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!

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.