Lost materials

[Claire Bowern]

I've had DVDs/CDs impounded by customs too. ... and it was through
sending them via FedEx. I was told that they were suspicious of
cryptically labelled homemade DVDs (I was sending my backup Yan-nhangu
field materials to be archived at SOAS). Apparently they are worried
about pornography and counterfeit movies. I had to give them a fully
itemised list of the contents (which wasn't hard because all the
metadata was on the "readme" on the first DVD...)
Claire

On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 1:04 AM, Chun Jimmy Huang <huangc20 at ufl.edu> wrote:
> Thank you Heather, Thank you Dr. Hardman, Thank you Richard, and Thank you
> Rolland.
>
> I've made new copies and will send them out via UPS or FedEx tomorrow. I
> hope we won't see any more disturbing pictures of broken envelops.
>
> peace
> Jimmy
>
>
> On Wed Jul 07 18:08:20 EDT 2010, Heather Souter <hsouter at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
>> Taanshi, Jimmy,
>>
>> I am glad to be able to tell you that I did indeed receive the CDs and
>> they
>> were indeed played on the air!  I apologize for not getting back to you
>> about this sooner!!  BTW, they were very well received by those who were
>> listening.
>>
>> Now, if you give me permission, I would be willing to make copies and send
>> them to Rolland and/or other folks in Canada for you if Fedex or a courier
>> service is not workable.  (At least the border security folks wouldn't be
>> scrutinizing the package!  It is shocking to know that singing in our
>> languages is considered subversive!!!!)
>>
>> Eekoshi pitamaa.
>> Heather
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 12:30 PM, Chun Jimmy Huang <huangc20 at ufl.edu>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Oh, wow, I am in shock! This has never happened to me before (or has it?
>>> Did you receive my music cds for your friend's radio show, Heather?)
>>>
>>> At first I thought it might simply be a piracy inspection. Some countries
>>> do check all self-burnt discs. But (1) everything I sent you was
>>> originally
>>> produced by small, local NGOs and was never meant for commercial use, so
>>> there should be no copyright concern, and (2) normally the inspector(s)
>>> would place the materials back to the envelop if they haven't found
>>> anything
>>> illegal. So hm... I couldn't justify it. And I, too, would like to know
>>> if
>>> others have similar experiences.
>>>
>>> Still, don't be too upset, Rolland. I'll try again... this time with UPS
>>> or
>>> FedEx. I'll let you know when I send my package out.
>>>
>>> Jimmy
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed Jul 07 02:00:31 EDT 2010, Rolland Nadjiwon <mikinakn at shaw.ca>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>  Hi Jimmy...Your package arrived in my mailbox with the morning mail. It
>>>>
>>>> was placed inside a much larger sealed plastic bag along with the
>>>> contents
>>>> of the manila envelope which had been torn open. All of the printed
>>>> materials are intact but taken out of the envelope. The one music cd and
>>>> the
>>>> three DVDs have been removed and were not in the plastic bag. I am sorry
>>>> to
>>>> say and so very disappointed the cd and DVDs did not make it to me. I
>>>> have
>>>> attached photos of that part of the plastic bag, which is much larger
>>>> than
>>>> in the photo by about twice, which carries the postal corp. apology for
>>>> the
>>>> condition they found it in in the mail processing system.
>>>>
>>>> I have no idea if it was opened by Candian or USA immigration but
>>>> someone
>>>> did open it and removed only the cd and DVDs but for what ever reason, I
>>>> have no idea. Perhaps with increased security everywhere and in
>>>> particular
>>>> on the borders our names on the envelope Huan and Nadjiwon are not
>>>> sufficiently English American or Canadian and so raise a 'red flag' at
>>>> security. I have had similar incidents but usually the tapes were
>>>> destroyed
>>>> by pulling and knotting or the cd/DVDs were cut up. I think this is the
>>>> first time they have disappeared completely. I am sure they will review
>>>> the
>>>> contents and destroy the discs.
>>>>
>>>> I was much too upset and saddened earlier today, after I had received
>>>> the
>>>> damaged packages with the missing items, to try and tell you about them.
>>>> All
>>>> I can figure is you are Siraya and I am Potowatomi(Native North
>>>> American)...maybe it is dangerous for us to exchange information and
>>>> knowledge on our peoples.
>>>>
>>>> I have posted to the ILAT list so one: they can all know what has
>>>> happened
>>>> to an exchange of intellectual knowledge and two: if anyone on the list
>>>> has
>>>> had the same or similar experiences with information exchange in this
>>>> manner. Or, if anyone can enlighten me as to why this should happen, how
>>>> common is it and how selective....
>>>>
>>>> Jimmy, I am so sorry this has happened. I was so looking forward to the
>>>> very special gifts which would enable me to hear your peoples songs,
>>>> language, young persons and being able to use it as a springboard to
>>>> deep
>>>> discussions in the class and for my own...how can I put it...happiness
>>>> and
>>>> satisfaction in the audio visual sharing of another indigenous culture.
>>>> I am
>>>> so sorry Jimmy for whoever, persons or government, have committed this
>>>> violation...
>>>>
>>>> I think I had best have a good cup of herbal tea and calm down a
>>>> bit...wow...I feel so bad....
>>>>
>>>> -------
>>>> wahjeh
>>>> rolland nadjiwon
>>>> ______________________________________________
>>>>
>>>> A clear conscience is usually a sign of a bad memory???
>>>> ______________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>