Category Archives: Uncategorized

Darwin’s Travels in Uruguay


When he was not engaged in fractious local politics, Darwin traveled throughout the countryside where he uncovered large Ice Age fossils — extinct megafauna.   I caught up with paleontologists at the National Museum of Natural History, an institution which had recently launched an exhibit dealing with Darwin’s legacy in […]

Space Race, Electric Cars and Climate Change: Elon Musk’s Misguided Bid for South American Access and Resources


If anything, Elon Musk’s recent trip to South America demonstrates the futility of attempting to solve the climate crisis by means of technological innovation.  Heading to Brazil, the Tesla billionaire and SpaceX chief executive met with President Jair Bolsonaro, as well as prominent business leaders and high-ranking military officers.  Reportedly, […]

Anti-Semitism in Argentina: An Eyewitness Report


In the midst of writing about the rising tide of anti-Semitism in my own native borough of Brooklyn, I was recently taken aback to read about an attack on a local rabbi in Buenos Aires.  The incident spurred concern in Argentina, which is home to more than 180,000 Jews, that […]

Travels in Argentina: From Gauchos to Freemasons and More


In the town of San Antonio de Areco, locals celebrate their historic gaucho heritage. In the pampas, vegetation is sparse and desolate. Back in Buenos Aires, the botanical garden displays vegetation more common to the coast. Nearby, a freemason temple brings together a fraternity of men in the downtown area. […]

Retracing Garibaldi’s Steps in Uruguay


Before he became known as a key figure in the struggle for Italian unification, Giuseppe Garibaldi played a military role in helping to defend the city of Montevideo from Argentine proto-dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas. To this day, Uruguayans honor the role of Garibaldi in their own independence struggle. Colonia […]

Jews and Anti-Semitism in Buenos Aires: A Photo Essay


Despite recent reports about anti-Semitic attacks, Argentine Jews constitute a well-integrated minority in Buenos Aires.  The oldest synagogue in the city, Templo Libertad, is located near the center of the city. Nearby, Jews are well ensconced in the the Once neighborhood. Beneath the surface, however, Argentina has witnessed episodic outbursts […]

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