Potpourri Pan America: headline news — Van der Sloot to Slim, and more

PONDER THIS:

1.  drug – if its use does not stop here, the killings will not stop there.

2.  Castro – even half dead, he still manages to get attention.

3.  Aruba  – I’ll bet people still vacation in his first place of crime!

4.  Obama still not leading – is he still pointing fingers?

5.  Pinochet – even from the grave he affects things.

6.  It’s about time Slim – you can also help create jobs for your fellow Mexicans.

About Arizona and Middle East: varying, but similar perceptions?

Recently Amr Moussa, head of the Arab League, visited the Hamas leadership in the GAZA strip to pledge solidarity with them against Israel…  Of course  Hamas and many other Palestinians, as well as some others across the planet believe the Hebrews ought to be driven into the sea and their land taken over by the Arabs…..

When Arizona passed SB 1070 into law, a sizable number in this country and many in Mexico and across the globe indicated, in essense, that the land in Arizona ought to be taken over by those who do not believe in the rule of law but do believe in Open Borders…  Some governmental officials even have sought to overturn the law…

Dr. Sergio Antonio Corona of the Universidad iberoamericana of Mexico wrote a newspaper column in Spanish about SB 1070 when it was passed into law… 

He indicated that:

The law was passed by a fascist state and was against the natural rights of humans according to international treaties and agreements under the Geneva Convention, as well as violated rulings of the World Court in The Hague, and that that was why people in general and specifically Human Rights organizations of the world have declared war against the law….

Further, he followed by explaining that the land making up what now is the state of Arizona, currently is illegally occupied and has been in that status for years as a result of what he calls the aggressive Mexican War against Mexico by The United States of America in the 1800s… Therefore, he concludes, those who are labeled as illegal immigrants by the law are actually the legal residents of Arizona, and the ones who wrote and passed the law are the illegal ones…

Additionally, he wrote that the passage of the law was obviously wrong, but that its passage was easy to understand because those approving it were of the same mentality as those who ran the Abu Graib Prison in Iraq and who still run Guantanamo….(!)

The sentiments expressed by Dr. Corona are similar to the views held by many others who reside in this country illegally, and even by a number of American citizens… 

Mr. Amr Moussa of the Arab League, in general, probably shares views similar to those expressed by the Mexican professor, but of course against obviously  a different target…

Although Dr. Sergio Antonio Corona has written several fine books and articles, in his column against the Arizona law, his views, just as Mr. Moussa’s perceptions, come through loudly and clearly and are other examples of why whether in the Middle East or in Mexico, people with unreasonable and/or unrealistic views — operating on different interpretations of what the facts are — make it nearly impossible to arrive at reasonable alternatives to solve major or minor problems…

Semi official: Big 12 has succumbed

From Austin – Strong rumor:  South Division teams of former Big 12 Conference, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State teams of former Big 12 Conference heading to PAC 10+ when invitations arrive — Texas A & M still a question mark and Baylor left out…  Supposedly these “former” Big 12 teams, plus Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado to make up the Southern Division of the PAC 10+…

“Person” of the week(or an eternity): Oil Spill in the Gulf

As a real animated disaster that keeps on giving in the worse possible way, destroying life and affecting lives of so many from all segments and species of life,  the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill is the “person” of the week (or for an eternity) — selection not meant as a cruel simple joke for the sake of shock value or as a reflection of the props used by late night comedians or the woes of politicians, but as a truly horrific spectacle about which words cannot truly describe the horrors…

Has the demise of the Big 12 Conference been greatly exaggerated or?

The Big 12 Conference is reportedly on the ropes, doing a rope-a-dope, trying to survive…  Colorado, already on the way to the PAC 10 Conference, and Nebraska tilting toward the Big 10…   Not many are talking openly but the PAC 10 supposedly also has invited or would like to invite Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to join it… 

 On the other hand, the South Eastern Conference (S.E.C). apparently would like to invite only Texas and Texas A & M to join its conference… 

 From this perch (yes, PanAm has an eye for sports, too), as of today, it appears, paraphrasing the famous “Mark Twain” quote,… that “the rumored demise of the Big 12 Conference might be greatly exaggerated”, but PanAm is prepared for all possibilities… 

 Nebraska might not leave the conference, and even if it does, and even if Colorado has already made its decision to jump ship, the remaining 10 schools of the Big 12 could choose to remain together, then invite Texas Christian University (T.C.U.) and one other school from the Mountain West Conference or else where to fill the slots of any two possibly departing schools…

If the Big 12 does succumb, likely scenario as seen from here today is that most schools of the Southern Section of the Big 12 would vote to join the PAC 10 Southern Section… 

Just sayin’…  Stay tuned…

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news in brief — what’s with the president’s alien philosophy, she says? — and more

PONDER THIS:

1.  The Alien in the White House – is it that as a child he never bonded with America, just as a child might not bond with his mother? 

2.  Destruction in Afghanistan – does the president and others notice the violence  still going on in that part of the world and how things are going with our troops?   

3.  Sharron Angle and the Tea Party Express in Nevada: will they chug-a-long to victory or derail? – wonder what Reid thinks of his chances…                             

4.  B.P. had reported that an oil spill was unlikely – and that if one occurred it would cause little damage – and the government believed the story? Are the shorts on Wall Street wreaking havoc?                    

5.  FTC: tax entities on the internet to help the newspapers  – No way… Way…

6.  Long awaited NCAA penalty results report against University of Southern California is supposedly out — remains to be seen what all the details are…  If the punishment is not severe against the football and basketball programs, the governing board has waffled against a major athletic program…

The “White Man’s Burden”: for some, still alive and kicking?

In discussing the term “gone street”, as it relates to President Obama using street language about kicking someone’s behind, recently, ex Press Secretary  Dee Dee Myers indicated that those who described his particular terminology as having “gone street” were in effect drawing attention to his Black race, and that the description had racial overtones… 

At other times, when people use a basketball analogy when referring to a particular action the president takes — because he is a capable player on the court –  similarly, the analogy is criticized by some (like MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell) because they suggest bringing up basketball has racial implications!

All presidents are  subject to recurring criticism…  All presidents, as well, have some ardent supporters who defend their icon with distinctive gusto…

Because of his race, though, what differentiates specifically the world of criticism during this presidency is that continually some of President Obama’s most strident White defenders are quick to claim or imply that anyone who opposes him is, if not overtly racist, covertly they are…

But, underlying the attitude exemplified by these caucasian supporters seems to be that White supporters need to help the Black president, specifically because of his race…  Does not matter to them, evidently, that those who critique President Obama on policy matters or on his decision-making are doing so because he is the President of The United States of America,  not because he is The Black President of the United States… 

The president’s White supporters (including members of the press) who are quick to label others as racist, in effect are the ones who apparently see him  simply and primarily as the Black president, and by their words and actions, are condescendingly treating him as inferior to their own race…  

President Obama is the President of The United States of America, one of the most, if not the most powerful position on earth…  He does not need, nor want, I’m sure, to be seen simply as the Black President who needs his White supporters to help him because he is Black…

Potpourri Pan America: headline news in brief — President Obama kicking “…ass…” — say it ain’t so…

PONDER THIS: 

1.  The P.R. people told the president to talk about kicking “… ass…” ?!: next, to do “a rap” about the Rumble in the Gulf, with Kanye.  (Spike Lee rules)… Believe it, or not…   What is this?

2.  Left Coast  vs Right Coast   — Lakers still favored, but PanAm pulling for the Celts: a good victory at Staples…

3.  Cemeteries can be “happening” places  – dinner first, then hanging at the tombstones, for drinks and a concert, wanna go dance on grandpa?…

4.  Oil, oil, everywhere, on the pelicans – do something…

5.  Mexico plans to open coal burning plants while           planning to host the November Climate Change Conference in Cancun ( an alliteration?).  Beats Copenhagen, but coal? (editorial, in Spanish). 

6.  Secretary Clinton makes official visits to South America and   hubby Bill follows later, like a tag team, making the same rounds, schmoozing for money…

7.  Ms Helen Thomas was tolerated   – it all comes out too late; there were too many enablers…

 8.  Brazil is a growing power in world affairs, but has lots of work to do in its own house and in own backyard(Miami Herald)…

“Get the hell out…” of that chair, Helen, Hearst says

Reportedly, Ms Thomas of the White House Press Corps has retired, effective immediately…  Everyone ought to know when to retire before it is long past due, but some don’t…  Rightly so, Helen needed to be reminded…

President Obama and Israel, the Muslims and President Obama

On June 2, 2010, on this page in the post “It’s fearful: President Obama is allowing himself to be exploited”, an aspect of the narrative was that because of how the president apologetically has  presented himself to the world, certain elements and peculiar leaders of particular countries apparently size him up in unflattering ways and as not having the mettle to get out of the box in which he has placed himself – the interpretation held by some seems to be that the president believes generally that The United States of America historically has wronged the world, and particularly,  has wronged the Muslims; and,  furthermore, that he will not be a part of wronging them anymore…

That apparent perception by some foreign leaders regarding the president  leads them to challenge American interests throughout the world in various ways…

Lately, for example, Iran, through words espoused by an aide to Ayatollah Ali Khamenie, has floated the idea  that in the future, ships attempting to run the Israeli Blockade of Gaza might be escorted by the naval forces of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard…  That would be a grave escalation…

Aide Ali Shirazi [From the GUARDIAN newspaper, U.K.]

Because the president has not forcefully defended Israel in the last few days, and in the relatively recent past also has disparaged and seemingly sought to undermine Binjamin Netanyahu’s leadership of Israel, it would not be surprising if miscalculations might be made or that miscalculations already have been made by some that America’s support for Israel has diminished significantly, thereby inadvertently giving a red light to continuing aggressive action by the Muslims against America’s traditional ally. [Witness, the Muslims seem to note, how passively President Obama reacted to the actions of North Korea reportedly sinking the ship of South Korea, an American ally.]

Stay tuned…

Person of the Week — Helen Thomas: her diminished personal capacity promotes a greater problem

Helen Thomas, of the White House Press Corps, slams Israel and sides with those who want the Jewish people to be driven from their country and the land given to the Palestinians…  Her employer, the White House and the Press Corps need to remove her from her position — she has not only outlived her journalistic value, but is an embarrassment to the press, her employer and herself, and, more importantly, in her high-profile position, her words and actions are muddling how American policy in the Middle East is perceived… 

The Stockholm Syndrome in America: en masse, 2010

For any who might not know to what the title refers, the “… Stockholm syndrome is a term used to describe a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express adulation and have positive feelings towards their captors that appear irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims.  The FBI’s Hostage Barricade Database System shows that roughly 27% of victims show evidence of Stockholm syndrome.^{“[from Wikipedia]}

Metaphorically, that seems to be the case in which many in America and the world find themselves — captives, kidnapped, their minds hijacked by a peculiar political viewpoint foisted upon those who have difficulty being independent thinkers, those who, regrettably, unconditionally believe whatever the dominant mass news media tells them…

Another way of putting it is that some have allowed themselves to be led to believe that what is up is down, and down is up…  You get the picture…

Israel is trying to keep rockets and other items from entering the Gaza strip so that its people can be safe from attack, and under international law exercises its right of self-defense by establishing a blockade –  in order to ascertain that certain items do not enter Gaza…   And the typical national and world press, and a significant degree of the national and world population ( because they are hostages to a particular viewpoint), condemn or severely criticize American ally Israel – which is being threatened with annihilation… What is actually up, is seen as down…

Arizona attempts to have border security laws enforced by passing a state law that simply complements federal law, and its people are called “racist“, “white supremacists” – and the federal government, as well as some other states and municipalities, and news organizations and politicians, undertake actions and words to try to punish Arizona for trying to enforce laws!…  Again, hostages – what is up, is seen as down…

The School Board of Los Angeles , California, reportedly, even has passed a resolution directed to the superintendent and teachers of the district that strongly encourages teachers to include in their lesson plans that the Arizona law against illegal immigration is as vile as slavery, the holocaust, the Japanese Internment, and other such historical episodes…  Absurd…

The Stockholm Syndrome, en masse, is alive and well, sorry to say, in America…  How many people are suffering from the delusion, to the detriment of the country?…. How many in America have been taken hostage, how many have been brainwashed?

The Stockholm Syndrome is alive and well within how many?…  Remains to be seen in the months to come…

Potpourri Pan America: from oil to CNN, from immigration to secure borders, from politics to sports, and more…

Ponder these:

1.  For better or worse, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill might remake or break Obama  — the administration could turn it all around between now and November, coming out smelling like a rose, not an oil sopped shrimp?

2.  President finally agrees to meet Arizona governor  — “immigration and secure borders” won’t go away!

3.  Obama to use the oil spill fiasco to move legislation through  — will the climate-change bill be resurrected?!

4.  Oliver Stone and another South American leftist  — what’s with Oliver and those guys? [In Spanish: Oliver wants to make a film about Evo Morales of Bolivia, like he did of Hugo Chavez of  Venezuela.]

5.  Mexican drug cartels use cash only – No debit cards?  Their pants really must have “deep pockets”. 

6.  CNN journalist quits for honest reasons  — honesty and journalism, together?Really?!

7.  Celtics and Lakers, NBA Finals – the west coast bunch is favored but pulling for the Celts…

Fashion icon First Lady owes her fans

Some have said that the First Lady is as glamorous as the most famous of past Presidents’ wives…  She could spruce up a bit before traveling…  Yes, PanAm is a fashion critic, too…  Just sayin’… 

[photo from Yahoo News]

It’s fearful: President Obama is allowing himself to be exploited

The world is always a combination of beauty and goodness, as well as of ugliness and evil — whether a Democrat or a Republican lives in the people’s house, the White House. 

But there is a fear felt among a significant number of people that at this time in history there are leaders of some countries who are exploiting the apparent naiveté of President Obama for his moving along to make too many policy changes too swiftly and preaching a policy seeming to be that if we love our enemies and give them a bow and a hug, they will love The United States of America, unconditionally, thereby making the world a nicer place…  Wrong…

That exemplified attitude by the president is a disaster and has put the country in peril, encouraging other countries to challenge the nation in various ways, and making our allies wonder…

The diminutive leader of North Korea sinks a ship of our ally South Korea and the president sits.

Russia establishes in our backyard close military ties with Bolivia and Venezuela,.. the president sits.

Brazil unites with Turkey in undercutting America’s efforts to sanction Iran,…  the president still sits.

Turkey pushes to force the U.S.A. to condemn Israel,  America’s staunch ally, the president comes close to doing so.

China owns a good chunk of The United States through its  buying of American notes, and President Obama still forces the Congress to pass a horrendously expensive health law that will force the children and grandchildren (ad infinitum) of the country to pay China for his mistake…

Countries of the world are taking President Obama for a chump, and so far he has given them all the ammunition to label him such.

It’s getting to be scary because of his unsteadiness on the world scene…  He is not serving the country well and in general the press still puts him on a pedestal…  It’s getting to be scary…

Potpourri Pan America

Ponder These:

1.  Commander-in-Chief with an umbrella?! – say it aint so, Chief…

2.  It happened in Seattle, no, in Mexico, but he split.   — is he another stupid killer for insurance money and will he be extradited to Mexico?

3.  Gotta be tough with Kim   — or he’ll take you for a chump.

4.  Help  for the Homosexuals before the backlash?  — backlash in November?!

5.  The problem will not go away!  — gotta deal with immigration.

6.  The White House wants more Drone attacks, but sacrifices  military personnel

7.  Cuba and Hugo still dancing 

Memorial

Let us remember all of them from all the Armed Services on Memorial Day and every day.

Persons of the week

Persons of the Week:  Governor Jindal and James Carville

For showing leadership in managing the state government response; and together in keeping and bringing additional spotlight to the environmental, economic, political and human issues of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico — the first term governor and the ragin’ cajun…

A close second for the distinction were  President Clinton and Rep. Sestak for  the job offer fiasco… Stop Mr. President, you messed up your wife’s candidacy, now Mr. Sestak’s!

———————————————————————————–

See what happens:

Maybe the president will change his mind and be at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day…

Would be nice to hear from Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and their cohorts about their support for Kim Jong-Il.

Oliver Stone continues to like Hugo Chavez…

Someone tell Lindsay Lohan to dress conservatively to Court.  Yes I am a critic…

Unless the Suns pull it out, it’ll be a redux of Lakers v Celtics…

Sorry, but I don’t see what people get from hockey…

$300,000,000 pay for play? — not worth it, Tiger…

Buy street drugs, help the drug cartels! Feeling generous?

Mexico is going to ban fatty foods from schools — who do they thing they are, California?

Paul McCartney is doing Mexico City… Always wanted to say that, ”… is doing…”

World Cup preparation games in full swing…  Party in South Africa on final week…

Steve Wynn says “Washington” doesn’t have a clue and is hurting business…

————————————————————————————-

Illegal Immigration — deal with it incrementally, not massively

The rhetoric continues…  Will or will not the Justice Department investigate Arizona?! 

It’s a mess, because the federal government has allowed it to become a mess through the years, and blaming Arizona and anyone who criticizes illegal immigration is non productive, and adds to the mess…  Citizens and illegal immigrants alike do not need nor deserve the dilemma nor the drama…

The president would like to pass not an incremental law dealing with illegal immigration, but an expansive one because Latino groups have influence over him – they favor an expansive one, and they supported him in the last presidential election by significant numbers… 

But he could begin to solve the problem incrementally, in a logical sequence, without a massive program all at once — as he did with the Healthcare law (healthcare now held in contempt ?):

1. Secure the borders, all borders, so that illegal immigration will be stopped there, from then on.
2. Pass laws to (heavily) penalize employers who hire new illegal immigrants…
3. Pass laws to permit young people to work here legally –  children  of illegal immigrants who attended school here and graduated from high school and/or college here (Bipartisan, “The Dream Act”?).

 After having dealt with the above at the same time or with one of them first, then sometime later with the others, he could press on:

       4.  lastly, deal with illegal immigrant parents and other illegal immigration issues…     

Will these issues be dealt with and completed before the November elections?  Highly unlikely…  Is this issue an easy one to solve?  Yes, mechanically…  Politically?  No!

There are also the issues of legal immigration problems, but that has its own complexities…

Potpourri Pan America: Headlines news in brief

What a mess to ponder:

1.   Arguments among the brass on the  rig  prior to the explosion!  Let’s get to the bottom of the mess, no pun intended…

 2. Terrorist alert on  Texas / Mexico border?  Send the troops, hurry!

 3.  Amnesty  International (in Spanish) says Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela does not respect free speech by the citizenry… Sean Penn, talk to your friend!…

 4.   Democrat Carville blasts the Obama Administration for its reaction to the oil spill …  The “Cajun is ragin’”.

 5.  Obama ready to repeal the don’t ask, don’t tell policy for the military – what about the Study the military was supposed to conduct, first? 

 6.  Video(s) – drug problems for everyday lives in Mexican and American  society…  You thought you had seen it all?!… 

President “postures” at home, but tiptoes around dictators?

The at one time acclaimed director and funnyman who married his adopted daughter, Woody Allen, showed little commonsense and appeared to know very little of what made America great when reportedly he expressed a desire to have President Obama assume dictatorial  powers…  Just, just for a few years he indicated, to enable Obama to transform America into what he and his advisors believe America ought to be…

 Scary thought…

On  May 25, President Obama met on The Hill with the Republican U.S. Senators, ostensibly to exchange ideas on how to advance the nation’s common good and how to work together to do that…

Apparently the President’s idea of exchanging ideas on how to best work together was essentially to say that he was the president and the senators just ought to support his positions…  President  Obama, and the fellow who married his adopted daughter seem to have something in common – they show a lack of commonsense and a misunderstanding of what has made America great…

When retired Navy Admiral and U.S. Representative Sestak decided to challenge U.S. Senator Arlen Specter in the Democratic Primary campaign earlier this year, President Obama or one of his trusted advisors reportedly offered the Representative a job in the White House to induce him to drop out and give clear sailing to Specter…  Knowledgeable people have said an offer such as that would be illegal…  But the president has remained mum on the subject…  He can either say the offer was not made or that it was…  If he doesn’t say anything, the implication still is that the illegal offer was made, and that is not good for him or the country… 

Actions such as that alleged offer are not what made America great… The president does not seem to understand America – that he is not above the law and that he is not now nor ever will be a dictator of this country…

Also, so far he and his advisors have managed to control the White House press corp and have at times totally by passed it when important guests have been at the White House — or when other notable events have transpired — although the President and his advisors seem to pay lip service to the First Amendment…  Again, actions such as that from our top elected leader and his assistants is not what made America what it is… But they do not to seem to understand that…

Meanwhile, after the ship of ally South Korea was reportedly blown up and sunk by North Korea, all the administration has said is something to the effect that “there will be consequences”…  Surprise, surprise, surprise — Kim Jong-il is not trembling…  And it would not be surprising furthermore that by torpedoing the ship of an American ally, Kim Jong-il has acted in such a callous, brutal manner because President Obama is seen as weak, and maybe even as timid…  Our allies must be, at best bewildered, and at worse, trembling…

But within the American government, on the other hand, the president seems to seek and want to exert omnipotent powers – and because the Democratic Party controls two very important branches of government (with the Democratic Congress in lockstep with him), the country being apprehensive of what the future holds is understandable… 

And although some who truly do not understand America’s history wish to stifle criticism about the president and his advisors, regardless of what they say, in a free society open dissent is completely constitutional and reasonable and is a noble quest because come November, the results of the elections then will indicate what kind of America there will be… 

 Hopefully the over-the-hill director and actor will not get his wish…

Potpourri Pan America:Headlines in brief – a political bribe(?), a rebellion(?), gasoline taxes(?), immigration, and more

Ponder These:

1.  If you criticize the president you are inciting a rebellion?  Why is Governor Patrick bringing up something like that? 

2.  “Wanna” stop illegal immigration? – then raid the employers every where and often; penalize them severely, too.

3.  A follow-up to the 1982 Falkland War between Argentina and England?  — or as the Argentines call them, the Malvinas…  President Kirchner of Argentina is making noise about that possibility to distract from the bad economy in Argentina?…

4.  Congress will raise tax on gasoline?  They said what?

5.  Oil spill off Mexico 1979   –  a comparison to this 2010 oil spill off the Louisiana coast: more oil spilled from the Mexican well altho’ that well was in much more shallow water… 

6.  Rasmussen Report –  the public turns against the president, little by little…  Will support for him rebound before November or continue the slide? 

7.   Sestak, U.S.Senate Democrat nominee, was he offered a bribe?  By the White House? — Is this situation similar to what is asserted in the criminal case against ex Illinois Governor Blagojevich?…  Wonder if anyone is ”stonewalling” and will anything serious come of this matter.

Climb the highest mountain, kiddo, it’s all right

Considering the current news frenzy about things such as: Arizona’s illegal immigration law, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill fiasco, lying politicians, the Iranian nuclear standoff, as well as the catastrophe of  North Korea sinking the South Korean ship,… the reporting of underage kids setting world records in this or that categories sounds neither exciting nor important – and perhaps even a waste of time…  

In addition to other such prior announcements, recently a 13 year-old young person from Big Bear, California, Jordan Romero, reportedly became the youngest to climb Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world…     

As a result of the reportage of the achievement this weekend, the initial scope of this narrative was maybe to pontificate about how asinine it is to give young people so much mass attention simply for being the youngest to complete a particular task, often while being escorted by a team of adults…

But after reflecting on the matter, the attention given to these events seemed a bit more reasonable – precisely, maybe, because all the serious occurrences continually in the news need to have, occasionally at least, some feel-good stories devoid of extra stress inducing topics…

In the whole scheme of life, being the first young person to do this or that does not seem to be any more or any less important, it seems, than so many things adults do in life that are not earth shattering, but which receive extraordinary attention, like racing around an oval several hundred times…  And, so, if the child involved is not being harmed by the escapade, so be it… 

Apologies to racing fan aficionados, of which I am one…   Just sayin’…

PERSON(s) of the Week

CO  PERSONS OF THE WEEK

LEON E. PANETTA: Director of the C.I.A. and consummate politician –  apparently won a turf battle against apolitical/knowledgeable Dennis C. Blair, Director of National Intelligence, when Blair resigned…  Based on  9/11 Commission recommendations, apparently the C.I.A. director formally ought to have been subordinate to the Director of National Intelligence, but informally/in practical terms, he is not — a major flaw in addition to others in the way the law was formulated and passed…  ["Intelligence"]

FELIPE CALDERON: Mexican President  – in practical terms, seemingly became a willing political instrument of President Obama’s Administration…

President’s aunt Zeituni Onyango gets preferential treatment?; and Presidential guest Calderon critiques

President Obama’s aunt enters the country illegally around year 2000, sometime later gets caught and receives deportation orders in 2004, but meanwhile she disappears so as to avoid being shipped out…  Years later when finally located, Mz Zeituni Onyango is living in government subsidized housing…  Then, represented by well-heeled attorneys, she appeals the deportation order and recently receives the ruling that she wants: she can stay in the United States of America…     

Though there is a  strong pushback currently underway here against other illegal immigrants, there appears to be little adverse reaction against this lady who seemingly received preferential treatment…  Laws ought to be enforced evenly, not only against some, but against everyone to whom the law applies, including the president’s aunt…    

Another indication of why people have a low opinion of bureaucrats and politicians… 

On another news item of importance, Mexican President Felipe Calderon visits Washington D.C., speaks against American gun laws, drug use and the recently passed Arizona illegal immigration law [Obama says; reflects additional [weakness?]…  Specifically, Calderon does his critique at the White House and in Congress — and on The Hill receives a resounding reception from significant numbers of senators and representatives.

Considering the dire conditions in his country and the pressure his countrymen are undoubtedly placing on him, it is understandable that playing to his own electorate he would present his concerns in such a public way,… but being that he was speaking as a guest here, this country’s elected representatives ought have shown more decorum, been more reserved in receiving his comments…

Yet, again, another example of why people have a low opinion of politicians?…

Just sayin’…

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news — from Open Borders to increasing taxes, and more

The shell game continues?

1.  Obama says to Calderon,  in essence, The USA is for Open Borders – no wonder Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and the President continue to name-call the Arizona immigration law…  This seems like November election campaign tactics, to try to keep the Latino vote…

2.  A guest can critique the Arizona immigration law from the People’s House?!  — seems as though the  presidents’ speech writers collaborated…

3.  No doubt about it – voters showed on Tuesday past that voters are upset and are letting people in Washington know it…  But is the message being received?…

4.  President symbolically honors the press – but regularly shuts reporters out from access to important White House functions about which the public has a right to know…  The White House press corp and major press outlets are either simply failing to do their jobs or are so in awe of President Obama that they allow themselves to be steamrolled…

5.  Are the president and his advisors “playing” the publc – on May 10 on this page a review/critique was written about indications being that there was a push for Congress to raise taxes…  Now Paul Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, another of the president’s advisors, pushes the theme too…  Why didn’t he advise the president NOT to pass the massive, costly Healthcare bill knowing the new program would create another horrendous deficit problem?

Military Veterans: used as Political Props?

“On Tuesday, the toll of American dead in Afghanistan passed 1,000, after a suicide bomb in Kabul killed at least five…” Americans. [New York TIMES, May 18]…

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, in Connecticut, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate) – backed by some retired veterans – was defending himself because sometime in the past he claimed more than a couple of times that he had served in Vietnam — he-had-not…

   Richard Blumenthal

On the one hand, mostly young, relatively less educated men and women died in Vietnam and are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan: for the most part dying without much recognition of their sacrifice, forgotten men and women other than to their families and friends…  On the other hand, Mr. Blumenthal — educated, prosperous, well-known – simply says that he “…misspoke…” but declines to apologize for his misrepresentations, parsing words by saying he “regrets” misspeaking — as if playing with words will spare him… 

Some people actually were and are in combat zones and paid and are paying a real price…  Not him, though…

Not so fast, Mr. Blumenthal.  Isn’t it now time or time long past due for voters to reject or vote the rascals out, especially those who use veterans’ issues and veterans’ organizations as props to promote themselves into political office or to propel themselves to higher political positions?

Those in Connecticut and else where who care about fairness and are tired of politics-as-usual can vote a clear and resounding message to people such as Mr. Blumenthal and to all prevaricators that their jig is up — all who served, those who were wounded in faraway lands, the more than 1,000 who have died in Afghanistan, plus the 1,000s in Iraq, as well as the more than 50,000 who died in Vietnam deserve better…                                         (See what his opponent said) / and / New York TIMES Op Ed contributor // Again, Mr. Blumenthal, the “jig is up”

Potpourri Pan America: Headline news in brief — from beauty pageant to packing Pakistani, to Brazil gaining influence

A few headlines Around the Hemisphere:

1.  Will an electorate trend against Pres. Obama continue, or not?  – primary elections today in several key states for important positions…

  2.  Miss USA of Arab ancestry – will ultra conservative Arabs in the USA  or abroad be upset?

3. Pakistani suspected bomber released – arrested at the U.S. Embassy in Chile.

4.  Communist Cuba rules Venezuela? – editorial in Spanish fears Venezuela is “decaying” politically and economically, while becoming militaristic like Cuba…

5.  South American power Brazil continues gaining influence in world affairs – mentioned here in a prior post, another example of Brazil’s increasing stature…

In combat, charge the enemy, not the American

 They’re at risk –  recently it has been reported that, “Afghan Prosecutor issues arrest warrant for U.S. army officer over police killing”…  Wherever the American military is, the men and women of the nation’s armed forces are at risk…  Be it Asia or Europe, or Iraq and Afghanistan , or else where, danger lies…  And it is not only from hostile fire but periodically also from hostile local prosecutors and lawyers and their clients, seeking a lot more than just a few bucks from Uncle Sam… 

Granted that American forces are not perfect in every operation undertaken nor in every contact with local people and sometimes make mistakes, but no one in this country nor wherever the military is serving ought to jump to conclusions that Americans are purposefully committing criminal acts and therefore that military personnel ought to be incarcerated, if,… if a mistake is made… American men and women are operating under trying conditions and do not need/deserve the locals of Iraq or Afghanistan, nor American superiors or politicians(criticism of Murtha) periodically trying to put them in prison simply for their working to do their jobs…

There is little doubt that in many cases where charges are filed against active duty men and women, the action is taken to appease the local population and politicians who at times make charges for financial and/or political reasons…  Navy Seals have been subjected to charges by the American military establishment, as have some from other branches of the military, but reason seems to have prevailed and they were cleared of criminality(Navy Seals exonerated )….

Political Correctness might be funny running as a television show, but in a combat zone it is simply running amok…  P.C. itself ought to be considered a criminal act if taken, well, as a politically correct action to appease the locals – those locals instead ought to be grateful for the  sacrifices the men and women of the Armed Forces of The United States of America have made and are making on their behalf…  Just sayin’

Geography for children or those who have not lost their childlike spirit

Try it, you’ll like it:

“Wanna” play and learn?  — how about learning or reviewing geography!

[PanAm has no connection to this educational game site other than finding it interesting.]

Evo Morales: reportedly has said he is America’s worst nightmare

On April 1, of this year a post was written on this page introducing Evo Morales of Bolivia, South America…..

As a follow-up: he is a man on-the-move…  If only a few are aware of who this indigenous president of Bolivia is, more ought to become familiar with him because he seems intent on becoming the major leader of the indigenous people all over the world – more specifically, a leader of the underdeveloped countries of the world who wants to counter balance the power of the developed countries, including the influence of The United States…

He is one of the first from the indigenous class of people to become the top elected leader of a country in Latin America, and also one of the first elected indigenous leader of any country world-wide…  His country of Bolivia is right in the backyard of The United States of America, and as previously noted, his country produces and exports street-drugs to the U.S.A. and to Europe…

In the recent past:

1.  he has apparently expelled from Bolivia several of his most vocal critics,  seemingly because he doesn’t seem to tolerate those who disagree with his policies,

2.  as explained in the post of April 1, he has had, and still has, a connection to the drug crop industry, and to those in the production and export of street-drugs — and in 2008 suspended an arrangement the previous government of Bolivia had with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency under which D.E.A. agents worked in Bolivia to curb the growth, production and export of street-drugs,

3. April 2, 2010, met with Prime Minister Putin of Russia and President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, apparently to help Russia expand its influence in South  America — supposedly has declared himself to be the worst nightmare of the United States; April 21-23: led his own Climate Summit in Bolivia for the purpose of highlighting the dangers the United states and other developed countries pose,

4.  May 1, 2010, took over control from private owners of the oil and gas industry of Bolivia; May 14, 2010, he accused the Human Watch organization of being a pawn of the U.S.A because Human Watch criticized his treatment of anyone who disagrees with him,

5.  week of May 14, he was scheduled to be in the Scandinavian countries to meet with indigenous peoples of that area, reportedly working to unite the indigenous peoples of the world in order to present a united front against The United States and other developed countries…

Evo Morales, Amerindian, indigenous President of Bolivia, a rising political figure from  Pan America — one to watch and gauge…  Worth getting to know who he is,  what he stands for and what he plans next…

Potpourri Pan America: News headline briefs

News Headline Briefs:

1.  President Obama’s Administration creates more national debt  – help!: how much more can he raise the nation’s debt before more than just a few people notice?…

2.  Russia says: Don’t mess with Iran, Mr. Obama – What now?

3.  “Pushing back” on street-drug use – L.A. City Attorney on the right track.

4.  Danny Glover: about Arizona Boycott - video: Even Danny knows boycotts hurt common folks.

5.  Seattle Police play kickball with Latino – ouch!  Not good for public relations … 

6. Dead dolphins – it’s a “who done it”.  The oil spill did it, or?

Plata o Plomo?

It is said that the henchmen of the Drug  Cartels from down south often approach law enforcement people in their country and say to them, “plata o plomo?” (silver or lead?), in street language meaning, “take a bribe or a bullet?”… 

Under the circumstances of being poorly paid public servants and/or often working in isolated areas where backup assistance is limited or non existent, many might cave-in, taking the bribe and avoiding their demise (Mexican police corruption)…

Without condoning the sellout, it is understandable that under the threat of loss of life or limb, or both,… for limited public pay, morality might take a backseat to self-preservation…  Additionally, often the taking of ill-gotten monies can also be rationalized by those receiving the loot that the root of the problem isn’t they who take the money, but rather those in the U.S.A. who pay to buy the street-drugs…

Nonetheless, the failure of the Mexican government for not stopping the production and shipping of street-drugs is certainly something that deserves condemnation…   But equally or more deserving of condemnation too are the ones in this country who consume the products, and those who condone its usage by passing laws that decriminalize or make it legal to use street-drugs…

Karzai and Netanyahu visits: quite a contrast

President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai visits Washington D.C., and gets the Red Carpet treatment…  Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington D.C., awhile back and was treated like a persona non grata.

Obviously no two situations are ever exactly alike, but the leader of an old trusted ally like Israel deserved at least as good a welcoming (better, most likely) as Hamid Karzai is getting…  Just sayin’…

Potpourri Pan America: news headline briefs

Get a Glance of these  and read fast:

1.  Fish are dying and coastal islands are contaminated – what will they try next?

2.  U.S. Stocks rally after Europeans bail out Greece  — bail outs on top of bail outs.

3.  Even in Argentina it’s news that the president made his Supreme Court announcement – we live indeed in a “small world”.  It continues to shrink…

4.  The Russians and the Cubans continue their relationship in the hemisphere

5.  Venezuela wants to be a tourist destination – wanna go visit Hugo Chavez?

6.  Bolivian Amerindian heads to Norway – the world’s first indigenous leader of a country is working to build alliances with indigenous people in Scandinavia. 

7.  Lena Horne dies: entertainer and civil rights activist – a multifaceted person…

8.  Corruption in the police ranks in Mexico – big money buys most anything?

9.  U.S. gangs and the drug cartels working together? – they’re here, they’re here…

10. Senator Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. Serrano of New York say: don’t throw that ball in Arizona…

Politicians, including President Obama: are they “playing” the public?

Things to ponder:

1.  During the presidential campaign, to assure the military (if he were elected)  that he would be a Commander-in-Chief who could be counted on to support all levels of the military and their families, candidate Obama indicated that a grateful nation would take care of them all, specifically the ones who had been wounded or had died in the service of the country….  As president he issued a “Proclamation“ of support for those in the military, and their families…

Now, cut military benefits and healthcare says the Defense Secretary Gates…  As a subordinate of the president and on such an important issue, obviously he is acting with the president’s  knowledge and support…  Seems that the Secretary and President think military men and women are paid too much and that too much money is spent on their healthcare…  That does not show support for the military as he stated during his campaign…  The president seems to be breaking his word…

Would not be surprising if one main reason for cutting military health costs and benefits is to use the savings to help pay for the massive healthcare plan he pressured the Congress to pass, which for years will require massive expenditures…

2.  As a presidential candidate, President Obama made some clearcut statements about taxes:  ”I can make a firm pledge,” he said in Dover, N.H., on Sept. 12. “Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.”  Nonetheless, already taxes have been increased in different areas…  As further proof of his pledge,   “Read my lips”, the President seemed to say, in a video during the campaign for president… 

But a leader of the Deficit Commission President Obama appointed, recently indicated that the president had told them he will support any conclusions reached by the commission, including raising taxes on whatever and whomever the commission decides, apparently…  Betting money by anyone who bets would likely be making a sure bet if they concluded that sometime in the future the president will push for tax increases – he likely will fall back and blame the Deficit Commission for suggesting the raising of taxes, in that way attempting to get political cover for himself for going back on his word, again…

3.   The president guided the passage of the Healthcare law that will drive the nation’s deficit to heights never before seen…  With other pressing problems the nation was facing, passing this law was not in the best national interest of the country, at this time(MOODY warns)…  

Additionally (after passing the drastic and expensive Healthcare law), President Obama now says, in effect, that taxes ought to be raised because it is in the national interest to do so in order to pay for things such as, you guessed it, the Healthcare Law…  He does not mention that the problem of the continuing increasingly massive deficits are his fault as a result of things such as this law, a problem that could have been avoided…  Just like Greece could have avoided its problems (Deficit problems)…

4.  Regarding the massive $500,000,000,000 scheduled cuts to Medicare that would hurt all Senior Citizens:  the cuts the president and his party stated were to be used to help fund the aforementioned newest massive Healthcare Law, now are the subject of a new rumor – that new tax increases will be passed to replace the money to Medicare that was to be cut out of the Medicare program…  The explanation seems to be that although the deficit will increase once again, few will argue against taxes for Medicare to help Senior Citizens…  Plus, probably it will be another way for the newest comprehensive Healthcare plan to get more funding as well!

It all seems to be a shell game being played on mostly unsuspecting decent citizens, and is another indication of why politicians are overall not trusted…   Again, the November elections will tell if the citizenry is paying attention and if they will be able to figure out under which shell the nut is, or if the nut isn’t under any shell — or, if everyone is being played for a nut…

For kids and for adults who have not lost their childlike spirit

The World Almanac for kids reportedly has been published for approximately 14 years and in it interesting and distinctive information can be found – below, verbatim descriptions from the introductory page:

Almanac 

The #1 almanac designed just for kids

Created by the editors of The World Almanac, the bestselling American reference book of all time.

A New York Times bestseller

Completely updated every year

Colorful, fun, and informative

Packed with puzzles, games, activities, and jokes

Filled with kid-friendly facts on topics from Faces and Places to sports, and Magic to Music, Numbers, and the United States

Great for school reports and homework help

Enthusiastically endorsed by teachers, librarians, educators, the media, parents, and kids.

PanAm has no connection to this page other than to find it interesting.

Dead people and dead numbers but workers not dead

Countless  illegal immigrants who work in The United States of America apparently use authentic Social Security Numbers issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration, or, fraudulent ones… 

Authentic numbers that originally belonged to citizens or legal residents, or else fraudulent ones: often crude counterfeits passed off as Social Security Administration issued numbers.

Employers in these situations — who might be aware or not of the irregularities of the Social Security Numbers of their employees in this peculiar category – deduct ( or some maybe don’t) the required Social Security tax from the paychecks of these employees…  They send the tax monies to the S. S.  Administration, just as they deduct and forward from the paychecks of legitimately employed workers…

The monies contributed into the accounts of illegal immigrants reportedly wind up in dead accounts (sometimes literally because the original owners of the numbers being used by some illegal immigrants in fact might be dead, already.)…  Or, the monies might wind up in what could be called generic dead accounts because the Social Security Administration would have no original record of the fraudulent account numbers to which employee contribution taxes were being deposited by the employer.

Some illegal immigrants, under assumed names, might have been working decade after decade using Social Security Numbers that were not theirs, and a percentage of their earnings through the years would have gone as their pension money into these black holes, it could be said, because they might not ever receive a pension…  Although, they worked for it…

How and why was this particular pension money situation allowed to evolve, whose fault is it and how can it be remedied?

Cultural Awareness days without Commonsense nor Appropriate guidance

Yesterday on this page very briefly data was presented about the origins of the Cinco de Mayo celebration…  Yesterday evening and today, one hears of at least one case that made it to the news media in which a public school deemed it disruptive on that day to wear American flag symbols at school…  

Celebrations like that could have educational value for everyone and be beneficial to society, but only if a school reiterates to all participants, at the minimum, that without any doubt and beyond challenge, the school is an American school and that American symbols there are never unacceptable… 

On occasions such as these, commonsense and decency by the participants and the leadership element, as well as by observers, ought to be the operative words.

When questionable practices arise, sometimes a major problem at schools (and at other places composed of different ethnic/racial groups) where particular cultural days are observed seems to be the lack of appropriate vision, commonsense and  leadership exercised by those responsible for setting up the event…

Run them well or not at all ought to be the mantra…

Potpourri Pan America: news briefs, from here to oil

  Oil Spill already an ecological and economic disaster, regardless of what happens next

1.  Environmental exemptions for BP and see what happens! 

2.  President Obama gets the most of political contributions given by BP

3.  Oil spill clean up chemicals can harm marine life for years to come

4.  Brown Pelicans in danger  What about the polka dotted ones?

5.  Hurricane season begins June 1…  Then what about the cleanup?

6.  “The threat to the deep-sea habitat is already a done deal — it’s happening now,”… : Paul Montagna, marine scientist, Texas A & M University, Corpus Christi

7.  “Oil spill puts fragile Gulf ecology in Peril”  Where we gonna get the shrimp?

8.  It’s a “who done it”, “The BP oil Blame Game” 

9.  World Wildlife Federation — wanna know how you can help wildlife in the eye of the of the oil spill? 

10. Coast Guard continues on another phase of the oil spill  — burn, baby, burn…

And finally:  While the oil spill was burning in the Gulf, Chief of Staff of Interior Department (main actor in coordinating  the federal response to the catastrophe), was at the Grand Canyon rafting?      Say it aint so…

 

“Cinco de Mayo”, orginally not simply “Party Time”

Cinco de Mayo, which means May 5th in Spanish, is a historical date in the history of Mexico when at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 a Mexican army contingent defeated a French force that on the surface ought to have won the battle.

It is the date of a battle, not the Independence Day for Mexico — Mexico’s Independence Day is celebrated on September 16…  On the September date in 1810, Mexico declared its independence from Spain…

Along with St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve, Cinco de Mayo has become a favorite American day “for ‘Partying’”…

What’s wrong with America?!

When Mayor Bloomberg of New York became aware that the recent Arizona immigration law had been passed, he expressed forcefully, definitively and without much hesitation (maybe even with disdain toward Arizonans), that its passage was wrong because by doing that the United States was committing “national suicide” – the mayor indicated in several pronouncements and interviews that what was needed was more, not fewer, immigrants,  and seemed to indicate that the citizens of Arizona were at best, un-American and at worse, intolerable and racist because in America “we love immigrants”… 

Evidently, he favors an Open Border policy…

 When Faisal Shahzad planted the car bomb in New York (but before it was not yet known he was responsible for it), Mayor Bloomberg quickly speculated and concluded that the person who had done it was probably a homegrown terrorist who did not like the Health care bill that had been passed by the Congress and the President…

It is quite difficult not to conclude that the mayor was showing prejudice against certain citizens of America…

Contessa Brewer, a relatively minor anchor at MSNBC (but one who seems  representative of certain members of the news media), when it was divulged that the car bomber in New York was a Pakistani, lamented in various ways that she would have preferred he be of some other nationality or religion. (!?)… 

Ms Brewer too might have wanted the bomber to be a homegrown terrorist, to fit her preconceived notions, like it seems Mayor Bloomberg preferred…

There are some people in prominent public positions in this country, as well as significant numbers of those in the news reporting field, who seem to have a  profound and haughty ( and erroneous) belief that any problems confronting The United States of America are, in general, solely or mainly the fault of average Americans, or of America, specifically…  Even the president continually has apologized and bowed to various people around the world, apparently believing there is something wrong with America – so, by carrying on like that, relations will be improved with certain people of various countries and religions, he seems to think…

Hopefully, Mr.  Shahzad’s actions will continue to help enlighten many that America and Americans are not the problem…

New pages update: for your information

Two page Buttons have been added at the top of the MAIN PAGE:   one, an About page with general information about the page itself and its administrator/editor, the other with some Sports Sites that might be of interest…

Suggest any other sports/teams if you’d like…

Potpourri Pan America: News briefs, from the Statue of Liberty to Shakira’s World Cup song, and more

World Cup in South Africa, let the party begin — Shakira sings. Begin with some movement, then move on down to the mundane…

1.  Secretary Napolitano, Homeland Security (without wanting to belabor the point) — she has continually referred to those who commit what commonly are known as terrorist acts, as plain law breakers, not as terrorists…  After the botched car bomb in New York this weekend she declined to label it a terrorist act…  Later, the President’s spokesperson Gibbs said the botched bomb in New York was a terrorist act…  Sorry, Secretary Napolitano, but you were left out of the loop…

2.  Polanski still does not want to comply with his sentence, believing that since he has been on-the-lamb for so long the law ought to leave him alone. 

3.  Mexico finds itself criticizing immgration polices to its north but gets hit with the similar charges – in fact, hit with charges worse than what are leveled against the U.S.A.

4.  What was that about being on top of things on the oil disaster in the Gulf ?  In the Sunday political T.V. programs, several ranking Obama Administration officials went on the record saying that from “day one” they had equipment and supplies prepositioned in the Gulf Coast area, but this story offers a different reality. 

 5.  Statue of Liberty words can be misunderstood – the words inscribed, “give me your tired…” , etc., seemingly are misunderstood by new immigrants because inscribed there is nothing about laws having to be followed before entering… 

6.  Reform is needed!   The USA Today newspaper repeats the refrain that reform is needed in immigration — nothing new, but point well taken.

7.  Peruvian Amerindians/indigenous people for years have fought for their lands – and continue to fight…  There is definitely a  new world order arising…

8.  Ranchers and/or loggers continue to be prosecuted for killing the innocent – religious folks who work for the good of the underclass in Latin America periodically are killed by those who oppose their goals..

9.  Trying to stop Marco Rubio in Florida – governor of California supposedly advised Governor Crist to run against Marco Rubio as an independent..

10. Paraguay is being overrun by drug cartels – The drug cartels overrun another country, producing drugs for export north, while the USA (and some state governments) moves right along trying to make it easier for some people to consume street-drugs here…

11.  Protecting the marshlands from the Oil Spill. – Regulators under the microscope.

12.  Keep an eye out for your FACEBOOK profile .  You can opt out.

[No email address required to make a comment on any posts.]

In the November elections, will the Secretary of Homeland Security or the President (or others) be blamed for the border security issue of illegal immigration?

The Los Angeles “Immigration March”  (picture and story/L.A. Times on Saturday May 1), reportedly the largest of the immigration marches across the land, took place in the largest city west of New York and one of the oldest west of the Mississippi River…  The illegal immigrant community specifically and its supporters in general are upset at the passage of the Arizona immigration state law, but upset also because the belief from their end is that President Obama promised that once he became president (with the support and votes of citizens of Latino heritage), during his first year in office he would get a law passed that would resolve the illegal immigrant problem…  The year has passed …

When Janet Napolitano was governor of Arizona and George W. Bush was president, she continually harped that federal troops be placed on the Arizona-Mexico border because of the danger from intrusions there, but once she became head of national security as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and had the authority and responsibility to recommend that the troops be placed there, she became unresponsive on the issue…  Awhile back when she was asked if she considered the Arizona-Mexico border to be secure, she stated something to the effect that that was an unfair question, and declined to answer:

 ————————————————————————————-

From — “C-SPAN — April 27  

Napolitano: I know that border as well as anyone. Every marker, every milepost that has been laid down by the congress in terms of number of agents, deployment of technology, construction of fencing and the like, has already been completed or is within a hair’s breath of being completed. And one of the questions I think we need to talk about is whether security the border is every going to be reached before the congress – in the sense of the congress – or whether that goal post is just going to keep moving. And I also believe that we need to better communicate with the American people. [...]
Sen. Lindsey Graham: Knowing what you know about Arizona, would you say, would you certify that the Arizona border is secure?
Napolitano: …First of all, it’s an unfair question….
Sen. Graham: If that is an unfair question, then it would be news to the people of the United States and Arizona. If it is unfair to ask a simple question — is the border secure — then we’re never going to have the consequence to get it secure ’cause it is a fair question — and I’ll give you my answer: I don’t think it is.”

————————————————————————————-

Furthermore, at other times when she has been asked about the border problem, the Secretary has indicated that the previous administration did not solve the problem either, or that she is doing the best she can and doing everything that is humanly possible to seal the border…  Not surprisingly, some say that her best is not good enough for the job… 

Through the years, national politicians have allowed the illegal immigration problem to get out of hand and are still vacillating, while the border states, primarily, suffer the consequences…

 (Additionally, some have posted to this page and else where that the federal response to the disastrous oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico has been quite slow…  By the way, just below the president, Secretary Napolitano is responsible for responding to that major problem as well.)…

An Arizona newspaper, the Arizona Republic, in an editorial has chastised the two Republican senators from the state for in effect not solving the border problem ( definitely there is enough blame to go around to all political parties), but ultimately it is not the individual states who are responsible for securing the international border or solving the illegal immigration problem, it is the Federal Government’s — right now the buck stops with Secretary Napolitano and President Obama because they are the ones who constitutionally are responsible for national security and who have the military and police powers to protect the borders…  The press sometimes confuses pertinent issues and responsibilities…

Even Bill Maher, (story and video clip – from Real Clear Politics site — strong language used) who never disguised his dislike for President Bush, recently indicated strongly on his HBO show that the press is giving President Obama a free pass on the slow response to the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, suggesting that if Bush had been president, the press would have been hammering and hammering nonstop at him…  The oil slick problem is more a Federal Government matter, than evidently the Hurricane Katrina problem initially was…

Will these states’ rights issues and federal responsibilities play a major role in the November elections?… Nobody knows for sure, of course…  People’s memories are often quiet short and in politics a month could seem like a year, depending on what the political climate is at that time and how it is portrayed in the press…  A lot could change between now and then…

Saying that it will be an especially interesting off year election, though, will probably be a gross understatement…

It’s the day after T.G.I.F. so it must be “hang loose” Saturday

1.   Children rejoice, and use the computer for a couple of educational geography games — not only children, but anyone who has not lost their childlike spirit….  It’s exciting educational fun for everyone!… [PanAm has no connection to the sites other than to find them educationally entertaining]

GeoSpy : From National Geographic

Click the correct country! 

[.  Workers of the World march for numerous causes today, including immigration... Let's see how it all turns out...]

British Petroleum oil slick in the Gulf: are “temp” workers doing the work on most oil derricks?

Rumor heard — that many oil companies do not have full-time employees but hire only temporary workers…  If true, would that have an effect on efficiency and safety? oil slick

Open Borders for the U.S.A or something else?

From San Francisco and Los Angeles, to New York and Washington D.C., (and other places here and there), is heard that we must boycott Arizona…  Though not said directly, those who say boycott ( Los Angeles mayor ) are in effect speaking up for an Open Border policy –  which in essence means, if anyone wants to come into this country, no one ought to have the right to stop them because the illegal immigrant has a superior right to enter…  (Be mindful that most countries of the world do not have Open Borders)…

These politicians hold press conferences making wild assertions that because Arizona passed its law, the sun will stop shining and will mean that America will no longer be able to serve apple pie…  Or, they’ve made similarly silly remarks…

Citizens and illegal immigrants need a resolution to the dilemma…  Not simply drama….

Probably with minimal or no controversy, most can agree that national politicians allowed the problem to fester and have made it worse by not dealing with the issue in due time and with due diligence, and now call press conferences to denounce those who are trying to do something about the problem…   

Also, probably with the same low-level of controversy as stated in the previous paragraph, most will agree that the matter of illegal immigration needs to be resolved…

Having said that, what follows likely will be more, way more controversial…

And that is, that to begin to resolve the issue, a basic foundation of the resolution will have to be the recognition, and acceptance, that a certain category of illegal immigrants will not be deported…  In this group will be, for example, those who have been here as of a particular date, whatever the date set might be…  This is because a significant number of these people own their own homes and/or businesses, have responsible jobs and fixed roots in their communities, are law-abiding (other than entering the country illegally, for example), and have children who are American citizens…  Reality is reality.

Thus, commonsensically, it seems it would be impractical or impossible in one swoop to deport tens of millions of those in the category described above…  Additionally, court challenges in which the courts would have to decide if it is fair and just to deport millions with the aforementioned qualities, might likely result in decisions saying that it is not fair and just — not fair and just because it is not envisioned that in the 21st century any court would support a new “Trail of Tears” (or a variation of the Japanese-American evacuation policy of WW  II) involving MILLIONS and MILLIONS of human beings uprooted and shipped out… 

But the matter of whether the countless illegal immigrants  in the category already described would be deported or not, could  be secondary or tertiary or nonexistent if a law were passed stating: that employers who hired illegal immigrants as of a set date henceforth would be fined severely, and those illegal immigrants who after the set date tried to get a job would be deported swiftly and would never be allowed legally to emigrate to the USA…  End of the dream for them, plain and simple…

This punitive action against employers and illegal immigrant potential employees would put a serious dent on illegal immigration, immediately, and would be a compromise position for everyone involved in the illegal immigration controversy…

Again, though, before the law against employers would be passed, what likely would have to be accepted is that the illegal immigrants in the special category previously mentioned would not be deported…  A mighty supposition…

Will Congress and the president do their jobs by resolving the matter of illegal immigration anytime soon?  Highly unlikely(  President Obama and Congress ) because the issue is controversial, the November Elections are almost upon us, and most politicians do not have a backbone…  Meantime, the border states and some others will continue with the problem… 

Undoubtedly, citizens as well as illegal immigrants deserve a solution to the problem…  ( Workers of the World May Day on May 1 — demonstrations planned.)

The results of the next national elections will tell what views on Open Borders, illegal immigration and other major topics of public policy will prevail…  Stay tuned…

Potpourri Pan America: it’s illegal to be an illegal alien?!… Conservative “actors talk in whispers”… And more..

Here and Yonder:

Conservative “actors talk in whispers”

 Policing the Party  (video): Riot Police/Swat team readying to “face off” Tea Partyer group of senior citizens  demonstrating  peacefully at President Obama’s function in Quincy, Illinois. 

Sports writer Dave Zirin: Dont take anyone out to the ballpark.  (video) The writer was interviewed regarding the state of Arizona’s illegal immigration law — he supports, with a twist,  Raúl Grijalva’s boycott plans for Arizona…  He is pushing that no one in Arizona go to Diamondback baseball games(!), and when the team plays on-the-road, that no one ought to go see them either…  Frankly,  I had never heard of the guy before the video… 

Immigrant Rallies on May 1….

Real Clear Politics : President’s latest approval rating –approve: 47.9,         disapprove:  45.7

Hugo Chavez : because we were all dying to know, leftist President of Venezuela now has a twitter account (chavezcandanga) and supposedly will join Facebook next… Wonder who his first friends will be.

a Talking head: supposedly said something deeply insightful — that the new immigration law in Arizona will make it illegal to be an illegal alien… 

Argentina in Anarchy?

PanAm: and , finally, found my button today from the World Cup in Pasadena in 1994…  Thinking of World Cup South Africa…  Just sayin’…    

Arizona voters and others are “misguided” and “psychologically disoriented”?!

“In Arizona, because Governor Jan Brewer signed Senate Immigration Bill 1070 into law last week, the police now are required to stop anyone who has brown skin”, so say not only the most vociferous and strident of those who oppose the law, but also the unthinking ones who only repeat what they hear…

Of course, that is not what the law says, but facts do not seem to be important to ones who apparently do not want to discuss the issue in a sensible manner, preferring instead simply to confuse, agitate and demagogue.

Political Campaign 2010 is in full stride a full six months before November.

Al Sharpton has been making the rounds of talk shows aggressively expressing opposition to the recently enacted Arizona law, saying the law is
“misguided”, and more…  Why?…  Maybe because as a reported confidant of President Obama he is stoking Latino anger in order to gain their support in voting in November for candidates favored by the president…

 President Obama says the law is “misguided”.

 Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano repeats what her boss says, that the law is “misguided”.

 Nancy Pelosi, from California, Speaker of the House, says the law is “misguided and irresponsible”.

 Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco, California has asked that the city boycott Arizona because the law is “misguided”, and more.

Bill Clinton, former president, says the passage of the Arizona law indicates that people have a “psychological disorientation”!…

Raúl Grijalva, state representative from Phoenix, has stated that he is pressing a boycott of businesses in Arizona (apparently to show his disdain for the immigration law)…  As several in the news media have pointed out, what kind of representative for the voters is he if he is saying he wants businesses in his district to suffer economic ruin because the state passed a law to control illegal immigration?  Whom does he represent?…..

Rich posted yesterday something to the effect that Hispanic citizens ought to know they are simply pawns being used for the November elections…  Seems like a good point…

 Shouldn’t they know?…  Are Latino/Hispanic citizens of The United States of America (and other voters) going to be herded like sheep by President Obama, Al Sharpton, Nancy Pelosi, Secretary Napolitano, Raúl Grijalva, Gavin Newsom and Bill Clinton into voting for anyone simply because they are prodded in that direction?

If they can be herded so easily, maybe they do have a psychological condition as Mr. Clinton indicates.

 

 

Potpourri Pan America: Arizona and Obama in the Spotlight

A condensed overview across the hemisphere:

Argentina  — Secretary General of the Organization of American States calls the law discriminatory.

Mexico – President of Mexico calls the law discriminatory.

Chicago – Columnist believes the law will “backfire” on Arizona.

Los Angeles – Washington Bureau of the L.A TIMES/Tribune indicates the law will change the dynamics of immigration reform.

Washington — President Obama seems to be appealing to Latinos (as well as other minority groups) to energize them for the November elections, and the Arizona Law recently passed might be a good political vehicle for him to rally the particular segments…

And, finally – HeavyWeight – heaviest man marries (no connection to the Arizona law, if anyone is looking for it).

Some states are reacting aggressively to illegal immigration problems because the Federal Government has failed to fulfill its responsibilities

Immigration discord: The passage recently in Arizona of a controversial immigration law seems to be a response to perceived and real concerns that the federal government is failing and has failed for years to protect the country’s borders against illegal human migrations…  That failure has created special problems for the people of Arizona…  Furthermore, it is a strong message from at least that one state (among more than several) that faraway Washington D.C., is still seemingly uncaring and oblivious to the problems border states (primarily) continue to experience – problems that are the result of the uncontrolled migrations that have brought countless thousands of illegal immigrants into their midst…

 The national government needs to fulfill its responsibility for protecting the nation’s borders and must provide relief – especially for the governments and people of the border states, if it does not want other states to follow the example of Arizona…

 A simplistic observation by some American citizens, as well as by numerous illegal immigrants (and by certain immigration activists), is that people who expect border laws to be enforced are either uncaring folks or are just plain racists…  Although realistically it can be assumed that there are some racists among those who demand America’s borders be well-regulated and controlled, it must also be assumed that the great majority  of the people making the demand are not.…

 Illegal immigration causes countless problems for the receiving states, including having local tax payers pay for the costs due to overcrowded schools and for all the special programs required by the continuing influx of immigrants into educational systems, along with the costs incurred by  local agencies that serve the illegal immigrant – for example, public assistance, medical care, and police, court and penal systems… 

 Not only has the Federal Government allowed uncontrolled, generally unregulated, illegal immigration to flourish in the country, thereby causing local tax payers to have to bear the brunt of the effect of uncontrolled immigration, but the central government in Washington also has indicated its desire for leniency in the enforcement of street-drug laws — meanwhile, reportedly, the drug cartels from the south in various ways are running over Arizona by using it as a staging ground and as a re-distribution center…

Thus, in addition to other costs, local Arizona tax payers have to deal with the additional expenses of fighting drug cartel crimes, plus, they will have to incur extra costs down the line because of the Health Bill that was passed not too long ago —  which reportedly places more financial responsibilities on individual states… 

Uncertainties and more financial burdens cause stress…  But the totality of the scenario seems to be that Washington is leaving the states to fend for themselves, and when a state such as Arizona reacts in support of its citizens, the first action President Obama seems to take in response is to indicate that Arizonans are “misguided”… 

 Frustrations and tensions are bound to rise…  Stay tuned…

PlayOffs, anyone?!

What else could a sportsperson ask for in professional sports?!… Maybe curling…

NBAPlayOffs – NBA PlayOffs: in full swing…  Sit back and enjoy them.

NFLDraft2010 – The Big 12 led the pack on the first day…  Longhorns placed Earl Thomas in the first round…  Colt McCoy, not until the 85th pick, but went to the Browns where he can grow into the position… (Apologies to the non Longhorn fans.).

WorldCup2010 – the greatest show on earth this year:  things will be jumping in South Africa…

HockeyPlayoffs – Hockey enthusiasts rejoice, the skating to the Stanley Cup is in full puck.

Stopping illegal immigration is an impossible task, but can be managed

Immigration quandary:  Stop illegal immigration?  It’s not going to happen… Ever…  That’s life… That’s just a reflection of people wanting to have a better life for their families and for themselves.  But it can be curtailed, overnight, through federal law…

Spending even 100 trillion dollars($) on fences made of Kryptonite all around the Land of the Free, 1000 feet high with the footings 1000 feet into the ground will not stop it…  Putting 3,000 additional troops on the border, or putting the whole U.S Army, Marine Corps, state National Guards along the U.S borders, with the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine fleet in backup, will not stop it…  The problem is too complex to be solved completely, for even if every attempt to cross the border without documentation is thwarted, or every person trying to cross illegally is apprehended, there are not enough detention centers to hold them all, and once they are released on their own recognizance they disappear into an unreachable abyss, not to be found again…

And if they immediately are returned to their place of origin, they surely return again and again, even if caught again and again, because they are pretty sure they will be rehired again, once they return, again…  It’s a revolving door system.

The only thing that will severely curtail (not stop) illegal immigration, eventually, is if a robust federal law with strong penalties is passed and enforced strenuously against employers who hire new illegal immigrants…  From the corner restaurant to the auto paint and body shop to the multinational company to the farmer and rancher to the home builders, and to all the other venues of employment that contribute to illegal immigration, they all must be forced to stop hiring illegal immigrants….  If that is what society wants…

The employers must be made to pay dearly in fines and even jail time, otherwise illegal immigration will continue….  But, still, even if laws against employers who hire these immigrants are passed, be aware that illegal immigration will continue, although at a much, much, much slower pace…

Strongly punishing those who employ new illegal immigrants (and deporting these newest immigrants) is specifically part of this explanation because often others already employed here have children born in this country who are of course U. S. citizens — thus, should The United States of America, the land of fairness and justice, and of family values, with a Judeo-Christian tradition, deport American children to foreign lands, along with their non citizen parents, or break apart their family?…

There you have it… This plan could be in effect overnight, no huge Immigration Reform  monstrosity needed…  The plan could be tweaked later, if desired, after the first step is taken…

…

Potpourri Pan America: World Climate Conference in Bolivia –Amerindians/indigenous demand attention / Movie-maker James Cameron and Belo Monte in Brazil….. And Weed America…

Several highlights:

1.  During April 21-23, Bolivian President Evo Morales hosts the first world (Bolivian Climate Summit) conference in South America to save the planet and apparently plans to put on notice the major industrialized nations of the world that the Amerindians of the continent and the indigenous people of the world intend to have a major say in any future world climate regulations…

2.  hotel problems: Killings in Monterrey, Mexico target the tourist and business traveler… The violence of the drug trade corridor to the USA is severely damaging Mexican society.  Are people too busy voting to legalize street-drugs (Weed America) to hear the carnage next door?

3.  South American WildLife is varied and interesting… And the site provides links to other interesting pages, worth keeping in one’s digital library…

4.  A new hydroelectric Brazilian dam named Belo Monte, when finished will be the world’s 3rd largest, but the indigenous people of Brazil complain that their lands will be underwater, thereby displacing approximately 40,000 Amerindians and killing countless rare plants, trees, insects, birds and animals once the Xingu River is dammed  – US movie director James Cameron offers moral support to the Amerindians…  Progress, progress…

5.  Machu Picchu, the historical city, continues being a major attraction… Detailed information is available at the site.

[PanAm has no connection to the sites other than finding them interesting]

Sarah Palin and others, traitors if they demonstrate and criticize President Obama’s policies?

Recently, ol’ President Bush basher Joe Klein of TIME magazine, the magazine that seems to be on a crash diet because it gets thinner by the week, wrote another of continuing narratives from the leftist literati indicating, in essence, that in general, Tea Partyers (Sarah Palin) and some Talk Radio hosts who vigorously criticize President Obama are engaging in, if not traitorous acts against the nation, are pretty close to it — and it follows that he might wish that they be prosecuted, or that his assertion would scare them into not utilizing their First Amendment right of free speech….   Chilling that someone who makes a living via the First Amendment would write such things… 

Is his thinking Hogwash Logic?

The simplistic, illogical and unsound argument is made seemingly by haughty print media stalwarts who abhor that those in, yes, the lowly radio, make bushels of more money than they and have tons of more influence and listeners than they have readers.  Additionally, the old guard printers who no longer dominate what news actually goes out to the masses after being filtered by them, resent their loss of influence – but do not want to go without a fight, however ugly the tactics they use…  

They seem to fear that their medium’s effect has declined, and will say and do most anything to appear to continue to be in control…  And when their hollow arguments do not work, they turn to ugly assertions, accusing Tea Partyers and Talk Radio of unspeakable things, such as “they’re racist, they hate the Black president, they’re traitors“, and engage in other inane talk.

Even Bill Clinton, ex President (reaction to Bill Clinton), recently had a commentary about the same general topic and conclusion as Joe Klein, as if the old print media people and the old politicians had gotten together in a smoke-filled room  (apologies to the green politicians) to continue to hash out additional attack talking-points….  These people do not seem to accept that control of what news goes out to the hoi polloi is not their God-given Right… Yes, I used the G word…

Strange hogwash logic by them, but maybe a sound one if their intent is to stifle dissent.

[The purpose of this post is neither to promote a liberal viewpoint nor a conservative one, but it is to promote open discussion throughout the political spectrum.]

A potpourri of more than pot: Neither Hugo Chavez or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, nor Lula, are loony

A.  Whatever happened to the Monroe Doctrine, whatever that was?

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela presents migraine headaches for the Obama Administration because Chavez is at the forefront of creating, if not an alliance, at least a close working relationship with countries that are uniting to counterbalance the interests of the USA – worldwide, and specifically in America’s backyard…  Hugo Chavez has close relationships with various countries in the hemisphere, including Cuba, Bolivia, BolivaandNicaragua, and Argentina, as well as worldwide with China , Iran and Russia…  Alone, he and Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad still are relatively minor players on the world scene, but together and in cooperation with Presidents Dmitry Medvedev of Russia and Jintao Hu of China, the two are formidable players… 

President Luiz (Lula) Inacio da Silva of Brazil — if anyone is not aware of who Lula is, stay tuned because he quietly has turned his country into a major player in the world, by various means, including by taking a leadership role in the BRIC organization, composed of Brazil, Russia, India and China…  [If anyone didn't notice, recently President Da Silva reportedly let Sec. Clinton know that Brazil would not support imposing strong economic sanctions on Iran]… 

On the other hand, in various ways the USA seems to be giving up its leadership role  in this hemisphere, becoming more passive, isolationist even  – who’s minding the store?…

President Obama and Sec. of State Clinton need to get into the game because game’s on in Latin America, while they seem to be whistling on the sideline –America might begin to decline before our eyes, on their watch…

B.  drugskill, man (in more ways than one) and smoking pot on the job is not a right, potworkers – and don’t you forget it.

[And finally,  an Iranian cleric has found the causes for earthquakes, and all the world is grateful] 

      …

 

Redux: Ben Bratt in “La Mission” – movie about homophobia and other stuff in a sliver of the diverse Latino culture – and a post about to what degree Latino movie goers might respond to it

On April 11, 2010, a post ran here about the movie “La Mission”, starring Benjamin Bratt and directed by his brother Peter…  There had been a write-up about the film in the Los Angeles TIMES the previous dayBratt...

In the post it was indicated that in the past, according to some actors (not Ben Bratt),  it appeared that movies with mainly Black Americans in the cast were supported to a larger extent by the Black community, than the Latino community supported movies about their own community that had predominantly Latino American casts…  The assumption obviously is debatable…

But if the assumption is valid, it might be because in the Latino community in the USA there might be more variances or nuances than there are in the American Black experience…  Maybe within the Black culture there is more commonality than there is in the Latino community – within the Latino segment, for example, among  Guatemalan Americans, Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, Chilean Americans (and many other American Latinos), there might be more differences than there are within the Black community…  So, just because a movie might be a Latino film, does not mean it would be one with whom all Latino American groups would identify…    

Returning to the film, according to the Los Angeles TIMES article, “La Mission” deals with such taboo topics as… ” …the emotional thickets of homophobia, ethnic identity, domestic violence, and generational conflict.“ … 

Ben Bratt as macho Che Rivera, a middle-aged ex gang member single father – of an 18 year old son who is involved in a homosexual relationship – reacts with a volcanic temper when his son’s true self comes out.  The brothers Bratt apparently made the movie in part because certain topics within the Latino community (such as a parent’s homophobic reaction to a homosexual child) have not been dealt with much in movies…   

At the particular film viewing yesterday, the matinee audience was almost all Hispanic/Latino and the theater was 1/5 full…  Remains to be seen how well the movie does in ticket sales among Hispanics/Latinos and overall, what coverage it will receive from Television and what impact it might have on Latino families in which  a child comes out.]

Central and South American Geography games (and beyond)

It’s Saturday!…  Yes, right after, uh, Friday…  For the children or for anyone who  hasn’t lost the childlike spirit….  It’s educational fun for everyone!… [PanAm has no connection to the site other than to find it educationally entertaining]  http://tinyurl.com/8ydmzz

Are Gloria and Emilio Estefan just trying to help all Cuban Americans, or mainly helping themselves?

In one of the latest editions of the Miami Herald (click the newspaper in the blogroll) is vividly shown that the Estefans were hosting a political fundraiser for President Obama and the Democratic Party… 

Jackie Bueno Sousa, in a column in a later page of the newspaper, indicates that although the motives of the couple are not known, the fundraiser that is raising $30,400 per attending couple for the Democratic Party has been met generally with suspicion and discontent from the Cuban-American community.

Whatever the couple’s intentions might be, what can be said for certainty is that the Cuban Americans of Florida, for various reasons, for decades have supported the Republican Party, and in turn the Republican Party has supported the aspirations of those who decry the communist regime in Cuba…  And – it just so happens that in November, Cuban-American Marco Rubio could likely be the Republican Party candidate for U.S. Senator from Florida…  

Why now the shift to the Democrats by Gloria and hubby?… 

Are they undermining the Cuban-American organizations who have opposed the Castro government for years, and are they being selfish and ungrateful to the political party that has had their back for decades?   Is there a desire by the couple to receive one day an ambassadorship to the island, once Fidel and Raúl Castro and the communists are no longer in power?  Wonder what a little fly on the wall at the Estefans would say?… 

No one truly knows, of course, about anyone’s true motivations, but it could be that Gloria and Emilio have made a calculation that within the next 3-7 years,  years when President Obama logically might still be in the White House, the Castro brothers might die and the communists be out of power in Cuba.  And the ambassadorship and other perks in the new Cuba might be within their grasp.

Gloria Estefan’s family had connections to the Cuban government prior to Fidel Castro taking power – so a triumphant return to the island nation with an appointed position from President Obama would be a historical blessing for the Estefans… 

 Just saying…

A potpourri of 9: Being Mexican is “probable cause”; “Pot Wars” are raging so let’s legalize street-drugs; military suicides and Ricky Martin’s boyfriend, and more – lucky you

1.  “Latino Opus Dei archbishop to lead Los Angeles” – what is an Opus Dei you ask?!  http://tinyurl.com/ylxufb9   

2. “Is this Ricky Martin’s boyfriend”? — “Vive la Vida Loca”!   http://tinyurl.com/yyquejk   

3. “Military Suicides Up Among Army Soldiers in Repeat Army Tours” –  how about a military draft?  http://tinyurl.com/y6faabq 

4.  “Peruvian Chancellor Challenges Chile To Arms Debate” – who said ”let them eat guns”?   http://tinyurl.com/yz9s3wc 

6.  “22,700 Killed in Mexico’s drug war since 2007″ — but let’s legalize street-drugs?  http://tinyurl.com/y3wq7bv   

5.  “Pot politics: Obama feds reverse Bush crackdown” — is this “Hope and Change”? http://tinyurl.com/y2bzane 

7.  Russian ” Medvedev arrives in Buenos Aires…” — the Russian bear roams!   http://tinyurl.com/y48vg6d

8.   “Arizona Clears Strict Immigration Bill” — is being Mexican “probable cause”?  http://tinyurl.com/y6zdbbj    
  

9.   “Tea Party Activists get no respect” – Henny Youngman knows.  http://tinyurl.com/y3k9yrz

Liberals rejoice!… President will most likely get re-elected in 2012… But,…

Conservatives will not like this assessment and liberals will love it, somewhat – but whether one side or the other favors it or not,… at this juncture, early as it is, it seems President Obama will get re-elected in 2012.  Why?…  Because of the solid voting blocs he has in his back pocket:

1. the Black community will vote for him almost 100 percent, as it did in 2008, and that solid swing vote segment will swing the election to him.  Black pride will continue to prevail.

2.  the latino community could likely vote for him in significant numbers, as it did in 2008…  After seeing that a Black American can be elected president utilizing particular swing voting segments of society, hispanic/latino strategists are surely working out details of how in the future a latino could be elected president with the solid voting support of the Black American community…  The election of a Black American president in 2008 undoubtedly gives hope to the Hispanic/Latino community that through changing demographics and voting coalitions, one of theirs also can be elected.

3.  the portion of white liberals who still feel the weight of “the white man’s burden” will continue to vote for him in overwhelming numbers.

4.  a sizable percentage of disenchanted and alienated white females who blame a  significant number of the problems of the world and nation on the white male, once again will vote a second term for President Obama, and…. 

5.  those who simply believe intellectually that the president would or would not be the best choice for president, could evenly split their votes between the Democrat and Republican candidates, but because of the previously listed reasons, the decision would still go to the president…

In this assessment, the economy has not been totally weighed because it is still in flux.  And because even if it improves to a large degree (which historically it ought to do), or if it remains sluggish, the voting segments highlighted above probably will not be swayed too far afield to have a bearing on the election — if it improves, President Obama gets the credit…  If it remains problematic, the previous administration will get the blame…

As for the national elections of 2010, the results might have an effect on President Obama’s re-election fortunes in 2012, but it is important to note that even if his party loses big time in November, he could still win his re-election bid in 2012.

“‘They’ criticize President Obama’s policies because they hate Blacks”

The quotation above was overheard in town, today…  The comment seems to reflect that some would like to defend the president’s policies from criticism, but for some reason prefer not to do it in a logically sound basis… 

The president today chaired a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. — among many countries present, major players Brazil, Argentina and Chile from Latin America attended…   Was anything accomplished that could have been done just as easily with a press release?  Seems like it, but if anyone publicly says so, they might be labeled racist…

Hispanic/Latino Americans in the USA overall do not support films centered on their Culture?

[Photo from L.A. TIMES]

Peruvian Amerindian from his mother’s side, Benjamin Bratt, of television fame (including stints on Law and Order) and various big screen projects, is currently starring in the movie, “La Mission” – about the Mission District of San Francisco, California –  he and his brother Peter grew up in that part of “Frisco” and collaborated in bringing the project to life  (apologies to anyone who dislikes the use of the term  Frisco)... 

Brings to mind that Black American casts can star in movies representing Black culture and communities, and draw a large percentage of the Black movie audience, as well as a sizeable number of White Americans, but it seems movies with Hispanic/Latino American actors centered in their community are not supported as well by the Hispanic/Latino movie goer, nor by significant percentages  of White Americans…

Why might it be that Hispanics/Latinos do not support hispanic/Latino movie projects as well as Black Americans support theirs?  And why does White America seem to support “Black projects” to a larger extent than they do Hispanic/Latino ones?  

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-bratt10-2010apr10,0,6831975.story

New blog sites and such from near and far

New sites have been added on the right hand column — newspapers, T.V.  networks and columnists, for example – from different countries…  Check them out when you have time…

Death by vacation, a “sinking feeling” in Mexico and…..

1. ”Death by Vacation” – say what?!:   According to at least two online newspapers, Bruce Beresford-Redman, co producer of the shows “Pimp my Ride” and some past episodes of “Survivor”, has been detained in Mexico as a person-of-interest in the death recently of his wife, Monica Beresford-Redman – in Cancun, Mexico…  Reportedly sometime before the death, a security guard at the hotel where they were staying observed the husband and wife in a  heated/physical argument, and other hotel guests reported to the management disruptive noise coming from the couple’s hotel room…  [Photo from AP/LOS ANGELES TIMES…   http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_14848748?source=rss  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/producer-detained-after-death-wife-mexico-1253-pm

2.  Go ahead, “make my day“, registra el teléfono:  To help fight the criminal element, the Mexican government apparently has a program requiring all non registered cell phones to be registered, or else the owners will be fined…  http://www.ciol.com/Global-News/Global-News/News-Reports/Mexico-may-cut-millions-of-cellphones-to-fight-crime/134592/0/ 

3.  Mexico City has a sinking feeling, literally:   having been built on a lake bed since before the arrival of the Spaniards, the sinking feeling (not about the song) is getting worse…   Efforts are being made to make corrections because sewer lines and buildings are continually at greater and greater risk…  http://www.usatoday.com/NEWS/usaedition/2010-04-09-sinkingcity09_ST_U.htm?csp=34

4.  Careful, the News can be deadly, too, really!:   because some news reporters publicize the activities in which the leaders and foot soldiers of drug cartels are involved, they have been killed…   To avoid the danger, some newspapers no longer cover events related to the drug problem or to people involved in it, in order to save their reporters.  Law enforcement agencies seem to be unable to protect the journalists…  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6950555.html

5.  Problems in Mexico, but some reported bright spots –  altho’ tourism in Mexico is down overall, apparently there are up-and-coming touristy areas, such as Loreto…   ttp://www.bajaoutpost.com/broadband/broadband.html/?source=goto

An “agenda” continues? “Piss Christ”, Lincoln was a homosexual and “Gay Christ”!

A play, Corpus Christi, scheduled to open in a Fort Worth, Texas theater — according to an article in the Dallas Morning News – is  apparently one created by a homosexual writer in which Jesus Christ is depicted as having been a homosexual…

Periodically, a story is retold by some homosexuals that they believe President Lincoln lived a homosexual lifestyle simply because they say he had a male room-mate in his early life as a young student/young  lawyer.

Back in the late 1980s,  Piss Christ was created, a controversial work in which  a crucifix of Jesus Christ was submerged in a glass filled with the urine of the artist...

Is there and has there has been a coordinated drive, by some, to create a new history, in general, and a specific history in which Christianity is distorted?

Russia creating trouble for USA: in Asia (Kyrgyzstan & Georgia), in Europe, in South America?

If we assume that any country( including Russia and The United States of America), seeks to  improve its own standing in the world in various ways and for various reasons, then the occurring turmoil in Kyrgyzstan that overthrew the government there in the last couple of days, as well as the military/economic agreements with Venezuela on April 2 ( just past), ought to bring attention to what the Russians are doing in Asia and South America and overall …

Additionally, the Russians sign a  Nuclear Warhead/Missile Agreement with the USA, but reportedly with the option included that they can opt out whenever they want…  They also have attempted to use natural gas as a foreign policy stick by seemingly threatening Europe that they will not continue supplying the resource to some countries there if those countries engage in any foreign policy moves with which the Russians do not agree…

Not only because the USA has an air base in Kyrgyzstan( which supports American military efforts in Afghanistan), the American Administration needs to keep better tabs on the Russians in Asia and must do a more skillful job of counterbalancing them in South America – because of course South America is in America’s backyard…

The situation in Kyrgyzstan is fluid, as the saying goes, and the dust needs to settle a bit before more precise assessments can be made…  [By the way, how many datgum "stans" are there?]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan#2010_riots

The Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century

For those younger and older having the time and interest in an interactive timeline about presidents of the past century, the link below could provide details about individuals and events that had important bearings on the history of the United States of America, worldwide and within the Americas..  It can be time-consuming or not so much if a person selectively seeks out information…  Additionally, for anyone more inclined, on April 12, 2010, reportedly there will be a seminar online (webinar) about the timeline/information of the link… If for nothing more, this site could serve as a digital library from which to retrieve presidential data if one were to need it later on…

http://www.presidentialtimeline.org/

Avant-garde Sheriff Joe Arpaio “goes green”, and he gets no respect

Joe Arpaio, sheriff of Maricopa County in the area of Phoenix, Arizona has had some good and bad publicity through the years, depending on who was making the observation and commentary…

Whether the assertions of others are true or not, he has been accused of rounding up illegal aliens/undocumented workers and handing them over to federal immigration authorities – although that procedure, it is said, is far from being one of his primary responsibilities…

Also, that he has demeaned the prisoners under his care by making them wear pink prison garb: yes, pink, not white/black stripes – but, if at times one looks at GQ magazine or at other similar ones, pink is a rather stylish color used quite often, so why should anyone be demeaned by the color? Heck, Joe might just simply have a sartorial concern for those under his care…  Additionally, it has been said that Sheriff Joe at times has reduced over crowdedness in county jails by erecting large tents and housing prisoners in them…  He apparently has said that if America’s military men in Iraq or Afghanistan can be housed in tents, wouldn’t such accommodations be good enough for those who have broken laws in Maricopa County?…

Now, Joe is going green!…  Reportedly he plans to set up a system wherein if prisoners want to watch television, one or more of them will have to pedal a bike system/contraption that will generate electricity to run the prisoners’ televisions.  No pedaling, no juice…  No electrical juice, no T.V. programs to watch…  And Joe A is once again getting flak…

Poor ol’ Joe…

World’s richest human: Slim Pickens — oops, no, — it’s Carlos Slim

Carlos Slim Haddad Helú:  is the latest to be crowned richest human on earth (with apologies to Bill Gates, although Mr. Gates is not moping)…  Slim ( if I may be so casual), was born on January 28, 1940, in Mexico City, Mexico.

Most of his wealth comes from his financial ownership of various telecommunications entities, such as Teléfonos de México, Telcel and América Móvil, although he also has extensive interests in other multinational companies, such as Altria (Big Blue, to aficionados of the stock markets).

“His father was Julián Slim Haddad (Yusef Salim Haddad), a Lebanese Maronite Christian, who as a teenager fled to Mexico in 1902, escaping the harsh military rule of the Ottoman Turks. His father and two of his older brothers arrived at the Mexican port of Tampico, making their way to Mexico City.

In 1911, Julian established a dry goods store called La Estrella del Oriente and took a gamble and bought up some prime real estate in the city core – a shrewd move, as it turned out.

Slim Haddad married Linda Helú, daughter of another prosperous Lebanese merchant, and had six children. Carlos Slim Helu was the fifth of the six children. Carlos credits his father as his mentor in business, retailing and finance. Julian Slim Haddad died in 1952, leaving his family a moderately prosperous economic base from which Carlos launched his successful financial career.”

Carlos Slim Haddad Helú, I suppose, gets his name Slim as a variation of his father’s original name, Salim… ( Sometimes I get a flash of commonsense.)…  By the way, I wonder if Slim could be talked into using part of his wealth to provide jobs for the hardworking Mexican men and women so they would not have to disrupt their lives and head al norte…

[The parts in quotations are derived from Wikipedia.]

Flora and Fauna of the Galapagos Islands: it’s a whole other “World”

The Galapagos Islands, a possession of Ecuador in South America, has been a protected environmental site for some years…  Some general information about the island and of the species living there can be found at the site below.

http://www.galapagos-travels.com/GPS_Location.htm

Black Americans harassed for participating in the “Tea Party Movement”

The following quotations from parts of a recent AP story from Albany, New York:

“They’ve been called Oreos, traitors and Uncle Toms, and are used to having to defend their values. Now black conservatives are really taking heat for their involvement in the mostly white tea party movement—and for having the audacity to oppose the policies of the nation’s first black president.

‘I’ve been told I hate myself. I’ve been called an Uncle Tom. I’ve been told I’m a spook at the door,’ said Timothy F. Johnson, chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, a group of black conservatives who support free market principles and limited government…

 ’Black Republicans find themselves always having to prove who they are. Because the assumption is the Republican Party is for whites and the Democratic Party is for blacks,’ he said.  Johnson and other black conservatives say they were drawn to the tea party movement because of what they consider its commonsense fiscal values of controlled spending, less taxes and smaller government. The fact that they’re black—or that most tea partyers are white—should have nothing to do with it, they say.”…

Trouble in more than South America and “America” unilaterally to disarm?

The Russians and Chinese have apparently been making inroads in South America with military and economic agreements with countries such as Venezuela,… with little discernible push-back from President Obama’s administration …

Now, in the last day or so, according to the New York Times, President Obama has announced or is ready to announce, that, in general:

1.  The United States of America will not be developing any more new nuclear weapons, 2. would not use nuclear weapons even if attacked, 3. would be doing the above so as to discourage other countries from developing and using nuclear weapons, 4.  but, that the USA apparently would use nuclear weapons against Iran and North Korea, if needed… 

Seems the policy shifts went against the advise of Secretary of Defense

Meanwhile, as alluded to earlier and in other posts, the Russians and Chinese are making inroads in some countries in America’s backyard – Venezuela just a few days ago indicated it had asked Russia for advise and assistance in developing its own nuclear capabilities, plus had previously signed agreements with Iran for various types of assistance …

There appears to be major governmental policy changes occurring that have ramifications in various areas and to extensive degrees, and it remains to be seen how sound the decisions will be and how receptive the American public will be…

Portland, Maine “heroines” go topless for Equality

According to the Portland Press Herald, today some lassies marched for equality downtown, minus their shirts… 

Gloria Steinem of the Women’s Liberation Movement of the 1960s is probably wondering why the titillating redux…  You mean in year 2010 the inequality still around still can only be removed by women removing their tops?…   I suppose some original thinking would help…

Chavez: A poke in the eye, or worse, for Pres. Obama and Sec. of State Clinton

When Barack Obama was elected president, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela indicated he would work to improve relations with the USA when the new president assumed office, unlike the way he acted when President Bush was in charge…  After President Obama was inaugurated, the Obama administration made friendly overtures to Chavez and to the other leftist leaders of the Americas… 

But from the beginning of the new president’s term, President Chavez’s actions have not matched his previously expressed conciliatory words…  And this past Friday, reportedly he signed additional cultural, military and economic agreements with Russian Prime Minister Putin (the old school communist),… and more and more it seems the Russian influence in the Americas is growing, while the United States influence is waning, without many noticing…

The Russians tried to gain influence forcefully in the Americas decades ago when they tried to place missiles in Cuba, and now they seem to be entering the Americas simply by strolling in…  Hopefully the Obama Administration is working feverishly underneath it all to thwart the Russians, while on the surface it might seem to be doing little – like a swan swimming in the lake…

Even in a hectic world, one can find “blessings” in daily events

From the article, “When the SPIRIT moves you”, April 2-4, 2010 ( by Cathy Lynn Grossman) in the USA WEEKEND magazine appearing in the local SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE: generally speaking, several people’s views are presented on how to stay or become connected to God in everyday ways…  In the six revelations Father James Martin explains that everyday occurrences can indicate that they are more than just everyday occurrences…

Hemophiliacs, homosexuals and the Red Cross

For approximately 25 years, male bisexuals and homosexuals have been barred from donating blood…  That ban in part was put in place because it has been said that the donated blood from that community eventually contaminated approximately 15,000 of the 25,000 severe hemophiliacs who prior to the ban regularly received large doses of blood transfusions – according to James Curry (who “headed the first AIDS task force at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention”)…  Of those who were contaminated, reportedly fewer than 2,000 are still alive…

There is now a movement afoot directed by some organizations that represent the homosexual community, to lift the ban that keeps certain homosexuals and bisexual men from donating blood.  The explanation given for wanting to do away with the restriction is that it is a civil rights issue – that the restriction discriminates against homosexuals/bisexuals and stigmatizes them in the eyes of their co-workers and fellow citizens whenever a blood drive is conducted.  Additionally, they say, so many safeguards have been put in place in the testing of blood that giving someone a transfusion with blood contaminated with HIV is practically impossible… 

In the article, a Mrs. Kathy Gerus-Darbison, whose husband (a severe hemophiliac who contracted HIV from contaminated blood, and died), has reservations…  She contracted HIV from her husband before they knew of the contamination, and now she herself is dying of AIDS…

Is it a civil rights issue or a public health issue?…  Although  Kathy Gerus-Darbison believes in equality among people in the area of Civil Rights, she seems to suggest that this issue ought not be presented as being a civil rights issue, but as a public health matter, and that the ban ought to remain…

From the perspective of this writer, she is common sensically correct.

[This post was written in reaction to and relies in part on information from an article in the Sunday April 4, 2010, LOS ANGELES TIMES, by Andrew Zajac.]

Migratory Birds, and Economic Agreements in the Americas: interconnectivity at work

It has been said that there is truly a natural interconnectivity between North and South America… 

The link below specifically refers to the migratory patterns of birds from Kansas and is presented in the Pan American World site because (compared to others recently found) it seems to show more clearly and colorfully the various routes taken by birds of the United States, to Central and South America…  If one can imagine other birds from different states and regions in their flights to and fro other parts of the  Americas during the cold and warm months, the sky would truly be a mass of birds in flight. [At the cited link, simply place the mouse cursor over the name of a specific bird and its migratory pattern will appear on the map to the right.]

Regarding humans, of course too there are patterns of migration that connect the various countries of the Americas (some having begun even during pre historic times)…, and there are human-made economic organizations as well that more recently have been created supposedly to take advantage of the natural and symbiotic economic connections within the hemispheres — such as The North American Free Trade Agreement, and other bilateral agreements…

Will the Americas ever become something as closely united economically and politically as the European Common Market/European Union, and would such and occurrence be good for The United States of America?…   Hold on to your hat and seat because in however many more ways the Americas become more interconnected is yet to be seen. 

www.k-state.edu/

NCAA “FINAL” — Butler vs. Duke

BUTLER,  the little school that could, against perennial powerhouse DUKE…  Whatever the outcome on the court Monday, BUTLER  will be an inspiration for years to come, a small school with limited financial resources competing well against rich schools with million dollar coaches with tens of millions more in their budgets…

“Estupendo!” Christopher Columbus wanted a “coat”, and he got one!

According to several sources (including in this link from the Library of Congress), Chris, who “sailed the ocean blue,…  in 14 hundred 92” – catchy phrase still after so many years, heh – wanted to be rewarded in several ways for his achievement in discovering a New World, or for whatever he had done because even if he was the first European to arrive in this parts…, now we’re told he can’t get credit for discovering something that was already here…

One of the things he wanted was to be awarded a “Coat of Arms” – referring to a particular design assigned historically by a monarch to someone, designating the person as a  ”Knight”…  The Coat of Arms shown on the upper left herein is reportedly a remnant of an original Columbus Coat of Arms — compare it to the reproduction as it appears as a part of the narrative in the link.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/1492/columbus.html

It’s Saturday! Let the children play (or anyone who hasn’t lost the childlike spirit): begin with North and South America

Map game  –  children (as well as adults) could try learning the locations of the countries…  Some countries might have changed their names since the map game was created but the outline and their location would be the same…  The hardest thing might be to be sure to pick up the outline of the country at the bottom of the right hand column and then dragging it to its location because some of the outlines of smaller countries are quite small.

  http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-games/north-and-south-america-map-game.php

First Healthcare, now another massive program in the works: “Cap and Trade”

In THE ECONOMIST magazine of March 27, a small segment covered the complexities of the Cap and Trade program already operating in some countries and it indicated how difficult it is to keep such a program operating in an efficient, honest manner…

And the Cap and Trade bill in Congress currently being  considered in this country for passage into law is a closer-to-home example of what a complex undertaking such a program will be…  Its stated purpose is to create the American component of a worldwide system intended to lower the amount of air pollution released by American industries into the atmosphere — and thus, supposedly, the danger of the earth becoming warmer will be reduced…  This air pollution is released into the air when petroleum and coal, for example, are burned in running machinery in an industrial/manufacturing plant, or in producing electricity.

But what is Cap and Trade?  Frankly, the details have not been made evident by those working on the plan, but some generalities about what the program involves might be deduced…

Cap:  refers to the maximum amount of tonnage per year of pollution a company will be allowed(by the government) to release into the air while producing whatever product a particular company might produce…  For example, if in one year the company produces more air pollution than the government says it should, the company will be fined a set amount for each ton of pollution over its allowed limit…

Trade:  the system that is to be set up (by the government, in coordination with other governments) so that a particular company can trade to another one, anywhere in the world, any credits it does not use. One credit could be equal to one ton of air pollution, for instance… More on Credits to follow…

Credits:  the government might ”give” each company (of whatever size Congress decides) a set number of credits per year — for example, if the government assigned  the BoyoBoy Corporation 10 credits, that company must not produce more than 10 tons of pollution per year…  If it produces more pollution than its quota (for example, 15 tons), it would be fined for being over its quota…  If this company, though, only produced 5 tons of pollution (5 credits, for example), the company could sell its left over 5 credits (that it had been allocated but not used), to another company or country so that another company that had polluted more than the amount it had been assigned, would not have to pay a fine for being over its quota…

This potential program currently in the works would be a massive, massive undertaking and it seems its passage would lead to more domestic government, as well as foreign government intrusion into this country’s economic system, and would need another enormous bureacracy to oversee it.

Oh, oh, we are supposedly all “haters”

Some say the Republican Party is a bastion of haters, and others say the Democratic Party is a bastion of haters, as well…  Although of course very few anywhere are really haters,  there are true haters out there who will accuse others of being haters simply for expressing a different political viewpoint…

It’s Good Friday, not “Spring Day”

In some communities, for various reasons there have been periodic efforts exerted on some government authorities to eliminate the use of the term Good Friday; one reason being, it is said, that it’s use in effect is a way of preaching the Christian doctrine — but that obviously not everyone is Christian in a pluralistic society…

“In the year of our Lord … “, wording referring to the date of graduation on some university diplomas at Christian universities, is continually criticized by some as being at best insensitive to the graduating students who are not Christian, and at worse as an attempt to indoctrinate Christian values into students who might not be Christian…

Of course many already know the flak that arises from some at Christmas time when the term is used…

Common sense and knowledge of a nation’s historical foundation would surely help the unlearned.

Russian Prime Minister to visit with “Hugo and Evo”

According to Bloomberg News Service, tomorrow, April 2, ol’ communist Russian Prime Minister Putin will visit with Presidents Chavez(Venezuela) and Morales(Bolivia)…  As suggested in a previous post, President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton need to pay closer attention in various ways to Latin American affairs, otherwise other countries will replace USA influence in this hemisphere, and that would not be good for the security of the United States.

In certain cases, is having a Spanish surname detrimental to a candidate’s electability?

In several elections in at least one state bordering Mexico, reportedly Spanish surname candidates seem to have had difficulty getting elected to certain political offices.

At times, Spanish surnamed Democratic candidates for office have lost easily to non Spanish surnamed Republican candidates, while running in predominantly Democratic governmental units, although apparently the Democratic candidate was the most experienced. 

And conversely, at times Spanish surnamed Republican candidates for office have lost easily to non Spanish surnamed Democratic candidates, while running in predominantly Republican governmental units, although apparently the Republican candidate was the most experienced…

What to make of it?

Introducing Presidente Juán Evo Morales Ayma of Bolivia — what can he do for you?

Evo, as he is commonly called, is the president of Bolivia in South America and was the first Amerindian Bolivian elected to that position…  He began his political career as a leader of a worker’s movement called Movement toward Socialism, and even while occupying the current position of president, he still serves as a leader of a federation of farmers that grows coca — from the leaves of the coca plant, the ingredients to make cocaine is derived…  Cocaine is a powerfully stimulating drug that has much positive use in the medical field, but often is used as a street-drug by a segment of American society, addicting them and creating health and crime problems for society.

President Morales believes that his farmers’ federation of coca growers is not to blame for the world-wide problems of cocaine addiction because the farmers themselves, as small farmers everywhere, make very little off the harvesting of the coca crop…   Those who transform the coca leaf into the actual cocaine, transport it to and sell it in Europe and North America, who make the real money, are the evil ones,  he believes….

So he does little or nothing to stop the growing or harvesting of the crop.

But, additionally, the Bolivian president reportedly does allow laboratories within the border of his country to process cocaine, allows small aircraft  to land and take off with the processed cocaine: in order for it to be placed into the vast world-wide system for the distribution of cocaine…

Evo also believes in re-distribution of wealth, meaning, in various ways, taking wealth from wealthier people, and giving it to the poorer members of society…  He believes too in taking land from the large owners and giving it to the poorer members of society…

This all is a problem for the United States of America – for one, American society has a drug problem, we know one place where the drug that creates the problem(s) originates…  What attention to the problems of Latin America is the United States paying?  Problems in Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea, and Nigeria and Darfur, for example, are important considerations for the country, but not paying more attention to problems closer to home could wind up being even bigger problems for the USA.

Stop the World! Ricky (Menudo) Martin is Coming Out

Ricky Martin came out of the proverbial closet recently (although some believed he had ventured out much earlier, when he thought nobody was looking)…   Why is it necessary for a homosexual who is coming out to make a formal announcement about the fact — “I’m a gay man“, some say, “…  at times even sending out press releases to the news media saying “I’m a gay man“, then making the rounds of talk shows to say again ,”I’m a gay man“,… as if they are plugging a new movie that is, coming out…  How many times do they have to say “I’m a gay man“…  Could they not just simply begin living an open homosexual lifestyle for all to see?…..  Just saying…

“Thank God for dead soldiers”, said Westboro, Kansas fundamentalist Baptist Church members

From Yahoo News:  last Friday a federal court ordered the father of a fallen soldier to pay $16,000 to a Kansas fundamentalist church for the legal fees the church incurred when the father sued it — church members demonstrated at the soldier’s funeral with shouts and placards saying things such as “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “Thank God for IEDs”, but the Court essentially ruled that the church members were simply exercising their right of Freedom of Speech…  That church and that Court at the very least need lessons in human decency and common sense…

 http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20100331/ts_csm/291560

STARS and STRIPES newspaper, and other periodic additions to the BlogRoll on right hand column of page

The STARS AND STRIPES online newspaper addition has been added to the BlogRoll on the right hand column of the page,  today found toward the bottom…  Periodically, other sites will be added there (and/or removed), and a person simply can click on the names and ought to be able to bring up the selected site…  The information or scope of any added sites do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the page administrator, but are included to provide varying emphases from different perspectives.

http://www.stripes.com/webpages.asp?id=97

Politically Courting the American “White Male” by the Obama-Biden Administration

At the White House during the signing of the Health Bill,  Vice President Biden was recorded as having whispered to the President something to the effect that the passage of the bill into law was an  f-ing big deal (the actual “f” word was supposedly uttered) – and when the administration’s Press Secretary sometime later was questioned about the comment, he indicated that the signing affair had been that….

Would not be surprising if the V-P’s comment was made as part of a P.R. ploy to make the President and Vice President appear more like just two “macho dudes” engaging in normal macho chat – public relations people could have calculated that by Biden using street-language loudly enough to be heard, that that publicity would influence real men of the country to accept them as one their own…

According to some polls, a segment of males who do not traditionally vote Democratic,  for various reasons voted for the Obama-Biden ticket in the last presidential election, but, those men are supposedly now trending far away from the administration.

In the basic scenario of this narrative,  it remains to be seen if on the one hand real men are swayed to “return”,… and on the other hand whether other segments of American society in turn will have been offended by the usage of such language at the People’ White House.  If the White House P.R. people possibly were involved in the “f-ing” episode, they are probably hoping the still significant reservoir of goodwill the president seems to enjoy will not have been squandered by the tactic.

University of Texas, Austin Tower will be lit with NO. 1

“                                                          “With apologies to non UT fans, as per tradition, the Texas Tower will be bathed in burnt orange from top to bottom Tuesday night to celebrate the men’s swim team’s national championship.”

Pat Sajak, Host of “Wheel of Fortune”, offers a view on health care Politics

Pat Sajak reportedly contributed his political view to Human Events magazine, decrying in a witty way that if anyone expresses a criticism of the health care bill signed into law recently, immediately they will be criticized by some as  being unthinking “extremists”:   ttp://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36241

During the current Religious Season, which is distinctive to various Denominations, genuine spiritual as well as mundane Reflection could be Worthwhile

Some people in various countries strenuously express their deepest religious devotions in dress and word, whether in Latin America, the Middle East, or in other regions — but by objective standards, many of the people in these areas are overall the most materially poor in the world.

Could it be, that to many of them, though they do not lack intellect and ability, the crush of everyday life leads them stoically to accept their station in life and to rely on religious teachings that say their rewards surely will come their way in the afterlife…   

Have some religious teachings become pasé, hindering rather than helping certain members of humankind in modern life, and should some teachings to particular groups be de-emphasized and others more emphasized?

Outlaw all Exotic birds, reptiles and mammals as household pets

Parrots are not native to southern California, but daily their shrieks and shrills can be heard in certain neighborhoods, patrolling and diving to their hearts’ content and to the displeasure of some humans… Within the last two years a  few settled in a backyard down the street and the flock has grown.

It can be startling seeing multi bright colored birds in synchronized flight, not in the Amazon but in the densely populated area of greater Los Angeles … http://amazornia.us/home.html

A few years ago an alligator was secretly let loose in a public park in southern California and within a relatively short span of time it had grown to significant size.  It presented a  daily danger to the public, the danger having been created when the owner of the pet let it go ”into the wild”…  http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2007-05-25-gator_N.htm

Some in this country have kept in their homes different kinds of sizable wild cats from other continents, and others have had bears, chimpanzees and more…  Different kinds of imported snakes have been kept as pets and later released into the American wild…  http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/southflorida/news/pythonsgonewild2004.html

The ability to have pets is cherished by many, but having certain pets can cause problems not only to the owners, but to unsuspecting individuals and to society at large.

The Roman Catholic Pope, under attack by the Press and by some other Christian Churches

It is assumed that no decent human being condones child molestation, sexual exploitation or any other perversions, and that those guilty of such actions whether clergy or otherwise must be exposed and punished to the fullest extent of the law…  There mustn’t be any  “separation of church and state” regarding who punishes the culpable, anywhere in the world (although that concept is most famously found in The United States of America)…

Having said that, is the news media acting responsibly when continually reporters approach Roman Catholic parishioners at religious ceremonies, such as during Holy Week, and try to get one or two to comment unfavorably about the Pope’s alleged condoning of serious wrongdoings by Catholic Clergy?  Are some reporters at times taking advantage of unsophisticated church members for the purpose of sensationalism and to create division among the parishioners?

And in isolated cases, when the clergy of other Christian or non Christian denominations reportedly treat the allegations as fact and criticize the Pope about his supposed Christian failings, is their speaking out in such a manner considered responsible behavior?…..

For the sake of open disclosure, the writer was reared a Catholic …

Women’s NCAA Division 1 Final Four at the Alamodome in San Antonio

The Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament and Final Four generally receive the most attention, but the women are as adept as the men when it comes to basketball excitement and execution…  This year the WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR is played in San Antonio  http://www.ncaa.com/sports/w-baskbl/champpage/w-baskbl-div1-index-main.html ,  MEN’S in Indianapolis  http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-baskbl/champpage/m-baskbl-div1-index.html  …

While in San Antonio: the Pico de Gallo Restaurant (for whatever it’s worth, or not) in the area of downtown is one colorfully painted outside and in, lavishly decorated year in and out in Old Mexico holiday style…   The food might not be something to rave about but the whole experience is, that is probably why it has been around for years — a touristy place, but also for the locals.   http://www.picodegallo.com/aboutus.html

And don’t forget the main course — WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR at the ALAMODOME, April 4-6.

[By the by, the writer has no connection to the restaurant other than liking the atmosphere]

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The Drive to the FINAL 4 down March Madness Boulevard has been bumpy

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise, as Gomer of The Andy Griffith Show  used to say, or was it Goober?…  But I digress…  Certainly there have been major surprises in the Tournament already and betting that more of them will not occur again would be foolhardy, based on events so far… 

In modern times, within a relatively short span of time the game of basketball has become a vast phenomenon, not only in the ”Pan American hemispheres“ but world-wide, credit due in part to the fast court action of the sport and in no short measure to the excitement generated  by the college teams during March Madness…

By the way, who remembers the first American Dream Team in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics http://www.nba.com/history/dreamT_moments.html, (or was it the only Dream Team ever), who ”spanked” the world  without breaking a sweat?… But with only the passing of a relatively short span of time the Argentine Olympic Basketball team became the surprising Olympic Champion in 2004…

March Madness is not yet over so hold on to your seat, and the remote, ’cause other surprising finishes can await…

The Forgotten American Military Women and Men

Of course this title might lead some to imagine that it refers to forgotten Americans missing-in-action in past and current combat zones, which of course still happens…  But this one refers to current Americans in the military, in this country, who when off post and away from the general area of their installation ( particularly while in transit else where) — even while in uniform — are often not acknowledged by “civilians”.   It is as if they and their sacrifices for the country, and the sacrifices made by their families, are invisible to the population…

A fairly administered Military Draft would be an Asset.

Currently The United States of America has a volunteer army, meaning military service is not required of anyone in the country…  For various reasons, because no compulsory service is demanded, what has evolved is that the nation’s military is made up of significant numbers of military personnel coming from limited segments of our society — upon whose shoulders are placed the responsibility and  hardship of fulfilling America’s military roles…  And that does not seem fair…

Unfair not only to the men and women on active duty who suffer the hardships and separation of war , but also to their families and communities from whence they come.

A military draft, much more fairly administered than has been done historically, might  infuse the military with additional beneficial perspectives and skill sets, as well as make every community and segment of American society feel the pain whenever a   “hot war” is raging.

Membership rolls in Military veterans’ clubs Shrink

Friday night we went to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post — among the younger ones present,  a few older vets from WW ll and Korea…  For more than just one reason, through the passing years various organizations (not only veterans’ clubs) that were once the center of bustling activity have lost membership and have struggled to replenish the rolls…

A special Wet-Foot, Dry-Foot Policy for Cuban “illegal immigrants”, but not a similar one for Mexicans

If a Cuban illegal immigrant coming from Cuba aboard a water vessel of any type sets foot on American soil before being apprehended by American authorities, because of the wet-foot, dry-foot policy of the United States of America, that individual is automatically considered to be a legal resident of the U.S.A.

But, illegal immigrants from Mexico who cross the river or land border and “land”  in  The United States of America are not automatically given the same legal residency in the U.S.A.

Of course the two scenarios are not identical; no two scenarios in life are identical…  But the principle of fairness and justice should be the same for everyone – what is good for one group of people seeking a better life ought to be the same for another group seeking the same.

My writing isn’t necessarily in support of  nor in opposition to legalizing the status of immigrants from Mexico who have not been given legal residency in the U.S.A. — but American immigration policy does seem to be unevenly applied against people from Mexico.

Marco Rubio leading in the Republican U.S. Senatorial Primary Campaign in Florida

Mr. Rubio, an attorney who has been a leading figure in the Florida state legislature, is ahead of the incumbent governor of Florida in polls conducted for the senate seat race…  If he wins the primary and the general election, he will be only one of a minor number of Latino/Hispanic U.S. Senators in Washington… A bit surprising that with so many states where Latinos/Hispanics make up a significant portion of the electorate, so few from this particular “demographic” are elected to national offices.

Carmen Diaz, highly paid for “animation voices”

Carmen Diaz, the actor (the all-inclusive term commonly used nowadays), comes by her family name via her father, a second generation Cuban-American, though she does not speak Spanish…  Her mother is not Cuban…  Reportedly actors  like her make as much as $10,000,000 a movie for doing voices in “animation movies”!

Is America simply going to declare “victory” in the War against Street-Drugs by legalizing their use?

 

  The following excerpts appeared in a WALL STREET JOURNAL article dated March, 21, 2010,  titled “War on Drugs is doomed”:

… marijuana use, through medical marijuana outlets and general social acceptance, has become de facto legal in the U.S., and demand is robust. The upshot is that consumption is cool while production, trafficking and distribution are organized-crime activities. This is what I called in a previous column, “a stimulus plan for Mexican gangsters.” … 

And:…  “There is one ray of hope for innocent victims of the war on drugs. Last week the Journal reported that Drug Enforcement Administration agents were questioning members of an El Paso gang about their possible involvement in the recent killings in Juárez [of the American Consulate employees and relatives ]. If the escalation is now spilling over into the U.S., Americans may finally have to face their role in the mess.”

The question in the heading of this post was written in half jest, but the street-drug problem is not funny (funny only to the drug cartels who can laugh all the way to the bank)…  Worth pointing out also is that killings directly related to those who import drugs into the United States are not simply a very recent occurrence…  Surely local police forces all across the country can attest that such killings have been in this country for years…

Because of the insatiable desire of a segment of people in our own country to use street-drugs, and our own government’s unwillingness to engage aggressively in solving the problem of usage in this country, the government of Mexico continually has been not only encouraged but pushed hard to combat the drug cartels’ menace…  Referring again to the WSJ article, another point among several that was made was that the problem  is economics-driven – that anyone with common sensical knowledge of simple economics ought to understand that the problem is rooted in this country, and that if there were not a  demand for the drug here, the dangerous deadly drives to get the drugs here would not exist. For example, speaking Economics 101, who would sacrifice chunks of money, everyday hardships and lives to sell a proverbial Pinto automobile if there were no demand for it?

For years American political leaders have failed  to acknowledge  simple economics, as well as failed to exercise good ol’ commonsense…  And if one looks across the country and sees the further attempts here and yonder to legalize street-drugs, the political will seems to be that if the usage of street-drugs is legalized, we will have won the War on Drugs.  That is like saying that if we outlaw the sun, we will have solved the stated problem of  ”global warming”.

What do you speak, Castillian or Spanish?… Or?!

After your reading , still confused?

 http://www.transparent.com/spanish/spanish-or-castillian/

“History of Mexico – Portals to the World”

“Selected Internet Resources, by Library of Congress Subject Experts”…

A person who has an interest in matters such as these could become lost  for extended periods of time following all the available avenues.

http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/hispanic/mexico/resources/mexico-history.html

Sharing Ideas and Information

If anyone sees or hears anything pertinent that could be included in the PAN AMERICAN WORLD page, the information could be posted individually, if they wish…  If someone wanted to post anything anonymously, they could simply submit the information without including a name or an email address…  If someone simply includes a screen name, but no email address, only the screen name will appear with the post…  Anyone who would like to subscribe freely to the page so as to receive email updates when new posts are made, please provide your email address on the special place for that on the right hand column of the PAN AMERICAN WORLD page….. On that right hand column is also found a calendar that will produce posts that were made on a particular date once that date is “clicked”…  Also, on the same right hand column, at the search blank, when a word is written in and submitted, if a  post has been written with that word in it (especially in its title), the particular post is supposed to appear.

A Segmentally Condensed Written and Pictorial Representation of MEXICAN HISTORY

How much time do you have?…   Once you enter here you could be traversing  within it for days.

http://mexicanhistory.org/

Celebrities such as Sean Penn Defend Mr. Hugo Chavez Against Charges that he is a Tyrant, but…

The article in the link below from today’s LOS ANGELES TIMES  sheds further light on Mr. Chavez’s “management style”.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-venezuela-governor25-2010mar25,0,1555726.story

VIEWS ON HEALTH CARE LAW

Published first on March 23, 2010:

The elected representatives of The United States of America are on the verge of instituting a “universal health plan” for many additional citizens, including a significant number of “Latino Americans”…  The plan was ostensibly passed not only to provide insurance for many needy people, but also to lower health costs (as a part of GDP) and to eliminate the federal deficit in approximately 10 years.

Although the heavy lifting and shoveling to implement this plan will not take place until presumably the president is re-elected to a second term, and even after he presumably will be out of office after his second term, many of the goodies go into effect almost immediately.

The heavy lifting refers in part to the unpopular higher taxes that will need to be assessed by the Democrats and  Republican elected between 2010-2018…

The current leadership in Washington will be gone to the heap of history by the time the hard, thankless work begins — but if the plan fails to lower health costs and federal deficits, no one ought to be surprised if the current political leadership would blame those who would be settled with making the plan work… And if the plan were made “to work” by a possible new Democratic or Republican leadership,
the current corp would claim the credit.

In 10 years the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns (whether successfully or not) presumably will be over or be greatly downsized and their expenditures will be lessened… But will health costs have been reduced in comparison to their share of GDP, while the size of government will have grown so much? Could the needed changes have been done incrementally over the course of 10 years without the current national angst,  without the huge growth of government and without settling the nation’s children and grandchildren with the debt?

UNWITTING ALLIANCES in the WORLD of ILLEGAL DRUGS; plus, POTEMKIN VILLAGES

Everyday the number of deaths rises in Mexico, the U.S.A and in other countries due directly or indirectly to the use of street-drugs, and almost everyday some individuals or groups encourage the legalization of these drugs because it is said that their usage does not hurt anybody and therefore there are no victims. The apparent disconnect with ramifications can be not only mind-boggling but disheartening.

 Societies in general and some families specifically are undergoing great stress because of this plague, and all the while (with apologies to our pachyderm friends) some ignore the “elephant in the house” drug problem, or erect “Potemkin Villages” to deceive themselves and others into believing that street-drugs are not problems…

Movements have been afoot for sometime even that if the use of street-drugs are legalized, governmental budget problems can be eliminated or at least lessened significantly because the drugs and their use can be taxed, while supposedly expenditures for legal enforcement of anti drug laws would be reduced.

Or some say that if codes are re written and allowances made so that some of these street-drugs can be permitted solely for medicinal purposes, under those circumstances only honest, law-abiding ill people would be the ones using them…

It seems extreme libertarians who on this subject have unwittingly coupled their ideas and some of their actions with the ideas and actions of the drug cartels in the Americas and in Afghanistan, for example, are creating their own “Potemkin Village”, with some extreme negative ramifications likely to follow.

The U.S. CENSUS

The count is underway — “Don’t leave home without it”, the completed packet that is, on the way to mailing it.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, Austin “ORAL PROJECT” ABOUT LATINO/HISPANIC WW ll VETERANS

The following link provides information about the purpose of the project and of the participants. A person’s family members or family friends might have been included, as well as others who might have helped in gathering the data

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/ww2latinos/

HISPANIC OR LATINO?

 One explanation of the terms:   http://www.elboricua.com/latino_hispanic.html

“AMERICAN HISPANICS in AMERICA’S WARS”

By Col. Gilberto Villahermosa.

An overview as of the beginning of the century.

http://www.valerosos.com/HispanicsMilitary.html

WHICH CAME FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG, THE MEXICAS OR AZTECS?

According to historical accounts, when Spaniard Hernán Cortés and his followers in 1519 arrived in what much later became the country of Mexico, the groups of indigenous people who ruled the area where the Spaniards “landed” were called the MEXICAS – thus, in the Spanish language,  it is reasonable that the Spaniards referred to the natives there as Mexicanos or Mexicanas.

Not until much later in the 1800s were those particular native peoples referred to as AZTECS…  Simply put (hopefully), reportedly a scientist by the name of Alexander Von Humboldt who was working in Mexico in the 1800s referred in writing to those who initially confronted the invading Spaniards as AZTECS — he did that in order to avoid using the terms MEXICA, or MEXICANOS/MEXICANAS to refer to them because he wanted to avoid in some way confusing the readers of his writings as to whom he was referring: the rulers of central Mexico when the Spaniards arrived, or  the citizens of the modern country of MEXICO (who after 1821 were called Mexicanos/Mexicanas).

The term AZTEC was found in the religion of the MEXICAS and is itself an interesting topic.

PERRY-CASTAÑEDA LIBRARY MAP COLLECTION

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/    : An excellent collection of worldwide historical maps and of maps with other specific details, particularly of Latin America.

HISPANIC MAGAZINE “ANOINTED” PEREZ HILTON

HISPANIC MAGAZINE selected Perez Hilton as the HISPANIC OF THE YEAR for year 2009…  Although some would find him truly to be deserving of the top  distinction, surely there are other  Hispanics/Latinos much more deserving of that honor…  Just a thought…

World Digital Library: www.wdl.org

All ages might find this informative and entertaining:

 

www.wdl.org  — “The World Digital Library will make available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from cultures around the world, including manuscripts, maps, rare books, musical scores, recordings, films, prints, photographs, architectural drawings, and more…”

Anyone for migrating south?

[From an article on Friday March 19, 2010 published in the GUADALAJARA REPORTER English language newspaper]

U.S. Retirees Unfazed by Border Violence

“U.S. retirees are not letting the narco-violence in Mexico’s border cities interfere with their love affair with this country.

According to a new report, only seven percent of U.S. Retirees say that public safety and security concerns have reduced the frequency or duration of their trips to Mexico.

For its study entitled ” U.S. Retirement Trends in Mexcio’s Coastal Communities: Lifestyle Priorities and Demographics,” the International Community Foundation surveyed over 840 American retirees aged over 50 in coastal areas of Mexico .

Neither did the economic downturn seriously affect U.S. retirees already in Mexico. Forty-two percent stated that the recession had no impact on their retirement plans and 34 percent said their quality of life has not been impacted.

The report, the first of five research studies on this topic that will be published by the Foundation, discovered that U.S. retirees in Mexican coastal communities are relatively young and well-educated. Nearly 53 pecent are under 65 years of age . Almost two-thirds have at least a college degree; another 28 percent attended at least one year of college.

Almost 44 percent of Americans residing in Mexican coastal communities were able to live comfortably on less than 1,000 dollars a month for household expenses. This is significantly different from the United States, where in California a senior might need 21,000-27,000 dollars a year.