For those who enjoy using Lonely Planet travel guides from time to time when traveling internationally, you may enjoy this like I did. When I’m abroad and realize that bus routes, for example, have changed from the last print of the book I always email Lonely Planet the updates. Lonely Planet nicely mentions names of...
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When we typically think of numbers and counting, we think in terms of cardinal numerals (one, two, three, etc). Ordinal numerals, however, are numbers used to express a level of degree or quality (first, second third). After searching the internet for some time time for one good list of ordinal numberals in English, Portuguese...
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When I studied at a Brazilian university I often found myself looking for lists of international relations terms in Portuguese along with English translations. I wanted to memorize such lists so that my classes (taught in Portuguese) would go my smoother. Unfortunately, I never found any. I had to search through dictionaries and use...
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These collections of videos explain game theory – a game in which you can strategize your best move for a desired outcome. This two or more person game also evaluates your opponent’s move and how you can map both players’ corresponding outcomes mathematically. Once you have a firm understanding of how this works you...
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Much of the West argue the best way to deter Iran from gaining the capability of building a nuclear weapon. The fact that Iran’s President, Mahmūd Ahmadinejâd, denies the Holocaust ever happened and wants Israel taken off the map only complicates the matter. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) claims the country may already...
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While role playing with international politics I often ask myself what a head of state’s next political move will be. As with any competitive game, it is imperative to know your opponent. I’ve recently come across a few official websites (and even blogs) of heads of state for various countries. These websites contain everything...
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Just how far has Iran advanced in its nuclear program? That’s a question that I wanted to answer for myself. After stopping by the IAEA’s website, I was able to find the Agency’s 2009 board report for Iran. Section E, labeled “Possible Military Dimensions”, raises a few questions for legitimate concern. I found the...
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In September, ’09 Republican Congressman Joe Wilson from South Carolina received widespread media criticism for outbursting, “You lie!” during President Obama’s speech to Congress. The speech was in defense of the controversial health care plan, and the outburst came about when Obama denied “he had… proposed providing coverage to illegal immigrants” (Newsweek). Shortly thereafter, Wilson...
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What conditions make war more likely? War, in the past few centuries, has been conducted primarily by nation-states. To understand nation-states and their actions, one must understand the fundamental elements which influence actions. State actors reflect individual actors; whether these individuals be a prime minister, secretary of state, king, or chairman of a central...
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The world has come a long way since the trench warfare of World War I and the Sergeant York’s who were able to determine the outcome of a battlefield by courage and weapon proficiency alone. Technology has changed the battlefield time and time again in the past 100 or so years. But what is...
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North Korea – United States relations hit the headlines again as President Bill Clinton recently returned from a humanitarian mission to bring back two US journalists held as prisoners by the North Korean government. Laura Ling and Euna Lee, both American citizens, crossed illegally into the North Korean border from China on March 17,...
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When I studied at a Brazilian university in São Paulo back in 2007, I many times found myself having to lookup very subject-specific vocabulary over the Internet. Many times I had an English word that I wanted to express in Portuguese. Other times I learned a new Portuguese word at school that I wanted...
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The May/June 2009 print-edition of Foreign Policy magazine contained a piece called The Land of No Smiles. The piece was a collection of photos taken by Tomas Van Houtryve who went to North Korea posing as a business man trying to open a chocolate factory. An online edition of the article was also published...
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It’s about time I post something funny again. This video about outsourcing had me rolling.
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No matter one’s preferred political affiliation, few would deny Barack Obama’s keen ability to deliver a quality speech and capture an audience. He gave his victory ‘Yes We Can’ speech in Chicago after news broke that he had won the presidential election. In presentation style and word choice, many similarities can be found to...
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