Around the Blogosphere

It says something that the only time I have lately to blog is while I'm on a mini-vacation (following a weekend training I co-conducted for GIFT). I'm in Southern California, not quite LA, but not quite Santa Barbara. The weather is warm and humid and I want to take showers twice a day. It's nice to have a little break after a whirlwind of work, computer-buying happiness, travel and more work, and to hang out with my good friend G. and her family.

We're in a largely agricultural area outside of Santa Barbara, and when you step outside the air smells of a strangely soothing combination of ocean mist, dark soil and manure. Makes me feel closer to nature, realizing that not far from where I sit there are people working in the fields planting, picking and tending the crops of vegetables that I may eat someday.

Now that I have some time to sit, breathe, and check out blogs on my new laptop, I find some golden nuggets of wisdom...

...from El Serenito, insight into why I have always been drawn to music and people from Latin America (for me, Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico are the main lures). I have a Salvadoran friend who always tells me, 'You're Latina. Filipinos are Latino" in his characteristically cocky and flippant way. I've always known we share a history of colonization with our hermanas/os in the Spanish-speaking world, but Serenito breaks it all down in a whole new way.

...and way over in China, Priscilla is studying away, hangin' out with Vkdir, and forgetting English. Just don't forget about us, girl!

...from Cathy, some pics and news from the recent border protests against the Arizona Minutemen, who are, collectively, nothing but racist terrorist vigilantes. In a nutshell, they are civilian white men who have taken it upon themselves to go to the border between the US and Mexico to keep 'illegal' immigrants from crossing over. It doesn't help my peace of mind to know that Governor Schwarzeneggar has endorsed these wackos, whom even the US Border Patrol has said are dangerous and should just out da way. Schwarzeneggar is taking cues no doubt from his advisors (who also advised former Governor Pete 'illegal immigrants aren't human' Wilson) to take a hardline stance on immigration in hopes of boosting his plummeting popularity ratings.

...over at Tatang's Karinderia, Rhett, a card-carrying Republican progressive, waxes philosophical about "BushShit Economics".

...over at Utopia, Martin vents his (rightful) outrage at the $1 million bounty that the US government placed on Assata Shakur's head. Assata, a living legend, former Black Panther and revolutionary, is living in Cuba and hasn't bothered anyone as far as I know since she hijacked a plane nearly thirty years ago and landed on the Red Island. But I guess that being Black, radical, female and alive is enough to label you a wanted terrorist in this day and age.

...Gura posts news about the death of Julian Boyd, an English professor at UC Berkeley. I didn't know Professor Boyd either, unfortunately, but it sounds like he was one of those rare college professors (at Cal, anyway) who actually liked teaching students, and was good at it.

...and last but not least, happy birthday wishes go out to Max in DC. One year closer to 30, buddy. Enjoy it while it lasts! ;-)

Hope your forays into the blogosphere are equally enjoyable...I'm gonna go do as the Southern Californians do and soak up some rays before hittin' the mall.

Rona