Author Archives: dowbrigade

About dowbrigade

Semi-retired academic from Harvard, Boston University, Fulbright Commission, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manta, currently columnist for El Diario de Portoviejo and La Marea de Manta.

The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of the Queen of the Highway

Although not a big country, Ecuador features sizable sections of the three main ecosystems found in South America: the dry coastal plain, the towering Andes mountains, and the vast Amazon jungle.  The roads connecting these environments are among the most … Continue reading

Posted in Ecuador, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Manta Diary post 2

This morning it was still dark outside when I awoke to the sound of a downpour on a tin roof next door, and the smell of a fresh rain rinsing off the dry dust that habitually covers this sunny resort … Continue reading

Posted in Ecuador, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Manta Diary post 2

Dowbrigade South Online Again

After a week on the road, we are setting up shop in a lovely little apartment, three blocks from the beach in the midsized city (pop. 200,000) of Manta, Ecuador. We should be reachable here for the next 5 months, … Continue reading

Posted in Ecuador, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The Boot Knows No Bounds

By JOHN F. BURNS Published: August 26, 2010 in the New York Times LONDON — With his canary yellow Ferrari at rest in the forecourt of one of the most expensive hotels in London’s upscale West End, its eight-cylinder, race-bred … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Duuuh Scientific Study of the Day

Excess weight gain during pregnancy linked to bigger babies Mothers who gain more weight than recommended during their pregnancies tend to have babies with higher birth weights than normal. But medical researchers haven’t known whether it’s the expectant mother’s weight … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Technology, Uncategorized, Weird Science | 4 Comments

High in the Andes, Time Stops

When one returns to a city after 33 years, one expects some changes and surprises. When the Dowbrigade pulled into scenic Cuenca, Ecuador after a spectacular 3-hour van ride up into the Andes Mountains from Guayaquil, the biggest surprise was … Continue reading

Posted in Ecuador, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

That’s Gotta Hurt

From ELPAIS.com (Spain) In our tireless pursuit of sports thrills participatory and vicarious, the Dowbrigade came across this graphic graphic of revered Spanish bullfighter Julio Aparicio getting gored in Madrid.  PETA aside, any athlete who risks this kind of injury … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

DNA Determines Dork Destiny

For Crime, Is Anatomy Destiny? Poverty, greed, anger, jealousy, pride, revenge. These are the usual suspects when it comes to discussing the causes of crime. In recent years, however, economists have started to investigate a different explanation for criminal activity: … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Weird Science | 3 Comments

Big Jake Bound for NBA?

POYNETTE, Wis. — Big Jake might be taller than any other horse in the world, but his owner Jerry Gilbert describes him as a gentle giant. The 9-year-old Belgian gelding is the Guinness World Record-holder for world’s tallest living horse … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 18 Comments

Turning your Blog into a Book

Back at BarCamp, another drizzly morning, perfect for brunch in bed or a bracing geek-fest brunch, which consists this morning of complementary Starbucks coffee, Skittles, pretzel sticks and Eden Garden Salty ‘n Sweet Snack Bars. First session up is a … Continue reading

Posted in Blogging, Boston, Technology | 14 Comments

Birth Tourism

Birth tourism is the phenomena of babies convincing their mothers to travel to the US pre-partum so that they can be US citizens, as well as take advantage of our swell pay-if-you-want medical system. A recent ABC News article says: … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Media News, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Food or Socialism

Afternoon sessions at Barcamp Boston. The turnout this year is impressive. What started as a small 50 geek gathering has turned into a 500 geek stampede.  The Dowbrigade’s personal scorecard at this point looks something like this: Fascinating sessions we … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Food or Socialism