Pacman Is Alive and Well in Oxnard

101 Fwy at Rice Ave, Oxnard, CA. June 30, 2007.

Futbol: July 2007 TV Schedule

For all of the Futbol/Soccer fans out there, below is a comprehensive list of all the upcoming soccer matches that will be shown on TV in the month of July 2007. Credit to Roberto Abramowitz of Futbol Mundial USA. The complete schedule is after the jump…

David Beckham vs. Reggie Bush

No Greencards This Year

I have to admit that I was angry that the Immigration Reform Bill died in the Senate this week. Immigrants have long been bashed and exploited in this country, as well as in a lot of other countries. However, the defeat of the Immigration Reform Bill illustrates one fact, that Latinos do NOT (yet) have the political power to match their numbers. This fact will change (hopefully) in the future, just by the sheer number of Latinos in the USA, and their US-born Latinos. Change is coming. It is inevitable. It will be the Revolt of the Cockroach People.

It is clear that the US government turns a blind eye to the southern border and tacitly approves the flow of undocumented immigrants into this country so that business and the economy can benefit from cheap labor. That is a fact. Then the US government turns its back on these same undocumented immigrants when they want to obtain legal status. That is exploitation to me, and a huge injustice. The US government cannot have it both ways.

Perhaps it was too much to ask that comprehensive Immigration Reform would pass just one year before the next Presidential elections. But maybe the death of the Immigration Reform Bill was a blessing in disguise since there were so many things wrong with it (not family-based, cost, etc). We’ll just have to wait until 2009, and the Revolt.

Copa America: Lightning Did Not Strike Twice

A big FELICIDADES! to Mexico for their 2-0 win over Brazil on Wednesday night.  It was the most improbable of victories, Mexico shutting out Brazil en el primer partido de Copa America de estas dos selecciones.  All of the jovenes en la seleccion Mexicana played excellent, especially Nerry Castillo.  One thing I like about Castillo is that he always gives 1000% effort and chases down every ball, even at the 90th minute.  I hope that Nerry is traded to one of the big European clubs where he can further develop as a player, just like Rafa Marquez did.  By playing en Europa, Rafa Marquez took his game to the next level.

Well, lightning did not strike twice in Copa America.  Argentina soundly defeated the USA, 4-1.  Although La Seleccion de Todos held on for 60 minutes at 1-1, Los Argentinos were just too powerful.  It was a Ferrari vs. Honda.  A Professor taking a student to school.  I have watched all the teams in Copa America play and no team comes close to la seleccion de Argentina.  My prediction is that Argentina will win the Copa America.

La Sorpresa:  Who would have thought that Brazil would be in 4th place, dead last, in their group?  My feeling is that Brazil will unleash hell and punish Chile and Ecuador just to qualify for the next round.

Here is a useful link to the Schedule of all the matches to be played in Copa America.

 Too much Futbol!!!

Don’t Expect Our Troops To Come Home From Iraq Any Time Soon

Burried on page C6 of today’s LA Times Business section was this little item:

From the Los Angeles Times

IN BRIEF / DEFENSE

Fluor, Dyncorp, KBR win contract

From Times Wire Services

June 29, 2007

Irvine-based Fluor Corp., Dyncorp International Inc. and KBR Inc., a former unit of Halliburton Co., were awarded parts of a U.S. Army contract with a combined potential value of as much as $150 billion to provide services to the military in the Middle East.

The contract, the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) IV, would be worth as much as $5 billion a year in business for each of the companies, with the potential duration of 10 years.

The Army said the contract was parceled out to three companies rather than just one to “more effectively manage the number and scope of LOGCAP actions required to fight the global war on terror.”

So, basically, it looks like the Army is making plans to be in the “Middle East” for another 10 years.

Un Recuerdo Futbolistico

The Golaso by the USA’s Benny Fielhaber against Mexico reminded me of another classic GOLASO by Argentina’s Maxi Rodriguez against Mexico in the 2006 World Cup.

Watch Maxi’s Gol one more time:

 

Final de la Copa De Oro

Muchos de mi familia (incluyendo La Señora TacoSam) y varios de mis amigos y compañeros pensaron que yo estaba Loco. Pero ya se confirmo en la cancha, EEUU domino a la selección Mexicana otra vez. Es mas, el Técnico Bob Bradley demostró que el es un mejor técnico que Hugo Sánchez. No hay ninguna duda. Los resultados lo muestran, especialmente el resultado de la Final de la Copa de Oro.

 

Se siente bonito ganar las apuestas. Aunque tengo que decir que si estaba preocupado al medio tiempo cuando México ganaba el partido uno a cero. Yo soy estudiante del fútbol, igual que soy estudiante de la lengua Española. Me encantan los dos. Es mas, necesito ver mi fútbol en español, porque en Ingles, pues no tiene pasión.

 

Pero así es la vida. Siempre hay un ganador y un perdedor. Hoy en este día gano EEUU. Felicidades a México por un buen partido contra EEUU. Me gusto mucho como jugo México hoy. Si México hubiera jugado todos los partidos así, aló mejor hubiera logrado otro resultado en la Final. Ojala, México aprenda de sus derrotas, como yo he aprendido de las mías.

 

Nota: Yo siempre apoyo a México futbolísticamente, excepto cuando México juega contra EEUU. Allí si enseño mis colores verdaderos de mi tierra natal–El ROJO, BLANCO y AZUL!!

Aqui esta el GOOOOLLLLAAAAASSSSOOOOOOOOOOO otra vez:

Mi Viejo

Es un buen tipo mi viejo
que anda solo y esperando
tiene la tristeza larga
de tanto venir andando

Yo lo miro desde lejos
pero somos tan distintos
es que creció con el siglo
con tranvía y vino tinto….

Viejo, mi querido viejo
ahora ya caminas lento
perdonando el viento
yo soy tu sangre mi viejo
soy tu silencio y tu tiempo….

El tiene los ojos buenos
y una figura pesada
la edad se le vino encima
sin carnaval, ni comparsa

Yo tengo los años nuevos
mi padre los años viejos
el dolor lo lleva dentro
y tiene historias sin tiempo

Viejo, mi querido viejo
ahora ya caminas lento
perdonando el viento
yo soy tu sangre mi viejo
soy tu silencio y tu tiempo

Yo soy tu sangre mi viejo….

–Piero

Life is Art

I love the arts. I always have, ever since I was a young child. I guess its because I always felt art, art was alive with the power of life and creativity. Art has the unique power to provoke an emotional response. What would life be without the arts? I cannot imagine it.

A great artistic performance is just like a great athletic performance, or maybe even greater. It leaves you in awe. It is poetry in motion. I had the great fortune and privilege of being at the Palace Theatre in London in March 1996 when Lea Salonga sang the part of Eponine in Les Misérables. It was one of the best Broadway shows that I have ever seen and heard. I love the story of Les Misérables because it is all about the power of redemption. I still haven’t read Victor Hugo’s book, but its on my list of things to do before I hand in my ticket. Below is Lea Salonga’s performance at the 10-year anniversary celebration of Les Misérables. Her voice is incredible. Life is art.