But first, 5November2024 is less than a week away. All polls show that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are nearly tied in the key battleground states. I ask myself, how can this be happening?
- Early this year, Donald Trump was rated #45, the worst president in the history of the USA, by 154 political scientists.
- Joe Biden was ranked #14.
- #1 was Abraham Lincoln, with Franklin D. Roosevelt #2 and George Washington #3.
- Barack Obama came in at #7.
- Donald Trump is a convicted felon, the first American president in history.
- Earlier this year Common Cause said Trump should be disqualified from running again. They cited ten reasons, and some of them included violation of the 14th Amendment, he is a danger to our Democracy, etc.
- Trump lies more than tells the truth, is a mysogynist, has been disloyal to his wife, only thinks about himself, has already told us he will become a dictator and this list can go and on for pages and pages.
- Kamala Harris is happily married, truthful and someone you can trust. She promotes unity, freedom and... well, this list can go on and on,
- Yet, those polls show today that Donald Trump has about a 50-50 chance of repeating as president. Without any guardrails, this could be the end of Democracy and beginning of a Dictatorship. The USA could well join Russia, China, North Korea and Iran as the new power axis. Not only will the USA suffer, but so will the world.
- So how can this be happening?
- I'll be on the Norwegian Encore somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean when the worst could occur on November 5. Woe is me. Woe is the Nation. Woe is Humanity. How can this be happening???
In this real world today, Day 17 went well. We successfully transited the Panama Canal and had a fine day. The evening began with an experimental martini at the Observation Deck. A Bombay Sapphire Gin double, with a shot of Drambuie. They added too much, so the drink was barely tolerable.
Day 18, and the Norwegian Encore arrived in Cartegena, Colombia. I continue to be surprised at how developed these cities look. Don't plan any tour of the city. While there are places in Colombia that are unsafe, Cartegena is considered mostly okay. And certainly for cruise tours. Passengers are warned about pickpockets in crowded areas and tourist hotspots, but that virtually is the case anywhere in the world. A few photos from our veranda.
The Republic of Colombia:
- Has been home to many indigenous peoples since at least 12,000 BC.
- The Spanish came in 1499, and by the mid-1500s, this area was colonized, with Bogota as capital.
- Independence came in 1819, with what is now Colombia as the New Kingdom of Granada.
- The Republic of Colombia was so named in 1886.
- Named after Christopher Columbus.
- Much armed conflicts in the 1990s.
- Since 2005, stability.
- Recognized for having the best healthcare in Latin America, and #22 in the world. Ranked #36 in Health Care Index.
- # 1 Taiwan
- # 2 South Korea
- # 3 Japan
- # 4 Netherlands
- # 9 Thailand
- #36 Colombia
- #38 USA
- #56 Russia
- #94 Venezuela
- Population of 50 million is third to Brazil and Mexico in Latin America.
- Bogota 7.4 million.
- 90% Christianity, most Roman Catholic.
.jpg)
- Bolivia and Peru previously grew cocoa leaves, but a fungus wiped out much of Peru's crops,
- In response, Columbia drug cartels purchased land in Colombia, replacing those two countries, becoming the primary producer in the 1990s. By 2004, Columbia supplied 80 of world cocaine. Peru recovered by 2012. Colombia cultivates 200,000 acres of cocoa leaf.
- But there are government data showing cultivation growing from 40,100 in 1990 to 163,300 in 2000, but dropping to 78,000 in 2007 because of government eradication programs. The United Nations disagrees. The New York Times supports the UN.
- Much of the info is dated, as for example coca production in 2006 employed 67,000 households. But that was almost 20 years ago.
- Here is a 2024 article from InSight Crime.
- Coca prices have collapsed in parts of Colombia amid record hectares of cultivation. Could oversupply do what years of eradication have failed to achieve, prompting coca farmers to switch to legal crops?
- A kilogram of cocaine in Colombia sells for $2000, increasing value to $25,000 in the U.S. $35,000 in Europe, $50,000 in Asia and $100,000 in Australia.
- $20 billion worth of cocaine now on the world market.
- How is cocaine used? Cocaine is a white powder.
- Usually snorted.
- Cooking cocaine with baking soda produces small pieces, called rocks, or crack cocaine. This is smoked.
- Produces a fast, intense feeling of power and energy. Effect amplified with use. But then you need more.
- Very addictive. Avoid. One use can hook you. One use can cause a heart attack, stroke, even death.
- Cocaine can look and feel like powdered sugar, talcum powder, white flower, cornstarch or baby powder. Is odorless and tasteless.
- 28 million U.S. users.
- Cocaine is a Schedule II drug, which is highly addictive and has a high potential for abuse. The penalty for possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine mixture (or 5 grams or more of cocaine base) is 5 to 40 years in state prison with a fine of up to $5 million for a first offense.
What about Cartagena? To pronounce, make believe the g is an h.
- The first Spanish colony on the American continent.
- People who visit go to the walled colonial city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, where there are fancy restaurants, clubs and hotels, and a long strip of towers fronting the beach known as Bocagrande.
- Watch out for vendor scams, including changing money.
- 1000 Peso Colombiano to 23 cents, or 4,381 PC to $1.
We are at sea tomorrow, and will be in George Town, Cayman Islands the next day.
Kong-Rey was a Super Typhoon earlier today, but has settled down to only 140 MPH, and is on track to roll over Taiwan in less than 24 hours. The eye will then head for Japan.
-
Comments
Post a Comment