Pause

Sorry about the pause...having switched to the visa section things have been more hectic than expected, yeah unbelievable interview quotas!

On the other hand, after tomorrow's July 4 celebration at the ambassador's residence, a marvelous vacation in Central America awaits.

Oh...and did you happen to see the images of McCain's recent visit to Mexico? There was a rather unflattering photo making the rounds...the ambassador looked great but the McCains didn't look their best. Was this photo chosen for some political purpose? You decide.

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.

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

$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.

Supreme Court Votes to Destroy 2006 Ballots

Supreme Court President Minister Ortiz voted "yes" to the Federal Electoral Institute's mandate to destroy the 2006 presidential election ballots. Destruction of the ballots had initally been delayed by the request of political magazine Proceso to have access to all the documents involved in the election process. The final argument was that the Federal Electoral Court already made a ruling on the validity of the 2006 election.
Failed 2006 presidential candidate Lopez Obrador does not recognize the result of the election and has always demanded a ballot per ballot recount.

A New Cuba?

Mexico and Cuban normalize relations.

Strong Opinions

Ana Maria Aragones wrote an op-ed with the following headline and subhead.

When Will the Hits Against Migrants to the United States Stop?

When Mexico's president defends them with the same commitment he uses to spport this dishonest politicans in his cabinet.

Prior to the weekend, employees were warned about the local Power Company Union (Luz y Fuerza del Centro), which is renegotiating their contract. They were possibly going to have a strike commencing at noon on Sunday March 16. Local residents were worried the power was going to be shut off.

No such luck.

More clues...

Mexico’s police has linked last month’s bomb plot with Sinaloa state, and potentially a powerful drug cartel.

Helping Hand

According to El Financiero, Mexican consulates located in the United States will now provide assistance to Ecuadorians who illegally enter the United States. The article describes the agreement as one of the first of its kind.

Calderón's Visit

According to El Universal, out of 22 meetings Calderon conducted during his visit to the United States, 15 meetings were with individuals or groups that pursue the protection of human rights of and the expansion of protection and opportunities for illegal immigrants.

A Few More Breaths

The Mexican Senate pre-approved reforms to the Health and Tobacco Control Laws, which may result in a federal prohibition to smoke in public and closed areas. The new legislation calls for 100 percent smoke free areas in restaurants and cafeterias and establishes a new basis for the production, packing, labeling, marketing, distribution, and retailing of tobacco products.

As expected, large enterprises like Vips (the largest chain restaurant in Mexico) and El Palacio de Hierro (an elite department store) have already filed a petition to the Supreme Court to protect their commercial interests against the ban.

The government will present the reform next Thursday for a final vote. We'll see.

Mexico City Bombing

Feb. 15, mid-afternoon an explosive device detonated in a vacant lot near the Mexico City Police (SSP-DF) headquarters (at the corner of Avenida de Chapultepec and Calle Monterrey). Details have filled newspapers for days (as they should).

A New York Times article has these two important paragraphs:

A bomb that exploded Friday near the Mexico City police headquarters was carried by an unidentified man wearing two layers of clothing, the police said Saturday. They said that the man died in the blast and that no evidence had yet been found linking him to a guerrilla group or a drug cartel.

Late Friday, the Federal attorney general 3/5minute 4/5s office issued a statement saying the bombing ''cannot be attributed to armed or subversive groups'' because the device bore none of the earmarks of those that subversive groups have planted on pipelines and in a Mexico City skyscraper in the past year.

An Illegal Passport?

PRD Public Affairs Secretary Gerardo Fernandez Norona, claimed that the mother of the new Secretary of Government Juan Camilo Mourino may not have been born in Mexico and may have falsified her birth certificate. PRD National President Leonel Cota Montano wants Mexico's president to remove Mourino from his position.

Vacation Plans

Legislators from the Mexican Chamber of Deputies officially gave themselves 11 days of vacation during march's Semana Santa, or Holy Week.