A fanatical Argentine communist who joined up with Fidel Castro and became one of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution. Was responsible for the deaths of political prisoners. He was too extreme even for Fidel, so he left Cuba and travelled around the world to foment global revolution (unsuccessfully. His assassination in Bolivia turned him into a martyr, and his picture was widely reproduced on magazine covers, posters, and T-shirts. It didn't hurt that he was one of the few "hot" communist leaders, making him the James Dean of Communism. Today his picture is worn on T-shirts mostly by wealthy American teenagers from extremely privileged backgrounds, ironically the same class he would love to have destroyed, mainly because he was a very good looking man who is vaguely considered a symbol of rebellion.
Very few of the kids who wear Che Guevara T-shirts have the slightest idea about Che's actual political beliefs.
by Rattus cattus October 26, 2006
1. One of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, in between downtown L.A. and Silver Lake. The original center of the film industry in L.A., before the industry moved to Hollywood after World War I and then to Culver City and the San Fernando Valley in the 1940s. Long occupied by Mexicans, other Latinos and a few Chinese, Echo Park in the last few years has drawn young white kids - especially hipsters and trustafarians - priced out of Silver Lake,Los Feliz. and Venice. It has replaced Silver Lake as being L.A.'s hipster center. Probably the most happening neighborhood in L.A. right now.
2. A park in the southern part of the neighborhood of the same name, known as a seriously dangerous place filled with gangs (particularly the Echo Parque gang, also known as ExP 13) and (more so in the past than today) drug dealers, particularly at night.It contains the only natural lake in L.A. According to legend, restaurant owners in Chinatown, not far away, have been known to capture dogs running loose to butcher, cook, and serve. The area of Echo Park (the neighborhood) which surrounds the park is the only part of the neighborhood that could be called nasty. Countless films have been shot there, most notably Mi Vida Loca.
2. A park in the southern part of the neighborhood of the same name, known as a seriously dangerous place filled with gangs (particularly the Echo Parque gang, also known as ExP 13) and (more so in the past than today) drug dealers, particularly at night.It contains the only natural lake in L.A. According to legend, restaurant owners in Chinatown, not far away, have been known to capture dogs running loose to butcher, cook, and serve. The area of Echo Park (the neighborhood) which surrounds the park is the only part of the neighborhood that could be called nasty. Countless films have been shot there, most notably Mi Vida Loca.
1. There's an art opening going on at this little place on Echo Park Ave., then we'll go have some drinks at Barragan's, the Short Stop, or Taix, and then there's a cool band playing at the Echo, just across Sunset Boulevard from Taix....
2. You're going to walk through the park at night? Are you nuts?
2. You're going to walk through the park at night? Are you nuts?
by Rattus cattus November 30, 2006
A Central European country that has suffered immensely through the centuries because of being coveted by larger neighbors. The reputation of Poles being stupid came from them being willing to fight for their country and their freedom when they had no chance in hell of winning. Poland, contrary to popular belief, is a very cultured country that has produced many great scientists, authors, artists, writers, film directors, etc. Poland is now in the European Union. The most negative thing about Poland, however, is the lingering tradition of antisemitism that has survived even though Poland has almost no Jews. This is ironic because Poland before the Russians came in was not as anti-semitic as other European countries ; the Russians introduced the virus of antisemitism into Poland and unfortunately it remained. It probably thrived because of Poles' pride in their Catholicism (even under Communist rule the church remained strong) causing them to look suspiciously upon non-Catholics. Nevertheless Poland has made many great contributions to the world, and perhaps the greatest was the Polish Resistance fighting the Nazis when they had no hope of prevailing against Hitler's war machine. Millions of Poles died in the Nazi concentration camps built on Polish soil. Lech Walesa's Solidarity movement, with the backing of the Polish Pope John Paul II, helped bring down Communism ; Poland was the first communist country to return to democratic rule.
by Rattus cattus September 15, 2006
A Central European country that has suffered immensely through the centuries because of being coveted by larger neighbors. The reputation of Poles being stupid came from them being willing to fight for their country and their freedom when they had no chance in hell of winning. Poland, contrary to popular belief, is a very cultured country that has produced many great scientists, authors, artists, writers, film directors, etc. Poland is now in the European Union. The most negative thing about Poland, however, is the lingering tradition of antisemitism that has survived even though Poland has almost no Jews. This is ironic because Poland before the Russians came in was not as anti-semitic as other European countries ; the Russians introduced the virus of antisemitism into Poland and unfortunately it remained. It probably thrived because of Poles' pride in their Catholicism (even under Communist rule the church remained strong) causing them to look suspiciously upon non-Catholics. Nevertheless Poland has made many great contributions to the world, and perhaps the greatest was the Polish Resistance fighting the Nazis when they had no hope of prevailing against Hitler's war machine. Millions of Poles died in the Nazi concentration camps built on Polish soil. Lech Walesa's Solidarity movement, with the backing of the Polish Pope John Paul II, helped bring down Communism ; Poland was the first communist country to return to democratic rule.
by Rattus cattus September 15, 2006
by Rattus cattus October 19, 2006
The country with the hottest women in Central Europe (only Italy and Spain have better looking women). Also, some fantastic architecture and a long history.
by Rattus cattus September 15, 2006
A Swedish car company, currently owned by Ford, that in the 1960s got a reputation for making safe, reliable, and mostly ugly (except for the 1800 series, Volvo's only good looking car, made from 1959-74, and most known as the car Roger Moore drove in The Saint TV series) cars. The quality took a huge nosedive in about 1975 like the quality of many other cars. Almost overnight Volvos became completely unreliable and prone to breaking down almost on a daily basis. For some reason, Volvo's reputation amongst consumers wasn't affected much for years. They coasted on their reputation for what seemed like two decades, of course people unlucky enough to buy one would know that any Volvo made after 1974 is a pile of crap best suited for a junkyard. Not until the Japanese entered the luxury car market in the 1990s did people start to realize what pieces of shit Volvos were, and as a result their target market largely started buying Lexus and Acura. One of THE most expensive cars to repair, and you'll need to repair it often.
Volvos spend more time in the shop than on the road.
The Swedes tend to be such nice people ; how could they come up with a car as crappy as a Volvo?
The Swedes tend to be such nice people ; how could they come up with a car as crappy as a Volvo?
by Rattus cattus October 24, 2006