Don't trust Jack (Tijuana)

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TJ4Rent@yahoo.com is the email to beware. The wolf in friend's clothing behind that address is one "Jack Smith". It ain't his real name - that would be, as per the police report, Steve Stanley Singer - and he'll probably take on another one by the time you read this. I doubt even if Singer is his real last name; but whether the business email and/or the pseudonym changes this much won't (see pic): 

the house that 'Jack' subdivides 

Jack frequently posts ads on Craigslist. 
He targets foreigners fleeing the rip-off rents of southern Cali -- only his comparatively cheap rates are rip-offs too! Why pay $400 for sleeping on someone's couch when you can have your own furnished room for $240? He announces. Wow, great. That is, until you get down to TJ - he always offers to meet you at the border - and see the dry-walled closet space that's a far ass cry from the nice-looking bedroom in the ad.  The room will likely be "only" $20 or $40 dollars above the advertised price, too. His biggest prey are young men - low on cash and brains - whom he regales with marijuana and Red Light District tales. What could be better than getting high, laid, and jewed out of your money? Either way you slice it, champ, you're getting screwed in Mexico. But, hey, at least you're sticking it to the Man. Yah!

A tour of the place includes the "temporary" upstair kitchen ("just until we finish remodeling the one downstair"), the three bathrooms, the rooftop where Jack/Steve will start his hairbrain scheme of growing organic tomatoes. Conveniently not mentioned are the following facts:

• the house is roach infested to the hilt; especially the kitchen!!
• toilets sometimes flush
• gas (i.e., hot water) is always running out
• his useless dogs shit all over the place
• his barracks of children keep up noise (as kids are want to do)
• the whole neighborhood hates him and shuns his family (for good reason)
• "maid service" is a joke
• "wifi service" is a joke
• he and Flor, his undocumented common law breeder, won't return your deposit without a hassle
• oh, and everything he just smiled to you about is 98-99.7% bullshit

Jack/Steve is a consummate liar and scumbag. So too is the indigenous piece of tail he still, after six kids, refers to as a 'girlfriend'; two peas in a pod. I imagine one day he will abscond, leaving Flor and her undocumented brood to fend for themselves. Such are the ways of a convicted con man. 

His biggest prey are young men low on cash (and brains) whom he regales with marijuana and Red Light District tales

As mentioned, I and other renters are now suing the bastards for failing to return our housing deposits. Unlike so many other travellers we did not leave the country when we moved out; thus Jack's concocted excuses, including convenient family emergencies (the latest was Flor's abortion), wilt in the light of Reality and he still has to contend with us. That's why he targets foreigners: less chance of these renters having the time to fight for their money back. It would be so much easier if the man and wife were honest and did not regard deposits as free money -- or people as marks.

By the way, the rent for his dump is not a bargain either. While the house has its good points, with just a smidgen more effort one can find better and more adequate apts in Tijuana for cheaper or slightly higher rent.

The tourist scam sits on the corner of Calle Santa Teresita & Calle Juan O. Robles (Col. Buena Vista). 858.779.4309

Muscle Beach Nutrition. Free T&A !

I recently entered the Muscle Beach Nutrition Fitness & Bikini Contest -- and lost. Because of my posing suit. I have it on good source that the judges - the female ones in particular - didn't much care for my choice of attire because it was "too  much like a bodybuilder and not what the average dude wears on the beach." Well fuck them. Clearly they've never been on a European beach.

ATTIRE: Male contestants can wear board shorts or posing trunks. Female contestants must wear tasteful off the rack two piece bikinis. High-heels, flat shoes, or barefoot is permitted. Makeup & jewelry may be worn

As per stated rules, I elected to wear posing trunks. I never imaged the panel of "celebrity fitness models" would be prejudiced against them. If  we were required to wear board shorts, then it shouldn't have been optional; And while I'm at it, I seriously suggest the thing be renamed 'surfer fashion show' because board shorts are designed for surfers and skateboarders. Physique culturalists, like myself, wear bathing suits to the beach and posing trunks on stage -- however uncomfortable that makes plastic, homophobic judging panels of "fitness models". 

can you spot the inappropriate attire?

But the real problem with Muscle Beach Nutrition's shows is that it even bothers with a men's division in what is clearly a casting couch for starlet wannabes. Don't tag it Muscle Beach or fitness, I say, if it hasn't a thing to do with either; don't pimp out the legacy of Muscle Beach to make a buck and/or name for yourselves. 

The only glaringly honest aspect of this fitness farce is the (over)hyped bikini contest. There is no such male equivalent to the bikini contest; for how can men exhibit their masculinity without flexing a muscle -- especially since the judge calls for muscle poses?! Truth is, "Fitness/Physique" is just the latest money-grab catchphrase for MODELS (i.e., non-athletes) or guys without swagger...there is nothing athletic about it. Either you're good-looking enough for the judges or you're not. It ain't something the 98lb weakling in the audience can aspire to become through dedication, improved diet, good training.

JUDGING: Contestants will be judged on poise, physical attributes, presentation, personality, and crowd reaction 

Plainly, its bikini contests are better suited during - and only during - Spring Break (better still, at another venue) when a crowd of horny college students are present in force and primed for a parade of tits & ass. Wholesome schmolesome. I don't see any reason to lie about it. Toss in some beer bongs, karaoke machine, and a wet T-shirt contest or two and Muscle Beach Nutrition has the show it's after: hot girls with zero poise being raunchy in bikinis and high-heels (because, evidently, girls typically complement beachwear with formal shoes). 

So long as the outfit represents itself in this Spring Break manner it needn't worry about true physique enthusiasts darkening its stage. When Muscle Beach Nutrition gets real - and some knowledgeable judges - I will consider re-entering... otherwise I already graduated from college and the frat scene years ago.

  Sun, Sun everywhere and not a tanned bod in sight

"Fitness/Physique" is just the latest money-grab catchphrase for MODELS (i.e., non-athletes) or guys without swagger; exempli gratia:

 should I envy the bikini top or the left thumb?

Is Alitalia's FREE cancellation a scam ?

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Alitalia's FREE ticket cancellation is bullshit. Maybe it ain't a scam but it's definitely bullshit.

On May 29th I booked an international flight through their website for a trip flown by AirFrance (as part of the Skyteam several airlines routinely assign flights on 'competing' carriers). When I learned I could not redeem my AirFrance voucher without directly booking via AirFrance I promptly took advantage of the "24-hour FREE cancellation" and cancelled the booking. How promptly? Like within ten minutes prompt!

I was told the money was "frozen" and would take upwards to 72 hours to be refunded to my account. Seventy-two hours + a day and the money was still m.i.a. This time a call to Alitalia customer service hotline - outsourced to Pakistan or India or somewhere - informed me the "frozen" funds might require another 72 hours -- or thirty days!  

My bank and MasterCard proved useless to do anything about getting my money back. MasterCard says it's ultimately up to the bank who says its hands are tied without notice from the merchant who says its hands are tied without notice from the bank.

the money was "frozen" and would take upwards to 72 hours to be refunded

After a chat with a lawyer I learned of Alitalia's out-of-court procedure to handle such disputes without, they hope, having to resort to lawsuits. After four weeks of going back and forth I obliged with a complaint to their Conciliatory Office; And will wait exactly 72 hours for a reply. 

Alitalia has already fucked up 
my summer plans.
Molto grazie for nothing! (No worries: that's why I've retained a lawyer.)

OneTravel.com (CAVEAT EMPTOR)

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I almost booked via OneTravel.com. Almost.

After several hours spent researching various flight schemes my senses started to twitch over the ACT FAST prompt. I regarded it odd and improbable that so many flights - from a web of different originating and destination airports - repeatedly announced "only 2 tickets left at this price!"
So I typed the company's name with '+ reviews' in the search engine and, lawdy be, was I relieved to have done so. 

200+ consumer complaints & reviews

I'm thankful I am not footloose with my bank card (I'm real tight about ever using it). OneTravel (apart of CheapOAir.com) has a rap sheet of consumer complaints as long as the German autobahn with the most recent review a mere five days past!

It sounds like everyone who has used them regretted it and emphatically warn others to run. Screw caveat emptor; the message is blunt:  

Do not, do not, DO NOT book with 

TravelOne...Just please don't do it!

Roger that. I hear you loud and clear. THANK YOU.

Phone spam (DON'T CALL BACK!)

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Just got a dubious SMS from number +4178884427-- of Germany?! informing:

Hi its me just arrived in europe Can you call me?

For one thing, my phone didn't sound upon receiving the message. For another, I am not in Europe; thirdly am certainly not entertaining calling to Europe; and, lastly, I don't know this fool! But I do know this is the latest phone scam going around. Such bad people either give a "plausible" short message or dial your number and quickly hang up, prompting most people, with their unlimited talk, text, data plans, to unthinkingly dial back and - BOOM - the unsuspecting person just made an expensive phone call. Think 40mins calling a sex hotline.

It is the second such SMS I have received this wk (from two different numbers). The previous one wondered, Why I left the party so early? Hahaaaaaa! Tricks are for kids, silly rabbit because I wasn't at any party. 

Fortunately I read about this phone trick last month and, so, wasn't the least bit curious to return it. 

Know of anyone who got tripped by this?



#SPAM 

Why I don't believe in 1-Month's deposit (Mexico)

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Mexico is very good about getting money out of your hands and into theirs. Only problem is corruption ain't just in politics. Typically, the renting Mexican "requires" a full month's deposit in addition to the first month's rent. The reasoning is, ostensibly, because it's, according to the renter, "like this all over the world." This coming from someone who has barely, if ever, left the country.
(Of course, a deposit is usually requested in other countries, but not totally the full amount of monthly rent, and, oftentimes, much, much less; it's just an amount to safeguard against wear-and-tear e.g., broken window, lost keys, broken cupboard handle.)

I am always very, very iffy - and turned off - by needing to pay two month's rent upfront. One common gimmick here is to count the deposit as the last month's rent. Translation: The Mexican has already spent the money and can't bear to return it. 
Below is an actual account posted on Craigslist in Puerto Vallarta of some other foreigner's misfortune:

UPDATE: Apparently the guy in question in the below letter now rents rooms in the house to pay for the place while he graciously sleeps in the living room. In other words, the other inhabits are paying the rent and he's actually living rent-free. Have to admit, I encountered this same scenario in L.A. where people seriously rent couches and single rooms divided up into four for no less than $500! What?! Many folks believe L.A. is where it's at...but I wasn't born yesterday. How easily starstruck hopefuls part with their few pennies. 

The inhumane 'man' LARKIN CHOLLAR who rented me a room in his 'place' between Bucerias and La Cruz turned out to be a total scammer, and one hell of a hysterical Monster (YES, with a capital M!) Within hours after arriving at his 'dump' and after he carelessly broke and destroyed a 100 year old hand-carved walking cane which I actually need to walk with - expressing no remorse whatsoever; he actually was critical of me because my it hurt to 'loose' my cane. He then got totally psycho when I asked for a pillow and again went berserk when I asked where the kitchen light was located: telling me I had serious problems and referred to me as a whiney, complaining loser; he aggressively SCREAMED at me full throttle telling me he'd decided I was completely undesirable; demanded a months rent ($175) and once he got his hands on my $ (paying him out of fear), both he and his other roommate, a brutish, thug of a caricature sinisterly devolved into both being extremely menacing; both threatening me with bodily harm before forcefully kicking me out of their 'dump' in less than 3 hours after my arrival. The room had no lights, a truly ratty-ass, smelly mattress with no pillow(s), no linen (I was told to bring my own linen from the USA); it had no furnishings; the walls looked as if they were from some prison (that is a reason he didn't include a photo of the available room on his CL rental post). He is a certifiable fanatic and is completely untrustworthy. Both he and his other roommate, a brutish, thug of a caricature left me trembling and in tears; both ranting and raving for me to get out - NOW! After I struggled quickly to re-pack to escape, dragging my totally thrown together, unorganized 3 pieces of luggage down a dirt road to a nearby Mexican neighbor, where I literally stumbled upon their from porch, pleading for help, desperate to get away from LARKIN CHOLLAR! The Mexican family was truly helpful and compassionate and really helped calm me down enough for me to collect my bearings; one of the men among them even drove me to a reasonable priced hotel not toofar from that insidious asylum of LARKIN CHOLLAR.

I am telling the 100% truth, LARKIN CHOLLAR is a sociopath and needs serious physiatrics intervention. He is one of the most horrific and horrid human beings I have ever met. Volatile, violent, selfish and irrational, bordering on being an abhorrent terrorist. STAY FAR, FAR AWAY FROM HIM - CONSIDER YOURSELF DUTIFULLY WARNED!

He is a very, very sick 'person' and I´m determined to try and prevent anyone else from going through what I went through - HELL! It was as if I was face-to-face with Satan himself.

AN UPDATE: I have received several email from people after my first warning of him I posted on CL who also told me of having had horrible experiences with LARKIN CHOLLAR - and not one single one of them had a single word of 'charity' regarding this MONSTER! 

Again: KEEP FAR, FAR AWAY FROM HIM - CONSIDER YOURSELF DUTIFULLY WARNED!

This link goes to his gobbledygook sham of a web video... http://www.powerofnow.org/video.mp4

Housing scam on Craigslist?

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I lucked out on renting a shared apt in Berlin because the renter was too cheap to confirm over the phone.

I answered the ad on Craigslist for a nice-looking room priced at 12euros/night. This is equal to or less than the rates of hostel dorms...but private! The first text msg from him informed that he was using another phone since his had no credit. No biggie. I figured he quickly borrowed a friend's cell phone. Then I kept getting replies from a different number -- each time. Hmmm.

On Friday I caught the early bus from Stuttgart to Berlin and sent an SMS of my approximate arrival time. Eight and a half hours on the road and I heard nothing back. Hmmm. My suspicion and doubts mounted. My means to peace of mind was to 'cut my losses' and settle on a Plan B. So that's what I did. By the time we pulled into Berlin I had already decided to book a bed in a hostel for the weekend. Still, I spent an hour at the bus station fiddling around with my luggage and checking room rates online.

And still there came no confirmation.

this smack of the trappings of a scam

So. I checked into the hostel and grabbed a kebab to eat then went to visit a friend. At 9pm the mysterious man sends me a text. It was a very thoughtful msg but, you guessed it, originated from another number. In fact, I recognized this last number as being local to Stuttgart region!

My friend convinced me to check it out all the same...especially since we were nearby the listed address. Long story, short: homeboy was using an online service to send SMS's for free - sort of like a Tor for phone calls - and each time resulted in a very different number on my caller ID. But fuck that. Just pick up the damn phone and call. It was a huge miscommunication, yes, but one fostered by his strange behavior. Had I spoken to the man over the phone it wouldn't have made much difference since his follow-up text msg would show up differently on my caller ID. Does this not smack of the trappings of a scam?
My imagination thought so.

My means to peace of mind was to 'cut my losses' and settle on a Plan B

High-technology has its place; unfortunately, it is encroaching on the otherwise ease of low-tech communication. I'm old fashion that way.

City Travel Review: SCAM??

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When I suddenly received an email from the organization about the opportunity of joining a team in Berlin this summer I was a little, well, weary. The words "team" and "family" used outside of athletics and family, respectively, always give me pause. And any opportunity I have to pay for isn't an opportunity. It's a sales offer. 

But I could be wrong about this travel writing workshop. Then I hunted down the following review in a sea of glowing reviews:
 

Got an email response for their team. From the sounds of it, you pay £900 a month for accommodation and language lessons, then you pay for everything else yourself and work to produce a leaflet for them. Not my thing at all, it seems.

£900? Are you kidding me?! I can take my own lessons and rent an apartment by myself and throw good money away on a fancy schmancy gym membership for a helluva lot less than that. Oh yeah: and I'm doing just fine with my travel writing. IF - if - there is a job placement, then City Travel Review needs to hire me. Hello!

Greendot = SCAM/FRAUD

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I almost went ahead and bought one of those newfangled prepaid Greendot Visa cards. These cards are sold in popular retailers like Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens and probably some gas stations too.

Since I avoid credit cards and Paypal debit cards (also via Visa) are full of %@#! I thought these prepaid debit cards might be the perfect alternative. Nope! GREENDOT IS FRAUDULENT. Thankfully I researched consumer complaints on Consumer Affairs (some horror stories!)before throwing away my money to this shady foreign outfit. 

My first Oktoberfest (Munich)

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Was going through my writings when I discovered the following post was sitting in the Draft folder still un-published! On top of that it's a "timely" piece: about my first trip to Munich two years ago last week:


I visited Munich only because I was travelling up from Austria. It was mere coincidence that my arrival was during the famous Oktoberfest (which is actually held in late September. Go figure) and I thought, Oh this should be something!

stupid shit seen at Oktoberfest

stupid shit not seen at Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is great -- if you like your drunks alive, loud and sausaged in lederhosens. Me? I prefer drunks quiet, dead, and maturely dressed. Everywhere the head swiveled the eyes - and ears and nose - encountered merry drunkards who looked like rosy cheeked escapees from a woodcutting work camp. And where there were gaps there were plenty of equally bad dressed American and Australian tourists who gladly acted fools. As I sat in Burger King soaking up the free wi-fi some New Jersey assholes shouted AND sang cheers for the New Jersey Jets. Classless.


Their girlfriends just laughed along. Any social studies course that posits females are selective about their mates for the logical reasons of protection, stability, breeding prowess is full of shit; namely because females dig jerks (lifelong projects) and, therefore, are not logical creatures.

I was in Munich for less than one day and was 'randomly' stopped by two pairs of pigs on the grounds of "border control"

Onwards. My impression of Munich is also smeared by the racism of its detectives. At least, they posed as undercover agents. (This presented a real problem to me for how am I supposed to know an undercover pig from a con man posing as an undercover pig? A very popular scam in Latin America and there is no reason to think it does not happen here.)
I was in Munich for less than one day and was 'randomly' stopped by two pairs of pigs on the grounds of border control. The EU has no borders.
But as all the white and liberal and educated, homosexual-friendly people tell me: There is no more racism.

$$ fee to enter U.S.A. for travelers

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This is just ridiculous. Now foreign travelers coming to America must pay $14 if they are not already in possession of a U.S. visa. The long-winded name for this tourist tax is the "operational and travel promotion fee" and it extends to citizens of the EU. Naturally the EU is none too happy about this -- and understandably so.

Liberal bullshit in Puerto Vallarta

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vallartascene.com

JOURNAL: SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

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Sept 22

    Left Seefeld for Munich en route to Berlin. It's Oktoberfest so there were drunken fools in Bavarian garb all over the damn place. No sooner did I arrive was I confronted by two assholes who supposedly were undercover agents of some shit. 
  Like Amsterdam, Munich thrilled me none at all. The famous Oktoberfest--my passing through was coincidental--is an obnoxious bore. The foreigners were loud drunkards...and the Germans were loud drunkards in funny dress. Found no lodgings. I stayed up the whole night bent on leaving on the morrow. 

Interesting signs in S.F.

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Aside from the vexing flight the entry into San Francisco was one of the most painless ones I've ever had coming from abroad. Customs inspectors are somewhat suspicious upon seeing (black?)American individuals as opposed to obnoxious American families returning from vacation. Because as every common Yank knows, there's really no cause to have a passport.

San Francisco's downtown is infected by some of the ugliest, scuzziest, sleaziest, nastiest, lost, criminal and drug addled and mentally fucked desperate souls in the nation. Scary place

San Francisco is one of those cities which cures any man of his boredom. There's so much and so many diverse things to do from free to cheap to luxurious. And it is a pretty city. Except for downtown. San Francisco's downtown is dominated--infected!--by some of the ugliest, scuzziest, sleaziest, nastiest, lost, criminal and drug addled and mentally fucked desperate souls in the nation. Scary place. Like Los Angeles' but at least L.A.'s downtrodden are more or less concentrated on Skid Row.


Here are some interesting things I saw downtown:

what a positively cheeky sign for a positively positive sounding business: Good Hotel "Smile - it increases your face value"

                                                             Just how 'tolerant' and open-minded are the locals? No skinny bitches swirling on poles or jiggling in wet T-shirts like in plastic Miami Beach (and everywhere else skinny bitches with titties are appreciated). No sir, here they want big, fat mama-mamas with more junk in the trunk and fat folds than any one man can handle. Touch the magic?

"Big & beautiful amateur contest. The more you weigh the more we pay! www.msclive.com. $500 1st Place. $250 2d Place. $100 3d Place"

It's an art gallery! It's a concert hall! No, ye of little imagination: It's the San Francisco Federal Bldg! 

Bureaucracy never looked so...gleaming or hip. Speaking of hip....

And here's one helluva petition: 

"Whereby on this day we able minded creators do hereby tell you, the Establishment: FUCK YOU IN THE MOUTH. WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR BULLSHIT. Signed, Beings of Beauty" Oh those beatniks!

Oasis Hostel (Pto Vallarta)

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I've stayed in the Oasis Hostel many times before. In fact, it's the only hostel I've patronized when in Vallarta because, until a few months ago, it was the only hostel in town. I ought to have reviewed it last year because now I risk appearing vengeful. Oh well.

Owing to the new management, the Oasis is not the pleasant stay it used to be. Now the eldest son, Guillermo, has returned from his world travels to take over from his parents. Admirable. Unfortunately he runs it like "his" hostel as opposed to a hostel, foregoing the patience and flexibility of the father in lieu of a take-it-or-take-a-hike policy. There are so many "reglas" rules, rules, rules.


One morning a trio of German girls came down for breakfast (in time) and finding none asked for a coffee. Reasonable enough. Well! He not only refused them coffee but wondered if they thought they were in a hotel? Ouch. And of course came his customer service policy: Leave if you don't like it. They did. No less than three times he reminded me I could also leave; but with a virtually non-existent refund policy I stayed my black ass in place and argued the case. After all, I was there for the affordable, clean lodgings not his likability. Still, you don't stay in business for long with that range of hospitality. Especially not one dependent on foreign tourism. 

Thanks to the free market system there are now finally other options for hostelers: Vallarta Sun (H.I. affiliate) and Viva La Vida. From what guests have told me, the other places are still finding their footing but, y'know, no one likes to be dissed and what those hostels presently lack in facilities or space is compensated for by kindness and good vibes. That makes a difference.

he runs it like "his" hostel as opposed to a hostel. There are so many "reglas" rules, rules, rules

But, like a few of the other guests, I've been a repeat customer because, apart from Guillermo, the hostel has a lot going for it. There are mixed and female dorms, and single rooms. I've slept in two different dorm rooms and both times the beds were comfortable and the bed frames, not so squeaky. Each bed comes with linen, blanket, and padlock for the private locker. The rooms have effective ceiling fans. The cleaning lady does a great job keeping the place and rooms clean and clean-smelling, and also serves the breakfast which includes scrambled eggs and cafe de Olla (it's worth trying but I prefer Nescafe). There is hot water and three principal commons areas: TV lounge, the kitchen, rooftop terrace plus a front porch. Surprisingly, the Internet is still FREE (two computers) and Guillermo has yet to replace FREE water bottle refills (filtrated water) with water for sale. Super cool. Oasis is a muy sociable hostel where people actually do engage with their fellow travellers! Discussions over, say, breakfast are inclusive and a gas! I've made a few friends with whom I still email.    


Dorm rates run from $150 to180 pesos with a hundred peso key deposit.


It's not a bad hostel. But, hey, if you don't like it you can always leave.



Libramiento (Hwy) 222
Oasishostel.com

Antropology Bar is not classy or fun (Puerto Vallarta)

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Antropology sucks.

By virtue of no competition it is thee go-to nude male strip bar in Puerto Vallarta. But would tourists still go to it if they knew they were supporting a sonofabitch who essentially operates along the lines of a sweat-shop? That rich sonofabitch would be owner Jose. There's just something about this country which is sluggish to respect the self-evidence of human worth and dignity. Some travellers understand the folly in expecting foreign lands to proceed like their native society. I wager, however, that no one expects serfdom or indentured servitude to exist in North America in this day and age! Times do not always keep pace with years. Just look at Cuba. Or Mexico. Or Estonia.

The strippers are too afraid to speak up because no one wants to be unemployed

My beef with Antropology is uncomplicated and sincere: slavery is wrong. Anything akin or tantamount to slavery is equally wrong. The bar touts itself as a place "where classy meets fun" but there is nothing classy about how it is run. The strippers are treated like shit and given as much thought as one gives to the crap he just dumped in the toilet---zero save for flushing it away. 

Strippers are not paid any wages yet are required to work nightly AND forbidden to ever dance in any other venue. By any other venue I mean private affairs (bachelorette parties or house parties) and social galas (parades, fundraisers, store openings) as well as in other bars. Preventing a man from taking a second job to make ends meet or from making an honest living is inexcusable, ridiculous, wrong. Exclusive rights to something means that thing is paid for or in the case of a human worker is compensated for. 

Antropology demands exclusive labor and gives nothing in return. By nothing I mean nothing. No pay, no perks, no support, not even free drinks of water or juice; hell, even slave masters fed their slaves and chain-gangs earn cents to the dollar. Would it really impoverish the queer bastard to comp the dancers a beer or bottle of water?! Plus, he takes a share of the tips (private dances). What part of this is okay to any right thinking customer?

My beef with Antropology is uncomplicated: slavery is wrong. The strippers are treated like shit. They are not paid any wages yet are required to work nightly AND forbidden to ever dance in any other venue

One wouldn't knowingly patronize a sweat-shop or child labor or de facto forced labor; nor would one be okay if the scenario involved female dancers so why justify an exception for this? The strippers are too afraid to speak up because no one wants to be unemployed (failing to realize work without pay doesn't actually constitute actual employment anyway). Since Right counts for nada with Jose the man sees no reason to change his business practices.

Therefore it is up to customers, or perhaps the absence thereof, to motivate change. The expat gringos (and homosexual community) are always going on about acceptance and fair treatment so I want to see if they can convince the owner of Antropology to accept that his policy is not fair by, at minimum, North American standards. Jose needs to get with it. 


Until then, I do hope tourists boycott Antropology because Antropology sucks. Adult entertainment need not come at such a cost.
(Hmmm, wonder if the business association knows about this....)

I welcome feedback; Or click here to send your comments straight to Antropology (pun.so.intended).

Unfond memories of Maeva

This time last year I was beyond happy to have started working at Club Maeva. It would turn out to be probably the worst job of my life. I republish this earlier post as a celebration of having left that awful place with the hope of sparing would-be applicants one motherfucking demeaning job experience!

This all-inclusive beach resort is a very popular vacation destination in Mexico. One is located in Manzanillo and the other, Tampico. Club Maeva is a great place to vacation (if R&R is part of the goal otherwise the constant "animation" can be a bitch) but a far less than great place to work (if you're non-Mexican).

I had the experience of working at Club Maeva, Manzanillo, last November, and would forthrightly caution any foreigner considering emploment as a Maevamigo: supervisors are harsh, working environment is not fun, Mexican guests are pigs, stressful long hours.

The team leaders---wannabe "chiefs"---in step with the boss who is sychophantically referred to as Chief are high-strung, overbearing, loud, egoists whose reactions are often out of proportion and sometimes bluntly irrational. (With this as the accepted model of leadership is it any wonder Latin American countries keep electing strongmen to power?)

being a Maevamigo is a bragging right for Mexicans for whom $4000 pesos and degradation and a sense of belonging beats working in a warehouse

Working conditions are stressful and non-stop---and degrading: Most of the guests are Mexican and seemed to equate all-inclusive with servitude. They were always demanding I pose for their stupid ass photos and thought nothing of interrupting my or any other Maevamigo's work and rehearsels for it. Even in mid-swing during a game of ping-pong they were piggish enough to poke me on the shoulder for a picture. This happened more than once! During meal breaks, which the "chiefs" begrudgingly allow, Maevamigos must interact with the guests which often meant subjecting myself to more stupid ass snapshots, intrusive questions, crude and inappropriate jokes whilst the plate of food grew cold right under my nose.

The hours are looooooooong, running from possibly 7 or 9am to 11pm or 1am with nary a respite in between (revert to above paragraph) six days a week. Sports activities piggy back one after another; then there are dance and theatre rehearsals in preparation for the nightly shows and further entertaining ("animation") at the Tropical Hut after the show. On top of all this, the pay ranges from maybe to little: maybe you will get paid if the Chief likes you and extends a work contract after the first month OTHERWISE the company tries to screw you out of pay, arguing the illegality of paying for labor rendered sans an inked contract. Barring that corruption, the $4000 pesos is little for all the work and hours logged AND, worse still, was less than the advertised $5000 salary.

Oh, and the other departments---0% foreigner---especially dining services, are envious and resentful of the Maevamigos. Why? Principally because we had the task of humoring and entertaining their crude, fat, ignorant countrymen with song, dance, and posing for stupid ass pictures from morning to midnight. (Guests are audacious enough to ask you to work on your day off. Talk about no class!)

Sadly, but tellingly, being a Maevamigo is a step up, nay, a bragging right for Mexicans for whom four thousand pesos and degradation and a sense of belonging beats working in a warehouse or taco stand. For some peoples, any attention is good attention.

Personally, I cannot abide nor find anything endearing in ignorance, racism ("chocolate bar", "little nigger"), lack of privacy, whimsical job security, in-house animosity, or dressing in drag. And so I left. A boy gots to draw the line somewhere. By all means go as a guest but flee from any job agency's lure of working as a Maevamigo.

Watch out for these 5 tourist scams!!

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I've had my experiences with goddamn tourist scams so am glad to direct you to this helpful article about five scams making suckers of unsuspecting foreigners.

Beware of Mr Ibarra (Guadalajara & Tijuana)

If you answer an housing ad from a one "Paco" Ibarra DON'T RENT FROM THIS PIG.

Paco is a liar, double-talker, bully to say nothing of being obnoxiously loud and a braggart. He is overbearing to his small, stupid wife who dutifully bears his spawn. They have about four dirty faced kids now. Typical Mexican machismo.

Paco runs a housing scam in Guadalajara and is thought to have similar goings-on in Puerto Vallarta and Tijuana.
The pig stole my deposit as he made up excuse after excuse for not returning it. He has done this to others and he will do it to you, too.

Calle Priciliano Sanchez 771
Guadalajara, Jalisco