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Misc.

Photos from Japan from Hayes

Photos from Japan
My friend Hayes, who teaches English in Tokyo, has posted some great pics on his Web site.

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Misc.

Ali G.

Ali G.
I’ve never heard of Ali G. before, but his schtick sounds hilarious.
–Update: Ali G. snared Naomi Wolf and got her to rap “Yo, yo, don’t be sexist, I’ll let you ride in my Lexus.”

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Misc.

Riobamba Munitions Explosion

The Riobamba Munitions Explosion–More than Meets the Eye?
Had an interesting chat last weekend with an American woman who lives in Riobamba. She says the word on the street is that the military munitions explosion that killed seven people there last November was no accident.

People are speculating that the blast was orchestrated by the miliary to cover up the fact that they’d sold small arms to the FARK, Colombia’s most powerful rebel group. Apparently something like 70,000 grenades were missing, and so, the theory goes, the army blew up a warehouse to hide the evidence. Supposedly an Ecuadorian Congressman is spearheading an investigation; my initial Web research hasn’t turned anything up. I’m interested in learning more.

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Misc.

Ecuadorian Emigration to Europe

Ecuadorian Emigration to Europe
Many Ecuadorians are leaving their home country in search of better jobs in Europe, where visa requirements are less strict than in the US.

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Misc.

Aron Ralston

“Aron Ralston is a warrior”
MSNBC: “A mountaineer who was pinned by an 800-pound boulder in a remote desert area in Utah ran through four options for saving his life before choosing to saw off his arm with a pocket knife…” (Thanks to Ethan B. for the heads-up on this exceptional story.)

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Misc.

Back in Cuenca

Back in Cuenca
Had an excellent long weekend. And I hope to post some photos soon. Laguna Quilotoa is astoundingly beautiful.

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Misc.

I’m Off to Laguna Quilotoa

I’m Off to Laguna Quilotoa
No postings for the next several days. We’ve got the rest of the week off school, so some friends and I are leaving tonight for Laguna Quilotoa, a crater lake atop a dormant volcano. It’s a seven-hour bus ride north to Latacunga (south of Quito), and then a four-hour ride west on dirt roads. I hear the scenery is spectacular. Here’re some photos I came across.

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Misc.

Say It Ain’t So

Say It Ain’t So
Tortillas, a burrito joint in Atlanta, is closing. Too bad. I had many a great meal there when I was in college. Although the atmosphere was arguably better than the food–the place was always full of disaffected, blue-haired students and musicians and the like. (Thanks to Mike W. and Jack W. for the heads-up).

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Misc.

A Presidental Runoff in Argentina

A Presidental Runoff in Argentina
Either former President Carlos Menem or Governor Nestor Kirchner will be Argentina’s next president.

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Misc.

Democracy in Paraguay

Democracy in Paraguay
The New York Times‘s Tony Smith says that “on a continent that has been swept by grass-roots movements against more than a decade of market reforms, the leading opposition candidate in presidential elections scheduled here for Sunday is swimming in the other direction.”