Topic: I`m in chihuahua now

[JMM]

Got my cable modem today, yeaaaahhhhh. I can communicate with you peeps. The cable guy was so friendly, and we talked a lot about cable companies, work, benefits, govt. and life. Believe it or not things need to change here, all he gets is free cable and cable modem, his wages are piss poor, and NO health benefits for the family. His parents have been legal in L.A. for ages, yet INS rules state if a son or daughter is married they CANNOT be allowed to live or work in the U.S. You guys and gals know me, I'm against illegal immigration, but when part of a family is separated and part is legal, I disagree with our laws sometimes.

Changes begin not with politicians or govts. The changes begin with us, I gave him 20 dollars after he finished (more than 200 pesos) and he tried to refuse and I told him that Mexicans can change Mexico for the better if they demand better wages and quit believing in lies. The charge is the same as in the U.S. for a cable modem, 40 dollars, so why can't the companies provide better service for their employees? One word, GREED. They only work from 10:30-5, which is pretty good but I explained Time Warner is 24-7 and I explained why. They also use Scientific Atlanta cable modems that require the disc for installation (like the old roadrunner systems), when I come back from Austin I will have the newer system infos for him to look at and maybe recom to the company, is much easier work for the techs and customers alike, plus they can check from the office (like Time Warner) and see who is stealing cable. He even gave me his cell number and said anytime you need me, day or night, call me. WOW!

I do not know why, I feel so comfortable here, and I love the house. I really have a lot to write about, but Vicky's keyboard sucks (Dell), I will probably buy another one. Man, I miss my Sony VAIO, but Leda and I will always be friends even after we divorce, and I also left her my Logitech stereo which had so many watts and THX it was like having my own Discotheque in my apt.

Most people here are very, very friendly, for example, yesterday a guy was fixing some cement around the water main for the house, and the driveway is beautiful but when Vicky backs out the car would scrape where she exited the driveway. I asked the guy if I could get permission from the landlord to make the beginning of the driveway more even with the road how much he would want. He told me 200 pesos (20 dollars is more than 200 pesos), I was like WOW! Well, Vicky and I came back from the grocery store and visiting family and guess what? He had already been long gone, but he took his waste material and made two little concrete ramps so that when we drive into the driveway no more little scrapes! I do not know many Americans that would do that out of the kindness of their hearts and not ask for any money in return.

Don't worry, I'm staying sober most of the time, but yes, Coronas are almost as much as cokes here, so I do keep the fridge stocked, hehehehehe.

My nephew (sobrino) has been a big help with connecting the gas heaters for the house (we bought new ones, very nice, 100 dollars!) and he will be connecting my sat dish and receiver after we get it programmed. He never asked for money either but I pay him American wages as his dad used to make a lot of money before the economy collapsed and he needs it, just like Vicky pays each semester of college for him. I wish I had an aunt like that when I got out of the military and went to school, but my parents, even though they had buku bucks, and paid for the others education, did not pay mine as they told me that I already had money from VA for college. Wrong in my book but that is how they were I guess.

Stephen, wait a few months until it gets warmer, it is kind of cold here and I have not gotten the house configured yet, spring or summer would be perfect, and remember, the climate here is dry, so at least we will not sweat like in Austin.

Well, I have to do some things, but will be talking to yáll a lot since we have been a family of sorts for years now. See you soon. After the house is settled and I get free time, I promise to e-mail Andy the pics and you can see first hand how is the Capitol city of the largest Mexican state.

God bless you all...  

[Stormbringer]

One of the problems with laws, rules and regulations is that they can never be flexible enough to be just in every case. It is not possible to write laws that are universally fair I think. Because laws are by definition inflexible. If they were too flexible justice would also suffer because some would not be treated with  the same set of assumptions or guide lines. One guy could get away with murder and another murderer get nailed else where. Yet in cases where the word of law results in an illogical result for a case an innocent party gets screwed. It's true in military justice, criminal and civil law, immigration law, any law or regulation applied to enough people will eventually produce an unjust result. conversly lax interpretation also results in injustice.

Perhaps a discretionary court that can abjucate special circumstances would alleviate the problem. A waiver court. They review a case, the law, the person, the extenuating and mitigating circumstances and a panel vote is made to see if an exception to the law is warranted. Such a decision negates conviction, exempt from specific standards and cuts red tape.

[JMM]

I agree Strom, even laws are not black and white, I'll share some instances of military law with you later from my personal experiences.  

[Sethan]

Good to hear you are doing well and treating people right, Jack.  

[JMM]

Just out of curiousity, can anyone check to see how much the 21 y.o. bottle of Chivas is in the U.S.? Not the 12 y.o., but the 21 y.o. stuff. I may have found a good place to buy fine liquor although I'm not sure what the import taxes would be if I brought more than one across the border when I return to the U.S.  

[Stormbringer]

The waiver or mercy court would not be (a priori) bound by the same rules as the normal judicial and civil system but a check to its power would have to be instituted to prevent abuses. The problem is that it could not be the judiciary because they would form thier judgements based on the letter of existing laws. The actions of the waiver or mercy court would be alien to thier way of doing things. So who could act as a check to abuse of this parallel channel of justice?

They could exempt from application of law on an issue per issue basis pertaining to one incident, expunge criminal records, erase convictions, waive procedural waiting periods and processes including immigration, give legal status and so on. such decrees would be binding on all enforcement and judiciary, penal and regulatory agencies.

The aim of this would be *pure justice* which cannot be given by normal law agencies or jurisprudence. It would come into play wherever justice and the law appear to diverge. And justice should always trump law. (IMHO)

[J'inn]

API - New York - December 22, 2003

Tempers flared today at the United Nations when Mexico entered a Formal Resolution for sanctions against the United States.   Apparently the Mexican Government is angry over the alleged export of a Mr. Jack Morris to Mexico.  "This exportation of known dangerous persons by the United States cannot and will not go unpunished by the International Community,"  the Mexican Ambassador stated.

In response the American Ambassador to the UN stated:  "Like they can talk!  Our borders are flooded with illegals everyday and they complain about one person."

To which the Mexican Ambassador stated "Hey, we'll send him back and in retrun we'll triple our border guards."

Sadly, physical violence broke out at the UN when the American Abassador simply responded: "Well let's not get hasty.  You keep him!"

This story is still breaking.   Further updates will be forth coming.   However further reports that Mr. Morris had acquired access to a cable modem caused several nations to withdraw from the NATO pact.







 

[JMM]

ROFLMAO, Jínn, you really should devote your time to writing, you are one of the most creative persons I know. Believe me, if I had my way, Chihuahua would be in the midst of a political revolution right now! I, however my ideals may be, have no wish to be assassinated on Mexican soil at this moment.

Great story Jínn, and thanks.    

[JMM]

Hi guys and gals, I hope everyone is doing fine. I left Friday morning and stayed in El Paso until yesterday evening. The house I will be living in is absolutely gorgeous, and you will not believe the price. Yes Stephen and others, I will take pics with the webcam if someone can host me after I get them ready. The traffic was horrible due to Mexicans and Mexican Americans coming home for Christmas, but it was nice being on the highway for 4.5 hours and seeing only one highway patrol car, average speed going to C.C. was 80-90 MPH, maybe we can learn something from the Mexicans?

Stan, I have your packages in Leda`s car, but they will be mailed tomorrow or the next day. I apologize for the delay but I had to really jump through hoops paperwise to get my permit to enter Mexico. I will be back in the U.S. after the first for jury duty on the 5th, and it is a good thing as I have more things to ship and also I need to order more papers for SSA, as well as get my health records from VA and St. David's hospital.

Believe me, I have much to tell you guys and gals, and yes, I will have a cable modem at the house here. I hate to say it, but I'm going to be like Canada and Mexico and getting free, that's right FREE sat tv with ALL channels. Time Warner can kiss my butt with their 140 dollars per month in Austin for a few premium channels and basic cable and roadrunner. The cable modems here are the same except you can order slow or fast, and you guys and gals know me so well, warp speed for me!

I really miss communicating with all of you, and my cable modem should be ready Monday or Tuesday, so I will be online before Christmas. I miss each and every one of yàll and look forward to talking to you soon.

BTW Stephen and Denise, if you guys are serious about visiting, you can get special flights to El Paso for practically nothing (my one way flight was 70 dollars from Austin!), and Vicky and I will pick you up. Wait until you see the house and is warmer here as we will want to walk around in shorts and enjoy the sun.

One last note, ciggies? Try 1.50 per pack! Us Americans are such SUCKERS! Thank your govt. for that. A big bottle of Chivas scotch? 30 dollars that would sell in a liquor store for 60 plus! Thank God I was not living here when I got out of the military, I think I would have partied myself to death.

For those of you that are travelling soon, I wish you a Merry Christmas and New Year`s, for the others like me that log on every day that we can, I will see you shortly!

God bless you all, left, center, or right...  

[JMM]

I also meant to add, the reason I have access to a p/c for this moment is because I'm in Vicky's office, boy does she have it made, right in the heart of the city and has security and a secretary and everything. Well, I'm off for the wild blue yonder for the day, talk to you all soon...  

[Toasty0]

Hey, have fun. Stay...ummm...sober...and have fun.


Did I already say have fun?

Best,
Jerry  

[Sirgod]

You KNow Jack, Denise and I awhile back had thought abot Moving to Mexico ourselves. But I am serious about Visiting down there. Let's see how next month turns out, and we may give It a shot.

Stephen

[vsfedwards]

Take care Jack, as soon as you have the pics PM me Ill host em mate.  

[Dash Jones]

Have fun there, sounds like you are excited about the move.

[JMM]

Got my cable modem today, yeaaaahhhhh. I can communicate with you peeps. The cable guy was so friendly, and we talked a lot about cable companies, work, benefits, govt. and life. Believe it or not things need to change here, all he gets is free cable and cable modem, his wages are piss poor, and NO health benefits for the family. His parents have been legal in L.A. for ages, yet INS rules state if a son or daughter is married they CANNOT be allowed to live or work in the U.S. You guys and gals know me, I'm against illegal immigration, but when part of a family is separated and part is legal, I disagree with our laws sometimes.

Changes begin not with politicians or govts. The changes begin with us, I gave him 20 dollars after he finished (more than 200 pesos) and he tried to refuse and I told him that Mexicans can change Mexico for the better if they demand better wages and quit believing in lies. The charge is the same as in the U.S. for a cable modem, 40 dollars, so why can't the companies provide better service for their employees? One word, GREED. They only work from 10:30-5, which is pretty good but I explained Time Warner is 24-7 and I explained why. They also use Scientific Atlanta cable modems that require the disc for installation (like the old roadrunner systems), when I come back from Austin I will have the newer system infos for him to look at and maybe recom to the company, is much easier work for the techs and customers alike, plus they can check from the office (like Time Warner) and see who is stealing cable. He even gave me his cell number and said anytime you need me, day or night, call me. WOW!

I do not know why, I feel so comfortable here, and I love the house. I really have a lot to write about, but Vicky's keyboard sucks (Dell), I will probably buy another one. Man, I miss my Sony VAIO, but Leda and I will always be friends even after we divorce, and I also left her my Logitech stereo which had so many watts and THX it was like having my own Discotheque in my apt.

Most people here are very, very friendly, for example, yesterday a guy was fixing some cement around the water main for the house, and the driveway is beautiful but when Vicky backs out the car would scrape where she exited the driveway. I asked the guy if I could get permission from the landlord to make the beginning of the driveway more even with the road how much he would want. He told me 200 pesos (20 dollars is more than 200 pesos), I was like WOW! Well, Vicky and I came back from the grocery store and visiting family and guess what? He had already been long gone, but he took his waste material and made two little concrete ramps so that when we drive into the driveway no more little scrapes! I do not know many Americans that would do that out of the kindness of their hearts and not ask for any money in return.

Don't worry, I'm staying sober most of the time, but yes, Coronas are almost as much as cokes here, so I do keep the fridge stocked, hehehehehe.

My nephew (sobrino) has been a big help with connecting the gas heaters for the house (we bought new ones, very nice, 100 dollars!) and he will be connecting my sat dish and receiver after we get it programmed. He never asked for money either but I pay him American wages as his dad used to make a lot of money before the economy collapsed and he needs it, just like Vicky pays each semester of college for him. I wish I had an aunt like that when I got out of the military and went to school, but my parents, even though they had buku bucks, and paid for the others education, did not pay mine as they told me that I already had money from VA for college. Wrong in my book but that is how they were I guess.

Stephen, wait a few months until it gets warmer, it is kind of cold here and I have not gotten the house configured yet, spring or summer would be perfect, and remember, the climate here is dry, so at least we will not sweat like in Austin.

Well, I have to do some things, but will be talking to yáll a lot since we have been a family of sorts for years now. See you soon. After the house is settled and I get free time, I promise to e-mail Andy the pics and you can see first hand how is the Capitol city of the largest Mexican state.

God bless you all...  

[Stormbringer]

One of the problems with laws, rules and regulations is that they can never be flexible enough to be just in every case. It is not possible to write laws that are universally fair I think. Because laws are by definition inflexible. If they were too flexible justice would also suffer because some would not be treated with  the same set of assumptions or guide lines. One guy could get away with murder and another murderer get nailed else where. Yet in cases where the word of law results in an illogical result for a case an innocent party gets screwed. It's true in military justice, criminal and civil law, immigration law, any law or regulation applied to enough people will eventually produce an unjust result. conversly lax interpretation also results in injustice.

Perhaps a discretionary court that can abjucate special circumstances would alleviate the problem. A waiver court. They review a case, the law, the person, the extenuating and mitigating circumstances and a panel vote is made to see if an exception to the law is warranted. Such a decision negates conviction, exempt from specific standards and cuts red tape.

[JMM]

I agree Strom, even laws are not black and white, I'll share some instances of military law with you later from my personal experiences.  

[Sethan]

Good to hear you are doing well and treating people right, Jack.  

[JMM]

Just out of curiousity, can anyone check to see how much the 21 y.o. bottle of Chivas is in the U.S.? Not the 12 y.o., but the 21 y.o. stuff. I may have found a good place to buy fine liquor although I'm not sure what the import taxes would be if I brought more than one across the border when I return to the U.S.  

[Stormbringer]

The waiver or mercy court would not be (a priori) bound by the same rules as the normal judicial and civil system but a check to its power would have to be instituted to prevent abuses. The problem is that it could not be the judiciary because they would form thier judgements based on the letter of existing laws. The actions of the waiver or mercy court would be alien to thier way of doing things. So who could act as a check to abuse of this parallel channel of justice?

They could exempt from application of law on an issue per issue basis pertaining to one incident, expunge criminal records, erase convictions, waive procedural waiting periods and processes including immigration, give legal status and so on. such decrees would be binding on all enforcement and judiciary, penal and regulatory agencies.

The aim of this would be *pure justice* which cannot be given by normal law agencies or jurisprudence. It would come into play wherever justice and the law appear to diverge. And justice should always trump law. (IMHO)