La Balota

The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish.

--Robert Jackson

The next loss-leader for retail grocers? Not $1.50/gal milk or Blue Bell ice cream at two for $7.

Would you believe prescription drugs--for free.

WalMart’s been selling generics for $4 a pop for a while, but now the Publix supermarket chain is going to give away 14-day doses of the seven most-often prescribed antibiotics in all of its stores.

One Florida newspaper quoted a woman as saying this would "save her thousands of dollars in meds…" which makes you wonder how much longer before she reaches room temperature. These drugs aren’t that expensive to begin with…

I read this somewhere this week: Mexico’s Carlos Slim is the richest man in the world, with a fortune worth $59-billion. To express it in other terms, El Slim’s holdings represent 5% of Mexico’s total GDP (compared to John D. Rockefeller, whose total wealth was a mere 1/52^nd of US GDP at his death.)

Shouldn’t Mexico just change its name to “Slimlandia?”

By the way, Univision is proposing hosting a presidential candidates’ debate next month ...in Spanish.

Yes, I know that Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the population…but a debate among US Presidential candidates conducted in a foreign language? Sorry, folks, that’s where it really looks like things are coming off the rails. I was reading some of the comments about this in the Houston Chronicle on-line editions…pretty hilarious—or just sad—to observe the level of English competency.

"Pretty soon I will need a spanish translater (sic) just to go shopping in Houston! Viva Texico!" [No, but a working knowledge of English spelling and punctuation wouldn't hurt--which would make the original premise moot.]

"More people vote for American Idol than the US Presidency. Of course, the eligible voter pool is larger. So, why don't we have a sing-off, or make the candidates dance with one another?"

Eww--that's a visual I could have gone until November 2008 without having. Which would be more gross--Hillary waltzing in John Edward's arms...or Obama's?
I know, I know--Obama in John's arms. (Well, he does have great hair...)

I think it's time for my meds.
See you on the Radio.