USA Hockey Rocks the House

Wow! I finally get it. It has finally dawned on me why hockey is so popular with so many people and why it evinces such passion from its most loyal supporters and disdain from those who would degrade it. Today I saw one of the most exciting games ever played on any level. The US Men's Hockey team, not favored to fare well coming into the Olympic Games, played an amazing, inspiring game against the heavily favored Canadian side. Finding themselves down 2-0 the US team came back to tie the game with 24.4 seconds left in regulation time to force overtime. When Zach Parise, the forward from the New Jersey Devils, slapped a shot past Roberto Luongo, the Canadian goalie to tie it in the waning seconds of the game, I jumped up from my seat and yelled. What an exhilarating moment! I thought for sure this was our moment, that we would score a goal to win it. I believed this even more after the US sent a flurry of shots at the Canadian goalie. The USA was not going to go down easily and I thought victory was within our grasp. But, alas, Sidney Crosby, the Canadian wunderkind, would not allow it. A couple of minutes into overtime, the young forward swerved to the right of the US goal and after receiving an unbelievable pass from a teammate, sent a rocket past the amazing US goalie, Ryan Miller, who did not even have time to react. I don't think any goalie could have stopped that shot; there was nothing Miller could do. Although the Canadian team began to celebrate wildly I became very proud of our team. They played their hearts out. They were gracious, even though the sting of the defeat could be seen on their faces. They respectfully watched the Canadian team receive the ovations of their home crowd. I suppose destiny ultimately would not allow the US to win. Nevertheless, I am now a fan of hockey thanks to Team USA. They are great ambassadors of the sport.

A Little Perspective, Please.

By now we have all heard Tiger Woods's very public apology. While we can all debate why he was forced to make an apology to us, it is very disconcerting that the media devoted so much attention to an issue that
really should not be within their purview. Since when is someone's infidelity our business? What is it about sex that enthralls us? Why was President Clinton impeached for lying about having sex with an intern, yet nothing happens to George W. Bush, whose lies led to the deaths of many innocent soldiers and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan?

As the public and the media cling to the Tiger Woods saga like young puppies to their mothers' milk, many other stories, of real importance are being missed. No one is paying attention to the number of corporations investing so much money into the Tea Party movement, such as the Ensuring Liberty Corporation, which interestingly enough, does not disclose its sources or the amounts given to it. Check out Open Secrets to review some interesting data.

More sinister yet mundane to the public and the media are these statistics: 78 rapes occur per hour (1,871 per day), one rape occurs every 6 minutes (using this figure that would mean that 10 women were raped while Woods issued his mea culpa--where is the outrage for that??). In the U.S. there are over 3,400 animal shelters, yet there are only 1,200 shelters for battered women. Check out the Women's Defence Center for more interesting statistics. Instead of fixating on the behavior/misbehavior of celebrities we need to focus more on addressing issues that have more relevance to us as a society.

Leave Tiger Woods alone. What he did should only be important to his wife and to him. For those who argue that they portrayed him as a role model to their children, I say this, shouldn't YOU be the ideal role model?

Being booed before you join the 'Evil Empire'

Imagine being booed because of your association with you a team you haven't played yet. When Johnny Damon left the Boston Red Sox for the New York Yankees, he was soundly booed by Red Sox fans when he returned to Fenway Park with his new team. This is natural. Seldom does this occur before a players plays a single game for the perceived 'bad' team. Today's game between Racing Santander and F.C. Barcelona in Spain's La Liga featured this unique reaction from fans. Sergio Canales is Racing Santander's young superstar midfielder who agreed to play for Real Madrid next year. Real Madrid and F.C. Barcelona are bitter rivals and Barcelona's fans made sure to remind Canales of that, booing him lustily after his name was announced and whenever he touched the ball. He now has a taste of what to expect next year when he and his new team play F.C. Barcelona. In the photo Canales (in green) works his magic on several Barcelona players.

Internationalized US Higher Education

I read an interesting article on the Inevitability of the Internationalization of higher education in the US today in the Chronicle of Higher Education. I found some of the postings by commentators very interesting. They touch on some of the shortcomings of campus internationalization.  Check it out!

Edgar Lee Masters

Here is another excellent poem from the great Richard Eberhart (1904-2005).

                         Edgar Lee Masters

          I am old, stony-faced, and hard,
          But I had fire when I was young.

         I began telling it like it was
         Shortly after it was like it was.

         It has never been so again
        And I have never been so either.

        I felt the real itch of the people
        From swinging on their grave stones.

       Now I have been made into a stamp.
       I always knew I would take a licking.

Guernica in 3D

My favorite work of art, and one of the most powerful anti-war statements of the 20th century, Guernica, by Pablo Picasso still has important influence today. Shortly before his ill-advised presentation making the case for war against Iraq in 2003, Colin Powell asked the United Nations to place a drape over the Guernica copy so that his disquisition would not be distracted by Guernica's message.

Now, an artist based in New York City, Lena Gieseke, has created a 3D version of this masterpiece and I found it very emotive, literally drawing me into the work. In this way, I encountered more details within the work, the poignancy that Picasso captured so well and the suffering that the people of Guernica suffered that day in 1937. 


To check it out, visit Lena Gieseke's link at: Lena Gieseke's Guernica in 3D

 

The wise words of William Blake

I recently read some poetry written by the English poet William Blake (1757-1827) and several lines in particular caught my attention, for obvious reasons, given my current situation. From his poem "Auguries of Innocence" I found this gem:

Man was made for Joy & Woe
And when this we rightly know
Thro the World we safely go
Joy & Woe are woven fine
A Clothing for the soul divine
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine

Thank you, William Blake, for showing me perspective.

The Flag by Richard Eberhart

The Winter Olympic Games have begun and as we brace ourselves for all the flag waving and patriotic/nationalist fervor that will accompany each celebration, I think it is appropriate to look at an interesting poem by the poet Richard Eberhart.
                                            
                                             The Flag

                             The flag was a fabric to wave in victory,

                             Hold up in defeat.

                             It was the symbol of the tribe,

                             Tribe nationalism.

                             When World War II was raging

                             Each side held up its particular flag. 

                             As millions were dying

                             Which side was God on?

                             We held ours at Iwo Jima, 

                             A picture of belief.

                             Lee held his up at Bull Run.

                             All wars are man's defeat.

You are not John Denver, Bono. Period.

It always amuses me when a rock star suddenly sees the light and makes a televised effort to fight poverty, decry war and address multitudinous social and demographic problems. When the cameras are turned off, the crowd disperses and the horrific events of a recent tragedy fade into distant memory, the stars go back to their opulent and sheltered lifestyles. They did their good deed and they can proceed home with a clean conscience. Recently, the organizers who gave us "We are the World" have gathered the current top recording artists to re-record the song to raise money for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Now matter how much media attention and limelight they focus on themselves, they cannot extricate themselves from a rather large shadow; the shadow of John Denver. Denver, known as "A Song's Best Friend" (with good reason!) was a troubadour who made singing for people, world peace and the environment a fundamental part of his repertoire. He founded the Windstar Foundation in 1976 to promote protection of the environment, visited Africa in the 1980s (long before Bono), gave a concert to victims of Chernobyl, gave concerts in the USSR in the spirit of inspiring thawing of relations with the US, toured China as an unofficial cultural ambassador, represented the United Nations as a citizen ambassador and worked to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to name a few things. Yes, when he approached the organizers of the original "We are the World" to participate in it, he was turned down because they thought his image would hurt the credibility of the song. What a joke! This man did more humanitarian work than those other vainglorious singers. For them to treat him like that is a joke. In his 1994 autobiography, Denver wrote, "[i]t broke my heart to not be included in the Live Aid, Band Aid, and We are the World concerts; even in being a helping hand one couldn't avoid political divisiveness."

Yet now, we have Bono, lead singer of U2, imploring us to give money to aid the battle against AIDS and poverty in Africa, through disquisitions at his concerts and officious Op-Ed pieces in the New York Times. It seems that in addition to his battle to reinvent himself to suit the changing tastes of a fickle public and appear younger than he is, he has decided to add the title of crusader to his resume. But his approach is all wrong. He is asking the public to make financial contributions to the causes that combat some of the most urgent social problems in the world today. John Denver, on the other hand, inspired us to make the world a better place by being better people, to take the time to appreciate the precious moments natures gives us. While Denver later became ridiculed for being too cheery or cheesy, he was at the end of the day, much more sincere in his concern for the environment and for other people. Now as the world is rocked by violence, natural disasters and a damaged economy, it might find that it can take solace from John Denver. The journalist Diane Priestly recently wrote, "We all need John Denver in our lives. His positive, uplifting music is a force for good in a destructive and violent world. Thankfully the spirit of John Denver will never die. His music will live on for generations." Truer words were never spoken.

So, Bono, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie, you may have outsold John Denver and currently reap the accolades that accompany any effort to aid people affected by disaster, but no matter what you do, you will never reach the legacy of John Denver.

The Curse of the Sports Illustrated Cover

For years now, it has been said that whoever appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine immediately suffers a sub-par performance, a momentous defeat or an injury. It appears that the curse continues. Following her appearance on the February 8, 2010 issue of Sports Illustrated, US ski champion and Olympic gold medal hopeful Lindsey Vonn suffered a deep muscle injury on her leg (her shin), which threatens her ability to participate in the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. This incident is one in a long list of Sports Illustrated casualties, which include Mo Vaugh and Dwight Evans of the Boston Red Sox, Evel Knievel and Lee Trevino, to name a few.

Although I did not appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, I, too have fallen victim to a similar curse. Ever since my appearance on the cover of the renowned and esoteric Riches magazine last year, I have run into a period of bad luck: I was laid off from work, followed by flooding in my apartment, harassing phone calls from Texas, neck and shoulder injuries and temporary eviction from my apartment. I also learned that I owe the US government and the state of Massachusetts some money. It just doesn't get any better than this, folks.

Looking back now, I realize that I should not have agreed to be interviewed by the sultry and vixen-like Ayelovde Monet from Riches magazine. I believe she also advised the lovely Erin Andrews to visit a certain hotel out west. I won't go into details on what happened there! But I have learned how to turn a negative into a positive (except when it comes to dollars and cents, of course!). I am rapidly approaching my one-year anniversary of unemployment. Instead of moping about like a Reds Sox fan during a Yankee victory, I have opted to take a more celebratory approach: I will drink champagne and make a toast (Wonder bread) to this occasion. In this day and age where we all celebrate milestones, I think it is quite appropriate for me to do so.

You do not perceive me

''I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids - and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me." (from The Invisible Man, prologue). These words, perhaps the single most powerful personal and social statement of the 20^th century, were written by Ralph Ellison in his classic The Invisible Man. Today, as we celebrate Black History Month, I find that they still have much relevance today, although for different reasons than what Ellison was alluding to when he wrote them. I find myself in a similar state of alienation and isolation to what Ellison expressed. While the state of invisibility Ellison describes is a much more serious social problem than what I and 11 million other Americans are experiencing, the discomfort, frustration and difficulties that accompany that feeling are similar. I have been unemployed for over eight months and it appears as of this writing that I will reach the dubious distinction of having gone unemployed for one whole year.

I am living but I often feel as if I am on the periphery of society, that is, people see me on the street, but they do not know what I have been going through these last few months. They think I am just like them, when I am not. Often I feel a detachment from everyone I see; I have nothing in common with them. This feeling extends to most of my friends. Many still have work and are firmly connected to the routines of daily employed life. From them exudes a view of life different from mine. For this reason alone, I tend to associate more closely with friends who have lost their jobs. Only they can understand me at this moment. Right now, my ambitions have been put on hold and my dreams scatter around me like leaves in the wind, having been transmuted from permanent to ephemeral; from achievable to distant.

I feel like an invisible person whose presence is only detected by family and my close friends. Abandoned am I by the organizations in my field who claim to assist international educators, I have taken it upon myself to create a community where we ‘ghosts’ can interact with each other. It is funny, living as a number, a figure. Sure we make up a faceless community, whose existence is known to the general public only as a percentage and nothing more.

The simple fact of the matter is that there is an unseen wall between those of us with jobs and those of us ‘floating’ and struggling to regain our footing. It is a porous wall that allows us to intermingle with those who have work, but going through that wall feels almost like I am breaching some protocol. I have always been observant and my employment interstice has allowed me to look at society through a different lens. It is amazing how your status can affect how you view things.

I know I will work again, although I do not know when. It is funny, hearing university students complaining about how stressed they are about an upcoming exam. I just quietly smile to myself and walk away. It is funny to think about what we consider ‘stressful.’Although this experience has been far from pleasant, I have learned a great deal from it and it has made me a much better person; much stronger in outlook and perseverance. In the end, this is a characteristic I will cherish much more than holding a job.

Michael Westen vs. MacGyver

Ever since I started watching "Burn Notice" featuring the ex-spy Michael Westen, I immediately drew parallels between him and MacGyver, the 1980s hit about an adventurer who worked for the Phoenix Foundation. Both characters feature an uncanny knack for being very creative and coming up with devices, bombs, solutions, etc. out of common every-day items. MacGyver could practically create a bomb out of gum and a paper clip. Michael Westen, played by Jeffrey Donovan, has a harder edge than MacGyver, not afraid to mix it up with some of the nefarious villains he deals with. But essentially he is the same as MacGyver in his tendency to support the downtrodden; the little guy. Last week's episode featured Westen creating a bomb out of a microwave oven and various cleaning solutions. Brilliant! It is easy to see why this show is a good one. Looking back at old MacGyver episodes, it is entertaining to relive some of the archaic, campy expressions from the 1980s! I am content that the spirit, and the goodness, of MacGyver lives on in Michael Westen. It is too bad he did not have the cast of supporting characters that Westen does, however! If you would like to compare both heroes, go to the following website which features a poll comparing Westen and MacGyver: http://www.fanpop.com/spots/burn-notice/picks/show/12111/who-would-win-fight-michael-westen-mcgyver

Who would you pick?

When athletics take a back seat to academics

We have become so sports-centric as a society, where even analogies or idiomatic expressions are in some way related to a sport, we are often stunned when an athlete chooses academics over athletics. Pierre Henderson-Niles, a forward for the University of Memphis basketball team, recently announced that he was leaving the team. While many people will debate his reasons for this decision, one thing that attracted my attention was that he said he was going to focus on his studies and graduate. Good for him! One look at the headline of the ESPN article is illustrative of how skewed our priorities are. It reads "Henderson-Niles exits, leaves Memphis in a bind." Perhaps a more accurate heading would have read "Henderson-Niles exits, focuses on his studies (or graduation)." ESPN seems to think that Henderson-Niles's decision was a selfish one that has put the basketball team in a bad position. This thinking is misplaced. Do not students attend university to study and focus on sports as a secondary objective? Yes, I know that for many players university basketball programs are their ticket to the NBA and to fame, lucrative contracts, etc. But the mission and purpose of a university education should not be lost amidst the hoopla of "March Madness" or draft day.

We may never know Henderson-Niles's reasons for leaving the basketball team, but I, for one, am glad that rather than leave the university, he chose to remain on campus and focus on his studies. Another football player who also drew my attention is Myron Rolle, the football player from Florida State University, who won a Rhodes Scholarship last year to study at the prestigious Oxford University. He is a true example of the student-athlete who has represented us well overseas (secretly, I would love to know which English Premier League he followed while there!) and I am sure he will serve as a fine example to future student athletes. His message is simple: you don't have to give up your academic pursuits to accomplish athletic goals. I know somewhere Richard Hofstadter is smiling in approval.

What does it mean to watch the Super Bowl?

As we all recover from the virtually non-stop coverage and pre- and post-commentary surrounding the Super Bowl, I thought I would share an interesting article with all of you. By the way, I missed most of the game as I went to see an excellent film "Brazos Rotos"(Broken Embraces) by Pedro Almodóvar (el maestro). I really did not feel like watching a stream of inane commercials interrupted by an American football game between the Colts and the Saints. Besides, how could I resist the chance to see the alluring Penélope Cruz on the big screen.

Back to my initial point. The NFL and US cable networks often claim that the Super Bowl is watched by billions of people around the world (Tea Bag Party members have even claimed that denizens of Sarah Palin's home planet also watch this spectacle. So far no proof has been offered to confirm this). A recent study suggests that the figures provided by the NFL and the networks are not what they seem. In a sport that has astronomical budgets, hyperbolic personalities and bloated salaries, is it really surprising that some world-wide audience figures might also be suggested? Check out "The Whole World Isn't Watching (But We Thought They Were): The Superbowl and U.S. Solipism" by Christopher R. Martin and Jimmie L. Reeves. It is an excellent read.

Karaoke Rage

We have all heard of road rage or helicopter parents which are temporary afflictions that convert normal people into raving lunatics. Now, apparently, there is a new manifestation: Karaoke Rage. According to the New York Times, a number of people have been murdered in the Philippines after singing (mangling?) the Frank Sinatra classic "My Way." Coincidence? Or perhaps there is something morbid about the character of karaoke fans. Not being a devotee of this particular form of entertainment (although after trying it once, I was told to never do it again), I cannot grasp the dynamics behind this phenomenon but it gives new meaning to 'musical assault.' For me, at least, Avril Lavigne can no longer claim this term exclusively for herself(just listen to her version of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" and you will know what I mean).

It seems that some people who sing a certain song on karaoke 'claim' it for themselves and if they hear someone else sing a poor version of it, they become riled up and aggressive. I know that I am safe since I do not frequent karaoke bars, but if you and some friends are thinking of showing off your musical skills at a karaoke bar, be careful.

To read more about the 'My Way' killings and similar karaoke assaults visit this link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/world/asia/07karaoke.html?th&emc=th

I miss you, James Joyce

A couple of years ago I read James Joyce's classic "Ulysses" and I have often thought of it. It seems these days there are very few books that can leave that type of impression or have people think in a way that they usually do not. For many people works from the 'Lit Light' genre fit the bill of 'reading.' In a sense, they are right for they serve a purpose, but how many of them force the reader to apply their intellect in an assiduous manner, often forcing him or her to refer to other books he/she may have read? Very few do that. Here are some of my favorite passages from "Ulysses" (with my note at the end):

EDWARD THE SEVENTH

(Levitates over heaps of slain in the garb and with the halo of Joking Jesus, a white jujube in his phosphorescent face.)

My methods are new and are causing surprise.
To make the blind see I throw dust in their eyes.
(p. 577)

“It rains dragon’s teeth.” (p. 585)

“Bread, the staff of life, earn your bread. O tell me where is fancy bread? At Rourke’s the baker’s it is said.” (p. 600)

This is a line from Shakespeare.
-Merchant of Venice. “O tell me where is fancy bread, or in the heart or in the head?”

In Honorem J.D. Salinger

With the passing of J.D. Salinger we have lost a truly iconic author whose inimitable style left an immutable impression on the landscape of American literature. I remember reading "Catcher in the Rye" over 20 years ago and thoroughly enjoying every page I read. Heck, I even started using the expression "chewing the rag" so that I could sound like Holden Caulfied.

While today the Harry Potter books may rule book sales, I do not believe that it has the durability or appeal that "Cather in the Rye" has. Salinger's classic transcended generations and spoke to a youthful meandering that we can all related to. Jack Kerouac's classic "On the Road" for me is similar, but I still like "Catcher" better.

Enough has been written about Salinger's passing so I will not add to it, but I will speak to something he commented to a friend. His friend Lillian Ross recounted that Salinger was deeply impressed that a Maytag salesman had quoted the English writer John Ruskin. Salinger related to Ross, "God, how I sill love private readers. It's what we all used to be." Given the decline of reading and the plethora of visual-based technologies, his statement has resonance with me. His death saddens me, not only because we lost a giant of American literature, but because there is now one less devoted reader in the world. Rest in peace, J.D. Salinger.

Man-made Languages

Bored with learning languages like Spanish, Italian, German or Latin? Well, there may be hope for you! We all know about Klingon and how its creation has generated a slew of devoted fans who actually speak it. But did you know that there are over 800 man-made languages in existence? I am sure you have heard of Esperanto, but have you heard of Loglan or Ars Signorum? How about Evoluto or Mu-Nba-B? If mastering the Spanish subjunctive has caused you endless frustration and headaches, rest assured that there are quite a few other options for you!

All kidding aside, Arika Okrent has written a captivating book about the various man-made languages out there and some of the crazy personalities who have invented them. Believe it or not, Esperanto was not the first man-made language. The first man-made language made an appearance in the 12th century (Lingua Ignota). Whether you are a traditional linguist or are just curious to learn about some of the man-made languages out there, you will enjoy this book. Who knows? Reading it might inspire you to return to fine-tuning your Spanish skills!

Long Live Burnley!

Yesterday I wrote about Xerez, the 'colista' in the
Spanish La Liga and how, despite a huge gap between their budget and those of the super rich teams, I have come to root for them.

They are actually my second team as I have been following Burnley since the summer of 2009. They were promoted from the First Division to the Premiership and have played well, defeating the likes of Manchester United and Everton. Although, they have stumbled as of late and are venturing dangerously close to the relegation zone, they display strong grit and a never-say-die attitude. They very nearly drew with the mega-powerful frontrunners Chelsea, falling in the end to a late John Terry header, but they fought hard and with each match convince me they deserve to be in the Premier League. In the photo, we see Burnley's David Nugent wreaking havoc on Tim Howard and the Everton defense.
Follow them at: http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com

¡Viva Xerez!

In this day and age of million dollar athletes and powerhouse college and professional sports programs, it is easy for many fans to become turned off from the teams that they have followed, adhering to the belief that their teams have become corporate. There are teams out there that are very easy to pull for. Xerez, is a soccer team from Andalucia that is playing in Spain's First Division for the first time in its 60 year history. While the results are not what they would want (they have won 2 and lost 13 and have only 11 points as they are dead last and face relegation). Nevertheless, this team has moxie and grit and do not give up. They play within themselves and have no pretensions of being anything other than Xerez, football team. They played the best they could against the mighty Real Madrid and Barcelona, and although they lost, I came to admire them. Who says you have to have a winning record to be inspiring? Keep going, Xerez, continue to show us what the true essence of sports is all about. Check out the clubs website at: http://www.zerezcd.com.