Obama and Calderon, a meeting that should of taken place long ago...

Where do I start with this one, its simple. This Wednesday morning Mexican president Felipe Calderon landed in American soil to protest the anti immigration law set in power by Arizona's Governor, Jan Brewer. For those who are not familiar with the new anti immigration law SB- 1070 it gives the police force a new power to their tittle. They are now allowed to question anyone that "looks suspicious" of being an illegal alien in the state of Arizona. In shorter words if, one is pulled over for a simple traffic violation and they seem to fit the profile of an illegal immigrant " a Mexican" they are in a limbo of proving their residency or face being deported. For some this law seems to be an answer to a very hard issue of border control, but to me and to what seems most of California and the United States,

(Note I do not have the personal insight of all California or the US so not an accurate statement)

it seems to be a violation of human and constitutional rights. States are not allowed to act as government officials dealing with immigration. So back to subject Mexican president Calderon and Obama meet this morning to talk about all important issues dealing with immigration, drug policy, and the future of both major countries in this era. To me this meeting is nothing more than an act of kindness expressed by president Obama, for years the Mexican population has fought for immigration reform. Everything from big rallies, political acceptance and you name it it probably has taken place. I believe that yes immigration reform is in the air, but until we as a population can look at ourselves and actually put these thoughts into action then nothing is being done. To me president Calderon means nothing more than anyone else, he has promised change and hope to a very uncertain country as Mexico. He was voted in the office because he represented change in the political world that Mexico seemed ready for. Well so did Fox, both coming from the PAN( National Action Party) party but we all viewed what happened with that. My final view on this topic. There will not be any change in Mexican politics if new ideas and actions are neglected. The people will not be migrating north if the government was a legitimate one with new political ideas, and action. Until that takes place, or until someone has the drive and dream to demand a change then there will be no stop to illegal immigration. President Calderon and President Obama are in the right path, but that path is covered with dead ends, and coultersacks. One day one day there will be legitimate change and I sure hope that day comes sooner than later. Oh and its Malcom X's birthday today, another great mind that had positive change.

A thought that has been swimming in my head too...


Change is not change until you can taste it, and dream it once again, because change is never ending its always evolving.

Women

Women,

I am surrounded by them right now, at the coffee shop, there are a total of 5. Missy,the girl that tried to get my attention one day at the bar, never went anywhere further than that. Sara the tall barrista who always has my cappuccinos ready for me before I ask for one. Mary, the quiet one, we spoke once and i got to see her not so quiet side, it was nice. Their friend, talking to her significant other or friend, but keeps looking at me, I believe its because I am reading esquire magazine. and Sara the artist; hanging up her art work while i write this blog she says she knows me from somewhere, but I don't recall. From the past 21 years I have learned my fair amount of how women are, how they interact. I was raised by a very strong woman, she never gave me no as an answer, she showed me how to be kind when the moment arrived and how to be harsh when the situation called for such treatment. She taught me how to treat a woman, how to be a gentleman. She has been there to pick me up from relationships that have failed and given me hope for the ones that came forth. She has been my best supporter and my worst enemy. Shes Mom. This month Esquire released a special issue on Women, more like a man's guide to woman "how to make them happy, how to told them, how to dance with them, understand their strange words, fix them when they break," All I can say about the issue is pure brilliance. Women are a study in college every young man should take. They are as complex as advanced physics and yet simple as a ray of light. the best lines from this edition in my eyes. I have learned a couple of good facts from the women I have dated, they have left a little of themselves within me and my day to day changes. And for that I am thankful, for you are the Missing piece to my puzzle.

"You'll still catch yourself wondering what your life would of have been like with him log after we've forgotten about her"
"You'll miss us when were gone, but not as much as we would miss you"

and if its true of what you say about drinking scotch well then i like to believe that I am on the right track...

EARTH DAY

So This has been an exciting past weekend. As we all know or I hope we all were aware of but this past April 20th was the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Hopefully everyone made their impact on this place we call our home by cleaning up a beach, recycling more, walking or using public transportation to work. Or just simply enjoying the simple things that makes earth unique. I actually went to clean up the beach and spend time with some classmates that feel the same way about something as important as this, yes we are all hippies someway some how. The HMB save the waves, surf rider organization organized a beach clean up for St. Francis beach, it was beautiful to see everyone take some time from their hectic schedule to come and clean up something we take for granted. In total we were able to clean up 144 pounds of garbage which is incredible because we were only targeting a zone of 10 miles. Just imagine is we would of expanded even more!! Overall amazing experience, cant wait till the next one. And remember, Earth Day is not only on April 20th, but everyday!!

Peace and love.

Book Review : Eureka Street

"All stories are love stories"

That's the way the book begins. A simple quote, a simple idea, but with a complex understatement. I finished this novel i would say a month ago, but with all the things that been going on, School, work, chiropractor visits, Ive been neglecting my blog. There's a good story to how I came upon this novel. I remember it was a Sunday morning, I was working the bar, and knew I had to pick up limes from the country store. I took my walk down Main street and I would always pass by the local book store, I never really paid much attention to the window display, but this day something jumped at the. The cover was enticing two men looking like they were friends for a long time, one smoking a cigarette and the other looking like what I was wearing at the moment white button up shirt, with a slim tie. That drew me in. I finished my shift that day and went to the beach where i first opened the novel. "All stories are love stories," The book in a nutshell; Set in Belfast, Eureka Streettakes us inside the lives of two unlikely friends--Chuckie, a Protestant, and Jake, a Catholic--as they try to carve out lives for themselves in the war-zone that they call home.
The story revolves around the woman we have and the woman we could of had. Chuckie tantalized by the full of life American woman Max, and Jake suffering from the lost love of Sarah the American that wanted nothing more than marriage but Jake not acting fast enough to realize his wanting for nothing else. In a way i viewed myself within these two unlikely characters with the fact of love and loss. One always wants the best in a woman, not realizing that its a two part dance, and growth as a group not an individual. Through out the story Jake starts a metamorphosis of growth, of individualism, he discovers what true love means. He finally sees that one cannot grow and be in a relationship with out finding out ones self. Something that I have also experienced. Over all an Amazing book I recommend it to all guys out there trying to find some balance in their journey of self discovery.

" I'd had an unhappy childhood. My folks had fucked me about in complicated and uncomplicated ways. A poor boy's childhood is thought to be a bad thing. Its supposed to make you sad. I just think having that childhood of mine ever really made me sad. I just think it made me fall in love with girls all the time."

Its a keeper!

Order Up

So its been a while since I've written, written anything really.
Things are the same, changes here and there but what is life with out some changes right?
So coming back to topic here I fractured my butt bone and overextended my lateral hip nerve witch means no surfing for a month and a half and a lot of yoga to get back into shape. This leaves me with plenty of thoughts of what to do with myself, The ocean is my second home and not being able to replenish my addiction is intense. What to do what to do with my self now....

here's a list of things I'll plan on doing while this fish is out of water.


Finish my book Eureka Street

Find a new book once I am done with this one.

Study a lot more for the upcoming months.

Write more in my blog.

Yoga.

Create more eccentric cocktails, with all organic produce.

Plan a week long mini vacation for spring break or summer.

Look for the Benicio Del Torro movie where he plays Che.

Write more poetry.

Discover what it means to be a 21 year old ... because I feel like a 30 year old most of my days.

Visit this coffee shop more often like before.

Visit Yosemite and clime half dome once again.

Go fishing.

Go visit Jaime.

Find a way to move Mexico to a new level of middle class, and create a way to getting rid of oligarchy's and lateral social inequalities.

Save up money for the Outside lands concert, only if they have a good line up.

So maybe not being able to surf wont be so bad, well at least i hope so

Que te Pasa Boludos!

Hello To all, hopefully we are having a good day today. I am having a great day at the moment, but while reading the Economist and watching some of the highlights in Latin American news I have a repulsive taste in my mouth when thinking of what world leaders, think is rescuing there continent means. During the third week of February Mexico City was epicenter of the new movement towards uniting Latin America with out the presence of the United States or Canada.
It sounds like a groundbreaking idea and thought we are striving for unification there still are leaders that cant evolve past pettiness. It bothers me that there's president in charge of a country, in charge of a population, in charge of highly important world issues that fail to unite together. Even to this century our leaders cannot come to a unified agreement that would benefit the greater wealth of the population and state. The Summit was held in the luscious coast of Mexico, that something else that truly hurts, Most of Latin America is going through a tough economic state, but the government still finds somewhere to fund a incredible weekend getaway. All that money could of been of use to the thousands of people starving and immigrating towards other countries. While the rich eat and enjoy the sun thousands of your people die of starvation and insufficient health care. there's something wrong with this picture. Hopefully they resolved some of Latin American biggest issues correct? everything from Humanitarianism, Economics, Ecology certainty in the future, Exportation of work and human, Current population crisis, and the evolving war on terror and drug trafficking, Indian human rights, cultural revolution. NONE of these issues were resolved under my eye. These are the issues that are affecting the world right now but what was resolved nothing more that a fucking school boy fight between President Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) and president Uribe (Colombia) . The argument arrived from Chavez speaking his mind upon the situation of hosting American Troops in Latin American soil. It got so bad that Raul Castro (Cuba) had to intervene and calm down the tension. This week was supposed to be a Unity Collaboration. A Unity Summit that's a joke!
Come on people if we dont wake up and start taking our heads out of our asses we are not going anywhere! we are her to unite, but instead we are pushing ourselves further away from that. The united states is only waiting for us to be so fucked up that it becomes a game to them to come and rule.
Finally I do not want to sound like I am being Anti American, no not at all. I love this country, they have shown me prosperity and love when my mother land has shawl me. I only believe that if Latin America want to be taken seriously we must Unite.
Unidos y ay Cambio,
Separados y nos lleva la changada!

Finding your way in this thing we call life.

Hello everyone, hope your weekend was as productive and enticing as mine. I believe it was a little to intense at some points but were slowly coming down. So this weekend the usual work, listen to some good music while working, this must be the best part of being a bartender you get paid to have a good time, and who cant have a good time with a live band playing. Saturday must of been the a long one because man I woke up this morning feeling like I need an IV of expresso into my body, Me and a dear Finnish friend Kal had a great breakfast, and next thing you know why not have some oyster shots! they were great, continued the day with great company and great food over at there place.. If I may say Finnish people know how to party! Finally its Sunday, no worries in the world, sitting on my new sofa which cost me a whopping Free 99! had a great time with Kriss, had some good food, good company, good times.

Finally If I man come back to my topic of discussion, where do you as a human life organism fit into this thing we call life? Are you the assertive type? The lay back and watch the show from aside? the Player? The one being played? Are you the contender? the big cat? the union? how do you go one with life and use the things that our parents have taught us to find your track in this universe? Put some thought for a moment and lets pump the breaks, slow down from your hectic life, take a couple of minutes to smell the world. Im not talking about the ground or the fabrezze bottle in the back of the car I mean grab a leaf for one example and really evaluate it. yes its a living thing, but it has a story behind it just like you and I. Its got a purpose in life and it will do everything in its simple living to achieve that goal.
the artist was right about this couch you really do get the juices flowing.

Song of the moment has to be hands down Al Green, thank you sir for en-lighting me with your amazing lyrics and smooth tunes.

Song of the day and the etternal question that bothers us men.

Lets start out with the easy stuff today. Morning was hectic my little robot alarm clock didn't go off so I was scrambling around the house trying to put my morning together. The one thing that placed the peaces together to this hectic morning was the sooth and transcending lyrics from Q tip, the Renaissance man album. Overall what a great album, comes out strong and his verses are incredible. really fluid and to the point. I also appreciate the way that he sampled some of Motowns best work. It was like transcribing some jazzy melodies from the early sixties with a deep base that comes from today's new artists. Best song though hands down is WE FIGHT WE LOVE. It has a great feeling to it. It transports you to your last relationship and in a way lays it out why your not there anymore. From that topic on we move on to the more troubling aspects of this entry.

When is it the right time to start dating again once you have moved on?

From personal experiences I tend to take a long free period once a relationship is over so that I could cleanse myself from past tendencies so that it would not affect the future partner. I see some of my friends tend to go a separate route they would want to rush into future relationships where in fact they tend to repeat the same mistakes that were once made. To me this is a little uncaring for the person. Another question that comes to mind is getting back into the game

How do you flirt?

I tend to not know this technique, ask my past relationships I bet they will say I am not a master at this skill like other guys, but I guess that's what makes someone unique in a way. I only come asking myself these simple questions because I am at a point in my life where I feel that I am pleasant with living this single life but I am ready to go out a bit. I guess I am ready to take a girl on a date. ugh when it comes to dealing with the thought of asking someone on a date I am not petrified, but not accustomed to doing so.
Well I am going to give myself a two week period, because I want to take out this one girl. Completely similar to myself in style, food preferences, and music choice where else would you find someone who loves to go dinning, (not talking about jack in the box or the cheese cake factory) but more like Nopa, tres Agaves, Blue plate, real restaurants, real food, real times. and she loves Al Green. come on can not pass out on this one.

2 week time starts now!

here are some of the lyrics to this great song.

And it, and it begins, he walks outside for a cigarette break
And thinks how many cigarettes does it take
He takes a long drag with the sun in his eye
He squints, he thinks he starts to sigh
Sometimes he cry
When he think about his girlfriend on his side
She held him down, she made him better
Fought the love, through the fucked up weather

Everything up to date.

Hello everyone hope all you guys are doing well.
This week has been an interesting one. Only 4 days of school so that's always nice. This weekend was filled with excitement and missions. 1st of all work was a blast on Friday, me and kelly really worked our asses of. The mission that Kelly and I went upon included a plastic corona parrot and the scarification we gave mother ocean. I believe it was an early morning some time near 5 am and Mavericks was just barely brewing, the waves were just arriving from that Japanese front; all we knew is that the parrot would be out fuel to the waves. (it was a long shift allright) Mavericks was this weekend and it was amazing I believe the biggest wave of the tournament topped of at 45 feet, which was incredible I mean take a minute to think, 45 feet of water crashing upon you! that's unheard of I think the highest that I have done is 12 feet and I was screaming for my life. I had the pleasure of spending the day with two great friends, Alex and Scoot, so that was great as well. I think the thing that I want to say the most in this blog is, be selective of who you really are friends with, they should not lie when the things come out hard. They should be straight to the point and never regress from that. And I think its sad when your the one with things straight while the other is struggling to get his simple life in order.
Ohhh before I forget there is nothing better than a good plate of Fish and chips with a cold pear cider little things like such make life so much more interesting.
here are some pictures of the event we locals know as Mavericks.

Cocktail of the month.

Hello everyone, hope you all had an exceptional weekend. I sure did, Got to work, got off early on Sunday, and attended a close friends birthday party, Happy birthday Vanny. Oh and the Saints won so WHO DAT!.
So this foggy morning on my way to school, I was reading my weekend San Francisco Chronicle. I usually tend to read the top stories, funnies, Wine and food section, and the style section. In that order too. Well I happened to find a great section dealing with why people go to bars? Being a bartender I asked my self the same question; my patrons come here to spend a mellow afternoon, talk to old friends, exchange ideas, watch the game, chat with me, use the wi-fi. There could be many more reasons which still do not come to mind. The funny thing is that the writer of the article came to the conclusion " People go to bars because there's a chance that magic could happen" Scot I thought about this quote for the rest of my train ride. Magic? The magic is the concoction which I deliver? The people you meet? The electricity? A one night stand? who knows. all I know is that with every cocktail a crated bartender, which I hope to become is the elixir to peoples magic. The Chronicle came out with this fabulous cocktail from Slovakia.

The Winston Whisky Cocktail.

This cocktail seems to be made for me, I am a fan of Bourbons, Whiskey's, and scotch. There is nothing like tasting the wood elements in such liquors which center you with the earth and the craftsmanship. It's also going with the music at the time a little All Green, a Winston Whisky cocktail and the magic will simply follow.

1 & 1/2 ounces Johnnie Walker black
2/3 ounces tawny port (hopefully a 10 year old)
1 teaspoon Drambuie
1 teaspoon simple syrup
1 teaspoon Angostura bitter.
mix all ingredients and stir into a chill cocktail glass.

enjoy your magic.

Poemas de la melanchonia

A singular eyelash travels the perpetuating sky.
Its only traveler the eyelash itself.
Floating to the unforgiving sway of her breath.
delicate as a ray of light, but tough as one could be.
Landing upon travels it continues, no singular end in sight
Sad eyes will flicker, and another eyelash takes flight.

An exceptional Week.

Hello all, This week has been an exceptional week for me and its not even over yet, we still got the weekend. Where would I start well it was my 21st birthday so that just started the week of amazingly. Had dinner with the Mom and Sister, it was just me and my girls and a couple of tequila shots. There's nothing like drinking with family. I was given a great birthday party by all the locals at the bar where I work at, I got the whole works, Cake, and gifts, man what a good party that was. To much Bullet Bourbon, man I am not having more of that for a while. Another great thing that occurred, just today I gave an unexpected speech today for the teacher walk out, These budget cuts must stop, and we as students MUST unite because as one we are silent, but as a group of united teachers and students we are unstoppable. I represented my views to the biggest crowd That I have ever spoken to. It was beyond anything I could ever think of. AB 540 students were represented today and any day that this could happen it's a good day. Finally the cherry to my sundae was hanging out with an old friend, We went to see the screening of an amazing movie Sleep Dealers by the creative director Alex Rivera. dealing with Immigration in the future. A future where immigrants are not immigrating as in volume and population, but only being connected to the American Dream by plugging themselves into a world of cheap virtual labor. Cybrabracero is something that should never become reality. We as humans have a right to change the world to something that will benefit the whole human race, not only those who can afford to exploit the less fortunate ones. Hopefully we as the future, we as students can create a change so the world does not become a futuristic hell like that.


Oh and Happy Birthday to MAMA. Tomorrow is your big day.


HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE COMPANEROS !!!!

Pharrell Williams ft. Jay Z Frontin

today's song of the day is all about how I feel, New age, new way of viewing the world, new attitude, I ain't frontin' That's how I am going to be from now on. This song just brings back some memories of summer, waking up to ocean breeze going out to see how the surf would be.
Pharrell Williams (born April 5, 1973), commonly known as Pharrell, is an American recording artist, producer, musician and fashion designer. Along with Chad Hugo, they make the record production duo The Neptunes, where they produce pop, hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of rock band N.E.R.D, which he formed with Hugo and childhood friend Shay Haley. He is also a member of the hip-hop supergroup Child Rebel Soldier (CRS), along with Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco. He released his debut single "Frontin'" in 2003 and followed up with his debut album In My Mind in 2006.
go listen to this great artist, get your grove on and go conquer your day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srOfv5r7LGU

Today will be a good day.

Good morning everyone, Hope all your days are starting out nicely. Today has began as a great day first of all ITS MY BIRTHDAY I'm 21!!! so this is exciting. I got woken up to a mariachi singing me happy birthday, (not a real mariachi, in my house but a CD) my mom woke me up and that was a splendid way to awake. I later got a phone call from my father, that just topped it off for me. Me and Dad have became a lot closer over the few months, I think it all has to do with him leaving to Mexico once again, he has not returned since i was 2 so I believe he needed it. Other than that today seems to be a great day, I am excited for my Political Science class, I'm going to be writing a speech for the teacher walk in on Thursday, and I get to have my first drinks once school is over with my best friend. Good Day so far. Oh and fruity pebbles have to have this for a day like today.

Noam Chomsky

There have been few political figures that have changed my perspective towards the way I view the world. People like Che Guevara, Gandhi, Naomi Klein, Obama, The Kennedy Family, and Noam Chomsky. I was introduced to the teachings of this enlighten thinker in the summer of 2008, while doing research on Che Guevara there was a name that came coming up, Noam Chomsky, I later when to understand why He was being mentioned in my readings. Noam Chomsky has been known as an notable figure in contemporary Philosophy.
Noam Chomsky view on the American point of way has always been a controversy to American politicians, starting with his view towards the Vietnam war he states

"Let me finally return to Dwight Macdonald and the responsibility of intellectuals. Macdonald quotes an interview with a death-camp paymaster who burst into tears when told that the Russians would hang him. "Why should they? What have I done?" he asked. Macdonald concludes: "Only those who are willing to resist authority themselves when it conflicts too intolerably with their personal moral code, only they have the right to condemn the death-camp paymaster." The question, "What have I done?" is one that we may well ask ourselves, as we read each day of fresh atrocities in Vietnam—as we create, or mouth, or tolerate the deceptions that will be used to justify the next defense of freedom."

– Chomsky, The Responsibility of Intellectuals 1967

There are few political figures that have the power to move masses, they are few that allow the human brain to function in a different pattern. Few will die for their beliefs. The world needs more enlighten people such as Chomsky, It is in our best interest for our future to learn and apply what these great thinkers have shown us. Because if it were not them, where would we be today?

Everybody's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's a really easy way: stop participating in it.
Noam Chomsky

Song of the day 2/1/210

Hello Everyone today's song of the day is by the very talented Cafe TaCuba. They have been one of my favorite bands for the past 5 years. They are in a category on there own, i must say that every album has something new and exciting to it. I have seen this band live twice in my life and I'm sure it wont be the last. Today's song is Quiero Ver (I wanna see) for you non Spanish speakers.
Lovely song to start the day with the video is spectacular as well.

here is the link to the song Quiero Ver.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4nYEuVjjoE

Anthony Hamilton Song of the day 1/31/2010

Today is an amazing morning I woke up to my phone playing a very soulful Anthony Hamilton, I believe the last time I listen to this great artist was with the release of American Gangster with Denzel Washington and Common, (great movie) A soul singer who has drawn comparisons to such classic R&B vocalists as Bill Withers and Bobby Womack, Anthony Hamilton struggled for the better part of the 1990s as two of his albums went unreleased. Getting his start at age ten singing in his church choir, the Charlotte, NC, native also performed as a teenager at various nightclubs and talent shows. Always with an eye to move on to bigger things, Hamilton made the move to New York City in 1993, eventually signing with Uptown Records.
Good morning to all, go take on your day, and don't forget to get your breakfast mine is shown below. (when was the last time you had frutty pebbles ?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ErJKRd7hfQ

Song of the day 1/30/2010

Today's song is a collaboration between some of my favorite artist of the moment. Kid Cudi, Kanye West , and Common; I poke her face
These three rappers have been a great influence to my day to day life. They are entitled much respect. This song is one to start the day as I have.

"Hold up born on 88 how old is that? Old enough"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt22KvnRSL4&feature=fvsr

Song Of the Day

Corazon Partido. by Alejandro Sanz

Alejandro Sanz is one of my new obsessions,
Alejandro Sanz (born Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro on December 18, 1968), is a Spanishsinger-songwriter and musician. Sanz has won 14 Latin Grammy Awards and two Grammy Awards

he represents a new wave of Latin American singers that sing more than the typical Latin Rap. If I could compare him to an American artist, I would say hes our Dashboard Confessionals (with out the over the top EMO aspect to them)
This song came on my I-phone on the way to class today and it overtook me. The melody is incredible and the flow of the guitar and trumpet is something else.

Here is the link to his song Corazon Partido. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7djosnxbYFA

Ignacio De Loyala Brandao

This will be a new section in the blog, it will deal with some interesting books that have fallen in my lap, this months book is Anonymous Celebrity written by the talented Brazilian novelist Ignacio De Loyala Brandao. The book deals with the virtues of wanting to become famous in a world of unknowns. The actions that people will take to become someone when in reality we are playing just another extra in the world.
Amazing book.

Her simple smirk brings me back to earth.
Its a welcoming reminder and yet a smart ass gesture.
Her natural hair taken in by gravities law, yet defining a new one.
A warm aura primordial to time itself.
It brings men to their knees, and children to their seats.
She is simple, yet dramatically complex.
Unlike a complex physics problem I cant comprehend.
She has no solution.
Or is the solution written upon her face,
and that simple smirk?

Poemas de la melanchonia

Another ten Minutes...

Her subtle breathing
Wakes me up on command
Her warmth perpetuates though our thin sheets.
It's 7:00 am
To early to awake, and yet to late to sleep in.
My eyes slowly awaken to the glimmer of the sun through our window shutters.
Slender curves captivate my thoughts.
Her skin with the same sensation as cashmere to the skin.
Our eyes connect for the slightest moment.
As we lay in a quite trance, we are reminded of ourselves.
together were transformed.
"How about another ten minutes" I awkwardly blunder,
and once again we fall.