Whats Up With That?

my every day routine includes my daily hour at the Utep Swimming and Fitness center. Its a really good center. They have a cool round desk, a little cafe thing that is operation during the spring and fall, they even have cool little black round tables in the lobby as if people congregate in a gym lobby. And daily as i walk towards the table for my id to scanned, then passed the steel little swinging gates i never forget to notice the odd posters plastering the walls. This one right above the post shows the negative affects of cocaine. it is my belief that cocaine addicts do not frequent the gym (who knows maybe this is where they sweat it out). and if they did would this poster do any good? im reminded of the many thoughtless posters in elementary schools everywhere. do these Garfield haiku's and positive messages shape behavior or influence their target audience?

i used to think they were just so a.d.d kids had endless things to look at instead of biting the innocent kid next to them.

im currently unaware of any study solidifying the importance of kitty posters with messages like, stay in school, or a poster with Arthur that says " Reading is great!? But they must be working right? why else would their be more posters in Benito than white walls.

but back to my initial observation at the UTEP gym. Why is it that the guy in the poster looks so intense? is he snorting really fast? is he flexing while he holds the line? HE just looks funny.

OH and if your from EP or know people from EP, google the words... El Paso DWI and click the first link. its a database of the most current dwi, dui and open container offenders and their head shots. its odd to see people you know up there and funny to see all the drunk faces.

KO is the shit. check this out.

If You Have a Single and I Have a Single, and I Have a Fork that can Reach Your Single...I EAT YOUR SINGLE... I EAT IT UP!!!

Today MOE suprised me with Chicos for Lunch and it was gooooood. i chose the two singles instead of watching the Germany v. Turkey Game. And my feelings about the game once i saw the match up last week were that of excitement being that, if you have ever been to Germany, there are Turks everywhere. Its reminiscent of the Hispanic community in America. there are these Duna Stands every where that mimic Torta and Taco places here in EP.
this is a Duna place in the Berlin Main Train Station.

EP does have way more Mexicans though-we all are practically but still. So i just imagined the little university we stayed at in Chemnitz and the Duna place across the street, and the one across the street, and how the intensity in the air must have been super thick. I wish i was there cause, seriously, Turks are every where in Germany.


Another thing...I'm reading a book titled "the Americanization of Ben Franklin" and though its written well and has won a Pulitzer i finally realized why its hard for me to jump on the colonial America band wagon and why even in DC its hard for me to revel in the history. Its because i, as a minority from the southwest, have a very different history than the Willmont the thirds of Delaware. Its a sad truth. i really don't care that much about that era of American history because it hasn't greatly affected my America here in the south west. besides the obvious reasons colonial America has effected the Southwest, being part of union and all my history and the history of the are if more founded in the Spanish Occupation of this land and their conquering ways throughout mexico. However, in our test books many Mexican Americans in California to Texas learn a history that is completely separate from their cultures despite a small chapter on the Alamo in the eighth grade about how santa ana was bad and Davy Crockett is a hero.

Aside from that i feel a certain disconnect to the Ben Franklin's of History. even though i know little about Zapata and The Aztecs, my cultural history has been more shaped by their ideas than those of past American Elite.

its a problem or issue that must be tackled if the future generation of Children throughout the many regions of America are to truly understand American history which is much more that Washington and Philadelphia. What about the Russians who colonized America before the British reaching from Alaska down to central California and the edge of the Spanish ruled Southwest? Even wonder y the Russian Natural History museum has more native American artifacts than any American museum and in better shape? because they collected everything unlike many American settlers from the east that destroyed any thing native American they possible could. So...i know i should know more about the America of White wigs and W.A.S.P.'s thats why i'm choosing to read this book. its just difficult to want to care. its even more disappointing because im a college graduate and have read many books related to American history and politics i just live in separate America, something the rest of the country is refusing to acknowledge- and its not until the American conscious, or the writers of America History Textbooks, decide to recognize the mass of cultures all separate, and beautiful, found with our borders we as a country will not be able to be proud of our real history. a history full of endless debate, not memorized facts, and people who migrated from everywhere around the world and not just from England. that's all im saying. but...read this book-"Lies My Teacher Told Me" its amazing and i highly, highly recommend it. It is also an extremely easy read and will take you no more than a week or two if you read a chapter every day or so. its great. ok. thats it.

"your just a Bastard in a Basket"

ARE U NOT ENTERTAINED

My computer cracked.
Yes my brand new 3-month-old maco has a cracko. That was lame. Sorry. I called the Mac people and apparently it happens all the time. So I have been advised to upgrade my warranty because this happens often. They don’t really fix the root of the problem cause im guessing that would cost too much to its easier to just replace the part. So if you have a Mac and big hands like I do watch the weight you put on our writs but all of you who took MR. CHEW at montwood shouldn’t have that problem because he taught us wrists UP!! I never learned. Dude was creepy, sad story though you know, his family, wife and daughter were killed in a plane crash, no joke he told me once. And his mother had cancer and he was taking care of here. So though he was a little odd with his short shorts and his 350Z he was still a person who struggled.

Now to people who have struggled…John McCain. So I will start this off by saying that his sacrifices to this country and his fellow countrymen are great and he and people like him should be commended for life. All veterans should be awarded for the rest of their lives with top of the line care and easy accessibility to that care. Their school should be free and they should get special tax breaks. That being said I could never vote for him. I just cant. Well he’s a republican and there are many things within that party I disagree with, I just happen to disagree with less within the Dem party. In my world our system would mimic that of the German Parliament where 5-6 parties are represented based on seats won and percentages met….its complicated. Some dude taught me it in Dresden its amazing. I miss Europe…I do so much.


You have the nationalist party filled with dudes who hate minorities are prejudice and religious fanatics(Christians), then you have your conservative party, completely separate from the neo-conish idealist people who want things like smaller government, something republicans used to ascribe to. Then there is the fiscal party much like the republicans who despise jerry fallwell and don rummy, bush and cheney included. Their goal is economic stability, no bullshit. Then there are the social democrat who fight for things like universal health care, welfare, better schooling, affordable housing, things that some consider social and human rights. You also have your liberal party who is like super liberal. Im sure there are plenty of bad things to say about super liberals but I cant think of any, most super liberals were people like MLKjr who fought against the status quo. Then you have the green party, totally for environmental causes and shit like that. Isn’t it all so pretty? No longer do you have to nod your head in shame when you tell some one you are republican. Cause you are no longer in the same crowed as Jesus loving, pro-life, minority hating, elitist, gun touting, hummer driving prick. You are a man with an economically conscious mind. A member of the fiscal party. BRAVO.

So that’s that. Back to my train of thought. So for many people war is great ask cheneys old Halliburton buddies, but for me…not so much. I understand that war is inevitable in many cases. I do. But that’s one reason I can’t vote for McCain. Also I know this might be as bad as people saying they wont vote for Barrack cause he’s Black (I don’t think so though) but I cant vote for McCain cause the dude is old. He’s just too OLD for me.

He doesn’t know how to use a computer. He watches Lawrence Welk Re-runs and prolly can’t work his own DVD player. Maybe im being a hater. Ok maybe. But you know. We don’t need another old guy pulling a Regan and getting all dementia in the white house…(im so mean, I know) but its true. The last 2 years of regans presidency were ran by others cause of his inability to function regularly. That’s why we don’t need an old guy. DUDES OLD. Enough said. And Barrack is young and can play hoops. Enough said.
(Sorry I was reminded of a girl I worked with who once said she liked bush cause he was cute???Thats y she voted for him) SICK. But there are many many other reasons I could never vote for john McCain such as his pandering to the extreme right wing he once condemned. Ok so on cspan once I saw him give an awesome speech on the perversions of the religious right on American society. I was like “SHIT” that’s nice. Two weeks later. TWO weeks. He was on cspan yet again, this time giving a super neo con speech to the graduating class at Jerry Fallwells University followed with a hug and kiss. A man who he had recently condemned. That afternoon I lost complete respect for the guy. Haven’t been able to look at him the same. And he called his wife a cunt. And he cheated on his first wife with his current one who has been in and out of rehab for severe drug abuse who looks like a younger version of his first wife and the lobbyist he had relations with looks like a younger version of Cindy. But she is freaking rich. Cindy practically financed his senate campaign cause he was broke. But I cant get over the fact that he was cheating on his wife with some other blonde in an extended affair, finally divorced her and got married to the mistress. Cause that’s kind of what she was. Anyways. I just find it interesting that this shit doesn’t hit the news harder being that they give Obamas wife shit cause she’s finally proud of her country. I know that in my whole life especially adult one it is hard to find times I have been really proud of my country, politically and internationally speaking. I mean I was proud when we tied Argentina the other day

and proud when barrack and hill dog were the two battling it out. But really proud? Oh yea George bush a second time was a GREAT idea im SOOOO proud of you America!! yay YAY!!! And that’s news fodder and 70yr old Barbie McCains drug abuse is nothing. Hmmm.

That’s just the way it is.
Its depressing you know.
The way the world is, the country especially right now
The Raypublicans just f*ed up.

I feel alittle odd about posting on politics. Cause every one has their own views you know, so don’t take mine with a grain of salt. I know that’s what I study a lot and crap like that but hey just alittle about on my opinion. They are however much larger and more vast despite this small post or tidbit of em.

Speaking of crap, Sam has been on a bad dog streak for the past few days here. Im guessing cause its really hot. We do play with her and walk her but recently its been hard because she gets hot so fast and eventhough we take water on our walks and soak her with water before we take her its just to much for the little puppy. We have been leaving her outin the house while we leave to run errands. Usually we put her in the bathroom. Its fairly large and she mostly sleeps in there and its actually cooler cause of the tile in there . The last time we put her in there someone forgot to but the shower curtain up. See when we leave her in there we have to make sure that she cant tear into anything. So we tie up the shower curtain to the rod because she likes to eat it. And just a few days ago she did just that. She didn’t so much as eat it as tear it in half. Mostly she doesn’t really eat things per say. She really like to just tear shit apart. Napkins, shower curtains, paper, toys that have been previously gutted. And at this very moment she is hitting me with her soccer ball toy to play fetch despite her pulling away when I reach to grab it. She’s awesome though. A little ole pup. Im surprised cause she is very small for a medium dog. If only she was large enough for me to ride her. She’d have to be like the size of my car for me to ride her, im big.

SO the USA stomped Barbados, sorry bout that. I felt bad for the guys from Barbados. Their jerseys were all one size with no names on the back. I know sometimes teams don’t have the names on the back but…seeing the whole team in extra larges was saddening, like some bowling ally should sponsor them so they can at least have jerseys that fit them. Kljestan was sick that game and had a good chance for a goal but on Thursday night MLS action the dude scored an awesome goal. Chivas USA was playing the chhhicago Fire and after Sacha scored he did the double punch to the jump kick and followed it with the trade mark Blanco thingy. It was awesome.

The final four. The Turks, the Germans, The Spanish and the RUSSIANS, those kats are good. I hope germany takes, it all. Ill be adding a new blog soon too cause there are some others things id like to get to but am tired of typin

Remember. Im a person, you’re a person, that person over there’s a person and every person deserves to be treated like a person. OHHH and Bujanda it was at lifegate formerly knows as Jchapel. WORD I said FANN-TA. Remember?

THURS-

To get this started I reference a picture I saw at HEB in San Antonio in one of those arcade things that you use a joystick to capture stuffed animals. It was amusing. I hope u think so too.
So I’m sitting here at Moe’s parents house watching Thursday night primetime on ESPN II, Red Bulls –v- Chivas USA. So far the game is not bad, it’s the 20th min and im seeing some good play from Kljestan and Flores “el Sueno”. Man, Flores like won some reality tv show to make and MLS roster and so far this season he’s scored 3 goals in 3 games at 18, right out of high school.

read this....http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/sports/soccer/06sueno.html

It really makes me feel good about the Mexican-American/Latin American young contingency in the MLS as well as in Mexico. Even though some of the Americans playing in Mexico would rather play in el tri. But man, stories like Orozco, Ochoa and Torres- he’s a kid from Texas playing for Pachuca who is a winger I think that the US National side could really use. The same formula worked for Castillo who is from Las Cruces for freak sake and now plays for the Mexican U-23’s that failed to qualify for the Olympics (had to say it).

I think I have mentioned before, it’s the fault of USF, Us soccer Federation, that these kids from Mexican American Communities and Spanish speaking regions are being scouted by Mexico’s youth team. Which you can’t fault them really because of the talent that seems to be being over looked. So instead these talents choose to play for El Tri and their club ball in Mexico. I’d say they should do it like Ochoa and Orozco and Play for the USA Nats and their club ball in Mexico. Its better futbol. I’m a little biased though. Just a little.

orozco

And speaking of youth talent…

ADU was sheer class on Wednesday against Spain. With all the talent on the field and the likes of Puyol on the back line for the Spanish, Adu was like freaking Shlitterbahn for the often barren and dry desert that is the recent US attack. He’s small, and 19, and plays his club ball usually coming of the bench for Benfica but looked like a veteran on the pitch. Working next to EJ and Deuce I couldn’t help but wonder how EJ got a shot at an EPL team and Adu didn’t. Not that the futbol in Portugal is nothing but the ELP is a massive stage. So hats off to Freddy “I do, I do, I do ooo” ADU.

Back to my initial thought line-Altidore.

So the latest US talent upfront aside from some others making headlines here in the states, I reference Kenny Cooper and George Flores-google-em, Altidore and MLS are coming to agreements on his move to Spain- the great conquering nation that was economically saved by the European Union…ok more on Villareal.

They already have in their possession an American who is sick up top…who you may ask, and why hasn’t he taken Josh Wolfs spot on the USAMNT? Cause he, like many Americans isn’t from here…well we’re a nation of immigrants right? His father I believe was from Italy and wow luckily for him he; amazing, unluckily for US fans he has chosen to play for the Azzuri and his club history reads as such…Played for Man-U…yea…now at Villareal who came in second in La Liga only to Real Madrid.

So good luck to Jozy, I hope it works out, and even if he doesn’t get much time on the pitch, like Adu, his just being there will give him the confidence and practice/growth he needs to perform well. Read this though...http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=541101&root=mls&cc=5901

So next for Americans transferring this summer…we have Brad Guzan somewhere and Bradley maybe moving to the Serie-A or ELP possibly if Heerenven agrees to let their goal scorer go. Another from this side of the world that is guaranteed a transfer is Gio Dos Santos. The Mexican youngster who was previously being touted as the next Ronahldino is currently headed to London to suit up for the Spurs.

He’s good but soon Barcelona realized they had Borjan, enough said. SO with Barca unloading talent this summer we will be awarded the pleasure of viewing this young talent on FSC, the only soccer channel I have. I believe this is good for Mexican talent in the EPL with Vela already being there as well as Nery Castillo, maybe Ochoa will make a move this summer…I doubt it. Club America was atrocious. As a friend told me… “Friend- My dad called me from home (cauctemoch mx) and asked me who the 12 worst people in the world are…so I said...WHO. He replied…Osama Bin Laden and the starting 11 for America”.

And recently I’ve been playing in my brother’s new band. It’s like Folk Rock but not so Folksy, more like acoustic rock. It’s good actually. We consist of a pianist, violinist, Lead guitar, acoustic and drums. No bass but that’s sort of what the piano does. We have played a few shows and have been getting really good response from show goers. I’m proud I guess cause when I was initially asked to play with the band I was unsure about it but now I feel that musically we as a group are coming together and starting to understand each others ability which can take a really long time and is essential. Hopefully we are able to cut a recording this summer with some money earned so you can all check it out.

I did the logo. I like it. Simple yet affective. Cleaver and easy to put on a Bass head or a sticker. WOOT WOOT.

Funny story, we played this battle of the bands at some Church thing, nothing against church things mostly, and all the bands were hardcore. I say that and mean though each band had a vocalist…no one sang. There were a few actually I kid the battle of the bands. But for the most part it was someone screaming of what I would consider really talented musicians. I felt bad for them…I was once that musician I think. 4lw. U know.

So we played at this church place and they had a little restaurant inside. It was good food and super cheap so I was pro little restaurant. UNTIL. I was sitting at one of the tables and noticed this little thingy in the center, a center piece if you will. And it had all their lunch or food specials on it. Soon I noticed one called the CHANG for CHANGE noodle special. A good deal actually. But the picture, which advertised this ramen meal, was a little racist. I say a little and mean it was overtly racist. It had a lady eating noodles…not so racist right.

I felt as if I were back in the 1940s with this shit. I quickly showed everyone on the table and they too were puzzled at this super racist image in a church. Did no one notice? Is it supposed to be funny? Because the stereotypical image is not that of a major minority has it been considered ok by this group or person to print it? So needless to say I was disgusted. Someone actually tried to show me another image of some old dude chilling on a farm that advertised chicken nuggets. They said, “Well this is racist to red necks”. Really. First of all being a farmer is not a race asks those that actually work on farms, or Caesar Chavez. And he was wearing Flannel and could have easily been a misplaced lumberjack.

So I wonder again. Because this is in a Church, predominantly white (whatever that means) where a specific subgroup is meeting, does this image represent some kind of accepted prejudice? I think so. This image was not satire, or funny, it was offensive and racist. I mean, I have things I need to work on too, sometimes I yell at someone with a Front Chihuahua plate who cuts me off on the free way. But I soon remember, there are no freeways in Juarez…cut them some slack and I calm down. Maybe its also easier for me or ‘us” as minorities of any genera to remember that our grandparents of parents not long ago had a hard time adjusting to a new life. This quote from ellison says it well…
"the most obvious test and clue to the self-perfection of the democratic process is inclusion not assimilation of the minority".

So go to his my space or OUR my space and come to a show. www.myspace.com/blessthemorning be our friends and soon we will have better recordings up there.

OH and Sunday, Sunday, Sunday Argentina V the USA in east Rutherford NJ. I will so be watching that game. I say Bob does this…well im not sure really. I just know Adu must start. Wolf must not be on the roster and we most likely lose to an amazing team. So its 3 losses in a row…to three really good teams. Sure England didn’t qualify but the game must have given someone confidence. Same goes for Spain…Adu mentioned previously.

Don’t forget MLS on Sat on FSC and remember the Alamo.

And the trip to San An was good. I watched a lot of Flight of the Concords and got sunburned at 6flags and Shiltterbahn. Fiesta Tx has a new coaster…its nice. I was also finally granted the rights to watch Enchanted at home. It was good.

Just finished the Red Bulls Civas USA game…I really like Kljestan.

He’s talented technically and with a mid containing Sacha, Edu , Bradley, Szetela, Holden, Nyugen or Feilhaber, a front line with Adu and Altidore and Orozco in the back and Bornstein, Spector, and Setiz in the back…they beat EJ, Boc, Gooch and the current us team…what’s with the USA having good mids and no strikers…shame. So watch him and Chivas USA who should have picked a better franchise name. I don’t know. SoCal SC? Soccer club not FC.

So leave a comment about whatever. If you have a question- leave it. Ill answer it as best I can.
Ill write more later. Once I hit 1500 words I feel odd because im not getting graded and ask myself, “ Why am I still writing”?

Remember…a Kiss is not a Contract…But its very nice.

WAIT...and wait some more...

The constant buzzing from the mini fridge to my left seems to be taunting me with whatever cold beverages linger inside. my mouth seems to be made of cotton and im lucky I rememberd to put on extra deodorant afew min ago. The people around me all seem as nervous and anxious as I am despite their calm deceptive deminor….i can see through it. This nervousness seems to have become me and im not sure how to rid myself of these goosbumps. Again with the buzzing, this time it seems to be coming from the blinding flourecent lights hanging above me.

I wish I knew how those worked, magic as far as im concernded, something to do with gas? As here we sit, six students wanting to be admitted, wanting to be in debt in three years time more than they already are, and yes I am one of them. If only this was about physicality i'm sure I could take them all… the guy across from me looks to timid to fightback and four of them are women all under 5’5 and 120lbs. if only. Now, if only I could think of what to say. I seem to be dumbfounded by the speech that eludes me as other around me write out what seem to be openeing remarks…. “you should let me in cause i'm awesome…Cause i'm blonde…cause I really love Arizona b-ball”… if only I could think of something to say. Maybe that’s better though. I usually do best when on my toes. Just ask those for whom I have done OAS with. Im sharp like a razor sometimes….sometimes. well an upper is that my stomach seems to be fully content on its In and Out burger I ate a few hours ago.

So far the best thing about this trip…and matt sitting somewhere in some Chicago pizzaria a few min from here watching the replay of the US –v-Spain game we are being told is live. (espn im on to you). I know the score…1-0 good enough against a Spain team poised to win euro-08. Well maybe not. Its possible. Well I must go. Surf the net. Away from law school pressures and very close to soccer web highlights. Ill update later on the san an trip. Peace.