tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564385258186045514.post3635581104682369628..comments2023-03-24T08:38:04.980-06:00Comments on High Desert Dirt: Blood River, Journey down the Congo - Book ReviewDesert Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413559978573420359noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564385258186045514.post-63705137064234663342011-02-24T12:54:26.278-07:002011-02-24T12:54:26.278-07:00Consultant Ninja in the house. The Ninja may or ma...Consultant Ninja in the house. The Ninja may or may not be responsible for founding the GoMiles.com startup linked to on the sidebar above. It's hard to determine because shifty-ass ninjas are skilled at the art of deception. I think you'll enjoy this book Ninja, its bold and sinister subject matter will appeal to your nature.Desert Dirthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413559978573420359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564385258186045514.post-1684390340224422322011-02-24T12:53:03.143-07:002011-02-24T12:53:03.143-07:00Max, thanks for an additional first person perspec...Max, thanks for an additional first person perspective on the DNC. You are a fast reader. I didn't know that volcano actually took your family house - good Lord. I'll check out Blood in the Mobile. -KBDesert Dirthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413559978573420359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564385258186045514.post-50324035502072713052011-02-21T20:44:49.346-07:002011-02-21T20:44:49.346-07:00That volcano was the Nyiragongo. Its lava burried ...That volcano was the Nyiragongo. Its lava burried the house we had in Goma, province of Kivu. <br /><br />I spent most of my childhood in the South in Lubumbashi, Katanga province (renamed Shaba under Mobutu). Even though I left the country in 1985, the economy was just getting worse and worse. I lived in Kinshasa for about a year and half, before moving to Switzerland. People used to say in lingala "Mboka ebebi, ba mindele ba zonga", meaning "The country is ruined, let the Whites come back". <br /><br />I 've read the book over the weekend using a Kindle app on the Ipad. I recently watched "Blood in the Mobile", a documentary explaining how minerals essential to electronics (mostly mobile phones) extracted from the Eastern Congo finance the militia and keep the war going on. Very sad. Max MAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564385258186045514.post-33432903272136276302011-02-20T09:12:42.662-07:002011-02-20T09:12:42.662-07:00Just ordered it on Amazon. Can't wait to read...Just ordered it on Amazon. Can't wait to read it.Consultant Ninjahttp://www.consultantninja.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564385258186045514.post-34485389042572034592011-02-19T08:12:07.120-07:002011-02-19T08:12:07.120-07:00Sean is still overseas. He had his reprieve in han...Sean is still overseas. He had his reprieve in hand only to see civil uprising in...Egypt! We'll count that as a win. <br /><br />Max, I remember you telling me a story once of a childhood memories of volcanoes on the horizon in a bright orange Congo sunrise. You'll like this book since it summarizes many of the economically driven problems of the eastern 2/3rds of the country, notably lots of natural resources, lots of guys with AK-47s and personal armies, and a weak national government.<br /><br />Bro, this was a great book. I was anxious reading it because of all the unimaginable things that could happen on the next page of the book. The guy has balls and I told him so. When Tim told me he'd just written a follow-up about a trek through Sierra Leone I had to ask him if he was quite well. I'm sure you meet many interesting people over there but Tim has to be one in a million. See you soon? Hope the sweeping changes over there right now are for the better, and good job on making it all happen.Desert Dirthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413559978573420359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564385258186045514.post-15869101767553281852011-02-19T06:24:17.553-07:002011-02-19T06:24:17.553-07:00Great review bro. This was an absolute fascinatin...Great review bro. This was an absolute fascinating book by someone that has caljones bigger than anyone I know to take on this adventure. I still vividly remember sitting in the coffee shop while he was telling me his plans for Liberia and Sierra Leone. He had the smile, excitement and face of a 10 year old, and I probably had a face of pure terror, shock and awe. <br /><br />This is a must read.<br /><br />SeanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564385258186045514.post-7110426448812498202011-02-18T13:09:31.604-07:002011-02-18T13:09:31.604-07:00Thanks for the post Kevin. You may not know it, bu...Thanks for the post Kevin. You may not know it, but I was born and lived 18 years in Congo. I will read the book. Max MAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564385258186045514.post-54756479227767706312011-02-18T12:40:16.472-07:002011-02-18T12:40:16.472-07:00Nice KB. Your brother still overseas I take it? I ...Nice KB. Your brother still overseas I take it? I will take Congo forever off my vacation list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com