The Election

I am relieved by the election.  No surprise to anyone, I'm sure.  The rich will still be rich.  The biggest victory is that the possible Supreme Court nominees will be more in tune with equal rights for real, breathing (not corporate-entity) people.  Marriage equality, women's rights, the environment, and the ridiculous drug policies in this country all inched forward. My hope of all hopes, is that we address our infrastructure, energy research, and climate change needs to be prepared for the future.

The filibuster needs to be reformed so the gridlock in the Senate can get cleared.  Hopefully, individuals in Congress vote their conscience rather than just straight party affiliation.  Though with the every two year election cycle, and congress peoples' seemingly only interested in reelection is not very encouraging.  If in two years, your congressman only voted his party, vote him out for not represent the 40% or so that did not vote him/her in.  The GOP really should not double down on the obstruct Obama agenda, he is there, work with him.  Stopping government just slows things down.  Let his policy decisions including debates and, thus, compromises play out, then reevaluate at the end of his term.  If it doesn't create positive movement, we can change agenda with the next presidential election.  Bush/Cheney were allowed to run amok for eight years, it didn't work in disastrous ways (the economic depression, deficit, illicit wars). 



And to those watching Fox, or really ANY cable/radio talking heads, STOP.  You might realize there really is a lot of good going on in this country, in our communities as we slowly recover from the recession and wars.  You don't have to listen to NPR, just take a news break and enjoy your family and neighbors.

Morning Runs

Each morning in the dim light of predawn, my rental car windows fogged from the night's dew, I crept out of the placid, monotonous meander of this gated village of white-walled condominiums and sprawling lawns. With a little more gas, I headed straight down the avenue, over the inter-coastal water way, and parked next to the pier of Deerfield Beach in front of what was a Howard Johnson.  No shoes, no shirt, and my bathing suit. I trotted down to water's edge for my early morning run.  With low tide, the sand is hard, my foot steps showed a dig of my forefoot and the slight touch of my heal as I ran to the inlet and back. My tracks followed the undulating motion of the waves.  The sun rose on the horizon.

Sandy

92nd Street on the Rockaways.  One street, three blocks wide from ocean to bay. Every house was flooded with at least 6-plus feet of water.  The whole of people's soggy belongings piling up on the street.  50 foot parts of the boardwalk are strewn about 2 blocks from the ocean. A foot of sand covering the street.  Cars rendered useless.  To think that that is only one street and each street for miles going east along Long Island, Belle Harbor and Breezy to the west, and then miles south along the Jersey Shore are as devastated.  Some were fortunate, many more are much worse off.  Spirits are still high in this neighborhood.  Manpower is what they need.  If one has gas in their vehicle, fill it up with friends, gloves, shovels, and some garbage bags and get out there. That's how it will get done. 

Neighborhoods, volunteers, and government are indispensable.  Neighborhoods and volunteers band together to clean out, cope, comfort, protect, and move beyond the disaster.  The National Guard, Red Cross, FEMA, power companies, and, of course, the Department of Sanitation are there.  They are essential in rebuilding the infrastructure that we so depend on.  We see first hand what happens when no electricity stops the gas pumps from distributing gas.  Patience, accountability, and understanding are absolutely necessary for the rebuild.

  

Running Races

Just a few years ago, and I mean about four or five, running races here in NYC was an easy last minute event.  I could peruse the internet, find a race, show up, pay some money, and run.  Races in Central Park with the New York Roadrunners Club were always crowded, which does make racing worthwhile and give a feeling of being part of something.  There was usually an eclectic group of people including slim elite athletes running like a group of gazelles in the front and a big cadre of rounded individuals getting themselves back into some kind of shape.  People generally wore the basic running shoes, jogging shorts and some cotton t-shirt from the bottom of their workout drawer.  Being Manhattan, there definitely was a group that had the newest running thing.

It's changed.  I can't run in races anymore.  For one, I would have to know the race schedule and my schedule more than a few days in advance.  Secondly, I would have to regularly check on the website for the registration openings, wait the week or two from when I noted the schedule, remember, and sign-up within the few hours that the race remains open.  They fill up quickly.  I don't want my weekends scheduled too far in advance.  What if some unforeseen road trip, family visit, swell, random visiting friend arrives, or an Bear Mountain bike ride comes up?  Last winter we booked a place in Puerto Rico the day before we left.  This is not Danielle's ideal scenario, but she relinquishes her much better sense of scheduling while traveling.  That is when I am on my game.  Plus, when I do schedule a race, seemingly everyone just bought a new running outfit at Jack Rabbit Sports.

Avalon, NJ

Just steps from the beach for an entire week.

 Playing through the eyes of a little boy.

Family.  If all mundane worries are, however briefly, left at home, it can always be and was a perfect week.

Chalk One Up for Big Business

Chalk one up to propaganda!  Union workers voted for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in Tuesday's recall election.  The only conceivable reason someone would vote directly against their own interests is the result of misinformation.  I know full well that one can be frustrated with their union for its miss-steps and sometimes questionable practices, but taking away collective-bargaining will only hurt all working class people in the long run.  Our entry into the middle class income bracket is a result of the long fought battle for worker rights, fair wages, affordable health insurance, and livable pensions.  This happened through the collective action of groups that could stand toe-to-toe with their bosses.  Ignorance in a population is a beautiful thing to preserve to keep the money flowing up.

10 Years (now 11!)

It has been my hope from then until now, that we as a society begin to live, not out of fear and revenge, but with compassion, knowledge, and empathy of the other in our evermore interconnected world.  Whether we think in terms of world, country, community, or family, we need to reflect on how our actions affect others and how others actions affect us.

This has not happened, and therefore, ten years later, we are involved in four wars (two official) and are deep in a financial crisis.  The environment continues to be destroyed for our short term benefit.  We seek the shelter of religion, yet conveniently forget that compassion and forgiveness are key tenants of all the world's religions.  More people are living in fear and seeking revenge, thus fundamentalism is growing throughout the world.  Military and humanitarian efforts are odds with each other, but need not be.  The differences are stark and both efforts are mired in financial and political obligations, unmovable religious tension, resource degradation and exploitation, and the monstrous imbalance of access to money.

Take heart.  There is some beauty in movements and awareness.  There are more individuals and groups feeling empowered to question, to write, to speak, to demonstrate, and to occupy their space.  The organic, biodynamic farming, farmers markets, community-supported agriculture, and fair trade movements are pushing against big agriculture.  More countries are embracing renewable energy through innovation and incentives.  Builders are encouraged to reach goals of reduced consumption through third party certification programs.  Bike lanes are replacing car lanes in some cities.  High speed rail infrastructure is being built in many western and eastern countries.  Some big movies stars are using their fame to inform people of atrocities in far corners of the world.  A huge trove of secret information was released via the internet shedding light on indecencies perpetrated by governments throughout the world.  The World Social Forum is a counter to the World Economic Forum.  A few countries rejected structural adjustment programs pushed by the IMF.  The Arab Spring overthrew various long reigning dictators, inspiring an Occupy Movement.  Whether it's food, education, media, energy, religion, environment, human rights, conflict resolution, or whatever makes your heart beat faster and keeps you up at night pondering, we each can make a difference.

Speaking of Dreams

I had my recurring nightmare last night.  I am teaching in a completely different and destroyed classroom with every pain-in-the-butt, disruptive, academically complacent (lazy), and disrespectful student that I have had in my seven plus year tenure in Brooklyn public schools.  Most, if not all, are from my middle school teaching years; the same place that my wife still works!  My supervisor moved my classroom moments before the class began.  I now have no materials, seating plan, chalk/board markers, and, of course, not enough seat for every child.  Everyone is just coming back from lunch recess.  They are sweaty and highly energized because there was some sort of fight in the hallway.  Moments after the period starts a parade of supervisors, advisors of those supervisors, and kiss-ass teachers parades into my room to observe my lesson.  I am in a complete fog.  I can't think or see straight.  I am stumbling.  There are children throwing paper balls in the back of the classroom.  In another corner, a fight starts and, as I attempt to break-up the fight, others light up cigarettes.  Each moment I look up at the clock and time is standing still.  I can't leave until the bell rings.  Some kids just storm out, the observers are furiously writing in their logs, scowling above the rims of their glasses, whispering to each other.  Time stands still,  and I can't wake up.

This is a reoccurring dream.  In my second month of teaching, seven years ago, everything but the cigarette smoking happened.  Why I stayed, I have no idea!

PR

 Early morning runs, beach, nap, and sunsets off the balcony of a great last minute place we found in Rincon, Puerto Rico.

The NY Post

This tabloid rag is bundled and dropped at the doorstep of every school in New York City.  So generous of the company to give a "free" copy for each classroom.  The paper is full of concise and catchy headings that playfully distorts the English language, chopping words and phrases into understandable jargon that any person of a 2nd grade English language education can understand.  This clearly portrays the standard of education they really want our students to achieve.  They are always considerate enough to have a near naked woman on a full page spread just a few pages deep despite the fact that a teacher showing the same alluring picture to his/her students would result in disciplinary action.  Holding true to their conservative ideals, the writers are directed to sparingly use accurate descriptions, thought provoking and balanced commentary, or any real depth in a topic, so that none of the content can be used as a learning tool in the classroom.  And, despite the fact that 100% of adults employed in each school dedicates their working lives toward the education of the city's unimaginably diverse 1.2 million students, the Post is sure to rail against the pensions they work 30 years to receive, the middle class wages they earn, and the dwindling (but still coveted) health care coverage that so many families depend upon.  Thanks for whole heartedly supporting the political and corporate cynicism toward any public sector job and doing your part in ensuring the vast difficulties and hurdles in educating our youth are just a tad bit more difficult each day!