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The Massacre in Realengo, Rio de Janeiro

A great post by one of my favorite bloggers, Professor Christopher Gaffney, about the recent school shotting in Rio de Janeiro - and I couldn't agree more with what he writes: Geostadia or the Geography of the Obvious: A Chacina do Realango (The massacre in Realengo).

Some highlights:

• "Brazil already has more than 7 million illegal arms with 60% of them coming from the USA. So not only was the act itself an imitation of Columbine, but the weapons likely carried the MADE IN USA stamp."
• We need to recognize that, "constructing a consumer society in which one’s place within the social system, one’s ability to access basic human rights, is determined by one’s ability to pay for those rights is fundamentally flawed. This is increasingly the case in the United States and the idea that human freedom is now inexorably tied to the ability to fit within market systems is a palpable reality in Brazil."
• "What we never think about when we watch the [Olympic and World Cup] games are the dead bodies and broken lives that sustain them."

Tangerine Falls, Santa Barbara, CA

Walking through clouds of mist at Tangerine Falls

I often hike up the East Fork of the Cold Springs trail, which goes up to my favorite swimming hole as well as an incredible view of Montecito and Santa Barbara below. Beyond that is Montecito Peak. This time around, though, I went up the West Fork, which goes to Tangerine Falls. You can take a trail to the top of the falls or the bottom - we choose the bottom of the falls to get a good view. Plus there have been a few people in the past few months who had to get rescued from the upper path because they didn't leave enough time to get back down.

Tangerine Falls

The weather was very moist. If it was warmer I could have mistaken myself in a tropical rainforest. Everything was green and beautiful - and wet and slippery! After taking a few wrong turns and crossing over the rain swollen creek, we found our way to Tangerine Falls and Russell took a dive into the freezing water! He went right under the waterfall and disappeared behind it. The other hikers went wild for that, cheering him on.

After his waterfall shower, Russ and I headed back down to the car. Very nice after work hike, although I still prefer the East Fork (nothing can beat our secluded swimming hole and water slide!)

More photos: Tangerine Falls Hike

Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1% | Society | Vanity Fair

A must read article by my favorite economist, Joseph Stiglitz:

Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1% | Society | Vanity Fair