jaramillo has left 721 comments

jaramillo comments on Colombian uncle/tio

something with a touch of Bquilla classy: careverga.

jaramillo comments on TRIP REPORT...(yes,another).............Los Lomas Finca Hotel

ditto Lisa Zee! I know those roads by heart. Countless times, countless fincas in my childhood. If there's a patch of world to which I'm attached by the heart, that is it. Nice post.

jaramillo comments on Colombian paramilitary warlords extradited

Noriega got a 30 year sentence and he's paid about 20 so far. Who actually spends 20 years in prison in Colombia? Now juance, you know perfectly well what will happen. These HPs will be rapidly replaced by some (HPs) squared.

jaramillo comments on Colombian paramilitary warlords extradited

Three possible scenarios: 1-If paracos go about free, it is because Uribe is doing business with them. 2-If they are in prison in Colombia (until today) it is because Uribe has been protecting them and keeping them in luxury. 3-If they are extradited, it is because Uribe wants to hide the truth that implicates him. it is all Uribe's fault. Death to Uribe!

jaramillo comments on WHAT UP WITH ALL THE NATURAL DISASTERS LATELY??

End of days, LOL!! Same old crap we've always had. One difference, though. Because we have reproduced like rats, population densities are much higher. Previously, this cyclone would have wiped out couple of tiny fishing villges. Now there's a huge population there, and they will die like flies. I now see durito made the same point earlier...

jaramillo comments on Porqué en USA la gente tiene tantos problemas de sobrepeso?

It is interesting that overeating in the first world is threatening to kill more people than hunger in the third.

jaramillo comments on huskie

Yes, huskie.

jaramillo comments on El sueño del presidente Uribe

Si Uribe le cediese a la guerrilla habría más secuestrados. Por allí ya pasamos.

jaramillo comments on Porqué en USA la gente tiene tantos problemas de sobrepeso?

Una de las razones es el tamaño de las porciones. Por ejemplo, en España una ración de jamón ibérico de 50 gramos se considera muy suficiente. Pero en EE.UU. las hamburguesas de 500 gramos son comunes. Una tajada de Cheesecake del Cheesecake Factory tiene 1,000 calorias, es decir mas de la mitad de lo que necesita un adulto al dia. Asi no hay ejercicio que valga!

jaramillo comments on Medellin to Santa Marta...

Have fun braden. Robi's suggestion of a possible detour to Valledupar is worth considering, if you follow his suggested route. That is deep Macondo.

jaramillo comments on Hasta donde la libertad de expresión???

Just a reminder about a useful feature of PBH:ignore user. I have a couple of guys in my list and I like PBH a lot better!

jaramillo comments on Alleged Colombian drug lord captured

This "alleged" bit is kind of funny. This week I saw houses blown to smithereens in the south by "alleged tornadoes"

jaramillo comments on Medellin to Santa Marta...

Hey, pedro, not a bad idea at all. Something like Coveñas or Tolú is not as grand a place as the old city of Cartgena, but it is fun and relaxing. You also get to see Monteria, for what its worth. And Robi, although I swore I'd never go by Puerto Berrio again after a visit in my distant youth, I think I would be willing to give this route a try. Maybe things have changed for the better...

jaramillo comments on Medellin to Santa Marta...

Right Robi, but it is a dreadful route!

jaramillo comments on Medellin to Santa Marta...

There is only one direction that makes sense: North: Medellin-Cartagena-Barranquilla-Santa Marta. To go to Cartagena take autopista norte past Bello, on to Yarumal, Valdivia, Puerto Valdivia, Caucasia, Sincelejo, San Jacinto, Cartagena. Drive in one day to Cartagena (a hard day). Some would recommend a stop in Sincelejo, but I would not. But it could be OK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sincelejo). Spend a couple of nights in Cartagena, and drive straight to Sta. Marta. Some would recommend a stop in Barranquilla, but I would not. Now, Cartagena is somewhat optional. North of San Jacinto you can drive north-east towards Barranquilla, via Sabanagrande, but I think that is quite tiring.

jaramillo comments on Things to do in Cartagena

Dinner at El Club de Pesca:http://www.clubdepesca.com/ Walk the old city walls (las Murallas).

jaramillo comments on La inseguridad en las principales ciudades del país está desbordada

The problem that persists is a high number of hijueputas.

jaramillo comments on A Colombiano’s encounter with the Pope

Modefoque, I thought you were moving to Curramba.

jaramillo comments on Colombia To Maintain Oil Self-Sufficiency Until 2016 - President

Self sufficient until 2016? Meaning it will become an importer in less than a decade? If this is not an emergency I don't know what is. What the hell is Colombia doing exporting oil?

jaramillo comments on El padre de un mexicano muerto en Ecuador afirma que 'perseguirá' a Uribe donde sea que se encuentre

hombe! quien fue asesinado? Lastima que este hombre no hubiese enseñado a su hijo, cuando estaba pequeño, las fábulas de Samaniego: EL LABRADOR Y LA CIGUEÑA Un Labrador miraba con duelo su sembrado, porque gansos y grullas de su trigo solían hacer pasto. Armó sin más tardanza diestramente sus lazos, y cayeron en ellos la Cigüeña, las grullas y los gansos. «Señor rústico, dijo la Cigueña temblando, quíteme las prisiones, pues no merezco pena de culpados: la diosa Ceres sabe que, lejos de hacer daño, limpio de sabandijas, de culebras y víboras los campos.» «Nada me satisface, respondió el hombre airado; te hallé con delincuentes, con ellos morirás entre mis manos.» La inocente Cigüeña tuvo el fin desgraciado que pueden prometerse los buenos que se juntan con los malos.

jaramillo comments on Why is Colombia's Sea So Murky Brown?

Few of the beaches are of coral origin, especially south of Santa Marta.. It's not the coal production:they were the same 40 years ago. I also think the water has more organic mater because of the rivers (especially the Magdalena).

jaramillo comments on Colombian Peso Breaks 1,800 Per Dollar for 1st Time Since 1999

I have a question for some smart, well informed PBHr. Given the 1999-2008 rates of inflation in Colombia, how much of its acquiring power in Colombia has the dollar lost during this period?

jaramillo comments on another translation request yes!

Wastelandlive says ,"I always thought that "Don" and "Doña" were reserved for nobility", indeed that was the case in the past. In Spain they often refer to the King as Don Juan Carlos. It was extended to "Hidalgos", that is, it to the lower nobility. Of course, today it is used to address influential people. But in Colombia it is a sign of respect that is not tied to high class e.g., it can be applied by an upper class child to address a poor grocer "Don Pedro, tiene panelitas?" No tongue-in-cheekness. It was required in my elementary school, when addressing teachers (the term señorita, literally "little lady" was used for female teachers). These medieval remnants live in the English language too; Monsignor means, literally, my lord. And people use, colloquially, the term Sir as a sign of respect, as with a recruit to his non-comissioned officer, the child to the father, etc. Almost any older woman in the U.S. will be addressed as "ma'am", short for madame, French for my lady. I think it has nothing to do with sycophants and brown nosers.

jaramillo comments on Bogota 1880s to 1950s

Medellin used to be called "La tacita de plata", for its cleanliness. It was very clean loooong ago.

jaramillo comments on Bogota 1880s to 1950s

My parents in Bogotá, around 1950, before they married.

jaramillo comments on Freedom of Expresion in Colombia and at PBH

This is Peter's playground, no more, no less. We play by his rules and that is fine. Anyone can start their own web site if they want to. I'll play here.

jaramillo comments on Gringos in Colombia: An Object Lesson

that's how conversations work :)

jaramillo comments on Gringos in Colombia: An Object Lesson

To think that a person is better off with a two year degree, is a matter of opinion, and I can respect that. So, although I have a Ph.D., I take no offense. But to say that, regarding universities, "They are there to support THEMSELVES", is a coarse lie. No offense meant.

jaramillo comments on Gringos in Colombia: An Object Lesson

Thank you all for some very interesting points. Thanks Desi for the info about the Finnish system. I'll have to take a closer look. Robert says :I was born with a decent brain, and had parents who exposed me to books and were highly educated themselves." I think we cannot overemphasize the role of parents. Money is not the answer here any more than it is in medicine (The U.S is going bankrupt over the cost of medicine). Finally, houstongal and lostgringo have pointed at several psychological factors affecting the response to the bear video. As usual, with psychology there are physiological correlates that are significant. "Keeping your eye on the ball" means that the image of the ball is cast on the fovea of the retina. Therefore, the bear image is cast in the periphery, where photoreceptors have very little ability to discriminate detail. So we do see a figure moving through, but we cannot tell any details. Therefore, we see nothing unusual. The bear is just one more dark shape moving in our peripheral vision.

jaramillo comments on Feliz Semana Santa!

I know what you mean about Christ's pain, Desi. My protestant wife spent a holy week with me in Salamanca, and some of the processions brought her to tears.

jaramillo comments on ADVICE.... ON SURGERY IN MEDELLIN.. AM I SCAMMED O IS THIS REAL

kid, don't give papaya this easily. If you need translation, don't be a sucker. Did you feel any lumps?

jaramillo comments on Gringos in Colombia: An Object Lesson

Markanthony, if there is an ignorant culture, it is the U.S. Kids here cannot find their own frickin' country in a map. Just what we needed: one more dumb gringo.

jaramillo comments on Rios Dead! Adios FARC

This is the hand of peace we like to see.

jaramillo comments on Cost of education

Education is not free anywhere. Someone is paying for it. Taxation rates in Europe are high and France and Italy are struggling to maintain their welfare systems. I'm not saying the U.S. is a panacea. I simply think Europe has its problems. I'm not convinced that the average undergraduate there is better either. They instruct more, but educate less. If I had to choose a research assistant between a knowledgeable European student and a bright American undergrad that doesn't give a shit about intellectual authority, I'd choose the latter.

jaramillo comments on Cost of education

I teach at a private U.S college and the comprehensive fee is about u.s.$ 45,000 a year. From that perspective even the most expensive Colombian university sounds dirt cheap.

jaramillo comments on Fed up with this guy

He should get elmo's email address (malpariohp at yahoo.com).

jaramillo comments on Anthony Bourdain "No Reservations" travels to Medellin!

I've caught his show a number of times. There ain't much in Medallo to impress the guy. He's had mondongo in more ways than one can imagine.

jaramillo comments on

All these people who claim to love the guy should take him to rehab. He's gonna need a liver soon.

jaramillo comments on Traveling to Cartagena March 21-28th...should I be worried

Bochinche, bochinche, that's all. Enjoy Cartagena.

jaramillo comments on

Only the totally illiterate. Like in the U.S. with astrology.

jaramillo comments on Suits you sir?

Regarding British military traditions, I recently saw this quote: Winston Churchill, when he became the first Lord of the Admiralty did away with all the old British naval regulations which had been in effect since Lord Nelson, including flogging, which was still in the naval regulations of the British Royal Navy. He was at a reception—like all Churchill stories, this may or may not be true—and a retired British admiral came up to him and said, ‘Sir Winston, you have destroyed British naval traditions.’ And Churchill said, ‘Sir, the British Royal Navy only has three traditions: rum, sodomy, and the lash.’

jaramillo comments on For anyone that still has doubts about the dictatorial ways of Chavez

I think the discontent among the chafarotes was widespread. Perez had to tread carefully.

jaramillo comments on For anyone that still has doubts about the dictatorial ways of Chavez

It is funny to hear a guy who came to fame because of a coup d'état complaining about coups d'état! He went to prison alright. Like Pablo Escobar at la catedral.

jaramillo comments on For anyone that still has doubts about the dictatorial ways of Chavez

Imagine the reaction if the Uribe government did this against left wing journalists.

jaramillo comments on If I follow theses instructions ( What does it make ? ) Colombia 101

The roux is funny, Desi. The starch in potatoes and plantains is more than enough to thicken a sancocho.

jaramillo comments on Don´t talk bad things about other people (Longevity Secret)

Tines razón manco. Oir a los críticos no es lo mismo que escuchar a los critícos.

jaramillo comments on Don´t talk bad things about other people (Longevity Secret)

Webmanco, creo que entendemos la palabra en forma diferente. No me refiero a criticar en el sentido de quejarse. Como por ejemplo decir, "En Colombia la educación es pésima". Es cierto, lo es, pero quejarse no sirve de nada. Pero las soluciones y acciones no pueden darse sin un examen critico. Por ejemplo, podemos decir, la educación matemática en la escuelas primarias se basa excesivamente en la manipulacion mecánica. A partir de este criticismo, se puede empezar a desarrollar soluciones. Pero al crítico se le desprecia, se le insulta y se le ignora. En otros paises al critico se le llama "outside expert" o "consultant" y se le paga bien para que ayude a detectar las fallas y defectos sistemáticos de cualquier organización. En Colombia se prefiere improvisar.

jaramillo comments on Don´t talk bad things about other people (Longevity Secret)

Nada ha contribuido mas al atraso de Colombia que la falta de criticismo en todas las esferas.

jaramillo comments on Let's learn some Spanish......My Vocabulary

I had third grade flashes :)

jaramillo comments on Racial Discrimination in Colombia

Amen, Rubito.