Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Cartels are Winning
Mexican massacre investigator found dead
Body of official dumped beside road near scene of killing of 72 Central and South American migrants in Tamaulipas
Glossary
Narco-speak
Students of the Spanish language and Mexican culture alike can add a new module to their classes: narco-speak. Mexico’s drugs cartels and the chilling violence they have inflicted on the country, have spawned a new lexicon to describe objects and activities that were barely known in the country just a couple of decades ago.
Cuerno de chivo
Before the rise of the cartels, the term “cuerno de chivo” used to mean just that: a goat’s horn. Today, only the most isolated from current affairs and popular culture would confuse it with anything other than an AK-47 assault rifle. The nickname comes from the weapon’s distinctively curved ammunition clip.
Levantón
In more peaceful times, the word “levantón” usually meant a round-up of suspects by police or other security forces. Today, it means only one thing: kidnapping of one or more rival gang members with the express intention of torturing and then killing them.
Manta
More often than not, a “manta” in Spanish was something your grandmother might have made to cover your bed. Nowadays, it is a scrawled message or warning – sometimes in blood and often pinned to a dead body – from one armed group to another.
Plaza
Remember the “plaza”, that sunlit square
complete with bubbling fountain in the middle that forms any self-respecting image of a Mexican town? Today, it means a local territory for dealing drugs.
Dar piso
The literal translation of “dar piso” is to “give floor” (to something). Today it means to kill someone or to “take them out”.
Narco-
Perhaps the most flexible term in the new vocabulary is the prefix “narco”.
Try “narcocandidato”, the term for describing a corrupt politician. Or “narcofiesta”, a party of rabble-rousing music, pretty girls and plenty of white cowboy hats held by and for drug traffickers. Then there is the somewhat older term “narcocorrido”, a ballad whose lyrics are specifically about mafia culture.
Two car bombs explode in northern Mexico; no casualties
Body of official dumped beside road near scene of killing of 72 Central and South American migrants in Tamaulipas
Glossary
Narco-speak
Students of the Spanish language and Mexican culture alike can add a new module to their classes: narco-speak. Mexico’s drugs cartels and the chilling violence they have inflicted on the country, have spawned a new lexicon to describe objects and activities that were barely known in the country just a couple of decades ago.
Cuerno de chivo
Before the rise of the cartels, the term “cuerno de chivo” used to mean just that: a goat’s horn. Today, only the most isolated from current affairs and popular culture would confuse it with anything other than an AK-47 assault rifle. The nickname comes from the weapon’s distinctively curved ammunition clip.
Levantón
In more peaceful times, the word “levantón” usually meant a round-up of suspects by police or other security forces. Today, it means only one thing: kidnapping of one or more rival gang members with the express intention of torturing and then killing them.
Manta
More often than not, a “manta” in Spanish was something your grandmother might have made to cover your bed. Nowadays, it is a scrawled message or warning – sometimes in blood and often pinned to a dead body – from one armed group to another.
Plaza
Remember the “plaza”, that sunlit square
complete with bubbling fountain in the middle that forms any self-respecting image of a Mexican town? Today, it means a local territory for dealing drugs.
Dar piso
The literal translation of “dar piso” is to “give floor” (to something). Today it means to kill someone or to “take them out”.
Narco-
Perhaps the most flexible term in the new vocabulary is the prefix “narco”.
Try “narcocandidato”, the term for describing a corrupt politician. Or “narcofiesta”, a party of rabble-rousing music, pretty girls and plenty of white cowboy hats held by and for drug traffickers. Then there is the somewhat older term “narcocorrido”, a ballad whose lyrics are specifically about mafia culture.
Two car bombs explode in northern Mexico; no casualties
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Drop Obama Save Net Neutrality
Tough hair to split. And then there’s the fraudulent support.
In short, the lights have been turned up in Club Net Neutrality, and it isn’t a pretty sight. The members of the ever-dwindling pro-NN “movement” certainly can’t like what they’re seeing.
In short, the lights have been turned up in Club Net Neutrality, and it isn’t a pretty sight. The members of the ever-dwindling pro-NN “movement” certainly can’t like what they’re seeing.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Liberals are the Problem
MILWAUKEE – Flying thousands of miles to reap millions of dollars, President Barack Obama is dashing across the country to help his party retain power, essentially offering one familiar argument: Republicans don't solve problems.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Backdoor Stagnation
Google Backs Down on Net Neutrality
Net neutrality opponents may take heart from this latest move on Google’s part, which may indicate a weakening of the coalition favoring aggressive regulation.
In a statement, Free Press adviser Joel Kelsey remarked that “If codified, this arrangement will lead to toll booths on the information superhighway.”
Net neutrality opponents may take heart from this latest move on Google’s part, which may indicate a weakening of the coalition favoring aggressive regulation.
In a statement, Free Press adviser Joel Kelsey remarked that “If codified, this arrangement will lead to toll booths on the information superhighway.”
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Net Mutiny
FCC scraps Net neutrality talks
The decision to cut off negotiations marks a major political setback for Chairman Julius Genachowski, whose office reached out to stakeholders six weeks ago to strike an agreement and avoid a public battle over rules that would treat all users’ Web traffic equally.
Google denies deal to end net neutrality
The decision to cut off negotiations marks a major political setback for Chairman Julius Genachowski, whose office reached out to stakeholders six weeks ago to strike an agreement and avoid a public battle over rules that would treat all users’ Web traffic equally.
Google denies deal to end net neutrality
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
They Come For Your Job
Colombia offers clues for solution to Mexico drug war
The Mexico drug war is pushing officials to take heed of Colombia, which made progress with social welfare programs and acknowledgment that force alone doesn't work.
Jobs for ex-cons
In the past decade in urban areas in Colombia, local officials, with support from the federal government, have tested a series of social-welfare programs, such as new infrastructure, increased spending on education, and reintegration programs for former guerrillas and paramilitaries who have disarmed.
Plug the damn hole
The Mexico drug war is pushing officials to take heed of Colombia, which made progress with social welfare programs and acknowledgment that force alone doesn't work.
Jobs for ex-cons
In the past decade in urban areas in Colombia, local officials, with support from the federal government, have tested a series of social-welfare programs, such as new infrastructure, increased spending on education, and reintegration programs for former guerrillas and paramilitaries who have disarmed.
Plug the damn hole
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Who Ya Gonna Vote
Arizona Sheriff: ‘Our Own Government Has Become Our Enemy’
Angle attacks Reid over 'coked-up stimulus monkeys'
A full read of the ABC News report features a quote from the recipient of the 'coked-up stimulus monkeys' grant. Bonnie Davis, a spokeswoman for The Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, told ABC the "small grant has helped protect very important research that will have significant impact on public health in regards to cocaine addiction and the issue of relapse."
Angle attacks Reid over 'coked-up stimulus monkeys'
A full read of the ABC News report features a quote from the recipient of the 'coked-up stimulus monkeys' grant. Bonnie Davis, a spokeswoman for The Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, told ABC the "small grant has helped protect very important research that will have significant impact on public health in regards to cocaine addiction and the issue of relapse."
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)