Monday, April 15, 2024
The Mining Journal 7A
State/Nation
Argentina’s populist president meets
billionaire Elon Musk in Texas — and a
bromance is born
By ISABEL DEBRE
Associated Press
from Milei’s office pro- U.S.,” said Sergio Ber-
duced little news, saying ensztein, who runs a polit-
BUENOS AIRES, Ar- the free-market enthusiasts ical consultancy in Buenos
gentina — One is an errat- discussed issues, ranging Aires. “Musk can serve to
ic billionaire entrepreneur from the expected (how to speed this process of Ar-
and self-declared free- promote entrepreneurship gentina becoming part of
speech absolutist, prone by slashing red-tape) to the (U.S.) new network of
to profanity-laden rants the random (the existential friends.”
against “wokeness” and danger posed by declining
obsessed with making hu- birth rates).
manity a multi-planetary Milei’s office said that link satellite internet ser-
species. the president offered to vice to Argentina, a move
Last month, Musk’s
company delivered Star-
The other is an icono- help Musk in the clash be- cheered by farmers strug-
clastic Latin American tween social media compa- gling to keep up with high-
leader and self-declared ny X and Brazilian author- tech agriculture in remote
anarcho-capitalist, prone ities, which have accused parts of the country.
to cloning his dead dogs Musk of obstruction for
and obsessed with destroy- defying a judge’s order to gentina’s ambassador to
ing state controls. block some accounts. the U.S., attended Friday’s
Tech executive Elon The two also agreed to meeting and told La Na-
Musk and Argentine Pres- host “a big event soon in ción newspaper that Milei
ident Javier Milei finally Argentina to promote the and Musk discussed Ar-
sealed their budding bro- ideas of freedom,” the Ar- gentina’s vast reserves of
mance Friday at a Tesla gentine presidency said, strategic minerals, includ-
electric car factory in Tex- but provided no further ing lithium, an indispens-
Gerardo Werthein, Ar-
Al Cowlings, with O.J. Simpson hiding, drives a white Ford Bronco as they lead police on
a two-county chase along the northbound 405 Freeway towards Simpson’s home, June 17,
1994. (AP photo)
How O.J. Simpson burned the Ford Bronco
into America’s collective memory
as — their first meeting details.
after months of mutual ad-
miration on social media.
able ingredient in batteries
But behind the smiley for electric cars.
photo-op — and video of
“He expressed wanting
By BEN FINLEY
Associated Press
The White Ford Bronco than 90 million Americans
name is not a celebration watched, thunderstruck,
It was a match made in Milei’s joy ride in a fu- to help Argentina, and had
free-market heaven. turistic Cybertruck pickup a very good view of ev-
In social media posts that — much was at stake for erything we have, mainly
The Ford Bronco initially of Simpson, Valencia said, as TV helicopters provid-
was conceived and designed but a nod to that moment of ed live shots of the action.
for rugged outdoorsy types, “where were you in June of Thousands more lined free-
thrilled their right-wing Argentina.
fans, the pair played up
their real-life friendship.
lithium,” Werthein said of
Support from the U.S. Musk.
a two-door means of escape 1994?”
to nature from the bustling MARKETED TO HUNT- cheering the former star
cities of mid-century Amer- ERS AND FISHERMEN running back as the bizarre
ica. The Bronco rolled off the motorcade passed by.
But it had already been assembly line in 1966 as Cowlings said there was
tamed and polished for sub- one of the first sport-utility only one thing on his mind:
urbanites, with cruise con- vehicles, said Todd Zuerch- keeping Simpson alive.
trol and air conditioning, by er, an auto historian and au- “He was checking out,”
1994, when O.J. Simpson thor of the 2019 book “Ford Cowlings told The Associat-
cowered in the back of one, Bronco: A History of Ford’s ed Press in 1996. “There’s
a handgun to his temple, as Legendary 4x4.” no way O.J. and I were try-
patrol cars followed it for “The whole thing back ing to escape. I was trying to
about two hours in the Cal- then was get out and get save a friend.”
ifornia twilight. away from the hustle and Clutching a family pho-
The model was discon- bustle of urban life and get to, Simpson was ultimately
tinued two years later. But into the backcountry,” Zue- coaxed out of the Bronco
the Bronco — or at least rcher said. and gave himself up in the
that white Bronco — be- The vehicle was market- driveway of his Brentwood
ways and city streets, some
— particularly at the
Milei’s love for free
“To an exciting & inspir- International Monetary markets and close align-
ing future!” Musk wrote Fund, to which Argenti- ment with U.S. policy —
on X, or Twitter as it was na owes over $42 billion a major shift after years
known before he bought it — is critical to boost- of left-wing governments
in 2022, along with a pho- ing investor confidence that adopted intervention-
to of him and Milei both in the South American ist policies and strained
grinning widely and giving country, as Milei seeks relations with Washing-
the camera two thumbs up, to overhaul
the libertarian president’s economy with mar- the U.S. that lithium and
trademark gesture. ket-oriented policies. other badly needed metals
“Long live freedom, With the revival of so- can be extracted closer to
a broken ton — has raised hopes in
dammit!” Milei wrote in cialist governments across home, breaking China’s
his own X post, which in- Latin America, from Chile dominance of the battery
cluded a selfie of the pair, to Brazil, experts say Ar- supply chain.
with the president sport- gentina is now poised to
ing his signature leather emerge as a key strategic cessful energy transition
bomber and Musk in his partner for Washington. in the U.S. will demand
Air Force Academy navy “There’s a chance that far more lithium and other
sports jacket. Argentina can fill this vac- essential commodities than
Analysts say that a suc-
came one of America’s most ed to hunters and fishermen home. Police found a gun,
iconic automobiles after but also to families for ex- Simpson’s passport, a fake
the slow-speed chase that ploring, Zuercher said. The beard and thousands of dol-
played out on TV screens Bronco was an improve- lars in cash and checks in the
before an audience of mil- ment over competing mod- vehicle.
The meeting was closed uum and eventually be a the country is now on track
to the press and a statement strategic partner for the to produce.
lions, a moment that was els, such as the Jeep CJ-5
seared indelibly into the na- and the International Scout, seemed to heighten the dra-
tion’s cultural memory. because it had a hard top, ma.
“Kids who were born in a heater and maybe even a “If it were a Jeep Wrangler,
the 2000s, even they know radio. it almost could have been
that’s O.J.,” Marcus Collins, SUVs progressively be- any of us,” said Collins, the
a University of Michigan came larger and more lux- marketing professor. “But
marketing professor, said urious over the years, Zu- because it was a white Ford
of his students. “It’s just as ercher said, and by time of Bronco, it stood out. It was a
salient as me showing the the Simpson car chase, the distinctive vehicle with this
twin towers on fire. It defi- Bronco was on its fifth gen- very distinctive person, O.J.
The make of the vehicle
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Corporations, Securities, & Commercial Licensing
Administrative Rules for Securities
Rule Set 2023-40 LR
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Thursday, April 25, 2024
11:00 AM
Sun Room
2407 N Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48906
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will hold a public hearing to receive public comments on
proposed changes to the Securities rule set.
nitely became etched in the eration.
zeitgeist because of all the Simpson also owned a
contextual associations that Bronco, but it was seized
we applied to it.” as evidence after blood was
The Bronco ridden in by found inside. The one in-
Simpson, who died Wednes- volved in the police pursuit tion that the chase hastened
day, now sits in a crime mu- was a 1993 XLT model be- the Bronco’s demise, or al-
seum in Tennessee, parked longing to his friend, former ternatively that it led to an
near a Volkswagen Beetle teammate and the driver that uptick in sales.
It was still on brand.”
SOCCER MOMS
WEREN’T DRIVING
BRONCOS
There has been specula-
The proposed rules incorporate model rules adopted by the North American Securities Administrators
Association (NASAA) in 2022 and 2023 that extend the validity of qualifications examinations for certain
individuals registered under the Michigan Uniform Securities Act (MUSA) if they enroll in a program
administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and/or NASAA, and complete continuing
education applicable to their registration categories. The rules would incentivize individuals to maintain their
knowledge of industry standards, products, practices, and ethics during their disassociated period through
approved and documented continuing education.
By authority conferred upon the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, MCL 451.2201, 451.2202,
451.2202a, 451.2203, 451.2304, 451.2306, 451.2401, 451.2403, 451.2405, 451.2406, 451.2410, 451.2411,
451.2412, 451.2502, 451.2504, and 451.2605, and Executive Reorganization Order No. 2012-6, MCL 445.2034.
that was driven by serial evening, Al “A.C.” Cowl-
Zuercher, the auto histori-
an, said the Bronco was al-
ready on its last legs at the
time. As a two-door SUV, it
killer Ted Bundy.
ings.
‘HE WAS
CHECKING OUT’
White Ford Bronco is also
the name of a band that plays
1990s cover songs, by art-
The proposed rules will take effect immediately after filing with the Secretary of State. The proposed rules
the Michigan Register. Copies of these proposed rules may also be obtained by mail or electronic mail at the
Simpson was charged with couldn’t compete with four-
ists from Metallica to Will murder after his ex-wife, door models that were fam-
Smith to the Spice Girls. Nicole Brown Simpson, and ily-friendly and extremely
Singer and guitarist Diego her friend Ronald Goldman popular. The Ford Explor-
Valencia, 41, said he was were found stabbed to death. er, for example, was a run-
brainstorming band names Simpson failed to surrender away hit when it came out in
in 2008 when a co-worker to police as promised and 1990.
Comments on these proposed rules may be made at the hearing, by mail, or by electronic mail at the following
addresses until 5/13/2024 at 05:00PM.
Mitchell Page, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities, and Commercial
Licensing Bureau
P.O. Box 30018, Lansing MI, 48909
suggested it.
“With something like June 17, 1994.
‘Seinfeld’ or ‘Beverly Hills He was spotted later in Ford Broncos,” Zuercher
was declared a fugitive on
“Most of the soccer moms
of the 1990s weren’t driving
The public hearing will be conducted in compliance with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. If the hearing
is held at a physical location, the building will be accessible with handicap parking available. Anyone needing
assistance to take part in the hearing due to disability may call 517-241-9590 to make arrangements.
90210,’ you might be los- the Bronco with Cowlings, said. “There were two more
ing some people,” Valencia sparking a 60-mile (96-kilo- model years after the O.J.
said. “But that was the most meter) police pursuit across chase, and then the Bronco
‘90s thing ever.”
Southern California. More was gone for 25 years.”
