Archives for June 2004

BBC: “A Caledonian University student claims he has made an important breakthrough in how to pour ‘the perfect pint’ during Euro 2004. David Stevenson, from Helensburgh, said his device is ‘fool-proof’ and enables football fans to watch games without worrying about pouring problems.”

I’ve added a bunch of Weblogs to the left-hand side of this page. Most of them are sites I’ve been enjoying for a while and am just now getting around to linking to. I’ve also added a more direct link to my travel photos page, which was previously a little harder to find.

Following my speculation that Ecuadorian president Lucio Gutierrez will soon be booted from office, and following my buddy Mike F.‘s thoughts that Lucio’s fine for now, here’s what my friend Jordan L. has to say. Jordan’s an American who lived in Ecuador for three years; he and I were once roommates in Cuenca. He’s seen […]

Given my intense distaste for “Bowling for Columbine,” I’m interested to see what my reaction’ll be to Moore’s new film, “Farenheit 9/11.” Chris Hitchens, a critic I admire, has seen the movie and says this: To describe this film as dishonest and demagogic would almost be to promote those terms to the level of respectability. […]

I’ve written recently that I think Ecuadorian president Lucio Gutierrez will soon be ousted from office. His approval ratings are south of 10%, and most crucially, he’s alienated the country’s sizeable indigenous population. And as we saw in Bolivia last year, well-organized Indian groups in the Andes have the power to force unpopular presidents to […]

Via the excellent Peking Duck, here’s a fascinating look at the future of the small island I now call home. Check out Ross Terrill’s “Death of a Party-State: The Aftermath of the Presidential Election in Taiwan.”

1. Talk on a mobile phone.2. Smoke a cigarette.3. Enjoy a beverage.4. Chew betelnut.5. Pet their dog, which is riding on the floorboards.6. Simultaneously talk on a mobile phone, smoke a cigarette, and enjoy a beverage. UPDATE: Jill reminds me of another ridiculous scooter multitasking phenomenon we’ve witnessed: people tending to their infants, who they’ve […]

…is amusing.

I’ve written a little more about Ecuador in a new post over at Southern Exposure. The long and the short of it: 1) Presidente Lucio’s hanging in there; and 2) here’s a lengthy, detailed, and quite moving expose of the Ecuadorian human trafficking industry; the New York Times published it today, and it’s a must-read. […]

I’m in the process of obtaining my motorcycle license. I’ve done the vision test at a local hospital, and the next step is to take the written and driving tests. In studying the test booklet, I’ve encountered some amusing questions. Here’re a couple; this is exactly how they appear in the book: When riding through […]