Bananama Republic shows how self-important dumbass experts are born in LatAm. The pattern explained is not confined to Panama by any means, but their post is wittier than anything round here so go enjoy the fun.
This from Adam Curtis is a real tour de force. He looks at the studies made on the Yanomamo tribe of the Amazon (taking in the Nazca lines, curations using guinea pig and all sorts of things) and comes to the conclusion (quite rightly too, I believe) that the "primitives" are far wiser and more astute than the ever-so-clevers that go to study them. An excellent read that touches base successfully on several subjects.
Picking out the best Mex Files post of the week is always difficult. This time I'm going for the article on the revival of Ulama in Mexico, an ancient sport played in Aztec times that authorities want to promote. Back in the golden olden days, if you won you might have had the privilege of being sacrificed to the Gods.
Structurally Maladjusted does a good round-up post of the bitchin' an' scratchin' already starting in Chile's political circles regarding the post-earthquake rebuild plans. However the aside about Chile 'losing' 18% of its GDP misses a point, as countries that go through these things actually see increased GDP as a result (that's the wakkt out world of stats and economistdumbassinsuits for you).
This from Adam Curtis is a real tour de force. He looks at the studies made on the Yanomamo tribe of the Amazon (taking in the Nazca lines, curations using guinea pig and all sorts of things) and comes to the conclusion (quite rightly too, I believe) that the "primitives" are far wiser and more astute than the ever-so-clevers that go to study them. An excellent read that touches base successfully on several subjects.
Picking out the best Mex Files post of the week is always difficult. This time I'm going for the article on the revival of Ulama in Mexico, an ancient sport played in Aztec times that authorities want to promote. Back in the golden olden days, if you won you might have had the privilege of being sacrificed to the Gods.
Structurally Maladjusted does a good round-up post of the bitchin' an' scratchin' already starting in Chile's political circles regarding the post-earthquake rebuild plans. However the aside about Chile 'losing' 18% of its GDP misses a point, as countries that go through these things actually see increased GDP as a result (that's the wakkt out world of stats and economistdumbassinsuits for you).