Soledad en masa

I’m bored.

I went to the South Gate High School Wikipedia article a few minutes ago and I burst out laughing. For starters, the school’s motto is “MORE money for MOREtta” (Moretta being the last name of the principal). I knew the page was a haven for jokes, but I didn’t expect to find what I found.

Apparently, someone thought it funny to include a list of recent graduates and nicknames for them under the “Notable Alumni” heading. I know all of the people on the list (except for one) and I have a really good idea who posted this list. Hell, I used a number of these nicknames (this tells me it was one of my high school acquaintances). Instead of deleting the list, I decided to copy the list and post it here for my own self-reference in the future. Plus, I’m sure someone will delete it soon. It’s available, unedited, after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

I should never again take a class on anything in the Far East, especially China. Why? Too many names that I can’t remember. I think Japanese names are easier to remember than Chinese. I’m doing pretty well in my course on Russia, and those names just kick ass. Come on, who would not name their child Aleksandr?

It’s midnight here in the East Coast, temperature at 18 degrees Fahrenheit (with the wind, it feels like 3 degrees). I got my hair cut earlier today, making me feel the temperature much colder. I cut it because it started to annoy me and because this Saturday, Harvard is holding Cultural Rhythms (old website) and the Artist of the Year, present at the concert, is none other than Herbie Hancock, who won a Grammy for Album of the Year a few weeks back.

Anyway, I’m hungry. I want something cheap to eat. I feel like going to a Tams-style burger place right now. What stops me? There are no fast food joints at Harvard Square (Cambridge banned them at Harvard Square only). I don’t know of any fast food joints like that anywhere in Cambridge or Boston, and the T is no longer running at this time. Ach!

Today hovered around 30 degrees all day long. It was cold. Exceptionally cold.

Why?

Because of this. Read the rest of this entry »

Read the rest of this entry »

Today, when my browser loaded the Los Angeles Times’ webpage, my attention was caught by the headline “Threat hinted at school; absences spike.” What happened is that on the Valentine’s Day edition of Savanna (Anaheim) High School’s newspaper, amongst the other love wishes, this gem of a message was included:

To Metal Destroyer Militia. Remember guys — We all go down 2/22!! Let’s quit stalling!! Much Love! 666! All the way baby!

Today, around 1,400 students missed class. Granted, it’s Friday, but a district spokeswoman noted that Fridays typically have only about 60 absences. Half the student body missed!

It makes me wonder just how much oversight there is at this high school’s newspaper. Read the rest of this entry »

“El repatriado” comes from Vicente’s movie “Juan Armenta”. This is the last Vicente Fernández I’ve seen.

Interesting to note: the mariachi in the background is none other than el Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán from the early 1970s. How do I know this? The musician holding the harmonica behind Chente sings this song, I recognize the guitarrón player and other members. To compare, look at this video.

Oy, this weekend is full of work, work, work… Ten page paper for a class I don’t read for. How wonderful. And I still haven’t figured out what I’m doing this summer.

Today I’ve felt nothing but a feeling to be back in South Gate. I want Mexican food (¡Birria y buche!), to walk down the streets of the city I grew up (I already feel such a disconnect already), where I hear Spanish everywhere and feel comfortable. Where I can play my music loudly and proudly and not have to worry about annoying those around me (much). I’ve been listening to Los Panchos and have been doing my Spanish work VERY slowly for the past four hours. I began looking into plane tickets to go back home for a few days during Spring Break, but so far, they seem too expensive. I’ll look into flying out of Providence, Rhode Island, on Southwest, but I don’t want to take a bus to Providence… Plus, Southwest makes so many stops on the way and I would probably not be able to have food, like the last time I flew on Southwest (from Providence to San Antonio).

I have many ideas and want them to come to fruition. I feel they would improve things at Harvard and I have begun voicing a few, but have faced opposition from a number of people. Too radical, some say. They’re not radical enough, I say. I have a very clear mindset about a number of things but I’m the only who understands or supports the ideas. I have to find my niche. I’ll start looking at workers’ right groups throughout Boston. I haven’t seen many around Harvard (maybe I should look harder) but I’m sure they’re around in Cambridge/Somerville/Jamaica Plain.