Making fun of cyclists is just too easy…
Just want to direct you to a pretty ingenius little sllideshow about fashion and professional cyclists… you’ll laugh, I promise.
May 16, 2008
May 15, 2008
Jaipur bombings: messages from a friend
I had a bit of a heart attack earlier this week… I went to the BBC for my daily dose of bad stuff happening in the world, and read about the bombings in Jaipur (it was only about four hours after the bombs went off when I first heard about it). I immediately thought of our good friend, Dave, who splits his time between Vancouver and Jaipur for business. He is over there now.
I blasted off an email (he’s always online) and was relieved as hell when he answered back. Then I thought of Auntie and Uncle, who I stayed with while I was in Jaipur last year (I don’t know their names; we just called them Auntie and Uncle!) and it turns out they were okay as well.
The bombings happened inside the Pink City walls, a insanely busy and overwhelmingly crowded place. Having been there recently, I can only imagine what that scene would have been like.
Being the journalist that I am, I asked Dave if he could help relay some information and let me know how things were over there - he kindly obliged and emailed me the following story, the day after the bombings.
Check out Jaipur: The Pink City In Shock to read his thoughts.
I also posted a photoessay of my trip to India - there are some photos of Jaipur in there; Colors Of India.
May 14, 2008
Faith the biped dog
If you haven’t seen the video yet, I highly recommend checking it out. It’s so weird and so sweet all at the same time…
She Walks: Faith the Biped Dog
Wow.
May 12, 2008
Survivor’s In Da House…
So we’re in on the weekly call with the peeps on Survivor Micronesia… as you all know, the finale aired live last and named Parvati Shallow the lone survivor and winner of $1 million!
She beat out Amanda, who was one her second go-round sitting in the final two showdown, Cirie, the third member of the original alliance, and Nat, the only fan to make it to the final four. Tribal council was, um, pretty brutal - Eliza went off, Ozzy looked like he going to cry and Nat looked like she was puttin’ out the feelers for a little romance with the self-professed Survivor flirt!
All the ladies, who became known as the Black Widows, had some interesting things to say about each other and how the whole thing went down - read it all here:
Survivor Micronesia: Parvati Plays The Flirt Card All The Way To The Bank
The Time For Dreamers Is Here
I recently spoke with Byron DeLear, who is running as a Democrat in St. Louis, Missouri for the US House of Representatives against Todd Aiken. First of all, I am Canadian and not totally up to speed on the US election beyond the Clinton-Obama race, and the eventual showdown between the winner and John McCain.
Second of all, I have trouble getting excited over politics in my own country, let alone the US. But the world is focusing on what’s going down south of the Canadian border, and as such, I am obliged to open my mind the craziness that is American politics.
Thus, my interview with Mr. DeLear, which was a surprisingly pleasant experience. He seemed less like a politician and more like a guy who’s just trying to set the world on a better course. Here’s what he told me: Byron DeLear: A Time For Dreamers.
May 9, 2008
Survivor Micronesia: Erik’s Comedy Of Errors
Don’t have much time, but wanted to de-brief about last night’s Survivor… women are EVIL! And I’m a woman!I hope I’m not the only one who felt bad for Erik when Amanda laid into yet again at tribal council… they messed with his head, man!
I talked to Eric this morning and asked him if he would ever look at women the same again… I liked his answer - you can read it here: Survivor Micronesia: Erik’s Comedy Of Errors
May 7, 2008
“I Knew Josef Fritzl” - A Close Encounter With A Madman
A British woman by the name of Bernice Dainty has published a story on Orato.com detailing her relationship with the man who has shocked and baffled the world: Yes, Alfred Fritzl, the man who held his daughter captive in the cellar of the family home for 24 years, fathering seven children with her.
We’ve learned that Fritzl was a controlling man and that several members of his extended family were afraid of him. We’ve also learned that he began planning the secret dungeon years before his daughter “went missing.” So far, police have yet to find out why he did what he did.
Any reasonable person gets a sick feeling in the pit of their stomach when they think about what Fritzl did to his daughter and the grandchildren she bore him. But how would you feel if you knew the man?
“The news made me feel a little sick because I knew Josef Fritzl in a personal capacity for 12 years. I am not from Austria, but I used to let out one of his chalets for holidays with gal pals,” says Bernice, who rented a chalet from Fritzl for 12 years. “Looking back I suppose he was a bit odd, but I just put it down to the language barrier.”
She goes on to talk about some weird moments that should have raised a red flag. Read Bernice’s full story about her encounters with Fritzl here.
May 6, 2008
Indiana Primary Updates
The race for the Democratic Nominee could be decided tonight, as Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama battle it out here in Indiana as well as North Carolina.
We’ve got a blogger keeping us up to date… Minute To Minute At The Indiana Primary
Check back for updates 
May 5, 2008
Colonel Mustard In Brown University With The Green Pie
It’s the most basic form of humiliation - and it’s oh, so effective. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman was pied by Colonel Custard and Margaree Little of the Greenwash Guerillas while giving an Earth Day Lecture at Brown University last month.
Why, you ask? Because of his support for the U.S. war in Iraq, neo-liberal economic policies that harm the world’s poor, and for promoting bogus solutions to the global climate crisis.
Colonel Mustard and co. are laying low these days - seems pieing is a big deal, legally speaking! But, we managed to catch with the Colonel and here’s what he told us.
18,000 Naked People In Mexico
On May 6, 2007 New York photographer Spencer Tunick - best known for staging photos of thousands of naked people in public settings - broke his previous record by shooting over 18,000 naked people at The Zócalo in Mexico City.
Carlos Garcia also had some great photos on Flickr, and we’re pleased to showcase them on Orato.com as part of our celebration of Cinco de Mayo this Monday, May 5, 2008. You can also watch it on YouTube. All photos copyright Carlos Garcia - View the slideshow here
