MEXICAN ELECTIONS

Si hay algo que aprendieron de las elecciones Americanas los politicos Mexicanos, es que cuando los resultados estan a la pareja, sea por unos cuantos millares de votos, uno tiene que decir, "Yo soy el ganador" No importa que los resultados no sean finales.

SI usted recuerda, lo mismo paso hace 6 anios aqui en los Estados Unidos, cuando Al Gore y George Bush fueron frente a frente. Inicialmente, los resultados eran favorables a Gore, y de repente las cadenas informativas retractaron eso para decir que los resultados todavia eran pre-maturos (FLORIDA) y que no habia un gandor por certeza. Cuando menos aqui nadie se declaro ganador inmediatamente. Aun sin haber resultados oficiales, George Bush se declaro el ganador, aunque oficialmente no fue declarado ganador por la suprema corte hasta mas de un mes despues.

Es lo que va a pasar en Mexico?
Quiza la diferencia sea de tan solo unos 300,000 votos. y eso sera suficiente para que cualquier candidato y sus seguidores griten, "FRAUDE", aun cuando todos los candidatos declararon que respetarian los resultados finales. Pero si ese fuera el caso, entonces nadie hubiera declarado victoria. Va a haber demandas, es lo unico que le queda al perdedor, demandar y tratar de que los resultados se revisen en detalle, como fue aqui en EEUU. No le conviene al perdedor el usar marchas, mitines, movimientos o paralizar el govierno,y que acaten los resultados sean cual sean.
Ojala que el perdedor use sensatez para aceptar la voluntad de la gente. Aunque el ganador no sea elegido por una mayoria de los Mexicanos, deben ver que la democracia continua su avanze en Mexico. Va ser muy claro despues de estas elecciones que el congreso ya no va a ser completamente dominado por el PRI. Quiza esa sea la unica bendicion para el proximo Presidente.


Ya se observo que la presidencia de Fox no fue tan effectiva, y eso quiza sea porque no supo "trabajar" con el congreso anterior. Y esa es una leccion que el proximo Presidente tiene que aprender.
Ojala y que en este caso, los unicos ganadores sean los Mexicanos.

A GREAT MARRIAGE

Cirque du Soleil and The Beatles Music are combined in a great production called .LOVE at The Mirage here in town. According to my brother, who works there and as an employee, got to see it before it opens officially tonight, it is a great show and he is no fan of the Beatles. There are very high expectations for the show, since its been a while since a worthy du Soleil production, since "O" at Bellagio, at least in my opinion. Now we have 5 of them; KA, MYSTERE, ZUMANITY and the previously mentioned "O" and now LOVE>
I hope to catch it soon since I have always been a Beatle fan. I will let you know how good it is.

DREAM

I dreamt I was in Mexico City walking about with my digital camera, which was not my "real" camera, but something not so digital and bigger than a video camera. There were quite a few people around and I happened to know some of them. On of these people, was the front runner for the presidency of Mexico. Manuel Lopez Obrador He was just sitting there on the sidewalk with, I am assuming some of his assistants, while most people walked about. I asked one of his friends to take a picture of us. I sat right next to him and put my arm around him. Instead of looking to the guy taking the picture, I put my right arm around him and shook his hand with my left hand. I turned to face him and told him, "It is an honor. You are going to be a great President. It is in your destiny." Of course when the guy returned with my camera, I checked the pictures on the small screen and sure enough, no picture!
By then, he had walked off. The dream veered off into another direction, still dealing with the big ugly white digital camera.

DICK CHENEY-HYPOCRISY

I guess if you are the V.P. of the United States you are exempt from hypocrisy. As the V.P. of the U.S. you are allowed to leak info on Covert CIA agents and get away with it. However, if you are the press, or anyone else for that matter, you cannot report on anything that the government is doing in the shadows of secrecy. Yes indeed. Hypocrisy!
Read more on: Huffingtonpost

WHAT A WEEK!

Hello all.
It's been a busy and relaxing week at the same time.
As usual, work keeps me busy during the week and not being able to go to sleep early, then getting up at 6:00AM my time, to watch the soccer games has taken its toll. Though now that the games start a lot later makes it a bit easier to concentrate on everything else but soccer.
Yes, my team was eliminated by Argentina as I figured.....Also, as I predicted, the US did not get past the first round. You don;t have to be a genius to know that, anyways.
This past weekend, I took two extra days off and went camping with Melissa. I can't remember the last time I went camping and this was a great experience. We went to Duck Creek up in the mountains of Utah. a mere 3 hour trip from Vegas. Also about 30 degrees in difference. Not a major camping trip, just a lot of hanging out and relaxing. Took some games and books to read. Lots of bugs but hey, its nature..
We talked (She did more of it) more about the state of our relationship and where we are headed. Too soon and too quick to make decisions. Sometimes these life changing, altering decisions must be thought through and we still have a lot of it to do. I do love her do. I know I may not show it at times but I know I do.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END?

Or is it?
There is this scene in a Woody Allen movie, where the main character-woman- comes back to her apartment after being out to see a "friend". She is confronted by her "boyfriend", an older man, played by Max Von Sydow (If that is how its is spelled) He looks at her and deduces that she has been kissed because her lips are red and she is nervous and on and on.
Then he breaks down and says, "I should have married you many years ago when you wanted to" or something along those lines. Because he knew it was inevitable that he was going to lose her.
Which brings me back to my case.
I think my girlfriend is finding out that she has a lot more in common with old friends and acquaintances than we do together. Yes we are great with our kids and enjoy each other immensely. However, my feeling is that it is dawning on her that we are not getting any "younger" but perhaps more mature in all senses of the word. The sticking point in our relationship is the marriage issue.
I do not want to get married and she does. Until we resolve this issue I don't think either of us is going to have peace of mind.
Does the fact that she is 26 and I am 41 matter? Clearly it is beginning to show. I am seeing some signs or changes in her demeanor. I do not believe that she is cheating on me, but I think she is considering her options (Not whether she cheats on me or not) but on whether it is worth staying together and what is good in her own life and for her own future.

WORLD CUP-MORE NEWS

IN regards to the picture below, It says, PHO' KIM LONG.
Strange name. I am sure it means something in Vietnamese or other language, but when you read it in English, it does say, what it sounds like.
Anyways.
Lots of soccer games the last week; 3 a day to be more precise, exactly what the doctor prescribed. No big surprises there. The teams that no one has hardly heard of keep losing to those that are superior in the sport. It is like that in any sport I guess. Definitely a show of first tier teams; Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy, versus the likes of; Ghana, Iran, Serbia-Montenegro, Togo, etc. Not that they don't deserve to be there, obviously they played in regional tournaments where they beat other teams, but at the end, I see the perennial 4; Italy, Brazil, Germany and Argentina. You pick the winner from that crowd.
The way the standings are right now, Mexico may have to play Argentina in the next round and that will be the end of it. The US will probably not get past the first round.
IN the meantime, I'll keep watching

Driving around Las Vegas

I took this picture with my cell phone, so I hope you'r able to read the name of the restaurant.

PHO" KIM LONG

JAPAN VS AUSTRALIA

So far a good leveled game. Japan already scored a gol against Australia. I think Australia needs to focus on playing better rather than play a dirty kind of game. Japan can handle the ball and move it around the field, despite their height disadvantage against Australia.
Australia will eventually score and make it a tied game or
Australia 2 Japan 1
--My prediction--.

Next game of course is the US.
Do Traditional American Networks know how much money they are giving up (in add revenues) by not showing the world cup games live on their networks?...
Univision is raking it in. Any person who wants to watch the game, knows that they just have to tune in to their local Univision channel to watch any game live. No matter their nationality (Even though the games are broadcast in Spanish.

MEXICO IRAN

GOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!
3 of them, versus 1 from Iran. Great Game. Not much else to say. Tomorrow it will be the U.S.' turn to impress everyone.

WORLD CUP SOCCER

I am watching right now the match between Paraguay vs England . It is 17 minutes into the second half. England is up by one, although it was a header by one of Paraguay's defenders. So technically, England has not scored.
However, it is hard not to notice the superiority of the English over Paraguay. Their game is very fluid and are taller than the other guys. That is an advantage, particularly when everytime someone hits the ball, it tends to curve up and up. England has kept more control of the ball and when they pass it, there is always someone who is open without a defender. Paraguay seems to just get the ball and pass it to someone who is alone without any support and the ball is quickly "stolen" by England.
As the game progresses, I can see England scoring and winning by 2 to 0. Unless the SouthAmericans get lucky and score 1. Still England will win.
Yesterday as was expected, Germany beat Costa Rica by a score of 4 against 2.
Argentina plays later today and of course. Tomorrow- Sunday here in the states- a perfect day for world cup soccer, Mexico, vs. Iran.

HOT WEATHER

yes Indeed, 105 yesterday, today 107 and tomorrow more of the same.
It's the dessert, I's Vegas, Thank goodness for air conditioning..

On another note. World Cupis comming soon. A whole month and more of nothing but good football. Will it be Brazil again?...
Probably...
As usual I will be rooting for Mexico

GHOST?

So last night I went to the den to turn the computer off. After turning the light off, I was waiting for the "off" prompt, when out of the corner of my eye (left) I saw my girlfriend just standing there. I turned my eyes back to the screen and immediately turned to ask her if she needed anything. There was nobody there. (She was in the bedroom getting ready for bed. (As I am writing this, the goose bumps come back)
Was it a ghost?.. And I know I was not just imagining things.......

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FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Our Church group put together a "kids" version of "Fiddler on the Roof" this past weekend. The show was on May 21th. A great Birthday for me since Olivia participated in the play as Chava.

All kids did great in their performance. Ages varied from 7 to about 14. Olivia being the youngest, who by the way will turn 8 this Wednesday.

We went to a restaurant to celebrate her introduction to theater as well as to celebrate my 41 birthday....

I do not feel it though, I keep telling myself that I am stuck on 30's.

See more of the pictures on my flicker page...

NATIONAL GUARD ON THE BORDER

So, it finally happened.
National Guard on Mexico-US Border
Bush is going to supposedly announce that the National Guard from Border States is going to go and assist the border patrol in their quest to control the borders of the US and Mexico. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION:

The presence of armed military men/women is going to be the only way to decrease the entry into the US (from Mexico) by undocumented immigrants. The same should be done along the border with Canada.
The mere presence of armed military forces along the border is going to create friction between people who live close to the border on both sides. There was a shooting of a young kid (American) by a group of military folk a few years ago, who were "assisting" the border patrol then. They thought that he was a drug smuggler, since he had a small shooting rifle on his back. He was actually herding a bunch of goats close to the border and close to the town that he lived in.
The presence of the military will have a positive effect on the entry of "mules", or people carrying drugs into the US through the border. Undocumented entries will continue, albeit in smaller numbers. People will still risk getting caught and returned. Petty drug smugglers however, will not want to risk getting shot or imprisoned for some quick dollars.
The challenge will be in making sure that the members of the National Guard can distinguish between a mule and a simple migrant. Problem is, they look the same. Perhaps some of the people who already served in Iraq can be called back and placed on the border with Mexico, they already have the experience of dealing with stressful situations and can keep their cool and not be too quick to get into a shoot out. Unless of course it is necessary if and confronted by Armed drug smugglers.
Aside from what the President of Mexico says about the placement of the military on the border, this is an issue that had to be addressed by the US Government. Bush may be doing it to placate the conservative forces opposed to his stance on immigration and many groups from the left will decry the militarization of the border, but it is a necessary step. Once that step is taken, then some kind of amnesty for current undocumented immigrants must follow and only after they have satisfied a set of requirements imposed by the government.
Many other countries have the military guard their borders, why not the US?

MOTHERS DAY

Calling friend
Originally uploaded by Ciscokid1.

Happy Mother's Day Miss "961 Views"

MOTHERS' DAY

What is the meaning of mother's day?
Yes, to recognize and appreciate your mom and any and all moms. Happy mothers' day to you all.
Of course that was yesterday in Mexico. It will be mothers' day here on Sunday. A Bolivian friend told me that in Bolivia they celebrate in on May 27.
SO, why the difference in dates?..
Is it the same in Europe? Asia?
I wish my mom was here so I could wish her a happy mother's day.
I am sure she has a few happy days in her life. I make her cry when I talk to her. Are they tears of sadness?, happiness?
I don't know.

MAY

The heat is back.
So far a week of great weather, a bit sunny but perfect-not too hot. SOon though, it will be upwards of 100 degrees here.
In the meantime, here are some shots of what is going on in Vegas..


Recently, there was a convention of Harley owners at the place where I work. I've never seen so many Harleys in one place.




Also,
at my daughters school, they had a Patriotic program where all the second graders sang and danced...
Good Show.


Life just goes on...

CRIPPLE THE ECONOMY?

"Illegal Aliens-Fail to shut down US"--CNN
Listening to the news shows this afternoon, you'd think that the marchs and protests today were geared towards, "crippling the economy", or "shutting down America."
I don't think there is anything that can accomplish that, short of war, as we saw back in 09-11. So a country wide march or protest will not ever accomplish that.

That is not the goal. The goal is to send a message to the leadership of this country to consider granting some sort of amnesty to undocumented aliens, or illegal, however you want to refer to them. Sure there were calls for not attending school and not going to work. When you are counting on the hours that you put in to work to pay for bills, rent etc, it can be a bit hard to skip work. There are ways of getting out of work by requesting the day off, or ask for vacation days, but if they are not granted, you can risk getting "counseled" or even fired. So, to those who missed a day of work, I salute you. To those who couldn't, try and support in one way or another.
I still believe that in the long run, the marches will have their desired effect and in some way or another, there will be legislation that will help many people without documents attain them or at least not make them criminals just for lack of documents.
What happens after today?..
Hard to tell, I am sure that there will be more, though not as wide spread or as high in numbers as today.