I just heard a very interesting story on the radio on the way home.
It focused on an invention ... a tricycle that can be used to hold unfiltered water and then filter the water while one pedals home...
The video of the invention is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U-mvfjyiao
You can also see it by clicking on the image, below.
I heard about it on a BBC radio program called Culture Shock. The
link to the show is here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/culture_shock.shtml
I think Evan would find this of great interest.
The inventors are looking to test the invention out in some areas of the world: Africa and China were mentioned!
mm
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
And now we're back where we started
Here we go round again.
Day after day I get up and I say
I better do it again.
...With a little help from Ray Davies.
I am in Xela, Guatemala. I left Buenos Aires on Tuesday, spent two nights in Panama City and arrived here yesterday.
I will add more info later.
All for now
bjm 04.18.08
Day after day I get up and I say
I better do it again.
...With a little help from Ray Davies.
I am in Xela, Guatemala. I left Buenos Aires on Tuesday, spent two nights in Panama City and arrived here yesterday.
I will add more info later.
All for now
bjm 04.18.08
Monday, April 14, 2008
Going to Colombia? Yes and No?
The news that I would travel in Colombia may have been premature.
I called my airline today to confirm tomorrow´s flight.
Avianca: Depart BA at 0735, arrive Bogota 12:30.
Me: Great. Thanks.
Avianca: Depart Bogota 14:45, arrive Panama City 16:00
Me: What? I changed the date and the termination city.
Avianca: No. We have you booked to Panama City.
Me: Grrrrr!
So, when I changed my flight last month, there was a bit of miscommuncation. He said/she said. The bad news is, she got to say it on the computer, too. Tomorrow, i may be flying straight through to Pananma. We will see.
If I was traveling lighter, like my brother might do, I would not be checking any bags and I could just step off the plane in Bogota. That is not me.
I was told I could change the destination to Bogota, however, they would have to cancel the ticket I have on the full flight and then re-issue a new one - with the possibility that in the time it takes to canel and re-issue, I may lose the seat that I already had because the flight is full. Plus there´d be a charge to change ticket and destination.
Why does fate play these cruel tricks on me and only me???????????????
Okay, maybe not just me and only me.
I will take this change in plans and see what comes of it. Maybe I will change the date and desitination and stay in Argentina. Maybe I will be able to check my bags to Bogota and then walk off the plane. Maybe I will fly to Panama City and make my way through Central America earlier than planned.
Time will tell.
bjm 04.14.08
I called my airline today to confirm tomorrow´s flight.
Avianca: Depart BA at 0735, arrive Bogota 12:30.
Me: Great. Thanks.
Avianca: Depart Bogota 14:45, arrive Panama City 16:00
Me: What? I changed the date and the termination city.
Avianca: No. We have you booked to Panama City.
Me: Grrrrr!
So, when I changed my flight last month, there was a bit of miscommuncation. He said/she said. The bad news is, she got to say it on the computer, too. Tomorrow, i may be flying straight through to Pananma. We will see.
If I was traveling lighter, like my brother might do, I would not be checking any bags and I could just step off the plane in Bogota. That is not me.
I was told I could change the destination to Bogota, however, they would have to cancel the ticket I have on the full flight and then re-issue a new one - with the possibility that in the time it takes to canel and re-issue, I may lose the seat that I already had because the flight is full. Plus there´d be a charge to change ticket and destination.
Why does fate play these cruel tricks on me and only me???????????????
Okay, maybe not just me and only me.
I will take this change in plans and see what comes of it. Maybe I will change the date and desitination and stay in Argentina. Maybe I will be able to check my bags to Bogota and then walk off the plane. Maybe I will fly to Panama City and make my way through Central America earlier than planned.
Time will tell.
bjm 04.14.08
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Last Days in Buenos Aires
and Argentina.
And I am trying to do some of the things that I have not done and see some of the sites I had not yet seen.
Now done: The zoo.
I spent most of a chilly autumn the weather has changed to `normal` for this time of year, which means cold temps)afternoon at the zoo in Buenos Aires. (I hate to say it, but I do not know if it is the national zoo or the Buenos Aires zoo.)
I had a good time hanging out with some beings who often had less sense than I.
The zoo is much like other zoos, animals on display behind cages, except that if you could reach it (leaning as far across the railing as you could) you could pet it or could feed it. Sometimes you did not have to lean across the railings as some animals roamed freely about the zoo. And every so often, you would come across one or two of the thousands of wild housecats that roam this city.
Aside from those things, it is just like any other zoo.
One complaint I have is the lack of signage. There was one animal,it appeared to be part kangaroo, part rabbit, part hare and maybe part cat. These creatures were all over the zoo and did not pay much mind as you walked near them. They were no big fans of the animal food I tried to feed them - unlike the little monkey-like animals (some of whom appeared to be quite excited to get the food) and the muskrats who showed great respect when you had some food bits to share.
FYI, the Ugly Duckling of your childhood books resides in the Buenos Aires zoo, along with his ugly family.
Here is my day:
Do You Know Me?
(Note: having picture posting issues. To be attached later)
And I am trying to do some of the things that I have not done and see some of the sites I had not yet seen.
Now done: The zoo.
I spent most of a chilly autumn the weather has changed to `normal` for this time of year, which means cold temps)afternoon at the zoo in Buenos Aires. (I hate to say it, but I do not know if it is the national zoo or the Buenos Aires zoo.)
I had a good time hanging out with some beings who often had less sense than I.
The zoo is much like other zoos, animals on display behind cages, except that if you could reach it (leaning as far across the railing as you could) you could pet it or could feed it. Sometimes you did not have to lean across the railings as some animals roamed freely about the zoo. And every so often, you would come across one or two of the thousands of wild housecats that roam this city.
Aside from those things, it is just like any other zoo.
One complaint I have is the lack of signage. There was one animal,it appeared to be part kangaroo, part rabbit, part hare and maybe part cat. These creatures were all over the zoo and did not pay much mind as you walked near them. They were no big fans of the animal food I tried to feed them - unlike the little monkey-like animals (some of whom appeared to be quite excited to get the food) and the muskrats who showed great respect when you had some food bits to share.
FYI, the Ugly Duckling of your childhood books resides in the Buenos Aires zoo, along with his ugly family.
Here is my day:
Do You Know Me?
(Note: having picture posting issues. To be attached later)
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Brian is 21
There once was a lad named Brian
Who, at 21, was tryin´
A beer, his ¨first¨
told it`d quench the thirst
one sip, he knew his aunt was lyin´
Who, at 21, was tryin´
A beer, his ¨first¨
told it`d quench the thirst
one sip, he knew his aunt was lyin´
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Chchchchanges.....
Not.
It is Wednesday and I am still in Buenos Aires. I had thought about taking a side trip for a few days, during my last week in Argentina, but I took a vote and...1-0 voted to stay here.
I ran into the Mendoza Swedes yesterday. There is a birthday in the group on Thursday. I may spend some of my last days here wandering the city during the day and hanging out with some Swedes during the evening.
On Sunday, or Monday, Gareth and Lynsey - of the UK, of Miguel de Cervantes School of Spanish and of Salta, Arg. - will be in Buenos Aires to catch their flight out early next week. My last night in BA and Argentina will be spent with some good people I met along the way.
bjm 04.09.08
It is Wednesday and I am still in Buenos Aires. I had thought about taking a side trip for a few days, during my last week in Argentina, but I took a vote and...1-0 voted to stay here.
I ran into the Mendoza Swedes yesterday. There is a birthday in the group on Thursday. I may spend some of my last days here wandering the city during the day and hanging out with some Swedes during the evening.
On Sunday, or Monday, Gareth and Lynsey - of the UK, of Miguel de Cervantes School of Spanish and of Salta, Arg. - will be in Buenos Aires to catch their flight out early next week. My last night in BA and Argentina will be spent with some good people I met along the way.
bjm 04.09.08
Monday, April 07, 2008
Let them eat Meat
That may be the tag line at most of the Argentine all-you-can-eat restaurants. (There are a few that only serve veggies. They may have a different tag line.)
Mendoza may have been a perfect place to have that Argentine steak I had promised myself. The thought was to have some steak in Buenos Aires with a friend of a friend. However, that friend of a friend is a bit ill at the moment, so I will not be meeting her.
While in Mendoza last week, hanging out with some crazy Swedes
a Dane and an Aussie chica, we went to one of the buffet restaurants where, for only $8, you can eat more than you would ever want to. These are not family`s Sizzler. We all seemed to leave the place well satisfied.
I do not know where or when I will have that Argentine steak. I have a week to figure out where to sit down at the table.
bjm 04.07.08
Mendoza may have been a perfect place to have that Argentine steak I had promised myself. The thought was to have some steak in Buenos Aires with a friend of a friend. However, that friend of a friend is a bit ill at the moment, so I will not be meeting her.
While in Mendoza last week, hanging out with some crazy Swedes
a Dane and an Aussie chica, we went to one of the buffet restaurants where, for only $8, you can eat more than you would ever want to. These are not family`s Sizzler. We all seemed to leave the place well satisfied.
I do not know where or when I will have that Argentine steak. I have a week to figure out where to sit down at the table.
bjm 04.07.08
Back In BA, Again
I arrived in Buenos Aires late last week. Is this my final visit to BA? No se. I fly to Colombia on April 15 and I have not yet decided if I will spend my remaining Argentine days in BA, or if I will take a quick side trip.
I returned to BA a little earlier than planned due to a bank card issue. The issue, I needed a new one. Citibank was kind enough to send the new card to a bank in BA. I came back to pick up the card so I could continue to drain my bank account.
As is typical in BA, most nights here have ended a bit late, 4-ish. This time, however, I have not been the last one to return to the room at the hostel. There is one guy in the room who has yet to go to bed before 6:00. Where he is partying, I do not know.
Yesterday, I went to the Recoleta cemetary with someone from the hostel (an Argentine) and a gringa friend of hers.
We, like everyone else visiting the cememtary, made our way to Evita´s resting spot.
Here are a few pics:
Many cats seem to have made the cemetary their home. I am not quite sure what they find special about this place with no grass. Possibly that it has no dogs.
It was a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon and we could not think of anything better to do than walk around the coolresting places of Argentina`s Who`s Who.
We ended the day, as you should end many Argentina days, with some great icecream.
bjm 04.07.08
I returned to BA a little earlier than planned due to a bank card issue. The issue, I needed a new one. Citibank was kind enough to send the new card to a bank in BA. I came back to pick up the card so I could continue to drain my bank account.
As is typical in BA, most nights here have ended a bit late, 4-ish. This time, however, I have not been the last one to return to the room at the hostel. There is one guy in the room who has yet to go to bed before 6:00. Where he is partying, I do not know.
Yesterday, I went to the Recoleta cemetary with someone from the hostel (an Argentine) and a gringa friend of hers.
We, like everyone else visiting the cememtary, made our way to Evita´s resting spot.
Here are a few pics:
Many cats seem to have made the cemetary their home. I am not quite sure what they find special about this place with no grass. Possibly that it has no dogs.
It was a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon and we could not think of anything better to do than walk around the coolresting places of Argentina`s Who`s Who.
We ended the day, as you should end many Argentina days, with some great icecream.
bjm 04.07.08
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