Aug

17

Budget Bill Debate, Infuriated

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I am watching the California State Assembly debate AB 1781, Budget Act of 2008, on http://www.calchannel.com/.

I am infuriated by some members of the Assembly, particularly the current Republicans who seem 100% committed to fulfilling an anti-tax pledge to Grover Norquist. What kind of joke is that? Our representatives should be responsible to the people of their district and the people of California, not Grover Norquist.

As an assemblymember just stated, the current Republicans are the party of cut and run. Republicans cut taxes when times are good and run from accountability when times are bad. Republicans need to offer a counter-proposal, not continue to complain that one of their ideas was voted down and can do nothing more. Honestly?

Aug

12

John Garamendi’s Gubernatorial Bid Announcement

Filed Under Election 2010, John Garamendi, Personal | Leave a Comment

12 days ago, I was excited and nervous to see my friend (and boss :-)) announce that he is running for Governor of the Great State of California. The next day we woke up bright and early and drove to San Luis Obispo for the 7th Annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference; that sure was a long drive (~8 hours round trip). I wanted to be sure to post his announcement video here.

Jul

27

Time Flies

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Time flies. The journeys we take, the experiences we have, and the memories we store are something to greatly appreciate. The past 60 days have been a whirlwind of fun, work, traveling and everything in between.

The final weekend in May, I traveled to Los Angeles to spend the weekend with my parents and my grandfather who was nearing his last weeks on earth. My grandfather was staying at my Tia Lydia’s house around the corner from my my parents’ home. I went to visit him, sit in the room, and talk with him for about an hour or so. I sat there, just gazing out the door, knowing that this would most likely be the last time I would see him alive. It was sad to sit there and hold his hand. All I thought about it was because who he was, how he lived his life and the choices he made that allowed for me to be on this earth. I knew I would walk out of the room, but he wouldn’t.

On Tuesday, June 10, my grandfather (dad’s dad) commenced his final decline in health and life and passed away around 11pm. By then, I was asleep and I woke up with 4 different voice mails: one from my dad, my mom, my older brother and younger brother; they each told me our grandfather had passed, that they missed and loved me, and to take care.

I traveled down to Southern California and Mayra joined me on Monday, June 16 for the funeral. I was reflective; considering his life and again it was because of him that I am here today. Tough, for sure; but its a journey we take, an experience we have and a memory that stays with us forever.

May

25

Houston, Phoenix Has Landed

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I remember my friend Kendrick and I drove through Los Angeles to either sell or buy something from a person Kendrick connected with on Craigslist. I thought the whole idea was a bit odd at first.

On our drive through Los Angeles, I think we took the 110 Freeway and got stuck in traffic. We stopped and I got the bright idea of jumping out of the car to take a picture of Los Angeles and all its glory. I jumped out and took a picture and Kendrick drove forward about 2 car lengths. I ran up and jumped back into the car. Ah, how I could remember seeing a driver staring at me and probably thinking I was out of my mind. I was just out of Kendrick’s car. :-P

We eventually got through traffic, made it to the home of this Craiglists person, Kendrick bought or sold whatever (I think it was a computer power supply) and continued out our way to Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for some major event (I am almost certain it was the landing of the Mars Rovers) or some lecture about them or something related to robotics/space.

We reached the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) and for the life of me couldn’t find JPL. Come later, I learned that JPL is not next to CalTech like I thought. We drove around for miles and miles, we asked a group of CalTech students who didn’t know what the hell we were talking about and as day turned into the night and the event started and ended, our journey concluded.

I was bummed out by the entire experience. After Kendrick dropped me off at home, I Googled JPL, realized we were in the wrong place and then took a nap in frustration.

Fast forward to today and my spirits our soaring. The Phoenix Mars Mission has landed! In a nutshell: “Launched in August 2007, the Phoenix Mars Mission is the first in NASA’s Scout Program. Phoenix is designed to study the history of water and habitability potential in the Martian arctic’s ice-rich soil.”

:-D I am stoked to see what Phoenix finds! Check out http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/ for the latest information!

May

18

Hard Line, Always

Filed Under California, Human Development, Personal, UC Merced, United States | Leave a Comment

I just had a conversation with Juan Carmen, Associated Students of UC Merced Director of Student Advocacy about a recent article in the Merced Sun-Star where he is quoted as saying:

Student Juan Carmen, 20, from Los Angeles, said he wasn’t surprised about the fee increase, mainly because of the state’s budget crisis. “I’m just glad it wasn’t like 10 percent or more,” Carmen said. “It’s still an increase, but it’s not like a major one.”

7.4% is a major increase! $490 is 50+ hours of work. Such fee increases places an additional burden on a students who have to pay for their education, housing and other living expenses.

We cannot continue to believe that moderation is the best approach to the issue of student fee increases.

The time has come where we have to be hard line, always. This continued march to raise hundreds of millions of dollars from 200,000 or so students over the past decade must end.

May

11

Happy Mother’s Day

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I drove down to Los Angeles Friday night to be here with my mother.

My younger brother Chris called me and asked if I was going to visit. I said I want it to be a surprise. For some reason, earlier in the week, I incidentally told my mother that I may visit. So, when I asked my brother why he called me to ask, he said because I told mom. :-P

All is well. The weather is nice in LA. Overcast, with clouds burning off by the afternoon.

Yesterday, I was in downtown Burbank at the local union hall for the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Spring 2008 Issues Forum. It was a great forum: great program, speakers and ideas. One light bulb moment was when the pollster described how teachers and voters agreed with each other on almost everything but a single issue. That single issue is hammered away at over and over in advertisements, talking points and forums in order to divide the electorate into “yes” or “no.”

Stronger, more convincing arguments require more information and greater personal impact. For example, a $5.3 billion dollar budget cut to education is a lot, but it does not mean as much to me, you and most people because we do not tend to use billions of dollars in our daily lives and thus the weight of measurement is perceived terms is less.

Thus, we need to break down what this $5.3 billion dollar budget cut means. Without the money, schools will have less money to spend on students’ books, pencils and other class materials. Without the money, teachers will have less time to spend with students and give them individualized and specialized attention and teaching.

All in all, the Issues Forum was a success.

May

4

Laughter

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I am here at UC Merced in the Kolligian Library.

The library is named after Leo Kolligian from the fantastic Fresno and former Regent on the UC Board of Regents. Leo passed away recently.

I met Leo when the university community dedicated the library in honor of him and his former wife Dottie. He was a gentle man and delivered a rousing speech on the importance of academic freedom. Serving as Chair of the Regents, he helped build UC Merced by championing the need to build a university in the San Joaquin Valley. My final history paper was about the decision to build UC Merced and the role many played, including Leo.

The Library is filled with students who are busily preparing for the last leg of their semester journey at the university. A year ago it was when I was in this very building doing the same.

The checking out of a loaner laptop, the finding of a good seat, the inspiring view of Lake Yosemite or the south San Joaquin Valley, the friends, the jammed copy machine, the elusive primary source.

Having replaced the academic with policy and political environment of Sacramento, it’s comforting to return to the university regularly. I miss this place. A university is a relaxing and stimulating, comforting and concerning, busy and quiet.

It’s a place where ideas born, relationships are built and creativity is bred. It’s everything to everyone: a social equalizer, an economic boon, a source of inspiration, a cauldron of controversy, and a consistency of society.

Mayra’s laughter sparked this blog post. She is watching “The Last Lecture” by a Carnegie Mellon University professor who is dying of pancreatic cancer. A sad story, but uplifting lecture to say the least.

Apr

12

We Can Solve It

Filed Under Personal, The World, United States | Leave a Comment

We are facing a crisis of historical proportion: climate change.

Visit: http://www.wecansolveit.org/ and let’s move forward on confronting the challenge.

I think every bit helps. From using environment-friendly soap to taking the bus to/from work once a week, we can all make a difference.

Jan

1

Happy New Year!

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It’s 2008! Happy New Year! I hear fireworks exploding outside and the re-run of the Times Square crystal ball drop. Enjoy the night!

Dec

31

Onward to 2008

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2007 is coming to an end around the world. In less than an hour, the New Year will reach California.

I am here at home watching The Kingdom with my father after spending the afternoon with my grandfather. My mother is in Mexico with her family and tending to my ill grandfather. My older brother is out and about and my younger brother is playing World of Warcraft.

It will be a quiet New Year’s for me and much has occurred in 2007.

In early 2007, I worked for the Campaign for College Opportunity as an organizer. I traveled throughout the Northern San Joaquin Valley speaking with students in schools big and small about the importance of higher education. The most heartfelt moment was when a primary school girl approached me after our discussion and she had tears in her eyes. She told me that she thought she could never go to college because she was born in Mexico and because of that she never really tried to do well in school. It is sad for me to think about that moment now. To know that there are young people throughout the state who do not aspire to more because of where they were born elsewhere. The teacher was kind enough to send an email to my supervisor about that moment. I will never forget it.

After over a decade, I concluded my years as a student leader at UC Merced. When I was elected the first student body president of UC Merced in May 2006, I knew it would end twelve months later. At the last Senate meeting in May, I walked with Mayra from the Kolligian Library to the Lake Parking Lot and we stopped in the middle of the Bridge. We stood for a few moments looking out and then continued on. Each day I tried my best, beginning in elementary school student council, to represent my peers. There were highs and lows throughout. From questioning my ability to lead effectively to responding reasonably to arguments leveled, it was always fun and challenging; I learned so much.

In June, I started my internship for Lt. Governor John Garamendi and by September I was hired full-time. In just six months, I have observed so much. Traveling up and down the state is very exciting. The Lt. Governor is incredibly knowledgeable. We visit places and as he meets with folks he is able to recall people, characteristics, statistics, and facts. I am continually impressed by his command of such things. I jot down notes on my notepad, circle important things and put stars next to others. I really do not know how my mind is processing this entire experience but I am trying to absorb as much as possible.

Lastly, I have spent this entire year with a beautiful woman, Mayra. She is absolutely amazing to me. For all the things life can hold, the one thing I have discovered is the love two people can have for each other. Growing up, I observed this year in and year out with my parents. I never really understood the notion, the love; I still do not think I do. I just know that I am very happy to have shared this past year with Mayra.

Looking ahead to 2008, I am going to focus on furthering my understanding of California, people, government and politics; build and maintain stronger connections with my family and friends; read often, exercise regularly and eat healthy; and live life to the fullest by traveling and seeing places in the world that I have yet to see.

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