Excuse my language but how the fuck are we gonna progress when candidates are pulling this shit off?
This is presidential candidate Amable Aristy, who's slogan is "The Poor Man's President" , flying on his helicopter (how humble huh?) and tossing out a few pesos to a crowd that basically starts fighting and trampling each other!
The sad part is that this might work out for him... All we can do is hope it doesn't.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Cramps? ED? Constipation?
Once upon a time you could buy pretty much everything over the counter, and the amazing part was that few people abused it (or at least not that I knew/heard of). While those days may be slowly coming to an end, it is still interesting to see that you can still find Viagra over the counter.
BTW - Anyone know if 100mg is a large or small dose? It seems like a pretty stiff to me.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Found it!!!!!
This is my last rant about coffee… I promise! I just had to say that I finally found the perfect latte!!! Every morning I go to this small coffee stand just outside the office and I tell the guy exactly how I want my latte. I am very happy to say that the guy is now officially trained! I walk in and without saying anything, other than good morning, I get my latte just the way I like it! Even if I have to call it a ‘cappuccino’.... but then again, when I'm paying only 1.50 for it, including tip... I guess its not that bad after all!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I'm sorry... what the hell is that in my coffee?
Unless you didn’t realize it from my last post… I really like my coffee. At least now I’m a little bit more used to the way they do it here… As long as I can get my latte I’ll call it cappuccino or whatever the hell they want to call it!
So a few days ago after having lunch at this restaurant I decide it’s the right time to enjoy my ‘cappuccino’. I order it from the waiter and a few minutes later I get a latte with some foam… not quite enough as it should have, but there was something floating on the foam! I took cup up to my nose…cinnamon!!! Who the hell asked for cinnamon!!! I managed to scoop it out but lost pretty much all the foam they gave me.
A couple days later… again, after lunch, at another restaurant I asked for my ‘cappuccino’ but this time I asked
“Do you put cinnamon in your cappuccino?”
“No”
“Great! Thanks!”
A few minutes later here comes my latte… I can see from afar that there is a good amount of foam… they might have gotten it right this time! As they set down the cup in front of me I see something floating on the freaking foam!
I take it up to my nose… cocoa!
Once again I had to scoop something out of my latte before I could drink it.
Anyway… to not go on and on about this any longer… all I can say is that every place I’ve been to and ordered a “cappuccino” I have gotten something slightly different. There’s a joke in Seattle that goes on about how you are from Seattle if you can order a cup of coffee in a hundred different ways… well… all I can say is that here you can order 1 cup of coffee and GET it in a hundred different ways!
Friday, September 21, 2007
In search of a good Latte... parte dos
Unless you didn’t realize it from my last post… I really like my coffee. At least now I’m a little bit more used to the way they do it here… As long as I can get my latte I’ll call it cappuccino or whatever the hell they want to call it!
So a few days ago after having lunch at this restaurant I decide it’s the right time to enjoy my ‘cappuccino’. I order it from the waiter and a few minutes later I get a latte with some foam… not quite enough as it should have, but there was something floating on the foam! I took cup up to my nose…cinnamon!!! Who the hell asked for cinnamon!!! I managed to scoop it out but lost pretty much all the foam they gave me.
A couple days later… again, after lunch, at another restaurant I asked for my ‘cappuccino’ but this time I asked
“Do you put cinnamon in your cappuccino?”
“No”
“Great! Thanks!”
A few minutes later here comes my latte… I can see from afar that there is a generous amount of foam… they might have gotten it right this time! As they set down the cup in front of me I see something floating on the freaking foam!
I take it up to my nose… cocoa!
Once again I had to scoop something out of my latte before I could drink it.
Anyway… to not go on and on about this any longer… all I can say is that every place I’ve been to and ordered a “cappuccino” I have gotten something slightly different. There’s a joke in Seattle that goes on about how you are from Seattle if you can order a cup of coffee in a hundred different ways… well… all I can say is that here you can order 1 cup of coffee and GET it in a hundred different ways!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
In search of a good Latte...
For the last 6 and half years I lived in
Ok… going back to the point of this post. I am addicted to coffee!!! Some people might not see this as a problem because
For starters there aren’t that many coffee shops in DR and the few that are around serve crap that looks more like a freaking cappuccino blast from Baskin Robbins!
So I am looking at the menu in one of these so called coffee shops and after browsing through a ton of these “coffee” drinks I find a small section at the end that contained an espresso, a cappuccino, a mocha and a café latte. GREAT! I proceed to order a latte and the guy behind the bar looks at me and goes
“Que?”
“A latte.” I say. “You know espresso with steamed milk”
“Oh you want coffee with milk”
“Yes”
So I see the guy pour out the shots of espresso into a cup and he then proceeds to pour milk into it right out of a carton…
“Whoa! Aren’t you gonna steam the milk?
“Why?”
“I ordered a latte”
“You wanted a cappuccino?”
“No. A cappuccino has mostly foam and little bit of milk. A latte has milk AND foam.”
(Laughing) “Mostly foam?”
“Yes”
“So you want a ‘latte’?”
“Yes!”
“Oooookay...”
He turned around and started to steam the milk. He then pours the milk in and yells to the cashier.
“Cappuccino coming up!”
I didn’t feel like arguing any more and I took the coffee cup from him… at least I had my latte… no matter what they want to call it.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Hello!
I would like to take a few moments to introduce myself... well... sort of. My name doesn't really matter. The important fact is who I am and where I come from.
Those of you, who I invited to read this blog, know me... but if you just happened to stumble across this blog or used to read it before I came along, all you really need to know is that I was born and raised in Dominican Republic and at the age of 18 I moved to the United States and lived there for almost 11 years. Went to college for 4 and half and worked for another 6 and half.
Seven weeks ago, I moved back to DR. The way of life that has been “normal” to me, is now completely different!
As of today you will be able to see how I get reacquainted with my country. You’ll learn about things I like and things I don’t… Well, for starters it will be a lot of bitching on my part! I’m going through some sort of reverse culture shock or something, but eventually as the shock diminishes the tone of my posts will shift to the good side. Feel free to comment on my ramblings… maybe these things are common in other Latin American Countries… maybe they are true to other developing countries… or maybe this shit happens only in DR!!!
Those of you, who I invited to read this blog, know me... but if you just happened to stumble across this blog or used to read it before I came along, all you really need to know is that I was born and raised in Dominican Republic and at the age of 18 I moved to the United States and lived there for almost 11 years. Went to college for 4 and half and worked for another 6 and half.
Seven weeks ago, I moved back to DR. The way of life that has been “normal” to me, is now completely different!
As of today you will be able to see how I get reacquainted with my country. You’ll learn about things I like and things I don’t… Well, for starters it will be a lot of bitching on my part! I’m going through some sort of reverse culture shock or something, but eventually as the shock diminishes the tone of my posts will shift to the good side. Feel free to comment on my ramblings… maybe these things are common in other Latin American Countries… maybe they are true to other developing countries… or maybe this shit happens only in DR!!!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
$150 = $300
That's right friends, only in this country does a $150 plane ticket end up costing you almost $300. Why, because of the excessive taxes that our fine friends in the Dominican government like to charge us. Its a good thing we don't rely on tourism as a country... and that all the people here are so rich... I mean, these taxes are ridiculous. In contrast, the US government charges less than $20 per person, while our friends in the Dominican Republic government are asking for over $100. Mind you these are only the 'International Departure Tax' and 'International Fee's'... there are a few more taxes involved if you actually buy the tickets in the DR... 26% sales tax... it is really ridiculous.
That's right friends, only in this country does a $150 plane ticket end up costing you almost $300. Why, because of the excessive taxes that our fine friends in the Dominican government like to charge us. Its a good thing we don't rely on tourism as a country... and that all the people here are so rich... I mean, these taxes are ridiculous. In contrast, the US government charges less than $20 per person, while our friends in the Dominican Republic government are asking for over $100. Mind you these are only the 'International Departure Tax' and 'International Fee's'... there are a few more taxes involved if you actually buy the tickets in the DR... 26% sales tax... it is really ridiculous.
The worst part about this, is not even the taxes themselves, its the blatant way in which the government corruption makes all that money disappear. You have no idea the number of poor people who enter the government, and let me tell you, by the time they are done, they have made their bank account rise by a couple significant factors.
But I digress... no one seems to give a shit about this country, so why should I. for now, I would simply be happy if they where to stop hiking up the prices of the damn plane tickets.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Go NCF Yourself!
Its been a while since I posted, but that by no means implies that the humor in Dominican society has come to an end. Quite the contrary. In fact, I have a bone to pick with the number one clowns in the country - the government (no surprise here right).
So where to start? Ok, lets focus this post (and probably many more to come in the future) on the amazingly complex over-reaction to tax evasion.
The government, in all their endless wisdom has decided to, with a single new initiative, to increase the amount of paper required to do business, increase the overhead of ALL SMALL BUSINESSES and create an environment in which tax evasion is more pervasive than ever, as the costs of trying to comply are so incredibly complex that complying will surly prove too difficult to last forever.
The idea they have implemented is not new. My understanding is that it exists in various other countries, but as anyone who knows the DR, this is not a country ready to have overly elaborate and complex procedures put into place - for gods' sake, this country has at least a 60% illiteracy rate.
So now the idea. It seems simple. Every invoice has to have a government tracking number for the sole purpose of ensuring that all these thieving companies pay their taxes.... or at least those working with a single set of books. It seems simple enough until you consider that most businesses in the country are not prepared to manage this new system, especially with the little amount of training that has been publicly provided.... at least in the rural areas.
To me this seems like a ploy to gain more money on fines... so the honchos in the government can buy more Mercedes'. Sad but true. Its so ridiculous, that I doubt that any company investing in the DR will feel comfortable putting all but the most minimum capital investment into the shores of this fine thieving country.
There are those who feel that the taxes will obviously go to good causes, but I fail to see how building a Metro in a country with such poor education and a health care system that makes the US look good, is even thinking.
Naturally, one must understand that in this country, people never think about making it big in business with great ideas and concepts, rather, those who aspire to be rich and powerful tend to go into politics. As a poor man elected to office can come out a rich and powerful man.
Please understand that I am in no way implying that all politicians are corrupt vultures sucking the life out of the country... I am sure there are one or two that are not bright enough to understand and one or two who foolishly believe they can make a difference.... suckers!
I'm a little cynical at the moment.... but that does not negate the fact that it is true. Sad. But true.
Its been a while since I posted, but that by no means implies that the humor in Dominican society has come to an end. Quite the contrary. In fact, I have a bone to pick with the number one clowns in the country - the government (no surprise here right).
So where to start? Ok, lets focus this post (and probably many more to come in the future) on the amazingly complex over-reaction to tax evasion.
The government, in all their endless wisdom has decided to, with a single new initiative, to increase the amount of paper required to do business, increase the overhead of ALL SMALL BUSINESSES and create an environment in which tax evasion is more pervasive than ever, as the costs of trying to comply are so incredibly complex that complying will surly prove too difficult to last forever.
The idea they have implemented is not new. My understanding is that it exists in various other countries, but as anyone who knows the DR, this is not a country ready to have overly elaborate and complex procedures put into place - for gods' sake, this country has at least a 60% illiteracy rate.
So now the idea. It seems simple. Every invoice has to have a government tracking number for the sole purpose of ensuring that all these thieving companies pay their taxes.... or at least those working with a single set of books. It seems simple enough until you consider that most businesses in the country are not prepared to manage this new system, especially with the little amount of training that has been publicly provided.... at least in the rural areas.
To me this seems like a ploy to gain more money on fines... so the honchos in the government can buy more Mercedes'. Sad but true. Its so ridiculous, that I doubt that any company investing in the DR will feel comfortable putting all but the most minimum capital investment into the shores of this fine thieving country.
There are those who feel that the taxes will obviously go to good causes, but I fail to see how building a Metro in a country with such poor education and a health care system that makes the US look good, is even thinking.
Naturally, one must understand that in this country, people never think about making it big in business with great ideas and concepts, rather, those who aspire to be rich and powerful tend to go into politics. As a poor man elected to office can come out a rich and powerful man.
Please understand that I am in no way implying that all politicians are corrupt vultures sucking the life out of the country... I am sure there are one or two that are not bright enough to understand and one or two who foolishly believe they can make a difference.... suckers!
I'm a little cynical at the moment.... but that does not negate the fact that it is true. Sad. But true.
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