TresSugar

Western Oil Companies Back in Iraq With Unusual Contracts

LibertySugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:02:44 -0700

Thirty-six years after Saddam Hussein nationalized oil and kicked out Western companies, Iraq's Oil Ministry has awarded Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total, and BP contracts set to bring the oil giants back.

Despite the fact that high oil prices put these contracts in high demand, Iraq granted very unusual no-bid contracts, meaning the companies did not have to compete with their counterparts in China, Russia, and India. Today's New York Times explains:

There was suspicion among many in the Arab world and among parts of the American public that the United States had gone to war in Iraq precisely to secure the oil wealth these contracts seek to extract. The Bush administration has said that the war was necessary to combat terrorism. It is not clear what role the United States played in awarding the contracts; there are still American advisers to Iraq’s Oil Ministry.

The oil companies assure that they intend to help Iraq rebuild its neglected oil infrastructure. To see how, read more.

Private companies will bring new technology and expertise to Iraq, as well as new oil revenue to help rebuild other infrastructure. Interestingly, the contracts, designated as "service contracts" to be paid with oil, circumvented any legislative approval.

For a more in-depth explanation on this unusual, yet seemingly predictable development, check out the whole NY Times story. Would it have been better if Western oil companies came back to Iraq under less exceptional circumstances?

Source

Kiki & Herb Sing "Total Eclipse Of The Heart"

GiggleSugar — Sun, 06 May 2007 09:12:51 -0700

Drag Queen Cabaret masters Kiki & Herb here sing the over-long and over-the-top song "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Boozie chanteusie Kiki hams it up in a series of soap opera scenarios while Herb is his usual subdued self. You'll never hear that song the same way again...

Say What? First Lady Carla Bruni to Star in Woody Allen Film

TresSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:07 -0800

"He asked me to be in his next film. I don’t know for what role, but I said yes. . . . I'm not an actress at all. Maybe I'll be totally horrible but I can't in my life miss an opportunity like this."

- Carla Bruni told France's Canal Plus television in an interview Monday that she agreed to star in Woody Allen's next film, which will probably be set in France. Looks like he finally found a new, above-40 muse!

Spoken by a Man, Written by Women: Don Draper's Wisdom

TresSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:25 -0800

Mad Men's Don Draper spends a lot of time not talking, which does the rare double duty of adding to his appeal while reducing him to a total ass. But when he does talk, his words are elegant, philosophical, and - if you think about - really great advice! Even so, when they're all put together in this montage above, Don sounds more like a narcissist with a God complex than a wise man with a gift for language, reminding us where his words came from: women writers. With women filling the pool of writers on Mad Men, we'd be remiss to give Don all, or any, of the credit. So what's your favorite line?

Flashback! A Phone For Creepy People

TresSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:30:28 -0800

For $69 those looking to spice up their phone calls could have owned this "conversation piece" belonging to the same genre as that leg lamp in A Christmas Story.

The ad reminds us that the phone was sculptured by a European artist, which makes it totally classy and not at all tacky. However judging by the photo, it's not so easy to talk on a naked-lady phone. Oh well.

Source

Do Tell: Who Do You Think Is the Sexiest Man Alive?

TresSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:45:42 -0800

People magazine has declared that Johnny Depp is the sexiest man alive. Runners-up for the annual award included Ryan Reynolds, David Beckham, Gilles Marini, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bradley Cooper, and of course, sparkly Robert Pattinson. While I'm totally on board with the Johnny choice, who would you give the title to?

10 Totally Tacky Gifts

GiggleSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:00:47 -0800

Are you racking your brain about what to get all the tackiest people on your holiday gift list? Have no fear: As an authority on all things tacky, I have scoured the Internet for the most tasteless, tantalizing, and hilarious gifts I could find. So what are you waiting for? Start your shopping.

View Slideshow ›

Global Totals: Bolivia Votes on States' Rights

CitizenSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:59 -0700

Exit polls are showing that Bolivia’s wealthiest province, Santa Cruz, voted to pass a measure yesterday that would grant them autonomy from the federal government. The federal government, lead by Evo Morales is calling this move “unconstitutional.”

Although a few hundred years and a couple of time zones separate the two, Bolivia is facing a heated smidge of the conundrum that Hamilton and Jefferson debated in the early years of the American republic: States' Rights versus Federal Government. The debate between the two sides in Bolivia was heated at best, violent at worst.

View 5 Photos ›

The area of Santa Cruz, the most affluent in Bolivia, has the most to lose if the federal government decides to move forward and nationalize their gas and oil industry. Their solution is to make like Jefferson and grant themselves greater autonomy, including the right to select their own regional governor (currently the federal government appoints all regional governors). Santa Cruz is only one of five states in Bolivia voting on this statute. To see what the federal government is up to, read more.

The federal government’s plan since Morales was elected has been to nationalize the oil and gas industries siphoning more money to the central government and to break up large landholdings, most of which are owned by those in Santa Cruz. The federal government’s position is complicated - but they claim that with this revenue, they can further reinvest in the nation’s infrastructure and provide land to those who have none.

The Bolivian central government stands by their belief that no state should have the right to control what they believe are the nation’s resources for their own benefit while the states claim that they have the right to self-determination by their federal government. Sound familiar?

Should wealthy Bolivians get to declare autonomy? Or will the vote serve to codify economic inequity? Do you think the government will uphold its word to spend the cash on country improvements?

Source

Global Totals: Italy's Candidates Say "Buongiorno!"

CitizenSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:00:03 -0700

Earlier today we took a peek at a little history behind the curtain of Italian politics. While we wait for the results in their election (notoriously inaccurate exit polls show Berlusconi with a lead for now) let's crack open some Chianti and meet the candidates.

Silvio Berlusconi, the would-be three-term premier, is known for his off-color humor. How off? Like, I don’t know, maybe once saying, “Chinese communists used to eat children”? He later apologized, of course, and is widely considered Italy’s most entertaining politician. Funny résumé tidbit? The self-made man was once a cruise-ship singer. While the tips were probably great, he made his real euros as a businessman, in particular an empire of privately-owned television stations. But for an Italy teetering on the edge of recession, his business acumen is what the people want.

His opponent may sound familiar to those following the US elections. To see why, read more. With an intellectual air and a campaign slogan that translates to, “Yes, it can be done,” Walter Veltroni is considered Italy’s Obama. What country doesn’t need one? He speaks of hope. He admires the Kennedys! And at 52, he’s awfully young to be prime minister. He would be the youngest in post-World War II Italy. Though he got his start as an activist in the Italian Communist Party, he now dons a bipartisan allure. His critics chide him for trying to be all things to all people.

For all Berlusconi and Veltroni’s differences, policy-wise these two oni’s actually have a lot in common. They both support tax cuts, restoring public programs, and moving toward a two-party system. In fact, they are so close many are calling for a joint coalition in which they would govern together, and while Berlusconi welcomes the possibility, Valtroni rejects it. Hmm. . . but does he denounce it? Stay tuned to see the results of this match up!

Source

Global Totals: Italy Votes . . . Again!

CitizenSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:14 -0700

Think Italians are best known for hot cars and delicious food? How about their wild and wooly politics? Italians head to the polls again today in a second day of voting to elect Italy’s 63^rd prime minister since the end of World War II. Keeping score at home? We’ve only had 11 presidents in that window. How about a break from the US election? Let’s take a peeksy at what the Italians have been up to - and then meet the top two candidates later today.

The Italians called early elections in January after the prime minister up and quit. This is not as sensational as it sounds: In the last 50 years, all but one government - that of conservative Silvio Berlusconi’s from 2001-2006 - have dissolved before their time. Why the revolving door? To find out, read more.

There are 36 active political parties in Italy today. And if two parties can run a country, 36 is a crowd. With so many competing for power - 20 held parliament seats in 2006 - consensus is monstrously hard to reach making the country hard to lead. Most prime ministers have found it impossible.

Though there are 32 candidates in today’s election, only two are viable for the first time in Italy's history: to the center-right is former prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi (yep, he's running again), and to the center-left is former mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni. Basta for now! Check back in a bit to learn all about these colorful characters.

Source