Aug 30, 2008

URGENT: Obama & Biden Read This


"If the Obama campaign can convince the American people that our country is in a tough spot due to Republican policies, not just Republican politicians, then they'll probably win. But if McCain and Palin can convince Americans that the business model is sound and the GOP just needs a change in CEO, than, well, you can probably say hello to your next Vice President [being the governor from Alaska]." -- Nick Baumann

Source: motherjones.com
(Click here for the full story.)

Marcos Launches His Virtual Art Gallery


Marcos has been really active with his career as an artist. He recently launched his own website to showcase his work and ideas. The image above is one of his older works that I just adore.

Please take some time to check out the slideshows of his work, and maybe drop him a comment on the blog page. Marcos loves having discussions on art, culture and ideas.

Click here to visit his site. If the link doesn't work cut and paste the following url into your browser: http://web.mac.com/lelocolon60/iWeb/Importing%20Fronteras/Importing%20Fronteras.html

He has another art show coming up in October. I'll post information about that soon.

Aug 29, 2008

Did You Know That Gov. Palin...

McCain: "Now lookie here girlie, you better bring me them armpit hair having Hillary supporters."

- Prior to being elected governor, supported the 1998 constitutional amendment barring marriage for same-sex couples and has said she would support a ballot measure overturning a state supreme court decision mandating benefits for domestic partners of state employees

- Is close to “traditional values” groups, like Family Research Council, because she is strongly anti-choice

- Vetoed legislation passed by the state legislature in 2006 that would have prohibited providing DP benefits to state workers, in defiance of the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling. She did this after the Supreme Court had already ruled and the Attorney General (Republican) advised her that the legislation was unconstitutional. Palin went on to state that, as a matter of policy, she was in favor of the bill.

- Will be honored alongside anti-gay Representative Michelle Bachman (R-MN) at an event at the 2008 Republican Convention, the “Life of the Party,” sponsored in part by long-time opponent of GLBT rights, Phyllis Schlafly.

Source: Human Rights Campaign click here for more information.

Aug 28, 2008

If It Aint Broke...Don't Fix It?

The Women is one of my favorite classic films of all time. It has all the elements of a great movie. It's based on the brilliant play written by Clare Boothe Luce. The women are smart, stylish witty and serve sophisticated cattiness. It is hysterical without being foolish. You have to see this film. Rosalind Russell is genius in it. And, talk about innovative,there is a fashion show shot it vivid color, within this black & white film.

There is a remake coming out soon with Meg Ryan in the lead and Annette Bening attempting to fill Rosalind's shoes. Eva Mendes is going to take a stab at recreating the role of the husband stealer character, portrayed with thick shade, by Joan Crawford.

I normally don't like remakes, especially when the original was so damn good. I mean can you see All About Eve being redone? Why would someone even attempt to redo perfection? The only thing I'm excited about is that this new version has actresses of color. In the original, the only actress of color, played a maid-like character.

Well, let's see how it goes. I wonder if this remake will even come close to creating these sort of moments:

Aug 26, 2008

My Closing Olympics Games Post


Well, as with most closing Olympic ceremonies, this one went from good to bad. It's traditional for closing ceremonies to go this way. Hey, all the coins were spent on the opening ceremony. I had to turn it off soon after Jackie Chan sang, it became like the Olympics on Tina aka Crystal Meth. It was so high pitched and lacking emotion. I was waiting to see a tweaked out twink. No, the two twinks covered in white body make up do not count.

That London moment was mad lame. We are urban and quirky. We are Mary Poppins with a drug habit. How sad they propped that girl on that rising platform, and didn't give her some wind to move the fabric that just flooped around her. And, then she had to poorly lip-snych to a song she probably heard just days before. Oh, and their representative, he looked like he had a few pints and smelled of kippers and chips. Bullocks!

I was not disappointed with the feats of the athletes. What they do is amazing. Umm, the rhythmic gymnastics was so Cirque du Soleil. You know there were some recruiters from Cirque up in the crowd. Oye, what these woman can do with their body and props. It's a damn shame little gaylings are not encouraged to be a part of that sport. I bet many an 11 year-old gayling saw what these ladies were doing, and said, "Mami, I want to do that." Unfortunately, I bet the innocent gaylings would get slapped and be told, "Boys don't do that."

It still amazes me that the Chinese government is still maintaining the lie about their woman gymnast. Well, good luck with the karma. Ya know what you did. I just hope those young girls don't have to suffer the consequences of the dumb ass adults surrounding them.

I still feel dirty about watching the Olympics that took place in a country that has such a bad human rights record. And, that to create the Olympic village they exploited hundreds of migrant workers, and displaced hundreds of thousands residents. Why, oh why, dear goddess, can't we enjoy the beauty without the ugly. Oh yeah, we need the contrast to remind us of the struggle between the light and the dark.

Aug 24, 2008

My Olympics Games Post - Part 4


Henry Cejudo (that darling young man pictured above) won the gold for the U.S. in the 55Kg wrestling category. This drive to succeed comes from his mother. You see Henry's mother was an illegal immigrant, that worked her ass off to feed and raise her children right. He said he's giving his medal to her.

This year there were 33 athletes that were foreign born, that brought their A game to the olympics. Part of their motivation was to excel in their sport and win gold. I also belive many of these atheletes have a desire to show gratitude, to a country that gave them a second chance for a better life.

You also have immigrants that share their talents to develop amazing athletes. Look at Ling Chow, who is originally from China. He shaped the raw talent of Shawn Johnson, which resulted in her earning a gold medal in balance beam.

Now don't get it twisted, this desire to achieve, and to give back to the country also exists in immigrants that are non-athletes. Their gold is to build a life where they have dignity and independence.

At the closing ceremonies tonight, take a look at the U.S. team once again. Look at the various faces of color that walk under the U.S. flag. Many of these people have seen over recent years a growing anti-immigrant message in American culture. Yet, they choose to represent for the U.S. Perhaps, they believe this country should honor it's creed that is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

So, all you anti-immigrant pendejos, that perputuate the myths, should suck it. When was the last time you did something to inspire a nation? And, remember this, at some point or another your ancestors came here, from somewhere else.

Aug 23, 2008

She Wasn't Even Vetted


So Sen. Obama went with Sen. Biden. Biden is not a horrible choice. I actually think he has the moxy to help Barack put a beat down on the GOP. Biden's pluses and minues will get a hyper-analysis during the next several weeks, so I won't go there.

What I am astonished by is that Hillary wasn't even a contender for riding shotgun to the White House. Maybe she just straight up told Obama "Listen, it was all or nothing for me. I know how to run this, and being first-lady brought up a notch would not work for me. It's not a good fit. Let's just get you in office. And, don't pick Richardson, he wouldn't know loyalty if it bit him in the ass."

My wild imagination offers these possible reasons why some in the Obama camp might have suggested she not be vetted.

- Two alphas don't really mix. Alphas make attempts at meshing, but really what ends up happening is a lot of infighting. Plus, Obama may want that chapter of history all for himself. You know, the one that starts with "First (fill in the blank) President. Folks in politics have ego for days.

- Change is challenging. Major change is scary. Obama and crew are working against racism and the perception that he is not ready for the job. To add the obstacles of misogyny and male-chauvinism would be a tall order. Yeah, I know. It's a chicken-shit reason.

- "Barack, the Clintons have to much political scandal and baggage. I might add our polls show that most people feel they can't see themselves having a beer with her. Now, Biden, hey our polls show people feel they can get shit-faced with him."

Well good people, let's see how it all goes down. Sen. Obama I hope you choosed wisely. So handle yours. I don't want another four years of GOP bullshit.

All Up In Your Business


I was horrified and appalled today. My darling sister Jenny, told me about a website called zabasearch.com. For $50 U.S. dollars this website offers a background check service that can provide the following information about friend, family or foe:

Statewide Criminal Check
Bankruptcies & Liens
Address History
Neighbors
Neighborhood Info
Alias Names
Sex Offender Check
Small Claims & Judgements
Relatives & Associates
Home Value & Details
Satellite & Map Images
Much More...

I have undergone background checks for certain jobs. I work with young people. The big difference is that I consent to that, and what they find out is kept confidential. With this site; however, at anytime, anyone can find out just about anything about me or you.

I have no major skeletons in my closet, and I'm an open book. Hello I blog about my life. What I'm concerned about is how information like the items listed above can be used in negative ways. And,that "much more..." part scares me, because at what point does the invasion of my privacy end.

P.S. Look yourself up. If you dare.

Aug 18, 2008

My Olympics Games Post - Part 3


- I was always impressed with Michael Phelps, yet I said I "done with him" in a previous post. Today I warmed up to Michael as he was interviewed with his mother. I finally got to see the human, behind the superhuman. He was picked on as a kid, raised by a single mom (she's an educator by the way), and was sincerely humble and grounded. As I said in that previous post "enjoy your success Micheal, because you earned it.". It's not his fault NBC's ad nauseam coverage of him, influenced me to think he didn't have a golden heart.

- The men and women on the running track experience grounded flight. Those parallel camera shots show the human body in the most divine and essential form of movement; running like the wind. Oh, they are divine! I want to be next to them and breathe the air they breathe. And, I might add these men and women exude, for me, this energy that makes them so sexy.

- How cool is it that that Dara Torres, at the age of 41, won several medals in swimming. And, that Oksana Chusovitina, age 33, vaulted to s silver medal in gymnastics. To quote Dara "Don't put an age limit on dreams."

- I would have enjoyed the fencing more if they used lightsabers, and dressed up like Jedi Knights. I guarantee you that the popularity of that sport would soar, like an X-wing starfighter leaving an exploding Death Star.

- The Olympic mascots are mad cute (see pic above). There is Beibei the Fish, Jingjing the Panda, Huanhuan the Olympic Flame, Yingying the Tibetan Antelope (I bet she wants to see a free Tibet)and Nini is the Swallow. I want one of each. Uggh, I just thought of the thousand of years they will remain in landfills around the world. Hey, remember that whack mascot of the 1996 Atlanta games Izzy.

Aug 16, 2008

My Love/Hate Moment with IKEA


As I'm looking through the 2009 IKEA catalog, I find myself wanting so much of what I'm seeing. The lovefest ends when I'm revisited by memories of having to assemble the stuff that often comes with instructions that are illustrated sequences. I need words with those pics IKEA. I also recall how a lot of their stuff is made from compressed wood shavings, and what I call almost-metal. Some of their items really don't hold up well. In all fairness, their pricing reflects this reality.

I also get frustrated because I see these images of a "lifestyle" that seems so organized yet chic at the same time. I have yet to master both traits simultaneously. My life is a pattern of moments of one, minus the other. I attribute this to my Pisces nature, and I have an astrological chart to prove it.

My favorite items that I have from IKEA would fall in the accessories category. I enjoy their lamps, cookware, fabrications and bric-a-brac. I guess I follow a dab of IKEA approach when creating my living space.

IKEA is like a Starbucks, but for the home, you're sold this hipster aesthetic. I'm ending my thoughts with appreciation for IKEA. Hey, they do rock when it comes to inspiration for overall decorating and floor planning. As a matter of fact, Marcos is so taking me there tomorrow. Ohhhhh and I can get a couple of bags of the Swedish potato chips. Their chips are yummy.

Aug 15, 2008

My Olympic Games Post - Part 2


Hmmm, I smell scandal coming. Looks like the U.S. Woman's Gymnast coach, Suzanne Yoculan, is not too happy about China possibly placing a couple of underage gymnast into the competition. She went and filed a complaint.

The irony is that when 15 year old Dominique Moceanu was part of the gold winning team in the 1996 Olympics, folks protested she was too young. As a result the IOC changed the minimum age for gymnast competing in the Olympics to 16.

I've read some stuff about the Chinese press reporting two girls from the Chinese team are 13 and 14, about 9 months ago. If this proves to be true, it would of course make these young girls ineligible for these Olympics. And, which would mean the Chinese team is disqualified. Here's where it gets funny the above mentioned articles have disappeared from the Internet or been discredited by Chinese officials that say the ages were not vetted.

Sports be so dirty sometimes. It ranges from "doping" to bureaucratic bullshit. It's so weird that people would want to win dirty. How can you really enjoy the accolades? I guess I'm built differently. I also wonder if Suzanne would have filed her complaint if the U.S. won gold. Let's see how the drama unfolds.

Aug 14, 2008

Animated Activism

Click on Acronym Institute for the full kiki.

Mark Fiore's animated shorts are like candy. Go here NOW! It's like Robot Chicken meets The Boondocks, with a pinch of South Park.

Aug 13, 2008

My Olympic Games Post - Part 1


I had to let it all set in and get comfortable with it. Good people, the Olympics are my late summer fascination. Here are my thoughts on the spectacle.

- The opening ceremonies were at times sublime. This is what you can do when you create a culture that sells a monolithic perception of self. The comrades rocked it. My favorite moment was the dancers painting on the LCD screen. Oh, and it was funny that the drummers in the beginning number, were instructed to smile more, so that they would be less intimidating. The "other" is so scary.

- Eww, Russia attacked Georgia. World Peace! What a concept.

- Bob Costas is a sawed-off little piece of shit. I am starting a petition to ban him from being a part of the broadcast in future Olympics. He totally lacks the worldly charisma to be part of such a global happening. I imagine when he travels abroad he goes to McDonald's for his meals. Ewww, such an ugly American.

- I'm done with Michael Phelps. Good on you, well done, you are naturally gifted. Enjoy your success Micheal, because you earned it; however, I don't need to keep hearing about you collecting more medals. I want to hear more stories about athletes that had to overcome the most unimaginable in order to be part of the games. Phelps story doesn't inspire me, it makes me feel amazing is for those genetically gifted. What a fascists concept.

- Would NBC and America be so obsessed with the gold medal count, if America was not able to win so many gold medals? I think not! I Once again the "haves" define the value system. Aint it interesting to hear the haves say shit like "Oh, this country has never won a medal in this event." How that statement reveals their hypocrisy. You see good people, they don't make such a fuss about medals when their people are not winning them. What they do instead is focus on the "struggle," and how that has honor.

- Wow, oh wow what these gymnast are able to do. It is magical.

- Male gymnast are arrogant pigs. I guess their arrogance is attributed to them being of short stature. Hey, even geeks with six-pack abs have issues.

- Fuck! I should have taken ping-pong serious when I was a kid.

I'll continue my take in future post. I need to go to bed as the Olympic torch lights the night sky.

Aug 7, 2008

Thoughts About My "Partnered" Life

I've been enjoying the going-ons over at Juice With Junior. Junior poked a little fun at the folks getting married tomorrow because the date will be 8/8/08. People love gimmicky things, even when it comes to so-called sacred moments. I was raised catholic. I have proof. Moving on.

In the Comments section Junior and Ermine have engaged in a discussion about their take on marriage. I was struck about how some parts of the discussion, focused on the belief that one should sow their wild oats, before making a commitment to your one true love. I wonder for myself if that really holds water. I think not.

Yes, you can sow your wild oats. But, some new oats start to sprout up. The idea that one is finally, and truly ready for a long-term committed relationship, is really asking A LOT of an evolving human being. Wouldn't it be realistic to focus on giving to that other your love and, leaving room for that love to express itself in new ways.

As many of you know, Marcos and I just made 18 years together in May. During this time we had separated for 3 years and rekindled our partnered life in 2005. What has always remained a constant is that we are family. The love, commitment and support we have for each other never ended. The feelings and energy of love we share for each other evolves, because it has to. We decided to leave room for the new oats.

Why you may ask do we leave room for the sprouting. Well, we are by no means the same exact people we were 18 years ago. Sounds cliche? No, think about it. Think about how your experiences and the people that come in and out of your life, bring out an awareness within you that changes some of the deepest parts of you. These changes come with being human. Yes, of course there are elements of your essence that are tethered to your soul, and may never change. But, you do change over the years.

This flux that comes with being a human, challenges the life one creates when they are partnered with someone. The permanence of personal change can create, within a relationship; moments of excitement, creativity and new connections. I love when we find something new about each other. The flip side is that it can also create moments of insecurity, confusion, and fear. I hate when I doubt that he will still love me tomorrow. We work at not going to battlestations when things don't go according to plan. What we go back to is what we mean to each other and how that commitment is our blessing.

Marcos and I found beauty during a very ugly time. We met in 1990. During this time many of our friends and acquaintances were dying from AIDS related illnesses. It seemed like the world was eding. We found each other in this madness, and put a lot of the bullshit aside and decided to try and create a life that looked to a future. How dare we!

I'm happy to say we are still pretty fearless. We've agreed to question certain social constructions about relationships, and are rebuilding on our own terms. We also challenge social policies that place us in a second class status, both legally and culturally. We are going for our own individual dreams and telling each other "Get yours papito, you know I got your back."


A Classic Video Moment

Aug 6, 2008

Will You Run With Me?


Like most of you I'm eager to see the running mates for Obama and McCain. I was curious about the impact the choice of running mate has on the outcome of a presidential election. So, I went to factcheck.org to see what they had to say. Here it is.

Q: Historically, have vice presidential candidates really helped win states in the general election?

A: Presidential nominees don't pick their running mates based on this strategy as often as one might think. Even when they do, the results are decidedly mixed.

Click here for the full story.

Aug 5, 2008

A Hard Pill To Swallow

See more Adam "Ghost Panther" McKay videos at Funny or Die

Avoid operating heavy machinery or critical thinking, while under the influence of Republican Party. May also cause hypocritical behavior.

Thanks again, Senor Go Go for the hook up.

Aug 3, 2008

10 Skills You Need To Succeed

Wannabe a fierce, fat cat like me?

I know, I know, I have a thing for lists and especially top 10 lists. Hey, I figure it provides food for thought. This one focuses on the "10 skills you need to succeed at almost anything". Take a look and see if you can incorporate some of these ideas in carrying out your master plan. Remember, use your powers for good, there's enough evil in the world.

1. Public Speaking - People who are effective speakers come across as more comfortable with themselves, more confident, and more attractive to be around.

2, Writing - Learning to write well involves not just mastery of grammar but the development of the ability to organize one’s thoughts into a coherent form and target it to an audience in the most effective way possible.

3. Self-Management - Strong organizational skills, effective productivity habits, and a strong sense of discipline are needed to keep yourself on track.

4. Networking - In an economy dominated by ideas and innovation, networking creates the channel through which ideas flow and in which new ideas are created.

5. Critical Thinking - Being able to evaluate that information, sort the potentially valuable from the trivial, analyze its relevance and meaning, and relate it to other information is crucial – and woefully under-taught.

6. Decision-Making - Being able to take in the scene and respond quickly and effectively is what separates the doers from the wannabes.

7. Math - the ability to quickly work with figures in your head, to make rough but fairly accurate estimates, and to understand things like compound interest and basic statistics gives you a big lead on most people.

8. Research - You don’t have to know everything – but you should be able to quickly and painlessly find out what you need to know.

9. Relaxation - Stress will not only kill you, it leads to poor decision-making, poor thinking, and poor socialization. So be failing to relax, you knock out at least three of the skills in this list – and really more.

10. Basic Accounting - Knowing how to track and record your expenses and income is important just to survive, let alone to thrive.

I feel number ten is sorta a repeat of number seven, so I offer this as an alternative.

10a. Instincts - Good people, you know I tell you all the time to trust your gut. Listen to that "good" voice in your head. I think a lot of people underestimate their instincts, and often let the head have complete rule over their lives. Don't forget to also let your heart and spirit have their say.

Click here for the full article.

Aug 2, 2008

What You Did vs. Who You Are



Hmm, not sure if I would compartmentalize the two. It is an interesting approach. Check it out and discuss with your good people.

Aug 1, 2008

Look For The Union Label

I know some would say Unions have ruined certain industries and create lazy workers. Well, life without Unions can also create workplaces where employees are being intimidated, a la the Wal-Mart version described below, and/or exploited. What Unions can also create is an environment where both sides of the table negotiate an agreement that strives to meet the needs of both sides of the table.

"The Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800, S. 1041), supported by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, would enable working people to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions by restoring workers’ freedom to choose for themselves whether to join a union."

"Wal-Mart has been holding meetings with employees, about the Employee Free Choice Act. A report in The Wall Street Journal said the Bentonville, Ark.-based discounter - which has rigorously resisted being unionized - had held mandatory meetings with store managers and department supervisors in recent weeks to warn that if Democrats take power in November, they would likely push through the bill, which the company says would hurt workers." Click here for the full story.

I've been a Union member several times over my working career, and will be once again when I become a teacher. I feel Unions are essential. Why? Well, I find the only way to insure worker's rights, safety and living wages requires a Union with integrity to negotiate a fair deal. I don't trust the pigs at the trough to give workers their earned fair share.