War on drugs quickie…*

July 9, 2009

drug-cartels

I don’t have much time to post today, but I am mid way through Mother Jones’ cover package on the war on drugs and it’s good thus far. Here’s one of the bigger pieces in it on freedom of the press in Mexico and how it intersects with the war on drugs – it’s pretty scary stuff. Excerpt below:

There are two Mexicos.

There is the one reported by the US press, a place where the Mexican president is fighting a valiant war on drugs, aided by the Mexican Army and the Mérida Initiative, the $1.4 billion in aid the United States has committed to the cause. This Mexico has newspapers, courts, laws, and is seen by the United States government as a sister republic.

It does not exist.

There is a second Mexico where the war is for drugs, where the police and the military fight for their share of drug profits, where the press is restrained by the murder of reporters and feasts on a steady diet of bribes, and where the line between the government and the drug world has never existed.

The thrust of the cover package thus far is that, in addition to being a monumental waste of taxpayer dollars and time, the war on drugs is also rapidly turning Mexico into another Columbia-like failed narco state. It’s not uplifting reading, to say the least. But ch-ch-check it out for sure.

*An odd title, I know.


Brief Hiatus

March 12, 2009

I am heading home until next Wednesday, and will be taking a brief hiatus until then. I may post sporadically while I’m gone, but more than likely there will be no fresh material until I come back on Wednesday, at which point I hope the economy will still be functioning, and thus my Internet provider. I look forward to it.

Oh, and just finished Watchmen (the book) – awesome. Will be seeing the movie soon.


Funny

February 9, 2009

This is a funny version of this.


Burning question…

February 2, 2009

Is there any argument against nationalizing the big banks? I understand that, in general, it is a bad idea, but right now – is there a valid argument to be made against nationalizing the banks? Aside from the fact that it sounds like socialism? Arguments, please, if you got ‘em…

Check out Krugman’s article today on the topic here.


My president is black…

February 1, 2009

77951498EM024_JAY_Z_CELEBRA

The remix, with Jay-Z. This song still brings a toothy-ass smile to my face. Oh, and the Superbowl is gonna suck, but I’m predicting a 21-17 Steelers win. But still – the Cardinals? Really?