Quote of the day

On the drive home:

In Congress, they can't agree on how to divvy-up money that isn't there and with the NFL, millionaires and billionaires can't agree on how to divvy-up money that is there.

Armageddon averted... for now:

America's favorite sport is still in business -- for another day.

The NFL and the players' union agreed Thursday to a 24-hour extension of the current collective bargaining agreement so that negotiations can continue.

Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, a member of the NFL Players Association's executive committee, told The Associated Press about the extension after the sides met for about eight hours before federal mediator George Cohen. The CBA was set to expire at midnight, which would likely have prompted the first work stoppage since 1987 for a league that rakes in $9 billion a year.

"We just know right now that we granted a 24-hour extension," Saturday said as he and Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch left the session.

For those of you wondering what the heck the feds are doing getting involved in a sports squabble between millionaires and billionaires, it is duly noted, but a $9 billion industry no matter what you think of the merits or justifications of federal involvement is none the less, a $9 billion industry.



Related: At a press conference today with Mexican President Felipe' Calderon, President Obama was asked to weigh in on the labor dispute.

“You’ve got owners, most of whom are worth close to a billion dollars; you’ve got players who are making millions of dollars,” said the president, who is a big fan of the Chicago Bears. “My working assumption, at a time when people are having to cut back, compromise and worry about making the mortgage and, you know, paying for their kid’s college education, is, is that the two parties should be able to work it out without the president of the United States intervening… My expectation and hope is that they will resolve it without me intervening, because it turns out I’ve got a lot of other stuff to do.”

(italics, ours)

Well said, because he ain't lyin'.

Narrative FAIL

"Migrants in (....) are facing a major human rights crisis leaving them with virtually no access to justice, fearing reprisals and deportation if they complain of abuses," said Rupert Knox, Researcher at Amnesty International.

"Persistent failure by the authorities to tackle abuses carried out against irregular migrants has made their journey through (....) one of the most dangerous in the world."

Kidnappings of migrants, mainly for ransom, reached new heights in 2009, with the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) reporting that nearly 10,000 were abducted over six months and almost half of interviewed victims saying that public officials were involved in their kidnapping.

An estimated six out of 10 migrant women and girls experience sexual violence, allegedly prompting some people smugglers to demand that women receive contraceptive injections ahead of the journey, to avoid them falling pregnant as a result of rape.

The (....) government has often stated its commitment to protect the rights of migrants, whatever their legal status and is a leading promoter of migrants' rights on the international stage.

Despite some welcome measures in recent years, for example better protection of the rights of unaccompanied children and criminalization of people trafficking, this has often in reality failed to prevent and punish abuses against migrants.

Ahem. We're glad the racist and corrupt nature of Arizona is being addressed in the proper manner.

What's that? This Amnesty International report was levied at Mexico? Well, that's certainly pie in the face of the narrative, now isn't it?




Before signing off, let's not forget who it was that was lecturing us on the treatment of (illegal) migrants here within our own borders.



cajones.

Unheeded Lessons of History: South of the Border style

Mexico puts a price freeze on 150 pantry staples.

Guess what Mexico will soon be running low on?