Shock Boxes Or ¨Caja de Toques¨

In Mexico, some men lug around a Shock Box or ¨Caja de Toques¨  -- battery operated boxes that dispense electrical charges -- offer shocks of electricity for between $2 to $4 a pop. Popular around bars and clubs, some people believe it sobers them up while others feel it heightens their buzz.

THE BOX. Mexican men operate the caja de toques. Cords extend from opposite ends, a grip at the end of each cord. Hands, not the Mexican man’s hands, rather your hands, go on the dangling grips. Rotating the dial clockwise sends something measured in volts through the cord to the grips. The question: do you tender pesos for the sheer cheeky masochism of this service—or wager them that you can hold onto the ends of the cords longer than the Mexican man is capable of turning the dial?

THE JOINT. There’s a lone fly buzzing above shelves stocked with a single brand of Tequila. There’s a spittoon that’s stained—from spit. There’s a live rattlesnake curled up inside a jar. Hard men are drinking tequila and beer alone at different tables.