Paul Leonard of the Center For Responsible Lending covers payday loans, the ones whose interest rates can exceed 400 percent. He covers the federal, state, and local remedies toward this lending practice. Information is available at responsiblelending.org and calreinvest.org. Returning to AAL is Julie Fisher, author of “Importing Democracy, The Role of NGO’s in So Africa, Tajikistan and Argentina,” who takes up Syrian matters, bleak as they are. Her blog, book sales, and more are available on her website: www.importingdemocracy.org          Soaring Rates AND Syrian Routes