The War on Drugs and its Consequences.
Cocaine: The New Front Lines
Colombia’s success in curbing the drug trade has created more opportunities for countries hostile to the United States. What happens when coca farmers and their allies are in charge?
A true war on crime would eradicate not only the crops but the dealers and users of these drugs in the countries who demand this recreational drug.
In New York state alone, the draconian laws passed under John D. Rockefellar in the late 60′s, incarcerated thousands of young businessmen, including one who just had a baby with a beautiful woman.
To my utter disgust, Beyonce’s husband was recently on the cover of Forbes Magazine. Thankfully I hadn’t decided yet to extend my subscription when I saw this drug dealer. The decision to cancel the subscription to Forbes Magazine was very easy.
The irony of spending $8 billion dollars on the war on drugs is that Colombia’s rank as the world’s biggest producer is now in jeopardy.
Peru may have passed Colombia in 2010, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, as the leading producer of Cocaine.
To make matters worse, Ecuador, Venezuela,and Bolivia have become important partners in the war on drugs. They have welcomed cartels to operate freely in their nations.
THE SATURDAY ESSAY JANUARY 14, 2012
Cocaine: The New Front Lines
Colombia’s success in curbing the drug trade has created more opportunities for countries hostile to the United States. What happens when coca farmers and their allies are in charge?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204331304577145101343740004.html
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Winning Ugly in Venezuela by Peter Wilson
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CARACAS — Hugo Chávez does not filter his words. The Venezuelan strongman made headlines when he called former U.S. President George W. Bush “the devil” at the United Nations, and when he claimed former Peruvian President Alan Garcia was a thief, an embarrassment, and a scoundrel. That trait has endeared him to many Venezuelans, who like their president’s flamboyant, straight-talking ways. It could also prove to be his downfall in this year’s presidential election, scheduled for Oct. 7.
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Mr. President what is so funny about rising oil prices? Do something now!
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“Some politicians,”… Obama droned on as he scratched his head with his index finger while he tried to come up with a snappy reason why gasoline prices are going up so early in the year. He continued…”they see this as a political opportunity”…and then he patronized the crowd by saying, “I know you’re shocked about that.” The Obama friendly crowd obligingly laughed at his weak attempt to joke about what the Republican candidates are beginning to see as a weakness of this president. A president who has not been able to control the oil companies, nor the maggots who are speculating on oil prices, nor the press who has been screaming for the past few weeks about the rising cost of gasoline. Barack Obama has not been able to do anything about the price of gas per gallon since he took office almost four year ago.
I sincerely believe the press has had an effect on gasoline prices. The press cries like Chicken Little, to all the owners of gasoline stations, the price per gallon of states like California and New York. They’ve been reporting about the price per gallon when it was $3.49 and they’ve been predicting that the price of gasoline will be going to over $5.00 per gallon throughout the nation for the coming summer months, if not earlier. This president then continued later on in his attack on the Republican candidates for the office of president of the United States of America, that he can not fix the price of gasoline, in one year, one term nor in more than 4 years.
Mr. Obama why are you so inept and powerless? Do the oil companies rule the world. Do corporations have more power than the office of President of the United States of America? Do they have control of the Armed Forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf? I think it’s time to elect a President like Richard Milhous Nixon who froze gasoline prices during the Arab embargo back in the 70′s.
And then there’s the lack of control of his troops in Afghanistan. Burning the Koran to incite the believers of Mohammed by his troops is unacceptable. Peeing and desecrating the bodies of those who oppose the Americans in the Middle East is also unacceptable. Why has he not asked for the resignation of the commander of these idiots who haven’t yet left these people alone to fend for themselves. It’s time for these idiots to stop defending and fighting for me. They are an embarrassment and if one or two U.S. soldiers die during the riots, an apology will just not be enough Mr. President. Fire the commanders of these troops and court martial those responsible for pouring oil on the fires in the Middle East.tEEdMX0E4Cs
Thankfully, most of our troops are polite young men and women who abhor the actions of these idiots. These heroes are trying to help the people of nations who have been oppressed by tyrants. They’re trying to bring instant Democracy and instant Capitalism to these thankless ingrates. It’s time to bring all the troops home and let the natives fend for themselves.
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My bullfighting career as a spectator began at La Feria de Cali in Colombia…
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… I remember going reluctantly to the cabalgaltas with the family and seeing giant beasts approaching us. From a child’s perspective these animals were terrifying. I remember going on Sundays to the Corrida to see the latest bullfighters from Spain perform for those who were lucky to score some tickets. The bull ring was filled to capacity. The heat, the liquor, and the beautiful Caleñas with their hats and colorful dresses added to the spectacle. I would sit next to my mother, since sometimes it was just the two of us who would attend a Corrida de Toros at the Plaza de Toros Cañaveralejo to see El Cordobés and other similarly named bull fighters perform.
What I don’t ever remember, is seeing my father at a corrida. That’s strange because of the customs of this South American nation. The Feria in Cali is the event to attend every December. I believe he would be busy with the university, La Universidad Santiago de Cali, as it was called then, or in Rome having an audience with the pope, or visiting his father in a house within walking distance of the futbol stadium, El Pascual Guerrero.
Perhaps if I ask my sisters for details about my grandfather, they might provide me with my grandfather’s address. Unfortunately, I’ve only asked one, and she didn’t remember anything. This doesn’t surprise me because we would be driven there and back by the chauffeur. Maybe I’ll ask my older cousins who surely remember their grandfather well, since they were old enough to visit by themselves. Of my grandfather I only remember his musty library, the National Geographic magazines with the naked African women, the photograph of an embalmed body in a casket, and his funeral. It was well attended by his constituents since he was once the mayor of Buga.
I pause here for a second to call my sister to verify a fact and to pet Torrey who constantly wants a massage.
I also pause to warn you not to continue reading or seeing the photographs that follow. Bullfighting is a brutal “sport.” If you can tolerate the first page, then beware because the photographs and videos on the following page are shocking. Heed my advice and do not to proceed from this point.
What I can remember the most of the corridas in Cali, was the suffering. No, not the bulls, but mine. I could almost feel the pain the bull fighter felt when he was struck by the bull. I also remember an indulto. The bull was spared and the crowd yelled and applauded an animal for his courage. The poor animal had no idea what had transpired. Neither had I. I had always expected the end, to be the death of the bull.
This Feria de Cali went on in my life till I was ten years old. It was a constant, repetitive distraction. I was too young to enjoy the women and their beauty and the Aguardiente del Valle.
David vs. Goliath
After emigrating from South America, to New York City without my consent and advice, the bullfighting stopped and was soon forgotten. While living in the States, I did happen to spend some time with my cousin one summer. That was probably to longest stretch of time I was ever away from my adopted nation. There I saw no bulls, but I did spend time with the Le Roy family in a hilly section of Cali.
That’s where my career as a photographer took off. I exaggerate career, because the only thing it provided me was enough money to pay my tuition for Queens College of the City University of New York and later the Brooklyn Polytechnic, which had recently changed its name to the Polytechnic Institute of New York, and the countless costs in film, chemicals and time spent in darkrooms at the university.
I’ve never sold a print since photography is only a hobby. Those who have wanted to pay me for the few prints I gave them of their children were surprised I didn’t want to be reimbursed. Had they asked me to take family portraits, I would have refused or I would have set the price too high for them to want to hire me.
Another pause to talk to Demi, a calico cat who is strange and 17-years-old.
Poster for Agosto 2011
The next corrida I remember very well. I sought and bargained for two tickets to a Feria de Cali. The seller was Diego, the driver was Jaime, and my date was Liliana. I have pictures of that date but I don’t remember anything about the corrida. I remember being taken to and later being picked up at the end of the corrida. We went to a restaurant, talked, ate and we never ever saw each other again.
The next corrida was special, because I was detained at the entrance for carrying a Swiss Army knife. The one I had used to free a woman who had gotten stuck in a bathroom on Avianca. I took the policeman’s name and number. He promised to meet me at the same gate. Hernando happened to have gone with me that Sunday. He was appalled that I had dared question the authorities.
The policeman met me at the exit, and I offered him my Swiss Army knife, but he declined. “It’s a toy,” he said. I’m sure to him it was a toy but to me it was a tool. I told Alfredo about the incident and he asked me if I had given the policeman the knife. “I tried, but he refused it,” I told my dear uncle. He seemed pleased that I had tried to do so.
The next corrida was in Acapulco, Mexico. I had traveled with Mireille. She refused to accompany me to the bull ring. What did she do while I was away for a few hours? I don’t know since she doesn’t drink or swim or ride horses or drive in a foreign nation without me beside her. The bullfight was mediocre, with sub par bullfighters and small bulls. They all died (the bulls) and I caught it all with my Canon AE-1 Program.
I brought back to the states, in a rifle case that I bought in an Acapulco flea market, the bloodied banderillas of a fallen heroic bull. This rifle case I carried on board the Mexican Airlines DC 10. I could have tried to lunge for the bull’s ears that were thrown near my seat on the shady side of the bull ring, but I was too busy taking pictures of the unfair fight between the bull and the man. Had I fought for them, they would still be under my bed with the banderillas.
Plaza de Toros
The last bullfight was the one in Barcelona in 2011. The bulls were huge and the bullfighters had the balls to kneel and greet these beasts. I started to feel the fear again while I cooked in the sunny side of the bullring. This is where I noticed that the bullfighters are afraid of the sun. I don’t know if they stay in the shady side so that they can see the bull with losing him in the sun or if they just work that side because they paid more euros than us in the sunny side.
I got tired and bored watching bull after bull die. Some were clean kills others were painful to watch. I’m not one to interfere with customs, but this “sport” just doesn’t appeal to me anymore.
Last year the citizens of Catalunya, decided by referendum to ban bull fighting in Barcelona.
Continuing to see beyond this point is not recommended if you are squeamish about gore, entrails, and suffering.
The bull dies.
Sent from my iPad and corrected extensively on a Dell Inspiron. (more…)
BBC E-mail: In pictures: Rio carnival
IKoi Kiki saw this story on the BBC News website and thought you should see it.
** In pictures: Rio carnival **
Brazil’s colourful carnival parades kick off in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome. < http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/world-latin-america-17092934 >
** BBC Daily E-mail **
Again another Carnival without me. Every year I’m surprised by Ash Wednesday…
Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 02/22/2012
Lent, Ash Wednesday, Easter, John 3:16 and the meaning of sacrifice
By Nicole Moliere
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent – a tremendous opportunity for a holy period of self-reflection, growth and prayer.
The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. (Linda Davidson – THE WASHINGTON POST) For many of us, Lent is the season for intensely examining our beliefs. Lent is the “ramp up,”to Easter, the holiest day of the year for Christians.
The true essence of the Lenten season is often overshadowed by what we are going to give up and how hard that is going to be. I shake my head thinking how giving up chocolate or some other vice or luxury is considered difficult compared to the sacrifice of John 3:16. (more…)
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Colombia is Passion! by Amy Rodriguez
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Path of Tsunami Debris Mapped out By Jonathan Amos
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Almost a year after the Japanese Tohoku earthquake and mega-tsunami, the Pacific Ocean is still dealing with the consequences of the catastrophe.
A mass of debris was washed out to sea as floodwaters receded from the land, and some of that wreckage continues to float around the ocean.
Most of it headed eastwards, according to modelling work by the Hawaii-based International Pacific Research Center. (more…)
BBC E-mail: Adele cut short at Brits triumph
I saw this story on the BBC News website and thought you might be interested in reading it.
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** Adele cut short at Brits triumph **
Adele wins two prizes at the Brit Awards ceremony in London, but is at the centre of controversy after an acceptance speech is cut short. < http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/entertainment-arts-17104569 >
** BBC Daily E-mail **
** Disclaimer **
The BBC is not responsible for the content of this e-mail, and anything written in this e-mail does not necessarily reflect the BBC’s views or opinions.
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