HUGE FIRE in Medellin......

arthur brode says on Dec 24, 2007, 20:10:

Damn!
they are partying hard in Medellin tonight

http://www.calirentals.net/

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manINred says on Dec 24, 2007, 20:44:

that is a great picture. I hope all is well in Medellin.

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tejasmarcos says on Dec 24, 2007, 21:01:

it has taken about an hour to subside. the entire southern valley is blanketed in smoke. it is my guess that it was petroleum based the way it burned and for how long. it also looks to be in an area where i remember a gas station being located. i bet fireworks had something to do with the setting of the blaze......

i hope no one was hurt.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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joanseb says on Dec 24, 2007, 22:03:

Eso ocurrio cerca de Sofasa, una empresa de automoviles en envigado. No es la primera vez que ocurre, pero sera hasta mañana que lo muestren en las noticias.

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tomtom33 says on Dec 25, 2007, 00:57:

I didn't see or hear a thing in Conquistadores.

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Ctg Bound says on Dec 25, 2007, 04:04:

I didn't hear anything either, but my part of the building is facing the wrong way, my neighbour on the otherside of the building heard it, says it was about midnight.

According to the people in the local cafe, it was in Envigado at a Exito Bodega, nobody killed.

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ColombiaBoard says on Dec 25, 2007, 07:52:

It's on the local news now, it was the distribution center for the EXITO supermarket chain, apparently a flying balloon fell on the roof and it quickly caught fire. Nobody was killed.

Here's the link

http://www.elcolombiano.com.co/BancoConocimiento/O/olac_incendioenelex...

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Medellin Traveler says on Dec 25, 2007, 07:55:

A flying ballon? Was it part of the Christmas light decorations?

texasmarcos, nice pic! Colombia News 24/7 on PBH.

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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tejasmarcos says on Dec 25, 2007, 08:13:

it is still smoking this morning. this was a HOT fire that burned a long time. it had flames that were shooting into the air 100 feet or more easily.



here is the story (presented by Colombiaboard) as translated by babelfish;

A fire of great proportions, that began at night to 10:30 of last Monday, destroyed the Center of Distribution (Cedi) of the Exito, located in the municipality of Envigado, to the south of Medellín. The flames, caused apparently by the fall of a globe on the ceiling of the construction, began by the North flank and quickly they expanded by the rest of the construction. The fire, which it last until the dawn of this Tuesday, was taken care of by nine machines of the bodies of firemen of Envigado, Medellín, the Star, Itagüí and Sabaneta, in addition to the brigade of emergencies of the Cedi, the Simpad and the Civil defense. In the incident wounded did not appear, although if material damages that not yet have been quantified, but are anticipated that they are multimillionaire. In the morning of this Tuesday who journeyed by the Avenue the South Fertile valleys and Freeway still could see the gigantic smoke cloud that covered the zone. The Center of Distribution (Cedi) of the Exito, inaugurated in March of 2006 by the company, is considered one of most modern of Latin America. The warehouses have an area of 55 thousand square meters constructed.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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tejasmarcos says on Dec 25, 2007, 08:16:

here is a foto of a "globo" - flying balloon, i took this morning. there were alot of them in the air yesterday (december 24). i guess it is a xmas thing here.........



speaking of business ideas. i suppose all the other local "bodega" owners across the southern part of the city will be the benefactors of this catastrophe. what a xmas gift in a sad way. i wonder if this will affect prices at the Exito(s) here in Medellin?

i am glad no one was hurt......

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Ctg Bound says on Dec 25, 2007, 08:21:

Those ballons I have seen land on buildings roofs around my apt, never seen them cause anything other than a small a fire, as they are landing on the tyles and just burn out, but always thought sooner or later they will land in the wrong place, like a gaoline station or something like that, yep just looked and its still smouldering away.

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jorgegdiaz says on Dec 25, 2007, 08:25:

Yep, T´was EXITO... shit, things there will be even more expensive now !
http://www.eltiempo.com/nacion/medellin/25dediciembre2007/ARTICULO-WEB...

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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tejasmarcos says on Dec 25, 2007, 08:32:

CTB - i guess the difference was it landed on a large commercial flat roof. i can't be for sure, but most industrial roofs have a tar based shingle. this would catch fire easily and burn with some intensity. the smokestack from this thing was "black" against the rest of the grey sky last night.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Rahab says on Dec 25, 2007, 08:39:

INCREIBLE QUE TODAVIA NO PROHIBAN LOS GLOBOS!!! Cuantas veces se ha repetido esta misma historia de lugares incendiados por causa de un globo!. Buen seguimiento de la noticia tejasmarcos y el primero en dar a conocer lo que sucedio. Buena vocación de periodista y buenas fotos.

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gringoloid says on Dec 25, 2007, 08:48:

What is up with these fires at Exito? There was a brand new exito on CL 13 in Bogota completely destroyed about a month ago after being open about 10 days.

Somebody may be upset with Exito.

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Ctg Bound says on Dec 25, 2007, 09:33:

I hope it isn't the Exito itself in Envigado, my dry cleaning is in there.

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bartolo_colon says on Dec 25, 2007, 10:16:

Ok, can somebody please elaborate, how exactly does a balloon cause a fire? Is it a hot air balloon? If not, excuse me but I am confused. Balloons have always seemed to me to be friendly innocuous objects. In Medellin there are terror pyro death balloons, that will burn anything they touch? I feel really out of the loop here, everyone is commenting like, "oh naturaly, it was one of those damn christmas balloons.", Huh? Are there mini-hindenburg navidad chaos balloons looming accross the city?

Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!

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rocinante says on Dec 25, 2007, 10:33:

Globos, Bartolo, Globos. The day these are banned is the day I firebomb the capital. THese were taken last New Year's eve from the streets of Manrique. Original Thread (http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/meeting-up-with-people-in-medell...)

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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rocinante says on Dec 25, 2007, 10:39:

From my post in the the original thread - link posted in my previous post - to Lisa Zee:

"facinated too and I'm no kid! The great thing is that the fire is inside the baloon and therefore the entire baloon is illuminated as it floats through the sky. I'm totally fascinated by them, too. Everytime one of the kids spotted one they ran to me to point it out.

You need about 4 people to get one of the normal ones off the ground. The one in the photos is a bit small and they are usually much bigger than they look; someone needs to stand on a chair or ladder to hold the top as there is no form, just floppy, flamable cloth. Did you ever see an unsucessful launch? The whole thing goes up in flames in an instant. There is an art lighting one of these things as the burner is hand made from cotton with flammable stuff - it's not just some cylinder on a stick you buy, light the fuse and watch it take off.

Plus they are reusable. Many times a globo falls to earth (these are in the sky all week between Nochebuena and La Noche de Fin de Año) and the kid that finds it might not have the know how or equipment to do the launch - so a mini team forms on the streets. The kid that knows what he's doing somehow gets the gas and whatever else is needed and sets it all up, barking orders to the helpers - almost like the millitary. The helpers are just so excited to be a part of it that they are happy to oblige and don't back talk or question anything. I'm guessing a mini lantern with some sort of wick is made. I just don't know."

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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podborski says on Dec 25, 2007, 10:47:

I saw my neighbours lighting those last night. It looked pretty dangerous for the guy holding a baby in his arms as he helped hold the balloon up until the fire warmed the air.

Everyone cheered when it finally got off the ground, and I was just glad it was heading away from my place.

It was neat and all, but it seems pretty incredibly foolish to send a balloon with a flame attached flying over densely populated neighbourhoods...

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rocinante says on Dec 25, 2007, 10:54:

Podborski, I agree but it such a huge part of tradition and the majority of times, once it is in the air it stays up until the fire burns out.

Globos are a lazyman's firwork to view. If someone spots one you don't have to get whiplash to see the tail end of the bottle rocket. The globos hang out for a good while - so you can grab your beer and saunter to the balcony in order to check out the globo. The whoile family can watch!

It is just spectacular to look up in the sky and see this beautiful illuminated ball hovering sliently over the city, slowly drifting accross the nightscape. They are I guess kind of old fashioned type of firework. They are elegant and regal. I can picture these in the sky in old cities 200 years ago in Europe. I can't tell you what a significant part of the holidays globos are to me.

On New Years I will be part of a force that launches 10 of these.

What neighborhood do you live in? I thought you were in Argentina? If you are I guess there are Globos there as well?

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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bartolo_colon says on Dec 25, 2007, 11:15:

Oh, good lord, that is what I suspected....The majority of the time it burns out...but sometimes it burns down brand new state of the art 50 thousand square meter food distribution centers and risks the lives of dozens of bomberos on christmas eve.

Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!

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Portena says on Dec 25, 2007, 11:20:

Unfortutely it took a huge tradegy to change laws about setting off fireworks (in buildings) during concerts in Beunos Aries. I guess it was in 2005 when someone set off fireworks at a concert and so many people (mostly teens) were killed they changed the fire codes and shut several restaurants, concert halls, etc. down so they could complete the work needed to meet code. I agree with you, Pod. Sounds like a very dangerous tradition. Perhaps some enterprising person can invent a glowing balloon that will keep tradition going without the danger. Maybe they need to use the glowing chemicals used in the US for the mysterious weather balloons that get reported as UFOs...

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rocinante says on Dec 25, 2007, 11:35:

Bartolo writes "Oh, good lord, that is what I suspected....The majority of the time it burns out...but sometimes it burns down brand new state of the art 50 thousand square meter food distribution centers and risks the lives of dozens of bomberos on christmas eve."

Yeah I agree - some places need to have their roofs fireproofed.

I know i am wrong here but I have to debate from my emotional side. Plus I have a wicked hangover.

But if we are going to inact laws and codes lets talk about no helmet wearing moto accidents, no fire escapes nor smoke detectors in buildings, infants on motorcycles, no baby seats in cars.... the motor deaths here per year are frightening.

Deaths and injuies due to fireworks alone (lets not include no helmet, no fire escape, etc....) are exponentially higher than globos.

But you have to see that these "flaws" are what makes Colombia Colombia. I don't want anyone to try to change this country.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 25, 2007, 11:38:

I'm on my way down there with my code book......
I'm writing everyone up on this one!!!
I'm happy no one was killed....
Feliz Navidad!!!!!!

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rocinante says on Dec 25, 2007, 12:06:

Bombero you would love it here - the only wood is in cabinets, furniture and wood molding. All construction is brick, steel, cement and tile. Not a great deal of fires per capita.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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podborski says on Dec 25, 2007, 12:12:

roci I am in BsAs, and they are definitely part of the fireworks here, I imagine they have a long tradition but don't know that for sure.

I do think they are very cool, and if I had seen them as a kid I would have been enthralled too. Even now I thought it was very cool.

But that anal side of me just can't help but think it's a baaaad idea...

I guess my ideal solution would be to try and come up with a way to make them safer?

If someone burned down my house with one, I'd be looking for them.

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slguy says on Dec 25, 2007, 12:14:

It always amazes me how STUPID some people can "traditionally" be.

In Puerto Rico, firing guns in the air on New Years is traditional- and every year, several die from falling bullets. What do these fokin idiots think- the bullets enter orbit?

My employees once picked up almost 40 bullets from a metal roofed building they were prepping to insulate - a building of approximately 10,000 square feet. Everything from .22's to .45's.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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podborski says on Dec 25, 2007, 12:19:

Portena the Cromagnon fire killed more than a hundred kids (200?) and still is in the news here all the time.

I know the rules changed after that as in my place I had to build a massive, concrete stairway with proper fire doors, extinguishers and a separate fire hose system with outlets on each floor.

That all makes sense, but it does seem a bit excessive since my place is essentially a big house.

Anyway, rumour has it you can bribe your way past any and all regulations here, EXCEPT the fire ones.

BTW, I happened to meet someone who works for the new mayor, and he told me if anyone asks for a bribe he'd like to hear about it, as they are really going to try to crack down on it.

I hope they succeed, at least it's nice to see an effort being made.

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Portena says on Dec 25, 2007, 12:41:

I heard about the fire in the news a lot before I visited Argentina. Then during my visit I attended a professional meeting focused on how to help communities cope with the emotional devastation of these tragic events. One way to cope is to know you have made changes in the law, in people's behavior, etc. that will help prevent these terrible events in the future. My heart goes out to all the families that lost loved ones in that fire.

Glad no one was hurt in the Medellin fire!

Your hotel sounds better and better, Pod!

I'll have to say that after attending the meeting focused on the Cromagnon fire, I was very happy to see clearly lit fire exits in a very dark and smokey Tango hall.

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Medellin Traveler says on Dec 25, 2007, 13:45:

"But you have to see that these "flaws" are what makes Colombia Colombia" -. rocinante

It's what makes Colombia - Locolombia

It might be tradition, it might look wonderful as it floats through the sky, it might rekindle a bunch of fond memories, but when it lands on your roof and burns your house down let me how you feel about it then.

It does look like a cool thing to part off.

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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rocinante says on Dec 25, 2007, 14:29:

First find me the flamable wooden house with the flamable wooden roof in Colombia. I can't refute the experts that reported quickly that a globo was to blame, even though the site was still smoldering in the morning. It's real easy to collect insurance when the blame is a globo instead of arson, faulty wiring or some sort of inner negligence. Of course I don't know what caused the fire and yes globos have caused trouble.

But fires here are as common as smoke detectors, fire escapes, fire extinguishers and loss of life through fire - pretty gosh darn non existent, given the building materials of this country.

Pretty soon some yahoo is going to site some fire that happened in a wooden house a few years back blah, blah, blah....

Someone with some vigor please look up the figures.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 25, 2007, 16:45:

No thanks!!! Yo roc, I've been to Medellin and I was glad to see no wood of any kind.
That makes for well rested bomberos!!!!

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rocinante says on Dec 25, 2007, 17:00:

I never hear or see a fire truck here. Everything is brick and steel. And not only in Medellín, but all cities here have well rested bomberos.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 25, 2007, 17:20:

That's probably part of why they don't get paid shit!!!!
I visited a firehouse in La Pintada outside of Medellin.
On duty were one 14 year old kid, an 80 year old man, and a lady so ugly I swore she was a man!!!
I got some funny pics with them.......

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Medellin Traveler says on Dec 25, 2007, 18:19:

POST 'EM PICS.

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 25, 2007, 18:24:

I'll send em to you Traveler. I'm not on my computer unfortunately. You know X Mas and the family.... Any excuse to escape from the boring conversation about aunt Betty's dentures....lol

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lpdiver says on Dec 25, 2007, 19:50:

SO someone has a brilliant idea to outlaw globos!

I wonder what makes anyone think that they are legal?

t

"cook some rice!"

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tomtom33 says on Dec 26, 2007, 03:13:

My novia says that they aren't legal. Neither is running red lights. The average Colombian doesn't seem to give a shit about any laws. They are meant for someone else.

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Ctg Bound says on Dec 26, 2007, 04:33:

GIB, I have seen ballons on fire on the roofs around my apartment, as they are tyled roofs they just burn out after the material of the ballon is no more.

It could well be some other reason for the fire though.

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 26, 2007, 05:11:

conspiracy theories.....love it!
GiB, you sure you're not "working" for the agency? lol

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 26, 2007, 05:23:

Do you have locks on all your cabinets and your fridge? And take a different route to work each day? And find that you talk to yourself throughout the day?
Just asking.....lol
I thought I was the only one!

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 26, 2007, 05:50:

This site gets stranger by the minute!

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dwmte7 says on Dec 26, 2007, 06:36:

the first fire i saw from a globo was while on a helicopter out by rionegro, somewhere over some fincas. no matter a tejas roof and brick walls, burned down the place/gutted it.

i've been watching them since the '89's and have always wondered why more damage hasn't resulted. they are lovely and hover like a luminous planet over the cities and countryside, however, they are a fire waiting to happen. the older ones i was familiar with were paper over a stick skeleton and fire used to occur by catching the paper on fire and down they'ld come. there goes your theory, GIB...they do catch fire and come down. all of a sudden they go ablaze and that, too, is pretty spactacular.

as for laws...no clue, legal/illegal. they're just a tradition and will continue long after any laws are passed. as for no helmets....the 'no helmet' era passed with some quazi control over sicarios. now there ARE laws about wearing helmets. don'[t know about car seats. there are also laws against murder and robbery......

dwmte

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Ctg Bound says on Dec 26, 2007, 09:25:

dwmte7, this is my seventh Christmas, I have always seen the odd one, but this Christmas I have seen hundreds flying around, last night I looked out from one side of my apartment and counted 5.

Thinking about it dwmte7, I have also seen them ablaze and in shreds in the air as you tumble back to earth.

As to Exito, it could be two accidents or not, the future will probably tell.

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dwmte7 says on Dec 26, 2007, 11:17:

ct bound....the one in the photo above looks like it's plastic and someone else said they saw them outta fabric...dunno...the one's i'm familiar with were paper and tiny sticks. and yes, they make a nice blaze when they come down.

where you been livin the past 7 yrs? although i've been around a few areas of the country, all my time has been spent in medallo and out to the eastern parts of antioquia. some parts close in others way the fk out in eastern antioquia where it gets a little hairy.

dwmte

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Ctg Bound says on Dec 26, 2007, 13:06:

The ones I see dwmte7 look like fabric or plastic, most look like fabric, I expect that they have small sticks in them to define their shape.

The first Christmas in Ctg, I don't recall seeing any ballons there, the remaining 6 in Medellin.

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Medellin Traveler says on Dec 26, 2007, 13:47:

gringoinbogota says, "my theory might not work but the odds of that happening to two brand new Exito distribution facilities within about three months of each other is difficult for me to fathom.......seems I am alone on that. Can't beleive that one! jaja"

I was at work today thinking about the this incident and after printing out the El Tiempo article, I was wondering where the "balloon" theory originated.

And then, after reading that a similiar incident occured in Bogota a few months back, I too felt like something very suspicious was going on, definitely more than we are led to believe. For whatever reasons, I feel El Tiempo did not ask the more important questions, only stating the facts. If you want to call them that.

There is definitely more to the story.

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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houstongal says on Dec 26, 2007, 16:07:

I'm with GIB on this one. I hear it's extortion that they refused to pay. Happens a lot in Colombia.

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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dwmte7 says on Dec 26, 2007, 16:53:

maybe they just used a radio controlled globo to carry out their mission...jeje

dwmte

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rocinante says on Dec 27, 2007, 08:01:

"I can't refute the experts that reported quickly that a globo was to blame, even though the site was still smoldering in the morning. It's real easy to collect insurance when the blame is a globo instead of arson, faulty wiring or some sort of inner negligence. Of course I don't know what caused the fire and yes globos have caused trouble." Quoting myself....

How can the fire department determine in the middle of the blaze that it was a globo? Especially on a new facility. You know how hard it is for one of these to actually catch a building in the city on fire?

Tejasmarcos, Thanks for editing your post and sneaking in a Globo photo 10 hours after I posted mine, upstaging me. Just kidding - but most forums have a half hour edit rule. That should be enforced here.

In general it is not a good idea to alter posts that others have already read. This changes threads and causes fights. JMHO

GIB of course this is shenanigans.

LAWS vs ENFORCED LAWS. Globos, Fireworks, Helmets on Motos and Prostitution. What do these all have in common? They are ALL illegal in Colombia and the are NOT enforced.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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tejasmarcos says on Dec 27, 2007, 12:27:

Rocinante - I have not a clue what you are talking about amigo. I woke up, took a picture of the smoldering site and noticed another globo getting ready to hit the ground close to the original fire site. Therefore, I decided to snap a photo of it as well. 5 minutes later, I posted both photos to this thread. I do not control this forum and I do not have any type of backend or programming prividges in order to "sneak" a photo ahead of someone else.

I personally think the addition of all photos including yours enhanced the understanding out what was going on for those who do not live here. I subscribe to the theory of resource abundance (vs. resource scarecity) and always try to operate as a contributer and collaborator, not a competitor.

I assure you it was and will never be my motivation to "upstage" anyone on this site as I could care less about that type of behavior. I contribute when I can and avoid drama like the plague.

When I cannot contribute, I stay out of threads, pure and simple.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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rocinante says on Dec 27, 2007, 19:42:

No pues tejas - Sorry to accuse. Not to nit pick, as it matters little, but your original 12/25 8:16 post did not contain a photo of a globo - just the comment of the southern businesses. I thought the photo was most likely added later, by you, using the edit feature - not some backended programming technique. I have the original HTML saved on my computer. I'm a nerd like that.

We can all edit our posts after they have been posted and that includes adding a photo.

Wether the original HTML was altered is not a big deal and I wouldn't bet my life that the photo was never there before bartolo posted asking "what's a globo?"

I guess my real concern is that Peter should disable the edit button after half an hour. Otherwise we can change our posts long after they have been posted, altering history so to speak.

Globos are important to me and I have been following this thread almost real time. If you edited your post to add a photo or not is not really a big deal. I'm actually glad to see a photo of a globo in broad daylight. I have never seen one during the day. Are you sure that's not a UFO?

It's funny how in Colombia people will light fireworks and lauch globos that look better at night during the early day. I guess these party animals are still up from the night before.

Lastly I can't see a globo setting fire to a roof of a brand new building and the Fire Department drawing that conclusion mid blaze. The fire was front page El Colombiano yesterday but I did not buy the paper.

Does anyone know if thy are still sticking to the globo conspiracy theory?

Again Tejas I apologize for the "attack"

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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rocinante says on Dec 28, 2007, 07:29:

Mr. InBogotá, Just as I suspected, the globo is innocent!

One day the defacation is going to come in contact with the rotary oscillator and a big story will be released about safety here. Someone big with ties to the US, or some political high figure (not a mayoral candidate) will be assinated or kidnapped or somethng. It will be a setback for Colombia but the reality is the reality.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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rocinante says on Dec 28, 2007, 07:43:

Mr InBogotá: Off topic. You mentioned recently about 7 years and money can come out to foreigners who invested in Ecopetrol. From what I know all the Ecopetrol allocation sold out in the first of three offerings and all went to Colombians including the institutional investors. They don't have the 7 year rule. What do you think about the Ecopetrol ADR when and if it hits?

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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tejasmarcos says on Dec 28, 2007, 07:52:

Roci - i understand your concern regarding "changing history". i have never thought about that being a problem before now. however, the pics were placed into the post at the same time i wrote them. no big......

i was kinda suprised to see that globo headed for the same exito warehouse that burned - it was the biggest globo i have seen here thus far. it had to be the size of a small house.....

my chica friend here tells me that there has been a long running problem with fires and globos. however, now that i have heard the additional information contributed by others, i must conclude it is an extraordinary coincidence to have two major fires at the same place of business (2 different cities) in such a short span of time.

i thought arson investigators could detect the presence of flamable liquids after a fire? or maybe the globo was a globo, but intentionally targeted at the warehouse. it seems there would have been plenty of witnesses in the area as it was not that late at night and people were out and about.

i think if i were part of the exito group, i would definitely give some thought to roof design once the new facilities are re-built. maybe add some truss structure so that the roof is not flat. tar shingles (tar paper) are common for commercial flat roofs. however, this little fire hazard can be eliminated if you design with trusses - more expensive, but you can then use a metal alternative for the roof (decking) in place of the flammable tar paper.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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