With Apologies to Dennis Miller... Or A Vocabulary Rant as a Break from the 800-lb Gorilla

Greetings to all my fellow readers and bloggers around the world. It's summer time, which in the Prarie State means one day of splendorous weather sandwiched between a thunderstorm and a 100-degree heat wave for a 3-month period.

Before getting into the meat of it, the acknowledgments: First, to my friends who recently graduated in '08: CONGRATULATIONS, and I promise I'll be joining the ranks of the cap-and-gown wearing, diploma-bearing, hood-sporting crowds pretty soon. Second, to everybody who wished me a Happy (34th) Birthday: THANKS! Also, thanks to everybody who keeps supporting me in my ongoing recovery. Finally, props to my girlfriend (that story will be the subject of another blog coming very soon)... it feels good to have you around!

There will be no updates about my nieces. I'm saving all of those for a longer blog coming in July. So, as Mills Lane would say, "Let's get it on!"

I Don't Mean to Go off on a Rant Here... But...

Those were the famous words of comedian Dennis Miller every time he would go off on a rant about something in today's society that bothered him. We all have pet peeves. That's part of human nature. I got a few here and there, like people who can't get their grammar straight and keep claiming that IM, Facebook status messages, and e-mail are some sort of grammar-free zone where "you're" is the same as "your" and "they're," "there," and "their" are actually interchangeable; where "then" is the form of choice for the comparative; and apostrophes can be placed willy-nilly. Of course, there is also the case of people who decide against my will that I have to eavesdrop their conversations while I'm trying to read the stuff for Chapter Two of my dissertation. And, how can we forget the occasional "movie color commentator," the person right behind you at the theatre who decides that they need to not only explain the plot, characters, settings, etc. of the movie to their date/partner/friend sitting next to them, but also feel the urge to warn the hero of every peril ahead of him/her.

However, this rant is not about them. They too will get their day in court. This is about the misuse of certain words that are becoming trivialized and losing their actual value. Again, with apologies to Dennis Miller (and no one else... in case you failed to read the title of my blog, the last word is "provocateur..." and I intend to live up to its bill this time around), I don't mean to go off on a rant here but...

Why do millionaire athletes claim they're "Hungry?"

Before the Bard starts rolling over on his grave, spare me the Shakespearian/"poetic license"/metaphor theory here. Some words should never be taken lightly, hungry being one of them. Yes, yes, I know that one of the definitions of "hungry," according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com) is, "Strongly motivated (as by ambition)." But, there is a sense of irony here. Where there are people dying of actual hunger, I find it ironic that some people who've never really experienced hunger first-hand (and no, I haven't... my dad has though and he banned us from saying that we were starving or "dying of hunger" at home since we didn't really know what it was like to be in a jungle for one week feeding on leaves or the soles of your shoes... dad taught me and my sister well about not blowing things out of proportion) talk about how "hungry" they are. That just cheapens suffering when you use the same descriptor to explain your desire for a championship ring in the NBA and your desire for at least an onion ring somewhere in an impoverished village in Central Africa.

I mean, if there was a public outrage over an athlete saying that playing a rivalry game was like going to war for him, we should also put athletes on notice that they have no right to claim to be hungry, unless they themselves have dealt with it as they were growing up. Oh yes, I have read stories about athletes coming from Africa, Brazil, Colombia, and other developing countries, as well as minority athletes coming from impoverished areas in the U.S. who talk about their families' struggles to make ends meet. I just can assure you that none of them would be so trigger-happy to say they're "hungry" for a championship. You can hear that, however, from the mouths of the children of a former Roland Garros champion and two former NBA stars... if you're sports savvy, yes, I'm talking about three former Florida Gators, who could afford not to test the NBA waters and stick around for school one more year because they were "hungry" for another title. Enough said! So, seriously, let's watch out what we're really hungry for... some people can't even tell you they are because they're too weak to utter that sentence...

When Did "Survivor" Start Handing Diplomas?

My second rant of the blog has to do with the trivialization of the term "Alum," the reduced form of the term "Alumnus" or "Alumna" (by the way, "Alumni" is the PLURAL form of "Alumnus," so please refrain from say you are "An Alumni" from a school!). Let me provide this definition from Wikipedia, "As indicated in the American Heritage Dictionary, an alumnus or alumna is either someone who has attended the school (or a "former student of a school") or someone who has graduated from the school." Yes, by definition, An alum(nus/a) is someone who either went to school or preferably graduated. So, when exchange students write that they are "UIllinois Alum" in their profiles, that is very accurate. When I write that I am a "Fulbright Alumnus," it is accurate since I was given a scholarship to pursue my master's. Anybody who has attended an educational institution by extension can call him/herself an alum.

What really irks me is when you start referring to anyone who has been on a TV show (a la Saturday Night Live) or a reality TV show as "Alums" of that show. Really, I wonder what curriculum they had to pursue to earn the right to be alums of "Survivor College," "Flavor of Love Polytechnic," or "The Real World/Road Rules State University?" I mean, it is hard work to get a Bachelor's, for instance. I know that my friends who just graduated had to spend lots of hours at the library to get theirs. I know that my education students have to bust their chops every semester and keep a high GPA just to get, in some cases, their education MINORS (at this point, anyone who claims you don't have to study hard if you're in education doesn't want to know how far up your humanity you'll have to go to give me my walking cane back!). In order for me to be an "Alumnus" of The University of Illinois, I first had to write a thesis and now I have to write this 2000-lb gorilla otherwise known as my dissertation. So excuse me if I hurt a few sensitivities by being irked by a few reality-TV castaways who are so devoid of parental love and need to be called "Alums," sometimes to justify the fact that getting drunk on national TV and making "Girls Gone Wild" videos beats getting a decent education! At least there are bona-fide actors and directors who are Alumni/ae of schools around the U.S. (or at worst they attended the school long enough to be recognized as former students). I'm sorry, but I know how hard it is to get your education for someone to try to go the easy way out and simply diminish my (and my friends') accomplishments by using the same title that I have earned.

Does this make me an elitist? So what if it does? Getting your education is a big deal and it shouldn't be diminished. Just because I was an Army brat, it doesn't mean I am a "soldier," and being a fan of a team doesn't make me a member of a "Nation." We need to call a spade a spade, and be respectful of what it takes to earn a name. Although it is true, as the Bard once said, that if a rose were called something different it would smell the same, none of you would describe a pile of scum as a "rose."

And, in the words of that great cynic, Mr. Miller, "This is my opinion, but I could be wrong!"

That's it for now. Till my next blog, I bid farewell!

The Blogger, the Thinker, the Provocateur...
Raúl A. (El Patrón)

The Search for the "James Bond Moment"

Greetings bloggers and fans around the net. First, thanks to my friends for the words of encouragement about my last blog about my leg. The road to healing is still on and I'll get back to 100% soon enough. I can't thank you all enough for your support.

Second, props to what in my mind will be one of the most legendary intramural sports teams of all time: The St. Funs Broomball Club. We had good times and heartbreak, but somewhere along the way, we actually got to really become good friends, brothers if you will. Whether I'll retire from broomball is yet to be decided, but it'll be hard to replicate the experience and I'd rather live with the memories I've already collected.

I don't have much of an update on my twin nieces. I promise one very soon and a very special two-year anniversary blog about what the arrival of Isabella and Manuela has represented for my life. It'll be a good one, I promise.

Now, on to my blog...

Shaken, not Stirred: The Search for the "James Bond" Moment

I won't lie: I am a James Bond fan, the kind of fan that knows that there was such a thing as an actual dude named James Bond, who happened to me an ornitologist and whose name drew inspiration for Ian Fleming to name his 007 MI5 Agent, on Her Majesty's Secret Service. The kind of purist that denounces "Never Say Never Again" as part of the saga. Geekiness aside, there's one reason why James Bond has never lost his allure as a cultural icon: It's the fact that some parts of his persona are enticing (and no, it's not the neverending list of STD that Mr. Bond probably has after so many random encounters with random women!), like the casinos, cars, and of course, the gadgets. As comic Craig Ferguson once said, most of us always anticipated the Bond-Q encounter where Q would go over the gadgets du jour with 007. It is no surprise that "Bond, James Bond" was picked at the end of the 21st century as the most popular movie phrase of all time. Multiple variations of that have made it to different movies alike. Also, the emergence of so many Bond parodies (Get Smart, Johnny English, Austin Powers, to name a few) and the eternal search for the U.S. version of James Bond (Jason Bourne, anyone?) are more than enough evidence that Commander Bond will always be a point of reference for movie buffs.

There is one thing, though, that a lot of people would like to experience first-hand. It's what I like to call "Your own James Bond moment." You may want to feel it while driving, a la the guy from the Ruben Blades song "Decisiones" (Decisions), or while drinking a martini, etc. You don't really need to be able to afford an Aston Martin (although it's gotta be pretty freaking cool to own one, eh?) or sport a Tuxedo (which is still in my list of things to wear while I'm still single) to have one of those. The bottom line is, once you get your James Bond moment, that represents eternal bragging rights and a fun story to share with generations to come!

And... oh yes, I DO have my own James Bond moment and I've cherished it ever since it happened. That (and of course being flat broke by virtue of grad school) is the main reason I don't feel like I ever need to hit a casino ever again. I'm in anecdotal mood, so let me share the story...

The year: 1998. The place: Cartagena, Colombia (oh yes, a tourist location with beaches and beautiful women galore; it may not be Monte Carlo, but it was really fun. I recommend visiting Cartagena sometime). The setting: A night in January at a casino right across the street from the place we were staying. This was a moment that was pivotal not only for our vacation but for the moment when the whole "Patron" thing really got going. Here's the situation: A group of close friends (whom we'll call Andres A., Carlos R.D., Javier M., and Javier R. because those are their actual names!) and I came back from a night out and in order to give two friends some space, we went to the aforementioned casino. With a few bucks and our crazy spirits, we took over the locale. We started at the roulette first; after a while, we actually hit the blackjack table. I sat down, Bond style, and started playing. I won some, I lost some. And then...

The Pivotal Moment that changed the course of my history...

One of the rounds of blackjack, I got five cards: 2, 5, 4, 2, for 13. Decisions, decisions... I couldn't stand pat because the house would win. I could only go for another card and take my chances to go over 21... or maybe get that much-needed 8 and beat the house on that round. After consulting with my entourage (by that point, they actually were in character!), they encouraged me to take my chances. I did and I told the dealer (and I will include the original quote in Spanish):

"Tireme ese OCHO que tiene ahi!" (Translation: "Hit me with that EIGHT you've got right there!")

I was a rather brash statement, outlandish even. I knew I could make a fool of myself. But, I also knew that the stuff of legends happens in moments like these. The dealer pulled the card.. and... wait for it...

Oh my! AN EIGHT OF CLUBS was the card that got me to 21 and won that round. My friends couldn't believe it. I, of course, knew what I was doing (James Bond would too!) and acted nonchalant. Yes, I lost almost all of my money in the next few rounds and left the table with just a buck. Right now, it doesn't matter! That buck could've been spent in a cheap pair of sunglasses or getting ripped off by the oyster guys (another story for another time). But, I wouldn't have my eternal bragging rights, the feeling of knowing EXACTLY what James Bond feels when he beats the bad guys at the table and the fact that for one brief moment... I could go and say...

"Yeah, I am Bond... PATRON Bond!"



I was in the mood for a light-hearted blog... and this just did it! I hope you enjoyed reading it.

I'll be back with more soon. Till my next blog, I bid farewell!

The Blogger, the Thinker, the Provocateur...
Raúl A. (El Patrón)

Three months, one plate, two pins, and five screws later: Reflections about life after a broken leg

Greetings to all my friends and bloggers around the world. It's been a while since I sat down and wrote a blog. I had a bit of writer's block, but as Austin Powers would say, I've got my mojo back. I had lost my ability to write but it's back and here to stay!

I'll save the acknowledgments for later. But first, here's yet another installment of the...

Gratuitous Twin Nieces Update (Because we finally found someone who'll save us from the abomination that are the Olsen Twins!)

Well, the girls are absolutely adorable! They're looking really pretty and witty and fine. They're able to talk some more and they now fully recognize me, even though they can't fully pronounce my name (the downside of such an awesome name as Raúl is that it takes a while to say that R at the beginning). I also got some pictures to share...

That does it for this update. Now, on to my main event...

Three Months, One Plate, Two Pins, and Five Screws Later:

Reflections about life after a broken leg

Before I even start sharing my deeper thoughts, let me tell you this much:

I doubt I'll ever get over the cold chill down my spine every time I recall what happened when I landed on the floor after the attempted layup (and no, I don't remember whether I scored or not!) and I felt a pop in my knee and I felt my whole leg bone shifting to the right.

Every time I relive those images in my brain, I feel the same chill, the same incredulity and I keep wondering why on earth this happened. It still feels surreal, recalling what happened in the next 30 hours after that moment: Calling my friends to come to my aid, getting on the ambulance, feeling loopy from the morphine, experiencing that brief despair when I was told I'd needed surgery, calling my family to tell them, going to surgery, waking up from it, and being at the hospital the next morning. It still feels surreal, like an episode from a drama about life in grad school or something...

Until I look at my leg and see that this is as real as it gets: An eight-inch scar on my right leg, the crutches, knowing that by the time I can walk unassisted it will most likely be six months. It has been a life-changing journey for me and that's what the next lines will be all about...

Friends who become family

I've said it once and I'll say it again: God only knows that I didn't go through hell and back because of my friends in Champaign. From the moment I landed on the hardwood floor, my friends have stepped up and helped me. Some of them have already transcended that categorization of friends and have become my family away from home. You know who you are and if you read this, it's you I'm talking about. My friends have been able to look past the crutches, the awkward walking, the waiting forever for me to sit down or stand up, and still see me for who I am. Having my parents and sister thousands of miles away, they've been a source of emotional support that's made my life easier to handle. I don't know how long it'll take for me to repay them, but I surely will.

Let me say thanks to a few, since the list is long... To my Colombian friends, thanks once again. It's good to know there are so many good Colombians left in the world! To my other friends from around the world, thanks for your support. To my teammates from the best broomball team ever, ST. FUNS, I miss playing defense but I love being your Coach! To my students, thanks for putting up with me. I promised you I'd give you 150% every class and I've delivered! To my family back home: Don't be bummed because you're not here physically. You've been here in spirit every day and you're the main reason I take my therapy so seriously.

Learn, Unlearn, Relearn

It's interesting to think about all that we take for granted. Before this, everything was so easy and obvious. Then, I forgot how to walk, standing up was an endurance test, and points A and B were a thousand miles away even if a few yards apart. One of the hardest days was the first weekend when I had my cast put on, at the beginning of January. It was one of those rare 40-Fahrenheit-degree days in Champaign, perfect for a long walk. I ventured outside the apartment as best as I could and sat outside my apartment... and I couldn't help crying out of sheer frustration. It's been tough not to do what I liked to do. As I was lying down in the emergency room, right after I was told I'd need surgery, I couldn't help thinking about all that I'd miss in the spring: My trip to New York, dancing nights, the intramural broomball season (the first game of the season was a tough pill to swallow... it helped me understand what injured athletes feel like at that moment and how tough it is to be on the sidelines when you'd wish otherwise), etc. On the other hand, as the months progress and I regain my ability to walk, I'm starting to look forward to the long walks I'll take and I'm even thinking of getting a brand-new bicycle for the summer. I guess that's part of reaching little milestones every day in therapy.

The Flip Side of the Coin: I'd never felt discriminated against... until now!

One thing about my graduate studies has been how sensitive it's made me about issues of discrimination. I didn't really know what being looked funny on the grounds of anything looked like. I know what "white privilege" was like from my days back home; I've never felt linguistic discrimination because of my English; and even my nationality has never been an issue. However, I've learned first-hand what being discriminated against by virtue of disability (the one form of discrimination that really seems to be color-blind) looks like, on a small scale. Let me repeat that: On a small scale. But, yes, I've had the funny looks when I stand on a dance floor and I have folks looking at me like, "what are you doing here?" or telling me, "You shouldn't be here" or "This isn't safe for you" (These are actual quotes I've heard, plus the patronizing tone that I can't replicate on a blog). I've seen how some people seem to feel mad that they have to move to the end of the bus or some even refuse to move because they're too comfortable in the front seats. I've even felt embarrassed that it takes me so long to get in or out of a car (even if none of my friends have implied anything) and I'm still really self-conscious about wearing shorts (I wear a sleeve under my brace partly to protect the scar from the sun, partly not to show it).

But, funny as it may, I've seen how some people can't really look past my crutches and all they see is those two aluminum pieces and the large brace around my leg. It's funny how some people think they can't be with me because I can't really walk that well for the time being. They can't seem to go beyond that. It's as if everything else were Photoshop blurred from their brain and their foci were those things. It makes me wonder how many of them can't look past a wheelchair or a missing limb. It makes me wonder how many times I may have done exactly the same and how many people I missed a chance to meet or know because of this.

Right now, more than wonder, it does make me pity them, those few and far between who think I'm out of place at a bar or a dance floor. Maybe they're the ones out of place in this world. After all, as Everlast once said, "God forbid you ever have to walk one mile in their shoes, cuz then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues."

But, again, let me be honest: That's a minority. My true friends don't care about that. To them, I'm still their friend and I'm not any worse because of this. And that definitely offsets any weird looks I get on occasion.

The Road Ahead...

I've still got a stretch to go on the road to full recovery. I've started therapy (after three long months of having a stiff right leg) and I'm walking... not in a figurative sense. I AM walking. That actually reminds me of the only other time I've cried during this journey. I remember it well, it was the last Thursday in March, after I came back from the hospital and my monthly check-up. I entered my classroom and actually attempted to put weight on my leg and walk. One step, then another, then one more... as I kept walking to my desk, I couldn't help repeating, "I can't believe I'm walking, I can't believe I'm walking!" and all of a sudden, I was crying, as Sting would say, "I'm so happy that I can't stop crying, I'm so happy I'm laughing through my tears." I was able to walk again, and let me tell you, it was one of the most delightful feelings I've experienced in a long time!

As I was saying, I'll be in therapy for at least two months, if not three. But, I'm optimistic that I'll be fine at the end of this. In fact, I really like Raúl A. version 2.5 (I like to think that there's such a thing as Raúl A. version 2.0 - the post-grad school version!). I've lost a few pounds, which I needed to do anyway. I've learned to be more patient about a few things and I've learned not to use anything as an excuse for not doing something else. I've learned to appreciate the things and people I have around me. Oh, and I don't feel any bit bad that this happened to me, nor do I feel that I was star-struck or anything of that kind. It was an accident and it changed my life... for the better!

Plus, how many of you can actually say that you're literally an "Iron Man"?

I didn't think so!


That's it for now. Till my next blog I bid farewell!


The Blogger, the Thinker, the Provocateur...
Raúl A. (El Patrón)

Reading Too Much on the Movies, or Am I Onto Something?

Jingle Blogs, Jingle Blogs, Blogging All the Way...

Greetings to all my fellow bloggers and dearest friends around the world. In the words of LL Cool J, "Don't call it a comeback!" The blog was just taking a quick break, but I'm back and fully loaded!

First things first, some acknowledgments: As always, props to the other members to the awesomest broomball team EVER, The Famous St. Funs. I can't wait to play intramural again! I'm so pumped! Finally, to all my students this semester, thanks for making a difference yet again.
And now, yes you know it! It's time for...


The Gratuitous Twin Nieces Update (Because those are my favorite "snowflakes"):
Ok, so they will turn 17 months old next week. They're now almost fully mobile (as in walking!) and still very vivacious. And, get this, they already recognize me IN PICTURES. My mom said she took one picture where I look really nice (by golly, I had no idea there was such a thing as a pic in which I look good... I still think that's an urban legend or my mom's trying to cheer me up some!) and they really know I am their uncle! I'm so looking forward to my summer trip just to see them!

Ok. Now it's time for tonight's blog...

Reading the movies: Is there a hidden message somewhere to which we should pay attention?

Those who know what I do as part of my research (whatever the hell it is that I do) know that I have an interest in media literacy, television/movies, and popular culture. What that means is that while I can still enjoy the movies, I sometimes tend to overanalyze them, not in a Roger Ebert kind of way, but I still do. I went to watch "I am Legend," the latest Will Smith vehicle. Without killing the plot too much, it is about a man who ends up all by himself in New York, after almost everybody got wiped out by some crazy virus. I am not going to discuss the cinematic values of the production or acting (after all, I am not into Cinema Studies). In media literacy, one is more interested in the messages hidden behind the messages, the social constructions being laid out in the media, and what that particular movie, TV show, or song is saying about the world at large.

So, since I decided to give my brain the afternoon off (that means: Not think about my dissertation), a thought came to me this morning after my shower and while I tried to take a nap (you would be surprised what ideas I come up with when I shave!): What are these movies trying to tell us? This very quick-and-dirty analysis will contrast two genres of movies: Sci-fi and the Zombie/End of the World genres:

If you look at some movies from the Science Fiction genre (e.g. Independence Day, Armageddon, Deep Impact, The Core, Alien, Predator, etc.), there is an underlying thread that can be recognized by reading between the lines: There is a threat to humanity, whether foreign/alien (other civilizations, asteroids, comets, etc.) or domestic (earth itself) and humanity needs to pool either all their technological resources together (Armageddon, The Core) or get the best out of human ingenuity (Alien, Predator) to vanquish it. Enemies become friends (Independence Day), Weapons of Mass Destruction become Weapons of Mass "Salvation" (Armageddon, Deep Impact, The Core), and ultimately the best of the human race seems to be highlighted, our core values surface in the face of extreme adversity. In addition, the "threat," when in the form of alien races or species, is always portrayed as superior to us, both technologically and physically. Think of the "Predator" character: It is physically imposing, a freak of nature if you will. It is the same as the Alien from the namesake franchise. And yet, we seem to find a way to best them with our (to them) archaic technology and underdeveloped skills. Finally, the aftermath seems to be positive: Earth finds a way to recover a better balance, things look positive after things are done.

However, take a look at how we are portrayed in the Zombie/End of the World genre (e.g. I am Legend, Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead, 28 Days Later, Resident Evil, etc.): We are portrayed first as a scientific community that seems to defy the rules of ethics and wants to play God for its sake. What happens is what Sting in "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" can best describe, "Never saw no miracle of science/That didn't go from a blessing to a curse." Oh yes, all these movies somehow imply either that something in science either created a virus (Resident Evil, I Am Legend) or that something happened that made a common cold go haywire (28 Days Later, Dawn Of The Dead). Then, there is the portrayal of the survivors. Unlike the survivors in the Sci-fi genre, here they seem to be first devoid of most resources, especially technological. Second, they seem to be completely outsmarted and outnumbered by what is described as an "inferior" version of themselves (unlike our enemies in Sci-fi as I pointed above). Somehow, somewhere, the zombies always seem to get the best of them, there is no apparent way to defeat them, let alone save them. Furthermore, the depiction of earth is actually scary. The planet is shown as completely devastated (Resident Evil: Extinction, 28 Weeks Later) and people are forced to move to small enclaves to survive (Land of the Dead, I Am Legend, 28 Days Later), without an apparent way to restore order out of the existing chaos.

Now, I am not implying that most directors have actually thought about this, with the exception, of course, of the master of the Zombie genre himself, George A. Romero (just watch the original "Night of the Living Dead," "Dawn of the Dead," and his most recent "Land of the Dead" and the social commentary is pretty evident). But, as I said earlier, this is what us media literacy folks do: Unearth messages where they seemingly are not. A very simple message that comes from cross-checking the genres is: We can defeat pretty much anyone, anytime, anything, anywhere... except ourselves. These movies remind us that, in addition to our endless capacity for creation, we also share the same hunger for destruction. One thing that the zombie genre hardly ever asks (with the exception of I Am Legend and the Resident Evil franchise) is, "How did we get here?" I think as a society, it might be worth thinking about it. After all, there is such a thing as biochemical warfare and folks are getting affected by it. How long might it be until those things come knocking on our door.

Another reading about these movies has to do with what we do and who we are. As "Shaun Of The Dead" so poignantly reminds us in the early sequences, sometimes we seem to act as "zombies" already, moving on to life aimlessly. If I were to come up with an umbrella lesson from this cross-examination, it would be this: There is so much about us that we still need to tap into and we are sometimes wasting it. Is it not time to stop going through the motions and reclaiming our humanity? And, finally, as someone used to say, if we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. The larger question is, how are we going to use those resources that, in our imaginations, we use to defeat those imaginaries that put us against the rope to help those who are already facing adversity?

Those are larger questions, whose answers I am still figuring out. After all, there is more to my Ph.D. than writing a dissertation.

Thanks for letting me share, and until the next blog,

The Blogger, the thinker, the provocateur...
Raúl A. (El Patron)

Q&A with Raúl A. Mora, aka El Patrón

Greetings fellow bloggers around the world. I included an earlier version of this note on Facebook. This is a longer version, just for you to learn more about me...

Where are you from?
COLOMBIA, with an O, not a U!

Where in Colombia?
MEDELLIN - That's center, about an 8-hour drive from Bogota.

Do you drink coffee?
Not much until I came here. Yet, I know how to make A CUP of coffee. My dad taught me not to rely on coffee makers.

Can you cook Colombian food?
Does "arroz con huevo count?" Just kidding! I know a few recipes here and there.

Do you miss any Colombian food?
Well, not a lot of it. I do miss lentils (though my mom always cooks that for me when I go home) and fruit stands all over the city. Fruit in the US is too expensive (and too tiny) for my taste!

Do you dance salsa?
Invite me to Soma or Ko Fusion and see for yourself ;o)

Do you play soccer?
Before I even answer that question, please see my soccer-related Facebook group...

My bad, do you play FUTBOL?
I play goalie.

How long have you been here?
5 years and counting.

Are you an exchange student?
Under my visa status, technically yes. But I'm a doctoral student.

Doctoral student in Engineering, like all the other Colombians?
No. I'm the "token Humanities doc student" of the bunch, the Colombian Tajel if you will. I'm doing my Ph.D. in Education.

So you wanna be a teacher?
No, I want to PREPARE teachers. I taught for almost 10 years in Colombia.

What did you teach?
English.

Really? What grades?
I taught from 5th to 11th grade at high schools in the city; I also taught English to children and adults, and I was an adjunct instructor at a local college.

Why do they call you EL PATRON?
It's a very long story that has been running for over 10 years. That deserves a full blog of its own :o).

What's up with the A. after Raúl?
I'm named after my father, who happens to be Raúl Mora. My mom chose the middle name (Alberto). For professional purposes, in 2003 I made it emphatic that all papers where I appear as co-author should include my middle initial, A. When I write solo, I use the full middle name, though. I also identify myself as "Raúl A. Mora" when I meet someone in the academic circles.

Does your name have an accent?
Yes, in the U, so it's spelled Raúl. That actually affects the pronunciation, so it's not "Rawl" but "Ra-ool". However, I don't make that big of a fuss if you forget to add it. You do get kudos, though, if you accentuate the U. My advisor and some of my professors do. And most people say "Ra-ool" too :)

Why did you come to U of I?
It's a great school in education, and no I don't miss the mountains that much. However, I really hate the weather changes... my allergies act up like crazy in Illinois!

But do you miss your family?
Of course I do! It is hard not to be there to see my nieces grow up (I talked about that in a blog a while ago), and I know my parents and especially my sister miss me a lot (it is hard to talk to her sometimes, she ends up crying after we talk...). We communicate often, though, so that makes things more bearable for all of us.

Have you ever been married?
No. No wives, no children (the other Mora Velez has taken care of the children quota!!!!)

How many girlfriends have you had?
4 on the record (5 off the record... long story), but only the last 3 really matter.

Do you still talk to them?
Occasionally, but overall, we're in good terms.

What's Broomball?
Check the link to Wikipedia in my previous notes. Just to give you a quick-and-dirty: It is NOT hockey, but you play on ice and without skates. It is like playing field hockey on ice, if you will.

Are you really 33 years old? You don't look that old!
Yes, I am, and no, I don't!

So do you speak Colombian?
No, I actually speak native Spanish, perfect English, quasi-fluent French, and broken Portuguese (but working on it!)

What's your favorite drink?
Good beer, Veraison wine, Tequila Sunrise with (you guessed it) Patron Silver, or a good martini.

What should anyone who just met you avoid doing?
First, don't ask me a "cocaine" question right after meeting me. I don't mind talking about hard topics, but asking me if I can score you some coke (no, I can't) or if you can buy it on any street corner (no, you can't either) just proves that you're very impolite, overly ignorant, and awfully stupid. Second, don't ever smack me in the head!

My Blog 2.0: Blogs up till now in 2007

As promised, here's the second batch of blogs I've moved. From now on, there'll be original postings.

Till next blog,

Raul A. (El Patron)

August 20, 2007

So you're planning to study in the US? Here are some tips!

Greetings fellow readers and fans in the blogosphere. For the last three years, I've worked every end of the summer with the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at the ever-glorious University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (hail to the orange, hail to the blue!!!!). In that time, I've met students from all over the world, while learning about visas, paperwork, etc. Although I could probably parlay this experience into an alternate career in overseas counseling, I love teacher education too much to do so. However, some of what I've learned may be beneficial to others.

So, without further ado, here's some of what I've learned:

1. Your documents:

• The entry Visa (the document on your passport) is overrated, so don't obsess so much about it. That's only useful to enter the US. Once you've crossed immigration, other documents kick in. One that's really important once you're in the US is your I-94 - you know, that little piece of paper that they give you while on the airplane that you're trying to fill out in the middle of that turbulence of while watching the awful in-flight movie. Losing that one will screw you up royally, so don't lose track of it. I've seen all the hassles new students have when they lose it. One suggestion is to staple it right next to your entry visa on your passport.
• When you're at the port of entry, take some time to look carefully at what the immigration officer writes on your I-94. I know it's hard when you're in the middle of the fracas, but those two seconds may come in handy. Make sure those scribblings on your I-94 match what's on your visa and that they don't forget to write anything. Take a few seconds to read it before you leave and if necessary, ask the officer to make all corrections on the spot. That might save you an unnecessary trip to a nearby international airport.
• If you're single, choosing an F-1 or J-1 visa may not make that much of a difference. If you're married, applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa may make A WHOLE WORLD of difference, not for you, but for YOUR SPOUSE. I can't say much right now, but if you're married, you may want to look into that before applying for school. Your spouse might thank you later.
• More on the visa type: Think carefully about your needs and future travel plans before applying for an F or J visa. There are some benefits to having either, as well as disadvantages. If possible, check with an overseas studies advisor or consult the international student office at the university you're applying for about what the best one for you would be.
• If you're planning to be in the US for more than six months, do consider taking up a driver's license from the state you'll be residing in. Yes, some states will allow you to drive with your own, but sometimes that won't be accepted as a valid form of ID. Plus, you don't want to drink and carry your passport... bad idea! What if you can't drive? Well, most states also have a State ID card that resembles a driver's license. It's not that expensive to get, you can use even at airports if you're flying within the continental US and again, if you lose that one, it's only 5-10 dollars to get a duplicate. Getting a new passport, visa and I-94? A little more than that

2. Learning about the environment:

Arriving in a new country is always tough. The US has its very own intricacies and many college campuses are ginormous. Some tips to survive these educational juggernauts:

• Learn to read maps. US culture is map-oriented (they'll even draw you a map to go to the restroom!), and reading maps is a skill that will serve you well. Get a campus map as soon as you arrive on campus, and make sure to know which way is North (this sounds silly, but going up is not necessarily heading north!). Also, get used to using north, south, east, and west as much as you would use up, down, left, and right. It's not unusual to get directions and folks will tell you, "go north on X street..."
• Embrace it: You WILL get lost at some point. Just relax and enjoy getting lost on your campus. That's just as inevitable as getting the Ph.D. bug as a master's student or succumbing to the "freshman 15." That will always makes up for crazy anecdotes when you get back home.
• It's not better or worse, just DIFFERENT. As obvious as it may seem, some people can't get detached of everything they had at home and expect to find equivalents in the US. The sooner you rid yourself of such a notion, the easier it'll be to adapt. Meat cuts won't be the same here as in you country, fruits will look and taste different, just deal with it!
• Contact your compatriots. It's not uncommon for large universities to have international student associations. Get in touch with them, and do hang out with them. It's actually (in my not-so-humble-after-all opinion) kind of rude not to try to reach out to them at least a few times while you're in school. You'd rather be with other people, fine! But don't be a stranger. Your compatriots are the first line of defense and many are seasoned residents who can give you some nice tips about surviving. Having said that...
• Don't narrow yourself down. US universities, particularly at the graduate level, are oases of cultural diversity. Never in your life will you meet so many people from so many countries, unless you end up in foreign relations or the U.N. So, enjoy it. and don't spend every second of your day with people too similar to you. You'd be suprised how similar we can be across nationality lines. Have a little bit of fun too. Learn to say "hello" in different languages, even if that's all you know about the language. Greet your Muslim friends wih "Asalaam Alaikum" and you'll find out how much you may understand them when they reply "Alaikum Salaam." Don't just say "cheers" when you can toast by saying, "sante," "saude," "slainte," "prost," etc. Kiss your Argentine friends on the cheek and give two kisses to the Spanish, Austrian, or Lebanese girls. As I said, you'll never meet so many people from so many countries in one place. Don't put it to waste.
• Go to some of the local events near campus. In fact, try not to spend a lot of time on the campus districts! You'd be surprised how different life looks through the lense of the local folks. Go to local festivals or events on the streets in the downtown areas. Enjoy a free concert by a local band and interact with the townies, they're not bad people!

3. Your English:

• Try to learn as much as you can before you come here. Don't take for granted that being here alone will improve it. Take courses, read in English, practice, practice, practice before you come here! Although that holds true especially for people in the humanities, folks in engineering can benefit from all the practice.
• Learn about events for international students. There are conversation tables and groups sponsored by groups and organizations. That's a way to practice in a more relaxed environment.
• Don't be afraid to speak and use your English. Take risks and talk. Also, don't EVER apologize for your accent or lack of "American" pronunciation. Be proud of your heritage, even when you speak English!
• No matter how good your English is, get ready to learn all over again. Developing an academic register when you speak and write is a whole different animal and it'll take you time to learn it. Ask your adviser and other professors for help (hint: They too HAD TO LEARN to write and speak academically... remember this, NONE OF YOUR PROFESSORS WAS BORN WITH A PHD. THEY ALL HAD TO GO TO GRAD SCHOOL JUST LIKE YOU, so don't hesitate to ask for help. Unless they're certified jerks, they'll help you get better), as well as more advanced graduate students.

4. Brush up on some skills:

• Google will be your best buddy ever, so learn to use it effectively.
• Take some time to learn some typing skills. They'll come in handy when you're writing reports.
• If you're going to do some social science research, take a listening comprehension course before coming here. Practice transcribing tapes in English. You'll need that skill throughout your degree work.
• Learn to read on your computer screen. You might get tired at first, but many professors now give you the readings in .pdf format. Plus, that saves trees :).
• Learn to use Office applications (powerpoint, word, excel). You have no idea how much those skills will come in handy.

That's some of my advice for now. I'll get back to writing more tips as my quest to finish my dissertation continues.

Till my next blog,

Raul A. (El Patron)

The Return of the Blog... in time for Fall!!!!

The Return of the Blog

Greetings to all my friends and fans on the blogosphere and Facebook. After a long absence from writing, I've decided to reactivate my blog. It's been a while since I've written some lines so I'll indulge for a little bit...

But before I go any further... oh yes, you know what's coming, don't you? It's time for an enhanced...

Gratuitous Update on Isabella & Manuela (well, because they're Isa and Manu, and you're not!)

So my lovely, adorable, and gorgeous nieces turned ONE a month ago (yes, they're 13 months old!) and the family had a nice little shindig for them at my aunt's farm. Pictures galore from the event have flooded my e-mail and I've tried to post them up on Facebook as fast as I can. Progress reports indicate that they're already giving little strides here and there, they can say a few words (notably an obsession with saying hi to everybody they run into!) and they recognize their oddball Tio Raul in pictures. Unfortunately, it seems they have some respiratory problems, and that's freaked me out a little freaked out (God forbid they have their uncle's nose!), so we'll see what happens.

Ok, now that I got that out of my system, on with the blog...

Random thoughts before the end of the summer....

1. "I'll get by with a little help from my friends." - Joe Cocker

Anyone who ever watched "The Wonder Years" probably remembers that song by Joe Cocker. I wanted to start my blog with that line to give a bunch of my close friends a HUGE THANK YOU for your support over the past few months (you know damn well who you are!). I've finally gotten over a huge funk that went on and off all of last year. I won't discuss the causes, but its aftermath has included some time off from the dating game to collect my thoughts together and get all of my life back on track. I got two years left to graduate, so the stakes are increasingly higher. But, make no mistake, if it hadn't been for that "little help from my friends," in the form of friendly advice (Sandra), listening to my rants on facebook and AIM (An, Scott, Aubrey, Yupin), or simply just being there (Aragon, Yovani, Ricardo). it's very unlikely I'd have reached the peace of mind I seem to have found as of late. To all of them, you know damn well that EL PATRON may be down, but never out., and rest assured that when you need me, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, I'll answer the call when you need me!

2. My thoughts for Peru

A few days ago, a devastating earthquake destroyed parts of Peru to points that seem to be mind-blowing. I was told that one of my cousins' husband is covering the news from Lima and that the scene brings you to tears. My condolences and prayers to any and all Peruvians around the world. I have seen first-hand what the wrath of nature can do to a city/country, and I know how much you must be suffering. From this blog, all I can do is offer my unwavering support and any possible help.

3. Damn, it's Fall already!

I can't believe it's almost the end of the summer. This one went by so fast, and I really didn't have much of a break, with the exception of a weekend trip to Springfield, IL. But, at least I had enough money to eat decently and go out on occasion, and the rent was paid on time. Now, fall's here. What's in store for me: Well, preparing everything for my dissertation proposal defense in December, teaching 2 courses, and of course playing one more season with the best broomball team on earth, THE FAMOUS ST. FUNS (you know, B-Hernz, Da Schaf, Homie, Wags, and Harold the pope... King Doug, we'll miss you!!!! Oh, and check out our St. Funs broomball videos on youtube!) That should keep me entertained. But, I'm really looking forward to this fall... at least it had a much better kickoff than last year's!!!!! Also, old friends are back and new friends were met, so that's always good. To my old friends back in town (Igor, Rebecca, Maryline, etc), welcome back home. It's good to have you around. To my new friends (Carlo, Xioda, Mirona, etc...) welcome to Chambana... a place you may too call home soon enough.

4. The countdown to 2009 begins

I have two years left in Chambana, so let's start the countdown to 2009. I promised a few friends (Bongani, Issam, etc.) that I'm going to get this done no matter what. I came here on a mission, and yes I've met wonderful people along the way. I'm really excited about this and I can't wait to take on the challenges for the next two years. Just tag along for the ride. It'll be pretty awesome!!!!!!

Till my next blog...

Raul A. (El Patron)

April 18, 2007

Thoughts After the Virginia Tech Tragedy

Greetings to all my fellow bloggers and friends around the world. As you can tell, I've chosen Maroon and Orange for this blog. This entire blog is dedicated to the 32 victims of the Virginia Tech shootings this past Monday. However, a special dedication to the memories of two of the victims: Professor Liviu Librescu, who showed us the ultimate sacrifice a teacher can (and when need may be, must) make, and Professor James Bishop, a "brother" of mine, if you will, since he (just as I am now) was a Fulbright Alum in Germany. Peace to all of them in their resting places and my prayers to all of them, friends, and families.

On my with blog:

Thoughts in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech Tragedy: Some of my reflections and cathartic thoughts

Before I start, a caveat: I assume sole responsibility of these thoughts. They are my catharsis. I've been choking tears for the last three days and I need this to clear my mind. They represent my uncertainty, my sadness, and even my anger. However, I'm trying to be fair and honest.

We're all Hokies... because we all could've been Illini.

It has been a sad week for anyone who attends a university anywhere in the world. In the morning of April 16, 2007, 32 students and faculty died in the hands of another student, who was disenchanted with life and decided to make them (and us at large) the recipients of his unjustified nemesis (more on that later). It is an unfortunate day because this could really have happened anywhere else. For all we know, it could've been in Champaign, Illinois, and now I'd have to be calling everybody else to tell them I am alive and safe. I prayed to God on Tuesday morning when all I had to talk to my mom was about my sister's broken ankle. When that's the topic of conversation compared to what could've been about, as Friar Lawrence would say, "Therefore thou art happy."

Why did this happen, we all wonder? Part of it is the very nature of these universities. In terms of safety, these are monolithic constructions in the middle of small towns. I mean, how would you feel if someone tried to place the Eiffel Tower in your backyard? Overwhelmed? Mad as hell? Some folks here might if you think about the social imbalances on both sides of the invisible fence that college campuses have created. True, this time it was a student himself who perpetrated such atrocities, but what might preclude someone unaffiliated with the university to try to teach us a lesson in inequality and injustice? Then, there's the very nature of the academic life at these universities. Virginia Tech, just as Illinois, is a Research University. The demands are high and the pressure sometimes even higher. It is not hard to crack under pressure, believe me. We all feel the weight under our shoulders, and anyone who says otherwise is full of it, I promise. The thing is, some of us have other outlets to relieve the pressure, some of us have close and good friends who rescue us day in and day out. That Korean kid had none of them. I'm neither defending nor justifying his actions. Let me get this straight: No matter how much pressure you live under, there's no excuse to punish others for it, especially if the punishment is death. You can always seek other outlets, seek counseling, talk to someone.

However, this is a cautionary tale for all of us. How many people do we know that never talk to anyone? We have seen them at lecture halls, we have seen them at coffee shops, we have seen them at the libraries, yet we hide under the shield of our papers, research, and dissertations to avoid them. We classify them as "weird" or "creepy" when maybe there's someone worth talking to. There are 45,000 students at the U of I. How many loners are there roaming our campus? I think we need to be more careful and try to find ways to help them if we know a case. They might not go ballistic on anyone, but they might hurt themselves. That we cannot allow it either.

I am trying to make sense of these events using the University as a field, devoid of the "It's in the USA" discussion. Contextualizing this in the "those gringos brought it to themselves" cloud is not my point (and I know for a fact that some folks around the world - as I noticed in a forum I read in a Colombian newspaper - are actually celebrating this... probably not in South Korea, though). I still think something like this, or along these lines, could happen elsewhere. We have universities all over the world, and they are a microcosm of our societies. Am I advocating for lessening the demands so that our students don't go bananas someday? No. It's not my style to call for mediocrity. I wasn't raised to be mediocre, and I thank my parents for that. I am advocating for present and future faculty to be less of a Professor and more of a Teacher. I mentioned in a past blog how I saw myself as a teacher. That's what we need: More professors and teaching assistants who care more for their students or at least as much as they do for their research. We need faculty who can give students what Wikipedia will never be able to: a comforting hand in the times of need, a voice of support when we're down, to show that we care for the scholars they can be but even more so for the person they are. And for that, we don't need a goddamn Ph.D. We just need a heart.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Here I want to stop and pay tribute to Professor Liviu Librescu, one of the true HEROES of A-16. For those who haven't heard yet. Prof. Librescu, a former Holocaust survivor, gave his life away to save his students. He blocked his classroom door with HIS OWN BODY to allow his students to escape. In the process, the bullets hit him and his life was over. Sometimes people question teachers too lightly and claim they're not doing their job right. I get teary-eyed when I think of this. The reason: I know I would've done EXACTLY THE SAME under those circumstances. NO BULLSHIT THERE. It is not our job to put our lives in the line of fire, as police or firefighters do every day, but we know there are risks. Sometimes I think about that scene and what if I had been there. I teach a class, and I care for my students' safety. So, to those of you who dare criticize teachers, let me look at you straight in the eye, and let me ask you: Would you be willing to care for and protect a group of kids to the point of giving your life to save theirs? Ok... so pretty please, with sugar on top, GET OFF MY TEACHERS' BACKS!!!!! Thank you.

Here I'd also take a moment to thank a teacher who showed me 18 years ago what teaching is about. The year: 1989. The place: My high school, French class. The scenario: A group of thieves broke into our campus to avoid the police. The police entered the campus in pursuit of the criminals. Gunshots galore followed. It was about 11 am. Our French teacher, after hearing the gunfire, yelled at us all, "everybody down, hide under the seats!" and immediately asked us to barricade the door with desks. True, he was a little agitated at the time and we all took it as a joke of an overreacting teacher back them. But, in hindsight, it was the right thing to do: Make sure the thieves wouldn't have a chance to enter the room. After reading what some students at VT did to prevent the killer to break into their rooms, throw desks against the door, I cannot help but say: THANKS, LEON, wherever you are. Be as it may, you cared so much for our lives and you weren't overreacting after all. You were just being a concerned teacher.

I'm not playing the blame game

Right now, it's very easy to start blaming everybody for what happened at Blacksburg. Some will go on and blame video games. Others will blame hip-hop or rap or heavy metal, etc. For all we know, someone will blame Barack Obama and others will blame Hillary Rodham Clinton. And many will blame Hollywood. Finally, some will just blame the United States at large. I'm still trying to make sense of this tragedy; as I said, it could've been Champaign-Urbana just the same. Blaming video games is pointless. True, some of them depict violence, but for all I know a U of Illinois alumnus created Mortal Kombat and you don't see people here trying to rip each other's hearts off in the Quad. Blame it on TV? Too easy. Blame it on the permissive gun culture in the U.S.? It's plausible but others are debating now as we speak. True, getting access to guns here is easier than it is in Colombia for instance (9mm pistols, for example, are restricted by law for exclusive use by members of the armed forces) but instances of violence can outburst anywhere. And, unfortunately, where there is an evil will there is an evil way. Whose fault is it then? Everybody's and nobody's. It's nobody's fault because sometimes we cannot control what goes on in other people's minds. But it's out fault because sometimes we ourselves, as I mentioned above, are fostering the existence of social outcasts due to the very circles we create.

I also said that I wasn't going to go down the easy road and blame tne U. S. of A. for all of this. That's too simplistic and misses the point. True, there are some things that the government has done which have begotten more violence elsewhere. That's just one side of this country, which a lot of folks here don't agree with either and are just as disgusted by. I have lived and felt another side of this society. That of people who are willing to lend you a hand when nobody else would. I've had people offer me help, emotional, economic, and otherwise, in times of need. I have people here offer me their undivided friendship and care. I have cared for and loved people in this country, so I can't just go and say, "They deserve it". Trust me:

Nobody deserves to see their friends or compatriots die, NOBODY!!!!

I've seen people from all over the country show their support for those who died on Monday, and I can assure you that if some of these people weren't blindfolded by their own goverment as many are would care for other people's deaths also. Saying that everybody in the U.S. are inconsiderate and don't care about the world is as pointless as now thinking that all Koreans are one massacre waiting to happen (Which is utterly false. I have GREAT, AMAZING friends from Korea, and I can assure you they're terrified by all this) or calling us all Colombians Mules or Cokeheads just because you think we are all ready to pull a "Maria Full of Grace" at the next U.S. Airport. Just as I don't think all Arabs are walking suicide bomb either (I cried for my Lebanese friends last year when I heard about the bombings in the summer). This is a sad day for all of us. As is every day that soldiers and civilians alike die in Iraq, or as people die in Darfur for ethnic purposes, and I could go on and on. It's a sad day because someone else decided that his life was so worthless that it was worth taking 32 others along with his. That's what makes it sad. It is sad to think that life means so little for others when there are couples out there crying night in and night out trying to bring a life here. It is sad to think that life means so little for someone when there are thousands breathing through machines who would've traded places with that Korean kid and have the new lease on life they don't have right now.

My Tears Tonight, My Challenge Tomorrow...

That's why I cry. Because deep inside me, I know although I have made something to make other people's lives worthwhile, I still haven't made enough and need to do more. I cry for those 32, along with all the thousands that died today and no one talked about on Facebook or wrote a tribute to on a blog, because they all missed the chance to make a difference. I cry because there are children who died in Iraq and elsewhere today whom I won't be able to call brothers and sisters when they would've been bestowed the honor to be Fulbright students or come to the University of Illinois. I cry for them because they don't have anymore the chance that I still have: The chance to still make a difference for someone. Why me and not them? I'll leave it up to God himslef to explain that to me one day, not that he needs to justify his choosing me over all of them. It is up to me to honor that decision. And I'll cry for them because I mean it, not to make a spectacle of it all. And I know some of these tears are for my grandmother, whom I kindly ask to take care of those who died at Blacksburg and other parts of the world, as she did for me and my cousins at some point in time. I'm not afraid to admit that I've cried while writing this blog. Because I'm human and I care for other people's suffering, even if I don't know them. It's because I never will that I care and even cry in the end.

Tonight, I'll pray for all of them. What will I do tomorrow? Very simple: I'll get up early and go to work. And I'll continue fulfilling the mission that I set for myself when I left home 5 years ago. And I will give my friendship and love to those near me and, if possible, those far away from me. In the end, the best tribute we can pay to those Hokies and others is not just to keep living, but to keep living with intensity. It's about making every day worthwhile. As cliche as it seems, we never know when it'll be the last. And, as my mom always keeps telling my sister and me, "EN VIDA, HERMANO, EN VIDA." That is, while living, my brother, while living. Why wait to tell someone how awesome they are during an eulogy. Tell them in every which way you can. Heck, even Facebook poking may do that! You can read a poke as "here he goes again annoying me" or "damn, someone took two seconds of their busy time to look for me and annoy me with a poke... that's kinda cool!"

In the end, we can't replace anyone who's died, but we may as well try to make up for their absence by giving it all every day of the rest of our lives. That is the challenge for us all. Let's remember them all by living life at its fullest and taking advantage of those little luxuries they no longer have, such as breathing the air and feeling the sun in our heads. It's about giving other people the luxury that Korean kid didn't have: To have someone call him "Friend" or "Brother". We sometimes underestimate the power they have. But what difference can they make in one person's life. They can be the difference between spending $570 on a gun or $570 on a home theater to invite their friends over for movies and popcorn. Ridiculous? Try asking those 32+ 1 who died on Monday.

That's it for now. I'll be back soon with, I hope, a more uplifting blog. Take care of yourselves, my friends and brothers/sisters out there. I'd hate to hear I won't be able to know you're alive tomorrow... and by the way, all of you...

ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Raul A. (El Patron)

February 14

U of I Snow Day I & II 2007: The Winter event of a lifetime!

Greetings to all my fellow bloggers and readers around the world. Today's blog is a very special one. Before I go into details, some acknowledgments are de rigueur: First, to my fellas at St. Funz: Big Bryan, the Schaf, Doug, and of course my White Street Loco partner, Harry - It was awesome to get back together at Broomball, and I can't wait for intramurals to start so we can kick some H-Core ass!!!!! To my friends at the snow fight (Steffen, Scott, Brian, Kelsey, Julie, Jonas, Dominik, Jim, Michelle, Jared... remind me if I forgot someone!), it was awesome to be with y'all at the Quad! To my good friend Katie, great seeing you and I hope Obama makes it to the White House! To Rebecca, I guess I'll see you in a while.

Of course, how can I go on without...,

The gratuitous twin nieces update! (Because they don't need no Valentine... they're my family's Valentine!)

So I got more pictures of them, and it seems that I finally learned the code to distinguish them faster. You see, I learned from my mom yesterday that Isabella usually wears pink and Manuela usually wears blue. So that's how I can recognize them in pictures! Isabella does look like my sister; whether Manuela looks like me is beyond my scope. Big tip of the hat for my sister for teaching them some discipline early on. HUGE wag of the finger to my dad: Dad, the last thing I want is a couple of spoiled brats as nieces, so quit it! Stop spoiling them, especially Manuela... don't make me go back and take you to school, dude!

Now, on with the blog...

Snow Day at U of I: A once-in-a-lifetime event and the best time on the snow ever!

The Midwest, and Illinois in particular, are pretty unpredictable when it comes to the weather. A common saying here is, "If you don't like the weather... just wait 15 more minutes!" Up until last week, we had a very mild winter, almost no snow and all. In the last two weeks, however, we had an arctic freeze swing by Chambana, with temperatures close to -20 F (about -30-some degrees Celsius). Last week, onTuesday, we had about 4 inches of snow. And on Monday, we had a winter storm alert that became blizzard alert within the hours. It started snowing around 10:00 P.M. People went to the grocery stores in flocks to get supplies for the next two days. Schools closed for the day. By Tuesday morning, some of the smaller colleges closed. But by 8 A.M., our flagship University was still operating. You see, the U of I never closes, unless we're talking about some tsunami coming from Lake Michigan, an asteroid shower hitting campus, or an alien invasion. So we all expected business as usual on Campustown.

And then, the unthinkable just happened. Around 9 A.M., U of I Chancellor Richard Herman sent us all a massmail announcing that CLASSES HAD BEEN CANCELED DUE TO SNOW! You have to understand the ramifications of this: The U of I hadn't closed for classes since 1979. Yes, Illini students are expected to perform regardless of the weather, so for us to hear this news was huge. And what did most of us do given the hard weather conditions? Well, what anyone would do given the magnitude of the event: We went out and played in the snow! The Quad became the stage for the biggest snow extravaganza in the 140-year glorious history of the Orange and Blue. Someone even pulled out his skis and walked on the quad! People playing snow football, picking snow fights, tackling each other to the ground was all you saw for several hours. Oh, and then Snow Day took even more historical significance when the Chancellor announced that today, Wednesday 14, 2007, WE WOULDN'T HAVE CLASSES EITHER! For the first time EVER, the U of I had closed for 2 days in a row! This is unprecedented and all of us are glad to be part of history! I am glad to be part of yet another historical moment in my grad school tenure. The highlight of my Snow Day was climbing the famed monument of the Alma Mater and, atop the chair, sing our famous "Hail to the Orange," one of our most traditional fight songs. In case you've never heard it, it goes like this:

HAIL TO THE ORANGE

HAIL TO THE BLUE

HAIL ALMA MATER, EVER SO TRUE [SO TRUE!]

WE LOVE NO OTHER, SO LET OUR MOTTO BE:

VICTORY, ILLINOIS

VARSITY!!!!!

It was an uber-cool moment, let me tell you, the kind you tell friends and your children about forever and ever. Those of us who played together this cold afternoon will neer forget this, and if you missed it... shame on you! Snow Day I and II will never return, it'll never be the same after this, we saw history in the making!

However, I know that there's a flip side to all the frolicking in the snow. When the snow settled, we had somewhere around 10 inches to 3 or 4 feet of snow in some areas. People have their cars buried in the snow, and very likely some folks are still locked in their homes because of the snow piled up. Chambana is white all over, the snow will need weeks to finally melt. I imagine lots of businesses lost money because of closing and maybe damages. In fact, one of our basketball players was a victim of the blizzard, and God knows how many more injuries and casualties there may be. My thoughts and prayers go with all those who may have suffered the consequences of the hardest blizzard in decades in Central Illinois.

Champaign-Urbana is getting back to normal around the snow. Be as it may, all of us who lived it and enjoyed will always have these moments etched in our memories. True, we're here for our education, but there are things that define each generation of Illini Alumni. For us, Snow Day I & II will always be one of those. After all, how many of you before us or after us can say that you had a ginormous snow fight on the quad? And you don't know what Hail to the Orange means until you've climbed the Alma Mater in the midst of a blizzard. Snow Day I & II, the two days when U of I closed, will be in our memories and hearts forever.

Good luck to all, enjoy the weather you get right now, and talk to you soon!

Till my next blog...

Raul (El Patron)

February 06

And the GEEK Shall Rule the Earth: The Geekiest Blog Yet

Paraphrasing James Brown: "Say it loud... I'M GEEK AND I'M PROUD!!!!!"

Greetings to all my fellow bloggers and siblings in arms around the world... I'm back with the blog. First, some acknowledgments and news. So last week, there was a huge forum at the U of I about race, racism, and privilege. If you go to the U of I, regardless of nationality and missed this, big SHAME ON YOU!!!!! It was very interesting and enlightening. I made some comments in regards to what I wrote in my last blog. To those of you who heard me and gave me props, thanks! I'm truly humbled that you liked what I said. In all honesty, I just had to speak because some change has to take place here before things escalate. Now, onto less transcendental issues, Broomball season is under way, and I can't wait to play with my brothers in arms Bryan and the Schaf! And this time, we're going intramural baby!!!!! I'll keep you posted. To my friend John Garlisch, thanks for a nice Super Bowl shindig. It was fun, and it was good to see some friends there...

So DA BEARS lost. Yes, I'm still a 49ers fan at heart, but I remember the SUPERBOWL SHUFFLE... Heck, I saw it WHEN IT HAPPENED, not the yearly reruns!!!!!! And I heard about Jim McMahon, Walter Payton, and the Fridge long before many of you... plus I LOVE CHI-TOWN... That's my claim to being a BEARS FAN as well... It was sad to see Da Bears lose yesterday... but we'll get back...

Oh, and now... yes you know it... it's time for...

The Gratuitous Twin Nieces Update (Because even though my sister doesn't know it... they're geekettes in training!): So I saw the girls on webcam on Saturday! They looked absolutely gorgeous, sporting their ILLINI T-SHIRTS!!!!!! Oh they were adorable... I hope to get more pictures coming soon!

And now, it's time for our feature presentation:

THIS IS THE DAWNING OF THE AGE OF GEEKQUARIUS, GEEKQUARIUS.... GEEKQUARIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I said above, I'm proud to be a Geek. I can't deny it, I'm doing a PhD, that automatically places me there. No shame in that! You see, these days, being a Geek, as opposed to the Nerd stereotypes of the 70's and 80's, is not such a bad thing after all. You can be a geek and have a sense of fashion. Long gone are the days where Urkel was the quintessential geek. We've now got better symbols to look up to. This beginning of the century has two common denominators: An utter disgust for the lack of brains of the average celebrities and the rise of people who don't look "Perfect" but are actually cool and successful, albeit a bit aloof at times. You don't believe me? Well, here's my evidence:

1. Biggest grossing movies of the last 5 years (some, at least): Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Harry Potter, X-Men, The Matrix Trilogy

2. Some of the most popular books in the last 5 years: Harry Potter (come on, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are pretty geeky... but cool!)

3. Some of the most popular TV shows in the last 5 years: CSI (Grisham is a certified Geek, Ph.D. and all!), Law and Order (all variations), Monk (Sherlock Holmes with OCD anyone?), Lost (it takes a lot of thinking to follow on the subplots), Heroes.

4. Weird Al Yankovic's "WHITE AND NERDY" actually outranked the original (Chamillionnaire's Ridin' Dirty) in the Top 40 lists! You know you're legit when Ice-T introduces you on TV as a Hip-hop legend!

5. The Transformers Movie is coming in 2007.

6. Google and YouTube, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs... all geek-related.

7. Some of the most popular cartoons around: Get Fuzzy (come on, Bucky, Rob, and Satchel are all pretty geeky) and PhD, Piled Higher and Deeper (about, you guessed it, Grad Students).

8. Time magazine declared all of "us" (as in all of us who blog, Facebook, and go to YouTube and Wikipedia) as the Person of the Year.

9. Coolest comedians/satirists: Steve Carrell (we all loved the 40-year-old virgin), Steven Colbert, Jon Stewart, Ben Stiller, The Wilson Brothers, even Will Ferrell has some quirky geekiness to himself... all making geek pretty chic!

and La Piece de Resistance... as much as it pains us Bears fans...

10. Peyton Manning, the Anti-Tom Brady and probably the geekiest quarterback of all time, is the SuperBowl MVP. Heck, even Tony Dungy looks geeky... but he's respected now as a football genius!

I could think of more examples, but that's beside the point. Being a GEEK is actually pretty cool these days. We've come a long way since "Revenge of the Nerds." Stereotypes are being broken yet again, and hopefully these signs will help children around the world, whom I know from experience as a student and teacher, in high schools and colleges around the world, not to be shameful because they're laborious, like to study hard, and get good grades. I'm fine with it, after all, being a geek has taken me far and wide... as has many of my friends here at Illinois and elsewhere. So, again, to paraphrase good ole James Brown,

SAY IT LOUD, I'M GEEK AND I'M PROUD!

Till my next blog!

Raul A. (El Patron)