WHAT MIKE SAW

Drug Problems In Mexico

For those kids living in Southern California (I prefer to call it SOCAL), we all grew up during our prepubescent years hearing rumors of a fantasy world where you can drink under the age of 21.  It was a place where lawlessness is common and if you’re lucky, you might be able to catch a DONKEY SHOW.  You can live out all your fantasies in this one incredible place, thought to have existed only in Tommy Lee’s METHODS OF MAYHEM song lyrics.  The next morning, it’s not extra ordinary to wake up in a random hotel room next to a girl named STARLA while the VENGABOYS is bumping in the background.  You stink of Jose Cuervo, which was pumped down your throat by some dude named Luis with a whistle in his mouth.

I personally was never fascinated by these stories.  They sounded horrific to tell you the truth.  It sounded like a really big high school party with no sign of parents anywhere.  But that’s just because I didn’t realize how fun they were until later on.

The footage below is a glimpse of what my friend Adam and I experienced in some random bar in TJ.  This wasn’t one of those bars on REVOLUTION ST. either so that meant not as many tourists.  We were on or way down to Mexico City but decided to stop by TJ to visit some friends first. While the drug problem still runs rampant today, this video took place during the early stages of cracking down on the Mexican drug trade.  This was around the time when dead bodies of Federali’s were popping up everywhere.  Sad thing is, they still are.

The AFI’s would randomly search local bars and clubs by abruptly cutting the music while their dogs sniff out drugs.  And as a word of advice, don’t try to pet the dogs and tell them how cute they are.  The AFI will rough you up just as they did me.

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What Mike Saw #11

I honestly can’t stand cops. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt knowing that our communities need police enforcement but time and time again, you hear a story of some cop with a name like “Hawkins” or “Gutierrez” with a blatant display of abusing power. Since my skateboarding days when I was a prepubescent HUNK, cops would always hassle us. Rarely have I ever seen a cop protect and serve the public. All they are good for is to feed into their own egos and do each other’s HAIR to look cool. In fairness, there have been times when I’ve witnessed police assist people stuck on the side of the road (excluding me) and there were a few cops who let my friends and I off with a warning while skating Walnut High School (home of the MUSTANGS). But they are definitely overshadowed by policeman who really don’t care about your safety, and care more about their quotas.

Now due to the state’s budget crisis with an economy going to HELL, you probably noticed more and more cops on the roads along with those cute ticket OFFICERS cruising around marking everybodys’ tires. More enforcements on the streets aren’t because of rising crime rates but rather to make money off citizens like you and I for petty infractions like jaywalking or bumping Reggaeton music from our cars. Okay fine if you break the law, but the city is willing to extract every last penny they possibly can out of that one violation. A few weeks ago, I got ticketed for parking at a meter after 4PM, which is rush hour time. Actually I deserved that ticket because I too hate it when people use up valuable lane space while I’m trying to rush home to catch the tail end of FAMILY MATTERS. But then here comes the tow truck out of nowhere to take my car to the impound lot. The meter maid was a total prick. But I got the tower to let my car go, but for 200 bones. I asked him, “Hey, you guys are doing this because the city is broke, right?” He just responded with a slight shake of the head yes. That was the most expensive Subway sandwich I have ever bought.

I expect predators to come out of large banks and corporations to squeeze money out of people, but it makes me feel ill to see the same practices coming from our government.

This “What Mike Saw” is dedicated to everyone who has received a ticket for something really crappy. In this episode, you will see a glimpse of how I managed to magically turn a $50 texting ticket, into a $900 headache. I don’t think I will ever talk shite to a cop again. Fucking assholes. Plus this episode has its share of trouble, throw-up, Hollywood parties, boobs, skating, and so on.

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Mexico City

On my way to Buenos Aires, I had a 5 hour layover in Mexico City (DF). For such a short amount of time there, I was really able to capture the essence of national pride that I feel the US sometimes really lacks. I’m not talking about some piece of shit that flaunts his/her confederate flag and wants to secede from it’s union (i.e RICK PERRY Gov. of Texas). I’m talking about people who take to the streets and in the form of protests, make their elected officials give in to their wants. After all, it’s the people that make up the government. So fuck you, you stupid TEABAGGERS. I swear, you people don’t have a fucking clue. Seriously. “Hands off my medicare”. You fucking serious? You mindless drones are the ones who need to secede and go away forever.

Sure big protests may not work (Iraqi War), but I feel that it canmake a difference. The Aznar administration lost their general election after Spain’s 3/11 attacks due to large protests. The French love to protest, even if sometimes their cause is stupid. And of course violence never gets anybody anywhere. But it’s the message and form of communication that counts most.

So anyway, being in Mexico City hanging out at the ZOCALO, there was this huge gathering of some 1000 people protesting the Honduras coup. It was a sight like none other. The type of shit that gives one chills. It was basically one bus with 3 people on it’s roof speaking from a bullhorn. I regret not understanding what they were saying but I could really feel the passion. I could really feel the sense of community. The only way I knew what they were talking about was because they were waving the Honduran flag. It was fucking awesome. I wanted to get on top of the bus with those people speaking. But my girlfriend got mad since we had a flight to catch. But you will see that footage later when I get home to LA.

The video below was taken back in 2006 when one of my best friends ADAM NELSONand I decided to go to TJ. And I’m not talking about the tacky TJ where underaged San Diegans go to get hammered with hopes of seeing a donkey show. This was where my friend James lived and was unlike the general perception of TJ. We took off work for a day just to go. But somehow we didn’t feel satisfied. We wanted to keep going. We said “screw work. How often do we get to do this?” So we ended up in Mexico City. We didn’t know a soul. We didn’t speak a lick of Español. But it had to be one of the best trips of my life. Everything was improvised. It felt like our MOTORCYCLE DIARIES. I will post more video from that particular trip later because we saw so much awesomeness.

BTW, my girlfriend and I just had a crap load of wine and lagers. So excuse the grammatical errors and the lack of focus in this posting.

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