Motorways and Tramlines

This Just Blew My Mind

2008-04-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

Not an April Fools thing. Just me flying my geek flag. When I grow up, I want to be a scientist.

The Comedor Martita in Todos Santos - 10.31.06

2008-02-17T20:36:00.000-08:00

From our hotel balcony we watch the ferris wheels as the sun slowly burns off the morning fog. Our plan is to walk past the jail and descend to the plaza to explore the market and carnival booths that have gathered at the feet of the ferris wheel. But before we start exploring, we stop in at the Comedor Martita for a bit of breakfast.The door opens into the kitchen, where three women are minding

The Ferris Wheels in Todos Santos - 10.31.06

2008-02-17T20:14:00.000-08:00

The jail sits at the end of our street. The jail has two cells, which today are empty, and through the two bar-covered metal doors you can see the two latrines and two rusty beds that await new inmates.Curiously, the jail has a charming location above the central plaza. A quaint cobblestone road climbs the hill from the plaza to the jail and beyond. The road is quite steep – to the point that in

Marie and Benedice - 11.20.06

2008-02-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

Another Guatemala post I've been working on over the last year...My host family this week includes 2 granddaughters: Marie, age 4, and Benedice, age 5. Technically, the girls live next door, but they always join me when I come for meals at their grandmother's house. Every morning, they sit next to me as I eat my beans and eggs and tortillas. They’ve finished their breakfast long before I'm awake

The Todos Santos Horse Race - 11.1.06

2008-02-02T19:33:00.000-08:00

Looking back on the Todos Santos horse race – by far one of the most notable events during my time in Guatemala – I still waffle between being completely amused by it and extremely saddened.After more than a year, I’ve finally given up on trying to resolve those two sentiments. With that behind me, I was able to patch up the essay I wrote about that day.(Check out the video I took of the crazy

More Photo Fun

2008-01-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays, my friend D and I decided to get serious about this photography business. So we entered into a friendly competition: twice per month we'll be traipsing about town seeing who can take the best shots.I'm not totally clear on who serves as the judge for this competition. I'm hoping it's Nicole, because that give me a sporting chance. D already has quite a portfolio, so if it

Playing Around With My New Camera

2007-12-16T18:41:00.000-08:00

I recently bought a fancy-pants camera, a Nikon D40x. Now I'm kind of like a teenager with a Ferrari... just completely out of my league.Still and all, it's fun to play with. Here are four of the shots that I like.Our bamboo on a windy evening.Our Buddha head.The alley off Otis St.The tree on Park St. near Mt. Pleasant.

Heritage = Pork Rinds + Lawn Mowers + Dragon?

2007-10-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

Shenandoah valley again. Man, do I love that place.So THIS go 'round brought us to the Page County Heritage Festival in Luray.Has anybody else noticed that "celebrate heritage" has somehow come to mean "line up your old tractors"? Page county has gone a wee further, including not only old tractors, but also old riding lawnmowers. Not that I can mock that too much. I really like the old machines.

Ah, Boston. I miss your musk.

2007-09-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

Here's the quick and dirty on my trip to Boston last weekend, including some 100% must-see videos.1. Tom and Jane were delightful hosts. I kept them up past their bedtime, and probably behaved worse than the title character from Problem Child, but they graciously absorbed my antics and returned them with nothing but kindness and an ample supply of Cherry Coke.>2. The Massachusetts Bay

New Job

2007-09-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

Not much time to write tonight... just thought you all know that today was my first day at my new job. It's a super cool preschool that provides great wrap-around services, including medical and dental help for the kids and ESL programs for parents that need it. I'm sure I'll write more about it later, but here is the link to their website. (A website I'll soon be improving.)One other thing. Our

Football vs. Soccer

2007-09-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

For almost a year now I've been meaning to write about my trips to see the Xelaju Super Chivos, the football team that calls Quetzaltenango, Guatemala home.(FYI: "Chivos" are goats. "Super," I think, means super. Put it together and you get the Super Goats.)Really, my goal was to translate all of the incredibly filthy things that the crowd yells/chants/sings about the opposing team.I mean, I

September 17 is A Good Good Day

2007-09-25T14:02:00.000-07:00

That's two "good"s.One good for being Nicole's birthday. A second good for being the date on which we met last fall. (We didn't start dating until mid October, but what the heck. We'll just celebrate then too.)We had a little party to celebrate, with Nicole whipping up some sinful truffles and surprisingly potent espresso martinis to wash them down. Merriment was had.Then, after a somewhat

Read It.

2007-09-07T19:46:00.000-07:00

Vast sums of taxpayer money are pouring into the coffers of US contractors in Iraq -- but that money isn't being used to make things better for anyone but the ultra-rich in the US.Link to the Rolling Stone article.(Discovered on boingboing.net.)

And While We're At It...

2007-09-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

...here's another post from BoingBoing.net for all of you still interested in Guatemala.James Rodríguez: revisiting genocide in Rabinal, Guatemala

A Good Summer Read

2007-09-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm adding this book to my reading list.Speaking of which... have any of you watched The Good Shepherd? If not, give it a shot. It's more methodical than suspenseful and you'll need some snacks to get through it, but it's fascinating none the less.*******Pulled directly from Boingboing.net:*******Psychological "torture bible" published in 1961 reappears onlineHombre sin nombre tells Boing Boing:

Oh, Shenandoah.

2007-09-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

One thing that keeps striking me about DC: all these famous Civil War era locations are just a stones throw away. This weekend's destination was the Shenandoah valley. It's only 60 miles from DC but it was a key strategic piece in the war, and man is it gorgeous.We got off to a late and stupid start.Late, because we both had work stuff to wrap up. (Nicole was winging the last few pages of a grant

A Trip to Goldsboro

2007-08-31T18:52:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we finally made it down to visit my sister, Beth, and her family at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, NC. That's were a lot of F-15 jets hang out when they're not roaming around raising a ruckus. As near as I can understand (and believe me, I'm a slow learner) my brother-in-law, Adam, spends his days calibrating/testing/fixing the machines and tools that will either work

A Visit To Great Falls

2007-08-31T18:12:00.000-07:00

They're great. They're falls. That's about the size of it.The most interesting thing about Great Falls, which is right outside DC, is that George Washington presided over the building the canal. It was kind of a 'tweener job for him. Post Revolutionary war. Pre Presidency.More here.One other interesting thing about that day. Right as we were about to leave, all kinds of firetrucks showed up. The

Eric and Rocky, Redux

2007-08-31T15:18:00.000-07:00

There is one slightly Twilight Zone aspect to our house.From the beginning....When I was a wee lad, I LOVED dogs. I counted our dogs among my best friends and - since I spent most of my time working outside on our farm - they were my constant companions. They were by my side as I fed the cows, worked in the fields, rode my fourwheeler all over tarnation...One of my first dogs was a German Shepard

You'll Know Where You Are

2007-08-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

For about a million different reasons, this is my favorite picture of all time.More like it here at Fogonazos, which is great blog. (Note: it's a bilingual site. So if you can't talk the Spanish, look for links to the English language version.)

Tom and Jane

2007-08-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

Two of my best friends, Tom and Jane, came to visit around the 4th of July.We hadn't moved in to our new place yet, so they were stuck sleeping on a mattress on the floor of our old basement apartment. (Sorry guys. You can return the favor in September.)It was bloody hot out, so after one sun-filled afternoon listening to Jazz on the mall, we decided to focus on cooler activities, like visiting

Settling In

2007-08-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

For all of you who have been calling for more updates, I say this:Quit.Your.Belly-aching.I serve at the pleasure of the president.I am the decider.I am not a crook.Lockbox.Etcetera.As is my wont, here comes this month's slew of posts.We start with some much-coveted photos of our newly settled apartment.Ye olde livingroom.We love this mirror - the frame is made from cool pressed tin that you can't

First Tomato

2007-07-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

One thing we will miss about the old place are the cherry tomatoes, which have been ripening at their leisure in our small garden plot. Yesterday the first one was finally ready. Nicole and I shared it. She had her half straight up. I put a touch of black pepper on mine. It was amazing. Hopefully more will ripen before we make the big move on Saturday.

The Amazing (Apartment) Race

2007-07-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

We found a new apartment!Our search for a new apartment sauntered on at a casual pace for much of May and June. Basically we just looked at various apartment buildings in our neighborhood and said to each other, "I wonder what it's like inside there..." Then we'd shrug and keep walking.Truthfully, we were THIIIIS close to just saying to heck with it and staying in our current place. Yes, there

Garage Sale

2007-07-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

In Guatemala, Nicole and I had oodles of conversations about wanting to live a simple, uncluttered life. We're working towards that goal, but holy Toledo, do we have a lot of "stuff" standing in between us and that goal. Example: between us we have 8 suitcases, including 2 that I picked up for free at a yard sale 2 years ago and have never used. I don't even use suitcases! I just use my backpack

Return to the Motherland

2007-07-01T09:48:00.001-07:00

I don't know about your family, but when my clan gets together something always ends up on fire.That's right. It was family reunion time back in the great state of Michigan. And with it came the picture fest. Click the link below to see some highlights.... including a picture of Bambi!Get ready for some cuteness. Here's my brother-in-law introducing his son to a young friend they found while on

Camping in Prince William Forest

2007-07-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

Nicole's got a great group of friends here in DC, and they've been kind enough to adopt me. A while ago we all trouped out to a campground a couple of hours south of the city.It was the perfect chance to get my s'more fix and spend some quality time with baby Maya...Baby Maya and her dad, Tate....Chris (Maya's mom) and David......Carissa......and that one girl...For those of you thinking of

Superheroes

2007-07-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

You may not have seen the news, but in May the world's greatest superheroes gathered for their annual convention in Gloucester, Massachusetts. A host of speakers covered topics ranging from...The New Deathrays: How the Emergence of the Anti-Matter Pistol is Reshaping Old BattlestoLatex vs. Leather: How to Choose the Right Material for Your Costume.Oh Smitty. There are no words to describe...Left

Employed!

2007-06-27T18:02:00.000-07:00

After much searching, Nicole landed a job a couple weeks ago! She beat out 370 applicants (!) in a 3-month selection process for a job with the American Bar Association's Rule of Law Initiative.And people, the ABA is an association of lawyers, OK? Not drunks.So what does she do? Um.... lawyering, duh. Really, I have no idea. She can't do lawyering because she's not a lawyer, so I think she just..

Fatima Water Project Update

2007-06-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you who celebrated my birthday (like 5 months ago) by donating to the Fatima water project. You'll be glad to know that I just got an update from them, and the water is now flowing! It's clean, it's crisp, and it comes right up to the spigots in their yards.My host family in FatimaThey still need about $1,000 to reach their $8,000 goal, so there's still time to give if you'd like

Not Dead!

2007-06-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

To all those wondering if I've perished, I haven't. Promise.So, why the heck haven't I written in two months?I'll form my defense around 2 points. First, I've been busy. That's straightforward enough, what with the whole new cityapartmentjobrelationship thing and all. Second, I'm now working all day in front of the computer. The last thing I want to do once I'm home is spend MORE time in front of

Antietam

2007-05-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

After sharing a great breakfast of French toast with strawberries with our friend Dave, Nicole and I hopped in the car for a short trip. This weekend's destination was the Antietam battlefield.Let me tell you, it sure felt weird to be enjoying a pleasant walk on a sunny day through fields where more than 20,000 people had been killed or maimed in a single day.I don't know what else to say about

Where We Live

2007-05-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

Here's the scoop regarding our current apartment.Good- It’s a month-to-month, which gives us some flexibility as we search for a permanent place- It’s cheap (relatively)- It's a basement apartment, so it will be cool in the summer- There is a cool exposed brick wall in the kitchen- It has lots of storage room- We can walk out onto a small lawn, which will be perfect for BBQs- The ginormous Rock

Employed!

2007-05-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

Like everyone else in the world, I’ve been on a quest to find the world’s perfect job. Most of you thought I’d found it when I was working from home in a beautiful small town on the west coast.So, yeah, it’s fun to work in your underwear all day long. Or not. That’s fun too. But come on. I was sitting in front of a computer all day long. I didn’t have any coworkers to tease. And in the end, I

I know, I know, I know

2007-05-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

I know I should have been updating this more often, but listen: I've had a lot on my plate lately. I've been looking for a job, settling into a new city, and dealing with this one girl who won't leave me the heck alone. So cut me some slack already.:)Expect a flurry of posts over the next couple days, and then about 2 posts a week after that.Go Red Wings. Go Pistons.Go Tigers.Go Sox.Go MATT

SOS: Send Recipes

2007-04-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

People, I need help.I'm getting cooked INTO. THE. GROUND. Just getting totally dominated in the kitchen.It's not fair:a) Nicole LIKES to cookb) She was scarfing up recipes the whole time she was traveling in Africa and the Middle East.Me? I once spent a month eating nothing but hot dogs for both lunch AND dinner. 36 hot dogs per week on average. I'm not kidding. And that was one of the most

West to East Via Photos and Captions

2007-04-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

From whence I came.About 6 seconds into the trip we started taking "cool dudes" shots. Like, here we are, 2 cool dudes on the road, living the dream, completely free, totally untethered......except for that one huge metallic tether.Eastern OregonSmitty: "You know what this place needs? Statues. Really, really big statues. Like the ones they have in The Lord of the Rings."Me: "Yup."Like the Magi,

Goodbye, Mr. Vonnegut

2007-04-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

One of our best writers, and one of my heroes, just died.Thanks for everything, Mr. Vonnegut.This excerpt is from Slaughterhouse-Five:...It was a movie about American bombers in the Second World War and the men who flew them. Seen backwards by Billy, the story went like this:American planes, full of holes and wounded men and corpses took off backwards from an airfield in England. Over France, a

Culture of Corruption, Impunity in Guatemala

2007-03-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Below is a Washington Post article reporting on the activities of the oh-so-honorable Guatemalan police forces.Thanks to Nicole for passing it on.The original article can be found here.****Linked Killings Undercut Trust In GuatemalaCulture of Corruption, Impunity ExposedBy Manuel Roig-FranziaWashington Post Foreign ServiceFriday, March 23, 2007; A10GUATEMALA CITY -- It began with four charred

The Cemetery - 10.31.2006

2007-03-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

The celebration won’t happen here for two more days, but already people are preparing for the return of their ancestors. They are painting the family graves in bright pastels or, occasionally, like American flags. They are decorating them with flowers and streamers and burning candles. They have brought tortillas and bottles of rum and Coca-Cola for their loved ones to eat.Tonight the drinking

And They're Off!

2007-03-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

Those of you further north, heat up the hot coco. Our favorite hippie-punk bikers are heading your way, and they're going to be cold.They'll be there in a couple of weeks. Have fun with them!p.s. They like bacon. Lots and lots of bacon.

The Smitty Cometh

2007-03-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

The day after my bike-punk friends arrived, Good Ol' Smitty descended upon us.... and to the surprise of absolutely no one, things got stupid quickly. (And by stupid, I mean hilarious and awesome.) The first thing we did was pick fleas off each other.Then we rolled on up the Greensprings Highway for some good ol' fashioned hair-cutting...sun soaking....and ear-candling.Yes, it is as crazy as it

Visitors From Another World

2007-03-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

Two of the best people in the world arrived at my doorstep on Monday. My dear friend Rachel, and her fabulous hubby, Pauly, are on a massive bicycling adventure. They started in San Diego and are working their way up the coast to Vancouver. And then (becuase that wasn't enough?) they're biking their way back to Virginia. I highly recommend that you check out their travel blog here.The mohawks

The Popul Vuh - Part 1, Chapter 2

2007-03-15T18:22:00.000-07:00

Then they made the small wild animals, the guardians of the woods, the spirits of the mountains, the deer, the birds, pumas, jaguars, serpents, snakes, vipers, guardians of the thickets.And the Forefathers asked: "Shall there be only silence and calm under the trees, under the vines? It is well that hereafter there be someone to guard them."So they said when they meditated and talked. Promptly

Don Lopez

2007-03-14T22:03:00.000-07:00

He sits at the intersection every afternoon, and does what old men worldwide do: He watches.The kids, in particular, are interesting. They’re almost always carrying something. The girls usually have a young sibling tied tight to their backs in slings of bright, woven fabric. Sometimes they have a basket of food or laundry balanced on their heads. The boys bend low under bundles of firewood or

Sweet San Fran

2007-03-12T17:39:00.000-07:00

I went with a good friend down to San Fransisco this weekend. It was a delightful trip: good weather, great people, amazing food, and delightful walks in pleasant neighborhoods filled with homes that I will never, ever, be able to purchase.I spent a surprising amount of time trying to convince myself that we weren't going to have an earthquake. My fear of those things has been huge ever since I

Bush Visits Latin America

2007-03-08T23:50:00.000-08:00

Bush is touring in Latin America, attempting to make friends, but the locals aren't throwing rose petals at his feet.Bush seems to be claiming that his administration has doubled the aid that was given to Latin America during the Clinton presidency. But when it comes to the numbers, this article in the Washington Post has one eyebrow sharply raised.. Analysts note that Bush is using a misleading

The Comadrona

2007-03-07T18:28:00.000-08:00

While I was studying at the Mountain School, the local midwife (comadrona) came to speak to the students. I frantically scribbled notes while she spoke. As best as I can tell, this is what she told us...“The first time it was because the real midwife was away. The man came running to my house and pounded on my door, begging for help. So I ran to his house and saw that his wife was in very bad

The Popol Vuh - Part 1, Chapter 1

2007-03-05T20:52:00.000-08:00

This is the account of how all was in suspense, all calm, in silence; all motionless, still, and the expanse of the sky was empty.This is the first account, the first narrative. There was neither man, nor animal, birds, fishes, crabs, trees, stones, caves, ravines, grasses, nor forests; there was only the sky.The surface of the earth had not appeared. There was only the calm sea and the great

The Popol Vuh - An Introduction

2007-03-04T21:03:00.000-08:00

Over the next few weeks I'm going to be posting text from the Popol Vuh, which is, roughly speaking, the Mayan Bible. Or, at least, it's the Quiche version of the Mayan Bible. It contains several Mayan myths, including the granddaddy of them all: from whence we came.Wikipedia offers this concise history of the text:After the Spanish conquest of Guatemala, the usage of Maya script was forbidden

Photos At Night

2007-03-03T22:14:00.000-08:00

I love taking pictures when the moon is full. I wish I had the equipment (and know-how) to take pictures of the moon itself... especially when there is an eclipse like there was tonight. But until then, I'm quite happy taking pictures of the land using the moon's light. Here are two shots I took tonight, tweaked very slightly using iPhoto software. Click on them to see a bigger version.

The Rebuilding Effort

2007-03-01T15:24:00.000-08:00

My friend just posted a really great story over on her blog, The Meaning of Wife.She and her husband were down in Mississippi for a week as volunteers helping with the post-Katrina rebuilding effort. The had a lovely conversation with one local, Maggie. The link to her post is here.

More Foreign Policy Fun

2007-02-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

You've had enough pictures of me doing stupid things. It's time for more serious thought.Here's a quick little story that highlights the complexity of U.S. relationships with democratic (or not) allies in the Middle East. In this case, what's the balance between realpolitik and moral responsibility? Discuss.Link to article at boingbiong.netLink to editorial in the Washington Post

Making Funny Photos With The 'Puter

2007-02-26T16:23:00.000-08:00

The Photo Booth software on my new laptop will never do anything to make the world a better place. Still, it's awesomeness is undeniable. Allow me and my dear friend Alina to demonstrate.Click the "Read More" link for more stupidity.

Oscar Night, My Favorite...

2007-02-25T22:59:00.000-08:00

Truth is, I don't give a rat's rump about the Oscars, or the blubbering speeches the winners give, or what poor lady committed the most heinous fashion faux pas. Do not care.What I DO like is sushi. Big heaps of it.And I like wearing a wig and chilling with the ladies.(Everyone else was doing there hairs up right nice with lots of gel and rubber bands, getting fancy like them stars on the telly.

Guatemalan Slang - Vol. 2

2007-02-23T17:48:00.000-08:00

Can I get a show of hands from all the homies who are currently like sausage in the store?Mmmmmm... sausage.Deber hasta el bigoteLITERAL MEANING: To owe up to the moustache.ACTUAL MEANING: To be deep in debt.Echar chispasLITERAL MEANING: To throw sparks.ACTUAL MEANING: To be very angry.Estar como chorizo en la tiendaLITERAL MEANING: To be like sausage in the store.ACTUAL MEANING: To be madly in

It Actually Snowed Last Night

2007-02-22T09:26:00.000-08:00

It doesn't snow often here in the bottom of the valley. It usually just sticks to the ridgetops. When it does snow down here it usually melts within a few hours. So it was bit of a surprise when I awoke this morning and saw this much snow...And it was wet, heavy snow, so there were broken branches all over the place. The neighbors were out chainsawing one branch so they could get out of the

The War Within Islam

2007-02-20T23:13:00.000-08:00

For those of you wondering what conflicts exist within Islam, check out this interview with Reza Aslan that I recently found...About Aslan...Aslan’s first book, No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam (Random House), proposes that Islam is nearing the end of a century-long period of reformation. An argument is taking place within the Muslim world, he says, over who has the

Ashland In The Summer

2007-02-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

For those of you curious to know what Ashland looks like, here's a picture of our valley in the summer.

How I Celebrated My Birthday

2007-02-20T22:20:00.000-08:00

Some friends invited me to spend my birthday with them at a cabin on the nearby Illinois river. The cabin is completely off the grid, using solar power for electricity and propane for refrigeration and cooking. The hot tub is heated by a wood stove. (I'd never heard of that before, but it works like a charm.)In the evening we had salmon fillet with squash medley followed by champagne, chocolate,

Happy Valentine’s Day

2007-02-14T21:06:00.000-08:00

Boy, nothing beats spending Valentine’s Day curled up on the sofa in front of a nice toasty fire, sipping hot coco, reading an infuriating account of failed foreign policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.(I can see some of you warming up your pity machines. Please, cease and desist. I was a Political Science major. I do this sort of thing for fun. And anyway, my sweetheart sent me a lovely care

My Drive West

2007-02-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

If you hang around long enough in Guatemala, a nation the size of Tennessee, your sense of distance gets a little warped. You start to think it’s normal for coast-to-coast trips to take only a couple of hours, and for trips to the capital to take no more than four. You just get used to it.So as Nicole bid me farewell from her home in Des Moines, I didn’t blink an eye when she offhandedly asked, “

Liberty and Security

2007-02-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

I’ve always had this unsettling feeling about the people we have locked up down in Guantanamo. But I didn’t know a whole lot about their situation. These were my basic questions: How did we grab these guys in the first place? Do we really have the right to hold them forever without charging them? And if we don’t charge and prosecute them, how do we know they’re really bad guys?Then along comes

My Birthday Wish

2007-02-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, my birthday is rapidly approaching. Now, just in case anyone is getting fancy ideas about birthday gifts and whatnot... here's what I REALLY, ACTUALLY DO WANT for my birthday.Help the good people of Fatima, Guatemala, keep their kids in school and get fresh water into their homes.Of course, if you weren't going to get me a present anyway (thanks for nothing, jerk) then

And If You Only Have Time For One Show...

2007-02-01T00:57:00.000-08:00

Please listen to this broadcast, on the police archive that was recently discovered. Here is NPR's lead in:In rural areas of Guatemala, work is under way to recover and identify remains from mass graves dug during the country's civil war. But in the country's capital city, thousands of people also disappeared. The answers to their fates may lie buried in a massive police archive — one that wasn't

Great NPR Series on Guatemala

2007-02-01T00:32:00.000-08:00

NPR is running a great series on Guatemala entitled Unearthing the Future. They also have some short but interesting audio slideshows on the web to accompany their broadcasts.The link to the main page of the series is here.The direct links to the audio slideshows are below.2.1.07 - Guatemala Project Builds Tech from the Ground Up1.31.07 - Guatemalan Archives May Help Locate Missing1.30.07 - Storm

Guatemalan Slang - Vol. 1

2007-01-19T22:41:00.000-08:00

Textbook Spanish is just the tip of the iceberg. The fun really starts when you get into the slang. The literal translations of these sayings can be hilarious. (To be of bad fleas?)Luckily, the folks at www.xelawho.com have posted a handy guide to Guatemalan slang and sayings. I'll be re-posting them here for your viewing pleasure.Enjoy!****Estar de malas pulgas LITERAL MEANING: To be of

Worst Defense Mechanism Ever

2007-01-18T18:19:00.000-08:00

And the award goes to...

You Can't Keep a Good Spice Down

2007-01-11T16:42:00.000-08:00

There are some spices that you just can't keep down. You can keep kicking 'em and biting 'em and boxing 'em right in the ears, but they just keep on getting up and spicing right back at you. Spicing like they've never spiced before. One such spice? Old Spice, my friends. Old Spice.You know what it really is? It's that the NEW spices are so blasted cocky. Like you're not good enough to wear them

Parade for the Virgin

2006-12-21T23:03:00.000-08:00

A short video of the parade honoring the Virgin and child.

Photos Finally Culled

2006-12-18T14:10:00.000-08:00

I've finally weeded out all the worthless photos. It should be much easier for you to skim through them now. There are also a few new sets up from my trip to Belize. The link is on the right.Hope you enjoy!

Videos!

2006-12-18T13:13:00.000-08:00

I figured out how to post my videos, and over the next week or so I'll be putting them up. So, prepare for cinematic brilliance. Awards will be won. Speeches will be given. Little people will be thanked.This first video is of the cutter ants near Semuc Champey. For more on these little fellas, check out this nice post at Interesting Thing of the Day.

Home Sweet Home

2006-12-16T23:15:00.000-08:00

I'm alive!I'm back in the states, breathing that sweet Michigan air, and enjoying the banter of relatives who taught me to talk funny (here we don't say holy shit, we say hokey pete. Delightful alternative, no? And childproof.)There is no snow, but there are northern lights.Has anyone ever heard of this before? There are piles pine cones at the bottom of our pine trees. They're not buried

Swimming in Water 11.28.2006

2006-11-29T23:18:00.000-08:00

In Semuc Champey an old, big river finds a hole in the limestone bed and disappears underground for 300 meters, then pops out of the ground and strolls along whistling, as if nothing happened. Meanwhile, up on the surface, a second stream descends from the ridge to wind through the original riverbed, riding piggy back on Grampa river below. In the little, on-the-surface river there are lots of

Walking on Lava - 11.26.2006

2006-11-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

Climbed a volcano yesterday evening near Antigua. Walked over a very warm lava field as the sun was setting. You could see through the cracks where the rock was still glowing red. Crazy. And there was a red blob about as big as I am that was still moving. A couple of people were poking their walking sticks into there, lighting them on fire.Taking off for the terminal now. Will be in a bus all day

Holy Toledo, It´s Almost Christmas

2006-11-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

Here´s the thing: I have about 5 new articles that I want to post, but I can´t because I just don´t have time to type them up. And then I have another, oh, 15, articles that I will write. Sometime. Really.But not now. Way too busy. People, you have to understand. I´ve got things going on. People to see, deals to seal and all that.Quick and dirty:- After Todos Santos / San Cristobal, I studied in

One (Stupid) Way To Show You Care

2006-11-08T09:41:00.000-08:00

If you´re in Guatemala, and you see a pretty gal walk by, hiss at her. Really. Make a snake sound. If necessary, stick out your tongue a bit. A well-traveled friend has told me that this is also a popular tactic in Morocco and Tunisia. Doesn´t work there either.

The Road to Todos Santos - 10.30.2006

2006-11-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

The market at Terminal Minerva was overflowing. Children carried thick bundles of crimson leaves and plopped them next to piles of marigolds that were beginning to rot. People were scrambling everywhere, buying food and flowers for the Day of the Dead. The flowers would be used to decorate the graves of family members, to welcome their spirits as they returned to the world of the living. The food

Central Park Parade, Take 2 - 10.29.2006

2006-11-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

Remember the post about the parade for the Madonna and Child that I saw on 9.21.2006? Well, it happened again. And this time I had my camera. See below for the old post. See Flickr for the new pictures.Photos of the Central Park Parade

Off to Todos Santos

2006-10-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

I´m taking a break from my classes next week to check out the Day of the Dead festival in Todos Santos. I´ll also be in San Cristobal in the Chiapas region of Mexico for a few days. I´ll be scribbling the whole time, so hopefully I can post about my adventures early next week. Have a great Halloween, everyone!

And a Good Morning to You As Well - 9.28.2006

2006-10-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

At 7:03 AM, mom trots past my bedroom door with a pair of long flaming logs that she has removed from the stove. She waves them around vigorously under the lines of clean laundry - one blazing sword in each hand - but the flames won´t go out. So, she lays them on the concrete floor of our courtyard and splashes a bit of water on them from the wash basin. Within seconds, there is smoke

The Emptiest of Feelings - 9.27.2006

2006-10-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

The neighbors were screaming this evening. At first I tried to study through the noise, but soon it was too loud, so I slipped out of my room into the tiny courtyard of our home. I stood next to Mom, who had wandered away from the kitchen and towards the discord. She didn´t dare say anything out loud, so she quietly smacked her fist into her palm to tell me what was going on. We stood silently

Transport

2006-10-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Here is how the chicken bus system works. People that want to ride a bus gather by the side of the road. When the bus approaches prospective riders, the driver beeps the horn twice as a warning. If a bystander wants a ride (the bus´s destination is painted on the front), she´ll hold her hand out a bit, extend two or three fingers, and tap downward a few times. The bus will slow down, but not stop

Bye-Bye Bratwurst - 10.7.2006

2006-10-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

For one thing, Sammy kept hucking the poor fella across the living room, and the bratwurst just coulding learn to land on his feet for all the milk in Michigan. And then one day my baby sister, Ruthie, ate some of his poop that she found on the floor. What I´m saying is that it wasn´t particularly surprising that my family decided to pass him off to a gentler, less poop-eating family.He left for

Fun Things To Do On Your Motorcycle

2006-10-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

- Carry a box of pizza in your left hand while driving with your right! - Carry your baby in your left hand while driving with your right! - Take your wife and two kids to the store! (Mom will sit behind you holding the baby! Your little girl will ride on the gas tank!) - Take your girlfriend on a date! Make her ride sidesaddle! - Take your puppy to the vet! - Deliver tanks of propane to

Gin

2006-10-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

Went to a bar last night. Ordered a gin and juice. Received a gin... and... Tang.

Bratwurst - 10.4.2006

2006-10-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

My family got a puppy yesterday! He´s about the size of a bratwurst. Who´s the happiest boy in the world? Me. My 3 year old Guatemalan brother, Sammy, is a close second.

Tajumulco - 9.30.2006

2006-10-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

We walk on a rolling dirt road through small Mayan farms for a quarter mile. Children peek out of the houses, and upon seeing our white skin they ask us for candy. The road attempts a direct assault on the mountain, climbing straight up the steep slope. But within a few hundred yards it fails, and all that remains is a footpath that has sunk 16 inches below the sod. We walk in small gullies like

Electricity

2006-10-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

There is a small fuse box on the shower wall. Two wires extend from this box. They are spliced into two other wires with a conservative amount of electrical tape. These two wires run into a plastic box on top of the shower head. This box contains coils through which the shower water flows.That is how my shower water is heated.Every week or so, one of the students here gets shocked, but I hear

San Fransisco - 9.22.2006

2006-10-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

The first thing I see as I step off the bus is a flock of turkeys resting quietly, almost comfortably, under the weight of a cargo net.One block up the hill the market begins and from this distance it is difficult to distinguish individual objects. I´m not going to be flowery here. It simply looks like a bag of Skittles blew up.At first, Noah and I stick with the guerrilla, but soon he loses us

Microbus

2006-09-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

A Microbus is like the kid brother of a chicken bus. It has the form of a VW Vanagon and the spirit of one of those grim Russian KGB cars you see in 80´s movies. (You know the ones that look like they´ve got Frisbees for wheels, but boy-howdy can they ever scoot?)Got that pictured?Now add 14 glitter-coated stickers to the dashboard and windshield. Hang one of those stuffed cats with the suction

The Danes

2006-09-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

There are 15 students from Denmark in our school right now. Their ages range from 18 to 22.They´re kind of like gremlins. They´re very cute and gibbery until something - say, oh, perhaps, rum? - causes them to transform into something significantly crazier.

Scrabble - 9.21.2006

2006-09-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

My teacher, Maria was helping me learn prepositions when she told me that her father and brother were killed by the government in 1985.She said at that time it wasn´t uncommon for soldiers to ride into a Mayan village, charge the people with supporting the guerrilla movement, gather everyone into the church, and then kill all the men. Sometimes they would kill everyone. Then they would burn the

A New Vocabulary Word For You

2006-09-26T23:40:00.000-07:00

GOULASH (gläsh, -lsh)- noun: A mixture of many different elements from Guatemalan Spanish and American English; a hodgepodge.- verb: To wing it, linguistically. As in: I goulashed my way through an introduction, and now my new Guatemalan friend thinks I´m married to a mechanic.

A New Vocabulary Word For Me

2006-09-26T23:34:00.000-07:00

For the record, when you try tell your teachers that you are physically warm, you are great risk of telling them that you are ferociously randy. You are warned.Also for the record, Maria and Isabelle are very, very patient teachers.

Central Park Parade - 9.21.2006

2006-09-26T23:28:00.000-07:00

The crowd was building when I arrived at the central park. Thousands of school girls lined the streets, wearing uniforms: white, knee-high socks, blue/green checkered skirts, white shirts, and blue vests. On a couple side streets small bands where measuring out dirges with their drums.The local police were present in their black uniforms. Regular army soldiers stood discretely in the corners of

Chicken Bus To Zunil - 9.19.2006

2006-09-26T23:16:00.000-07:00

A ´chicken bus´ is just a regular American school bus, but with one heck of a paint job. Usually lots of red and green stripes. Sometimes there is chrome on the windows.Inside, the bus is normal except instead of school children there are dozen of Mayans and Ladinos. Dresses with a thousand colors and lots of cowboy hats.I don´t think the buses are equipped with shocks. Probably no struts either

Two Jokes - 9.19.2006

2006-09-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

You know that joke where the ketchup bottle makes a gross noise while you’re squeezing it and when it does you look sheepish and say excuse me? Apparently, that is cross cultural. Mama said that last night.She’s teaching me how to make her salsa picante! The secret ingredient is ketchup!And I said my first Spanish joke! It was about an hombre de Nantucket.(kidding)