Food Wars:

While in the U. S. we worry about the high cost of energy, around much of the world the cost of food has doubled in the past three months. The New York Times reports that "Rising prices and a growing fear of scarcity have prompted some of the world's largest rice producers to announce drastic limits on the amount of rice they export." Nearly half the world relies on rice as its food staple. The Times further reports that "Food riots have erupted in recent months in Guinea, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Senegal, Uzbekistan and Yemen."

The Green Revolution that took place during the second half of the twentieth century, which staved off this situation as the world's human population continued to burgeon appears to have met its limits. Many rice exporting nations, such as Vietnam and Cambodia, are beginning to ban or severely limit exports.

Meantime back in America:

Major League baseball tickets are going up in price, on average about 10.9 percent. The average ticket price is now $25.40; if you want a box seat close to the infield in Yankee Stadium, that'll run you $250 per game. So far there is no word of riots by American fun seekers. (See the Salon.com story.)

And just to make things perfectly clear:

Only a fool or a fraud sentimentalizes the merciless reality of war.

— Sen. John McCain, March 26, 2008

I must say, I'm a little envious. If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed.

It must be exciting for you ... in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks.

— President George W. Bush, March 13, 2008

Special thanks to Alex Koppelman at Salon.com for bringing those quotes to our attention.