Badger Blogger

Mexico is already having a problem that many are warning that the US will soon have because of the expansion of ethanol. Most ethanol in America, and Mexico, is made from corn. The problem is, corn is also the base of most foods that we eat, and export.

In Mexico, rising corn prices have quadrupled the price of the staple of most poor Mexicans, the tortilla. The Mexican government has capped the price on tortillas, but most businesses are ignoring the caps. Poor Mexicans get more than 40 percent of their protein from tortillas. The higher prices mean that a typical family of 4 making the minimum wage of $4.60 a day, spends a third of it’s wages on tortillas. The alternative is, they use cheaper and less nutritious alternatives, such as noodles.

A Culinary and Cultural Staple in Crisis
Mexico Grapples With Soaring Prices for Corn — and Tortillas

Mexico is in the grip of the worst tortilla crisis in its modern history. Dramatically rising international corn prices, spurred by demand for the grain-based fuel ethanol, have led to expensive tortillas. That, in turn, has led to lower sales for vendors such as Rosales and angry protests by consumers.

The uproar is exposing this country’s outsize dependence on tortillas in its diet — especially among the poor — and testing the acumen of the new president, Felipe Calderón. It is also raising questions about the powerful businesses that dominate the Mexican corn market and are suspected by some lawmakers and regulators of unfair speculation and monopoly practices.

Tortilla prices have tripled or quadrupled in some parts of Mexico since last summer. On Jan. 18, Calderón announced an agreement with business leaders capping tortilla prices at 78 cents per kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, less than half the highest reported prices. The president’s move was a throwback to a previous era when Mexico controlled prices — the government subsidized tortillas until 1999, at which point cheap corn imports were rising under the NAFTA trade agreement. It was also a surprise given his carefully crafted image as an avowed supporter of free trade.

Gálvez said she believes the price increase is already steering Mexicans toward less nutritious foods. The typical Mexican family of four consumes about one kilo — 2.2 pounds — of tortillas each day. In some areas of Mexico, the price per kilo has risen from 63 cents a year ago to between $1.36 and $1.81 earlier this month.

With a minimum wage of $4.60 a day, Mexican families with one wage earner have been faced in recent months with the choice of having to spend as much as a third of their income on tortillas — or eating less or switching to cheaper alternatives.

Many poor Mexicans, Gálvez said, have been substituting cheap instant noodles, which often sell for as little as 27 cents a cup and are loaded with less nutritious starch and sodium.

America needs to pay attention to stories like this, corn, in some form, is used in almost every food you can think of in the American diet. Even a good steak comes from corn fed beef, and those prices are already trending up in America.

Good ol’ Milwaukee County Circuit Judge William W. Brash lowered the bail of a child molesting lawyer, so he could get out of jail. Remember this the next time Judge Brash comes up for reelection.

Folks in the area of Grantosa Ave. & Capitol Dr. need to be aware that this 30 year pervert may be moving back into the neighborhood soon.

CCAP shows him as being charged with 2 counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of Child, one count each of Child Enticement-Expose Sex Organ and Child Enticement-Sexual Contact and 17 counts of Possession of Child Pornography

Attorneys for Joseph Hallows, the disbarred lawyer held in jail for nearly a year on child pornography and sexual assault charges, are taking steps to get him released on bail. And Wauwatosa police have begun notifying residents that he could be returning to their neighborhood soon.

“We want to stay ahead of this in anticipation that he may make bail,” Wauwatosa police Capt. Dominic Leone said. “People need to be mindful of where he lives and what his activities are. They need to know where their kids are.”

Defense attorney Gerald Boyle, who said Hallows would be confined to his home and monitored around the clock, called the police notification “over the top.”

[…]

Hallows, 68, has been in the Milwaukee County Jail since February, unable to make the $250,000 cash bail on 17 counts of possessing child pornography and two counts each of child enticement and second-degree sexual assault of a child.

Last week, over the objections of police and prosecutors, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge William W. Brash agreed to lower the bail to a $105,000 real estate bond and $2,500 cash bail.

[…]

Hallows was arrested last winter after police, acting on a tip, confiscated reams of photographs and written accounts depicting sexual encounters with children and others over a 30-year period.

This Just In… Kevin Fischer is Blogging.

Welcome to the Cheddarsphere Kevin!

Those of you that don’t know Kevin Fisher, he is a former reporter (don’t worry, he is one of the good guys), talk radio host, and he is a member of the PBS panel show INTERchange. He is also works in the Wisconsin Senate.

When the tough issues come around, don’t expect Kevin to shy away.

John Chic, who we discussed a few days ago, is the sexual predator that moved into a West Allis duplex. It turns out that the photo on the sex offender registry is outdated and he looks nothing like the photo they have (and I posted), they say they will have an update in a few days…

But the real news update is that Chic was arrested last night, he was driving a car other than the one registered with police, and it seems that there was a problem with the vehicles VIN number. I don’t have all of the details right now, but I will post them ASAP.

UPDATE: Chic’s re-arrest
They don’t provide details, but on the TV news last night (I believe it was Fox 6), they said, paraphrasing, he was driving a car other than the one he is authorized to drive, and there was something wrong with the VIN number, but I don’t have any better details (nothing on CCAP yet).

Sex offender back in jail

A registered sex offender who’s been living in West Allis for two weeks is back in jail today on an alleged probation violation, two days after police held a public meeting alerting residents he’d moved into their neighborhood.

Capt. Tom Kukowski said John Chic, 41, was arrested Friday morning, but that he had no information on the alleged violation.

Kukowski said he did not believe Chic’s arrest was related to Thursday’s meeting, which drew about 100 residents to West Allis Central High School.

Chic, who also goes by the name John Peters, was released from prison this month after serving 15 years for first-degree sexual assault of an apartment manager. He’s been living since his release in a duplex in the 800 block of S. 85th St., where he has been monitored by electronic bracelet and a global-positioning device, police said.

Update: WISN has this updated photo

This is just nuts! Wisconsin’s Department of Motor vehicles is holding seminars (in Spanish) trying to get illegal aliens to get a Wisconsin drivers license before April, when the law will prohibit non-citizens from receiving a license.

Rep. Suder and Sen. Grothman: Blast DMV Officials for Encouraging Illegal Aliens to Beat Deadline on License Law

Madison… State Representative Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) and State Senator Glenn Grothman (R- West Bend) blasted the State Department of Motor Vehicles today after a DMV employee participated in a recent seminar prompting illegal aliens to apply for state driver’s licenses. Suder and Grothman said the Department appears to be deliberately encouraging illegal aliens to beat the April deadline for a new state law that bars non-citizens from receiving state driver’s licenses and ID cards. The lawmakers called the seminar a “complete betrayal of the public’s trust” and demanded that the DMV immediately end all future classes and forums.

“The DMV seems to care more about sliding illegal aliens through the licensing line than it does about allowing law-abiding citizens and their children to get their driver’s licenses,” added Suder. “No wonder Wisconsin’s young people are waiting months to get a driver’s test.”

According to the January 24, 2007, edition of The Janesville Gazette, more than 30 people attended a forum which was offered in Spanish at the Janesville YWCA where a DMV employee encouraged participants who cannot prove their citizenship to apply for a driver’s license before the new law goes into effect in April. The lawmakers said the employee even offered tips on how to circumvent the license law by urging audience members who are NOT legal citizens to renew their current licenses before the April deadline. It also appears that the DMV may be scheduling additional exam times and testing periods to accommodate undocumented applicants.

“It is beyond belief that the Department of Transportation is diverting resources from providing driver’s tests for law abiding citizen,” said Grothman. “Instead, they are spending time to send the message that our immigration laws are to be ignored.”

The lawmakers said Governor Doyle should immediately order the department to cancel any future classes and work to enforce the citizenship requirements now rather than waiting until April.

Kudos to Alderman Bob Donovan, he has come out and called Doyle’s cigarette tax for what it is, “an attempt to raise state budget revenue through an absurdly high tax increase that narrowly targets a specific group of citizens.”

The Governor’s proposed hike in the cigarette tax is blatantly unfair and is basically an attempt to raise state budget revenue through an absurdly high tax increase that narrowly targets a specific group of citizens. In my district there are dozens of small corner taverns – many of which have been in operation since long before I was born – and the Governor’s proposed statewide ban on smoking in all public places and buildings would be a huge blow to the hard-working families that own these small but vital businesses.

You can readAld. Bob Donovan’s full statement here.

A nuclear Iran with the capability of hitting Europe and eventually the U.S., that is what we face is we don’t stop them now, before it is to late…

BREAKING NEWS — Iran Set to Try Space Launch

Iran has converted its most powerful ballistic missile into a satellite launch vehicle. The 30-ton rocket could also be a wolf in sheep’s clothing for testing longer-range missile strike technologies, Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine reports in its Jan. 29 issue.

The Iranian space launcher has recently been assembled and “will liftoff soon” with an Iranian satellite, according to Alaoddin Boroujerdi, the chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.

The move toward an independent space launch capacity is likely to ratchet up concern in the U.S. and Europe about Iran’s strategic capabilities and intents. Orbiting its own satellite would send a powerful message throughout the Muslim world about the Shiite regime in Tehran.

U.S. agencies believe the launcher to be a derivation of the 800-1,000-mi. range Shahab 3 missile. A Shahab 3 fired from central Iran could strike anywhere in Israel, Saudi Arabia, the entire Persian Gulf region and as far west as southern Turkey.

There are concerns in the West that space launch upgrades, however, could eventually create an Iranian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of nearly 2,500 mi., giving Tehran the ability to strike as far as central Europe, well into Russia and even China and India.

I heard about this disgusting party held by college students in a small Texas college, on the Jeff Wagner show, but only heard a few minutes of the topic. But Peter has more.

In a nutshell, a bunch of college students celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Day by holding a party to show that they are a bunch of ignorant racists that were so stupid that they posted their pictures on Face Book. Pictures like people dressed as Aunt Jamima, and wearing afro wigs, holding malt liquor bottles, fried chicken, guns and any other stereotype they could use to mock black people. The links above have links to The Smoking Gun, they have posted the pictures that they don’t want people to see.

I’ll bet their parents are so proud…

Just a quick follow-up on the Alderman Michael McGee’s on air homo-bigotry. Charlie Sykes demonstrated the blatant hypocrisy by contrasting the way a TV star is being treated after he referred to a gay costar as a fagot, and the lack of any noticeable outrage toward an elected official that has repeatedly used that word and other derogatory remarks toward gays, or people he suspected may be gay. (Remember the two students on a bus trip with McGee? He accused them of being lesbians.)

To Michael McGee Sr.
Michael McGee Sr. had a few comments directed toward “the bloggers” (plural?) he wonders why (we) don’t blog about his Bronze Star from his days in Viet Nam. To be honest, I didn’t know about it. I did of course know he served, but he only mentions it when he talks about “his Viet Nam Syndrome” coming back, making him shoot up city hall. He did however apologize to Alderman D’Amato, but no apology was forthcoming from the Alderman for his remarks toward his constituents or the gay community for his homo-bigoted remarks this past Monday (or for the past few years).

You can listen in here.

As for Mr. McGee’s idea of “bloggers” donating to keep his show on the air, I would have a hard time funding the hateful parts of this show, but, as I have said in the past, I do actually think parts of this radio show are very beneficial. McGee Sr. brings on a lot of people geared toward helping the elderly and low income people deal with financial issues and things like credit counseling, dealing with Medicare, Social Security and his mother even works to get low cost prescription medications for the elderly. So you see, this show could be a great resource, but even though the show starts with a prayer, it often launches immediately into a really hate filled screed, and that is a shame.

I don’t hate the McGee’s as I am sure they believe, I hate what they say, and the beliefs that they espouse, but I see them both as people that held the potential to really lead more than a hate filled group of people, but they have lost that potential because of a deep seated hatred of anyone that doesn’t believe in lock-step with them (black or white). I do believe that Alderman McGee is unqualified to be in his position, through his own actions, he has done this to himself, it’s not the actions of other people. It is time to look in the mirror, accept responsibility for your actions and try to repent and move on to be a better person.

Talk about timing, I was wondering how Deputy Tim Johnson was doing and wrote to his brother last night, but today, they had an update in the news.

A Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputy struck by a car while clearing a traffic accident earlier this month has been taken off of life support, but he still remains in a coma, sheriff’s officials said today.
Deputy Tim Johnson’s condition was upgraded this week from critical to serious but stable while he recovers from the Jan. 12 accident, which occurred on I-94 near Highway 41.

It is going to be a long slow road back for Deputy Johnson and his family, so remember that they are holding two fund raisers in his bennefit:

M&I Banks have set up the “Deputy Tim Johnson Family Fund,” and people can make donations at any branch.

On Saturday, Jan. 27th at Serb Hall (51 & Oklahoma), they are holding a fund raising dinner ($35 single, $65 couple). Call (414) 526-3477 for details/reservations.

On Sunday, February 18, the event that Kevin has mentioned, will be on South 27th & 8 Mile Rd.

Godspeed Deputy!

Is it a bad sign when your fingers hurt to much to type? GAWD, it was cold out there today!

This is hilarious! How To Prank A Telemarketer

h/t: Vista on Current Events

I don’t have the details, but Mark Belling has broken a story today. Chief Nan Hegerty wants to greatly expand the 1st Police District to include much of the north side inner city. The plan would have the current downtown district cover west to 27th Street and north to North Ave. in an effort to get more police into the area.

Mayor Tom Barrett’s mouthpiece says that the mayor is opposed to any plan that will take cops out of downtown.

I wonder if/when the paper will catch this story?

UPDATE: Audio of Belling breaking the story
Listen to mark Belling’s report (13:00)

Jim Doyle announced his plan to raise cigarette taxes by $1.25-a-pack, as well as banning smoking from all public places like bars and restaurants. Sure, this tax hike hits all smokers, but it hits the poor the hardest. It is a fact that the poor smoke in greater numbers, and adding $1.25 to each pack, will have a real effect on someone struggling between paychecks as it is. Another fact is, a great many of these people, when given the choice between their cigarettes and other needed items for their family, will make the wrong choice.

The real question is why this guy will be on the streets to begin with?

John Chic
837 S 85TH ST UPPR
WEST ALLIS, WI 53214

He drives (WHY I do not know) a 2002 GMC Red Sonoma Pickup, with a license plate of AL27841

Sex offender meeting is Thursday

West Allis - Police will host a public meeting Thursday to alert residents that a registered sex offender has moved to the community.

Chief Dean Puschnig said the decision to hold the meeting, which is not required by law, was made because of the seriousness of the offense.

“We consider this man a very dangerous person,” Puschnig said of John Chic, 41, who was released from prison in January after serving 15 years for first-degree sexual assault. “He basically lured an apartment manager into the basement and forced her at knifepoint to commit a sex act.”

Chic, who also has gone by the name John Peters, has been living since his release in a duplex in the 800 block of S. 85th St. According to police, he is allowed to leave the apartment to look for work, but is being tracked through an electronic bracelet and a GPS monitor.

The state’s sex offender registry describes him as 5 feet 11 inches and 230 pounds, with gray-brown hair and blue eyes. He drives a 2002 GMC Red Sonoma Pickup, with a license plate of AL27841, police said.

Chic was convicted of first-degree sexual assault in July 1992 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was paroled in March 2003. But his probation was revoked after he was accused of robbing a woman and holding her against her will at a Greenfield Shopping center in July 2004. He was acquitted at trial of all charges in connection with that incident.

Thursday’s public meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Central High School auditorium, 8516 W. Lincoln Ave.

Monday (Jan. 22) night, there was a meeting in Milwaukee’s 6th Aldermanic District hosted by Michael McGee. The meeting was to discuss a development project on Holton & Brown. The River West Neighborhood Association website, as usual, has a great write-up on the meeting.

Alderman McGee had an interesting take on the meeting, he discussed his views on WNOV’s Word Warrior program, run by his father, Michael McGee Sr. He described his constituents that showed up at this community meeting on a cold January night, as being hateful white people. Here are a few quotes from his remarks on this meeting.

A lot of the white constituents feel that, it’s a South African situation, where they can come in and impose their will.

There was so much hatred, the dynamics of last nights meeting was the gay people, the homosexual people who were upset about my Jude comments, they came to the meeting.

McGee Sr. suggested that since Alderman D’Amato was also at the meeting, that he may be a member of the gay community, and then went on to say, “There’s definitely a lot of gays down there now, I mean, I’m not just saying that, I mean that’s for real. They be switchin’ left and right down there.”

They then went on to discuss the white constituents that showed up as people that are “empty nesters” that are trying to keep black people out of the area because they have the audacity to have a fence, “to keep people out,” instead of trying to be a part of the community. But you can see when they are involved in what happens in their community, their alderman treats them like this.

To call your own community meeting on King Dr. & North, that’s an area that is heavily populated by block people, and out of 70 people, 50 of them was white people… Which is pretty interesting.

Download the audio. (5:40).

Can you point to another elected politician that would refer to his constituents like this?

Milwaukee, and the 6th District deserve better.

UPDATE: CRG Information in Comments
Citizens for Responsible Government have put out information on the recall, I have added the links in a comment below, so make sure you check them.