Construction Construction everywhere

With the influx of money from oil reserves (7 B last year) and the continued foreign investment flowing in...this place is one mega construction site. Hyatts, Four Seasons, Ritz, even the Guggenheim is considering something off-shore on a created island...Bentley dealership opened and the "seen and be seen" restaurants and clubs are doing brisk business....Sometimes it feels like this fast pace will collapse inward from the weight....well, some of the none city center infrastructures are ...well, questionable in construction compentency...at least for my taste...in deed, watching the construction sights you have to wonder...where is OSHA when you need them...this rig for the crane should be recalled...

Milano Cookies and sunflower seed hulls

Well, I've decided I miss Pepperidge Farms Milano cookies the most! Stone Cold Ice Cream is a close second.....and third, excitedly and fearfully, I must note that my post about the recent elections got picked up in Google Alerts.....you think some of my other comments would have ranked before now, including my recent irritation ...spitting the hulls of sunflower seeds....gosh, it is just nasty and awful especially when you see a small pile in an elevator....

Political Elections in Azerbaijan

On Sunday the entire 125 seats in the unicameral (my word for the day) government were up for vote. The ruling party of President Aliyeva won 75 seats and the "independent" seats went to those loyal to the party. Not one opposition candidate won. There have been cries of fraud and voter intimidation, the kind where you're a civil servant go vote and do the right thing...ummm. Both Turkish and Russian observes have said it was a fair and transparent election.
It was two years ago that the constititution was changed to eliminate presidential term limits....maybe the Tea Party should start organizing here!

I ran into Emma today!

Over a year ago, while walking a few blocks from the apartment, I came upon this scene. A woman cutting up raw meat for the neighborhood cats. This is Emma with her gold teeth and taking care of her children. I have walked past this spot many times in the last year but I have not seen her...well, today just as I was passing by she was crossing the street. I must say one year has taken a toll upon her...she remembered me and called my name, Canis, otherwise, I would not have recognized her but she had her bag of scrapes off to feed other neighborhood strays. I will go back to the spot and hopefully, I will see her again before I leave Baku.

Yemen, elections in Azerbaijan and bacon

Let the last be first...FOUND BACON!
Elections in Azerbaijan...Sunday Nov 7th...Saturday Nov 6th there is a Presidential decree placing a moratorium on campaigning....
Yemen....if you have been following the news...you know of the toner bombs sent from Yemen...but here are three key reasons as to why Yemen is a hot bed for activity...1) it is the poorest country in the Middle East...ie. they ain't got any oil...2) the government is very weak and having difficulty centralizing the various tribal leaders. In fact, there is continuing civil war in the south, and 3) it will likely be the first nation in the world to run out of water. So to sum this up... Zero H2O + war + no government = what you see is what you get..

Doors and windows of Baku

Sometimes the doors are not leading to anywhere nor are the windows permitting a gaze through but these objects are just a reminder of what was...my time in Azerbaijan maybe summed up this way too....

Disparity between rich and poor

You have seen some of the spectacular pictures I've posted of the wealth to be seen here..but like most places in the world the disparity is great but given the tiny size of the country both in geography and population it all seems to be so much more in your face....the leveling of blocks and blocks near the apartment are continuing...but some people seem to be holding on to the lives as long as possible....captured here is a small image of a family trying to hold on....they live in the top apartment with the satellite dish