Joel y Luza has left 230 comments

Joel y Luza comments on Layaway plans for airline tickets.........

http://www.layaway-travel.com/ here ya go!

Joel y Luza comments on Obama in Colombia!

Monita, I respectfully have to disagree with you.. Under this douche bag, we now call president, we have lost more freedoms, and have lost any real economic advances, (us that make less than$100k a year), that was gained in the Clinton years. Except for Reagan, every republican we have elected, in recent history, has scared this country beyond repair.. Nixon, Bush I and Bush II...I do have to tip my hat at Eisenhower, however, He gave us the interstate system, and more public golf course...

Joel y Luza comments on Obama in Colombia!

Hey elmo thats a pretty ignorant view of idaho...since i live here, i can attest there are probably fewer hillbillies here that in the state of NY...Now I lived in eastern PA and traveled to NJ an NY a lot..There are plenty of "urban" rednecks in your fine city.. They just have fancy job titles, like turd extraction engineers.

Joel y Luza comments on Obama in Colombia!

yes, didn't fujimori end up being charged with corruption, or something like that? The fact of the matter is that the US, just by its shear economic size, is a very relavent country, especially in the Americas....The Bush administration has squandered so many opportunities to lead, and to bring positive changes in the region, from the Mexico border southward....To let McCain be president would be a travesty.... For better or worse, the economic future of the Americas are intrinsically tied together. I think Obama is the man to be a strong positve influence in the free world. If nothing else, maybe we will see alot more Made in the USA tags, and a lot more clothes made in Colombia, and less of everything else made in China. One thing is for sure, I don't think our country is capable of surviving any more of the repressive republican policies, and I think Obama can give Americans a reason to be proud to be Americans again. I can tell you, G W Bush's America isn't my America; the one I am proud of and the one I remember where my grandparents shed tears on the forth of July and we stood with pride and determination, facing our flag, reciting the pledge of allegience. GW Bush and Dick Cheney should be ashamed of how they have left this country. One thing is for sure, I have faith that Obama and crew has a strong desire to build a strong, compassionate, and proud America again!!!

Joel y Luza comments on Wire transfer from Colombia to US

viajero- a couple of points about inefficienies, from the Government's standpoint.. When value is added, along the supply chain, the taxing authority has to audit each value added step along the way, creating a lot of excess audit steps. This ends up being a cost accounting nightmare, and interjects alot of arbitrary costs into costing, and a denial of said costs by the taxing authority. Secondly, there is an economic inefficiency that a Gov't should consider, and that is double taxation.... each step, in the value chain is taxed, and therefore becomes a cost, the the downstream supplier has to bear, driving the cost upward, with each successive taxing event. A third issue with EVAT is that it translates to a consumption tax paid by the consumer. It is a regressive tax, in that, somebody below the poverty line, will pay the same tax, say for a pair of shoes, incurred through the supply chain as the most wealthly citizens, leading to a higher percentage of their income being taxed. In the US, we have tried to maintain a progressive tax system, (except for Bush II) where the wealthiest individuals share a higher burden of taxes paid... Unfortunately, this is becoming less the case, with B II rolling back income taxes rates, and capital gains tax...

Joel y Luza comments on Wire transfer from Colombia to US

This is a dilemma... I have researched transferring money between Colombia and the US.. It seems like Colombia loves Economic Value Added Tax... For instance, the interest rates in Colombia look pretty high, compared to the US, but by the time you get the EVAT taken out, and all of the bank fees, the return is quite depressing, for the risk of investing in a developing economy. EVA is probably one of the least efficient tax system known in the economic world, with very poor compliance. This, my friend, is what you are dealing with...I don't know if you are going to get around itt .. If you try to transfer money into the US, or out, in small sums, to "fly under the radar" you run the risk of being accused, on both sides of the border, or money laundering. I think, after considering this, to figure out your gain, on your sale, and consult your "trusted" banker, or attorney, on how to report this and pay the EVAT..(from what i understand, from my family, in Colombia, that banks collect alot of taxes and fees for government agencies??)

Joel y Luza comments on FedEx UPS

all major frieght is going in and out of Col. Very expensive!!!!some stuff would be cheaper to buy it a first class ticket on Spirit!

Joel y Luza comments on Will I have problems entering the US if I visit CUBA?

depends if it is via a go fast boat destined for Miami..

Joel y Luza comments on Bill Turley

Bill, When I make it to Bogota, this fall, I will try to look You up!! I would love to hear more about your finca!!!

Joel y Luza comments on 1,010 for the AOS?????

PL- Actually, i don't mind paying bills that have equivalent value....Taking my wife through the visa process, it is apparent the government and other functionaries have their hands out, asking for money every step of the way...I kind of figure, by the time one gets to the point of "purchasing" the green card. the fees for processing the visa have been already paid..but since I love my wife a bunch, I will write that check, without hesitation.. One of the best pieces of advice i have gotten through this process came from this site from Gater, ---No need to hire an attorney---Best advise I have recieved, and probably one of the least valuable thing a guy could invest in, You end up paying a few grand for their legal assistant to fill out forms for you...If you have any proclivity for filling out detailed form, this really is a DIY process. (Unless your wife has a criminal record, or other visa related transgressions, then you will probably need, not only an attorney, but also a psychiatrist).

Joel y Luza comments on 1,010 for the AOS?????

yup the price went up- That is one bill I am not looking forward paying,

Joel y Luza comments on sucessful foreign business

ML-- Even though you can always consider a brothel, you can make more money teaching English ================================================================== So..... Exactly how much can one make, as a Brothel owner, compared to teaching english?--- You are sayinng teachingn english is more lucerative than the worlds oldest profession, in Colombia???? I would LOVE to see some salary figures on that one!

Joel y Luza comments on ok... I have a slight moral dilemna here...

Papi- As we age, a sense of pragmatism tends to rule our lives .. you said you aint getting any younger and want to find that certain some one... Well, my friend, as long as you didn't tap the well, so to speak, with big sis', ease on over to little sis'. Be honorable about it, but just do it, because you are right, you ain't getting any younger, and the well will eventually go dry....

Joel y Luza comments on Why not work from home???

Ok.. the devil is in the details.. think SOLID Internet connection... My wife's family has telemex broadband, in Bogota... when it rains, the internet doesn't work, or works SLLLLOOOOWWWWLLLLLYYYYY........ Also, urgency, when it comes to fixing infrastructure, is alot different in Colombia, than the States...

Joel y Luza comments on Convince me this is a good/bad idea

The calculus reads like this.. you go to Colombia, Your wife stays here, in the States...You get a bit lonely, head to the cantina....a few drinks later, you paste a benjamin on your forehead, attracting a very hot YOUNG Colombina... Marriage gone, 1/2 your assets gone. Job sucks..... JUST TAKE THE FAM!! better investment!!!

Joel y Luza comments on Convince me this is a good/bad idea

do whats right for the fam...not the oldest kid... take 'em all to Colombia...It will be a positive for all, including the oldest....down there by yourself, it will damage the fam..... Two yrs is an AWEFULLY long time....

Joel y Luza comments on ok... I have a slight moral dilemna here...

proceed.......I expect to read about this in Playboy Forum in a few months

Joel y Luza comments on Convince me this is a good/bad idea

humm??? 1 week every three months....4 weeks a year..See your fam.. 2 months the whole time you are gone? You will be tappin' the well of Colombian carnal knowledge inside of 6 months... If you believe in your marriage don't go.. My wife and I lived apart for about 9 months, and saw each other for an aggregate of 2 months, and it took its toll on us emotionally... If a company wants you that badly, there are ways to accommodate a worker in this age of tele work...at least they should either pay for more frequent visits or for the fam to join. Going it alone will change you and your wife where you both may think differently about each other and your marriage.

Joel y Luza comments on bank accounts

I appreciate the input guys! Thanks! A place to start!

Joel y Luza comments on "I would marry you but you have to promise to not take me away from Medellin"

dwmte7 -- I agree on both points..Perception and reality are two VERY different things...I am thinking Jimmy Buffet got it right, "Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude"

Joel y Luza comments on bank accounts

Gator--and my name can be on the account, or just hers? From what I garner, I can't have signature authority on the account, don't mind that, but if something happened to her, it would probably be a nightmare to get the assets from the bank?? No?....Gator, I have read on this account that theft of money from your bank accounts happen, by employees of the bank? Seems like it would undermine the banking system?

Joel y Luza comments on "I would marry you but you have to promise to not take me away from Medellin"

Panthdave- I agree..... To hear some people, Colombianas are only in this game of life for papers and nothing else...and Gringos are some victims of her overt sexuality... Fact of the matter If a 40 year old goes trolling for a 20 something and expects life long commitment, ain't happening.... A 20 y/o Colombiana wants the same thing a 20 y/o old Americana, conversely, the same can be said for 40 something women...you know what you are buying on the test drive, Don't complain when it turns out to be a lemon when you get 'er home.....

Joel y Luza comments on Calling Mail Experts!

everything sent has been received, to the best of my knowledge....In fact, they,(colombian postal) were so reliable, (though late), I could never use that as an excuse come birthday, aniversary,etc... My guess, you will recieve it just fine, but you may have to wait a bit for it to happen. Funny thing, when me and the Mrs. got together, and we started sending "stuff" to each other, I was warned, through informal channels how BAD the Colombian mail service was. I was speaking with the Post Master, at a facility in Seattle, and they said the post service has had very few complaints about Colombia

Joel y Luza comments on Gym Decision in Bogota

Interesting prices.. About $58/month USD, (agusto especiale)..I pay, in the states, about $45/month for a very nice gym. Seems a bit expensive..

Joel y Luza comments on Whats happening to gas prices in Colombia?

Ronaldo...Refineries, in the US of A are losing money hand over fist right now, caught between higher price inputs, (upstream markets) and horribly depressed demand in downstream markets, (retailers). In fact, alot of retail outlets are selling gas a a penny or two below cost, in hopes they will make up that margin in their over priced C-store...No wonder alot of big oil companies are divesting themselves of all of their C-stores, in the US, and just going to licensing agreements with owner operators, (like in the good old days of full service). After you piquing my curiosity with "Koch' owning 85% of refinery capacity, I did some quick cursory reseach, and I have to respectfully take exception to your numbers....

Joel y Luza comments on Whats happening to gas prices in Colombia?

why do I see alot of Conoco/Phillps and Exxon/Mobil on refineries if Koch owns them? I am not just seeing the 15%?

Joel y Luza comments on "I would marry you but you have to promise to not take me away from Medellin"

Moving to Colombia? There are few translations between professional jobs in the US and in Colombia..... I would love to retire in Colombia, but the wages and job prospects suck to move there right now...My wife has been an un (der) employed professional, in Colombia, for years....As she explores the US education system, to take some classes, to update education and professional credentials, she's already been recruited. It's made her head swim..."Oh, you're bilingual and work in healthcare? Let's visit!!!" Coming here, may not be the promised land, but life is much easier. In addition, the opportunities, for her kids, has grown exponentially.... It just comes down to priorities... I don't have a problem with a Colombiana wanting to meet a gringo to better her life, AS LONG AS SHE IS SINCERE AND ACTUALLY LOVES THE GUY AND WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING TOGETHER.... What I have a hard time with is Colombianas and gringos that do this two step of using each other for papers and sex...How many times have we all heard on here; some guy who says, "I really, really, love my novia!!, I want to marry her, CAN I TRUST HER?? IS SHE USING ME??? A guy by the name of Pepe answered the phone when I called and she said it was her cousin, can I trust her?? Is it really her cousin?? I can't stand to be without her!!!"If you can't trust her why ya falling in lover with her? Boys and girls- learn spanish, learn english, have a conversation. If she says something like, "I am not going to move from Medellin" trust that is what she means. Be upfront about what that means to you, and move on, if you don't like it...or not, but consider yourself being served notice of her intentions. Bottom line, the leopardess isn't going to change her spots for your lilly white butt..

Joel y Luza comments on "I would marry you but you have to promise to not take me away from Medellin"

meaning that a fair amount of colombians will pray like crazy, and participate in all of the sacraments, all while going out, imbibing in alot of worldly carnal indulgences. I find it interesting that just about all of Colombian holidays, and there are alot, follow the church calendar. Rather than dancing in the Parish hall, they tend to be cutting the rug at the local cantina. I find it interesting because, in our Catholic household, guilt ruled the world... In Colombian Households, it seems like there is a fracture between church life, and guilt ridden angst American Catholics tend to have. Don't get me wrong, I am not judging, and it is something I love about my wife..She does well at keeping each seperate, with life being quite interesting and beautiful, minus the neurotic Catholic guilt .

Joel y Luza comments on Just do the numbers (Prize for Young Colombian Scientists)

He gets a little barrita also?

Joel y Luza comments on "I would marry you but you have to promise to not take me away from Medellin"

in the US we have the seperation of church and state.. In colombia, it is the seperation of church and the state of happiness. I find they take a very pragmatic approach to religion,,but hell, don't we all....

Joel y Luza comments on Best love songs of all time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTneO6UgRuM

Joel y Luza comments on "I would marry you but you have to promise to not take me away from Medellin"

agreed MM..The weather is better and a closer flight home

Joel y Luza comments on olympics

Now women's volley ball.. Now those girls can fill out a bikini!

Joel y Luza comments on PBH fosters a "cult" mentality. Does it also destroy jobs and relationships.

It depends how much beer I drink while on PBH ;) I like my addictions in pairs...

Joel y Luza comments on Best love songs of all time

Divinyls--"I Touch My Self"---Number one most romantic song of all time!!!

Joel y Luza comments on "I would marry you but you have to promise to not take me away from Medellin"

The problem with the two year plan, if you trade up, the USCIS stops you at two wives..

Joel y Luza comments on "I would marry you but you have to promise to not take me away from Medellin"

nope, bet you a life savings she will never move...Take her at face value...2 years residency.. My wife and I files after 60 days fo being married. no problem.. They will give you a K-3/I-130 sooner, its just the first two years are temporary, meaning if she ditches you, her butt will be sent back to Medellin....After 2 years. She will be visiting Elmo's neighborhood in NYC, if she leaves you

Joel y Luza comments on Happily Married Colombian's to American's. If your out there please post!!!!!!!

I noticed some comments about language differences...That was one of the easiest things in our marriage to solve.. English classes, (intensive), and my pitiful attempt at spanish...Cultural differences? well, that has taken a broad mind to get through...Around the house, Colombian... I cook.. because she doesn't.. so sh eats what I cook.. or we cook together..Her Bogotana diet isn't too much different from mine, for the most part, more rice and beans.. but it's all coming together. As far as successful marriages.. We have our tense moments, but for the most part, we are committed to each other.. She has turned out to me my best friend.

Joel y Luza comments on CP Closes @ 1875 to USD Today! Dollar poised for Takeoff?

time to short the Euro...I read, on Bloomberg, that Latin America is going to get killed with he world economy slowing.....

Joel y Luza comments on People-trafficking and people-smuggling

Quite the manifesto on human trafficking....it is a very grey area of all economies, from domestics to factory workers. LA and NYC is lousy with human trafficking and smuggling, for cheap labor...Pretty sick crime actually.

Joel y Luza comments on Yea Baby! Dollar up to 1840!

Gringoloid-- cool picture.. I love old pics... Its hard to phathom the change in the world sometimes until you glance back in history!! Thanks!!

Joel y Luza comments on 90% Of Colombian Homes Have Computers

OK Tasco...every post on this thread was in english.. You lost me buddy with the jump to spanish...(But I am trying to learn!!!)

Joel y Luza comments on 90% Of Colombian Homes Have Computers

Desi-- This is funny I think they are counting my wife's house twice then, since there are 3 computers there.. Or maybe they should distinguish between working computers and nonworking computers?

Joel y Luza comments on Yea Baby! Dollar up to 1840!

If the USD further strengthens, that may be hardfor them to do..If the Dollar strengthens too much...it may force our muslim oil suppliers to break their quotas....

Joel y Luza comments on Yea Baby! Dollar up to 1840!

two interesting facts....OPEC's oil revenues exceeded US tax reciepts for the year for the first time.. Oil has drifted down this week mainly because investors have had to sell to cover their settlements of futures contracts at $110/bbl of oil...other sources say that OPEC will markedly cut production if oil falls much below $90/bbl....

Joel y Luza comments on Paying Taxes, Real Estate Investing, Tax Laws- re post

Tressell... hate to point you in an expensive direction, but I think, (as a CPA), your best bet may be an mid major accounting firm in the USA, that specializes in international taxation. The rationale is that they can also refer you to somebody that has the specialization you need, and is well versed in the Colombia tax laws... Prior to Sarbannes Oxley, I used Deloitte for a butt load of tax advice because of complicated interstate expenses. SOX 404 compliance has lead to the big 4 firms divesting themselves from specialized boutique services, like personal international tax and focus on Fortune 1000 work. Most of the type of work, you are refering to, has been referred to the midmajors, (Grant Thorton, Moss Adams, etc).. In addition, I do know a little Boutique firm in Boise Idaho, that handles alot of tax work for unique situations.. The name is Little Morris..

Joel y Luza comments on General Information Please

Oh yea... One important thing, a BUTT load of patience negotiating the bureaucracy!!

Joel y Luza comments on Colombian gambling houses allegedly bombed by FARC

lets hear more about the burra.. Did they guy at least throw some lip stick on it? Explain this burra thing.. My niave curiosity is getting the best of me..is this a normal proclivity for costanos?

Joel y Luza comments on Yea Baby! Dollar up to 1840!

hmmm? COP 1890.....Don't think the drop in gold will mean more bling, but the COP at $2200 by October is going to make my fall trip to Colombia a lot more fun for me.. Alot better than the $1540 a while back!!!

Joel y Luza comments on Yea Baby! Dollar up to 1840!

I agree Gringoloid-I think the US govt should be buying Euro dollars, and take them off the market, just like the FED does with our domestic money supply, and not foriegn governments...I just think if GW Bush is going to espouse a strong dollar policy, he needs to take strong dollar actions.. As Billy said, however, buying euro dollars on the market is a sign of weakness, since it pretty much tells currency traders that our economy is so weak that we can't sustain healthy interest rates, relative to the rest of the world...