Todos son locos
Do you see what happens Larry!
Any illusions that I may have had regarding Argentina´s stability and civility - despite the fact that the mullet and that rattail are currently undergoing a resurgence akin to Indianapolis, Indiana, circa 1984 - have been smashed to bits, kind of like the McDonald´s in the center of Buenos Aires (3 blocks away from where I used to live). If you really don´t know what I´m talking about, then either you´ve been living under a rock for the past two days, you´re illiterate, or you work for Elliot Clark. It´s pretty crazy being here right now - aside from the huge anti-Bush rally going on in the center of Córdoba, all day the only thing on TV (aside from ¨Los Simpsons¨ and ¨That 70´s Show,¨ of course; please please note irony here) has been the huge organized opposition rally in Mar del Plata, and more importantly, the unscheduled anarchy that has left dozens of stores in flames or in shards.
It´s incredible to see person after person lob sticks and gas bombs into businesses - and not just U.S. ones. I´ve never seen anything like this. Even though the Summit has been going on for hours now, you´d never know - all they keep showing is the protests. The few times they do show the Summit, all they do is focus on W sweating it out and looking worried. On a more local note, when I passed by the McDonald´s today I literally saw 10 police officers standing guard, although ¨special ops¨ would probably be a more accurate description because regular police aren´t decked out in SWAT gear and don´t wear those cool berets.
I´m currently hanging out in my hostel in Córdoba, which, being down by the river (no sign of any vans) on the shady side of town feels eerily like a safe house…as I write, I can hear glass being smashed and police shots firing in the background on TV. Luckily, it doesn´t seem like anything too insane is going on in Córdoba, but Mar del Plata (and Buenos Aires, it´s looking like) is a whole different story. Even in this hostel half the people have fliers made up with ¨Bush the nazi¨ and all of that propaganda. I mean, I thought Europe was bad enough…but damn son, people really hate on this guy. Incredibly enough, everyone´s still being nice to me…but I haven´t yet tested the patience of the molotov-cocktail throwing-bandana-over-the-face guys running around the streets who seem to be enjoying a little bit of the ´ol ultraviolence.
The amazing part is that íf you traveled to Argentina on a normal day and only stayed a few weeks, you´d really think that everything is cool…I know I did. I guess I shouldn´t have doubted the locals though who warned me otherwise; it´s like there´s this simmering disdain for something (Bush, sexual frustration from having too many beautiful women, anything I don´t know!) bubbling under the surface, and it just exploded.
Maybe I´m a sick bastard, but I find all of this incredibly exciting. As fantastic as the political science program at the University of Michigan is - especially classes with Hanes Walton, probably the best college professor of all time, shit! - no amount of BS´ing in class can ever compare to experiencing the real the deal firsthand.
Latin America - too much!
Tags: Bush, Córdoba, Córdoba, Mar del Plata, riots
November 5th, 2005 at 3:46 pm
Stein..Stein…
Well since i dont find myself living under a rock and Michigan claims I’m literate..then I must fall into the third category. Sadly it is true and I had no idea of whats going on down there. When your life consists of work, sleep, food and sexy time..news is towards the bottom of the list (unless you count the free newspapers I read on the subway in the morning). At least you must feel at home with all the violence..a little reminicent of b-more.
Sounds like you are experiencing your share of fun, but i really wish i could watch you get all flustered at the border trying to regain your citizenship and pay off the fine..would make for some quality viewing. Next week on FOX: Large animals eating small children, followed by Fraile Jewish boys beaten by Foriegn customs officials.
On to my mental health, I really have to try and keep up with your entries, since sitting here for 20 minutes and catching up is really starting to hurt my brain. Now i know why after recieving a BA i decided to be a plumber…using my brain really hurts.
Enjoy the nightlife and GET SOME ASS..dont be like dunst, close the deal (sorry dustin).
Later
-Clark
November 5th, 2005 at 8:07 pm
Haha Clark (I forgot your first name, so now your just kind of like Madonna or Jesus) you the man…even IF your chosen occupation in life is strongly dependent on a well-maintained asscrack…I haven´t heard from you in ages so I can only assume that you´ve been tugging on those pipes long and hard, day in and day out. Either that or you, Sags, Stu, Ian (and possibly Dustin now?) have taken the ¨race to the altar¨ to a whole new level…anyway bro, enjoy yourself - I´ve heard that there are a few things to do in that city over there called New York.
November 7th, 2005 at 1:21 pm
Let me start off by assuming that your fragile, Jewish behind was not close enough to a flaming molitov cocktail to take that picture. Where’s the credit?? The AP might be coming after you soon enough (how do you say copyright infringement en espanol?)
Things are going to hell in a handbasket all over the world lately. Other than our President eliciting violent protests in almost every country he visits, there has been continuing riots in France following that country’s adoption of a mandatory bathing statute as well as mother earth’s latest attempt to punish us for the popularity of “Laguna Beach” with a man-eating tornado. I mean its tough growing up Pooty these days…(you know the rest)
Anyway, I continue to trudge along out here having to deal with the never ending sunshine (sigh). We celebrated Lauren’s birthday booking a room at the Standard downtown (it has a sick rooftop bar) and had a little hotel party complete with my bribing of a security guard (yep, I’m big time now!). Then, on Sunday, took the dog on a sweet hike to a roughly 50 ft. waterfall. Being the “hippie” that you all so lovingly refer to me as, I could not resist the temptation to jump in and do a few laps in the pool below.
Stay safe and maybe write us an e-mail to tell of any escapades that are THFTB (too hot for this blog)!
Slim
November 8th, 2005 at 6:57 pm
Slim Charles - I was right next to that dude, wearing my Stars and Stripes underwear while singing a rousing rendition of Freedom Isnt Free - you know, the main song from Team America.
As much as I love the comments guys, I have to say Im a bit dissapointed (possibly in myself) because nobody commented on the caption. Not that Im modest or anything, but I was laughing my ass off for a good while after I came up with it…I mean, cmon now, any references to Walter Sobchak need to be recognized. Seth, Sags, Ian, all of the guardians of Big Lebowski mythology, where are you?
November 9th, 2005 at 9:41 am
first of all why not ask me? Afterall, I wrote the bulk of the series, eh eh…Arthur Digbie Sellers (http://www.timeghost.net/sw-trip/lebowski/lebowski-Pages/Image14.html) what a father and mentor to young Larry. Hope all is well, stay away from guys with bandanas over their face and flaming cocktails…huge game for Michigan against IU highschool this weekend. Also, Im goign to Ann Arbor in two weeks for the Ohio State game although I have yet to find a ticket and refuse to pay $200 so I will most likely either:
A) stand outside the bighouse and listen to the PA announcements and cheers for an indication of score (however as we all know, most cheers at the bighouse only pertain to how well the wave is going) or
B) watch the game on the tv inside Tubby’s
Also, The Ravens are horrible but im going to the game on X-mas so im pumped about that. Not too much to report here as I have not been promoted to senior VP yet…
humbly,
Pilar (either Larry’s “mother” or the nice man from Zaragoza…your pick)
“Larry, this man is the police”
November 9th, 2005 at 11:20 am
loved the lebowski reference. perfect use, plus it kind of looks like the guy is bowling. well, except for the whole molotov cocktail in his hand part, but he has pretty good form. i would have probably gone with the overhand toss for optimal accuracy and destruction. my parents were proud to hear that you have adopted argentinian customs so much that you participated in the looting and rioting. if you have the time to check this out, do it: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mill1991/samp/ its a blog about this kid who played football at winona state done by fans of his who thinks he should win the heisman. every entry is really funny, and its highlighted by the april 4th one that says how he traveled forward in time by running so fast and it calls him a “wide receiver extraordinaire and potential candidate for the papacy.” one last 92q note: this dj sent out a song to her mother so i figured it would be r&b or something. nope! you guessed it, nothing but some quality b-more club music with the main line of the song that they repeated being “get yo ass on the flo.” good stuff.
November 9th, 2005 at 11:44 am
WHEN YOU FIND A STRANGER IN THE ALPS!!