The Agrinautica

   So we survived our adventure in Porto Nueva, Mexico. Our 12 person expeditionary force consisted of C-Bunch (entries, pics), his cousin SirPsychoSexy, their friends Byron Tyrone Tyrel Tyrice Bison Tyson & Branch, Kim Bowles (entries pics), Little Colleen (entries), Colleen Milton (entries, pics), C.Milton's cousin Elise, Lyrakeet (entries, pics), Sashakeet (entries, pics), Kristykeet (entries, pics), & myself (entries, pics). We stayed in two six-person suites, which were built in a vertically oriented manner, not-unlike a cat-tower. A narrow spiral staircase led up to the highest rooms, which being the highest parts of the buildings were quite tower-like.
   In the nearby lobster-oriented village, every restaurant seemed to have the exact same $12-16 lobster special (of corresponding amounts of lobster). It was really difficult to distinquish between the restaurants... and not only that they need to learn how to come up with more creative names, there was Porto Nueva Lobster Restaurant I, II & III, and Restuarant Del Mar I, II & III, etc etc!


Meanwhile Elsewheree
   Elsewhere apparently, Saddam Hussein had a rather unpleasant end to his New Years eve countdown . In Somalia, the Ethiopian and Transitional Government forces crushed the final Islamic Courts Union (ICU) stronghold between the evening of New Years Eve and the early hours of New Years Day. Local clan elders asked the ICU to leave the city (Kismayo) to prevent the city from being destroyed in the fighting, when the ICU refused, fighting broke out behind the front lines between the ICU and local clan militias. ICU commander Sheikh Yusuf Hassan stated "are not going to surrender. We will fight to defend Jilib and Kismayo until we die," shortly before there was a mutiny within the ICU forces and they began a disorganized flight from the battle area. Kenyan forces were seen moving towards the nearby Kenyan border to prevent ICU forces from crossing over, and the United States fifth fleet patrolled the coast to prevent ICU forces from escaping by sea. This appears to be the end of the ICU. The transitional government has announced weapons collections and amnesty programmes for former fighters.

   Merry Yule-oriented rotation of the Earth fellow humanlings! I hope you all had a pleasant celebration of the birth of Santa ... or something about an ancient case of Peak Oil for those of the Jewish tendency.

   When in doubt, remember that we have been granted guidance by the US Supreme Court during this confusing holiday season through the miracle of the "Plastic Reindeer Test."

   Anyway, I got a wicker hat for Christmas.


   In other news, Christmas is being celebrated in East Africa through large troop mobilizations in Somalia. A few thousand troops from neighbouring Ethiopia have entered the country to support the Somalian provisional government, but the radical Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which controls most of the country, has mobilized its forces in opposition and armed hostilities commenced on the 20th of this month. Yesterday (the 24th) combat escalated to armour assaults and aerial bombardment -- no word on what happened today.
   The ICU claims the Ethiopian forces are puppets of the United States, while Ethiopia claims the ICU is linked to al-queda. To make matters worse, there are reports that Ethiopias arch-rival Eritrea may have sent troops into Somalia as well, which could cause the issue to escalate into a general multi-state war.


Completely Unrelated: "American Jedi" - I think this is pretty hilarious and sounds not unlike a lot of silly movies they do make. Also, counting down the days until Mexico for the traditional New Years adventure!