale migrations during the 20th century which has caused a dramatic population growth since then.

Hola Test Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:04:00 +0000

Get your own at Gizmoz.com

Test Spanish Clip

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:44:00 +0000

Here is a clip in Spanish

clipped from www.oem.com.mx

Se trata de la segunda vez en cuatro años que Belichick obtiene el premio. Foto: AP

Belichick, mejor entrenador de la NFL

La marcha invicta de los Patriotas de Nueva Inglaterra sumó otro logro personal: Bill Belichick fue seleccionado como el mejor entrenador de la NFL

Atléticos canjea a Swisher

Los Atléticos de Oakland enviaron al jardinero Nick Swisher a los Medias Blancas de Chicago en un canje por tres jugadores de Ligas Menores.

Ronaldinho no jugará ante el Mallorca

Ronaldinho se perderá el duelo que su club Barcelona disputará el sábado ante el Mallorca debido a una molestia en el tendón rotuliano de la pantorrilla izquierda.

Real Madrid homenajeará a Di Stéfano

El Real Madrid realizará un homenaje mundial a su presidente de honor, Alfredo Di Stéfano, el próximo 16 de febrero.

Sample Pelicula

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:04:00 +0000

Get your own at Gizmoz.com

Pingüino (Penguin)

noreply@blogger.com (Eric) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:33:00 +0000

Express Yourself with Gizmoz Video Clips