Save the University of California

I can honestly say that without the University of California, Davis, I would not be enjoying my perfect life. My academic training, my friends from UCD , and learning about other cultures, ways of life, comprehending what is important in life, all stem from my 1988-1991 and 1994-1996 tenures in Davis.

Regents Raise College Tuition in California by 32 Percent.

I am still paying for that education and it is still worth it. But this recent tuition increase is too much for our posterity.

In the new world order, it's better to pay cops to beat our future than to save higher education in my beloved California.

What I know...not much.

There have been a number of topics that I have wanted to address, but they were not important enough at the time to merit a full post. I have a little time so I thought I would rant.

To Sarah Palin, if you have to label yourself "rogue," then sister you ain't rogue. For additional insight into her lack of substance check out this editorial by Michael Carey. But, nonetheless welcome to our Tempe Costco where your ilk will cheer you on as their messiah.

I don't think I have ever listened to Lou Dobbs for more than a few seconds. He was never the threat that the pro-immigration leadership claimed he was. His base will seek him out in his next venture or seek out a new set of lies that justifies their animosity for the Other. But, in my opinion his power and wealth was derived from all the free press generated by the Pro-immigration crowd. Bad press is after all good press. He is not the problem, he just exploited it for his benefit.

I hate sports journalism because it's not real journalism. Although I will admit that the two talk radio shows that I watch religiously or at least until I lose cable again are The Sports Reporters and PTI. The latest example is the crisis over Bill Belichick's decision last week. Who cares! He is not the first nor the last coach to make a bad call. Get over it.

What also pains me is these former jug headed jocks who become traitorous journalists. The latest example is Tedy Bruschi. Mr. Patriot purposely came down hard on his former coach not because he believed what he was yelping, but to kiss the butt of his new peers, the ESPN pencil neck crowd. Yes, he wanted to win the respect of John Andersen, Chris Berman, Stuart Scott, etc.

This is the same garbage that Tiki Barber spit out when he attacked Eli Manning his rookie reporting year. And let's not forget Jerome Bettis claiming he had the scoop on Coach Cohwer's future plans. They are all the same; fake reporters.

All of this attention for one call is killing me. PTI this Monday spent their first two segments on the call. The previous Friday, they both argued that this was really a meaningless game since both would win their division, and the Pats still will have a chance to gain at least one playoff homegame.

And that is what I know.

Best Comeback Ever

I saw this on Friday's PTI. This is just hilarious.

In Defense of Elizabeth Lambert

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Elizabeth Lambert, New Mexico Soccer Player, Suspended For Hair-Pulling.

If you are a sports fan, then you have seen the video. And yes it's blatant and clear that she was out of control, but I don't think she is necessarily the primary culprit. Players play like they are coached. And for any NFL fan and especially baseball and football fans, if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying. And yes, intimidation is a part of competitive soccer.

I played collegiate soccer and I was a women's college head coach. Female soccer players can be vicious.

My boys at PTI have come to accept steroid use and all kinds of shenanigans in baseball. Yet, they came down way too hard on Elizabeth!

In soccer, if the referee doesn't blow his/her whistle then keep it up. It's the ref's job to set the parameters for the level of physicality that will be allowed during a match. But the referee and the two assistants allowed play to continue. Elizabeth clearly lost her temper and should have been red carded before play got out of hand, but she did not. The coach should have pulled her out. The coach left her in because it was a very close match and one where a physical player's intimidation could have been the difference.

And do not feel sorry for the BYU players, especially Karli Payne who threw the first elbow. If that would have been one of my players, there wold have been some necessary retaliation to demonstrate that such tactics will not be tolerated. We will not be intimidated. And don't think that the BYU players were not talking trash, they were. And why was #21 Shumway grabbing Lambert's shorts? Maybe she would not have had her hair pulled, if she had not been crotch diving.

Free Elizabeth Lambert!

Carlos Mauricio

I just finished listening to lecture in which Carlos Mauricio told his story as a torture survivor. I have included various links below to provide more details and context about El Salvador and U.S. involvement. The School of the America's existence compromises our moral standing in the world. It shows that we do not unilaterally support democracy throughout the world. We support our interests or at least those of the elite running the world. It's also not a Republican vs. Democrat issue since President Obama has shown no interest in exploring US involvement in various military atrocities throughout the region, but especially in El Salvador.

Well, read-on and make up your own mind.

Survivors - El Salvador - Romagoza v. Garcia.

School of the America's Watch.

November 16, 1989.

El Mozote.

Rufina Amaya.

El Salvador election.

BBC: El Salvador election.

By the way, I offered the students in my Modern Mexico course extra credit for attending this lecture and several attended. All of my students stayed for the whole program. But, 3 other students within one minute of the lecture staring: arrived, checked in with their instructor, ate the food provided for by the program, and left. They are the future of America. Good luck to us.

Many in U.S. Want Texting at the Wheel to Be Illegal

The United States has many problems and texting-while-driving is one of them.

"Many in U.S. Want Texting at the Wheel to Be Illegal."

But wait let me finish.

The problem is another example of American's inability to control themselves and instead ask for Big Brother to discipline them. We have no self control. And the same people who want more texting laws are the same people who text while driving or who allow their kids to text all the time. We do not need no texting laws. We need Americans to be responsible.

We do not need bigger government to tell us how to live our lives.

Acadamia and Stuff

Like everyone else I am concerned about the current recession. No doubt about it. But, I am thankful that I am employed in my chosen profession and that my partner and I have made sound financial decisions. We sold our house in Texas at the right time and our patience paid off when we bought a house in a neighborhood, which we could not afford to live in when we first returned to Arizona. Our Prius has been an excellent primary form of transportation and it will be paid off in a few months with about 50,000 miles on it. Very cool. We don't need government assistance, which is a big deal when you are the son of former illegal immigrants and you constantly hear that Mexicans suck up all the government welfare resources. Never needing government assistance is an important mantra in my extended family. We arrived and started working immediately. That's it, did you hear me Lou Dobb and company. "We is working folks" and we take care of our own.

But I can't help to think, "what about me?" when I see all of these government bailout programs for all these people and entire sectors of our society that made bad decisions. I would benefit from some bailout assistance and I promise that all money saved would be reinvested in the economy because I like buying stuff. So I have to agree with the author of "How about a bailout for student debtors?" He argues that:

If the U.S. can come to the assistance of banks and homeowners, surely it could offer a helping hand in the form of lower interest rates for students.

I just worked off my first loan. And as always I managed it they way I was supposed to and repaid my debt and continue to pay my remaining debt. But help a responsible brother out because he will continue to make the right decisions.

Can a brother get Obama's cell number?