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Report: The Obama Administration Is Corrupt as Fuck

J.K. Trotter · 12/17/14 03:45PM

Today the New York Times published an incredible, and incredibly detailed, account of unrestrained favor-trading within the Obama administration. In a nut: The president’s cabinet, including the State Department under Hillary Clinton, suspended travel bans placed on certain Ecuadorian nationals who committed fraud (and worse) after those nationals’ family members pledged five- and six-figures sums to Democratic organizations.

Feud Erupts Between Ecuador and Galapagos Islands Over Dead Tortoise

Enid Shaw · 09/22/14 08:05PM

Back in June 2012, a tortoise died. That is, in and of itself, kind of newsworthy, given that giant tortoises have a lifespan of well over 100 years; the oldest one, the un-creatively named Jonathan, is still kicking at 182. But the death of Lonesome George was particularly sad, given that the old fellow was believed to be the last of his kind, a Pinta Island subspecies of Galapagos tortoise. He wasn't, by tortoise standards, all that old; according to PBS, George had barely broken 100 when he died in Galápagos National Park, and park officials said they'd investigate his cause of death. (They ultimately determined he'd probably perished from natural causes.) But now, two years later, a serious disagreement has broken out over what remains of George.

Ed Snowden's Great Escape: An Annotated Guide

Max Read · 06/24/13 02:32PM

On Sunday morning, Edward Snowden boarded an Aeroflot flight in Hong Kong, landing in Moscow more than 13 hours later. We think. The truth is, no one's quite sure where the NSA leaker is—Moscow? Havana? Quito? Reykjavik? (He's not on Aeroflot Flight 180, we know that much.) But we can reconstruct his movements—and speculate where he's headed.

Gabrielle Bluestone · 06/23/13 12:49PM

U mad? Lawmakers are blasting Russia for allowing NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to land in Moscow. Snowden is rumored to be headed next to Ecuador, the South American country currently sheltering Wikileaks' Julian Assange. The US also just got around to revoking Snowden's passport.

Julian Assange to be Granted Asylum In Ecuador

Adrian Chen · 08/14/12 02:41PM

Julian Assange will be granted asylum in steamy Ecuador, reports the Guardian, citing an Ecuadorian official. Assange has been hiding out in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 19th, seeking asylum from president Rafael Correa in order to avoid an extradition order to Sweden where he faces a sex crimes investigation.

Miley Cyrus Performs Nirvana Song, Hell Officially Frozen

Maureen O'Connor · 05/02/11 03:30PM

File this under "the medium is the message": At a teeny-bop concert in Ecuador, Miley Cyrus performed the world's most incongruous rendition of Nirvana anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I say this as someone who once witnessed a violin-flute duo called Nerdvana at an Illinois summer camp talent show in the '90s.

Bull Hit

Max Read · 12/07/10 03:56AM

[Spanish bullfighter Julio Benitez, known as El Cordobes Hijo, falls during a bullfight at the Monumental Bullring during the annual fair in Quito, Ecuador. Benitez was not injured. Photo via AP.]

American Women Suck at Flirting

Brian Moylan · 11/10/10 03:09PM

An Internet dating site did a study about which country's women initiate contact with men—flirt, in other words—most often. The U.S. came in second to last. Where should you go if you want a saucy girl? Spain!