December 28 breaking news
By Krishna Villena December 26, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Barack Obama to visit San Miguel  The newly elected US president will visit San Miguel to thank all the American expats who voted for him. He promised to open the borders for all Mexicans who wish to work in the US and said he would end the economic crisis.

This will be Obama’s second visit to San Miguel. Ten years ago, he and his wife toured the city and had breakfast several times in a popular restaurant. Obama and the restaurant’s owner became friends, and today a picture of both men hangs on the wall.

At that time Obama probably didn’t ever imagine himself as a US president, but he did not forget his friend in San Miguel, whom he has invited to be part of his cabinet. The name of the restaurant owner has not been revealed to avoid speculation and for security reasons.



Internet and cable TV company gives refunds for bad service

Since so many residents have complained of bad internet service, a well-known internet and cable TV company announced that it will refund three months’ worth of customer’s payments. 

This is another of the measures taken in the battle between the two main companies providing internet service in San Miguel to gain more clients. More benefits for both companies’ users are projected to start in the first months of 2009. 

A telephone company spokesperson said that they have lowered their monthly fees for all internet connections. High-speed internet now costs 200 pesos per month.



Wealthy lose billions as poor celebrate

Top world financial groups from Great Britain, France, Japan and Spain revealed that in order to cope with the global economic crisis a special financial aid program will be launched in January 2009 to benefit Latin American countries. Mexico has been chosen as the first beneficiary.

The state of Guanajuato will start the financial aid program in January 2009. Four of the most important Guanajuato banks will pay 20 percent of the debt of each credit card user, as a bonus for a clean credit record. 

The news has set off shock waves among the wealthy and a party spirit among the world’s poor. Celebrations continued into the night in city plazas throughout Guanajuato, including San Miguel de Allende.

In the Jardín, people were singing and dancing in the streets. Representing the municipal government at the fiesta was Mayor Jesús Correa, City Secretary Cristóbal Finkelstein, Treasurer Jose Eduardo Soria and Verónica Agundis, head of the Culture and Education Department. Further parties are scheduled in the Jardín, with live music and free antojitos mexicanos next Saturday afternoon.



Bush picks San Miguel 

After finishing his long tenure as president, George Bush is planning to live a quiet life surrounded by his family somewhere outside the States. A spokesperson for Bush intimated that the president has chosen San Miguel de Allende, but he didn’t say whether Laura would be coming along. Rumors of the couple’s separation have spread following a public argument between the First Couple; it is believed that Laura hired the reporter to throw a shoe at the president in Iraq. 



The Day of the Innocents (Dia de Los Santos Inocentes) is celebrated on December 28 to commemorate an old Christian legend: the killing of children born in Bethlehem less than two years old, ordered by King Herod to kill the Baby Jesus. In several Latin American countries the day is celebrated by playing pranks on and kidding others. Some newspapers publish false news.

This year, Atencion staff wanted to celebrate the day by publishing the false and funny news you have just read. If some of the news upsets you, we apologize; our intention was only to make you smile.