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We have been having Upsandown's Syndrome for the past couple of days, after having returned late last Tuesday from our little hideaway down in Nowhere, Mexico. After several attempts to make a statement or provide information that the OROG community would appreciate or have some interest in, to-day…finally… I have girded my loins and begun my journey.
There will be information published here, to-day!
Let the journey begin!
There will be information published here, to-day!
Let the journey begin!
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The couple of weeks we were down the daylight hours, especially and obviously the afternoon hours, were very hot. No records, but steady 98 - 100 degrees every day. Even with the rain during the very early morning hours on the second night…some 2.34 inches…there was little respite from the heat after the "dawn's early light" arrived.
En lieu of whining too much, it was decided to siesta during the day in the deepest shade possible and then stay up during the dark hours, because the temperature falls rapidly in our environment during the overnight hours at hour location. Before midnight, for instance, our temperature was normally falling below 80 degrees, on its way down to the middle and upper 60s. This level of temperature, as the advertisements say, "For Free!!" for man or beast.
Speaking of beasts, we have lost all of our old girl cats…the two sisters and the calico…all of whom were over 16 years of age. All died within four months of each other. Our remaining cat is the little pure white male cat who seems incapable of "growing up". He persists in wanting to play and in tormenting our "home dog" Prieto (dark one), although it must be said that Prieto does seem to be able to tolerate, even enjoy, the now full-sized white cat's company. His name balances the name of the dog. The cat's name is the somewhat unimaginative name, "Blanco" (Whitey).
The brother / sister act of the dogs of the Hacienda de La Vega, including Guera (Blondie) the girl dog and her beat-up, tired twin brother Terco (Low Energy - Intellectually Challenged) frequently come over to take advantage of doggy treats and the generally pleasant, shady grounds, free food, fresh water, doggy treats, and sleeping on the cool tiles of the "famous west-facing corridor" that makes up the front access of the Quinta.
Prieto does not like them very much, because they are Rhodesian Lion Hounds and smell like dogs, while Prieto is a human, knows tricks, and is the "house dog"…smelling like El Gringo Viejo, which is bad enough…but still better than smelling like a Rhodesian.
Prieto does not like them very much, because they are Rhodesian Lion Hounds and smell like dogs, while Prieto is a human, knows tricks, and is the "house dog"…smelling like El Gringo Viejo, which is bad enough…but still better than smelling like a Rhodesian.
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Concerning the composition of the Mexican Congress and the accession of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to the throne of the Presidency of Mexico, everything is proceeding relatively smoothly. The philosophical underpinning of the MORENO (Movemiento Regeneration Nacional) seems to being settling around a "kinder and gentler, liberal - not socialist, come let us reason together"mode. The problem is that the consist of the power figures in the make-up of the management is drawn from hard-line conservatives to ardent socialists. It is substantially abnormal.
In my opinion the infighting will begin early and often once the new presidente is sworn in. The hard left is dedicated to re-nationalising heavy industry and the re-establishment of a single labour union, nationwide, that is affiliated directly with both the party and the government by law, like back in the bad old days of the first 50 years of rule by the PRI party.
A bit less than a week ago the outgoing Presidente de la Republica, Enrique Pena Nieto, had a sit-down with a ranking member of the press and had a frank and lengthy interview. His points, to be brief, were three main observations:
(1) The old Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) while governed Mexico for nearly a century needed to dissolve itself and have it various members go to the remaining parties and join their ranks, depending upon one's own political or moral compass.
His observation is that the PRI has "lost the value of its brand" and is now the fifth ranking party in both the Lower Chamber and Senate of the Mexican Congress.
(2) The organised criminal elements in Mexico have been substantially degraded. The major cartel personalities and leaders are dispersed, dead, or in prison. The central government, by use of massive national military intervention managed to do this.
However, he opined that with that disorganisation, lower ranking members of the old cartels, who did not and/or do not have the understanding of how to operate a complex enterprise like a cartel broke into much smaller pandillas (gangs) and have become a plaque in the localities. They fight each other continuously and cause local instability, according to Mr. Pena - Nieto.
He then declared, and I think with validity on his side, that the local authorities and their constabularies have done a poor to mediocre at best job of doing the actual work of policing their jurisdictions. He essentially suggested that the local politicians wait, hiding behind the skirts of the Army and Naval Infantry if there is a case of shoplifting at the local Walmart. He declared that the job of local law enforcement is and should be a local responsibility. The Military should be for National Integral Defence…but during the last four years, especially, it has become ubiquitous, inserted, involved, and exhausted from their work schedule.
Pena - Nieto declared that, as Commander-in-Chief, his hands were tied. He had to commit to insertion, especially when petitioned by the Governors of the various 31 States to commit the Military to control the Cartels and "disorderly personalities and gangs".
(3) He also did not apologise for "allowing" Trump to come to Mexico for a possible debate with Hillary Rodham Clinton. He recognised that Trump was a difficult personality to deal with but that, all in all, he advanced Mexico's interest in the long run, and Mexico also advanced the American interests by working and compromising with American positions. Win - win.
The sit-down lasted for two and one half hours, and I followed it with at least passive interest for 90% of the time. My personal impression after watching the event was that Pena - Nieto would have served himself well had he had a monthly sit-down, one-on-one with some known press member and had that kind of talk. But that was yesterday, and yesterday is gone…
We intend to write more later, but for right now, there are two other writing projects that I have been trying to finish. Once that is accomplished, those Beacons of Enlightenment will be posted here for the OROG community.
Thanks for your kind attention. Questions and observations will be responded to.
El Gringo Viejo
In my opinion the infighting will begin early and often once the new presidente is sworn in. The hard left is dedicated to re-nationalising heavy industry and the re-establishment of a single labour union, nationwide, that is affiliated directly with both the party and the government by law, like back in the bad old days of the first 50 years of rule by the PRI party.
A bit less than a week ago the outgoing Presidente de la Republica, Enrique Pena Nieto, had a sit-down with a ranking member of the press and had a frank and lengthy interview. His points, to be brief, were three main observations:
(1) The old Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) while governed Mexico for nearly a century needed to dissolve itself and have it various members go to the remaining parties and join their ranks, depending upon one's own political or moral compass.
His observation is that the PRI has "lost the value of its brand" and is now the fifth ranking party in both the Lower Chamber and Senate of the Mexican Congress.
(2) The organised criminal elements in Mexico have been substantially degraded. The major cartel personalities and leaders are dispersed, dead, or in prison. The central government, by use of massive national military intervention managed to do this.
However, he opined that with that disorganisation, lower ranking members of the old cartels, who did not and/or do not have the understanding of how to operate a complex enterprise like a cartel broke into much smaller pandillas (gangs) and have become a plaque in the localities. They fight each other continuously and cause local instability, according to Mr. Pena - Nieto.
He then declared, and I think with validity on his side, that the local authorities and their constabularies have done a poor to mediocre at best job of doing the actual work of policing their jurisdictions. He essentially suggested that the local politicians wait, hiding behind the skirts of the Army and Naval Infantry if there is a case of shoplifting at the local Walmart. He declared that the job of local law enforcement is and should be a local responsibility. The Military should be for National Integral Defence…but during the last four years, especially, it has become ubiquitous, inserted, involved, and exhausted from their work schedule.
Pena - Nieto declared that, as Commander-in-Chief, his hands were tied. He had to commit to insertion, especially when petitioned by the Governors of the various 31 States to commit the Military to control the Cartels and "disorderly personalities and gangs".
(3) He also did not apologise for "allowing" Trump to come to Mexico for a possible debate with Hillary Rodham Clinton. He recognised that Trump was a difficult personality to deal with but that, all in all, he advanced Mexico's interest in the long run, and Mexico also advanced the American interests by working and compromising with American positions. Win - win.
The sit-down lasted for two and one half hours, and I followed it with at least passive interest for 90% of the time. My personal impression after watching the event was that Pena - Nieto would have served himself well had he had a monthly sit-down, one-on-one with some known press member and had that kind of talk. But that was yesterday, and yesterday is gone…
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We intend to write more later, but for right now, there are two other writing projects that I have been trying to finish. Once that is accomplished, those Beacons of Enlightenment will be posted here for the OROG community.
Thanks for your kind attention. Questions and observations will be responded to.
El Gringo Viejo
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