Hector Garcia & Other News

Today I started thinking about photography, how I haven’t heard of a famous or notable Mexican photographer, someone who would be known around the world. I did what any normal kid on the block would do after a thought; I hopped on a boat and navigated the internet waves. During the search I came across the name of Hector Garcia, I read a quick article on the guy and after doing more searches on the name I learned the following. In the early years of Hector Garcia, he was a vagabond like so many kids in Mexico City; later in his life he came back to the streets, the city that watched him grow, and captured it. He became a news agency photographer and now almost 80 years later his work is on display at Photo Espana 2005. Photo Espana is considered the Cannes for renowned world photographers (something I didn’t know), I guess I should add this to my “Places To Visit In My Lifetime” list.

Germany Seeks UN Council Seat

The first world union was called “The League Of Nations”, created after WWI after the defeat of Germany by Brittain, France, Italy and the US; I don’t remember the year. Today in 2005, Germany is seeking a permanent seat in the exclusive group of veto-wielding UN council. If my history serves me correct, the United Nations was created in 1945 in order to avoid another world conflict and later tackled other world problems. At the time of its inception the allied forces, (USA, Russia, France, etc.) formed the UN and only allowed the countries they defeated (Germany, Japan, Italy) to be part of the UN, but not have a permanent seat. Till this day none of the defeated countries from WWII are part of the council, so many years the war they've still been negated. I feel the world has moved on and has forgotten about those days (with the exception of war celebrations, veterans, etc.), but to quote Karla from the book I’m reading, Shantaram; “The business of big politics is the politics of big business”. We’ll see what happens in the coming months, both Japan and Germany are lobbying to be appointed.

The Getty

Traveled west with the Royal Madrigals and Hvnly, drove on the 210 fwy and south on the parking lot that is the 405 fwy. Paid $8 and took the drive down several feet below sea level to the parking structure, parked the Lizzie and we were on our way. While at The Getty we looked at artwork from several periods throughout history, primarily before the 1700's. Mother was enjoying the various paitings depicting religious stories; I would translate the information on the painting and at times before I said a word to her, she remembered the scripture from the bible and would tell it to me. I caught up to Hvnly and said to her - "hey maybe I should work here and do a tour in Spanish" - Maybe I should look into this. Don Ignacio was getting tired from walking around. My dad has bad knees, the knee joints rub on each other, he doesn't have any fluid or cartilage. Dad took breaks and would sit in the galleries sofas or chairs when he felt tired. We entered a different gallery, and we didn't know it but I asked, are these Rembrandt's? We checked on the information cards and saw that in fact we were looking at Amsterdams pride and joy. I was never aware that his paintings were depicting apostles or martyrs, and of his most famous paintings (shown below) is a self portrait as the apostle Paul. We took a break from the the galleries and went to the courtyard and had cups of java. We saw a few photographs of Frederick Sommer, dad was feeling tired from all the walking so we went down to the gardens. I need to plan on going back before Fredericks exhibition is over. A quote on the wall - "Poetry is the quality of our acts and art is the evidence that survives" - F Sommer. At the gardens we all admired the plants, the small waterfall etc. Hvnly took some sun rays while we chatted in the gardens. Mom was talkin about the family, house designs, my brothers and all sorts of stuff. After the Getty we enjoyed some delicious Won Kok Chinese food, we ordered our usual Hu Ta Shia, Tri Pa, mongolian chicken and one extra dish since my parents were with us, mushroom chicken. That sums up the Getty adventure, hope to post some more adventures in the near future once The Getty Villa opens.

DJ's Birthday

Saturday June 23rd was DJ's Birthday celebration where all her lil and not so little friends came to visit and swam like fishes. She's had so many birthday "releated" events and or gifts this year that I lost count. Like the drive down PCH, that was Hvnly's gift and idea, a drive down the ocean on a convertible ride. Tuesday June 14th was her birthday, we took her bowling and hung out with the family. Hvnly beat our ass!, but only because she had a previous relationship where she had a boring boyfriend who would only take her bowling, no clubs to get the courvoisier and get all crunked up in the club! lol ;) Auntie Vero and Shawn took DJ to Universal Studios as part of her girft; Shawn landed a small record contract with his band, he paid for everyone and bought everyone what they wanted, DJ got an annual pass. She's a very spoiled girl! I've been told and heard that many times, but everyone in this world gets things that we aren't worthy of and do not deserve. She's a great little girl and the only problems she's caused are things that every day parents go through. With that said, until the day I die I will make sure she receives and at the same time earns all that she wants, and if she wants another cavity because she likes how the black dots look on her pearly whites, I will make sure she gets another candy. This goes for all of my kids, the future rug rats that god will send me. Lil Hvnly Max's running around, what a thought but that's for a different post.


DJ:
I will love you always and you will always be Dad's lil girl, you will be 100 years old and I will always be there to remind you, that even though you are married and have kids, you were that girl who always wanted to go swimming and be a disney princess for Halloween.

No Speako Spanol

El escribir en Espanol a veces se me complica ya que ciertas palabras no las recuerdo y tengo que buscar si lo escribi correctamente. Hay palabras que se me han olvidado, que cuando las escucho recuerdo su significado. Mi seleccion de palabras a disminuido y lo noto cuando hablo con mi madre. Tengo dos libros que me regalaron el dia del papa, uno se llama Shantaram, estan planeando hacer una pelicula. El otro libro se llama Embeded, se trata de un periodista que se adjunta con los soldados, durante la guerra en Irak. Tuve la oportunidad de leer pocas paginas de ambos libros y se que me van a gustar mucho. El libro de Shantaram tiene mas de 900 paginas, espero terminarlo pronto, pero para esto tengo que darme mas tiempo para leer. Despues de leer esto dos libros voy a comprarme algo de literatura Espanola, o tal vez de mi compatriota Octavio Paz, para recordarme de mis tiempos en La Escuela Secundaria Patria. Me gusta la mitologia griega, pero me gustaria leerla en ingles. Bueno creo que lo poco que acabo de escribir fue un buen ejercicio para no olvidarme de lo poco que me queda almacenado.

No Pictures, Just A Map

No pictures of my weekend adventures, only anecdotes today.

an·ec·dote ( P )
A short account of an interesting or humorous incident.

Friday night I returned to my rightful seat at the poker table. I played to win and in the end I took 2nd place; I was dissapointed becuase in retrospect I didn't make good calls, I took it as a game and not as earning money. I can't complain I won $120, but $200+ would've been better.

Saturday we took a convertible ride up PCH. It was DJ's bday June 14th and Hvnly decided to surprise her with a convertible ride. (note: this is my first entry and acknowledgemet of DJ in my blog). Started in West Covina and after a cruise down the 605 we ended up by Snoop Dogs town of the LBC. Stopped by Papaluccis an ordered some shrimp platters, garlic rolls a must and some beverages. Enjoyed the meal and went over the Vincent Thomas bridge and stopped by the Korean American Friendship bell in San Pedro. I didn't know that quineceaneras and wedding parties went there to take pictures. Hvnly saw me take a picture of a wedding party and mentioned that she can see me writing in my blog about this. It was a pretty big family with like eight couples dressed up as part of the wedding. One thing I have to say is that I am not going to have 8 couples introduced before me when I get married. I hate weddings and I won't put any of my friends through that shit. I just want you to show up and have a good time, and if you were taking a piss when we were being introduced who cares, you already know us if not why on earth are you at my wedding? OK enough about that and lets continue with my Saturday adventure. One of my favorite parts of the drive was the Portuguese bend, by Palos Verdes. The bend had nice curves along the road and great views of the Pacific Ocean. I was enjoying the ride, perhaps more so than DJ & Hvnly, that when we approached Redondo Beach I was dissapointed because I saw city traffic, huge SUVs and civilization. As I write this I feel like I should become Harrison Ford's character, Allie Fox, from the movie The Mosquito Coast. In the movie Allie Fox becomes disilussioned with the US and decides to leave and go to Central America and live there with his family. His motivations were political, different reasons than the ones I'm feeling now; however, there are times where I wish I can live in an island. I ponder, once I'm there if I would miss my TV and technology, or I can have my cake and eat it to. Live in an island and have technology, shit it's my wish. Got a bit sidetracked there but had to paint you a picture of how I felt, I guess you only understand what I was trying to convey if you saw the movie. Moving on; We reached our final destination from our trip, stopped the engine and put in in park, we were at the Santa Monice Pier, one of DJ's favorite hang outs. Hvnly bought us some ice cream comes, it was like icing on the cake. After the ice cream we played some video games, took some pictures in a booth, and walked around the peer. We drove home and stopped by to grab some food. I enjoyed there company very much and it was a fine ride, only bad thing is that my face was all red and burnt.

Line in red denotes the drive I took Saturday.


Sunday was Fathers Day, like Felipe sent me in a text "I like it when you call me big poppa" lol. Our family got together so we could celebrate dads day, I was telling Hvnly how throughout my 28 years of existence I've never seen my dad blow a candle. It's sad that we've always called my mother on Mothers day, celebrated her birthday when we could, but nothing for dad. I know we all have faults in our life and being an alcoholic was one of his, but he's changed and has not been one for more than 15 years. I know that my brothers have pushed my father aside, perhaps subconsciously, and it was becuase there was lack of involvement on his part. Not being involved is a cycle, if you don't break it you will pass that on to your offspring and they will do it to their kids unless somone stops it. There is a happy story coming up, in the end, we were all there together at last, no one was missing except my brothers two daugthers and there kids. My brothers and sisters were all there, kids were swimming in the pool and the grill was charing and cooking some chicken and meat. My dad cut the cake and we took pictures, he was happy and being silly like always, giving everyone a tiny slice of cake. In the end I'm glad to say that at least once, we celebrated something in his honor. I have a few moments with my father that are dear to me, and as I write this I begin to think of them all. When I was just a young boy, I was probaly three years old, he would grab one of the stuffed animals and talk to me, and say "Omarito que estas haciendo". I can remember him laying on the bed as I was probably giggling and laughing becuase a stuffed animal was talking to me. He took me to my first soccer game when I was 12 years old, I had been playing organized soccer since a young age, but he never took me to a game or kicked the ball around with me. The first time we shared a beer, we drove all the way from Ameca to Los Angeles, just the two of us. There was a truck that was driving next to us for most of the drive from Sinaloa to Nogales, the man driving the other truck made a gesture to slow down so he can give us some beers. He threw over three Estrella beers (it's the same taste as corona or sol), and my dad said here take one and drink it, I remember thinking to myself he's offering me a beer and I'm only 13. This will quench your thirst, he said to me, I remember taking a sip, it was bitter but it felt so good going down my throat. That was the first time I had an alcoholic beverage, guess I like the way Coronas taste ever since then, THANKS DAD!

Well I guess that sums up my weekend and thoughts, Friday night I didn't win the big pot playing poker. Saturday I had one of the best drives in my life that I got to share with Hvnly and DJ, it rivals a San Francisco drive. Sunday I hung out with my big Mexican familia, we had some cerveza, carne y pollo en las brasas, and we celebrated Fathers day. Yes I didn't win first place, but I have great momories that will stay with me because of this weekend, these are worth more than what I would have won playing poker.

New Membership

I joined the gym.
I need to get buff and then get my fade haircut and I'm set, back in the club scene.

In The News / Batman

Batman Begins


This time it's going old school. No more comic book hero with nipples on the batsuit and the colorful characters from the comic books, and who can forget Arnold Schwarzenneger? Christopher Nolan is the director, he has three other movies, Memento, The Following, and Insomnia; I haven't seen insomnia and the other two movies I really liked; so I can say that as a director he has my approval and go see the other two movies if you haven't checked those out. I'm happy that they are going back to Bruce Wayne the dark loner. Batman, Batman Returns are my favorites from the saga, they were dark and no bright colors. Batman Forever I'll let it slide since I liked Val Kilmer as Batman, but I don't know about Alicia Silverstone. I wish the the batcage were my room, dark and full of things to do, I would never leave the house. I can see myself being Batman, I love the nigh and there's always something happening in Gotham city; great weather, never sunshine and always gray skies. Oh! and one more thing Catwoman.


James Joyce author of "Ulysses".


Every year the clock in the Irish capital goes back to June 16, 1904, so famously depicted in the epic day-in-a-life novel "Ulysses", written by the city's most celebrated author. In the 700-page book, Joyce wrote about the adventures of Leopold Bloom, a Jewish advertising salesman, and young poet Stephen Dedalus as they wander the streets of Dublin. I'll make this book my next read, I have some good books coming to me that the book fairy told me about. I hope to make it to Ireland one day and come back to the states and say "I had a warm beer with some fish and chips". I know it might seem like there's not much to do, but you have the Celtic castles, William Wallace, Beer Pubs, the great gloomy over cast weather, oh and did I mention the beer pubs? Maybe I can go out there on a future June 16th and see everyone come and celebrate the author with the costumes from that era.

Protest

Cyclists in Madrid Spain took the streets today to bring attention the the issue of not having enough cycling lanes, and the increase in accidents and deaths, due to aggresive drivers. They hoped on there bike but they did it naked, yes naked! That's awesome, not because of all the pansas that you will see hanging around as bikers go by, but becuase it's a peaceful way to protest and to let everyone know that we have a problem and we need to address it. Good for them, just look at the little fellow who's enjoying the bike ride behind his dads (I'm assuming) bear ass.

Great Weekend

I hooked up with Hvnly and passed on the poker, I hadn't seen her in about two weeks; that would have hurt my feelings if she had chosen to do something else other than see me, see where I'm going with this? We didn't do much but watch TV and be lazy, that was all for Friday. Saturday night we were going to go to the movies, but Hvnly had family in town from AZ and they wanted to go have a drink. We went to the LBC, to the yard house and to the brewery. Sunday was one of the laziest days I've spent with Hvnly, most of the day in bed and watched all the shows I've DVR'd (Jeopardy, Medium, New season of Entourage). We took a drive in the evening and dropped off a movie in Pomona, and on the way home we stopped by to get some zuccini with ranch. It was a weekend full of nothing, simple times, for simple people.

This is my dad on the left, with my grandmother, uncle Ramon, and aunt Graciela.

My parents are in town, they came from Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico. They stay about three weeks, do a bunch of house chores, cook, clean, and anything I say not to do they do! Those are parents, I'm grateful to have them and greateful they do all the things they do for me.

Sharing Pictures

Today has been a surprisingly slow day (06/08) at work, so it gives me time to do a rare posting. I start a post on a word document, I write my thoughts throughout the day, then paste it and create a blog entry. At times it takes me three days to write or finish all my thoughts, unless I’m at home. When I started this posting yesterday it was slow, and it’s now day two (06/09), of me working on the post. I just wanted to post some pictures that I found online, but a quick post has now turned into day three (06/10), me trying to type these simple words has taken me a long time. I moved seats, I no longer will have "mitote access" to Felipe, but that’s what the OGO will be for; I assisted the Help Desk all day yesterday, taking away precious time from posting. I ponder…(very pensive, and strocking the few hairs I have on my chin) should I become a blogger and quit work?

Here are the pictures I wanted to share.

The moon looked like this on my birthday


It’s in my top ten favorite movie list.


Alfonso was my boy on The Contender, hope to see him fighting soon.


People from Cuba tried coming to the US in a 49 Mercury, they didn’t make it “wet foot”


Damm she got a nice one!

Dropping The F Bomb

Pretty soon this will be me.


Today I got paid and I all of my fucken money will be fucken gone. Getting paid and not seeing any of the fucken money is fucken incredible, how can this be fucken happening to me! Oh well I guess that's the way fucken life is. I'll fucken see a check in two weeks, hopefully that fucken check is more money.

FUCK!

Johannesburg

From AK47.TV, Great pictures from Guy Tillim taken in Johannesburg.


View More Pictures Here

Read more on Johannesburg.

White residents fled Johannesburg’s inner city in the 1990s. The removal of the Group Areas Act foreshadowed a flow into the city of black residents and small businesses seeking opportunities and better lives. Former denizens looked back in self-righteous justification at a city that was given over to plunder and mayhem. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy, and eyewitness reports and statistics obliged. Everyone had their horror stories.
Emerging from this period of change were the towers occupied by tenants who were holding onto tenure and managing the buildings in ways of their own devising. Their story had gone something like this: in the 1990s the owners absconded, leaving managing agents to retrieve what rents they could. In most cases, these agents were corrupt, did not pay the utilities, and disappeared with the money. They were tidy sums, paid in rents by poor people who conscientiously paid up to avoid having to go back to where they came from.
The decay of Joburg’s centre can be ascribed to many factors but perhaps none more so than the absence of communal responsibility for apartment blocks. Body Corporates had become a relic of a more genteel era; the communal responsibilities that are contentious in even the most well-heeled blocks were not marked out. Windows were broken and not repaired. Lifts froze and their shafts became tips.
It was then the buildings started looking like fire hazards to city fathers and developers with an eye on the rents that can be obtained in the bloom of an African City, and the City started closing on buildings for unpaid dues. The tenants have constituted committees to face these threats, and have with meager resources attempted to clean up the buildings. But they have delayed the inevitable. Because their committees have no basis in law, they are vulnerable to investment capital and legal maneuvers that have invoked statutes and non-compliances that carry the penalty of eviction.
Inbetween the aspirations of city council and the need of developers lies the fate of Joburg residents, the outcome of which will define Joburg as again a city of exclusion, or not.

No Women Drivers

Driving for women in Saudi Arabia is prohibited.

This is one thing I learned today, I had no idea that such a ban existed in the world today. I knew women couldn’t leave there home without being accompanied by their husband or another male relative, but not being able to drive is crazy. Only Saudi Arabia has such a ban in the world today. I know I’m being ethnocentric, but the thought itself so mind boggling. I read an article today about a proposal in Saudi Arabia; it was only a proposal for talks to allow women to drive; talks alone have become such an issue, its taboo. Mohammad al-Zulfa brought forth the idea and has been receiving phone calls and text messages saying he is driven by “carnal instincts”. I feel that only something positive can come out of this if they allow women to drive, but again I don’t live nor think like a Saudi. I’m sure the proposal wont change but it will be interesting to follow the story.