Scratch and Dent Dreams

A lot of times we get disillusioned by the media and movies about how easy life is. And we get spoon fed with those happy ending stories that seem to be right out of a fairy tale. Truth be told, life is hard and usually does not get told in a story. And when some people realize this they become down trodden and give up. Most become addicts or dealers and others just shut themselves off from society altogether. They never try enough to achieve that happy ending. This poem I found, on my usual YouTube spree is beautifully put together. Not too complicated, and ends with a beautiful message. Realize that all your hard work will pay off in the end and bring smiles to people faces as well as yours.

And now I present:

Scratch and Dent Dreams - Eric Darby

The Age of Tasha

Dear Tasha (& Anyone else who may read this),

This past year (both semesters) has been an eventful one and a life changing one. Who knew there could be such a baby employed at FIU? This past year was one of the best I could have asked for, partly because of the luck I had of being under Baby's expert tutelage, but also because of the life friends I met along the way (Yes, even you Tasha). I'll reciprocate the list of things I remember back to all of you.

Starting with how you walked in 10 minutes late and you had this cara of "I'm going to kill one of you if you don't move out of my way."
Where in front of a bunch of people I didn't know, I called Lola a Tira Flecha, and called Arthur (yeah that random kid who dropped your class because you were a hard ass) a loser for going to Columbus.
Finding out that your nickname is Tasha Baby.
Having Yeli do that little chant that pretty much assured how close the class was going to be.
Noyra being perfect.
Ruben talking, just talking, about anything and in great detail.
Me hiding your Pollo Tropical.
All of us waiting for you to have your quick smoke with your friend just before class.
ALL of the feminist works we had to do, even though you are not feminist.
The presentations we always had to do.
Anime Club! And Eric totally passing because of me.
Bianca laughing.
The random discussions of communism and Che.
Noyra and Ruben secretly dating.
Posting up vandalizing blogs on your blog.
Trying to trick you into telling me your views on all these issues. [I think that's when I first thought, "Oh, she's my friend from now on"]
Finally deciding we would all go on to your 1102 class.
The farewell party we had, just because we could have it.
The first day of class in 1102 where we ALL wanted to get rid of Alex. (I'm sure some of us still do)
How you were hell bent on separating us, but were too lazy to do anything about it.
Circle time.
Having all those moments where both of us snapped at eachother.
Introducing you to Def Poetry Jams, and Taylor Mali, Steve Coleman, and Saul Williams.
You talking about your family again, and again, and yes... again.
Zen Zuu!?
Calling you up at like 12 to have you pretty much tell Jon "Fuck you, and do it over again."
Walking you to class.
Smoking with you.
Nicole, Crystal, and I trying to get drunk the day before your classes.
Roberto speaking English.
Tra-La-La
More of Bianca's laughing.
Anthony thinking he could get you.
And you reminding him and everyone else that again... you have a family.
Meeting Santi, Sasha, Roger, Christi, Aaron, and Precious, at that non-existent house visit, where there was no alcohol served to someone underage. [BTW i'm 19 not 20]
Presentations and nicknames.
Ending up having the best Freshmen year, because I met you and everyone else.

You have been so understanding and patient with me. Even I would have kicked my ass out a few times. Just know all the snaps and jokes are just my way of showing I care about you. You seriously have been one of the better things to come walking into my life and I don't regret one second of it. You have been way more than a teacher, you have a been an inspiration, a role model, and a friend. And although you don't believe, I thank the Lord every chance I get for the blessing He laid in my hands. Thank you Tasha for everything you've done. Whether you knew it or not, you changed my life, for worse or for better. You are those rare rays of sunshine that creep into peoples lives and just stick. Thank you, and don't be sad :]

Yours in Christ and Love
Dantes Alán Gutiérrez

Children of the Night

I got into one of my spoken poetry phases tonight, so why not bring back the king of spoken word poetry? Here is Saul Williams once again blowing everyone's mind away. I still don't have the entire meaning to this poem.


Children of the Night - Saul Williams

A Word From Our Sponsors

Now it is not a secret that I'm a smart ass, or that I pretty much have an answer to just about anything said within hearing distance. And fine, I know most have already come to pass judgment on me. Which I don't really have too much of a problem with. I may come off as arrogant or pigheaded, which I probably am, but let me assure you it's not in the degree that I let on. But there is a side of me I hope I can share with you and be able to express myself about freely. (Not because I feel like I'll be persecuted for it, but because I don't feel like anyone can relate.) I do have an intellectual side, and I love hearing other's opinions and ideas, because they will either strengthen or alter my resolve. [[Yes, I am rambling.]] In the end, all I'm saying is don't close yourself off to the world around you, past or present. You must be ever vigilant and stand squarely on your views. Don't be afraid to think, great moments do not come to people who are unwilling to break the barriers of the box and explore the world around them. "Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless." Do not just sit inanimately as the world passes you by. Every one of us has a calling, everyone of us has a responsibility that we must learn to take up, whether we know it now or not, we should all embrace the fact that all of us are here for a purpose. The journey of life is to seek out that purpose and watch it be fulfilled. "Start by doing what is necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." Believe in what compels you. Embrace what moves you, and makes you an individual. And Protect what means most to you.

Now with all of that said, I'm going to introduce another Def Poetry Jam poem. Probably the best one I can ever show you. I've had to listen to this so many times before I fully understood it. The poet is Saul Williams, and he should be the poet laureate of America. If you have no idea what that is, find out.

So here it is, my ace in hand....

Coded Language - Saul Williams

Drum role please...

The winners are.... in third place: a tie between Brittney and Kim. For no complicated reason other than, I know them and they deserve it. :] Congrats to you two.
Second place goes to Brian T. His simply page really caught my attention, because it wasn't too gaudy, but it did enough to show who this person was. Seems like a very interesting individual who has something to say. Congrats to Mr T.
First goes to........




drum role please......


Arnold. His... very long about me along with his videos and pictures show a very interesting side to him and show a lot of passion, albeit a very superficial passion, a passion nonetheless. Wayta go you, and your car racing.....

Yisel's Song

I am doing a review of Yisel Casteñeira's song analysis of If Everyone Cared - Nickelback. Yisel's introduction was rather well. Nice and clean and to the point. She has a slight slip of when she says: "This song is kind of a call of action". Be assertive and have a strong conviction to what you are saying. "Because it isn't enough these days to question authority. You've got to speak with it, too." Yisel writes very well, which I'm ashamed to say, am surprised at, but she sure does make me swallow my words, or rather, my thoughts. She did a very good job in doing her research. She shows a lot of passion by doing her homework and reading up on what the music video shows. Finally the conclusion is very good, strong and it leaves little room for change. I think Yisel deserves a C though, because that is just how I grade.













....She deserves no less than an A.

Before my next prompt

I haven't been online in a while to go check out some Def Poetry Jam. And today I just happened to find this poem that hit me hard. So many familiar names who's works I've read, and a hell of a lot more that will become known to me. Very strong words and an even stronger love for the art of poetry.



Gemineye "Poetic Bloodline"

Now this one is by the same poet. And I hope you'll like this Tasha-baby. It's your favourite type. Promoting thought.



Gemineye "Penny for Your Thoughts"

No Child Able to Learn

Personally, I have no real stance on the whole FCAT, and I guess in an indirect way to NCLB. I went to private school my entire life, but I do understand the incredible disdain by parents, students, and teachers. Students feel that the teachers from elementary to, I believe is 11th grade, focus entirely way too much time on the FCAT and how to pass it with a decent enough score. The teachers, well at least the good ones worth the salt, are disgruntled, because their entire style and way of teaching is thrown out the window, so that they could either keep their jobs, or get a nice little bonus in the end. Parents then feel like their children are being cheated out of a genuine authentic education. I sort of agree with them, but again, I can't actually have a feel for it, because I haven't really heard both sides.

I do kind of agree that it does take a lot from a genuine education. But I also believe that it is a milestone in the betterment of education. Does it have it's flaws? Of course. But should we really scrap it? No. I think it should be revised in a few details. Also, I think it should be dropped from federal involvement, to a state issue. Let the state take care of their own education, and just have America watch over them, and if they see one state lagging behind then, step in and revamp their schooling. My presidential candidates (McCain & Romney)are both for NCLB, but a revamped version. They both agree that it was a good attempt to better or education system.

Now finally, I am a huge fan of Def Poetry Jam. I hope I was the one that introduced it to you. And of course I can't leave without having my own little show. So here it is: Javon Johnson with Elementary.

Helping to Promote Thought

In keeping with Tasha Baby's everlasting message to promote thought, I decided to post up a video, with a theme of just that. And yes, I am making up for the lack of panache my last blog had. This is a video of yet, another Def Poetry Jam, but this time not of Taylor Mali, but of Steve Coleman. He's better at promoting thought more than I can, so here it is: I Want To Hear A Poem - Steve Coleman

North American Union and the 'destruction' of the world

I won't be so arrogant to say that I was one of the few who had heard of the North American Union, but I haven't heard all about it, in all it's splendor and glory. Now to discuss the video clip, which I will watch or just ask you to lend it to me.

I understand the point of the movie is to shock and inspire you to become more aware of what's going on in the world, but I think it stretched itself a bit much. Nonetheless, it did it's job and will inspire many to do just what it was hoping for. Now the whole North American Union conspiracy. Yes, I have heard of it, and did not pay it much attention, because I had heard it as a conspiracy theory deal. Now, if it were true, I don't really see a problem with a union to basically help now two countries, because not only is Mejico down the crapper, but America is swirling down the porcelain express.

The whole idea of an organized world where there is no more useless and pointless worlds sounds good to me, and if it only means, the only fighting that takes place, is by anarchistic stooges then, hey why not. The whole corruption and authoritarian govts thing I think is like the worst case scenario. I think just as much as we fear it, the leaders of the world fear it even more. So I really think they will take major steps to prevent and squash any such antics.

NOW, the whole media leading my life thing. I've already expressed myself on this issue. Yes, the weak-minded, the incredibly gullible, and desperately seeking love/attention of the world may be manipulated by it. Hell, I may have been victim to it. But to the degree the video, or anyone *cough*tashababy*cough* says, nahhhh.

Now, since my blog lacks pinache and pretty different coloured, underlined words or pictures and videos, I apologize. Oh look at that. Jaja.

s * |V| 3 vv H 4 7 c 0 |\| F U |\| [) L 3 [)

I could have sworn the first prompt was on Marginalization or something like that, but I'll go with common sense and do this blog entry as was stated in INSPIRED MUSINGS.

As everyone already probably knows, I have had a blog since the beginning of Fall semester of '07. Again I want to reiterate that I find the process of expressing oneself on a page that neither gives you any consoling words or cheery smiles, just a bit pointless. Not that I don't like having one. I mean, every once in a while, I do write a blog that I post up for fun (for any further insight, go back to 2007 on my blog and 'shek id ow'). But that occurs once in a blue moon. Blogs seem so impersonal and for me, just expressing myself, just seems 'blahh'.

Well back to the prompt. Having a blog seems more like another piece of homework, rather than a way to express myself. But it does help in my writing, and my gathering and ordering of thoughts, so there is that plus. Having a blog was not really my choice, and again I wasn't, too thrilled with having one. But it was asked of me, so I answered the call to at least pass my class with a A. What's disappointing this time around is that we cannot vandalize Tasha-Baby's blog anymore. Not saying that I did it myself. But it was fun going to her page and watching countless of thick-headed kids constantly fail in their blog assignments for not following simple directions. (Also, having Tasha flip out in class and put up countless warnings on her blog was quite amusing as well.) Now some of you may look at my blog and think, "Whoa this kid has dark colours, he must be like emo or something, you know?" (Check out my "AMERICA'S GOTTEN SOFT" blog, to understand my quote.) Quite the contrary, I chose this setting because it brought a sense of ease and tranquility, rather than the other gaudy skins and backgrounds. This one just seemed plain enough for me, and did not require me to put on sunglasses every time I opened my blog, to shield me from the obnoxiously bright colours. Now finally, the security settings on my blog. I have opened it up to everyone who wants to read it, because I wasn't about to go out and look up everyone's blog myself and add them, too much work for me. So that is the reason why anyone is willing to come in and enjoy the greatness that is me.

Now, I have thought about this and I've decided to end each of my blogs with a question. Comment on it if you like, it doesn't matter to me either way.

Do penguins have knees?

A response to Tasha's rebuttal

since we can't comment on her thing anymore! which btw i think is a total jip.. atleast your fig class should be able to, cause we never wrote or vandalized your blog, but w.e! here is the response



jaja tasha, funny funny...

you take things so personal. one person writes a bad review and you go all out to destroy the kid's, and yes the person who wrote that dumb review is a prepubescent child who has no idea to express him/herself well, or coherently for that matter. but i digress, yes, you go all out to destroy the kid's idiotic ranting. but hell, more power to you.

and don't worry, 99% of your students think that you are a great, fair, and dedicated teacher. and you're fig thinks you are hot don't worry jaja

and i'm sorry to say, but us MEN are 19