Video: Pando Ambush Incident in Bolivia
What follows is a video posted on YouTube which apparently aired on a Bolivian news channel. It involves gunfire, coffins, and people swimming across water in an attempt to flee. I ask the following question in a genuine manner: what in this video indicates that a) the prefect began the attack and that b) the campesino group was peaceful? The video is extremely incomplete. The footage has been cut and/or blurred in vital moments. Overlaying the video are biased questions and assumptions of the prefect’s guilt. My Spanish is limited (I’m still trying and learning!) – is there...
Read MoreConvenient Realities in Bolivia's Blogs
We have gasoline again in Cochabamba, but at a heavy price; the international leaders of South America agreed to allow the Media Luna to participate in negotiations only on the condition that they remove all of their blockades. The blockades were the only peaceful bargaining chip available to the Media Luna, and blockades were in extremely heavy use by MAS during the Gas Wars of 2004/5 and in the presidential election of 2005. The hypocrisy is astounding. Meanwhile, although the Media Luna has complied and ceased all blockades, the MASistas have constructed blockades of their own....
Read MoreSteampunk Keyboard
Steampunk Desktop Originally uploaded by vonslatt Jake Von Slatt, of the Steampunk Workshop (a new find for me), has posted a photo of his gorgeous desktop mods to his Flickr. The bulk of it is far too… gilded… for my tastes, but check out this keyboard. It’s stunning! A bit of googling was sufficient to show his project reports for his own creation, and even a fellow who is custom building (likely very expensive!) keyboards of a similar theme. I wants...
Read MoreVisual Concept of Bolivian News
This map shows the nine departments of Bolivia. Each deparment has a prefect. This is superficially comparable to the American States and their governors. Four of the departments, those marked with a blue half moon, are referred to jointly as the Media Luna, or Half Moon. The Media Luna are currently in strong opposition to the current president, Evo Morales, and his political party, MAS – Movimiento al Socialismo, or Movement towards Socialism. Evo and the administrative capital of Bolivia are located in La Paz. Chuquisaca is the seat of Sucre, the constitutional capital of Bolivia....
Read MoreCall for Prayer
Please keep this in mind: We know of at least one specific missionary family living in Tarija, which is a different department/state in Bolivia, and one which is experiencing active violence. We heard word from them today that they are trapped. They are currently safe in their home. However! In their region, all roads are blockaded. The airport is closed. They cannot leave. Please pray for their continued security and basic provisions.
Read MoreCochabamba: Our Next Few Days
Bolivia, frankly, is batty. Is it any wonder I love it so? Yesterday’s election was a curious affair. The day was quite and calm. The evening, though, was a race of numbers in the news. Jim Shultz, a political blogger (strong left bias) based here in Cochabamba, has a good run-down of the election numbers released by the media last night. I’ve not found out how these numbers that were released were formed. I’m assuming exit polls; but while those are more or less reliable in the States, I see far less credibility for them here. The polling location near us is a government...
Read MoreAbout Lorien
I vote as a libertarian influenced by Hayek and Burke, and I think as an anarchist guided by the biblical principles of liberty. I have fenced foil in a diaper-suit and run for political office in a skirt-suit, but my shoes were always fabulous. Both dreadful politics and inspiring design are likely to make me teary.
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