utilitus

Thanks, y1.  I've heard that some local masons find their demonic formula for mortar more 'workable' in some respects.  I may go so far as to have commercial mixes and bricks from reputable sources assayed.  Quality control uber alles.

"How Does Efflorescence Happen?

For efflorescence to happen, you need water and salt. The salt comes from a range of sources. First, it may already be present inside the brick, stone or concrete. Or, the source may be the grout or Portland cement holding surfaces together. Finally, it could be present in the water itself in areas with hard water." (Though presumably not from 'hard rain', which is a metaphor AFAIK.)

Briefly, for completely new construction Lakeside, could one take extra precautions (and strict control of project materials) to insure that a structure would never suffer the blight of salitre?  Is groundwater a major culprit Lakeside?  Thanks. 

Bearded1 -

Haven't been to either area in a decade or more, but if an 'eco-ethic' finding expressions ranging from the rhetorical to the practical is key to your preferred lifestyle, you might look into both Costa Rica and the Lakes district of Chile.

32 minutes ago, ComputerGuy said:

I have not seen any fibre cable, nor had any clients with fibre modems, in Chapala Haciendas. What they did do recently was upgrade the service to VDSL, thanks to the demands/requirements of the new hotel/condo development across the street.

Right, and this resulted in vast improvement to previously dismal xDSL service to CH, especially to those homes closest to the new development across the highway.  But initially at least,  homes furthest away from the new point of connection reportedly didn't see enormous benefit, since xDSL really loses speed with distance over 2 km or so.  But this illustrates that lakeside areas hugging the north shore currently suffering with poor xDSL service can similarly hope that Telmex can economically boost their performance by plugging their existing copper lines into gear attached to a new fiber line.  This topology would probably fall into the Fiber to the curb/cabinet/node categories.  But I'm sure it's more complicated than that...

In any event, based on postings on this board when the Ilox project was just underway, Ilox reportedly stated that it will not share conduits with any other utility, for reasons Rick and others indicate.  At the time, there was some mention of 'to the gate' (of a frac, say) wholesale (maybe gigabit?) interface that might have left a frac or neighborhood to its' own devices as to final distribution, billing, etc. AFAIK (which isn't much) this idea never was developed (into xG neighborhood wireless networks, bespoke point-to-point circuits or other technical solutions) where wanted and feasible.  Perhaps after the Ilox dust settles and Telmex offers alternatives, there might be enough residual demand for such special solutions.  

11 minutes ago, tugwestend said:

"So rather than continue to move West San Juan Cosala, El Limon, El Tempisque, Joco to install prepaids....they are doubling back to the above areas?

Tug, may I ask, as precisely as you care to specify, where are you located west of the RC, and what kind of measured internet performance you currently experience from which provider?

I ask because I have a lot about a mile due west of the center of the RC, and am looking at a house further west in El Limon, and decisions to buy or build could depend on long-term net coverage.  Thanks.

ps Just in case you missed it, some commentator on these threads noticed Ilox crews 'inspecting' El Limon maybe a month ago - why don't you ask Ilox about their plans in your specific area...

1 hour ago, CHILLIN said:

JR in Puerto Vallarta - He has his own secret pasture

Bufo Alvarius sayeth:

https://puerto-vallarta-mexico.com/picking-magic-mushrooms-in-el-tuito-jalisco-mexico-27-miles-south-of-puerto-vallarta-jal/

My late father in the 1960s and 70s did original research at UC San Francisco that led to the now common drug-drug interaction data bases, as well as the protocols for automatically reviewing drug patient usage records.  Decades of case outcome data and statistics (with which I am not personally familiar) continuously accrue, documenting, among other facts, Mudgirl et al.'s points about various forms of drug resistance, which were always theoretically expected.  Here in northern California, anyway, professionals tend to be serious, sincere, careful, competent and capable of quite subtle cognitive nuance, going where the evidence and best current professional practice lead them.  One of my professors in grad school at Berkeley was famous for developing the idea of 'cognitive authority' which describes, among other things, how even sophisticated academic discourse can be led down a path some limited distance before the paradigm gets rattled and replaced (T.S. Kuhn was one of his own dissertation advisers).  Trump, antivaxxers, ZeroHedgers, etc represent what happens when the development of such belief "systems" occurs among that half of the population with two-digit IQs...

And what about antibiotics?  Make America Gangrenous Again!

From 'Medical laws and ethics of Babylon as read in Hammurabi's code (History, circa 1770 B.C.)'  in  The Internet Journal of Law, Healthcare and Ethics. 2006 Volume 4 Number 2.     See: http://ispub.com/IJLHE/4/2/10352

"Method: Studying the translated preserved copy of the code and review of literature in Law and medicine to indicate the relevant items which cast a light on the status of law in Ancient civilization of Babylon in Mesopotamia.

Results: There were 282 laws, dealing with all aspect of public life, citizen's rights and limits and the Babylon Kingdom's justice system.  The Code of Hammurabi described a scaled fee schedule for surgical services, which was linked to the outcome of the surgery so if not met, resulted in severe penalties, required documentation of diseases and therapies, included prescription benefits. The code fully explained patient's rights according of proclaimed King's Code."

I've gone out my way over years of travel to find excellent and reasonably priced medical and dental care worldwide, outside of the financially absurd US system.  Dentists aside, health professionals with US experience and appropriate US board certification and English proficiency have always been identifiable in advance (emergencies would be another scenario).

As an experiment, I just looked up a neurosurgeon in Guadalajara who was a member of the American College of Surgeons (https://www.facs.org/about-acs).  One record came up (name redacted here) using the web site member 'search by country' function. See https://www.facs.org/search/find-a-surgeon?city=guadalajara&country=Mexico&specialty=Neurological Surgery  (record below).

Now, this gentleman must be at least eighty, so he might best serve as a consultant for further references and case management, but his ACA indicated experience could represent a decisive factor in a dire emergency.  And the ACS itself is no guarantee of perfection, but at least the razor sharp self interest of US surgeons in this professional marketing vehicle can be leveraged, and the MDs I've met offshore have been great.

"Valued Fellow Since 1964

Just had mine renewed in California - $110, plus photo finishing if required.   Return postage was included, and the process took maybe three weeks.  US State Dept. web page gives only general information about out-of-country renewal.  See: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/outside-us.html

In the '80s, had a renewal in Guatemala City which only took a few days, and I was also able to renegotiate 'up' my Japanese girlfriends' US entry visa (dealt with a Princeton man).  Order a 50 pager - same price and within ten years there will be international bounties on gringos' heads...

3 hours ago, taltman711 said:

FiberHome   AN5506-02   Not sure if it is the A or B version. 

The printed version of the 'family' manual is probably provided with the installation, but just for reference, assuming it's current (2015):

http://tecwi.com.br/manual/fiberhome/AN5506-01-02-Series-GPON-Remote-Terminal-Product-Manual.pdf

1 minute ago, John Shrall said:

Your point?

I researched and cited that FB material when the Ilox project was first announced in one of the many threads it generated here.  It provided an element of negative anecdotal evidence from users in other regions, and was worth reading at that point, even if it represented a minuscule sample and didn't prove anything.  Should local Ilox service degrade over time, it will be common knowledge online. 

Actually, I registered a domain for Ilox and other users to focus a more intensive and sophisticated discussion in one place, and to help Ilox with spreading the word.  It was called LakeLux.org, and I offered it to anyone who would pursue such a project, as an english users group, liaison to Ilox, etc. (I'm in California and don't speak much Spanish.)  Was rather surprised when a couple of people with authoritarian tendencies got upset when anyone dared to politely question without prejudice anything about the unfamiliar corporation requesting money from a large number of people.  All hail tkessler for his efforts and important results - the process didn't proceed precisely as he predicted, but it appears to be a triumph. 

Audi is a division of the VW Group and AFAIK shares most of their technology, e.g. the ubiquitous 2.0t engine.  Audi builds the current Q5 SUV in Puebla for the world market.  (My older A3 is just a VW GTI in a nice sportscoat.)

add2,

My understanding is that nobody relies on the Mexican mail delivery to the home for anything important.  Were your AE deliveries to your door, without pickup notices directing you to a Post Office, or through a delivery agents' address?  Thanks.

Forgot to mention that on November 11 ('Singles Day'), there are even better online deals offered.  See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singles'_Day

I've used AliExpress several times for deliveries to California, with good results.  The first time was maybe seven years ago when my Mexican silver money clip broke in half, and I ordered a more 'sophisticated' stainless steel model from Shenzhen for US$3.50 delivered.  Took a few weeks to arrive.  I have also ordered larger items, such as curtains that have come in multiple boxes.  AE facilitates and supervises the transactions, like EBay, and I have never had a problem, except for the well known fact that Asian clothing sizes are tiny for gringos, so go XXXLarge, depending.  Many items probably violate IP laws - I doubt that the Trout Mask Replica, Butthole Surfers or Schoenberg Tshirts I ordered were properly licenced.

Of course, delivery to Mexico is an entirely separate issue about which I am interested to learn.  And just two days ago, the US 'government' started to withdraw from the international mail regime which subsidized such AE deliveries from China, and this could have a major impact on shipping costs to the States, which have been ridiculously low.  (I once ordered a specialty data cable for US$ 1.70, delivered.)

7 hours ago, MNmx said:

Thank you, everyone. Utilitus, can one get extra tall fencing here?

Good question - I'm writing from northern California, and the last time I needed an extra heavy galvanized post for a wide ag-style gate on our ranch east of Napa, I couldn't find what I was looking for at Home Depot, etc., even here.  But such should be available somewhere, probably in Guadalajara, maybe 'primarily' to contractors.  Sorry.  But I'd keep an eye out for an existing installation, metal, masonry or otherwise that appeals to you, and make inquiries.  Bon chance.

It's an entirely different approach which might require some drip irrigation, but eventually I will be building a perimeter 'wall' consisting  of a similarly tall, stout chain link fence with a nice mix of vines and flowers eventually overgrowing it.  If security is required, coils of razor wire might be incorporated(?)  But tasteful masonry, especially elegant stonework, is typical of fine Mexican design, and if a Maestro still makes $600/mo, should represent terrific long term value.