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Gregorio's avatar

The Zeta Bus Massacre. San Fernando, where you are pictured, is one of most beautiful cities in Tamalipaus. The square is old school Mexico. The violence in that area greatly changed what was, in my view, a very nice place.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Thanks there Gregorio. When I went into the town and talked to people it felt strangely innocent and detatched from the horrors happening. Strange and tragic.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

Mexicans don't seem to like talking about their trauma or acknowledging it

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Yeah, that is true - especially the collective trauma. Although right now the UK has the opposite problem. Everyone is talking about their traumas and it's in a kind of collective nervous break down!

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

Yeah the UK that country has been on the decline now. I wonder what would churchill think about it now lol. The bulldog himself

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

I think he'd be an unhappy man and indulge in his fondness for strong beer.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

Yeah he loved his drinks. He did personify old school great Britain when it was "great". And he was a boer war veteran too which is cool. One thing I would say I like about England is the English breakfast that's just delicious looking 👌. I know uk food gets a bad rap though lol

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

It has been surreal seeing Mexico's decent into tragedy and chaos this past two decades already. Especially since it's a country I never truly experienced myself as an American born guy. With just Mexican roots.

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Tom Johnston's avatar

This is the best Substack to subscribe to and I have a few. Truly, a menace to vested interests. Your punk picture is great although if you saw me then there probably would have been a clash. I had long curly blond hair that was practically an afro. I looked like the white version of Hendrix, closer looking to Noel Redding though. Talk about getting older, now I look like Santa Claus with all white hair and white beard. I was over thirty going to to punk clubs in the 80's and there was always the clash between mohawks and long hairs. The worst punks were the young, little rich wieners. Music always sounded better in the back or balcony anyways.

You do have and will have a lot to write about. The attempted assassination of Uribe in Colombia is a simmering story ready to breakout in flames. Very little written of substance about the attempt even in Colombia. Take care and summer is almost here. After a spring of 35-50 degrees F., we have warmed up and now 6 days of rain. Soon, time to retreat to the forest. Hopefully the Canadians will put out a fire!!

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

You are a super appreciated CrashOut commentator there Tom. Following the new fashions as you get older is a good sign - we had plenty older OG friends when we were young punks. I do remember a recording though from a U.S. band called Fear saying, "We don't want any long hairs in here." The Jimi Hendrix Experience are legendary. I loved the album Axis Bold As Love at 13 and still love it now. Going white is better than going grey - and damn, we can't fight life (even though the tech bros are trying). Stay clear of the flames!

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Tom Johnston's avatar

Fear was a superb band and also had some real musicianship. Funny, Fear concerts were the least trouble for me as a long hair. There was more curiosity about my age. Fear were trolling before people even knew what that meant. Like the songs "The Trouble with Women today is they talk too much" or "More Beer". Tough SOB's too. Lee Ving did not tolerate anybody coming from the mosh pit to the stage. He would deck them.

When Purple Haze hit the airwaves (only FM radio) that was the most radical rock song to ever come out at that point. Their early concerts were really tight.

The flames is not the problem but the smoke! I could write pages about the political arson, Canadian government's refusal to put out the fires especially in 2023 and all the political crap that is very similar to California.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

From Jimi Hendrix to Fear, You have seen some classics. And I am sure there is many more as well.

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Tom Johnston's avatar

That is the positive of being an old fart.

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TODD MAYCHER's avatar

Well said. We all evolve and see the world from different perspectives. When you travel and see for you own eyes the joys and evils of the world it comes into focus rather quick.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Thanks there Todd. Yeah true that, although some people still just see what they want to see. All best there friend.

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Jack Beavers's avatar

Ioan, thanks so much for the shout-out and link to US Border News! It is greatly appreciated. And to those of you who enjoy Ioan’s work but have not yet subscribed, I encourage you to do so (like I did)!

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated Jack and I look forward to reading more of US Border News.

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Daniel Helkenn's avatar

I always said you were better than Netflix, which is why I subscribe to you and not Netflix. More action for the buck than anywhere on the Stack. I’m much the same as you. I keep thinking that something is wrong. I’m losing intelligence as I get older. I knew everything at 18 and it’s been downhill ever since. Keep the content flowing.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated there brother. I get two great quotes out of that:

1) Better than Netflix

and

2 More action for the buck than anywhere on the Stack (I might make that the official CrashOut slogan if it's all good with you!)

And yeah, we get older, wiser, fatter, but it's all the way of the world...

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Daniel Helkenn's avatar

Use whatever quotes you like.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

BOOM!

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David Cashion's avatar

I rotate my paid subscriptions.

Can't be paying 50 bucks a month.

But I keep coming back here.

Can't rotate Ioan's stories out of my head.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

That is wonderful to hear that David. Truly appreciated. And BOOM - first comment in the house...

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Diego MF's avatar

Keep it up bro! Ever since I saw some interviews with you some years ago I was like “this guy knows Mexico” and I subscribed without hesitation. I say that as a Mexican.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated there brother. Great to have you on board.

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YUSUKE's avatar

Hello

Thank you for introducing my channel. I am very honored and happy.

This article really struck a chord with me.

As a fellow creator and fellow human being living on this planet, I deeply empathize with your words.

No one else has such a clear vision of the state of the world.

I would love to hear more about your younger days and the behind-the-scenes of your work.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated Yusuke - it's great to have the Japanese connection here, and it would be great to hear more of your insights. All Best there friend.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

That's a cool picture from the 1990s ioan I love the punk rock look. It's crazy that people now a days look back at the 1990s as the last fun easy going decade despite having many conflicts and tragedies itself. The world now truly is more complicated and even more polarized. It's uncertain times right now. But I'm glad you are still here keeping the sanity despite all the noise,hate, division, and confusion. And I love that shootout at the end ther. That zombie rendition was beautiful. I love that song because it goes to show that even music brings bitter enemies together for a brief moment like the cranberries did

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Nice one there Jonathan - and I'm well glad you liked the Zombie song. You caught the meaning deeper than I did, even though I have been to Belfast. Yeah, the nineties seemed easier to me, although I was also a youngun then. Hopefully better times await ahead. Great to have you here in the CrashOut mix.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

Apparently Dolores o Riorden wrote it after an IRA blast killed two kids in Warrington England. And chillingly one of the kids was called "Johnathan" spooky stuff

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

There you go, you got vibed into the song.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

Ioan can you email me that whole video by any chance?

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