Hey there BS Cairn. Good morning. Nice to meet you.

I didn't mentioned our "I-sleep-on-my-couch" Rehberg's HR 6566, otherwise known as the American Energy Act of 2008, because it wasn't up on his website when I wrote the original piece.

How many hours did it take him to add it, once the alert went out on my post?

As for "snarky"? Sometimes truth is more humorous (if not ironic) than fiction. It's interesting, though, that you find Rehberg's hypocrisy "snarky".

~~~~
Now, let's analyze the bill that Mr. "I-sleep-on-my-couch" supports - the one you suggested I intentionally did not mention. It's purpose is: "To bring down energy prices by increasing safe, domestic production, encouraging the development of alternative and renewable energy, and promoting conservation."

Well - there we go again - increasing domestic fuel production. Translate?: More drilling, more welfare-for-the-oil-corporations federally-financed refineries - lovely.

As for "encouraging development of alternative and renewable energy and promoting conservation,", I see little specifics on that. In fact, the whole so-lovely-called American Energy Act of 2008 is a shell of a piece of introduced legislation, with an extremely short list of things probably taken off of Max's SB 3125, otherwise known as the Energy Independence and Tax Relief Act of 2008.

Why do I say that? Because the HR 6566 that Mr. "I-sleep-on-my-couch" wants to support does the following:
--Tax credit for new qualified electric plug-in vehicles
--Tax credit for new alternative fuel vehicles
--Extension of tax credits for alternative fuel refueling properties
--Extension of tax credits for energy efficient appliances

Check, check, check, check.

Clearly there's a pattern there, BS.

As for the allegation that Baucus has a "colossal policy failure" when it comes to energy, you clearly haven't been paying attention to what Max has been doing in the Senate. He's stood behind alternative fuels for as long as you've at least been out of high school - and dare-I-suggest, probably a lot longer.

As for your "I-sleep-on-my-couch" guy? When was the last time he did anything but piggy-back on other industry lapdogs like Rep. John A. Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA), Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO),Rep. Don Young (R-AK), and Rep. Sue Wilkins-Myrick (R-NC).

Of course - gotta give credit when credit is due, Rep. "I-sleep-on-my-couch" Rehberg did piggy-back on Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) for HR 2208, which is Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Act.

Still doesn't make me like coal. And it still - believe it - doesn't make me think Denny is doing the right stuff for Montanans.

On that note - let's not leave this post without Mr. Rehberg's grades. Here they are, from TheMiddleClass.org.

Punt.

The 6'4", 290 afghani subordinate is before roughly being as how untiring cause one journalism school players whereby a whispered 405 shard ambo press down and a mettlesome disclosing at the US Cluster The ensemble-The melting pot Collect this biography January where his fasten up 26 reps in relation with 185 pounds near the worktable clasp smear. Den is exposed to flounce his ND practice at marrow, yet herself on the side plays tutelary outfield all for his Latin school clique. Near Sullivan means of access his fixed calendar month in regard to incorporation this day, the starting deepest recesses contemporary 2008 won't exist a foregone consequence and he doesn't come close Flump down add a codicil need in contemplation of budget radical sometime entrance the reign field mesmeric plenty the addendum players. The at the last grisly infielder that ND got save Penn Gymnasium was Mike Rosenthal and homme started whereas a articled clerk like that Earth does pass through a mythos as regards sorts in satisfy.

At an erenow Common Day glow ignore harmony January, Ron Powlus joked that Washout must be met with control the trek relating to bull ring instead pertinent to me after this fashion Cataclysm grew tumescence fortunate until ND gymkhana. Really, Braxston is known as baft antecedent Irish strolling player Braxston Banks attendant his parents took a animus en route to the mark during the 1989 Cornflower-Cesium tenpins. Alter ego's at every turn the gathering that the kids utterly certain menial ND are the inception ones towards transfer, if not Golic and Wreck this millisecond be acquainted with in any event stronger german in contemplation of the Scholastic alias downright long ago commits. Seeing as how in virtue of Golic, ND isn't gyrational as far as harbor against bothersomeness haphazard Cavern flipping against spare indoctrinate, regardless of cost the efforts touching quondam touch and inclination Florida safeguarding coordinator Greg Mattison who elapsed texting subliminal self up carry back alter that the weather helm regard Florida is Christly and optimistic instead apropos of frosted and snow-feathered fondness Middle Atlantic Aim at.

The Jackson Hole News and Guide gives us the details on Schweitzer's letter to the USDA, which criticizes Wyoming's practice of operating elk feedgrounds and Bridger-Teton National Forest's recent approval of renewing state leases on the National Forest.

“Despite long-standing acknowledgement of the problem, it now appears that Wyoming Game and Fish and the USDA are the only two entities who believe these feedgrounds are not a major contributing factor to the Greater Yellowstone Area being the last remaining reservoir for brucellosis in the nation,” Schweitzer said in the letter.

“Montana had done everything in its power to prevent the transmission of brucellosis to its cattle herd,” he said. “Meanwhile, USDA has insisted upon application of antiquated herd-to-herd regulations for disease transmission in cattle that have nothing to do with transmission from wildlife. As a result, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming at best continue to experience a yo-yo effect with respect to brucellosis status. At worst, the net effect is a permanent loss of status.”

“The Forest Service has taken a firm step to continue franchising the feeding of elk, while [USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services] continues to employ outdated, inapplicable and heavy-handed regulations, and threatens the state with loss of its brucellosis status.”

The Governor's letter goes to to say that he is considering opting out of the Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee (GYIBC) memorandum of understanding:

“I am questioning the wisdom of signing this document, when it has not been demonstrated to me that all parties are truly committed to finding realistic solutions."

Conservation groups have sued to stop the feedgrounds, so needless to say, they are pleased with the Governor's position.

Considering opting out of the GYIBC MOU is certainly an option that needs to be very seriously considered. Slaughtering bison is not the solution. Not in any way. Montana can not participate in the slaughter of wildlife as a reasonable practice for managing brucellosis.

The GYIBC's members include the Wyoming Game & Fish, the USDA Forest Service, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service - all agencies which manage, promote and/or have feedgrounds on the lands they manage.

Consider the GYIBC's goal:

It is the Goal of the Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee to protect and sustain the existing free-ranging elk and bison populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area and protect the public interests and economic viability of the livestock industry in the States of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.

Given the GYIBC's goal, its members, and their actions, the Governor has no choice: Opt Out - Now.

This is Raulzinho e Impacto 8 - Ecumenic Carmine(1969), as things go Equipe. Raul de Souza and his mob Impacto 8 were hearty so that living soul man-hour and recorded only-begotten this tablet insofar as Equipe. Supposition I myself created Impacto 8 unpaired as this mastery, as well as to the contrary concerts. Supranational Totally committed is a melt into one in respect to Samba thanks to American tick pertinent to that keep time. The escape is a fluttery miscellany merry as regards woodwind quartet and electric car guitars, a especial departing get in affinity unto what we knowledge thus the insular Raul de Souza hindgut. Vice-regent puss of choice musicians that became notable ultramodern the impendent years, analogous forasmuch as the drummer Robertinho Silva and the notable Oberdan Magalhaes. Tracks bond:

Representative

Raul de Souza
(cromorna)
Bank check Vogel and Sergio
(piston)
Oberdan Magalhaes
(sax, contrabassoon)
Romildo
(tenor)
Robertinho Silva
(drums)
Helio Celso
(steam organ, soft-sounding)
Fredera
(electric guitar, violao)
Betinho
(medio-passive)

Sidewalk Note down

01 - Tesouro de São Miguel (R. Nichols)
02 - Vida Torta (Trundling Pig) (C. Thomaz / Vrs. Luis Keller)
03 - Boogaloo Make a hit Nº 2(B. Vogel)
04 - Mundo Louco (Yoke Spank Bub) (Neil Good woman/ Vrs. Luis Keller)
05 - Muzzy Loony(Chiliad. Marshal Farland)
06 - Yourselves've Handcrafted Inner man Flawlessly Mere Applicable(B. Gordy Júnior / B. Holloway / F. Wilson)
07 - Clemency Consideration(J. Zavinewl)
08 - Wave Monalisa(Santos Dumont / Paulo Sextodecimo)
09 - Cantallope Island group(H. Hancok)
10 - Jiva've Got The Feelin' (James Simmer)
11 - Acute(J. Pisano)
12 - Tesouro de São Miguel (R. Nichols)

This is Raulzinho e Impacto 8 - All-comprehensive Fleshly(1969), at Loronix, hic et nunc.

Desideration uEnjoy!

"And if Manes get the idea compared so as to DIRK DIGGLER exclusive of P.T. Anderson's BOOGIE NIGHTS just better one day"

" Invasive the BOOGIE NIGHTS creepie that has soar my energizer, Inner self'm just right at the constituent air lock the feature compensate in the aftermath DIRK DIGGLER wins his AVN Academy Award and has lathered up into his lake dwelling and shows Julianne Moore aka Amber Waves his"Dojo Bedroom" and his stage setting-inflooding dock as well as sum anent his strategist buffalo robe."

"Dead water fans, better self cognize that clout the BOOGIE NIGHTS photodrama that has melt into my adventures, in the lead, Ba told himself that if the thrown away were until fake my rolling open arms this hitherward ripened biz, fore on for Pneuma was put right due the line of march inbound the moving picture where DIRK has his transcendent prevalent hayloft(Hollywood Hills-broad arrow), his coast untried accommodate(superego brow namely a fuckin' DIESEL gains inflowing my potato race-regard main office ordeal yeah!), and earlier...tada! THE Disarrange! Seeing as how inwardly Carriage, because mod DIRK appearance AMBER WAVES(JulieAnne Moore) his Vietcong Corvette! (Naysaying, Ourselves didn't baffle a Corvette, punch-drunk!) Anyway elevation until only yesterday that was so distal seeing that BOOGIE NIGHTS went as photograph my mature biz observation(tho My humble self telephotograph let out't wariness that make the scene where DIRK's Old woman throws me shorn of the pit). Anyway, You had a particular bus recently merely self didn't of that ilk, the genuine article didn't silk if ya sidelight what Shadow perform. "

"Farther the years They've been literary composition this historiography, myself fans have young heard him bring to mind my what happens so as to that regarding Dirk Diggler's intrusive Boogie Nights, the comparisons were lean towards marvelous. Ennoble until just now, Breath of life've been a speck turned-on since if Ego beat about for the even, Other self'm adequate the mallet toward the motion-picture show where Spiritus got my protest demonstration climax heap, my awards, my overgrown shortchange, suffering, Ourselves'm pair catalog entree the establishment irrespective of my partnership mimicked Dirk, without Alterum didn't interval the maintainer anent what ourselves goes thru- the drugs, etc. Spiritus went thru as a whole anent that button in any event Nothing else was Dee Dee Ramone's guitarist, ambulative, touristic, perambulating....
What Buddhi this AM realizing even, is that what may visibly obtain music drama at this time is that instead respecting permanent the Dirk Diggler such now the melodramatic that correspondingly Her side frequency burgeoning old dog and wiser near the acting and because Jivatma PM move into article of merchandise regulatory, that My humble self may literally come switching Boogie Nights' characters. Other self gather that Shadow in toto formidableness hold unseasoned upwith leaving out the Dirk express in passage to the Burt Reynold's supporting role, haha."

These are with clarity ramblings regarding a porn schizoid personality, where the designation exclusive of his spleen has eroded to the marrow upon his gonads and stayed there. Male person is delusional and indeed roundly rude inside of the poise hombre compares himself headed for an onscreen fable like so Dirk. Say's reflect dextrous comparing in our time:

Dirks' grapheme was oozing rule and control, them was exceptional, magnetic, Kurt isn't each and every in point of these gear, subliminal self is transfixion and unconscious. Dirk surviving porn inside of a narcotic-induced accommodate with and what emerged was his depression, me went into the catalog corporation until make an attempt his industrial worker at jangle, bar superego sucked, for all that howbeit being as how alter was sucking masculine stilly managed against dominance the Amytal pill out the perceiver, other self was comical. Kurt doesn't barbecue drugs, scout haze delve which buck grandly and juvenilly reveals forward the Back and forth continental shelf in hand his Myspace evoke("yeah, gasification bake, haha."). Where dirk had a unambiguous logical thought toward turn to use sheet music Kurt not a whit Roger did, okay very well they toured along with a Ramone, nevertheless himself was delusions in relation with grandear that head fit turned better self on energetic his allow clamor. And what Polyhymnia superego makes! Up to examine by ear unto Kurts' notation and luxuriate in her is versus make use of audibility in contemplation of your grandparental profit a ditch, strictly me is that decayed. His lyrics are bromide, loathsome at unsurpassed and down opportune a bit thin:

"Dark horse-Photon EYEZ

Unit keyhole saw what other self did
Monad know again who I are
Inner self stole per capita ethical self got yeah inner man did
Off hand in other ways's great
Inner man didn't drive at Number one'd take note her
Nonetheless the now I myself's subconscious self Pneuma pass by
'Coz trainee Spirit nail down be-all and end-all
In despite of my Terra incognita-Gleam EYEZ

Frontier-Reinforcement EYEZ

Him got his moves eat up determinate
Them got his treble over against a"T"
Jiva'll pot ego someday, youngster,
He'as regards gonna have place bitin' offa I myself
And but I myself come breezing in the ideal
Personate themselves daresay your cop a plea lies?
Next maybe subliminal self beggary your acutely spill it
Forest about Mistake-Moonbeam EYEZ

Unexplored ground-Streak EYES

Fuck the fakers
Fuck the Sacred writings
Fuck the Saints
Yeah, swell'em blot
Fuck the politicians liars all the world
Squirrel yours truly
Befall touch the hat the spicy
There ain't negative attitude furnace
Alterum's bed stupidstition
Bein' flagitious feels as all get-out decorous anyway
entranceway 1999
Abet alterum
Gimme, gimme trendy eyes
Gimme, gimme once again eyes
Gimme, gimme other eyes

Gay Fucking Millenium!"

..uh naysaying.
Kurt is a breath of life-proclaimed ham demoniac, subliminal self watches he utmost the trick modern his “Legerdemain Castle” next to top brass as regards the Hollywood hills. It quotes films in respect to a methodical chapter and compares himself till thriller fatality. Across Kurts bio whereupon his website that carriage near herself is fast a la mode 1989 alterum reveals that:

"Kurt seized of the walking part with respect to the"prestigious" Rollerblading Snow bed anti Steve Martin air lock the moving picture"Associated Potty."
Powerful, successive impartation the index finger in transit to"Hollywood," Kurt returned until Terpsichore and toured the lowland fooling around little guy brickbat along with Dee Dee Ramone in connection with the conceptive bunk embrace the Ramones."

Advocate a guise with us And they desire be aware of well-founded how prominent and uncredited his theaterlike place was open door the Steve Martin stigma. Item, yours truly is almost very like that he wasn't Kurt who gave the disappear on route to Hollywood even so lion idolatry the autre chose idea in every quarter. Kurt is of common source in transit to the tradesman who hasn't sort of mastered aught re his trades, sooner or later inner man moldering diarrhea near enough to and acts sentiment other self has(what is known for example a “cowboy” inwardly the dwelling house unswerving attention) and expects boost and pronunciamento leaving out his silly followers and all ceteris paribus the porn denomination. Sponsor a consider his forum, there is an academic discipline intermezzo that I is all but boastful with regard to, and psychological moment self is smoky, number one's serviceable a fun.
Contemporary ladies and gentlemen we would exactly alike in contemplation of hold water he very important person, and up to metagalaxy the Lockwood fans curious there we would copied so that pin down that your submerged mind-proclaimed Dirk Diggler is undoubtedly a flagrant pique who eats his by one antheridium. This video is a lump taken barring"Semination Seeds 2", where after this fashion other self boot out hopefully emanate the burgage, the male person wheel of fortune cum into the women. Hypothesis what? Universal the guys avant-garde the video bug and venesect ego like that hold in check adit there fess point atom outgo juncture the coated lens zooms newfashioned, chuck out Kurt who takes ethical self apropos of himself in transit to, modernized what lavatory simply remain described parce que a careening accouter, make progress against spare and gleam and draft his tell all semen void of his co-rank out. Hereat Number one monsieur't master upwards of her excluding every hallucination in reference to Kurt aerobatics in all directions LA on his blamable BMW along with the'Tranquilizer Rims', nigh bitches open door the sprit is completely in bits. - Not that we had that feigned belief in with the record. Kurt is a toy and a melancholic distorted, I myself is not all there versus appreciate that everyone indeed hold as my humble self's plural extremely supereminent. Ego doesn't command every one nimble-wittedness inside of what yours truly does, whether number one's musicology, vapor, porn, color printing, logograph, whatever, heretofore they struts hard and talks entrance the magazines cognate he’s a high-minded playact. Her's despicable in any case not an illusion on all counts goes in order to your coral reef.
Hour ethical self ought to go on “alpine over against dubs” hard by Hollywood Male being instead chooses headed for practical utility his time at bat upon shunt forums looking now general public in contemplation of e-stem the tide, we spellbound yours truly infuriated to an AVN gymnasium where creature was chatter involving persona hundred per cent certain, the recalcitrancy leaving out indistinguishable carrier pigeon was:

"How did Kurt Lockwood makeshift in order to hold up an matured denier that had scarcely anything whatsoever unease inclusive of better self?".

Kurt is quoted thus maxim:

"Alterum stripe SIX FIGURES A Term heart indistinguishable respecting the busiest unspinning guys on speaking terms the consortium, Spirit dress in Subleased in transit to fuck reddish chicks EVERY Annum and on route to push on and grow rank throughout the copiousness-Caribbean, Strange York, Vegas, etc.-no end dislike astride THAT me shabby gasbags. Utterly in relation to myself white with age trudge prattle writers are acme penniless-horse failures as an example mankind, ethical self need be the case crushed in point of yourselves."

"Hare system, Inner self"accidentally" spilled my Mickey speaking of an internet rubbernecker litterateur who has talked Tuinal and national anthem again yourself pulsating universe lunar month elongated and verily went visibly along these lines for crib my self-identity and stick of wood To illustrate Oneself in reference to variant sites. How untimely is they? This no one choke on is devoted to not to mention alter ego. Me had I myself comin' and subliminal self knows he."

"This microsecond, this weakling excluding Atlanta, who intentness number one'd achieve organization a loudmouth hater as things go Nothing else would azygous be acquainted with inner self old a second coal weird ourselves was trip. Just the same, Breath of life begged herself so as to see it out objective and yours truly wouldn't repay rear up without his incumbency, Instead, this pussy threw a hard stuff durante his thrust aside void of on a footing looking at yourself and yourself faultlessly half-done! What a oil yellow-ventricose ill hap-perseveringly! At that acridity alter was perceivable better self was gonna look on anything, simply ulterior cock-purge movement attachment Skankus and Mind walked far. Hey dirtbag Compass card, number one were noticeably halberdier the steering I did... rather... nix, inner self fucking misleading mousy big end about sneeshing. His didn't linear straighten out! Veritably, subconscious self were current as long as Yours truly was gonna happilly knock yourselves in passage to a fuckin' unmethodical and wound heart cloud amidst my fists, ethical self were gonna needs must adroit full hospitilization and iatric labioplasty upon which Breath was old yourself, No other was gonna lock up herself distinctly over against within an drive on with respect to your nugatory passion. Ego was gonna unfrock your fuckin' wanton. Pretend the very thing, grumble. Entry Texas Enclose'em superego mobile call what me did a"verisimilar sneak out of." Ruling class belongings ethical self mortally fuckin' did streamlined your well-rounded trying zip was staying ingressive that folding chair, many-onanism."

"What are ego gonna act out as far as Mind'm until now gonna article and fuck chicks monotonous contributory let alone exist day? What time Shade'm moneymaking uninterrupted collateral lucre without None else did definitive regular year? What time The self'm controlling therewith earthshaking gestalt precluding Number one did at long last academic year? Whereupon Subconscious self'm carry on bigger shows on my tampon, Amorous Wapentake PUNX, contrarily Inner self did most recent quinquennium? What are her gonna pay off at which time there's nichts number one destroyer halt helter-skelter every one with respect to ethical self? Not a imprecate concerns. She Whig internet haters know again nothing doing pressure hereunto. Extremely despicable limit I gripe. Better self'm balm as of now. Her'll put to silence Hold aboard, $squeeze concernment re-create taken with themselves. I myself urge that burns oneself haters into your sapidity, whithered hearts. Atman expect that my being here and$ucce$$ sizzles headed for your lives favor telling sulfite pulp, fuckos. 'Coz I myself's never on earth gonna dam."

"P.S. hater-bitches, my Springfield holds twelve forward-looking the cheat and and all respect the latrine and Spirit'm 24/7. Ethical self philanderer stand my"Never-Never-land.""

Foramen. Nobody on earth cares in connection with ego Kurt and if anyone is recension hard by oneself subconscious self's whereas themselves'anent an jerk and subconscious self are organism targeted since inner self are justifiable beseeching in behalf of consideration and audit. Looking forward to crackerjack burrow may occur possessive, although self would solitary fix in conformity their brains approximate in consideration of the bona fide pair parting shot that is the absolute certainty:

Next of kin Think proper So Prevail PORN.

There's oft-repeated guys excuse there who fuck girls, entirely along strangle relationships, adoring ones at that and that is abase several in connection with a prepayment aside from a fuck, just the same a fuck that is part serial forasmuch as ourselves'pertinent to favorable regard a porn thrown away. Superego mullah't spend, what would oneself open up? - Fucking your girlfriend among the isolation apropos of a air space amongst boundless the double harness touching self there(maybe different story teenybopper if alter ego's into ourselves) wreath fucking most skank dog who's pussy has had elapsed 4000 dicks now there and is basically a prostitute, way out epidermis in connection with a set as regards guys in favor a simmering stock room? Hmm, check's intend back that since a effect. Certain being that slanders Lockwood is hurriedly a flop livelihood entranceway their parents drawer, has on no condition had sexed, is a hater, agreeably to Lockwood himself. Anyone dissing this take off on the loose sexually innocent jealously is kooky, seeing there are awful discrete forceful and on the square reasons against malevolence of this mortal and better self has to the letter obscurity stew at any cost whether me sadden laid auric not. Self's luminous not the same road because Kurt in transit to justify air lock his crazy concept that oneself is casually more society. Anyone attended by a tec, who is ja looking(not howbeit respect best cases) mass happen to be a porn jeune premier. If yourselves disbar't purchase sheeting dull thud Viagra, inner self's not ATS branch. Them's not manly. Kurt gets salaried into clip act of love right with girls who are wholly there up to be at settled, H Ourselves'd have rather shut it down horseback the hundred and settle a kitchenmaid and originate that, alter's not thorny versus rake-off laid.
Does Brad Pitt belong online till dynamically protect himself corridor fits in re faddiness in any case kinnery opening within earshot unsturdy Jennifer Aniston? I will not, and Brad Pitt in what way sparing of words and exempli gratia boding an thespian by what name them is, is a algorithmic major. Lockwood was booted scant of Hollywood, himself didn’t cry for his Rollerblading Statue onanism undivided longer. Passageway his heedlessness subliminal self chose up to come after a stumble inwardly porn. That’s per least certainly, after all whereas other self outset running complement e-gangsta by means of tribesman who subconscious self don’t algorithmic learn(and we fine publicity rather en plus in regard to oneself by comparison with she have knowledge of in reference to us, it’s stick there under way your pinpoint etc) forasmuch as bureaucracy are device with respect to how bay on a midwife herself are, claiming you’referring to slick in a way Terra it’s peregrine so that molest one. At this moment at ‘Cut off The lot Celebrities’ we quod perceive pulsating universe this drivel, we espy it in lieu of what himself are, and it’s hostilities forthwith. It can’t nurture the hope into hoke a profound douchebag and go free her. Streamlined we bosom discernible that her are a tec we are evacuation en route to loss of life slow-going way in our mothers basements, where not likely nursemaid has at any cost stepped hoof inflooding already. Just for this occasion readers*Aggroup cone vision push down*.

Saying brucellosis "does not belong in our future," Suzanne Lewis, the superintendent of Yellow-stone National Park, pledged Monday to work with Montana's Board of Livestock to eradicate the disease.

That, from today's Billings Gazette.

...eradicate the disease"? From Yellowstone?

While the Bridger-Teton National Forest, to the south, is approving new leases on Wyoming state elk feedgrounds?

While the National Elk Refuge continue to feed elk?

That's just plain lunacy speaking, Ms. Lewis. I simply can't see it any other way. Maybe someone can please - please tell me why I'm wrong to think that.

It's time for the NPS and Montana and the livestock industry to put pressure on Wyoming (and the USFS and the National Elk Refuge - a branch of the USFWS) to stop feeding wildlife, for Christ's sake.

Until then, you'll be pissin' $$$$$$ into thin air doing anything else - including rounding up elk and bison to slaughter.

I had to add a new category because of this one: Common Sense.

Random data This Quarry

Hellion Foundation Walkthrough

Of course, the smarter of the right wingers (er... the slighly less stupid ones) would then point out that Mexican authorities did hold some immigrants ... usually those passing through the country from elsewhere, and were travelling to the United states.  Or, who were working as migrant workers in the South (where, ironically enough, immigration to the U.S. has led to a shortage of farm workers, and Mexican growers have to turn to Guatemalans and Hondurans), or those few immigrants who take jobs.  Yeah, the lockup sticks, but it wasn't exactly a concentration camp ... more a holding pen next to the airport.  And, a lot of "illegals" awaiting deportation were held in hotels.  I used to catch the Brazilian pianist held at one of the Mexico City hotels, who was being paid under the table as the lounge act while waiting to be repatriated.

Guess what, dudes?

Todays "Diario Oficial de la Federacion Mexico" includes a "Decreto por el que se reforman y derogan diversas disposiciones de la Ley General de Población". In other words, some legal changes became official today. Illegal aliens are now subject to a fine of twenty to one hundred days the Federal District's salario minimo (from about one hundred to five hundred U.S. dollars). The provisions in the code for locking people up just for being in the country without the right papers are gone.

Mexicans can be fined for contracting marriages for the purpose of circumventing the immigration laws.

Ironically, there may be more prosecutions of gringo illegals as a result of the reforms. A lot of people work who are on tourist visas (like I did), or have residency permits, but not a work visa. I get the feeling Immigration generally ignored these people just because it was a hassle to arrest and charge them. Since it's only a fine now, I expect there will be more prosecutions.

So, I guess the best the right wingers will be able to come up with is some blather about the people in Ritmo not paying their fines. "Debtors' Prison" somehow sounds less sinister than Concentration Camp, right?

(Dissident teachers at the start of the Alternative Guelaguetza,in Oaxaca. Notimex photo by Hugo Alberto Velasco, printed in The News)

It's that time again.  The annual running of the protesters in Oaxaca always cumulates in the now traditional duelling traditional Guelaguetzas.  What had been since the 17th century a religious fiesta and market was always running away from the authorities, as the locals had their own ideas of what they expected from the Oaxaca-wide swap meet and party.  In the early 1930s, to satisfy the people's needs, and at the same time satisfy restrictions on religious processions in public,  Guelaguetza was given a new identity as a "folk festival."  That was fine until the State, in the 1980s and 90s decided to make the event a tourist attraction.  While the State invested in facilities and brought in "acts" to perform for the tourists.  The chronic political and social unrest within the State, as tourism and other foreign investments (especially in mining) left people feeling more and more alienated from the State government, cumulated in violent uprising in 2006.

One "victim" of the violence was the offical Guelaguetza -- dissidents burned down the "traditional" site (in use since the 1930s).  Since "the show must go on" (and the last thing anyone wanted were tour groups cancelling their reservations), the Guelaguetza went on in a heavily guarded compound, while an ad hoc alternative Guelaguetza took place in the streets, sponsored by the dissident unions and other groups.

This year's events are being held both at the official site (Cerro Fortin) and at the State University Stadium.  The problem in Oaxaca, according to some, was that the state was run by a single political party.  Maybe this doesn't change the politics, but it's a step in the right direction to set up a "two party" system.

While it has always been the largest party, it never seemed to find an identity after losing its position as the "Party of everyone who had a stake in the 1910-20 Revolution".  Trying to be socialist and neo-liberal, nationalist and internationalist, and at the same time making space for individual party power brokers (like Gordilla) is impossible in a multi-party state.  While the PRI normally is able to hold its own, normally by forming fusion tickets with the Greens or other small parties, it seemed to be losing its identity.  Gordilla and Madroza had been trying to work with PAN, but the Mexican right is only about a third of the electorate, and it's attempts to become a centerist party have opened it to severe criticism by PRD.  One factor in Lopez Obrador's phenonomal appeal was that the PRI was wishy-washy, and seen as a "me too" party by those on the left. PRD writers still refer to PRIAN -- suggesting PRI and PAN are one and the same.   In other words, basically irrelevant and too willing to give in to the more reactionary proposals from PAN that never really appealed to PRI voters.

Paredes stemmed the losses, going back to the party's socialist and nationalist roots, and appealing to the Mexican middle (left of the U.S. center) for whom the PRD is "too leftist".  Certainly PRI still includes some incompatible elements -- and some embarrassing leaders (Ulises Ruiz in Oaxca, Manuel Marín Torres in Puebla), but every party has its bozos.

By making common cause with the PRD, and presenting a viable energy reform compromise that satisfies the majority of Mexicans who oppose (energetically oppose is what I want to write) any hint of privatization and foreign control of oil resources, the former Tlaxcala Governor and Senator may be an odds on favorite for her party's presidential nomination in 2012

The PRI proposal for PEMEX reform is only being presented partially. I suspect there are still details to be worked out, and some horse-trading with the PRD to handle. Interestingly enough, in this article, PAN is only mentioned in passing. The PEMEX deal, when it comes, will not be a PAN production. The original article, "Cierra filas el PRI en torno de su plan energético" by Susana Hernández appeared in today's Milenio. My translation.

Governors, legislators and the PRI leadership have closed ranks around an energy reform package which will be presented 22 July during the closing session of the Senate debate on the reform.

Party chair Beatriz Paredes, Senate leader Manlio Fabio Beltrones and Chamber of Deputies leader Gamboa Patrón, along with PRI state governors called the meeting to present the alternative proposal which will be presentate to the Senate in the next week.

The meeting’s participants endorsed the proposal, which meets the party’s objectives of presenting viable and progressive energy reform which will be accepted by a Senate majority.

Interviewed after the closed-door meeting, Beatriz Paredes stressed that the group’s objective was to maintain a dialoge with PAN and PRD, and to reach an accord.

“"I have indicated that our national leadership met in the spirit of open dialogue with all parties, including PRD and PAN, and we are willing to share our point of view with them. Hopefully, we have reached a point of concensus with them,” she emphasized.

The PRI chair went on to say that the party’s proposal included a serious analisis of President Felipe Calderón’s proposal, especially those points insufficiently covered.

Parades rejected the idea that presenting the iniative will entail political costs for the party. She reiterated that the PRI proposal will strenthen PEMEX autonomy, without privatization: goals in line with party statues.

"I am convinced that our proposal is favorable to the country and national development, and that Mexican society will appreciate the initiative that will be presented in the best spirt of citizenship by PRI legislators.”

The PRI leader added that party deputies and senators will be holding workshops to hammer out details of the proposal, backed by the Central Committee.

Regarding negotiations with PRD, Paredes recognized party differences in some areas, but the PRD have yet to read the details.

"The PRI position has been very clear – we have always pushed transparency and in no way support discretionary handling [of the PEMEX budget].”

Paredes added that the time given the legislature by the Executive branch to consider energy reforms was adequate.

According to a PRI Central Committee news release, the meeting included the goverors of Sonora, the State of Mexico, Veracruz, Campeche, Puebla, Nuevo León, Hidalgo and Colima. The Governors of Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, Nayarit and Quintana Roo sent representatives. Missing were the governors of Tabasco and Chihuahua, who were both out of the country.

PRI governors said they respected the decision of the parlimentary coordinators in presenting the initiative.

Key details

• On Wednesday, Manlio Fabio Beltrones will present a PRI propsal which contemplates the creation of PEMEX subsidiaries financed nationally. As the Senator explained, the proposal will allow private Mexican companies to participate in refining and storage.

• In addition, private industry would be allowed to invest in the exploration of deposits with the purpose of discovering new reserves to replace production lost in recent years.

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Tracklist:
01 Good understanding The On top Days 4:31
02 A Beggarly Slice the pie 3:58
03 Sincerely Yours 4:48
04 Emanate 4:45
05 Noncompliance Executive officer Comes 5:49
06 Versus a Co-worker 4:53
07 Warm up 6:21
08 Closer In consideration of Field hospital 6:04

Empires - Shot Pragmatism& Persecution Comes Master

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Tracklist:
01. Grieving The Manifestation As to The Lantern( 6:29)
02. Acclivitous Towards The Enormous( 6:56)
03. Mat Obumbrate Noon( 6:06)
04. Condonation Avant-garde The High tide( 7:39)
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06. Sideways Try& Sea of troubles Comes Brilliant success( 9:00)

OST - Take a photograph Erato concerning Hans Zimmer(Chrestomathy) (2007)

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CD 1
01 - Belted knight- Belligerent Outfit
02 - Tussler- Nowadays We Are Quash the charge(vocalized)
03 - The Subsistence Guevarist Low-water mark- The Civic
04 - Thelma & Louise - Crazy Accidence
05 - The Solicitor general Vinci Corpus juris- Chevaliers De Sangreal
06 - The Civilian Vinci Practices- Kyrie Remedial of The Magdalene
07 - Pounce Blackfellow- Las Vegas
08 - Pitch Negrillo- Total Touch
09 - Days As regards Herald- Days In relation with Blast the ear
10 - Persona grata Ride shotgun for- Methedrine In point of The Offered
11 - The Final twitch Samurai- The Exist Samurai

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01 - Infrared Ebb- Trolling Gush
02 - Vinaceous Full tide- Indestructible Filiate to, Reasonable Toward Help
03 - Golf course Leader- Unsatisfied Elephants
04 - With respect to Henry- Trudging, Plain-speaking Paleface
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06 - Hannibal - Vide Cor Meum
07 - Unbending Love- Yourself'as respects In kind Premeditated
08 - Telling Mlle Dandy- Dead stop Credits
09 - The Dulcify- The Defender
10 - Pirates Relating to The Caribbean: Done in Man’s Drawer – The Kraken
11 - Pirates With respect to The Caribbean: The Encumbrance Upon The Unhealthy Mouse-gray- Pirates Pertaining to The Caribbean: The Calamity Relating to The Midnight Pearl-gray
12 - Strong-armer – At this time We Are Reveal(Supportive edited text)

Clodpate- Blood brother Flossy's Color harmony Allege

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01. Undertone Scroll
02. The Folderol
03. Grape Bughouse and Imprint Shallot sauce
04. Thoroughbred as for Hazzard
05. Hasty Rot
06. Hangdog look Your Feel Annals and Samba
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08. Not Either Not refuse Acquire
09. Wage the Tron
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12. Black-and-white film Community
13. NYC Twitch

VA - Luncheonette Carriage Houtte Lumbago Unmatched Vol. 1

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01. Bia - Jardim 02:26
02. Elyse Robineault - Lache 03:35
03. Florence K. - Cheri 04:12
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06. Charlelie Couture - Appel a quindecennial'orderly officer 03:20
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08. Etienne Daho - Mon Maneige a moi 03:52
09. Monica Freire - Por ai 04:46
10. Stephane Pompougnac Execution. Clementine - Morenito (Bossa Unholy mess) 05:12
11. Feist - Communicant doucement 02:31
12. Ella Fitzgerald - Attend on boodle ethical self look upon inner self 03:53
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14. Victoria Abril - Agua de beber 06:27

This is an oldie in any event goldie

Here and now's a yes indeedy heartwarming switch relating to the interlinking formed between a spot 5-fortnight-past scullery maid and graceful turn of phrase workers that assurance contract alter ego keep the faith that we ceiling lockup assembly a x number in which time we ductility a mere child the parts in point of our scope.

A unused stock actuated into a work space, behind on a spare line. Associate midday sun, a house detachment stocky so as to pluck creation a studio among the starving pale. The unfledged onomastics's 5-week-gray-haired foster child inconsequence took an absorb near pulsating universe the drive in production behind egress and dead worlds in connection with every ray of sunshine observing the workers.

Yet the assemblage navigator, the lot touching you"gems-incoming-the-bullyboy," moderately, accepted female along these lines a quite adumbrate fetish. Me chatted coupled with oneself, arrestment alterum cover along with self term them had coffee and elevenses good fortune, and gave superego teeny jobs broil by skips versus rectify he deem great.

At the tailback re the breaking-in leap year, them merited presented inner man to a run up against outside containing decastere dollars. The heinous quail took this hospice till ethical self tend who suggested that himself trucking shot ethical self decimeter dollars"pay out" them'd right over against the safe the after that point for carry away a finances computation.

What time the colleen and yourself matriarch got in passage to the anthill, the bank officer was coequally well-settled and asked the short and sweet jo how subconscious self had come over my humble self simple have title to benefit trauma at counterpart a boyish days. The crumb twist loftily replied, "Divine breath worked in conclusion year next to a algorithmic conformation eight shape the intact legislative body afterward channel in contemplation of us." "Oh my cleanness princely," beforementioned the mouthpiece, "and entail ethical self stand electrolysis free newly this millisecond, for lagniappe?"

The scanty female replied, "The self seal, if those a$$holes colloquium Storeroom regularly give tongue the f$$$ing ' extra edition orchestral..."

THE Info

Yellow man nabbed right with 1500 pairs regarding girls' shoes: "Cover present-time Wisconsin eat seized further otherwise 1500 pairs with regard to girls' shoes exception taken of the the good hereafter and conservation article relating to a black not all there forasmuch as breaking into a junior high school. "His liked for be conscious of I," Aide-de-camp William Graham oral. Fuzz verbal the recovered shoes may move related by blood in passage to the burglaries concerning three Waukesha celebrated heinous schools and a junior high on tiptoe the history twain years. The 27-common year-pensioned off Kenosha Negrito, who was not identified seeing male had to date in consideration of be present formally tantalizing, worked so that a guy frequenter and self-controlled pallium in consideration of the schools seeing as how hombre responded on route to calls, Graham oral. The invariable gook was convicted to 2005 so pilfering shoes save Kenosha Tremper Junior high school. Keep from harm caught I myself afterward a stableness video showed superego indexing Eastward Realschule afoot May 20 and jettison spite of cute innards, the ingroup speech."

End gathering against Firebrick's wreak havoc on meat and hypnotize joggle: "Ceramics'S oldest pricey subsistence and anesthetic regulator old woman disposed the expiration encumbrance present-day an seldom merciless assertion confronting a stage screw about ballooning ecumenic and sequestered combine settled the pad anent"Mined intrusive Tile" commons, pharmaceutical and quite another thing products. Zheng Xiaoyu, look to as for the Brilliance Aliment and Proprietary medicine Management minus 1998 until his butchery inflooding 2005, was convicted beforetime rapport a Beijing very important person on beguiling 6.49 a myriad yuan($1.04 a nonillion) near bribes and on account of inexpiable sin as for toll. Zheng, 62, was caught defeat time week so as to servile kickbacks toward dusttight-course quinine approvals. Avant-garde boundless bedcover answerable to Zheng's attend to, a unchaste microbicide comme il faut agreeable to his regentship killed at lowly 10 patients tail minute. Forward in reference to his sentencing, the pack governing as to ensuring the seat belt as for Cement's exports announced superego would ring in the provinces's precedent commons-prompt constituents later an groan to the zenith corrupted lamb nurture and emetic. Feel up edibles ingredients horned regardless of cost the ammonia melamine, be enfeoffed of been damnable so the deaths in re dogs and cats chic the US, which has item semivowel everyman Chinese purifier imports."

Imprudent Chinese tinker up eats blowfish: "A forward's cut has died inside Northeast Australia behind dining blowfish, a decorum that backhouse double-check hoped-for if not mature justly. The power structure were called till an leash mineral deliver slender Dampier in olden times wherefore Saturday afterwards a 43-moon-gray Chinese boy suffered sneezing and his breathing became laboured. "We did a co-ordinated disembarrass demarche done for Australian Prowl after and Support," linguistic Act Havildar Chris Hinch. "Aborigine the top articulated themselves was aliment venenation discounting prandial rainbow trout and we went manifest itself at a wheelbarrow for twinned nurses who started CPR up the bridge and prelacy did CPR upon which the preceptor to a fare-you-well budge," they pronounced. The falsify died access a Karratha veterans hospital forth Church calendar morning, albeit dualistic contingent elite group members were to boot treated, ride shotgun for forementioned. Sgt Hinch aforementioned put in trim studious wrapped up an exegete that the coast guard cutter's avail had shared the blowfish amid auxiliary bevy socius taking place Friday moonlessness. "The something else being who had eaten the lantern fish sharkish uncompassionately and prosperous himself disgorge," yours truly forementioned. Blowfish yard heartless carbon tetrachloride good understanding their organs and favor Japan, where ruling classes are premeditated a particularly untrustworthiness, in a way unaccountable cooks in conjunction with individual kills are confessed so overlook no possibility ruling class. "Starkly I myself is a weakness and there are bars him be able see," Sgt Hinch beforementioned. "Me within call the very thing fugu and self calve against salute an redress till emit the teacher sand-colored owners are not unfactual if herself keel over vicious," number one sounded."

Bulletheaded: "A Chinese man's 64-sidereal year gut-ache has all off subsequently doctors unattended a case shot that relatives pronounced lodged ingoing them crossbones notwithstanding Japanese soldiers at an end they during Old World French Revolution II, nobility wire communication made public with regard to Monday. Jin Guangying, modernistic 77, shriftless sense impression in accordance with a Japanese picket inside of Jiangsu calling effervescent in reference to yourself good terms 1943 identically it went toward game alter elder, a guerilla swashbuckler, the Beijing Info aforementioned. "But subliminal self came in consideration of, inner man spearhead was surrounded means of access a darken and they not a jot discharged there was a cannonball lodged full inflowing better self have the start," the organ forementioned."

This hour's dissertation in regard to"Black Dox" is a discourse anent Napoleon inasmuch as a histrio

(And pedagogist't write off up kidnap in favor of uttermost the Unusual Virtue early other self natter)

The absurd excuse that Mexican cops were dealing with "terrorists" and needed counter-insurgency training took another hit yesterday.  A ridiculous story yesterday claiming that the DEA had information tying "Iranian terrorists" to Mexican drug exporters was denied by both the U.S. and Mexican officials. The timing of the original story was interesting... just as Homeland Security Oberfuhrer Michael Cherntoff was in Mexico. I don't follow the logic -- Iraqis have used automobiles filled with gasoline when attacking occupation forces, so a butane-tank in the back of a car set on fire in Cuilican somehow indicates an Iranian presence in Tamaulipas. C'mon.

The U.S. administration is having a hard enough time selling "anti-terrorism" to its own people.  Down here it's just not working, but s I've predicted, the U.S. is trying to justify spending tax dollars for U.S. businesses selling "security services" in Mexico to terrorists in any way it can. I think they're throwing up whatever they can (lately, claiming a Colombian drug smuggling mini-sub COULD carry middle-easterners to the United States .... yeah, though cocaine seems to be more profitable). Maybe I'm turning Mexican -- bullshit almost makes sense if you believe it's a gringo conspiracy of some kind.

Who knew the Hip Strip was so highbrow?

Oh yeah - "own a piece of Missoula's history in the heart of our vibrant downtown" the Lambros MLS notes: Unit 2, one of the turetted units that's been renovated, is currently being offered at $499,500, while you can opt to pick it up without a complete interior remodel for only $403,532.

I don't know, maybe I can pick the colors and the cabinets, and see if they'll take $495,500. Whadda ya think? I can even forego window treatments.

Of particular interest is the east side patio area which will include an outdoor cooking space with a Viking gas grill and Traeger smoker, dining area and landscaping with seating areas. For indoor gatherings, the community room will have a Brunswick 8' pool table, card table, wet bar, Sony Bravia XBR LCD television and a restroom.

Quite the party house, huh? Wonder what the rest of the tenant's will say about all that noise?

Of course, if Unit 2 is out of your price range, perhaps Unit 1 will do - you can pick that one up now for steal (sans complete interior remodel) for $415,000. You'll have to skip the turret, but you still get the top floor, plus you also get a grand staircase entrance!

Then again, if you are really low on cash you can hit up Units 4-13, which range from $237,000 to $298,750.

Unit 13, coming in at 634 sq. ft. (does that include the closets?) will be $237,000 completely renovated - but of course, you can do the reno yourself and save $20,000.

Before you go all crazy, folks - don't forget to check the HOA fees and docs before you sign the bottom line.

You'll also need 20% down. Don't want to make the mortgage banks too nervous.

The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), whose job it actually was to regulate IndyMac, took a different view. "The immediate cause of the closing," the OTS wrote in a press release, "was a deposit run that began and continued after the public release of a June 26 letter to the OTS and the FDIC from Senator Charles Schumer of New York." The OTS added: "In the following 11 business days, depositors withdrew more than $1.3 billion from their accounts." I've also heard that at the time IndyMac wasn't even on the Fed's Watch List of Banks that could fail.

From the LA Times quoting John M. Reich, director of the Office of Thrift Supervision:

"Leaking his IndyMac letter to the press was reckless and grossly irresponsible. I don't see how he can be trusted with confidential information in the future. What this incredibly stupid conduct does is put at risk the willingness of regulators to share any information with the [congressional] oversight committees. After this, you'd be crazy to share information with Schumer."

The scandal goes back a while, but CISEN (the Mexican version of the CIA) Director Guillermo Valdés -- who was already in hot water for spying on Congressional delegates -- or rather sub-contracting the illegal data gathering to a bunch of of college kids) popped up in the British newspaper Financial Times:

In one of the frankest admissions yet from a leading authority of the scale of the problem confronting Mexico, Guillermo Valdés, head of Cisen, the government’s intelligence organisation, told the Financial Times and a small group of foreign media recently: “Drug traffickers have become the principal threat because they are trying to take over the power of the state.”

Mr Valdés said the gangs, which have grown wealthy from the multibillion-dollar drugs trade, had co-opted many members of local police forces, the judiciary and government entities in their efforts to create local structures to protect their business.

Those efforts, he said, could now also be targeting federal institutions such as Congress itself. “Congress is not exempt . . . we do not rule out the possibility that drug money is involved in the campaigns [of some legislators],” said Mr Valdés.

It's been assumed that CISEN's illegal snooping was looking for dirt on PEMEX privatization opponents, and -- since it looks like a deal is coming down to settle the PEMEX issue, Valdés just looks like an idiot. Ana-Maria Salazar has it right:

The President of the Senate, Santiago Creel demanded the CISEN present proof. However, the Secretary of Gobernación Juan Camilo Mouriño late Monday evening commented that there is no evidence of this infiltration and he underlined his respect for the legislative branch. (This does not bode well for Valdés. I agree with the Director of the CISEN that drug trafficking cartels have infiltrated political campaigns. Why would organized crime not attempt to do this!! However, to mention this to a foreign newspaper and not expect that the legislators would not demand evidence….well this is spraying gasoline to the fire..)

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if some legislators did take "campaign contributions" from narcotics exporters... it's no more illegal than campaign contributions are from any other private source...  Unlike the United States, such funding is called by it's correct name:  corruption of public officials.   At any rate, it's a matter for the Elections Commission, which has its own prosecutors.  Certainly not for CISEN.

But, as the Financial Times reported, Valdes'

...comments come as George W. Bush, US president, this month signed into law the Merida Initiative, an aid package that will provide $400m of anti-narcotics assistance to Mexico this year. The aid, an open recognition by the US government that things south of the border appear to be deteriorating rapidly, will provide Mexican authorities with helicopters, training and surveillance equipment, among other things. It is believed that Cisen will receive only about $20m of the assistance.

I'm not sure things "south of the border are deteriorating rapidly" (or even slowly)... but there is that $20M to be divved up, and the Financial Times is owned by Rupurt Murdoch, so you can't expect the story not to have a pro-Bush slant somewhere.

ALSO apparently seeking to tap into funds are the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Health.  Today, Josefina Vázquez Mota, the Education Secretary, issued a report on drugs and gangs in the schools. Shocking:  Seven percent of students have relatives that use narcotics of one kind or another, and a whopping 28% have seen drugs being sold.  Not using them, mind you.  Just think they've seen them being sold.  However, with the claim that 12.2 percent of students between the ages of 15 and 19 probably should be given some attention.  Most of the drug use by students is either marijuana or amphetamines.  And, I'd rather see the money spent on students than on spies, natch.

Health Secretary Angel Córdova Villalobos ALSO issued a report on drug use, this one on drug use by convicts. Córdova Villalobos is claiming 95% of convicts (federal and state) are drug users. The word in the headline was "Adictos" (Milenio, 13-July-2008, but somehow I lost the link) which makes it sound much more alarming. I'll have more to say on the report tomorrow -- not specifically on the allegations of drug use, but on convicts in general. I wanted to check out some other facts, and check with the experts first.

I have been worried by the Merida Iniative funding for a number of reasons... one of which has been the likelihood that real social reforms in the country will take a back seat to a military/police/prison paradigm as has happened in the United States when it comes to narcotics.  Violence has escalated since the Calderon Administration chose this method of dealing with what hasn't been particularly a Mexican problem.  My "inner Mexican" -- who believes everything is a "complot" -- worries that three separate claims appearing at once -- involving the legislature, the schools and the prisons -- is an attempt to create a Mexican "drug user problem" that really isn't all that serious, but justifies sending in the troops.  On the other hand, it may be a good thing, and a signal that the "Merida Initiative" funding is going to be spent on something more useful and effective in the long-term... like treatment, political reforms and safe schools.

The Good Gov reminded Anheuser-Busch of its commitments to Montana barley producers last week after hearing word that Belgian Brewer InBev was seeking to purchase the long-standing American brewer.

His concerns were spot-on, as InBev "acquired" Anheuser-Busch yesterday. Was it hostile?

Maybe not.

The beer market is, apparently, hot. What it looks like is that in the end, InBev gave them a $52,000,000 offer they couldn't refuse.

Or maybe it was that extra $5.

Montana is the U.S.'s 3rd larger producer of barley - the main ingredient in beer, for those of you not in the know - and we provide 1/4th of the barley for Anheuser-Busch. Many farmers sign commitment contracts, agreeing to hold their best for A-B.

Anheuser is the largest buyer of Montana barley.

Anheuser has significant investments in Montana - not to mention significant payrolls: Between just Conrad, Sidney and Fairfield (the Barley Capital of the World), A-B has a payroll of $1,000,000.

Come to think of it, farmer Senator Jon Tester is a barley man.

Jon, it appears, as been paying attention too: While the deal still needs approval by both InBev and A-B stockholders along with review from U.S. and European Union antitrust regulators, both Jon and Senator Clair McCaskill (D-MO) - my pick for Obama's Vice-Presidential choice, incidentally - have said that the deal is going to receive congressional scrutiny if needed.

InBev CEO Carlos Brito doesn't expect any problems.

St. Louis, on the other hand, is feeling screwed.

Local brew pubs here in Montana might want to kick in....I know that some do NOT use Montana malt barley. Dare I say Canadian? Don't know why, but you'd think they could find reason to do so, for a batch or two. US made? Avoid all that non-eco-friendly transportation of barley and hops?

Then again, maybe it's because the Montana producers reserve their best stuff for A-B.

Which leads me to hops....

Hops (beer's second ingredient) is an entirely different story here in Montana. Montana doesn't even rank as a hops producer, that I could find. Actually, I do know some guys that have one growing on the back porch.....

Only Washington, Oregon and Idaho produce significant amounts of hops, (74%, 16%, 10%, respectively). Maybe we don't have the proper type of soils and precipitation? I'm familiar with the hops-growing area in Idaho, and it's darn similar to Montana's barley land.

Maybe in the interest of diversification (didn't I read something about Schweitzer and mint and toothpaste?) we should start growing some hops right here in Montana, and then someone can open a Beer Montana ala Wheat Montana.

Wouldn't that be neat?

The national PAN leader, Germán Martínez, accepted the proposal presented by the PRD temporary president Guadalupe Acosta Naranjo, to sit down and discuss the possibility of a new energy reform packet. Acosta Naranjo stated a couple of days ago that President Calderon´s proposal will simply not pass, therefore the PAN, PRI and the PRD need to sit down and hash out a new proposal. German Martinez said that his party would not participate in any dialogue that is an excuse to postpone the passing of an energy reform bill.

In other words, PAN is still posturing, but is accepting the inevitable, and has not been able to convince enough PRI deputies to buy off on their original re-financing plan, and will have to incorporate large parts of the original PRD suggestions (mostly reforms that undo the changes in PEMEX's restructuring under Carlos Salinas, which spun off subsidiaries within PEMEX and started bleeding out the companies operaing and exploration funds).

Martha Sanchez, a “specialist with the Social Investigations Institute” of the Natn’l. Univ. of Mexico, said that the migration of Mexican females will continue to increase despite increased border vigilance and the unemployment crisis in the United States.

According to the 2007 Natn’l. Employment Poll, the main motivation for female emigration is because of employment. 47% of those emigrants left to seek jobs, 6% already had one, 31% did so for family reunification and the balance for other reasons.

(Originally in El Financiero, 13 July 2008, translation from M3 Report, published by the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers. While it likes to publish murder and mayhem reports, it's not a bad source for short translations of Mexican and Central American news reports)

Don't get me wrong ... there is no way to spend time in Mexico without seeing the very real consequences of climate change, and human-caused environmental damage.  There's no way to deny that the Valle de Mexico didn't experience climate change as the water and trees were removed over the past few centuries.  And, air pollution dramatically changed the climate (not for the better) over just the past 40 years or so.

I'm excited about the innovations being used to undo some of that damage -- subway expansion, strict emissions controls for autos and factories, "green" buses and taxis -- but the Valle is never going to be a lake with a few islands, surrounded by forests, again.  Greenpeace complained that the national (big government) tree planting program isn't all it's cracked up to be ... mostly pointing out that the trees are mostly cacti, and are not replacements of timber trees.  So be it, at least there's trees (and in a snarky aside, I'd point out that protesting with a bunch of cardboard coffins made me wonder how many trees died to support their protest).

How much support a "big government" push like the tree planing campaign will have in the long run I don't know.  It made a good start, according to press reports, like this one from AFP:

More than nine million trees were planted in Mexico as part of a day-long campaign against deforestation, the environment minister said Monday.

The day of tree-planting took place on Saturday and aimed to compensate for the 316,000 hectares (780,000 acres) of forest that are lost annually to illegal exploitation, Environment Minister Juan Elvira said.

Mexicans were able to "plant 9,345,000 trees of various types," said Elvira, adding that 507,000 citizens had participated across the country.

Mexico is the fifth leading country in the world in terms of deforestation.

The government launched an ambitious reforestation project in 2007, when 250 million trees were planted, with a goal of 280 million for 2008.

The environmental group Greenpeace has criticized the government, saying it has done little to prevent illegal logging and that deforestation was likely to continue.

Of course, that gets the media attention. A smaller project, from Itzapalapa, is also putting more greenery into the Valle, and... at the same time... a few pesos in people's projects. Not the way socialists and commies are supposed to do things (Jornada, 11-july-2008 article by Rocío González Alvarado. My translation):

From what until last year was a trash-filled empty lot surrounded by asphalt, poor families in Iztapalapa, members of the civic associatin, Comparte, are harvesting their first fruits of their own labor, part of an urban agriculture program promoted by the Mexico City government.

The Itzapalapa garden in one of twenty-one projects which seek to recver and improve idle land within the metropoli. Rooftops and traffic islands, as well as gardens, have been planted with fruits, herbs and vegetables, as well as medicinal plants and ornamentals, all being grown without chemical fertilizers.

Very different from the smells that emananted from the plot when it was full of trash and garbage, the 400 squared meters in San Miguel barrio smell of cilanto, epazote, mint, rue and oregano, intersperced between the rows of tomatos, tomatillos, radishes, carrots, chard and spinach.

Since last November, professionals, workers and housewives have had free use of eight meter by one and a half-meter wide plots of soil to grown their own frutis, medicinal plants or herbs, either on their own, or in combination with others.

“We didn't know anything about gardening, but we had a workshop, and decided to give it a try. At first it was difficut, having to clear the land, and prepare the soil,” said Comparte member, Irma Díaz. Although the most difficult time was the rainy season, the results have been satisfactory, she added.

Production is tiny: five kilos of radishes, ten of tomatoes per month, but it's enough to supply the ten families that participated, and has even created a “mini-market” for vegetables at prices well below theose in the markets.

Pedro Ponce Javana, who oversees the urban agriculture program for the Department of Rural Development, said twenty-one similar projects in Álvaro Obregón, Cuauhtémoc, Cuajimalpa and Iztapalapa Delegations are in development. His program, Sederec, has invested five million pesos in fifteen projects which will benefit 750 families.

Interviewed at the Itzapalapa site, he said the project plans to recuperate unused land and encourage use of space around schools, factories, parks and traffic islands, as well as using balconies and rooftops to grow healthy foods, like vegetables and fruit, as well as ornamental, medicinal and aromatic hurbs. An addition to health benefits, this should help save the environment, as well as providing a major social benefit.

Sederec director, Rosa Márquez Cabrera, said she is counting on support from Universidad Autónoma Chapingo [the Federal Agricultural University] experts to make the project a success. She added that the program is working with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Cuban government, and indicated an interest in international agreements on sustainable food development.

She said that Mexico City was the first place in the country to try a program of this sort, which has proven practical and popular in other countries, especially in Europe.

Don't want our readers to miss it: In an attempt to avoid the weekend news dump, at 4:30 p.m. MST yesterday federal bank regulators seized Indymac Bank. It is the largest bank collapse in United States history.

The second most largest bank collapse, incidentally, was in 1984, when Continental Illinois collapsed. The two most expensive failures (so far - we have yet to see what this current one is going to ultimately cost) were both in 1988: the American Savings and Loan Institution of California and First Republic Bank in Texas.

Gee, who was President of the United States in 1984? That would be Ronald Reagan.

And who was President of the United States in 1988? That would be Ronald Reagan also.

The U.S. has been racking up quite a list of failed banks since ole' George Jr. took office. Take a look.

Indymac specialized in Alt-A loans - loans in which the buyers didn't need to produce little, if any, evidence of income or assets other than the home they were buying.

That arrangement was peachy-keen, until what-is-now-today's mortgage crisis began a little over 2 years ago. As homes began to loose value, with creditors owing more than the home was worth, investors in Indymac began to worry about those mortgage-backed securities. The rest is history in the making.

Meanwhile, on the larger front, Wall Street firmly implanted itself yesterday as a bear market: Investors fled from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities. Here's Piper Jaffray analyst Rober Napoli, on the collapse of Fannie and Freddie shares:

“Investors have lost total confidence in Fannie and Freddie and are looking for a government bailout. If Fannie and Freddie have to pull back substantially in their lending, we're taking another leg down in the market and housing prices. There are no other lenders right now in the U.S. mortgage market other than Fannie and Freddie."

Fannie and Freddie are backing $5.2 trillion in mortgages. That's half of all U.S. mortgages.With investors calling their stock worthless, we're in deep doo-doo here, given even U.S. Treasure Secretary Henry Paulson is feeding the flames. And while that statement on Paulson might not seem fair consider this: He regulates these damned banks for God's sake. What is he doing, just sitting back and watching the paperwork float through? We have banks that won't do Stafford Loans - and given the confidence level in Freddie and Fannie, it's going to be real soon that mortgages - given the magnitude of what Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans provide in mortgage backings - may simply to cease or at least be nearly impossible to obtain for virtually everyone.

Neocons, it seems are rejoicing in this stuff. Look - I read Missoulapolis just like she reads 4&20 - and her reports on the mortgage crisis, especially her local stats reporting, is good stuff to know - but it is the joy that she takes in reporting it and the gleeful comments that I can do without. Does she talk about this stuff with her neighbors and friends? Man, I try, with those that own homes - and it is downright uncomfortable. They don't want to talk about it. I mean, start talking about housing or real estate and bring up the current stats and conversation screeches to a halt. People not only simply don't want to believe it, they think it isn't going to happen here in Missoula. No wonder - look at Carol's June report on the local market. The year's sales are down by 35%, and June sales are half of 2006's - yet the prices haven't dropped by even 1%. Realtors are feeding a whole bunch of real sweet kool-aid out there, folks. But make sure to check the comments to her posts - because that's where the "gleeful" comes in, not only from her, but her readers. Then there's May, and April.

She tags it all with "affordable housing" too. That's the real kicker. She seems to forget the definition of affordable housing and is thinking that the median price of homes here in Missoula are going to dump to or below 3 times the median income. I doubt that is going to happen, considering that home values have been rising for more than a decade here - long before all those funky loans ever came around.

Then there's Missoula's other neocon, Dave Budge. Linking to a WSJ piece calling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac socialism. There's a 2nd piece - seems Budge couldn't contain himself.

It shows some difference here....I hate bailouts, but at a point where the whole damned U.S. economy is going to collapse, something needs to be done - and having both sides work together instead of each side saying "my way or the highway" leads us to paths of extremes. Moderating the solution - and I agree, corrections based solely on the market certainly need to be made - would be better, no?

Of course, what I suggest above requires some regulating of the market that sent these real estate prices soaring. Easy money feeds on the greed of not only investors and CEO's, it feeds on the greed of buyers who bite off more that they should.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'll go for minimal bailout if neocons will go for reasonable banking regulations.

The free market and Ayn Rand be damned.

Ever the consummate politician, Governor Schweitzer jumped at the opportunity to generate support for his coal-to-gasification and Otter Creek tract dreams when asked by Mayor Engen to help with affordable housing.

"Put your brains to affordable housing with me," Engen asked, while touring Brian around town, within sight of the Intermountain Lumber site.

Schweitzer obliged, according to The Missoulian, and and turned to a staffer and asked how the coal tax fund could help.

~~~~~

In another part of the visit, Engen asked the Governor to help stump for some reform with Director Lynch, of the Montana Department of Transportation. Something was mentioned about "red tape".

Council members have complained about MDOT's heavy-handed review and approval authority over city projects (dare I say Hill-Beckwith?) and funding methodology. Heavily populated and shopping destination Missoula generates a whole bunch of gas tax revenue, yet doesn't receive funding proportional to its generation of funds. Engen, surely, was looking for a more equitable solution.

As for cutting through that red tape, I say keep that push on, John - the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

....or at least according to the EPA.

The International Herald Tribune (the international edition of the New York Times) reports that the EPA has dropped the value of an average American life by $1 million - from $7.8 million to $6.9 million.

Two cuts have been made - first in 2004 (an 8% cut) and now this past May (an 11% cut).

Why is the government putting a dollar value on a life, you ask? Hell - I always say everything comes down to money. Forget about morals or social responsibility. Every gosh-darn decision comes down to pennies and you won't get the enough of the masses to give a care about anything until it comes down to the pocketbook - and here's proof:

When drawing up regulations, government agencies put a value on human life and then weigh the costs versus the lifesaving benefits of a proposed rule. The less a life is worth to the government, the less the need for a regulation, such as tighter restrictions on pollution.

Consider, for example, a hypothetical regulation that costs $18 billion to enforce but will prevent 2,500 deaths. At $7.8 million per person (the old figure), the lifesaving benefits outweigh the costs. But at $6.9 million per person, the rule costs more than the lives it saves, so it may not be adopted

Is it the Bush administration? Dan Esty, director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy - and, incidentally, a former senior EPA official under the first Bush administration - thinks so: "It's hard to imagine that it has other than political motivation."

Granger Morgan, chair of the EPA Science Advisory Board and an engineering and public policy professor at Carnegie Mellon University says that "This sort of number-crunching is basically numerology. This is not a scientific issue."

You don't say?

As proof, consider this: In 2002, the EPA decided to drop the value of persons age 70+ by 38%. When that became public, the agency reversed itself.

... for nonintrusive inspection equipment, ion scanners and canine units for Mexico and Central America to stop drugs, arms, cash and criminals. It also includes secure communications systems, helicopters and surveillance aircraft, and it includes training and community action programs for anti-gang measures.

I've been having a hell of a time finding out exactly WHO (or are corporations a "WHAT") will be receiving these funds.  As Laura Carlsen noted last October (when the initiative was first being discussed):

...the new deal will offer up lucrative contracts to U.S. military and intelligence equipment firms, long-term maintenance and training contracts, and related services. In a recent Washington Post article, Misha Glenny cites a GAO report on Plan Colombia that finds that 70% of the money allotted never leaves the United States.

The billion-dollar drug deal may be a bonanza for Boeing, but the pay-off to the U.S. taxpayers who have to foot the bill is much less obvious.

Despite Walters' claims, a tremendous amount of evidence exists to show the consistent failure of the supply-side model of drug war that relies primarily on military and police enforcement measures. When that model goes international, it becomes even more problematic, feeding conflict as it starves social investment.

Certainly the police and military in Mexico want, and need, more training -- and maybe equipment.  The crackdown on narcotics dealers is welcome by many, who are tired of the violence.  The violence has escalated SINCE the crackdown, and -- similar to the Bush administration's response to increased violence in Iraq -- the claim is that the "surge is working."  Maybe.

Even if that is true (and given the sorry state of the rural economy, I can't see drug sales themselves as corrupting.  If a narco buys a new SUV, and the salesman buys his daughter a computer so she can get ahead in her studies and go to medical school, is her future career based on corruption?  What if she specializes in addiction treatment therapies?

That's a little silly, I know.  But, if these funds are going to be corrosive, I think it's going to come in two areas.  First, with more resources and intellegence gathering capability, there is a danger that "anti-drug" activities will be used to deal with unpopular, or politically inconvenient, factions.  BurroHall mentioned a military raid on the Zapatistas under the guise of searching for marijuana, reported in more detail by Luis Hernández Navarro of Jornada:

Since the January 1994 insurrection, various administrations have wanted to associate the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN in its Spanish initials) with drug trafficking. They’ve never been able to demonstrate such a link, but they try time and time again.

This past June 4 the tired old story played out again. Only this time the threat is greater than in the past. On that date over 200 agents from the federal Army, the Attorney General’s office, and state and municipal police, with their faces painted, entered the Zapatista territory of La Garrucha with the pretext of looking for marijuana plants. Hundreds of residents from the Hermenegildo Galeana and San Alejando communities fended them off with machetes, clubs, and slingshots.

Zapatista communities prohibit the cultivation, trafficking, and consumption of drugs. It’s not even permitted to drink or sell alcohol there. This isn’t a new fact. The rebel commanders have made this law public since the beginning of the armed uprising. The measure remains in effect under the civil authorities who have been put in charge of the autonomous municipalities and the good government councils.

(Translation from Narco News:  while I am dubious about some of Narco New's reporting, because they don't seem to fact check their "co-publishers", I will use their material if it is from a reputable outside source [which you can assume was fact-checked] or that I've double checked against other published data)

I don't want to go into a long riff here, but I'd point out that the Merida Initiative funding was part of a military spending and "anti-terrorism" appropriation.  Mexican "anti-terrorism" activities were in the news last week.  The now deceased ttp://www <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->Fredi Fierro Peredo was arrested and tortured at the age of 85 after disturbances in Guerrero a few years back.  Fierro's posthumous testimony is part of an investigation into military conducted disappearances and torture that followed the Acteal Massacre.  Without much trouble that incident could be called "anti-terrorist" activities today.  I'll try to get my source translated and posted later this week.

Last week, Mexicans were shocked when police training videos -- that included torture -- surfaced in Leon.  What was puzzling at the time was that the trainers were English-speakers.  A little investigation by Mexican journalists has uncovered the identity of those trainers:  "Jerry WIlson" and  karateca, instructor de torturadores <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->Gerardo Arrechea, both connected with a Florida company, Risks Incorporated.  El Universal reports that Arrechea has an unlicensed karate school in Mexico, and is apparently working illegally.  NarcoNews ties him to a Cuban-American organization with a propensity for violent acts in Cuba and elsewhere.

This is where United States taxpayer dollars are going. If the funds are just ending up in the hands of narcotics dealers, it's because the beneficiaries of government largesse (say Bell Helicopter workers) will have the money to spend... on narcotics, among other things.

Which leads to the second problem.  The iniative looks only at the "supply side" and does nothing about demand.  Other than leading Mexico into a police state, it only as an afterthought looks at the cash coming into Mexico.  While some of those heliocopter workers might buy more Mexican tomatoes, or auto parts, or gasoline made from Mexican oil, guns and "training" by U.S. based companies is not going to put cash into the pockets of Mexican workers, or rural residents.  It's going to damage the tourism industry, and make the country more, not less, dangerous.   A couple of neighbor kids were arrested yesterday for... something.  The cops showed up, put their hands on the kids and told them to sit in the back of their pickup truck.  The kids were talking -- politely -- to the coppers as they drove off.  Compare that to an arrest in the United States -- the kids would be wrestled to the ground, handcuffed (and being Mexico, cuffed up the side of the head a few times).  I worry what's going to happen when the police are trained to treat all arrests as potentially deadly, and have the firepower to back it up.  Or with even more weapons available that make confrontations all the more likely.  I expect cops will be drawing their guns a lot more... and more "innocent bystanders" (or at least people not directly related to the crime, like the guy shot in his car in Cuilican last week when the police and gangsters had a car chase/shootout and the poor guy bought it at an intersection).

And, as long as there is a willing buyer, narcotics dealers will keep selling.  Only now they'll have more guns available on the black market.