Haiti and the Economics of Kidnapping
Not all kidnappings are transactional in nature. Not all kidnappings are opportunistic occurrences by those willing to go the distance to fill their pockets through the negotiating tactics of plata o plomo (silver or lead). There are kidnappings in Haiti (and elsewhere) wherein an opposing gang member is snatched up, held, and tortured for a period, and then killed. There is a certain type of value attributed to such an act. But there is no exchange of goods, monies, or services.
Why I Write
Aspiring Socio-Political Commentator As a non-specialist, I thought it was important to immerse myself in reading works by experts that go into greater detail than a tweet, a FB status, or a blog post. This is especially of urgency seeing that I am not currently taking courses and my day job as a behavior specialist assistant does not allow me to spend long periods going through detailed material. Activities of that nature can best be done when one is away from work and (if you want to be honest) friends. As an aspiring writer and one who loves to read, it was
“I Am Human”: The Spectacular Sha’Carri Richardson
Introducing the One and Only Sha’Carri Richardson is the talk of the town, again. No, it’s not for her “10.72 seconds to win the 100 meters at the 2021 Miramar Invitational.” It’s not about missing the Olympics due to failing a drug test. Nor is it about the passing of her mother. No, this time it’s about her ninth-place finish at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic. This event was hyped up as being the ultimate showdown between Richardson and the Jamaican Olympic sprinting group led by Elaine Thompson-Herah. In fact, I initially set out to write about Thompson-Herah. I wanted to say a
When Martyrdom Comes A-Knocking: Does Andrew Cuomo have a Political Future?
The week of August 1 - 7, a few friends and I had a chat about the Cuomo allegations. We concluded that his term was over and that he was done. We saw no possible political future given the climate. Last week, while talking to other New Yorkers, I’ve come to realize that the idea of Cuomo’s political demise wasn’t universal. In fact, some are opposed to his stepping down from the governor’s chair. “Cuomo has done a lot for the state”, some said. Others remarked on his leadership during the pandemic (standing up to Trump) and don’t see further