Monday

The Mexican tribunal in charge of all the heavy decision-making after the July second national election has still not released, as far as I know, the results of the partial recount concluded yesterday. The Felipe Calderón camp issued a press release stating that they expect that, with only minor fluctuations in numbers reported, the recount will strengthen Mr. Calderon's claim on the office of president. The strange news is that the AMLO camp seems in tacit agreement, issuing statements that they plan to continue protesting, for years possibly, and naming the building where Calderon will be announced president elect as a probable target. Here is an interesting Christian Science Monitor article on the festive air of the entrenching protest. Here is an interesting piece about the infiltration of the protest by the legitimate government. Meanwhile, kooks on the internet report the recount as sheer proof of obvious fraud here. Apparently, the protest clogging Mexico City's arteries is not hurting the peso as much as I thought, although everyone held their breath at this week's market opening after the recount: México is gripped with fear that news of an AMLO victory will tank the economy. But no, the peso is holding its own at 10.8 to the dollar. Of other interest: have you got your tickets to Monterrey Metal Fest? Coming soon, the opportunity to see Stryper and Slayer in Monterey’s Coca Cola Auditorium. Tonight we ate at Don Pascuale's, and I had spaghetti pomodoro with basil and caprese. Dinner conversation revolved around Old Yeller, probable post curtailment (more later), and the evil red tower of wax developing between the table candle and the port bottle it was teetering atop. Why to restaurants do this? A red splattering of wax look like something to be cleaned away, not décor. [Cavin]