wikipadilla

CW exercise - write a rondeau

2011-10-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

Today's poetry form is a French lyric form called a rondeau.

My students seem to be having fun with the repetition in order to emphasize their crazy thoughts. Here's what I wrote with them...

Walk away from all the pain

Before it lingers long enough to stain.

For the love you feel is just one-sided;

Don’t wait anymore, she’s undecided

Why watch her feign?

Her doubt causes your passion to wane

Yet you force yourself to remain

Though in her heart you won’t reside

Walk away

Step outside into the falling rain

To cleanse yourself of her reign;

You don’t deserve to be blindsided.

With every step, the hurt has subsided

you have but yourself to regain

Walk away…

Today's CW exercise - Triolet

2011-10-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

I have not blogged in a long while and I need to make a more concerted effort to write more instead of working. I keep debating whether or not I should post my thoughts on surviving thyroid cancer and adjusting to all that that entails (my meds seem to affect me, or rather, when I forget to take them, my students notice a difference). I seem to start many entries and then I don't finish them because I dwell too much on life. So, here's to starting small... and anew...

Luckily, I have the opportunity to teach creative writing once again this year, for the first time in three years. It's been a bit of a struggle, since the students that were placed in the class didn't originally "elect" to take this elective. I appreciate all the students who have remained because they have found value in what I'm trying to teach them. I just need to continue to work with them to learn how to constructively critique each other.

Today's class exercise is to write a Triolet, a French form...
and as with most things I've been writing, one theme dominates my hand...

I

Cancer provided a huge wake up call

Reminding me I still have much to do.

The doctors try their best to stall

Cancer. Provided a huge wake up call,

By showing me the writing on the wall.

The sickness is gone, I must start anew

Cancer provided a huge wake up call

Reminding me I still have much to do.

Illness makes the world seem right

For your soul is purged of wrong.

The blood flows with new cells white

Illness makes the world seem right

Though your body frail and light

Your heart continues to beat strong

Illness makes the world seem right,

For your soul is purged of wrong.

III

Schools celebrate red ribbon week

To remind us to steer clear of drugs

For they damage the strong and meek

Schools celebrate red ribbon week

To spite the temptation many seek

And avoid the accidental wayward slugs

Schools celebrate red ribbon week

To remind us to steer clear of drugs.

Matt Damon is my new best friend

2011-08-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

My newest supporter, so to speak...

Freshly bald, Damon speaks to a reporter about teachers.

Here he makes the headline speech at a rally.

Enjoy!

Giants Opening Day Weekend and Rock of Ages

2011-04-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

The weekend I have been looking forward to since November 3, 2010.

Like many San Francisco Giants fans, many of us wondered when we would ever see a championship banner fly over AT&T Park. The Giants office knows how to organize a party and celebrate the team's achievements. Willie Mays brought out the flag, each player touched it while passing it down the line, and finally, Brian Wilson accepted the banner and ran it across the outfield, into the bleachers, so he could raise it up the flagpole. My next favorite moment was Matt Cain throwing out the first pitch. As the longest tenured Giant, he truly represents sportsmanship and excellence.

Thank goodness for personal necessity days so I could make my twelfth consecutive Opening Day. However, the festivities did not end with the extra innings back-to-back Aaron Rowand walk-off hits for the second straight year. I rocked all night long at the Curran Theater to revisit 80's hair metal in Rock of Ages. And yes, the show felt like the 80's complete with women decked at in high hair, long t-shirts, bandannas, and fishnet stockings. The show entertained the hell out of me, especially the one-liners, "Phil Collins can rock." Although a couple of the songs felt a little forced into the loose plot, I enjoyed hearing the different takes in which they were infused for the most part. Constantine looked ridiculous in his boy band outfit, while the women made me miss 80's fashion. Luckily, I was able to share this with Lance, Mary Anne, and the newlyweds, Macho & Gina, my 80's queen.

Saturday night - Opening Night
I truly loved the ring ceremony. The ceremony moved all 40,000+ of us. Though I was disappointed I didn't get my ring keychain giveaway (I had no idea people were going to line up at noon as if this were a Lincecum bobblehead day), I was able to witness the moment I longed to see. The Giants wearing championshiop rings. However, I didn't think I was going to last the whole night to see Miguel Tejada hit a walk-off double to win the game, because my coughing worsened in was one of the coldest nights I have experienced at the ballpark. I love cold weather, but my four layers and heaviest jacket could do nothing to protect me from a hellish wind chill. I suffered in the cold, but I watched another dramatic win and knew there would be no way I would be able to attend Sunday's Posey rookie of the year ceremony.

So the weekend concludes and I look forward to state testing week at work... I hope our school continues to improve...

Enjoy the two newest plaques on the portwalk commemorating Lincecum's 14 K's and the world championship win and parade.

Gina & Macho Wedding

2011-04-03T15:35:00.000-07:00

Congratulations! Thanks for letting me walk you down the aisle and give you away!

El Camino's 50th Anniversary Party

2011-03-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

Tickets are now being sold for the dinner/dance celebrating the 50th Anniversary of El Camino High School. Many former teachers will be there and we'll be celebrating the probable retirement of Mr. Steve Simondi. Click here to register for the event, half of the tickets are nearly sold out already. Thanks to Eric DeSantis ('91) for designing to logo below.

Another Reason Teachers Are Needed

2011-01-31T20:45:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, I offered my students extra credit if they were to buy their own copies of the next novel we would be reading in class: The Great Gatsby and 1984, for my juniors and seniors respectively.

Today in class, a number of students told me that they went to Barnes & Noble and had a difficult time trying to find the book. They knew it was located in the fiction section, but when they looked up the title the book wasn't there. They were searching for the book by TITLE. My students assumed the store shelved books alphabetically by "title."

Immediately, I realized that they don't go to the library for books. Heck, our school even moved out many of our books to a storage portable classroom. When we teach research skills, almost all the research is done electronically now. There is no logical mindset for our students, no rhyme or reason for how information is stored, particularly in the form of books.

I asked my students why they searched for it by title. Response: "Because that's what you do when you google search. You input what information you need to know." And this makes a whole lot of sense from their point-of-view. They are accustomed to instant access. Put in the key word in the search box and suddenly a list of responses spews forth. The thought that the non-digital world works the same way makes perfect sense.

so what does this mean and why am I bothered?

Students rarely ever read, much less go to a bookstore to buy a book. If they enter one, it's probably to go to the cafe and grab a coffee and red velvet cupcake. Just about any day of the year, a U.S. resident can pick up a newspaper and read that American scores are falling and we're lagging sorely behind the rest of the world. America's best students may still be able to compete with the world elite, but the student majority seem to lack motivation.

I often wonder why is it that I felt compelled to learn when I was a student, why was I willing to do what many of my students are not, what changed in the world/society in the past 20 years since I graduated from high school. Maybe, the Cold War and the Nuclear Arms Race pushed my generation into making math & science a priority. I did grow up next to an army base and the military was an omnipresent entity during my formative years. I feel like my generation grew up with a bit of fear in our hearts. As kids, we saw watched "The Day After" on TV and began to consider the flight time and paths of ICBM's in Siberia. We were pushed to learn, for if we didn't, we may not survive. War, natural disaster, famine... many generations seems to have been marked by some kind of moment, whether it was Vietnam, the Cuban Missle Crisis, World Wars, the Great Depression, Industrial Revolution (and that's just the 20th century). I wonder if today's teenagers have anything to truly fear.

I realize that the 90s began with the Bay Area recovering from the Loma Prieta Quake of '89. As the area tried to heal, our school's rival football game, the Bell Game, experienced a bomb blowing up the scoreboard just before half time. A couple months later, my classmates and I were fixated to the images on CNN when the U.S. went into Iraq for the first time. The decade continued, and as the Bay Area recovered, prosperity came with an economic boom largely due to Silicon Valley. Yet, teenagers at our school soon learned about tragedy when the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado arrived at the end of the decade.

The world transformed as the internet became accessible to the masses. Emails and chatrooms allowed long distance instant communication. Pagers allowed people to get in touch and develop a pager language which is now supplanted by texting. And with cell phones, the tethers to being a grounded person were broken and freedom of access to the world created new visions. Students were born into a new technological world, and instant gratification of food, text, youtube, social networking created new invisible tethers in which a perfect world continues as long as an electric pulse courses through our digital veins.

I wonder if today's teenagers feel any sense of purpose, drive. Terrorism once was a mark for my students to instill some of that fear, but even that didn't seem to take a firm hold with the enemy being elusive and without a constant face or symbol to rally against. Anything that may have been something to fear now only appears to as a surreal image that belonged in a film. I remember the most common comment from all my students after 9/11 was that it felt like they were watching a movie.

Our world seems detached from itself. No matter how closely we may be connected through a wireless network populated with hundreds of psuedofriends on Facebook, students do not really know how to communicate. Students don't even talk to teach other. They don't have those nights I grew up having when I would sneak on the phone in the kitchen and stretch out the cord to the next room so I could stealthily have a conversation with my newest infatuation. They text each other and say LOL without experiencing any real laughter. Why say LOL when you could just laugh?

Almost every vision they have now seems to be provided by some director (the media, the film, the internet). The ability to imagine a story is nearly impossible for many teenagers. They want to be force fed and told how to view something rather than paint an image for themselves. Every time I have a student ask for the movie of a certain story or book, I ask why? So they can "see" the story. I remind them that they are only being shown one person's, one media source's perspective. Isn't this true of an author writing a book as well? But the students need to construct and build their own walls instead of trapping themselves within artificial ones.

One of the biggest points I try to make in class about reading is this. Why would so many conquerors destroy a defeated enemy's books, take them out to the town square and burn them? Why would leaders and governments censor the news or try to control it? Why are they throwing away a right for which so many gave their lives? A right they learn about personally form Frederick Douglass' Autobiography. Why are they allowing themselves to be subjugated to the whims of whoever controls the information?

I can only hope that reading 1984 will help open their own eyes.

Orange October/November

2010-11-07T20:58:00.000-08:00

Many of you know that I'm a Giants season ticket holder, which means this past month has been
heaven for all of long-suffering Giants fans. Here are some of the scenes I was able to witness.

Giants clinch NL West

World Series Game 1

World Series Game 2

Giants Parade

October 2010

2010-10-27T00:03:00.001-07:00

My cute niece

Grandfather's Memorial - the family picture

My family at the Memorial

Happy Bastille Day 2010

2010-07-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

I celebrated this Bastille Day helping some stones break free from their dark dank prison known as my ureter. Thankfully, the stones were freed sans guillotine.

Today's Lithotripsy has gone well so far. The 8mm kidney stone is now pulverized and I've been having no problems thus far with passing a mini sand storm through my urethra. I look at these pebbles of calcium and the thought of them once joined together in a huge meteorite configuration reminded me of the threat that beheld the Earth in Armageddon. People, who have had this procedure, told me the days after can be a mini vacation to hell. Luckily, no vomiting, only a bit of nausea, no huge pieces as of yet to pass. I am collecting them in a specimen container so that the hospital can analyze why I've now had to undergo these pains for the third time in my life.

Although much of my summer vacation has passed as I await the completion of the stones' journey, I hope to have a few remaining days of nice weather and relaxation before I start planning to teach senior English for the first time in my life. I've taught seniors CAHSEE class, basic remediation class, and now I will show them senior exit project. May they graduate...

Fun with the new Camera

2010-04-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

Here are my early attempts in learning how to use my SLR camera. I still have trouble getting action shots that are not blurry. Lance has returned to pitching for the first time since his surgery. Boujie, my sister's dog, has been my test guinea pig for the most part.

Straight No Chaser

2010-04-19T00:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks Macho for introducing this to me.

Glee is back, but so is 6-bee

2010-04-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Fallon did a great parody version of Glee the other night.

Filipino references in pop culture

2010-04-02T10:24:00.001-07:00

A couple of days ago my brother and I were talking about the many Filipino references that seem to pop up on 30 Rock. Admittedly, I don't know whether or not to laugh or not. I usually don't find too much humor in stereotypes, even if the speaker of the joke is of the targeted group (as I am watching Robin Williams on Ferguson discussing how he offended Australia). References can be both positive and negative, and I usually just let it be and remain a "silent witness."

Oddly, the first time I can really remember hearing "Filipino" in a song was in Motley Crue's "Same Ol' Situation." I thought to myself "What exactly is Vince Neil and Nikki Sixx saying about Filipino women?" and really... just about every song objectified women... and I was just a teenager screaming along to they lyrics without much pause...

College, Life, a near run for a political seat in local politics, teaching have all made me much more aware and sensitive to all aspects of different "-isms." But do I ever really say anything? No. I've wanted to blog about every reference I have heard over the years, but then I felt overwhelmed and lazy and never did.

So, why comment now? Not sure... I'm on spring break and have some time to procrastinate. It's Good Friday, and I was always taught not to enjoy myself, but rather I should contemplate the seriousness of life...

... I woke up this morning not wanting to get out of bed and decided to catch up on the newest Entertainment Weekly, which could fuel all kinds of discussion on pop culture... The first thing I saw was this little blurb that said Glee "is looking for a fifty-something Filipina or Hispanic actress to play... Sue's (presumably long-suffering) maid." Then I began to imagine all the tirades that would emanate from Sue's mouth and how rife with offensiveness they could be. I'm curious how this will be handled.

So after having perked my interest, I see another curious entry from David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. They have a new album called Here Lies Love... the concept for this album... let's read Byrne's own introduction for the CD... “The story I am interested in is about asking what drives a powerful person—what makes them tick? How do they make and then remake themselves? I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be great if—as this piece would be principally composed of clubby dance music—one could experience it in a club setting? Could one bring a ‘story’ and a kind of theater to the disco? Was that possible? If so, wouldn’t that be amazing!”

The featured track on the website is an imagined duet between Imelda Marcos and Estrella, as sung by Cyndi Lauper and Tori Amos (two artists I tend to like). A picture of Imelda graces the cover and the entirety of the album reflects her story. The idea of a theatrical story being told in a dance club does seem interesting, although I don't know how many of the people there will be visualizing the story of Imelda Marcos.

I am curious and will listen to all the short bits on the website linked above on the album title and probably even more on iTunes when the album is released next Tuesday. I probably won't write any review, but I put this out there for some of you to consider. For those curious, EW gave the CD a "B." If you want to hear some of the songs until the CD is released, you can check out NPR. Personally, I'm finding the collection quite intriguing, especially growing up in the age of 70s disco.

Meet Ava

2010-03-16T23:48:00.000-07:00

Six weeks ago L and MA had their baby daughter Ava, which turned me into an uncle for the first time. You've probably seen many pictures already if you're on their facebook, but I wanted to post a couple for my blog.

I love the pic with Ava looking up at MA while she has Will Clark's eyes on her shirt.

The dog is Boujie and he's irritating, but my sister loves him... so I thought to include him for once.

Wii Mii

2010-03-13T01:14:00.000-08:00

Because I think it's hilarious how into the Wii my dad has become...

Catching up on my quick jaunt to Hawaii

2010-03-13T00:07:00.000-08:00

At the end of January, I was feeling overwhelmed by pain, work, stress, and other mental musings that have been congealing into the mucus that causes postnasal drip and leads to endless fits of coughing.

What better way to fix this problem than by making a quick trip to Hawaii... that's right... on the weekend that LOST was about to make its season 6 premiere at sunset on the beach, destiny called me to Oahu. The Wednesday before the premiere after wallowing in paperwork and listening to my heart and the randos, I looked up the airfares to Hawaii. Surprisingly, semi-affordable. Now, my brain said, "Don't do it! You'll be maxing out the credit card!" My heart thought about Waikiki beach, LOST, and maybe a chance to meet the cast of the show or even Jay and Jack. My BFF May found a cheaper flight, I booked it, and less than 48 hours later I was in Hawaii.

I enjoyed some wonderful time hanging out with May and her family. Her son is growing up so much. Aside from the premiere, the weekend was great. I got to eat at my favorite places, especially Bubbies and the Old-fashioned Pancake House.

So if you'd like to hear the rest of the story, you can... go to iTunes and listen to the Randy Rando Randonopolis Podcast or click here... you can actually hear my voice on one of the first segments of the show. Then, stop and listen to the rest of their podcasts and subscribe to their show. Leave comments on iTunes about what a great guest I am, so they can bring back the D-Rock P. Zilla to make another cameo...

one of the best parts of the entire trip... no one sat next to me on both flights to and fro... YES!

May got to get a pic with Richard Alpert (Nestor Carbonel)

On Call Doctor

2010-03-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

Around 8pm tonight, I received a very unexpected call from my physician at Kaiser. Recently, I've had a few lab tests done on my urine and blood. Just two days, I was fitted for orthopedic shoes, which will h0pefully alleviate the foot pain I have due to bone spurs growing into both my Achilles' tendons. Now, Kaiser does send me emails to let me know the results of these lab tests, but when I read the numbers of my test results, there is no real explanation for they mean. I know some numbers are within range while some are elevated. So when my doctor called me at home for the first time, I was slightly alarmed. It's Friday night, and she's going over my case files... finally hitting her paperwork possibly... and then she sees the need to follow up with me...

Well, evidently I have high levels calcium, which maybe caused by some parathyroid issue (I'm not even sure if that's right). But I do remember her saying there's 4 of them near my thyroid and I may have to have some of them removed surgically and something from my arm would be taken out to replace it. What? Well, I need to see an endocrinologist a week from now to determine just what's going on this time in my body. It may be nothing and no surgery will be even needed. Calcium could just be high. But the possibility of another surgery looms over me. And if the orthopedic shoes can't work wonders, summer of 2011 will be spent recovering from surgery to remove the bone spurs in my feet to prevent the further shredding of my tendons. It may even cause me to miss a month to a semester from work... I guess I won't renew my Giants tickets in 2011.

Gina's early birthday dinner

2010-03-12T23:30:00.001-08:00

Last night, several friends and I went to Beijing Buffet to celebrate Gina's birthday. I am so thankful to have the people that were there in my life. Many great stories were shared, but the highlight of the night of course was Macho recounting how he proposed to Gina a fortnight ago.

Congratulations you two!

On an odd note: I also like how the two of them fear the thought of me speaking at their wedding or even scarier for them, my brother or Auntie Shirley.... muah ha ha ha... muah ha ha ha... maybe Auntie Shirley will make some special candles for you.

Lip Sync Rally and more

2010-03-12T23:07:00.000-08:00

This year's edition of the 2010 lip sync rally was based on the mash-ups shown on Glee--a combination of unlike songs paired together to produce some interesting results. I'm pretty sure there will be youtube videos up soon, since they usually pop up within the next 48 hours.

However, the most disconcerting, but understandable, part of the rally was the lack of a teachers' performance. Unfortunately, it did not happen this year for a variety of reasons. After the rally, students came up to me asking what happened to the teachers. I just said it didn't come together, but I know some teachers said it was due to budget cuts in a mocking way to poke fun of what is a very serious situation at our school. The state budget crisis is forcing our school board to make some difficult decisions, which may or may not include the cutting of some elective programs. The thought of students no longer having the opportunity to take classes that provide life skills such as auto and foods is truly sad. I know those electives may not fulfill college prerequisites, but there will always be a need for careers in automotive and food industries. As the activities director, I admit that I fear other programs like dance, music and student leadership may one day face this same challenge, and though we might be spared this year, if the crisis continues, there is no telling what may happen in the future.

This mood has been pervading our campus as students and teachers question just what the future holds, and with today being a rally day for me, I was in more stressed out mood than normal. So, when an ex-EC student set foot on campus during the rally set up, my tension seemed to build when he was disrespectful to our security when he wouldn't stop. I had to follow him and he was none too happy to see me. Although he did make a threatening gesture and vocalized some profanities to me and got my blood pressure boiling, no incident followed, especially when more security and administrators arrived to the scene. Thank goodness. I did have a hard time settling into the rally prep with adrenaline pumping through me, but I am just happy a possible explosive situation was diffused.

Now a quick trip to the past to remind all of you what you may have missed from the previous lip sync rallies.

Flash Snow Storm

2010-03-10T00:38:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, March 5th, my co-worker DV and I drove up to Reno for a CADA conference. However, our journey would be delayed as the biggest snow storm I have been in that I can remember blocked our path. The journey took from 8am to 5:30pm. 3-4 hours of that was spent never moving. We were stuck somewhere after Gold Run. Before we actually were stuck, the snow came slamming into the windscreen and visibility was quickly dropping to 200ft. to 8ft. I probably cursed us when at breakfast I made a comment that being a teacher is what taught me to finally have patience in my life.

Oddly enough, upon my return from my conference, I saw my father and he told me there was an article in the Chronicle about the snow, so here are some pics of where I was.

Above left: This is the beginning of the line of traffic. DV and I were stuck about 400ft. behind that red truck. I remember starting at that damn thing for hours just hoping it would move.

Above right: This is basically a picture of me, except we didn't have chains on our vehicle and, for once, I wasn't wearing shorts, but I was standing out there a long while hoping blood would flow in my varicose veins again.

Below: Well, if you looked away from the highway, the scene was rather tranquil.

Bon Jovi meets the SF Giants

2010-03-10T00:23:00.000-08:00

On Monday, February 22nd, I watched Bon Jovi live for the second time in my life. It was a great night with my brother and two newly engaged friends. The show entertained the whole time as some of you may soon see. Best parts of the night... concert shirts that fit me, bon jovi album cover shot glass set, after concert recovery at Denny's, and the frickin' music.

and now for the connection to the SF Giants... evidently, new giant Mark DeRosa loves Bon Jovi... as pointed out clearly in this SF Chronicle article... I guess I have a new favortie Giants player, plus we're the same age...

and now for one of my favorite songs covered by Bon Jovi...

Do things come in 3's?

2009-11-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

Last week was disturbing for me. One night I'm listening to the news on TV while I'm running around the house doing chores when I hear the name of one of my former students, but I missed the video that went with it. The next morning I found the video online and there was the face I once knew a few years ago. I saw footage of him being led into a police car, handcuffed. I saw him mouth the words he didn't do it, but I don't know if it's true -- was he one of the guys to rape that girl in Richmond.

I made a reference to it on Facebook, and it seemed to touch a nerve with a few people. Thanks to those with the kind words in response to me commenting that I felt like I failed him, even though I know there was nothing I could have done.

Two of the comments, though, were former students of mine who thought I was speaking of a different former student who was driving a getaway car in a murder. What the hell?!? Another of my former students was arrested on the news in the same week. They gave me some info, and I have to admit that I really didn't know him well, especially since he was here when I was just a rookie teacher, but the situation made me pause... what is wrong with the world today? Many of us have openly wondered this and no one has yet or ever will be given a satisfactory answer. But the last thought I kept lingering on was this... is there a 3rd former student of mine out there who has just recently been arrested? Is this one of those things that can come in 3's?

When I teach my students about symbols and the power of certain words, images, numbers, I continually remind them how often certain numbers resonate in literature -- and 3 is one of the more significant ones. It was even the answer to one of the questions on my mythology test when I asked which set of siblings was not a set of 3 (Fates, Furies, Graces, Cyclopes, 100-handed Giants, and Muses).

So now I just hope I don't hear about another student and that too much time has passed for the power of 3 (why do I feel like I'm in my living room and Sheena is watching a Charmed marathon? and now she's hooked on Eastwick).

Real World Tahoe

2009-09-23T00:13:00.000-07:00

"This is the true story of eleven friends picked to rent a house and enjoy an awesome tahoe wedding. Find out what happens when people stop being boring and start getting real..."

One of the more memorable weekends I have had in a long while. Why? I wasn't at school. I was just able to relax and breathe in life with close friends. Thankfully, we all made time to be there to share in the beauty of Hong's and Keith's Wedding. Truly, every minute seemed a special memory to savor, whether it be Macho grilling ribeyes to Keith being all stealth from the mezzanine to the memory cards waiting for us at our seats at the wedding reception to fruit being thrown around the house to the Niners winning to Steamers tacos and one deep-fried burrito to many blue moons and Guiness to spooning to late nights of reminiscing.

I appreciate all of you who could be there to share with me those four days.

Padilla Reunion

2009-09-22T23:51:00.000-07:00

Our family tried to have a huge Padilla reunion, and many people came far and wide. Although many loved ones were too far away or no longer with us, I found it to be a great chance to remind myself how lucky I am to share so much with so many other people. Here's a glimpse of most of us who were lucky enough to attend... I wonder if a picture like this could ever happen again...

Another reason to be a teacher pt. 2

2009-08-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

Particularly on the eve of another school year, I need to remind myself of the joys of teaching and forget the summer daze. Just last night I already had a dream of my lessons for the first day. I could see the ninth graders in their desks waiting for the day to end as their thoughts drift back to waking up late. Maybe a handful of them a bit concerned with "what is high school?" Maybe, there will be a few students like me, who thought eighth grade was "the best of times; the worst of times" and the promise of high school will be a welcome relief... though mine started with feelings of discombobulation, I ultimately discovered the foundation of who I am now.

Many teachers keep a brag box. I think I've mentioned this before in a previous blog. When times are difficult, the box holds many of the mementos amassed over the years that remind us teachers that what we do is important. Every year, I ask my students to write me an evaluation based on their learning experience and my teaching style. Many are positive, but I am indebted to those students who provide constructive criticism so that I may improve for the next year. Every now and then though, I receive an evaluation written from a much different perspective. I asked Raisa if it would be okay with her if I shared it on my blog, and she agreed happily. So now I share with you -- her words...

Hi Mr. Padilla! So, I decided to send my appreciation and gratitude through a sonnet.

We are a class not small yet not so large
We started out quiet, simple and shy
Walking into the room, we would not barge
Sitting in desks with no noise or reply
And out comes our teacher well dressed and sane
He introduces himself to the class
Listening at desks we chose to remain
We need to learn to break out of our glass
A few days pass and it all starts to shift
As Life Soundtracks teach about each other
Connecting the pieces that cause a drift
Relating as friend, sister or brother
Soon we learn our sane teacher’s crazy side
Catching some people with immense surprise
We release emotions we cannot hide
It may be laughs, giggles, and even cries
He taught to think in ways we never could
Expanding our thoughts out and beyond
Not understanding on whether we should
Go on like ocean or stop like a pond
Through him we learned life, language, history
Facts, people, sports, and games, also,
Science, words, understanding mystery
And comprehending the film Vertigo
Sweet, crazy and kind with soft heart within
Rough, sensitive, and loud with energy
Acting evil with mischievous grin
Child like features revealed for us to see
He may not be a saint or a preacher
But I’m so glad he’s my English teacher.

I’m sorry if it contains many errors and is not the best but I’m hoping that whatever I learned in your class through hard work will pay off somewhat in this sonnet. I just want you to know that I’ve enjoyed your class, its moments, discussions and debates.

Your style of teaching is probably the most unique and unforgettable. The stories, thoughts, and styles of thinking has given off a tremendous effect on my attitude towards everything. Thank you so much for all that you’ve taught and I wish you the best of luck with future classes!

Wake Up the Sleeping Giant

2009-08-14T23:04:00.000-07:00

Summer is at an end. The hibernation is over and there is much to recount and redress.

Quick highlights that I may or may not get to...

I had varicose vein closure surgery on May 22 and I'm healing for the most part. However, the tendinitis is worsening, so I need to consider replacement surgery next summer.

I finally saw a no-hitter in person thanks to Jonathan Sanchez.

I spent time in Vegas and didn't even gamble.

My brother announced that he will be a daddy early next year.

I finally played an entire softball game (& only my 2nd game) in almost two years.

Summer is over and the finality hit hard with today's 9th grad orientation and seeing signs welcoming the class of 2013 everywhere.

Maybe some more interesting things will happen this year and I'll have something to type about soon. I admit that I worry about writing entries due to the public nature of my job and putting myself accidentally in a precarious position, but when I truly think about it, when do I ever really do anything to worry about... oh well... paranoia... and the power of misperception...

Oh yes, Hi Gina and Gregg...

See y'all soon...

I Miss Teaching Creative Writing

2009-03-24T22:52:00.000-07:00

It's been good news from the Youth Speaks Poetry Slam preliminaries. While I was wasting away in flu virus, 4 of my former student competed for a spot in the semi-finals and they made it. For three of them, it was their first time competing in this competition. First, congrats to Mic. Turner who was in my Eng 3H class last year, for he will be making his second trip to the semi-finals. I'm glad the other first 3 slam artists finally felt composed enough to speak their truths. Congrats to Melissa, Charles, and Rickah.

Here's a pic of last year's creative writing class!

If you want to watch them, please join me this Friday night, March 27, at 7 pm at MOMA SF

SEMI-FINALS: 7PM : $6 Youth (24 & under) & $10 General :
March 27 & 28: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)-
151 Third St. San Francisco, Ca
Advance tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com

Learn more about the slam at www.youthspeaks.org

My sister graduates

2009-03-23T00:21:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to my sister for completing the first step of her career! Now she needs to study for the board exams...

but why am I blogging about this?

Two women sitting behind my family talked as loud as the speaker and had no qualms about it. I waited patiently for the teacher to finish speaking and snapped at them. They were oblivious. Lance held of his cell phone saying "shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!" on the screen and they still didn't get it. The kids sitting to their left then to yell at each other more and one of the teachers had to tell the parents of those kids to control them. The other two remained entranced with themselves and I finally turned around, waved my finger full of Dikembe Mutumbo fury, and said all i hear are your voices in my ear with my evil teacher glare. It held them at bay for a little while... the ceremony was 2 hours... at least they were never as loud again for me to stand up and yell back.

and Sheena, if you ever read this, Did you find your diploma?

Commercial Tagline of the Night

2009-03-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

I really had no idea it was even an IKEA commercial.

I see this young male looking in the refrigerator. Then I see a grandmotherly woman in mold and voice of Maya Angelou. She's commenting on something. Suddenly the camera pans back over to the boy with her voice still going, camera cuts back to her with a Ben Linusesque gaze, and you hear her say "I love the way you frost..."

Et tu, AIG? & more rally cam

2009-03-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Belated Ides of March

Who would have realized another great nation feels a sense of betrayal after yesterday's news that the taxpayers are footing the bill for AIG execs getting millions of dollars in bonuses. Screw the bailout... let all these companies file for bankruptcy. Save the small businesses and the middle class!

Well, we know that won't happen...

So here's more video to keep you laughing and distracted from the economic crisis.

FLOOR CAM

SENIOR P.O.V.

IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR NEXT YEAR'S THEME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Oh yeah... there was an actual class competition... here are the winners... the sophomores!

Happy Pi Day!

2009-03-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to celebrate Pi Day today!

Lip Sync Past and Present

2009-03-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some interesting views... people have been asking me, so here are some
The one for this year, is the only one I've seen posted so far... i'll update it when i can find another angle

2009

2008

2007
We did "Thriller" but I haven't been able to find it yet.

2006

Student quote of the day - Friday the 13th

2009-03-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

Today I was collecting their class request forms and one student didn't turn it in. So I said, "Aren't you concerned about your future?"
Stephennie's reply, "My future needs to be reprinted."

More Special Guests Coming to EC

2009-03-02T23:43:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest Video Blog from Wong Fu Productions

Crazier Than Average

2009-02-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday at the SF Giants Fanfest and I met Coach Ron Wotus... yes, Gina, you're pissed off at me, but I don't care, for you were at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii and you sent me a pic from Rainbow Drive-in. So here's my picture for you... Both Ron and Dave are great gentlemen, very personable and it pumped me up even more for the upcoming season.

Today was also the greatly anticipated reward for being the Most Spirited High School in the Bay Area competition. Flo Rida came and performed four songs at our school. I'm impressed with how well our students responded, for they conducted themselves like the INSPI(RED)they are. The picture is of Jocelyn, one of my friends and co-workers, Flo Rida, and little ol' me.

Hoops Game Commercial

2009-02-11T00:46:00.000-08:00

I must say that I do rely upon my AV students a lot. I ask them to make quick commercials in just a day while they still need to study for tests, work, practice for cotillions, and somehow the thing gets done. And this has been true for the most part throughout my years at EC. So, thanks to all the AV commissioners through the years, especially for preserving our memories and inspiring new ones.

Now... come to this Thursday's basketball game @ SSFHS...

25 semi-random things about me

2009-02-10T01:17:00.001-08:00

25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME

1.I am born on the only day possible to have 3 Zodiac signs. Ophiuchus is in between Scorpio and Sagittarius. http://homepage.mac.com/kvmagruder/bcp/zodiacal/zoo.htm

2.I was crazy enough to self-publish a poetry anthology written by two of my creative writing classes. I haven’t been able to market further because I found a serious error in the book. http://www.amazon.com/Eloquent-Graffiti-DerekPadilla/dp/1401033210/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233808241&sr=8-1

https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=12540

3.I was fortunate enough to be awarded the 2000 Hero of the Bay by KNBR and the San Francisco Chronicle. Three students wrote essays about me and somehow the panel picked me among all the firemen, police, volunteers, teachers, etc.

4.In descending order of percentage, my ethnic heritage is Pilipino, Irish, Norwegian, Chinese, and Spanish. However, upon meeting many people for the first time, they will assume I am Hawaiian or Samoan. This is perfect for getting local discounts in Hawaii.

5.I have survived two serious car accidents in which the cars flipped over. In one of the accidents, the emergency crews used the jaws of life to cut the door off to get me. Then after securing me to the board, one of the firemen slipped since we were on a slope down an embankment. The result jarred my back even further. My mom and girlfriend were picking pieces of glass from my matted hair for a week.

6.I have been a Maid of Honor or Honor Attendee, whatever May wants to call it. http://psychoverse.blogspot.com/2006/07/my-best-friends-wedding.html

7.As much as my family gives me hell for giving my brother a best man’s speech/toast that lasted 20 minutes, they are all secretly happy because no one was getting up to imbibe from the free bar saving an estimated thousand dollars.

8.2007 was one of the worst years of my life. The year started with a horrible kidney stone (http://psychoverse.blogspot.com/2007/01/just-stones-throw-away.html) and a couple weeks after finally ejecting the rock, a vein in my right leg exploded (http://psychoverse.blogspot.com/2007/02/my-body-declares-war-on-me.html), most likely due to a softball injury six months earlier. In September, my grandmother passed away. (The one bright spot being my brother marrying Mary Anne)

9.The first time I ever traveled on a plane, I was 20 and it was on EVA air from SFO to Taipei (stopover on my way to Manila). This also happened to be one of the best summers of my life, for when I got back from the Philippines, I went backpacking in Northern California.

10.During that backpacking trip, I also hitchhiked by myself. When we returned from hiking after 3 days, our car had a flat tire, so I had to find a way to the nearest town, which was over 40 miles away. The two guys who picked me up ended up both being in the teacher credential program at SFSU, which I would enter a couple years later.

11.I grew up in Candlestick Park. I have been attending Giants and 49ers games since the late 70s. My parents had 49ers season tickets for over 30 years. Tailgating was our form of family bonding with all the cousins. At Montana’s last game, it was a rainy night and Uncle George brought a side of beef via Old Clam House and we all dined on prime rib.

12.Intermission: Similar to these 25 Random Notes, there used to be an American Express Advertisement in which you commented on yourself. You all should do this also. http://psychoverse.blogspot.com/2006/12/american-express-ad-my-version.html

13.The first time I can remember slow dancing with a girl I liked, it was at a buddy’s garage party to New Edition’s cover of “Earth Angel.”

14.I have lived some interesting El Camino High School moments:
A.The day of the “all-nighter” of my junior homecoming was the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake—some of us interpreted the moment as god giving us an extra day to prepare.
B.The Bell Game my senior year was disrupted when a bomb blew up the scoreboard just before the end of halftime… that game never would have been continued if that happened in today’s world.

15.During one of the massive food fights in the Shoreline lawn at Summer Jam, I was hit by a foot-long hoagie still wrapped in plastic, a piece of cheeseburger in which the cheese oozed between my toes, and an army boot.

16.I have never done illegal drugs. I have never smoked weed or even a cigarette. However, I got really close to being addicted to Vicadin after one of the car accidents.

17.The two best play experiences I ever had were watching a UC Santa Cruz production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the forest and Shogun Macbeth at SFSU.

18.I was once a part of an independent publishing company, first called Rough Copy Productions and then Fish House. We published our own comics: Spasm, Ash & Gas, Strudel War, Sci-Fi, Volcanic Partners. Although we will never get credit, we started the craze of plastic/acetate/invisible/see-through cards in the early 90s.

19.During elementary school, I took piano lessons and was second-chair violin in our school orchestra.

20.I spent 5 years working/managing a Baskin Robbins. My favorite things were to design my own flavors and decorate cakes. I have tried over 300 flavors of ice cream. My favorite flavor there… strawberry cheesecake. I make a kick ass Queen Anne cake.

21.It makes sense that I love Dead Poets Society, but I have some weird obsession with Drumline. You can see a bunch of entries at my blogsite that discuss this subject and which films I find more captivating… search Drumline Battle… a back-and-forth discussion I had online with my brother.

22.My blog, WikiPadilla, was christened such after one of my students wrote on my board… “If you want to know all the answers to life, just check out WikiPadilla.com.” I wish I thought of that myself.

23.I have met 98% of my friends on facebook. I just had to become friends with the other “Derrick Padilla’s” out there and a couple friends of friends.

24.People used to confuse me with Ed Mulitalo of the Baltimore Ravens, especially when we were in our early 20s. He was actually a thrower and football player at Jefferson that I did play against. I once had a conversation with someone at Denny’s and the girl didn’t realize I wasn’t Ed for nearly 15 minutes.

25.Both my brother and I have middle names taken from the titles of Western films, instead of our mother's maiden name. But if you put my middle name and mother's maiden name you get my former pen name... and I sound really Irish.

The Most Spirited High School in the Bay Area

2009-02-05T00:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all of the friends and alumni of El Camino High School. Your voting efforts have succeeded in Flo Rida coming to our school.

Patriotism

2009-01-20T23:11:00.000-08:00

It's the end of a long historic and I am trying to soak all this in. I am amazed to watch not just a country but a whole world celebrate a moment that symbolizes hope. I am a bit of a pessimist and wonder if we will all be feeling this way a few months from now. At least Obama's words reflected the idea that there is still so much that needs to be done.

However, the thing that struck me most about today was how oddly patriotic I felt. I remember how sad but unified the country felt after 9/11. Most of my memories of the U.S. coming together all seems to be in tragedy. My personal most patriotic moment in my life was actually at a preseason 49ers game in August of 1990. Like most preseason games, I really don't remember who the 49ers opponent was nor do I care about the score. What stands out was that days earlier, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Usually there is no pomp and circumstance to preseason games; however, the pregame festivities were a bit out of the norm. At this point in my life, I had already been attending Niner games for over a decade. For some odd reason, the military came out and unrolled the huge American flag that covers the entire football field--that flag usually only comes out on specific holidays or significant playoff games. Candlestick Park was nearly filled to capacity, again atypical for a preseason game albeit the Niners did win the Super Bowl the season before. During the national anthem, the singer started but soon I couldn't hear the projected voice, but the collective voice of nearly 60,000 people. I can't remember ever hearing Candlestick coming to sing the Star Spangled Banner together. The voice was solemn and in unison and ready to break with tension. I looked around and saw many of the 49er Faithful with tears running down their cheeks. Even though I grew up as military as I could get without being military, since both my grandfathers were in the army, I never felt my heart stiffen with pride in being American. Though five months later, my classmates would be wondering if it was possible we could be drafted, and I started having flashbacks about learning about all the different kinds of nuclear warheads that were made in middle school despite the Berlin Wall having already fallen, on that one day, I understood what it meant to be a part of 60,000 patriots.

So when I am viewing the scenes of the mall during today's inauguration and estimated what almost 2,000,000 people were feeling together, I couldn't even comprehend how that one memory I had could pale in number and significance. In all my recollection, I can't even imagine our country unified in celebration. I know this is just a beginning and I don't know what actual change may occur, but the promise of a new day is exciting. I just hope we know what to do with all of these expectations and temper them with a sense of perspective.

aside:
Patriotic moment #3
My brother and I did get selected to hold the flag on Opening Day in a couple of years ago at a Giants game.

Patriotic moment #4
Leading the Pledge at my high school graduation and not screwing it up...

Patriotic moment #5
The first game back after 9/11 at a Giants game.

*
When I first really began to understand what America stood for...my grandfather's funeral when I was 10. I had never seen him dressed as a soldier and there he was dressed in military formals when I said my final goodbye. The moment didn't feel truly significant until the folded the flag and the rifles fired off in salute to his memory.

10 Years Later

2009-01-14T00:02:00.001-08:00

Take a look at us 10 years later. I still have the most hair.... ha ha ha!

Happy Birthday Lance!

2009-01-13T23:50:00.001-08:00

To my brother Lance... happy birthday... (imagine listening to Rey's song)
I really wish I had it.

Pearl Harbor Day

2008-12-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

I took this photo without Edem realizing it. It turned out to be one of the best pictures I have ever taken. It captures the light contrast and shows the emotional intensity of the location.

More America's Best Dance Crew

2008-12-04T01:32:00.000-08:00

SoReal Cru TV posted a video of their visit to the Bay Area and El Camino makes an appearance... and not just our school, but also our hoodie... The school shows up at about 3:02 in the video. The hoodie much sooner...

December 4, at lunch, Joesar of the Boogie Bots will be visiting our campus to sign autographs and take pictures. Apparently, El Camino has an excellent reputation for supporting and teaching dance. Now, this is no surprise to me, but the fact that this is know beyond our city amazes me, especially since people are hearing about us in Los Angeles. Thankfully, we have a few alumni involved in the dance world. One teaches at Millennium and a couple others tour and perform in music videos. Congrats to them and thanks for representing your alma mater.

Surreal Day with SoReal Cru

2008-11-21T01:31:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday, November 18, just happened to be one of the craziest, most spirited, memorable days at El Camino in a long time.

The day began with a lunch time performance from SoReal Cru from MTV's America's Best Dance Crew.

Here's another view that's not as high quality but you get to imagine me at the beginning when you hear me introduce them.

Then we had a faculty meeting, in which the staff met the leader of our upcoming WASC visitation committee. This is an important time because we need WASC to approve the school's accreditation.

After the meeting, the school had a red ribbon cutting ceremony for the new modular building which houses the new weight room at our school.

During the evening, I brought my Leadership students to the Golden State Warriors game for our fundraising night... always a fun BART trip.

Robbie

2008-10-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, our beloved family cat, Robbie passed away. For seventeen years, Robbie provided comfort for us when we needed that extra hug. He was the friendliest cat EVER! and would pretend to have conversations with you. He had a long life and until we meet again...

Another reason to be a teacher

2008-10-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

This week is Barnes & Noble's educator's week. 25% off all books this week.
Too bad I don't have more money... oh well, gotta go shopping anyways and pick up a graphic novel or two, maybe a poetry book, or business management books (since these are never cheap)...

I finally finished Into the Wild. I can see how I can teach it and why some students like it, but the book really did not thrill me. Although it will make an excellent companion for teaching Thoreau's Walden, the book does embody the classic American adventure story/American dream.

Recent Events

2008-10-02T00:31:00.001-07:00

Why I haven't been around... let the pictures do the talking...

Here's a picture of the new Freshman President being forced to take a picture next to my senior portrait at the first dance of the year... eerie resemblance isn't it?

Here's the gang celebrating a 49ers victory over Detroit.

Woo hoo... I love playing volleyball. This was taken at the teachers vs. varsity volleyball game. The teachers played hard and didn't practice ever... and, of course, got our butts kicked... but I still have my wicked backspin serve.

September 13 -- my cousin Billy's & Joyce's wedding reception.
Here I am with brother, father, and grandfather.

September 20 -- Mike's & Michi's wedding
I again avoided the camera most of the night, but I'm caught here with Mae.

September 23 -- One of the craziest nights of softball ever...
When I have the energy I need to tell this story... but here's the short version...
6:30 playoff game start that ended at 8:30 in extra innings. We were down 5 runs in the 7th inning and made a magical comeback against a team full of our former students... good story...

We have to wait an hour and then play in the championship game. It was reminiscent of a classic heavyweight boxing match. Another big comeback. Dramatic home runs hit and stolen away on defense. 9 injuries between the two teams, including a hospital visit for the other team. Yet we lost in the bottom of the 7th as our 2 run lead we just gained in the top of the 7th was overcome by their hitters. It was a game no one wanted to lose. And yet, another 2nd place trophy for a softball team on which I pitched.

September 27 -- Jack's and Anne's wedding
I spent most of the day being photographed since I was one of the best men, but I was able to
sneak a moment and capture this endearing shot as the professional photographer was taking their pictures.

September 21
Another Giants season at an end and 138 is still there to support our team.

New TV Season

2008-10-02T00:13:00.000-07:00

Ok... I must now force to admit that I am horribly addicted to TV.

I find myself racing home to DVR 2 channels and record another one on the DVD recorder... this cannot be healthy...

and to top it all off... Friday Night Lights can only be found on Direct TV... that pisses me off.

I'm gonna try to write more often with brief little comments... we'll see how this works... kinda of like an expanded status section to my facebook page...

Reason #500 to live in San Francisco Bay Area

2008-08-07T23:42:00.000-07:00

Much to my surprise last Wednesday morning I picked up my Chronicle in the driveway and found a picture of the X-men on the front. I know comics are becoming more accepted and dare I say mainstream, but for an article to be on the front page of the Datebook was quite surprising. As accommodating as San Francisco is reputed to be, I never really considered the Chronicle to be that way... that's why you read the Bay Guardian and SF Weekly.

Recently, Uncanny X-Men #500 came out. Instead of some big fight with Magneto or top-tier villain, the issue signaled a new beginning as the X-Men move from New York to San Francisco.

Anyways.... here's the picture on the front...

Here is a copy of the article from sfgate.com

X-Men go west, to San Francisco

Peter Hartlaub

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

If you pay attention to the national news, it's been the world against San Francisco lately. If we aren't getting hammered for the city's activism in the gay marriage debate, our role as a "sanctuary city" routinely causes controversy.

But San Francisco just got some pretty big (albeit fictional) allies in its progressive fight for equality: The X-Men have moved to the Bay Area.

This isn't a small deal in the world of comic books. The X-Men, who settled in the Bay Area in the just-released 500th issue of the Uncanny X-Men, are arguably the most popular and recognizable superhero team in comic book history. And they've spent most of their 40-year existence based out of a mansion in Westchester County, N.Y.

But it should be no surprise. The trials of the X-Men, who discover at puberty that they are mutants, and are often forced to hide their true identities out of shame, have a lot in common with left-leaning causes, most notably the gay rights movement. In the comics, the X-Men have had gay and bisexual team members and associates, and their numbers were once decimated by a virus that had strong similarities to the AIDS epidemic.

Marvel Comics Executive Editor Axel Alonso says the city will be more than just a backdrop for the comic.

"The X-Men moving to San Francisco isn't just a physical move, it's a spiritual move. I love San Francisco and we want to see it really represented," says the city native during an interview last week at Isotope Comics in Hayes Valley. "Anyone who looks at the X-Men, the analogy is right there: If you're different in any way due to race or sexual orientation or just being nerdy, there's an X-Men character for you. They're about being different and finding strength in that weakened position."

Action movie fans will note that the X-Men and their nemeses have already been to San Francisco, destroying the Golden Gate Bridge and much of Alcatraz in the 2006 film "X-Men: The Last Stand." But for that sequel, the filmmakers didn't do any meaningful filming in the Bay Area. The movie was shot in Vancouver, and visual effects were used to add a few landmarks to the background.

The comic has much more of an insider's vibe. Marvel Comics artists will be visiting San Francisco frequently to get a feel for the fashion, architecture and even the way residents walk and talk. There are no cable cars in the first issue, but the artists did include a KRON TV news truck and a panel where the iconic mutant Wolverine walks through Noe Valley. The heroes make their base in the concrete bunkers beneath the Marin Headlands and join the protest of a controversial art installation at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Perhaps most significant, they seem to appreciate San Francisco's much publicized (and recently criticized) role as a sanctuary city.

"San Francisco is now a mutant sanctuary," X-Men group leader Cyclops proclaims, near the end of Issue 500. "Any of you - and your family or loved ones - are invited to join us here, and know safety and protection our kind has never known."

Of course, this being a comic book featuring a guy who looks like a giant blue cat, there are a few moments of pure fantasy. While the leader of San Francisco in both worlds is a young attractive politician with great hair who seems more than a bit starstruck, in the comics, the mayor is a woman not named Gavin Newsom. And the X-Men somehow establish their enormous base without a historical society protest or a single tree-sitter in sight - although, to be fair, they do set up a hippie-friendly hydrokinetic power plant, presumably using tidal power from the ocean.

"We believe that homo sapiens superior represent the future, so we better start living like it," says X-Men member Beast, sounding as if he's about to run for governor. "Soon the X-center won't just be green, it'll be positively viridian."

Whether the X-Men will settle here for the next four decades isn't known, although Alonso says the story arc is mapped out for at least a year. Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quesada says the length of their stay has a lot to do with reader reaction.

"Temporary or permanent is a weird thing in the world of comics," Quesada says. "As far as we're playing it right now, we just got to San Francisco. We're not planning to leave any time soon."

X-Men and the sanctuary city

Parallels between the X-Men and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement have been so strong that some real-life conservative groups have denounced the comics and movies for being pro-gay rights. Here are a few themes from the X-Men comics:

-- The X-Men don't discover their super powers until puberty. They often try to hide their differences until finding others like themselves.

-- The mutants suffered (mostly in 1990s comics) from the Legacy Virus, which wasn't understood at first and killed many mutants before treatment was found.

-- Anti-mutant slurs are frequently heard in the Marvel Universe. ("Mutie" is a common one.)

-- Efforts have been made to "cure" mutants by changing them back into nonpowered humans.

-- One of the biggest struggles for the X-Men is a political: establishing rights for mutants that are equal to humans without powers.

- Peter Hartlaub

E-mail Peter Hartlaub at phartlaub@sfchronicle.com.

A second article also appears with an interview with the editor of the X-Men with his explanation.

Axel Alonso: the man behind the X-Men move

Peter Hartlaub

Axel Alonso, the driving force behind the X-Men's move to San Francisco, was born in the city. He fell in love with comics as a preteen, making regular trips to the old Best of Two Worlds comic book shop near 19th and Irving. Alonso is an executive editor at Marvel Comics and is the group editor overseeing the X-Men franchise.

Looking very much like a San Franciscan, in a Mission District "The City" T-shirt, Alonso, 42, who still visits his mother regularly in his old Sunset District home, met with a Chronicle reporter at Isotope Comics on Fell Street in San Francisco. We didn't get to ponder whether Nightcrawler might be able to take the Kenyans in the Bay to Breakers, but covered just about everything else, including the odds of 12 Galaxies placard holder Frank Chu showing up in a panel and the possibility of an X-Men character coming out during their stay.

Q: Was it a hard sell to get the X-Men moved to San Francisco?

A: Once the idea was said out loud, it made perfect sense. Why is it that all the big superhero teams are in New York? You've got Spider-Man. You've got the Avengers. You've got the X-Men up in Westchester. Where are the superheroes to defend San Francisco if little green men come down to take over the planet?

Q: How far are you willing to go when it comes to including local landmarks and Bay Area minutiae in the books?

A: All the way. For me, I want to see the X-Men eating at La Taqueria on 26th and Mission and enjoying the carne asada taco. I want to see (X-Men member) Emma Frost getting out of bed in a Monta Ellis Golden State Warriors jersey. I want to feel that culture.

Q: San Francisco has a hot mayor in the comic, but she's female. Was there any thought of just using Gavin Newsom?

A: There was. But I think we function best when we're taking some latitude and having some fun. I know some people in (San Francisco) government and I think he would have been receptive and had some fun with it. By the same token, you want to exist in the real world, but you don't want to be reality. What if we decide that we want the mayor kidnapped? What if the writer wants him to be put in a coma? There's only so far you can go.

Q: Marvel frequently gives real-life figures cameos in its books. Will you be willing to use someone like the 12 Galaxies guy (Frank Chu) or the San Francisco Twins?

A: Absolutely. ... I get e-mails from people all the time who say 'Yo, Axel, I love this book. Can I be in it?' Or 'I'm a big fan of X-Men. Any chance I can show up?' And when it works we accommodate.

Q: You've got to get Frank Chu. Put him in some random panel in each issue, just standing in the background with his protest sign. No one else will understand it, but every single San Francisco reader will love you.

A: I can see it. I can definitely see it. I'll give that strong consideration.

Q: The Marin Headlands is an interesting base for the X-Men.

A: As a kid, I used to spelunk those caves with my friends. I remember them well. I always thought it would make a great secret hideout. It's off the grid. Nobody knows about it. Every time someone has a gripe with mutants they don't know what door to knock on.

Q: The mutants seem to be blending into the city easily. During a Gay Pride Parade or Bay to Breakers, their colorful costumes will seem almost understated.

A: Look at (X-Men member) Angel. Now he can walk down the street with his wings out. I think you're going to see a bunch of characters that are enjoying their newfound freedoms, because their differences are embraced by the culture.

Q: Is there a chance we might see one of the X-Men come out?

A: Yes. Yes. The city being what it is, certain characters whose sexuality might have been ambiguous are going to feel free to be who they are. I will qualify and say that I never go into the situation with a mandate or an agenda. It has to come along naturally. We're not going to rush into it. But I see it happening.

Bizarro

2008-07-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

I usually don't get to read the comics section of the newspaper much, especially since the Chronicle stopped giving them to the school as part of their free for schools education program--that's what happens when the economy sucks... schools lose out. Anyways, I have been able to read the newspaper sporadically throughout the summer. My favorite comic strip since Far Side and Boondocks have retired is Bizarro. His take on the world always makes me smile, but rarely does one panel have the ability to make me laugh so hard I fall down and roll on the ground. Looking back, it may not have been that funny, but I suppose I need more humor in my life, especially after watching all these baseball games. (Incidentally, Giants beat the Dodgers tonight)

So here's a copy of the comic... and because I'm so oblivious, I never really noticed that Bizarro has a blogspot site and I am now including as a must read for all of you. Read Bizarro... it's healthy for you.

Dr. Horrible

2008-07-26T00:29:00.000-07:00

I rarely ever find myself actually paying for anything on iTunes, for most things I want I can get for free and for some reason I still want to own the CD rather than just download it. I'm sure that will end soon since I have no space for anything else in my life, yet I found two things for which I actually bought a season pass: Dr. Horrible and Invincible.

But first let us explore Dr. Horrible. While at leadership camp this past week, one of the few things I had to keep me away from all leadership all the time was my ipod. I was able to get a couple hours in during the 5 days of camp. By far, the best thing I watched was Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible sing-along blog. Most of you may know Whedon from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Dr. Horrible does echo the Buffy musical episode.

But let us learn more from the actress of the show, Felicia Day, who discusses the short film and working with Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion.

need more to whet your appetite... of course you do... that was only an interview...
so here's the trailer

If you like comics, superheroes, music, comedy, Doogie Howser, this is for you.

Mad Men season 2 begins Sunday

2008-07-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

I'm glad some of you actually read my blog and consider my recommendations. Unfortunately, not enough of you read to vote for my co-worker in the comcast teacher of the year contest, which she did not win. C'est la vie!

However, I have discovered that many of you are now hooked on licorice. The mango is so good. And the strawberry one is on sale at Target as we speak, so stock up but don't go to the Colma one, for I bought them all already.

Also, I'm glad that several of you are trying out Mad Men that quaint little show getting all kinds of critical notoriety. You'll be happy to know that the season 2 premiere is Sunday evening. If you have comcast on demand, you still have time to catch up on season 1.

Here's also the review from the SF Chronicle... I hope they don't mind...

Mad Men: Drama.

10 p.m. Sundays

on AMC.

In the first episode of the second season of "Mad Men," there's a great moment - in fact, many great moments - that immediately justify the runaway critical acclaim for this series while underscoring the primary mechanism for its brilliance, which is acute subtlety.

Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the central character in AMC's "Mad Men," and perhaps the only figure in prime-time television to be absolutely mired in existentialism, is at a bar, having a drink. This should come as no surprise, even to new fans interested in jumping on the heavily hyped, multi-Emmy-nominated drama, which starts Sunday. Drinking and smoking and stylized sets and clothes are the touchstones of the series and are frequently mentioned in the buzz that surrounds the show.

Almost none of the coverage for "Mad Men" explains that this is a show about interiors.

So Draper, the advertising executive at the heart of darkness that is this contemplative character study, is not out of place having a drink at midday.

But, as he's about to find out, he's out of place in the world. (He always has been - it's one of the primary drives in the "Mad Men" narrative - but Season 2 looks to be bringing this personal isolation into sharper focus.) Sitting at the bar with Draper is another man, perhaps slightly younger, reading Frank O'Hara's "Meditations in an Emergency," a collection of poems from the young, acclaimed poet. Don remarks that reading at the bar is a convenient excuse for not doing anything, not being at work. He barely hears the reply, which is a veiled swipe at the notion that doing something (like work) is even important.

"Is it good?" Draper asks the other man. "I don't think you'd like it," comes the reply. And there's an ever-so-faint look on Draper's face - the kind of nuanced acting that Hamm is rightfully getting credit for - he can't quite figure out whether he's been insulted or if it's merely the end of a conversation going nowhere between two disparate men.

But right in that moment, series creator and main writer Matthew Weiner has reset the hook on what's so alluring about Don Draper and "Mad Men." Times are changing. Men like Draper don't really know it yet, but the world has inched in a different direction from the way they are going. It's a wonderful scene, evocative of the nuances at the heart of "Mad Men." It's note perfect. Understated, undersold.

Out of place

Later Draper will be seen reading "Meditations in an Emergency," looking as if he's trying to understand some kind of coded text, some message he doesn't quite get. (No doubt copies will be flying off the shelves soon.) In some way, the poems are a message from the future - which is already surfacing in the New York that Draper walks through every day. And the insinuation is that despite his not being a man who values poetry - he's an adman, after all - there's something in the words that made a connection. At the end of the episode, part of one of the poems is voiced as Draper walks down the street looking, as always, out of place.

The first two episodes of "Mad Men" reaffirm its place in the upper echelon of television dramas. The writing is a real thing of beauty - from the aforementioned nuance to searing workplace witticisms and pitch-perfect tone from a multitude of characters. You can't overstate how accomplished "Mad Men" is at understanding the vagaries of dialogue among disparate characters.

So too is the acting. Hopefully "Mad Men's" subtlety will appeal to the new viewers expected to turn out in response to the series' rising profile. You don't find a lot of physicality in "Mad Men" - fights or guns or running or screaming fits. The series is mannered. The first season took place in 1960 for a reason: The country was still living in a 1950s-influenced time. The roiling decade ahead was in its nascent form. For the Don Drapers of the world, change was going to be what other people did, at least initially. The racism and sexism and old-school values and habits (which often form the basis for the best jokes in "Mad Men") were in their DNA.

Others at Draper's advertising firm, Sterling Cooper, are aware of the changes, but not the series' central character. Paul Kinsey (Michael Gladis), one of the copywriters at the firm, has grown a beard and started smoking a pipe, playing at being hipper than he really is. Even Draper's disaffected wife, Betty (January Jones), is feeling the cultural plates shift below her.

Kennedy era has begun

Weiner has smartly started Season 2 in 1962. John Kennedy is in the White House. A new era has begun. Draper is the core of the "Mad Men" universe. His worldview is beginning to be at odds (especially in advertising) with what is percolating up in the zeitgeist. He's only 36 and straddling two eras. Even in two episodes, you can tell that Weiner and company will be mining the change for all it's worth. When Joan (Christina Hendricks), the office manager at Sterling Cooper, goes to a would-be bohemian party that Paul throws, she sees that he's got an African American girlfriend and calls him out the next day in the office.

"You, out there in your poor little rich-boy apartment in Newark or wherever. Walking around with your pipe and your beard. Falling in love with that girl just to show how interesting you are." When Paul looks peeved, Joan adds casually, "Go ahead. What part is wrong?"

In perfect contrast, Draper is not playing at being someone other than himself or embracing change - mostly because he doesn't truly know who he is or where he fits. No doubt all around him will grapple at a quicker pace with what 1962 really means - his wife, his co-workers, the agency. His existential state might not yet be an emergency, but it's something Don Draper will have to meditate on, and that's going to make for compelling television of the smartest (and possibly most subversive) kind.

E-mail Tim Goodman at tgoodman@sfchronicle.com.

Support my friend Manny and his graphic novel Dugout

2008-07-26T00:03:00.000-07:00

well, it's that crazy time of year when San Diego is dressed up in its finest costumes. While many of us cannot be there nor have the channel G4 to explore the most commercial of segments at the con, one little project might be overlooked by the casual fan and unknowing public, so I must make you aware that at thecompany booth, my friend and artiste extraordinaire, Manny Bello, has completed a graphic novel that can't help but be successful. This image is from the current Wizard #202 magazine and lifted from the AiT website, but it provides a glimpse into a great story. How can it not be, for it combines baseball, prison, and comics all in one place. So go to your local comic store and demand Dugout... support the indie creators.

Joker

2008-07-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

The Joker has always been my favorite villain in comics. I suppose I am drawn to the dark psychosis of the mind. Here's a little gallery to pump you up for the film. Go here for another gallery online.

New EC Leadership Design

2008-07-10T00:02:00.000-07:00

One of my students has been working hard on a new design for our Leadership sweatshirt/T-shirt. Please share an opinion. The left top design is the front and right top design is taken from the yearbook to be used on the sleeve. It's to go along with the Inspired campaign.

Mad Men

2008-07-09T23:05:00.001-07:00

I spent the 4th of July weekend (still not watching summer movies) but catching up on TV series that I've heard about. I was on the phone with Anne who'd been telling me how great this show Mad Men is. Her examples of two favorite moments were 1. a little girl is playing with a plastic bag and puts it over her head and all mom can say is that her daughter will be in a world of hurt of her dry cleaning is on the floor... and 2. a pregnant woman drinking a mint julep...

Then I found the TV series for rent at my local Blockbuster and after watching the first disc I couldn't wait until the next day to finish the series. Thankfully, I could finish the series because it was only 13 episodes. I'm all for short seasons if it allows the series to maintain a high level of quality. Immediately, I realized from the opening credits to the portrayal of 1960 America that this drama has some serious gravitas. The look and design have a strong nostalgic look with some modern sensibilities thrown in.

The first episode centered on smoking and how and ad company can market cigarettes which are for the first time being considered unhealthy by society. Little scenes of what life was like made me feel a kinship with the show. Oftentimes I wish life were a bit simpler, yet this show is far from simple... there exists a deep underlying tension that is slowly unfolding as you watch the series. A simple throwaway line in episode 1 plays into two characters interaction in episode 12... one that isn't obvious, but makes sense.

I think my favorite moment of the show was the final scene of "Shoot" which shows Betty, the dutiful housewife shooting her neighbors' pigeons. Beautifully done. Imagine her with the gun in this Blue Velvet suburban scene. Amazing.

Mad Men feels like Desperate Housewives done as a serious cable drama rather than a comedy trying to push a mystery. The mystery of Mad Men is not story/plot but character driven. The layers reveal themselves in ways true to the characters. The comic lines come across as serious in the course of the dialogue but hit with a quick jab. I like how history and 60s pop culture blend into the show. Sterling Cooper (the ad company) even becomes under the employ of Nixon's presidential campaign. It's one thing to read about it in history, but the show provides context especially for those who were Nixon supporters.

One of the more curious sentimental connections occurred for me while cleaning my office just today. I love the pitch Dom gives to Kodak for its slide projection wheel. I found two of those wheels in my office. Actually, I knew they were in there but I never bothered to look inside the box. I'm trying to make a stronger effort of throwing away anything that serves no purpose in my office and considering those wheels had been a part of my 11 years there I had never once looked inside made them good candidates for the dumpster. I hold a few slides up against the fluorescent ceiling lights and see people I know. I look at the slide's cardboard frame and it is dated 1990. The two wheels hold all pictures of my junior year in high school. I see people I haven't seen in nearly 20 years. I couldn't bring myself to throw them away knowing that I have a reunion to plan in a couple years. And I realize just how true the ad pitch was in the TV show. Now, I don't know if that's how the ad campaign really began for Kodak, but this show does an excellent job of framing things from the past in a way we can sentimentally appreciate how the items are viewed in today's society. Even the not so glorious aspects of our society, particularly the way women are treated, though sometimes shown for comedy, make an intriguing comment about where society has come from and where it still needs to go today.

Like I said, I love the opening credits. The score provides a nice complement to what the show ultimately reveals. Plus, writing this reminds me of the way my buddy Eric always examines new product labels...

Here's a clip from the first episode and you can get a taste of the social norms of the day.

This last clip is the one I mentioned about the Kodak wheel. Just watch this and imagine the power of stillness. The show moves at a pace that enhances its tensions. I love these moments that make you view your own world differently. Looking at the slides just doesn't feel quite the same as a slideshow on your laptop. There just seems to be so much more emotion in an activity we all take for granted.

I highly recommend this show. I really needed something like this after all the reality shows that surround me. In particular, all the MTV and E! channel shows my students seem to love. I am so disconnected from my students compared to when I first started teaching. Sad really, but in a good way. I'm glad to be where I am.

My next TV series to catch up on... either The Wire or Battlestar Gallactica... Lance gave me the wire for Christmas and I bought BSG when they were on sale at Costco. This could take up the remainder of my summer.

Licorice

2008-07-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks I've been obsessed with a new candy.

I walked into Target looking for a Bubble Yum 4-pack which my buddy Jack introduced to me. The best part of the gum is that one of the flavors is cotton candy which is hellishly sweet. The second best part of the gum is that it sold for $1. Seriously, what can you get for a dollar that gives you that much happiness? However, the gum appears to be discontinued in that format... probably because they can go back to selling each individual pack for 79 cents... hence the real value of the gum. Jack and I can't find it at any Target--he's searching in Orange County and I have no luck up here in Northern California.

So I'm staring at the candy and nothing appeals to me, although I really shouldn't be eating any. And I see this odd package of soft strawberry licorice that has a special ad remarking that "Look. New item sold here at Target." I fell for it. I was tired of the Twizzlers and other regular licorice that doesn't taste like the red ropes of my youth. For some reason, most of the chewy licorice in the past couple of years tasted too cardboardy and lacked the nostalgia-inducing power my taste buds normally associate with the confection.

I open the bag before I leave the parking lot to sample this new morsel and I suddenly feel nirvana... Ok, it's not that great... but I do find it addictive. I finished the bag the whole way home. I was glad because I thought it might be a bad decision to spend $3 on a 7 oz. bag when I could have had the 20 0z bag of the regular licorice for only 2.29. Suffice it to say, I've bought 8 bags of this stuff in two weeks. My family is now loving it and my friends in 138 at the ballpark. I hope I grow tired of it soon... but then...

...in preparation of this blog entry, I decided to look up the website that's on the bag www.dlea.com.au and the site just teased me further... there's a mango and green apple flavor... but Target does not seem to be carrying those. And in a true case of falling victim to product loyalty... I spent $30 on Amazon.com just before typing this entry to get a month's supply of licorice. I should be disgusted with myself... but I suspect that this might just be the most pleasureable part of my summer... now i'm feeling all depressed... damn! well, i'll drown my sorrow with some licorice that tastes like its part- swedish fish, gummi bear, and licorice...

for those of you who are more eagle-eyed, you'll notice the picture of me was taken during the ninth inning as i put the rally cap on vs. the dodgers... didn't work... again... that's why i needed to take solace in licorice... again...

The World Felt Right This Past Friday

2008-06-28T01:18:00.000-07:00

First of all, happy birthday to the soon papa-to-be Will Tong, whose wife used to claim they would name their sons Sal and Ed... (salad tongs, get it!?!)

Ok, whatever....

So June 27 began with my first summer movie of the year... that's right... I have yet to see Iron Man, Indy, and a host of many others that I need to get to soon. But I've always loved being there to see midnight showing when a film first debuts. I would do it all the time in the 90s but then teaching and whatever Friday night activity (dance, football game, performing arts show, birthday parties, Giants games) kept me away... and that's why I love the Thursday night/Friday morning midnight madness premiere. So S. and N. got me a ticket and asked me to join them watch WALL-E. Now I'm not the biggest Disney fan, but I am a huge Pixar fan. You always know you're in for a treat when you get that opening cartoon that serves as a warm-up for the feature. It was about a magician and it reminded me of the old school
Warner Brothers cartoons with the Carl Stalling scores. Pixar shorts are great and that's why I bought that DVD. Now the main feature, WALL-E. I was curious how I would feel about a mostly dialogue-less film, but the story held strong for the most part for me. The parts that felt the most cartoonish happened aboard the Axiom, whereas the Earth scenes captured a beautiful stillness but depressing image of what humans are doing to the planet. Being a person who loves and hates solitude, I related to WALL-E in the sense of collecting things that have a hidden personal value that maybe no one else can share. WALL-E beheld a beauty in the simplicity of certain objects, though we might consider them to be consumable. These moments remind me of the lessons I have on Emerson's "Poet" and Whitman's "Preface" to Leaves of Grass. The main point of which is to ask the students to think about how particular words came to be and how every name/word was once a poem until it became everyday/cliche. One of WALL-E's treasured items is a VHS tape of a particular musical and it lends a humanity to WALL-E that seems to be waning from the souls of each successive generation (and the film comments on that concept as well). I particularly appreciated the lone survivor archetype (most recently seen in I Am Legend) and the homage to Kubrick's 2001: the music, the steps, the jogging track reference, and the autopilot/HAL character (my favorite Otto/autopilot is still from Airplane! though). I've read a couple of reviews from EW and the Chronicle and I agree with both to a degree. I did feel the movie possessed a soul and was educational without being in your face about it. While WALL-E may not produce the most merchandise ever (I don't know how many parents will buy toys of stuffed fat people in their hover chairs), I expect the film to resonate in viewers and hopefully our next generation will be like the one in the film and learn to value life a little differently.

And that was just the first two hours of my Friday...

The latter part of the evening ended with another set of great friends. For the first time in a long time, my softball team held a batting practice. Usually these sessions go for an hour or so and about 5 people show up. Last night we practiced from 5:00 to 8:30 pm, just long enough for all of us to start freezing our asses off. More impressive, 12 people showed up (nothing like losing your first two games to get people wanting to hit). But the practice felt like old times with a bunch of us cracking jokes ripping on each other (echoing Shaq's chorus to Kobe). Transitionally, we went out to eat at Fung Wong near the Gellert/Hickey 7-11. Often these meals are fun but not always so unified because too many of us are there to sit at one table. Well eight of us went to dinner and it was the best night of bonding and bitching... reminiscing... hopes... family... although not everyone came to practice... and not everyone who practiced went to dinner... the meal felt like a good family dinner... which i think is the most important thing for our team's psyche....

so thanks to all of you for helping have a wonderful summer night

The More Famous Relative and It's Not My Brother

2008-06-23T23:40:00.000-07:00

First, Happy Birthday to my most creative buddy Eric!!!!!!!!!!!

Rest in Peace George Carlin... a truly innovative comedian who also made you think.

A recent article in Asian Week recognizes my cousin Christine for all her efforts in the Asian American community.

Asian Pacific American Women Coalition Honors Five Young Leaders

By: Miriam Ling, Jun 08, 2008
Tags: Bay Area |

SAN FRANCISCO — The Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition honored young Asian Pacific Islander women leaders at the Monarch Leadership Awards at the Hotel Kabuki in Japantown on June 1.

Broadcast journalist Jan Yanehiro was the mistress of ceremonies, and Hawai‘i Congresswoman Mazie Hirono was the special guest speaker. Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown also made an appearance.

Hirono, the first immigrant woman of Asian descent to be elected to a statewide office, and more recently the first woman of Asian ancestry to serve in Congress, spoke of her humble beginnings: She was born in a small village in Fukushima, Japan, and then immigrated to Hawai‘i with her mother and sisters.

“It was the promise of America that brought my mother,” she said, “the promise of fulfilling our dreams.”

She applauded the women being honored because they were enabling others to fulfill their dreams.

“You are extraordinary,” she told them. “It gives me hope for the future. Women, you are doing life-changing work.”

However, she added that there was a “long way to go before we help Asian Americans. … Keep doing what you’re doing. There’s more work to be done!”

Over the past 25 years, PAAWBAC has recognized 101 “Women Warriors” for their distinguished contributions in work and community. In 2006, the group established the Monarch Awards to recognize emerging API women leaders who inspire those around them and who are making outstanding contributions at a young age.

This year PAAWBAC honored five new awardees: Angela Chan, staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus; Yuri Futamura, administrator of the New Field Foundation; Buu Thai, public affairs director of Planned Parenthood Santa Clara/San Benito and Coastal Region; Christine Padilla; and Amy Sujishi.

PAAWBAC Awardee
Amy Sujishi
Sujishi, a fourth-generation Japanese American and San Francisco native, is currently the executive assistant to senior VP, marketing and PlayStation network of Sony Computer Entertainment America. In her spare time over the past four years, Amy has acted as board chair of the Japanese Community Youth Council, serving Bay Area children, youth and their families. Her involvement with the group began when she was 11 years old.

Other volunteer work includes acting as 2006 and 2007 co-chair of “Sansei Live!,” organized by Kimochi Inc., a Japantown-based agency that provides senior citizens and their families with 24-hour care and other services. She will be co-chairing “Sansei Live!” again in October.

Sujishi is involved in the Nihonmachi Street Fair and also volunteers for the Cherry Blossom Festival’s Queen Program, which partners with the three remaining Japantowns in the United States and provides an opportunity for young women to become an ambassador for the Japanese American community.

PAAWBAC Awardee Christine Padilla
For the past three years, Padilla, a Bay Area native, acted as the field representative/special assistant to the late Congressman Tom Lantos. She advised him on Asian American Pacific Islander and Latino issues, as well as supported his human rights agenda by collaborating with local, national and international human rights advocates.

For four years, Padilla has been program director for the Asian Heritage Street Celebration, an event that she helped found. She is also currently involved in the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee and traveled with Mayor Gavin Newsom to the Philippines as a delegate. She serves on the Filipino Mental Health Initiative Oversight Committee, as well as the Overcoming Relationship Abuse Kumares/Kumpares. She is on the national summit steering committee of the Filipina Women’s Network, and also works for the Pistahan Parade and Festival steering committee and the Bay Area Asian Pacific American Legislative Staffers. She was formerly executive director of the Contemporary Asian Theater Scene in San Jose.

Here is a family pic with (from left to right): Lance, Christine, Me, Rochelle

two brothers and two sisters...

and in the article picture... Christine is the second one in from the right...

Starting to feel like summer

2008-06-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

Although the Giants lost 5 of 6 games on this homestand, I was there for all of those losses. I basically have moved into my summer home and you can always find me in 138 from now until school starts August 18th (boo! boo!)

Unique happenings occurred at every game naturally and I'll highlight those fit for public consumption.

Friday night vs. the A's
I finally got to bring my CADA buddy, David, to his first game at AT&T Park. Along with us came Faye who continues to think that David is Ryan Stiles. Good times!

Saturday night vs. the A's
I spent the afternoon at Lauren's graduation picnic and I was able to spend some time with family, whom I did not see enough. In particular, my ninong's kids, Jing and Virgie, who ended up having tickets to the game (I sold mine on stubhub) and I had the opportunity to show them my summer home. Sadly, Jing lost her wallet and all seemed at a lost. We went to the executives suite but they had no luck finding it. Seriously, what are the odds someone would turn the wallet in. But I had an inkling, and just before the Giants staff who worked the Marina Gate left, we caught up with them and Bob radioed up to the lost and found. And what do you know? My cousin's wallet was there fully intact. Thanks to Charlie, who patrols 138 for finding it and allowing my cousin peace of mind.

Sunday vs. the A's (father's day)
Again, I sold my tickets because I was going to the game with All-star teacher of the year nominee, Alicia Vosberg. Some of you saw her interview on the pre-game show and a lucky few of you saw both of us along with Alicia's daughter and our co-worker, Nikki, between the 3rd and 4th innings. I loved being able to hangout on the field, especially in the dugout. Take a look and enjoy...

But don't forget to vote for my co-worker... and tell all your friends...

Monday vs. the Tigers
I recovered and didn't go to the game. Of course the Giants won, but not because I wasn't there but because Tim Lincecum pitched. He better be in the all-star game.

Tuesday night vs. the Tigers
I brought two scorned women to the game with me. They kept me entertained as I heard all about the failings of men. It's a good thing I'm usually the designated driver.

Wednesday vs. the Tigers
My sister and co-workers showed up to the game with me and they got a full dose of what it means to be in 138. A few of us were there and my co-workers realized why my section is so cool. Game ended at 4; we hung out until 11pm.

That summer feeling took a backseat today as I went into work from 3pm to 9pm in order to set up some things for next school year. Here's to sleeping in though....

Brag Bag

2008-06-09T22:46:00.000-07:00

When I first started teaching, one of the final lessons I learned is that I should keep a "brag bag." This is a bag, drawer, folder, secret stash of items that remind you why you teach. Every teacher needs this because most days tend to be relentless and unappreciated, and there will be those special days that make you feel like hell. Usually a student will be disrespectful or worse and you begin to think to yourself that you don't deserve this when you can make money elsewhere for that kind of disrespect. You take a moment to pause... take in a deep breath... and reach for the brag bag... that collection of little trinkets, letters, gifts, pictures (most of mine consists of letters I've received from students on Teacher Appreciation Day or their messages in previous yearbooks).

This year has been a good school year and I'm thankful that I received some interesting new items for my brag bag. I think what made it interesting was that I received some emails of appreciation from my co-workers. Unfortunately, we as a society don't often say thanks or recognize those who deserve it. Even though much of the appreciation may have been prompted by the fact I may leave El Camino High School, I've always felt confident that I have had their support. Some of the best things I read were from my co-workers who honored me by writing me letters of recommendation so I could apply for this rare opportunity for a full-time activities position. The most intriguing email, though, is from my principal which I will share first...

Derek,

This has been by far the best year that ECHS students have worked together as a team and community, giving back to organizations in need. I’ll never forget my first rally here three years ago and being so very impressed by what you do with ASB; I have never seen a more effective director in my years in education. You have mastered the art of teaching students how to be leaders, not holding their hands along the way, but putting them in an environment where they master the skills necessary to effect change. Look at the award you won this year! That says it all.

Thank you for being Mr. El Camino; I truly value you the person and the teacher. You put ECHS on the map as a positive place and a school where parents want their children to attend and teachers want to teach.

Thank you Derek!

Adele

My boss sent this out to the entire staff which then encouraged further commentary from others.

1.
I completely agree with Adele! Derek, you have done an amazing job with your leadership students!! I have been at 3 other schools where the school spirit and tone of the student body did not even come close to what has been created at El Camino. The rally’s, the lunch time activities, homecoming, sprit days, INSPIRED campaign, and support of students with sound, art, ideas, etc, etc, etc; all of the activities help students to feel more part of the school and help them really enjoy El Camino. I think these things help the students create memories which make them feel proud to attend here and sad to leave when graduation comes. I know you and the students have put in SO many hours before and after school to create this positive, spirited atmosphere and from my perspective, it has paid off. Well done!

2.
Hi Derek, this is my feedback: you are such an awesome person and coworker and teacher. Your students love you and the leadership this year was great as always and the Inspired campaign was really inspiring- to see kids coming together to help others.

Letters
1.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to recommend Derek Padilla. We worked together in the English department and in activities at El Camino High School for five years, from 2001 through 2006. As the head of the department for a few of those years, I was always grateful for Derek’s sense of the school as a whole. He was, and still is, always thinking of the students’ best interests and their success.

I was inspired as a second-year teacher to emulate his school spirit and to get involved. I followed his lead and eventually became the Link Crew Advisor. Derek provided instruction and support through my adventure in Link Crew. He made sure there was money to get me trained. He encouraged Link Crew leaders to continue their connections to freshmen throughout the year. He and I helped Link Crew carry on the traditions he had established, and these traditions became a crucial part of our school culture.

Now that I’ve moved on to another school, I value Derek’s strengths as a teacher and an activities director even more. I realize, in the dearth of a positive school community here, that Derek, almost single-handedly, made El Camino High School the warm and welcoming place it is. Students care on that campus. They care about each other, and they’re excited to be at school. They look forward to traditions like Link Crew and Homecoming. In Derek’s classes, students know that they will be held to high expectations. The class work is meaningful and rigorous—in English and in leadership. All this makes them better students and better community members.

Derek has been the Activities Director for El Camino High School for over 11 years. For five of those years, I have worked closely with him both on campus and at leadership conferences as one of his class advisors. I have watched him in amazement as he tirelessly makes activities come alive for our campus. He is hard-working, enthusiastic, caring, and conscientious when it comes to students. Any campus should be so lucky to have Derek as their Activities Director.

Positive remarks from students, staff, and campus visitors about the school spirit on our campus are heard all the time. El Camino walls are bursting with pride and everyone notices. Derek’s leadership students create fun, positive and meaningful activities for ALL students and staff to enjoy. Some activities happen weekly, such as the very imaginative “spirit weeks,” while others happen annually like Home Coming. Regardless of the event, Derek’s thoughtfulness and ability to organize on a massive scale are obvious. Throughout the year, Derek has some of the best rallies any school has every experienced. They are timed to the final second and engage our very diverse student body. One of the school’s favorites is the “Lip Sync Rally.” For years it has been Derek’s tradition to get the staff involved lip singing and dancing much to the students’ delight.

Derek’s program is not only entertaining and appealing but meaningful. Just this year, the leadership team created an award-winning program they call INSPIRED. This program was designed to inspire El Camino students to think of others first. For example, this year’s Home Coming theme was childhood. As part of the requirement to earn spirit points, each class had to raise money for their adopted organization such as the Ronald McDonald House or Make a Wish Foundation. They also honor the “Most INSPIRED Student and Teacher of the Month” proudly on their activities board. And, as an entire INSPIRED student body, the school has raised thousands of dollars for the Global AIDS Foundation this year alone.

However, perhaps the most valuable part of Derek is his relationship with students and staff. He works around the clock for his students taking them to endless weekend and summer conferences or raising money with weekend car washes. He cares about students and understands them better than anyone. His interpersonal skills carry over to his relationships with the staff as well. While his demeanor is always professional, he loves nothing more than getting the staff together for the staff softball team or a night out at the Giants. Derek would be an asset to any faculty.

Resume

OBJECTIVE

Full-Time Director of Activities

EDUCATION

January 1996 – January 1997 San Francisco State University

Single Subject Teaching Credential—English

August 1991 – January 1996 San Francisco State University

B.A. Creative Writing; B.A. English Literature, concentration in Education

EXPERIENCE

January 1997 – Current Position El Camino High School So. San Francisco, CA

Director of Activities (1997-present); Link Crew Coordinator (1997-2002)

Subjects Taught: Student Leadership, English, Creative Writing, Film Literature,

CAHSEE Test Prep, and Health/Safety

Student Leadership

Student council advisor, Faculty/Student Liaison, Administrative Council member
CADA member: currently participating in CADA Advisor Certification
Development and Implementation of Link Crew Program
Producer of Video/DVD Yearbook (1999-2005)
Establishment of a School Planner
Creator and Director of S.T.A.R.S. Conference and Inspi(red) Campaign

English

Experience teaching Grades 9 & 11, levels Basic, General, College Preparatory, and Honors
Workshop Experience: 6+1 Writing Traits, SDAIE Training
Targeted Unit Plans Produced: Life Soundtracks, The Scarlet Letter, Billy Budd, American Author

Project, Poetry Book Term Paper, The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, The House on Mango Street, Romeo & Juliet, and Mythology

Creative Writing

Guide Students to discover themselves, trust their words, and express their voices
Editor of School Literary Magazine
Director of School Poetry Slam

Film Literature

Development and Implementation of new course and curriculum
Targeted Units: Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, Director Research Project, Film Noir

CAHSEE

Development and Implementation of new CAHSEE Language Arts Support Class
Targeted Units: Essay Writing, Reading Comprehension, Test Preparation

Spring 1992-2000, Spring 2006-208 El Camino High School So. San Francisco, CA

Assistant Track Coach—Throwing Events and Weight Training

AWARDS

San Francisco State University Graduate Distinguished Student Achievement Award 1999

San Francisco Chronicle Hero of the Bay 2000

CADA Area B Activities Director of the Year 2002

San Jose State University Dorothy Wright Award For Teaching 2002

CADA/CASL Outstanding Activity Program 2007-2008

OK, time to stop the brag bag for now That was kind of fun... maybe I'll have to do that more often... 13 hours away from the job interview...

Let us dance the night away

Vote for Alicia Vosberg & Help EC Win $10,000

2008-06-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jay dela Cruz

415-296-8900, jdelacruz@comcastsportsnet.com

COMCAST SPORTSNET BAY AREA ANNOUNCES FINALISTS

FOR 2008 ALL-STAR TEACHER AWARD

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area to Donate $10,000 to the Winning Teacher’s School; 2008 All-Star Teacher Announced Sunday, July 20

During Giants Pregame Live show

Online Voting for All-Star Teacher Begins May 23 on ComcastSportsNet.com

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (May 21, 2008) – Comcast SportsNet Bay Area announced today the five finalists for the 2008 ALL-STAR TEACHER Award. This award was established to acknowledge middle and high school teachers in Northern and Central California for their dedication to go above and beyond to guide their students in school and in the community. The finalists were chosen by a panel of community leaders for their hard work and dedication to helping their students stay in school.

The five finalists are Clyde Carpino of Fairfield High School (Fairfield, CA); Tommie Lindsey of James Logan High School (Union City, CA); Alan Nakamura of Alameda High School (Alameda, CA); Alicia Vosberg of El Camino High School (South San Francisco, CA); and Chris Wardlaw of Anzar High School (San Juan Bautista, CA).

The five finalists’ biographies, along with videos, and photo galleries will be featured online at www.comcastsportsnet.com starting Friday, May 23. Video vignettes featuring the five finalists will air on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area from June 1 – July 11 during select Giants and A’s pregame shows.

Members of the public can help select the 2008 ALL-STAR TEACHER by voting from May 23 through July 15 either online at www.comcastsportsnet.com or by filling out an official ballot form in the San Francisco Chronicle. The winner will be announced at AT&T Park during a Comcast SportsNet Bay Area telecast of Giants Pregame Live on July 20. The 2008 ALL-STAR TEACHER will be presented with a check for $10,000 for his/her school.

The ALL-STAR TEACHER finalists were selected based on their accomplishments in four areas: Overall Commitment, Excellence in Teaching, Rapport with Students, and Level of Distinction. The elite panel of community leaders that selected the finalists consisted of Doug Bartlett, Senior Marketing Director, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and former Bay Area teacher; Rob Jaynes, Director of Fan Development/The Sharks Foundation, San Jose Sharks; Detra Paige, Director of Community Relations, Oakland Athletics; and Sue Petersen, Executive Director of Giants Community Fund, San Francisco Giants.

Last February, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area sent ALL-STAR TEACHER nomination forms to over 200 middle and high schools. Nominations for the 2008 ALL-STAR TEACHER Award were received from students, parents, principals, and teachers throughout the Central Coast and Northern California regions.

“Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and our partners for the ALL-STAR TEACHER Award are grateful to all the finalists for their dedication to their students," said Ted Griggs, Vice President and General Manager, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. “Each of them exemplifies the commitment, loyalty, and service that make a difference in their schools and communities, and especially in the lives of their students, who have learned so much from them. We applaud their efforts and wish them all the best.”

The ALL-STAR TEACHER Award is sponsored by Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast Cable, KNBR 680 AM, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

The ALL-STAR TEACHER Award is a component of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s annual Stay in School Challenge. The Stay in School Challenge is a community outreach program that rewards middle and high school students for perfect attendance over an eight-week period. Students in grades 6-12 in the Northern California/Northern Nevada region who maintain perfect attendance (no unexcused absences) can win tickets to a 2008 Oakland Athletics or San Francisco Giants home game. Since 1996, over 215,000 tickets to an Oakland or San Francisco baseball game have been awarded to students.

Showcase Poem

2008-05-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, EC had its second poetry slam of the year. The poem you are about to read is my reaction to 20 students reading their stanza about what writing is to them. The last student talks about how creative writing is what she'll be missing and then I recite thereafter....

I wrote it a couple of hours before the showcase... it's not polished, but it's emotion... enjoy

I miss vowels
A, e, I , o, u
Words now lacking essential sound

We need creative writing
In a world
in which
Creativity is replaced for efficiency
In which
phrases are truncated
Into alphabetic text
Eliminating emotion
(excuse me, to prevent
us from being “emo”)
Our basic human responses
Transforming into people
Incapable of laughter

I miss laughter
It’s been stolen by
The LOL’s of the world
Imagine a world where laughing
No longer erupts from our mouths
And a child never learns
The significance of their smile

Society wants info fast and quick
It profiles and assumes answers
We learn to judge books by their cover
Because reading takes too long, but
Sadly people are too lazy to enter
A bookstore or even afraid too…
Then never even bother to see the cover
So now we judge a book by its movie
We wait to be told what to do
We don’t need dictators to conquer us
We have already subjugated ourselves
Apathy now dictates us
And we lose the art of diction

And all the arts are fading to the wayside
Economy trimming what classes can be taught
So this could be my last
Creative writing class

This is the class I’ll be missing
Because these young minds
Feed into my mind so I can find
The time and energy to be me for EC

Teachers ask me everyday
To define how I can work this way—
Meaning the bombs of stress
and no moments of rest—
trying to keep my head as I face
the daily pace of the school year race—
and I usually say I just need to forget

The reality is I never forget
I internalize and let tension build
Hoping to be filled
With tomorrow’s promise
Rather than my mind’s darkness

I really have no significant other
To share a job no one understands
I don’t go home to unload on a spouse, hell
It’s a victory if I even get home

And that is what EC is…
People say I have a wife
And I’ve spent the past 20 years making EC look good.
From when I first took step on the football field
To maybe grace her stage tonight for the last time

I wonder what she has ever done fro me…
Cuz sometimes I feel she only takes
And takes and never gives, but the truth is
She gave me the most wonderful kids

Each one unique in personality and character

My English kids so young
Still looking to find their voice to make the right choice
The kids who’ll get in trouble every so often
But will make you proud in the end

My leadership kids
Who I wouldn’t hesitate to die for,
Who sacrifice everything to make
Their mom happy
Who use their voices to build
Our family

But I admit sometimes
I play favorites,
And the creative writing kids
Have a different spirit
That remind me of my younger days,
But yet they seem so much stronger
Today than I could ever have been…
I need to write
Writing is my tool
My medicine
My lens to the world

I write to massage
Away every kid who lacks the will to write
And failure is easier than living,
To massage away my anger
When I see a student
Hang a penis from the ceiling
Among the names of all my children,
To massage away these rare moments of doubt
When I wonder if I’d be happier
If I didn’t become a teacher,
To massage away the hundreds of voices
Who all need in their own way

I write to remind myself
There is still something of me
Behind the different masks I wear
In each period I teach

Creative writing is the place
Where I can let my guard down
And feel human and breath
For the sake of breathing

Creative writing saved my life
My freshman year of high school
And in that first sonnet I wrote
All the rumors, pains, and fake
Friends of middle school faded away.

Creative writing discovered my soul
reminds me to nourish it.
Though creative writing class
May begin fragmented
every quick write prompts
A connection.
Every poem strengthens the bonds
Every Friday a chance to be heard
In a society in which almost
No one listens anymore

So thank you
All of you
Especially those who bought a ticket
To hear our voices…
Thank you for listening…

As you’ve heard tonight
These voices here
Will continue to profess
Learn from them as I do each day

Let us memorialize the past this weekend
But remember we are never powerless
With the freedom of speech.

Surreality

2008-05-12T00:22:00.000-07:00

I know that I've been working a bit much, for the month of May is probably the craziest month of the year for me. Homecoming week might be my hardest week of work, but there are just so many deadlines in May. I have to wrap up the school year and plot out all of next year in the span of a month... and this month has the added stress of preparing for WASC next year. The world around me seems to not be making much sense.

A couple of things of note:

1. My co-worker Alicia Vosberg is one of the finalists for the Comcast Teacher of the Year award. You will hear more about this later from me because you will all be expected to vote for her online when the time comes.

2. My best friends on staff is leaving El Camino for much more lucrative waters. Although I'm excited for her, the cycle continues and I watch another friend leave. This may also explain why I get so crazy in May. Thankfully I have other great friends on staff, but this ranks up there with a couple of others who have left in the past.

3. Last Friday I left the Giants game and saw the man who later died because of the fight on the ground with all the medical personnel surrounding him. I will go more into this and copy the article from the SF Chronicle at the end of this entry.

4. Senior Ball was Saturday night and it was a pleasant evening. It was a little strange remembering that I missed last year's ball. I took a couple of interesting poses and I will post those when the pics come in from the company.

5. I made my long arduous return to competitive softball this Sunday night. It had been almost a year since I last played a true game and not just practiced. To make things even more interesting, my brother just left for his honeymoon (at least what I call his true honeymoon) so I had to pitch in the first game of the playoffs. This was one of the most exciting games I had played in in a long time. My team lost in extra innings 12-10 unfortunately. My tendons are inflamed and the thought of surgery is starting to sound appealing (and I would truly become part beast when the doctors replace my achilles' tendons with animal ones). My team didn't hit well; I was horribly rusty and even struck out looking. On the positive side, I think I pitched 5 scoreless innings out of 8. The game was a tight pitching duel the entire game. We even came back in the 7th inning to tie, but my legs (quad muscles in particular) felt like they were going to detach and I gave up 6 runs in the top of the 8th inning. My team picked me back up when somehow I got on base as the second batter of the inning and Will hit a 3 run homer. We were able to get the winning run to the plate to hit but we fell short. I really wanted to play in two more games next week for a championship, but my play encouraged me that I should be good for the summer softball season.

So let me go back to last Friday night...
the night was just surreal... you know, one of those nights when you think it's a full moon out...

Johnny came with me to the game and for a change of pace we decided to save a little money and take the train to the ballpark. Immediately, I thought how odd it is i'm there because one of our students sadly lost his life in a train accident just a couple of weeks ago at that same station in San Bruno. We just missed the train and realized it would be 20 minutes until the next scheduled train. Then a marquee sign flashed that the train would be 10 minutes late... then 15 then 20. I grew agitated, especially because it was cold.

We noticed the people around us and many of them were in their early 20s and looking like they had no common sense whatsoever. You could just sense there was going to be trouble... many of the guys were yelling and obnoxiously hitting on some of the women. Three idiots jumped the barrier and were almost hit by an express train. And after what I just knew about one of our students, I couldn't help but think why aren't some people more careful.

After getting off the train and missing the first 2 innings of the game, we walked to the ballpark and 2 of the idiots on our train immediately began yelling loudly and getting into it with other fans around us. For the length of two blocks, these idiots were fighting a few other guys and let it spread into the other hundred fans walking along King Street. One of the idiots was a short guy about 5'2" & 90 lbs. and was wearing a football jersey that could probably fit me. He tried to punch every person who came near him or that he would run into. He was sucker punching people who were not even involved. He would be running down the block accidentally run into somebody and punch them. At one point he ran into a 6'3" dude about 180 lbs and punched him right in the chin. The dude seriously looked down on him and yelled "Are you f**** serious?!?" He grabbed him and tossed him aside, but he immediately got up and started trying to hit others again. He almost ran into me once and all I could think of was that if he attacked me I was going to step on him.

Finally, we made it to the ballpark and 138 was in odd form. The bleachers were filled with all kinds of strange people. Your occasional Friday night fight happens, but the stupidity of behavior all around me was disgusting. One fool (drunk male, very small) kept trying to fight a woman. One of the Giants regulars who sits a bit further away came over to us in 138 and said that he read an article in Sports Illustrated that reviewed all the ballparks. Its comments about AT&T were you don't want to be sitting in the bleachers on a Friday night especially if the Giants are playing the Dodgers. If anyone can get me a copy of this article, I would appreciate it.

Upon leaving the ballpark I saw the consequences of yet another fight... a fight that proved fatal. Click here if you want to read the article.

While walking back to my friend's car after the game, some other idiot was walking alongside the buildings making a scene. He ran up to the window of Amici's and hit the windows yelling at a party eating inside. He kicked the glass windows and doors the entire length of the block and continued to spit at each wall panel. He wanted to fight anyone who would approach him.

For the first time, I thought to myself that I was getting to old to be around this kind of crap. But why should I let idiots ruin my fun at a Giants game. I was kind of reminded of opening day when two guys kept trying to attack one of my buddies... they even followed us into a bar and circled around us. Thankfully nothing happened.

Well, this Tuesday in our school district fundraising night at the ballpark and I hope it's a safe night all weeklong for the Asian Heritage Nights during the homestand.

To end on a happy note... here are pics from sr. ball

Drumline Battle Answer #11 - Big Trouble In Little China

2008-04-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

Here's another one of those films that I just can't get enough of for whatever reason. Kurt Russell is so smug with his quotes. Plus you get to see Kim Cattrall back in her Pre-Sex in the City days and back into her Mannequin days. When I saw this in my youthful days, I had no idea how it was just a taste of what I would eventually see at those Thursday Hong Kong film nights.

"You Bring Out the Asian American in Me"

2008-04-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

So the great thing about being sick is that I have opportunity to catch up on mundane things like the newspaper and email. So here's the first thing I received and gave me something to smile about...

1. The Giants are hosting their first Filipino night... I'm not getting a ticket because I have one anyways with my season tickets, but those of you who want a collectible T-shirt should go.

Filipino Heritage Night
Wednesday, May 14 - Filipino families and businesses are recognized and welcomed for the 1st annual Filipino Heritage Night at AT&T Park! Be one of the founding fans to attend this new heritage night by coming out to support your culture, your heritage and your San Francisco Giants as they take on the Houston Astros.
Learn more and purchase tickets »

2. Then I read this article on the front of Wednesday's Datebook. It just made me wonder about the status of Asian Americans in all aspects of our society. At today's track meet, a couple of the athletes and I got into an interesting discussion about how hard it is or isn't for Chinese Americans to get into Berkeley. This talk was prompted by the fact our school has been promoting College Awareness Week--complete with speakers from different schools and organizations talking about a variety of topics (financial aid was today's focus).

Goodbye yellowface, hello whiteout?

Sandip Roy, Special to The Chronicle

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Asian American Actors

In Hollywood

Goodbye yellowface, hello whiteout? (4/23)

Paul Muni and Luise Rainer made a very unlikely Chinese peasant couple in "The Good Earth." But that was 1937 Hollywood. Today, it's hard to imagine, say, Charlize Theron wearing yellowface. Yet there's a different problem. In "21," based on an MIT professor teaching his students to beat the odds in Las Vegas casinos, Jim Sturgess ("Across the Universe") is star

student Ben Campbell. The real-life Campbell was an Asian American named Jeff Ma.

Goodbye yellowface, hello whiteout?

Phil Lee, president of Media Action Network for Asian Americans, thinks so. As soon as word got around of the switcheroo, MANAA contacted Sony. But the group says it was rebuffed. Asian hits like "The Ring" and "Infernal Affairs" are routinely Americanized. "But '21' was based on a true story involving a number of Asian Americans," says Lee by phone. "It was a lost opportunity, especially given the lack of strong Asian roles."

More of the same?

For MANAA, it was a sense of deja vu. In the 1970s, pioneering Korean journalist K.W. Lee wrote more than 120 articles that helped free a young Korean American wrongly accused of a gangland murder. That story inspired the 1989 movie "True Believer." But who got to play the heroic crusader? James Woods.

"While '21' is inspired by a true story, the film is fictionalized," stresses Steve Elzer, Sony's senior vice president for media relations. He points out that there are two Asian Americans in the five-member ensemble. "They are prominently featured in the motion picture and they also appear in the trailers, on the posters, billboards," Elzer says in an e-mail. He adds that as a consultant to "21," Ma himself "has vigorously supported the producers' casting choices."

Not everyone buys the colorblind "it's about the best actor for the role" argument. "Are you kidding me? A movie about math, MIT and gambling, and the lead was made white? Have you ever seen the pai gow tables in Vegas?" exclaims Manish on the blog Ultrabrown. "... You can just imagine the studio meeting: 'Asian won't sell. If you want the movie made, we have to re-cast the leads.' "

"This is pretty outrageous, and just as questionable as having Brian Dennehy play Kublai Khan in (Hallmark's) recent 'Marco Polo' movie," writes Alvin on the Hypen Magazine blog.

A two-way street?

But shouldn't colorblindness cut both ways? If Asian Americans want to play Hamlet (Joan Chen's role in "Twin Peaks" was written for an Italian), shouldn't Sturgess have a shot at "21"?

"There are a limited number of Asian roles and plenty of hungry actors," says Arthur Dong, director of the new documentary "Hollywood Chinese." "When a non-Asian gets an Asian role, it's a slap in the face." And when Nicolas Cage parodies Fu Manchu in "Grindhouse" in 2007, it stings even more. "Sure it's satire, that's the excuse," says Dong. "But would anyone dare do that with Amos and Andy?"

Stephen Gong, executive director of the Center for Asian American Media, says stories like "21" don't really surprise him. "Films are constructed to make money," Gong says by phone. "I'm

sure the producers were more interested in making a film about cheating Las Vegas rather than the subtleties of the Asian American experience."

But where does that leave Asian American actors?

"I'm working, but not much in Hollywood," says Chen, though she sees more roles around than when she started 25 years ago. Then she was offered plenty of "cartoonish chop-chop action movies." "I turned those down," Chen says by phone. "But I regret it a little now. I thought they were mindless, but they were not meant to be serious. I was being too serious."

Something to prove

"As an ethnic actor, you have to work a million times harder than anyone else just to get your foot in the door," says Kal Penn in a phone conversation. Penn balked at playing a character named Taj Mahal in "National Lampoon's Van Wilder." He vividly remembers how schoolmates in New Jersey avoided him at lunch after seeing Indians wolfing monkey brains in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." But a friend advised him to find a dozen cliched scenes he just couldn't stomach and suggest alternatives instead of rejecting National Lampoon. That film

eventually helped him land "Harold & Kumar" and "The Namesake."

In 2008, Sony can say that if there were an Asian American actor with the box-office buzz of Sturgess, Ben Campbell could have stayed Asian. That sounds like the same argument as when Rainer was chosen over Anna May Wong for "The Good Earth."

Dong says it's possible that 1930s Asian American stars like Wong didn't yet have the dramatic chops for a role like "The Good Earth." "But you can argue that she was never given the chance to nurture that talent," he says. "It's a classic catch-22." After all, says Center for Asian American Media's Gong, "I'm sure John Cho could have done '21' in his sleep."

Sidelined in Hollywood, many Asian American actors are eyeing the global market. Bay Area native Daniel Wu is an A-lister in Hong Kong. "He could be the next Jackie Chan," Gong says. "He can speak Mandarin, Cantonese, knows martial arts." And he doesn't have to worry about an accent.

Wu isn't alone. Hawaii native Maggie Q made it in Hong Kong before starring in "Live Free or Die Hard." Lee-Hom Wan of "Lust Caution" was born in Rochester, N.Y.

Asian American actors, once the stepchildren of both Hollywood and Asia, are becoming

"bankable" for American productions by pursuing a career in Asia first, writes the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival's Taro Goto. Others like B.D. Wong, Sandra Oh, Vic Chao are popping up regularly on television.

Variety

"It's not just about positive roles, it's about more variety," says Lee of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans. That's where he feels "21" missed the boat. But Dong says he worries more about films like "Juno" than "21." In that indie hit, an Asian is shown picketing an

abortion clinic. "She has an accent, I think she's the only Asian in the film, and as I watched it, I thought, 'When that film shows in the Midwest, I'd hate to be the only Asian student in the auditorium,' " says Dong. "That really perpetuates the otherness of Asians. You make sure they are still seen as outsiders."

Video clips

Here are Web sites for video excerpts of some of the movies mentioned in this article:

The Good Earth: links.sfgate.com/ZDDE

21: links.sfgate.com/ZDDF

True Believer: links.sfgate.com/ZDDG

Infernal Affairs: links.sfgate.com/ZDDH

Hollywood Chinese: links.sfgate.com/ZDDI

Lust Caution: links.sfgate.com/ZDDJ

E-mail Sandip Roy at datebook@sfchronicle.com.

extra article link on John Cho in the same paper

John Cho rises to the top, with Harold's help (4/23)

if you are more curious on the topic, you should check out the documentary Slanted Screen.

El Camino HS Night with the Giants

2008-04-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

El Camino HS Night with the Giants

Support our community's future by watching the Giants future

Event InfoName:
El Camino HS Night with the Giants

Tagline:
Support our community's future by watching the Giants future

Host:
Derek Padilla

Type:
Sports - Sporting Event
Time and PlaceDate:
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Time:
7:10pm - 10:10pm

Location:
AT&T Park

Street:
24 Willie Mays Plaza

City/Town:
San Francisco, CA

Description
This is our annual fundraiser with the San Francisco Giants, who will be playing the Housto Astros that night. Tickets are $20 and 7 or 8 of that goes directly back to the school. Please consider helping us, particularly with the 10% cut in educational funding that will happen next year.

Our district band will be doing the National Anthem, while the jazz band plays in Willie Mays Plaza around 5pm. If you're interested, please contact me. My work email is dpadilla@ssfusd.org

The tickets are situated in the upper reserve along the 3rd base line. Sections 319-322, I believe.

Hope to see you all there. Go Giants! Support the future... the Giants young players and our young high school students.

Please pass this on to anyone interested.

If you look carefully, you will see our seats in the pictures.

Drumline Battle #10 - Airplane!

2008-04-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those just wanna getaway days...
I've been feeling crappy, exhausted, coughing, congested, so I took time off to recover. Maybe there is some truth in this idea that I work too much... maybe...

All I could think today is that I wish I were on a plane to somewhere exotic and summer vacation had already begun... therefore, this entry is AIRPLANE!

I suppose this film has a lot to do with why I didn't take my first plane ride until I was 20 years old... and it was a 2 part flight... the first 11 hours brought me to Taiwan, where we got to stay overnight... and then the next morning we spent a couple of hours getting to Manila... which deserves a whole chapter in and of itself...

Also, this is one of my favorite comedies. I don't see on cable so much anymore. It used to be on all the time, hmmm.... I like how you can tell what era it's from. It may feel dated to my students, but it brings back memories for me.

Presidential Birthdays

2008-04-21T23:30:00.000-07:00

Today should be a holiday for me... and who knows, maybe it will be?

Happy Birthday to two former ASB Presidents...
Serena Ip
Cesar Rodriguez

What are the odds of that happening? It's not like I've been teaching that long.

Of course, this is coming from someone who shared a birthday with a girlfriend before... ahhh... give thanks!

Political Comedy

2008-04-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

All I know is that the lead story this whole weekend on the local news is that the gas in San Francisco is over $4 at 15 locations with the most expensive being $4.29 in South San Francisco by the airport.

I am still an undecided voter, whose opinion makes no difference now that the primary in California has passed; however, I want the candidate who will fix education, health care, and gas prices. Though I do like the fact that the habits of people are slowly changing. I was talking with a man in line for food at Costco and we both wondered if there would be any price that people would not pay and force them to practically eliminate driving except for urgent situations. He says $5 will cause a drastic drop. I wonder if $10 will even make people stop.

Anyways, this is supposed to be about comedy in politics. I'm finally catching up on my old Entertainment Weekly issues and over a month ago was this cover and article...

I have to admit that the political humor of SNL upon its return from the writer's strike had me laughing. I liked the attitude of favoring Obama and Clinton being made to look in astonishment. Better yet, Tina Fey had a great retort for all the Obama love and spoke up for Hillary.

First of all thanks to Hulu.com for hosting NBC video (the commercials are a necessary evil).

And what better counterpoint argument could there be but Tracy Morgan showing up the following week.

And just for the heck of it... Hillary's appearance on SNL...

Drumline Battle #9 - I cross the line/Tombstone

2008-04-16T00:21:00.000-07:00

This entry will upset my brother because it should be his entry in the battle. Tombstone is one of his favorite movies of all time and I found a compilation montage of Doc Holliday scenes. This is probably one of my favorite quotable films.

Enjoy Lance!

Ides of April

2008-04-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

So today should be all doom and gloom... taxes are due... almost sounds like the Ides of March...
and it start off great... the Giants did recognize the actual 50th anniversary of the first major league baseball game on the West Coast... but unlike that game in which the Giants beat the Dodgers 8-0 against Don Drysdale... they lost today; however, John Bowker, recent call up, in only his third game in the majors, just missed his third homer, but did get his first triple. He is fast becoming a cult hero for this season.

Now, how do I chase these blues away? With two of my favorite films coming out on DVD today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bought the 2 disc version of the movie, particularly so that I can get the digital copy of the film on the second disc and add it to my ipod. I also purchased it at Target (Tanforan) in order to get the exclusive script book that came with this edition.

Part of the charm of this film is Diablo Cody's quirky dialogue. Yet, I think the casting is excellent, especially Juno's parents with their idiosyncrasies. I love when Alison Janney rips back at the medical tech and tells her where she can go.

OH! what the heck... here's are some cool lines

Now for the second film in this double feature

I love dark twisted comedies and this is one of them. I read plenty of reviews and many of the critics and cinephiles definitely do not appreciate this film as much as I do.

Although the premise forces the audience to suspend their disbelief, once you follow the Ryan Gosling character deal with his own personal issues through communicating with a "real girl," I couldn't help but feel for the guy. Maybe I relate to the sense of isolation or loneliness he goes through, but I think the true comedy of the film is in how the rest of the town supports his mania. And the real girl "Bianca" becomes more active and real than he ever could be.

Here is a little vid to give you a taste of what I mean...

But the day is not yet over, for there is more to celebrate...

As I was grading, I watched game 4 of the San Jose Sharks vs. the Calgary Flames playoff match up. I admit to being frustrated after hearing about last night's Warriors debacle causing them to miss the playoffs. Calgary scored a goal right before the end of the second period to take some momentum going into the intermission.

The 3rd period was just a great battle of wills. The Sharks seemed to be exerting theirs but could never come up with a goal. With about 5 minutes remaining, Jonathan Cheechoo shoots one into the upper corner from the opposite side of the ice. I can't believe he was able to squeeze the shot into such a small window of opportunity.

The game seemed destined for overtime as the Sharks couldn't get another one into the net because of the ex-shark in goal. Then a shot akin to a hail mary pass in football from a fair distance away by Murray and slight deflection from Thornton just sneaks inside the left pipe to win the game. The thrill of victory and agony of defeat! and I succumb to both on the same day.

On an odd note... I caught a bit of American Idol when I switched there during the Sharks intermissions. I love the fact that Syesha sang my favorite Mariah Carey song "Vanishing," who cares that Simon thought she did herself a disservice by picking a relatively unknown Mariah song. I loved it. I just may have to watch more of this season. Wait... real TV is coming back... so probably not... until the finals...

And the best news of all... MANNY BELLO is back. He is one of the old Spasm gang collaborators from the days when we were young and thought we would succeed at self-publishing. And let me make this clear, we could have if we all wanted that to be our main goal and had more capital. He sent me an email today that his project Dugout is about to be released this summer. And yes, he is a big Giants fan, hence the baseball related project. Woo Hoo!

I truly need to create something for this talented man to visualize.
I love how he said he can't wait for my volume of "subversive verse."

Two-Faced Baby

2008-04-13T01:31:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine posted this on her blog and I couldn't believe it. I feel the need to repost and share it.

Family insists two-faced baby a goddess

Tony Tharakan, Reuters

Published: Friday, April 11, 2008

The family of an Indian baby born with two faces has refused special medical treatment for the infant, saying she's the incarnation of a Hindu goddess.

The month-old girl suffers from what appears to be craniofacial duplication, an extremely rare congenital disorder in which part of the face is duplicated on the head.

Lali, born to a family of poor farm labourers in a village about 55 kilometres east of New Delhi, has an extra pair of eyes, nose, and lips.

The family of this baby born in India with a rare case of craniofacial duplication, giving her two faces, refuses to take the month-old child to a doctor or specialist, saying she is the incarnation of a Hindu goddess.

Media reports said she ate with both mouths and blinked all four eyes.

The anomaly gave the newborn god-like status in the village, with hundreds of people flocking to the family's dilapidated brick house to worship her and seek blessings.

The family sees little to differentiate her from other babies and refused to take her to a specialist doctor.

"She is fine. She sleeps, eats and cries like other normal babies. . . . A local doctor said there is nothing wrong with the child," Bhram Singh, Lali's grandfather, told Reuters in this village of brick houses and wheat fields.

But he insists the infant is the incarnation of a Hindu goddess and points to the loudspeaker outside his house which blares religious hymns all day.

Villagers believe Lali, whose name means red because of her bright red cheeks, is a form of Shakti, the Hindu goddess of power.

"The birth is a miracle and a good sign for the village," said Daulat Ram, the village chief.

But the number of onlookers has dwindled as the "miracle" turns a month old on Friday, and few visitors now venture into the dusty lanes of Saini looking for the house where Lali lives.

Ram says that's because everyone in the vicinity had satiated their curiosity. "People are busy with the harvest season and have work to do. They won't keep coming back at this time."

Giants Baseball meets Drumline Battle #8 - Jet Li

2008-04-13T00:41:00.000-07:00

Before we get to the next Drumline Battle... my family celebrated Dwight's Birthday and we got to meet his family. Woo Hoo!

I took so much abuse this week about the Giants record and season, particularly at the beginning of the week. Then, the Giants won three games in a row, even the KNBR hosts were wondering if that would even be possible. Well, it happened much sooner than many expected. Yet, many of the people around me said that the Giants were just playing over their heads. It will only last so long. Unfortunately, more of the games will be like Saturday's in which the Giants lose in break your heart fashion. The good thing about that is that there is always a chance they will win the game and not just get blown out like many naysayers suggest.

So I decided with this entry in the Drumline Battle, I would share a clip that shows truly what it means to battle over heads. The scene comes from the first Jet Li I ever saw. Thankfully, my buddy Eric use to take me to the UC Theater in Berkeley on Thursdays, when the theme of the night was Asian films (usually action/martial arts films). Eric helped me to discover Jet Li, John Woo, and Chow Yun Fat long before they made their first American films. In many ways, Eric is responsible for helping me to develop any film sensibility/aesthetic (while an ex-girlfriend also taught me more than I ever expected since she was a broadcast media major), which all has led me to being able to teach film lit. Enough of the Digression....

This scene from The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk introduced me to Jet Li and just how much fun and how different foreign films can be than the usual Hollywood fare.

In much the same way, Jet Li fights for pride (and a possible bride) because he is young and talented, yet he discovers he has much to learn and ultimately loses the battle. The Giants may not be choosing to lose, but they will be learning from their mistakes. As long as the games are close as they have been, they will be entertaining. Hopefully, more fans will show up to the park rather than just us true fans. The attendance this week was the lowest in ballpark history.

138 Aside:
I can't believe that during Friday night's game there were some people mad at me for not moving out of my seat for their friends because they assumed I was in their seats. They looked at me dumbfounded that I would deny their request. I stared back and said NO! I am a season ticket holder and my butt has been on this seat since 2000. I'm sorry you assumed your friends had my seats but you're wrong. They all eventually moved a few rows in front of me.

Second horrible thing to happen in 138 Friday night was some fans several feet away from me tried to start the wave. About a dozen people kept getting up trying to begin their wave. However, my section finally shaped up to true Friday night form and booed them down. My 138 family around me made them sit down as we yelled at them that the wave is not San Francisco, but an East Bay or Southern California mentality so go back to from whence you came.

Later we began a Let's Go Giants chant, and those fans who booed sarcastically said "ewww... we don't do that here! we don't cheer for our team!" Those fans are lucky that none of the stupid drunk fans that tend to show up were there and make the situation a bit unruly. It disgusts me when fans who show up to 1 or 2 games a year come to the ballpark and disregard ballpark etiquette and proceed to try to dictate how the regular hard-core fans should act. How can they yell at me and say I'm not a real fan? I haven't seen their faces there before, and I have been to a few hundred games in the last decade.

Help EC win the Tanforan competition

2008-04-09T21:21:00.000-07:00

Tanforan update

We have dropped to 6th place. Buri Buri has just edged us by 7 points. Unfortunately, no one appears to be supporting the school in recent weeks. So here's the easiest thing anyone and everyone can do.

#1 This Saturday, April 12, Tanforan will be promoting a "Go Green" event. Any person who goes to the mall and signs a form to support El Camino between the hours of 1-4 pm (at a table expected to be near JCPenny's) will earn the school 100 points per person. So, bring your family, friends, co-workers to the mall and have them sign-in on behalf of El Camino. Of all the schools competing, we are the largest in population. No elementary school should be able to get more than us. If we can get at least half the school to show up and bring someone with them, we can close much of the gap between 6th and 3rd place--which puts us into the money prizes.

#2 Wednesday, April 16, a special preview night will be happening to promote the opening of the new movie theater, which officially opens on April 18.
On this preview night, the theaters will be playing select movies (I don't know which ones, but they are supposed to be family friendly for most audiences are elementary school students). The only people allowed to attend are students, parents, and staffs of all the schools competing for the prize. The tickets are FREE; however, in order to get a ticket you have to go to the information desk at the mall. The number of tickets available are on a first come, first serve basis. Each person may receive up to two tickets. As a special bonus, soda and popcorn will be sold for only $1. And those receipts will count for double points. New lockers to collect receipts will be placed by the theater lobby. Please encourage all your students to watch their movies there instead of the Daly City theater or anywhere else--at least until the end of May.

I can imagine our school collecting points fast, since so many of our students go to the movies. I envision El Camino coming in 1st place. Please emphasize to your students that it is not too late for us to win. So many of our students think the competition ended already, but that is just not the case.

Thank you! Keep depositing your receipts.

Opening Night/ Drumline Battle #7

2008-04-09T02:27:00.000-07:00

The Giants are starting to stress me out. I survived a crazy opening day. If you want details, you'll have to talk to me in person. But I am a masochist, so I went back for Tuesday night. I suppose I am too loyal, but I cannot give up on my team--no matter how many of my friends think I'm being an idiot.

I brought 45 leadership students to the game tonight, and it was really cold. Most of you who know me, know I rarely get cold. I had 4 layers on tonight. Way too cold. So of course, the night I bring my class, the game goes into extra innings. However, I can't think of too many more exciting things to see live at any event than watching a walk-off home run, especially when your team is considered to be the underdog. Bengie Molina homered for the first run in the 2nd inning and won the game in the 11th... such a warm pleasant feeling to cast away the cold sense of dread. And to celebrate, the Giants did something even more rare... they won a game on Fireworks night. Special thanks to Moller, Sanguinetti, and Sidhu for helping out with the chaperoning duties and freezing their butts off in the process.

So for this next response to the Drumline war... I've decided on Rocky III... mostly for the great pump you up music and reminder that the underdog can come back to succeed.... just like the Giants will this year. Can't get much better than "Eye of the Tiger" and "Training Montage."

Woo hoo! I got another wedding invitation today. That's five weddings so far this year. I'm ahead of last year's pace of 4.

Bon Jovi

2008-04-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, I took a much needed mental health night when I attended the Bon Jovi concert in San Jose with Lance and Macho. We met up with MA when we got to the HP Pavilion.

I find it out that BJ is one of those bands I had yet to see live. I've had some memorable shows, which includes bringing my sister to her first concert to see Motley Crue--truly an experience she'll never forget. I think my favorite quote of that night was "What's that smell?" So why had I never made it out to a BJ concert? not sure. But that has now been rectified.

So the three of us cruised on down to San Jose after a quick stop at 7-11 to pick up slurpees & other assorted goodies. It was cool to just reminisce about life in the 80s on the travel down. Daughtry proved to be a good opening act. He even added a prelude to his song "Home" by opening with the first notes and verse of Crue's "Home Sweet Home," which of course thrilled me since I believe that's one of my personal theme songs.

Bon Jovi played two hours opening with the title track of the new cd. Quickly though, the third song was "You Give Love a Bad Name" and the 18,000 people were out of their seats. However, the favorite performance of the night when we talked about the show afterwards was "Blaze of Glory." The big screen gives a tight close up shot of Jon on guitar, while the second big screen showed majestic footage of the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. Bon Jovi launches into the first verse and the stage fades to black for a moment and the second verse is being sung by Daughtry. Much cooler than I expected.

The rest of the night just rocked out. I bought my program as I do for almost every concert I've been to. However, I didn't know the night had just begun when we left San Jose. On the drive back on 101 after passing 92, traffic signs and cones began littering the freeway. The cones pushed all five lanes into the right lane and eventually off the freeway into the Anza exit detour. We then had to proceed onto Airport Blvd. The time from after 92 (and couldn't they have warned us before 92 so I could've gone home on 280) until I got back to 380 was nearly 45 minutes--a drive that should be no more than 10 minutes.

Well, thankfully, Macho and I made the most of it and plugged in the ipods and rocked all the way home. Although, the first song he played was the theme from Baywatch. We jammed to Survivor, Def Leppard, and, perhaps the funniest moment, Journey. We were stuck on Airport Blvd next to this semi trying to squeeze in front of us as the lanes were merging. The driver looks down on us and were shouting out the lyrics to "Don't Stop Believin'" or "Lights" not quite sure which one, but he had a seriously funny look on his face.

The drive took almost twice as long as it should have, but the company was excellent and it felt like a college road trip. I can't wait 'til our next concert.

Opening Day

2008-04-07T01:50:00.000-07:00

In honor of what I feel is a national holiday... I will be attending my ninth straight home opener. I love fans who stick by their teams and are not bandwagon fans like so many of my students. Where's the loyalty even during the bad times? despite most critics and even other Giants fans saying this will be a horrible year... I will still be seating in 138 right where my season tickets state. Hopefully, this 1-5 start to the season will get better. I gotta believe in hope... otherwise I couldn't be a teacher.

So in honor of overcoming the odds and making history... here's a moment from Giants history and here's hoping another moment will happen this year in San Francisco. It would be perfect with it being the 50th anniversary since the team arrived on the west coast.

Two Week Recap (and I didn't even take a spring break)

2008-04-06T23:51:00.000-07:00

I am finally back. I know I showed up more often than many of you expected because of a week of drumline battle blog entries. It's time to catch you all up on the past two weeks.

Headlines

12th Annual Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam
Lack of a Spring Break
Cotillion #328
CASL conference
Milpitas High School
Birthdays galore
Happy New Year (the return of baseball & softball)

One of the best things I could have done this entire year was to attend the 12th Annual Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam. I've always attended a variety of events around the city, especially open mics in small restaurants or bars. However, there is nothing quite like an Opera House filled with 3,000 people who paid for tickets to see teenagers express themselves. The poets ranged from a 14 year old with roots in the Killing Fields of Camodia to two different women who brought the land of Palestine come alive. The nearly three hour show empowered me and everyone else in attendance.

The show began with two excellent poets serving as the emcees for the night--Chinaka Hodge and George Watsky (both former slam champions). You should really click on their names and see their youtube performances from HBO's Def Poetry Jam. They even ended the evening with an awesome political group poem. Two of the five judges also were on Def Poetry--Beth Lisick and Mush, who happened to lead a youth speaks workshop in my class about three years ago. Yet, I love how the emcees always reminded the audience how stupid it is to rate poetry with numbers. But it had to happen, because the top 6 poets of the 18 who performed would represent the Bay Area at the National Poetry Slam competition in Washington D.C. this summer. Here is a youtube performance from last year's slam with one of the poets who made the final 5 this year--Simone Crew. The most important thing to happen at least for me is that about a dozen El Camino students were able to attend the slam. And the power of the word is continuing at our school now that we have a residency program led by Prentice Powell, who leads workshops after school every Tuesday until the end of the year.

Lack of a Spring Break

Spring Break started off strong with dinner with some friends at Les Amis (check out that entry) and the poetry slam. Yet, the next 4 days, Monday thru Thursday, involved narrowing down 70 applicants for leadership class. We interviewed 50 prospective students. I always find this difficult because I have students who want to serve their school, but I need to tell 20 of them, you have potential (and they all do) but unfortunately the panel found someone we think will fill the position/commission better than you. I have students take 3 different personality tests, hence the reason one of my entries was my personality profile. The students need to compete in a group activity in which they work with other applicants, some of whom are their direct competition for the class, to create an activity to improve the school's ability to reach out to our "invisible students."

This year had to be one of the most difficult years to narrow the class down. I know it would be unrealistic to have a class of 70 students, so just two days ago, the panel notified those who were selected and not selected. I feel it was very important that we did one on one exit interviews to let each individual know why s/he was not selected, because they still have a lot to offer the school and unfortunately it won't be through leadership for the next school year.

As always, I looked over my 30 new commissioners and felt a twinge of nervousness. For the next year, these students will partly dictate my life and will be responsible for bearing the torch of school spirit. I don't know many of them yet and have only ten students returning from this year's class. I suppose this is what many college coaches feel when their student athletes graduate or jump to the professional leagues. I must admit though, their is an exciting new energy that surrounds them. We'll see...

COTILLION #328

I was able to sneak in a cotillion on March 28 between interviewing and another conference. I feel like I've been to over a hundred of these, but I doubt that. This one though was very moving with many students I knew attending as well as parents. The parents and one of the 18 Candles presenters even mentioned me in their acknowledgments and poem, respectively. Times like these always remind me how thankful I am for my career and the effect it has on so many lives.

CASL CONFERENCE

So I ended spring break by attending a 3-day conference with four students. I took one girl from each grade level to the California Association of Student Leaders annual conference in San Jose. After the first day of workshops, one of the most humoring comments one of the students made was that the workshop didn't provide any new ideas, for all the information and suggestions given were all things we did already. The three days allowed my students to view El Camino in a new light... a light in which they see EC is an excellent school that has much to offer. Thankfully, Saturday and Sunday had more to offer my students in terms of ideas. A particularly nice moment was when my ASB Vice President crossed the stage to accept our school's Outstanding Activity Program Award for 2008. By bringing the plaque back to our school, it helps reminds the leadership class and other students and faculty members that our school is experiencing a wonderful year.

One of the particularly odd moments of the conference was that the whole delegation were given 2 hours and dinner at Great America. I haven't been there in years. I felt so out of place there as I recalled the opening of such events as The Demon, Grizzly, and Top Gun. Now, the park feels a little underwhelming. Maybe because it was cold. The nostalgia, though, filled me for an hour as I repeated the feeling of riding some of these things for the first time. Then, I just wanted a funnel cake, because a good funnel cake makes all thing right in the world for that moment in time.

Another particularly welcome part of the conference was getting to see many of the advisors from around the state whom I just saw at the CADA conference a month prior. I always love sharing ideas with other schools and picking their brains for new things. This year's most exciting idea--I found out a school is having their Senior Ball at AT&T Park. You know, I gotta try and make that happen. Our friends of the year also happened to attend the conference.

MILPITAS HIGH SCHOOL

So at the conference, I had to opportunity to spend some time sharing ideas with Ms. Lee once again. We discussed what her students thought about watching our Lip Sync Rally two weeks prior. But the best part of it all, because the conference ended early on Monday, Ms. Lee invited my girls and I the opportunity to visit her school and leadership class. Luckily, our school tends to have other schools visit us, for we are often mentioned as one of those schools you should check out (at least that's what some of the speakers or other teachers from around the state say... and how we ended up with a school from Washington state visit us two/three years ago, who also attended a Giants game with our leadership class... some of those students still keep in touch with some of our alumni through myspace). However, we were able to visit Milpitas.

Their campus has 3,000 students with several building encircling a central courtyard. I love their classrooms. Although they appear smaller at first, most of the rooms possess a feature I want desperately. The whiteboards at the front of the rooms all slide so you can keep info on one board and begin writing on another if students are still copying down info without me having to erase it yet. Then, the whiteboards also slide because behind them is storage space covered by those boards. Additionally, the boards are surrounded by cabinets and shelving that completely fill that one wall. I would love all that room to organize and store all the leadership items. Then I entered their leadership room and they have a complete storage room in the back with shelves holding what looks like every rally item they would need for a couple of years. They must have three times the storage space. However, I do have to admit that I at least have a full classroom for my class; they have to share their space with the student store. The next biggest jaw dropping feature of this school was the cardio room filled with 40 elliptical machines and exercise bikes. I need to figure out how to get one of those rooms. P.E. would love it.

Thanks to Ms. Lee, her leadership students and the Milpitas staff for allowing us to visit and even observe some of the classes that were going on at the time.

BIRTHDAYS GALORE

April Fool's Day honored the amazing Jan Arney who left 138 to enjoy life as a grandmother in Sacramento. Also, former AV, now my softball captain celebrated his 21st.

Four co-workers also had a birthday this past week and they are all people who help me a lot to do what I do at school. I appreciate you all so much. I'm still trying to figure out how to make one of them stop their plans from leaving our EC family, but I just don't have enough incentive for them.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

and I don't know what this portends for us this year.... but I love this time of year sportswise... the Warriors are fighting for a playoff spot, the Sharks are the 2 seed in the west, the Stanford women's basketball team will be playing for the NCAA championship Tuesday night, and in a few short hours... opening day for the Giants at the ballpark. I so agree with Cincinnati. That town gets it right, by declaring opening day a town holiday and all schools close down for the event. Well, it's a holiday for me, especially since I didn't get one during spring break. One day off in trade for giving up 6 days. Not quite the fair trade, but at least I have some priorities that aren't work-related in my life.

BETTER THAN DRUMLINE #6

anyone else notice that my brother is now posting his own film clips at his blog site, Lanciness.

here's my newest entry... I just felt the need for another scene set in a school... enjoy
this battle of quotes from Finding Forrester... sorta sums up my entry of school, leadership, and spoken word to express yourself

Drumline Battle Answer #5 - O Captain, My Captain

2008-03-25T00:33:00.000-07:00

Well, Lance is now posting his answers to the battle. He actually explains how all this started better than me. He went straight to his all-time favorite speech in a film. Therefore, I have no choice but to place my favorite finale to a film (Cinema Paradiso, The Empire Strikes Back and The Usual Suspects rank right up there though). The movie that helped make me what I am.

I remember watching this movie in the theater towards the end of my sophomore year in high school. I think E, M, C, LL, and Emo were with me. I hated the movie when it first began because the Chem book kept popping up all through the film and it was the same text we used in our Chem H class. But the movie brought everything from my Freshman year English class full circle. I knew writing a poem helped me rediscover my identity, yet this film helped me realize I could also reach out to others.

Personality Test

2008-03-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the tests I use to determine the different personalities trying out for my leadership class. It's a modified cheaper version of the Myers-Briggs Test that many schools use to test their students.

Here are my results. Tell me what you think.

ENFP
outgoing, social, disorganized, easily talked into doing silly things, spontaneous, wild and crazy, acts without thinking, good at getting people to have fun, pleasure seeking, irresponsible, physically affectionate, risk taker, thrill seeker, likely to have or want a tattoo, adventurous, unprepared, attention seeking, hyperactive, irrational, loves crowds, rule breaker, prone to losing things, seductive, easily distracted, open, revealing, comfortable in unfamiliar situations, attracted to strange things, non punctual, likes to stand out, likes to try new things, fun seeker, unconventional, energetic, impulsive, empathetic, dangerous, loving, attachment prone, prone to fantasy

favored careers:
performer, actor, entertainer, songwriter, musician, filmmaker, comedian, radio broadcaster/dj, some job related to theater/drama, poet, music journalist, work in fashion industry, singer, movie producer, playwright, bartender, comic book author, work in television, dancer, artist, record store owner, model, freelance artist, teacher (art, drama, music), writer, painter, massage therapist, costume designer, choreographer, make up artist

disfavored careers:
data analyst, scientist, researcher, financial advisor, business analyst, govt employee, office manager, mathematician, investment banker, office worker, computer tech, it professional, network engineer, strategist

ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population.

Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)

Jabbawockeez

2008-03-24T02:28:00.000-07:00

My newest guilty pleasure has been watching America's Best Dance Crew. These guys are just cool with their team chemistry and masks. Oddly, many of my friends who first watch our teacher lip sync video think we have masks on and that we are trying to emulate these guys. Ummm... we'd never get close to being this good. I also found it interesting that many of my friends are also watching this show.

Last Thursday when I got home from a long day of dealing with elections, appointing new officers, and being kidnapped by R, who forced me to eat dinner, I had missed all my Thursday night television. Believe it or not, I fired up the DVR and the first show I couldn't wait to see was this one and not the newest episode of Lost.

So the finale of the show is this Thursday. You have until Thursday afternoon vote for the Jabbawockeez. Do it now! 1-866-ULOVE02

Here's a link to a compilation to some of their earlier performances.

Drumline Battle Answer #4 - My Name is Inigo Montoya

2008-03-24T02:15:00.000-07:00

I think this movie has some of my favorite scenes and lines that I can't help but quote. But the famous line here is by far the best. Out of nowhere I'll just start repeating it. Sometimes I will even use it as a mantra when I pitch and I desperately need to get the batter out. This whole movie should be included. I definitely love this movie more than Drumline and the scenes are much more memorable for me -- plus Andre the Giant (just wait until I start picking famous scenes from wrestling).

I particularly also like the battle of wits.

Or how about this tribute video done in lego.
I love lego as much as the next kid in my generation but I've never been able to do this. I was amazed at all the videos done in lego that can be found on youtube.

Les Amis

2008-03-24T01:31:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of another fine dining experience with friends Jack, Anne, and Kathleen. It had been too long since I have had the opportunity to spend an evening telling stories and catching up with these dear people. Jack and Anne were in town to procure a wedding cake for their upcoming blessed event this September.

On this particular occasion we found ourselves at Les Amis. One of the first pictures you will see on the website is a corner table and that is where we sat. The service was kind and informative. Dinner began with some raw salmon topped with sturgeon caviar. If you know me, you are wondering if I actually ate this little starting morsel. I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth texture of the salmon and the salty pop of the caviar blending into the flesh, although I think the sashimi I had in Hawaii at the sports bar was much better. I selected a simple appetizer of a cauliflower soup also topped with the same caviar. I have a tendency to really like the soups I try at fine dining restaurants (and I miss the white truffle soup at bar tartine). The main entree was a N.Y. Strip steak. The portion size was excellent, yet it wasn't that tender which was disappointing (it made me really long for the American Kobe "Bavette" Steak at Bix). Dessert was average. However, the time was well spent and we accomplished our goal of hanging out and spending quality time together. I would still recommend the restaurant... I think my meal was only average because I was eating meat on Good Friday.... I needed to be punished.

D & D (teachers doing spoken word... sorta)

2008-03-23T02:09:00.000-07:00

I just can't say no to anything this year. I had to support our first ever E.Y.E. hip hop/spoken word showcase. If you read my earlier blogs, you'll know that I was too busy to try and write a piece just for this evening. However, my teacher buddy neighbor had an idea. Let's do a piece in which we poke fun of the students and comment on their comments to us. Say our little poem is called "Do You Have Any Questions?"

Teacher Lip Sync (Center Cam-best view)

2008-03-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

Here's a copy of the video from the judges' point-of-view.

I am so off. I couldn't hear anything with all those students yelling. Ha! Ha!
But it was fun. I was so pumped up afterwards.

Drumline Battle Answer #3 meets Lip Sync Rally - Joyful, Joyful

2008-03-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

So some of my students asked for suggestions as to what performance they should do for the lip sync rally. Well, the seniors took what of my suggestions to heart and I know many of the teachers loved it, because my young staff grew up with this movie, while most of the students in it were just starting kindergarten.

This scene also happens to be another one of those films my siblings will stop to watch, especially when it gets close to the finale as you will see here.

here's the students version first

and now the scene from the movie

i swear the students should have performed this last. It was my favorite lip sync routine of the whole rally, although the Freshmen composed themselves quite well.

Drumline Battle Answer #2 - Revenge of the Nerds

2008-03-20T02:07:00.000-07:00

So the next immediate answer to come to mind was this little scene here...

I know it won't make for an exciting lip sync routine for our students, but I was kinda hoping one of the classes did this one. The costumes alone would have made it great fun at a rally. I'll have to devise some way to see this done in the near future. I will not rest until I can make it happen somehow.

Inspi(red)

2008-03-19T15:58:00.000-07:00

Inspi(red)

the El Camino version of the NBA "Where Amazing Happens" commercials
here's the Golden State Warriors version in order to compare

Welcome to the INSPI(RED) Campaign!

This past summer at our CADA leadership summer training camp, along with previous ideas from past Conferences I had attended, my students and I formulated a new idea/mission/theme for the school year 2007-2008.

We combined the ideas of the RED campaign (we did call and ask for permission, although they seemed rather surprised we did ask, but they didn't mind as long as we were doing our part for the Global AIDS fund), got milk?, the homecoming service components that existed at a couple of other schools, and a variety of other ideas. We took the idea of a one word theme (which came from Richard Parkhouse one of the educations services people at Jostens and former activities director) and selected Inspired, in large part because it ended in RED.

The idea was to find a slogan/motto/theme which the students and faculty could get behind. Although we had doubts initially, the favorable response of the staff encouraged us to execute the idea. The commercial above is just one of the many ways we've begun to reach out to our students, alumni, and community.

We now have Inspired students of the week/month. The theme of our fashion show was "(Red)esign with style" and many of the flyers that promote school events now include a red word. We had two weeks devoted to the concept as mentioned in my blog entitled "March Madness." Overall, a great idea that my students have run with and it has helped make for a more interesting year. One of the homecoming competitions was to raise funds for a childhood charity. The penny wars battle was held for the first time in years. So far, the school has raised over $4000 for various charities with more than half of that going to the leukemia society.
The theme song has been the Goo Goo Dolls' "Give a Little."

Here's a clip from the 2005 NBA all-star festivities

Take a look at some graphics. The first two pictures are flyers posted around school and the third is our t-shirt design.

A special thanks to my CTS/AV commissioners for making the video and flyers.

Lance and Derek Drumline Battle Answer #1 - Babysitting Blues

2008-03-19T00:42:00.000-07:00

So as Lance and I began the game of what's better than Drumline, there were only a couple of obvious responses in terms of movies. You'll notice that many of them are musical numbers from some of the movies that have embedded themselves into our childhood/adolescent psyches.

I remember trying to hook up my Sony Walkman recorder to my old VCR to record the audio output. We would listen to some of our favorite movie scenes this way, especially on road trips.

So here's one of the first clips we were obsessed with (oh, and for argument's sake, we didn't allow Star Wars into the discussion for it would have been too obvious).

Enjoy the flashbacks!

Guilty Pleasures

2008-03-18T00:23:00.000-07:00

In order to help me with all my grading this past weekend, I watched parts of Drumline three times as it aired on TNT. Ok, you all need to know I have some unhealthy obsession with certain things. I really don't know why, but this is one of those guilty pleasures. Whenever I see it on TV, I feel I must stop whatever I'm doing and watch it.

So about a month or so ago, my brother decided to start a new game/conversation. What do I obsess over more than Drumline. I shocked him as almost anything movie scene he said would come up short. But we did finally find some. I will be posting a different one for the next few days. It started out just movie clips, but as those became rare to find, my brother and I shifted to other things caught on video tape such as TV shows or sports highlights.

So here it is, guilty pleasure #1

A Special Request

2008-03-17T22:57:00.000-07:00

Too bad my hair wasn't long enough to do what's in these pictures for the lip sync rally. I was out with a few co-workers and again people could not believe that I would ever do the following to my head. So for those of you who asked, here it is.

Another reason to like this picture... it reminds me of the fact I got to see Giants baseball on TV this weekend, even if it was on a new channel and I didn't realize it until the third inning. Just in time for Aaron Rowand's home run. I gotta enjoy what offense I can.

I don't think I'll ever box my hair again--it hurt like hell. You can see how tender pink my scalp is. Well, now that the hair is thinning, these styles will just have to remain memories.

Happy St. Paddy's Day

2008-03-17T22:43:00.001-07:00

Another peculiar holiday this month. Okay, maybe i'm the only that cares about Grammar Day and I know Pi day is at least acknowledged on Weekend Update during the last Saturday Night Live. I love the idea of celebrating a day for the Irish. Yet, no one ever believes that I'm an eighth Irish. I know it doesn't show, but people look at me like I'm a frickin' liar.

My great-great-grandfather immigrated from Ireland and eventually settled in Tennessee. His son joined the army and was stationed in the Philippines where he found his wife. Unfortunately, my great-grandfather was killed in an accident when he was cleaning the steampipes of a ship. I still have some links to that side of my family but those connections have been fading since my grandfather passed away in 1983.

See, you just can't make that stuff up. And I'm part Norwegian too! C'mon, where do you think this height came from. Here's some visual evidence. My grandfather is half-white, half-Filipino. If you look carefully, you'll notice that I have the same hairline. And if you look even more carefully at one of the teacher lip sync videos you'll see a patch of hair thinning on the back of my head. Hmmm... I think I need a cuter baby picture of me...

Here's a family picture of the Irish side...

EC Track Commercial

2008-03-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

The video here and the one below are my leadership class' efforts at promotional videos around school. Here's the track team:

Teacher Lip Sync 2008

2008-03-17T15:55:00.001-07:00

Teachers keeping the lip sync tradition alive...

Surviving Pi Day & The Ides of March

2008-03-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how hard it has been to avoid eating pie this weekend. All last Friday, students were bringing in pie for extra credit to their math and science classes. I finally broke down after the rally clean up to eat a slice of chocolate silk. I was doing so well.

Anyways, Pi Day proved to be eventful thanks in large part to the fact that Milpitas High School came by to do some workshop sharing and watch our lip sync rally. I hope they enjoyed themselves. Once lunchtime came around, I didn't get to focus on them as much as I would like, but I know some of their students ended up performing in the junior skit--learning it in two hours.
Thanks to Ms. Lee and all her leadership students for giving us some new energy and allowing us to share some of our traditions.

Finally the lip sync rally is over. I just need to get through these next four work days and then spring break arrives and I can finish grading in more detail. But I know what you really want to see... you want some evidence of the teacher lip sync routine... there are 3 different videos that I've found on youtube so far

this is the sophomore view but it's kind of blocked and it's only part one... here's part 2

here's the freshman view point from near the floor where my half of the staff entered

I think this is the best angle so far. It comes from halfway up on the junior side. You get a particular good shot of the flips with which BR shocks the gym.

I tried to post my own judges' viewpoint but my computer is having difficulty trying to locate my camcorder. Oh well. One day you'll get it.

some other parts of the rally worth seeing

seniors (really good view)

juniors (didn't find one yet)

sophomores (another good view)

the angles are from the bleachers
freshmen 1
freshmen 2

Enjoy everyone!
I need to go back to reading term papers.

March Madness

2008-03-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

It's been another hectic time in the psychoverse. This past Saturday was the first time I've had a chance to catch up on sleep in the past month.

For an idea just how crazy school has been, I believe 75% of the last school days for the past month have been spirit dress up days, including 12 of the last 14. Tomorrow is epic movie day, as we count down film genres heading into the movie soundtrack themed Lip Sync Rally this Friday.

So here are some of the good things that have been happening as of late...

El Camino hosted its first fashion show. Believe it or not... I wasn't even there because I was at a conference for CADA for four days. However, from what all the students say, the show was a tremendous success for the most part. The only real harsh criticism I've heard is that it was too short. There were 8 different stores and designers who donated clothes, you can only make the show last so long. I swear it felt like the two weeks leading up to that event felt like my whole life. Yet the person who put the most work into it was my co-worker Elaine. She did an excellent job securing all the clothes, setting up the program, working with the lighting company and DJ's, and inspiring the officers into making this event possible. More huge thanks to Feliciana for working with the models, to Robyn and Mike for spending the week prior co-scripting and memorizing the program in order to do M.C. duties, to Faye and Nikki for lending helping hands along with other alumni (I can't say for sure who was all there... I haven't yet seen the video), and to everyone else involved.

The following Saturday night was our school's first formal fundraising dinner. I flew back into SFO from my conference and still managed to get there at 8pm as the silent auction was going on. I felt like I was walking into a room of El Camino history and South San Francisco local dignitaries. There was a particularly nice moment when Carlos Roman was honored for his
service to the school as its baseball coach for about 25 years. The event is definitely one that I'd like to see grow and include more alumni and raise the tens of thousands that is potentially out
there (many other schools that have a similar event raise that much and it is the biggest fundraising night of the year). I was surprised that the gift basket of El Camino items went for the most money of all the silent auction baskets at $350. I wish the school made that much money after every sweatshirt/ beanie/ attache bag/ lanyard sale. I personally wanted some of the Warriors and Giants tickets that the teams donated. The 49ers donated an autographed Joe Montana ball that went for $550 in the live auction. The 4-digit items were all travel packages that were donated. Overall, a fun evening, even though I had slept a total of 7 hours in the 3 nights prior.

I spent that time networking at my conference in Reno. I don't gamble so that really isn't an appeal to me, but I did have the opportunity to be surrounded by 1500 other activity directors and class advisors. We get together annually to discuss the current state affairs: things like how are we supposed to raise money for our programs if we can't sell candy, chips and soda anymore. Also, in the midst of all this working, I did the foundation component of the new activity director certification program (since the growing trend is that everything needs to be certified, but it also will protect many of the newly hired people who were forced to take the job on and not realize what they were getting into when they agreed). The best part of the whole conference was getting to know the people at schools in the bay area. I rarely ever get a chance to talk to the directors down the peninsula and a few of them attended this year. Hopefully we will be able to coordinate something in the future. In addition, Milpitas High is coming to EC to watch our lip sync rally... I really wish I had time to practice the teacher routine... this could get embarrassing. I appreciated T and C letting me hang out with them Saturday as we swapped stories about our schools and how they are run.

Things didn't slow down once the weekend ended. I had my first prospective parents meeting. I usually meet with the parents of the leadership students after they have been chosen for the
class. However, I thought it would behoove me to meet with them prior to them running for office so that the parents would not be surprised by the amount of money summer leadership camps and the time commitment involved. The biggest point for me was to emphasize to the parents how much of their time that would be needed to create a successful program. Things like how needed it is for them to attend the Elegant Evening or buy tickets for the district sponsored Giants game. The scariest part of the night was the fact over a 100 parents were in attendance--and many parents couldn't make it. Admittedly, many parents had to really sit down and talk with their son/daughter to make sure this commitment suited them. Another fun moment is that one of the parents in attendance was my cousin R. I may actually have her daughter T in my class next year. I know it won't be like when my sister attended EC, but it still must be odd knowing that your teacher is your uncle. What if I end up her English teacher?

So while all the above was happening... I've also been trying to coach track, rehearse for the lip sync rally, and write a poem for last Friday's amazing 1st annual hip hop spoken word showcase. I didn't think I would end up performing because the hours were ticking but Martens and I pulled together at 5pm, 2 hours before the show, to make his plan come to fruition. I forget what a rush it can be to perform on stage. We did a found poem stating all the questions we get everyday from students. I think we were the only piece of the night that really tried to be funny. I am so proud of all my creative writing students who conquered their stage fright to express their words in ways that many of their peers never expected. The night was an empowering moment that they should never forget. Here are the links to the ones I could find on youtube so far. The students are all in my creative writing class. I'm pretty sure mine will end up on there eventually.

The group piece from my creative writing class called "Respect Women"
another view of "Respect Women" (this version I think has the whole thing)
Deanna
Travis

Another great moment from the showcase was hanging out at BJ's after the show with Martens, Vosberg, and our featured poet/artist Randomabiladeze. I loved his political themes. I know the students may not have understood a lot, but I loved the social conscience take he had. You should check him out here:

music can be heard @ www.myspace.com/randomabiladeze
www.cdbaby.com/randomabiladeze

And in another surprise for today...
a former student came by to visit on his was to the airport...
i'm glad he's been pursuing his dance career...
he's in the newest Janet Jackson video
and was flying back down to southern California to begin a 3 month tour...

and dinner got even better when I was able to hang out with 3 co-workers and my sister and the Red Robin Fundraiser Dinner for our Track Team....
and didn't realize we were there for 2 hours just sharing stories...

now I need to stop procrastinating and get back to grading papers...

National Grammar Day

2008-03-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

Happy National Grammar Day to all!

Now are you shocked, ashamed, pleased to know that this day even exists or did those same thoughts now apply to your feelings towards me.

Why today?

March 4 is the only date that makes a complete sentence--
a command to "march forth."

In other wayward news...

El Camino High School is one of 30 high schools chosen out of 800 eligible schools to be awarded an Outstanding Activity Program designation in the state of California.

What does this mean?

This is an affirmation of all the hard work my former and current leadership students have put into making our high school one of the more recognized programs in the state. I hope that the students of our school realize that for all the whining about how high school can suck El Camino is still one of the better/safer places one could attend high school. All you alumni should be proud.

Now--can you find all the grammar mistakes above?

Vision

2008-02-21T00:56:00.000-08:00

I went into the eye doctor's office today for my annual check-up, but it had been 18 months since I was last there and I had to give him the rundown on all the medical updates in my life... that was depressing; however, I do feel a noticeable change in me physically... it's a great thing to feel healthier. I just need to stay on top of the medicines, diet (but more importantly, portion control and time that I eat), and exercise.

So the interesting thing about the eye exam is the whole litany I received for things I must now be aware as a person with diabetes. He explained why check-ups are so significant, which Kaiser did not explain at all to me. Dr. Lum also reminds me of my new regular primary care physician in that they are in my face about what I need to do. They give me a good serious ass-kicking when I see them and it motivates me. I feel like they have my best interests in mind and aren't just trying to get me in and out of the office. They recommend batteries of tests and try to cover every base to know what could be the next thing wrong.

I took this new Optoexam test. It was kind of cool, except for the shooting of bright green light into my eyes. I now know what it would look like if Slimer slapped me and its ectoplasm seeped into my pores and eyeballs. However, I really wanted the picture of my exam. I swear my retinas looked just like an exploding nebula in outer space. It reminded me of my dreams when I was kid and I imagined being an astronaut. I'm still fascinated by astronomy.... happy lunar eclipse tonight... I loved seeing it.

My old pair of glasses is getting old and scratched so I ordered a new pair of those rimless ones. I can't believe how expensive glasses are. They told me the price of my new glasses without insurance amounted to $937. My goodness! Well, I must say that for as much as the teaching salary needs improvement, the insurance is fairly damn comprehensive (except for that Optoexam wasn't covered). My cost after insurance $307.

I want to save money but general maintenance of life is so damn expensive. December's cash went to car repairs. January's entertainment budget went to new tires (damn that flat I had, and getting stuck in the mud in my own front yard due to that frickin storm that knocked out our electricity for three days) and some actual entertainment in the form of renewing my Giants season tickets. February's budget will now help me see better.

Yet the oddball thing about my appointment was the fact he confirmed that my left eyelid is drooping and it has reduced my vision in that eye by 20%. He says that I'll eventually need cosmetic surgery, probably when my vision is reduced by 50%. I was wondering why my eye kept watering and felt so damn irritable.

*******
I've been so busy at work that I missed another teacher lip sync practice. I still can't believe we're going to do Stomp the Yard. I consider myself a decent dancer, but I haven't moved that way in a long while. Good thing track season has begun, for I need to do a lot more stretching.

*******
Just to kind of end this on a positive note.
My energy levels have increased, though I do keep just adding more work to my plate. I'm amazed at how much weight one can lose just by eating regularly and with controlled portions. I'm still bad at eating breakfast. I'm just not a morning person. Most of the fifty pounds I've lost has stayed off. I really hate, but I'm thankful, for having to buy new clothes. I'm slowly replacing things as the budget allows. Seriously thinking I should buy a tuxedo now. Three more weddings this year, in addition to the two proms I've been attending every year for the past decade.

The school year has been smooth, albeit busy with trying many new events--an alumni dinner/dance, fashion show, Inspired Weeks, new conferences, etc. The teachers have taken notice that the student leadership class feels more present on campus this year, despite me feeling like I'm still not doing enough to get us prepared. Thank goodness the students and faculty do not see all the chaos behind-the-scenes, for the finished product tends to reflect the best in us.

One of my buddies sent me an online dating quiz to see which superhero is most compatible to your interests... i got a 64.6% match with Psylocke, X-23, and Scarlet Witch... a nice trio