What Caught My Eye Today

Canada - An obese inmate was released early from a Montreal prison because prison facilities could not adequately accommodate him. The inmate, who weighs more than 400 pounds, suffered from health problems during the two years he spent in jail for drug dealing. No kidding. I would have thought that prison food may have help dude shed a few pounds. Apparently not. The prison mattress was a foot too narrow for him, his legs did not fit under the prison tables, and the prison chairs could not support his weight. Citing those hardships, a judge granted him early parole. Hardships? The guy is a convicted drug dealer, for heaven's sake. He shouldn't be entitled to a country club membership. I say let the guy pay his debt to society. If a 200 pound dude got sent up for the same crime, you would see him being released early.

Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened to send the army to the state of Carabobo if voters there do not elect his ally as governor. Ah yes, democracy in action, the Chavez way--"Of course you have a choice, just don't choose against me." Chavez' candidate is one of several Chavez allies in danger of losing their election or re-election bids in upcoming state and local elections. The far-left Chavez was wildly popular when he was first elected, 10 years ago, but his appeal has been waning. Last year, voters rejected his plan to change the country's constitution to give the president more power. If Chavez was smart he would have followed the lead of President Bush. What Bush couldn't do, he got Vice President Dick Cheney to do for him...or maybe it was the other way around. I'm not so sure.

Costa Rica - This is one of those boring but important stories that is buried in the newspaper and probably didn't even get mentioned on the network news. After four years of delay, Costa Rica finally approved the last law necessary to implement the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The country signed the regional free-trade pact back in 2007--along with the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The other signatories of the pact, which calls for easing of tariffs and more free-market policies, have already enacted it. Costa Rica's opposition lawmakers initially refused saying they didn't want to open the state-run telecommunications and insurance industries to competition. Yes it is unfortunate how free markets and tend to create more competition. But see, here's the thing. If the state-run industries are really that good, then the competition will have a tough time stealing away customers. Could it be, that lawmakers are afraid of competition, because their product isn't that good in the first place? And on another note, this is one of those occasions where I sort of feel bad for President Bush. This is a pretty big win for his foreign policy and no one is likely to even know that it happened because of all the stuff going down in the Middle East. Of course there is also the economy woes here at home--which I think is now officially in a recession--that will also steal some of thunder away from CAFTA. Dude, just cannot catch a break in his final weeks.

Kosovo - This next item is just flat out creepy. Kosovo's deputy health minister was removed from his post last week in a scandal over the illegal harvesting of kidneys from Serbian prisoners during the 1999 war. He had given permission for the organs to be sold on the black market. See what I mean? Seriously, this has to be a pretty clear cut violation of the Geneva Convention doesn't it. I'm pretty sure, you are not supposed to be stealing vital organs from perfectly healthy prisoners of war. Last month, Serbia came up with evidence that Kosovars had stolen kidneys from Serbian prisoners by obtaining confessions from two surgeons who had assisted in the operations. This is one of those times when I wouldn't might seeing some hardcore Muslim justice handed down. In Saudi Arabia, if you get caught stealing, your hand gets chopped off--so you cannot steal again. I'm thinking that would be a fair punishment for this Kosovar health official.

Potpourri - Here's another installment of news tidbits from around the globe reflecting a sign of the times; and in this economic environment, the signs aren't that good.

• Cigarettes - Because of taxes, the average price of a pack of cigarettes is $8.66 in New York State, compared with $3.33 in low-tax South Carolina. South Carolinians spend $304 per person every year on cigarettes compared with $296 for New Yorkers.Which basically means the taxes are starting to work. I read in a separate article that the percentage of American adults who smoke has dropped below 20% for the first time.
• Spam - Spam manufacturer Hormel has added a second shift at its plant and is operating seven days a week to meet demand for the inexpensive canned meat product. Spam "seems to do well when hard times hit."
  That sort of thing brings a tear to your eye, don't it?
• Japan - Japanese policy say that with welfare spending falling and health care costs rising, the country is experiencing a surge in crimes committed by the elderly. Crimes by people older than 65 have more than doubled since 2003, with theft the most common offense.
  Admittedly, this is probably glossing over a rather dire situation, but I'm thinking if Grandpa has run out of Depends undergarments, I'm inclined to let him take whatever he needs. Consider the alternatives if you don't. You'll have quite the mess to mop up.