North Dallas School still segregating...

current mood: Upset!

As a Mexican-American beagle, this truly upsets me! Its 2006 for goodness sake! For sure it is not like this at the schools where Karla works... the Anglo kids are given the same respect and taught at the same level as the Mexican-American and African-Americans.

North Dallas School still segregating...
By Laura Rodriguez/MALDEF
Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Because of Spanish Surnames all Latino kids are in ESL...



SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Today, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the nation's leading Latino legal organization, filed suit in federal district court against the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) and the principal of Preston Hollow Elementary School alleging civil rights violations by segregating and discriminating against Latino schoolchildren.

The Latino parents represented by MALDEF, Organización para el Futuro de los Estudiantes (OFE), allege that Preston Hollow illegally uses its English as a Second Language program to segregate Latino and minority students from Anglo students, irrespective of their language abilities. The documents in the case show that Latino students who are proficient in English are, nonetheless, channeled into classes masked as "English as a Second Language." Preston Hollow organizes its general education classes and even combines some grades to ensure that Anglo students, who comprise just 18 percent of the school, sit in majority white classrooms.

"Fifty years after Brown v. the Board of Education, it is a shame that segregation continues to plague our schools," said David Hinojosa, MALDEF staff attorney and lead counsel in the case. "Using ESL as a proxy to segregate schoolchildren can not be tolerated. This lawsuit is intended to send a message that there is no justification for any school to treat Latino students any differently than white students," Hinojosa added.

Ms. Lucresia Mayorga Santamaria, lead plaintiff and mother of three children attending Preston Hollow, stated "The school attempted to omit Latino children from the school brochure because they did not want the surrounding neighborhood to get the wrong impression. Well, I hope they all get this impression: we will not stand by any longer because our children deserve the same opportunities as all other children of Preston Hollow."

Calling on the leadership of Dallas ISD to now answer Latino parents' calls for justice, Mr. Hinojosa added, "We condemn efforts such as these to keep white students together for the sake of deterring white flight. We call on the superintendent and the Dallas Board to swiftly end the segregation at Preston Hollow," Mr. Hinojosa added.

Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation's premier Latino civil rights organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through advocacy, litigation, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships

And I am sure the recent walkouts by the Mexican-American kids made them look even less appealing to the operators at Preston Hallow, but the truth is, we should be proud to have kids who care about their world this much!!! In any case, the Superintendent, Michael Hinojosa, is himself Mexican-American. This should be fixed NOW!!!.

Love and hate in Baghdad

current mood: Sympathetic...

This is a very good perspective on what Iraquis really think about what is going on in their own country:

Love and hate in Baghdad
This is the extraordinary blog of ‘Riverbend’, a young Iraqi woman who lays bare her life in occupied Iraq. It has been long-listed for the Samuel Johnson literary prize:

I’m going to set the record straight, once and for all. I don’t hate Americans, contrary to what many people seem to believe. Not because I love Americans, but simply because I don’t hate Americans, like I don’t hate the French, Canadians, Brits, Saudis, etc.

It’s that simple. I was brought up, like millions of Iraqis, to have pride in my own culture and nationality. I was also brought up to respect other cultures, nations and religions. Iraqi people are inquisitive, by nature, and accepting of different values - as long as you do not try to impose those values and beliefs upon them.

Although I hate the American military presence in Iraq, I don’t even hate the American troops . . . or wait, sometimes I do:

• I hated them all through the bombing. Every single day and night we had to sit in terror of the next bomb, the next plane, the next explosion. I hated them when I saw the expression of terror, and remembrance, on the faces of my family and friends, as we sat in the dark, praying for our lives.
• I hated them on April 11 - a cool, grey day: the day a family friend lost her husband, her son and toddler daughter when a tank hit the family car as they were trying to evacuate the house in Al- Adhamiya district, an area that saw heavy fighting.
• I hated them on June 3 when our car was pulled over for some strange reason in the middle of Baghdad and we (three women, a man and a child) were made to get out and stand in a row, while our handbags were rummaged and the car was thoroughly checked by angry, brisk soldiers. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to put into words the humiliation of being searched.

On the other hand:

• I feel terrible seeing the troops standing in this merciless sun wearing heavy clothes, looking longingly into the air-conditioned interiors of our cars. After all, in the end this is Baghdad, we’re Iraqi - we’ve seen this heat before.
• I feel bad seeing them stand around, drinking what can only be lukewarm water after hours in the sun - too afraid to accept any proffered ice water from "strange Iraqis".
• I feel pity watching their confused, frightened expressions as some outraged, jobless father of five shouts at them in a language they can’t even begin to understand.
• I get hopeless, seeing them pointing their guns and tanks at everyone because, in their eyes, anyone could be a "terrorist" and almost everyone is an angry, frustrated Iraqi.
• I feel sympathy seeing them sitting bored and listless on top of their tanks and in their cars, wishing they were somewhere else.

So now you know. Mixed feelings in a messed-up world.

Someone wrote that I was naive and probably spoilt, etc, and that "not one single American soldier deserves to die for you". I completely agree. No one deserves to die for me or for anyone else.

This war started out a war on weapons of mass destruction. When those were not found, and proof was flimsy at best, it turned suddenly into a "war against terrorism". When links couldn’t be made to Al-Qaeda or Osama Bin Laden, it turned into a "liberation". Call it whatever you want - to me it’s an occupation.

FEMALES can no longer leave their homes alone. Each time I go out, E (my brother) and either a father, uncle, or cousin has to accompany me. It feels like we’ve gone back 50 years since the beginning of the occupation. A woman, or girl, out alone risks anything from insults to abduction. An outing has to be arranged at least an hour beforehand.

I state that I need to buy something or have to visit someone. Two males have to be procured (preferably large) and "safety arrangements" must be made in this total state of lawlessness. And always the question: "But do you have to go out and buy it? Can’t I get it for you?" No you can’t, because the kilo of eggplant I absolutely have to select with my own hands is just an excuse to see the light of day and walk down a street. The situation is incredibly frustrating to females who work or go to college.

Before the war, about 50% of the college students were females, and more than half the workforce was composed of women. Not any more. We are seeing an increase of fundamentalism in Iraq, which is terrifying. Before the war, I would estimate that 55% of females in Baghdad wore a hijab, or headscarf. Although I don’t wear one, I have family and friends who do. The point is that, before, it didn’t really matter. It was "my" business whether I wore one or not - not the business of some fundamentalist on the street.

For those who don’t know, a hijab only covers the hair and neck. The whole face shows and some women even wear it Grace Kelly-style, with a few locks of hair coming out of the front. A burqa on the other hand, like the ones worn in Afghanistan, covers the whole head - hair, face, and all.

I am female and Muslim. Before the occupation I more or less dressed the way I wanted to. I lived in jeans and cotton trousers and comfortable shirts. Now I don’t dare leave the house in trousers. A long skirt and loose shirt (preferably with long sleeves) has become necessary. A girl wearing jeans risks being attacked, abducted, or insulted by fundamentalists who have been . . . liberated!

Fathers and mothers are keeping their daughters stashed safe at home. That’s why you see so few females in the streets (especially after 4pm). Others are making their daughters, wives, and sisters wear a hijab. Not to oppress them, but to protect them. Girls are being made to quit college and school.

My 14-year-old cousin (a straight-A student) is going to have to repeat the year because her parents decided to keep her home ever since the occupation. Why? Because the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri) took over an office next to her school and opened up a special "bureau".

Men in black turbans (MiBTs as opposed to MiB) and dubious, shady figures dressed in black, head to foot, scan the girls and teachers entering the secondary school. The dark, frowning figures stand ogling, leering and sometimes jeering at the ones not wearing a hijab or whose skirts aren’t long enough. In some areas girls risk being attacked with acid if their clothes aren’t "proper".

The Sciri (but I prefer "scarey") was established in 1982 in Tehran. Its main goal is to import the concept of the "Islamic revolution" from Iran to Iraq. In other words, it believes that Iraq should be a theocracy led by Shi’ite mullahs.

The Sciri would like to give the impression that they have the full support of all Shi’ite Muslims in Iraq. The truth is that many Shi’ite Muslims are terrified of them and of the consequences of having them as a ruling power. The whole situation is alarming beyond any description I can give. Christians have also become the victims of extremism, also. Some of them are being threatened, others are being attacked. A few wannabe mullahs came out with a fatwa, or decree, in June that declared all females should wear the hijab and if they didn’t they could be subject to "punishment".

Another group decreed that not a single girl over the age of 14 could remain unmarried. This order included females of other religions. In the south, female United Nations and Red Cross aides received death threats if they didn’t wear the hijab. This isn’t done in the name of God - it’s done in the name of power.

Liquor stores are being attacked. The owner usually gets a "threat" in the form of a fatwa claiming that if they don’t shut down permanently, there will be consequences. The consequences are usually either a fire or a bomb. Similar threats have been made to hairdressers in some areas in Baghdad.

Don’t blame it on Islam. Every religion has its extremists. In times of chaos and disorder, those extremists flourish. Iraq is full of moderate Muslims who simply believe in "live and let live". We get along with each other - Sunnis and Shi’ites, Muslims and Christians, and Jews and Sabi’a. We intermarry, we mix and mingle, we live.

Now people are turning to religion for several reasons. The first is fear: fear of war, fear of death.

If I didn’t have something to believe in during this past war, I know I would have lost my mind. If there hadn’t been a God to pray to, to make promises to, to bargain with, to thank - I wouldn’t have made it through.

Encroaching western values and beliefs have also played a role. In Muslims and Arabs, westerners see suicide bombers, terrorists, ignorance and camels. In Americans, Brits and others, some Iraqis see depravity, prostitution, ignorance, domination, junkies and ruthlessness. The best way people can find to protect themselves and their loved ones against this assumed threat is religion.

Finally, 65% of all Iraqis are currently unemployed. There are people who have families to feed. When I say "families" I don’t mean a wife and two kids . . . I mean about 16 or 17 people.

A LOT of you have been asking why my English is good. I am Iraqi, born in Iraq to Iraqi parents, but was raised abroad for several years. I came back in my early teens and continued studying in English in Baghdad reading any book I could get my hands on. Most of my friends are of different ethnicities, religions and nationalities. I am bilingual. There are thousands of others in Iraq like me - kids of diplomats, students, expatriates and others.

As to my connection with western culture . . . you wouldn’t believe how much many young Iraqi people know about American/British/French pop culture. They know all about Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brad Pitt, Whitney Houston and McDonald’s. Iraqi TV stations were constantly showing bad copies of the latest Hollywood movies. (If it’s any consolation, the marines lived up to the Rambo/ Terminator reputation which preceded them.)

THE story of how I lost my job isn’t unique. It has actually become depressingly, unbearably common. It goes like this:

I’m a computer science graduate. Before the war, I was working in an Iraqi data company as a programmer/network administrator (yes, yes . . . a geek). Every day I would climb three flights of stairs, enter the little office I shared with one female colleague and two males, start up my PC and spend hours staring at little numbers and letters rolling across the screen. It was tedious, it was backbreaking, it was geeky and it was . . . wonderful.

When I needed a break I’d go and visit my favourite sites on the internet, bother my colleagues, or rant about "impossible bosses" and "improbable deadlines". I loved my job - I was "good" at it. I came and went to work on my own. At 8am I’d walk in lugging a backpack filled with enough CDs, floppies, notebooks, chewed-on pens, paperclips and screwdrivers to make Bill Gates proud. I made as much money as my two male colleagues and got an equal amount of respect from the manager.

What I’m trying to say is that females in Iraq were a lot better off than females in other parts of the Arab world (and some parts of the western world - we had equal salaries!). We were doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, professors, deans, architects, programmers and more. We came and went as we pleased. We wore what we wanted (within the social restrictions of a conservative society).

During the first week of June I heard my company was back in business. I finally convinced my family that it was necessary for my sanity to go back to work. They agreed that I would visit the company (with two male bodyguards) and ask them if they had any work I could possibly take home and submit later on, or through the internet.

I packed my big bag of geeky wonders, put on my long skirt and shirt, tied back my hair and left the house with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

We had to park the car about 100m away because the road in front of the company was cracked and broken with the weight of American tanks. I half-ran, half-plodded up to the door, my heart throbbing in anticipation of seeing friends, colleagues, secretaries . . . just generally something familiar again in the strange new nightmare we were living.

Everything looked shabbier somehow, sadder. The maroon carpet lining the hallways was dingy and scuffed. The windows we had so diligently taped prior to the war were cracked in some places and broken in others.

I stood a moment, hesitantly, in the door. There were strange new faces - fewer of the old ones. The faces were sad and lethargic and exhausted.

I continued upstairs, chilled to the bone in spite of the muggy heat. My little room wasn’t much better off than the rest of the building. The desks were gone, papers all over the place . . . but A was there! I couldn’t believe it - a familiar, welcoming face. He looked at me for a moment, without really seeing me, then his eyes opened wide.He congratulated me on being alive, asked about my family and told me that he wasn’t coming back after today, things had changed. I should go home and stay safe. He was quitting, going to find work abroad. Nothing to do here any more. I told him about my plan to work at home and submit projects. He shook his head sadly.

I stood staring at the mess for a few moments longer, trying to sort out the mess in my head, my heart being torn to pieces. My cousin and E were downstairs, waiting for me. There was nothing more to do.

A and I left the room and started making our way downstairs. We paused on the second floor and stopped to talk to one of the former directors. His eyes stayed glued to A’s face as he told him that females weren’t welcome right now. He finally turned to me and told me, in so many words, to go home because "they" refused to be responsible for what might happen to me. There was a hostility I couldn’t believe.

Okay. Fine. Your loss. I turned my back, walked down the stairs. E and the cousin were looking grim.

I must have been looking broken, because they rushed me out of the first place I had ever worked. I cried bitterly all the way home; cried for my job, cried for my future and cried for the torn streets, damaged buildings and crumbling people.

I’m one of the lucky ones . . . I’m not important. I’m not vital. Over a month ago, a prominent electrical engineer (one of the smartest females in the country) named Henna Aziz was assassinated in front of her family - two daughters and her husband.

She was threatened by some fundamentalists from (the Iraqi extremist) Badir’s Army and told to stay at home because she was a woman, she shouldn’t be in charge. She refused - the country needed her expertise - she was brilliant. She would not and could not stay at home. They came to her house one evening: men with machineguns broke in and opened fire. She lost her life. She wasn’t the first, she won’t be the last.

This is an extract from Baghdad Burning by Riverbend, which was included on the long list for the Samuel Johnson Prize last week. These blogs were posted during 2003. The book is published by Marion Boyars Publishers at £7.99. Copies can be ordered for £7.59 including postage from The Sunday Times BooksFirst on 0870 165 8585

Gives us all a lot to think about...

Star Trek Karaoke (The Original Cast)

current mood: Too Funny!!!

I about pee'd myself...



Cheers!

Steph the muppet, Di the bus driver and more

current mood: Laughing...

First, since everyone kept needing to see it again, here is the now infamous Muppet Stephanie:



And then, this is hilarious... click on the YouTube TV to watch "The Bus Driver":



Christy's Sprinkler Dance:

Christy & Gordon's Wedding Pictures (and more...)

current mood: Happy!

just a quick update: here are the pictures from Christy & Gordon's Wedding Weekend and some from MyMartini where we planned the Brad Thompson gift...


Christy & Gordon


Christy & Brad Thompson

www.flickr.com logansweblog's 2006-03-04 MyMartini photoset

The father of the Bride

www.flickr.com logansweblog's 2006-03-17 Rehearsal Dinner photoset

Where is the Bride?!!???!


Christy in all her splendor!


Gordon & Christy

www.flickr.com logansweblog's 2006-03-18 Christy & Gordon's Wedding photoset

Enjoy!!!

Logan's Valentine to the World

current mood: Loving!


Ok, its Valentine's Day, and I thought as a Valentine to all my loyal reader's I would give you bunch in tidbits as my Valentine to you all! -- a lot of this info comes directly from the Wikipedia entry for Valentine's Day

How people celebrate Valentine's Day around the world?

JAPAN
In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated on two different dates...February 14 and March 14. On the first date, the female gives a gift to the male and on the second date...known as White Day and supposedly introduced by a marshmallow company in the 1960s...the male has to return the gift he received on February 14. Thus, strictly speaking, a Japanese female has the luxury of actually choosing her own gift. Chocolate is the most popular gift in Japan. However, since most Japanese females believe that store-bought chocolate is not a gift of true love, they tend to make the confection with their own hands.

KOREA
The traditional gift of candy takes place in Korea on February 14, but only from females to males. There is another special day for males to give gifts to females and this is celebrated on March 14. Very similar to the custom in Japan, March 14 in Korea is known as "White Day." On "White Day," many young men confess their love for the first time to their sweethearts. For those young people who have no particular romantic partners, the Koreans have set aside yet another date...April 14, also known as "Black Day." On that date, such individuals get together and partake of Jajang noodles, which are black in color, hence the name of the day.

TAIWAN
Valentine's Day is celebrated in Taiwan on February 14, but there is also a special Valentine's Day on July 7 of the lunar calendar, based on an ancient Chinese folk tale. Both dates are equally as important. Many men purchase expensive bouquets of roses and other flowers for their sweethearts on these days. According to Taiwan tradition, the color and number of the roses holds much significance. For example, one red rose means "an only love," eleven roses means "a favorite," ninety-nine roses means "forever," and one hundred eight roses means "marry me."

CHINA
In Chinese Culture, there is a similar counterpart of the Valentine's Day. It is called "The Night of Sevens", on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar; the last one being August 11, 2005 [2]. (A slightly different version of this day is celebrated in Japan as Tanabata, on July 7th (the same day, but transcribed to the solar calendar)).

GREAT BRITAIN
In Great Britain on Valentine's Day Eve, women used to pin four bay leaves to the corners of their pillow and eat eggs with salt replacing the removed yokes. They believed they would then dream of their future husbands. Also, women used to write their lover's names on paper and put them on clay balls which they would drop into the water. They believed that whichever paper came up first, that man would be their future husband.

DENMARK
In Denmark, people swap poems and candy snowdrops. Some people also send, not serious love notes, but laughable notes which are called gaekkebrev (joking letters). On the gaekkebrev, the sender signs his or her name in dots. If the receiver guesses the correct name then the sender will get a candy egg at Easter time.

GERMANY, AUSTRIA, USA, & SPAIN
Germans, Austrians and some Americans who share this tradition give roses, chocolates etc to their wives. In other countries such as Spain, the wives give gifts to the husband while the husband gives flowers to his wife.

ITALY
In Italy, it is a tradition to get engaged on Valentine's Day, February 14. Some shops sell china baskets and cups which are filled with Valentine candies and tied with ribbon which you can give as Valentine presents.

IRAN
In Persian Culture (Iran) this popular date is discreetly celebrated by most lovers despite the disapproval of such occasion by the hardline Islamic government as a copycat of the west, but Persian youths and adults manage to celebrate following the traditions of the west disregarding the limitations and restrictions imposed by the government.

BRAZIL
In Brazil, there is no such day as Valentine's Day. Instead, on June 12, "Dia dos Namorados" (lit. "Day of the enamored", or "Boyfriend's/Girlfriend's Day") is celebrated. On this day, boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, exchange gifts (lingerie, chocolates, and more), cards and usually a flower bouquet. This day is chosen probably because it is one day before the Saint Anthony's day, there known as the marriage saint, when many single women perform popular rituals in order to find a good husband (or, more modernly, a boyfriend).

COLOMBIA
In Colombia, the "Día del amor y la amistad" (lit. "Love and Friendship Day") is celebrated on the third Friday and Saturday in September, because of commercial issues. In this country the Amigo secreto ("Secret friend") tradition is quite popular, which consists of randomly assigning to each participant a recipient who is to be given an anonymous gift (similar to the Christmas tradition of Secret Santa).

MEXICO
In Mexico, the "Día del amor y la amistad" is celebrated similar to Colombia but this one falls on February 14.

FINLAND
In Finland, Valentine's Day is called "Ystävänpäivä" which translates into Friend's day. As the name says the day is more about remembering your friends than your loved ones.

SLOVENIA
In Slovenia, a proverb says that St Valentine brings the keys of roots so on 14th February plants and flowers start to grow. Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the day when the first works in the vineyards and on the fields commence. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day. Nevertheless, it has only recently been celebrated as the day of love. The day of love is traditionally 12th March, the Saint Gregory's day. Another proverb says "Valentin - prvi spomladin" (Valentine-first man of spring), as in some places (especially White Carniola) Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring.

Facts & Legends

• The reason for St. Valentine's fame in one story is that he broke Roman law and married people in secret. Christian legend says that Valentine’s Day is the Feast of St. Valentine. In 270 A.D., the Roman Emperor Claudius II did not want any marriages to take place during wartime. He believed married men made poor soldiers. But Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed wedding ceremonies. Valentine was jailed and then executed on February 14, by order of the Emperor. Hence, the name and celebration of love on February 14.
• In another story he was a priest that also cared for the sick. In this story he was executed merely for his beliefs.
• In either case on the day he was to be executed (February 14) he had a visitor and gave her a note to reassure her that said "from your Valentine" -- this seems to be the origin of the tradition.
• In order of popularity, Valentine's Day cards are given to: teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts
• The expression "wearing your heart on your sleeve" comes from a Valentine's Day party tradition. Young women would write their names on slips of paper to be drawn by young men. A man would then wear a woman's name on his sleeve to claim her as his valentine.
• People also believed that birds began mating on February 14. The idea of lovebirds soon became associated with Saint Valentine, and the custom of sending cards or small gifts on his feast day is centuries' old.
• As for the heart-shape cards: Since ancient times, the heart has symbolized love, both human and divine.
• 15% of US women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
• The record for the most couples kissing at once is 1600.
• Valentine's Day is the second largest card-sending holiday in the United States.
• In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, 'You unlock my heart!'
• Red roses are the single most popular flower to give on Valentine's Day.
• Chinese Valentine's Day is not celebrated on February 14, but on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This year it will be August 25.

How "I LOVE YOU" is said around the world:

• Bulgarian - Obicham te
• Burmese - chit pa de
• Cambodian - Bon sro lanh oon
• Cambodian - kh_nhaum soro_lahn nhee_ah
• Canadian - French Sh'teme
• Cantonese - Moi oiy neya
• Cantonese - Ngo oi ney
• Croatian - LJUBim te
• Danish - Jeg elsker dig
• Dutch - Ik hou van jou
• Dutch - Ik ben verliefd op je
• Filipino - Mahal ka ta
• Filipino - Iniibig Kita
• Finnish - Mina" rakastan sinua
• French - Je t'aime
• French - Je t'adore
• Gaelic - Ta gra agam ort
• German - Ich liebe Dich
• Greek - s'ayapo
• Greek (old) - (Ego) philo su
• Hungarian - Szeretlek
• Hungarian - Szeretlek te'ged
• Indonesian - Saya cinta padamu
• Indonesian - Saya cinta kamu
• Indonesian - Saya kasih saudari
• Iranian - Mahn doostaht doh-rahm
• Irish - taim i' ngra leat
• Italian - ti amo
• Italian - ti voglio bene
• Japanese - Kimi o ai shiteru
• Japanese - Aishiteru
• Japanese - Chuu shiteyo
• Japanese - Ora omee no koto ga suki da
• Japanese - Ore wa omae ga suki da
• Japanese - Suitonnen
• Japanese - Sukiyanen
• Japanese - Sukiyo
• Japanese - Watashi Wa Anata Ga Suki Desu
• Japanese - Watashi Wa Anata Wo Aishithe Imasu
• Japanese - Watakushi-wa anata-wo ai shimasu
• Japanese - Suki desu
• Romanian - Te iu besc
• Romanian - Te Ador
• Russian - Ya vas liubliu
• Russian - Ya tebya liubliu
• Russian - Ya polubeel s'tebya
• Russian - Ya Tibieh Lublue
• Scot Gaelic - Tha gradh agam ort
• Serbian - ljubim te
• Spanish - Te quiero
• Spanish - Te amo
• Swedish - Jag a"lskar dig
• Swiss-German - Ch'ha di ga"rn
• Thai - Khao Raak Thoe
• Thai - Phom Rak Khun
• Vietnamese - Em yeû anh
• Vietnamese - Toi yeû em
• Vietnamese - Anh yeû em
• Welsh - 'Rwy'n dy garu di.
• Welsh - Yr wyf i yn dy garu di (chwi)
• Yiddish - Ich libe dich
• Yiddish - Ich han dich lib
• Yiddish - Ikh Hob Dikh Lib
• Yugoslavian - Ya te volim

Have a wonderful day!

P.S. The song above is Karla & Richard's song!

Book Review: The Loch by Steve Alten

current mood: Feeling Smart...

Here is the latest book that Richard read to me:



Yes, it's the same Steve Alten of MEG: A Novel of Deep Terror fame, and in this new book he takes on the mythical "Nessie" from Scotland and gives her the realistic feel you always wanted to see, but of course, never to experience.

The story follows the lead character Zachary Wallace, who is a descendant of the great William Wallace. Zachary is young but very successful marine biologist who dutifully tries to stay as far away from cryptozoology as possible, but is eventually dragged back to Loch Ness after his father is put on trial for murder with his only alibi being that "Nessie did it"!

Alten goes through some pretty porous theories to prove that a creature like Nessie can even exist, from Templar Knights to Darwin and other evolutionists’ quotes. There are times when he describes how difficult it is to search the Loch that it makes you believe that something actually could exist... after all new creatures are found in the ocean all the time, and if there is a connection to the North Sea from Loch Ness, then who knows what may actually live in those waters.

If you have read any books by Alten before, then you know that there has to be a monster and it has to be dealt with. Zachary enlists his boyhood friend, True McDonald, and his sister Brandy, who also doubles as his love interest, and together (and sometimes against each other) they set about trying to figure out the monster and destroy it.

Over all Alten gives the readers of monster books a great leisure read. It never gets too deep into the science, but rather just enough to make you think... "hmmmm, maybe..."

How I Met Your Mother

current mood: Cool...

Back when Friends ended, I though that maybe, just maybe Joey would be able to keep the great laughs going. Not that Joey is bad, but it is really just not the same...

So by chance Richard and I were flipping channels one day last fall season when we just happened to be on CBS and low and behold we came across the Pilot to a new show about 5 (not 6), twenty-somethings who are starting their new lives after college in Manhattan. And guess what... its not Friends and that is a good thing, instead its about Ted and his roommate Marshall, who is engaged to Lily, the band-camp-girl from American Pie, and they all live together. Ted has a crazy friend named Barney, who used to be Doogie Howser, who you would think might have retained he sweet prodigical personality from that show, but instead we were pleasantly surprised that he instead has the almost-a-jerk attitude from playing himself in "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle". Rounding out the cast is the girl who Ted has been in love with since the pilot, Robin, but surprisingly is outed early on as not being the "mother" in the "How I Met Your Mother".



Does it sound interesting? Even if my description falls way short of enticing you, I still highly reccommend that you take a chance and watch the show... Monday's at 7:30 PM on CBS. You'll thank me after you're hooked!

Anyway, this whole entry was prompted by the fact that the best music is played on the show, so I look it up here in the episode guide to find out the titles and artists so I can add it to Richard's iPod. I am adding a cool link to the episode guide on the right, so be sure and check it out occasionaly.

UTEP Game, Ricky Martin & Il Sole

current mood: Happy Dance!

Here are the latest pictures... I write more when I get some time... but just a quick piece of news... Richard bought me a new 55" HD TV! WOOHOO!!!


At SMU watching UTEP WIN!!!

True Orange Miners!

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2006-01-11) UTEP v SMU photoset

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www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2006-01-19) Ricky Martin photoset

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Enjoying the cool breeze outside of Il Sole


The men enjoying Cathy's seductive company!


Richard returns the favors for the women!

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2006-01-21) Il Sole & Bodega Wine Bar photoset

Picture Updates from the Holiday!

current mood: Happy!

I am trying to stay current. I know I have not written in a while, but its been hectic with the parties and Christmas, but its been a blast! I miss my family that was here visiting, and I still go to each of the other rooms to look for them every morning... I hope to see them again soon!

So here are some pictures of what we did over the holidays so far!

Karla, Juan & AnnaBelle at Buffalo Wild Wings

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2005-12-16) Pre Graduation photoset

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I am incredibly proud of my Karla! She is soooo Awesome!

Karla receives her Master's from Texas Woman's University

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2005-12-17) Karla's Graduation photoset

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Karla's with the Dallas Peeps


Karla with her Family


Karla with El Paso Friends and Family

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2005-12-17) Karla's Party photoset

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Me with my Family (wearing my hat that I got from my Tia Gaby)


At the Gaylord Texan

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2005-12-18) Gaylord Texan photoset

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Louisiana State Line

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2005-12-20) Horseshoe Casino photoset

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Renett and Richard eating sushi

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2005-12-23) Christmas Shopping & Stuff photoset

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Christmas at Ernie & Claudia's


Ivanna Luz wearing Lolly's "dress"


Giosué relaxing

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2005-12-23) Christmas Eve photoset

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I have to admit, I do look cute in my Santa Hat!

www.flickr.com logansweblog's (2005-12-25) Christmas Day photoset

There will be more pictures coming after the New Year Celebration... and from our new digital camera too!

Merry Christmas to all, and have a Happy and Safe New Year's Celebration! Love Ya!