Lots of people used to think the blue laws were a good idea; that's the mentality I'm dealing with here.
Dana
>Y'know Dana, I was born in Thunderbay and grew up in Winnipeg.
>
>As for that crack about "big town", 600,000 + people is a lot more than what
>is in most places. Its also far more laid back and easy going than most US
>cities.
>
>So no more jabs at my home town eh.
>
>larry
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: dana tierney [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 10:35 AM
>To: CF-Community
>Subject: Re:bringing a note
>
>
>Hehehe. I was telling my mother about this and she goes, well it's for
>security, you know. The Americans. 9/11. I'm like security what? You need a
>birth certificate to get in the States now? Well no, she says. (Dana is
>speechless.) It's complicated, she said.
>
>As best I understand it, there is some sort of increased demand for birth
>certificates. And you have to get them from Thunder Bay. For those not
>familiar, Thunder Bay is a podunk town in northern Ontario on the north
>shore of Lake Superior. It's about 800 miles by road from the nearest big
>town, and that "big town" would be Winnipeg.... nuff said. Anyway despite
>the no doubt raging unemployment there they haven't hired enough to keep up
>with the demand. People have been bringing news stories to my attention.
>None of them explain why this is happening but they are estimating the wait
>at four to six months. There *is* a mechanism for expedited service, but
>apparently just wanting to go to Mexico is not enough -- you have to prove
>that you have to be there by a certain date. Sigh.
>
>Since I don't want to leave my car in El Paso I called the bus line in town
>that is used by a lot of Mexicans and asked them if I could make a
>reservation to go to Zacateca. The guy who answered the phone thought I was
>out of my mind. You just go to El Paso, honey, then you walk across the
>bridge or take a taxi.... and take a bus in Juarez, he explained. I know I
>know, I told him, and told him the tale of the people in Thunder Bay. You
>know how people act when they aren't quite sure if you are kidding? The
>upshot of it is that his bus line doesn't actually go into Mexico, nor does
>it make reservations. I wasn't planning on staying in the kind of hotel that
>has a web page... when I drive cross-country I usually look for decent local
>independents when I start to get tired.
>
>Works well, except I need a piece of paper from someone not me for these
>people in Thunder Bay. Really, I am just seething about this. It's so
>unnecessary, so... Canadian. Reminds me of getting a health card in
>Montreal. Pat forgot bureaucracy, which Canada got from the French....
>
>My mother suggested that I register for one of the art classes in San Miguel
>de Allende. Like I really need another class this semester...I'm already
>registered for twenty four credit hours for crying out loud...
>
>::mumble::: I guess I better go do something.
>
>Dana
>
>
>>What kind of weird ass government regulation is that?
>>
>>Maybe I don't understand 'cause I'm not Canadian (but are/were and it
>>doesn't seem to be making sense to you either ;-), seems a rather poor
>>excuse for not wanting to do one's job.
>>
>>Are they afraid you'll love Mexico so much you're going to renounce
>>your
>>former-Canadian *and* US citizenships (IIRC)?
>>
>>What about elevation of the call, can you "take it to the manager"? Of
>>course I guess that sort of feeds into the Customer Service rant...
>>
>>Dana: Excuse me, I'd like a copy of my birth certificate, please.
>>Ontario Government Employee: No, you don't.
>>Dana: I most certainly do, I've even filled out this lovely paperwork,
>>in triplicate.
>>Ontario Government Employee: (takes paperwork and put it under desk) No
>>you haven't.
>>Dana: Oh, I just did.
>>Ontario Government Employee: No you didn't
>>Dana: I did.
>>Ontario Government Employee: It's lost. You'll have to fill it out again.
>>Dana: You just put it under your desk.
>>Ontario Government Employee: Well, what did you want it for anyway?
>>Dana: What?
>>Ontario Government Employee: Your birth certificate.
>>Dana: I'm going on vacation, I must have it to secure my passport.
>>Ontario Government Employee: Prove it.
>>Dana: Prove what?
>>Ontario Government Employee: That you're going on vacation.
>>Dana: What? I haven't got my passport yet.I'm not buying tickets until
>>I've obtained my passport.
>>Ontario Government Employee: There, you see?
>>Dana: No.
>>Ontario Government Employee: No tickets, no vacation. No vacation, no
>>passport required. Good day (closes window)
>>
>>wow...that sucks...
>>
>>--
>>will
>>
>>----
>>
>>William H Bowen
>>Marketing Communications Manager
>>AREVA T&D Corporation
>>
>>
>
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