Today’s Number: 38

I had always wanted to make this a recurring blog theme, but it always seems to slip my mind to actually do it. Well, regardless of my excuses, here is my latest blathering based on what I have found while tripping through the websites of the Cabinet departments of the United States government.

(Aside: Previous entries have focused on the Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, and Department of Agriculture.)

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the 38th (there’s your number for the day) country that became part of the government’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP is a government program that allows visitors from participating countries to enter the United States without a visa and stay for ninety days. There are a few more requirements, but the VWP means that a citizen from a participating country who wants to visit the Big Apple (or the Windy City or the Emerald City) does not have to go through the process (which usually involves a great deal of waiting) of obtaining a visa.

Before the latest announcement, there were thirty-seven countries that participated in the VWP. Of those 37, 30 were from Europe and 7 were from Asia.

From the above listing, you will have perhaps noticed two missing continents. One of them is South America. Of that continent’s thirteen countries, none were members of the VWP.

Until now.

Starting in May, the citizens of Chile can now enter the United States without a visa (so sayeth this press release from DHS).

Bienvenidos to the VWP, citizens of Chile! Enjoy the chili of Texas, the Chili’s found everywhere, the chiles found in most supermarkets, and the chilly weather that hits parts of the northeastern part of the United States every winter.

Chile’s admission into the VWP means that the only continent without a participating member is Africa.

From laughs, I should research how many countries require American tourists to possess a visa and how many do not.

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Mr. Robertson’s Neighborhood of Make-Believe

Dear Marion Gordon “Pat” Robertson,

Given that you agreed with the assertion that the attacks of September 11 and the deaths of over 3,000 people were the fault of “the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians…the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America” and not on the nineteen hijackers.

And given that you have blamed the catastrophe that Hurricane Katrina befell upon New Orleans on the fact that abortion was brought up during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts.

And given that you have blamed the January earthquake in Haiti that killed 200,000 people on its 1791 rebellion and a mythical pact with the devil.

My follow-up question to you is this:

For what sins do you blame the people of Chile for the 8.8 earthquake that struck them last month?

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