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September 17 is Passport Day

The San Francisco Passport Agency is hosting a special ‘Passport Day in the U.S.A.’ event on September 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the S.F. Passport Agency on Hawthorne Street in San Francisco. The only things different about this day at any of the thousands of passport agencies in the United States is that you won’t need an appointment, and there will be "passport-themed events for children and adults." We were going to go sailing tomorrow, but may change our plans as "passport-themed events" not only give passport office workers an opportunity to rack up valuable overtime, but are said to be more exciting than a Lady Gaga concert.

U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book when entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico — as when returning from the Baja Ha-Ha rally — the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government. Well, "must" unless you want to join the millions who simply sneak into this Swiss cheese-like country. Information on the cost and how to apply for a U.S. passport is available at this site.

It usually takes four to six weeks to get a passport processed, but if you’re willing to cough up another $60, you can get a passport in just two to three weeks. Of course, if you need a passport tomorrow, you can swing by Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley and get something that works just like a passport in a few hours. Ask for Javier, Trih or Cyzcxh. Payment must be in Mexican pesos, Chinese yuan or Moldovian ‘flapjacks’. Sorry, no credit cards accepted.

California State Driver’s License Day will be held on September 27 at all DMV offices. There will be special events during which you can exchange phoney driver’s licenses for real ones, or even trade licenses with friends. There will be free rum punch and coloring books for the kids, plus a raffle for certificates showing that you were born in the United States.

Much Ado About Nothing Day, the Superbowl of all such events, has yet to be scheduled due to an impasse between the White House and Congress.

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The Johanson family in better times. Ing
©2011 Latitude 38 Media, LLC In contrast to the sad news that French cruiser Christian Colombo of Tribal Kat was killed during a pirate attack last week in the Gulf of Aden, we are happy to report that all members of the Danish Johansen family, of the Dynamic 43 Ing, were recently released by their Somali captors in exchange for a large ransom, reportedly paid by their insurance company.
With the start of the 18th — ‘Barely Legal’ — Baja Ha-Ha less than six weeks away, we’re getting a few letters about clearing into Mexico.