Alvero Alfaro Sickness

From: Danny Mininni - BAJADANNY.COM, (danny dot mininni at bajaflair dot net)
Subject: A Friend
To: "dannymininni"
Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 1:17 PM



Dear SADM Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you are all well and enjoying this hot weather we are having.

I am writing you all today because a friend of SADM has been very sick. I do not know if any of you remember Alvero Alfaro, He was the secretary for the home owners association last year. A very nice young man who sat at the front desk when my office was the office for the HOA.

Well Alvero has been very sick and in and out of the hospital. His lungs keep filling with water and no matter what they have tried to do the water fills his lungs. Now they are saying that he must have a surgery this week. The surgery will cost him $3000.00 and he does not have it. We are all trying to raise money to pay for it. I am giving him $300.00 That is all I can afford to give which leaves him very short.

If anyone would like to help, Please stop by my office I am sure he would appreciate any thing we can do for him. Since I do not have everyone email please forward this to anyone here at SADM that you think might help.

Make it a great day!

Danny
--
DANNY MININNI
REALTY EXECUTIVES DIANE GIBBS & ASSOCIATES
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SENTRI users to get new border-crossing cards

UNION-TRIBUNE

7:41 a.m. June 4, 2008

SAN DIEGO: Participants in the SENTRI trusted-traveler program will soon receive new border-crossing cards with security features intended to foil counterfeiters.

The cards are being sent by mail.

The new cards are equipped with radio frequency chips, already used in SENTRI cards that have been issued to recent applicants, and other security features. Participants are being urged to update their contact information online so cards are mailed to the correct address; once delivered, holders will have 30 days to activate them at https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov

Old cards will be automatically invalidated.



Find this article at: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20080604-0740-1bo04sentri.html

Cave paintings at Sierra de San Francisco, Baja California

Marisa with her “baby” Rupestre

Marisa Molina, Director of FRAO (Foreign Residents Assistance Office in Playas de Rosarito) and a good friend to many of us, together with her friend Estela Morales decorated their cow with cave paintings taken from the Sierra de San Francisco in Baja California.

Rupestre can be seen at the Cow Exhibition in Tijuana

Establishing a presumption of innocence in Mexico

On June 17, 2008, President Felipe Calderón signed legislation designed to establish oral trials and create a presumption of innocence for criminal defendants. This legislation is probably one of the most significant developments in Mexican jurisprudence since the implementation of the Napoleonic Code.

Until now, guilt or innocence consisted of a series of fact-gathering hearings. The record of the proceeding was not available to the public. The trial was accomplished behind closed doors by a judge relying on written evidence. Prosecutors and defense lawyers will now argue their cases in court, and judges must explain their decisions to defendants.

“This is perhaps the most important reform to the criminal system that Mexicans have had in a long time,” Calderón said after signing the amendment. Mexico now faces the long process of implementing the changes, which must be in place by 2016, according to the law that is expected to go into effect tomorrow.

That includes training thousands of lawyers and judges across the country on the logistics of holding a trial. Even courthouses must be modified to make room for Mexicans who will be able to attend trials for the first time.

All trials will be open unless a judge decides a case must be closed because of national security reasons or to protect a witness or a minor.

Such a reform had been in the works for more than a decade, but the two previous presidents had been unable to get it through Congress.

Prosecutors can now hold organized crime suspects without charge for up to 80 days, and properties seized by law enforcement will automatically belong to the state unless the accused proves they were acquired through legal means. Before, criminals could fight in court for their properties to be returned even if they were illicit.

Miguel Sarre, a law professor at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, who applauds most aspects of the law, called the 80-day period “a very dangerous tool.” Under the measure, defendants could be held without probable cause, Sarre said.

This article was edited from a San Diego Union Tribune article at URL: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080618/news_1n18mexico.html

Trece muertos y 62 detenidos en México en actos criminales domingo 15 de junio
12:41 PM

(Scroll down for English translation)

México, 15 jun (EFE).-

Trece personas murieron en circunstancias violentas en México en las últimas 24 horas, presuntamente a manos del crimen organizado, y 62 fueron detenidas con un alijo de dos toneladas de marihuana, informaron hoy fuentes oficiales y periodísticas.

Entre los asesinados hay un policía municipal de Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua, norte del país), acribillado frente al Tribunal de Menores de la urbe. En el estado se registraron dos muertes violentas más, de acuerdo al diario El Universal.

Un enfrentamiento entre presuntos narcotraficantes rivales en Torreón (Coahuila, norte) se saldó con la muerte de cuatro personas, dos de las cuales murieron en el hospital.

En Tijuana (Baja California, frontera noroeste), dos hombres fueron asesinados ante una tienda de comestibles. En la capital del estado, Mexicali, una pareja perdió la vida por disparos de arma de fuego cuando dos personas entraron a su domicilio.

Otras dos personas fallecieron en la capital del estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, en el centro del país, en sendos ataques de comandos armados.

Uno de ellos tuvo lugar contra una empresaria local y su hijo de cuatro años cuando paseaban, saldándose con la muerte de su chófer.

El otro se registró cuando tres presuntos sicarios atacaron a dos hombres, matando a uno de ellos.

Las 62 detenciones se registraron en Baja California como consecuencia de una operación del Ejército y la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública federal (SSP), informó la institución.

El operativo se desarrolló en los almacenes un empresa envasadora de verduras en el municipio de Ensenada, en Baja California, donde se hallaron 2,05 toneladas de marihuana, distribuidas en 381 paquetes.

Las fuerzas de seguridad se incautaron de un yate, 62 vehículos -incluyendo 30 tráilers, un minibús escolar y un tractor- una escopeta y dinero en efectivo en moneda mexicana y estadounidense por valor cercano a los 4.700 dólares.

Los detenidos, de entre 18 y 62 años, fueron puestos a disposición del Ministerio Público de la Federación.

En lo que va de año, la cifra de asesinatos del crimen organizado en México supera los 1.600, según reportes periodísticos.
----------------------------------------------------------

Thirteen killed and 62 arrested in Mexico for criminal acts Sunday June 15

12:41 p.m.

Mexico, June 15 (EFE)

Thirteen people died in violent circumstances in Mexico in the last 24 hours, allegedly at the hands of organized crime, and 62 were arrested, in addition to a cache of two tons of marijuana, official and journalistic sources reported today.

Among the killed there was a municipal policeman of Ciudad Juarez (Chihuahua, north of the country), shot in front of the Juvenile Court of the city. In the state there were two more violent deaths, according to the newspaper "El Universal."

A clash between rival suspected drug traffickers in Torreon (Coahuila, in the north) resulted in the deaths of four people, two of whom died in the hospital.

In Tijuana (Baja California, northwest border), two men were murdered in front of a grocery store. In the state capital, Mexicali, a couple was killed by shots from a firearm when two people entered their home.

Two other people died in the state capital of Hidalgo, Pachuca, in the centre of the country, in two separate attacks by armed commandos.

One of the attacks took place against a local businesswoman and her four-year old son when it happened, resulting in the death of her chauffeur. The other occurred when three suspected hired killers attacked two men, killing one of them.

The 62 arrests were recorded in Baja California as a result of an operation of the army and the federal Public Security Secretariat (SSP), according to the Secretariat office.

The operation took place in warehouses of a vegetable packing firm in the municipality of Ensenada, in Baja California, where they found 2.05 tons of marijuana, distributed in 381 packages.

The security forces seized a yacht, 62 vehicles-including 30 trailers, a school minibus, a tractor, a shotgun, and cash in Mexican and U.S. currency worth close to $ 4,700.

The detainees, between 18 and 62 years old, were released to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

So far this year, the number of killings of organized crime in Mexico exceeds 1,600, according to newspaper reports.

A MESSAGE FROM TEXAS

Dear Friends ,

This week, the US Congress voted to send $1.4 billion in tax payer money to Mexico and Central America to rout out the drug cartels and end the violence in their countries. This well intentioned plan, known as the Merida Initiative, is good in theory – we help defeat the warring drug cartels along Mexico’s northern border and we in turn see a relief in the violence spilling over along our southern border. However, we are only funding one side of this war. Not one red cent will be spent in our country to protect the American side of the border.

It’s all fine and good to think that with our financial help Mexico can defeat the cartels and we will all live happily ever after. But, the reality is that they are not going down without a fight and we are sending billions of dollars in military and law enforcement equipment south of the border with no guarantee of how it will be used – or worse, how it will be used against us. Where do we think the cartels along the border are going to go? Guatemala? I don’t think so, they are coming here. And, without funding our side of the border in this fight our local law enforcement is left defenseless – again.

Late last year, President Felipe Calderon went on Mexican radio to once again criticize our immigration policies and arrogantly demand that no conditions be put on this billion dollar donation and if there were he wouldn’t accept it. Who does he think he is? Are we just going to hand over a billion US dollars and not expect to have oversight in how it is spent? Apparently so.

President Calderon’s demands for a no-strings-attached handout were met with little opposition in Congress. I was only one of 106 Members to vote against this bill. In addition to Mexico’s arrogant demands, the Mexican Interior Minister said they only have this problem in their country due to their close proximity to the world’s largest drug consumers. I guess that was supposed to be a thank you.

Maybe if the Mexican government wasn’t one of the most corrupt in history they would have better handle on the drug cartels terrorizing their citizens and taking over their country. I have a problem with training their military and handing over helicopters and high–tech law enforcement technology to a country with a poor track record. Many of the notorious drug cartel enforcers known as the “Zetas” defected from the Mexican military after being trained here in the United States at the school of the Americas in Georgia. Every branch of their government and military has been infiltrated by the cartels.

According to the DEA, there have been 250 suspected Mexican military incursions into the United States in the last ten years. Homeland Security repeatedly denied this until they were forced to admit it when video surfaced documenting the incursion. I went down to Neely’s Crossing in Hudspeth County along the Texas border where Sheriff Arvin West detailed another encounter with Mexican military aiding the cartels.

Humvees mounted with machine guns, flanked by armed Mexican soldiers, were 200 yards into the United States securing the area for the smugglers. Our guys don’t have mounted machine guns. Fortunately for us, the standoff ended without gunfire. But this type of incident is not uncommon along our borders, yet we continue to refuse to protect our border against invasion.

Our border sheriffs and law enforcement are outmanned and outgunned. I have traveled from one end of the Texas border to the other and every single county, city and township needs help fighting crime on the border. It is irresponsible to leave them defenseless. If Mexico wages war on the cartels along the border, the violence that is already wreaking havoc in our country is going to explode. You don’t bring a knife to a gun fight and expect to win.

If it were up to me, I would have told President Calderon and his demands “adios” and sent it to our own border. There is a war going on along our southern border, not just in Mexico, but in the United States. Once again, the US government is on the wrong side of the border war. And that’s just the way it is.

Congressman Ted Poe, 2nd Congressional district of Texas

------------------------------------------

Consider this:


According to Patrick Osio, editor of HispanicVista.com, the amount earmarked for Mexico is around between 350 to 400 million. Mexico is already spending 2.5 billion a year on the war against organized crime. If congress feels the money should not be provided, then it should not allocate the funds.

Osio has indicated that political forces in Mexico are already turning against Calderon on this in a similar manner that "anti-war" sentiment is vying against President Bush's anti-terrorist policies. There are voices calling for an armistice with the war lords; stop the killings and the cartels are on their own to get the drugs over to the US (which is exactly the way it was before Calderon took office). Moreover, there are already influential and high placed people calling for the legalization of marijuana and cocaine in Mexico.


If Mexico decides to roll over for the drug lords, and US drug consumers continue to use drugs at current levels, there is no way the Mexican government, or the US federal government for that matter, can stay ahead of the cartels. Game over. The U.S, southern border will be overwhelmed with numerous and well-equipped smuggling gangs.


The U.S. needs to continue assisting anti-smuggling operations in Latin America in a timely and well-implemented manner. As Congressman Poe succinctly points out, throwing money at it will not solve the problem. More importantly, the U.S. citizenry needs to drastically curtail the demand for illegal drugs. There are scores of innocent people being slaughtered on both sides of the border because of this insanity.

Why is there so much violence in Mexico?

This is how it was explained to me: When you cut the head off a snake, it will writhe violently; eventually, it stops. Then you bury it.

This is what Mexican government forces are doing to the cartels. They are going after the head of the snake. When the leadership of a cartel is group eliminated, the rest of the organization is literally sent into spasms.

¿Por qué hay tanta violencia en mexico?

Así es como se explicó a mí: Al cortar la cabeza de una serpiente, se retuerce violentamente; finalmente, se detiene. Entonces usted lo enterra.

Esto es lo que las fuerzas del gobierno de México le están haciendo a los cárteles. Se les persiguen la cabeza de la serpiente. Cuando la dirección de un grupo de los cárteles es eliminado, el resto de la organización es, literalmente, enviada en espasmos incontrolados.


Felipe Calderón has used a different metaphor to describe what is happening:

Felipe Calderón ha utilizado otra metáfora para describir lo que está sucediendo:


Calderón dice que la violencia es una reacción a su plan de "limpiar la casa"

miércoles 4 de junio, 11:10 PM

México, 4 jun (EFE).- El presidente de México, Felipe Calderón, afirmó hoy que la ola de violencia que sacude al país es una reacción del crimen organizado a su estrategia de combate al narcotráfico.

The president of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, said today that the wave of violence that is shaking the country is a reaction of organized crime in its (the government's) strategy for combating drug trafficking.

"Si hay polvo saliendo de las ventanas, yo diría que no se preocupen, estamos limpiando la casa y poniéndola en orden, pero vamos a terminar de hacer esa tarea," dijo Calderón en un seminario de negocios organizado por The Economist.

"If there is dust flying out the windows, I would say do not worry, we are cleaning the house and putting it in order, but we are going finish this task completely," Calderon said at a business seminar organized by "The Economist."

La violencia atribuida al crimen organizado ha dejado en México en lo que va de este año 1.500 muertes.

Violence attributed to organized crime in Mexico has left 1,500 deaths so far this year.

Calderón sacó a los militares de sus cuarteles para destacarlos, junto con agentes federales, en ciudades donde el crimen organizado se disputa el control del mercado de las drogas y las rutas de envío hacia Estados Unidos.

Calderón mobilized the military from their barracks, along with federal agents, in cities where organized crime is disputing control of the market for drugs and transport routes to the United States.

"Hemos emprendido una campaña frontal, desde el primer día de mi Gobierno contra el crimen organizado y por la recuperación de la seguridad en el país y aquí me parece que debe ser absolutamente claro y transparente este fenómeno", dijo el mandatario.

"We have embarked on a frontal campaign since the first day of my Government against organized crime and the recovery of security in the country, and (now) I think this process must be absolutely clear and transparent." Calderón said.

Explicó que este combate a la delincuencia "genera tensión y espectacularidad. Pero simple y sencillamente, señores, hay que hacerlo".
Advirtió que "es una estrategia de largo plazo (...), es ingenuo suponer que estos problemas se solucionan en el corto plazo" y reiteró lo que ha venido diciendo desde hace meses: "por desgracia, también, lo dije desde el principio, que costará vidas humanas." Mencionó algunos de las mayores golpes que su Gobierno ha dado al crimen organizado, como la extradición a Estados Unidos de varios capos, la captura de líderes de distintos carteles, el decomiso de 23 toneladas en una sola acción, y la incautación, también en un operativo, de 205 millones de dólares en efectivo, ambos casos en 2007.

He explained that this fight against crime "generates tension and spectacle. But simply, gentlemen, we have to do it." He warned, "it is a long-term strategy (...), it is naïve to assume that these problems are solved in the short term" and reiterated what he has been saying for months: "unfortunately, also, what I said from the beginning , this will cost human lives. "He mentioned some of the biggest blows that his government has given to organized crime: such as extradition to the United States of several (criminal) bosses, the capture of leaders of various cartels; also in two cases in 2007, the seizure of 23 tons (of contraband) in one action, and the seizure in another operation, of about 205 million in cash,

The Spanish language text was copied from EFE news service

En la colonia Mazatlán: Exitosa la Jornada de Prevención del delito y recuperación del entorno

In Colony Mazatlán: Crime Prevention and Environment Recovery Day is a success

“Cuatro mil metros cuadrados de bardas limpiadas de graffiti, más de 50 árboles plantados, decenas de toneladas de basura pesada recolectadas, más de 15 cuadras limpiadas, cientos personas atendidas con pláticas de prevención del delito y más de quinientas demandas ciudadanas recibidas, fueron parte del balance positivo que dejó la primera Jornada Social de Prevención del Delito y Recuperación del Entorno que realizó el Gobierno del Estado en coordinación con el Gobierno Municipal.”

Four thousand square meters of walls cleaned of graffiti, over 50 trees planted, tens of tons of heavy garbage collected, over 15 blocks cleaned up, hundreds of people served with crime prevention talks and more than five hundred citizen complaints received, were part of a positive balance that finished the first day of Social Crime Prevention and Environment Recovery that was made with State government in coordination with the Municipal government.

"El éxito logrado incrementa el compromiso de los gobiernos municipal y estatal en el tema central de esta jornada: La Seguridad Pública y la Recuperación de Espacios Públicos. Participación ciudadana indispensable para recuperar espacios públicos y combatir delincuencia: Hugo Torres • Pueden hacer denuncias anónimas a los radios152*137260*20 (para atención a turistas) y 152*137260*21 para la ciudadanía en general Pero el programa no terminó ahí. El alcalde Hugo Torres Chabert puntualizó que la participación ciudadana será necesaria para continuar recuperando los espacios públicos y para combatir la delincuencia. En su mensaje de clausura, exhortó a los vecinos a convertirse en vigilantes de su comunidad para que los logros obtenidos se mantengan y se mejoren con los programas permanentes del Gobierno Municipal y Estatal."

(This) success increases the commitment of state and municipal governments in the central theme of this day: Public Security and Recovery of Public Spaces.

Hugo Torres stressed that Citizen participation is essential to restore public spaces and combat crime:

• (Citizens) can make anonymous complaints with radio-telephones by calling 152 * 137260 * 20 (for attention to tourists) and 152 * 137260 * 21 (for the general public).

But the program did not end there. The Mayor Hugo Torres Chabert pointed out that public participation is necessary to continue recovering public spaces and to combat crime.

In closing his message, urged neighbors to become vigilant of their community so that the (present) achievements are maintained and improved by the ongoing Municipal and State government programs.

The complete "Ecos" newspaper article is at URL:

http://ecosderosarito.com/history/357/1_5592.html

CRUZ ROJA MEDICAL ID CARDS

On Thursday, June 12 (the same day as Cruz Roja Mexicana Voluntarios General Meeting, 10:00 a.m. at the hospital) -- Cruz Roja will be issuing Medical ID Cards. When you get a card, your information is entered into a national database. Then, if you need medical attention anywhere in Mexico , your information is immediately available.

To get your Medical ID Card:
· you need to be a Cruz Roja member (yes, you need to show your membership card)
· you'll have your picture taken (another Kodak moment)
· you will have to know your blood type and list any allergies; and
· you'll pay $6.00 USD

For further info contact Charly Kimm, President Cruz Roja Mexicana Voluntarios at:

bajananac43 at hotmail dot com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 22, 2008

Drug Link Investigated in Four Baja Killings

ROSARITO BEACH ---

A possible drug link is being investigated in the killings of four people whose bodies were found Sunday on the outskirts of Rosarito Beach , a Baja state official said Monday.

The dead included three Mexican nationals and a 28-year-old La Mesa, California woman, said Baja assistant state attorney Rafael Gonzalez. Two of the bodies were found in the back of a car with California license plates, and two others were found on the ground near the vehicle, Gonzalez said.

The four-door, 1999, dark-green Cadillac STS had been reported stolen in the U.S. in February, Gonzalez said. All four people had apparently been dead for several days when their bodies were found in a remote part of the village of Primo Tapia .

Earlier media reports incorrectly stated that all four, all of whom had been shot in the head, were American citizens.

Gonzalez said that evidence found at the scene, including a hypodermic needle, the method of killing, and the criminal records of at least two of the deceased indicated a possible drug link in the execution-style murders.

State police agents were in the process of developing additional information in the investigation, Gonzalez said. Additional information is available from Rafael Gonzalez at 01152-661-613-1898.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ron Raposa

ronraposa@hotmail,com

619-948-3740

LEO BRADSHAW - RIP

Please contact Sunny Benedict "Bajadogs at aol dot com" if you can provide any information about contacting Mr. Bradshaw's next of kin.

According to Sunny, his body was discovered at his house on 4/22 by his landlord (apparently in Rosarito).

She is trying desperately to get his remains so he can have a decent funeral/memorial. He was a long time supporter and volunteer of the animal Sanctuary near Rosarito, and it's very unfortunate that he should end like this. Please let her know if you know anyone that can assist her obtaining a death certificate, and getting his body released.

Reports now indicate between fifteen and seventeen killed in April 26 Tijuana drug battle - There are indications the number may go over twenty killed


Sources - Reuters, "El Mexicano," SignonSanDiego.com

Sunday, April 27


TIJUANA, Mexico - Between fifteen and seventeen Mexican drug gang members were reported killed near the U.S. border on Saturday, their bodies scattered along Bulevar Insurgentes after one of the deadliest shootouts in Mexico's three-year narco-war.


Rival drug cartel organizations factions in Tijuana (on the Mexico-California border) battled each other with rifles and machine guns in the early hours of the morning, police said. There is speculation that the Mexican army masterminded the attack.


Fourteen bodies were lying in pools of blood on a road near assembly-for-export maquiladora plants on the city's eastern limits. The corpses were surrounded by hundreds of bullet casings and many of their faces were destroyed. The 15th body was found nearby. Two more men died in hospital on Saturday evening, police said. Six men were wounded and another six were arrested; some gang members are thought to have escaped.

Two of the dead were believed to be senior hitmen for the Arellano Felix cartel and were identified by large gold rings on their fingers. The rings carried the icon of Saint Death, a ghoulish figure that gangsters believe protects them, police said.

Street hearsay has indicated that a rogue group was not abiding to the code of not messing with innocent people and keeping it quiet...so they were taken out completely. The survivors of the group have supposedly left Baja California. Not all were alive.

Of 22 damaged vehicles impounded in government yards involved in the gunbattle, 12 are reported to be stolen, 9 from the United States, and 3 from the Baja California region.


Inhabitants of nearby colonies such as Guaycura and Capistrano, mentioned that "the noise was so loud that they woke up." Some left their hearths "to take the taxi," to find the stage of the battle. They reported the gunfire lasted for five minutes.


"Today shows we are facing a terrible war never seen before on the border," Baja California Attorney General Rommel Moreno told a news conference.


Some 190 people have been killed in Tijuana so far this year. In 2007, there were more than 2,500 drug killings across Mexico and there have been more than 900 this year.


Police cordoned off the surrounding roads, forcing workers at a nearby maquiladora to walk through the crime scene to get to work. "Another shootout," said a woman who gave her name only as Lisa. "There are just too many. We are so afraid."


TROOP REINFORCEMENT

Heavily armed federal police patrolled across Tijuana after the gunfight. Soldiers and police guarded the city's main hospital where the wounded were being treated to prevent any attempt by drug gangs to pull them out. Baja California state police chief Daniel de la Rosa said fresh troops from Mexico City were arriving in Tijuana, which borders San Diego, California.


President Felipe Calderon has sent thousands of troops to Tijuana and Baja California state since taking office in December 2006. Some 25,000 soldiers and federal police are deployed to fight cartels in drug hot spots across Mexico.


The army in Tijuana said it was on high alert for reprisals against soldiers and federal police after the shootout and the ensuing arrests. "The risk of attacks against our agents after an event like this is extremely high," said Lt. Col Julian Leyzaola, Tijuana's police chief.


The Arellano Felix gang was long the dominant trafficking organization in Tijuana, smuggling drugs into California. Recently the group has been under attack from a rival gang from the Pacific state of Sinaloa, led by Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman.


Many Tijuana residents complain that the city administration does not take adequate measures to protect the populace.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has reportedly re-enforced the Port of Entry in San Ysidro to thwart possible armed attacks. The Port of Entry and surrounding area is constantly monitored by criminal operatives on both sides of the border.

Dancing with Bears
from Anne and Ryerson Clark of Yellow Knife, NWT, Canada
(Some things are universal; they went shopping)

TALES OF OUR NORTHERN ADVENTURES

Big changes here in the past few days as temps rise and snow melts! We have put our parkas away now and wear what Nova Scotians would wear in late winter, early spring. All this week days will be above freezing.

Arctic Winter Games:

We had a ball working the Arctic Winter Games as Medical First Responders. Happy to report that all we were needed for was band aids and ice packs. The games themselves were a hugh event and a great success thanks to 2500 volunteers from the community.

We were stationed at many interesting events including basketball and indoor soccer, which is a very fast sport, as well as dog mushing outside.

Teams came from Yamal (northern Russia) Greenland, Alaska, Yukon, Nunavit, Nunavik (which is northern Quebec), Northern Alberta and Sammi (what we would call Lapland years ago). Annie and I did 55 hours at the games and have since been doing some other work as MFRs in the community.

ICE ROADS:

For some, it is season’s end for the ice roads. The mines have closed the roads north and had a good year. In total more then 8000 tractor trailer loads went up to Davik and Ekati diamond mines northeast of here. The drive takes 16 hours from Yellowknife with speed limits strictly enforced for safety. Our local ice road to Dettah, six lanes wide and about 11km long is still open but this could be the last week as temps rise. In the photo below of Brenda, Connie and Annie, you can see the main ice road to Dettah in the distance, as well as smaller roads to the house boats, Snowking, and fish plant.

The weather was a bit cool for this time of year a few of the days, but that was just another new thing to feel. Temps stayed between -34C and -5C during their visit but it was sunny everyday, and lots of it to [sic]. We ate out in great places, drove on ice roads just like the “Ice Road Truckers”, stood spellbound under the northern lights on Yellowknife Bay, shopped, toured galleries, and even learned how to drive a dog team and then spent several hours in the wilderness mushing over lakes and trails. To see some of our adventures look here:

www.ryersonclark.com and click on “personal site”> Bad Girls.

Telco Management Position

To:
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 10:12 AM

Subject: IR Telco Management Position Available

04/10/2008

Dear James,

My name is Andrea and I'm an IT recruiter at Algomod Technologies Corporation. I have a contract position with a major telecommunications company.

I have several locations for this position:
SAN DIEGO, CA
CLOVIS, CA
LOS ANGELES, CA
PASADENA, CA

Project Description:
The IR ESM project is an effort to develop and implement Engineered Service Measures for the POTS and DSL functions. Time studies will be conducted to collect task specific data from field observations in selected work center and wire center groupings throughout the West region. ESMs are scientifically derived times it should take to perform measurable elements of a given task using approved methods, exercising normal skill, exerting normal effort and working under normal conditions.

All candidates selected for these positions must attend a special training session and must successfully pass the test at the end of the session.

All travel and expense requirements as explained in the Telecommunication Vendor Expense Policy will be enforced. In addition, the following are listed for clarification and will be enforced:
-Travel expenses are reimbursed in combination with an overnight stay.
-Meal expenses are reimbursed in combination with an overnight stay for that specific evening. For example, if travel is required on Sunday to be available for work early Monday morning travel expenses, including the evening meal, will be reimbursed for Sunday. If travel home is completed on Friday the travel expenses will be reimbursed but no meal expenses for that day will be paid.
-There will be no reimbursement for any type of alcohol.
-Travel time required to and from home and/or a hotel to the work location is not time worked and will not be considered for payment. Once at the initial work location for the day, if travel is required to a second work location in the same day, the time required to travel to the subsequent work location will be considered as time worked. Travel time back home or to the hotel from the last work location of the day is not considered as time worked.
-Time worked does not include meal breaks or other extended relaxation breaks. Time worked does include time spent in any activity required by Telecommunication. Meetings, participation in fire drills, etc. are included as time worked.
-If the assigned technician is required to work OT to complete a job, the timing study will continue through that OT period as well. This is considered as time worked.
-This contract may end before the stated end date.

Job Description:
The contractor will be responsible for observing a complete work day as performed by technicians performing IR installations (including DSL), repairs and routines. Observations will be made using a handheld data capture device to record all identified elements of these work activities as detailed time and motion study data. At the end of each work day, the contractor will be required to transmit, via PC, study data to a team lead for evaluation and review. Contractor will have to pass certification training on the process to perform certified time studies. Some travel will be required.Contractor must have previous IR Telco Management experience (includes POTS installation, repair, routines, DSL and cable).

Skill Experience Need
1) Previous IR Telco Mgmt Expert Required
2) Telecommunication or previous telco experience Expert Required
3) Time Study experience Expert Desired

If you are qualified, available, interested, planning to make a change, or know of a friend who might have the required qualifications and interest, please call me ASAP at (212) 306-0146, even if we have spoken recently about a different position. You may also send me an e-mail. If you do respond via e-mail please include a daytime phone number so I can reach you. In considering candidates, time is of the essence, so please respond ASAP. Thank you.

Sincerely yours,
Andrea Cox
Algomod Technologies Corp.

Note: Please allow me to reiterate that I chose to contact you either because your resume had been posted to one of the internet job sites to which we subscribe, or you had previously submitted your resume to Algomod. I assumed that you are either looking for a new employment opportunity, or you are interested in investigating the current job market.

If you are not currently seeking employment, or if you would prefer I contact you at some later date, please indicate your date of availability so that I may honor your request. In any event, I respectfully recommend you continue to avail yourself to the employment options and job market information we provide with our e-mail notices.

Thanks again.

Andrea
Algomod Technologies Corporation
116 John Street
New York, NY 10038
andrea.cox@algomod.com
Phone: (212) 306-0146 or (877) 711-8700 ext 0146
Fax : (212) 306-0191

For more job opportunities: www.algomod.com

Math Puzzle

Given: any seven-digit number, ie., your phone number:

• Multiply the first three digits by 80
• Add 1
• Multiply by 250
• Add the last 4 digits of the number
• Add the last 4 digits of the number again
• Subtract 250
• Divide result by 2

DENUNCIAS (COMPLAINTS)

The following information appears on a pamphlet currently being distributed in Rosarito by the Mexican Army (Second Military Zone, Baja California).

"HAGA SU DENUNCIA AL TELÉFONO DE LA 2DA. ZONA MILITAR CON SEDE IN TIJUANA, B.C.

(664) 685-0297

Asimismo a los correos electrónicos:
<altoaladelincuencia2zm@hotmail.com>
<dinoaladelicuencia2zm@gmail.com>
<nosotrossivamos2zm@yahoo.com.mx>

Con la finalidad de coadyuvar en la disminución de los actos ilicitos que se han venido presentando en Playas de Rosarito, B.C., Los cuales constituyen una violación a la Ley en sus diferentes erogaciones.

Cabe mencionar que no se hará interrogación alguna"

"TO MAKE YOUR COMPLAINT, PHONE THE 2nd. MILITARY AREA HEADQUARTERS IN TIJUANA, B.C.

OR EMAIL:

<altoaladelincuencia2zm@hotmail.com>
<dinoaladelicuencia2zm@gmail.com>
<nosotrossivamos2zm@yahoo.com.mx>

In order to assist in the reduction of unlawful acts which have been occuring in Playas de Rosarito, BC, which constitute a violation of the law in addition to its various extensions.

It is worth mentioning that there will not be any interrogation (identification of caller will be kept anonymous)."

These pamphlets are available at the Palacio (City Hall) in Rosarito. They are being handed out to Mexican Nationals as well as resident expatriates. Everyone is being encouraged to report any assaults, home invasions, car-jackings, robberies by force, or other forms of violence against the person by unknown assailants, by using the phone numbers or email addresses given. Don't bother calling the local police.

Done!

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Dennis Vernacchia <snip>
Sent: Thursday, February 7, 2008 4:00:19 PM
Subject: Ham Sale Event at WB6YEC's QTH Feb 16 ( Saturday )

*Please pass this on to any interested hams
*

*
*

*
HAM SWAP MEET February 16 2008*

Location: 6705 San Miguel Ave.

Lemon Grove

Time: 8 to 11:00 a.m.

Bring your sale items and/or wallet to buy.

If selling call me at 619-583-4624

George

WB6YEC

UPDATE: Shoot-out in the La Mesa district of Tijuana on January 17, 2008

A Mexican Federal police officer died as the result of wounds suffered in the Thursday attack on a drug cartel "safe house" located near "Mercado de Todos" in the 5 y 10 area of Tijuana.

Miguel Cedillo Gachúz, 24, was pronounced dead at the Red Cross Hospital yesterday. A bullet had struck the officer in the head during a shootout with men barricaded inside a large brick house, in Tijuana's La Mesa district.

A three-hour gun battle involved hundreds of Federal, State, Municipal agents, as well as members of the Mexican military. The sicarios fled by running on the roofs of near-by houses while shooting at police helicopters. No nearby residents were injured, but a kindergarten and day-care center were evacuated, and neighbors were left shaken.

Three other heroic police officers were wounded, but are expected to live.

The Baja California Attorney General's Office yesterday issued a statement saying it was continuing to work on identifying six victims, who were found at the scene: gagged, blindfolded and shot in the head. There is speculation that they were kidnap victims.

A suspected thug, who died in the shootout, remained unidentified.

Four other men who were captured at the house have been turned over to Federal organized-crime investigators. One was a Municipal police officer identified as Juan José Díaz. The others are Antonio Martínez Zarzoza, Carlos Alberto Espinoza Vega and Román Gámez Osuna. The latter initially identified himself as a member of the Baja California Ministerial Police, but this apparently is untrue.

Additional information can be seen at URL: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20080119-9999-1m19tjshoot.html

California State Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) pledges to "reshape" budget

Commentary by Craig Williams:

Friday, 11 Jan 2008

After reading his press release today....

SACRAMENTO—Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and other Democratic leaders today pledged to reshape Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget to reflect the values of Californians.

“The budget proposed today is what a "cuts only" budget looks like and the proponents of a cuts only approach need to own it,” Speaker Núñez said.

“This budget isn’t going for an up or down vote today. Clearly if passed as written, it would cause a lot of permanent harm.”

http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a46/press/20080110AD46PR01.htm

I drafted the letter below to our Assembly leader. Hopefully, some of you will want to do something similar?

Speaker Núñez
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0046

What's this #%&*#@'g BS on your website that you cannot receive comments from me because I am not in your district? You are the #%&*#@'g "leader" of the Assembly. You need to hear how pi**ed off all of us are. You are spending money like a drunken sailor. You, my second biggest failure Arnold, and the whole rest of you left wing Socialists have spent my State into the
rat hole.

But we are about to get real even. Term limits. Hopefully your latest proposition ploy will go down in flames and YOU ARE OUT OF THERE !

Regards;

One really pi**ed, retired taxpayer!

Craig Williams, W6CAW

CITY OF ROSARITO SECRETARY GENERAL TO BE GUEST SPEAKER

AT THE UNITED SOCIETY OF BAJA CALIFORNIA (USBC) MEETING: February 2, 2008, 10:00 a.m. at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, Salon Terraza

Licenciado Javier Hernandez Tovalin, the newly appointed Secretary General for the City of Rosarito and one of the top assistants to Mayor Hugo Torres, will be on hand to answer your questions on local security issues as well as other progress in the City of Rosarito.

Be sure to mark you calendars so you don’t miss this chance to find out first-hand what action is being taken by our new administration to make Rosarito a better place for residents and tourists alike. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Anne Hines, President

United Society of Baja California