“long form” applicants for US passports 12 AUG 2013

After a year-long “review,” the White House on August 12, 2013, approved the State Department’s proposed new “long form” questionnaires for some (unspecified) subset of applicants for US passports.

In approving these forms, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ignored overwhelming public outrage at these questionnaires.
The most reasonable inference is that the new forms are designed to be impossible to complete, so as to provide a pretext to deny you a passport if the State Department doesn’t like your looks (or your opinions, or whatever)...read more: http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/white-house-approves-new-long-forms-for-some-passport-applicants/

White House approves new “long forms” for some passport applicants

by Edward Hasbrouck on August 22, 2013

After a year-long “review,” the White House on August 12, 2013, approved the State Department’s proposed new “long form” questionnaires for some (unspecified) subset of applicants for US passports.
In approving these forms, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ignored overwhelming public outrage at these questionnaires.

The forms include such questions as:

• List all your parent(s) residences one year before your birth.
• Parent(s) place of employment at the time of your birth (Dates of employment, Name of employer, Address of employer).
• Did your mother receive medical care while pregnant with you and/or up to one year after your birth? (Name of hospital or other facility, Address, Name of Doctor, Approximate dates of appointments).
• Please provide the names (as well as address and phone number, if available) of persons present at your birth such as medical personnel, family members, etc.
• Please list any schools, day care centers, or developmental programs you attended from birth to age 18 in or outside of the United States.
• Please list all of your permanent residences inside and outside of the United States starting with your birth until age 18.

- See more at: http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/white-house-approves-new-long-forms-for-some-passport-applicants/#sthash.5660Njdg.dpuf

White House approves new “long forms” for some passport applicants

by Edward Hasbrouck on August 22, 2013

After a year-long “review,” the White House on August 12, 2013, approved the State Department’s proposed new “long form” questionnaires for some (unspecified) subset of applicants for US passports.
In approving these forms, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ignored overwhelming public outrage at these questionnaires.

The forms include such questions as:

• List all your parent(s) residences one year before your birth.
• Parent(s) place of employment at the time of your birth (Dates of employment, Name of employer, Address of employer).
• Did your mother receive medical care while pregnant with you and/or up to one year after your birth? (Name of hospital or other facility, Address, Name of Doctor, Approximate dates of appointments).
• Please provide the names (as well as address and phone number, if available) of persons present at your birth such as medical personnel, family members, etc.
• Please list any schools, day care centers, or developmental programs you attended from birth to age 18 in or outside of the United States.
• Please list all of your permanent residences inside and outside of the United States starting with your birth until age 18.

- See more at: http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/white-house-approves-new-long-forms-for-some-passport-applicants/#sthash.5660Njdg.dpuf

Gringo Tree- Saturday August 24, 2013- Is Correa Turning Right?

Rafael Correa's politics baffle the pundits; elected as a socialist, many see a recent sharp turn to the right

Posted By Admin | Published: August 24, 2013 00:36

Although he claims to be a socialist, Ecuador president Rafael Correa increasingly defies the standard political labels. Many of his opponents claim his tendencies in recent months have been decidedly to the right.

Loyalists of President Rafael Correa’s “Citizens’ Revolution” have had to face some jarring decisions since he took office for a third time on May 24. In June, a phone call from Joe Biden, America’s vice-president, sufficed for him to leave Edward Snowden, an ex-CIA whistleblower, at a Moscow airport instead of offering asylum. He has switched from opposing to advocating free-trade talks with the European Union. His government has made it harder for people to obtain asylum. That has irked human-rights groups, which have also blasted his Putinesque decision to vet non-governmental organizations....read more: http://www.cuencahighlife.com/post/2013/08/24/Rafael-Correas-politics-baffle-the-pundits3b-widely-seen-as-a-socialist-many-see-a-sharp-turn-to-the-right.aspx

AHHH CUENCA!!: Return to Baños - Part IV of IV

AHHH CUENCA!!: Return to Baños - Part IV of IV: As I said when I last signed off, I headed back to Cuenca (from Baños) via a different route than that I had driven so many times before.   This time, it was along the edges of the Amazon.  I had NO clue what the route might be like.  It was a brand-spankin new adventure.
This leg was a bit of a rarity in that so much of my driving here in EC is in the Andes mountains, which means curve after curve after CURVE!!!  Now I was in the flatlands and I could make good speed.  Or so I thought.

This went on for what seemed like infinity.  However, the views were stunning.   The long, wide lake formed by the Paute Dam was beautiful.   Finally, after winding, and swerving, and passing, and dust, and mud, and racing dumptrucks, I arrived in familiar territory, the town of Paute....about 40 minutes outside Cuenca.  Home was in sight.  I drove past the point on the autopista where my car broke down the last time I returned from a trip to Baños and figured it was all a success.  Dog-tired and my head spinning, I got home about 7pm.

Here's some statistics:

• Kms driven = 1229 (780 miles)
• Total cost of the 4-day trip = $283, which included:
• $60 hotel room for 3 nights
• $60 gas
• $16 breakfasts
• $25 lunches
• $30 dinners
• $14 snacks
• $3 spa pools
• $20 massage
• $20 detox treatments (2)
• $35 train ticket

Enjoy the photos!

PS....Thank you Mary for sharing with me the keyboard tricks for making Spanish puñctuation.

Dano- http://www.danoinec.blogspot.com/

Take care of the environment, don't throw garbage.

U.S. Relations with Ecuador, Analysis, July 2013

Posted on August 15, 2013 • Filed under: Ecuador, Politics, United States

ONE BOOK THAT SHOULD BE READ BY EVERY EXPAT OR FUTURE EXPAT IN ECUADOR
CRS Report for Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
Ecuador: Political and Economic Conditions
and U.S. Relations
June S. Beittel
Analyst in Latin American Affairs
July 3, 2013
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
Ecuador: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations
Congressional Research Service
1
The United States has traditionally had close relations with Ecuador, yet tensions in the
U.S.-Ecuador relationship have surfaced in recent years as the left leaning government of
President Rafael Correa (2007-present) has objected to U.S. influence in the region which
it has labeled “imperialist.” Nevertheless, the United States is Ecuador’s largest trade partner and
has extended trade preferences to Ecuador under the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) since
the legislation’s enactment in 1991. The ATPA provides unilateral preferential access to the U.S.
market for certain products in order to reduce dependence on the illegal drug trade, although the
Correa government in late June 2013 “renounced” its participation in the program. For additional
information on the consideration of trade preferences for Ecuador under the Andean Trade
Preferences Act by the 113th Congress, see CRS Report RS22548,
ATPA Renewal: Background....http://latinamericacurrentevents.com/u-s-relations-with-ecuador-analysis-july-2013/29194/

Tip for exploratory trip to Ecuador before living or retiring there-

Posted on August 13, 2013 • Filed under: Ecuador, TRAVEL

As the author of “100 things to consider before moving or retiring in Ecuador“, I am always looking at new aspects on how a potential expatriate might make a better informed decision about living in Ecuador.
A number of those that decide to live in Ecuador basically just “jump in” and they are off on the adventure. Primarily this group has used many of the resources on the internet and read a few books. Another group of expatriates have the financial ability or interest in doing what is called the famed “exploratory trip” that you see mentioned in so many of the expatriate forums. The exploratory trip is highly recommended and one should spend as much time in the country as possible in order to gauge whether or not it is the best decision for you....http://latinamericacurrentevents.com/tip-for-exploratory-trip-to-ecuador-before-living-or-retiring-there/29183/
  
100 Points to Consider Before Moving or Retiring in Ecuador - 
You Tube:

Published on May 14, 2013

Ecuador is now a major destination for expatriates. Now, Nicholas Crowder the author of "Culture Shock! Ecuador" is releasing a new book specifically designed for anyone considering a move or retirement to Ecuador.
 Most expatriates are not prepared for such an intricate and complex culture. "100 points to consider before moving or retiring in Ecuador" provides a detailed examination of critical factors one needs to anaylze before moving to Ecuador.
Furthermore, if you are already residing there, this new book will provide you deep insight into Ecuadorian culture and mindset.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/Points-Consider-Retiring-Ecuador-ebook/dp/B00DZTZ4HC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374256381&sr=1-1&keywords=100+Points+to+Consider+Before+Moving+or+Retiring+in+Ecuador

Life in Ecuador - The Middle of the World: Find friends in Ecuador with InterNations.

Life in Ecuador - The Middle of the World: Find friends in Ecuador with InterNations.: Coming to a new country by yourself can be a downright daunting experience.  Remember that Doors song "When your Strange"?  That i...

Chasing Silver III