Saturday, November 29, 2003
Reader Mail: Melting Glaciers and Global Warming
Well, Thanksgiving was great. My brother arrived from La Paz and a bunch of us cooked all day yesterday and we had one hell of a feast. I believe I'm suffering, at this moment, from a lingering food hangover.
Turning to the world of Ecuador news, I received an interesting email message that touches on the issue of climate change.
In my most recent Southern Exposure Ecuador news roundup, I referenced this Reuters article about melting glaciers. The World Wildlife Fund says global warming needs to be stopped; if it continues, glaciers will melt in the next century and nations such as Ecuador will face water shortages.
A reader from Muncie, Indiana responded:
The melting glaciers has been an "urgent" story for at least one million years and has accelerated over the past 25 years thanks to pseudo-science and a higher level of panic in the "scientific community" who can see all things past and future from their vantage points deep in their duodenums. Perhaps the melting is more mental than actual which could mean that Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador (even Colombia and Panama) will survive another million years which is the approximate number of years it will take to eliminate corruption in government and services. Don't built an ark yet.
Many people assume that the phenomenon known as global warming exists--and that it's a grave danger. But not everyone agrees. I confess I'm rather ignorant of the arguments posed by those skepitcal of climate change. A quick Web search reveals a number of organizations that question global warming. Care to comment on the issue? Email me or post a note on the message board.
Turning to the world of Ecuador news, I received an interesting email message that touches on the issue of climate change.
In my most recent Southern Exposure Ecuador news roundup, I referenced this Reuters article about melting glaciers. The World Wildlife Fund says global warming needs to be stopped; if it continues, glaciers will melt in the next century and nations such as Ecuador will face water shortages.
A reader from Muncie, Indiana responded:
The melting glaciers has been an "urgent" story for at least one million years and has accelerated over the past 25 years thanks to pseudo-science and a higher level of panic in the "scientific community" who can see all things past and future from their vantage points deep in their duodenums. Perhaps the melting is more mental than actual which could mean that Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador (even Colombia and Panama) will survive another million years which is the approximate number of years it will take to eliminate corruption in government and services. Don't built an ark yet.
Many people assume that the phenomenon known as global warming exists--and that it's a grave danger. But not everyone agrees. I confess I'm rather ignorant of the arguments posed by those skepitcal of climate change. A quick Web search reveals a number of organizations that question global warming. Care to comment on the issue? Email me or post a note on the message board.
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Off to Guayaquil
I'm leaving early tomorrow morning for Guayaquil; my brother Mechum is flying up from La Paz for a Thanksgiving weekend visit and I'm picking him up at the aírport. I'm excited to see him.
I'll be on the road most of tomorrow and won't be posting again for a few days.
Happy Dia de Gracias, everyone.
Let Your Freak Flags Fly
I'll be on the road most of tomorrow and won't be posting again for a few days.
Happy Dia de Gracias, everyone.
Three oddballs are in the news today:
1) The BBC provides this excellent headline and amazing story: "Fasting fakir flummoxes physicians: Doctors and experts are baffled by an Indian hermit who claims not to have eaten or drunk anything for several decades - but is still in perfect health."
2) Another BBC report says "Stroke gives woman British accent: An American woman has been left with a British accent after having a stroke. This is despite the fact that Tiffany Roberts, 61, has never been to Britain. Her accent is a mixture of English cockney and West Country. Doctors say Mrs Roberts, who was born and bred in Indiana, has a condition called foreign accent syndrome."
Foreign accent syndrome?!?! Yes, foreign accent syndrome.
3) Irving Tobin, an obsessive 79-year-old, "reads the (New York) Times every day, struggling to find the two and a half hours necessary to get through it. He keeps stacks of newspapers in the front seat of his car and in spare cupboards, in case he finds himself without a paper in hand.
Tobin is behind in his Times reading. One year, five months, and four days behind, which places him in late June, 2002. In his daily paper, the United States has not yet invaded Iraq, the D.C. sniper hasn?t fired a shot, and Gray Davis is secure in Sacramento."
1) The BBC provides this excellent headline and amazing story: "Fasting fakir flummoxes physicians: Doctors and experts are baffled by an Indian hermit who claims not to have eaten or drunk anything for several decades - but is still in perfect health."
2) Another BBC report says "Stroke gives woman British accent: An American woman has been left with a British accent after having a stroke. This is despite the fact that Tiffany Roberts, 61, has never been to Britain. Her accent is a mixture of English cockney and West Country. Doctors say Mrs Roberts, who was born and bred in Indiana, has a condition called foreign accent syndrome."
Foreign accent syndrome?!?! Yes, foreign accent syndrome.
3) Irving Tobin, an obsessive 79-year-old, "reads the (New York) Times every day, struggling to find the two and a half hours necessary to get through it. He keeps stacks of newspapers in the front seat of his car and in spare cupboards, in case he finds himself without a paper in hand.
Tobin is behind in his Times reading. One year, five months, and four days behind, which places him in late June, 2002. In his daily paper, the United States has not yet invaded Iraq, the D.C. sniper hasn?t fired a shot, and Gray Davis is secure in Sacramento."
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
This week's Onion is running a story--albeit a hilarious one--that they published close to two years ago. "Nation in Love with Girl From Record Store" is not new (although the original version seems to have been removed from the site's archives). And, well, it's really lame if such a great publication, a la Charles Schultz and Snoopy, is recycling material and not telling its readers.
Update (Wednesday evening): Mike W. writes:
Newls:
Don't know if you were overcome by the prospect of spending your Thanksgiving in a foreign land or if you were just in a rush to pick up Mechum, but whatever the case, your critical reading was evidentally compromised. Your Onion posting dated 11/25 was critical of the apparent "recycled" nature of the Record Store Girl article, yet the Onion Home Page clearly explains that the entire issue is recycled. The headline reads: This issue of The Onion is made from 100 percent recycled materials. We'll return Dec. 3. Read The Onion A.V. Club's all-new issue. Check it out: http://www.theonion.com/ Keep it up and you'll have to change your tagline to "an Amerian Conspiracy Theorist Living and Teaching in Ecuador." I did enjoy the article though...
Thanks for the heads-up, Mike. My only defense: when I wrote that post, The Onion wasn't carrying that disclaimer. But now, at any rate, I can stop hyperventilating. I appreciate you keeping me in check; I shall dispense with the conspiracy theories...
Lucio Gutierrez: "Mortally Wounded"
Update (Wednesday evening): Mike W. writes:
Newls:
Don't know if you were overcome by the prospect of spending your Thanksgiving in a foreign land or if you were just in a rush to pick up Mechum, but whatever the case, your critical reading was evidentally compromised. Your Onion posting dated 11/25 was critical of the apparent "recycled" nature of the Record Store Girl article, yet the Onion Home Page clearly explains that the entire issue is recycled. The headline reads: This issue of The Onion is made from 100 percent recycled materials. We'll return Dec. 3. Read The Onion A.V. Club's all-new issue. Check it out: http://www.theonion.com/ Keep it up and you'll have to change your tagline to "an Amerian Conspiracy Theorist Living and Teaching in Ecuador." I did enjoy the article though...
Thanks for the heads-up, Mike. My only defense: when I wrote that post, The Onion wasn't carrying that disclaimer. But now, at any rate, I can stop hyperventilating. I appreciate you keeping me in check; I shall dispense with the conspiracy theories...
The wire services and the mainstream US media outlets have been slow to pick up the story of Ecuadorian president Lucio Gutierrez's new scandal (see my previous dispatch for details).
But this afternoon Reuters ran two articles describing the crisis--and people are beginning to say Lucio's in very serious trouble. (I'm reminded of when Bolivian commentators began mentioning the word "resignation" in reference to then president Goni. But more on that later.)
This article, from Amy Taxin, says:
Ecuadorean President Lucio Gutierrez's fragile political support has been further weakened by a campaign financing scandal that analysts said on Tuesday could cripple his government.
Taxin further elaborates on Gutierrez's plight:
Gutierrez, a 46-year-old retired army colonel, is weathering his worst political crisis amid reports his electoral campaign had ties to Cesar Fernandez, a once-prominent politician now charged with drug trafficking.
The scandal has made it even lonelier at the top for Gutierrez, who already had scant support in a Congress run by mainstream political parties and from business leaders disenchanted by his lack of experience, analysts said.
And, finally, speculation on what'll happen soon:
''If this is proven true, the president is gone,'' said Santiago Nieto, director of pollster Informe Confidencial.
But ''even if it isn't proven, he's mortally wounded because this will reach public opinion and in February or March when he needs to adjust the economy, he won't be able to,'' Nieto said.
Critics of Gutierrez on radio talk shows have started to discuss the constitutional line of succession in Ecuador, which is one of Latin America's most unstable nations and has ousted two presidents since 1997 in popular uprisings.
Another Reuters piece details the resignations of Lucio's cabinet members: "Ecuador's economy chief and five other Cabinet ministers offered their resignations on Monday to help President Lucio Gutierrez reshape his team amid a political scandal over possible links between his government and a suspected drug trafficker."
My prediction: as I said yesterday, I think the indigenous movement will capitalize on Lucio's weakened state. And there's no reason to think that what happened in Bolivia can't happen here (although I said a few weeks ago, before this scandal, that an Ecuadorian woman I talked to said the Indian groups in Ecuador aren't as well-organized as they are in Bolivia).
Nevertheless, Ecuadorian Democracy--although I use that term loosely, as the government is so rife with corruption and bureaucratic ineptitude that it's essentially broken--is hanging by a thread here at latitude zero. And Lucio's presidency is certainly in peril.
But this afternoon Reuters ran two articles describing the crisis--and people are beginning to say Lucio's in very serious trouble. (I'm reminded of when Bolivian commentators began mentioning the word "resignation" in reference to then president Goni. But more on that later.)
This article, from Amy Taxin, says:
Ecuadorean President Lucio Gutierrez's fragile political support has been further weakened by a campaign financing scandal that analysts said on Tuesday could cripple his government.
Taxin further elaborates on Gutierrez's plight:
Gutierrez, a 46-year-old retired army colonel, is weathering his worst political crisis amid reports his electoral campaign had ties to Cesar Fernandez, a once-prominent politician now charged with drug trafficking.
The scandal has made it even lonelier at the top for Gutierrez, who already had scant support in a Congress run by mainstream political parties and from business leaders disenchanted by his lack of experience, analysts said.
And, finally, speculation on what'll happen soon:
''If this is proven true, the president is gone,'' said Santiago Nieto, director of pollster Informe Confidencial.
But ''even if it isn't proven, he's mortally wounded because this will reach public opinion and in February or March when he needs to adjust the economy, he won't be able to,'' Nieto said.
Critics of Gutierrez on radio talk shows have started to discuss the constitutional line of succession in Ecuador, which is one of Latin America's most unstable nations and has ousted two presidents since 1997 in popular uprisings.
Another Reuters piece details the resignations of Lucio's cabinet members: "Ecuador's economy chief and five other Cabinet ministers offered their resignations on Monday to help President Lucio Gutierrez reshape his team amid a political scandal over possible links between his government and a suspected drug trafficker."
My prediction: as I said yesterday, I think the indigenous movement will capitalize on Lucio's weakened state. And there's no reason to think that what happened in Bolivia can't happen here (although I said a few weeks ago, before this scandal, that an Ecuadorian woman I talked to said the Indian groups in Ecuador aren't as well-organized as they are in Bolivia).
Nevertheless, Ecuadorian Democracy--although I use that term loosely, as the government is so rife with corruption and bureaucratic ineptitude that it's essentially broken--is hanging by a thread here at latitude zero. And Lucio's presidency is certainly in peril.
Monday, November 24, 2003
Ecuadorian Prez: Stepping Down?
A big story's gaining momentum here at latitude zero: Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez is facing a scandal that could prove to be his undoing.
Gutierrez is denying allegations that he received a $30,000 campaign contribution from Cesar Fernandez, a suspected drug trafficker. And, as VOA News reports:
President Gutierrez's brother-in-law, Napoleon Villa, has quit as head of the governing Patriotic Society Party. The president has also accepted the resignation of his tourism minister Hernan Plaza, who has admitted that he once rode in the accused drug lord's airplane.
According to this Reuters article, Gutierrez has said he'll resign if the charges of accepting dirty money are proven true.
But this MercoPress article says 1) "the Ecuadorian cabinet" is quitting today; 2) Lucio claims he won't step down; and, amazingly, 3) "486 kilos of pure high grade cocaine" were found on the plane in question:
This Monday the Ecuadorian cabinet will be resigning in an effort to ease the pressure on beleaguered President Lucio Gutierrez because of the alleged link of some high officials of his administration with narcotics gangsters.
President Gutierrez who took office last January, anticipated that even if this proves to be true, ?I will not resign?, as the opposition is demanding. ?Someone could, behind my back, receive some small amount of money?, admitted Mr, Gutierrez who nevertheless added that the possibility of that happening ?was very small?.
Just in case Mr. Gutierrez sacked his Tourism Minister Hernán Plaza, who admitted having used an aircraft belonging to a notorious international narcotics gangster from Sinaloa, México César Fernandez. The aircraft was later detained and found to be transporting 486 kilos of pure high grade cocaine.
Stay tuned for more details...
(Oh, and by the way, I'm proud to say I'm spreading news of this story before Al Giordano, the king of Latin American breaking news, could cover it.)
Update (2:30 p.m. Eastern): This article in today's Washington Post, though it doesn't address the new scandal, describes Gutierrez's break with Ecuador's indigenous movement. The deveoping money flap could be a galva nizing issue for the country's disenfranchised Indians--who are already planning protests against Gutierrez, who they view as a traitor, as early as next month. Could Ecuador be the next Bolivia? Will the country's indigenous population force Lucio out of office? I don't know.
And CNN is now running an AP story that says:
President Lucio Gutierrez's entire 15-member Cabinet will tender its resignation next month, Interior Minister Felipe Mantilla said Thursday.
"The ministers, acting freely, will present their resignation to the president in December," Mantilla told reporters. He did not explain the move.
Unlike in some countries in the region, Ecuadorean Cabinet ministers do not customarily tender their resignations at the end of each year.
Government spokesman Marcelo Cevallos rejected speculation that the mass resignation could generate a political crisis, adding that Gutierrez "can ask all of us to resign when he finds it convenient."
Gutierrez is denying allegations that he received a $30,000 campaign contribution from Cesar Fernandez, a suspected drug trafficker. And, as VOA News reports:
President Gutierrez's brother-in-law, Napoleon Villa, has quit as head of the governing Patriotic Society Party. The president has also accepted the resignation of his tourism minister Hernan Plaza, who has admitted that he once rode in the accused drug lord's airplane.
According to this Reuters article, Gutierrez has said he'll resign if the charges of accepting dirty money are proven true.
But this MercoPress article says 1) "the Ecuadorian cabinet" is quitting today; 2) Lucio claims he won't step down; and, amazingly, 3) "486 kilos of pure high grade cocaine" were found on the plane in question:
This Monday the Ecuadorian cabinet will be resigning in an effort to ease the pressure on beleaguered President Lucio Gutierrez because of the alleged link of some high officials of his administration with narcotics gangsters.
President Gutierrez who took office last January, anticipated that even if this proves to be true, ?I will not resign?, as the opposition is demanding. ?Someone could, behind my back, receive some small amount of money?, admitted Mr, Gutierrez who nevertheless added that the possibility of that happening ?was very small?.
Just in case Mr. Gutierrez sacked his Tourism Minister Hernán Plaza, who admitted having used an aircraft belonging to a notorious international narcotics gangster from Sinaloa, México César Fernandez. The aircraft was later detained and found to be transporting 486 kilos of pure high grade cocaine.
Stay tuned for more details...
(Oh, and by the way, I'm proud to say I'm spreading news of this story before Al Giordano, the king of Latin American breaking news, could cover it.)
Update (2:30 p.m. Eastern): This article in today's Washington Post, though it doesn't address the new scandal, describes Gutierrez's break with Ecuador's indigenous movement. The deveoping money flap could be a galva nizing issue for the country's disenfranchised Indians--who are already planning protests against Gutierrez, who they view as a traitor, as early as next month. Could Ecuador be the next Bolivia? Will the country's indigenous population force Lucio out of office? I don't know.
And CNN is now running an AP story that says:
President Lucio Gutierrez's entire 15-member Cabinet will tender its resignation next month, Interior Minister Felipe Mantilla said Thursday.
"The ministers, acting freely, will present their resignation to the president in December," Mantilla told reporters. He did not explain the move.
Unlike in some countries in the region, Ecuadorean Cabinet ministers do not customarily tender their resignations at the end of each year.
Government spokesman Marcelo Cevallos rejected speculation that the mass resignation could generate a political crisis, adding that Gutierrez "can ask all of us to resign when he finds it convenient."
Friday, November 21, 2003
I'm Off into the Great Unknown
Or at least into the wilderness of nearby Cajas National Park (sample photos here and here; description here).
I'm heading up there with some friends to do some hiking and camping. (Given the park's altitude of over 13,000 feet, I'm hoping we'll do more camping than hiking.)
I'll be posting again on Sunday or Monday.
My Weekly Ecuadorian News Round-Up...
I'm heading up there with some friends to do some hiking and camping. (Given the park's altitude of over 13,000 feet, I'm hoping we'll do more camping than hiking.)
I'll be posting again on Sunday or Monday.
...is over at Southern Exposure.
Thursday, November 20, 2003
"Goonies" Redux
In case you missed this the other day:
BEVERLY HILLS, California ? Mikey, Mouth, Data, Chunk and Sloth may be returning to the big screen, and with a whole new gang of Goonies ? or more accurately, Groonies ? joining them.
Richard Donner, who directed the 1985 classic "The Goonies," and Steven Spielberg, who executive produced it and co-wrote the script with future "Harry Potter" director Chris Columbus, have purchased a sequel script and are pushing to get it made.
BEVERLY HILLS, California ? Mikey, Mouth, Data, Chunk and Sloth may be returning to the big screen, and with a whole new gang of Goonies ? or more accurately, Groonies ? joining them.
Richard Donner, who directed the 1985 classic "The Goonies," and Steven Spielberg, who executive produced it and co-wrote the script with future "Harry Potter" director Chris Columbus, have purchased a sequel script and are pushing to get it made.
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Wanted: A Fleet of Frigates for Future Diplomatic Missions
The BBC says:
A US frigate docked in Vietnam on Wednesday, becoming the first US warship to visit since the Vietnam War. The USS Vandegrift sailed into Ho Chi Minh City with some of its 200 crew recording the moment on video cameras.
"The US and Vietnam are showing the world that former foes can become friends," said Raymond Burghardt, US ambassador to Vietnam.
Just a thought: at the rate the US is making enemies (see: Syria, North Korea, Iran, Canada, Mexico, and all of Continental Europe), we'll need an entire fleet of frigates to send out on kiss-and-make-up missions in the next few years.
Can I Get a Cranberry Sauce Chaser with That?
A US frigate docked in Vietnam on Wednesday, becoming the first US warship to visit since the Vietnam War. The USS Vandegrift sailed into Ho Chi Minh City with some of its 200 crew recording the moment on video cameras.
"The US and Vietnam are showing the world that former foes can become friends," said Raymond Burghardt, US ambassador to Vietnam.
Just a thought: at the rate the US is making enemies (see: Syria, North Korea, Iran, Canada, Mexico, and all of Continental Europe), we'll need an entire fleet of frigates to send out on kiss-and-make-up missions in the next few years.
Just in time for Thanksgiving:
Seattle, WA, U.S.A. ? Jones Soda Co. (the ?Company? or ?Jones Soda?), announces today that it will introduce a new seasonal flavor in its popular Jones Soda line ? Turkey & Gravy flavored beverage.
Seattle, WA, U.S.A. ? Jones Soda Co. (the ?Company? or ?Jones Soda?), announces today that it will introduce a new seasonal flavor in its popular Jones Soda line ? Turkey & Gravy flavored beverage.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Blogs Worth Mentioning
I've come across some excellent new (to me) Weblogs in the last few weeks (and I've listed them on the left-hand side of this page).
These must-reads include:
Maud Newton: "Occasional literary links, amusements, politics, and rants." (Thanks to Nick M. for the heads-up)
Number One Hit Song (AKA twinkle twinkle blah blah blah etc.): "Voltage trumps broadband every time." (Again, muchas gracias to Nick M. for the tip.)
The Agitator: thoughtful political commentary for a Washington, DC-area writer.
Ask Brendan: Witty musings from another DC denizen.
Daniel Drezner: "Politics, economics, globalization, academia, pop culture... all from an untenured perspective."
Al Giordano: Thoughts on Latin American affairs. Often bombastic but never boring.
The Lincoln Plawg: "Politics and law from a British perspective." Well-researched and quite funny.
AlphaPatriot: "Musings of a reformed liberal."
Beautiful Horizons: "An atypical gringo's perspective on Latin America, human rights and other issues." Insightful and prolific writing from Randy Paul.
Read and enjoy.
These must-reads include:
Maud Newton: "Occasional literary links, amusements, politics, and rants." (Thanks to Nick M. for the heads-up)
Number One Hit Song (AKA twinkle twinkle blah blah blah etc.): "Voltage trumps broadband every time." (Again, muchas gracias to Nick M. for the tip.)
The Agitator: thoughtful political commentary for a Washington, DC-area writer.
Ask Brendan: Witty musings from another DC denizen.
Daniel Drezner: "Politics, economics, globalization, academia, pop culture... all from an untenured perspective."
Al Giordano: Thoughts on Latin American affairs. Often bombastic but never boring.
The Lincoln Plawg: "Politics and law from a British perspective." Well-researched and quite funny.
AlphaPatriot: "Musings of a reformed liberal."
Beautiful Horizons: "An atypical gringo's perspective on Latin America, human rights and other issues." Insightful and prolific writing from Randy Paul.
Read and enjoy.
Monday, November 17, 2003
Burness Communications: Officially A Great Place to Work
I'm glad that Washingtonian Magazine has included Burness Communications, my former employer and one hell of a PR firm, on their annual list of 50 "Great Places to Work" in the DC area. The company, headed by my visionary ex-boss Andy Burness, truly is exceptional.
Sunday, November 16, 2003
My Brother: Blogging from La Paz
My kid brother Mechum, who teaches physics and chemistry in Bolivia, has launched a blog and is waxing poetic, with characteristic Purnell panache, on a variety of subjects.
Soy supplements' effect on sexual behavior, ice on the moon, "plastic memory," and Tom Robbins--he covers it all.
In addition, as part of site re-design, he's recently posted some excellent Bolivia photos. And more images--from our home in South Carolina, as well as from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and Europe--are available here.
Keep kickin' ass and takin' names, Mech.
Soy supplements' effect on sexual behavior, ice on the moon, "plastic memory," and Tom Robbins--he covers it all.
In addition, as part of site re-design, he's recently posted some excellent Bolivia photos. And more images--from our home in South Carolina, as well as from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and Europe--are available here.
Keep kickin' ass and takin' names, Mech.
Saturday, November 15, 2003
"The Dancer Upstairs"
The other night, I saw "The Dancer Upstairs," a movie about The Shining Path (El Sendero Luminoso), the Maoist revolutionary movement that plagued--and, to a certain extent, continues to plague--Peru.
The film was directed by John Malkovich; it's an interesting look at the events surrounding the capture of The Shining Path's leader, the enigmatic Abimael Guzman. Here's a good review, and here's a bad one--I tend to agree with the second: for one thing, the movie's "in the wrong damn language" (that being English).
Nevertheless, it's a visually compelling portrayal of Andean life: the indigenous population's stunning poverty, the urbane sophistication of the European-decended privileged class, and the remarkable physical terrain, replete with snowcapped peaks and barren plains. Indeed, much of the movie was filmed in Quito, Ecuador; the big city scenes were made in Lima, Peru.
The film was directed by John Malkovich; it's an interesting look at the events surrounding the capture of The Shining Path's leader, the enigmatic Abimael Guzman. Here's a good review, and here's a bad one--I tend to agree with the second: for one thing, the movie's "in the wrong damn language" (that being English).
Nevertheless, it's a visually compelling portrayal of Andean life: the indigenous population's stunning poverty, the urbane sophistication of the European-decended privileged class, and the remarkable physical terrain, replete with snowcapped peaks and barren plains. Indeed, much of the movie was filmed in Quito, Ecuador; the big city scenes were made in Lima, Peru.
Friday, November 14, 2003
The News from Ecuador This Week
I've started writing for Southern Exposure, an interesting group Weblog covering Latin American affairs. Here's my first dispatch, which surveys the news from Ecuador this week.
Southern Exposure's contributors include Marcelo Rinesi, Stephen George, Francisco Muniz, Edward Hugh, Miguel Octavio, Randy Paul, Miguel Centellas, and Henry Schroy.
"Los Monologos de la Vagina"
Southern Exposure's contributors include Marcelo Rinesi, Stephen George, Francisco Muniz, Edward Hugh, Miguel Octavio, Randy Paul, Miguel Centellas, and Henry Schroy.
I went to see an Ecuadorian production of "The Vagina Monologues" last night. (En Espanol, that's "Los Monologos de la Vagina".)
It was funny. It was ribald. It was candid. And the four actresses spoke very quickly and employed lots of slang. I didn't understand some of it. (Okay, make that lots of it.) But I got the gist.
The crowd in attendance was a mixed bag--mostly young, progressive Ecuadorians. And some gringos, too. There certainly weren't many machista Ecuadorian men. It was surprising to witness such a frank--and gyno-empowered--production here in Cuenca, where conservative, Catholic, patriarchal sentiments are so pervasive.
It was funny. It was ribald. It was candid. And the four actresses spoke very quickly and employed lots of slang. I didn't understand some of it. (Okay, make that lots of it.) But I got the gist.
The crowd in attendance was a mixed bag--mostly young, progressive Ecuadorians. And some gringos, too. There certainly weren't many machista Ecuadorian men. It was surprising to witness such a frank--and gyno-empowered--production here in Cuenca, where conservative, Catholic, patriarchal sentiments are so pervasive.
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Jack W.'s Analysis of the Democratic Presidential Hopefuls
My good friend Jack W. works for an environmental regulatory consulting firm in DC (no, I don't have any idea what he does all day, but it sounds pretty fancy). And he's a very astute political observer.
I asked him--as a "progressive Republican" (and a Vermonster, just like Howard Dean)--to comment on the Democratic Presidential frontrunners. His pithy, incisive response follows:
My Republican perspective probably isn't much different from the average Democratic voter, if anything I have more objectivity because I could give (Ed.--expletive deleted) about who gets the nomination. But then I also consider myself a progressive Republican, so at the least I can understand where these guys are coming from.
I don't know if I am ready to break down the stances of the individual Democratic nominees yet, because from the nine-person debates it is really hard to get an idea where each of them stand on certain issues. The debates are really not debates, they are more like caucuses where the candidates are trying to gauge what positions
they should take, which position draws the most applause, and who can slight Howard Dean the most.
I can comment on their standing and nomination chances, based on first impressions. First, you have the candidates with a legitimate shot, which means they have reliable ground operations set up in each state, a grassroots base of supporters, and decent name recognition amongst registered Democrats.
They are: Dean, Kerry, Gephardt, Lieberman, Edwards, and Clark. The "show" candidates, those that are trying desperately to get a speaking spot at the Democratic National Convention are Mosley-Braun, Sharpton, and Kucinich. To some extent Kucinich serves to force the front runners further to the left (or balance center leaning Lieberman), while Sharpton and Braun are your token minority and female candidates--they stand to increase their political capital by endorsing one front runner in the late stages of the race, essentially sending that candidate all their votes (or delegates if they get any) once the nominee is chosen.
Out of the six legitimate challengers, Lieberman is too centrist (too Gore-ish if you will, plus he already lost last cycle), Edwards has the least name recognition (no message platform, weak base, and too much like Kerry), and Clark is too much of a political novice. The difference between Clark and Eisenhower (if we are comparing generals and NATO supreme commanders) is that Ike was someone to rally around (he won WWII). While Clark has got the perfect credentials, he is not well respected in the Pentagon, and really only won that piddly little war in Bosnia. He has an excellent resume and is extremely smart, however, as we witnessed in 2000, outright intelligence does not get you elec ted (it's like book smart vs. street smarts).
According to Donnie Fowler, his campaign manager for the first three weeks of the campaign, Clark has also disconnected from his local support (the DraftClark folks,
local Arkansa ns, etc.) and taken on a bevy of Washington insiders to advise him. Wrong move--didn't work for Gore in 2000 (even with his last ditch attempt at moving campaign headquarters to Tennessee). This disconnect will ultimately be his demise because voters like to be coddled in the primaries. It's like your first couple dates with a girl... (Ed.--I've removed an analogy here that some of this Weblog's readers might find offensive). Dean has practically adopted Iowa and New Hampshire as his base of operations and has spent so much time on the road, he is welcome in anyone's bedroom.
So your legitimate front runners: Kerry, Gephardt, and Dean. Kerry has a shot, eloquent speaker, war hero, solid democratic ideals, plenty of money. But for some reason I can't feel comfortable around him. Maybe its that his skin looks like it could fall off his face any minute, maybe its his wishy-washy stance on the war, maybe he is too Northeastern privileged liberal, I just don't think he gets the nod.
If Gephardt wins Iowa and has a solid showing in New Hampshire, then things could steam roll for him. He's got a great base in Iowa, and the Midwest (states with big electorals like Ohio, Illinois), great union support, and is an established democratic leader--I like his chances.
Dean, let's call him the people's candidate, brings the most energy to the campaign. The guy is a fireplug, not afraid to say anything and not afraid to stand up to Bush. All the candidates say they "disagree" with Bush on that, "disagree" with Bush on this. Dean says stuff like, I "hate" the way Bush is running the country, I "hate" Bush's stance onthe war, implying that not only does he disagree, but that he actually
hates Bush himself and if the two were locked in a room together, punches would be thrown, not just ideals. His pre-campaign work was great, with the Internet rallies, the continuous road trips, and buzz generation. He has the most money due to this
effort, and if he can deny public funding, will increase his standing even further (a bold
step to take for any Democrat, considering Bush's war chest).
It is a pretty amazing transformation from watching him in Vermont, it's like he has grown another foot in stature and confidence (which could help, cause he is only 5'5"). Other Ds do not like him for some reason, probably because he doesn't play nice and pisses off people in his own party. If he can withstand the wrath of his own party, then I think he has a shot. He polls well with voters, and that is who politicians are supposed to take their cues from, so maybe the party will come around and support him over the next few months. If that happens, Terry McAuliffe (DNC head) should start looking for a new job, probably getting an early start on the Hillary 2008 campaign.
That's all I've got for now, check back in a few weeks and I'll talk about decent vice-presidential candidates, and who they might match up with.
"The Mystery of the Rain Forest Rash"
I asked him--as a "progressive Republican" (and a Vermonster, just like Howard Dean)--to comment on the Democratic Presidential frontrunners. His pithy, incisive response follows:
My Republican perspective probably isn't much different from the average Democratic voter, if anything I have more objectivity because I could give (Ed.--expletive deleted) about who gets the nomination. But then I also consider myself a progressive Republican, so at the least I can understand where these guys are coming from.
I don't know if I am ready to break down the stances of the individual Democratic nominees yet, because from the nine-person debates it is really hard to get an idea where each of them stand on certain issues. The debates are really not debates, they are more like caucuses where the candidates are trying to gauge what positions
they should take, which position draws the most applause, and who can slight Howard Dean the most.
I can comment on their standing and nomination chances, based on first impressions. First, you have the candidates with a legitimate shot, which means they have reliable ground operations set up in each state, a grassroots base of supporters, and decent name recognition amongst registered Democrats.
They are: Dean, Kerry, Gephardt, Lieberman, Edwards, and Clark. The "show" candidates, those that are trying desperately to get a speaking spot at the Democratic National Convention are Mosley-Braun, Sharpton, and Kucinich. To some extent Kucinich serves to force the front runners further to the left (or balance center leaning Lieberman), while Sharpton and Braun are your token minority and female candidates--they stand to increase their political capital by endorsing one front runner in the late stages of the race, essentially sending that candidate all their votes (or delegates if they get any) once the nominee is chosen.
Out of the six legitimate challengers, Lieberman is too centrist (too Gore-ish if you will, plus he already lost last cycle), Edwards has the least name recognition (no message platform, weak base, and too much like Kerry), and Clark is too much of a political novice. The difference between Clark and Eisenhower (if we are comparing generals and NATO supreme commanders) is that Ike was someone to rally around (he won WWII). While Clark has got the perfect credentials, he is not well respected in the Pentagon, and really only won that piddly little war in Bosnia. He has an excellent resume and is extremely smart, however, as we witnessed in 2000, outright intelligence does not get you elec ted (it's like book smart vs. street smarts).
According to Donnie Fowler, his campaign manager for the first three weeks of the campaign, Clark has also disconnected from his local support (the DraftClark folks,
local Arkansa ns, etc.) and taken on a bevy of Washington insiders to advise him. Wrong move--didn't work for Gore in 2000 (even with his last ditch attempt at moving campaign headquarters to Tennessee). This disconnect will ultimately be his demise because voters like to be coddled in the primaries. It's like your first couple dates with a girl... (Ed.--I've removed an analogy here that some of this Weblog's readers might find offensive). Dean has practically adopted Iowa and New Hampshire as his base of operations and has spent so much time on the road, he is welcome in anyone's bedroom.
So your legitimate front runners: Kerry, Gephardt, and Dean. Kerry has a shot, eloquent speaker, war hero, solid democratic ideals, plenty of money. But for some reason I can't feel comfortable around him. Maybe its that his skin looks like it could fall off his face any minute, maybe its his wishy-washy stance on the war, maybe he is too Northeastern privileged liberal, I just don't think he gets the nod.
If Gephardt wins Iowa and has a solid showing in New Hampshire, then things could steam roll for him. He's got a great base in Iowa, and the Midwest (states with big electorals like Ohio, Illinois), great union support, and is an established democratic leader--I like his chances.
Dean, let's call him the people's candidate, brings the most energy to the campaign. The guy is a fireplug, not afraid to say anything and not afraid to stand up to Bush. All the candidates say they "disagree" with Bush on that, "disagree" with Bush on this. Dean says stuff like, I "hate" the way Bush is running the country, I "hate" Bush's stance onthe war, implying that not only does he disagree, but that he actually
hates Bush himself and if the two were locked in a room together, punches would be thrown, not just ideals. His pre-campaign work was great, with the Internet rallies, the continuous road trips, and buzz generation. He has the most money due to this
effort, and if he can deny public funding, will increase his standing even further (a bold
step to take for any Democrat, considering Bush's war chest).
It is a pretty amazing transformation from watching him in Vermont, it's like he has grown another foot in stature and confidence (which could help, cause he is only 5'5"). Other Ds do not like him for some reason, probably because he doesn't play nice and pisses off people in his own party. If he can withstand the wrath of his own party, then I think he has a shot. He polls well with voters, and that is who politicians are supposed to take their cues from, so maybe the party will come around and support him over the next few months. If that happens, Terry McAuliffe (DNC head) should start looking for a new job, probably getting an early start on the Hillary 2008 campaign.
That's all I've got for now, check back in a few weeks and I'll talk about decent vice-presidential candidates, and who they might match up with.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
A Scary Scene at El Cafecito
First typhoid hits Cuenca. And now a bold armed robbery of a well-established restaurant.
Two nights ago, several men brandishing shotguns entered El Cafecito, a restaurant/bar/hostal popular with gringos and travelers. (I ate dinner there last week.) The men, surely aware that the place would be full of tourists, robbed everyone there, pistol-whipped an employee, and reportedly put their guns up to some of the patrons' heads. A friend of mine, unluckily, was there; he lost all his credit cards. And two more of my friends, not knowing what had transpired, arrived 30 minutes after the robbery; the police, supposedly, took 45 minutes to arrive.
In the 11 months I've lived here, nothing like this has happened in the center of the city.
Two nights ago, several men brandishing shotguns entered El Cafecito, a restaurant/bar/hostal popular with gringos and travelers. (I ate dinner there last week.) The men, surely aware that the place would be full of tourists, robbed everyone there, pistol-whipped an employee, and reportedly put their guns up to some of the patrons' heads. A friend of mine, unluckily, was there; he lost all his credit cards. And two more of my friends, not knowing what had transpired, arrived 30 minutes after the robbery; the police, supposedly, took 45 minutes to arrive.
In the 11 months I've lived here, nothing like this has happened in the center of the city.
Monday, November 10, 2003
I've just finished grading my midterm exams. The tests, which I gave to my 103 and 302 classes, contained several writing sections. Following are some amusing responses I received; I'm reproducing them here verbatim.
Asked to look at a photo and describe the facial features of the Spanish pop singer David Bisbal, a 302 student writes:
"David Bisbal has a curly blonde hair. He has a big nose like italian people...his chin is special like Kirk Douglas."
Another 302 student opined:
"His jaw is small and it helps him to look better. His nose is small. His eyes are small but can make me crazy. His earlobe are small I think so. I can't see it."
Who's your favorite singer? A 103 student wrote the following response, most of which is unintelligible:
"Erreway time is the time the change. Is singer very beautiful because sings the students in Argentina."
My 302 exam contained a section on passive sentences. One of my students penned the following:
"The children was liked by ice cream."
Another said:
"cosmetic surgery isn't common in Abganistan."
And, finally, a 302 student produced this unique definition:
"alienate: someone who acts like an alien."
Asked to look at a photo and describe the facial features of the Spanish pop singer David Bisbal, a 302 student writes:
"David Bisbal has a curly blonde hair. He has a big nose like italian people...his chin is special like Kirk Douglas."
Another 302 student opined:
"His jaw is small and it helps him to look better. His nose is small. His eyes are small but can make me crazy. His earlobe are small I think so. I can't see it."
Who's your favorite singer? A 103 student wrote the following response, most of which is unintelligible:
"Erreway time is the time the change. Is singer very beautiful because sings the students in Argentina."
My 302 exam contained a section on passive sentences. One of my students penned the following:
"The children was liked by ice cream."
Another said:
"cosmetic surgery isn't common in Abganistan."
And, finally, a 302 student produced this unique definition:
"alienate: someone who acts like an alien."
Sunday, November 09, 2003
File Under: Overreacting
CNN reports: "After complaints from parents and students, police in Goose Creek, South Carolina, defended their decision Friday to send a team of officers, some with guns drawn, into a high school earlier thi
s week for a drug raid that turned up no drugs."
There are times when I'm proud of the way things are done in my adopted home state. And then there are times, such as now, when I'm not.
(You can follow the developing story at South Carolina Hotline, a good Weblog that summarizes news from the state.)
There are times when I'm proud of the way things are done in my adopted home state. And then there are times, such as now, when I'm not.
(You can follow the developing story at South Carolina Hotline, a good Weblog that summarizes news from the state.)
Saturday, November 08, 2003
Andres Oppenheimer on Latin America's Growing Anti-Western Sentiment
The Miami Herald's Andres Oppenheimer argues that Bolivian Indigenous leader Evo Morales's anti-Western rhetoric is wrong-headed--for, Oppenheimer askes, "What would Latin Ameri
ca be without Western infl
uence?"
The Bush Administration is worried that Morales, who placed second in Bolivia's last presidental elections and spearheaded the movement to topple the Andean nation's last head of state, is fanning the flames of anti-American sentiment. And that such ill will will spread to "the vast indigenous populations of Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala and southern Mexico."
Morales recently said "We have lived for many years a confrontation of two cultures: The culture of life, represented by the indigenous peop le, and the culture of death, represented by the West." He added, "If we want to defend humanity, the system must be defeated, U.S. imperialism must be defeated."
The Bush Administration is worried that Morales, who placed second in Bolivia's last presidental elections and spearheaded the movement to topple the Andean nation's last head of state, is fanning the flames of anti-American sentiment. And that such ill will will spread to "the vast indigenous populations of Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala and southern Mexico."
Morales recently said "We have lived for many years a confrontation of two cultures: The culture of life, represented by the indigenous peop le, and the culture of death, represented by the West." He added, "If we want to defend humanity, the system must be defeated, U.S. imperialism must be defeated."
Friday, November 07, 2003
Ban the Ban in DC
Ban the Ban is a grassroots organization that opposes a potential smoking ban in all Washington, DC bars and restaurants.
I'm linking to their site (via Human Liberty) because I support their mission.
I don't smoke, and I don't advocate smoking. But I believe in smokers' rights. The anti-smoking movement in the United States is, on the surface, a good thing: cigarettes are bad and they kill people, and peopl e shouldn't smoke. But anti-smoking groups, and this is what really rubs me the wrong way, are often infected with a sickening sense of self-righteousness; they seem to have lost sight of their goal--to steer people away from tobacco--and too often demonize smokers. The anti-smoking movement is in many wany ways a moral crusade.
Many American non-smokers view their tobacco-indulging counterparts as bad people, amoral and uncaring of those who're the "victims" of their second-hand smoke. Let's put th ings in perspective here: smoking isn't a criminal act, and the government should stop treating smokers like kids, enacting paternalistic legislation--like smoking bans in bars and restaurants--fueled by the belief that smokers, as well as the people who share their company, can't make decisions for themselves.
Update (Saturday morning): Ban the Ban's getting some good attention online; word is spreading about the potential anti-smoking law, and I think resistance to it will build. Reason's Hit and Run comments. And so does The Agitator.
I'm linking to their site (via Human Liberty) because I support their mission.
I don't smoke, and I don't advocate smoking. But I believe in smokers' rights. The anti-smoking movement in the United States is, on the surface, a good thing: cigarettes are bad and they kill people, and peopl e shouldn't smoke. But anti-smoking groups, and this is what really rubs me the wrong way, are often infected with a sickening sense of self-righteousness; they seem to have lost sight of their goal--to steer people away from tobacco--and too often demonize smokers. The anti-smoking movement is in many wany ways a moral crusade.
Many American non-smokers view their tobacco-indulging counterparts as bad people, amoral and uncaring of those who're the "victims" of their second-hand smoke. Let's put th ings in perspective here: smoking isn't a criminal act, and the government should stop treating smokers like kids, enacting paternalistic legislation--like smoking bans in bars and restaurants--fueled by the belief that smokers, as well as the people who share their company, can't make decisions for themselves.
Update (Saturday morning): Ban the Ban's getting some good attention online; word is spreading about the potential anti-smoking law, and I think resistance to it will build. Reason's Hit and Run comments. And so does The Agitator.
Thursday, November 06, 2003
My New Essay on Living Abroad During the War in Iraq
Emory Magazine has just published an essay I wrote about living in Ecuador during the war in Iraq. Here's an excerpt:
I arrived in Ecuador while the US government was preparing to invade Iraq, and I?ve been here throughout the subsequent war and the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Witnessing these events from a foreign country has given me a unique perspective on how Ecuadorians view Americans?and our governm ent.
Many people I meet here are fond of Americans but dislike our nation?s foreign policy. But like many other people around the world, most Ecuadorians recognize that Americans are individuals, and that we don?t always agree with our government?s policies. In the case of our war with Iraq, many Ecuadorians saw America?s military actions as characteristically bullying: the world?s strongest country flexing its muscles. The US?s conflict with Iraq angered many Ecuadorians because it was a war, I?ve heard th em say, that didn?t need to happen?it was a war of choice.
A Promising New Latin American Group Blog
I arrived in Ecuador while the US government was preparing to invade Iraq, and I?ve been here throughout the subsequent war and the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Witnessing these events from a foreign country has given me a unique perspective on how Ecuadorians view Americans?and our governm ent.
Many people I meet here are fond of Americans but dislike our nation?s foreign policy. But like many other people around the world, most Ecuadorians recognize that Americans are individuals, and that we don?t always agree with our government?s policies. In the case of our war with Iraq, many Ecuadorians saw America?s military actions as characteristically bullying: the world?s strongest country flexing its muscles. The US?s conflict with Iraq angered many Ecuadorians because it was a war, I?ve heard th em say, that didn?t need to happen?it was a war of choice.
Randy Paul points out a promising new group Weblog focused on Latin America. It's
called Southern Exposure.
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
NPR and the Mating Ritual
Funny stuff. Check out Brendan Huhn on NPR and the mating ritual (scroll down to "It?s All I Listen to in the Car"). (By way of Brian M.):
For both the male and the female, listening to NPR sends a signal to a prospective mate: ?Despite my current income, in a few years I will have a house in a neighborhood with good public schools, and I will drive a Volvo stationwagon.? Women are sending an additional sign al: ?I consider myself smart and sophisticated and if I get pregnant, I will have an abortion. I might consider a three-way.? Men signal back: ?I won?t try to stop you from getting an abortion, but I?m not afraid to cry if you do. I don?t like guns, but I?m manly enough to camp and mountain-bike. I just love nature! A three-way sounds intriguing.?
For both the male and the female, listening to NPR sends a signal to a prospective mate: ?Despite my current income, in a few years I will have a house in a neighborhood with good public schools, and I will drive a Volvo stationwagon.? Women are sending an additional sign al: ?I consider myself smart and sophisticated and if I get pregnant, I will have an abortion. I might consider a three-way.? Men signal back: ?I won?t try to stop you from getting an abortion, but I?m not afraid to cry if you do. I don?t like guns, but I?m manly enough to camp and mountain-bike. I just love nature! A three-way sounds intriguing.?
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Back from La Selva
A quick note: we're back in Cuenca; we had an excellent sojourn in the Amazon jungle.
We left Thursday on an overnight bus and arrived in Banos, a city six hours north of here, Friday morning. From there we booked a three-day tour at a location a couple hours outside Puyo, on the edge of the jungle.
We did did l ots of hiking, swam in waterfalls, ate lemon-tasting ants and butterfly larvae, communed with various interesting birds and other animals (including tons and tons of insects), met a shaman who sported a machete, cutoff jeans, and a Kansas City Chiefs tee shirt, and generally had lots of fun.
Now it's back to work: I'm giving oral midterm exams tomorrow and written midterms on Thursday. But at least it's a short week...
We left Thursday on an overnight bus and arrived in Banos, a city six hours north of here, Friday morning. From there we booked a three-day tour at a location a couple hours outside Puyo, on the edge of the jungle.
We did did l ots of hiking, swam in waterfalls, ate lemon-tasting ants and butterfly larvae, communed with various interesting birds and other animals (including tons and tons of insects), met a shaman who sported a machete, cutoff jeans, and a Kansas City Chiefs tee shirt, and generally had lots of fun.
Now it's back to work: I'm giving oral midterm exams tomorrow and written midterms on Thursday. But at least it's a short week...
powered by blogger