Egyptians Sue

Sixteen centuries ago, Egyptian representatives appeared before Alexander the Great's court. The wanted Jews to pay restitution for all the Egyptian gold and silver they took along with them during the Exodus. Whether they believed the story to be true was irrelevant.

Pesisa's son Geviha requested permission to present a defense on behalf of the Jews.He asked for evidence Jews absconded with their wealth.

The Egyptians response: "The crime is clearly recorded in your Torah."

"In that case," Geviha said, "the Torah also says that 600,000 Jews were unjustly enslaved by the Egyptians for many, many years. So first let us calculate how much you owe us."

Egyptian representatives had three days to prepare their response. The declined the opportunity and fled on the 25th of Nissan and never mad ethe argument again.

In Talmudic times, Jews celebrated the day when the Egyptian delegation fled as a (minor) holiday.

Mexico City Becomes a City

On April 25, 1528, King Charles V of Spain declared Gran Tenochtitlan to be a city. We now call the location Mexico City.

Lighter penalties for illegal immigrants

Mexico's Senate voted unanimously to remove criminal penalties for undocumented migrants. Some argued they did this because U.S. citizens often argue that Mexico has much harsher penalties for illegal aliens than other country in the Americas, and thus seem hypocritical when they argue the United States should be easier on their illegal aliens.

Ricky Martin. Defiende mojados

A recent article in Excelsior has a titled that roughly translates as Ricky Martin Defends Wetbacks.

End of an Era

The leftist protest against the oil bill finally ended. The government resumes in their official chambers once again.

Great weather

The rains have come, started their daily arrival sharply at 3, and they have been accompanied by reports of governmental attempts to improve the drainage system of the city -- no small feat.

Sweet 15

Mexico City hosted a large, free celebration in their main plaza for the quinceañera of hundreds of girls. The idea is to give a party for those that cannot afford the ritual that can now cost thousands of dollars, due to societal pressure. Similiar to Bar Mitzvahs, these birthday parties have become more and more extravagant and pricey.

Her Own Mistress

Thandie Newton is going to play Condoleeza Rice in an upcoming move. She once play Thomas Jefferson's lover. This means she will have played the Secretary of State and a Secretary of State's mistress.

Condoleeza Rice said she would prefer to be played by Halle Berry.

Another Sit-in

20 Legislators from the Broad Progressive Front (FAP), consisting of members of the PRD, the Worker’s Party (PT), and Convergentes, took over the Chambers of Deputies and Senators to demand a national debate on energy reform

Peso Explodes

From Reuters

MEXICO CITY – Mexico's peso rose sharply to a two-year high Monday as investors anticipated that the country's central bank will hold interest rates steady at its monthly policy meeting on Friday. Stocks edged down.
The peso firmed 0.47 percent to 10.487 per dollar at the official central bank close, boosted by expectations that the spread between U.S. and Mexican yields will widen further, making peso assets more attractive.

Tío Taco

Slang for a U.S. citizen of Mexcan descent who has internalized the United States perspective. Also called a Mexican Gringo.

Danger

U.S. State Department officials have issued a travel alert prompted by drug violence in the north of Mexico,

warning that victims have included foreign visitors and residents.

$2.58 Billion

That's the amount the Chicago Tribune is reporting Mexicans paid in bribes last year. When even my orthodox friends feel compelled to pay bribes to crooked cops, you know something has gone wrong.

Elvira continues

Elvira Arellano, the illegal alien who was deported with much publicity, is helping to organize May 1 protests in the United States. I was reading a description of her efforts and was intrigued by an article's description of her agenda as "Movement Mesoamerican Reform."

"Migrant reform," "immigration reform" and "comprehensive immigration reform" have all become synonymous in the many journalistic venues for "pro-pathway to citizenship reform" or "amnesty," and some journalists even use these terms in a way that would indicate the audience should assume that a menaingless, open-ended term like "immigration reform" merits such a definition.

Need a Job?

From the Washington Post

MEXICO CITY -- Drug cartels are using classified job ads to lure young Mexicans near the U.S. border into unknowingly working as drug couriers, law enforcement officials said Thursday.

Absolut ad

Did you see the Absolut advertisement with the Meixcan borders from the early 1800s?

"In no way was it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues," Absolut now says in its consumer inquiry phone line.

So what was Absolut thinking? According to other statements, the company designed the ad for a Mexican audience, recalling a time "the population of Mexico might feel was more ideal."

The Return

I recently returned from an extended rest in clean California (well, compared to Mexico City that is.) I came back to meet with several representatives from the eDiplomacy movement, who have been attempting to promote blogs and our e-presence.

My favorite comment -- the State Department is considering changing the name of its blog Dipnote, because dip has other connotations outside of our world.

I am a bit of a zombie today. I went to an orthodox Jewish wedding today and I'm ready for some deep sleep tonight.