Español

You know...I've got some Spanish-speaking friends who actually have had to TAKE Spanish courses for credit in college. Some speak quite fluently but almost all of them need to hone up on their skills in the reading and writing department...seems those little, fucking accents and silent letters annoy the shit out of more people than just mi. However, I DO think it is a bit unfair. I mean, to get a History degree, or any OTHER degree in the liberal arts it seems, you have to have two sophomore-level language courses. ¡Lechón del polla!

Well, why the hell don't they offer me English? Sure, there are English courses...an entire college department with the title ENGLISH right across the damn buildings and their own link on the school website. But, seems like there are no plain old "English" courses available beyond say, the 9th grade of high school. Most people I know, myself at the forefront of this group, don't even know how to diagram a sentence in my own fucking language, much less do so in someone ELSE'S language. So, why not offer English to those of us who need it/want it/or would just really like a somewhat easy pass (A's) through the requirement.

My friends tell me, "Oh, it's hard for US to take the Spanish course too!" I call bullshit. Come on, you can speak it and when you read it in a book, you at least know what 75% of the vocabulary is already. So what if part of what you're slinging everyday is Mexican slang and not proper Spanish? It's already 75% or more of a head start than all of the rest of us have...not even counting the fact while we're all learning vocabulary, grammar, etc...all YOU have to focus on is the grammar and such because you've pretty much got the vocabulary down. Plus, you're immersed in your community of heritage speakers too...so you get constant practice!

Throw MY ass into an English class with a bunch of students who...other than the random curse word, how to order a beer, ask where the bathroom is, or comment on how pickled cabbage my ugly chimpanzee is...don't speak a lick of the language and I guarantee you I'd never deny having an advantage and I'd eat that shit UP. I'd be slingin' words like nobody's business and have the rest of the class at my feet in awe! "Oh, sweetie...you look really good down there on your knees, but it really isn't necessary!" *throw in a few Pope/Miss America waves at the crowd here* But NOOOOO, that is not accepted, nor even offered. And, why in the hell do I need to learn a foreign language anyway? I'm of the belief that if you make your permanent residence in America, you should speak English, bitches! And it's not like I'm going to Spain or Mexico after I graduate to teach History THERE. Lord knows, those kids wouldn't understand half of what I was saying to them, except maybe...

"The Spanish Armada enforced many bananas upon the Eastern world for wearing leotards and eating poon on Saturday." Even then, it wouldn't sound nearly as glamorous as I make it out to sound here and would only be partially true (everybody knows men west of Samoa and east of say, Germany, don't eat poon). Hasta luego, puta madre!

Relativity

OK, so a little while back I posted a blog about the Steady State and Big Bang theories...and how they related to each other, whatever. My wife's brother sent me this link the other day that doesn't really fit into that but it IS about the Universe, and its size, something I'm a total dork about...obviously. I don't even think he reads my blog, he just recognizes my dorkiness and feeds it from time to time. For this, I thank you Matthew!

Anyway, I've tried explaining this to people...Virginia being one...and for many people, it's very hard to wrap our mind around the true scope of the universe. The magnitude is just almost unreal, truly. I admit it gives even a dork like me a headache to think about at times. LOL Of course, that's probably just when I try to think too hard/much. It's also why it always amazes me that people honestly think we are the only intelligent life out there...or those, such as the 18 or 19 or 20 (however many she's spit out at the time of this writing) kids and counting idiots who still believe the world is only 6,000 years old simply because they think "the Bible says so!"

http://digg.com/d1ofQT

Click on the link to feel really, REALLY small in this world.

American Cultures

So, I have my independent study course left in American Cultures for my minor. I'm "enrolled" in it for this coming spring semester and I quote "enrolled" because it's not really a course. I don't go to class, I don't have exams, nothing...I just do an independent research on a subject of my choosing and write a paper on it. Kind of like a VERY small precursor to a dissertation or something like that. I'm the last person pursuing this minor, apparently...I talked to Dr. Buzz, who is the History Chair at UH, and he said he may end up closing it. He has no faculty who is willing to devote time and energy to it, for no extra pay and no real payoff. After thinking about that, I realized I might be the LAST person at UH to get a minor in American Cultures (AC) and that's kinda cool. Plus, it means Dr. Buzz is my sponsor for this last course...and I respect him mucho for his historical work covering the Vietnam War. That class is still one of my more enjoyable ones thus far...

Anyway, I'm having problems trying to decide what SUBJECT to use for my research work. Do I go serious or do I banter about something more whimsical? Some of the more recent AC submissions have been stuff like, "RnR Bands of Houston" or "An Oral History of the Railroad in Houston"...seriously...they didn't even WRITE a paper, they just stood before their sponsor and gave an oral history of the importance of the railroad in, and around, this area. Serious to them, I'm sure, but still...not what I would consider a difficult assignment. Hell, when I was driving a limo and we did city tours, I gave a nice little 20-minute spiel on the history of the railroad in Houston and it took me all of a couple hours to research the info on it. And, the "bands" subject...hell, just look at where you actually DO the research. Even I can sit in a bar night after night, chasing down bands and chugging shots. I did that plenty before I had kids (especially during the Army) and I wasn't even RESEARCHING anything other than how tough my liver was.

So you see, I have that educated 'Historian' snootiness poking out, trying to shun the "lesser" work I could pursue like, say...the growth of micro-breweries in America/Texas or why the American public has taken to a family in Arkansas with 18 kids (completely different blog, I'm sure I will get to soon) and hopes of more very soon. It tells me to follow my historical heart and do something relating to the Indian Termination Policy of the 1950's and 1960's, to include most or all of the actual "Termination Acts" set forth by our very own government. And, YES, Congress even titled it "termination" and they have continued to oppress and attempt to wipe out native populations as recently as TODAY. Just because you don't hear about it, does not mean it doesn't exist...I learned this in the military. I did crap that no one else in the world ever knew was going on, but it doesn't mean it didn't happen. Not starting some conspiracy-theory crap...just stating fact. Anyway, so I have that on one hand...

Then, I have the other side of my brain telling me...WTF?! Why not just do something fun and fanciful and blow through it? History takes on many forms and there are social historians and entertainment historians same as there are any other historian (my absolute favorite course to date was a History of Cinema course). It all has its place, you know? Whatever...I'm sure I'll think of something. Blowing this out and trying to be somewhat humorous at the same time will surely help. If anyone's out there, now or later...thanks for listening.