Evelyn is always bitching about me slouching, so I was glad to see this article in The Week:

For generations, schoolteachers and moms have told young people to stop slouching and to sit upright. That advice, it turns out, was wrong. Sitting with a straight back, says a new study, puts enormous pressure on the spinal column and can lead to chronic back pain.

Basically, they found that reclining positions were the best (no surprise there). Slouchers caused wear on lower spinal disks, but the upright position caused huge problems: spinal disk mis-alignment and muscle problems.

Horray for bad posture!

The other day I was able to pick up an exciting new BBQ cookbook. Okay, so it’s not that new (printed in 1954), but it’s a funny bit of nostalgia.

I’m not sure if I’ll make “Skillet Liver Steaks” or “Barbecued Bologna Roll”, but some of the stuff doesn’t look too bad (if a bit basic). The best part of the book are the pictures. There’s nothing like kicking back in the yard making a roast turkey — in your long-sleeve white dress shirt, tie, black pants, and leather dress shoes. All this with a big silly apron and brightly colored asbestos gloves (yes, asbestos). And who doesn’t go to the beach in penny loafers and bright green socks?

The other thing to look out for are the quotes at the bottom of each page. Sage words of advice like ”The woman of the house will gladly shoulder behind-the-scene details to let the chef reign supreme at the grill” and “Grill cookery is inventive–definitely a man’s approach to food preparation”. Get back in the kitchen, ladies, and keep making that bland un-inventive crap! And do not forget that “Outdoor cookery is a man-size job. Women never look their best when working over a hot fire; men never look better”

Of course, this book has been out of print for ages, but you may be able to find it in a good used bookstore. It’s a slim book with a very creepy cover (featuring a fat guy waving a raw steak into a blond womans face–as she is bending over)…the back cover shows the post-BBQ event–the chef is playing a ukulele, the wife is carting away dirty dishes, and the bending-blonde is nowhere to be seen. Hmmm.

 

I’ve had a lot of feelings of déjà vu recently. I think it started when I picked up a copy of Theodore White’s “The Making of the President 1960″. Though I’m a big history reader, I don’t normally pick up political books, but a recent review in the Smithsonian Magazine got me interested. The book does an outstanding job of covering the battle between Nixon and Kennedy, from slogging their way through the primaries, to election day and beyond.

Why read about an election that happened over 40 years ago? Well, because things really aren’t that different right now. In the late 1950′s you had a Republican controlled Presidency and Congress. In 1958 the Republicans lost control of Congress because the populace were sick of them. Two years later, in 1960, we had one of the closest elections on record. Sounds a bit like we are replaying 1958 right now–and we have a presidential election in two years. Could 2008 be the new 1960? Who knows. But I do know that there was a heckuva lot of turmoil in the 1960′s. Could the 2010′s be the same? We’ll see. But I wouldn’t be surprised.

Another fun flashback is to re-watch TV shows like All In The Family (filmed in the early 1970s). Replace every reference of “Nixon” with “Bush” and “Vietnam” with “Iraq”. You will not be able to tell that the show is over 30 years old. Exactly the same issues. I don’t know whether to be comforted or saddened. We think that so much has changed, but, in reality we’re still doing the same crap over and over again.

Here’s some stuff to keep you busy:

Make Words Out Of Google Earth Buildings

Cool Design Gifts Under $77

A Blog About T-Shirts

I finally saw Rosie Perez documentary titled, “Yo Soy Boricua, Pa’Que Tu Lo Sepas!” 
This is her directorial debut in which she goes in search of her indentity as a Puerto Rican American citizen.  In this process she not only begins to learn of her family’s history but also the history of Puerto Rico and it’s relationship with the United States.  I journeyed with her from New York to the island itself to Florida and back to New York.  I learned more about the conflicts between the languages, culture, education, work, belief, government and people interactions.

Til this day, I find myself caught between worlds and I understand why Rosie made this documentary except that even now I still feel the same way.  I think a lot has to do with where you’re raised and from where on the island your family lived. 

Luckily for Rosie, she has family members willing to share their stories unlike my own.  I have heard a little here and there but most family members wish not to discuss, are too old to recall or are no longer living with us.  I am aware that my family has a rich history and that there are a few family members with very interesting lives who’s story remains untold.

This sadden me because I’m neither here nor there.  No matter how hard I work, excel, educate or how giving and sincere I am — I’m forever being judged not by who I am but by what I am and the colour of my skin. 

Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican are like an exotic mystical story.  Some American knows or think they know Puerto Ricans and even the younger generation of Puerto Ricans think they know when in reality it is bits & pieces. These bits and pieces are at times quite misleading.  I’m glad that Rosie did this project because it gave me more information and yet it left me with more questions.

It’s true what Rosie said growing up in a Puerto Rican home there is a level of pride that you can’t help but to yell out, ” Viva Puerto Rico, Yo soy Boricua.” 

I’m proud to be an American and live in this great land of opportunities. 
There is a tune that express not only myself but how most Puerto Rican feel. 
It’s called, “En mi viejo San Juan.”