'Democracy kidnapped!' Madrid police fire rubber bullets as thousands surround Spanish Congress

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In a Western Democracy police beat protesters or shoot them with rubber bullets. That’s how democratic freedoms are treated in Western Bourgeois Democracies. -សតិវ អតុ

From RT;

Madrid riot police have cleared Plaza de Neptune of protesters, with about 200 officers securing the surrounding blocks. At least 60 people have been injured and 26 arrested as police used batons and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
­Local emergency services have confirmed that at least 60 people, including eight policemen, were injured in clashes between police and protesters, El Pais reports. One of the wounded is believed to be in critical condition, while one of the injured policemen suffered a severe concussion......

Legal abortions to return to Wichita

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According to all the local news media, the Trust Women Foundation has bought the clinic of former Dr. George Tiller and plans to offer women’s services including early term abortions.

This is a big loss for Operation Rescue and other rightwing Christian groups that harassed and finally assassinated Tiller to shut down his clinic. They wanted to declare Wichita an “abortion free city.” After enduring their harassment and taunts for years, as a clinic defence person all I can say is; Haaa! Haaaa! Haaaaaa! -សតិវ អតុ

According to KWCH Channel 12 News;

“Foundation confirms plans to offer abortion services in Wichita”

The Trust Women Foundation has confirmed it has purchased and plans to offer abortion services in Dr. George Tiller’s former clinic.

Eyewitness News also confirmed the purchase through the Kansas Secretary of State's Office.

For the video click here.

Turkey faces the unintended consequences of its regional meddling—Part 1

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From A World to Win News Service/ and Communist Party of Iran (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist);
24 September 2012.
Turkeyis playing a central role in the U.S.-led campaign to bring down Bashar al-Assad. Now it is being confronted with the possibility that instead of strengthening Turkey's influence in the region, the weakening of the Syrian regime may create the most serious challenge the Turkish government headed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced so far.
Until only recently the two regimes were close allies. One of the points of unity between Assad's Baathist Party and Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) was their opposition to the Kurdish movement in both countries. Not only do Kurds in the two countries have strong historical ties, a significant number of Kurds in Syria are from families that fled repression in Turkey, and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), though based in Turkey, includes many Kurds born in Syria. Now  Assad is "playing the Kurdish card",  trying to use the Kurds to threaten Turkey.
Following are excerpts from a lengthy article in issue 60 of Haghighat, the publication of the Communist Party of Iran(Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) entitled "The development of Syria’s civil war and the possibility of its spread to neighbouring countries, and the perspective of the formation of a state of Kurdistan".
The civil war between the two reactionary sides in Syria has gone through another turning point. The Bashar al-Assad regime has pulled back its troops from five Kurdish cities in northern Syriaand largely left control of this region to Kurdish forces, especially the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a Syrian Kurdish organization linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) based in Turkey.
Turkeyhas threatened to attack Syriamilitarily in response to PKK attacks launched from Kurdish areas in Syria. In mid-August U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton went to Turkey to review possible scenarios for regime change in Syria. U.S. officials reaffirmed Turkey's importance as a "strategic partner in the region". One of the most important agreements is to leave the key institutions and military apparatus of the Syrian state intact.
The existence and configuration of Syria, like that of Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Iraq, are the outcome of the way the colonial powers France and Britain drew borders as they gobbled up the collapsed Ottoman Empire after World War One. Today, too, underlying the civil war in Syriais the confrontation and contention of big powers such as the U.S., Russiaand the European countries over the Middle East. They are fighting to redivide control of that region among themselves – an event that could lead to re-drawing the borders of Syria. Russiahas stubbornly supported the Assad regime in order to preserve its influence in the Middle East and its status as a powerful country.
The position of the U.S. as the dominant superpower in the Middle East and also the present stability of the Turkish regime depend on their role in this dangerous battlefield. In the Middle East walls are being shaken and we should not assume that the outcome of these events will be written by the present masters of the Middle East. 
Turkeyis caught between internal fissures and its role as a regional gendarme
Turkeysees itself as the architect of a new Syriaand ultimately a new Middle East, a role assigned by the U.S. From a base camp built near Adana, a city in southern Turkey near the Syrian border, the Turkish regime is closely monitoring developments in Syria and training, militarily and politically, the forces opposed to the Assad regime known under the umbrella name of "the Free Syrian Army" (FSA). The camp is in Incirlik, where the U.S./Nato/Turkish air base is located. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are also active in this project. Turkeycontrols the camp and is the main coordinator and sponsor.
At the same time, Turkey's concern that it may not be able to control the situation in Syria is not unfounded, because of the support for the Assad regime by some of the world's most powerful countries such as Russia and regionally strong countries such as Iran. Their attempts to sabotage Turkey's project is gathering momentum. Moreover, Jihadi Salafi groups have quickly grown and raised their black banners on the gates and in the centres of many towns and cities. According to reports, the Salafis, with their superior armament and financial support, have been able to put themselves at the head of a movement that includes other Islamic and secular forces.
The U.S.and Turkish governments recognize the FSA as the sole "representative of the Syrian people", but they have not been able to bring the Salafi forces under its command. (International Herald Tribune, 31 July 2012) The FSA is not formally a religious group, but uses an Islamic discourse in its call for Syrians to overthrow the Assad regime.
The PKK's growth in Syrian Kurdistan
Another factor seriously challenging Turkey's role in the Middle East is the increase in PKK activities in Syria's Kurdish regions. In July and the beginning of August, following the pull-back of Assad's military forces from Kurdish cities in northern Syria, fighters and cadres close to the PKK (the Kurdistan Workers' Party under the leadership of Abdullah Ocalan) moved in and took control of those cities, raising the Kurdistan banner and putting up Ocalan's pictures on the front of governmental offices. This took Turkey's government and ruling party by surprise and made it very nervous. On the other hand, Kurdish people in Turkeytook to the streets to celebrate it as a victory. There is a rumour that a Kurdish autonomous republic may be declared in northern Syria.
The Turkish press wrote that: "in the absence of Assad's forces, PKK has taken advantage and is filling the power vacuum." It is said that Assad withdrew his security and military forces based on an agreement between the Syrian government and PKK that the Democratic Union Party (PYD) would be allowed to take control of these cities. [Also see International Crisis Group report no. 219, 11 September 2012]
At the same time, PYD forces were also able to reach an agreement with Massoud Barzani (the head of Kurdish Regional Government in northern Iraq) and, in unity with the Kurdish National Council, formed an organization called the "High Council of Kurds" trained and supported by Barzani forces) that has taken control of Kurdish cities in Syria. The Turkish regime was outraged by this unity between the Kurdish National Council and the PYD, which it had previously warned against. 
A Turkish newspaper wrote that "PYD representatives hurried to meet with the head of northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), Massoud Barzani, in Erbil, and agreed to run the Kurdish region in Syria in a partnership with the pro-Barzani KNC. The Erbil agreement signed on June 11 between the KNC and the Council of Western [Iraqi] Kurdistan formed a joint leadership to run the Syrian cities taken by the PYD…
"As soon as the agreement was signed and before the coalition administration was formed and the Barzani-trained pro-KNC forces made their way to northern Syria, the PYD supporters took the initiative and in a prior agreement with the Syrian regime took control of the area. Now the PYD's rule is fully established, and PKK flags and Abdullah Ocalan’s portraits are spread all over the government administration offices." (Today's Zaman, 31 July 2012)
In reaction to these events Turkeythreatened to send its military into Syrian Kurdistan. In order to create public opinion, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the PKK of cooperating with Bashar al-Assad to invade Syrian Kurdistan. At the same time PKK stepped up its military activities in the Hakari region of south-eastern Turkey. This situation has increased the internal political pressure on the Tayyip Erdogan regime. Even those who used to criticize Erdogan for his "recognition" of Kurdish rights are now criticizing him for not seriously following the plan for a compromise between the regime and the PKK.
In a word, the intensification of civil war in Syria suddenly and greatly amplified the role of Kurdish forces in the unfolding of events in the region.
Write to us – send us information, comments, criticisms, suggestions and articles: aworldtowinns@yahoo.co.uk
Pix from Indymedia.

Turkey faces the unintended consequences of its regional meddling—Part 2

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From A World to Win News Service/ and Communist Party of Iran(Marxist-Leninist-Maoist);
24 September 2012.
Turkeyis playing a central role in the U.S.-led campaign to bring down Bashar al-Assad. Now it is being confronted with the possibility that instead of strengthening Turkey's influence in the region, the weakening of the Syrian regime may create the most serious challenge the Turkish government headed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced so far.
Until only recently the two regimes were close allies. One of the points of unity between Assad's Baathist Party and Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) was their opposition to the Kurdish movement in both countries. Not only do Kurds in the two countries have strong historical ties, a significant number of Kurds in Syria are from families that fled repression in Turkey, and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), though based in Turkey, includes many Kurds born in Syria. Now  Assad is "playing the Kurdish card",  trying to use the Kurds to threaten Turkey.
Following are excerpts from a lengthy article in issue 60 of Haghighat, the publication of the Communist Party of Iran(Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) entitled "The development of Syria’s civil war and the possibility of its spread to neighbouring countries, and the perspective of the formation of a state of Kurdistan".
The great game and the "Kurdish card"
What has made Kurdistan a key issue in the Syrian civil war is the perspective of the formation of a Kurdish state in the region. According to some Middle East analysts, this could play a central role in redrawing the present borders of the Middle East. No matter its intentions, Turkeyhas paved the way for the emergence of this situation. In fact, it is in relation with these developments that we should consider the following events:
The first event was the take-over of the Kurdish cities in northern Syria by the Kurdish forces as detailed above. The second was the relocation of big oil companies such as the U.S.'s Exxon-Mobile and Chevron, France's Total and Russia's Gazprom from southern Iraqi oil fields to the oil fields under the control of the Kurdish Regional Government and the signing of new contracts with this government, independently of the central Iraqi government. The third is the resumption of major PKK operations in the city of Shamdinly in Turkey's Hakari province bordering Iran and Iraq, taking the war between PKK and the Turkish government to a new level of intensity.
On the first event: Previously there was speculation in the Middle Eastern press that Bashar al-Assad might retreat to the Nasiriyah Mountains and form a small state whose core support would come from Alawites and other minority ethnicities, while the FSA forces backed by Turkey and Nato would form a Sunni state. But there was no mention of a "Kurdish mini-state" in Syria until PYD took control of Kurdish cities in northern Syria. In reaction to this event Erdogan declared that Turkey will not tolerate the existence of "terrorist forces" on its borders and proclaimed that a "red line". After this incident the U.S.announced its strong opposition to the disintegration of Syria – even though the U.S. and Turkey were intervening in the just struggle of the Syrian people to deliberately turn it into a religious and ethnic civil war.
After this event, Turkey warned the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq (which it happened to be allied with) that it would not accept the acts that have taken place and will not tolerate the formation of a Kurdish state on its borders. Turkey asked Barzani to help suppress PKK forces in Iraqi and Syrian Kurdistan. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu quickly travelled to Erbilto talk to Barzani. During this visit Barzani, who usually appears in a business suit when meeting with foreign visitors, this time appeared in traditional Kurdish clothing.
Then Davutoglu went to see the Turkmen governor of Kirkuk (one of the biggest cities in Iraqi Kurdistan, a third of its population is Turkmen and not Kurdish). The Davutoglu message was that Turkeywill use its influence in Iraqi Kurdistan to destabilize the Kurdish Regional Government.
On the second event: Big oil companies such as Exxon-Mobil (the largest private oil company in the world) have signed six oil exploration contracts with the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq. Following that, last July the U.S.'s second largest oil company, Chevron, took 80 percent control of two oil fields. In August the French oil company Total and Russia's Neft (owned by Gazprom) also signed important oil contracts with the KRG. A Turkish newspaper wrote that "four oil companies that are among the world's ten largest have opened shop in Erbil". (Today's Zaman, 6 August 2012) 
The KRG has been seeking to pave the way to independence for a long time. Turkey had already started to buy oil from it directly, bypassing the central Iraqi government. The oil company Genel Enerji, based in Turkey and owned mainly by Turkish shareholders, has started working with the KRG in exploring for oil and pumping oil from established fields in Iraqi Kurdistan. According to some political observers and analysts, this is the first step of a process aimed at converting the now autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq into a separate country. (See "Big Oil's Unwitting Bid for Kurdish Statehood" by Marin Katusa  on www.caseyresearch.com)
In the last few years Turkey's government has repeatedly bypassed the central government of Iraq and established direct economic, political, security and military relations with KRG, such that Turkey has become the largest foreign economic power in Iraqi Kurdistan. At the same time Turkeydecreased its opposition to the formation of any independent Kurdish state.
But despite the AKP's confidence in the KRG's trustworthiness, developments in Syria changed the whole equation. Control of the Syrian Kurdish region by Kurdish forces would mean another autonomous Kurdish region on Turkey's borders. In only a week, the length of Turkey's borders with Kurdish-controlled areas went from 400 kilometres to 1,200 km. The potential for the creation of a larger Kurdish state with a massive oil income, right on Turkey's borders, along with the possibility of the formation of a state of Greater Kurdistan, exerts massive pressure on the political and economic structure of the Turkish state. Since the foundation of the Republic of Turkeyby Kemal Ataturk, the oppression of the Kurdish nation has been one of its pillars 
In the last ten years the Turkish bourgeoisie has tried to create an atmosphere of allowing the Kurdish bourgeoisie to partly share political power, and permitted some reforms in the sphere of culture and language to reduce the contradiction between the masses of Kurdish people and the government. But this contradiction continues to operate and the Kurdish bourgeoisie is not satisfied with what has been given.
The third event: PKK forces have found an opportunity to intensify the armed struggle against the Turkish regime. In the last few years PKK's policy was to negotiate with the AKP government. For a time it called a cease-fire and took part in municipal and parliamentary elections through its legal parties. During the same period Turkey arrested around six thousand PKK activists who were working with legal organizations such as the Peace and Justice Party. Mayors and members of parliaments were among those arrested. Many of the prisoners are the members of PKK’s municipal organization called the Union of Kurdistan Communities, which has influence in municipal administration, including tax collection and the courts.
Even though PKK has an extensive mass base and is named the Kurdistan Workers' Party,  in fact it represents the Kurdish bourgeoisie because it expresses the outlook and programme of that class. The leader of this party, Ocalan, has repeatedly emphasized that PKK's aim is not to weaken Turkey but to restore the power of the Ottoman empire, adding that Turkey could not achieve this without unity with the Kurds (which really means the unity of the Turkish and Kurdish bourgeoisies). The PKK position on Middle Eastern issues is to support the U.S.'s projects. It considers itself part of an axis of friends of the U.S. Of course, the Erdogan regime sees itself as the head of such an axis. After Ocalan was imprisoned in 1999, he repeatedly expressed these points in the monthly articles that he used to write from prison, which were published in Turkey's press. It is worth mentioning that he has stopped writing these articles in the last few months, and there is a rumour that he has been transferred from prison to house arrest and that the government is negotiating with him.
Although the Turkish economy has been somewhat successful by current standards, with the emergence of a well-off middle class, and its AKP regime is presented as a model for other Middle Eastern countries, its internal structure is vulnerable. Its role as a regional gendarme for the imperialists is exerting ever more pressure on this structure, and this so-called stable regime could face a legitimacy and even revolutionary crises. The changes in the structure of Turkey's  big bourgeois class have not yet been quite reflected in the political sphere. It is true that the Kurdish bourgeoisie has not failed to benefit economically and has control of part of the internal economy, but it hopes that by achieving an independent state or autonomy it can gain admittance to the club of Middle Eastern big bourgeoisies. All these forces are in political and military struggle with each other.
Now the policy-makers and analysts of the region's reactionary regimes and those of the imperialist powers are grumbling that Assad is "playing the Kurdish card". But the question for us here is this: What opportunities does the situation in Kurdistanpresent? Will Kurdish communists and revolutionary intellectuals raise an internationalist and revolutionary voice against the whole game in which Kurds are a "card" to be played? The domination of bourgeois leadership in the Kurdish people's struggle has not and will not achieve anything better than what we have seen with the KRG in Iraq.
The world order is in great turmoil and that is excellent!
The intensification of the contradictions of the capitalists system has given rise to people's struggles and rebellions against imperialism and the political structures dependent on imperialism (the regimes in the oppressed countries). However, without revolutionary communists leading the proletariat and oppressed peoples with the aim of seizing political power and establishing new socialist societies, these rebellions cannot become revolutionary uprisings that would threaten the existence of the capitalist system  The "Arab Spring" is a reflection of that situation. The imperialist powers and local reactionary classes are doing everything they can to channel these rebellions to suit their interests.
Pix from Democracy and Class Struggle.

We need professional referees—but not teachers?

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The National Football League referee dispute is over. Football is safe. But that may not be the case for education.According to The Daily Beast, on Saturday morning the black-and-white-striped union approved a new eight-year deal with the NFL by a vote of 112 to 5.The news has been received positively after a really bad call in the Green Bay Packers/Seattle Seahawks game last Monday. NFL Referees Association has agreed to return to work. After that game, the fans realize that referees can’t be replaced on the cheap. They need training. And yet, much of the public, outside of Chicago, still believes that teachers are replaceable and getting off easy. The replacement referees lacked experience and training for what they were doing. And for a while the NFL believed they could get by on the cheap without union personnel.They don’t mind mined extra pay for decent referees, but they expect teachers, who have a much more difficult job, to come and work for cheap, with no benefits or unions. What is wrong with this picture? -សតិវ អតុ

Blame it on Rio

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Many things can happen in Rio and sometimes it's just because of the feeling and atmosphere of the city.  The people are so full of life.  Cariocas, as people from Rio are called, see enjoying life is a high priority.  I must say that I'm a bit jealous that I don't see this approach to life on this scale in the US.

Today, we visited Rocinha, a favella located near Copacabana.  I'm told that the term Favella is not a favorable term because of its negative connotation, so from here on out it's the Rocinha community.  From a distance it looks like stacks of dwellings that are just part of the landscape but up close this is a bustling community with hard working people.  My take away is, we have to learn to see people and communities with economic challenges as they are and not with judgement of ethics or standards.  Through the winding roads up a steep hill are people, businesses and a society busy working hard for the same life as anyone being ignored and/or maybe judged as their community is looked upon from a distance.

We arrived at Rocinha with Alvaro Filho, owner of Forest Tour Rio.  Forest Tour Rio tours are done by Jeep, which in my opinion is the best way to see any part of Rio. You get to soak up the sights and sounds of the city.  Maybe this is why dogs put their heads out of the car window.  It's like taking in the cities through all of your senses.

Once in Rocinha we first met Mary, a local woman and artist who creates jewelry and crafts with recycled materials and paints her daily environment on canvas.  We then took a walk through a part of the community and here is where you're entrenched in the sights, sounds and smells.  Through narrow streets and alleys are shops for fruits, vegetables and meats.  It's obvious that we are visitors as we try to stay out of every ones way but never managing to do so. We are amazed how everyone is navigating the environment without fail in such close quarters.  Guys are pushing carts, delivering goods to the shops, carrying large parts of beef on their shoulders.  Ladies are shopping and people were moving about their normal day of work and life.  There was something going on at every turn and we were amazed at it all.

Later we met with Carlinhos, the owner of a house that he is extremely proud of and for good reason.  He probably has one of the best spots in Rio.  He operates his business called Terrace Tourist which is basically a tour of his home on his terrace.  We are told by our guide that, here you build your own home.  After three years if the government or no one else makes a claim it's yours and all you do from this point is pay utilities and taxes.  His place is three stories, I think.  After climbing so many steps I lost count.  On his terrace there is a view looking over the community below, a piece of Copacabana, the side of the mountain, the Tijuca Forest and from his kitchen window a view of Christ the Redeemer.  He's bursting with pride as he shows pictures of celebrities who have visited his Terrace along with photos of his young self, his daughter and grandson.  Thank you Carlinhos for your beaming smile and exuberant personality.



Ja'Vonne on Cycle Taxi

Each time I visit a place a see how a community turns a need into a business venture.  Here, because of the steep climb from the bottom of the mountain and where the Rocinha begins to the top, the narrow and busy roads and the need to get there, motorcycles are used as taxis.  This seems to be the main mode of transportation except for small trucks and vans that operate for businesses.  I decided to take one just to get the feel of the ride and soak up more of the community.  For the cost of 2 reals or $1 each way I went on a 5 minute ride from the top to the bottom and back to the top again with my driver Chiago, I think that's how he spells it. These taxis zip up and down the winding roads and rarely do you see one without a passenger.  We go down down down hugging the curves of the road, squeezing between traffic, passing other motorcycle taxis and being mindful of people dodging in and out of traffic.  I don't know which way to look because there's so much activity all around me. I wish I had a hat cam so I could share the experience with you because it's hard to truly explain.
The experience of visiting Rocinha will always be a part of me.

I'll tell you about food and the nightlife next but right now I'm getting ready for hang gliding. Woo Hoo!

Later!
Ja'Vonne
Photos by Gene Harley & Howard Little/Video Twist Productions

The must sees in Rio

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There are places you visit where no matter how many times you visit there are sights you still have to see.  In Rio, Christ the Redeemer, Ipanema, Copacabana and Sugarloaf are those sights.

Christ the Redeemer statue is symbolic to Rio.  It's the one structure that is recognized as the city's image and is now one of the wonders of the word.  Arms stretched wide to welcome visitors and embrace is residents.  It's perched a top of Corcovado mountain (so called because of it's resemblance of a hump).  Christ the Redeemer stands at 30 meters and offers excellent views of the city all around.  You first take a train up through the forest to the platform.  You then walk up the steps or take an escalator to the base of the statue.  What was spectacular about this trip was Bonnie.  Bonnie overcame her fear of statues and after five visits to Christ the Redeemer she was finally able to go to the base of the statue without fear! You go Bonnie.  There's nothing to fear but fear itself!
just a little history... Vincintian Pedro Maria Boss visited Corcovado and was so impressed of it's position wanted to have a religious figure constructed in honor of Princess Isabel.  This did not happen overnight and after much convincing, engineering, constructing and bidding and more than 60 years Christ the Redeemer was constructed.  It was on October 12, 1931 that Christ the Redeemer was inaugurated.  It was designed by Carlos Oswald and sculpted by Paul Landowskitura.

Ipanema, the second most famous beach and area in Rio is the more chic of the beaches.  It is said that this is where the most beautiful people live and hang out.  There are fewer hotels here but has some of the best jazz bars and places to enjoy live Bosa Nova.  It's the place where beautiful music has been created.  Bonnie and I walked along the beach and a rogue wave hit us. LOL  It was only knee high but it wasn't expected and caught us off guard.  After that experience I just had to get a fresh coconut from one of the beach stands.  They cut the top off of a coconut, put a straw in and you drink away.  This was so refreshing.  I hope Bonnie and I fit in with the beautiful people of Ipanema.

Copacabana is the most famous of the two and is the oldest.  Most of the hotels in Rio line Copacabana and Avenue Atlantica.  On Sundays one side of the Avenue is closed to vehicular traffic and the people hit the street walking, cycling, protesting, roller blading and just enjoying the open avenue.  Copacabana is distinctive because of its wave pattern on the sidewalk.  As you can see our photographer, Howard Little, was infatuated with the ladies of Copacabana or at least their backsides.  After all, Brazil is known for it's beautiful ladies and their bums.  We'll give him a pass on this one.  When you go to Copacabana sit at one of the stands, have a beer or caipirinha and order "fango de passinrinho" This is fried chicken cut into bit sized pieces with the bone in and seasoned with herbs and garlic.  The local squeeze lime juice over them. Finger lickin good! While you're sitting do some people watching.  There are lots of sights to see.  You will however, be visited by sales people and musicians.  But it's all part of the experience.



Ja'Vonne & Bonnie on cable car

Sugarloaf, the twin peaks is another vantage point in Rio.  To get to the highest peak you'll take two cable cars, one to the first peak and then another to the second peak.  I think it's best visited in the afternoon just before sunset.  Watching the sun set over Rio is breathtaking.  It's like watching the city come to it's second life.  As the sun sets and nature dims its lights the city's lights come on and a whole different Rio emerges.  Take it all in with the national drink, a caipirinha!

Tu do bem (a catch all phrase that basically means everything is fine)

Ja'Vonne
Photos by Gene Harley & Howard Little/Video Twist Productions

I Believe I can Fly.......

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I believe I can touch the sky.  I think about it every night and day. Spread my wings and fly away....OK, you get my drift.  I went hang gliding with Go Up Brazil, a company that provides hang gliding and paragliding adventures in Rio de Janeiro.  I anticipated this adventure from the moment I left Chicago.  I thought about it each day and got more and more excited.


When the car came for us at the hotel to take us to the site we were ready.  In the car I was singing.  I guess badly because the driver turned on the radio.  Was this a hint? Gene, Bonnie and Howard all tried to ignore me but it was OK because I was giddy with excitement.

Gene getting ready

Howard, Chico Santos, Ja'Vonne & Gene

Gene is always my partner in crime and goes along with my adventures and a few of his own.  Bonnie said from the beginning "y'all have fun" and Howard, well he was talked into it or should I say coaxed into it.  I think he really wanted to back out but machismo got in the way.

By the time we made it to the top of the mountain to a place called Pueblo Bonito, I was beside myself.  I was like a jumping bean.  When my pilot introduced himself to me I hugged him.  He didn't seem surprised by this? He spoke fast and as he instructed me he always finished with OK?  He and his son hooked me up to the glider and put my helmet, then the instructions began.  You stand to the side of me OK?  Always to the side of me, never behind me OK? When we ready to go, together we run, maybe ten steps OK? OK, let's do it for practice.  Together we ran about ten feet at a fast pace.  It's hard to run when you're connected to the glider.  That was the extent of my training but since he said he's been flying for more than 20 years I'm OK!

Now, we're ready....We walk over to the platform that angles down and then drops off.  There's a person in front of me so I have time to gather my thoughts.  Wait, why is he walking me down towards the end of the platform in front of the other person? It's my turn? I'm going first?  Before I had time to think he says OK, we go RUN! Off the platform and mountain we go.  I'm flying or shall I say gliding.  I immediately forget that I just jumped off of a mountain 1600 feet above ground.

I'm gliding high above Rio de Janeiro.  In front of me is the ocean and beach.  To my right is the side of the mountain.  Off in the distance to my left is part of Ipanema beach.  Below me are fabulous homes along the mountain with swimming pools, tennis courts and sprawling scapes.  We go left, then right, then over the ocean.  We're gliding and I'm taking it all in.  Occasionally he says look at the camera and smile.  Then he says you can let go...spread your arms wide.  This is a freeing experience.  I don't want it to be over, but it's time to land.  He reaches down and unhooks my legs from my vest.  Now, my legs are dangling where before they were behind me.  We go over the ocean and make a quick u- turn back to the beach.  This maneuver speeds us up and is thrilling!  I actually want to make that maneuver again.  As we approach the make shift runway on the beach (Pepino Beach) he says...When I stop the glider you take three steps OK?  I say OK, but I wind up on my knees.  I forgot to run. LOL.  It's all over but I'm still smiling. What an adventure!  One more thing checked off my life list.


Ja'Vonne Harley, The Wanderlusting Foodie aka Chica
Co-Host, The Traveling Eye

The Taste of Rio

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What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Rio?  I bet it's not food!  Well, Rio has wonderful food. Of course, you can partake in continental cuisine, everything from pizza to burgers, the usual comfort foods. And, of course you can go to a fancy restaurant for nouveau this or that and fusion this or that but Rio is a casual place and all about it's culture and people.  So... we went for the local and national dishes.  The dishes and foods that tell you the story and history of the people.  I always say, if you want to know someone find out what that they eat and how it's prepared.  You're sure to get a story as well.

We started our food tour with one of the most famous style of restaurants in Brazil, the churrascia.  This is a Brazilian steak house or BBQ.  Churrascaria's have made their way around the world and gained popularity among meat eaters.  I remember my first visit to Rio in the 80's and eating at a churrascaria.  Then it was a plain and simple feast.  Meats were brought to your table and carved onto your plate.  Your table was set with sides and that was it.  There was no salad bar or sushi bar and there was no seafood.  But, with the growth of the churrascia, over the years I've seen this change not only in the states but in Brazil as well.  Now, they are complete with seafood, salad bars and sushi.  You may see some variances at the different restaurants in what they serve but the one thing that remains the same is the BBQ, the meat.  This is what we all come for, when our taste buds crave meat and we allow ourselves and our insatiable appetite to feast.  On this trip we went to the Churrascia Palace, just a block or two from our hotel in the Copacabana area.  The Churrascia Palace is a fairly small restaurant. In the back is a banner sized mural with caricatures of famous people.  Below the mural and mirror is a small stage with a piano.  Some nights there is a piano player.  We were there for lunch so no piano player.   
Just after we were seated a gentleman came to our table with a cart of libations.  We went for the caipirinha since it is the national drink.  Here the caipirinhas are made to order table side.  Fresh limes are muddled with sugar until the juice is extracted.  Then, the glass is fill with ice and cachaca (a Brazilian brandy made from sugar cane).  The contents of the glass are then poured into a shaker and shaken until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and finally poured into a glass and now yours.  Delicious and the perfect drink to go with all that meat.
 And now it begins, the parade of servers with meats on large skewers presented to you for your selection.  Yes or no to lamb, chicken, shrimp, beef, sausages, pork and ribs. There are some traditional sides on the table but we ignore them just as we did the salad bar and sushi bar, that we didn't even realize was there until later. Not that they weren't worthy but we came for the BBQ and were a bit narrow sighted.

Our next food adventure is Feijoada.  Feijoada is the national dish of Brazil that historically gets it roots from the slaves.  Scraps of beef and pork like the ears, tails and feet were given to the slaves and they made a delicious and soulful meal out of these scraps along with black beans and rice.  I'm told that when a family prepares Feijoada they spend all day in the kitchen and all afternoon and evening at the table with friends and family.  Just don't forget the music and some caipirinha's.  I would absolutely love to enjoy home cooked Feijoada with a Brazilian family.  Maybe I'll be able to do so on my next visit.  For now and much to our delight we are enjoying Feijoada at the Casa de Feijoada.  Casa de Feijoada is a quaint restaurant located in the Ipanema area.  I just love the atmosphere.  The first thing we are served is a black bean soup and an aperitif made with cachaca and fruit juice.  We were given passion fruit, lime and honey to try.  The alcohol really helps with the heavy and hearty meat dishes.  We were talking and all of sudden we heard this sizzling sound and pots of sizzling meats and juices were placed on the table along with various sides like black beans, rice, pork rinds (not the kind from the bag but made fresh), collard greens, manioc (a root that I think is a lot like yucca), farofa (toasted and ground manioc) and hot sauce.  While here, the pots are not filled with the aforementioned parts of the pig, the meats that are in the pots are seasoned with them.  Our pots are filled with beautiful cuts of meat and the most delicious sausages.  Everything goes so well together.  OK, now our bellies are full and we could go to sleep.
It just keeps getting better.  After our tour and visit to the Rocinha community we head to lunch at a restaurant named A Mineira.  We had no idea what we were in for.  A Mineira is a chain restaurant throughout Rio and Sao Paulo and features cuisine from the Minas Gerais state, the second most populous state in Brazil that is very rural and has much farm land.  It appears to me that this is a mix of Brazilian fare.   A little bit of Feijoada, BBQ and other local favorites and very typical South American flavors.  I love that the price is right and even though it's a buffet, the food is fresh, delicious and still tastes home made.  They also have a tasting of cachaca served in a mini barrel with tiny glasses.  You can help yourself to as much as you want but be careful because this is not flavored or watered down and can put some hair on your chest.

On our last night we went to Lapa, an area in downtown Rio where the locals hang out on pedestrian streets at local bars and eateries.  Some of the streets are always pedestrian but some of the main streets become closed to vehicular traffic on certain days and during certain hours.  The vibe is relaxed and lively at the same time.  How can that be? Well, people are just chilling with food, drink and conversation but are alive with the spirit of a good time.  That's what I mean and as I said on an earlier post "I'm a bit jealous that we don't have that same attitude towards enjoying life, plain simple life".  How does this fit into the food tour of Rio?  We parked ourselves at one of the restaurants.  The restaurants are small and have the option of indoor or outdoor seating.  We chose outdoor seating.  The local favorite or bar food, fried chicken pieces with french fries and a bottle of local beer.  This style of fried chicken is called Frango a Passarinho.  The chicken is cut into small pieces with the bone in, seasoned with salt, garlic and herbs and fried to perfection.  Giordanna, our guide tells us to squeeze lime juice over the chicken, it adds that extra tang.  I fell in love with this dish and ordered it again when we stopped at a kiosk bar on the beach of Copacabana. The other is pao de quuijo, these are little bread rolls with cheese made from cassava flour from the manioc and cows milk cheese, I liken them to little cheese pillows.  They are served warm and are nice and chewy.
Caipirinha's, Brazilian Beer, Churrascia, Feijoada, A Mineira, Frango a Passarinho, pao de queijo.....Try them all on your visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and inhale and digest the soul of nation.  You're sure to bring back a story or two from the experience.



Saude! To your health in Portuguese!

"Remember, the world is a book and those who do not travel, read only a page"
 Ja'Vonne, The Wanderlusting Foodie, aka, Chica (A name I gave myself in Rio)Co-Host, The Traveling Eye
Co-Owner, Advantage International, LLC
Photos by Howard Little/VideoTwist Productions

Keeping Your Home Safe When You Travel

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I travel a lot which means I'm away from home and it also means that I think about home safety and security.  I have a few things that I do but I'm always on the prowl for tips and useful information on keeping my home safe.  I live in a condominium and recently received a notice under my door that our building had two break ins.  Both break-ins occurred when the home owners were out of town.  This means that someone must have known they weren't home.  You couldn't get any closer to home than this so I decided to do "Ja'Vonne's Travel Minute", a weekly travel vignette that I do on our show The Traveling Eye on keeping your safe when you travel.  Doing my research I came across an article in Readers Digest titled "13 Things You Never Knew About Home Safety". While not all of these tips are for when you're away, a lot of them were.

1. Sock away your valuables in your children's room because most burglars don't go in there.
2. Plant thorny bushes under a low window.  It's decorative and a deterrent
3. Ask a neighbor to be on the look out for fliers in your door and collect them if they're there.  This is a trick burglars use.  They leave a flier and then come back later to see if it's still there.
4. Turn your phone ringer on low or off
5. If you don't have a security system get a decal for display
6. Join a neighborhood watch
7. Don't load up the car until the morning you're leaving
8. if you have a security key pad make sure the display it is not visible.
9. Take care of mail slots that are in doors.  There's a more strategic place for it.
10. Keep your car keys next to your bed on your night stand
11. Store wood away from windows or any home entry point
12. When you have workers in your home do a security sweep of your home when they leave.
13. choose your locksmith wisely.

Ja'Vonne Harley, The Wanderlusting Foodie
Co-host, The Traveling Eye
Co-owner, Advantage International, LLC

More teaching observations—Standardized Tests

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From 

 Wichita Peace and Freedom Party Examiner;

Here are some more observations on the changes in our public schools, after talking to teachers and observing class room activities myself. I have been a teacher and substitute teacher for more than 8 years.The Standardized Tests, that conservatives like to use to measure “success” in schools today and championed as part of the “new education reforms,” have been a thorn to teachers since they were implemented in 1994, when the Bill Clinton administration changed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.Teachers find themselves “teaching to the test” with students being forced to simply memorize facts and there is little actual teaching done to explain the material to them. There is no room for a teacher to expand on information and really explain it. Much of the time spent getting ready for these tests actually takes time away from classroom work.The tests are not really that accurate. They vary from state to state, according to Mother Jones. They are designed by each state and states use them for any number of things, such as student evaluation, teacher evaluation and to decide whether or not to give public schools to charter schools.In Kansas, they were designed to reflect the needs of businesses and not the overall needs of the students. The emphasis on math and science has encouraged schools to slacken on basic reading and writing skills. The National Assessment Governing Board reported, this month, that some 33 percent of eighth-grade students scored at the proficient level, which represents solid writing skills, as did 24 percent at grade 12.Anything to do with culture; history, world cultures, music and art, is being scaled back. In a time when the world is becoming more integrated, schools are cutting down on foreign languages. Students and adults around them see education as a preparation for getting a job in society. But traditionally schools have tried to equip students to understand the world around them and give them a well-rounded education. The results to all this is a whole generation of students who will graduate as cultural illiterates who can’t explain their own culture to someone from another country.It is really an insult to teachers to try and assess their abilities based on these tests’ scores. The tests were a mistake to begin with and to use them to evaluate a teacher is just plain stupid. Many who are for “education reform” want to lower wages for teachers and strip them of their unions and any rights they have. This is demeaning and it humiliates teachers in front of their students. This is not the encouragement teachers need to do their best. This is part of the conservative trend to treat workers in general as disposable entities that are easily replaceable and not all that valuable as individuals.The real emphasis of the “education reform” crowd is education on the cheap. Eventually these people will get what they pay for. Teachers who do a dedicated job take more than just eight to five hours a day. Eventually society will find they threw away the better teachers hoping to do the job cheap and they will get what they pay for—a mediocre education by worn-down de-moralized teachers.

Room 77: Let's Plan a Trip! 9.19.12

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As you all know, I’m always on the hunt for a travel bargain and sites that make finding them easier go right to the top of my list. I had heard of Room77 in passing and then found them on Facebook through a friend who shared one of their amazing photos. I’m a sucker for a gorgeous destination picture, so I “liked” them and started following along and also submitted a few of my own photos from my trips. You know I just couldn’t say no when asked to review their super useful site.

The first thing you’ll notice is that the site is clean and easy to navigate. There are no useless bells and whistles getting in the way of what you’re there for: finding the best deal on hotels at your destination. I tested out the search engine as if I would be booking for my upcoming trip to Anaheim and was surprised by how much information they pack into the results page. You can search by destination city or landmark, which is super awesome if you want to stay within a certain distance from where you will be spending most of your time. In my case, I put in Disneyland and got a whole slew of great options for where to stay. I then sorted by price to get a more concentrated list of hotels within my budget.As a blogger, I can’t stay at a place with no internet connection. Hello! It’s 2012. Hotels that don’t have internet shouldn’t even exist. The ability to search my list of hotels for those that offer free Wi-Fi (such a savings for you and no loss for the property at all!) was so helpful. I am always spending my mornings, and sometimes my evenings, checking email, updating Facebook and also writing reviews and blogging, so hotels with free Wi-Fi is a huge plus. Many hotels can charge $8-10 per day for this which makes it the same cost as a night’s stay if you will be there for a week or more.
Another huge cost on a trip is food. Looking at the list of hotels I already found through my search, I also plugged in hotels with free breakfast. That can be another $10+ per day per traveler and a complimentary breakfast – continental or otherwise – is a big help towards cutting down on eating out and gives you a bit more freedom with your budget. We don’t really get excited about eating out in the morning and would rather have a little something while we’re getting ready and then have a good lunch, so free breakfast is perfect for us. It’s easy to go down and grab and then we can finish up in our room and even take fruit or other nibbles with us as a snack if we have leftovers.
Once I narrowed down my options even more, I noticed there were plenty of choices really close to Disney, so I could take the ART shuttles or walk to the parks if I wanted to. This would enable me to skip a rental car, saving me even more(!), and still book an affordable hotel. (You can also search for hotels with free parking or free airport shuttle.) But how to choose? Well, luckily you can see the hotel rating right on the listing (1-5 stars) plus the satisfaction rating of previous guests via their ratings on TripAdvisor. Pretty cool, right? Obviously, I want at least a 2-star property, because I don’t need luxury for a room that I won’t be in much more than to sleep, but I still want it to be safe and comfortable. I also want to see a lot of good reviews (I unchecked average, poor and very poor as user rating choices) and I don’t want to pay more than $100 a night (which I also noted on the pricing scale). Anything less than that would be ideal. This still gave me quite a few selections. My top picks being: Travelodge Anaheim Inn and Suite on Disneyland Drive, America’s Best Inn & Suites at the Park, Extended Stay America-Orange County-Anaheim Convention Ctr. and Quality Inn & Suites Anaheim at the Park.

Based on previous visits to Anaheim, guest reviews and the many, many photos of the room and the rest of the hotel provided by Room 77, I was able to determine that staying in the Travelodge Anaheim Inn and Suite on Disneyland Drive was the way to go. It’s basically right across the street from the park on Ball Rd, has lovely rooms, free Wi-Fi and offers AAA hotel discounts. As you can see, Room 77 gave me exactly what I wanted and can book my reservation for $8 less per night than other search engines. For a one-week stay, that saves me $56. While that may not seem like much, that’s $56 I can spend at the parks on food or that I can keep in my wallet to make my trip that much cheaper. Between that savings, my WiFi savings and no rental car or shuttle trips to/from the parks each day, I have saved hundreds of dollars on this trip all thanks to Room 77!
Never wonder whether you've gotten the best deal on your hotel room again. Check out Room 77 when planning your next travel adventure! 

Disclaimer: I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of the Clever Girls Collective.

10 Ways to Save Money in Honolulu 9.22.12

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It's prime time to book a trip to Hawaii right now. You can save quite a bit on airfare and hotel stays, so in honor of that, I thought I would bring back a post from my travels to Honolulu last Fall. Enjoy!
Last [Fall] I was off to Oahu in Hawaii and we stayed in the Waikiki area. While we saved quite a bit on airfare, our lodgings and even our activities (by using Groupon), there were things that we still had to pay for that could be quite spendy. We planned out some meals (using Groupon for a few) and then winged it the rest of the time. We planned to splurge on a lunch at Morimoto’s, but it turned out to be quite reasonable ($22 for a “lunch set” that included your entrée, a small salad, miso soup and sushi). I know many people love Hawaii or dream of going there. If not for the obscene cost of things, they would have already traveled there. While you can keep an eye out for affordable airfare and hotels, it’s not always easy to save on doing things there, so I’ve put together this list for you that may want to go and not have to pay on your credit cards for the next 5 years.

1. Take TheBus – At just $2.50 per person, TheBus will take you around the whole island. Cheap way to tour and also get places! You can pick up a bus pass at participating ABC Stores, but I found we didn’t need it and we also walked a lot.


2. Hit the beach – You’re in Hawaii. No matter where you are, the beach is probably not that far away. Not only is lying on the beach and playing in the water free, it can also be fun! Buy a volleyball or sand bucket and get some exercise or search for buried treasure. Make sure to put on lots of sunscreen and bring it with you for reapplication! That sun is hot.
 
3. Check out the Dole Plantation – Sure, it’s touristy and it’s a long ride on TheBus (not such a long drive if you rent a car), but it can take up most of your day. Browse the gift shop, purchase plumeria starts or fresh fruit at the Farmers Market, ride the train, get lost in the maze, eat at the Plantation Grille and learn about Hawaii’s native plants and flowers. Oh yeah! You can even see how pineapples are grown, ship some back home and eat lots of Dole Whip! Extra tip: You get a lot of food in the platters for little money, so there is more than one of you, split a plate.

All this for only $9!

4. Window shop – There are lots of shops in Honolulu/Waikiki. While you may not want to buy anything, it’s still fun to look. From the giant Crocs store to smaller art shops, there are things to look at for weeks on end. Here’s another tip that I can give you: See a print you like, but the price tag makes you cry? Look to see if they have a calendar of the artist’s work. If they do, pick that up for a fraction of the price and get 12 pictures for the price of one. Once in a frame, no one will be able to tell that it isn’t a print, and you can switch it out anytime you like for one of the other 11 reproductions you have.


5. Shop the International Market Place – While it’s not so “international”, there can be some fun stuff to be found in the market. From plumeria barrettes and “Hawaiian” shirts that you can find everywhere to original artwork and things like caps with wooden bills, you can get lost in the market for hours on end. If you do plan to buy, practice your haggling skills and then head up to the 2^nd “floor” in above the real shops and smoothie café to mail items home at the post office. Aside from checking out funky handmade items and other things, you can watch free shows every day, too!

Look at that turtle!

6. Snorkel for cheap – If you are a snorkeler and don’t need to go with a guide or a group, purchase your own mask and snorkel for around $6 and hit the beaches and look underwater for free. There are people everywhere who can tell you the best places to go. One of those places is Hanauma Bay. While not free, it’s only $5 per person for a day pass. You can take the bus or drive (park for $1) and then head down to the beach, where they have changing rooms, food vendors and more, including some of the best snorkeling on the island.

That's Diamond Head back there.

7. Hike Diamond Head – If you want a fantastic view of Honolulu and the beaches, strap on some good walking shoes, grab your water and hike to the top of Diamond Head. It’s free and a popular activity.

What an amazing view

8. Take a day tour – Sure, these can cost around $60 per person, but you are entertained for the whole day, meet some cool people from around the world and learn so much from the guide. I recommend VIP Transportation tours. Request Earl as a driver, because he will take that tour van to places others won’t even dare…and it’s so worth it!
9. Drive around the island – If a tour isn’t your cup of tea, then rent a car for the day and drive the circle island loop on your own, stopping at roadside fruit stands, all kinds of beaches and more.

10. Learn to hula – There are so many places where you can learn to hula for free. It’s fun, great exercise and easy for all ages. Shake your hips, wave your arms and mesmerize the masses!  Other tips to consider:·     Pick up the coupon booklets that are on the streets, in hotel lobbies and even in the airport to save dollars off on activities, entertainment and shopping. You can also get free gifts (with purchase), appetizers and desserts with some coupons.

     ·You can save money by not buying a bus pass. A four-day pass is $25, but you would have to ride the bus more than 10 times in those four days to make it worth your while. A transfer is good for 2 ½ hours (or longer, depending on your driver), which means most places you go, you can return for free.     ·Stop by Mac 24/7 for pancakes. For $15, you get the pancake challenge portion size, but you don’t have to take the challenge. Split the flapjacks between two or more. If you splurge for lunch or dinner entrees, they are worth the price. I loved the mahi mahi.

          ·Hit up Tiki’s Grill and Bar on Tuesday for Tiki Taco Tuesday. Their fish tacos are amazingly good and just $2 each on Tuesday!

          ·Use the free Hilo Hattie’s trolley to get to the mall or save bus fare if you are heading to that area.           ·Beware the kitchy merchandise at the ABC Stores. The closer to the center of town you are, the more it seems to cost.

          ·Much of the merchandise at the Dole Plantation is overpriced. A lot of it can be found elsewhere for cheaper, except at the airport. You can also save by taking your purchases with you and mailing it home at the Post Office instead of shipping from there.          ·Enjoy the best view of Waikiki from the revolving restaurant, Top of Waikiki. While the entrees may be expensive, you can show up for happy hour and get a couple apps (starting at $7). You don’t even have to order any alcohol if you don’t want to.

           ·If, like me, you plan to eat a lot of awesome food, even if it’s all seafood you are going to gain some weight. Everything comes with carbs, carbs and more carbs and it seems that Hawaiians don’t know what a veggie is. Combat the expanding waistline by walking more. Everything is within walking distance in Waikiki. On one occasion we took the bus to a restaurant right outside of Waikiki, but we still had to walk about a quarter of a mile to get there after getting off the bus. On the way back, since we didn’t know the bus schedule, we just walked the whole way back to the room, which was easily two miles. With all the distractions you can find in the city, it’s easy to walk a lot without realizing it.           ·It’s Hawaii! You don’t need much. Pack a few tops and bottoms, throw your swimsuit and cover-up in the bag and off you go. Do some laundry while you’re there and save even more space in your travel bag to help you pack lighter.            ·    Book a shuttle to/from the airport. Cheaper than a taxi and more reliable than the bus.           ·    Rent a condo. It will be much more affordable than a hotel and you can buy food to make instead of dining out all the time. We saved by buying breakfast foods and even though it cost us around $40, that was still cheaper than buying breakfast every morning.
Do you have some other good tips for budget travel to Honolulu, or other cities on Oahu or the other islands?

Aloha!