Addendum #2 to previous gripes:
Ok so today wasn't that bad. My teeth are clean now. My hair doesn't look bad once I comb it.
I went to a meeting of the Mtn. View Youth Advisory Group with my brother. I was one of the founding members of the group back in high school. So weird that the people who were freshman when I was involved are now Juniors! Things have changed a lot for MVYAG, and not for the good it seems. When I was involved we were working on bringing our own ideas to life. I got the local night club to have teen dance nights. Another member turned the city's break room into a teen study center. We all worked to hold the teens first youth festival, complete with a stage for local bands. We did a lot of stuff in two short years, and I had hoped the momentum would push the next set of YAGers forward.
But now it's turned into a group that mainly performs as a work horse for the city's Recreation department. None of the older members seem to happy about that. But it was great seeing some them again, and seeing Chris in action. He's motiviated to bring MVYAG back to its "glory days." Go Chris! We're gonna meet with some of the older members to talk about YAGs future over dinner sometime this week.
My friend Jamie called today, and let me know I'm not the only one bored at home this break. We decided to get together tonight at the Dana Street Roasting Company in Downtown Mountain View. They have Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate there! Yum. Jamie and I caught up with each other, talked about life and stuff. Good times. Good places.
So today ended up being pretty good. Break might end up being fun afterall.
Monday, March 24, 2003
addendum to the previous entry:
I needed a haircut, so I went to the barbershop today. Guess which barber I ended up with? Yes, my friends, revenge of the Vietnamese Barber. (see my blog entry from 9-20-02). And me, with my only hat, up in berkeley.
It's not that bad...really. Just somewhat uneven....but hey, hair grows back.
(Unevenly this time around.)
I needed a haircut, so I went to the barbershop today. Guess which barber I ended up with? Yes, my friends, revenge of the Vietnamese Barber. (see my blog entry from 9-20-02). And me, with my only hat, up in berkeley.
It's not that bad...really. Just somewhat uneven....but hey, hair grows back.
(Unevenly this time around.)
Oh spring break. How wonderful you are.
Not really. Gripe time.
My nose wont stop running. My dull headache wont go away. My dog wont stop howling outside at nothing. My mom called this morning, woke me from my sleep to tell me "surprise! I scheduled a dentist appointment for you today!" I'll spend my early afternoons driving my brother around since he continues to not have a license. Tomorrow I have to go to a city council meeting and speak, which is not a fun thing to do even for me. All my friends are somewhere else or still in school, so even if I had none of these other fun things to deal with....I would probably be sitting at home anyway.
Whoop-dee-do
Not really. Gripe time.
My nose wont stop running. My dull headache wont go away. My dog wont stop howling outside at nothing. My mom called this morning, woke me from my sleep to tell me "surprise! I scheduled a dentist appointment for you today!" I'll spend my early afternoons driving my brother around since he continues to not have a license. Tomorrow I have to go to a city council meeting and speak, which is not a fun thing to do even for me. All my friends are somewhere else or still in school, so even if I had none of these other fun things to deal with....I would probably be sitting at home anyway.
Whoop-dee-do
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Right around 6:00 today it started raining.
Come on fate....are we living in a freakin movie? Our bombs start falling in Baghdad and the rain starts coming down in Berkeley.
Walking across the campus with the carillion bells of the Campanile ringing some solemn song and the rain falling on my umbrella...it was one of those times when the weather outside reflects how I feel inside.
Come on fate....are we living in a freakin movie? Our bombs start falling in Baghdad and the rain starts coming down in Berkeley.
Walking across the campus with the carillion bells of the Campanile ringing some solemn song and the rain falling on my umbrella...it was one of those times when the weather outside reflects how I feel inside.
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Now...just imagine. Imagine a Berkeley campus without the truly ugliest building on campus. No. NOT Wurster.
Evans.
Yes. Evans. The giant pale green monster, the portal to hell, with moaning ventilation chasms of doom, golfland fountains and courtyards. The campus' suicide machine. Window-less lecture halls. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly.
Evans, the building that's stuck smack dab in the middle of the campus' Central Axis. What's the Central Axis you may ask? Well, take a look at a map of the campus, and notice the link between all the major public spaces in the historic core. Memorial Glade, the Mining Circle, the areas in front of VLSB. That's not a coincidence. Before Moffett Library and Evans, this was one continuus space, as planned by John Galen Howard in the early 1900s.
Evans screwed it up. In a major way. You used to have a beautiful, straight on view of the Golden Gate from the Mining Circle.
And now, I've seen..the future:
Yes. No Evans. Two smaller buildings linked underground, with a courtyard that reopens the view corrider to the Golden Gate. Beautiful. And this is only part of the plan. I'm giddy over this. Giddy! The campus DOES have a plan for the future, and it's everything I ever hoped for.
You see....I just don't walk to class. I walk to class constantly thinking about planning spaces, architecture, view corriders, paving materials, landscaping. It's built in me, I can't help it. And the Berkeley campus, for someone like me....is frustrating. It has great moments, like the view from Memorial Glade towards Doe and the Campanile. But they're isolated and constantly screwed up by ugly ass paving, ugly ass buildings, and half-assed landscaping.
It's great to know the campus has a plan, a vision...that things like the New Stanley Hall and Music Library are being built according to it. You can go see the web page yourself if you're interested....
New Century Plan
But to save you the trouble...here are some of the best drawings:
Look, this is the view looking east while walking across Strawberry Creek at Sather Gate! They're calling for the creation of a little pond and glade here, as well as some new paving material. Sweet.
Remember those dinky trailors where my studio was last spring? You know, those pieces of crap that are still standing there in what could be one of the nicest courtyards in campus...well they're gone! And a nice new building could complete the courtyard.
Well...that's all I'll show for now. Yes I know......So exciting!
No? Well...you suck.
Evans.
Yes. Evans. The giant pale green monster, the portal to hell, with moaning ventilation chasms of doom, golfland fountains and courtyards. The campus' suicide machine. Window-less lecture halls. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly.
Evans, the building that's stuck smack dab in the middle of the campus' Central Axis. What's the Central Axis you may ask? Well, take a look at a map of the campus, and notice the link between all the major public spaces in the historic core. Memorial Glade, the Mining Circle, the areas in front of VLSB. That's not a coincidence. Before Moffett Library and Evans, this was one continuus space, as planned by John Galen Howard in the early 1900s.
Evans screwed it up. In a major way. You used to have a beautiful, straight on view of the Golden Gate from the Mining Circle.
And now, I've seen..the future:
Yes. No Evans. Two smaller buildings linked underground, with a courtyard that reopens the view corrider to the Golden Gate. Beautiful. And this is only part of the plan. I'm giddy over this. Giddy! The campus DOES have a plan for the future, and it's everything I ever hoped for.
You see....I just don't walk to class. I walk to class constantly thinking about planning spaces, architecture, view corriders, paving materials, landscaping. It's built in me, I can't help it. And the Berkeley campus, for someone like me....is frustrating. It has great moments, like the view from Memorial Glade towards Doe and the Campanile. But they're isolated and constantly screwed up by ugly ass paving, ugly ass buildings, and half-assed landscaping.
It's great to know the campus has a plan, a vision...that things like the New Stanley Hall and Music Library are being built according to it. You can go see the web page yourself if you're interested....
New Century Plan
But to save you the trouble...here are some of the best drawings:
Look, this is the view looking east while walking across Strawberry Creek at Sather Gate! They're calling for the creation of a little pond and glade here, as well as some new paving material. Sweet.
Remember those dinky trailors where my studio was last spring? You know, those pieces of crap that are still standing there in what could be one of the nicest courtyards in campus...well they're gone! And a nice new building could complete the courtyard.
Well...that's all I'll show for now. Yes I know......So exciting!
No? Well...you suck.
Monday, March 10, 2003
Over 70,000 people live in Mountain View, but somehow, the place still feels like a small town. The way neighborhoods are built now, it's so easy to live in a world where you just don't know the people who live around you. For so many friends I've met and neighborhoods I've visited, there's no community, no sense of place.
"Who are you're neighbors?" I might ask, and a shrug and confused glance is what I get back. Nothing to ground you to where you live. Your neighborhood is just a place your house happens to be in. Your house is just an investment for 5 or so years, than its time to upgrade and move on. Nothing is constant, place only equals property value.
For me, this weekend was a perfect example of what I value in a community, how it can add an entire other element to life that a lot of American society seems to have lost since the 1950s.
This was my Saturday, this is why home, and my slice of Mountain View, is so great:
For lunch my brother Chris and I grabbed some burgers and took them to Shoreline Park to eat. Got a nice bench right next to the sailing lake looking towards the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was an awesome day weather-wise and it was nice to be outside.
When I got home a neighbor (who lives on the street behind our property) ran up to the car to grab his kid's tennis ball which had rolled our way. Even though we've only met once or twice at my family's Halloween haunted house, he immediately waved and cheerfully said 'hello and how ya doin.' I returned the greeting.
As I got out of the car our next-door neighbor to the north, Tom, walks over. Tom is in the National Guard Air Rescue Squad and was in Turkey from October till January. I say "hey Tom!" Tom says hi to me and "trigger" or some other funny name he calls my brother. (Maybe he's just making up for my dad calling him "Pat" for so long. Pat....Tom...who knows. My dad's has called me "Chris" and "Snickers" in the same breath.) We talk for a little while outside the yard, he asks how school is going, tells me to thank my Mom for taking care of his plants while he was gone. My mom had a big phobia about killing them, and is thrilled they're back at his house.
After that I decided to walk Downtown, take some pictures and do some research in the library. As I walk out the door my life-long "across the street neighbors", the Garcias shout from across the street their normal "howdy neighbor!" and ask how things are goin. The Garcias have always been close to my family. They come to almost every party we have at our place or at my grandparents. Joella Garcia and her sister Jamie and I grew up together, and spent a lot of our summer days as kids hanging out. We stayed friends through high school, and at least once every summer a quick hello turns into a conversation that goes past midnight in my grandparent's backyard. So anyways, I say hello to them and start my walk.
One block down the street another neighbor who just purchased a home in north Mountain View drives by and waves. Her son is my brother's best friend since they were little kids. Get this, we're all Portuguese-Mexican mixes, so for the longest time we could jokingly call our street stub the Porto-Mex ghetto of MV. The house they rented is empty now, but we're happy they were able to afford a home in Mountain View. Another branch of their family is building a new home one house down from my grandparents, so we'll still be seeing a lot of them.
A few steps after that I come across my neighbor Mark with his kid, who was sitting on the lawn of my other neighbors, Peter and Nancy, talking to Peter. All three of them are part of the historic preservation group I co-founded. I stop and talk for a while, ask Peter how things are goin, he recently had heart surgery, and I bug Mark about not typing up our meeting minutes yet, joking that's the reason I came home. They tell me to make sure I don't stay in the library too long...especially on a day like this. I totally agree with them, say "see ya later" and head on my way.
I pass my great-grandma's old house where my second cousin and his family live, but didn't see em' outside so I didn't stop by. A couple blocks later I'm in the middle of Downtown, which is bustling with the lunchtime crowd. It's always cool to see the place so alive, considering that when I was a kid the place was almost a ghost town. One of the best things about living in my neighborhood, the old part of MV, is being able to quickly walk down to the main street. I live five short blocks from one of the best Mexican restaurants in town.
I get to the buildings I wanted to take a pic of, and bring out my big ol' digital camera. Some people driving by in a new convertible see me taking the picture and yell "hey! how many mega pics is that?!....thinking its a NEW digital VIDEO camera. I am reminded that yes, this is still the Silicon Valley. I yell back, it's an old digital camera, and that's why its so big. They say "oh! all right! thanks!" and continue driving down the street.
But anyway, the picture ended up cool. I did a then and now pic of an old photo my great grandma took in the early 1950s. Cool to see how things have changed, and not changed. For those curious, here ya go:
1950
2003
The c. 1920s building with the ugly tinted glass facade is going to be restored to something that looks more like the 50s pic.
After walking home, I got Chris to go on a "half an hour" drive to take a few pics at the city's last orchard. On the way home, Chris got disoriented and asked if we were in Mountain View when we were in the freakin' middle of the city. (THIS is why he still has not passed his driving test, he has no sense of direction. hehe) I pull off on a side road to show him exactly where we are, and we end up going towards the neighborhood a branch of my extended family lives in. On one street alone, I have two sets of aunts & uncles, two cousins, one cousin by marriage, two second cousins, and their extended family to whom I'm not related by blood. Chris decides we should go visit some of them. As we turn on to their street, we see my grandparents turning out of it after visiting them.
My aunt was so happy to see us, she was jumping around the room. My aunt, uncle, Chris and I ended up talking for hours about family history, Mexican-American racial issues, Bush's war, school, Chris' college plans, and then eating dinner from the previously mentioned Mexican restaurant. My uncle even baked cookies. We didn't end up leaving until after midnight. Hehe...so much for "half an hour." It was great though.
Sunday was similar. I got KFC with Chris and my cousin Marisa, and took it to eat at Shoreline. I visited my aunt again to get some advice on a topic for polysci term paper. After that my parents got home from their anniversary trip in Monterey, and we went out for dinner, which was really nice. When I got home I spent a few hours next door with my grandparents showing them the wonders of the internet, looking up whatever they wanted and showing how their club web page used a picture of them in the title graphic. Every time I show them the internet they're amazed. I also showed them a web page I'm trying to get together for our family about our history, they really enjoyed that, making jokes and telling stories about our history. After that I came back to Berkeley.
So that's my neighborhood. That's what I go home to. My small town in the giant faceless suburban blob that much of the Bay Area has turned in to. That's why I'm so passionate about Mountain View. That's what I want to fight to save and work to recreate through an education in Urban Studies. The physical things, the parks, the buildings, the landmarks, are just icing on the cake...they're the symbols that represent what truly matters....the people, the diversity, the community, the history, and my own family.
"Who are you're neighbors?" I might ask, and a shrug and confused glance is what I get back. Nothing to ground you to where you live. Your neighborhood is just a place your house happens to be in. Your house is just an investment for 5 or so years, than its time to upgrade and move on. Nothing is constant, place only equals property value.
For me, this weekend was a perfect example of what I value in a community, how it can add an entire other element to life that a lot of American society seems to have lost since the 1950s.
This was my Saturday, this is why home, and my slice of Mountain View, is so great:
For lunch my brother Chris and I grabbed some burgers and took them to Shoreline Park to eat. Got a nice bench right next to the sailing lake looking towards the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was an awesome day weather-wise and it was nice to be outside.
When I got home a neighbor (who lives on the street behind our property) ran up to the car to grab his kid's tennis ball which had rolled our way. Even though we've only met once or twice at my family's Halloween haunted house, he immediately waved and cheerfully said 'hello and how ya doin.' I returned the greeting.
As I got out of the car our next-door neighbor to the north, Tom, walks over. Tom is in the National Guard Air Rescue Squad and was in Turkey from October till January. I say "hey Tom!" Tom says hi to me and "trigger" or some other funny name he calls my brother. (Maybe he's just making up for my dad calling him "Pat" for so long. Pat....Tom...who knows. My dad's has called me "Chris" and "Snickers" in the same breath.) We talk for a little while outside the yard, he asks how school is going, tells me to thank my Mom for taking care of his plants while he was gone. My mom had a big phobia about killing them, and is thrilled they're back at his house.
After that I decided to walk Downtown, take some pictures and do some research in the library. As I walk out the door my life-long "across the street neighbors", the Garcias shout from across the street their normal "howdy neighbor!" and ask how things are goin. The Garcias have always been close to my family. They come to almost every party we have at our place or at my grandparents. Joella Garcia and her sister Jamie and I grew up together, and spent a lot of our summer days as kids hanging out. We stayed friends through high school, and at least once every summer a quick hello turns into a conversation that goes past midnight in my grandparent's backyard. So anyways, I say hello to them and start my walk.
One block down the street another neighbor who just purchased a home in north Mountain View drives by and waves. Her son is my brother's best friend since they were little kids. Get this, we're all Portuguese-Mexican mixes, so for the longest time we could jokingly call our street stub the Porto-Mex ghetto of MV. The house they rented is empty now, but we're happy they were able to afford a home in Mountain View. Another branch of their family is building a new home one house down from my grandparents, so we'll still be seeing a lot of them.
A few steps after that I come across my neighbor Mark with his kid, who was sitting on the lawn of my other neighbors, Peter and Nancy, talking to Peter. All three of them are part of the historic preservation group I co-founded. I stop and talk for a while, ask Peter how things are goin, he recently had heart surgery, and I bug Mark about not typing up our meeting minutes yet, joking that's the reason I came home. They tell me to make sure I don't stay in the library too long...especially on a day like this. I totally agree with them, say "see ya later" and head on my way.
I pass my great-grandma's old house where my second cousin and his family live, but didn't see em' outside so I didn't stop by. A couple blocks later I'm in the middle of Downtown, which is bustling with the lunchtime crowd. It's always cool to see the place so alive, considering that when I was a kid the place was almost a ghost town. One of the best things about living in my neighborhood, the old part of MV, is being able to quickly walk down to the main street. I live five short blocks from one of the best Mexican restaurants in town.
I get to the buildings I wanted to take a pic of, and bring out my big ol' digital camera. Some people driving by in a new convertible see me taking the picture and yell "hey! how many mega pics is that?!....thinking its a NEW digital VIDEO camera. I am reminded that yes, this is still the Silicon Valley. I yell back, it's an old digital camera, and that's why its so big. They say "oh! all right! thanks!" and continue driving down the street.
But anyway, the picture ended up cool. I did a then and now pic of an old photo my great grandma took in the early 1950s. Cool to see how things have changed, and not changed. For those curious, here ya go:
1950
2003
The c. 1920s building with the ugly tinted glass facade is going to be restored to something that looks more like the 50s pic.
After walking home, I got Chris to go on a "half an hour" drive to take a few pics at the city's last orchard. On the way home, Chris got disoriented and asked if we were in Mountain View when we were in the freakin' middle of the city. (THIS is why he still has not passed his driving test, he has no sense of direction. hehe) I pull off on a side road to show him exactly where we are, and we end up going towards the neighborhood a branch of my extended family lives in. On one street alone, I have two sets of aunts & uncles, two cousins, one cousin by marriage, two second cousins, and their extended family to whom I'm not related by blood. Chris decides we should go visit some of them. As we turn on to their street, we see my grandparents turning out of it after visiting them.
My aunt was so happy to see us, she was jumping around the room. My aunt, uncle, Chris and I ended up talking for hours about family history, Mexican-American racial issues, Bush's war, school, Chris' college plans, and then eating dinner from the previously mentioned Mexican restaurant. My uncle even baked cookies. We didn't end up leaving until after midnight. Hehe...so much for "half an hour." It was great though.
Sunday was similar. I got KFC with Chris and my cousin Marisa, and took it to eat at Shoreline. I visited my aunt again to get some advice on a topic for polysci term paper. After that my parents got home from their anniversary trip in Monterey, and we went out for dinner, which was really nice. When I got home I spent a few hours next door with my grandparents showing them the wonders of the internet, looking up whatever they wanted and showing how their club web page used a picture of them in the title graphic. Every time I show them the internet they're amazed. I also showed them a web page I'm trying to get together for our family about our history, they really enjoyed that, making jokes and telling stories about our history. After that I came back to Berkeley.
So that's my neighborhood. That's what I go home to. My small town in the giant faceless suburban blob that much of the Bay Area has turned in to. That's why I'm so passionate about Mountain View. That's what I want to fight to save and work to recreate through an education in Urban Studies. The physical things, the parks, the buildings, the landmarks, are just icing on the cake...they're the symbols that represent what truly matters....the people, the diversity, the community, the history, and my own family.
Friday, March 07, 2003
Today was a day of Chicano poetry, Ryan chucking up blood, Dan passing Kidney Stones, an enlightening political discussion with Erik, and a very....crazy convo with Lesley.
I think I need some sleep.
Nap98: yo estoy el pollo loco.
lbthekiller: youre a crazy chicken?
Nap98: no. you are
lbthekiller: no
lbthekiller: you said it
Nap98: don't call me that!
Nap98: you're so mean to me.
lbthekiller: SAID IT!!!!
Nap98: i know you did
Nap98: lbthekiller: youre a crazy chicken?
Nap98: see?
lbthekiller: no,
Nap98: yes.
lbthekiller: you are a crazy chicken
Nap98: cheeseburger
I think I need some sleep.
Nap98: yo estoy el pollo loco.
lbthekiller: youre a crazy chicken?
Nap98: no. you are
lbthekiller: no
lbthekiller: you said it
Nap98: don't call me that!
Nap98: you're so mean to me.
lbthekiller: SAID IT!!!!
Nap98: i know you did
Nap98: lbthekiller: youre a crazy chicken?
Nap98: see?
lbthekiller: no,
Nap98: yes.
lbthekiller: you are a crazy chicken
Nap98: cheeseburger
Friday, February 28, 2003
Important information from Steph Peters:
AUhntress: Nick- would you like to hear some random trivia?
Nap98: sure.....
Nap98: lol
AUhntress: okay- how much do you know about kangaroos?
Nap98: not...much
AUhntress: okay- well it turns out the females have 2 vaginas and are perpetually pregnant
AUhntress: a joey is born and then they mate and a fertilized egg kind of just hangs out
Nap98: wow...thanks steph.
AUhntress: wait- it's not over yet
Nap98: that's. great.
Nap98: oh boy
AUhntress: lol
Nap98: lol
AUhntress: so, after the baby joey grows up a little bit
AUhntress: and stops nursing for a certain amount of hours
AUhntress: the other egg starts to mature
AUhntress: and then she has that joey
AUhntress: BUT
AUhntress: she has two breasts in her pouch
Nap98: wow. kangaroos are so much more amazing than i ever knew.
AUhntress: and they each make a different kind of milk
Nap98: different flavors?
Nap98: is one set chocoale?
AUhntress: Nick- would you like to hear some random trivia?
Nap98: sure.....
Nap98: lol
AUhntress: okay- how much do you know about kangaroos?
Nap98: not...much
AUhntress: okay- well it turns out the females have 2 vaginas and are perpetually pregnant
AUhntress: a joey is born and then they mate and a fertilized egg kind of just hangs out
Nap98: wow...thanks steph.
AUhntress: wait- it's not over yet
Nap98: that's. great.
Nap98: oh boy
AUhntress: lol
Nap98: lol
AUhntress: so, after the baby joey grows up a little bit
AUhntress: and stops nursing for a certain amount of hours
AUhntress: the other egg starts to mature
AUhntress: and then she has that joey
AUhntress: BUT
AUhntress: she has two breasts in her pouch
Nap98: wow. kangaroos are so much more amazing than i ever knew.
AUhntress: and they each make a different kind of milk
Nap98: different flavors?
Nap98: is one set chocoale?
Thursday, February 20, 2003
I don’t look Mexican and hardley anyone knows what a Portuguese person looks like. I think when people meet me, most are forced to mentally place me in the category of “other” when it comes to race or ethnicity. So it’s not rare for me to hear things that offend me simply because people do not realize who they are talking to.
In fact recently, there's a person that I worked with on a Mountain View related issue that did just that. The first time we met, we talked a lot about the neighborhood we both lived in. We started talking about some of the problems in the neighborhood, blight, crime, destruction of historic properties, redevelopment issues...etc.
But during the discussion....my neighbor started making comments that made me cringe. This neighbor started going on about "the Mexicans" and linking them with neighborhood problems and safety issues. I let them go on for a while, and then politely let this person know I was half Mexican. My neighbor blinked, and apologized immediately.
My neighbor's racist comments were based mainly in ignorance and crass generalizations, not hate. And while their comments offended me, I accepted their apology. Even though I had just met this person, I tried to give them the benefit of a doubt and not judge their character on some off key comments.
We then had a pretty good discussion about the Mexican-American side of my family, and our history in Mountain View. My neighbor asked questions, I answered. In the process I think I broke, or at the very least challenged, some of the stereotypes and misconceptions of Mexican-Americans this person may have had. My neighbor opened up to me and let me know that they didn’t know very many Mexican-American people, and that they had a lot to learn.
`````````````
So…. Two of my friends are going through something similar to what I went through with my neighbor. They don’t know each other very well. Someone said something that was offensive to another based on race.
I’ll be frank. It was disrespectful and it bothered me. When I heard it I bit my lip and turned to look at the other person in the car who would be most offended. I didn’t say anything at the time but maybe I should have. I was surprised to hear what I heard, and thought that perhaps the person would realize that what they said was offensive and would apologize on their own. I decided to not mention it…until I realized tonight that the issue was being discussed and was causing some hard feelings.
I do not think anything less of the person that said this thing, because I know what their true character is and I know that they are a great person full of compassion and kindness. I would never label this person as racist, but I would say that their comment was racist. No one is perfect, and I think we have all said some callous and racist things we have come to regret.
I also completely understand why the offended party feels the way they do, having experienced similar situations. I think people often underestimate how hurtful certain careless comments can be. Because when someone says one thing that is racist, it’s not just the one thing that's said, hearing something like that makes you remember all the racist things you’ve heard, and makes you for a moment, feel like crap. These things should not be taken lightly.
If a personal and direct apology has not been made yet, it should be. And even though you might not know each other well, I’d like to think I do. I can safely say that both of you are excellent people. This isn’t something that can be healed by typing your personal emotions in your respective blogs. Yes, it’s slightly contradictory that I chose to address you both in my own blog, but at least this way everyone who’s involved knows where I stand.
Talk to each other directly and not through others. I think that’s all you need to do to work this out. And I do think you should work it out.
In fact recently, there's a person that I worked with on a Mountain View related issue that did just that. The first time we met, we talked a lot about the neighborhood we both lived in. We started talking about some of the problems in the neighborhood, blight, crime, destruction of historic properties, redevelopment issues...etc.
But during the discussion....my neighbor started making comments that made me cringe. This neighbor started going on about "the Mexicans" and linking them with neighborhood problems and safety issues. I let them go on for a while, and then politely let this person know I was half Mexican. My neighbor blinked, and apologized immediately.
My neighbor's racist comments were based mainly in ignorance and crass generalizations, not hate. And while their comments offended me, I accepted their apology. Even though I had just met this person, I tried to give them the benefit of a doubt and not judge their character on some off key comments.
We then had a pretty good discussion about the Mexican-American side of my family, and our history in Mountain View. My neighbor asked questions, I answered. In the process I think I broke, or at the very least challenged, some of the stereotypes and misconceptions of Mexican-Americans this person may have had. My neighbor opened up to me and let me know that they didn’t know very many Mexican-American people, and that they had a lot to learn.
`````````````
So…. Two of my friends are going through something similar to what I went through with my neighbor. They don’t know each other very well. Someone said something that was offensive to another based on race.
I’ll be frank. It was disrespectful and it bothered me. When I heard it I bit my lip and turned to look at the other person in the car who would be most offended. I didn’t say anything at the time but maybe I should have. I was surprised to hear what I heard, and thought that perhaps the person would realize that what they said was offensive and would apologize on their own. I decided to not mention it…until I realized tonight that the issue was being discussed and was causing some hard feelings.
I do not think anything less of the person that said this thing, because I know what their true character is and I know that they are a great person full of compassion and kindness. I would never label this person as racist, but I would say that their comment was racist. No one is perfect, and I think we have all said some callous and racist things we have come to regret.
I also completely understand why the offended party feels the way they do, having experienced similar situations. I think people often underestimate how hurtful certain careless comments can be. Because when someone says one thing that is racist, it’s not just the one thing that's said, hearing something like that makes you remember all the racist things you’ve heard, and makes you for a moment, feel like crap. These things should not be taken lightly.
If a personal and direct apology has not been made yet, it should be. And even though you might not know each other well, I’d like to think I do. I can safely say that both of you are excellent people. This isn’t something that can be healed by typing your personal emotions in your respective blogs. Yes, it’s slightly contradictory that I chose to address you both in my own blog, but at least this way everyone who’s involved knows where I stand.
Talk to each other directly and not through others. I think that’s all you need to do to work this out. And I do think you should work it out.
Thursday, February 13, 2003
“From the towns of the nation, we’d like to do a song for you about the larger picture. There’s only one season lately. There used to be an agreement between the seasons that they would all come and stay for three months, and then go the way the seasons go when they’re not where we are.
Lately there has been no spring, no summer, and no fall.
Politically, and philosophically, and psychologically there has only been the season of ice.
It a season of frozen dreams and frozen nightmares,
A scene of frozen progress, and frozen ideas,
frozen aspirations and inspirations.
They call the season winter; we call the song Winter in America.”
From the Indians
Who welcomed the Pilgrims
And to the buffalos
Who once ruled the plain
Like the vultures
Circling beneath the Dark Clouds
Looking for the Rain
Looking for the Rain
Just like the cities that
Stagger on the coastline
In a nation
That just can’t stand much more
Like the forests
Buried beneath the highway
Never had a chance to grow
Never had a chance to grow
And now it’s Winter
Winter in America
Yes, and all of the healers
Have been killed
Or sent away
But the people know
The people know
It’s winter
Winter in America
And aint nobody fighting cause
Nobody knows what to save
Save your soul
Lord knows, from Winter in America
The Constitution
A nobel piece of a paper
With free society
They struggled but they died in vain
And now democracy
Is rag time on the corner
Hoping for some rain
It looks like its hoping for some rain
And I see the robins
Perched on distant tree tops
They’re watching last-ditch races
March across the floor
But just like the peace sign
That vanished in our dreams
Never had a chance to grow
Never had a chance to grow.
And now its winter
Winter in America
And all of the healers
Have been killed
Our betrayed
But the people know
The people know
It’s winter
Lord knows, its Winter in America
And aint’ nobody fighting, cause,
Nobody knows what to save
Save your soul,
From winter in America.
-Gil Scott Heron
A song written in 1974 seems just as relevant today as it must have back then. Couldn't have said that two years ago. Catching a glimpse of the evening news assualted me with threats of a missle strike on the Bay Area from Korea, terrorist attacks from Osama Bin Laden, a growing hatred of the US government amongst our allies, and the deployment of hundreds of troops to fight a war in Iraq. All in two or three minutes.
Sorta strange now to look back at New Years Eve 1999. On that night, it seemed the entire world was celebrating and hoping for peace. Images of celebrations around the globe, of doves being released in Jerusalem are still clear in my mind. The economy was booming. The problems and conflicts of the world seemed distant and irrelevant to our lives as upper middle class high schoolers in America.
Then we left for college...and that September our rosy view of the world came tumbling down with those two towers. Whether you call it innocence or ignorance, it was taken away from our generation and we entered a new era. The coming years may prove to be defining for our nation in this century. The world has changed and we are becoming adults as it changes further. I wonder how such a shift will utimately affect us and define us. How will our generation handle the mess that we are destined to inherit. Can we begin to turn a new leaf, or will we travel down the same path that got us to where we are today?
Lately there has been no spring, no summer, and no fall.
Politically, and philosophically, and psychologically there has only been the season of ice.
It a season of frozen dreams and frozen nightmares,
A scene of frozen progress, and frozen ideas,
frozen aspirations and inspirations.
They call the season winter; we call the song Winter in America.”
From the Indians
Who welcomed the Pilgrims
And to the buffalos
Who once ruled the plain
Like the vultures
Circling beneath the Dark Clouds
Looking for the Rain
Looking for the Rain
Just like the cities that
Stagger on the coastline
In a nation
That just can’t stand much more
Like the forests
Buried beneath the highway
Never had a chance to grow
Never had a chance to grow
And now it’s Winter
Winter in America
Yes, and all of the healers
Have been killed
Or sent away
But the people know
The people know
It’s winter
Winter in America
And aint nobody fighting cause
Nobody knows what to save
Save your soul
Lord knows, from Winter in America
The Constitution
A nobel piece of a paper
With free society
They struggled but they died in vain
And now democracy
Is rag time on the corner
Hoping for some rain
It looks like its hoping for some rain
And I see the robins
Perched on distant tree tops
They’re watching last-ditch races
March across the floor
But just like the peace sign
That vanished in our dreams
Never had a chance to grow
Never had a chance to grow.
And now its winter
Winter in America
And all of the healers
Have been killed
Our betrayed
But the people know
The people know
It’s winter
Lord knows, its Winter in America
And aint’ nobody fighting, cause,
Nobody knows what to save
Save your soul,
From winter in America.
-Gil Scott Heron
A song written in 1974 seems just as relevant today as it must have back then. Couldn't have said that two years ago. Catching a glimpse of the evening news assualted me with threats of a missle strike on the Bay Area from Korea, terrorist attacks from Osama Bin Laden, a growing hatred of the US government amongst our allies, and the deployment of hundreds of troops to fight a war in Iraq. All in two or three minutes.
Sorta strange now to look back at New Years Eve 1999. On that night, it seemed the entire world was celebrating and hoping for peace. Images of celebrations around the globe, of doves being released in Jerusalem are still clear in my mind. The economy was booming. The problems and conflicts of the world seemed distant and irrelevant to our lives as upper middle class high schoolers in America.
Then we left for college...and that September our rosy view of the world came tumbling down with those two towers. Whether you call it innocence or ignorance, it was taken away from our generation and we entered a new era. The coming years may prove to be defining for our nation in this century. The world has changed and we are becoming adults as it changes further. I wonder how such a shift will utimately affect us and define us. How will our generation handle the mess that we are destined to inherit. Can we begin to turn a new leaf, or will we travel down the same path that got us to where we are today?
Thursday, February 06, 2003
Monday, February 03, 2003
The weekend was saved.
My parents, wonderful people that they are, whisked me away from Berkeley..sorta almost kidnapped me. They said we'd just go to dinner, but after dinner we went home. Fine with me!
Home was good. Dad got popcorn from Century, and I sat down with my grandparents and parents to watch Salt of the Earth (the movie my great-grandma's are in.) My grandparent's constantly pointed out people they knew...
Grandma Emma: "oh I went to high school with him..."
Grandpa Simon: "hey hun...didn't you go to school with him?"
Emma: "what?"
Simon: "I said, didn't you go to high school with him?"
Emma: "who?"
Simon: "Aye, him!"
Emma: "Oh....yes, I went to high school with him."
Simon: "That's what I said."
Well, maybe not that funny...but that's the general idea. There was also an argument as to whose mother was in a close up. "That's my mother!"...."No, that's MY mother!".....My grandma won. The movie was good, the DVD extras were really cool too. Lot's of photos from that part of New Mexico. Some things in that area haven't changed at all. Some have change completely.
Sunday was nice. I decided to go to mass with my dad and grandma. Not something I normally do...but it was nice, I prayed for all the things that were worth praying for (a lot lately) and the homily was about the importance of grandparent's...go fig. It was nice, the church looks great...just got restored.
My dad made a chorizo and eggs breakfast, we got pan dulce from the California Street Market, or the Little Store around the corner as we like to call it. I decided to randomly put on a CD my grandma had on her dresser, Glenn Miller's Orchestra.....big band from the 40s while breakfast was being made. My grandparent's started dancing in the dining room. Good to see them smile and have fun.
My godparent's came over to visit. Good to see them. Got to see my neighbor and life-long friend Joella too. We went on a lil' scanvenger hunt around the hood looking for a car seat. Her friend had her babysitting, but didn't leave a car seat or a stroller. Good thing I've met so many neighbors through the Mountain View Preservation Alliance, got her a stroller after trying three houses. That was, totally random, but fun.
Grandpa decided to come take me back to Berkeley with my dad. Grandpa's always fun to take to SF, he worked there during the 50s-70s, he's like taking a talking trivia book with you. We made a stop at Ghiradelli Square in SF and had a nice relaxing dinner. Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl, overlooking the Bay at sunset. The city looked really beautiful this evening.
And to top it all off, got some great news from Matt. No Cancer.
Relief.
My parents, wonderful people that they are, whisked me away from Berkeley..sorta almost kidnapped me. They said we'd just go to dinner, but after dinner we went home. Fine with me!
Home was good. Dad got popcorn from Century, and I sat down with my grandparents and parents to watch Salt of the Earth (the movie my great-grandma's are in.) My grandparent's constantly pointed out people they knew...
Grandma Emma: "oh I went to high school with him..."
Grandpa Simon: "hey hun...didn't you go to school with him?"
Emma: "what?"
Simon: "I said, didn't you go to high school with him?"
Emma: "who?"
Simon: "Aye, him!"
Emma: "Oh....yes, I went to high school with him."
Simon: "That's what I said."
Well, maybe not that funny...but that's the general idea. There was also an argument as to whose mother was in a close up. "That's my mother!"...."No, that's MY mother!".....My grandma won. The movie was good, the DVD extras were really cool too. Lot's of photos from that part of New Mexico. Some things in that area haven't changed at all. Some have change completely.
Sunday was nice. I decided to go to mass with my dad and grandma. Not something I normally do...but it was nice, I prayed for all the things that were worth praying for (a lot lately) and the homily was about the importance of grandparent's...go fig. It was nice, the church looks great...just got restored.
My dad made a chorizo and eggs breakfast, we got pan dulce from the California Street Market, or the Little Store around the corner as we like to call it. I decided to randomly put on a CD my grandma had on her dresser, Glenn Miller's Orchestra.....big band from the 40s while breakfast was being made. My grandparent's started dancing in the dining room. Good to see them smile and have fun.
My godparent's came over to visit. Good to see them. Got to see my neighbor and life-long friend Joella too. We went on a lil' scanvenger hunt around the hood looking for a car seat. Her friend had her babysitting, but didn't leave a car seat or a stroller. Good thing I've met so many neighbors through the Mountain View Preservation Alliance, got her a stroller after trying three houses. That was, totally random, but fun.
Grandpa decided to come take me back to Berkeley with my dad. Grandpa's always fun to take to SF, he worked there during the 50s-70s, he's like taking a talking trivia book with you. We made a stop at Ghiradelli Square in SF and had a nice relaxing dinner. Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl, overlooking the Bay at sunset. The city looked really beautiful this evening.
And to top it all off, got some great news from Matt. No Cancer.
Relief.
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
A little bug came flying in through the window. It hoovered near my fan for a few seconds, then ZIP it get's sucked into the fan, shoots out of it and over my lap top, and lands on my desk with a tiny thud, dead.
At that same moment, my best friend told me he might have cancer.
So I could take the bug thing one way....as a timely metaphor of how fleeting life can be.
Or...I can just laugh, and be thankfull I'm not a dumb bug.
Or maybe both.
At that same moment, my best friend told me he might have cancer.
So I could take the bug thing one way....as a timely metaphor of how fleeting life can be.
Or...I can just laugh, and be thankfull I'm not a dumb bug.
Or maybe both.
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
After a thrilling discussion about soft-drink and levi's commercials, Ryan exclaims:
"I've never seen a cartoon person in a text book with pubic hair!"
Erik glances at me, runs over to the text book and says "That cartoon man has breasts."
And for the record:
Coke= Being Real
Sprite/7up= Being Alternative
Pepsi= Being Young and Cool
Dr Pepper = Being Independent
Orange Soda/Crush = Being Orange
and the girl in the Levi's commercial is crying profound tears of joy as the Buffalo almost trample her.
Just another evening in 1A33.
"I've never seen a cartoon person in a text book with pubic hair!"
Erik glances at me, runs over to the text book and says "That cartoon man has breasts."
And for the record:
Coke= Being Real
Sprite/7up= Being Alternative
Pepsi= Being Young and Cool
Dr Pepper = Being Independent
Orange Soda/Crush = Being Orange
and the girl in the Levi's commercial is crying profound tears of joy as the Buffalo almost trample her.
Just another evening in 1A33.
Monday, January 27, 2003
Nap98: writing an essay. writing an essay. is so much fun. is so much fun. staying up past midnight. staying up past midnight. un-till you're done. un-till you're done.
CriSPy251: lol
CriSPy251: thanks
Nap98: imagine conan o'brien singing that to you
CriSPy251: lol
Poor Chris. If the Raiders had won, his essay wouldn't be due tomorrow. He'll be up late tonight.
CriSPy251: lol
CriSPy251: thanks
Nap98: imagine conan o'brien singing that to you
CriSPy251: lol
Poor Chris. If the Raiders had won, his essay wouldn't be due tomorrow. He'll be up late tonight.
Saturday, January 25, 2003
I wish there was a way...to turn back the clock. To help her remember...or, to not forget. To give her back the friends she has lost, the people she could share her life with. To clear her eyes of the tears which fill them more and more often. All I can do is hug her, tell her I love her, that things will be ok. All I can do is live my life, and hope that what I do makes her proud.
Bittersweet, so much in life is bittersweet.
Bittersweet, so much in life is bittersweet.
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
When I got here it was raining. It hasn't stopped pouring on me since. Three people I knew have passed away between yesterday and Christmas.
The first was Carol Fischer, a librarian who was always there to help me research Mountain View history and encouraged me in whatever I was working on. She had two sons the age of my brother and I. We always talked about college and she always wanted to know how I was doing. She shared my passion for the city and its history. She always had a smile on her face, she was a kind heart. She passed away unexpectedly a few days after Christmas....from a seizure while at the movies with her family. In an instant...gone like that. It was a shock. I'll miss her a lot.
The next was my great aunt, my Tia Nene. She was a beautiful woman full of love and kindness. A great lady, the last of her generation in my family. She moved to Washington when I was a young teenager, but she always had a place in my heart. She was the type of relative that would pinch your cheeks with a great big smile. She made you feel loved. I wish I could have spent more time with her, but I'm glad I saw her as much as I did when I was younger.
And yesterday, my 7th & 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Judy Capaldo passed away after a battle with Leukemia. She was a great teacher, a very intelligent woman full of wit and humor. She always treated us with respect and kindness. I'll always remember her willingness to help me out, even after I graduated. I also remember her beautiful voice, and how she used to go up in front of the entire school and sing a rendition of the Hail Mary that I always enjoyed. It's hard to believe she's gone.
I wish I could have been there today at her funeral and rosary, to be there with my brother her other students. I wish I had a chance to see Mrs. Capaldo again and let her know how much I appreciated her, we didn't get her address in time to send her a card before she passed away. I wish I had a chance to see each of these people again and thank them. But all I can do is remember them, and remember to cherish and be thankfull for the people I have in my life while I still have them.
And if you were
With me tonight
I'd sing to you just
One more time
A song for a heart so big
God wouldn't let it live
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
The first was Carol Fischer, a librarian who was always there to help me research Mountain View history and encouraged me in whatever I was working on. She had two sons the age of my brother and I. We always talked about college and she always wanted to know how I was doing. She shared my passion for the city and its history. She always had a smile on her face, she was a kind heart. She passed away unexpectedly a few days after Christmas....from a seizure while at the movies with her family. In an instant...gone like that. It was a shock. I'll miss her a lot.
The next was my great aunt, my Tia Nene. She was a beautiful woman full of love and kindness. A great lady, the last of her generation in my family. She moved to Washington when I was a young teenager, but she always had a place in my heart. She was the type of relative that would pinch your cheeks with a great big smile. She made you feel loved. I wish I could have spent more time with her, but I'm glad I saw her as much as I did when I was younger.
And yesterday, my 7th & 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Judy Capaldo passed away after a battle with Leukemia. She was a great teacher, a very intelligent woman full of wit and humor. She always treated us with respect and kindness. I'll always remember her willingness to help me out, even after I graduated. I also remember her beautiful voice, and how she used to go up in front of the entire school and sing a rendition of the Hail Mary that I always enjoyed. It's hard to believe she's gone.
I wish I could have been there today at her funeral and rosary, to be there with my brother her other students. I wish I had a chance to see Mrs. Capaldo again and let her know how much I appreciated her, we didn't get her address in time to send her a card before she passed away. I wish I had a chance to see each of these people again and thank them. But all I can do is remember them, and remember to cherish and be thankfull for the people I have in my life while I still have them.
And if you were
With me tonight
I'd sing to you just
One more time
A song for a heart so big
God wouldn't let it live
May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads
The sleepless go
May angels lead you in
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
I am back in Berkeley. As soon as I got here it started raining. I like the rain right?
No architecture studio this semester. No math. No architecture studio or math ever again actually. I look at my schedule and I see the most amazing thing....free time. What will I do with it? Must I get a job? A real job? Quite a predicament for me.....I've been spoiled by already having two dream jobs...an internship for the City of Mountain View planning department....and a freelance history writer for the Mountain View paper. But I need money.
So, I saw Chicago. Lot's of fun. Go see it. Hmmm....that's all for now. Here's to a good, productive semester!
No architecture studio this semester. No math. No architecture studio or math ever again actually. I look at my schedule and I see the most amazing thing....free time. What will I do with it? Must I get a job? A real job? Quite a predicament for me.....I've been spoiled by already having two dream jobs...an internship for the City of Mountain View planning department....and a freelance history writer for the Mountain View paper. But I need money.
So, I saw Chicago. Lot's of fun. Go see it. Hmmm....that's all for now. Here's to a good, productive semester!
Friday, January 10, 2003
Not only did our SoCal trip happen, it managed to go off without a hitch. We crammed a lot of stuff into those 5 days. Thanks to anyone who drove us, fed us, our housed us...especially the families of Kay, Kat, and Eric.
Remember when ABC was bought by Disney and they sent all their sitcoms to Disneyworld? Well...that was sorta of like this trip..but not as corny..I think. The formula pretty much works like this...same cast of characters + whole new locations = possibility for new adventures and wacky hygincs!
To put it as quickly as possible we went to (in order):
Friday - UCSD, Old Town San Diego, Mission Beach at Sunset, Kay's House.
Saturday - Hotel Del Coronado, Balboa Park, Downtown San Diego
Sunday - Erik's House, Downtown Burbank, Palmdale, Kat's House, BJ's House
Monday - Disneyland, California Adventure, Dan's House, Eric's House
Tuesday - The Getty Center.
Jeesh. Lot's of stuff. Lot's of fun. Maybe a little two much backtracking and buttsitting on the highways....but with good music and fun travel companions, hours can go by a lot quicker. It was interesting to jump from San Diego to LA to the Palmdale/Lancaster Area. I can't help but look at cities with a critical eye and compare the places I've been to find examples of what to do...and what not to do when it comes to City Planning. San Diego is..well, it has its act together and has the types of places that make me excited and hopeful about City Planning and Historic Preservation. LA is a big exciting mess of a city. Palmdale/Lancaster....LA part II minus the layer of pre 1950s development that makes parts of LA so memoreable.
Ever since I met Kat she has been the biggest civic booster of her wonderful locale, Palmdale...at the fringe of the Mojave. Now that I've finally been there, what can I say about her desert oasis? She showed us all the landmarks, including the hill where two girls got kidnapped, the mall, the bright lights of the maximum security prison, and BJ's amazing house. By coincidence...I stumbled upon the book "The Geography of Nowhere" in the library yesterday. It talks about the rise and fall of the American city at the hands of our ever growing dependence of the automobile. Flipping through it I came upon this quote regarding the future of cities when we run out of either oil or water ..."Things that were built in absurd locations, like the vast housing tracts outside Los Angeles on the fringe of the Mojave desert, may have to be abandoned."
Hmmm. But the Joshua Trees are cool! (even if Kat thinks they look like the product of earth's vomit). Which reminds me of Candice's description of Downtown LA from the Getty Center...."looks like a giant pimple on a huge face."
Remember when ABC was bought by Disney and they sent all their sitcoms to Disneyworld? Well...that was sorta of like this trip..but not as corny..I think. The formula pretty much works like this...same cast of characters + whole new locations = possibility for new adventures and wacky hygincs!
To put it as quickly as possible we went to (in order):
Friday - UCSD, Old Town San Diego, Mission Beach at Sunset, Kay's House.
Saturday - Hotel Del Coronado, Balboa Park, Downtown San Diego
Sunday - Erik's House, Downtown Burbank, Palmdale, Kat's House, BJ's House
Monday - Disneyland, California Adventure, Dan's House, Eric's House
Tuesday - The Getty Center.
Jeesh. Lot's of stuff. Lot's of fun. Maybe a little two much backtracking and buttsitting on the highways....but with good music and fun travel companions, hours can go by a lot quicker. It was interesting to jump from San Diego to LA to the Palmdale/Lancaster Area. I can't help but look at cities with a critical eye and compare the places I've been to find examples of what to do...and what not to do when it comes to City Planning. San Diego is..well, it has its act together and has the types of places that make me excited and hopeful about City Planning and Historic Preservation. LA is a big exciting mess of a city. Palmdale/Lancaster....LA part II minus the layer of pre 1950s development that makes parts of LA so memoreable.
Ever since I met Kat she has been the biggest civic booster of her wonderful locale, Palmdale...at the fringe of the Mojave. Now that I've finally been there, what can I say about her desert oasis? She showed us all the landmarks, including the hill where two girls got kidnapped, the mall, the bright lights of the maximum security prison, and BJ's amazing house. By coincidence...I stumbled upon the book "The Geography of Nowhere" in the library yesterday. It talks about the rise and fall of the American city at the hands of our ever growing dependence of the automobile. Flipping through it I came upon this quote regarding the future of cities when we run out of either oil or water ..."Things that were built in absurd locations, like the vast housing tracts outside Los Angeles on the fringe of the Mojave desert, may have to be abandoned."
Hmmm. But the Joshua Trees are cool! (even if Kat thinks they look like the product of earth's vomit). Which reminds me of Candice's description of Downtown LA from the Getty Center...."looks like a giant pimple on a huge face."