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For example, what does it mean when someone says “A buena hora, mangos verses?”

We left Cuba with a book full (see attached photo) of dichos that Gio wanted to personally archive, organize, and share with the rest of the world. His vehicle: an iPhone/iPod/iPad app (perfectly appropriate for the geeks that we are) called simply enough “Cuban Dichos“.

This app is the #1 Cuban App now on iTunes and I can’t tell you how many e-mails I get filled with dichos I didn’t have, including some new ones from the younger reggaeton generation in Cuba (ex: Hasta cuando son los 15 de Jacqueline?).

Nowadays, discovering a part of Cuban culture is “un jamon.”

My boyfriend sent this to me and I could not resist sharing it with you all. Check out the latest restaurant in Taiwan. The theme: toilets! Who would have ever thought to put the two together? Why? I ask you, why?

The Salt Hotel, also known as Hotel de Sal Playa was built in 1993 by a salt artisan and is almost entirely created from salt. The walls are made of salt blocks and are held together with a cement-like substance which is made out of salt and water. The furniture is carved out of salt, including the beds. The only trace of modern materials are the toilets, roof and of course the lighting. It has 15 bedrooms, a dining room, a living room and a bar.

Only one thing is not allowed: wall licking.

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway. Doesn’t really apply to us here in Florida

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom—and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door—understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. You can buy it here.

]]> http://laurenbernat.com/2009/08/mexican-drug-lord-gets-busted-check-out-pics/feed/ 5 http://laurenbernat.com/2009/08/prostitutes-more-trustworthy-than-scientists/ http://laurenbernat.com/2009/08/prostitutes-more-trustworthy-than-scientists/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:31:18 +0000 Lauren Bernat http://laurenbernat.com/?p=1065 A recent study shows that Chinese prostitutes are considered more trustworthy than government officials and scientists.

The online survey was given to exactly 3,376 Chinese people, of which 7.9% considered sex workers trustworthy, right behind farmers and religious workers.

The final results showed that scientists, teachers and government functionaries ranked really low on the list of trustworthy professions and that soldiers and students were ranked right after sex workers.

The least credible category consisted of real estate developers, secretaries, agents, entertainers and directors. [news.yahoo.com]

Apparently it is possible to create fake blood and saliva samples containing DNA from a person other than the donor, using a standard technique called whole genome amplification.

And, to take it a step further, it is also possible to construct a sample of DNA to match someone’s profile without obtaining any physical tissue from that person.

The latter relies on having access to the DNA profiles stored in law enforcement databases. Our DNA is stored as “a series of numbers and letters corresponding to variations at 13 spots in a person’s genome. Scientists can clone tiny DNA snippets representing the common variants at each spot, creating a library of such snippets.” One can then “prepare a phony DNA sample matching any profile by mixing the proper snippets together.” [science.slashdot.org]