92847404

First from the travel section of the Nashville City Paper:

“As we move toward summer, the hot spots of travel are Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where currency values have plunged to a rate (in both countries) of more than 3 pesos (Argentina) or 3 reals (Brazil) to the U.S. dollar, versus one to the dollar a short while back.

Steak dinners at parillas in Buenos Aires (and what tender steaks!) can now be had for $5, whole meals with wine in Rio for $7, taxis for $1, public transportation for 50 cents! And rates for getting there are just as cheap. From May to August (off-season in both countries and cities), Solar Tours (800/388-7652, www.solartours.com) has round-trip airfares of $360 to Buenos Aires from Miami, $440 from New York and $530 from Los Angeles (the price might get cheaper deeper into the summer), and round-trip rates to Rio of $380 from Miami, $450 from New York and $520 from Los Angeles.

Although several low-cost, less-than-a-week packages to these two sophisticated capitals are described below, you might want to consider simply buying a round-trip ticket to either city and fending for yourself (and spending a longer, more magical time) once there. The weather is mild; the setting terrorist-free; and the sights, activities, tango bars and samba clubs are legendary.”

And this from the Seattle Times:

“Dozens of workers took over the Brukman clothes factory early last year, complaining they hadn’t received their full paychecks as Argentina’s economic slump deepened. Today they are fighting the owners in court, determined to keep control of the plant and their jobs.

The red-brick building is one of about 100 factories, restaurants and other businesses that have been seized by workers desperate to save jobs.

After five years of a shrinking economy, one of every two Argentines lives in poverty and nearly one in five doesn’t have a job. The slump drove four presidents from office in quick succession beginning in late 2001, and it will be the overwhelming issue facing the winner of the April 27 presidential election.

Workers at the Brukman plant say they can’t afford to give up their jobs and will do anything to keep them. Of the original 157 workers, 57 remain. Some have learned bookkeeping, others meet with suppliers, and committees organize the workload.

“We’ve been on our own for one year and four months now. We feel better now,” said Jaques Holc, 66.

The workers have been evicted twice, only to be allowed back in with the help of sympathetic lawyers. The courts will ultimately decide who will win control in a process that could take months, or years.

Fearful they could be forced out again, several workers stand guard on the factory floor every night. They cook pasta in pans and sleep on mats beside their machines.

“These are our jobs at stake. We have to protect our livelihood,” said Alba Sotelo, 47.

Economist Eduardo Fracchia said Argentina’s 36 million people face daunting problems in reversing the slump that began after a wave of privatizations in the 1990s. He said many workers who have jobs earn less than $200 a month � barely enough to provide for their families.”