And A Partridge In A Pear Tree

So, since I know most of us have not experienced a Puerto Rican Christmas, I have decided to shed a little light on how my family celebrates our the holiday. First off, I need to give some background. My mother is one of sixteen children, and no that is not a typo. There are ten girls and six boys. Through the years, they have produced thirty-five children, ranging in ages 36 to one year old. If you can do the math, this makes for one hell of a big family, and I would have it no other way. While my family resides in Illinois, the majority of the extended family lives in northwest Indiana, namely Gary. Now, most people shudder when I mention my roots in Gary, but I have a lot of great memories that originate in Gary, so please refrain from making any snide comments. While Gary may not be Beverly Hills, it is the backdrop of my family's history, and has made a lot of strides since it's troubles from the late 80's.

Anyways, as a tradition, my family always congregates at my grandparents home in Gary on Christmas Eve. This includes aunts, uncles and cousins of several different generations. Everyone gathers to enjoy the finest of Puerto Rican cuisine and open gifts at midnight with the arrival of Santos Claus. The food is always second to none, and everyone looks forward to feasting on special items that are only made for major holidays or events. No other food is more cherished than the delicacy of pasteles. This item is very hard to describe, but I will do my best. I would compare it to a sort of Puerto Rican tamale. The filling is primarily pork and potatoes, encased in a batter that uses plantains for the base. Pasteles are very labor intensive, but well worth the effort, and this year's batch was especially excellent. The spread is always enticing and I love every minute that I get to stuff myself with special holiday eats.

Now, most of the present opening is reserved for the younger kids, but it is still quite the spectacle.I mentioned the fact that I have over thirty cousins, and I am number nine in the pecking order. The wide range of ages between cousins has definitely kept things fresh and led to groupings by age. Since I am from an earlier generation, I don't really participate in the ritual midnight opening of the presents, which is fine by me. This year, it was really great seeing all of my younger cousins wriggle with anticipation, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. The sheer madness that ensued was fun to watch and reminded of some great memories of from my youth. There is nothing like seeing the joy on the kids faces when they finally open the gift that they have been waiting for. I all of my 27 years, I have only missed on Christmas Eve, and that was last year for the Bears/Lions game. Even though the game was a great time, I truly missed being around my family on that special night.

Overall, this is an event that I look forward to every year. I know this post went up a little late, but I hope that everyone gets to enjoy a Christmas experience like mine, because it is truly special. Bah Humbug.

Please Hester Don't Hurt 'Em

It is now time to sing the praises of one Devin Hester. I don't know if I can use enough superlatives to describe the man, but I will try to pay him the respect that he deserves. Us Bears fans knew we had something special after last year, but who knew that he would continue this unbelievable streak that he is on. The NFL has never, I repeat never seen a return talent the likes of Mr. Hester. He is rewriting the record book for returns right in front of our eyes while special teams coaches around the league are scrambling to come up with ways to stop him.

For the perfect example of this, let's look back to the game against Denver from Week 11. Some might argue that Mike Shanahan had no business kicking to Hester, but the Broncos bristled at this idea. I can't say I don't completely disagree with Shanahan, but of course, I want every team to kick to Hester. NFL players are paid professionals whose job is to play a game for a living at the highest possible level. Since the Broncos actually kicked to Hester, he was able to hurt them, positioning the Bears for their improbable win. We should also give credit to Bears special teams coach Dave Toub for dropping four men back into coverage during one particular punt, which forced Denver to take a timeout. Toub threw in an exotic look that confused the opposing coaches, and took advantage of the automatic threat that Hester poses. The game was fun to watch for every Bears fan out there and will be one that I remember for a long time.

Considering that this has been a lost season for the Bears, the highlight reel that Hester has provided us lowly fans has been greatly appreciated. Whoever can catch the pop culture reference in the title of this posting will receive gold star*.

*No gold star will actually be awarded.

Another Blow To Privacy Rights

Unfortunately this is another case of the erosion of civil rights that has hastened during the last several years. Beginning with the Patriot Act, rights to privacy have diminished while unlawful searches seem to be on the rise. This is particularly the case with the Project 100% Law that is enforced in San Diego.

Project 100% is a law that allows for the searching of welfare recipients homes in San Diego County without their permission. If the recipient denies the search of their homes, their welfare rights will be rescinded. This law has been enforced in San Diego for the last ten years and is working under the guise that it will help thwart fraud in welfare cases. Here are a couple of articles on the court proceedings. One is from the Associated Press and the other is from North County Times of Northern California.

I find this law to be wholly unacceptable for the rights of private citizens. Welfare fraud is a problem that needs to be eliminated, but conducting searches without permission is a direct slap in the face to to the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Bureaucrats in defense of this law claim that it does not qualify as an illegal search because it is voluntary and the person still has the right to refuse the search, even though they will still lose their welfare rights.

The Supreme Court has chosen not to hear this case, which in essence, secures it's power in the eyes of the law. The last ruling that upheld this law occurred in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which services the West Coast, much to the chagrin of the judges in the minority of the decision. While some people do nothing but bemoan the status of the welfare system, there is no doubt that it serves a specific function in our society. Welfare fraud is a problem, illegal searching is not the answer.

This op-ed piece from the NY Times does a nice job of explaining what I could not and also reinforces my opinion. While some may consider this to be only to be a problem for the poor, it sets a dangerous precedent for future laws that may blur the line between what is considered to be a voluntary or involuntary search. The Supreme Court is making a dire mistake by refusing the hear this case and I can only hope that there will be another way to attack this law from being enforced.

Please Issue Restraint When Responding

I am all about free speech, but this does not give us the right to be offensive. This blog is about the right to express opinions, lord knows I do, but please try not to make sweeping references to people that may be strictly offensive in nature. References to hate groups and things of that nature will not be tolerated and the comments will be deleted if I deem them to be resentful or mean spirited. Once again, this is a forum for expressing opinions, but please do so in a respectful nature.

Greatest Holiday Movies Ever

Here are the greatest holiday movies ever. I was going to only list five, but I thought of one extra that I had to put on. Numbers 2-6 can be interchanged, but number 1 is number 1. I am open to suggestions.

1. Trading Places- This is the single greatest holiday movie ever made. Some people object to the fact that is a holiday movie, but I will once again point out that it takes place during the holiday season, specifically New Year's. On top of that, Louis dresses as Santa during a pivotal scene. Anyways, this movie is solid gold and should be owned by every single red-blooded American citizen. Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd are at the top of their games and are able to take full advantage of the 80's style comedy that can no longer be made. Here are some quotes that deserve to be listed: "My code name was Agent Orange."

"Can I help you officers?"
"Is there a lawyer in the house?"
"You do that, a quart of blood will fall out of a person's body."
"It ain't cool being no Jive Turkey so close to Thanksgiving."
"Yeah!"
"Hey, Morty! What it is?"
"Randy? Is that like Randy Jackson from the Jackson 5?"
"Y'all ain't gonna jacuzzi nobody?"
"Lionel!!"
"Swedish meatballs? But your wearing lederhosen."
"Looking good Billy Ray."
"Feeling good Louis."

There are plenty others, but they are rated R, so I won't list them. Regardless, everyone should see this movie.

2. The Ref- This one may be little known, but it stars Dennis Leary and Kevin Spacey. It's about a dysfunctional family that learns the value of the holidays during a burglary gone awry. Now this is admittedly on the dark side of comedy, but it has a good message while delivering some delightfully dirty jokes.

3. Scrooged- This is an ingenious take on the classic Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Bill Murray plays the role of Scrooge in a way that no one else can. His hysterical version is wonderfully cold and bitter, with nice supporting roles played by Buster Poindexter and Carol Kane.

4. Die Hard- Even though I am partial to third installment of this series, number one is the best of the Christmas themed entries. How can you deny the introduction of John McClane to pop culture history. On top of that, this movie features one of the all-time great movie villains, Hans Gruber, played with brilliance by Alan Rickman.

5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation- This may not equal the first Vacation, but it is damn funny. From Clark stringing the lights, to Cousin Eddie loading up three bags of Ol ' Roy onto the shopping cart Clark extends the offer to pick up the tab on a few extra groceries. This is perhaps all topped by scene of the family chasing the squirrel. Classic.

6. Love Actually- This will probably shock most of you, but this is a damn fine movie. From the hysterical take on the classic "Love is All Around," to the all star cast (Hugh Grant, Keira Knightly, Billy Bob Thornton, Liam Neeson and Colin Firth to name a few) this movie is great to watch with a special someone to warm up the heart.

Generally Warned

Okay, I will finally tackle the idea of water boarding which was at the forefront of the Michael Mukasey confirmation hearing as the new Attorney General. Actually, before I get on to that, let's take a moment to remember the tenure of one Alberto Gonzales. Not that we needed another example of the poor decisions our current administration has made, but the Gonzales appointment was a mistake from the beginning. Gonzales' ties to the President, he was his own personal council, were much too close. This is not entirely the fault of the President because his "advisers" should have clued him in on the potential for personal conflict about to enter the fray of what is already a difficult job. Anyways, Gonzales made his own bed in the end by firing those federal attorneys and paid the ultimate price by offering his resignation while under fire from both major political parties. In order to combat accusations of being overly liberal, I will link this article from Foxnews about the Justice Department's investigation of Gonzales' testimony to Congress that has drawn such negative attention. In my opinion, the reaction of the Congress and both parties is completely warranted. Here is a nice little summation of how I felt from www.salon.com.

Now, on to Mr. Mukasey. While he is less biased than Gonzales, the thing that troubles me is the debate about how to handle accusations that U.S. interrogators use the waterboarding method of torture when coercing information out of detainees. For those of us that are not familiar with the concept of waterboarding, it is a torture method that tricks prisoners into thinking they are drowning. The detainees are fastened to a board, tipped to an angle that positions their feet about their head and then a hood is put over their faces. After positioning and dressing the victim, water is poured over their heads until there lungs are filled with water. The fact that their heads are covered psychologically tricks the brain into believing that the person in drowning. I don't know about most people, but I consider this to be cruel and unusual punishment, which was a sticking point in the appointment of Mukasey.

Mr. Mukasey refused to label waterboarding as a method of cruel and unusual punishment, which has drawn the ire of both liberals and conservatives. While Mukasey might be slightly more fair and impartial than Gonzales or his predecessor John Ashcroft, another Bush stalwart, he must insist on a resolution that prohibits any U.S. interrogators from waterboarding detainees. It is wholly hypocritical for us as a nation to stand behind this method as an acceptable method of attaining information. If we stand against torture, we need to see this hideous act for what it is. Perhaps if the current administration needs to be convinced, they should take the advice of none other than author Stephen King suggests. During a recent Time magazine, King suggests that in order for the administration to effectively gage if waterboarding is cruel or not, they should test it on someone close to Mr. Bush. Specifically, King suggested Jenna Bush.

This entry on the Huffington Post by Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Rep. William D. Delahunt details their effort to pass new anti-torture legislature. The important thing that should be outlined is the fact that America as a nation prides itself on freedom and equal treatment, which is not evident if we continue to allow this vicious method of torture.

Now, On to the Jive Turkeys

So, I gave you the things that I am thankful for, now onto the things that I consider to be jive.

• The veto of the SCHIP program. I don't have enough time to go into all of it, but I think our administration needs to get their act together to ensure that our youth is protected from our failing health care system.
• The housing crisis. I am truly scared about the impact that this will have on the economy, but only time will tell.
• The unnecessary resurgence of heinous hate crimes. The unfortunate situation playing out in Jena, La. has given rise to several copycat incidents involving nooses and race based acts of hate that have no place in our society. Perhaps this says more about our perceived progress as a nation that I would like to believe.
• The white sox 2005 World Series championship. I am well aware that it was two years ago, but the so-called fans of this organization have been so unbearable that I had to list this them.
• Oprah Winfrey. Explaining this choice would take too long, so call me and ask me if you are really interested.
• Bad music. For some reason, most music that is being produced today is just total rubbish. I'm not sure what happened to good old rock 'n roll, but for every decent act that comes about, like the Arcade Fire, there seems to be twenty nicklebacks.
• Grey's Anatomy. I will never understand how a show that based it's early success on the breakup of a marriage came to be so successful.
  
• Traffic. I thought I was going to go crazy during my commute during student teaching. However, I persevered and lived to tell about it.
• Forcing stupid promotions upon my guests at Chili's. I am all about making extra cash, but I hate bombarding my unsuspecting guests with so-called deal after deal.

Well, that's it for my little rant. Please feel free to respond about things that you are thankful for, and those that you are not.

It Ain't Cool Being No Jive Turkey So Close To Thanksgiving

Hello, I am back. Sorry about the delay, but two jobs have been keeping a brother busy these days. I hope that does not sound like a complaint, because I LOVE my job at HC. It has probably been the most rewarding thing I have ever done, and I can only hope my students understand how important the are to me. I guess that is the first thing that I am thankful for in what has been a truly wonderful year for me.

I have so many things to be thankful for this year, I am not sure I will be able to think of them all. Of course number one is my little Marilyn. Although we all know that I have a strange way of showing affection, or not showing it as some would argue, I am pretty sure you all know how much I care for her. I know that everyone wants to see us finally tie the knot, but rest assured that it will happen sooner rather than later. Even when it seems like the world is against us, I know I can count on her to make me smile.Anyways, everyday that we wake up together is a good one, so for that I am thankful.

Next on the list would have to be my family. I am thankful for their constant support and always putting up with my complaints and whining, just like Mar. Now, I will argue that my definition of whining is different than theirs, but that is a debate for another day.

Now, on to the people I refer to as friends. I am not sure what I did to deserve such a great group of comrades, but I could not dream of running with another crew. Not a day goes by that I wonder how I became so lucky to have so many close friends that I care about dearly.

In order to not make this too long, I will now write a list with a short description of why I am thankful this year:

• Student Teaching- What an eye opening experience. Working in Chicago was a total revelation. I loved my students and do not have the time to explain the whole situation (perhaps I will revisit this topic in a future post). Although my heart was constantly broken, this opportunity opened my eyes to situations that I have never experienced an made me a better person.
  
• Graduation- This goes without saying. It was a long time coming, but totally worth the effort. We had a great time in Bloomington/Normal, despite my early grievances, and miss it more with each passing day.
• New Jobs- Let me say that I LOVE my new job. And by love I mean I cannot imagine enjoying anything more than my current gig. I have great coworkers and my students are truly an inspiration. The genuine appreciation that I see in my students faces makes even this young curmudgeon smile. I would rather do nothing else.
• My New Coworkers- This goes hand in hand with my previous item, but I work with truly wonderful people. They have pushed me to do my best and I hope that I am meeting the challenge. I learn more and more everyday and hope to continue learning from these great teachers.
  
• Wrigley, Gracie & Murphy- I don't care how much you gutless dog supporters try to talk me into getting a mongrel, I will always be a cat person. These three little rays of sunshine give me unconditional love, which is not always the easiest thing.
  
• The Chicago Cubs Playoff Run- This was a great year, even if they constantly gave me anxiety attacks while watching the games. That gem against the Reds on Sept. 17 was unbelievable. It was one of the top five games that I have ever been to, which is saying quite a bit. To think we almost left the game early so I could get home and beat the traffic. When Aramis hit that triple in the bottom of the ninth, Wrigley was up for grabs and I was in ecstasy.
• Battlestar Galactica- Go ahead and make fun of me, but everyone NEEDS to start watching this show. It is beyond excellent and will appeal to you even if you are not a fan of sci-fi.
• Nintendo Wii- Ever since I froze my ass waiting in line for this ingenious piece of technology to come out, I have been having a blast. It has brought me many nights of fun and provided great fun for me and my friends.
• Notre Dames Football Record- For no other reason than providing me ammo to rib a certain Orlando native.
• Children of Men/Pan's Labyrinth- This combo of films made by Mexican directors were wonders to behold. The dystopian future that Children painted was jarring and great to watch. It's testimony about today's society and the immigration issues that face us was quite daunting, and regrettably, not to far fetched. On the hand, Pan's was a beautiful fantasy about escaping the horrors of war. I have never experienced war first hand, but this movie showed how the terror of war can impact a young person who uses her mind to get way from her horrible reality. Both movies are must sees and I highly recommend them.
• Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury- I may be a little late to catch this train, but it was a hell of a ride. Like Children of Men, this superb novel paints a scary future that could one day be reality. I am not saying that we will soon be burning all of our books, but the idea that we are facing a world of censorship and mindlessness is a distinct possibility.
• Devin Hester- Boy has he provided us lowly Bears fans with a spark of hope. His returns are amazing, and I can only hope his legs will take us to the playoffs.

Well, that's about it. Thanks for hearing me out and I hope that you have reasons to be thankful during this holiday season. Now, I will return to the black hearted, lump of coal, thin skinned, callous, sarcastic, intelligent smart ass that you all have come to know and love.

Hungry Like The Wolf

This is a follow up to the first entry on Jonathan Kozol. As I mentioned, he is a noted teacher and author that has been studying the inequalities in our educational system for the better part of the last forty years. Well, Mr. Kozol is on a personal crusade against the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that was signed into law by the Bush administration in 2002. NCLB has been a sore spot for many an educator, and Mr. Kozol is no exception. Mr. Kozol decided to show his lack of support to NCLB by fasting beginning at the end of last summer, and here is his account of why he is doing it.

Our Man Griese

I just wanted to take a little time to recognize Bears quarterback Brian Griese for being honored as NFC Offensive Player of the Week. I know that I would have never guessed that he would have achieved this after a mere four weeks as the starting quarterback, but low and behold, here we are. We have the Lions this week, which should be a good thing. But, who knows after the debacle in week four when we gave up an NFL record 34 fourth quarter points to blow what should have been a win. Anyways, things at Halas Hall are looking up after beating Philly last week, so let's hope we can make to to .5oo by the midpoint of the season in order to make a strong push toward the playoffs.

I Pledge Allegiance...

After discussing the moment of silence issue with several people, they asked me my opinion on the Pledge of Allegiance in regards to it's constitutionally and if I support it. Well, there is not a simple answer to this question. I will start by saying that I am all for flag recognition, but I do not think that "under God" should be included in this salute. The inclusion of "under God" has an interesting history, as pointed out is this column written for Slate by noted Rutgers University historian David Greenberg. I have always found it interesting that something so revered as the pledge has so much history behind it that is routinely ignored. Personally, I wonder how many conservatives that support the inclusion of "under God" know that the Pledge was written by socialist?

The issue of the constitutionality of the Pledge has been brought to the Supreme Court in the last decade through a notable case from California. The Court ruled 8-0 in favor of the Pledge, but keep in mind that this was a technicality regarding the custody of the student in question. This led deceased Chief Justice William Rehnquist to suggest that the constitutionality of the law be examined in a case that did not mix custody with the rights of the student. I personally find constitutional law to be fascinating, so I apologize if the link to the actual ruling is a cumbersome read. This issue will undoubtedly rear it's head in the future, so I hope this brief background has helped to shed a little light on the subject.

Savage Inequalites

One of my responsibilities during my preparation for becoming an educator was to familiarize myself with the work of Jonathan Kozol, a noted teacher and champion for students that face the injustices of our public school system. I have always felt compelled to pass his message on to others, so I will do so now. Here is an interview, conducted in 1993 for an issue of Educational Leadership, that explains the basics of his theory. Some of the information is a little dated, but the his basic arguments are still plausible. Mr. Kozol brings up very valid points, and after experiencing inner city schools vs. suburban schools, I still believe the gap in education is a plague upon our school system. Not everyone is aware of how the rampant damage of the class system is effecting American education, so please take a moment to give it some thought as we consider how school reforms can effect our students. I am currently reading a text by Kozol called Shame of a Nation and will write a review once I am finished.

There Is Nothing Worse Than Weak Coffee

First, I would like to start off by admitting that I have unfortunately become a drone that needs a cup of coffee in the morning to jump start my day at work. I never really thought that I would become a regular coffee drinker, but I'll be damned if the stuff doesn't help me shake the cobwebs in the morning. I have come to prefer a darker Colombian roast that is potent without being bitter. Marilyn will use this opportunity to call me a coffee snob, but I likes what I likes. Don't forget that I used to be a barista and have acquired a taste for something that is smooth and tasty, not burnt or watered down. That being said, while proctoring an ACT exam, I was provided with horribly weak coffee that should be illegal. I didn't go to Starbucks because I figured someone would be able to brew a pot with competence, but sadly, I was mistaken. What exactly is the point of brewing a pot if it is going to be weak and not provide the jolt that some of us expect and desire? Is this too much for a brother to ask?

Now THAT Was A Finale

For those of us that were keeping up with the stellar series Damages on F/X this summer, we were greatly rewarded with a fantastic finish to the season. Spoilers Ahead!!!!

Frobisher getting shot! Patty arranging Ellen's death! The amount of the settlement! This was all a total shock for me. I was blindsided at every twist and turn as we finally got the answers we were looking for, while being kept on the hook for next season, if there is one. The performances by Glen Close (how creepy was it when she was crying at the grave and her eyes appeared to be black?) and Ted Danson stole the show all season, and did not disappoint in this episode. Who would have thought that our buddy Sam Malone could have such an evil streak in him.

Now even though I'm sure not all lawyers are this diabolical as Hewes & Associates were, I do wonder what lengths some law firms go to in order to exonerate their clients. This all being said, I really enjoyed the run of this program. I was not sure what to expect, but the great cast and suspenseful plot kept me guessing the whole time. F/X might be the most consistent network when it comes to airing outstanding adult dramas that push the envelope and keeps the viewers asking for more. Let's just hope that the head honchos are wise enough to bring this show back for a well deserved second series.

Do the Evolution

Well, another week has passed and I apologize for my lack of activity. Now that we are back, I would like to ponder the idea of evolution. This little diddy comes from BBC News and it quite interesting. Evolution has been a hot topic for me since I just read Inherit the Wind, which I highly recommend (I will post on my favorite quote from this play soon). In addition to this, a pal at work blew my mind when explaining his beliefs on creationism. This coworker explained that they believed that the Earth was no more then ten thousand years old. Naturally, I was shocked by this revelation, so I posed a question about the existence of dinosaurs. The coworker responded that said dinosaurs were on Noah's ark. This was the moment that my mind was blown. However, this person is wholly entitled to his opinion, and I completely respect the dedication that this individual shows toward their beliefs.

Now, on to the article that I have linked. Looks like I'm in some trouble. While I am probably closer to the coffee colored skin tone than some, due to my height, I think I'm on my way to being mayor of Goblinville. Well, I hoped this will give us all a laugh in the name of science, and good luck to those of us who will become giants and eventually have 120 year life expectancies.