A Modest Proposal concerning our gas crisis

A Modest Proposal concerning our gas crisis

As the price of gas climes to record levels most American stand by as victims with no recourse. The average citizen has no power over international politics. The average citizen cannot introduce a technology that could improve the situation. Even if the average citizen could make a change (such as driving a fuel efficient vehicle or using alternate forms of transportation) the little change would still do nothing to change the problem as a whole. Clearly an entire way of life must change.

The root of the problem is that there are too many people driving too many cars. In order to prevent there from being more drivers in the future, and thus lowering the demand for fuel I suggest a Modest Proposal. We should begin using the bodies of the young to power our cars. A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old is a most powerful source of fuel whether turned to E80 ethanol or bio diesel. By using the young as fuel we can solve our oil problem in two ways. We will use less fuel taking the kids to and from school, and we can also save by lowering the number of future drivers. At the rate the world is going the children will suffer in a dirty polluted world so we really are doing them a great service.

Now I know the detractors will say this is not ethically correct. We have been choosing our cars over our own health, our children's health, and our environment for years. Sacrificing one generation could put an end to all of this. According to The Foundation for a Better Earth if we can just tough it out and sacrifice one generation of young children then we will no longer be dependent on petroleum as a main energy source.

Come on everyone sacrifice your child for gas. You can always have another kid, but you shouldn't be expected to walk to work !

Of course this is satire based on Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal but it is not far from the truth.

Picasso

Picasso

I just got back from a Picasso exhibition down the street (check the photos). All of the works were dedicated to a friends of Picasso named Arias. I was impressed. There was a nice little group of ceramics - many with Spanish bullfighting scenes. There was some colorful drawings and a few engraved ceramics. I wish the place had a little better lighting so some of the photos came out better but at least I got to see the work. I was never really impressed with much of what I saw in Spain but some how the more of Picasso I see the more I like it.

Yesterday I went to see Batman The Dark Knight with two of my roommates. The movie was O.K. They seemed to like the movie a lot. The first half was good and then it seemed like the movie would never end. I can say this though. Heath Ledger put on a hell of a performance as Joker. You could feel the evil come from his character.

La Boca

La Boca

I just got back from La Boca (the mouth). La Boca is kinda a working class neighborhood made up of mostly Italian immigrants. The main draw is the interesting buildings made of tin and painted in bright colors. The story goes that the the immigrants didn't have house so they made shacks out of tin and painted the shacks with left over boat paint. Many artist and performers are attracted to this neighborhood and they can still be found there today.

Tango and Soccer are supposed to have been introduced to Argentina in the Boca barrio. You can still find people dancing Tango in the street and many soccer themed sights. (Check the photos)

I really liked this neighborhood. The caminito (little walk) was nice. There were many people taking pictures and others asking the tourists if they wanted to take a picture with someone dressed up in a tango outfit. I really liked the feel of the neighborhood. You could see the river front from one of the streets. The docks had that unpleasant smell of the ocean - somehow I didn't mind it much. Many of the roads were cobblestone. What I really liked was that the barrio was nice too look at but still rough around the edges. There were still "bad" parts of the neighborhood. I saw many stray dogs, old buildings, graffiti, and a car on blocks. I also went to a museum of paper. I wanted to go to the Museum of Fine Art in the Boca barrio but there was a huge group of school kids so I decided to pass the time in the smaller museum next door. The paper and engraving museum was pretty cool. By the time I left I was getting sleepy and I had ran out of battery power on the camera so I decided to catch a cab back. Come hell or high water tomorrow I'm going to go somewhere on the Subte. I'm tired of paying 5$US each way for cab rides.

Mas Pesos Mas prolbemas

Mas Pesos Mas prolbemas

I took this from another Blog because was starting to grow into a whole other topic.

I am just now getting used to the change from dollars to pesos. Here is the breakdown:

Typical cab ride 5.50 US or 17 pesos
Huge 1.5L Sprite 2.5 US or 7.5 pesos
Dinner out 15 US or 45 pesos
High end clothing is about the same (men's suit 900 pesos or 300$US but I don't know if that is just the jacket or everything.
Midrange clothing is about 15% less
Shoes about about 45% more than in US
Outdoor cothing is double (150US for the same pair of shoes Chris bought the other day for 45US)
Electronics double (my exact camera with out memory 1800 pesos or 600 US!)
Coke is 20% more than pepsi.

All and all you get middle GA prices and get to live in one of the largest Spanish speaking cities in the world. I thought I would have money to burn but actually you have to hunt for the steals. I found a large cheese pizza for 3.40US. I guess it does not help that I am living about a three minute walk from their White House. I will keep this up to date as things change.

UPDATE:

The more I look the better deals I find.

You can get a COLD 1.5 liter coke or sprite for less than 5 pesos = 1.65 US$ if you buy the off brand the price drops to around 3 peso = 1 US$ (at the asian owned market)
I bought a huge burger "super completo" with cheese a thin slice of ham and a fried egg plus a small pepsi and a "tall boy" (bigger than a regular sized can) of the local beer for 15 pesos = 5 $US.
Half a cheese pizza 5 pesos = 1.65 dollars.
Also I like that no tax is added in addition to the price that is listed for the item (almost like everything is 7% off). So you will know the exact amount of change you should receive everything you buy something.
If you venture a little off the main street there are some good food deals. Mostly I focus on food because that is my main daily expense. I'm going to learn the bus lines and train so I can save even more. Stay tuned.

Hostel Day 1

Hostel Day 1

O.K. I'm still with holding judgement but I have to say that this Hostel isn't that bad. Based on my expereince so far I really have nothing bad to say. All the people that I have met (5 from Brazil and 1 from Ecudor) have been really nice. All of them speak some English, Spanish and Portgeese. I went to a little bar with two of and had two draft beers (3.50$ U.S. each) in a super cool sports bar. Then I ate dinner with two of the others. I let them use my adapter and lap top to check their e mail. I really think they saw this as an olive branch of peace (it was). They gave me the low down. Basically they said to watch my things espically my laptop. Over dinner I got to sit down and talk with them. I was very suprised to know that many of the hopes and dreams they have for themselves match my own. They know about sociolgists that I have never heard of and books I have never heard of! They are mostly staying in Argentina because it is cheeper than Brazil. One girl worked as a translator for some govermental agency. I'm gald they are my roommates and I hope nothing happens to change my mind.

San Telemo

San Telemo

I walked around San Telemo today. There is a flee market there on the weekends. I really like walking around a seeing the sights. There were a bunch of hand crafted items that I thought were a real bargain (knitted sweaters, leather goods of all kinds, jewelry) I was not really there to buy - I was more interested in the sights. I did see a very nice leather book cover that would have been perfect for my journal - maybe another day. There were the traditional street performers, mimes, bands, people doing card tricks. I was surprised to run into two people from the University of Washington. They were speaking English. What a happy feeling to be able to talk in English for a change. I would guess that I have not had a conversation in English the whole trip until this point. They said that this neighborhood is filled with English speakers (A fact confirmed when I saw two backpackers with awesome Gregory back packs). I like this little neighborhood. The drinks were cheaper, the internet faster, and the streets have more life.

I checked into the hostel today. I think that I will be fine the only thing I worry about are my things. You put your things in a little locked room that only the attendants are supposed to have access to. I am still with holding judgment. I have all of the super important things in my small backpack. Computer, passport, pills, camera, ipod, and everything I need to live for a week. I had to put all the rest of my clothing items and my tent and sleeping bag in the locked room. I emailed Stephen who said I might be able to leave my bags at his Uncles flat. I hope that works out.

Hostel

Hostel

First thing this morning I went across the street to the youth hostel to inquire about a cheaper room. I do not mind the room I have now but I feel like I can down grade now that I have been in the city for a few days. The guy told me that the price for one room per night is 28$A (about 10$ US) but he said that I could get one night free if I rented for 6 nights. All told 158 $ pesos for a week that is about 53$ US. Oh and internet and breakfast are included. As long as I..m safe and my stuff does not get stolen then I can deal with the dorm room. I check in tomorrow. Watch for updates and an address where you can send me mail. I am going to put the beach trip off for one week while I wait for the money situation to stabilize.

Zoo

Zoo

I went to the zoo this afternoon. On the way over I saw a bunch of things I wanted to take pics of. I had already commited to going to the zoo in my mind so I decided to get thoes on the way back or another day (turns out another day). Entry to the zoo was 15 pesos (5 US). The whole thing was well worth the price. They had a buch of exotic animals and the walk around the park was not bad at all. I really enjoyed the Big cats although they proved very difficult to photograph. I took photos and tryed to understand all the conversations of the numerous little children around. I find hearing children speak is much easier because they say predictable things. I was suprised at how little amount of space the animals had to live in. Also from inside the park you could see taxis, highrise apartments, the street - the two different kinds of space so close to one another made for an intresting contrast. When I left I saw thing guy with a donkey that was all dressed in nice bridle work just stading on the corner. I was transfixed and reached right for my camera. Then the guy offered to photograph me on the donkey! How could you turn down that offer! He agreed to take two photos one with my camera and one with his if I would pay for the instant photo (20$ pesos, 6.50 $US) I knew the price was too high but honestly I pretty much decided to pay whatever he asked as long as it was not out of this world expensive. You can see the result on my profile page. I laughed for twenty minutes then caught a cab and laughed as I walked home. I feel like I basically shit on Argentina for my own amusement and that makes it even more funny. No wonder people think Americans are pricks we take pictures on dressed up donkies and then laugh like fools. I..m going to try and be more culturally aware. I really am.

Recoleta

Recoleta

I went to Recoleta to pay my respects to Evita Paron. I remember as I child my mom would never let me pray to Buddha if I wasn't clean. I guess she wanted me to respect the dead. Evita deserves the same respect so I decided to clean up and shave the beard (check the photos). So I went out and bought the necessary stuff. I wasn't able to cut my hair until after I left the cemetery. I couldn't for the life of me find a place to cut my hair in the Microcento. The cab ride over was amazing. The driver could say hello in about 15 languages including Chinese, English, Russian and Hebrew! I must admit I was a little nervous when I got to the cemetery. When I stepped in all that was gone. This really was a special place. The only think about the whole experience that wasn't surreal was all the tourists (me included) taking photos. I really love how the people that run the cemetery 1) don't charge to enter and 2) Do not over emphasize Evita's grave. In fact Evita's grave is tucked away off to the side and the tour guides don't walk you right there as soon as you enter. I was expecting nothing short of neon sings and T shirts as soon as you came within 500 feet of Evita's final resting place. There was nothing like that - Bravo to the people responsible. I guess their mamas made them respect the dead when they were little also. Since the grave is kinda obscured I liked having to hunt for it. I really felt like I was discovering something. After I left I found a super nice salon. I paid 20 $US for a hair cut. I guess that is not bad. I pay 15 at MasterCuts and this place would make MasterCuts look like MasterBators. There were at least 60 (I asked) stylists and they were full to the max. The guy did a super job (I think he was gay too. Funny I thought that was only in the U.S.) I took a pic to remember the moment.

Recoleta

Recoleta

I went to Recoleta to pay my respects to Evita Paron. I remember as I child my mom would never let me pray to Buddah if I wasn..t clean. I guess she wanted me to respect the dead. Evita deservs the same respect so I decided to clean up and shave the beard (check the photos). So I went out and bought the necessary stuff. I wasn..t able to cut my hiar until after I left the cemetary. I couldn't for the life of me find a place to cut my hair in the Microcento. The cab ride over was amazing. The driver could say hello in about 15 lanuages including Chinese, English, Russian and Hebrew! I must admit I was a little nervous when I got to the cemetary. When I stepped in all that was gone. This really was a special place. The only think about the whole experience that wasn't sureal was all the tourists (me included) taking photos. I really love how the people that run the cemetary 1) don't charge to enter and 2) Do not over emphize Evita's grave. In fact Evitas grave is tucked away off to the side and the tour guides dont walk you right there as soon as you enter. I was expecting nothing short of neon sings and T shirts as soon as you came within 500 feet of Evitas final resting place. There was nothing like that - Bravo to the people responsible. I guess their mamas made them respect the dead when they were little also. Since the grave is kinda obscured I liked having to hunt for it. I really felt like I was discoving something. After I left I found a super nice salon. I paid 20 $US for a hair cut. I guess that is not bad. I pay 15 at MasterCuts and this place would make MasterCuts look like MasterBators. There were at least 60 (I asked) stylists and they were full to the max. The guy did a super job (I think he was gay too. Funny I thought that was only in the U.S.) I took a pic to remeber the moment.