Hats off to local and national law enforcement agencies who combed through thousands of images and poured over tons of video footage to identify who they believed to be people of interest. Only three days after the bombing, authorities released grainy yet identifiable photos of whom they believed may have planed the bombs. Later that night, authorities caught up with those two men and a violent gunfight and massive manhunt followed. 24 hours later, one suspect was dead and the other lay severely wounded in a Boston hospital down the hall from other victims of the bombing. It quickly came to light that these two men were Russian immigrants, naturalized U.S. citizens who were of Chechen descent. Again, the media grasped desperately for connections to Russia, to Chechnya and to the violent separatist movement that has rocked that region of Russia for decades. To date, no direct connection to Chechen violence has been made other than that happens to be the place the men were born.  The two uncle of the two men, after being hounded by the media,  desperately tried to make it clear that these two men did not represent Islam, they did not represent Chechnya and that they were losers.

Still, after watching this violent, dramatic, and bizarre event play out on TV, people still wanted to place blame on something bigger. It couldn’t just possibly just be two disgruntled men… someone else made them do it… some other organization had to have helped them out. Anger had to be directed at something tangible like another country, because that’s easy for people to digest. When the twin towers collapsed, we went after Afghanistan right? Well, even though there is no apparent connection to Chechnya yet, the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov  even stated on his instagram account that searching for clues in Chechnya would be futile, it didn’t stop bloodthirsty people from calling for the destruction of Chechnya. There are a couple of interesting problems with this. First, Chechnya was pretty much already destroyed once in the not so distant past, and second, an unsettling majority of people actually started calling for the destruction of the Czech Republic.  I’m sure most people who come to this website are worldly enough to realize that Chechnya and the Czech Republic are two separate and distinct places, but a lot of angry and vocal Americans didn’t. Americans took to social media to embarrassingly lash out at the Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia (which no longer exists) in alarming numbers. Chalk it up to a failing public school system, a lack of geographic knowledge, or a mentality that the world revolves around the US so there is no need to learn about the rest of the world we are symbiotically connected with, but the tweets and Facebook posts about those evil Czech’s keep coming.

Just in case anyone was confused, here is the difference between the Czech Republic and Chechnya (Czech vs. Chech)… oh yeah, did I mention there was still no tenable connection to Chechnya being behind any of the events in Boston.

Old Grozny (Photo: imgur.com)

New Grozny (Photo: Gazeta.ru)

Old Prague (Photo: Mrwallpaper.com)

New Prague (Photo: Ali Ertürk)

This plain looks dangerous, but for Richie Trimble, it is a hobbie. His last bike was 10ft, but that was not enough so now this bike measures 14.5ft to the seat. The 10 footer has reached a bit of fame on its own, featured in this 30 Seconds to Mars video-not too bad for a fun project bike. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMrlHHVx8A&feature=youtu.be

The 14.5′ took only 12 hours to build on an old huffy frame. Richie seems to have a talent for not only building them but riding them. In the video, if you make it to the 3 minute mark, you get to see him ride out on the pier. Personally it would be pretty sweet for me to see him take the plunge into the ocean, but nonetheless it is a testament to his skill on this skyscraper of a bike.

Upon a little tangent on the internet today, I discovered pretty much the coolest snake and also the wierdest viperkeeper on the planet.  The snake is called Atheris hispida, and it lives in Central Africa.  Since I am not a zoologist, scientist or snake expert, I will save you the time of reading a long post that is probably full of falsities anyway.

Just watch the ViperKeepers video below, he is a truly awesome snake loving nerd.  A warning though, you may end up wasting a bunch of time watching him screw with seriously poisonous snakes.

This time around Alexander Polli has outdone himself with a flight through a hole in a rock so small that it looks like you might even need to duck if you walked through it.  Flying somewhere in the low 100mphs, he has no option for bailout if his flight path leaves him a little off from his target.  Nonetheless, he make it through, but if this video does not make your stomach cringe a little…then you should probably start wingsuit flying class soon too.

Way to go Mr. Polli for not killing yourself, this video could have went from awesome to mega gross in a matter of milliseconds.

You can watch more of his nutty antics here: http://www.youtube.com/user/alexanderpolli

You can read more about another crazy Alexander here: http://theworldbyroad.com/2013/01/aleksander-gamme-shows-us-what-it-really-means-to-be-happy/

Click here to learn more and reserve a space! - TWBR Speaking Series: Will Laughlin - Beef Popsicles

Alex is a Norwegian adventurer who recently made his way to the South Pole, all alone. He has gone on many adventures before this, including a climb up Mt. Everest, but the video below captures something that can make us all smile, and it is not some grandiose back flip or jump from the stratosphere.  It took him over 3 months to get there and back unsupported.  On his way to the South Pole, as part of the logistics of many adventures of this type, he left behind food and gear to lighten his load…many things, like food, that he would need months later on his way back.What you may not realize for an adventure like this is just how long these solo adventures leave humans by themselves. Not just alone without human contact but without food, without most of the comforts of home, without sanity at times.  Alex went without enough food for so long that he lost 55 pounds before day 86, when he found one of his little presents to himself.  It was the last of his buried treasures.  Since nearly 3 months had gone by since he left this one, his memory of what was left behind was a bit hazy.

He finds cheese doodles, chocolate, Mentos, and he freaks out. He is so happy that he himself, cannot believe that is happening.  He even pauses for a moment, not sure whether it is all real. It is happiness at its purest form, simple joy, alone with some chocolate and cheese doodles. Personally I get more and more excited each time I watch it, possibly because of his Swedish chef voice, possibly because of his mad-scientist/hippie adventurer swagger, regardless, this video should be in everyone’s “Watch when I am feeling down folder.”  It is almost impossible to not smile. Rock on Aleksander, this video is awesome, and congrats on being the first to reach the South Pole without assistance.

I was turned on to this video by the podcast from Radio Lab below, it is an hour long episode titled Bliss and well worth a listen.

… are filled with bombs, bloodshed and radical fundamentalists? A scan of newspaper headlines related to Afghanistan usually yields something negative. Typing the word Afghanistan into the Google News search engine a few minutes ago, the first three results were: “Afghanistan attacks kill dozens of civilians,” “Afghanistan War: Can the US gains last?” and “Pentagon changing lingo for growing threat in Afghanistan.” Not surprisingly, the images that appear alongside these media stories also depict scenes of violence, suffering and destruction. As a result, mention the streets of Afghanistan to someone passing by and they are almost guaranteed to conjure up something bad in their minds. To be sure, Afghanistan has its problems, but finally, someone has uncovered something else about the streets of Afghanistan; the streets of Afghanistan are vibrant, filled with life and frequented by beautiful people.

The Streets of Afghanistan is a life-sized photography exhibit that has toured the United States and represents the work of 11 notable Western and Afghan photographers including Paula Bronstein, Paula Lerner, Faranza Wahidy and Tony Di Zinno. Capturing images from the urban streets of Kabul and the rural roads of the Afghan countryside, the exhibit gives viewers a glimpse of what life is like in a typical Afghan neighborhood or village and the over sized portraits make it feel like you are walking among the subjects of the photographs themselves.

Mountain2Mountain is the organization that has worked to assemble these striking photographs; “an effort to connect the communities and cultures of the United States and Afghanistan so we can combat apathy and break stereotypes about a region of the world that has endured nearly four decades of conflict, ” according to Shannon Galpin, founder of Mountain2Mountain, a Colorado based nonprofit working to empower women and girls in this secretive and often misunderstood country. By giving a face to the people of Afghanistan, people who aren’t involved in the conflict that we are saturated with by the mainstream media, the exhibit certainly has the power to change attitudes and get people thinking about a side of Afghanistan that has largely been unseen by those of us in the West.

Currently, Mountain2Mountain is working to bring the Streets of Afghanistan exhibit home and display the unique collection in a groundbreaking street art installation in Kabul. Afghanistan is still suffering from unrest and instability so bringing the display back to where it originated will be challenging and expensive, however, according to Shannon, “these images have allowed the voices and stories of the Afghan community to be heard, unedited, in the United States. Presenting them on the streets of Kabul to share with the Afghan gives back to a people from which so much has been taken and used to fulfill a particular narrative. The power of public art ignites conversation, community, and opens our eyes to both the beauty and the heartbreak seen every day throughout Afghanistan.”

This is certainly a worthwhile cause and a project that has the potential to initiate a new and meaningful dialog surrounding the situation people in Afghanistan face on a daily basis in ways that traditional diplomacy cannot. If you are interested in helping Moutnain2Mountain bring the Streets of Afghanistan back to Kabul, we encourage you to visit their fundraising page on Kickstarter.

All images courtesy of Shannon Galpin and Mountain2Mountain

When you travel to a place, you develop a connection with that place and the people who call that place home. Regardless of whether or not one’s personal experiences in a place are positive or negative, a connection is still made, and its often the case that the more random the place and the more unique the experience, the more powerful the connection. Personally, I feel all of these connections are positive, even the negative ones, because they are all learning experiences; it might just take a while for the dust to settle in order for one to find the good in something that was bad. As one continues to travel and continues to make more and more connections, it can become difficult to watch or read the news. The news is often focused on the negative; wars, natural disasters, politics, etc., so when a headline flashes across the television or scrolls across the computer screen and the location of that headline is a place with which you have made a connection, it can be emotional and frustrating and depending on how far away you are from that place you have connected with, can make you feel quite helpless.

I have a connection with Timbuktu and Timbuktu has been in the news a lot lately. For a more detailed description of some of the events unfolding in the West African nation of Mali and in Timbuktu, you can check out this post about the Tuareg people. The Tuareg were successful in recapturing what they claim as their rightful land, but almost as quickly as they did, they too were driven out by an extreme faction of fighters belonging to a group called Ansar Dine, an offshoot of al Qaeda. With the business of driving the Mali military, and most of the local population as well, out of northern Mali out of the way, Ansar Dine, translated as “Protectors of the Faith,” is now in a position to complete their mission of destroying every last mausoleum and holy site in Timbuktu. According to Ansar Dine spokesperson Sanda Ould Boumam, the destruction of historic sites throughout Timbuktu is a divine order and because the group does not recognize the United Nations or the world court, they don’t care that Timbuktu and the Tomb of Askia were recently placed on the UN’s list of World Heritage in Danger. As a result, pleas from the international community and UNESCO have fallen on deaf ears and last week, Ansar Dine soldiers raided tombs and toppled the gate of a 600 year old mosque that has been closed for as long as anyone living in Timbuktu can remember and which, according to local Islamic scholars, is only supposed to open at the end of time.

Whether it is indeed the end of time, or just the end of the historical sites in Timbuktu, chances are, the place will never be the same and that is sad. Ten years ago if someone would have told me that I would develop a connection with Ansar Dine and with Timbuktu, I would have thought they were crazy, but because of traveling, I did. Timbuktu has always been a place that adventurous travelers and determined backpackers have put on their bucket list of places to see, and its often synonymous with somewhere out of the way, out of the ordinary and completely unique. The name Timbuktu itself is enough to ignite visions of wanderlust in many people, not to mention its historical and cultural significance. When questioned about the impact of their destructive mission on tourism, Sanda Ould Boumam replied that Ansar Dine is “… against tourism. They foster debauchery.”

Merriam Webster defines debauchery as extreme indulgence in sensuality. Certainly, debauchery can take place while traveling, but it can take place in everyday life as well. It’s pretty ridiculous to think that traveling and tourism in and of itself are the catalysts for orgies and overindulgence, but then again, we are talking about the views of extremists and there’s a reason they’re called that. Ansar Dine’s statement about tourism got me thinking though about my own memorable experience as a traveler and a tourist in Timbuktu. Personally, I think getting a straight edge shave from the famous Mohammed, the coiffur de Timbuktu extraordinaire, is pretty far from debaucherous, but to Ansar Dine, this is apparently X-rated shit, so viewer discretion is advised.

Revolutionary War – National Archives

July 4th is Independence Day in the United States. It’s celebrated with camping trips, barbeques and fireworks, although in Colorado the fire danger is so high, fireworks have been banned so we will stick to the beer and brats. Coincidentally enough, the United States isn’t the only country celebrating its independence in July. Although many people in the USA have probably heard of Canada Day and Bastille Day, nearly three dozen other countries and one breakaway republic celebrate their independence, or at least the precursor towards their independence such as the adoption of their respective constitutions or the day on which they became a republic, during the month of July. This year on July 9th, the newest nation in the world, South Sudan, will celebrate independence day for the first time. July is an active month around the world when it comes to nation forming, so no matter where you are, there are bound to be some celebrations going on nearby. Sadly, in a few of these countries, there actually is ongoing conflict, so fireworks in those places really might consist of “bombs bursting in air,” so keep your heads down and stay safe if you happen to be in one.

July 1

Burundi

Canada

Ghana

(Republic Day)

Rwanda

Somalia

July 3

Belarus

July 4

Abkhazia

(Internationally recognized as still part of Georgia but their declaration of independence has sparked repeated armed conflict)

Philippines

(Republic Day)

United States

July 5

Cape Verde

Venezuela

July 6

Comoros

Malawi

July 7

Solomon Islands

July 9

Argentina

South Sudan

July 10

Bahamas

July 11

Mongolia

(National Day)

July 12

Kiribati

Sao Tome & Principe

July 14

France

Iraq

(Republic Day)

July 17

Slovakia

South Korea

(Constitution Day)

July 19

Laos

July 20

Colombia

July 21

Belgium

July 22

Poland

July 23

Egypt

(Revolution Day)

July 25

Tunisia

(Republic Day)

July 26

Liberia

Maldives

July 28

Peru

July 30

Vanuatu

June 27^th in Colorado is Bike to Work Day; the rest of the country celebrated it last month but officials in Colorado, worried about the possibility of bad weather in the mile high state raining on the parade, pushed it back a month. I support biking to work, for me is convenient, and it’s cheaper and faster than driving. Little Pepe and the Thundra don’t fit into the tight parking spots in downtown Denver that well either, so I ride every day, even during the winter months here in Colorado. It’s only 5 miles each way and door to door it takes me about 20 minutes. For others, biking may not be so convenient; they might live farther away, they might not own a bike, or the thought of the slightest bit of physical exertion makes them shiver. Still, I am always amazed how the bike paths swell with pedal pushers and the highways empty themselves of cars on the last Wednesday in June in Colorado.

Bike to Work Day is supposed to get more people into the continued practice of biking to work by showing them how easy it is. I know at least a dozen people who live not only within easy biking distance, but in some cases walking distance from the office, yet still choose to get into their cars to commute to work. Unfortunately, the novelty of Bike to Work Day seems to wear off quickly and it doesn’t take long for things to shift back to normal; the bike paths empty and the highways and arterial roads clogged with traffic.

It got me thinking about the millions of people throughout the world who ride their bikes to work every day, covering distances far greater than I do on my own brief commute. Here, people have the luxury to choose to sit in their cars on a gridlocked freeway for hours at a time and here, ride organizers have to bribe people with free coffee and doughnuts at “aid stations” (in addition to echoing the multiple reasons why biking to work is good; its healthy, its better for the environment, it gives you a better sense of the community you live in), to get people to dust off their bikes once a year. So, to honor those people who live in places where it is Bike to Work Day everyday; many of them have no other choice, I thought I would share some photos on the one day where the masses in Colorado decide that riding a bike for a reason other than recreation is a cool thing to do.

Image: UNHCR

Image: Mira Terra

Image: Dustin Rudgers

Image: Going Slowly

Image: MSNBC

Image: Travelblog