An article in Indian Express reports on a smuggling ring in Ecuauor being broken up. Cocaine? No. Not even bananas. Indian and Sri Lankan nationals.

Deputy Interior Minister Xavier Cordoba said the smugglers charged USD 5,000 per person. After entering Ecuador illegally, the migrants would be sent to Central America and from there to the United States.

I am looking to pick up some 12V deep cycle "no-maintenance" (AGM) marine batteries. Apparently Pricesmart only sells flooded cell marine bats (or was I misinformed?).

I'd also like to buy one of these new higher-end "smart" battery chargers.}

Does anyone a place that sells them here?

I'd be much obliged to anyone who can help me out here.

Toilet paper shortage in Caracas:

http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelans-scrambling-scarce-toilet-paper-2029513...

Clearly the working-class of Venezuela is ignoring its obligation to the supreme sacrifice of the Christ-like god-child, Commandante Jesu Cristo, Santo Hugo, el pajarito.

All around the globe the downtrodden, oppressed, exploited masses of neo-liberal exploitation are calling out to their Venezuelan brothers and sisters ...

Hello NL readers:

I am glad to inform you than Nicaragua now is part of The Hague Convention (Apostille Treaty ) which entered into force in Nicaragua on 14 May 2013, abolishing the requirement for legalization or authentication of foreign public documents by the local and state authorities and by the Nicaraguan Consulate abroad, for the countries which are members of the Convention.

According to this article the Bosawás forest has been partially deforested and the recent assassination of Mayangna leader Charley Taylor, have put the local residents on a war footing because of governmental\ political inaction.

http://www.nicaraguadispatch.com/news/2013/04/indigenous-congressman-war...

1st Capt. Ron

(Title by Miskito Alan)

Good morning all. I will be down mid June and need a hotel in Leon and Esteli. Suggestions please? Thank you.

We passed through the central ghetto yesterday and saw something new-- police in black uniforms. Normally, police here have on clean. starched, light blue shirts. They have a very neutral look, like letter carriers or something.

I was concentration on priority one, not hitting potholes, and didn`t notice that some of them had on masks. It was a little like something from a grade B movie, but they were just sitting on the corner.

That night they raided businesses throught out the north on an anti-money laundering operation. Big news on the tube the following morning.

So, I was bored and did a google search on "strange laws in "nicaragua"". I found this one on http://www.livingreefs.com/strange-laws-t28919.html

An AFP article reports that Hector Retamal, a photojournalist for Agence France-Presse to Costa Rica after detaining him for four days. The charge against him was "Violating migration law". Better than Guantanamo as there was at least a charge and the detention was days, not years but a bit strange.

Historically, the news sources in Central America tend to be country specific. For some news that makes sense but there are also many things that fit into the category of regional information. A couple of recent topics that come to mind are the Mexican Fake Journalists and border conflicts between Nicaragua and its neighbors. Certainly the coup in Honduras was also a multi-country issue.

Bitcoin is an alternative currency for just about all interpretations of the word alternative. It is not government issued, it is not physical, it is global, and more. For someone wanting to move money around it has the advantage that it is free of prying eyes.

I am looking for a good surgeon for a hernia procedure. Anyone have experience good/bad? recommendations? I dont have healthcare in the US, but could pick up a plan and have it done there. i've read online that its not too complicated of a procedure so weighing my options on quality, costs, etc. i have an appointment/consult at Vivian Pellas on monday with Dr William Abdullah. I was told he is the hernia expert there.

In an article on the medical uses of marijuana I was reading there was the suggestion that you consume raw pot to optimize the medical benefits and minimize the psychoactive side-effects. The reference pointed to a PreventDisease.com article. As the argument against legalizing pot -- whether we are talking industrial hemp or anything else is always it will get you high, this got my attention.

In the global warming debate we have heard about sea level rises, glaciers melting in Bolivia, penguin habitat damage and all the rest. On the other side we have heard how average temperatures are not rising and about a lot of bad science. Well folks, we finally have something on the "to be damaged" list that is going to cause people to get serious about what is really happening.

From Quartz Polar bears, penguins… and now surfers, the latest victims of climate change

Neonicotinoids are a class of pesticide including clothianidin and thiamithoxam. The US( EPA ) seems to be taking the same approach to this as it did to global warming several years ago. Clothianidin was approved by the EPA in 2003 against the warnings of its own scientists Although it hasn't reached the nation as a "hot topic" yet, there has been reaction from the scientific community for several years/

Charles Slane