The National Conversation (Raw)

Ugly Americans

Having just spent two glorious weeks in Jamaica, a developing nation in the Caribbean (Is that what we are still calling third world countries?), I have to say that, as a vacationing American, what we are doing with our food (using it for fuel) is wrong. Because of where we were on the island, it was kind of hard to ignore.

What Jamaicans are experiencing is really no different than what most of the world's citizens are experiencing at the moment- high food prices are affecting everyone -  But it's the margins of error that are much, much smaller for the poorer nations.

Have you heard about what's going on in Haiti?

Biofuels aren't the only culprit, I know, but the development, use and subsidization of Ethanol is an unnecessary burden. It's a boondoggle, and it is causing shortages, riots, and starvation around the world.

Ethanol is a fuel, made out of food, which has created an artificial market, which is driving up the cost of everything and in some cases is literally killing people around the globe.

Nice.

That should be enough reason to stop the madness, right?  Naaah... Oh well. The guilt lasted until I got back to the beach. Out of sight out of mind?

Does that makes me part of the problem?

Hot Spot

(Click to enlarge)

This spot served as my office space for the last week or so. Nice, huh?

So far, so GREAT...

Except for the five hour odyessy that involved me almost dying on the beach after eating an incredibly delicious seafood dish that was piled high with crab!  Folks, I thought I was a goner. It's hard to tell what was worse. The allergic reaction, the ride to the hospital, or the hospital itself!

Holy Third World, Batman!

The sights and sounds of suffering in that place were worse than what I was going through. After battling with a skeptical doctor who insisted that my spell was drug related, I did finally get an antihistamine shot in the ass.... I checked out shortly after checking in -- on my own power, with my wife and good friend by my side. No more shellfish for me.

'nuf said.

On Assignment: Tucson, Arizona

Beautiful but HOT, HOT, HOT! Tucson is one of those places that have water issues. I wonder if it will still be here twenty years from now? Don't believe me? Even the locals are talking about shortages. The Aquifers and wells are drying up.

Give me Milwaukee! We have all the water we need, even if the occasional turd is floating in it!