Star Spangled Spanish??

Okay so because I wrote a post a few weeks ago regarding the immigration march I thought I'd do a follow up on the latest and greatest wave of debate.

As some may know, another couple of marches is in the works. One is the ANTI-Immigration reform march which I don't know definitively when it is to take place. The other is the boycott which is to occur on May 1st to show how much of an impact immigrants make in the workplace, country, etc. Is it a smart move? Mmmm, I don't think so...but that's just me. If you are working in a job being underpaid (stereotypically) doing something that isn't exactly high brow...there are those in line behind you waiting for the opportunity to take your place. If you get fired because you protested, don't be surprised. But I will admit that is just my limited and quick glance point of view.

Anyway that is not what this is about. The latest and greatest buzz is in regards to this. It is the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish. Some have criticized it too whiny or just entirely inappropriate. Some say it is simply paying homage to a great country and showing solidarity and sincerity, blah blah blah. Personally, I don't care for the song and it doesn't seem right (as it is an American Anthem) to be song in a foreign language.

Musically, I think it's beautifully done with the Spanish guitar being used and the pacing. But much like Hendrix electric version, it is one thing to be done over with a different angle but in a different language??? That just might be taking it too far.

I'm not patriotic however singing it in Spanish or ANY other language does seem cut into the whole meaning of the song. If you want to pay "homage" or show "sincerity" and not just do something for shock value or pissing off the public then sing the song in the appropriate language with a cultural slant as in the guitar work and perhaps other forms of percussion, etc. There's no way anyone truly believes they didn't see this backlash coming. Come on?!

At any given sporting event there have been several renditions stemming from the original given a different arrangement, different artists voices, different pacing or instrumentation, etc. It's not that it hasn't been done before. You add fuel to an already blazing fire to "kick it up a notch" and go full board singing in another language.

Like I said, I am not especially patriotic at all really. But this kind of send bad vibes to me so I can only imagine what it must do to those that are hard core, flag waving, apple pie-eating folks. Bottom line, I guess it's just something else to stir up controversy and bundle people's panties.

Working at the ...

So I've developed a new habit I haven't told anyone about yet. It's been my little secret for months now and I've felt after yesterday's experience I ought to share. Nothing profound ocurred yesterday but I thought about what I've been up to and realized others may want to partake and perhaps some already do so with that said, here is my secret.

At least once a week, before I begin my hour drive home in bumper to bumper traffic on the Loop 101, I stop by the $3.00 car wash and take about 5 minutes to unwind and relax in those moments of peace before hitting the grind. Then I switch back into drive and head for the Loop full of aggressive, road rage drivers that I see three days a week every single week.

Not terribly long ago I would spend 3 hours detailing my car about once a month or so and listen to tunes in the driveway as I washed, dried, waxed and detailed the interior and dressed my tires, etc. Lately, who has time...and if there's time, who has the energy. So not willing to give up the luster of a beautiful sheen, I've opted to cheat and head for technology and less elbow grease.

It started innocently enough. I went to get a jump start on detailing once when I let the cars go too long without a wash etc. Then I found it convenient to whizz through on my way to a family gathering or dropping the kids to a dance or so, this way the cars looked presentable and less guff from my dad on car care, you know.

Now though, I've noticed it's like a time out. It only lasts a few minutes but the sound of the stereo accentuated by the patter of fabric/rubber soap soaked strips against the window is so incredibly soothing and places me in quite a... like meditating state. So now when I pull up, hand in my three dollars and bring the car antennae down, I start my preselected track from the chosen cd and put the car in neutral ready to enjoy the ride. If you haven't sat on the track in a while I highly recommend it. For $3.00 a trip, it is quite the bargain. (Hey they should use that in advertising?!?!?!)

Saving Face

Rented a spectacularly entertaining little flick this weekend. Okay, actually I had my partner pick it up on her outing to the video store while the kids were with their dad...but I told her to get it so I'll claim it. Anyway, I must give it some notice because it was a very good movie. I haven't enjoyed a movie like that in some time; the really feel good kind when it's all over. The kind you don't want to end and just keep eavesdropping on like someone's life? That kind. So my honey and I are chillin' on the couch watching this movie and laughing and feeling everything going on and sat with these goofy smiles.

Most lesbian movies are maybe B but more likely C movies. They are written poorly, shot horribly, and pretentious, stupid, or boring. There is no real connection. Not this time. First of all, it's not just about their homosexual relationship although of course that does have a role in the movie. It's more about the whole picture and how it fits in with their lives...

It's a young Asian woman surgeon who falls for another Asian woman dancer and they live in New York and their parents and communitee for that matter are very, shall we say, dated! Old school and honor to the hilt so being lesbians isn't something the young doc is comfy with. Then her mother throws a wrench into her budding romance and she has to contend with that as well. Not to mention the dancer's father is the doc boss. But I don't want to say anything further for it is sooo worth the watch and after viewing it I realized why it was done as well as it was. Evidently Will Smith was one of the producers. AHHH, now I see.

It was shot well, written wonderfully, acted superbly, and worth the $3.95 we paid to see it. It is something I'd even consider buying which is huge because I'm not a movie collector by any means; I think I own maybe 7? So, if you have a free afternoon or evening, I highly recommend it.

20 years...

As most everyone knows, especially after the news reports and media coverage, it's Chernobyl's 20 year anniversary.

Not the sort of thing one celebrates but certainly something we all need to remember. Mankind's arrogance and ignorance has led to generation after generation being left scarred and suffering in what is left behind from the explosion known 100 times stronger than that which occurred in Hiroshima.

So very unnecessary and yet what really concerns me is I don't doubt it wouldn't happen again. We live in a day and age of war and greed and power and nuclear weapons. We have the power to create greatness and do such wonderful things and of all the challenges we have yet to face as the human race such as cures for cancer and aids and poverty!!!?? We continue to use our minds and means to fund and develop weapons????

For anyone who doesn't understand or truly appreciate the damage done; take some time to surf for something other than the latest model going to pose in playboy or some pregnant celebrity and check this out on MSN. I will warn you there are some parts of the video that are very difficult to watch.

Some of the eye witness accounts are incredible. The idea of one man's friend who DAYS after the explosion was part of the clean up crew (who had little if any appropriate protection) and because of the exposure suffered radiation poisoning and died. The way he died was by shrivelling up and turning black until he "crumbled" to death internally.


The steam explosion and fire released at least five percent of the radioactive reactor core into the atmosphere with the wind carrying to the neighboring towns. Within one week the entire WORLD was affected by the radiation in the air. Their estimating the radiation won't be contained /eliminated until the year 2525 and over 400 generations will be affected.

The number of children in medical facilities that will grow only to be transferred to the mental facilities as adults is staggering. There are gross deformaties that literally changed some of these children into "monsters" as one photographer put it. Such an incredible waste for humanity. These children are visited by their parents and loved ones yet don't even know who these people are let alone themselves. It's such an incredible impact that I truly don't think is even within grasp of just how incredulous this whole even is and will be for centuries to come.

What's incredible to me is I was in high school when this occurred. The same year I remember the Challenger exploding after lift off - I can tell you place, time, the teacher's name of the class I was in and yet I do NOT recall when Chernobyl happened. I don't recall it ever being mentioned in school at all. Quite frankly, even as an adult I only knew a snippet of what it was all about. It wasn't until the rumbles of the anniversary coming up that I ever did the research on my own to learn the details of just how catastrophic the whole event IS as this is just as relevant in today's society as ever.

They have built a sarcophagus over the plant to contain the remains of the plant and another is in the works to better maintain the leakage. To wrap my head around the fact that this will be a presence until 2525, OVER 500 YEARS from now, is mind blowing.