I mentioned in comments somewhere that if the US tries to put pressure on Ecuador, or any country south of the Rio Grand any more, they are apt to force the government in that country do the exact opposite. Latin America is really tired of US imperialism, and going along with the US can be political death down there.

The Guardian reports that Ecuador breaks US trade pact to thwart ‘blackmail’ over Snowden asylum

President Rafael Correa’s government said on Thursday it was renouncing the Andean Trade Preference Act to thwart US “blackmail” of Ecuador in the former NSA contractor’s asylum request.

Officials, speaking at an early morning press conference, also offered a $23m donation for human rights training in the US, a brash riposte to recent US criticism of Ecuador’s own human rights record.

President Correa is a socialist, and was well aware that Republicans were probably going to block the trade preferences for Ecuador for that reason alone. This way he controls the issue, and preserves his country’s dignity.

Under Ecuadoran law, no decision can be finalized about Edward Snowden until Mr Snowden is on Ecuadoran soil, which means in the country, or in one of its embassies.

HT Celsius 223 at the Agonist.

Although the centennial of the first Tour de France was 2003, this will be the 100^th race. During ten years in the 20^th century the race was replaced by two other events – World War I and World War II.

The race starts on 29 June on the island of Corsica and will finish on 21 July in Paris, so I thought I should explain some of what I’ll be ranting about.

The cartoon characters from my header are wearing the various colored jerseys that indicate the leader in the different classifications in the race.

The Maillot Jaune, Yellow Jersey is worn by the rider with the lowest time overall in the race. The eventual winner of the race may never have come in first in any stage, but was near the lead throughout the race and achieved the lowest time over the entire course of the event. The winner is normally an “all-arounder”, someone who is very good at the sprints and the hill climbing, even if they aren’t the best. Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, and Fabian Cancellara are “all-arounders”, showing up on the lists of the sprinters and the climbers, while staying in the top ten for overall time.

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Chillin’

Hot…it’s really hot

[Editor: Hermit it stretching out on my neighbor’s patio to avoid fleas and take advantage of the shade.]

Friday Ark