Friday

The federal judiciary recounting just nine percent of the votes from the July second presidential election continues to do so today, with little noticed shifting of the nearly-half-percent lead for Felipe Calderón. ALMO, still staking out México City (and supplying the New York Times with this essay--needs free registration) continues to blast the tribunal's decision for a merely partial recount, going so far as to say any outcome, even in his favor, without a full recount is without merit. In Oaxaca, the political protest née teachers' union strike is reaching the boiling point: in two separate but possibly unrelated incidents since Wednesday armed gunmen have attacked and killed protestors. Wednesday, three people of indigenous descent were killed en route to the city; then late yesterday, armed gunmen fired into a crowd, killing one man and injuring others. The gunmen then fled to a house, which protestors surrounded and set on fire. Or maybe protestors held the alleged gunmen hostage until late today when they were released to authorities to be charged in the homicides. I read both things, so both may be true. Fires were also set outside the clinic where the injured and dead were admitted. This after hooded gunmen broke into an opposition radio station on Tuesday, pouring acid on broadcast equipment, and then proceeded to invade an opposition newspaper later that afternoon and shoot the place up, injuring two reporters. Oaxacan protestors blame the Governor for all of these attacks, natch. That may also be true. Here in Monterrey, things were pretty sedate today, and I made soup for Sunshine tonight because she had a headache. It was the least I could do after three days of being a pain-in-the-ass sick baby. The soup was tomato based, and incorporated little pasta stars. [Cavin]