If it wasn’t for wonderful outdoors adventure, I’d have no reason to travel to Argentina.
It’s a hassle.
Once the 5th richest nation by GDP / person, today Argentina is #55.
It’s a huge, rich, fertile land … yet government mismanagement continues to ruin the economy.
Inflation for 2017 was 24.8%. Almost every financial transaction here is a hassle due to that instability. ATM machines don’t work consistently. Supplementary fees are added unexpectedly. Tourist are frustrated that credit cards aren’t accepted. Chile and Uruguay are far easier.
Despite the world’s current BOOM economy, here’s a recent headline.
As I travel I’m always interested to see how trash is removed / recycled.
Huaraz, Peru was one of the best I’ve seen.
For a huge city, Buenos Aires seems to do a good job. The trash guys and their trucks are efficient and quick.
Their job is made easier by the cartoneros, which literally means “cardboard people”.
These are mostly young, fit, motivated guys who dash around city streets late evening sorting through dumpsters with metal hooks collecting cardboard for recycling. (Along with other valuables, I assume.)
It seems very competitive. There are a couple of cartoneros working each street.
On the other hand, DAS didn’t not reply to my online inquiry. In fact only 2 of about 10 dentists responded.
I walked in the door unexpected at 10am on a Monday morning. I walked out at 2pm Monday afternoon with a rush order for my replacement bridge to be installed same week.
How long would this have taken in Canada? How many appointments?
I returned Thursday to check the fit. And determine colour.
Friday it was to be installed … but the enamel was not thick enough to be carved down to the correct size.
Rats. 🤨
Rather than 5 days total the procedure would take 12 days. I’d been warned about this possibility at the start.
So … with 6 days free I decided to take the ferry over to Uruguay for Carnival.
In the States, Bridges cost $700 to $1,500 / tooth. They last between 10 – 20 years. I’m hoping this one will see me out.
This brother and sister team of dentists get rave reviews from foreigners. I’d recommend them, as well. Everyone in the office is good looking. I felt like I was on some Dental Reality TV program.
After 5 nights in Uruguay I returned for the final fitting. It worked!
Cost is higher than in Mexico. Lower than in Canada or the U.S.
Consultation $40
Cleaning $40
Root Canal $531
(long) Bridge $2342
TOTAL U.S. $2953 (CAD $3726)
My guess is that a Canadian dentist would have strongly advised implants.
Though I loved the previous seasons … I’ve had enough.
The first half of season 3 was confusing and muddled. The actors are excellent … so I blame the script writers. They didn’t seem to know where they were going with Phase 2.
Season 3 improves through to the dramatic finale. But it’s not enough for this viewer.
The only actor I like more in season 3 than previous was Tyrell Wellick played by Martin Wallström. So weird. So believable.
Mr. Robot has received critical acclaim and has been nominated for and won multiple awards.
I ignored American politics until 2004 when — inexplicably — George W. Bush was elected for a second term after being unbelievably bad in his first term.
What the Hell was going on?
Jim VandeHei explains why the USA has such extreme politics in 2017: Newt Gingrich, Fox News (1996), MSNBC, CNN, Facebook and later Twitter, Sarah Palin and finally Trump.
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert documented the idiocy.
I’m in Bermuda right now … hiding my vast wealth. 😀
According to the latest available figures, 63 percent of all the profits made outside of the United States by American multinationals are now reported in six low- or zero-tax countries: the Netherlands, Bermuda, Luxembourg, Ireland, Singapore and Switzerland. …
The NY Times has a comparatively simple article with graphics explaining how the stupidly rich hide their money … legally.
Rick McCharles 