It was a typical Thursday, April 4, 1968. That evening was no different than any other weekday in 1968. I was 12 years old and enrolled in a school program for intelligent and gifted children whose existence acknowledged what should have been obvious, Black and Puerto Rican kids are smart too. Unfortunately, what came along […]
More Than A Dreamer Read More »
I am approaching the 4th anniversary of my retirement, and I have been grappling with something for the past two years. Finally, it was not easy, but I have come to terms with this situation. I have accepted the fact that I am a “Novoleiro.” But, you say, what is a Novoleiro? A Novoleiro is
Don’t Change That Channel Read More »
Lions, and tigers, and bears, Oh my! It’s that time of year again, and in the spirit of Halloween, the Republican Party has trotted out its tired but successful bag of frightening tricks just in time for Election Day. The menu items very rarely change. The themes are always the same. Let’s scare the ****
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid Read More »
The current hatred and disdain for immigrants displayed by those that are anti-immigration is not a new situation. Immigration has been one of the most rancorous political issues in American politics. The saddest part is that many of the arguments made by anti-immigration people are misinformed, disingenuous, or hypocritical. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Red Light, Green Light 1,2,3 Read More »
I am the proud owner of over 30,000 songs in my digital library. I acquired this collection over 55 years, with genres ranging from Acapella to Zydeco. I have spent countless hours listening to artists ranging from A-Ha to Warren Zevon. After a lifetime of listening to music, today, I still worship at the altar
One of my favorite quotations is from Harper Lee, who wrote: “To Kill A Mockingbird.” She said, “you can choose your friends, but you sho’ can’t choose your family, and they’re still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge them or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don’t.” Political parties
You’ve Got A Friend? Read More »
As a young boy and through my early 20s, I was as devoted a sports fan as you could find. I could break down rosters and spit out baseball, football, hockey, and basketball statistics as easily as reciting the multiplication X table. As years ticked off and adult responsibilities confronted me, I began to distance
Disclaimer: This article does not support the promotion of gun use. It was mid-November 1965 and the perfect time to start lobbying for what I wanted for Christmas. It was more than one month after my birthday and before my mother and father made their bedroom “Fort Knox “secure. That’s where they kept all the
You Can’t Always Get What You Want (When You Want It) Read More »
The status of the United States economy looms large as one of the most important personal and political issues before the 2022 elections. The perception of the economy will play a significant role in determining who will represent us in Congress. Unfortunately, much of our perception is based on mythology, misinformation, and lies to our
Don’t Believe The Hype Read More »
Growing up, when someone called you something other than your given name, we usually complained, “stop calling me names.” Name-calling was usually an act of ridicule or disrespect. Feeling a bit contrarian, my focus in this piece will be about name-calling that glorifies people, groups, or concepts, in my opinion, unjustifiably. I’ll start with the
