Alice Cooper lecture

I took very little from Alice Cooper lecture other then what it really cost the school to feed our kids. I tend to pay attention to most of the people in class and hear about their research papers and what I have read in book to have knowledge on nearly everything she was talking about. What did impress me is that she is succeeding in her endeavor to bring good healthy food to the kid in here district. I think anyone having been paying attention to our reading and you’re our other students research should have known most of the facts she talked about, but for someone with little to no knowledge in this subject should find these fact interesting and thought provoking. I really can’t use this in my research topic because I’m researching the slow food movement.  

Really Pink Taco..............Yes

The Pink Taco is uniquely themed as it uniquely named. Is not your typical hole in the wall Mexican cantina. The restaurant located in Century City, Ca. Which is surrounded by wealthy neighborhoods. This is the there 3^rd location, which opened in 2007. Lots of controversy surrounded this restaurant like having to close there second location in AZ. because of complaints over the name. Having been invited by my sister and her friends to join them for lunch. I decided to try it out, hell with a name like that why wouldn't I dig in. Arriving there I noticed that the restaurant located in a mall. After meeting my sister we sat at our table and I began to notice all the Mexican art surrounding us. The consisted of various mediums from low rider bikes to murals depicting wide array of Mexican folklore. Then after my mesmerizing moment I looked at the menu and I ordered me a Negra Modelo. After reading the menu I began to think about how good the food was going to be, because of past lackluster experiences with high end Mexican cousin. I decided to order burrito with marinated pork called al pastor. After a long wait and another beer later we received our food. Knowing my self I asked for their hottest salsa which ended up being very mild for my taste, but soon after we asked one of the other waiters who seemed Mexican if they had an even hotter one and yes since we asked him in Spanish. Soon after we drenched our meals with this hotter salsa and began to savor our meals which ended up being quit enjoyable. Overall I liked the place and the service was slow but the food and decor made up for it. Ever since this place has been visited my your truly countless times.

You are what you eat

I’ve seen other documentaries about this subject prior to reading this book. But this touched other bases that I wasn’t aware of and made me think a little bit more about our food. That being said, I’ve made changes in my life long ago. I substitute ground beef for ground turkey or ground bison. I try not to eat pork unless they are cured or in a sausage form. I began to buy free range chicken eggs. I am lactose so I don’t drink regular milk I drink almond milk I don’t care much for the whole organic food craze other then for medical reasons and taste. What made me think about this book the most was how often people get food sickness and reasons behind it, such as feces and maybe some appendages that are mixed into ground beef? But what really struck me the most was that there is little government over sight on these problems. With this election that just passed, people need to think beyond which party they belong too but really look at who is being bought out by who. Find out who really controls them. I could be our fault for choosing a person who supports the people who control our food.

Big liar

1. I hate sushi.
2. I’m very religious.
3. I have a son named Jeremy.
4. I hate carving wood sculptors.
5. I did not complete Bartending School.
6. I hate taking care of animals.

Why Men prefer Guns over Women

Top Ten list - Why Men prefer Guns over Women:
#10. You can trade an old 44 for a new 22. #9. You can keep one gun at home and have another for when you're on the road. #8. If you admire a friend's gun and tell him so, he will probably let you try it out a few times. #7. Your primary gun doesn't mind if you keep anothe...r gun for a ba...ckup. #6. Your gun will stay with you even if you run out of ammo. #5. A gun doesn't take up a lot of closet space.. #4. Guns function normally every day of the month. #3. A gun doesn't ask, "Do these new grips make me look fat?" #2. A gun doesn't mind if you go to sleep after you use it. And the number one reason a gun is favored over a woman.... #1. YOU CAN BUY A SILENCER FOR

Que............I no speak English

The debate might be over bilingual education and English immersion. But I will show you a different way that English immersion indoctrinates in students. Early 1990's Riverside, Ca I was in elementary school when they started to take me into a different room. That room happened to be full of Latino students and we were told to forget our original language (Spanish). I asked the teach why do we need to forget Spanish and all we were told was because it's a dirty language. After a few days we were told to speak English only at home, but I was a little adiment because my parents only spoke Spanish. After a few years in that class I had forgotten how to read and write in Spanish. I had forgotten most of my Spanish. To then they had achieved their goal but in the process made lots of kids forget their roots. I began to act more and more “white” and even denied that I was Mexican. But that soon finished and I was in high school and took a Spanish class of which I failed miserably. Once in the Marines I started to hang out with lots of Latinos and they would give me shit about not knowing how to speak it correctly. I's been years since then I have finally learned how to read and write in Spanish and my speaking skill got a lot better.

My own experience only show one part of the debate, but I believe that it show that English immersion only succeed in one aspect of the matter. That being learning how to speak, read, write in English. This puts the student in a big disadvantage but denying the children their fundamental right to know their own culture. Bilingual education teaches student not only how to learn English but also teaches Spanish it incorporates both. This being America the land of immigrants and a melting pot of civilization should be less xenophobe of others languages and culture. That one of the reasons that this nation has no official language. forcing children to forget another language is but one of many reasons that our public school system is a failure.

family matters

Family is such a large meaningful word that can be explained in so many was and yet there is no simple answer. In my opinion family is nothing more then the people that you most associated though blood lines and even long friendships. Not only do I have my immediate blood related family but I also have a few friends that I consider my close brothers which we have no biological connection. While some people see this as having such close friends as nothing more then really good friends, I don’t, we share lots more. There are many reasons why I have such a great bond with these friends that I would consider them family. Some reasons are a simple as to knowing them since they were young and help raising them. But also can be because we became brothers in arms. While my perspective might seem a little vague and simple, most people have little if any idea of bonds people form though combat and being a mentor to someone. Family can be a simple as blood relations or as complicated as you want. While we transcend though time and people learn new ways of thinking and thought process we will begin to understand why and how these bonds form. Family can also be love for one another no matter their sexuality, race, religion, etc. A family can truly a mine, body and soul. With out family most people will be lost and lonely. But family is something that can never be taken away from one’s self.
I spent large parts of my adult life away from family. Such as my sons birth because I was in Iraq. I’ve also spent many Christmases away by my self but I always know that they were there thinking about me so in our mines we spent it together. But most people become very attached to there family and can’t cope with being away for extended periods apart. But that when you know what kind a person you are. People who never left home and or experienced extended time apart from their family really need to do it to appreciate their family more. Every family need to support one another to really get the whole family experience and this will open more doors to success. After all of this rambaling about family I think it’s time to tell your family that you love them.

Marine Corps boot camp

                  Oscar Machuca

           

            June 2002, High school graduation. I was very excited that I had finally finished high school and was about to start something more exciting. While that exciting part would be becoming a Marine. Since it was the summer I did not want to waste it by going to boot camp right away so instead I traveled a little which my final destination was in San Jose, Ca. to visit my father and other family and to say my good byes to them as well. While my vacation drew to an end I had to return back to Moreno Valley, Ca. to finish my final preparations before I leave to boot camp. The August 26 was upon us and my mother had to take me to the recruiter’s office so I can load a bus to take us to San Diego. When we got to San Diego we go to a cheap motel of which we had to stay the night because the next day we had to do our final swearing in. While in the hotel there were a lot of people who had to swear in the next day. That night a group of us gathered and decided to go to the strip club down the street; as we walk down the street we reached the strip club. While there we noticed that it was 2am and that the buses were going to pick up us at 4am so we headed back to the motel and we were very tired. When we finally reached our room we went to sleep but were rudely weaken up at 3:30 am to eat breakfast we were so tired but we could do nothing about it; we had to suck it up. When we loaded on the bus we fell asleep, but it did not last long while at the center waiting to be sworn in I started to do anything to keep me awake like putting water on my face to pacing around and various other methods. Once we were sworn in we loaded a van; the van took us to Marine Corps recruit depot in San Diego. Once there we were being yelled at to get off the van and get on the yellow footprints.

            Once at M.C.R.D. We proceeded on getting our head shaved and having our gear issued; in the process getting yelled at. Then they made 30-50 recruit including myself take a shower this made me feel a little uncomfortable. Then I asked myself “what have I gotten myself into”. After awhile I had adjusted to the life of a Marine recruit; with the constant physical demand and being yelled out and having a Drill instructor watching you and making you do everything they tell you. Some time had passed and now we had loaded buses to head up north to Camp Pendeltion to do our field and rifle training. The first two week in Camp Pendeltion was very easy because all they were doing was teaching us about our rifles. I had lots of experience with the rifle and weapons in general so this made it twice as easy for me. After the shooting portion I had qualified as a rifle expert, of which came as no surprise to myself. The most physical part of boot camp was about to begin which involved long hikes up and down mountains and on sand and pavement even on the beach. These hikes were very hard because we had to carry a pack with about 75-90 lbs and everyone had to stay in formation and keep up with everyone else. This meant that most of the short people who were at the back of the formation because that's the way we were formed everyone step that the taller people would take would equal to 3-4 of ours so we had to jog sometimes. Our final week we had to stay out in the field for 5 days with only 3 M.R.E. (meals ready to eat) of which I had 2 stolen from me. During these 5 days we had to do various tasks that would range from carrying a simulated injured Marine over our shoulder for 200 meters, to find way to pass an obstacle and various other things of which we had to run to each obstacle and challenge. On the final day we had to get up extra early, at 4am to start our finale challenge which was a 10 mile hike of which ended on a steep mountain of which we had to hike. Most of the hike was okay till be got to the base of the mountain and started to climb it, it hurt and it also sucked. Once on top of the mountain we had a small gathering and congratulating us on completing that final challenge. Once we go out of the field we proceeded to the chow hall (cafeteria) for our warriors breakfast which they had lot of food to choose from and we were given no time limit and food limit which most like because we were starving especially me. But all was not good because someone in our platoon got in trouble, that made our drill instructors mad and made us leave, I only had only sat down no more than 5 minutes. When we got back to our sleeping quarters we were giving time to shower and clean up and they even let us take a 2 hour nap which was awesome. We were heading back down to M.C.R.D. In San Diego to finish our last month there. Once back in San Diego we finished out final part of boot camp and would graduated. I liked the fact that we graduated on November 24, a few day before thanksgiving and my 19^th birthday. All my families were at my graduation and this made me feel very proud of what I had accomplished.

            Now it was time for me to go to school of infantry. I choose to become a grunt because that's what’s the Marines are known for and I wanted to be part of that. Once at S.O.I. I thought that it was going to be like boot camp waiting to be yelled at, but is was nothing like that. The second day there we had our gear issued to us. The first few weeks we were taught how to be an infantry rifleman. After the initial training we were asked to pick which specialty infantry we wanted to be it was only a wish list, so we had five different jobs to choose from and our wish list would only include 3. The five job were riflemen of which had no specialized weapons training. The next one was machine gunner which was taught everything about a machine gun on the use and emplacement. The next one was assault man they specialized in anti-armor and demolitions. Mortar men were the ones that would provide close in support with explosive rounds. The last one was tow gunner which was a larger anti-tank and other guided missile. Since I had to choose 3 for my wish list I choose assault man as my first and mortar men as my second and tow gunner as my last one. I was chosen to become mortar men, at first I had very little knowledge as to what they do but during school we were taught and fired both mortars that the Marine Corps use the 61mm and the 80mm. While training we would also train on various other tactics such as land navigation of which I became the best in my class. But we would also to some physical training and during this period I ran my fastest 3 mile run in 20 min and 30 sec. Once we finished our school we were assigned our units and since most of our assigned units were overseas and Kuwait awaiting the invasion of Iraq. We were sent to a camp to have our new gear and rifle issued to use because we were going to go to Kuwait to group with our assigned unit. The night before we got on a plane to head overseas my mother came to see me and began to beg me not to go and even asked me that she would break my legs if I wanted to stay but I wanted to go and this caused my mother to cry a lot.

Andres Rosales

              Well let me tell you about Andres Rosales. He’s a Mexican American, Getting a better job and a better life is what motivates him to attend college. Andres balances school and family very easily since he has an uncomplicated schedule. Andres likes to mentor his younger cousin but even a mentor needs some mentoring. His mentor is his older brother. His long term plan involves attaining a PHD. Andres describes himself as a very determine and fun but also quiet. He lives his life with a simple motto of “living life to the fullest”. He likes Oxnard College because it has flexible schedules and that he has no class on Fridays, but he also thinks that the library needs some improvement. His culture has influence him to strive to go to school and do better since both his parent has little schooling. Andres describes OC as a “vast crucible of culture”.

My opinion article

http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/opinion/corruption-in-oxnard-70-000-reasons-to-be-angry-1.2324978

Texterbating

Texting, well you will see that I hate people who text all the time especially during class. A teacher once told a student to stop “texterbating” even thought we laughed at that word she used she  to was frustrated by students texting in her class  While most people text now a days I really hate doing it if I have to I will but it’s just not me. The law that’s in effect in this state, about texting and driving dose little to deter those chronic texters. What they need to do is make it a more serious crime to do it. Instead of a hundred dollar fine there should be a bigger fine and driver’s education course and even community service. This will have many effects on the drivers and our state economy because not only are people texting less while driving but the people that do get caught will pay that hefty fine and in turn become revenue. While my ideological view on how to curb this might seem a little harsh; that’s what needed to prevent further accidents from happening.

Reality TV sucks

I personally dislike most reality TV shows. Most show now a days seem to be the same, like who can sing or dance better, or who can do the most idiotic thing. I'm all about having fun but making shows out of them come on. I hate that most of these people become famous because they drink a lot and sleep around a lot. But there are few shows nowadays that might be considers reality; that transcends more then just people singing and dancing and plane ole acting stupid. Most of those shows tend to make the people more famous and popular, but in turn give nothing back besides entertainment. Most “reality” shows on “The History Channel” and “Discovery” etc seems to bring lots more to the table, they really teach people.


The “reality” shows that I watch tend to be from a group of channels stated above I really think that its a waste of time to watch shows like “ Dancing with the stars” and “American idol” people can watch and do more productive things. I do think that reality shows are ruining our society and many way. Go back 12 to 15 years and the only major reality shows were “Real World” and “Road rules” I remember watching then and wasting my time now there are so many reality shows to choose from. It's becoming sort of a drug that people become addicted to it and can't stop watching it. I believe that reality shows can be factored in lots of mental and physiological problems. But I believe that another problems can arise from reality shows; such as young girls wanting to be just like a protagonist and mimic just about every thing. Such as sexual behaviors and drug and alcohol abuse because they see them doing it on TV so it okay to do it in real life. But it not only the child fault it's the parents one as well.

While I seem to be overly conservative and want to end these show, but I also strongly believe in the 1st Amendment and all the rights its grants us. Instead of making show about how the rich and famous live how about how you average American live and depict family from different parts of the U.S. But nobody wants to see poor people struggling through get by week by week. We all know that wont sell. Instead force people into a reality that is all but unreachable to most. Reality shows make their viewers go into a reality and wish and dream about how it would be if he was part of the show instead with that time wasted he could have done something more productive and not waste his time. I strongly believe that some people do become addicted and need medical care. Their even been stalkers that arise from the darkness because they become overly infatuated with a reality star. Since reality TV is what people want to see then there will always be large supply of shows to support their addiction.

Food makes the world go around

            Fast food in our family initially was a treat like once a month usually on Sunday after church. My father used to take us to McD we loved it but our father would never buy us a happy meal we wanted that toy. When our parents divorced we started to eat more and more fast food, we loved it to because now our father would buy use happy meals even though he would do this to coerce us during the custody hearings but we played along with our dad for those happy meals; my mother got custody too. Our father moved to San Jose, Ca, so we would visit him during the summer and at the time my father hated to cook so he would take us out to eat all the time. He would take us to eat to a variety of places.




              Now that I have grown up, maybe just a little I have grown to enjoy good food that I've tasted during my travels and he stateside. Food is a big part of my life I tend to cook it most of the time but when I feel like going out to eat I'll go I try to stay away from the major fast food joints but when time is of the essence that would have to suffice. In that case I like Jack because they have decent burgers and other entrees. But when ever I go out to eat it tends to be a sit down place and I love my food really spicy. But there are times when I want something more savory or even more exotic. My love of food is so profound that I try to share my experience with good food that some people become scared such as eating gator burgers and sauteed snails with wild mushroom which that later one was not the most pleasant thing that I eaten but the flavors were good maybe even better if they would have been really hot and spicy. But what I found out during my outings is that you have to try something new when ever you can. If you are scared of such foods like sushi; because you think that its all has raw fish. What you have to do is start small not all sushi consists of raw fish.



            I will now tell you what are some of my favorite menu items at various fast food restaurants Jack in the box- Bacon ultimate cheese burgers. Stuffed jalapenos, bacon cheddar potato wedges, the tacos, you know I cant forget the chorizo burrito. Wendy's I love the baconator and chili, But what they don't serve hear, but they did in Guam is chili and rice which was very good. You know that I can't forget In-n-out with double animal style the same with my fries. Carl's Jr is another decent place with a western bacon cheese burger. There are lots more of course most are from some small fast food joints. Oh yeah almost forgot Wienerschnitzel hope I spelled it right, well most of there menu is good and every time I go there I have to get their chilli cheese fries but the next item would be what ever seems good when I'm there. I think I got most of them.

Well lets see I was born in Los Angeles, Ca. I lived there till I was 5 or 6 can't remember that well. Anyways our family moved to Riverside which is were I lived most of my life. My parents got divorced when I was young, so my siblings and I would spend our summer vacations with our father. Fast forward a few years and I was in high school in a different city, the city of Moreno Valley. I graduated from high school in 2002 and I enlisted into the Marine Corps; of which I choose to be a grunt since the Marines are known for there grunts. On March of 2003 I was in Kuwait waiting for the invasion to start. When it did we were on our way to overthrow a dictator. Once “all major combat operation are over” G.W.Bush. We were happy, we though that we were going home; but didn't go home we had to stay longer. While in Iraq I witness all sort of things, one of which was living in one of Saddam's palaces and even going to the ancient city of Babylon. Once home wee thought that we will never return; but we were wrong we were back 8 months later all because the Spanish military pulled out of Iraq and had left a small group of Salvadorians army to defend there self's against a larger insurgent group. Once their Iraq had changed for the good but had changed in a bad way too. Not only the whole insurgent uprising the bad part but also the price of cigarettes had gone up from 2 cartons of cigarettes for 5 dollars, to 1 for 5 now. I saw extensive combat on my second tour of Iraq. Had to spend my 21st birthday which was a bummer. On August 25 I got out of the Marine Corps with a honorable discharge. By now my mother had moved to Oxnard because we have family here which was the reason for me on settling here. I managed to travel a lot after I got out of the military. I traveled through Europe and Asia. I even did a cross country trip with my best friend. My last major travel destination was when I took a extended year and a half vacation to the Island of Guam, USA of which is another long and very interesting story.

At this present moment beside all I am doing is going to school full time and getting paid for it too. I am studying to be a cultural anthropologist/ chef. Don't do much beside going shooting with my friends, camping, drinking, I love almost anything that involves the outdoors,and I also do some light travailing.

In the future I will be doing lots of travailing and in each destination I will learn how to cook their local dishes while learning about their culture as we share a meal. I will also be teaching along the way because I will need that money to pay for my research. I believe that I would have written a few books on how food and culture are one and the same since people are what they eat. It tells a lot about a person. But of course I would have written a cook book.