My Return From Exile

It has been a long time since I have been on this blog. I had to work  many extra hours to take care of some financial matter which are close hopefully to being completely done and over with.

During this time I have been fascinated, disgusted appalled and inspired by some programming airing on PBS. It the series is called  Black in Latin America. It is narrated by Prof Henry Louis Gates.


This series has made me take up again looking into Latin American as well as my own family history and really has opened my eyes to many things going now in the Country of my birth - the USA.  I find this to be a very interesting period in the history of the Americas.

I have so much of a greater appreciation of my own history. I never had the time to really delve into it and my parents as are many other parents of that generation who emigrated are quite tight-lipped about the past. Which is understandable given the immensity of trying to build a new life in a strange land.

I thought I would leave you with a video, and letter perhaps if all is well return to share some thoughts.

Dave

Watch the full episode. See more Black in Latin America.

Song of the Week - Emmenez Moi

Mes Compatriotes,

One voice I which I resonates through my youth and  maybe this beginning part of my adult life is that of Charles Aznavour. So many important  moments in my life bring me back to his songs, pain, suffering, lost love, failed relationships  etc.

I remember many days spend just looking out of the window of our one-bedroom apartment  wondering if I would ever be able to leave behind all that I new up to the time, all the comforts and expectation and just see the world on my own terms.

I may have a Master's degree and a respectable profession, but I feel at heart I am simple guy. I would be happy with just a bed, a chance to do something simple: be a baker, fisher, farmer something I can do with my hands.

But till that day comes.... here is the song of the week.  Below are the lyrics to the english version of the song.

On the docks where the boredom of life
Is all that I own
I see boats coming in with the fruits
Of places unknown

I watch as they come from the world in the sun
And I see in my mind
That there is farewell to this cold golden hell
They can leave far behind

Let me go where they go
Let me fly the winds that they fly
For to stay in this place
Will destroy a man's certain life

Take me along, a long way from here
Take me along to a far away shore
When you're poor it's easy to bare
With sunshine and soft summer air

At the end of the day
In a bar, with sailors I stand
And I talk about girls, about love
A glass in my hand

Then in my dreams, I can travel at seas
On a float, southern-bound
There I can hold all the magic in gold
Of the love I have found

When the bars on the quayside are closed
Alone I remain
I continue to dream
And each night the dream is the same

Take me along, a long way from here
Take me along to a far away shore
When you're poor it's easy to bare
With sunshine and soft summer air

Very soon I will take any troubled chance
That I can
Though I dream like a child
For my dreams I'll work like a man

I'll work and reprive for my to ticket-to-ride
Where the sun shines for me
Surviving any storms, and be wild to be warm
That's the way I must be

I'll be leaving behind no regrets
And hold my past
And I'll go to the sea
As I'll sail to freedom at last

Take me along, a long way from here
Take me along to a far away shore
When you're poor it's easy to bare
With sunshine and soft summer air

Take me along, a long way from here
Take me along to a far away shore
When you are poor it's easy to bare
With sunshine and soft summer air.

Today's Quote of the Day

The Essential George Santayana Collection (Halcyon Classics)

“Everything in nature is lyrical in its ideal essence, tragic in its fate and comic in its existence”
-George Santayana

Friday - Ladies Night and the feel is right

Hola Ninos,

For some reason I woke up singing this song by Kool and the Gang. Friday is ladies which generally means more hysterics than normal to deal with clubs/bars due to cheaper or no admission cost for ladies and specials off. I myself have never been to a club or bar, maybe a lounge thats made really stiff drinks back in the day.

Ladies Night - and the feel is right!!!



If you are wondering why i have not frequenting these places it would have to be because I had to work many late hours and was perpetually broke from 1981 to present day. But on the way from work, late nights on Friday night I see a lot of the end result of ladies nights in the subways

So Cheers to all you ladies and their sober friend/escorts who make the Friday night train commute memorable, thought provoking, and potentially hazardous!!!

Last Post got me into Trouble with the Wife!!!!

Hey Guys & Dolls

My last post got me into some hot water. It turns out that my significant other does not look forward to getting a grip for Christmas. Also she doesn't think that regular shaving, haircuts, and the other finer points of personal hygiene should be done for her.

It turns out that they should be done because life is a rosey-happy place where everyone is well groomed, doesn't refer to a two piece as a good sucker punch followed up a haymaker for good measure and of course has good credit, oh and there is an overpriced Zanzibar on every corner.


I think this call for some Mulla Nasruddin jokes. Mulla Nasruddin is a fictional character who's joking and quizzical says often hide some deeper truth. He is a classic character in many sufi stories but that's enough of that.Yes - I am sleeping on the couch tonight but no problem, Mo and Soleil will keep me company

Mulla Nasrudin reported to the superintendent of the mental hospital and asked: "Have any of your male patients escaped lately?" "Why do you ask? said the superintendent. "BECAUSE, " said the Mulla, "SOMEONE HAS RUN OFF WITH MY WIFE."

A man said to his friend Mulla Nasrudin: "Who is the boss in your house?" "Well," said Nasrudin, "my wife assumes command of the children, the servants, the dog and the parakeet. BUT I SAY PRETTY MUCH WHAT I PLEASE TO THE GOLDFISH."

Mulla Nasrudin's wife said to him at a buffet supper: "That's the fifth time you have gone back for more fried chicken. Doesn't it embarrass you?" "NOT AT ALL," he said. "I KEEP TELLING THEM I AM GETTING IT FOR YOU."

What to get the Wife for Christmas?!?! (1)

HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need Ideas!!!!!!!!!

I love the Holiday Season, I get time off and I basically sit around my apartment wondering what to do with myself with all my time off other than take out the garbage in a timely fashion to keep the Mrs.Happy. I have realized that the majority of what I do with my self is done to keep the Mrs. happy. Things such as shaving regular hair cuts, cooking elaborate dishes and deserts like this chocolate souffle

You thought I was joking? I puts it down!!!! In the kitchen at least, at least until the wife is not mad with for sorta leaving my side of the dresser a mess and being an all around slob I guess. So what to get the woman who has everything I can afford to give her ? Jewelry? $25 Organic Fruit ? A book ?

I know what you're thinking but I cannot give my soul away I like it, and that happens when we reach old age. You can also scratch neckties out I gave her one already. Here are some awesome Ideas

1. Family Matters Season 1
2. Rainbow Bright Memorabilia
3. A Grip - as in get grip muta f*&cker
4. An Anonymous used Jock Strap from the 2009 NBA finals*
5. Life-sized Statue of Biggie Smalls -Baby baaabaaaay

** - Etymology Note: The word jockstrap has purportedly been in use since 1897 and ultimately traces its origin from jock in the slang sense of penis.

I honestly intended to take this blog post seriously but it didn't happen. I was going to review some products for your feedback, but fuck it I suppose.

PEACE

Say NO to WIKI LEAKS, nevermind your privacy though

Have You Heard?

Initially the rhetoric I heard went as follows:

"An email from SIPA's Office of Career Services went out Tuesday afternoon with a caution from the official, an alumnus of the school. Students who will be applying for jobs in the federal government could jeopardize their prospects by posting links to WikiLeaks online, or even by discussing the leaked documents on social networking sites, the official was quoted as saying."

Now the rhetoric has changed, Mr Crowley the spokesperson for the State Department has said that this is false , and that State Department employees are told not to access WikiLeaks and download the documents because they are still classified. He goes on to say that though he seriously condemns what Assange is doing, the State Department as given any advice out to anyone.

This Makes me wonder:

1. Is there really such a thing as privacy online? Can you imagine loosing out on a job because you commented on on your chucklehead friend post on Facebook or twitter. We have freedom to say whatever we want but we may have to pay for it years down the fucking road. I hope this sort of policy doesn't catch on to sexual harassment. A dirty joke I told a friend on Facebook 2 years ago might come up some how and offend some people in the future
2. My next talk isn't really as germane to this Wiki Leaks thing, I am thinking about The Ivy League and elitism in America. I have met many a fucking ass-clown (A jerk; a buffoon; a person who is inept or ill-behaved to the point that others find him laughable) from Columbia , Harvard, Princeton, etc. It a shame the leaders of tomorrow will come from the crop of people I have seen.Of course If I was accepted to any Ivy League now for a PhD Program I would take it because the name carries a lot of weight in certain circles. At this point in my life my bottom line in terms of activity is $$$. I want to buy my wife nice things, I want to move out the hood, I want to pay off my remaining balance and get my Master's decree. lol
   

I'm done blabbing

Peace!!!!