Mafias or Businessmen?

Here in Mexico president Calderón has instructed the Foreign Relations Ministry to answer to the opinions of private citizen Fidel Castro in Cuba which I posted in this blog.

In Russia Newsweek informs us today that the crooks from the police department are taking over businesses.

My conclusion is; yes mafias are taking over businesses all over the world. Nevertheless this opinion is not very relevant, since I believe for instance that William O. Jenkins was a reputed prohibition era tycoon that took over the State of Puebla in Mexico, with mafia like practices. If you enjoy foreign films, watch: ``Arráncame la Vida,'' based on the novel by the same name of Ángeles Mastretta, of Puebla.

There Is Nothing New Under The Sun

Mr. Jenkins presence in Wikipedia is scant. I wonder if the mysterious buccaneer still holds some sway; like El Cid Campeador who won battles after death.

`` Dicen que, en un principio, se ocultó su muerte y sujetaron el cuerpo sobre su fiel caballo, Babieca, lo cual bastó en el campo de batalla para hacer huir al enemigo (por eso se dice que el Campeador seguía ganando batallas después de muerto).''

Taken from Rincón del Vago.

Translation:

They say, that in the beginning, they hid his death and they put and tied his body on his faithful horse, Babieca, which was enough in the battle field to make his enemies flee (that is why they say that Campeador kept winning battles after death).

Here in Chilpancingo, with no industry to speak of, they just opened a new store, Papelería ``El Partenón,'' they even have a facebook page! It took less than a month of night and day busy work to be ready for tomorrow, when classes start.

Mh; I wonder where the money is coming from?

Today in the NYT one reads Prof. Taylor:

``The financial arrangements for these projects remain obscure, but it is clear that they will not be completed without increasing the universities’ already significant and perhaps unsustainable levels of debt. Last year Columbia reported $1.4 billion in outstanding debt against a $5.89 billion endowment. N.Y.U. had a staggering $2.22 billion debt with a relatively modest $2.2 billion endowment — one that had shrunk by more than 11 percent over the previous fiscal year. For universities, as for banks, the question is not only the value of current and projected assets but also the availability of liquidity so they can pay off interim debt obligations during a time of financial instability.''

Maybe I do not have a sense of business. Today we can read also in the NYT, that Gral. Petraeus may have a plan to get money; mh, I mean Win in Afghanistan.