Adventures Of A Third World Shopkeeper

2010-04-17T12:51:00.002-05:00

The Day It All Became Too Much(with apologies to Charles Bukowski)I shall not miss, not by one jot:The sound of banda music;Nor the glistening blobs of matterThat bespatter the sidewalks;Nor the pounding, booming bassVibrations from passing cars and doorways;Nor the constant beeping of hornsOf the taxis, buses and route-cars;Nor the feeling, pace Kipling,That their best is like my worst;Nor the

2009-04-26T13:09:00.003-05:00

Parting Shot IIISee? I'm back again.I can't quite detach myself from this forum of personal comment, recollection and experience - I suppose it's to do with the fact that my newer, Canadian blog isn't quite suitable for this kind of thing.Where was I?Oh, yes...realization of advancing age by comparison to figures from popular culture who loomed large in one's formative years.Gadzooks! Grace Slick

2009-02-27T19:11:00.004-06:00

Parting Shot IITe Crees La Muy Muy - "You Think You're So Great"I couldn't help myself. I had to present this video and translate the lyrics...and write the Wikipedia article. The Metacafe video has gone and youtube won't allow this to be embedded.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXLVIaHXCFIAmandititia is the poisonous dwarf, whose parents are from Tampico (and whose late father was a respected

2009-01-28T05:15:00.002-06:00

Parting ShotFinalmente, puedo decir, en serio, "Soy Mexicano". Fuimos al sub-delegacion del SRE en Cd.Victoria ayer para recoger mi Carta de Naturalizacion. Que buen dia, pero cómo es extraño ahora aceptar esto apenas como me voy.But that's the way the world works, I guess. I'm sure Alanis Morissette would have had something to say about that.So, it's 5.00AM on 'D-Day' and now, incredibly, I am

2008-12-27T21:03:00.002-06:00

Gone In Five YearsSwansong. The Last Post. Outta' Here!Flights are booked from McAllen to Toronto on 29th January. Wife and daughter will return after 2 weeks and I will remain, find accommodation and commence The Great White Job Hunt - yeah, yeah...Great Economic Slowdown and all that, I know...but I can't wear myself out thinking about all this and there comes a time when all that can be done

2008-12-15T13:23:00.006-06:00

The Thin & Wavy Line Between 'Just Enough' and 'Way Too Many'An Aspergian ChronicleBefore starting properly, let me give one wonderful advantage of life here in Mexico...I can walk in to a pharmacy and buy almost any medicinal compound I care to purchase, without let, hindrance, restriction or prescription. This afternoon, I seized el toro by his cuernos and went to Farmacias Similares for an

2008-12-07T07:28:00.003-06:00

Green Grass Here & ThereI was web-searching for references to this blog recently, and spent some time re-reading the opinions of my Commentariat concerning the posts therein. One commentator suggested that I was living his dream, in having turned my back on the modern, finance-driven, tie-wearing corporate world and suggested, thereby, that I was engaged in a somewhat more honest, more worthwhile

2008-12-06T06:56:00.002-06:00

News To UseSome disturbing news from Coahuila this week. Their state government is petitioning the Federal Executive for a constitutional amendment to re-introduce the death penalty for kidnappers who kill their victims. The state governments of Nayarit and Yucutan are said to be also considering their own petitions to DF in support of the Coahuila initiative. Tamaulipas's official response is

2008-11-26T12:32:00.002-06:00

Authentic-Schmentic!As a contributor to some of the web's more popular travel fora concerning Mexico, I am especially struck by the number of folk, primarily American, who wish to know where they may best experience the "real" or "authentic" Mexico.What on earth do they mean by the use of such terms? Anywhere south of the Rio Grande to the southern edge of Chiapas - in short, these United Mexican

2008-11-26T11:55:00.002-06:00

Pondering 'Brain Death'Firstly, some truisms, that may or mayn't be related:'Idiot Labor' - that is, unskilled, repetitive, low stimulus work - has a tendency to kill a person's creativity;Manual idiot labor is to be preferred, if one engages in it at all, as it is, at least, possible to complete one's tasks almost on 'auto-pilot'. Clerical idiot labor requires one's full attention and so there

2008-11-25T19:26:00.002-06:00

Straight, Straight, Straight...LeftI always enjoy meeting some of my correspondents, especially for the first time. One-on-one conversation allows for a much more rapid sharing of ideas, opinions, views and stories than e-mail exchanges. Over a beer or three, on a balcony overlooking the plaza of a softly humid tropical eve, it can be very pleasant indeed.It was under such circumstances that I

2008-10-29T07:14:00.004-06:00

Divertissement - Anthony Burgess on PopT'other day, on the radio, I was listening to a local FM station playing 'classic rock' and pondering on the pretension of some modern pop/rock music. How it claims to be able to make statements (and its practitioners to be activists of one stripe or another), carry a message, give enlightenment etc, when all it really should be is just another offshoot of

2008-10-28T12:28:00.002-06:00

WallsWatching some made-for-TV movie the other evening with mi esposa, she remarked on how the typical suburban street of Hollywoodized, small-town America featured houses without fences or walls around them or on their street elevations - often simply a knee-high picket to mark the boundaries and provide a minimal separation. A lush, if not overly large, front lawn and shrub borders were also to

2008-10-28T12:21:00.002-06:00

I Don't Care What The Weatherman Says...It's the cold season once again. The frigid winds of the north are sweeping down across southern Texas and the Gulf. The temperature here is down a balmy and comfortable 20 degrees C and the humidity is much lower.Jackets and coats and mutters of, "Que frio!" are now in evidence as we enter our 'winter'. For me, in shirtsleeves, it is comfortable. Although,

2008-10-17T06:10:00.003-05:00

Luuuuucha!!!When I was a small boy, in the late 1960's/early 1970's, wrestling was often a feature of Saturday afternoon sports television. Any British folk reading this will no doubt smile at the names: Big Daddy; Kendo Nagasaki; Mick McManus; Giant Haystacks - whole kayfabe parade of show wrestling was there. Alas, it died out by the end of the 1970's.Fast forward to our part of Mexico and I

2008-10-15T22:03:00.003-05:00

Further Comments In Response To Those MadeThanks are due to all those who have left messages of support thus far - they are warmly appreciated. Anyone who wishes to extend invitations personally may do so via email... eddieATportabletubesDOTcom.Firstly, to those members of the Commentariat who suggested that we might stay elsewhere within Mexico: This is an entirely reasonable idea. We need to

2008-10-13T22:27:00.004-05:00

A Potential CanuckThat's the title of my new blog. Why? It reflects what I may well become.To explain...This blog is approaching the end of its life-cycle. I am in the process of adapting much of the material into book form - probably for self-publication at lulu.com - and adding lots of new stuff. When this project has been completed then this blog will be taken down.Wifey is getting very antsy

2008-09-26T11:16:00.002-05:00

News In BriefToday is the grand inauguration for Tampico's new Conference Centre. Built on the shore of the lagoon, alongside the Metropolitan Theatre, and in just under two years, it was funded entirely by the State of Tamaulipas. Predictably, there is much backslapping and laudatory notices to the State Governor - Eugenio Flores, a blue-eyed son of a malinchiste if there ever was - in all the

2008-09-23T12:27:00.003-05:00

Transpais And The Heavy Metal UmlautTranspais is an inter-city bus operator in the state of Tamaulipas. They also have a concession to operate certain urban bus routes within the city of Tampico. For this purpose, they have adopted a uniform colour scheme with a cartoon crab (the locals of Tampico being known here as 'Jaibos' - or 'crabs'). The urban services are branded 'Transpais Urban'.The

2008-09-20T12:23:00.000-05:00

Migration - Are We All Expatriates Now?Part IIIn the previous post, I argued that an immigrant, in the most widely understood and traditional sense, was someone who went to live in another country fully committed to the eventual goal of cultural and social assimilation, including naturalization and owing allegiance. Certainly up to World War Two, this definition was acceptable. However, post-War,

2008-09-17T12:10:00.000-05:00

Migration - Are We All Expatriates Now?The other day, I was browsing the discussion forums of www.britishexpats.com and I wondered how such folk see themselves. There was a fair bit of kibitzing and backbiting, whinging and whining. It set me thinking about the nature of migration and what folk expect from their new homeland. It seemed to me that there was a difference between and 'immigrant' and

2008-09-16T07:16:00.004-05:00

Little Ceasar's "Visa!Visa!" Pt.2I Visit the US Consul in MatamorosPreviously, I had heard various stories from Mexican friends about the process of acquiring a B1/B2 visa from the US Consul in Matamoros. There were murmurs of what a tough process it was, what unlikely documents they requested, what obscure questions they asked, and how visas were denied - seemingly on a whim - for the most

2008-08-26T11:10:00.002-05:00

What Happened Next...By way of an explanation to the previous post, and as requested by members of my Commentariat (thank you all for the expressions of sympathy and support), I will explain what happened after I was escorted from United States sovereign territory at gunpoint.I got back in to my car, paid to re-cross the bridge and hit the tarmac at high speed for downtown Reynosa. I did not stop

2008-08-21T06:11:00.010-05:00

DENIED!(This post is dedicated to Officer Hernandez of the US Customs & Border Patrol at Pharr Station, Texas. Long may she realize that that the Nuremberg Defense (aka "following orders", or "just doing my job") does not excuse blatant power displays or abuses of that power.)Every few months, we travel to McAllen. There are suppliers to be seen (and a tri-monthly order of 200 nutcrackers to be

2008-08-05T13:07:00.007-05:00

"The Olden Days"TAMPICO(Fisher/Roberts)Stan Kenton (with June Christy) - 1945ChorusAi! Tampico, Tampico, on the Gulf of MehicoTampico, Tampico, down in MehicoYou buy a beautiful shawl,A souvenir for Aunt Flo.Authentic Mexican art,Made in Idaho.ChorusThe señoritas they wave,When you arrive at the docks.The native costumes they wearAre slacks and bobby socks.ChorusYou buy some pottery there, To

2008-08-03T22:32:00.002-05:00

Water, Water Everywhere...And not a drop to drink. At least, not here in Tampico.As I have blogged before, the tap water here is not fit for human consumption unless it has been heavily boiled or filtered by reverse osmosis (preferable), or ceramic cartridge (acceptable).Tampico's first public water treatment plant was built in 1926 by the Dutch concern, Hidros S.A. Commissioned in December 1929,

2008-08-03T22:19:00.002-05:00

Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn1918 - 2008 R.I.P.The greatest, and most important, Russian writer of the twentieth century died today.I just saw this on the Yahoo front page - almost buried, as though it were of no consequence. Probably, to those who run that site, he was just some old crumbly with a beard.

2008-07-28T00:03:00.003-05:00

Doctor, DoctorThere have been no doctors at the former Hospital Civil, mentioned many times en passim, for a good few years.As redevelopment plans are in the pipeline, I decided to get some photos whilst I had the chance.First batch have been uploaded to Flickr HERE.

2008-07-27T23:38:00.003-05:00

More Musical MadnessLet me say, right off the bat, as it were, that I am not a fan of banda. It just sounds too, well, Bavarian to be taken seriously.However, many local radio stations here are not above playing examples of the genre (in fact, there is even a TV channel that plays nothing but, it's called "Bandamax"). This means I have had the opportunity to hear the following 'banderized'

2008-07-21T12:58:00.003-05:00

Plain DealersCurrently listening to: Symphony #7 in A Major, Op.92 by BeethovenFrequently, or so it seems, I am praised by the Commentariat for writing about aspects of my life here in a way that appears to be 'unvarnished' - meaning, without deceit, honest, or in a way likely to spear those old Orwellian 'smelly little orthodoxies'. Whilst it may be true to say that I oft write of unsavoury

2008-07-21T12:13:00.002-05:00

Get A Job ("Sha na na" and with apologies to The Silhouettes)Since coming here, in late 2003, I have been set to work in the family business in order that this would provide legitimacy for my residency here as a foreigner. For three years (2004 - 2006) I uncomplainingly did as I was directed as cashier and factotum. I watched and waited. I observed the competitive ebb and flow of business and how

2008-07-20T11:43:00.003-05:00

On The Buses (Again)Speaking with my sister-in-law the other day, she appeared to resent having to act as chauffeur to her 17 year old son. Apparently, he refuses to travel by public microbus or route car (colectivo). His reason is that he has no idea of where and when such vehicles run.I thought this to be a poor excuse. But then I began to investigate a little and saw that he had a valid point.

2008-07-20T11:15:00.002-05:00

Raining Gatos y PerrosJust last week, the rains were really pouring down. River levels rose, lagoons burst their banks and there was general flood-caused mayhem in eastern parts of the city. The colonias near the Chairel lagoon system (such as Mano a Mano, Moscu and Morelos) have been flooded to a depth of about 1m. Many residents have been displaced into a shanty town alongside the libramiento

2008-07-07T12:31:00.006-05:00

Assumptions, AssumptionsSince coming to Mexico I have begun to realise that its culture is somewhat 'unreconstructed'. That is to say, there seem to be many assumptions based on a variety of specious variables which have largely died away in wealthier countries (where they existed before, that is). These assumptions appear to be widespread and have penetrated the popular culture to a surprising

2008-07-05T06:46:00.002-05:00

Mas LadronesPoliticians, generally, have tendencies towards being self-interested, nest-lining, empire-building, no-good hijos de putas. No matter how 'altruistic' their motives, it's all about them holding a gun to your head and being robbed - they even have the gall to say it is for our own good.This rant-ette has been brought to you courtesy of Mexico's latest 'squeeze em so they can't wriggle

2008-06-23T23:21:00.005-05:00

Divertissement - A 'Grave' Outlook (Pt.3)Photos uploaded to Flickr, HERE.

2008-06-22T12:19:00.004-05:00

Divertissement - A 'Grave' Outlook (Pt.2)Whilst my folks were here on vacation, just recently, we took a brief wander around Tampico's old cemetery - a huge place with many ornate, simple, rotting and new sepulchres, tombs, markers and headstones. We were highly surprised to find the last resting place of one Hubert Roger Barry, who died in Tampico on 24th November 1969. Surprised, because the

2008-06-22T11:56:00.003-05:00

Divertissement - A 'Grave' Outlook (Pt.1)When I was in my mid-teens, the school I attended had a fully-fitted black-and-white darkroom facility. The physics teacher, who looked after this practical aspect, encouraged myself and a few others in the art. As mere boys, however, we could not afford a 'real' SLR, such as the Olympus OM-1 or Nikon F2 and had to content ourselves with cheap Russian 35mm

2008-06-21T14:08:00.003-05:00

They Did WHAT???!I had wondered, on past occasions, why some buildings in the downtown area of Tampico sported their electricity meters and main switches in a protective enclosure of some sort. The CFE could still see the meter but it was impossible to throw the main switch or open the switch enclosure without removing padlocks and opening the security gate.What were they protecting? What was

2008-06-17T07:01:00.002-05:00

Whistling Dixie (Pt.2)It appears that certain microbus operators here in the downtown area have hit upon a new way to attract the attention of the bus-riding public. Why compete with other buses by using a boring old klaxon? What benefit is there in having the alarm siren used in its stead?No - whistles, that's the thing!A simple pipe whistle attached to the pressure outlet of the brake actuator

2008-06-10T12:38:00.001-05:00

Pinche Gobernacion!(Naturalization Update)So, despite assurances, the SRE did not call me, and I had to call them to find out when I might be permitted to think of myself as Mexican.I was aghast at being told that it would be another 2 or 3 months before the relevant certificates would be signed, sealed and delivered. My FM2 is set to expire on June 12th and I did not relish the prospect of

2008-06-07T15:14:00.006-05:00

Divertissement - "The Other Day...""...this bloke came up to me, and he said..." - (bleeped version).Derek and Clive (aka Peter Cook & Dudley Moore) were ahead of their time in the nuclear swearing stakes. Their obscenity laden recordings of the early 1970's really did push the envelope against the decency of the time. Yet the sales of their albums were capable of control, as it was their only

2008-05-27T21:50:00.007-05:00

Bits n' Pieces: Media Attention; Naturalization (Part 5 - Success!); Hwy.180 UpdateWell, after the recent debacle with the SRE, I set myself the task of learning, somewhat more thoroughly, some basic Mexican history. I researched state capitals, geographic features, notable dates, artists, writers and actors. I even learned the "Juramento a la Bandera" - the Mexican Pledge of Allegiance. In all,

2008-05-21T14:48:00.002-05:00

Call & ResponseRecently, a member of this blog's Commentariat suggested that, all things considered, I obviously hated Mexico and my life here. She said: "You seem to really dislike, almost hate, just about everything about the place you live in Mexico and your life there. Your blog just exudes negativity and disgust! It's very sad reading."Well now, I would have liked to respond personally

2008-05-19T14:33:00.009-05:00

On The Buses When first I came to Tampico, in late 1999, I was shocked by the chaotic state of its public transport. It seemed to be a boiling confusion of taxis, route-cars ('rutas', a local version of the erstwhile colectivo), and mini-buses all honking their horns, racing their engines, and competing fiercely for passengers. Screeching tires, smoking exhausts, rattling bodies, booming engines

2008-05-19T13:14:00.002-05:00

Local News Roundup There has been much activity recently at the old Civil Hospital. Contractors with dumpsters, brooms and shovels have been beavering away this last week, removing what looks like a great many tons of debris. This, apparently, is enabling work prior to the main event - as decided by a week-long poll last October - of partial demolition and

2008-05-17T12:21:00.004-05:00

MusingI was browsing, the other day, one of the many Internet fora concerning life in, and travel around, Mexico. I came across a post (on Lonely Planet's 'Thorn Tree') that recommended this blog.The poster expressed some surprise that there were six years worth of entries here.Six years? I was surprised too! Can there be anything here that surprises me? 'Claro que si!', as my wife might say. I

2008-05-07T11:42:00.002-05:00

Naturalization - Pt.4You may recall, Dear Reader, that I had filed the papers for naturalization last September. I was interviewed in Cd.Victoria by the SRE State Delegate for Tamaulipas and I made a point of asking her, "Do I have to take any kind of exam or pass any kind of test in relation to this application?".Who knows if she understood me correctly? Perhaps her firmly negative response was

2008-05-05T19:02:00.002-05:00

Whither "Surreal Oaxaca"?We have been on vacation for the last nine days and I have had no internet access. However, I had noticed, on the morning of our departure, that the blogosphere is missing one of my favoured sites concerning Mexico.Speed and The Doc, posting under the title of 'Surreal Oaxaca', have seemingly vanished without trace and without comment - even their emails are being bounced

2008-04-12T13:39:00.000-05:00

“Customers - The Reason Why We Are Here”I was reminded, the other day, of some of the archetypal bookshop customers that George Orwell had written about in his early novel, "Keep the Aspidistra Flying".They are amusing caricatures, his bookshop habitues: the shy, young man who browses guiltily and always buys; the fruity voiced, middlebrow woman who reads Galsworthy and carries it, "...title out

2008-04-11T21:21:00.005-05:00

Whistling Dixie- Is This For Real? I have oft been suspicious of the learned declamations made by ''cultural experts" from wealthy, first-world nations when they speak of the need to preserve and encourage certain aspects of those cultures they consider threatened by twenty-first century modernism.In my opinion, there is a certain sub-Rousseauian wistfulness in their

2008-04-11T14:12:00.003-05:00

Divertissement - A Well Worn Metaphor If one's point of arrival is birth, and one's final destination is death, then life itself is the journey between those two points. Whatever the terrain, the journey is to be enjoyed rather than endured.Now, a journey may be planned or unplanned. One may determine a route and follow it - either by using someone else's maps or

2008-04-10T13:19:00.003-05:00

Heavy BreathingMy neighbor, Rudy the cheese seller, loves to watch the morning novelas on Televisa. He has a small color TV stashed behind his counter and, although I cannot see it, I can hear it perfectly well. What struck me this morning was the amount emotionally charged heavy breathing one hears on the soundtrack of these novelas, as though the characters were engaged in constant and

2008-04-09T15:48:00.004-05:00

Wondering About the Simpler LifeSometimes, when the day has been long and the air is as sticky as a Saturday night sidewalk, I wonder whether we are better off than we were in London, and, if it is so, what constitutes the proof of this. I am 44 years old and university educated. I work as store clerk selling pots and pans to poor folk who are as ruthlessly rude as I

2008-04-07T15:34:00.001-05:00

Another Business QuirkThe other day I was searching the local phone book for a business that I knew existed (for l had seen it) but I could not remember where it was located. I tried the obvious things - the relevant category of the Yellow Pages, a listing under the store's name in the regular phone book - to no avail. It seemed unlikely that they did not have a phone, but their number did not

2008-04-05T13:08:00.004-06:00

Controversy! "Nos Robaron!", claim Mexicans.I have been away in 'el otro lado' for a few days, so I missed a great blogosphere controversy regarding a print ad for 'Absolut' brand vodka.As reported by Laura Martinez (and picked up by several others, including blog heavyweight Michelle Malkin), an ad for the Mexican market showed the map of this country prior to the Treaty of Guadalupe that gave

2008-04-04T12:34:00.003-06:00

Divertissement - New Toys I am sitting in the small store, typing this directly on to my new toy (an HP IPAQ 4350) and getting to grips with its limitations and my own learning curve. Unfortunately, there is no wireless signal here in the market (according to my other new toy, a WiFi sniffer) so I will have to upload these scratchings later.I am also testing the new

2008-03-27T13:28:00.003-06:00

It's Time...More interesting news snippets in today's 'Milenio'.Firstly, Pemex want to build another refinery to increase domestic capacity - despite the fact that output from the Canterell field keeps falling, this country still has to import refined gasoline. Local pols are pitching to have the new installation sited at Altamira - close by the docks and that centre of oil-industry knowledge,

2008-03-24T06:36:00.002-06:00

Semana Santa HijinksIt's been a fairly quiet Easter Week this year. Successive cold fronts, sweeping down from harsher northern climes, have kep the temperatures uncomfortable at the beach. Additionally, the winds of the 'Norte' that blew last Monday were strong enough to cause the Harbourmaster to close the beach for the day.Indeed, it's now a Monday again and there's a 24mph wind keeping the

2008-03-12T14:36:00.008-06:00

South AgainAnother buying trip recently to Dolores Hidalgo - the self-styled 'Cradle ofIndependence'- which is home to many suppliers of ceramic figures and articles.We make this journey three or four times a year and although it is viewed as work (as we are buying for the business) it is a pleasant enough task.The journey starts at 10.45PM on a Monday evening as we take the overnight bus to San

2008-03-10T06:20:00.002-06:00

Starbucks Is ComingThe other day, my eye was caught by a brief mention of the forthcoming activities of Grupo ASEA and their negotiations for renting space in the under-construction Plaza Covadonga ('a fair gloopy nazz, o my brothers') on Ave. Ejercito Mexicano, between the Sorianna and HEB supermarkets.They are, amongst other things, owners of the Monterrey franchise for Starbucks.YES! Starbucks

2008-02-19T21:18:00.003-06:00

Of Whores, Strumpets and Knocking ShopsMost days, here in Plaza de La Libertad, there are young men standing on the corners handing out small, business-card size flyers. The interesting thing one may notice is that they are only being handed to men. More specifically, only to young men or ones who look moneyed.Why?Simple.They are advertising brothels.Not in so many words, of course, as discretion

2008-02-17T12:02:00.003-06:00

NeighboursI am often at liberty in Mercado Hidalgo, this being the smallest of our three stores, to spend long periods of each day in pensive (or idle) reflection.My immediate neighbours are a mixed bunch of folk, but all are friendly, as we must be. Each market building ('pabellon') has 8 pitches ('tramos') - of 2m wide by 3m deep - on each side. Our store has five consecutive tramos on one

2008-02-14T19:08:00.004-06:00

One, Twice, Three Times You're "Gringo'd" WARNING: This post contains bad language, coarse attitudes and boorish opinions!The Souk Mentality Strikes Again!Gringo me once - shame on you. Gringo me twice - shame on me. Gringo me three times and I just have to ask "What The Fuck Is Wrong With These People?"Three times this afternoon. Three times, in the space of just 90 minutes. Three times, some

2008-02-07T13:00:00.000-06:00

Corrective Update to "The Lucky Gaffe"Amazing!The 'Gaelic irish Pub' has uploaded a new page to its website and they have CORRECTED the spelling of the word 'gaff'. Of course, the vulgar use of 'bleeding' is still in evidence but I couldn't provide an online dictionary reference for that one.It took me a few days to spot this correction as their website is 'optimised' for MS Internet Explorer,

2008-02-03T11:12:00.000-06:00

A Word About The Oft-Encountered Attitude Towards CorrectionA new shopping plaza opened on Ave. Hidalgo last June. In it, on the corner location, is a new bar, the "Gaelic Irish Pub". We looked in one evening, a week or so after it had opened, and saw it was a typical place of loud music, wall-to-wall 21 year olds striking poses, a parking lot full of their parents' cars and NO GUINNESS!WHAT THE

2008-01-31T12:23:00.000-06:00

Marianism vs. Subjugation (or Suvservience, Not Equality - Redux)I have spent the last few weeks reading, and annotating, Earl Shorris's work , "The Life And Times Of Mexico". It has proved to be an interesting experience for many reasons - the depth and breadth of Shorris's storytelling ability makes for a thought-provoking read. However, I am, on more than several occasions, emboldened to

2008-01-31T12:14:00.000-06:00

Trust (Pt.4) - "Look Not Ye Gift Horse In The Mouth"...lest it bite ye?The woman customer was buying a plastic bucket for six pesos. She asked for it to be put in to a plastic bag (we have printed grocery sacks in the store). She then asked for another bag and was told that it would cost 1 peso. She approached me at the cash desk, with outstretched hand to proffer the coin. I waved dismissively,

2008-01-26T13:58:00.000-06:00

Divertissement - 1976 And All ThatI was briefly astounded, the other day, to realise that it has been more than thirty years since the Sex Pistols blasted their way through social mores at the encouragement of Bill Grundy.I never saw that original TV transmission, though I well remember the screaming headlines the next morning, but now thanks to YouTube I can see what the fuss was about. The

2008-01-15T12:29:00.001-06:00

Local News SnippetsPemex security have discovered an illegal pipe-tap in Veracruz today. A 2" diameter valved take-off was found to be attached to a 24" pipe carrying refined gasoline. What caught my eye was the fact that this tap was found on lands belonging to the Govela-Elizondo family - who are highly influential in Tampico's business and political arenas. Hmmm...In similar vein, a recent

2008-01-15T12:08:00.000-06:00

I Am Glad That...I do not work in a shoe store - I never could handle being an Al Bundy. Having to kowtow, bow and scrape, run back and forth for an hour only to have the customer walk away empty handed?Dealing with people who treat such an experience as recreation requires patience I do not posses. It's bad enough working where I do. There's always folk trooping in with extended families of 10

2008-01-15T11:49:00.000-06:00

Cheap Shots #2I couldn't resist, on seeing this photo in this morning's 'Milenio', adding a "WTF?" caption. Are they Mexican neo-Nazis doing the old 'Sieg Heil!' ? Perhaps it's the local chapter of the Superman Appreciation Society. Maybe it's a rehearsal for a 70's disco revival and they are practicing their "We'll flyyyyy awaaaay" move?My guess is that this pic is really of municipal workers in

2008-01-11T12:49:00.000-06:00

Divertissement - Annus Horribilis (with apologies to Philip Larkin)Childhood ended, for me, one night in 1975.Between the end of the three day week,And the exchange rate taking a dive.Things had changed, my father grown worseWith drink and barely suppressed rage.Absence made hearts grow maliciousAnd selfish desire drew his wage.Short, sharp shock. Snap, slap and smack.And I, confused by this rush

2008-01-11T12:39:00.000-06:00

Grin And Bear It (5)What's with people and non-vocal communication? Is it they they are lazy and have no wish to speak? Do they consider themselves superior and so do not have to speak, or inferior, and durst not?Frequently, people will put an index finger to their eye to show they are 'just looking' when I ask if they need help. They usually don't say that, they just make the gesture. Oftentimes

2008-01-11T12:27:00.000-06:00

GrannyOld folk in the store are nothing new. Occasionally, I have to repeat myself loudly and always, without exception, have to tell the price of everything for they know not the value of trust and believe I am there only to gouge, to cheat, to swindle them.The other day, an old granny came in. She stood by the entrance, looking around with some wonder. I asked if I might help her, if she was

2008-01-04T06:37:00.000-06:00

Grin And Bear It (4)Food, Glorious Food.I cannot be derogatory of Mexican cuisine. After more than four years here, I am a great fan of arrachera, mole poblano, cuitlacoche, flor de calabasa and other assorted spicy goodies. I have learned to squeeze limes over absolutely everything on my plate and look down my nose with disdain at 'Tex-Mex' food, such as burritos and hard tacos.But there are

2008-01-04T06:22:00.000-06:00

Grin And Bear It (3)What's with the oral obsession? Every day, I see people with cocktail-sticks in their mouths, working at their teeth. Is the practice of dental hygiene in public such a fervent desire? Even the TV commercials (for 'LaLa' brand cheese) poke fun at this.When I was a child, the expression 'He combs his hair in public' was a term of disapprobation. It meant that acts of personal

2007-12-28T20:37:00.000-06:00

Subsistence Business - ReduxI have written before on the subject of what I call 'subsistence business' - that is, business that appears to exist and operate at the very margin of either its potential or profitability - as I see it here in my part of Mexico. As this subject has provoked some comment, I thought that extended coverage of this topic was required.Firstly, how does one define '

2007-12-28T20:28:00.000-06:00

Flogging Those Dead HorsesModern pop music is all about recycling what came before (sometimes this cannot be avoided, given that the musical range is limted), so it's hardly surprising to hear cover versions of songs that had their five minutes of fame at some time in the last forty years. I spluttered indignantly the other day at some pre-teen mob called the 'Jonas Brothers' murdering the Kim

2007-12-18T12:59:00.002-06:00

Divertissement - They Were BritishWatching something musical on TV the other day, my wife remarked that Peter Gabriel sounded very British when speaking."That's because he's from Surrey, near London", say I."No way!", says she, "I thought he was American"."No, a lot of famous bands are British", say I proudly."Duran Duran?", she asks. "British", I respond."ABC?", "British"."The Human League?

2007-12-15T06:34:00.000-06:00

Grin And Bear It (2)Today's little moan, as I become ever more cantankerous due to working 7 days a week, is directed at those pinche fresas whose mother's didn't teach them the basic rule of respect for one's elders.To explain: the commonest method of addressing a service person, such as a waiter or store clerk, is to call him 'joven' - literally, 'young man' or, rather more idiomatically, '

2007-12-08T13:05:00.000-06:00

Three Card Monte - Mexican StyleI have recently noticed that there are a couple of Three Card Monte operators in the streets around the central market here. They set up on two stacked boxes - covered by a white cloth - and use three large bottle caps with a bean in place of cards.Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I had thought that the whole point of such a con trick was the fact that its

2007-12-08T06:37:00.000-06:00

Grin And Bear It (1)Why is it that some folk, who probably think they are being friendly or cute, insist on trying to speak English to me in the store? Yes, I know that any white folk one sees around these parts are likely to be English-speaking Americans, but, all the same, basing a language decision on such an assumption is patronising, to say the least.It's as if I spoke in Swahili or Wolof to

2007-12-07T12:50:00.002-06:00

Local News Roundup (2)Our local delegation of the State Civil Defense Corps ('Proteccion Civil') here in Tampico are being busy little bees just lately.On Wednesday (4th Dec.), they issued a press release expressing their 'grave concern' at the 'dozens' of LPG powered microbuses and 'rutas' (clanky old superannuated 1970's Ford Crown Victorias and Chevy Caprices that run as collectivos) that are

2007-12-07T12:44:00.000-06:00

AnnouncementI have decided to start writing, albeit very briefly, of some of my pet peeves and, hopefully, will counterbalance them with some good things too. These entries will be short and to the point.There are many trivialities that, taken in isolation, are seemingly insignificant. But if I were to store them, nurse them and then release them in one foul blast I do not think the result would

2007-12-03T23:39:00.000-06:00

Trip Report To 'The Horn of Plenty'Traditionally (or, perhaps, stereotypically) men do not like recreational shopping in the same way that women - who tend to go into raptures at the prospect of unlimited credit and great stores - enjoy it.However, I have come to look forward to, and greatly enjoy, our infrequent trips to McAllen, Texas. Not only is it a welcome break from family and business,

2007-11-20T10:59:00.000-06:00

VIVA MEXICO!

2007-11-16T23:29:00.000-06:00

Catch 'Em While They're YoungAs our baby daughter grew, I began to feel a tad uneasy at what she might encounter within the Mexican educational system in terms of the presentation of this country's history.I had long considered that the celebrations of March 18th were not appropriate, as the act itself was nothing short of a macho-posturing theft of foreign owned resources. It made me uneasy to

2007-11-16T22:15:00.000-06:00

Subservience, Not EqualityIt's probably reasonably well known that Mexican culture, despite oft appearing to be matriarchal, features macho men and their subservient women amongst the lower classes.In my days in Mercado Juarez, I often see such couples - he stands outside with an air of malign truculence whilst she comes in to the store - and I had wondered at why there usually appears to be such

2007-11-12T20:19:00.001-06:00

When Prayers Don't WorkAs my dear wife would say, "Bu!".The prayers didn't work. A PRI victory has been declared in Tampico, Madero and Altamira - board-sweeping victory but at narrow margins over PAN. In fact, in Cd.Madero, PAN is demanding a vote-by-vote recount (à la AMLO) as there was less than 100 votes in the race deciding the pri-ist victory.Browsing through a stack of last weeks

2007-11-11T10:50:00.000-06:00

Estamos SecoMunicipal elections are being held today in Tampico. Voters have a choice of either PRI, PAN or PRD candidates for the position of 'Presidente Municipal' - the minority parties and alliances are not fielding candidates for some reason.As with all elections, the sale of alcohol in all stores, supermarkets, bars and restaurants was halted at midnight Friday 9th November - 30 hours

2007-11-09T12:32:00.000-06:00

Divertissement - Internet Commerce When I first spent many happy hours in the 'Inter-Net' (as it was known then) in the Year 2 B.G. ('Before Google' - ie.1996), there wasn't a whole lot of commercial activity online. Indeed, there was more than a certain air of very British amateurness, a dilettantism, about the non-pornographic offerings thereon. So when Jeff Bezos fired up Amazon, I became an

2007-11-05T19:08:00.000-06:00

Pride And ProgressGeorge Orwell noted, more than sixty years ago, that the typical English intellectual had a sniggering contempt for anything considered patriotic and that nationalistic sentiments were considered jingoistic. Hence, pride in flag, country and monarch was to be sneered at and, most famously, Orwell considered that such people would rather steal from the church poor box than stand

2007-10-31T12:48:00.000-06:00

Divertissement - Decline of Life & Quality In Consumer GoodsMy hobby is vintage radio, at least, some esoteric aspects of it. I collect and refurbish tube portable sets from the 1950's and this gives me ample opportunity to see, and reflect upon, changes in construction methods for this popular type of consumer durable.In front of me is a Zenith 'Super Trans-Oceanic' Model H500. In 1952, when

2007-10-28T12:37:00.000-06:00

ContinuumBoy, I have a suspicion that some folk may well find this post to be contentious.It started this morning, as I was a-browsing through the glades and dells of the internet's furthest, palmiest reaches for blogs and comment about Mexico.Then I came across this blog post from Xico. I couldn't help but leave the scathing comment I think such an attitude deserves. Whilst I wouldn't condone

2007-10-23T12:37:00.000-05:00

Language And Cultural ExpectationAs a non-native speaker of Spanish, I am sometimes confused by the language's syntax with regard to asking questions. This confusion is compounded by the expectation inherent in the questioner's intonation.In English, the usual way of making a query is in a positive sense with a rising intonation - "Do you sell plates?". This signals to the listener that a

2007-10-23T12:30:00.001-05:00

Fifteen Improbable Things We Have Been Asked ForMany of the stores in Mercado Juarez, whilst concentrating on one or two groups of products, frequently stock things one might not expect. For example, the store to the side of us concentrates on dried chillis and styrofoam plates, trays and cups. They also sell plastic bags by the roll, however, as well as vegetable oil and dried spices.We

2007-10-22T13:31:00.000-05:00

Subsistence BusinessI have mentioned, en passim, that there are many smaller businesses here, in Tampico, that are owned and operated at a single location by a family. I have also opined that such businesses often appear to be under-capitalised and exist at subsistence level or below.In order for a business to be considered even faintly worth the while of its owners, it must produce, at the very

2007-10-18T12:52:00.000-05:00

Trust (Pt.3)I have mentioned in the past an aspect of the Mexican Ibero-Catholic culture concerning the lack of trust in those outside one's family circle. This was something brought to my attention in a learned way by Lawrence Harrison's paper. Now that I have had four years in this country I am able to better appreciate the thrust of Harrison's argument and can report, with some authority, on

2007-10-10T19:18:00.000-05:00

Divertissement - Down In The Northern HeightsAlthough I was born and raised in the English city of Nottingham, I moved to the metropolis as soon as I attained suffrage. Initially, I settled around the border of the N4/N8 districts - part of the 'Northern Heights'. That part of London was built between 1860 and 1885 and is thoroughly Victorian in character.There is a certain Victorian mustiness in