Day October 17, 2008

Chicago Tribune endorses Obama

This is the first time the Trib has endorsed a Democrat for president since their founding in 1847. Colin Powell may endorse Obama tomorrow. The rumors have been flying and Powell hasn’t denied it.

Drug violence spills across border

An six year old boy was kidnapped in Las Vegas allegedly by a Mexican drug cartel because his grandfather owes them millions of dollars. “These are extremely dangerous people,” [police captain] Cannito said. “This is as bad as it gets.”…

Somalia wants Blackwater to fight pirates

The inevitable privatization of security continues. Somalia and shipowners are considering hiring Blackwater to provide security for cargo vessels against the increasing threat of piracy. In Licensed to Kill. Hired Guns in the War of Terror, (reviewed here) Robert Young…

Economic news. Brace yourself

Global markets in ‘black swan’ event. The Bloomberg Financial Conditions Index is now at nine standard deviations from the norm. “It’s way off the scale, a one-in-billions chance,” said Marriott, a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. “This is absolutely…