Received the following from an e-mail correspondent:

LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT.
IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.
IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.
IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MOST LIKELY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.
IF YOU CROSS THE MEXICAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED AND DEPORTED WITHIN 24 HOURS.
IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET
a.. A JOB,
b.. A DRIVERS LICENSE,
c.. SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
d.. WELFARE,
e.. FOOD STAMPS,
f.. CREDIT CARDS,
g.. SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
h.. FREE EDUCATION,
i.. FREE HEALTH CARE,
j.. A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON
k.. BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE
l.. THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY’S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON’T GET ENOUGH RESPECT IN THIS COUNTRY
m.. AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN VOTE
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION

Last week the Chief had the experience of crossing the Canadian border at Niagara Falls. Not quite as bad as TSA at the airports, but they searched ALL US cars entering, and in questioning seemed to be extremely concerned by the possible ownership (back home in the States) of any firearms. It’ll be a LONG time before I try to spend any money up there again…we had been thinking of going up to Winnipeg again this fall…but no longer.