I am in a cybercafe in Zinder, Niger. We got here yesterday after a long bus ride (about 10 hours). Right now we are on our way back from the big market, where we were harassed by a crazy guy and bought some food to use in the village. Time is running out so I have to go. More updates when I can. The french AZERTY keyboard is slowing me down.

Leaving this morning for New York, and flying out of JFK around 20:00 Eastern time, headed for Morocco. I arrive at about 07:00 the following morning, have a 12-hour layover, then take another evening flight to Niamey, Niger. I arrive at 00:20 local time. I’ll spend a few days in Niamey with Amanda at Kabongo’s place, then we head out in the direction of Zinder, which requires approximately 12 hours in a (air conditioned!) bus. I think we stay overnight in Zinder, and then take an ox cart out to Amanda’s village (called Kourni Bandawa), or something. We’ll spend a week and a few more days in the village, then do the whole thing in reverse, except I don’t think we’ll be in Niamey that long on the way back, and my flights back all happen within one day, August 8^th. If I get a chance, I’ll post an update or two (with appropriate GPS coordinates!), but don’t count on it.

T-3 Hours and Counting.

As this Slashdot article notes, the US House of Representatives has voted to extend the PATRIOT Act. If they were trying to provide an effective answer to my post yesterday, I don’t think they’ve succeeded.

– PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE –

This is just a periodic reminder… I don’t mean to shout, I just want to make sure you see this:

I DO NOT GET NOTIFICATION WHEN YOU MAKE COMMENTS IN THE SYNDICATED LJ FEED FOR THIS BLOG

I want to read your comments, but if you comment on the ‘virtuallyshkng’ syndication feed I do not get the comments. I have a support request in to LJ about this, but right now, it’s not a feature, and I can’t turn those comments off. Please come to the blog via the link in the post and comment here.

Thanks!

– END PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE –