Domingo, 3/4/2016: Harrison Ford is in the Galapagos, Police frisk for street weapons, French cinema, Cuenca’s iron lady

Hola, Todos – 

I don’t know if there were any eagle-eyed readers of Friday’s translation who noticed some items had an asterisk next to the title.  Those of you who didn’t, and believed those articles – GOTCHA – you were April Fooled.

This will be the last post at this experimental time.  A work day of 1am to 3am is not compatible with getting up at a reasonable time.  Plus it’s just too hard on the body. Monday’s email will return to the normal time.

Pagina cultural – 

A new CD – called “Cantando de Cuenca” (Singing about Cuenca) by Alberto León Vargas has 14 tracks of national music dedicated to Cuenca.

Martes de cine francés – “La vie domestique” will show on Tues., 5/4 at 19:00 in the Alianza Francesa.  It’s about a woman who didn’t like the idea of moving to the Paris suburbs where all the women are about 40, with kids, houses to maintain and husbands who get home late.  (Is this the French version of Real Housewives of Vincennes?)

Aniversario de República Sur – República Sur (Pres. Córdova 5-55) is celebrating its 2nd anniversary this month.  On Fri, 8/4 they will present the “Tumbideja” discomovil (Some kind of mobile sound system – a super boombox?) at 21:00.

Exposición de caricaturas (cartoons) – by David Jiménez Landivar is showing at the Galería de la Alcaldía (Bolívar y Borrero).  Hours are 8-18:00, M-F.

Articles about –

CCE – defended its autonomy in an event yesterday in the lobby of the Teatro Casa de la Cultura with an art vigil that incuded theater, puppets, dance and music.

Juana Estrella – will celebrate her career with 2 weeks of theater from 4-14/5 in the sala “Alfonso Carrasco” in the Casa de la Cultura (CCE).  The celebration will include her works like “Aguita de viejas”, “Loca la Juana – Juana la loca”,  “Penélope” and “El monólogo de la escoba”.

The Radio-TV Symphony Orchestra of Belarus – has recorded works with Ecuadorian themes.

Otras cosas –

Titular – El D. Cuenca da pelea al puntero Barcelona (D. Cuenca put up a good fight against winner Barcelona.)

About 450 children and youth – from different Scout troops participated in tree planting in parque El Paraíso yesterday.

Harrison Ford – is in the Galápagos.  (Whoo-woo!  I guess famous people have bucket lists, too.)

Obesity – by 2025, one out of every 5 people in the world will be obese according to an article in the Lancet.  China has the largest number of overweight people with 89.6 million, and the US the second largest with 88.1. (Keep in mind the overall populations of the those two countries, though.) The study found that almost 20% of overweight adults (118 million on the whole planet) live in just 6 wealthy, English speaking countries – Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (Did Ireland get disincluded?), and the US.  (So is speaking English directly related to obesity?  Another reason to learn Spanish.)  In Latin America, obesity rates projected for 2025 range from Puerto Rico (38.3% for women and 45.5 for men) to Haiti (12.4% for women and 26.3% for men). Ecuador was the second leanest country with 22.1% for women and 31.3% for men.

Arms control – The Policía Militar intensified street controls to keep people from carrying weapons around on the street.  Fri. they were patting down people in the La Merced, El Vecino, Terminal Terrestre and Huayna Cápac sectors.  (The photos show a pat down – just like getting into the Raiders’ games.  Or did all stadiums pat down game goers?)

Actualidades – 

Articles about –

Guillermina Quezada, mujer de hierro (Iron Woman) – has a workshop on calle Las Herrerías that she continued after the death of her husband 17 years ago.  One of the things she makes are the crosses that top a brand new house.  (Truly Iron Woman – she’s the mother of 3 daughters; runs the house and a little restaurant selling humitas, tamale y quimbolitos; plus the iron working workshop.)

Duffer Cuero – the black man who was born without legs and who supports his wife and 2 kids with donations from Good Samaritans.  You will see him sitting on his skateboard at the intersection of Borrero y Gran Colombia.  He also plays basketball, tennis and swims competitively at a national level. (Hopefully, with the article, he’ll experience a windfall in what he receives.)

A legend – about la loma (the hill) of Turi at the entrance and exit from Cuenca where there trails that were forbidden, inhospitable or haunted where people got lost and disappeared.

Pirated cable TV – millions in Latin America are served by pirated cable services and don’t know it.  The companies look real, but are giving you pirated TV.

Internacional – 

Venezuela – Pres. Maduro (Does he look like Lurch from the Adams Family to you, too?) will start a referendum process to see what to do about the Ley de Amnistía passed by the Parliament to free political prisoners.

Colombia – opponents of Pres. Juan Manuel Santos took to the streets yesterday especially in criticism of the way he has handled peace negotiations with the guerillas.

Perú – Keido Fujimori is still ahead with 35% of likely voters, followed by ex-minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski with 16.1% and Congresswoman Verónika Mendoza with 14%.

Discuentos y compras –

Madelab 2016 – Feria del mueble (Furniture Fair) – 24/3 – 13/4- Centro de Exposiciones Huayna Cápac in the Industrial Park – av. Octavio Chacón Moscoso y Cornelio Vintimilla.

Decameron All Inclusive Hotels & Resorts – 2 for 1 special if you buy before 11/4 – Unidad Nacional No. 282 – www.decameron.com.ec – 1-800 DECAME.

And that´s all for today so Hasta Mañana –

Jeanne