All this news about Blackwater, and security contractors overseas, has me thinking about Nick Biconic and Jason Bourque's gripping documentary, Shadow Company. I remember when I first saw the doc, I was blown away and outraged by what it revealed of this booming industry. We were lucky to have the film's world premiere at SXSW 2006, where it sparked a lot of debate and some glowing reviews. Since then, the doc played the festival circuit and landed various distribution deals. You can actually see the film this weekend in Chicago, at the Gene Siskel Film Center. It couldn't more more timely, or edifying.

I'm waiting for someone to bring up how grossly OVERPAID Blackwater is--and what Erik Prince does with that money--contributing heavily to right wing conservative issues and republican campaigns. And how about the three training camps they have strategically placed in THIS country--on the East Coast, Midwest, and now they're trying to build one in California. These people make me very nervous.