Why is this place so quiet today?

[Tonchi]

Geez, Bruce! When I read your opening lines I figured that would be the last we heard from you outside the hospital. We don't chase the brown brothers who hit and run here, because the chances are the guy who gets out of the car when you finally catch him is Mara Salvatrucha and you are toast. Hint for future escapades with whoever you think is a beaner or simple wetback: if the guy coming toward you has a 13 or 18 tatooed on his arm it is all over for you, if not now, later when his 10,000 buddies hear about it :P

Another thing that you said got to me, about how the kid had an interpreter furnished by the court. See, that's what I was trained for. Court Interpreter. They told us how desperately they were needed after the business at the OJ trial when nobody could understand the housekeeper who testified. So many answered the call but none were chosen. Why? Because the professional Court Interpreters in Fresno County have to be approved and certified by a State board. And just who is the board? It is all Hispanics, and guess what - they don't like gringos trying to be interpreters. (They don't like Hispanics trying to be interpreters either, but that's a different story.) So none of my graduating class was judged suitable to interpret in court for illegal aliens who at most have a 4th grade education. Meanwhile the court system here is cratering because of the case load, 85% of which is concerning problems that some Mexican got himself into. This did not exist prior to the 90's, but now that 40% of our local population is comprised of "newcomers"..... And the strangest thing yet is that being certified as a Spanish interpreter will get you automatically rejected for jury duty if either or both of the parties are Mexicans.