Thursday, June 11, 2009
Fuck Off
If one more person asks me for money on the streets of Chicago I'm going to pepper spray them. I used to be a very generous soul but as I get older this bleeding heart of mine has been flicked out the window like a joint when you spot the cops. If these people hadn't pissed off, stolen from or deceived every single person in their lives that ever cared about them they wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. There's a recession on you useless waste of space and I need the money for booze too. And if one more person tries to get me to give them a "donation" for handing me a "FREE" paper like "The Onion" BEWARE because you may see me on the news later. I'll be standing on top of a skyscraper with a sniper (don't worry I'll find a way to get one, some crazy gun hoarder hates these people as much as I do) and it will be "shoot to kill" on anyone I see with a cup for change or a sign (I can see that far because the gun hoarder dude will also lend me some nifty eyewear). On the other hand, if you ask me to buy you lunch I will be happy to oblige. I always do. With a smile. I'll even let you keep the change.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Too little, too late...
I saw my grandmother, Manuela, for the first time in six years on Saturday. She was visiting from Texas. It was a reunion of mixed emotion. I was so happy to see her and I hugged her so tight and kissed her so much, but so sad because I wonder if it’s the last time I’ll see her and there are so many things unsaid. So many things that I want to know about her. But I’d have to ask my father to translate and I don’t want to embarrass her.
Every year the little bit of English that she remembers dwindles a little more. My Spanish skills are almost non-existent from the few years I studied in high school almost 15 years ago.
When I walked into my Aunt’s house, where my grandmother was staying, after the gratuitous hugs and kisses the first thing she asked me was if I was hungry. Just like a Grandmother always does. I said I was starving. I excused myself for a minute and when I came to the kitchen I was surprised (but not really) to see a huge plate of food waiting for me that consisted of an enormous roast beef sandwich with at least three pieces of cheese, a half (yes, a half) of a sliced pineapple, 4 sugar cookies the size of my hands and a pint glass full of milk. Then she assured me not to worry. The tortillas would be ready in a minute. Only a grandmother would feed you like that. I ate every bite of it.
As I sat there eating we just looked at each other and smiled. She said “You know my English, not so good no more, but if you’re happy mija, I’m happy too.” I assured her that I was very happy.
I told her how excited I was for my boyfriend to meet her, how I talked about her all the time. She said “If he no meet me, he no miss much. Twenty years ago, no wrinkles, better.” I laughed and told her she was beautiful, that she was in her prime.
I sat there watching her as she hustled around the kitchen like she always had since I can remember, thinking about times that we’d shared. We were so close when I was a child before she and my grandfather moved back to Texas. My grandmother didn’t want to go, her children and me, her only grandchild until 5 years ago, were all here in Illinois. But she went.
I used to spend every Sunday with her. I remembered our walks to the ice cream shop, the awesome turquoise genie costume she made me for Halloween when I was 7, so awesome that I played dress up in it well until it didn’t fit anymore. I remembered my stuffed kitty that grew mold on it after it was left outside in the rain and how she magically restored it to just like new.
I remembered how she helped me write a letter to my parents the first time I spent the night because I thought that they’d left me. She assured me they’d be back in a few hours but I was adamant. She walked me to the mailbox well after 10 p.m. and let me mail the letter.
I remembered when I was 15, visiting Brownsville when she tried to teach me how to make tortillas from scratch so I could impress my future husband. I was appalled at the amount of Crisco she used and thought if I cooked for my husband like that every day I’d kill him for sure. So I tried my best to learn in case that was a skill I would need in the future. But no such luck. I could never get my tortillas round like hers. Mine always looked like different countries on a map. I swear I made Italy once. My tortilla had a boot!
I think of these things and I watch her and I smile. I smile like an idiot, like a silent film actress, so she will know how happy I am to see her and how much she means to me and how well I’m doing. I smile with the hope that she knows how much I really do love her and how sorry I am that I never made more of an effort.
It’s my fault that I haven’t seen her in such a long time. I could have made more time. We talk at birthdays and holidays but we can only say so much. I’m always too busy. Too busy to make a five minute phone call or take 3 days off, too busy for life. Being too busy is catching up to me.
The older I get the more I realize what I take for granted. My grandmother is going home soon, home to my grandfather who is losing his mind to Alzheimer’s and as I write this I’m telling myself that enough is enough and from now on I will call her everyday just to hear her voice and tell her that I love her.
But I know myself and I know how I make these little resolutions and then never follow through because there’s always tomorrow, until there isn’t.
Every year the little bit of English that she remembers dwindles a little more. My Spanish skills are almost non-existent from the few years I studied in high school almost 15 years ago.
When I walked into my Aunt’s house, where my grandmother was staying, after the gratuitous hugs and kisses the first thing she asked me was if I was hungry. Just like a Grandmother always does. I said I was starving. I excused myself for a minute and when I came to the kitchen I was surprised (but not really) to see a huge plate of food waiting for me that consisted of an enormous roast beef sandwich with at least three pieces of cheese, a half (yes, a half) of a sliced pineapple, 4 sugar cookies the size of my hands and a pint glass full of milk. Then she assured me not to worry. The tortillas would be ready in a minute. Only a grandmother would feed you like that. I ate every bite of it.
As I sat there eating we just looked at each other and smiled. She said “You know my English, not so good no more, but if you’re happy mija, I’m happy too.” I assured her that I was very happy.
I told her how excited I was for my boyfriend to meet her, how I talked about her all the time. She said “If he no meet me, he no miss much. Twenty years ago, no wrinkles, better.” I laughed and told her she was beautiful, that she was in her prime.
I sat there watching her as she hustled around the kitchen like she always had since I can remember, thinking about times that we’d shared. We were so close when I was a child before she and my grandfather moved back to Texas. My grandmother didn’t want to go, her children and me, her only grandchild until 5 years ago, were all here in Illinois. But she went.
I used to spend every Sunday with her. I remembered our walks to the ice cream shop, the awesome turquoise genie costume she made me for Halloween when I was 7, so awesome that I played dress up in it well until it didn’t fit anymore. I remembered my stuffed kitty that grew mold on it after it was left outside in the rain and how she magically restored it to just like new.
I remembered how she helped me write a letter to my parents the first time I spent the night because I thought that they’d left me. She assured me they’d be back in a few hours but I was adamant. She walked me to the mailbox well after 10 p.m. and let me mail the letter.
I remembered when I was 15, visiting Brownsville when she tried to teach me how to make tortillas from scratch so I could impress my future husband. I was appalled at the amount of Crisco she used and thought if I cooked for my husband like that every day I’d kill him for sure. So I tried my best to learn in case that was a skill I would need in the future. But no such luck. I could never get my tortillas round like hers. Mine always looked like different countries on a map. I swear I made Italy once. My tortilla had a boot!
I think of these things and I watch her and I smile. I smile like an idiot, like a silent film actress, so she will know how happy I am to see her and how much she means to me and how well I’m doing. I smile with the hope that she knows how much I really do love her and how sorry I am that I never made more of an effort.
It’s my fault that I haven’t seen her in such a long time. I could have made more time. We talk at birthdays and holidays but we can only say so much. I’m always too busy. Too busy to make a five minute phone call or take 3 days off, too busy for life. Being too busy is catching up to me.
The older I get the more I realize what I take for granted. My grandmother is going home soon, home to my grandfather who is losing his mind to Alzheimer’s and as I write this I’m telling myself that enough is enough and from now on I will call her everyday just to hear her voice and tell her that I love her.
But I know myself and I know how I make these little resolutions and then never follow through because there’s always tomorrow, until there isn’t.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
It's a maid! It's a slut! No! It's...a spunky cop?
Latina actresses in mainstream Hollywood have been severely limited for decades in the roles written for them and how they are portrayed on screen. They are maids (fiery and exotic or matronly, but maids nonetheless), who barely speak English, man-crazy sluts waiting for the next married man they can sink their “blood of the Virgin” red nails into or they can be - the spunky cop.
The spunky cop who doesn’t back down and can make a man “Freeze” just because she’s hot.
And rest assured she’s always hot. Just because these ladies are fighting crime doesn’t mean they don’t take time to pull themselves together before they grab those big nightsticks and head out for duty.
Daphne Rubin-Vega in “Wild Things,” Michelle Rodriguez in “S.W.A.T,” Rosie Perez in “Pineapple Express,” Jennifer Lopez in “Angel Eyes,” and lest we forget Eva Longoria-Parker in “The Sentinel.” Because you know, the first time I saw all 5 foot 2 inches of Eva Longoria-Parker’s size zero behind, the first thing I thought was “That woman was born to play a tough Secret Service agent.”
Rachel Ticotin has made a career of portraying cops in films and on television like in “Falling Down,” “Con-Air,” “Crime and Punishment,” “Where the day takes you,” and most recently “Lost.”
Think about it? When was the last time you saw a movie and the female law enforcement side- kick wasn’t a Latina?
We’re still maids. Let’s not forget “Spanglish” and the awful “Maid in Manhattan.” J. Lo please, you’re killin’ me.
I’m not trying to put down cleaning women, sluts or police officers. Working as a cleaning woman is a respectable job and whom some may call a slut, others may call free-spirited. I certainly respect law enforcement and cops are great- when you need them.
But is that all there is for Latinas in Hollywood? Are they forever burdened in these roles? Where are doctors, lawyers, journalists, professors, CEO’s, architects and analysts? For Pete’s sake, Denise Richards played a nuclear-physicist in “The World is not Enough.” A hot nuclear physicist, but a physicist just the same!
I think it’s great that that Hollywood finds Latinas to be beautiful as well as tough and strong, women who can hang with the boys and look good doing it. When they portray these officers they certainly aren’t meek.
I respect that Latinas have been bumped up to the more respectable role of law enforcer, but why does that role always have to be filled by a Latina?
Why is it never an Irish woman or an Australian woman or just an “American” woman? My point is the role is not usually filled by someone of an Anglo look. Does Hollywood find the job too dirty or gritty for a white woman? Would a white woman never consider a career in law enforcement?
It’s up to Latinas to create strong, educated and powerful roles for themselves. Hollywood is controlled by middle-aged and elderly men who couldn’t separate a Latina woman from a stereotype if she served it to them on a plate of tamales.
Let’s encourage all Latinas interested in the arts and film to take control of their destinies. Because everyone knows you should never send a man to do a woman’s job.
The spunky cop who doesn’t back down and can make a man “Freeze” just because she’s hot.
And rest assured she’s always hot. Just because these ladies are fighting crime doesn’t mean they don’t take time to pull themselves together before they grab those big nightsticks and head out for duty.
Daphne Rubin-Vega in “Wild Things,” Michelle Rodriguez in “S.W.A.T,” Rosie Perez in “Pineapple Express,” Jennifer Lopez in “Angel Eyes,” and lest we forget Eva Longoria-Parker in “The Sentinel.” Because you know, the first time I saw all 5 foot 2 inches of Eva Longoria-Parker’s size zero behind, the first thing I thought was “That woman was born to play a tough Secret Service agent.”
Rachel Ticotin has made a career of portraying cops in films and on television like in “Falling Down,” “Con-Air,” “Crime and Punishment,” “Where the day takes you,” and most recently “Lost.”
Think about it? When was the last time you saw a movie and the female law enforcement side- kick wasn’t a Latina?
We’re still maids. Let’s not forget “Spanglish” and the awful “Maid in Manhattan.” J. Lo please, you’re killin’ me.
I’m not trying to put down cleaning women, sluts or police officers. Working as a cleaning woman is a respectable job and whom some may call a slut, others may call free-spirited. I certainly respect law enforcement and cops are great- when you need them.
But is that all there is for Latinas in Hollywood? Are they forever burdened in these roles? Where are doctors, lawyers, journalists, professors, CEO’s, architects and analysts? For Pete’s sake, Denise Richards played a nuclear-physicist in “The World is not Enough.” A hot nuclear physicist, but a physicist just the same!
I think it’s great that that Hollywood finds Latinas to be beautiful as well as tough and strong, women who can hang with the boys and look good doing it. When they portray these officers they certainly aren’t meek.
I respect that Latinas have been bumped up to the more respectable role of law enforcer, but why does that role always have to be filled by a Latina?
Why is it never an Irish woman or an Australian woman or just an “American” woman? My point is the role is not usually filled by someone of an Anglo look. Does Hollywood find the job too dirty or gritty for a white woman? Would a white woman never consider a career in law enforcement?
It’s up to Latinas to create strong, educated and powerful roles for themselves. Hollywood is controlled by middle-aged and elderly men who couldn’t separate a Latina woman from a stereotype if she served it to them on a plate of tamales.
Let’s encourage all Latinas interested in the arts and film to take control of their destinies. Because everyone knows you should never send a man to do a woman’s job.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Seriously, enough already
Can the celebrity journalist weight-control police take it down a notch for just one week? Just one. One week of no reporting about extreme dieting and celebrity thunder thighs.
Scarlett Johansson is the latest target. Johansson, who has always displayed one of the more normal looking bodies in Hollywood, has been under scrutiny because of her recent weight loss estimated at around 15 pounds. She is being accused of starving herself and succumbing to a brutal workout regimen at the urging of her co-stars.
Johansson does not deny that she has indeed lost weight. She said that she’s never worked out as hard as this in her life because she is getting her voluptuous curves cat-suit ready for her role in “Iron Man 2.” She is denying, however, that she is resorting to drastic measures to do so.
Would Hollywood and the public accept a curvier Johansson in a cat suit? Probably not. She’s damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t.
Stars like Nicole Ritchie and Lindsay Lohan have been on both sides of the weight debate, first being called too fat and then too thin after the dramatic weight losses they both experienced. Jessica Simpson was recently publicly humiliated because of her size. Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Love Hewitt were both blasted for (Egads!) having cellulite, Love Hewitt made the cover of People because of it. And Valerie Bertinelli, who was initially praised because of her weight-loss using Jenny Craig, is now being scrutinized for setting the bridge too high for ladies over 40.
All of these ladies look fantastic. What kind of message does this send to the women of America? Women who compare themselves to these celebrities? Women who think, “What must people think about me if they think SHE looks bad?”
The South Carolina Department of Mental Health said seven million women in America suffer from an eating disorder. Eating disorders do not discriminate. The rates of women affected by them are roughly the same for all races. The average person is exposed to a few hundred advertisements a day. They all feature perfect looking people pitching products. Nearly half of all Americans know someone who suffers from an eating disorder.
There seems to be no happy medium when it comes to celebrities, body image and average American women. Johansson, who said she “enjoys a grilled cheese as much as the next person” but keeps a healthy balance in her diet, should be applauded for blasting back against the media from “her healthy heart” as she says on her blog. Do us a favor celebrity-tabloids and give it a rest. We’re tired of hearing about it. American women everywhere, you’re all beautiful. Now go make yourselves a grilled cheese.
Scarlett Johansson is the latest target. Johansson, who has always displayed one of the more normal looking bodies in Hollywood, has been under scrutiny because of her recent weight loss estimated at around 15 pounds. She is being accused of starving herself and succumbing to a brutal workout regimen at the urging of her co-stars.
Johansson does not deny that she has indeed lost weight. She said that she’s never worked out as hard as this in her life because she is getting her voluptuous curves cat-suit ready for her role in “Iron Man 2.” She is denying, however, that she is resorting to drastic measures to do so.
Would Hollywood and the public accept a curvier Johansson in a cat suit? Probably not. She’s damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t.
Stars like Nicole Ritchie and Lindsay Lohan have been on both sides of the weight debate, first being called too fat and then too thin after the dramatic weight losses they both experienced. Jessica Simpson was recently publicly humiliated because of her size. Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Love Hewitt were both blasted for (Egads!) having cellulite, Love Hewitt made the cover of People because of it. And Valerie Bertinelli, who was initially praised because of her weight-loss using Jenny Craig, is now being scrutinized for setting the bridge too high for ladies over 40.
All of these ladies look fantastic. What kind of message does this send to the women of America? Women who compare themselves to these celebrities? Women who think, “What must people think about me if they think SHE looks bad?”
The South Carolina Department of Mental Health said seven million women in America suffer from an eating disorder. Eating disorders do not discriminate. The rates of women affected by them are roughly the same for all races. The average person is exposed to a few hundred advertisements a day. They all feature perfect looking people pitching products. Nearly half of all Americans know someone who suffers from an eating disorder.
There seems to be no happy medium when it comes to celebrities, body image and average American women. Johansson, who said she “enjoys a grilled cheese as much as the next person” but keeps a healthy balance in her diet, should be applauded for blasting back against the media from “her healthy heart” as she says on her blog. Do us a favor celebrity-tabloids and give it a rest. We’re tired of hearing about it. American women everywhere, you’re all beautiful. Now go make yourselves a grilled cheese.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Easy Ways to Pair Wine and Food
Pairing wine and food can be a lot of fun and when chosen wisely can make everyday dining a whole new exciting and palate-pleasing experience. Whether you are trying to make the right choices for a family party, are out on date or just want to appreciate cuisine with a new approach, these tips can help anyone gain a basic knowledge behind pairing wine and food.
Kendall-Jackson sommelier Erin Minnihan and Maxine Vasquez, bar manager and organizer of monthly wine and appetizer tastings at Braxton Seafood Grill in Oak Brook, offer tips to enjoy the most popular varietals of red and white wines.
Red Wines:
Merlot- The most widely planted grape in France’s Bordeaux region. An easy-to-drink wine that is great for the beginner. They can be light and fruity or deep and velvety. Some aromas and flavors found in Merlot are blueberry, black cherry, vanilla and plum. Merlot can be paired nicely with meats like venison, veal, lamb or turkey and oily fishes.
Try: Francis Coppola Diamond Collection.
Cabernet- Originating in the Bordeaux region, the cabernet grape is now planted in almost every wine producing country. Cabernet is full bodied, robust and full of tannins. Some aromas and flavors found in cabernet are chocolate, smoke, cedar, black cherry and black current. Cabernet is paired nicely with rich foods, spicy foods and heavy meats and sauces. Vasquez said, “Tannins love fat! So a cabernet is going to great with a steak. Just remember big cab equals big steak.”
Try: J Lohr Hilltop
Pinot Noir- The most expensive pinot noirs are found in France’s Burgundy region. The most common and most affordable are grown in California and Oregon. Pinot Noir can be fruity or smoky and silky. Some aromas and flavors found in Pinot Noir are raspberry, violets, cherry and plum. Vasquez said Pinot Noir is a great introductory wine and goes great with smoked salmon or prime rib. Pinot Noir is also paired nicely with rabbit or veal and pasta dishes.
Try: La Crema
Syrah and Shiraz- This grape comes from France’s Rhone Valley where it is known as Syrah and it is the signature grape of Australia where it is known as Shiraz. Syrah can be intense and spicy or fruity. Some aromas found in Syrah are blackberry, raspberry, chocolate and pepper. Syrah is paired nicely with smoky barbequed food, game birds, spicy foods and stews.
Try: Frei Brothers
White Wines:
Chardonnay- The hands-down most popular white wine around. Originally grown in France’s Burgundy region, Chardonnay is now grown in almost every wine producing country. Chardonnay can be oaked, crisp, fruity or buttery. Some aromas and flavors found in Chardonnay are apple, pear, peach, vanilla and butter. Chardonnay pairs nicely with rich seafood like lobster and shrimp or poultry like chicken, turkey and anything with a cream sauce.
Try: Buena Vista Carneros
Sauvignon Blanc- Grown in France’s Loire Valley and New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc has a tart flavor, high acidity and mineral depth. Some aromas and flavors found in Sauvignon Blanc are grapefruit, gooseberry, melon and fig. Vasquez said Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with shellfish like oysters and scallops and almost any bottle will pair nicely. Also try with asparagus, salmon and any strong cheeses.
Try: Kim Crawford
Riesling- Riesling grows mainly in Germany and Australia. It has a high acidity and is very versatile with food. They can be tart and citrusy, full-bodied or sweet. Some aromas and flavors found in Riesling are peach, pear, papaya and lime. Riesling pairs nicely with sushi, tuna, salmon, oysters and light cheeses.
Try: Chateau Ste. Michelle
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris- Called Pinot Grigio in Italy and Pinot Gris in France, this grape produces a light, more of a dry wine. Pinot Grigio can be fruity or more full bodied. Some aromas and flavors found in Pinot Grigio are melon, peach, almond and honey. Because of its mild flavors it is a nice wine to drink before a meal and pairs nicely with light seafood, chicken dishes and light cheeses or smoky dishes as well.
Try: King Estate
5 Wine Pairing Elements:
· Fruit- fruity wines will cut down on spice and heat
· Tannins- Don’t pair wines with strong tannins (like Cabernet) with light dishes. It will overwhelm the dish.
· Sugar- Sweet likes sweet. Sugar should be higher in the wine than the dish served as dessert. Try: King Estate Ice Wine
· Acidity- Wine should be equal or higher in acidity to the dish it is being served with. Don’t serve a merlot with spicy tomato dish. The Merlot will be lost.
· Oak- Mostly found in reds. Don’t pair oaky or smoky wines with salty dishes.
Minnihan said when pairing wine and food remember that similar flavors will complement one another like lobster served with butter and a buttery chardonnay. Opposite flavors will play-off of each other and give a nice contrast like a spicy tuna roll and a nice, sweet Riesling. Weighty wines should be paired with heavy dishes like strong Cabernet and beef tenderloin. Lighter, delicate wines should be paired with light food like filet of sole and a Sauvignon Blanc. Find some good company and try a few combinations to see what works to best please your palate. Enjoy!
All wines listed in each category can be found at local liquor or grocery stores for under $40.
Kendall-Jackson sommelier Erin Minnihan and Maxine Vasquez, bar manager and organizer of monthly wine and appetizer tastings at Braxton Seafood Grill in Oak Brook, offer tips to enjoy the most popular varietals of red and white wines.
Red Wines:
Merlot- The most widely planted grape in France’s Bordeaux region. An easy-to-drink wine that is great for the beginner. They can be light and fruity or deep and velvety. Some aromas and flavors found in Merlot are blueberry, black cherry, vanilla and plum. Merlot can be paired nicely with meats like venison, veal, lamb or turkey and oily fishes.
Try: Francis Coppola Diamond Collection.
Cabernet- Originating in the Bordeaux region, the cabernet grape is now planted in almost every wine producing country. Cabernet is full bodied, robust and full of tannins. Some aromas and flavors found in cabernet are chocolate, smoke, cedar, black cherry and black current. Cabernet is paired nicely with rich foods, spicy foods and heavy meats and sauces. Vasquez said, “Tannins love fat! So a cabernet is going to great with a steak. Just remember big cab equals big steak.”
Try: J Lohr Hilltop
Pinot Noir- The most expensive pinot noirs are found in France’s Burgundy region. The most common and most affordable are grown in California and Oregon. Pinot Noir can be fruity or smoky and silky. Some aromas and flavors found in Pinot Noir are raspberry, violets, cherry and plum. Vasquez said Pinot Noir is a great introductory wine and goes great with smoked salmon or prime rib. Pinot Noir is also paired nicely with rabbit or veal and pasta dishes.
Try: La Crema
Syrah and Shiraz- This grape comes from France’s Rhone Valley where it is known as Syrah and it is the signature grape of Australia where it is known as Shiraz. Syrah can be intense and spicy or fruity. Some aromas found in Syrah are blackberry, raspberry, chocolate and pepper. Syrah is paired nicely with smoky barbequed food, game birds, spicy foods and stews.
Try: Frei Brothers
White Wines:
Chardonnay- The hands-down most popular white wine around. Originally grown in France’s Burgundy region, Chardonnay is now grown in almost every wine producing country. Chardonnay can be oaked, crisp, fruity or buttery. Some aromas and flavors found in Chardonnay are apple, pear, peach, vanilla and butter. Chardonnay pairs nicely with rich seafood like lobster and shrimp or poultry like chicken, turkey and anything with a cream sauce.
Try: Buena Vista Carneros
Sauvignon Blanc- Grown in France’s Loire Valley and New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc has a tart flavor, high acidity and mineral depth. Some aromas and flavors found in Sauvignon Blanc are grapefruit, gooseberry, melon and fig. Vasquez said Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with shellfish like oysters and scallops and almost any bottle will pair nicely. Also try with asparagus, salmon and any strong cheeses.
Try: Kim Crawford
Riesling- Riesling grows mainly in Germany and Australia. It has a high acidity and is very versatile with food. They can be tart and citrusy, full-bodied or sweet. Some aromas and flavors found in Riesling are peach, pear, papaya and lime. Riesling pairs nicely with sushi, tuna, salmon, oysters and light cheeses.
Try: Chateau Ste. Michelle
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris- Called Pinot Grigio in Italy and Pinot Gris in France, this grape produces a light, more of a dry wine. Pinot Grigio can be fruity or more full bodied. Some aromas and flavors found in Pinot Grigio are melon, peach, almond and honey. Because of its mild flavors it is a nice wine to drink before a meal and pairs nicely with light seafood, chicken dishes and light cheeses or smoky dishes as well.
Try: King Estate
5 Wine Pairing Elements:
· Fruit- fruity wines will cut down on spice and heat
· Tannins- Don’t pair wines with strong tannins (like Cabernet) with light dishes. It will overwhelm the dish.
· Sugar- Sweet likes sweet. Sugar should be higher in the wine than the dish served as dessert. Try: King Estate Ice Wine
· Acidity- Wine should be equal or higher in acidity to the dish it is being served with. Don’t serve a merlot with spicy tomato dish. The Merlot will be lost.
· Oak- Mostly found in reds. Don’t pair oaky or smoky wines with salty dishes.
Minnihan said when pairing wine and food remember that similar flavors will complement one another like lobster served with butter and a buttery chardonnay. Opposite flavors will play-off of each other and give a nice contrast like a spicy tuna roll and a nice, sweet Riesling. Weighty wines should be paired with heavy dishes like strong Cabernet and beef tenderloin. Lighter, delicate wines should be paired with light food like filet of sole and a Sauvignon Blanc. Find some good company and try a few combinations to see what works to best please your palate. Enjoy!
All wines listed in each category can be found at local liquor or grocery stores for under $40.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
D.C. School Choice Voucher System
On the eve of the passing of the $410 billion spending bill, a controversial topic is the Washington D.C. Choice Incentive Act. Supporters of the Incentive Act fear that President Obama will cut funding causing almost 2,000 students who are attending private schools through the program back into the public school system. Is this fair? No. But the Incentive Act isn’t fair either.
What were you thinking Congress? The Incentive Act should never have been federally funded (it is the only federally funded school voucher program in the county) or brought into Congress to begin with. It is no secret that D.C. has one of the worst public school systems in the nation. Action should be taken to improve it. However, it should be dealt with on a state level like the other voucher programs.
The Incentive Act is a scholarship program passed in January of 2004. It allows funding of up to $7,500 a year to underprivileged children who are D.C. residents so that they can attend private schools. They are deemed eligible if their family income is 185 percent or more below the poverty line. Recipients can renew the scholarship every year for up to five years as long as they remain financially eligible.
Almost 2,000 students are currently receiving scholarships. Over 7,000 applied. The Center for Education Reform estimates about 70,000 children are in the D.C. public school system. What happens to the rest of the children who don’t qualify because they live 175 percent below the poverty line? Doesn’t Congress care about them? And what about the private Catholic schools all over Chicago that closed last year because of lack of funding or schools in other failing districts, doesn’t Congress care about them?
This program ignores the root of the problem-the atrocious public school system in D.C. Supporters feel that keeping the program alive will force the public school system to improve because of competition from private schools. Proponents feel that by taking the most informed parents and children out of the public system the education gap is widening even more.
Let the children who are currently attending private schools through voucher scholarships continue to reapply and finish up their 5 years. Then cut the program or make it available to all states in the country.
What were you thinking Congress? The Incentive Act should never have been federally funded (it is the only federally funded school voucher program in the county) or brought into Congress to begin with. It is no secret that D.C. has one of the worst public school systems in the nation. Action should be taken to improve it. However, it should be dealt with on a state level like the other voucher programs.
The Incentive Act is a scholarship program passed in January of 2004. It allows funding of up to $7,500 a year to underprivileged children who are D.C. residents so that they can attend private schools. They are deemed eligible if their family income is 185 percent or more below the poverty line. Recipients can renew the scholarship every year for up to five years as long as they remain financially eligible.
Almost 2,000 students are currently receiving scholarships. Over 7,000 applied. The Center for Education Reform estimates about 70,000 children are in the D.C. public school system. What happens to the rest of the children who don’t qualify because they live 175 percent below the poverty line? Doesn’t Congress care about them? And what about the private Catholic schools all over Chicago that closed last year because of lack of funding or schools in other failing districts, doesn’t Congress care about them?
This program ignores the root of the problem-the atrocious public school system in D.C. Supporters feel that keeping the program alive will force the public school system to improve because of competition from private schools. Proponents feel that by taking the most informed parents and children out of the public system the education gap is widening even more.
Let the children who are currently attending private schools through voucher scholarships continue to reapply and finish up their 5 years. Then cut the program or make it available to all states in the country.
"Sybil" Review
On February 21 the Lifetime channel aired “Sybil” starring Tammy Blanchard as the troubled title character and Jessica Lange as the resilient Dr. Cornelia Wilbur. If viewers have seen the original 1976 film starring Sally Field as Sybil and Joanne Woodward as Dr. Wilbur it is almost impossible to view the remake without making some comparisons to the original, which may not be a bad thing.
The character of Sybil is based on a woman named Shirley Ardell Mason. This is revealed at the end of the film. She began psychiatric counseling with Dr. Cornelia Wilbur in the early 50s because she was experiencing blackouts.
In treatment Wilbur said that Mason’s blackouts were due to her being afflicted with Multiple Personality Disorder (now called Dissociative Identity Disorder). The MPD was a result of horrific abuse that Mason experienced at the hands of her mother.
Wilbur treated Mason for almost 12 years. At the end of treatment all of Mason’s personalities were apparently integrated, making one person. A book was written in 1973 by Flora Rheta Schreiber about the case.
Wilbur never revealed Mason’s identity and they remained friends until Wilbur’s death in 1992. Mason died in February of 1998. The validity of the case has since been disputed. It has been said that Wilbur coerced these personalities out of Mason as a way to get her to speak more freely of her abuse.
While the performances of Blanchard and Lange are excellent, the film doesn’t stand well on its own in explaining the complexity of the famous case of the woman known as “Sybil” who allegedly and possessed 16 different personalities within one body.
For one thing; the film is too short. It’s only 85 minutes long and if staying true to life, is supposed to span 11 years. That’s a lot of ground to cover in 85 minutes. Flashbacks showing a young Sybil being abused are shoved together and too short to really convey the fear that the little girl must have felt of her mother. Speaking of her mother, JoBeth Williams’ portrayal of Hattie Dorsett almost comes across as campy and slightly comical. The faces she makes that are supposed to be mean and scary are over the top. This is not necessarily Williams’ fault. Her scenes are so short the depth of her character’s insanity is never shown.
Also, they are many scenes that show Wilbur’s struggle being female in the male dominated psychiatric community. While this is a brief insight into the challenges that Wilbur herself faced, the film is not titled “Sybil and Dr. Wilbur”, but “Sybil” and those scenes could have been better put to use in explaining the depths of her psychosis.
On a positive note, Blanchard does a great job in showing her range as an actress while doing her best not to imitate Sally Field’s performance. Lange too shows she still has her acting chops and is not afraid to age gracefully or portray unglamorous women on film. Also, the film includes more scenes and characters from the book that were not included in the original film like when Sybil is lost in Philadelphia and her relationship with boyfriend Ramon.
Overall the film plays like a condensed version of an abridged version of the book. If the viewer is going into this remake with no knowledge of the case they will not come out of it with a true understanding of the story. See the original.
The character of Sybil is based on a woman named Shirley Ardell Mason. This is revealed at the end of the film. She began psychiatric counseling with Dr. Cornelia Wilbur in the early 50s because she was experiencing blackouts.
In treatment Wilbur said that Mason’s blackouts were due to her being afflicted with Multiple Personality Disorder (now called Dissociative Identity Disorder). The MPD was a result of horrific abuse that Mason experienced at the hands of her mother.
Wilbur treated Mason for almost 12 years. At the end of treatment all of Mason’s personalities were apparently integrated, making one person. A book was written in 1973 by Flora Rheta Schreiber about the case.
Wilbur never revealed Mason’s identity and they remained friends until Wilbur’s death in 1992. Mason died in February of 1998. The validity of the case has since been disputed. It has been said that Wilbur coerced these personalities out of Mason as a way to get her to speak more freely of her abuse.
While the performances of Blanchard and Lange are excellent, the film doesn’t stand well on its own in explaining the complexity of the famous case of the woman known as “Sybil” who allegedly and possessed 16 different personalities within one body.
For one thing; the film is too short. It’s only 85 minutes long and if staying true to life, is supposed to span 11 years. That’s a lot of ground to cover in 85 minutes. Flashbacks showing a young Sybil being abused are shoved together and too short to really convey the fear that the little girl must have felt of her mother. Speaking of her mother, JoBeth Williams’ portrayal of Hattie Dorsett almost comes across as campy and slightly comical. The faces she makes that are supposed to be mean and scary are over the top. This is not necessarily Williams’ fault. Her scenes are so short the depth of her character’s insanity is never shown.
Also, they are many scenes that show Wilbur’s struggle being female in the male dominated psychiatric community. While this is a brief insight into the challenges that Wilbur herself faced, the film is not titled “Sybil and Dr. Wilbur”, but “Sybil” and those scenes could have been better put to use in explaining the depths of her psychosis.
On a positive note, Blanchard does a great job in showing her range as an actress while doing her best not to imitate Sally Field’s performance. Lange too shows she still has her acting chops and is not afraid to age gracefully or portray unglamorous women on film. Also, the film includes more scenes and characters from the book that were not included in the original film like when Sybil is lost in Philadelphia and her relationship with boyfriend Ramon.
Overall the film plays like a condensed version of an abridged version of the book. If the viewer is going into this remake with no knowledge of the case they will not come out of it with a true understanding of the story. See the original.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
There's only one Freddy Krueger
It’s official folks. Platinum Dunes, the production company known for horror movie remakes such as “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and most recently “Friday the 13th”, has announced that “A Nightmare on Elm Street” remake will begin production this April. Samuel Bayer, famous for directing the music video “Smells Like Teen Spirit” has signed on to direct the feature.
The question of who will portray the gloved-claw wielding villain Freddy Krueger is subject to rumor. There has been talk of Jackie Earle Haley and Billy Bob Thornton to be up for the role. But let’s face it; Robert Englund will always be Freddy Krueger.
The character of Freddy Krueger created by Wes Craven and the actor Robert Englund who brought him to life will forever be intertwined in horror cinema history. The role of Freddy cannot be replaced believably in a way that Michael Myers of “Halloween” (remade in 2007) or Jason Voorhees of “Friday the 13th”can. Those characters don’t speak and masks are part of their costumes. We don’t have “faces” to put to the names. They have no personalities. They are silent killers. They don’t know what makes their victims tick; they just know that they will kill anyone who gets in their way.
The actors who portrayed these horror icons didn’t develop the characters the way that Robert Englund did. They couldn’t. The same actors didn’t even portray them in all of the films. Also, the Michael Myers character wasn’t even in Halloween III and the original killer in the “Friday the 13th” franchise was Jason Voorhees’ mother. Englund has been Freddy in all eight films in the “Nightmare” franchise. He even portrayed himself in Wes Craven’s “New Nightmare”, the 1994 film within a film.
Horror fans aren’t attached to Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees in the way that they are attached to Freddy. Freddy has a personality. He has a voice. He has a wicked sense of humor that comes out in the dialogue of his tongue- in-cheek puns and he doesn’t need a mask. His disfigured face is scary enough. Freddy terrorizes his victims in a way that the others don’t. He psychologically tortures them. He doesn’t just go after their bodies, he goes after their souls.
Robert Englund’s portrayal of Freddy Krueger is ranked #51 on Premiere Magazine’s “100 Greatest Movie Character’s of All Time.” He is the only slasher/horror film character on the whole list. To tell you a little about where his place in character performance history stands, he is listed between Peter Finch as Howard Beale in “Network” and Clint Eastwood as Blondie in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” Finch won the Best Actor Oscar at the Academy Awards for his performance.
Englund is recognized around the world as Freddy Krueger. Could anyone pick the actors portraying Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees out of a line up? I think not.
The last time we saw Freddy on screen was in Freddy vs. Jason (2003). That was only six years ago. We haven’t forgotten about him. At the end of the film he winks at the camera in a playful way to let the audience know that he isn’t through with us yet. So why produce a remake of a classic horror film and replace a villain that hasn’t run his course?
The fact that Platinum Dunes has decided to produce this film without the help of Wes Craven or Robert Englund is slap in the face to two of the most recognizable horror icons of this generation. Whoever is hired to tackle the role must possess incredible skill as an actor because it’s going to take a superb talent to even attempt to fill Freddy’s claw.
The question of who will portray the gloved-claw wielding villain Freddy Krueger is subject to rumor. There has been talk of Jackie Earle Haley and Billy Bob Thornton to be up for the role. But let’s face it; Robert Englund will always be Freddy Krueger.
The character of Freddy Krueger created by Wes Craven and the actor Robert Englund who brought him to life will forever be intertwined in horror cinema history. The role of Freddy cannot be replaced believably in a way that Michael Myers of “Halloween” (remade in 2007) or Jason Voorhees of “Friday the 13th”can. Those characters don’t speak and masks are part of their costumes. We don’t have “faces” to put to the names. They have no personalities. They are silent killers. They don’t know what makes their victims tick; they just know that they will kill anyone who gets in their way.
The actors who portrayed these horror icons didn’t develop the characters the way that Robert Englund did. They couldn’t. The same actors didn’t even portray them in all of the films. Also, the Michael Myers character wasn’t even in Halloween III and the original killer in the “Friday the 13th” franchise was Jason Voorhees’ mother. Englund has been Freddy in all eight films in the “Nightmare” franchise. He even portrayed himself in Wes Craven’s “New Nightmare”, the 1994 film within a film.
Horror fans aren’t attached to Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees in the way that they are attached to Freddy. Freddy has a personality. He has a voice. He has a wicked sense of humor that comes out in the dialogue of his tongue- in-cheek puns and he doesn’t need a mask. His disfigured face is scary enough. Freddy terrorizes his victims in a way that the others don’t. He psychologically tortures them. He doesn’t just go after their bodies, he goes after their souls.
Robert Englund’s portrayal of Freddy Krueger is ranked #51 on Premiere Magazine’s “100 Greatest Movie Character’s of All Time.” He is the only slasher/horror film character on the whole list. To tell you a little about where his place in character performance history stands, he is listed between Peter Finch as Howard Beale in “Network” and Clint Eastwood as Blondie in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” Finch won the Best Actor Oscar at the Academy Awards for his performance.
Englund is recognized around the world as Freddy Krueger. Could anyone pick the actors portraying Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees out of a line up? I think not.
The last time we saw Freddy on screen was in Freddy vs. Jason (2003). That was only six years ago. We haven’t forgotten about him. At the end of the film he winks at the camera in a playful way to let the audience know that he isn’t through with us yet. So why produce a remake of a classic horror film and replace a villain that hasn’t run his course?
The fact that Platinum Dunes has decided to produce this film without the help of Wes Craven or Robert Englund is slap in the face to two of the most recognizable horror icons of this generation. Whoever is hired to tackle the role must possess incredible skill as an actor because it’s going to take a superb talent to even attempt to fill Freddy’s claw.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Q & A with Democratic Candidate for Lt. Governor Thomas Castillo
This a brief, much edited excerpt from a lengthy interview I conducted with Thomas Castillo, who will be running for Lt. Gov. of Illinois in 2010. He's a man who wants to make a difference. Check out his website www.Tom4gov.org.
Over breakfast, Chicago electrician Thomas Castillo dishes about why he decided to run for Lt. Gov. of Illinois in 2010 and how his “good looking” wife will help his chances.
Q: Have you ever run for office before?
A: No I haven’t, but I’ve always been interested in politics.
Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: I got sick of complaining and I decided to do something about it. When the $700 billion bailout came out, I was so enraged from it that I was actually shouting out loud. I couldn’t sleep that night so I got up and went to my computer and started looking into public office. I put all my thoughts and feelings down, came up with my campaign slogan, “Re-instilling common sense in government” and everything just flowed out. I spoke from my heart and www.Tom4gov.org is a result of that.
Q: How do you officially run? Do you just announce it?
A: Yes. I went to the State Board of Elections and registered. To get on the ballot (for the primary election) you need 5,000 signatures, which is really nothing.
Q: Do you have any signatures collected yet?
A: No, we aren’t allowed to collect any signatures until August and then we have to file them by October.
Q: When is the primary election?
A: Feb. 2 2010
Q: What do you think you’re chances are to win the primary?
A: I think I have an excellent chance. Four years ago Pat Quinn won (the primary election) with 472,000 votes. There are over 880,000 union members in the state of Illinois. I figure if I can get half of my brothers and sisters to believe in me and my plan for Illinois, I’d be right there.
Q: You’re an electrician by trade and a union member.
A: Yes, I’m part of IBEW Local #134. I’ve been an electrician for 12 years now. But that isn’t what I want to do for the rest of my life. It doesn’t make me happy. What really makes me happy is to make a difference in people’s lives.
Q: How do you think you will make yourself stand out? Obviously a lot of people haven’t heard of you.
A: Well I stand out right off the bat because I’m young, I have a good looking wife and I actually have a plan. I have a vision for Illinois and it’s something that people can look at. If we stand together as one people, then like an army of ants we can do amazing things. Sure, some people are going to critique it and say “He’s crazy.” But you know what? This is an agenda. I don’t just have “stuff” that I want to get done. I physically have a way to do it.
Q: What does your wife think? Did you discuss it with her before you decided to run?
A: She thought I was nuts. She didn’t want me to do it. I said “Babe, I know you don’t want me to but this is something that I have to do. Nothing might come out of it, but at least I tried.”
Q: Do you think people will be afraid to vote for a democratic governor because of what just happened with Blagojevich?
A: No, Cook County and the surrounding cities are a real deep shade of blue.
Q: On your website you say you want to put a cap on business tax and ban the leasing of public assets. Can you expand on that?
A: I don’t understand why taxes keep going up. We have more people paying taxes each year because the population is growing. We outnumber the people retiring. Cook County is losing money because businesses are moving. To make up for lost revenue, they’re leasing public assets like our parking meters. They’re charging $6.50 an hour to park on a city street that the tax payers pay to maintain. Where is going to end?
Q: You want to eliminate property taxes for seniors age 72 and over and cover 50 percent of the co-pay for seniors and veteran’s medication. How do you plan to do this?
A: By lowering business tax and encouraging people to set up shop in Illinois. This along with adding a 10 cent transaction fee on all Chicago stock trades. That’s a way to bring over a billion dollars a year into Illinois without raising taxes.
Q: Do you think you can get people to go for that?
A: Yes. People love the idea. Whether they trade one share or one billion shares it’s only 10 cents. A lot of seniors have to choose between paying bills and paying for their medication. We should be allowed to live our last days in dignity. Our veterans, they put their life on the line. They put their money where America’s mouth was and for us to turn our back on them, it’s just atrocious. I have a lot of veterans in my family. It’s very important to me.
Q: You said you want to put economics and civics lessons into grammar schools. Can you expand on that?
A: We need to teach our children economics. Minimum payments should only be paid at severe times of distress. That’s why were in the trouble that we’re in, because people said “Okay, you can borrow more than your house is worth. We’ll give you an extra $10,000.” Also, civics; human nature is to be greedy. We need to teach our children that there are people out there who want to control you, who will take your money. We need to teach our children how fragile our rights are and that if we don’t take care of them and nurture them they can be gone in a couple of generations.
Q: You grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Are you a Sox fan?
A: I’m a football fan. A lot of people give me a hard time. I would say maybe 51 percent Sox just because they’re more of the underdog. I like the colors of the Cubs better, the blue and red.
Q: That’s very patriotic of you.
Over breakfast, Chicago electrician Thomas Castillo dishes about why he decided to run for Lt. Gov. of Illinois in 2010 and how his “good looking” wife will help his chances.
Q: Have you ever run for office before?
A: No I haven’t, but I’ve always been interested in politics.
Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: I got sick of complaining and I decided to do something about it. When the $700 billion bailout came out, I was so enraged from it that I was actually shouting out loud. I couldn’t sleep that night so I got up and went to my computer and started looking into public office. I put all my thoughts and feelings down, came up with my campaign slogan, “Re-instilling common sense in government” and everything just flowed out. I spoke from my heart and www.Tom4gov.org is a result of that.
Q: How do you officially run? Do you just announce it?
A: Yes. I went to the State Board of Elections and registered. To get on the ballot (for the primary election) you need 5,000 signatures, which is really nothing.
Q: Do you have any signatures collected yet?
A: No, we aren’t allowed to collect any signatures until August and then we have to file them by October.
Q: When is the primary election?
A: Feb. 2 2010
Q: What do you think you’re chances are to win the primary?
A: I think I have an excellent chance. Four years ago Pat Quinn won (the primary election) with 472,000 votes. There are over 880,000 union members in the state of Illinois. I figure if I can get half of my brothers and sisters to believe in me and my plan for Illinois, I’d be right there.
Q: You’re an electrician by trade and a union member.
A: Yes, I’m part of IBEW Local #134. I’ve been an electrician for 12 years now. But that isn’t what I want to do for the rest of my life. It doesn’t make me happy. What really makes me happy is to make a difference in people’s lives.
Q: How do you think you will make yourself stand out? Obviously a lot of people haven’t heard of you.
A: Well I stand out right off the bat because I’m young, I have a good looking wife and I actually have a plan. I have a vision for Illinois and it’s something that people can look at. If we stand together as one people, then like an army of ants we can do amazing things. Sure, some people are going to critique it and say “He’s crazy.” But you know what? This is an agenda. I don’t just have “stuff” that I want to get done. I physically have a way to do it.
Q: What does your wife think? Did you discuss it with her before you decided to run?
A: She thought I was nuts. She didn’t want me to do it. I said “Babe, I know you don’t want me to but this is something that I have to do. Nothing might come out of it, but at least I tried.”
Q: Do you think people will be afraid to vote for a democratic governor because of what just happened with Blagojevich?
A: No, Cook County and the surrounding cities are a real deep shade of blue.
Q: On your website you say you want to put a cap on business tax and ban the leasing of public assets. Can you expand on that?
A: I don’t understand why taxes keep going up. We have more people paying taxes each year because the population is growing. We outnumber the people retiring. Cook County is losing money because businesses are moving. To make up for lost revenue, they’re leasing public assets like our parking meters. They’re charging $6.50 an hour to park on a city street that the tax payers pay to maintain. Where is going to end?
Q: You want to eliminate property taxes for seniors age 72 and over and cover 50 percent of the co-pay for seniors and veteran’s medication. How do you plan to do this?
A: By lowering business tax and encouraging people to set up shop in Illinois. This along with adding a 10 cent transaction fee on all Chicago stock trades. That’s a way to bring over a billion dollars a year into Illinois without raising taxes.
Q: Do you think you can get people to go for that?
A: Yes. People love the idea. Whether they trade one share or one billion shares it’s only 10 cents. A lot of seniors have to choose between paying bills and paying for their medication. We should be allowed to live our last days in dignity. Our veterans, they put their life on the line. They put their money where America’s mouth was and for us to turn our back on them, it’s just atrocious. I have a lot of veterans in my family. It’s very important to me.
Q: You said you want to put economics and civics lessons into grammar schools. Can you expand on that?
A: We need to teach our children economics. Minimum payments should only be paid at severe times of distress. That’s why were in the trouble that we’re in, because people said “Okay, you can borrow more than your house is worth. We’ll give you an extra $10,000.” Also, civics; human nature is to be greedy. We need to teach our children that there are people out there who want to control you, who will take your money. We need to teach our children how fragile our rights are and that if we don’t take care of them and nurture them they can be gone in a couple of generations.
Q: You grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Are you a Sox fan?
A: I’m a football fan. A lot of people give me a hard time. I would say maybe 51 percent Sox just because they’re more of the underdog. I like the colors of the Cubs better, the blue and red.
Q: That’s very patriotic of you.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
WHAT THE F***?
Religious terms like ‘nun’, vicar’, ‘monk’ and ‘saint’ have been dropped from the “Oxford Junior Dictionary” to make way for terms that reflect modern youth culture. Are the new terms ‘promiscuity’, ‘breast augmentation’, ‘penile implant’ and ‘methamphetamine’?
To be con....
To be con....
Monday, February 16, 2009
The DREAM Act Benefits All of Us
Today I write in support of getting the bill known as the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) back onto the Senate floor. This bill will benefit America as a whole and I find that ignorance and fear are two of the factors that are keeping it from being passed. Ignorance, because not everyone understands that the requirements to qualify are strict and hardly a cake walk and fear, because some are afraid of the message being sent by “rewarding” what they consider “illegal activity”, which is simply not the case.
The DREAM Act is a proposal to help young illegal immigrants flourish in society and ultimately become legal residents of the U.S. To qualify to benefit, a person must have come into the U.S. before the age of 16 and not be over the age of 30. Said person would have six years to complete a two-year college degree, two years toward a four-year degree or be enlisted in the military for two years and only be discharged honorably. Said person must also be in good standing with the law. Upon these requirements said person would be eligible for legal residency.
The bill was first introduced in 2001 and was recently voted against in the Senate in October 2007 with a vote of 52-44. A majority vote of 60 is required to pass the bill. Incidentally, President Obama did vote “yay” for the bill’s passing.
Each year about 65,000 illegal students graduate from U.S. high schools. What’s to become of all of them after? Living in the U.S. is all that many of these kids know. Can you imagine what it must feel like to be moved to a strange country as a child, when you don’t speak the language and don’t fit in from the moment you step foot on the soil? Probably not. Can you imagine then working hard to assimilate, becoming a part of that country’s society, dedicating yourself to an education to better your life and then having the door of opportunity slammed in your face just when that life is supposed to begin? Hmm…not so much.
There are an estimated 360,000 high school graduates who are eligible at this time to participate in the benefits offered from the DREAM Act and an estimated 715,000 that will qualify if they graduate from high school. These young people are not going to just up and leave the country after graduation so what benefit is it to America to keep an entire class of people living in poverty deliberately?
When we deny 65,000 people a year the potential for an education and better economic standing we are losing out on a significant number of tax payers and drastically increasing our country’s welfare bill. Multiple studies show that lack of education and low income lead to an increased use of social services and an increase in criminal activity.
A RAND study determined education to be the most important factor in providing the “skills and knowledge needed by the nation’s economy.” RAND also determined that a Mexican woman who has a college education will contribute $5,300 more in taxes and use $3,900 less in criminal justice and welfare expenses each year than one without. She will also earn $13,500 more a year. While the DREAM Act will benefit all illegal immigrants, Latinos are the most prevalent in this group as a whole. The Manhattan Institute says that by 2050 Latinos will make up 46 percent of the nation’s population.
Denying those who want to further their education and become active members of American society goes against the foundation that this country was built on. Let’s give motivated, hardworking people a chance to flourish and stop punishing half of our population for the “sins” of their fathers. Break the cycle and embrace these young people because they are not going to disappear. Instead of ignoring the “problem” let’s take steps to find a solution and turn in it in to a benefit.
The DREAM Act is a proposal to help young illegal immigrants flourish in society and ultimately become legal residents of the U.S. To qualify to benefit, a person must have come into the U.S. before the age of 16 and not be over the age of 30. Said person would have six years to complete a two-year college degree, two years toward a four-year degree or be enlisted in the military for two years and only be discharged honorably. Said person must also be in good standing with the law. Upon these requirements said person would be eligible for legal residency.
The bill was first introduced in 2001 and was recently voted against in the Senate in October 2007 with a vote of 52-44. A majority vote of 60 is required to pass the bill. Incidentally, President Obama did vote “yay” for the bill’s passing.
Each year about 65,000 illegal students graduate from U.S. high schools. What’s to become of all of them after? Living in the U.S. is all that many of these kids know. Can you imagine what it must feel like to be moved to a strange country as a child, when you don’t speak the language and don’t fit in from the moment you step foot on the soil? Probably not. Can you imagine then working hard to assimilate, becoming a part of that country’s society, dedicating yourself to an education to better your life and then having the door of opportunity slammed in your face just when that life is supposed to begin? Hmm…not so much.
There are an estimated 360,000 high school graduates who are eligible at this time to participate in the benefits offered from the DREAM Act and an estimated 715,000 that will qualify if they graduate from high school. These young people are not going to just up and leave the country after graduation so what benefit is it to America to keep an entire class of people living in poverty deliberately?
When we deny 65,000 people a year the potential for an education and better economic standing we are losing out on a significant number of tax payers and drastically increasing our country’s welfare bill. Multiple studies show that lack of education and low income lead to an increased use of social services and an increase in criminal activity.
A RAND study determined education to be the most important factor in providing the “skills and knowledge needed by the nation’s economy.” RAND also determined that a Mexican woman who has a college education will contribute $5,300 more in taxes and use $3,900 less in criminal justice and welfare expenses each year than one without. She will also earn $13,500 more a year. While the DREAM Act will benefit all illegal immigrants, Latinos are the most prevalent in this group as a whole. The Manhattan Institute says that by 2050 Latinos will make up 46 percent of the nation’s population.
Denying those who want to further their education and become active members of American society goes against the foundation that this country was built on. Let’s give motivated, hardworking people a chance to flourish and stop punishing half of our population for the “sins” of their fathers. Break the cycle and embrace these young people because they are not going to disappear. Instead of ignoring the “problem” let’s take steps to find a solution and turn in it in to a benefit.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Get out and stay out you dumb, ignorant jerk.
Who needs him? If Bishop Richard Williamson has already been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church for the last 20 years Pope Benedict XVI might as well leave him out. Williamson’s vehement denial of the gassing of Jews during the Holocaust is disgusting and a denial of the lord himself. Any attempt to “rehabilitate” the man is an exercise in futility. He is backwards in his thinking and beyond help.
These Holocaust denying statements are coming from the mouth of a man who said “A woman can do a good imitation of handling ideas, but then she will not be thinking properly as a woman.” He also believes women should not attend school.
Because of his remarks, Williamson has not only hurt the remaining survivors of the Holocaust and all Jews, but the face of religion and people of the world as a whole. His statements reinforce people’s discontent and doubt about religious teachings and teachers. They also provide validation to the deniers around the world and will now put the idea into the heads of those who feel unsure about Holocaust facts vs. fiction. They will also cause great conflict between Christians and Jews in a time where there is certainly ENOUGH religious feuding in the world.
I do not always agree with the decisions that are made by the Vatican, but I applaud the Pope for his refusal of allowing Williamson back into the Roman Catholic Church. Until Williamson recants his statements and makes a public apology to the world his admittance should not be up for debate and neither should the Holocaust.
These Holocaust denying statements are coming from the mouth of a man who said “A woman can do a good imitation of handling ideas, but then she will not be thinking properly as a woman.” He also believes women should not attend school.
Because of his remarks, Williamson has not only hurt the remaining survivors of the Holocaust and all Jews, but the face of religion and people of the world as a whole. His statements reinforce people’s discontent and doubt about religious teachings and teachers. They also provide validation to the deniers around the world and will now put the idea into the heads of those who feel unsure about Holocaust facts vs. fiction. They will also cause great conflict between Christians and Jews in a time where there is certainly ENOUGH religious feuding in the world.
I do not always agree with the decisions that are made by the Vatican, but I applaud the Pope for his refusal of allowing Williamson back into the Roman Catholic Church. Until Williamson recants his statements and makes a public apology to the world his admittance should not be up for debate and neither should the Holocaust.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Toddlers & Tiaras
Has anyone else seen the new horrible show "Toddlers and Tiaras" on TLC? Frankly, it infuriates me. However, I am strangely addicted to it, as I am also addicted to "Rock of Love Bus" on VHI. This makes perfect sense to me because the little girls that are in these pageants will most likely end up in some form of reality television as adults as well, such as "Jonas Brother's Rock of Love Bus" (20 years from now) or more likely"Cathouse".
This show follows sweet but mostly spoiled little girls and their disillusioned mothers while they work the pageant circuit. The fathers are never around and I gather many of these women probably don't have husbands anyhow. Daddy left because mommy stopped paying attention to him because she's in love with their daughter and wants to live through the poor thing. "I don't have time to give you a blowjob right now honey, Sally is late for her spray tan appointment. Sorry, I didn't have time to make you any dinner, Little Amy is having her lipo today. That Easter candy really did a number on her thighs!"
And seriously, what are these mothers thinking? These girls have the whole rest of their lives to be JUDGED! We're all judged in this world, especially women! These little girls will be judged by themselves, their boyfriends or girlfriends, other women, men and society as a whole until they die. Why not delay the humiliation for as long as we can.
Let's be honest too people, most of these kids aren't cute anyway. Their mothers put so much make-up on them and fake hair and teeth and tans that they end up looking like mini drag queens! The mothers know they aren't cute too. That's why they are in these pageants in the first place, for validation that they didn't create an ugly baby.
I've always respected TLC for showing quality programming. I'm slowly losing that respect. These girls are being paraded around to be judged by strangers. Their mothers say "All little girls love to get dressed up and pretend that they're princesses." So let them be princesses at home where they are loved and they can ALWAYS win.
There are "made up" categories in these pageants like "Best Hair". You know who always wins "Best Hair"? The chubby girls. Every time these kids lose the overall title it is validation that they aren't good enough. This is going to lead to a string of problems as adults and I bet this will have extremely negative effects on their future intimate relationships. These girls are going to be self concious of themselves for the rest of their lives, no sex with the lights on here!
This show has turned me into a judge of these little girls and their mothers too. They all lose. And another thing moms, just so you know, pageants are notorious hotspots for pedophiles and they do go home and jerk off to your daughters in their little bathing suits. Think about that for a second. To be continued...
This show follows sweet but mostly spoiled little girls and their disillusioned mothers while they work the pageant circuit. The fathers are never around and I gather many of these women probably don't have husbands anyhow. Daddy left because mommy stopped paying attention to him because she's in love with their daughter and wants to live through the poor thing. "I don't have time to give you a blowjob right now honey, Sally is late for her spray tan appointment. Sorry, I didn't have time to make you any dinner, Little Amy is having her lipo today. That Easter candy really did a number on her thighs!"
And seriously, what are these mothers thinking? These girls have the whole rest of their lives to be JUDGED! We're all judged in this world, especially women! These little girls will be judged by themselves, their boyfriends or girlfriends, other women, men and society as a whole until they die. Why not delay the humiliation for as long as we can.
Let's be honest too people, most of these kids aren't cute anyway. Their mothers put so much make-up on them and fake hair and teeth and tans that they end up looking like mini drag queens! The mothers know they aren't cute too. That's why they are in these pageants in the first place, for validation that they didn't create an ugly baby.
I've always respected TLC for showing quality programming. I'm slowly losing that respect. These girls are being paraded around to be judged by strangers. Their mothers say "All little girls love to get dressed up and pretend that they're princesses." So let them be princesses at home where they are loved and they can ALWAYS win.
There are "made up" categories in these pageants like "Best Hair". You know who always wins "Best Hair"? The chubby girls. Every time these kids lose the overall title it is validation that they aren't good enough. This is going to lead to a string of problems as adults and I bet this will have extremely negative effects on their future intimate relationships. These girls are going to be self concious of themselves for the rest of their lives, no sex with the lights on here!
This show has turned me into a judge of these little girls and their mothers too. They all lose. And another thing moms, just so you know, pageants are notorious hotspots for pedophiles and they do go home and jerk off to your daughters in their little bathing suits. Think about that for a second. To be continued...
I have to start somewhere...
Hi Friends,
This is my new blog. Brand spankin new! I've never done this before. I don't necessarily have a specific idea about what I'll be writing about as of yet but I can promise that I will be posting a lot about social injustice. Not the kind that rocks humanity, but more of what would fall under the "That shit just ain't right" category.
This is my new blog. Brand spankin new! I've never done this before. I don't necessarily have a specific idea about what I'll be writing about as of yet but I can promise that I will be posting a lot about social injustice. Not the kind that rocks humanity, but more of what would fall under the "That shit just ain't right" category.
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