lagringa has left 23 comments

lagringa comments on something not quite right?

Rukito, Please elaborate on "incredible paranoia." I dated a Colombian who was very paranoid. I thought it was an individual thing. Is it cultural? What types of things or everything in general?

lagringa comments on something not quite right?

Gator, Not sure what he was told by INS. (said he received some type of notice - I'm not sure what.) I will find out this weekend. Lots of vagueness & hurry - smells funny to me too. Thank you for your response/input!

lagringa comments on

gib, he was told to leave. he didn't. he disturbed the peace. he was informed he was under arrest. he resisted arrest. is it logical to believe that the police should chase you around and make sure you know the charge before cuffing you? catch me if you can?!? if they can't keep up then they can't arrest you????? whether or not a cop is acting lawfully in making the arrest is not a defense for resisting arrest. the cop only needs to act under official authority & announce his intent. if he had not resisted arrest he may have been informed while being taken into custody. he got tasered because he resisted arrest. the cops had him on the ground & he would not comply so, he got tasered. he didn't get tasered for asking why he was being arrested while complying with the arrest. the charge is disturbing the peace not threatening someone's life or his own. the cops followed procedure. black or gay he still disturbed the peace & resisted arrest. and "they" do have it far worse. however, those who play the race card when not warranted have desensitized most of us to the real tragedies that we likely don't want to know about anyway. same as those screaming police brutality when it really is not - we get desensitized to the real cases of brutality.

lagringa comments on

I saw things differently. Goes to show... ask 10 people what happened & you'll get 10 different versions. It's a sad fact that Minorities & Gays are more likely to be targeted & suffer from police brutality. Not to mention the mentally ill. This should outrage us all! http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/school_of_shock.html

lagringa comments on

I saw things differently. Goes to show... ask 10 people what happened & you'll get 10 different versions. It's a sad fact that Minorities & Gays are more likely to be targeted & suffer from police brutality. Not to mention the mentally ill. This should outrage us all! http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/school_of_shock.html

lagringa comments on

Rubito - It's extreme! Which was my point. Not every situation of police using force is police brutality. Police brutality does exist & we should always be outraged when it occurs. However, IMO it's not necessary to go to the other extreme & scream police brutality at every instance of police using force. I just don't believe this particular situation should provoke such a response where there are many situations that should!

lagringa comments on

Robert Jorge - you're absolutely right - the "fish hooks" penetrate & tear the skin. It's not meant to be a pleasant experience. The use of "fish hooks" on tasers are meant to allow the police to temporarily incapacitate a person from a safe distance. However, the fish hooks are not the only means to deliver a shock. The electrodes do so without tearing the flesh. The shock is still very unpleasant. Since you know a few cops - they can tell you that there are several means to get a person to comply including the use of the "billy club." Excessive force is just that - Excessive. The use of force alone does not necessarily make it excessive.

lagringa comments on

Probes on the taser are 1/4" long. 50,000 volts used with few milliamps hence high pressure, low intensity. The fish hook probes are shot from a distance. Electrodes do not puncture skin. Electrodes deliver shock when pressed against the person (delivers shock through clothing). This guy was disturbing the peace and resisting arrest. The police do not have to explain why you are under arrest while you dance around and avoid being taken into custody. If there is no reason for the arrest you can file charges of false arrest. That is your right in this country. This is not the same thing as some guy getting a broom handle shoved up his ass while in police custody. PC has really gone too far! A little less granola please!

lagringa comments on

Gib, re: the police are very poorly trianed in how to deal with people (in the US). I must respectfully disagree. Depends on the area of US you are talking about. But, in NY they receive extensive training especially on the use of force. IMHO, the police were justified in their use of the taser. The guy had only one hand cuffed - he therefore had a weapon. I don't believe the cops should've waited for anything further to happen. I sure wouldn't have waited. As far as the woman. Well, you know I'm going to disagree! I've seen plenty of "dough boys" who couldn't hold their own.

lagringa comments on

Gib, the version I grew up with was: Beans, Beans, good for your heart. The more you eat them the more you fart. The more you fart, the better you feel. So eat your beans at every meal! This jingle coined me as "The coolest cousin ever!" when my younger cousin was about 9. She's 22 now & I think I need some new material to qualify as the "Coolest Cousin Ever!"

lagringa comments on

the notion that once "they" are in the U.S. "they" won't date Americans.....B.S! I know plenty of Latinas & Latinos for that matter that are still hunting for that visa. I just wish I would get some flowers before someone springs their sick grandma outta the closet! There are all sorts of people in this world. If you are going to be paranoid about what someone is going to "take" from you, you are not going to be living life. Relax! And, as said, Enjoy!

lagringa comments on

now, here's a bunch of master debators!

lagringa comments on

heidi: "...after a while the real you gets out..." LOL!!! That always seems to be the problem for me! I knew when my then colombian novio told me he thought i was "very nice...all the time" he would be in for a surprise. Just can't keep that crazy contained for any length of time! seriously though, you are right - all of those little differences do add up and are huge after some time. as in gib's post - you have different scripts. i guess if both people aren't willing to look at it & be flexible there's nothing that can be done.

lagringa comments on

yeah gib, we gringas will tell you (we really don't have any idea that we shouldn't!) i like my gringos too - they always "take it like a man." [ie. when i told my ex gringo husband to shove the new car he was buying me where the sun don't shine he just smiled & said "it won't fit since the house is already there!"] i loved my latin men's sensitivity but only to a point. yes, i do want it all!

lagringa comments on Heidisch

Hi Heidi! I added you too! Thanks!

lagringa comments on

thanks GIB! so how do you smooth over telling a colombian man you don't need him or his (expletive) money? i know, not a good idea to tell any man that - apparantly this is unforgiveable to colombian men. there should be an instruction manual!

lagringa comments on COLOMBIANITO SOHO ...LADIES ...ENTREN

thanks la mona! what a beautiful way to start my day ;)

lagringa comments on Bello - Antiouia Neighborhood

If you were a male from a lower - middle class family would it be acceptable to date someone from an upper- middle class family that you had worked for?

lagringa comments on Bello - Antiouia Neighborhood

is there much importance placed upon class among colombian people?

lagringa comments on Slang for illiterate..

perhaps...mofarse (mofada), mofarse de: to scoff at, to make fun of. when you laughed out - is it possible she was telling you not to scoff? was she telling you that you were not something or not to do something? (maybe it's a bit of a stretch!?!)

lagringa comments on

anyone know if bigfoot is known about in colombia - or is this purely u.s. folklore. bigfoot's kinda like la padre de m'hija ----- there've been sightings but nothing confirmed! Man that mo f'er can run fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lagringa comments on Getting mail sent TO Colombia

i've used zai cargo through a local agent to send photos to medellin. cost was reasonable - delivery w/in 5 days - tracking is available. i have not sent anything of significant value but have seen many sending more expensive items. there is a website - www.zaicargo.com which is available in spanish, english, and french. should be able to locate an agent or obtain more info. there. hope this helps!

lagringa comments on Bello - Antiouia Neighborhood

i'm sorry, i don't understand - 2/3 being lower to middle? thanks for the pic!