I am posting this picture of my Dad and Brother again. Dec. 7th is Sam’s birthday. He passed away Dec. 27, 2008.  I don’t have a later picture of him on my computer so this picture is all that is available. Anyway, I always have a perfect picture of him in my heart, so this is for you the reader anyway. I really miss visiting with my brother and going to Alabama to see him from time to time. Anyway, I just wanted to remember him and honor him on this his birthday….I still miss you, Sambo…. (a click on the picture will enlarge it.)

Jerry Pacheco wrote a very good article titled, “A New Kind of War Convulsing Mexico” in todays Business Outlook. In that article he states, “….the results of the Mexican Revolution are still a work in progress. In 2010, Mexico ranks as the 14th largest economy in the world and a major exporter of its products around the globe……Today, the country openly welcomes foreign companies, and the precious foreign investment and jobs they bring…. As to the further changes made in Mexico he also states, “As has been the case since the Mexican independence movement of 1810, every one-hundred years that passes brings turmoil to Mexico and 2010 is no exception. Rather than a war being fought for freedom, democracy and self-rule, the current drug wars are based in money and power…. And we can all agree with that…. Then Mr. Pacheco comes to the real meat of the problem…”While it can be argued that the Mexican economy has modernized since the revolution, two key factors which are critical in the success of any stable country have remained antiquated–functional and efficient educational and legal systems…A weak educational system has the effect of guaranteeing no chance for the improvement of the quality of life for millions of Mexicans.” …Well, said Mr. Pacheco, well said…..and America is paying for the lack of education and legal systems in Mexico today….One way we could help ourselves is to send thousands of peace corp volunteers into Mexico to teach the children, develop the middle class and help form an effective and ethical legal system….Our southern border will continue to be porous as long as there are only “the peons and the rich” in Mexico….Meanwhile, with our economy, the peons continue to steadily grow in  America….