----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Aradi"
Subject: [IBC] Hello! Again.
My biased opinions are based on the above experiences and mostly
very personal.
Bonsai:
There is no short cut to experience and to be competent one must spend
several years, perhaps a minimum of five, "doing bonsai" as the main
activity of each day.

What, you mean you can't buy a "bonsai" at a H&G show and then start
selling/teaching 3 months later? C'mon Peter!


Kidding aside, I'd love to hear some storys about your "pottery" experiences
in Kyoto, Mashiko, etc. If I even go again, Kyoto area potteries will
definitely be on my tour.

Homeland Security.
I brought back several stones, two fragile gongshi, Chinese scholar's
stones.
Bought are authenticated lingbi. We packed then among our clothes and they
survived
Chinese and Japanese inspections, and U.S. customs. After customs we had
to
recheck our luggage in Chicago where Homeland Security luggage inspectors
tore into our twice checked luggage. After taking everything apart they
throw
the items backs into the bags at random. Our pleadings were ignored and we
were told to stay away from our luggage and that we couldn't touch them.
When
we arrived home we found that one of our beloved Chinese stones was broken
and in three pieces! And we also found that the inspectors left their
tools
Peter Aradi
Tulsa, Oklahoma

What a shame. When are we, as Americans, going to stop putting up with our
customs and related personnel treating us like this. It ( more and more)
burns my butt when I see/hear about a Government Employee acting thusly. A
little ( just a smidge even) of power, and a gun ,and watch out!! A few
years ago, after a two P.I.A. experiences with local and Niagara Falls
customs people within a short time , I started calling....got as high as a
local customs boss. He said now you could file complaints to go to district
offices and they'd be looked into and reported back. HE took the info FOR ME
to file. You guessed it....I NEVER heard from anyone again.
Two years ago I got another taste of it at San Francisco airport. I watched
20ish customs agents doing nothing after my 747 group was passed through.
They were standing around waiting for another plane. It took about 45
minutes of talking with the supervisor about getting trees(3) inspected. So
long that everyone else got inspected! when they were all done there STILL
wasn't enough time to get trees inspected and I had to send them along to
Ag. 3 miles away. I did get them later, but never thought I would at the
time! As I went through the checkout ( alone) 2 agents never even opened my
bags!!!! and one said to the other..."Isn't it about time for lunch?"
but, they were all REALLYYYYYYY busy!
Regards,
Dale Cochoy

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