BajaNomad

Life in Baja; another voice heard from

Gypsy Jan - 3-11-2005 at 10:02 PM

OK. I'm a gringo,

but I've been living full time in the Rosarito area for a while.

Yes, we have been burgled (home invasion) more than once.

Since then, we thought out procedures for securing things and put protection in place (dogs, housesitters and just being careful about locking up and not leaving attractive items lying around in plain view, etc.) and have not had further problems.

In regards to everyday life in Baja, I feel more connected and protected here than anyplace that I have lived in the U.S.

Recent examples:

Pemex: I gassed up in Ensenada and gave the attendant 600 pesos, based on the reading on the pump. He came back and gave me 200 pesos back, saying that I had overpaid. I knew this wasn't correct and waited while he had a dialogue with the cashier.

Example #2, Pemex at the toll booth in Rosarito: It was about 11:00 pm on a weeknight, I needed cash, parked at the AM PM to use the teller, the place was well lit, with guards and helpful employees. After I gassed up, I misread the pump, and gave the attendant 200 pesos too much. He brought the overpayment back to me with my change.

Both of these encounters happened in the last two weeks.

I have much more; a treasure trove of stories that I have accumulated over the years about the honesty and integrity of the people of Baja Norte that I cherish and bring out as often as I can (without boring the listener to tears) to illustrate that there is more than one aspect of this wonderful place.

But, life here is exceedingly complex and multi-layered and is getting more so. Rural is rubbing up against increasing development.

There are the urban crimanal vultures cruise the highway and have laptops that can decode an electronic entry code to open up a prize SUV and drive away with its contents alongside the local indegenous opportunist who sees an open car window or tries an open gate or house door and snatches what he can.

Baja is what it is and it is changing and the change is accelerating.

Hook - 3-11-2005 at 11:14 PM

"Yes, we have been burgled (home invasion) more than once.......In regards to everyday life in Baja, I feel more connected and protected here than anyplace that I have lived in the U.S."

This begs the question....just where DID you live in the States that you feel safer in Rosarito after AT LEAST two home invasion robberies?

Not sure if crime rates in Mexico are published (or can be believed) but crime in the US, especially big cities, has generally been dropping for the last 10 years or so, especially violent crime.

I still plan on spending my retirement in Mexico, so don't think of me as a naysayer of Mexico. It's just that there are still many, many safe communities in the US.

The legal robber barons like Enron, Big Oil and the State of California have cost me much more than the criminals.

Couldn't agree with you more about the collision of urban vs rural going on in Baja Norte.

The times, they are a'changin'.......

and you believe US crime statistics?

BajaVida - 3-12-2005 at 10:32 AM

things are a lot worse here (and there) than they used to be

many immigrants are reluctant to report crime

Gypsy

Baja Bernie - 3-12-2005 at 12:42 PM

I believe that you are talking about people just entering your home and taking a few things--Not home invasion which is the armed--forced entry with the owners or others preesent--you know, like with a gun to your nose.

After having been a cop in San Diego for over 25 years I can tell you I always felt safer in Baja (forget TJ) than in the States. --Had a home there for over 26 years--small campo.

I really believe that most large departments are not really reporting most of the crime brought to their attention. You are lucky to have a unit dispatched to investigate a burglary (home invasion--yes).
Just a few weeks ago a report out of L.A. advised that investigating burglaries in Brentwood, Hollywood, and other exclusive areas were delayed at least 8 hours even where the loss exceedded $10,000.oo--not pesos. Imagine what kind of service the poorer folk will receive.
If they report all crime then we think they are doing a bad job---not reporting allows them to slide.

Hook--Ask the Mexicans what they think of Pemex, Mexican Banks,and Telnor. The others you mentioned have a way of reaching us wherever we are.

Retirement (assuming good health) in Baja beats the hell out of being warehoused in a Senior Citizen place in the States.

Germanicus - 3-12-2005 at 03:40 PM

This topic reminds me very much of the
topic, although two things are very different here.
1. In this topic I see very honest people.
Stating how it really is in the U.S. talking crime.
2. Even with no gun handy, everybody who posted here feels much safer in Baja than in the U.S.

VIVA BAJA MEXICO !!!

That burglary accurs in Baja? Well, is there any place in the world where it doesn't?
Maybe my opinion is strange, but I say:
Better some china taken out of my house, than my life taken by a
gun-loving-street-gang.

I can protect my home and make it burglary-safe.
I can not protect my life against a killer.

Again: VIVA BAJA MEXICO !

Germanicus

Baja Bernie - 3-12-2005 at 07:13 PM

I am totally losing it! This is the first time I have agreed with you and this agreement is BIG TIME--you nailed it.

Arthur - 3-12-2005 at 09:16 PM

So, Gypsy, was Bernie right -- you weren't talking about home invasions? That's a different kettle o' fish altogether.

Bernie is a cop

Gypsy Jan - 3-12-2005 at 11:37 PM

and I defer to his experience and definition of what the crime is.

The investigators, local police and the insurance investigators referred to our incident as home invasion, telling us that there was a gang of armed thieves operating in the area initiating a series of attacks by either following people back to their residences, or laying in wait or breaking in while the occupants were there.

We were in the latter category, and, say what you will about Mexico, but our Mexican property insurance company did reimburse for our losses.

It helped (and saved the day) that we had a detailed inventory on file with video. The Mexico City office sent out a representative to verify the story, checking our police report. It took some time, but they did follow through.

Reply to Germanicus

Barry A. - 3-13-2005 at 11:53 AM

I posted on this subject before, and I can tell you that I DO NOT feel safer in Baja than in the USA.

Even tho I have never had any crime problems either in the USA or in Baja, I do not feel as secure in Baja as in the USA, period. The main reason is the difference in the laws, and the inability to protect myself in Baja, unlike while in the USA.

We owned a house on the cliffs above the sea, north of Rosarito at Punta Banderas, for 12 years----never had any problems. Sold it for a huge profit 25 years ago. (think what it would be worth today)

I have been going to Baja for 55 years. I deffinitely feel LESS secure in Baja these days, than in the past. Baja has changed drastically, or so it seems to me, and is no longer as safe as it was.

I lived in Southern CA for 43 years, elsewhere for the past 20 years. I am a retired cop/special agent after 30 years on the job.

Still, after saying all this, I still love Baja, and go there fairly often, both to camp, and to stay in hotels in La Paz. (mostly camp and explore away from any civilization). Barry

terrybird - 3-13-2005 at 12:25 PM

Maybe we should all move to North Dakota? ND people are the friendiest hardest working people in the States. Land is cheap and houses are even cheaper and, if the Indians get those wind towers done electricity will be free! Friend bought a 3bed with a little land for 10 grand last year. Crime? of course not silly. We could vacation in Canada and if they are a problem we could invade.;)

JESSE - 3-13-2005 at 01:40 PM

Safety in Baja has a lot to do with:

1.-Where you live

2.-Your attitude

If you live near a bunch of poor Mexicans and have nice things in your property, you are asking for it. And if you are not well liked by your Mexican neighboors because of your attitude, that might also get you into trouble.

Pompano....

Mexray - 3-13-2005 at 01:54 PM

I find it ironic that your casa was robbed by a bandito from that wild, Nor-Cal, 'Cow Town' - Vacaville!:D

A few years back, as the reigning prez of the Calif-Delta Chambers (small group of biz people in the Delta River area), I was running our annual 'Moo-B-Q' fund raiser.

As part of the event, I put the bite on a dairy farmer friend and borrowed a huge dairy cow to stroll around a fenced-in part of the lawn. I'd marked said lawn in a grid like fashion. Numbers were assigned to each small grid, and one could buy 'chances' as to which square the cow would, em', provide a cow-patty on! You guessed it - the 'winner' was from Vacaville!:o

I probably would have made more money with a 'photo-op' booth. That dairy cow was BIG, and many people hadn't been so close up and personal with one before...they all wanted to take pictures next to the cow!:smug:

tim40 - 3-13-2005 at 04:07 PM

Less the extremes, I could not agree more, that safety is largely influenced by how you approach life. I have been in some of the roughest neighberhoods in several places (New Orleans projects and east LA as but 2 examples). In each case, because of my approach and respect for the people, I was not only welcomed, but looked after as well. Yes, the random acts will still occur at a greater frequency, but as far as the neighberhood treating you poorly, I have actually found the opposite to be true.

The only place I have ever been robbed was in Lima, Peru (all of my travel money was taken), but I still consider that trip to be one of the best ever....

[Edited on 3-13-2005 by tim40]

Dave - 3-13-2005 at 08:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by JESSE
If you live near a bunch of poor Mexicans and have nice things in your property, you are asking for it. And if you are not well liked by your Mexican neighboors because of your attitude, that might also get you into trouble.


At best, that's pretty unflattering.

What you are saying is that poor Mexicans can't resist the temptation to steal and that angered Mexicans steal out of spite.

My experience has been:

Regardless of economic hardship, an honest person would never steal and a thief (Mexican/American, rich/poor) will take advantage of any opportunity.




Dave

Baja Bernie - 3-13-2005 at 08:47 PM

On your side on this---The poorer the Mexican the more honest --it has always seemed to me--More than Gringos if you are friendly and helpful they always respond in kind--Thus my saying developed after a whole bunch of years---BAJA IS ABOUT PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE.

Cyndarouh - 3-13-2005 at 08:51 PM

Dave Y Bernie,
I couldn't agree any more if I tried.

Braulio - 3-14-2005 at 09:09 AM

My experience in Mexico is about the same as Jesse's - it seems what a lot of the people (maybe Dave excluded) is that Baja is pretty safe - as long as your in an area without many people.

These comparisons always seem kind of silly to me - the differences in crime within each country (and that includes Germany) are much greater than the differences between the countries taken as a whole. You've got to know where you're at.

As far as meaningful comparisons of crime statistics between countries I made a concerted effort to find some - it's tough - and not just because governments are dishonest (which they are) - there's variation in basic definitions and data gathering techiniques etc. The best I was able to come up with was a study that came out of UNESCO (or some other UN deal) in the early 90's. Long story short violent crime including murder in Mexico was about double that of the US. (I'll reference if there's interest.) Since that time violent crime in Mexico has increased - and decreased in the US.

But again - that's nationwide - it really has very little relevance to where you're at at any given moment.

For me - I take a walk every night in the US after about 10pm - I wouldn't dream of doing that in any mid/big sized city in Mexico.

bajalou - 3-14-2005 at 09:16 AM

In all of our desire to help local Mexcian people we must be very careful not to be patronising of them and not take away their dignity. Some have very little material things but they must retain their pride.

:biggrin:

Exclude urban areas.....

Hook - 3-14-2005 at 10:27 AM

......in both Baja and California, and I think it's all a pretty low crime area. But maybe what Gypsy Jan is experiencing is the transition of Rosarito into the urban category.

BTW, it appears that her home invasion experience was the bad type; not simply burglary.

Probably the most chilling info in this post is the ex-cops admitting that crime stats can be dickered with so readily.

TO POMPANO

Barry A. - 3-14-2005 at 11:19 AM

Beautifully stated-----and so true!!!! Thanks for your inspiring post----great stuff!!!! Barry

JESSE - 3-14-2005 at 07:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Quote:
Originally posted by JESSE
If you live near a bunch of poor Mexicans and have nice things in your property, you are asking for it. And if you are not well liked by your Mexican neighboors because of your attitude, that might also get you into trouble.


At best, that's pretty unflattering.

What you are saying is that poor Mexicans can't resist the temptation to steal and that angered Mexicans steal out of spite.

My experience has been:

Regardless of economic hardship, an honest person would never steal and a thief (Mexican/American, rich/poor) will take advantage of any opportunity.






Dave,

Maybe i didnt explain myself correctly, i meant that if you live near a bunch of poor Mexicans, its almost a sure thing that some thieves will live in the area, the kind of thieves that break into homes and steal your stereo. And while Mexicans wont steal from you out of spite, they will look the other way if a nasty neighboor is getting looted.

JESSE - 3-14-2005 at 07:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
On your side on this---The poorer the Mexican the more honest --it has always seemed to me--More than Gringos if you are friendly and helpful they always respond in kind--Thus my saying developed after a whole bunch of years---BAJA IS ABOUT PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE.


Depends on the poor Bernie, Baja sur town poor i agree with you, but Tijuana poor or los Cabos poor i dont. You wont get any kindness from city poor at all.

The devil made me to it

Baja Bernie - 3-16-2005 at 07:53 AM

Jack was sitting in an airplane when another guy took the seat beside him. The new guy was an absolute wreck, pale, hands shaking, biting his nails and moaning in fear.

"Hey, pal, what's the matter?" Jack asked.

"Oh man... I've been transferred to California," the other guy
answered. "There's crazy people in California and they have shootings, gangs, race riots, drugs, the highest crime rate..."

"Hold on," Jack interrupted, "I've lived in California all my life, and
it is not as bad as the media says. Find a nice home, go to work, mind your own business, enroll your kids in a good school and it's as safe as anywhere in the world."

The other passenger relaxed and stopped shaking for a moment and said, "Oh, thank you. I've been worried to death, but if you live there and say it's OK, I'll take your word for it. What do you do for a living?"

"Me?" said Jack, " Oh, I'm a tail gunner on a Budweiser truck in Oakland."

My 2 Cents Worth

Skeet/Loreto - 3-16-2005 at 08:26 AM

Living in Baja and the United States I believe that Thievy in both places has changed as both of our Cultures have changed in the Past 5 0 years.

I have always heard that the worst are in Belize.

As Moral Standards become less and less, Crime will increase in all places.

Skeet/Loreto

.

elizabeth - 3-16-2005 at 08:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Braulio

Long story short violent crime including murder in Mexico was about double that of the US. (I'll reference if there's interest.) Since that time violent crime in Mexico has increased - and decreased in the US.

For me - I take a walk every night in the US after about 10pm - I wouldn't dream of doing that in any mid/big sized city in Mexico.

elizabeth - 3-16-2005 at 08:36 AM

Whoops...hit the button too soon.

The Mexico/US murder statistics are definitely not what I had thought they would be...so, yes, if you can find that reference easily, I'd like to see it.

I agree with you that safety is more about where you are in either country than the country as a whole. That being said, I do walk at night in medium sized Mexican cities (Hermosillo, Oaxaca, Campeche, etc.), but wouldn't think of it in most of San Francisco or Oakland!!!

Yes Elizabeth

Skeet/Loreto - 3-16-2005 at 08:47 AM

For Many years a woman could walk the Beaches of La Paz with out any Fear, that has changed in the past 10 years.

In Loreto we could leave our money in our Motel Room while fishing.

When I went to work in Hollywood in 1959, I felt safe everywhere but South Central. Now I would not go anywhere near Hollywood.

When Self-Control is lost in any Culture there will be Danger.

Skeet/Loreto

Skeet

Baja Bernie - 3-16-2005 at 09:25 AM

You got that right. Self control and responsibility are the root of the problem. Unfortunately neither are supplied at birth. Look at a child under 3years--no self control and no sense of responsiblity. It has to be taught and that used to happen in the home, community, school and religious organizations. AND it usually involved negative reinforcement.

Now self esteem seems to have replaced responsibility. And fewer have any regard for self control.

Braulio - 3-16-2005 at 03:08 PM

Elizabeth -

It's no problem - check out:

http://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/seventh_survey/567svc.pdf

Page 23 has homicide stats.

These are the numbers as reported by the police.

The last I had looked at this thing was several years ago - it must have been the survey # 5.

For those who don't want to take 5 minutes for this thing to load - in 1998 there were 14,216 intentional homicides reported by the Mexican police - in the US there were 14,276 reported - normalizing for population differences - well - you do the math.

In other words according to this survey there were about 3 times as many intentional homicides per capita in Mexico as the US in 1998.

Personally I think a lot less crime gets reported in Mexico - but I can't say how much less. Where there's a homicide there's a body - so I would expect homicide reporting to be more realistic than some other crime survey data - but that's just my take on it.

I have friends who are cops in Mexicali - there a lot of times they'll take offenders of say minor drug offenses and just drop them off in another part of the city or out in some colonia or something. No report.

But as we stated before - it's all pretty much irrelevant - it's more important to know what neighborhood you're in.


[Edited on 3-17-2005 by Braulio]

Braulio - 3-16-2005 at 03:14 PM

BTW Elizabeth - I go to Hermosillo frequently - I consider that to be one of the more dangerous cities in Mexico -there's a ton of drug/gang/theft stuff going on there - much worse than Mexicali - I guess we've had some different experiences.

elizabeth - 3-16-2005 at 09:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Braulio
BTW Elizabeth - I go to Hermosillo frequently - I consider that to be one of the more dangerous cities in Mexico -


Now you tell me!!!

Thanks for the link...I'll check it out.

Looking for individual(s) collaborative(s) to help change the world......

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-17-2005 at 05:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
You got that right. Self control and responsibility are the root of the problem. Unfortunately neither are supplied at birth. Look at a child under 3years--no self control and no sense of responsiblity. It has to be taught and that used to happen in the home, community, school and religious organizations. AND it usually involved negative reinforcement.

Now self esteem seems to have replaced responsibility. And fewer have any regard for self control.



===========================
:light::light::light::light::light:

I am very inspired to read of your indivdual thoughts on such issues, as I thought today was the day to see if anyone might be interested in testing and providing feeback to a slightly offcenter kind of guy such as myself that is designing some innovative new indvidual collaborative software tools to make individual collaborative ideas and processes way easier to communicate messages of hope?

Are there any Baja Nomad's out there that feel that many software tools have become way too complicated to be truly useful to the average user to collaborate their thoughts down to communicate a message to collaborate with other individuals to help improve the lives of the many that are not so fortunate to even know what a computer is, let alone over hope to have acess to one, or even be able to use one?

Are there any brave souls out there on the Baja Nomad board that would be interested in being individual(s) collaborator(s), to assist and want to help a slightly off-center back in the saddle former world-class software designer gone to Europe, and now back to Canada to continue with a dream to deliver innovative new software tools that can allow individuals to easily collaborative on small change management kind issues tohelp change the world.

To simply this: I have been very busy for quite some time, and have been working on and with some innovative individual(s) collaborator(s) from around the globe to come up with new innovative individual collaborative software tools to help change the world for the better?

I am looking for some feedback and help, and I know that many Baja Nomads do care about the Baja and also care about the rest of the world, and I am seeking some feedback and help from individuals that can and will collaborate with others such as myself to help change the world.

The opportunity is Now, to make some positive changes, and changes are happening and in process now, and regardless of age, diversity of background, race, creed, color and belief system, I am seeking brave Nomads of Change to help change the world.

Am I a little off my noodle to think that this is possible? Perhaps I am, but I do believe in human spirit of full individual collaborative potential, and even though you may not be that fluent in using software, or know much about software, software user interfaces, tool user interfaces, software design, and the less sophisticated a software user that you are the better, as truly innovative and easy to use useful collaborative software is not an easy task to conceptualize, design, develop, create, test, refocus to hit the mark to allow the intended target audience, to make use of it to collaborate, so the first version is in process and it will take some time to implement further, so it can be completed and made available to the masses.

Such an tasks requires individuals of the collaborative kind and I am seeking some help from Baja Nomads, I that more flexible easy to use useful software can one day be added to Baja Nomad current mix of useful tools that exist here already, if Doug Means and many others feel that some new tools could help to change this board for the better, and allow users to better communicate their individual potential thoughts and ideas to each other. I have been dreaming up and working hard on some innovative new collaborative software tools in hopes that Nomad's would be interested to help give some feedback d maybe interested in test these new tools out one day to help Change the world.

Back in the early 1980?s I had a vision and a dream to create innovative new ways that would allow people to collaborate in animated moving pictures, sound, music, and interactivity, many years ago, and some thought I was off my noodle for considering the move to quit my first real job, at Teck Cominco Limited in my home town of Trail, BC Canada to start designing software professionally back in 1986 to help change the world. The task was not an easy process, but it was a real fun one, and the software that I originally conceived in my minds eyes, and in my slightly off-center noodle way I was able to collaborate with many people to allow the average Jo/Jane user to put their visual thoughts into motion, and I recently decided to open up some more to some individuals of the collaborative kind, that it is possible as individuals to get involved and collaborate to help change the world.

Would any of you be interested in individually collaborating with me and some other innovative people that I am currently working wit in this huge task endeavor? The software designers exist, and now that I am interested in collaborating some of you, and if you want to hang your hat on something to say you helped to individual contribute of small spiral change management kind, I would very much like to hear from you, as I have always planned plan to source out some brave Nomads to help me.

Are you interested in helping to change the world for the better, and I promise that it won't take up much of your valuable time, and you can drop out, come back in at any time if your intentions to do such are of pure heart and soul to give some feedback?

Interested? I do hope so, as many Nomads of the Baja kind on this very message board and a very good one at that, (my hats off to you all and Doug Means for making it possible, as this very board has helped to transform and change my life for the better since I first became a BajaNomad way back before I was so delightfully given a humbling moniker of Special Correspondent on Baja Nomad. To come up with cartoons, is a real joy source to me, and creating magic and teaching others to learn and then create smiles with magic is my choice of smiles to make other people smile, and I do want to put something back into the process of change, on this very message board if the tasks can be accomplished and I do believe I am up to the challenge, as true Baja Nomad?s are very considerate thoughtful thought provoking positive people, and I do believe there are some on this very message board that might want to help change the world for the better.

Still interested in contributing?

If you have a dream of changing the world for the better what would you do?

Please do tell me your interest, as I am very interested to learn and hear from you and your feedback is very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

RandyMac
Special Correspondent on Baja Nomad, slightly off beat Nomad, and a Slightly Off-Center kind of guy that wants to collaborate with some individuals to come up with further designs of plan, and I have been working on this huge task to come up with elegant easy to use software tools of the collaborative kind behind the scenes for the past few years, and most recently in the past 5 months to come up with innovative new ways to create software tools to help change the world.
:light::light::light::light::light:

[Edited on 3-17-2005 by RandyMac]

[Edited on 3-17-2005 by RandyMac]

[Edited on 3-17-2005 by RandyMac]

I am currently working a small change is possible...

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-17-2005 at 05:56 AM

manifesto, which focuses on positive individual collaborative changes, or "How to be heard within a herd, if you have some innovative new ideas and are not allowed to be herd within a herd"

My report back to some real nice people well intentioned people in Europe will be sent soon, after I get some rest. i will back at it, as I went to Europe with a plan, to find and meet some innovative of idea people, and it was a most enjoyable journey, and time well spent, and this is just part of the overall processs, and altought I may be vague of the purposes, I have some good reasonsas to why I can't post more right now.

Innovative new software tools of the easy to use software tool kind, are necessary to help insitute positive changes in processes of management, through encouragement to change the hearts and minds of many people, and there are a number of contributors that will be adding their thoughts and ideas to this small change manifesto docuemnt of the spiral of life kind, and the goal is a noble mission, and my little dream and goal is to find out what people would want and need if people who desire to collaborate as individuals of small innovative change and can and could havel access to some innovative software tools if made available to them, so they can then help change the world. through collaborative individual thoughts of encouragement.

it's the luck of the Irish day today, March 17th, and I am borne of Irish/Scotish/North American Indian decent, and I am learning new languages and ways to better communicate with people around the globe.

I was working bymyself for some years and then with some other individuals, and now a few have been added to the matrix mic, to find out if it is possible to work with some individuals that have a similar goal to that of myself, to conceptualize, design and then make collaborative software tools more easy to use and truly useful, to the average user of software, and in the next few weeks I will be posting more information on this very important subject, to Baja Nomad, as I feel that timing is everything, as synergies and synchroniscities of positive change management are in th air, and the world is ready for some major positive changes.

There are tons of software tools out there, to help share and communicate ideas, but how many of them are way too complicated to allow the average Jo/Jane application or web software end user to be truly useful? Many lay claim to be worthy of laying claim that such software tools allow most evey user to use them to make their life ieasier and much more enjorable a process.

More details in due time, as I have to get some sleep, as it has been a long and very enjoyable journey to Geneva Switzerland, Lausanne, and where I based myself out of in Divonne les Baines France, and now I have come back from Europe to my home town of Trail BC, and even though I have been up for well over 45 hours and it is an exciting time for me, and even though it is not not so healthy, to keep posting messages, I plan to get some good sleep to readjust my internal biotimeclock back on PST (Pacific Standard Time) so I can better focus in this subject later.

I have trust and faith, in people that want to help change the world, and make it a more enjoyable place for all to live, and although it may sound utopian, and belief in positive changes matters most, and lives can be saved, and know that many Baja Nomads are good solid people and I very much hope that you can give me some feedback.

Some of the questions to ask are as follows and I appreciate any feedback, and I do mean any feedback:

randyMac, you are nots and off your noodle?
Perhaps, but I am having the blast of my life right now, and I am on a focus of positive change in my own life and I so much want to help others to realize their own dreams to help change the world for the better, and software was my passion and gig, as I have worked and collaborated with many real smart people, and many end users to receive feedback from them over the past 20 or so years to create innovative software that has helped to change the world for many corporations and people. I am not so interested in money, as my goal is to contribute to positive change in the world.

I have been very fortunate lately, and especiially over the past year, and even though I seem slightly offcenter, for some reason my life has been spared many times, and perhaps, just perhaps, it is a result of what I am working on. I can't explain why, but Ive had some close calls of the go to the next stage kind, and there has to be a reason why?

I believe that education of young people and new tools of small change can be conceptualized, developed, and made available on the world wide web to help change peoples lives. I had suffered depression some time back, and I credit this very board and the very inpsiring people that contribute psitive feedback of small change is good change, and your stories and messages of hope have always inspired me to be a better person. Being present and part of BajaNoamd message board has very much helped me and change my life for the better.

I was in Europe and I also did my magic kind of thingy to insopire and then help, and even teach many people to give back to society through being positive not negative, and I was so happy with the feedback that my little effort of small change is good change had on many people over in Europe.

I am so exicted I can hardly think of sleeping right now, but it is necessary.

How can individuals truly and easily collaborate with virtual whiteboards of the software kind?

Is software far to complicated for you to make any changes in your life, let alone anyone elses life?

If you could change the world, what would you do if you could snap your fingers and create or have some softare magically appear that allows you to be more collaborative and productive ti implement innovative ideas tinto positive change management?

Time for me to get some sleep and I will dream about the feedback that I hope to encourage from you by placing this message on this thread.

RandyMac
:light::saint::rolleyes::yes:

[Edited on 3-17-2005 by RandyMac]


[Edited on 3-17-2005 by RandyMac]

A little hint at some of the reasons why I went over to Europe instead of heading....

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-17-2005 at 06:46 AM

to the Baja back in December.

Things happen for a reason or so I believe, and ealing myself from the inside out has been a real proces, and quite enjoyable when I can reflect back on te long process. I'm still going to be slightly off-center in my metods and appraoches, and here is one such article that might piont to wo or why I was over in Geneva area, and then France. and now back here to continue the process of my small change management:

Melatonin dictates body cycles and its production is cyclical. The pineal produces melatonin only at night, when blood levels of the substance are 10 to 15 times higher than during the day. This helps explain why people become drowsy at night. It also helps explain why shift work and long-distance air travel disrupt body rhythms. Dr. Reiter himself takes 1 milligram of melatonin at night as a sleep aid.

A second cycle is associated with melatonin. Dr. Reiter said the length of nightfall affects melatonin production and thus behavior in general. For example, he said, long summer days contribute to a primitive instinct to reproduce. Shorter days, such as those in winter, may affect moods and contribute to a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder.

A third cycle makes Dr. Reiter think melatonin is the key to understanding aging.

"As we age, our melatonin rhythm becomes attenuated. Your nighttime peak for melatonin production becomes lower and lower, which may explain why you age faster as you get older. The likelihood of getting a degenerative disease such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's increases exponentially as you age. Now we think that may in part relate to the loss of the very strong protectant agent in melatonin," said Dr. Reiter, who said additional research will help resolve these important issues.

"The reduction in melatonin output as we age speeds up our rendezvous with death by decreasing our best protection against aging and the oxidants implicated in diseases associated with aging," Dr. Reiter said.

More on the connections to the Baja, BajaNomad, and some real bright imteresting people that frequent this site, and also travel to other parts of Mexico and the Yucatan later.

RandyMac

The prolonged release melatonin tablet...

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-17-2005 at 06:56 AM

and how is this connected, way back many years ago, and why am I posting this here. The natives of the baja have some inoovative ideas to help heal people, and even thoug emlatonin works for me, it may not work for others.

There are alternatives, that are less pharma based, nad more natural and better for human use to cure people of diseases etc. The local natives in Mexico know this, and here is yet another article to further the hint of why I went to take alook see etcetera in Switzerland area for the past few months:

The brain's disease-buster substance
As far back as 300 B.C., the Greek physicians Herophilus and Erasistratus thought they understood the pineal gland, a part of the brain that resembles a pea-sized pine cone. They said it was the valve that controlled the flow of memory.

By the 17th century, French scientist Rene Descartes had a new explanation. He concluded that the pineal gland was the seat of man's very soul.

None of the ancients knew that the pineal gland produces a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin was only discovered in 1958.

Russel J. Reiter, PhD, professor of cellular and structural biology, has devoted nearly 30 years to pineal research and has become one of the foremost authorities on melatonin. In 1993, his group published what he describes as his most exciting findings.

Melatonin, Dr. Reiter said, is a potent anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants neutralize "free radicals," renegade molecules implicated in cancer and diseases associated with aging such as Alzheimer's.

What seems most significant is that melatonin levels decline as people age, stripping their defenses against disease. "In short," Dr. Reiter said, "melatonin may control our fate."

Landmark discoveries about melatonin have been coming from Dr. Reiter's laboratory for years. He is credited with earlier findings that helped show how melatonin runs the body's clock for sleep, reproduction and moods. Synthetic melatonin has become a popular diet supplement in health food stores. People take it for insomnia, jet lag and seasonal depression. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, meanwhile, is examining several prescription applications for melatonin.

Melatonin is named for melanin, or skin pigment, and serotonin, a neurotransmitter found abundantly in the pineal gland. It was discovered by a Yale dermatologist who found that the extract from cow pineal glands lightened the skin of frogs. Melatonin later was identified as a hormone.

Starting in 1992, Dr. Reiter's group produced evidence that melatonin neutralizes the body's most toxic free radical, the hydroxyl radical. He found that melatonin was five times more effective than glutathione, a well-known anti-oxidant.

In another experiment, Dr. Reiter and associates in radiation oncology found that melatonin reduced free-radical damage associated with ionizing radiation such as that from an X-ray. Using groups of human white blood cells, they left one group untreated, then treated a second group with melatonin and a third group with DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide, a known protectant against radiation damage. Both melatonin and DMSO reduced damage by 70 percent, but DMSO had to be used in a dosage 500 times greater than melatonin, he said.

In a third and most compelling experiment, Dr. Reiter gave a cancer-causing agent called safrole to two sets of laboratory rats. One set of rats also received melatonin; the other did not. Rats with melatonin had 41 to 99 percent less damage to their DNA than those without melatonin. There was lesser damage with higher melatonin doses. Free radicals are known to damage DNA.

Melatonin dictates body cycles and its production is cyclical. The pineal produces melatonin only at night, when blood levels of the substance are 10 to 15 times higher than during the day. This helps explain why people become drowsy at night. It also helps explain why shift work and long-distance air travel disrupt body rhythms. Dr. Reiter himself takes 1 milligram of melatonin at night as a sleep aid.

A second cycle is associated with melatonin. Dr. Reiter said the length of nightfall affects melatonin production and thus behavior in general. For example, he said, long summer days contribute to a primitive instinct to reproduce. Shorter days, such as those in winter, may affect moods and contribute to a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder.

A third cycle makes Dr. Reiter think melatonin is the key to understanding aging.

"As we age, our melatonin rhythm becomes attenuated. Your nighttime peak for melatonin production becomes lower and lower, which may explain why you age faster as you get older. The likelihood of getting a degenerative disease such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's increases exponentially as you age. Now we think that may in part relate to the loss of the very strong protectant agent in melatonin," said Dr. Reiter, who said additional research will help resolve these important issues.

"The reduction in melatonin output as we age speeds up our rendezvous with death by decreasing our best protection against aging and the oxidants implicated in diseases associated with aging," Dr. Reiter said.

==============

Most enjoyable to met with some real innovative thinkers in Europe that have good intentions and don't want to see local natives and their ideas of plant use stolen by the fat cat money grubbers.

==================================

The photo I posted above this message is of...

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-17-2005 at 07:15 AM

my good friend Robert "Rico" McKinnon, and it was taken back in 1984, after we returned from a holiday to Shuswa Lake BC Canada.

This photo was taken shortly after I bought one of the first Macitosh compuers that were made availble in Canada. It is of Rico and my self, at 26 years of age, which is over 20 years ago, and Rico is tied into my jeep Scrambler with my squal jacket as he was flopping around from getting a little too blottoed on his Birthday, and I do not drink and drive, and I wanted to make sure he was safe when I drove back to Trail, so I had to find an innovative way to contain him in my jeep as it acked shoulder seat belts. Thus the placing of my jacket over the seat, and tying him into the jeep seat.

His head was flopping out on the conrners when I stated out, and care and control of the behicle is my focus, and my important passenger's life was very important for me to protect.

Robert's wonderful mother Irene, now deceased took this photo and we all had a good laugh when we arrived back at his house across the street, and I was a tenent in his home, and shortly after tis photo was taken, started to design my first major software project on my new 1984 Macintosh 128K innovative visual interafce computer. I knew of this computer in advance, and the famous 1984 apple comuter teweaked some real innovative ideas in my noddle.

i plan to bring Rico down to the baja eiter this year or next year, as well as a few other friends. He and his sife managed to beat Cancer at the same time, and te Baja is such a wonderous place to met new people, and I thought I would encourage him to try new things this year to elp him and his wife live a fuller life.

Can't wait until I can introduce Rico to some of the fine baja Nomads that I have met on this message board.

19984 Apple Commerial based on George Orwell's book 1984.

http://www.uriah.com/apple-qt/1984.html

Text of "1984"
Today, we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives. We have created, for the first time in all history, a garden of pure ideology. Where each worker may bloom secure from the pests of contradictory and confusing truths. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!

2005 is now getting real interesting to me, and the timing is near perfect to start adding some new people to the matrix mix as things are getting real innovate again, after a long five enjoyable 5 years break from software the software design industry.

This time around will be very different, as 2005 will be a year of many changes, and one to remember, when reflected back on in the next few years.

?Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now.?
Quote from the web. ??? Source ???


RandyMac




[Edited on 3-17-2005 by RandyMac]

Thanks to Gypsy Jan for starting this inspiring message thread...

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-17-2005 at 07:30 AM

and to all the positive mind contributors, as I am very inspired by your messages of hopes and positive dreams of social change....

"When people have no choice, life is almost unbearable ....
But as the number of choices keeps growing,
negative aspects of having a multitude
of options begin to appear."


"Anyone can make a mistake, but that mistake does not become an error until you refuse to correct it"--G-Adm. Thrawn

"Never forget that life can only be nobly inspired and rightly lived if you take it bravely and gallantly, as a splendid adventure in which you are setting out into an unknown country, to meet many a joy, to find many a comrade, to win and lose many a battle."
Annie Besant

Aries
March 21 - April 20
?
astrology.com
canada.com

ARIES ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: I am an Aries and might just be able to celebrate on April 18th, as I was bron on April 18th, 1958, and this is going to be a verty good year of positive change, as it already has proven to be on track for many positive changes. And I met someone in France and she is a real nice person and aritist, I was able to show her some photos of the Baja, and she is inspired also. Gte some sleep you bozo dude.

Take the melatonin tablet now if necessary.

I grabbed this from the web back on Wednesday, December 22, 2004

As the year begins, Aries, your focus will quickly shift from play to work -- hard work. After the 10th of January, in fact, it will be tough to talk you into doing anything other than putting your nose to the grindstone. You'll be able to reach your goals more easily, though, so it will be well worth your time and energy to put everything else aside -- for now, at least. Once March arrives, however, you'll be far more interested in taking care of your health and appearance -- and you'll do a great job of it, too.

A solar eclipse in early April will make this a birthday month to remember, and if you're single, this astral equation could also indicate a new relationship. Keep your eyes open after the 14th of April for someone who's extremely sensual and quite focused -- on you! Be sure they're not too focused, though. You know how you get when you feel smothered.

Summer will be an entirely different story. By July, you'll be enjoying lots of freedom, travel and new experiences. Keep your passport current and your suitcases handy. The full Moon of August 19th will also bring along a chance for you to start a new hobby -- the kind that could put you in touch with someone new, exciting and just fiery enough to keep you interested. Don't pass this one up! Both the hobby and the new person could be exactly what you've been waiting for.

By fall, you may be thinking of making a major career move -- one that's entirely possible. After the 17th of October, you may also be making your way along a whole new relationship path. Either way -- or both ways, perhaps -- you'll enjoy this new start, and so will those who choose to accompany you. The holidays look just wonderful, full of lots of good feelings and lots of surprises under the mistletoe. A new Moon on New Year's Eve will put you in the mood to get back to business after weeks of festivities. Go for it!

Aries in 2005

I can't wait to head to the Baja after I deliver some stuff over the next month... ----->-------> ...:light:

Baja California bound soon, yehhheeeee...

RandyMac

[Edited on 3-17-2005 by RandyMac]

[Edited on 3-17-2005 by RandyMac]

[Edited on 3-17-2005 by RandyMac]

Braulio - 3-17-2005 at 08:30 AM

Well said - and right on target Randy.

Here's hoping your delivery goes well.

I assume you've been doing a little QC on the merchandise.

David K - 3-17-2005 at 08:30 AM

Wow.....

Send me a bottle of that stuff!

Randy, please stop by on your way to 'The Baja'!

Thanks for sharing/ collaborating with your friends here!

Communications/collaboration/ Randy Mac

Baja Bernie - 3-17-2005 at 01:24 PM

Randy, You used something I said to lead into quite a tour of collaboration/communication/jet lag/melatonin/ making the world a better place and a few other subjects in such a free flowing volume that I frankly had difficulty in appreciating.
I was speaking to responsibility and the lack thereof in our modern world and was taken aback when you used this quote from the book 1984---

"Today, we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives. We have created, for the first time in all history, a garden of pure ideology. Where each worker may bloom secure from the pests of contradictory and confusing truths. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!"

This is the exact opposite and in total conflict with any sense of individual accountability and responsibility.

I have studied this book as well as several others of a generally similar nature---Brave New World, The Fountain Head, Atlas Shrugged, Anthem, For The New Intellectual, and many others. Granted that was before my melatonin level began to drop. Some were prophesy?s of the future if man continued down the path of mind controlling drugs and others did the same in regard to what would happen if people and governments were no longer responsible in the actions. As I get older I occasionally go back and re-visit them to evaluate how far we have come and in what direction as a civilization. Some what saddening.
You are absolutely right that we need new and helpful thinking to improve our track record.

I am very interested in learning, growning, being responsible for self, and better communication between all people BUT I question where you are going when provide the above quote.

The pineal gland and it's production of melatonin has been of vague interest to me since the early '80's--but how does that tie in with your proposal.
I realize that you are a very creative person but these ideas, to me, are shrouded by your admitted lack of sleep. Please get back in your correct time zone and re-connect to collaboration with a more clear purpose rather than just a vague statement about making the world a better place.

Please do not make me disappear!

Exactly what collaborative leads to...

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-17-2005 at 09:58 PM

the non-collaborative points of view taking control of the situation, as the assumptive process is alive in well in most people. We all do it, and it's the assumptions of jumping to conclusions that stop people from collaborating.

Bernie,

Most anytime a persons trys to go from original thoughts or ideas and then adds a second person into the mix, there is a 50% 50% chance that we will either: agree or disagree, or differ and it does come to common ground without open discussion of eac point of view.

Thus, the problem with these so called individual collaborative approaches in software as software is just another tool to communicate individual ideas and pijts of view. Each Individual has their very own very important to the individual belief systems, and what is important to them, may not be important to other individuals, so how can that be changed?

BajaNomad as an example:

What do you and I have in Common = Baja
Now that is where we might only find a single common ground, or just perhaps we can be more open to learning from each other?

I always learn from oter people on Baja Nomad, because I am willing to make the effort to be open to other's point of view, as I have not closed my mind off to the possibilities, that someone might have some good points to consider.

19984
The 1984 Commercial was the one time Apple wazzing match to send a message to everyone that the Macintosh had arrived on the scenes to free everyone from the IBM enslavement. If you really look at what has happened, Apple came up with this branding concept that IBM PC's represented the non-original robotic reguritative thoughts of non-collaborative people stuck in boring repetitive tasks.

The Commercial is famous for two main reasons.
1) It only aired once.
2) Is IBM like that now?

The arrow may just be circling the orbit and perhaps it is coming back to haunt Apple again if they don't fix their clonehead ways.

I lived the Apple dream since the 1976, and then the Macintosh in 1984, and now if one so much as even criticizes Apple and what they are doing, or Steve Jobs, the minions or cult heads of Apple Macdome jump all over the person for stating the obvious, that Apple is now the IBM of the 21st Century. Apple eats it's own young, and it is going to be their downfall one day.

So, just perhaps Apple and the geek heads are not really to dissimilar than what the IBM PC robotic drones of the 1984 represented.

History seems to repeat itself.

To collaborate, does not mean that people have to conform to what someone else wants them to do, they need only be an individual that is willing to consider some other invividual's point of view. They do not have to adopt them. Just consider them as a possibility, otherwise we live in a closed system.

Perhaps you have watched the Simpsons? Many people like it, and many don't.

I lose myself into this cartoon world sometimes, but many of my friends don't even understand what it is alll about, and don't find it entertaining at all. Why? Not that important, they just don't and that is just fine with me.

I post this as many others have said the same thing: You don't think "The Simpsons" is all that funny, but you watch it because that Flanders fellow makes a lot of sense.

We don't have to agree on much, but if we want to find some common ground, we should at least be willing to consider someone's point of view. I always try to consider points of view of others. Not exactly what happens on Nomad all the time though.

The YankeeIrishman posted a while back and he brought up a good point about newbies and the Baja Nomads that have been here for a while. The so called Baja Experts, so what is an expert anyways and who is the deciding person that makes the decision of what is important to whom on this site. I would say thsat many of the so called experts come here to spread their brand, and that is my point, we can't collaborate unless we are willing to find some comon ground.

I enjoy reading other people's stories on Baja Nomad, but I have to wonder why all the wazzing on each other? Perhaps it is because bad news seems to draw a crowd.

My friend Douglas Adams said it best before he passed to the next galaxy of his imagination.

"Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws."
Douglas Adams, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"


I enjoy reading what most everyone puts down in text on Baja Nomad, as I am like a sponge, but I do not adopt all of it. I just like to see what other people see, from their point of view, because I don't want to just see things from my eyes only.

EYES WIDE OPEN. I want to experience others point of view, from there eyes.

This may happen to Apple and perhaps a certain nation, if they keep up with their ways?

What symbols are on the US dollar bill? Everyone was juming to conclusions about GWB, and now maybe, just maybe his focal point may prove to be a good thing for all? I am open to the possibilities, and yes I do cartoons, but I didn't say that the other guy would do any better than GWB. That's for the viewer of the cartoon to decide, not me.

How would I know what individual's really think and post, unless I am willing to see things from their point of view. It is a process of small change to consider, and that is what I want to learn from.

The Eagle and the Arrow ? An Aesop's Fable
An Eagle was soaring through the air. Suddenly it heard the whizz of an Arrow, and felt the dart pierce its breast. Slowly it fluttered down to earth. Its lifeblood pouring out. Looking at the Arrow with which it had been shot, the Eagle realized that the deadly shaft had been feathered with one of its own plumes."

Moral: "We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction."

Is This an ASSUMPTION? I don't think so, as it is your point of view and I am open to this.
Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
Randy, You used something I said to lead into quite a tour of collaboration/communication/jet lag/melatonin/ making the world a better place and a few other subjects in such a free flowing volume that I frankly had difficulty in appreciating.
I was speaking to responsibility and the lack thereof in our modern world and was taken aback when you used this quote from the book 1984---

Why do we make assumptions on message boards anyways? We don't have the body language of the individual that is communicating the ideas or thoughts to help us visualize, and ti is an issue. We are not sitting at the beach with each other. You are where you are, and I am here, and we can't see each other, and humans are visual communicators of full senses to express.
The French always comunicate with full on body language, yet the Swiss are like robots, with little if any visual ques of what they are trying to say, yet they live right next to eac other. Why is this? I am curious as to why?

We all make assumptions as the text based format of this message board and many oter boards are not the best way to communicate your true feeling or expressions of thoughts, and happy sad iconic faces only go so far to help people express their true feelings and thoughts. Thus the reason for trying to find out why people make assumptions about what other people type into message boards.

A goal is to find a more effective softwar interface to remove the assumptive.

The symantecs of wording. Type in one long sentence, and it may mean exactly something of your thought to you, then someone else reads it days later, and then ask them what they think, and chances are they will read it and maybe they will tell you the exact opposite, as the typed word is often miscommunicated.

I always enjoy what you and many other people type in, as I try to visualize what you have put in as words, from your point of view, so I can feel the essense of your thoughts, and what you are trying to say, but how many oter people will do this. Not many. This is not the best approach, and that is what I am working on. But I have to communicate with others to get their thoughts.

Heading to the hockey game. Enjoyed the feedback Bernie, and I mean it is a pleasure to see your point of view, as that is how I can live a fuller life, to see other people's viewpoints. I enjoyed your poijt of view and thank you so much for the feedback.

These symbols of how we feel only go so far, and just perhaps there is a better way. :light: :rolleyes:

It takes feedback from people such as yourself to find out what users want and need to better communicate their thoughts to such message boards so the old assumptive process doesn't take hold first.
Sincerely,

RandyMac
SO

Randy Mac

Gypsy Jan - 3-17-2005 at 10:30 PM

you are a genius and/or a lunatic.

I couldn't care less about trying to categorize you, I embrace your vision.

I hope you are able to return to your special Baja very soon!

Cheers,

Gypsy Jan

Probably a loonie toon when sleep deprived

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-18-2005 at 03:00 AM

and more of a lunitic when I get too much sleep.

Gypsy Jan,

Thanx, and yes I am feeling a little loonie toons today.

Clarity suffers exponentially when sleep deprived, but I would rather be sleep deprived and loonie toons any day of the week, than obnoxious and closed minded and not open to change.

I do agree with Bernie that lack of proper sleep, or depriving oneself of sleep can have some very bizarre effects on the mind. Anything over 28 hours without sleep and the noodle goes into an almost hallucinogenic state of coma.

After taking 2mg of prolonged release melatonin I feel much better, but I am not back to PS Time. It will require another day or two, so one more 2mg and I should be more balanced out. At least I hope so.

After the food poisoning event in Europe, which I still get a laugh out of, the doctors noticed my heart races without warning every once and a while. Have to go for a check up, in about a week to check to see if it is still doing this, cause one day it might just stop or flatline on me and I might not even notice it.

I might just have to carry one of those Motomaster Eliminators around just in case I need a quick jump start. :lol:

I still believe that small changes made by people can and will change the world. We need only try to see what can result. If everyone made themselves a promise that they would be nice to 3 to 5 people each day, and asked those 3 to 5 people to do the same, the exponential of potential is an astounding number of positive possibilities of change, and it would not take that long to notice significant changes.

To see positive changes requires that people make an effort, and that's the rub, as it might be expecting way too much from humans.

Even though I may have been sleep deprived, and probably need some more sleep to see a proper balance, I still try to be considerate of others and their points of view.

I often wonder how much sleep closed minded people get, or does it even matter? Sometimes people are just so set in their ways, and so closed minded, they don't even care what others may think. And all the sleep in the world isn't going to do much to change their ways, as it is a habitual situation.

Starting to wobble, so the lonnie toon guy is going to sleep now.

RandyMac

[Edited on 3-18-2005 by RandyMac]

[Edited on 3-18-2005 by RandyMac]

It's a huge challenge but that's why I like it, cause it is a challenging adventure...

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-18-2005 at 03:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Braulio
Well said - and right on target Randy.

Here's hoping your delivery goes well.

I assume you've been doing a little QC on the merchandise.


Thanx for the encouragement Braulio. QC? Must need sleep, cause I am missing out on waht QC is?

Sooner or later more and more people are going to wake up to the possibilities of positive change, and I think more and more people are starting to make the effort of positive changes, so it will happen, if we only try.

It take less energy to do something positive than something negative, yet many people would rather focus on the negative. I often wonder why this is so? Maybe there is a whole lot of wazzing in the cornflakes of life that I am nieve about or something? Who knows why all the negativity exists. Maybe people just need to be negative to be happy, which is a real crazy thought:lol:

Take care Braulio.

RandyMac


[Edited on 3-18-2005 by RandyMac]

David K - 3-18-2005 at 08:21 AM

Randy, I am guessing 'QC' is Quality Control, as in sampling the product to make sure it is good stuff!:lol::light::O

Bob H - 3-18-2005 at 09:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
Even tho I have never had any crime problems either in the USA or in Baja, I do not feel as secure in Baja as in the USA, period. The main reason is the difference in the laws, and the inability to protect myself in Baja, unlike while in the USA.

I lived in Southern CA for 43 years, elsewhere for the past 20 years. I am a retired cop/special agent after 30 years on the job.

Still, after saying all this, I still love Baja, and go there fairly often, both to camp, and to stay in hotels in La Paz. (mostly camp and explore away from any civilization). Barry


Barry, What you said here, you hit the nail on the head. And, I too am a former special agent and I make sure I'm always aware of what is going on around me and react to my instincts without doubting them. There are times when you get this certain feeling that things are just not right.
Bob H

Thanks, Bob-----so far, it works for me.

Barry A. - 3-18-2005 at 09:38 AM

I agree with what you say, 100%.

Stay vigilant, and the rest works out for the best.

I especially like your "motto" at the bottom of your post. Right on!!!! Barry

Bob H - 3-18-2005 at 09:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RandyMac
Clarity suffers exponentially when sleep deprived, but I would rather be sleep deprived and loonie toons any day of the week, than obnoxious and closed minded and not open to change.



Randy - very well said! And, so true.

Braulio - 3-18-2005 at 10:08 AM

Randy -

There's wazzing - and then there's wazzing. I mostly just waz friends, family - people I kind of get a kick out of - (although there is an exception on this board).

That's one of the problems with these internet boards - people don't know whether it's a frienldy waz - or a mean one. And some folks like to assume the negative.

I remember the only time I was in a chat with some folks from the old Amigo's board - years ago - I think DavidK was there. I wazzed that I didn't think I'd fit in at any of the BBBB funtions because I didn't have any ugly shirts (if you've seen photos at David K's site you know what I mean) - and I'll be darned if some of the people didn't take me seriously and get all uptight.

I've always enjoyed your perspective - Randy - even though I've got to confess some of it I don't quite get.

Yeah - QC refers to Quality Control - as in "Brewmaster".

What the heck does "waz" mean anyway?

Perhaps it's just human today to want to just vent....

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-18-2005 at 11:17 AM

frustrations out on others?

Quote:
Originally posted by Braulio
Randy -
..........
That's one of the problems with these internet boards - people don't know whether it's a frienldy waz - or a mean one. And some folks like to assume the negative.
..................
I've always enjoyed your perspective - Randy - even though I've got to confess some of it I don't quite get.

Yeah - QC refers to Quality Control - as in "Brewmaster".

What the heck does "waz" mean anyway?


Waz, is a colloquil term for some wanker (idiot) deciding that it is all right to vent frutration at anyone and go about 'pis sing' in somone's daily enjoyment.

As an example of miserable wazheads, I missed the hockey game last night so I decided to head up to my friend Mo's bar in my home town. Of course I wanted to sit with my buddy Jay M who is wheelchair bound, and then I noticed an ugly bobblehead of the ugliest proportions rear his miserable cakehole of negativity towards us, and then this piece of garbage just spews a constant source of obnoxious bad attitude towards us and the world, and all other patrons of the bar.

Why does my friend Mo put up with it all, cause this nob spends the majority of his pension check in the bar each week and month. He's considered a regular, and he gets the preferencial treatment.

My freind Mo is obviously more interested in the steady cash flow from one miserable individual than bring in new customers, and he is willing to put up with this piece of crap, so I said that's it, slapping this &%#% head up side the noodle is not an option any more, as my hockey days are over, and dragging his carcass across the street and wacking some sense into his pea head is jail bound for me, and is not an option at my age of responsibility and accountability, so I informed Mo and my friends that I will no longer come to Mo's bar, to sit and have a beer, as I have a choice, and my choice is to meet new people who have a good attitude, and tell interesting stories, so if I want a beer, I will avoid my freinds bar, and go down the street to sit for an hour in one of the 4 others pubs and bars.

My friend Mo says people just need to ignore him, and I say that is not an option, as the negativity is ugly to be around, especially anywhere the same proximity, so I refuse to subject myself to this man's ugly attitude towards me or everyone else, as he thinks his miserable life gives him the right to dump a crapload on anyone that passes by.

That's the lifestyle of an obnoxious alcholic mindless dimmwit for you. The whole word is to blame for their miserable existance.

So Mo has lost about 20 customers to save one bad actor. Not a good business model, but then again it is not my business. My friend think he will sell his bar soon, but he is not building any good will, and by allowing the miserable anger of stress to stay in his buess, he will have a tough time selling it for 1/3 the price he is asking.

To bad, but that is life. And life is about choices, and my choice is to be happy and smile. :tumble:

RandyMac

Will do David K... I can order some more of this...

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-18-2005 at 11:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Wow.....

Send me a bottle of that stuff!

Randy, please stop by on your way to 'The Baja'!

Thanks for sharing/ collaborating with your friends here!


as it is close to FDA approval.

I'll contact my friend in Europe, and hopefully she will send it to me soon.

I am just finising up on some due diligence to complete a report, and I am hoping to venture sout in late April.

Look forward to meeting David K.

RandyMac

Braulio - 3-18-2005 at 11:34 AM

Thanks for the definition Randy - I guess I misused the term - waz must be like pis-sing on someone else's parade type of a deal. I thought it was just to bug, pester, tease, pull leg etc.

I know what you mean about bars - there's a place I go (Red's recovery Room in Cotati) mostly to shoot pool - but there's one load-mouthed ahole type who practically lives there - that the owner tolerates for I guess economic reasons.

He'd be a waz.

Hey Mac!

Skeet/Loreto - 3-18-2005 at 12:05 PM

Good Story about a Bar!

If you ever get to feeling like you need Company, next time find a good little
Church like the Cowboy church of amarillo Texas. In stead of Hefting a few Beers you can ride a Bull, rope a Calf, bull-dog a Steer , ride a Horse and have some good conversation with folks who are happy and Alive in their relationship with God and their church.

Wish you well in you venture to Baja.
Randy ,Its the People of Baja!

Skeet/Loreto
Skeet/Loreto

Surprise!

bajalera - 3-18-2005 at 02:04 PM

Just noticed, in Braulio's reply, that Nomads are now free to pee people off. Great! "pee" once got replaced on one of my posts by "pee," which is no way the same thing.

Lera

EL WRONGO!

bajalera - 3-18-2005 at 05:51 PM

Guess Braulio got by with p*ssing because it was hyphenated. I object to this censorship. Both terms refer to urinating, but there's a big difference: you don't pee OFF, you pee ON.

Lera

Dave - 3-18-2005 at 06:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalera
there's a big difference: you don't pee OFF, you pee ON.


That depends on which way the wind's blowing.

Braulio - 3-18-2005 at 06:35 PM

Para que todo el mundo se entere:

Lera = Troublemaker (in any language)

kind of back to where this started...

vgabndo - 3-18-2005 at 06:36 PM

When people learn how long I leave my place unattended in Baja, they often suggest that I must get all my stuff stolen. I always tell them this:

For the first six years I had my place there I didn't have enough room to put my wheelbarrow inside when I left. Every year it would be sitting there ready to go when I got back. The seventh year, it got a flat. The sun had killed the tire, so I made one by jigsawing and laminating a bunch of 3/4" plywood into the tire that's on it today, and proceeded to disassemble the original to see what I could do. I had never had the wheel off the 'barrow. When I pulled the tube, it had about 15 tiny little Mexican patches on it! My wheelbarrow had been taken countless times, and returned with air in the tire every single time. Name another place where that is likely to have happened.

Vgabndo

Baja Bernie - 3-18-2005 at 07:09 PM

Love it---That is my Baja experience!

vag

comitan - 3-18-2005 at 07:24 PM

You got the feeling!!!! Lucky, me too!!!!!!

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-18-2005 at 09:31 PM

For you Skeet: a little story of faith, in oneself, and of people to overcome addiction to be good person.

:saint:
How prayer from anywhere, even from on top of a mountain top in Divonne Le Baines France has wonderous results.
Quote:
Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
Good Story about a Bar!
If you ever get to feeling like you need Company, next time find a good little
Church like the Cowboy church of amarillo Texas.
...........................
Skeet/Loreto
Skeet/Loreto


Skeet, how are you. I just got back from Europe, and it was most enjoyable.

Got to love how the Frenchman, as they refer to themselves, Pascal and Fabrice and Michelle, and many others that I met interact with each other.

First they hug etc, then they sit down and eat with the red vino etc, then out comes the aperitifs, then it?s the white wine and then they just get at each other like posses by some demon.

I just sat back and watched, it all unfold as the expressed every emotion they could dig up, and then when things got a little of hand I would interject some magic into to distract them, and immediately they would watch, as if they needed the distraction.

I did some "Randy Magic For Smiles Shows" in Lausanne Switzerland, back and forth on the train to France, and in Divonne le Baines where I stayed and had a most enjoyable time.

I just enjoy making people smile and I never do it for anything but a smile, so when I felt the energy coming on, I would just start performing outside of a restaurant, or a bar, and then in a bar, and people kept sending me drinks which I didn't want, but they can be insulted, so I asked them to give to their favorite cause instead or to put the 5 Euros towards a school, or a church cause or some good function cause in the area.

It first they thought I was doing it for payment, and when I thumped my heart chest area twice and then said it was just for smiles, people started to tell their friends. I always offered to impart the magic and almost every time a young or an older person would come to me after and want to learn. This is the very rewarding part, as the magic is within everyone to make people smile, and I would tell them they are individuals so don't follow my act, be your own actor entertainer, magician, and it was most enjoyable when I was able to sit back and watch these huge smiling faces of new magicians perform their new found joy giver.

One of the most enjoyable and memorable times was being asked by this hotel owner if I would be interested to helped some troubled recovering locals that had their lives messed up with drug abuse (alcohol, cocaine, drugs etc) so I agreed to do it for smiles.

I was told they were very dangerous offenders and I said that it didn't deter me, as I know that magic and faith in people can help with self-esteem.

Long story short, over a period of weeks, and then the last week, this one former troubled soul Fabrice F., has become an new found angel of the community, and he was hugging me so hard and doing the Frenchman hugs and thank you's etc before I left to go to the plane last week that he didn't want to let me go back to Canada.

I have never seen such a happier person in quite some time, as he looked like he was glowing all around, like white brilliance, and his former dark eyes were blue in color, and he looked like a total different person or a mirror (Opposite) image of what he looked when I first met him.

He thanked me for giving him the gift of magic, and I then let him know that the magic is not mine to give, as it is in each and every person, and my little part was only to help him find the spark point of the shine and glow, from within his heart, to help himself figure out as a good person at heart how he could rid himself of the painful anger, and the magic joy was coming from him, as he was able to very quickly transform and express is magic to make people smile inside.

As he learned patience, and patience with himself, his focus was more on that of Fabrice, the good person, and not the former, and the last few days before I was about to leave Fabrice's friends said that he was acting so responsible and accountable and consistent (arc) were he was never able to be responsible, as he was so messed up with money and drugs before etc, as he would always buy drugs before food,

Well he seemed to completely transform himself, and looked so good and cleaned up, and peaceful, and he has not had a drink, or any drugs, and even though he knows the drug stuff may take longer to recover from, he said he had never been able to stay away from it for even one day before, and he plans to stay away completely so by focusing on making people smile all the time, he decided to go to the church where he went to when he was young, as they can be that support for him to stay clean and sober, and focus on joyful things in life.

He wanted so much to turn his life around, but never thought anyone would care enough. This hotel owner wants to help these people and he saw me perform shows and asked me for help, and I jumped in feet first, and was never once felt threatened or anything. It was so joyful to see what resulted, as being more close to my creator has been my drug of choice to heal myself.

It is my way of putting back by imparting the joy of magic learning to many individuals over the years, and teaching children to be expressive and have self confidence is the most enjoyable, and of all the people I can remember, Fabrice is full of hope and faith in the power of prayer, and I would leave after spending hours with him, and then sit up the top of my favorite mountain above the village and pray that he would stay focused on recovering, and I watched a genius with numbers and logic become a joyful person again, tat he said he once was when he was very young.

He has a photographic memory, and especially wit logic and numbers, so I gave him a magic gift of 5 coins, called "money changer", sound familiar? and even though he can't read or write, we sat and he pondered and thought of the magic within him, and then I sould him how to use little stick drawings how put a magic routine in a step by step set of simple pictures, to learn a routine to express himself fully. I was absolutely amazed that Fabrice was so focused, as he then started to move the coins around from 5 to 3 (2 would magically disappear) then he would bring one back and then 3 would disappear, and there were two, and I could not get over just how quick he could learn so far beyond anything I could veer imagine to teach him, and so he was showing me new stuff in magic. Most enjoyable interaction in some time for me, as it was a pure joy to watch him teach himself to be really creative to express himself in positive ways rather than lash out in anger as I had first seen in him.

I went back just before leaving to say goodbye to Pascal the hotel owner, and Fabrice, and the evening was most enjoyable, as the Pascal was so happy, and said he had this feeling that somehow there was some divine intervention at work to meet before and he just knew that by asking me to help Fabrice, that the resulting joy all around and opportunity to see it help more troubled souls has gone way beyond anything he ever imagined.

I then mentioned that Fabrice can now be the imparter of the smiles, as Fabrice is a natural performer and he showed me a magic routine that I have not even seen from the likes of professionals such as Jay Sankey and Lance Burton, as Fabrice comes at it from a fully expressive Frenchman style, which is so refreshing, and entertaining, almost mime like, where his performance astounded me and others, and the smiles on people's hearts were so huge, I had tears in my eyes of pure joy.

His goal is to be clean and sober for at least two years, then he wants to really travel around and help troubled teens and younger people, to stay away from substance abuse, as he spent 2 1/2 years in prison for a violent assault many years ago, and his pain of guilt became his excuse to not care, to drag himself into a pit.

Now he wants to do only good things, and his family and friends and the Pascal the hotelier have said that Fabrice is now a man on a mission to repay society for his harmful to himself and others mistakes, by making everyone smile. He has promised to himself that he will only do it for smiles, and he even thumps his heart, but three times as the French hug three times, so it is like the fleur de Lys, which was a symbol of French royalty. Fabrice comes from a long line that goes way back to the early days in France.

Fabrice knows he will probably have relapses, but he said his new found self confidence has restored his faith and the church is his support, and now that he has gone back he said he will remain steadfast to only do good, and I told him I will keep in touch with him as he gave me his phone number and I will call him each 2 weeks to encourage him forward. I also gave him my number, and one day he may come to Canada.

I thank my maker every day since that I was able to meet Pascal and then Fabrice, as they helped me to heal myself from within further, even though they may believe it was me or the other way around.

This is a little smiley joyful story to me, as I always, each and every day know the power of belief and faith in people is a wonderful thing, and what it can do to inspire change, and even though I don't go to a church in a building with a choir etc Skeet, I do have my own personal spiritual connection to my god and it grows every day.

As for me, my faith and belief in my god is all about, and I do not have to necessarily have to go into a building made of wood and stone to find faith and pray, as I can be anywhere, as I only have to believe and have faith and can ask for help and pray, at any time, any place, and it is a good feeling to know this, and this is my source of faith in people.

I have always prayed that one day everyone around the globe would pray for a moment when a certain critical number of human beings achieve awareness of goodness, this new awareness of a common pray without specific denomination of any religion will be communicated from mind to mind in a field of awareness that gains and becomes strengthened from mind to mind, from one individual to another, regardless of how close or how far they are apart, so that this awareness is picked up by almost everyone on the planet and it comes full circle back to each individual! And lets say the starting point may be Todos Santos Baja, and within eight minutes the thoughts from mind to mind and a prayer of hope would travel all around the globe from one individual to another as if by mind power alone, even though they didn't know why, and how, and then at the last second of the eight minutes the feeling of joy that all wars would cease, all hunger would cease for any affected soul on earth as if by a ray of sunshine, it was transformed by the world to be inter-connected by a common faith of peace. I actually pray for this to happen each day, and especially when I go up to the top of my favorite mountaintop that I find no matter where I am in the world. Some people think I am off my noodle, but I do believe it will happen one day.

There is a point at which if only one more person tunes-in to a new awareness, that?s all that is needed to add one more, and then it becomes a stronger field of awareness, and before too long it will happen.

So that's why I go up to the mountain to pray.

I would, like to meet you personally one day Skeet, and I would enjoy coming to Texas, to learn and meet more, as long as it is on my terms and I am not expected by anyone to adopt or to conform to someone else's beliefs, as right now for me, I have the one on one that is just a fine way with me. I vibrate too much around too many people who are always trying to show me there way, so that is why I sit up on a mountain to be close to my source of faith and pray.

Take care Skeet,

Look forward to meeting you one day soon.

RandyMac

Grover. George has been an angry person ever...

RandyMacSC/SO - 3-18-2005 at 09:38 PM

since I can remember.
Quote:
Originally posted by grover
Quote:
Originally posted by RandyMac...an ugly bobblehead of the ugliest proportions...a constant source of obnoxious bad attitude towards us and the world, and all other patrons of the bar...

Maybe you could bribe Mo to season his c-cktail a little.




I can remember George S first telling me that his wife left him to live with his best friend when he was 19. I played hockey with this man of miserable proportions, and it is so pathetic, and I no longer even try to figure out why, or even have the energy to try to convince him to try to smile. His self pity is so messy that I refuse to even be near him any more. He actaully feeds off of other's happiness as if like a vampire sucking energy from people, and it is so sad that my friend Mo doesn't just end the cycle of pathetic drama for all, by asking him to leave and seek professional help.

That's what money does, as the all mighty buck sometimes causes people to not use common sense, as if common sense is no longer common.

Enough energy wasted on this pathetic soul, as he has to fix himself, as I devote my time to people that make an effort to at least want to try to be better person.

George S will propably die a very lonely soul as his liver must be shot by now. too bad, because he could be a good person if he would only try to consider the possibility. I think it will take more than me praying for this sad case. It might take the whole world. It's that pathetic a state, not even I have the patience, even though I try.

RandyMac



[Edited on 3-19-2005 by RandyMac]

[Edited on 3-19-2005 by RandyMac]

Mac!

Skeet/Loreto - 3-19-2005 at 11:31 AM

Your words and your Life is inspiring.!!!
Mac I would never try to change a person from without, in my mind that has to come from Within.
Amarillo Cowboy Church-Arena of Life.

Started about 2 years ago with a Group of Cattle men and Cowboys. Last Sunday over 450 and Growing. Riding , roping, Righteous, Covered Arena being built as I type.

Our Music is Modern with the Gutarist being the Former Lead for John Lennon.

Non Denom. just a belief in God. and Jesus.

It is inspiring to see the Number of Addicts who have come forward found their Salvation and now are active in Life and Church.

Faith, Hope and Charity

Skeet/Loreto