Do you Believe in Coincidences?

Interestingly, I have found myself involved in a series of seemingly-related coincidences recently.

The whole thing has piqued my curiosity.

I decided to investigate further the phenomena of coincidences.

It appears that there are two opposing schools of thought on the issue.

The first, which I informally dub the "scientific" school, believes that coincidences are nothing special and trying to unearth a deeper meaning in them is a big waste of time. There will be none to be found. Ever.

The second school of thought tackles the issue from a "spiritual" perspective. Roughly speaking, coincidences are messages from God (or an alternative "higher power"). Adherents to the spiritual perspective argue that everything is affected by something related to it that may be unseen or unknowable. Paradoxically then, for the "spiritualists" coincidences do not exist.

Hmmm.

So tell me. What do you think?

Should I be reading deeper? Or would I be wasting my time doing so?

Something Special About Me (If I May Say So)

According to the "experts," my extremely rare palm lines indicate one of two things:

1. genius
2. madness

Either way, I've always loved my palms.

And it's one of my lifelong goals to meet a like-palmed person.

Can you help me?

Nicaragua Needs One of These

I'm talking about a woman.

One woman in particular.

Her name is Camila Vallejo.

And she lives in Chile.

Camila Vallejo

She's one of the leaders of a Chilean student protest movement.

Their issue: fair access to a quality education.

It seems that Ms. Vallejo and some like-minded young people just got fed up with the inaccessibilty of Chile's educational system.

And they're doing something about it.

Well, more than something.

The New York Times writes that their protests, occupations, and strikes have "paralyzed the country and shattered Chile’s image as Latin America’s greatest political and economic success story."

As we know, Nicaragua is no economic success story. (Some might even say that it is the reverse. But that is beside the point.)

What matters is that the same social problem -- educational inequality -- is firmly entrenched here, too.

It's BECA's cause.

In the long term, I believe that BECA's challenge runs deeper than rewarding serious students with scholarships.

Let's level the playing field!

And I think it would really help to have a young, charismatic Nicaraguan Camila (or Juan) here to lead the charge.

BECA graduates, are you reading this?

The nose ring isn't obligatory. :)

To Bribe or Not To Bribe

"But we are not seeking to profit here. We're trying to contribute."

This is how I reacted when one of our advisors told us three years ago that a Nicaraguan government official was seeking a payment . . . to officially register BECA as a foreign-based non-profit working in Nicaragua!

Sign in Government Office in Managua

Huh?

After asking around, I grudgingly approved the "back alley" payment of around 50 bucks. I felt our hands were tied. BECA needed the registration to get our bank account. (Not that that makes it right, right?)

Payoffs to traffic cops are common in Nicaragua. Those I had heard about. And also an activity in which I have willingly participated. Otherwise, the weasels confiscate your driver's license. (Not that that makes it right, right?)

Private enterprise is in the game, too. "I'm sorry sir, but all the connections to the router are spoken for in this city block," suggested the CLARO sales representative when I ordered Internet service for the old office.

Huh?

The lack of competition forced an under-the-table payment to the señor. We really needed the service. We use technology quite a bit. (Not that that makes it right, right?)

Miraculously, a spot became available on the router the next day.

For the record, I regret every single bribe paid.

What to do? What would you do?

I'm still not sure what I'll do the next time a government official demands payment from BECA.

But I know this much.

Bring on the traffic cop. Now I always have two driver's licenses on hand when I'm driving in Nicaragua (one Canadian, one Nicaraguan).

They can help themselves to one of them.

(That makes it right, right?)