bamacellist has left 334 comments

bamacellist comments on How to solve the coke problem

"Addicts would seek treatment because they wouldn't be able to afford their habit." This is a strange statement. Addicts everywhere engage in all kinds of activities to support their habits, including desperate and criminal ones. I have known several crank addicts who were doing jail time because they were caught breaking into pharmacies to steal prescription meds to sell to dealers so they could feed their meth habits. One also wonders how that fits with the scenario that legalization will guarantee enough genteel competition that prices will decrease by some amazing amount, thus eliminating the need for addicts to engage in criminality. While I understand very well the argument, it is not necessarily so, and given the ruthlessness that current suppliers engage in to protect their income, it could be an ugly thing to watch newbies trying to enter the biz as a simple honest and competitive business venture. The implied assertion that organized crime in the US disappeared with, or was pacified by the end of prohibition is just plain dumb! They are "manufacturing" marijuana? Do you suppose coca cultivation is feasible on a large scale everywhere? At what financial incentive? Your business model is funny! Mom and Pop growing coca in the backyard next to the tulips, and processing it in the basement, to supply their quaint little head shop. No middlemen?!? A cottage industry of hobbyists and dilletantes? By the way, profits are high because the rules of "supply and demand" apply this way: people are supplying the product and demanding a price that a sufficient number of consumers are willing to pay that that's what it costs. An increase in supply may, but also may not affect the price the suppliers demand. It depends on several factors such as exactly how big the increase in supply is and how willing they are to lower their return in the face of competition rather than simply killing the bugger who's in the way. Increased supply has no natural effect on the willingness of consumers to pay a certain price. Only suppliers engaging in price competition can do this. The cost of production has nothing at all to do with the cost of cocaine on the street. Current prices of cocaine are a reflection of high market demand (value) at each level of distrubution, not of illicitness or inadequate supply. Legalization will not automatically change that value. The consequences of legalization are not truly predictable, but there seems to me a lot of fantasizing involved when people start talking about gigantic drops in prices and the magical disappearance of criminal efforts to control distribution and markets where the value and expected returns are already established at very high levels. I admit it's a nice fantasy, and it could be a great thing if everything were to work just right, but it would take a flood on the order of a cinematic tidal wave to overturn current market forces and like any kind of flood there would be a lot of incidental mess to deal with.

bamacellist comments on I didn't pay an exit tax...how did that happen?

Yes, you usually pay the exit tax when you purchase your ticket in the US but you have to go to the window for the stamp. As you wait in line someone may ask you if you've gotten the stamp and pull you out of line to get it if you haven't. If you somehow manage to evade them and pay the tax, a flight attendant should give you a form for reimbursement. Expedia always has you pay this in advance.

bamacellist comments on My Novia got beat up bad and robbed last night by 2 guys..

Why don't you who are so deeply upset by this being posted in the wrong forum take advantage of the "flag" the comment feature and inform the mods of your feelings in an appropriate, effective, intelligent and mature fashion instead of simply pitching juvenile little hissy fits publicly here on the thread? It's not so difficult... you could do it. If you suggest it politely to a mod, using this feature which is designed precisely to facilitate this sort of thing, they will probably move it to "Off Topic", which should make you happy. You complain about propriety... act appropriately.

bamacellist comments on changing and adding info about myself

I grew up in southern Lancaster County :)

bamacellist comments on Santa Marta advice needed for a father and 3 little boys

"I think the guy in the background is just throwing the trash back into the sea." That's what it looked like to me at first, too. Kind of like playing catch with the ocean. Later, though, he does seem to be carrying it away with his net, but he looks unhappy to have been captured on film. Maybe he was just throwing it back and then he was mad he really had to work for the camera ;)

bamacellist comments on $.03 to Cell Phones; FREE To Landline Phones

Sadly I have had only bad luck using any voip service. High latency, poor connectivity, and poorer voice transmission. Have tried SkypeOut and Sun Rocket. Your free calls with SMSDiscount are also available when making calls through the local access number. Unlike some other services, you can use the local access number from your landline, eliminating the cell phone charges, although it's truly "local" only to some New Yorkers, so this might lead to long distance charges. There seems to be a hair in my almost free lunch :( Greg, Skype is much more geek-leet than a phone. The only thing better is using Skype from your PPC smartphone.

bamacellist comments on Colombia's share of world cocaine plummets:

"While the UN's figures point to a decline in cultivation, they argue that Colombians have managed to find ways to increase their yields from less plants. In other words, they are getting more cocaine from each plant." ??? This is a UN report, it makes sense they would use data they themselves compile. They do not indicate why they include data from the US Dept. of State, but it seems plausible, particularly since the change does not occur in the same year for each country, that they have only compiled data during these years. The issue of how eradication and replanting affect the data cuts both ways, and is a very interesting question. It seems unavoidable that some cultivation that is accounted in the survey would have been subject to eradication and therefore not become "production". That's why it's important to look at all the data. As far as rapid monumental change, it should be remembered that Colombia was a huge player in the industry with very little actual cultivation. The original cartels were mostly simply processing and then distributing coca form Peru and Bolivia. The change came fairly rapidly. Now Colombia is both the major cultivator and producer of cocaine products, but much of the big money distribution part of the business has moved to Mexico, with some signs that the Mexicans are interested in creating their own cultivation and processing sources in Peru and Bolivia. http://www.inteldaily.com/?c=143&a=1235 There is so much money involved, providing both motivation and wherewithal, that huge and rapidly shifting patterns should not surprise anyone.

bamacellist comments on Colombia's share of world cocaine plummets:

Yes, Romy, the UN report's figures do NOT support the assertion of a such a huge drop during Uribe's tenure. I don't know what the origin of the 90% share figure is. A little research suggests there is a range of figures one could use, but they come with little explanation or qualification, e.g.: "Colombia is now the source of nearly 74 percent of the world’s cocaine base. Source: DEA, "The Drug Trade in Colombia: A Threat Assessment," March 2002" and "cocaine: worldwide coca leaf cultivation in 2005 amounted to 208,500 hectares; Colombia produced slightly more than two-thirds of the worldwide crop, followed by Peru and Bolivia; potential pure cocaine production rose to 900 from 645 metric tons in 2005 - partially due to improved methodologies used to calculate levels of production" the second reference is from the CIA World Fact Book. It seems there is an important decrease, but not nearly as impressive as Naranjo claims and it's very bad for the debate of what are real issues to be sidetracked by hyperbole or hijacked by political posturing. There are other charts that clearly show increasing cultivation in Bolivia and Peru; pages 9 and 11. Although the amount of growth is not dramatic, it appears quite steady. Here is some corroboration (I'm not vouching for the sources or their figures, though!): "BUENOS AIRES, April 5 (RIA Novosti) - Cocaine production in Bolivia has almost doubled since incumbent president Evo Morales took office in January 2006, the head of the country's anti-drug agency said." from http://en.rian.ru/world/20070405/63136977.html "Peru’s cocaine industry, the world’s largest and most violent in the late 1980s and early 1990s, is again on the upswing. Plots of coca bushes, whose leaves yield cocaine, have increased by about one-third since 1999, to about 127,000 acres, according to Peruvian and United Nations estimates." from http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/23/world/fg-coca23 I agree that the issues are indeed very complex and a definitive analysis is about as unlikely as the eradication of the trade.

bamacellist comments on My Novia got beat up bad and robbed last night by 2 guys..

Maybe because if he posted in the Peru forum, none of his friends would have seen it? Lisa, I'm impressed you didn't kick him while he was down there rolling around laughing at your distress!

bamacellist comments on Saving Sea Horses

jajaja. I'm not sure they should be anyone's FIRST priority, but their threatened demise is a symptom of larger problems.

bamacellist comments on Colombia's share of world cocaine plummets:

It seems as if some people have spent more time commenting on this report (the UN report) than they having reading it. It shows among other things that cultivation has shown fairly steady increase over several years in Peru and Bolivia and in most areas in Colombia has fluctuated quite a bit, with a steady and substantial drop in Meta-Guaviare region but also several years of steady growth in the Pacific coast regions. It also points out that some areas of increased cultivation are low yield areas resulting in little increase in the potential supply of cocaine despite increased cultivation, and this report puts Colombia's share of the crop in the 55-60% range (depending on what part of the report you're looking at). Perhaps Gary Leech's analysis fails because the 90% figure was incorrect. It also shows that between 1999 and 2004, the cultivated area was halved and that even with the spike in 2007, was still almost 40% lower than in 2000. An example: This report considers a rather large number of factors, and still leaves a few questions open regarding methodology and the significance of certain factors. It obviously also can be bent all kinds of different ways in the support of differing and even opposite conclusions, as a result of superficial, incompetent, or biased analysis. It will be interesting to see next year's figures in order to gauge whether or not the quite dramatic increase this past year actually represents a trend or was more an anomaly.

bamacellist comments on My Novia got beat up bad and robbed last night by 2 guys..

You mean that angel we've been hearing about?!?! That really does suck! Sorry... and I thoroughly understand your feeling of helpless rage. I hope she recovers quickly.

bamacellist comments on $.03 to Cell Phones; FREE To Landline Phones

You can use a local access number to dial directly from one phone to another. It's relatively painless if you can program your phone to dial the local number and pause before continuing with the overseas number. The software calls adds a connection fee that is apparently not added to calls made using the local access number. I do agree that raw cost is not the only factor to consider :) http://www.smsdiscount.com/en/geo.html

bamacellist comments on I Need a New LapTop Computer - Any recommendations?

Windows has traditionally balked at dual boot systems, but it can be done. Here is a link: http://lifehacker.com/software/top/windows-vista-beta-how-to-dual-boot-windows-xp-and-windows-vista-179906.php and another: http://lifehacker.com/software/dual-boot/dual-boot-windows-xp-on-a-pre+installed-vista-pc-248936.php You should be able to find others. If you install Linux you can use the Linux bootloader to choose between multiple Windows disks. You could also look into virtualization which should let you run BOTH Windows systems at the same time if you have a desire to do that: http://www.sun.com/software/products/virtualbox/features.jsp

bamacellist comments on $.03 to Cell Phones; FREE To Landline Phones

Thanks! This offers a cell to cell service similar to what I've been using with RebTel, but at a much better rate!. My first call seemed ok, but time will tell ;) The web interface could use a serious usability overhaul. With all the deception and deliberate confusion the cell phone providers and calling card people engage in, I get edgy when things like this aren't as simple and straightforward as they should be.

bamacellist comments on Venezuela cites security in Chavez summit no show

Maybe he heard GW was planning yet another assassination attempt. No doubt we'll hear all about it the next time he decides he's not getting enough attention.

bamacellist comments on Listen to Radio calls of police of Man cutting head off and eating body..

Or not at all?

bamacellist comments on Listen to Radio calls of police of Man cutting head off and eating body..

Why is this in the Colombia forum? You need to post this in Off Topic.

bamacellist comments on No pictures posted.

There may be some problems with Internet Explorer; http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/new-feature-foto-albums/ Try another browser for this?

bamacellist comments on No pictures posted.

Do you mean the new photo album feature? I see some have managed to get it to work.Hhave you seen the post by about trouble with IE 7? Atrevido, you find the pictures at the top of the page. "FORUMS TRAVEL GUIDE PICTURES" right under the PBH logo.

bamacellist comments on Move to the side of the road, Tesla!

That picture was taken in the Museo Romantico in Barranquilla. I promise I'll laugh if the joke is funny ;)

bamacellist comments on Move to the side of the road, Tesla!

The way things are laid out here, these kinds of vehicles would be nearly useless, and the thoughtlessness Alabamians exhibit on the roads makes it scary to imagine driving one even where it would otherwise be practical. Oh, well... (I'm still waiting for the punchline to your cello joke, btw!)

bamacellist comments on Hugo's Revenge? US Citgo Stations To Start Selling Venezuelan Coffee

Venezuelan coffee is very very good. I don't have any idea how easy it will be for them to ramp up production to supply a big export market on top of local consumption, though. Maybe that fits in with the expropriation and redistribution of land. They ought to push for better distribution of their rums, imo.

bamacellist comments on Please explain "chimba"

While it's never as entertaining as posting the question here and reading the answers, asihablamos.com is an interesting resource you might like to keep in mind, if you don't already know about it. For example: http://www.asihablamos.com/word/palabra/Chimba.php There is also El Nuevo Diccionario Costeño: http://barranquilla-online.com/BOL/diccio.html And you can buy in most any Colombian bookstore Diccionario De Colombiano Actual by Francisco Celis Alban. Chimba is one of the longer entries in this book ;)

bamacellist comments on President Uribe wants Betancourt as Colombian representative to France.

I'm sorry, but I can't find any report of this anywhere, including W Radio. I get RSS feeds from 11 Colombian news sources and regularly read two others that don't have feeds, then there's the Beeb and the Miami Herald... but I see nothing. Can somebody supply a source, please? It's hard to understand how something like this, if real, could be handled so casually... it seems more likely that nothing would be made public unless and until everything was agreed upon and finalized and that there would then be quite a big celebratory news conference. Unless the aim were to put Ingrid in a very difficult political position and Uribe in the catbird seat. It doesn't seem there's much of anything she can do that can't be and won't be spun against her one way or another by her detractors, although given how virulent those folks are, it seems unnecessary to engage a strategy to further stifle or discredit her. If this is really happening and happening this way, I would have to view it cynically along the lines of CK and Romy.

bamacellist comments on Move to the side of the road, Tesla!

bamacellist comments on Oh Bible Belt Conservatives keep making Everyone Proud...

MaFe, did you just reveal the age of another woman on the internet??? Doc, I took issue with how far Romy went with his generalization, but I think the information the news published about this fellow would support saying he holds social beliefs that are generally considered conservative. I hope I haven't offended any of the Mohawk India... Native Americans with my reference to safety pins. It's not possible to be truly and always fair or sensitive and inoffensive to everyone. That's my excuse, anyway. Peace :)

bamacellist comments on Ever Play this Game in Colombia?

... oops! network problem resulted in a double post! I suppose I should think of something more clever to say to cover this, but I'm too lazy...

bamacellist comments on Ever Play this Game in Colombia?

For some reason, Gator, I am even less inspired now than before to try it.

bamacellist comments on Oh Bible Belt Conservatives keep making Everyone Proud...

I am sitting here trying to decide what a Eurohawk might be and whether or not to request a picture and suddenly I realize to my chagrin I can't keep my prejudices er... stereotypes straight. Of course I meant a mullet, aka hockey hair. Oh well, I can only hope I haven't caused anyone with a Mohawk to lose a safety pin by associating them so unfairly with half-assed wusses who need "business in the front". From the comment released to the press, it is not unreasonable to say this man was acting out his own personal vengeance against people who represented in his sick mind the causes of his personal problems, but it is hard to justify a conclusion - based on this information - that he was convinced he was performing some act of judgement at God's request or on His behalf, or that religious beliefs played a large role in forming his personal judgement. Time and more information may yet show this to be the case, but if it does, his actions will find very very few supporters amongst Christians of all levels of devotion and of any denomination. Most Christians I know seem quite happy to let God do His own judging, to respond to your rhetorical question. My own experience living in the south as a displaced (misplaced?) Yankee is that the bigotry that exists here is a result of the same fears, borne of the same kind of ignorance and insecurities, as the bigotry found anywhere else. It is also true here, as it is anyplace else, that this bigotry is often expressed in political terms so as to allow political "solutions". And, as in many other places, people often seek to hide their shame behind the false shield of a nobler cause; all too often religion, and this by people who may or may not have some sincere religious convictions. For better AND for worse, people are pretty much the same everywhere you find them.

bamacellist comments on Oh Bible Belt Conservatives keep making Everyone Proud...

Being a Christian is not a prerequisite to being a southern conservative. Many are both, of course, but many more are simply one or the other. My objection to your post and comment, Romy, is that you have taken the tragedy of one man's acting out his mental illness and used it as a slur against millions of people who would not object to being called Bible Belt conservatives, or Christian, but would never condone nor mimic this. You have greatly distorted the information in the reportage to do so. I would think that someone who hails from a nation of murderous drug dealers and silicone bloated, gold-digging whores and who currently resides in a country where everyone is proudly toothless, sports a Mohawk, eats blubber, lives in an igloo and drives a sled to work would be a little shy about engaging in this sport. The comments by jorgediaz and MaFe seem not especially related to the context of the event since the man's motivation was pretty clearly generalized anger rather than religious fanaticism. I excluded miamimike from comment because his expression seemed completely sincere, and was a simple and appropriate utterance of shock and dismay at this horrific tragedy, and nothing more.

bamacellist comments on Oh Bible Belt Conservatives keep making Everyone Proud...

I agree that Bill Maher's intellectual prowess is a laughable thing, but what does that have to with your post, subsequent comment, and their lack of sustaining logic? Please elucidate. As it stands you leave us only to conclude that you yourself are an unthinking bigot and that this is an outstanding display of hypocritical contempt.

bamacellist comments on Oh Bible Belt Conservatives keep making Everyone Proud...

The breadth of the non sequitur(s) postulated here indicates noone (other than miamimike) intends their comments to be taken seriously, but I'm not finding the punchline to the joke you all are making. Is there one?

bamacellist comments on Is the national drink of Colombia, Aguardiente ..........the same as Sambuca?

Gotta love the internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aguardiente http://www.foodsubs.com/LiqueurAnise.html

bamacellist comments on Ever Play this Game in Colombia?

I have a cookbook with a couple recipes which I'd be happy to share, although I couldn't tell you if they're any good. (Crispy Fried Guinea Pig.... yum?)

bamacellist comments on Ever Play this Game in Colombia?

Do you or can you bring your own guinea pig or does the guy running the game provide them all? That's pretty funny for a sidewalk game. I wonder how much of what stuff the people who thought of this were consuming at the time!

bamacellist comments on Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe to receive Nobel Peace prize

I think the conflict itself does have the characteristics which would make its resolution worthy of Nobel scrutiny. It has been ongoing for such a long time and has had quite an impact on a region not simply defined by the borders of Colombia and has had catastrophic affect on millions of innocents, and particularly the kind of innocents that interest the people that tend to participate in the process, and has for years now been the subject of international mediation efforts. However, Uribe is not going to get it, no matter how complete and successful the resolution is and no matter how it's arrived at. That's simply because he has been a direct participant in the armed conflict. An award might go to some outside mediator and he might then receive some recognition as shared credit with the Farc and the mediators, but nothing more. So, no Nobel for Uribe, and so what?!?! To say he's "not a man of peace" is stupid and to say he's "a man of war" equally so. He is seeking a peace using the method the circumstances dictate. Anyone who believes there has been some possibility of a negotiated PEACE in the past is an idiot. The Farc have never shown any willingness to back down from its stated objective of overthrowing the government and assuming that role for itself. They have stated as bluntly as could be that they would not cease the armed struggle to do so. They proudly announced a strategy of renewed vigor in this aim just this past January. They have been saying for years now that they would never negotiate with Uribe. To use the term "man of war" is merely inflammatory; a hyperbolic slur. It would be much more accurate and neutral to say Uribe has been a warrior. It has been his judgement that the Farc had to be faced this way and he has held to it and may finally be reaching a point where the Farc has no real option other than to capitulate and surrender, which is not the kind of negotiation that earns Nobel Peace prizes.... but so what!

bamacellist comments on Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe to receive Nobel Peace prize

"A year later, he took a leave of absence from the The Tennessean and returned to graduate study, attending Vanderbilt University Law School from 1974 to 1976" :))

bamacellist comments on Congragulations to fellow Canadian Terry2 and his new Colombiana bride

congrats!

bamacellist comments on what does it mean?

My favorite musician joke is this one: Did you hear about the drummer who became so despondent over his bad timing that he threw himself behind a train?

bamacellist comments on what does it mean?

I don't know, but I expect you're eager to tell me ;)

bamacellist comments on Travelers Checks?

I took traveler's checks my first visit and not after and will not bother again. Not all places that change money take them - it can be difficult to find one, and the rate is a little lower than for cash. The common and best advice is to withdraw cash from an ATM, although you may want to shop around and open an account (here) with a bank that offers the lowest fees. You can research that here, and there are travel sites that offer this kind of info. I use Compass Bank, myself. Also, tell them in advance you'll be using the card abroad so they don't stop your account for fears of misuse when they see these transactions! Good luck!

bamacellist comments on Ingrid Betancourt - WHY?

I'm so sorry my point eluded you. Yes, there are topics commenting on the silliness of the effort promoting her for a Nobel Peace Prize. I started one of them. http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/presidenta-de-chile-promover-a-ingrid-betancourt-para-nobel-de-paz/

bamacellist comments on what does it mean?

There are NO cello jokes. I know some viola jokes. Some drummer jokes, too.

bamacellist comments on Ingrid Betancourt - WHY?

I am not supporting the notion that she is a hero for having been kidnapped or that this experience has much bearing on her qualifications to be president, apart from what she tells us she learned during this time. I am equally uncharmed by the hostility and cynicism shown by some of her detractors. Her decision certainly led to a lot of awful cosequences for a lot of people, not least for herself, but I am not so sure it's fair to judge that decision quite as harshly or so snidely as is often done. As far as heeding advise not to go, not to stay, don't do this, don't do that... There are many in Colombia in public office who have received threats from one source or another. How many people were murdered campaigning in the elections last fall? These threats are made to people in the private sector as well. The threats are not idle. People continue to do these jobs as others fall and still others flee. Somebody has to do this work. Somebody has to defy the terror. What would happen if they didn't? Who decides if, when and how they do or don't?

bamacellist comments on Ingrid Betancourt - WHY?

"joyride in the countryside" Her decision to go could be said to have been stupid or foolhardy, based on the fact the situation was so obviously dangerous and it seems everyone warned her bluntly not to go. It could be called naive if she had decided her purpose was so great she expected the Farc to respect it. It could also be viewed as the courageous act of a person determined not to cower before the threats of terror - the action of someone very much made of presidential material. In reality, she could only choose to go or not go and it is the actions of the Farc that mostly determine how we view it today. If you're not sure of my meaning, think about this: What is most of the world saying about Uribe's decision to approve this rescue mission? What would the world be sayng if it had failed? Uribe decided to go; it was a very brave and very presidential thing to do. It would still have been that even if it had failed, but the world would probably refuse to recognize it. There may be something of that same unfairness in judging her about her decision to go, too. Something to think about, anyway.

bamacellist comments on bamacellist

Thank you Kitty :) Yes, it's a cello! I've beeen doing this professionally for almost 30 years and there is very little I haven't done at least once. Commercials for cigarettes in both Hong Kong and Venezuela, as well as Oscar Mayer and PDVSA in Caracas. Pop music all the way from live disco shows in Hong Kong to an amazingly diverse bunch of bona fide superstars, entertaining lesser knowns and well known people who were disappointments, here in Birmingham. I have played all kinds of classical music under all kinds of conditions on three continents. I have my likes and dislikes, good memories and not so good, but there are enough different aspects of performing, both artistically speaking and as a craft, that there's usually not an excuse for not having fun, and I try to make that my goal.

bamacellist comments on Presidenta de Chile promoverá a Ingrid Betancourt para Nobel de Paz

I understand that perfectly, Lisa and that is a big part of my point. This could easily reflect unfairly against her. She's already been put in danger of that with the reaction to her mother's trashing of Uribe. Maybe she'll say a polite but firm "how sweet, but no thank you" and it will go away.

bamacellist comments on Presidenta de Chile promoverá a Ingrid Betancourt para Nobel de Paz

It does seem absurd that anyone would suggest that being a symbol of something would qualify someone for the Nobel Peace Prize. Of course, the Venezuelans want to nominate Chavez (sadly this is not a joke) so this may be a sign of the times. I have no doubt Ingrid would understand the silliness of this. But, she may end up receiving the ridicule for someone else's folly. She has such helpful friends.

bamacellist comments on Colombia's Sugar Cane-to-Ethanol Industry

The banana industy is hurting badly along the Atltantic coast due to the weakness of the dollar. http://www.elheraldo.com.co/ELHERALDO/BancoConocimiento/X/x1agoniza_economia_bananera/x1agoniza_economia_bananera.asp?CodSeccion=16 I wonder if this is a viable replacement for some of these growers.