Violence in Mexico......Population going red from blue.....Hitler 1945.....President Washington 1789...and other stories....
click to listen:
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Sunday's podcast: Violence in Mexico......Population going red from blue.....and other stories
Violence in Mexico......Population going red from blue.....Hitler 1945.....President Washington 1789...and other stories....
Sunday's video: Violence in Mexico......Population going red from blue.....and other stories...
Sunday's video:
Violence in Mexico......Population going red from blue.....and other stories...
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
The bad guys in Mexico are shooting, not hugging
(My new American Thinker post)
Down in Mexico, President López-Obrador is committed to his "hugs, not bullets" policy. He looks to the camera with a straight face and doubles down on the approach. In the streets and neighborhoods, his citizens are hearing something like "shoot them, shoot them" as cartel gangs fight one another for territory.
According to Mark Lorenzana, the AMLO years will go down as the bloodiest in Mexican history:
In just over four years, and with still 17 months to go, the administration of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) is on track to be the bloodiest six-year presidential term in the history of Mexico.
To date, there ha[ve] been 154,000 homicides under López Obrador's watch, practically the same number registered in the previous six-year term of former President Enrique Peña Nieto, which registered 157,158 murders between 2012 and 2018.
"During the government of Felipe Calderón, during the so-called Drug War, the country had experienced 121,613 homicides, then the bloodiest six-year term at that time," wrote journalist Héctor de Mauleón, in his Wednesday, April 26, opinion column for Mexican daily newspaper El Universal.
Needless to say, murders under López Obrador's watch have already exceeded Calderón's entire six-year term by a whopping 22 percent.
"The figures presented by the National Citizen Observatory (ONC) are devastating," continued De Mauleón. "According to Francisco Rivas, director of the ONC, in this six-year term 'all records were already broken for the majority of violent crimes.'"
The numbers are awful, but there is a larger question. The bulk of this violence is cartel-oriented, and López-Obrador continues to avoid the problem. His approach toward drug cartels leaves many Mexicans, and I assume many in Washington, asking questions about his intentions. It's obvious that engaging criminal groups isn't reducing violence. In other words, he is avoiding the subject and letting hundreds of Mexicans die.
And killing they are!
PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.'
A word about April 30
We remember Robert Thomas Velline who was born in Fargo, South Dakota on this day in 1943. We known him as Bobby Vee, one of the most popular pop vocalists of the early 1960's. He died in 2016.
On this day in 1945, he was reported dead by the BBC. Later, we learned that it was a suicide and that his ashes were allegedly found along Eva Braun, his wife. The European war ended a few weeks later when Germany surrendered.
On this day in 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the US.
Willie Mays had many big games in his glorious career, specially April 30, 1961. Mays hit 4 home runs at the old County Stadium in Milwaukee. He went 4 for 5 with 8 RBIs. The Giants beat the Braves, 14-4.
Willie Mays had many big games in his glorious career, specially April 30, 1961. Mays hit 4 home runs at the old County Stadium in Milwaukee. He went 4 for 5 with 8 RBIs. The Giants beat the Braves, 14-4.
Want to read a good book? President Nixon wrote a wonderful book in '85 called "No more Vietnams". It was a review of the war and the mistakes made along the way.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
July 2013: A chat with Cástulo Gregorisch and the poetry of a Cuban immigrant
We spoke with Cástulo Gregorisch about his poetry. Castulo has written over 600 poems about Cuban his immigrant experience. They are beautiful and emotional.
Let me share "Aquella triste manana":
Let me share "Aquella triste manana":
Aquella triste mañana de Cuba me despedía,
Aquella triste mañana de su regazo partía.
Aquella triste mañana mi alma se deshacía,
Aquella triste mañana de carbón y de cenizas.
Aquella triste mañana de mi tierra yo me iba,
Aquella triste mañana sin saber si volvería.
Aquella triste mañana una muy triste en mi vida,
Aquella triste mañana la que nunca olvidaría.
Aquella triste mañana a tierra extraña me iría,
Aquella triste mañana huyendo de la injusticia.
Aquella triste mañana con mi esposa y con mi hija,
Aquella triste mañana nuestros padres no venían.
Aquella triste mañana dolorosa en demasía,
Aquella triste mañana no creo la merecía.
Aquella triste mañana marcada quedó en mi vida,
Aquella triste mañana clavada como una espina.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Saturday, April 29, 2023
‘Blues vs reds’ when it comes to parents
(My new American Thinker post)
We are a divided country. Nothing shows our divisions more than our attitudes on parental rights.
I found this editorial at the WashingtonExaminer interesting.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this February released its Youth Risk Behavior Survey, covering the years 2011-2021. The data were alarming. Almost 3 of every 5 teenage girls reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, and nearly a third of them said they had considered suicide, up 60% from a decade ago…
The two main political parties have vastly different diagnoses of the problem…
For Democrats, the cause of this mental health crisis is conservatives' failure to accept nonconventional gender identities among the younger generation…
Democrats increasingly want to tackle the problem by empowering professional caregivers to take this growing young population away from their parents and give them the healthcare treatment they think best…
Democrats are thus clear about the source of the problem and the solution. They say the problem is the family. They want mental health professionals, using state power, to do things to minor children that their parents would not approve of. Their solution is to save your children from... you.
Republicans have a different diagnosis and a different solution. Republican-controlled states such as Utah and Texas recognize that the use of social media on mobile devices has exploded at exactly the same time that depression has been rising, especially among girls…
In response, Republican state governments are empowering parents over the objections of Big Tech corporations…
The contrast between blue and red states on rising youth mental health problems could not be clearer. Blue states' solutions move to weaken family ties and empower government. Red states are moving to weaken corporations and empower families.
Last, but not least, states with school choice will have another reason to attract families to their zip codes. The more traditional the family, the more likely that you will look for an environment that is parent friendly rather than wants bureaucrats to raise your children.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
Happy # 76 Tommy James
In the 1960's, Tommy James & The Shondells had a ton of hits, from "Hanky Panky" to "Crimson and clover", both reached # 1 in the US.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Happy # 89 Luis Aparicio
We say happy birthday to Luis Aparicio who was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on this day in 1934.
Luis broke with the Chicago White Sox in 1956 and was Rookie of the Year: .266 and led the AL with 21 stolen bases.
He also played with the Orioles, back to Chicago and finished with Boston: .262 batting average, 506 stolen bases, 2,677 hits in 2,599 games.
Aparicio was inducted to The Hall of Fame in 1984.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
2010: Happy anniversary Prince William & Kate
Happy anniversary to Prince William and Kate.
Back in 2010, we hoped that their wedding would serve as a revival of marriage in Europe. Today, we hope that their beautiful kids put having babies on the European "to do list".
Unfortunately, Europe is a very different continent than the one that saw Diana and Prince Charles get married in back in 1981.
First, "birth rates" are insufficient to maintain population: The EU's baby blues---Birth rates in the European Union are falling fast.
Why do "having babies" matter? Babies are the future! You can't maintain your population, and culture, without babies carrying your name, traditions and identity.
Second, marriage is also undergoing a huge crisis across the ocean:
Third, the churches are empty: Religion takes a back seat in Western Europe.
It's sad to see how Europe has changed.
Let's hope that the royal couple puts marriage and babies back in style!
The Europeans need to rediscover religion, get married and have babies or we won't recognize the land of our grandparents.
About 10 years ago, George Weigel wrote about Europe and its demographic problems.
Unfortunately, Europe is a very different continent than the one that saw Diana and Prince Charles get married in back in 1981.
First, "birth rates" are insufficient to maintain population: The EU's baby blues---Birth rates in the European Union are falling fast.
Why do "having babies" matter? Babies are the future! You can't maintain your population, and culture, without babies carrying your name, traditions and identity.
Second, marriage is also undergoing a huge crisis across the ocean:
"Marriage is in decline across much of northern Europe, from Scandinavia to France, a pattern some sociologists describe as a "soft revolution" in European society -- a generational shift away from Old World traditions and institutions toward a greater emphasis on personal independence." (Washington Post)Why does marriage matter? It is the central institution in a society. It is the foundation of the family unit.
Third, the churches are empty: Religion takes a back seat in Western Europe.
It's sad to see how Europe has changed.
Let's hope that the royal couple puts marriage and babies back in style!
The Europeans need to rediscover religion, get married and have babies or we won't recognize the land of our grandparents.
About 10 years ago, George Weigel wrote about Europe and its demographic problems.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
A word about April 29
We remember Duke Ellington who was born in Washington DC on this day in 1899. He died in 1974. Duke was a jazz giant. However, I first heard of him many years ago when my father used to listen to The Voice of America in Cuba. Duke’s “Take the A train” was the intro-music for Willis Conover’s jazz show broadcast to the world on short wave.
We say happy # 89 to Luis Aparicio who was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on this day in 1934. Aparicio was inducted to The Hall of Fame in 1984.
Aretha Franklin's "Respect" was released on this day in 1967 and hit # 1 by mid-June. The story of "Respect" is rather interesting. It was ranked # 5 in Rolling Stone's Top 500 all time songs.
We remember "Hair", the musical that opened in Broadway on this day in 1968. The music was good but everything else did not matter to me.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
2013 podcast: "Cuba at 60" with Dr. Carlos Eire
Click to listen
Cuba at 60 with Dr. Carlos Eire 01/02 by Silvio Canto Jr | Politics Podcasts:
Guest: Dr. Carlos Eire, author of 'Waiting for snow in Havana' and other books.........we will discuss the 60th anniversary of the Castro regime in Cuba......and other stories.............
click to listen:
Friday, April 28, 2023
Friday's podcast: We will look at the national security challenges with Barry Jacobsen
Friday's podcast:
We will look at the national security challenges with Barry Jacobsen.....
Click to listen:
Friday's video: We will look at the national security challenges with Barry Jacobsen
Friday's video:
We will look at the national security challenges with Barry Jacobsen...
What's going on in Cancun?
(My new American Thinker post)
For some time, we've heard that Mexico is violent but tourist spots are okay. In other words, Culiacan is a mess but Cancun is nice. Guerrero is deadly but the beaches of Acapulco are just fine. And it goes on.
Unfortunately, the story is clashing with reality. This is the latest from Cancun:
The bodies of eight people were found dumped in the Mexican resort of Cancun, one of the country’s most popular tourism destinations, authorities said Tuesday.
The bodies were discovered over the weekend about 10 miles from Cancun's beach and hotel zone after police launched a coordinated effort to search for missing people in wooded lots and even sinkhole ponds, also known as cenotes, Mexican authorities said.
Oscar Montes de Oca, the head prosecutor of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo said five of the bodies were found at an abandoned construction site. Three were subsequently identified as previously reported missing people.
Talk about spoiling the narrative.
It's fair to say that the Mexican government has gone out of its way to protect tourists. We should add that Cancun is still generally safe for vacations, honeymoons, weddings, and business meetings. I know people who have gone to Cancun recently for personal and business reasons. They are happy and did not see any violence.
What's the risk? The risk is that Cancun is a beach resort on the Caribbean and several cartels are fighting for control of the Caribbean coast and its drug trade. The risk is being in the wrong place when drug gang rivalries play out in the restaurant or disco where you happen to be one night.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
A word about April 28
We say happy # 82 to Ann-Margaret. She was born Ann-Margret Olsson in Sweden in 1941.
On this day in 1956, Frank Robinson hit the first of his 586 lifetime home runs. The pitcher was the Cubs’ Paul Minner in the old Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Frank hit 38 in 1956 and was selected NL Rookie of the Year.
On this day in 1961, future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn threw his second no-hitter against a very tough Giants lineup. He was 40.
On this day in 1945, Mussolini & Clara were shot by Italian partisans.....they tried to escape and were captured.
We say happy # 88 to Pedro Ramos who was born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. Ramos was 19 when he made his debut in 1955.
A podcast from 2013: The story of the anti-Castro Escambray guerillas (circa 1966) with Enrique Encinosa. CLICK TO LISTEN.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Happy # 88 to Pedro Ramos
We remember Pedro Ramos, who was born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, on this day in 1935.
Ramos was 19 when he made his debut in 1955 and beat New York 6-0. He went on to win 83 games over 7 seasons.
Over a 4-year span, Ramos was an "innings eater" starting 142 games, throwing 1,030 innings and leading the American League in starts twice. He also gave up Mickey Mantle's famous HR in 1956 or the one that almost left Yankee Stadium.
My father was a huge fan of Pedro Ramos. He would laugh and say that Ramos was known for enjoying the Havana night life when he played for Cienfuegos in the pre-Castro winter league.
Up here, he was known as "The Cuban Cowboy" or a reference to his wardrobe and lifestyle.
My late father would also say: "If Pedro Ramos had only pitched for the Yankees.....he'd won 200 games".
I don't know about 200 games but he'd won a lot more than the 117 he put up pitching for some very bad teams, such as the Washington Senators and a few others.
Ramos finally made it to the Yankees in 1964-66 and saved 39 games. Unfortunately, he was signed too late to qualify for the post season and did not play in the World Series despite being a key factor in winning the pennant.
Unfortunately, the Yankees went into decline in 1965 and did not return to the post season until 1976. So Ramos did play for the Yankees but never got to pitch in The World Series!
Happy birthday to Pedro Ramos, a pretty good pitcher and another pride of Havana!
Ramos was 19 when he made his debut in 1955 and beat New York 6-0. He went on to win 83 games over 7 seasons.
Over a 4-year span, Ramos was an "innings eater" starting 142 games, throwing 1,030 innings and leading the American League in starts twice. He also gave up Mickey Mantle's famous HR in 1956 or the one that almost left Yankee Stadium.
My father was a huge fan of Pedro Ramos. He would laugh and say that Ramos was known for enjoying the Havana night life when he played for Cienfuegos in the pre-Castro winter league.
Up here, he was known as "The Cuban Cowboy" or a reference to his wardrobe and lifestyle.
My late father would also say: "If Pedro Ramos had only pitched for the Yankees.....he'd won 200 games".
I don't know about 200 games but he'd won a lot more than the 117 he put up pitching for some very bad teams, such as the Washington Senators and a few others.
Ramos finally made it to the Yankees in 1964-66 and saved 39 games. Unfortunately, he was signed too late to qualify for the post season and did not play in the World Series despite being a key factor in winning the pennant.
Unfortunately, the Yankees went into decline in 1965 and did not return to the post season until 1976. So Ramos did play for the Yankees but never got to pitch in The World Series!
Happy birthday to Pedro Ramos, a pretty good pitcher and another pride of Havana!
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Happy # 82 to Ann-Margaret
We say happy birthday to Ann-Margaret. She was born Ann-Margret Olsson in Sweden on this day in 1941.
Ann-Margaret started out as a dancer and then went into movies, such as "Bye bye birdie" and "Viva Las Vegas" with Elvis.
I can't remember when I first saw her but it was memorable. My guess is that most young men of my generation would agree with that.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
My friend Carlos Eire and "Waiting for snow in Havana"
Like 14,000 other kids, Carlos Eire came to the US in what we would later call the "Pedro Pan" program.
He settled in Illinois and eventually became a professor at Yale. This is his story.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Thursday's video: 2024 is up in the air.....Biden and the press conference.....and more
2024 is up in the air.....Biden and the press conference......Cancun and violence......Babe Ruth 1947 and other stories:
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
The Catholic holding a rosary will be the abortion candidate
(My new American Thinker post)
It sort of began yesterday with the video. It will continue with President Biden repeating two words: Trump and abortion. Yes, the entire reelection will be based on scaring voters about the Orange Man and that the GOP wants to ban abortion. Beyond that, what is he going to talk about?
This is from Phillip Wegmann:
Within the first five seconds of officially announcing his run for reelection, President Biden made clear that abortion would be a cornerstone of his campaign.
The second still image from his launch video showed a protestor standing outside the Supreme Court. An encapsulation of Democratic orthodoxy, her sign read, “abortion is healthcare.” The Biden campaign believes that by uniting around that message, and attacking the GOP as extremists on abortion, they can keep a Republican out of the White House in 2024 just like they held off a predicted “red wave” in 2022.
Yes, the moderate will take communion at Sunday's mass and then call any restriction on abortion another example of the MAGAs denying women health-care options.
Biden is hoping that the GOP can not get its act together on abortion. In other words, the Democrats want to run against 1849 abortion bans as happened in Wisconsin. So the pressure is on Republicans majority legislatures, such as Wisconsin, to come up with 2023 abortion laws that create exceptions for rape or incest but deny abortion after 12 or 15 weeks. In other words, force Democrats to explain their votes for late-terms abortions.
In the meantime, the moderate, the Catholic with the rosary, will do nothing but talk about abortion. It's up to the GOP to get ready and fight back because the moderate will call you a scary MAGA type if you support the slightest restrictions on abortions. The moderate, who once voted to Let States Overturn Roe v. Wade, is now in the pocket of the Left and will read whatever they write on the teleprompter.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
A word about April 27
1947: Major League Baseball said goodbye to Babe Ruth with a special day at Yankee Stadium. He was very sick and died in 1948.
1973: Steve Busby, of the Kansas City Royals, threw his first no-hitter on this day. It was the first no-hitter of the DH era, or not having to face a pitcher batting. He pitched another one in 1974.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Wednesday's video: Biden abortion and Trump.....,,,,Debt ceiling limit........US Armed Forces recruiting problems
Wednesday's video:
Biden abortion and Trump.....,,,,Debt ceiling limit........US Armed Forces recruiting problems.....
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Wednesday's podcast: The week in review with Bill Katz the editor of Urgent Agenda
Guest:.......Bill Katz the editor of Urgent Agenda.....Lemon & Carlson and cable news.....The WSJ editorial about President Biden and a second term........Secretary Blinken and the 50 who signed that letter....Mayor Adams and the migrants......The debt ceiling debate.......and other stories.......
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)