One of my friends recently posted a NYT article link on facebook. I couldn't help but read it (the one on Guantanamo). Then it got me thinking and doing some googling regarding Bulgaria in the headlines this week.

The biggest headlines have to do with snow. Here's my summary: we're a day or two into our first big snow storm this year. The headlines and the articles are more or less as expected for any big city and the first snow storm of the year. Traffic has been backed up. Roads are dangerous and visibility is low. The companies contracted to clear snow got a late start and all in all, it's snowy and there more snow is expected. <!--more-->
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	<li> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/12/world/AP-EU-Bulgaria-Guantanamo.html?_r=1&amp;scp=2&amp;sq=bulgaria&amp;st=cse">Bulgaria Could Take in a Guantanamo Prisoner</a> This seems to me (as an American) the big news. And it's gotten me thinking about what it says about both America (that we still have prisoners in Guantanamo) and what is says about Bulgaria that the country would be willing to accept a prisoner.</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=111020">Bulgaria Authorities Hit Illegal Christmas Tree Sales</a> It turns out that "the price of the trees sold legally varies between BGN 7 to 16 and if a tree is sold below BGN 4 this means it has been cut illegally."  I had no idea that trees were so inexpensive in Sofia. I mean most of them are Charlie Brown Christmas trees but it's very inexpensive compared to the prices we pay in the States where most trees start at $40.</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=111115">At Least 6% of Bulgarian Teenagers Are Alcoholics</a> This is a strange report. I am really not sure that the statistics support this claim that 6% of teenagers are alcoholics.  I guess half of it is how you interpret alcoholism and half of it are the numbers.  The big claim is that teenagers drink a lot (regularly) but whether this automatically makes them alcoholics as the report seems to suggest is a little bit harder to swallow.</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=111017">Over 1 Million Bulgarian Retirees Get Small Christmas Bonuses</a> As luck would have it, pensioners who receive less than 200 leva a month will get a 25 leva Christmas bonus.  In dollars, this means that pensioners who get $146 a month will now get a bonus of $18.  Given how little the elderly in Bulgaria receive, I am sure that the 25 leva will make a difference but on some level it seems so silly.  I think it's because the whole thing breaks my heart.</li>
	<li>For my expat friends living in Sofia: register your SIM cards or risk losing the number.  Do it. It's easy--I've already done it. <a href="http://sofiaecho.com/2009/12/18/831904_sim-cards-on-register">SIM cards on register</a>.</li>
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