tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post3063726358220528532..comments2024-02-23T02:48:33.276-06:00Comments on BABSBLOG: Distant Neighbors - Authored by Alan RidingBabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-92063223598894912642014-07-21T08:07:06.781-05:002014-07-21T08:07:06.781-05:00Thanks Kim - I'll have to check out that book....Thanks Kim - I'll have to check out that book. Thanks for the recommendation.Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-14398639425577911342014-07-20T23:26:24.083-05:002014-07-20T23:26:24.083-05:00I'll have to read that book. Meanwhile, I'...I'll have to read that book. Meanwhile, I've learned a lot about Mexico from <i>Geo-Mexico: the geography and dynamics of modern Mexico</i> by Richard Rhoda and Tony Burton. It covers a lot of ground about what makes Mexico what it is today. Don't let the title fool you; it's only partly about geography. The rest of the book focuses on such things as why a high percentage of Mexican beauty queens come from the state of Sinaloa, or the fact that 10% of the electricity produced for DF is used to pump water. <br /><br />I highly recommend it. <br /><br />Saludos,<br /><br />Kim G<br />Tehuacán, Puebla<br /><i>Where the geography is particularly beautiful.</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-85018847933957076922014-07-20T16:22:34.394-05:002014-07-20T16:22:34.394-05:00Thanks Calypso. That last sentence in that quote ...Thanks Calypso. That last sentence in that quote is something I hope is not true. I see so much international investment from Europe and Asia and South America, without strings attached. I hope that outdistances the USA as it always has strings attached!<br />Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-48774825416577920772014-07-20T11:35:10.706-05:002014-07-20T11:35:10.706-05:00I recently read,"Two Nations Indivisible: Mex...I recently read,"Two Nations Indivisible: Mexico, the United States, and the Road Ahead" by Shannon K. O'Neil <br /><br />"Without a doubt, the drug war is real. In the last six years, more than 60,000 people have been murdered in narco-related crimes. But there is far more to Mexico's story than this gruesome narrative would suggest.<br /> <br />Hidden behind the headlines is a more hopeful Mexico, one undergoing rapid and widespread social, political, and economic transformations. It is one of a globally competitive economy, a rising middle class, and increasingly influential pro-democracy voters. It is a thriving Mexico whose people, communities, companies, and commerce are intricately tied to the United States."<br /><br />A GOOD READ!Calypsohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705486544074674388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-53844533190685053332014-07-20T08:32:29.459-05:002014-07-20T08:32:29.459-05:00YES Calypso! I didn't remember who had quoted...YES Calypso! I didn't remember who had quoted Alan Riding but I immediately wrote down the name of the book and the author.<br />Thanks so much for initially giving the information and the quote. I enjoyed the book immensely.<br /><br />Any others you suggest I read?Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-57255075316936344662014-07-20T06:25:41.249-05:002014-07-20T06:25:41.249-05:00Babs - We had a discussion about this book back in...Babs - We had a discussion about this book back in March.<br />Here was the quote you liked ;-)<br /> <br /><br />“The mechanical punctuality and organization of an Anglo-Saxon society, in contrast seem purposeless. What counts to the Mexican is what he is rather than what he does, the man rather than the job: He works to live and not the inverse. He can deal with external chaos if his spiritual concerns are cared for, but he cannot allow his identity to be obliterated by man-made forces. Rather he interprets the world in accordance with his emotions. In an environment of apparent disorder, he can improvise, create and eventually impose his own personality on events. And in the end, in the name of expressing his individuality, he contributes to disorder.” Alan Riding (Distant Neighbors).Calypsohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705486544074674388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-37002465360446491582014-07-19T09:33:37.665-05:002014-07-19T09:33:37.665-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Caddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575600935524610154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-58448118599222638912014-07-19T09:33:29.746-05:002014-07-19T09:33:29.746-05:00Anxiously awaiting mine from Amazon. I imagine the...Anxiously awaiting mine from Amazon. I imagine they have a run on this book after this post. Thank you, Ms Babs for telling us about the book - love reading so much and wishing my eyes will hold out for another hundred years. High hopes, eh? Ha haCaddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575600935524610154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-84421575447614403012014-07-15T14:53:41.065-05:002014-07-15T14:53:41.065-05:00Shannon, I truly was surprised at how much I learn...Shannon, I truly was surprised at how much I learned!Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-73229280505588987642014-07-15T11:06:30.405-05:002014-07-15T11:06:30.405-05:00Thanks Barbara, that is definitely one for the kin...Thanks Barbara, that is definitely one for the kindle!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10707196505818823372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-87370785901357356962014-07-14T13:35:42.895-05:002014-07-14T13:35:42.895-05:00Cat, hope you enjoy it and hope you get to the mou...Cat, hope you enjoy it and hope you get to the mountains of Mexico and the Colonial cities some day. You will be dazzled.Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-23717761874848584222014-07-14T13:32:49.416-05:002014-07-14T13:32:49.416-05:00Thank you for sharing this Babs. I just ordered my...Thank you for sharing this Babs. I just ordered my copy (hardback and in good condition) from Alibris. My love affair didn’t start until September 1993, when I first walked across that bridge into Matamoras. I haven’t been to your part of the country, but I love the Yucatán and even enjoyed my trips to Ciudad Juárez in 2006 and 2007. Can’t wait to read the book!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09101681067835798363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-25009181262082832312014-07-14T08:09:51.064-05:002014-07-14T08:09:51.064-05:00Cool Steve that you can order a free sample. Nope...Cool Steve that you can order a free sample. Nope, mine has been a love affair. Maybe because I worked in Mexico and saw the inner workings besides coming as a tourist, I don't know but it has been a long run with no hint that it will end any time soon.Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-85004256660515122672014-07-13T22:19:12.918-05:002014-07-13T22:19:12.918-05:00I just ordered a free sample of the book from Amaz...I just ordered a free sample of the book from Amazon for my Kindle. If the sample keeps me interested, I will buy a copy. Reading books on my Kindle allows me to highlight guilt-free.<br /><br />My connections with Mexico started in 1971. I would never call mine a love affair. More like co-habitation with side elements of shacking up.Steve Cottonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-77382220975404918232014-07-12T15:37:22.284-05:002014-07-12T15:37:22.284-05:00Barbara, I DON'T order to have anything delive...Barbara, I DON'T order to have anything delivered in SMA. I have things sent to Texas and I pick up when I go up or to someone who is coming down. <br />For two reasons. The mail services we all use charge a fee for the item and the weight of the item. THEN we pay 16 or 17% duty so it is hardly worth it. EVEN if it DOES get here. <br />Books on the other hand, they don't charge for the value, just the weight, so the softback book was about $1.60USD. So, byt he time I spent the shipping cost from Amazon and the mail service charge, the cost of the book doubled......Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-61658442461325030772014-07-12T14:24:27.771-05:002014-07-12T14:24:27.771-05:00Thanks for the heads up on this - I just ordered a...Thanks for the heads up on this - I just ordered a copy from Amazon. Also - would be interested to hear how well it works re ordering from Amazon (or other places) online for delivery to San Miguel?<br /><br />As always - thank you for all you share and inspire!Barbara Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13619511749548265127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-13006475421681552222014-07-12T10:28:27.651-05:002014-07-12T10:28:27.651-05:00Bill, I remember the moment the plane was hovering...Bill, I remember the moment the plane was hovering over DF and I looked out at purple, fuscia and yellow houses. I heart flipped. It has done the same thing over and over and over throughout the years.<br />I had an example yesterday when I went to make a reservation for a friend at a small hotel in SMA.<br />I asked the woman if she wanted a deposit, "No." A credit card "NO"<br />"The person can pay when he checks in or checks out and oh, by the way, there's a 10% discount for a stay over 3 days!" I came home with a smile........That interaction of consideration touches my heart, each and every time.<br />Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34246214.post-46437681601236696632014-07-12T10:22:01.841-05:002014-07-12T10:22:01.841-05:00Sounds like a fascinating book. Guess I too will ...Sounds like a fascinating book. Guess I too will have to go to Amazon and order a copy. (I rarely order things on-line.)<br />Interesting that your love affair with Mexico began in 1974. Mine began just one year before that when I attended the University of the Americas for one quarter.Retired Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com