hongo_joe has left 95 comments

hongo_joe comments on what makes Colombia a third world country?

In the major Colombian city I live in, kids drive burro-drawn carts and go through the garbage cans in the upscale neighbourhoods. I imagine the carts they ride in Manhattan or Vienna are a lot nicer..

hongo_joe comments on INGRID ARRIVES TO PARIS AND SAYS " I owe everything to france"

Kat and Lisa - absolutely right - give her a break!!!

hongo_joe comments on INGRID ARRIVES TO PARIS AND SAYS " I owe everything to france"

She just asked the French government to provide scholarships for all of Farc's hostages - the French agreed. That bitch.

hongo_joe comments on How would you like your burro?

The link works for me, but here is the article. It is about people buying or stealing burros and horses for sale as meat. The animals are butchered in peoples' yards or houses and sold in markets or to restaurants. Burros viejos que terminan en la mesa de los barranquilleros Para los moradores de Rebolo no es extraño ver camiones con veinte o treinta burros todos los días. Muchas casas prestan sus patios para el sacrificio de estos animales. Por REDACCIÓN LOCAL La vida de un burro viejo y hasta enfermo vale apenas 30 mil pesos. A ese precio promedio lo venden en poblaciones como Ponedera y Suan, en el Atlántico, o Pedraza, en el Magdalena, cuando el animal deja de servir para el trabajo y se convierte en un estorbo para su dueño. Últimamente también llegan de La Guajira, comercializados directamente por indígenas. Este es el primer eslabón de la cadena de un negocio ilegal, pero tan popular y reconocido que prácticamente ha dejado la clandestinidad. “Por lo menos media Barranquilla está comiendo carne de burro�, aseguró un habitante de Rebolo durante un decomiso realizado semanas atrás en una vivienda del barrio. Con base en el testimonio de expendedores y moradores del sector, EL HERALDO reconstruye los pasos de este lucrativo comercio que está poniendo en riesgo la salud de los consumidores. Tras completar un grupo de entre veinte y treinta burros, bien sea comprados o robados —como sucede en muchos casos—, son traídos en camiones hasta Barranquilla, la mayoría de veces con permiso de inspectores de Policía municipales, pasando por encima de las autorizaciones que para el transporte de animales le competen al Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA). El destino: Rebolo. Allí, en los alrededores de la calle 17, cualquier patio de cualquier casa sirve de matadero. Hay familias que prestan el área a cambio de dos o tres libras de carne. Por estos días los sacrificios se realizan en la tarde, pero pueden darse en la noche o la mañana, en la medida en que haya operativos policiales. En el piso sucio de sangre seca y cuero se mata al burro. Uno o dos ‘monazos’ en la cabeza bastan para hacerlo caer y, enseguida, se le corta la cabeza con machete o cualquier elemento cortante a la mano. Se le deja desangrar y se le quitan cinco piezas principales, las mejor cotizadas. “Se le sacan los dos perniles de adelante y los dos de atrás, o mejor dicho las patas, y también el lomo. Eso es lo que sirve�, afirmó un vendedor. El resto (pecho y barriga) se pica “chiquitito� y se vende a pequeñas salchicherías de barrios. “Hay gente en El Bosque y otros puntos que lo compran para embutidos, sale más barato y sabe la misma vaina�, apuntó. En viejos compartimientos de neveras o enfriadores, conservados justamente para este fin, se dispone la carne con abundante agua y hielo para que elimine todos los líquidos y se ponga “rosadita�. “Se le ponen como tres moldes de hielo, así queda bien bonita y buena para vender�. En la madrugada es transportada en carretillas hasta el mercado público, se distribuye de acuerdo a los pedidos. La esquina del mercado El Playón es uno de los puntos, allí llegan tanto expendedores de la zona como tenderos de barrios y hasta dueños de restaurantes para adquirirla. Mientras que la libra de carne de res de primera puede comprarse en un supermercado por precios que oscilan entre 6 mil y 8 mil pesos, la de burro cuesta unos $3 mil si es de lomo, y $1.500 la molida. Pero las vísceras también son aprovechadas. Al burro se le saca ‘mondongo’ e hígado, que cuestan menos de la mitad que los de vaca. La lengua solamente se vende para comida de perro, porque es muy fácil de distinguir debido a que es más larga que la de res. Los huesos se botan o se queman, de hecho, a lo largo del caño de la Auyama son frecuentes las hogueras para desaparecerlos, el olor es insoportable, pero es parte de la vida cotidiana de los habitantes de la zona. En el mercado hay expendedores que combinan la carne de vaca con la de burro o caballo para que la gente no note la diferencia. “El que no sabe no se da cuenta porque se ve igualita�, sentenció otro experimentado comerciante. UN PELIGRO Para la personera distrital, Lourdes Insignares, es preocupante que la mayoría de estos mataderos ilegales estén identificados pero no se haga nada para acabarlos. La Personería ha hecho seguimiento a varios e incluso denunció a seis que funcionan en casas de Rebolo e inmediaciones de Las Nieves, no solamente dedicados al sacrificio de burros sino también de cerdos. “Creo que es necesario que se actúe en conjunto con la Secretaría de Salud, el Invima y las autoridades policivas al respecto, por eso conminamos a la Policía de Carreteras para que ponga más control al ingreso de camiones con animales o carne sin refrigeración y sin los requisitos exigidos�, planteó. Las pérdidas de los ganaderos por el robo de equinos es otra de las consecuencias de este negocio. Aunque las cifras oficiales hasta abril apuntan a 234 caballos hurtados en municipios del Departamento, según el director de la Asociación de Ganaderos del Atlántico y Zona Norte (Asoganorte), Luis Vicente Támara, las reales son mucho mayores. Por temor a denunciar, por negligencia o incredulidad en la eficacia de las autoridades, los dueños de fincas o pequeñas parcelas no hablan del azote de los delincuentes. Asoganorte estima que mensualmente se roban entre 80 y 100 caballos, es decir, unos mil anuales. Para la Costa Cribe el número es de aproximadamente 15 mil, y de 30 mil para el resto del país. En el reciente consejo de seguridad liderado por el presidente �lvaro Uribe, el gremio le expuso seriamente el problema. “La preocupación no es solo el robo sino la salud pública que se pone en riesgo por las condiciones sanitarias pésimas en que sacrifican estos animales, además de que estos mataderos no pagan impuestos y compiten con los legales que sí los pagan�, insistió Támara. En el evento se concluyó que falta seguimiento a estos sitios para sorprender a las personas en flagrancia y judicializarlas. Otro inconveniente es que Barranquilla no tiene un lugar adonde llevar los animales que se decomisan, así que para la Policía puede resultar siendo un encarte incautarlos. Por malas condiciones de manejo y transporte, la Policía seccional ha decomisado este año en el Departamento 4.193 kilogramos de todo tipo de carne.

hongo_joe comments on How would you like your burro?

Maybe this will work. http://www.elheraldo.com.co/ELHERALDO/BancoConocimiento/X/x0rebolo_el_matadero_de_burros_mas_grande_de_barranquilla/x0rebolo_el_matadero_de_burros_mas_grande_de_barranquilla.asp?CodSeccion=16

hongo_joe comments on The Economist: The end of illusion and the last guerrilla

I agree.

hongo_joe comments on The Economist: The end of illusion and the last guerrilla

Well she clearly didn't say that she had her accountant cheat on her taxes, as you claim.

hongo_joe comments on The Economist: The end of illusion and the last guerrilla

"the left never bothers with the truth" What a ridiculous generalization. I am sure Desi can answer for herself, but it is pretty disgusting to take the comment "Our accountant had added my deceased father" which sounds to me like she corrected the situation and twist it into "while she has her accountant cheat on her taxes" The left never bothers with the truth? Here is an article about people paying taxes in Colombia "Do Wealthy Colombians Pay Their Taxes?" http://www.ciponline.org/colombia/040804cip.htm It seems that they are paying much more than they used to.

hongo_joe comments on Books - Amazon delivery to Bogota

Check their website for details. The shipping cost for my order of two books (400 pages each) was $14.97.

hongo_joe comments on Books - Amazon delivery to Bogota

I ordered some books from Amazon earlier this year. They took about two months. They arrived a few days after the estimated delivery date. The package was unopened and there were no customs issues.

hongo_joe comments on colombian honesty

Rubito: Where are the reservations that you referred to?

hongo_joe comments on ...Democrats on 'destructive path' in trade

You have to consider also that American taxpayers have saved money on their flower (etc.) purchases - money that they could spend on other things, or save to give to their ungrateful children or rose farmers, or whatever.

hongo_joe comments on Trip to Valledupar, Is it safe?

I went from Baq to Valledupar by bus about a month ago without problem. It took about 4 hours. Valledupar was a pleasant little city - many tree lined boulevards.

hongo_joe comments on Colombian citizen visa requirements to travel to Costa Rica or Panama.

Buongone; I am curious - Did Panamanian immigration actually ask her to show a police report and proof of yellow fever shot when she arrived, or is it that she was told that she would need those documents? As I said above, I have never been asked for them and Colombians I know have never been asked for them and I was talking to a Panamanian immigration lawyer today and she said that they are not required. I can believe that they would ask about money and the return ticket, but the others I find surprising.

hongo_joe comments on Travel with Colombian Girl friend?

Buongone: I don't think your girlfriend needed a smallpox shot, that disease was irradicated(sp) almost 30 years ago. Maybe yellow fever - but I would be surprised if even that is required. Rocinante: I was in Panama immigration yesterday and a sign said the fine for overstaying is $25 for the first month and I think it was $300 for a year (not sure of the year amount). It used to be very straightforward - you just paid the fine and it didn't have any effect on future travel - I don't know if that has changed recently, but I doubt it.

hongo_joe comments on Colombian citizen visa requirements to travel to Costa Rica or Panama.

I have entered Panama many times with Colombians (as recently as three days ago) and they have never asked for yellow fever vaccination.

hongo_joe comments on How much to bring my car from Miami

dwmte7: Do you mean the Colombia/US FTA, or Trade Enhancement Agreement? That is a good question. I don't know if used cars were included in that agreement. But with respect to NAFTA, there was a big change between Canada and US. Before NAFTA, you couldn't import a used car to Canada from the US (or it was very difficult and expensive). Now it is easy, if the car was built in the US..

hongo_joe comments on I'm betting desi'll love this one. ;)

For the record, Arafat's prize was shared by Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin.

hongo_joe comments on Coal train attacked with explosives (Cerrejon / la Guajira)

Five electrical transmission towers were blown up in La Guajira yesterday - the third terrorist attack there this month. Authorities are blaming farc, although the attacks were apparently in a (former?:) paramilitary controlled area. http://www.elheraldo.com.co/ELHERALDO/BancoConocimiento/R/rederribadas_cinco_torres_de_energia_en_la_guajira/rederribadas_cinco_torres_de_energia_en_la_guajira.asp?CodSeccion=16

hongo_joe comments on Come see Piedad Cordoba speak tomorrow

Interesting topics. I'd go but I don't think I could get by those fighting beavers.

hongo_joe comments on How is it to live in Barranquilla?

Hi adrienne79 - I live in Barranquilla. If you have any specific questions I would be happy to try to answer them. As for teaching jobs, I don't know. I think it is an OK place to live. As others have said, it is hot - but much of the time there is a cool breeze from the sea. I very rarely use air conditioning (but I like heat). It is definitely not as well organized and as clean as Bucaramanga, but there are some nice neighbourhoods.

hongo_joe comments on Colombia president: Interpol report is strong evidence of Venezuelan support for rebels

The statement in the (FOX news - talk about unbiased!!) report by Adam Housley "Now INTERPOL has analyzed computers found during the Ecuadorean raid, they have concluded that Chavez and his leadership is doing just what our allies have claimed" Is, as buggy said, clearly wrong,

hongo_joe comments on bus transportation 2 venezuala or brazil

Another bus company that goes from Cartagena/Barranquilla/Santa Marta to Caracas is AMERLUJO. They are the same price as Brasilia - a little under 200,000COP .

hongo_joe comments on Safety of Cartagena-Medellin and Medellin-Pereira buses?

hongo_joe comments on Good mozzarella cheese in Colombia

Thanks jonas. Don't know how I missed that!!. But I haven't seen it in the stores on the coast - maybe I need to look more carefully!! I haven't tried Pomona yet... Edit: I just noticed that the English version of the website doesn't show all of the products. That makes me feel a bit better...

hongo_joe comments on Good mozzarella cheese in Colombia

I went looking for Del Vecchio mozzarella without success. Their website doesn't list mozzarella as one of their products. Which of their products would be closest to mozzarella? www.quesosdelvecchio.com

hongo_joe comments on Warning Identiy Theft in Colombia

I agree. Unfortunately, I'm hooked.

hongo_joe comments on Warning Identiy Theft in Colombia

Mr. H: How about copying and pasting id/pswrds from another file on the flash drive?

hongo_joe comments on Warning Identiy Theft in Colombia

Thanks for the excellent tip roquero.

hongo_joe comments on

American has my support. I think these (very mean and personal) attacks on him are strange.

hongo_joe comments on Pelosi Says Defeating Colombia Deal Would Send Bad Signal

It is my understanding that you are required to pay into SS before you can purchase any private insurance also. And that the price is determined by income. Maybe this only applies to Colombian citizens (and residents?) and therefore poco, as a tourist, had a different experience?

hongo_joe comments on Eat As Much As You Want In Colombia And Lose Weight

You can even break the laws of physics/biology with impunity in Colombia. Not me - I've gained a lot of weight. I blame it on the big lunches and lack of exercise.

hongo_joe comments on

Diabloblas where are you???

hongo_joe comments on Pandora's Box- Alleged information (links) from Reyes' computer is discredited by 'Leftist' Academics

Norms daughter...

hongo_joe comments on Sicariato in Canada iban a matar en Canadá a Pitirr

It doesn't require a gun to kill someone. But I doubt if it would be very difficult to buy a gun in Montreal, particularly if you just happened to know someone in the drug business...

hongo_joe comments on

Sheppard's Pie (or Shepherd's) is a big hit with the Colombians I know too. Roasts too.

hongo_joe comments on Liberalism and Socialism

"Remember " The liberal mania insists that what they know is equivalent to a revealed truth." It is as if they are in communication with God Who has delivered to them the Truth in the Ark!" The people I hear who are claiming to be in communication with God would not want to be called liberals.

hongo_joe comments on Colombian union members are killed at a rate of almost one per week.

Mr Hollywood. According to a document apparently from the PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, the number of union members murdered (because of their union membership) were 2005 - 14 2006 - 25 2007 (Jan - Aug) - 6 (compared with 15 for the same period in 2006) www.presidencia.gov.co/resultados/ingles/2007/victimas_9.pdf

hongo_joe comments on Another march

A good article about the march/demonstration on March 6 www.cipcol.org/?p=539

hongo_joe comments on Chavez Threatens US Oil Cutoff

O'Reilly seems like a reasonable gentleman compared with these guys

hongo_joe comments on Awareness of FARC and Paras on PBH. Why?

Yes that's true they are different. I am not now, nor have I ever been a Farc supporter

hongo_joe comments on Awareness of FARC and Paras on PBH. Why?

By Joshua Goodman, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS This was from last november - it was in another pbh thread. BOGOTA, Colombia - President Alvaro Uribe said Tuesday his armed forces will kill the commander of Colombia's largest rebel group if the octogenarian leader emerges from the jungles to negotiate a swap of rebel-held hostages for jailed guerrillas. Uribe, in a fiery speech to graduating police cadets, said Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia commander Manuel Marulanda "sends messages that he can't attend meetings because if he comes out of hiding he'll be killed. Well, he guesses correctly." Just to be clear..I'm not saying it's a bad policy. I am not now, nor have I ever been a Farc supporter

hongo_joe comments on Medellin: The Next Panama?

Oy - it never ends. Well I'm not going to share my photos of beautiful Panamanian women

hongo_joe comments on 1.00 USD = 1,899.00 COP

Has anyone noticed a decrease in prices (imports) in Colombia since the peso has increased in value. (except raaay's furniture - which looks pretty nice)?

hongo_joe comments on Medellin: The Next Panama?

Sloopskipper: Of course you are right. Read the end of my post... My post was in response to the stupid comment that Panama is one dirty slum...which it isn't as the photos clearly show. It has good and bad, like everyplace.

hongo_joe comments on Which country has a higher crime rate? Saint Vincent and the Grenadines or Colombia?

I think this post should really be entitled 'murder rate' not 'crime rate'. But anyway,.. I am sure things have improved in Bogota and elsewhere in Colombia, but I have difficulty putting much faith in murder statistics and making comparisons between countries that possibly have very different police, judicial systems and emergency medical facilities.

hongo_joe comments on Medellin: The Next Panama?

TM - I agree with most of your comment. As for the service sector, it is pretty bad, but compared to what? Colombia? I don't know about comparing Panama City to Medellin, I think maybe a better comparison in Colombia would be with Cartagena or Barranquilla, and given a choice among those 3, I would chose Panama, I think the thing that is going to be a problem for Colombia with respect to attracting retirees, apart from the image, is the huge hassle to get things done - like renting an apartment, getting services etc. In Panama I rented a house with just my passport, high speed internet- got a credit card? no problem. In Colombia it was infinitely more difficult - guarantors, co-signers,...a big problem.

hongo_joe comments on Medellin: The Next Panama?

For those of you who haven’t been to Panama I want to assure you that waterdawg’s comment above that Panama is “One dirty overpriced slum.� is a scurrilous lie. I have many Panamanian friends, and on their behalf I have posted some photos so you can judge for yourself. The first four photos are of a residential neighborhood in Panama City called Allbrook. This is not a gated community or ‘hidden’, it is completely open to anyone. It is about 10 minutes from the commercial center of Panama City. The main street, shown below is quite a busy street. There are many residential neighborhoods of all types, commercial areas, and parks, throughout the city that are equally clean and well maintained. The main street in the neighborhood Dirty slums? Is it honest to describe this as a dirty slum? The photo above is of Casco Viejo. A very old area in Panama City. Dirty slum?? The main street of a small village called Pedasi in the interior of Panama. Dirty slum? Garita Beach. Look dirty to you? El Toro Beach. Isla Iguana beach. Dirty slum? If coconuts and driftwood are offensive, maybe. OK. Now you can decide whether waterdawg’s comment is bullshit or not. Of course there are areas in Panama that are more dirty and rundown – it is a third world country.

hongo_joe comments on Medellin: The Next Panama?

Actually it should have been mind-boggling. And, since you've been there, ridiculous is probably a better description.

hongo_joe comments on Medellin: The Next Panama?

"Panama : Been there , done that .. One dirty overpriced slum.." The ignorant comments you can find on this site are mindboggling