We’re in November, where everyone’s thoughts turn to…the Calder Trophy? If the season ended today, NHL.com’s Senior Editorial Director Phil Coffey would be handing the award to New York Islanders rookie John Tavares, while Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres and Ryan O’Reilly of the Colorado Avalanche are forced to smile and applaud. (NHL)

The Washington Capitals have called up former first round selection John Carlson, who is in his first season of professional hockey. With one goal and nine assists this season, Carlson leads all Hershey Bears defensemen in points, and sits third among AHL blueliners. One has to wonder, though, where’s the Karl Alzner callup? (Washington Capitals)

Just an aside, but if it’s the first time Carlson has been called up, have they really recalled him?

The Pipeline Show’s Guy Flaming continues his idea to revamp the Subway Super Series by pitting the various league’s against their imports. With the series shifting to Ontario after Team QMJHL swept the opener, meet Team Non-Canada OHL, led by Cam Fowler, Future Considerations’ top ranked defenseman for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. (Coming Down The Pipe)

Hockey’s Future has released the first of a new column highlighting hot prospects. Much love to the likes of Nicklas Bergfors, Ryan O’Reilly, Bobby Sanguinetti and Brandon Kozun, among others. (Hockey’s Future)

Wondering what’s going on with those wonderful prospects for the New York Rangers, like Ethan Werek or Scott Stacjer? Wonder no more! (Blueshirt Banter)

There is an old adage in hockey that sings a tune similar to ‘defense wins championships’.

If that’s the case, both the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings should start clearing space in their trophy cases (well, the Kings’ case is pretty bare, but you get the idea). Both organizations have done an excellent job in stockpiling their young defensemen, whether it is through the NHL Entry Draft or via trade.

The Los Angeles Kings have added their impressive defensive depth primarily through the first round of the draft, selecting the likes of Drew Doughty (2nd overall in 2008), Thomas Hickey (4th overall in 2007), and Colten Teubert (13th overall in 2008), while adding Vyacheslav Voinov 32nd overall in 2008. Perhaps one of their biggest pieces, Jack Johnson, was acquired via trade three seasons ago.

The New York Rangers have accumulated a stockpile of bluechip defensemen that are starting to provide immediate dividends on Broadway. Marc Staal (12th overall in 2005) has already developed into a top-flight defenseman, while Michael Del Zotto (20th overall in 2008) currently leads all rookies in points through the first five games of the 2009/10 season. Matt Gilroy, signed after winning the Hobey Baker last season, is seeing more minutes than his rookie counterpart, while Bobby Sanguinetti (21st overall in 2006) and Ryan McDonaugh (12th overall in 2007) – acquired from the Montreal Canadiens – knocking on the NHL’s door.

First, lets look at NHL readiness.

For the sake of argument, we’re going to include NHL regulars – but still youngsters – Marc Staal, Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson. All three have been regular contributors for their respective clubs beyond this season. Doughty is entering his second season after making the jump directly from junior last year, while Johnson is in his third full season. Both are 1-2 in terms of icetime for the Kings.

The Rangers’ Staal is also entering his third NHL season and leading his club in icetime, but has added some help in the form of Del Zotto and Gilroy, both of which are quickly becoming key players on Broadway. Del Zotto leads both the New York Rangers defense and NHL rookies in points with five, while Gilroy is logging top-4 minutes.

Though the Los Angeles Kings have more experience out of their youngsters who are playing bigger minutes, the New York Rangers have more contributing in valuable roles as well.That is not to downgrade the impact Kings rookie Davis Drewskie has had, but his skills and potential doesn’t translate into a top defender.

As well, the readiness of Voinov, who is knocking on the NHL’s door, is canceled out by Sanguinetti’s inevitable jump this season.

EDGE: New York Rangers

Next, lets look at overall potential.

It’s no secret the Los Angeles Kings have had a lot of high draft picks in the last half dozen years and have spent them primarily on acquiring defensemen. Apparently Kings general manager Dean Lombardi & Co. believe in the defense wins championships adage.

Doughty 2nd overall, Hickey 4th overall, Teubert 12th overall and the acquired Johnson 3rd overall all scream top-end potential. Though Doughty will become the only Norris candidate of the group (and he can expect at least several nominations by the end of his career), each Kings prospect has the potential to develop into a top-3 defenseman, which bodes well for Jonathan Quick or Jonathan Bernier, whomever lays claim to the future between the pipes for Los Angeles.

The Rangers do not have the luxury of selecting as high as the Kings have in recent memory. Still, they’ve managed to make the most of their picks. Staal is already a full-fledged franchise defenseman with Olympic aspirations. He’s got the potential to be a game-changer, though does he have a Norris calibre offensive game?

Del Zotto may have, but does not project to be as stingy on defense as Staal. Gilroy has the offensive potential of Del Zotto, but brings a more rounded game. McDonaugh may be the most complete defenseman the Rangers will develop, but has a boom-or-bust aura around him, while Sanguinetti is kept out of the NHL only because of the emergence of Del Zotto and should the blueshirts manage to move Michal Roszival, it’s Sanguinetti’s spot.

EDGE: Los Angeles Kings

Finally, lets look at the depth beyond these prospects.

The New York Rangers have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to project defensemen who have a legitimate chance to carve out an NHL career. The first of which is 2nd round pick Michael Sauer. Sauer, the brother of Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Kurt Sauer. Sauer was reassigned early in camp to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers AHL affiliate, but brings a defensive presence that will make him one of the first up in case of injury.

Ikka Heikkinen was signed this offseason by the Rangers and, while he was expected to start with the Rangers, has begun his North American career in the minors. Still, if Heikkinen can raise his defensive awareness, he’ll surely develop into an NHL regular based solely on his offensive game.

The Los Angeles Kings do not quite have the defensive depth the Rangers are able to boast.

Alec Martinez, a fourth round pick from 2007, and Nicolas Deslauries (84th in 2009) is what the organization has to boast about after Voinov on the depth chart. Neither project to be an impact defenseman, and both would be a pleasant surprise to the team should they emerge as NHL regulars.

EDGE: New York Rangers

So is a bird in hand worth two in the bush? The Los Angeles Kings have the top end talent to eventually become the best blueline in the NHL, while the New York Rangers are getting more out of their prospects now and have a much deeper pool.

Which organization has the brighter future on the blueline? Have your say by posting your comments below.

Versus is a weekly feature at Future Considerations that takes two prospect comparables and puts them up against each other. Have a suggestion? Email us!

The New York Rangers have an embarrassment of riches.

This time though, for the eternally spending Rangers, money isn’t a factor.

Instead, the riches come in the form of a plethora of rookie blueliners rounding out the roster of the blueshirts, a duo with the long term potential to build a franchise and the short term potential to get New York immediately excited.

Introducing Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy, the newest, freshest faces on Broadway.

While their impacts have been similarly felt, the defensemen, though, took very different routes in their efforts to become regulars in the National Hockey League.

Del Zotto, plucked from the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals, heard the names of nine defensemen before the Rangers made him their top pick, 20th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Gilroy, on the other hand, signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract this offseason with the Rangers after finishing up four years at Boston University with a Hobey Baker and three All American nods.

Very different routes. Similar results.

Both playing their first season of professional hockey, have already netted their first NHL goals, and in the case of Del Zotto, has average a point-per-game through his first three professional contests. In fact, the Rangers are leaning on the 19-year-old to quarterback the blueshirts’ powerplay, which was an aenimic 13.9% last season, second last in the league. Through the first three games of the season, no defenseman has seen as much powerplay time as the six-foot-one, 195-pounder.

Oh yeah. Del Zotto also became the youngest defenseman in Rangers history to play on opening night. All this while still two years away to legally enjoy the nightlife New York has to offer.

Should the Stouffville, On. native get frustrated by the fact he needs to look no further than teammate Marc Staal, who began his career with the Rangers at the ripe age of 20. Now 22, Staal is leading the blueline of the original six franchise. With fellow prospects and former first round picks Bobby Sanguinetti and Ryan McDonaugh knocking on the NHL’s door, the foursome will lead (arguably) the league’s best young defensive core.

Which will spell trouble for the league’s Eastern Conference for years to come.

TRA I NOMI, CANCRINI, CARLOTTO, MASSIMO RANIERI, SANGUINETI, VAURO

C’è Pietro Ingrao come primo firmatario. E poi molti altri tra i quali il fisico Carlo Bernanrdini, lo psichiatra Luigi Cancrini, lo scrittore Massimo Carlotto, i preti don Franzoni e don Gallo, il costituzionalista Gianni Ferrara, il cantante e attore Massimo Ranieri, il poeta Edoardo Sanguineti, il disegnatore Vauro. Sono infatti oltre 200 gli esponenti del mondo della cultura, della scienza, dello spettacolo, della società civile e del mondo del lavoro che hanno firmato l’appello “Se sei di sinistra, dillo forte”, appello che chiede un voto per la lista comunista e anticapitalista formata da Prc, Pdci, Socialismo 2000 e Consumatori uniti per le prossime elezioni europee. Di seguito un passaggio delle motivazioni dell’appello: “Sosteniamo la lista anticapitalista e comunista per mantenere aperta la strada dell’alternativa, in Italia e in Europa. Un voto utile per proporre un’uscita da sinistra dalla crisi, per rafforzare un’ipotesi di ricostruzione della sinistra basata sulla connessione fra diversi soggetti del conflitto e culture critiche, fra vertenze territoriali e movimenti globali, fra ambiente e lavoro, fra uguaglianza e libertà: una sinistra che non abbia rinunciato ad elaborare un pensiero forte dalla parte dei deboli, alla sfida per l’egemonia e la costruzione di un nuovo senso comune”.

Primo firmatario dell’appello è Pietro Ingrao. Tra gli altri hanno sottoscritto:
Piergiovanni Alleva (giuslavorista), Riccardo Bellofiore (economista, università di Bergamo), Carlo Bernardini (fisico), Emiliano Brancaccio (economista, università del Sannio), Luigi Cancrini (psichiatra), Massimo Carlotto (scrittore), Francesco Caruso, Dante De Angelis (macchinista delegato alla sicurezza, licenziato), Ivan Della Mea (cantautore e scrittore), Angelo d’Orsi (storico, università di Torino), Don Franzoni, Don Andrea Gallo, Gianni Ferrara (costituzionalista), Iaia Forte (attrice), Peppe Lanzetta (autore teatrale, regista, attore), Emilio Molinari (ex parlamentare europeo), Massimo Ranieri (cantante e attore), Carla Ravaioli (saggista e ambientalista), Edoardo Sanguineti (poeta), Anita Sonego (Libera università delle Donne, Milano) Vauro (giornalista-disegnatore).

Hanno dato il loro sostegno alla lista, tra gli altri: Lothar Bisky (presidente del Partito della Sinistra europea), Frei Betto (scrittore), Joao Pedro Stedile (dirigente Movimento Sem Terra).
 Nota stampa dell’ufficio stampa del Prc-Se

Intervista di Cosimo Rossi a Edoardo Sanguineti Poeta e critico, Liberazione, 14/05/09

La sinistra affronta le prossime europee sempre lacerata e litigiosa. C’è modo di invertire questo senso si marcia?
Insieme ad altri siamo impegnati perché in questa tornata elettorale vi sia un’affermazione significativa delle forze di sinistra disperse in un’area che è intenzionalmente emarginata. Io condivido e sostengo questo sforzo per sostenere la lista comunista, affinché le forze vecchie e nuove di sinistra che hanno operato in modo disorganico si trovino collegate, per consentire alla sinistra di affrontare la sfida. Questo coincide per me con quello che avevo elaborato quando per le primarie genovesi avevo raccolto appunto le forze della sinistra suscitando anche molti contrasti e polemiche.Per aver evocato “l’odio di classe”…
Mi ero richiamato con Walter Benjamin all’odio di classe…

Che in fin dei conti è tutt’altro che infondato e scandaloso: i sentimenti e l’agire dell’Italia nei confronti degli stranieri che viaggiano sulle carrette del mare sono a dir poco di avversione, se non propriamente di odio…
L’odio c’è, è vero. La frase risale alle Tesi di filosofia della storia, che rappresentano in qualche modo il testamento politico di Benjamin. Quando ascoltiamo le cifre relative al fenomeno delle migrazioni ci si rende conto di quanto sia difficile organizzare in modo razionale le cose. Oggi come oggi se sono un bianco romeno entro tranquillamente in Italia in quanto cittadino comunitario senza essere notato, mentre se sono un nero africano vengo immediatamente visto e percepito come il colore del pericolo. Mi pare sia importante combattere queste idee, il fatto che l’odio di classe anziché contro i potenti va sollevato contro i deboli. E’ odio di classe quello che ha tolto la virtù al proletariato. Oggi come oggi chi si riconosce nel proletariato?

Probabilmente nessuno si definisce più tale. Viene rifiutata la definizione in quanto umiliante?
Oggi abbiamo i lavoratori, che sono sfruttati in ogni modo ma non si dice. Solo i morti sul lavoro ci dicono che esiste lo sfruttamento, che per guadagnare quattro soldi si rinuncia anche alle tutele e ai diritti. Anche il modo in cui è stato utilizzato pubblicamente il terremoto la dice lunga su quanto si possano convertire in posizioni equivoche e pericolose questioni che invece dovrebbero essere limpide come quelle relative agli aiuti e la ricostruzione, il modo in cui vengono utilizzate le risorse, il tipo di interventi. Con tutti i viaggi e le promesse di Berlusconi ci troviamo messi davanti a una rappresentazione e a una situazione in cui rimangono del tutto in sospeso gli aspetti veri: i problemi di sopravvivenza e di convivenza dei superstiti, i problemi di ricostruzione, i problemi di difesa del patrimonio e del territorio. Cosa vuol dire, per esempio, che i soldi per la ricostruzione ci sono? Vuol dire solo che pagheremo tutti. Ma vuol dire anche che c’è il rischio di speculazioni straordinarie e di abusi. Di questo, però, non si discute. O ancora: diamo in affitto opere d’arte a chi si impegna a restaurarle. Questo vuol dire che chi ha soldi può disporre a piacere del patrimonio artistico. Mi pare renda bene l’idea di come bisogna stare attenti.

Tornando alle elezioni europee, Franceschini sta facendo una campagna agguerrita per sostenere che l’unico risultato che conta sarà la differenza tra il Pdl e il Pd…
Francamente non mi convince. Devo dire che l’atteggiamento del Pd non mi pare affatto efficace. Confido di più nel riunirsi delle forze emarginate e che rischiano di essere cancellate dalla vita politica attraverso questa mitologia del voto utile. Che mi pare mistificante.

In che senso?
Il problema è se si crede che effettivamente il Pd rappresenti alternativa efficace alla destra berlusconiana oppure se, anche sulla base dell’esperienza passata e recente, si possano avere delle riserve in merito. Credo perciò si possa smentire la mitologia per cui o si vota Pd oppure non serve; credo si possa dubitare dell’utilità del voto al Pd. E mi sembra anche che le differenze tra il Pd e la destra, che verbalmente possono apparire rilevanti, non lo siano altrettanto in sostanza.

Contraddizione ancora più marcata in Di Pietro, che tuttavia fa incetta di consensi…
Questo mi pare anche comprensibile, perché effettivamente si presenta come refrattario a ogni compromesso, al di fuori del sistema di coalizioni oggi esistenti. Il mio tentativo è invece quello di intraprendere una strada diversa anche attraverso il sostegno alla lista comunista, in cui non è questione di ostentare sinistrità, ma di realizzare un metodo e un sistema nuovi. Perché c’è il rischio che forze che occupano ruoli di qualche responsabilità sul terreno locale perdano significato appena trasportate su un binario di maggiore responsabilità, nazionale o anche europeo. A questo proposito l’impegno per l’affermazione della lista comunista mi pare il massimo rischio utile.

27 de enero – 18 de febrero

Desde hace meses hay un tema que se a tocado en todos lados y por todos los mexicanos, que si perdieron su empleo, que donde antes comían 4 ahora solo comen 2, que si los aumentos de precios, que si el dólar, el petróleo, en fin, decenas de problemas, preguntas y situaciones surgían una tras otra cada una mas alarmante que la anterior, esto fue debido a la crisis económica mundial y desde hacia tiempo había noticias que alertaban acerca de que se avecinaba una gran crisis del capitalismo, mas grande que la que desencadeno posteriormente el régimen de sustitución de importaciones en AL y quizás de las dimensiones de la de los años 30. Y al final estallo la burbuja de créditos y especulaciones, la idea de que el mercado se podía regular así mismo, el crecimiento sin limites de la economía financiera y los beneficios de la globalización, todo esto se vino abajo con la debacle de los mercados bursátiles, la bancarrota de grandes empresas otrora lideres de la economía y el principio de la intervención de los gobiernos en el rescate de los bancos tal como es el caso en los EU.

Pero para el gobierno de  México no pasaba absolutamente nada la crisis no nos iba a afectar, era un problema del mundo no de México, aquí el único problema era el narco, el país tenia una economía sana, después tal parece que por el frío de diciembre ese nada se volvió un catarrito, pero el problema no dejaba de agudizarse hasta que la realidad fue mas que evidente y había que decir algo, y así fue como un regalo de día de reyes retrasado, el 7 de enero nuestro presidente da un mensaje a la nación y presenta el “Acuerdo Nacional a favor de la Economía Familiar y el Empleo” que consto de 5 pilares fundamentales que fueron los siguientes:

• APOYO AL EMPLEO Y LOS TRABAJADORES.- Ampliación del programa de empleo temporal, se pondrá en marcha el programa de preservación del empleo, se ampliará la capacidad de retiro de ahorro en caso de desempleo y ampliar la cobertura del Seguro Social para trabajadores desempleados

• APOYO A LA ECONOMÍA FAMILIAR.- Se congelarán los precios de las gasolinas en todo el país durante todo el año, se reducirá el precio de Gas LP 10% por el resto del año, se otorgará 750 millones de pesos en apoyos directos o de financiamiento para que las familias de escasos recursos puedan sustituir sus aparatos electrodomésticos viejos por artículos nuevos mucho más eficientes en su consumo de energía y se aumentarán los apoyos crediticios para la adquisición de vivienda popular

• APOYO DE LA COMPETITIVIDAD Y A LAS PEQUEÑAS Y MEDIANAS EMPRESAS.- Se reducirá el precio de la electricidad a la planta productiva, el gobierno federal realizará cuando menos 20% de sus compras a las pequeñas y medianas empresas mexicanas, se establecerá un fideicomiso de 5,000 millones de pesos para iniciar el programa para el desarrollo de PYMES, créditos para el sector rural

• INVERSIÓN PARA LA INFRAESTRUCTURA Y LA COMPETITIVIDAD Y PARA EMPLEO.- Se acelerará el Programa Nacional de Infraestructura y PEMEX contará con 17,000 millones de pesos adicionales para inversión

• ACCIONES PARA PROMOVER UN GASTO PÚBLICO TRANSPARENTE.- Ejercicio oportuno del gasto público y la aplicación de una nueva Ley de Contabilidad Gubernamental.

Todo este plan no se ha llevado a cabo en su totalidad el programa de desarrollo de PYMES llamado México Emprende apenas inicio ayer (3 de marzo) y el Secretario de Economía lo describe como: “es una concentración de todos los programas que de momento se tenían en la Secretaría de Economía y que están englobados en una estrategia integral que se basa en asesoría, capacitación y crédito”, el programa de Preservación del Empleo entro en vigor el mes pasado  y esos son en si los 2 mas importantes programas que ha puesto en marcha el gobierno.

Diez días después de este acuerdo el congreso convoco, (su realización estaba prevista desde el 8 de diciembre) a un foro económico llamado “México ante la crisis ¿Qué hacer para crecer?” dicho foro fue llamado como el ejercicio político de mas alto nivel con miras a ver los efectos y posibles soluciones y consensos para salir de la crisis con el cual a fines de febrero se esperaba tener un resultado legislativo emanado de este foro y poner el interés de la nación por encima de banderas políticas, si bien el tiempo entre la inauguración y la clausura del foro es de 20 días (27 de enero – 16 de febrero) esto no quiere decir que hubo actividades esa cantidad de días en realidad fueron 4 los días de actividad. Se dividió en 3 etapas

• ETAPA UNO : Marco internacional y político de la crisis.- Con dos sesiones: el evento de inauguración, el martes 27 de enero, en el que participarán invitados internacionales, y la sesión del jueves 29 de enero, en la cual se conocerán los puntos de vista de personalidades nacionales
• ETAPA DOS: Diagnóstico y compromisos.- Se desarrollará en dos sesiones públicas, el lunes 9 para abordar el tema de crecimiento económico y empleo y el miércoles 11 de febrero, el de la seguridad social en México.
• ETAPA TRES: Firma del Acuerdo Nacional.- Consistirá en una sesión única de clausura de los trabajos y tendrá como propósito central firmar los compromisos acordados el 16 de febrero

Las actividades y principales ponentes o discursos fueron los siguientes, día por día:

27 DE ENERO.- celebrado en el Alcazar del Castillo de Chapultepec con la presencia de los secretarios de Hacienda y Economía, además del presidente del Banco de México y 4 invitados internacionales los expresidentes: Felipe González de España, Ricardo Lagos de Chile, Romano Prodi de Italia y Julio Sanguinetti de Uruguay, (no se revelo si cobraron por su conferencia ya que algunos de ellos lo hacen, el congreso solo dijo que fueron gastos de hospedaje y traslado).

Este día fue muy importante por que por primera vez el sector económico del gabinete de Calderón acepto que la crisis le estaba pegando fuertemente a México y que se debía de trabajar en nuevas reformas que fomentaran el desarrollo económico de México como modernizar la Ley de Obras Publicas, así como lo que quedo pendiente de la Reforma energética o la esperada Reforma Laboral que la gran mayoría de los trabajadores esta en contra de ella, pero ambos esperaban que se dieran los consensos necesarios a fin de que se llevaran a cabo estos ajustes estructurales

Los expresidentes declararon lo siguiente:

Julio María Sanguinetti, pidió pensar en soluciones más allá de la crisis económica de cara a un mundo igual de global, más competitivo y con la corrección en los excesos de la regulación. Señaló que en el caso de América Latina no existen milagros, porque la única forma de romper la barrera del subdesarrollo es con la preparación de la gente, que se requiere un Estado más eficiente que ofrezca respuestas ante la crisis. “No nos engañemos, no hay posibilidad de crecimiento sin inversión, y eso se hace cuando un país se convierte en un lugar seguro y de confianza”, por ello, agregó Sanguinetti, la seguridad también es una prioridad porque implica estabilidad política y económica.

Romano Prodi, destacó que a diferencia de la crisis de 1929, ahora el mundo reaccionó en forma inmediata.  Sugirió a los gobiernos adoptar medidas con rapidez, porque cada vez que baja el empleo disminuye también el crecimiento económico de cada nación.  En cuanto a la salvación de los bancos, opinó que es indispensable. “Si dejamos que quiebre un banco, se enviará un mensaje de que todo puede quebrar“. Sin embargo, aclaró que los dirigentes de los corporativos financieros que se equivocaron no pueden ser premiados

Ricardo Lagos, manifestó que el mundo enfrenta la actual crisis porque el mercado no se autorreguló, y anticipó que 2009 será un año difícil para América Latina, ya que no se prevén crecimientos en Europa, Estados Unidos y Japón. Recordó que la región tiene experiencia en crisis económicas, al grado de que “podríamos enviar una misión de asistencia técnica a las principales economías, y si hablamos con una sola voz es más probable que nos escuchen mejor“.

Felipe González “Si se hace bien, prepararnos, para que en la salida de la crisis, algunas de las preguntas, con o sin crisis, que están pendientes en nuestras realidades nacionales, tengan la respuesta que necesitan: crecer y redistribuir el ingreso, mejorar las infraestructuras, tratar el tema energético en todas sus dimensiones; tratar la mejora del capital humano” “si no actuamos con energía en 10 o 15 años podríamos tener otra crisis”

Hartford Wolf Pack rookie defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti will enter the AHL Chat Room to answer fans’ questions on Friday, Feb. 27.

Click here to submit your question(s) for the chat.

A 2009 AHL All-Star, Sanguinetti ranks second among rookie blueliners with 31 points (5-26-31) in 56 games for the Wolf Pack.

Sanguinetti has tallied three of his five goals and 20 of his 31 points on the power play thus far, and he has two game-winning tallies to his credit.

A native of Trenton, N.J., Sanguinetti was drafted in the first round (21st overall) by the New York Rangers in 2006. He made his professional debut for the Wolf Pack late in the 2006-07 season, posting three assists in five games before appearing in all seven of Hartford’s playoff games that year.

The 20-year-old Sanguinetti played four years of juniors for the Owen Sound Attack (OHL), capped off by a 29-goal and 70-point showing in 2007-08.

Today in 1985, 24 years ago, Julio Maria Sanguinetti was sworn in as president of Uruguay following a decade of military domination.

There will be another place to discuss Jorge Pacheco and Juan María Bordaberry and their actions as presidents of Uruguay in the late 1960s and early-1970s and their using the military to crush opposition MLN (Tupamaros) dissidents. Yet, in 1973, the military, under the guise of national security, took over the country. In 1980, with aid from the US shrinking and legitimacy being the new thing for dictatorships across the Southern Cone, Uruguay tried to pass a new constitution through popular vote, which ended with 57% voting against the changes and, thus, the direct of the country, but the reign went on unabated.

In 1984, as other regimes were faltering across Latin America, Uruguay spoke loudly that it was tired to military control. After a national strike and massive protests in Montevideo, the military announced its relinquishing of power. That year, Sanguinetti was elected as president from the Colorado Party (he’d be re-elected in 1995 as well).

He was a conservative dressed up with vaguely liberal social policies. He came to the presidency following military rule (for one) and under the ideological fad that was, and is, neoliberalism. From the “Lost Decade,” Sanguinetti was able, like many, to pull Uruguay out of its hole and post impressive growth yearly. While Sanguinetti stood for democracy, which included transparency and the opening of the political process, he also acted against the will of the people and the manipulation of the military.

He let the army off the hook – he appealed for impunidad (amnesty) instead of criminal trials. Although given to the people as a vote twice, declined twice, there is a moral issue at play as well as manipulation issue at play. Many view, because of Sanguinetti, Uruguay to be the most consolidated democracy in Latin America – unfortunately, that title, like Chile, is gained through not rocking the boat with military crimes.

Sanguinetti is remembered for restoring Uruguay after its military rule, much like other leaders in Chile, Argentina and Brazil. That he was able to lead the country out of that situation seems, at times, enough.

Après une panne irrémédiable de Livebox, désormais remplacée par une toute neuve (en 48H, merci Orange revoilà le Photoculteur.

Je viens de tomber sur un blog américain qui rappelle l’existence de Purpose dont le dernier n° est là. Purpose, c’est près de 300 pages de photographies, en vrai HTML (sans flash), avec très peu de textes. C’est fluide et agréable à feuilleter. En plus c’est 100% écolo car 100% sans papier.

En plus c’est en français. Le thème du dernier numéro, c’est l’enfance.

J’ai retrouvé avec plaisir des photographes que je connaissais déjà et qui sont plus ou moins connus comme Ellena, Portolese, Sanguinetti, Stein et puis j’en ai aussi découvert plein d’autres ;  je ne sais pas comment ils font pour vivre chez Purpose mais il y a de la bonne photographie là-dedans.