Zebra translocation in Kenya

Great site showing details of how zebra translocation is done in Amboseli National Park, the largest national park in Kenya. Loading and unloading a truck full of zebras, all in a day's work.

Saving Amboseli – Photos of Zebra translocation
http://baraza.wildlifedirect.org/2010/03/01/saving-amboseli-photos-of-zebra-translocation/

MexSoaps in Kenya

A couple years ago I did a trip to Kenya, and in my hotel room in Nairobi I flipped on the TV during prime time 9 pm. There was no cable, just national stations. Three different stations, including CitizenTV, were all showing Mexican soap operas and telenovelas dubbed badly into English. Whah?

I looked it up, turns out Mexican soap operas are extremely popular in Kenya and other East African countries like Uganda, etc. Apparently they are on one hand better than local shows, and on the other also cheaper than US shows. Plus they are a huge hit with middle aged women. Who knew? Sombreros in birthplace of the safari.   

New discovery opens up new questions about what Irish and Celtic really mean

A man’s discovery of bones under his pub could forever change what we know about the Irish
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/17/a-mans-discovery-of-bones-under-his-pub-could-forever-change-what-we-know-about-the-irish/?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_wonkblog-irish-850am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Carne Rusa in Miami

I just got back from a short spring break in Miami, a city with lots of sun, lots palm trees and lots of Whole Foods. On the last day, I picked up some natural mango-pineapple juice at "El Palacio de Los Jugos" i.e. The Juice Palace, which is also a deli. Spanish is the only language most of the salespeople speak. I noticed on the counter cans of "Carne Rusa" for sale--"Russian meat."

Cuba had a tight trade relationship with Russia during the USSR era. They imported lots of canned meat from Russia. Miami today is 34% Cuban, and some Cuban-Miamians still have nostalgia for Russian foods and goods, as the article below illustrates. A number of stores in Miami sell Russian products including canned meat, caviar, Russian dolls, tea, and also Russian dolls "muñequitos Rusos."

In addition to imported Carne Rusa that is actually from Russia, there is also Carne Rusa sold in Miami that is actually beef from the US, it is just prepared with the same style and ingredients as the old Russian imported meat and labeled Carne Rusa.

Video: Carne Rusa nostalgia para muchos Cubanos - Univision
http://www.univision.com/miami/carne-rusa-nostalgia-para-muchos-cubanos-video

Article: Miami Cubans have nostalgia for Russian products http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article3936801.html

Rare metals shortage on the horizon - or not?

The Next Resource Shortage?- NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/20/opinion/the-next-resource-shortage.html?_r=0

Rare earths not so rare - Geoffrey Styles of Energy Collective
http://www.theenergycollective.com/geoffrey-styles/2243655/rare-earths-not-so-rare


Two perspectives on rare metals: one warning that we need to pay more attention to rare metals in planning for the future, the other that there are enough rare earths to go around.

"If anything will slow the expansion of wind and solar power, hybrid cars and EVs, and other alternative energy and energy-saving technologies, it is unlikely to be a shortage of rare earths. They may be rare relative to other industrial commodities, but in the small proportions used it seems they are not rare enough to pose more than a temporary bottleneck."

Empty homes outnumber the homeless 6 to 1 in America

Empty homes outnumber the homeless 6 to 1 in America
http://www.mintpressnews.com/empty-homes-outnumber-the-homeless-6-to-1-so-why-not-give-them-homes/207194/

Good GAO article on temporary worker visas in the US

Good GAO article on temporary worker visas in the US
http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/668875.pdf

The article outlines suggestions like a centralized electronic system of employers that includes listing employers "debarred from participation" in the H2A (agricultural) and H2B (non-agricultural) temporary worker visa programs in order to avoid exploitation of workers.