All Things Considered has long been influencing my position on social, political and trivial matters. Like so many other NPR programs, they often seek out not only remarks from obvious "big-ticket" personalities, but also from stake-holders and academics. So, when I heard AG McDaniel's interview on the health care reform act, I was impressed. He quickly focused this on the legal issues and the responsibility for execution. This next era is about to an example of the interplay between the branches of our government with judicial examinations in to the constitutional nature of the Act. And a challenge in the execution of the federal mandate at a state level. Big points out to McDaniel for his citations to landmarks of this classic clash. These are historic times. These basic, primary issues are the monuments and landmarks for the future. Again, impressed. Later folks.
05 April 2010
¿Dónde Está la Biblioteca?
It's been a difficult transition, back to the real world after taking vacation.
As for the chance to speak some Spanish? Utter disappointment. After years, mind you, YEARS of diligent study -in the windowless, concrete block classroom with the low table and pillow in the corner with the dimmed lights, eccentric music and cluster/bunch seating arrangements - but still YEARS of diligent study, I didn't use that phrase a single time while I was on the Yucatán peninsula. All of those words, I flaunted with ease for years still remain untested. I could not find (and I tried) a single situation in which to use "¡Albóndigas! No te dije?" or Tegucigalpa. Why didn't someone warn me? Could it be that the Spanish-speaking world I experienced in that windowless, concrete block classroom with the low table and pillow in the corner with the dimmed lights, eccentric music and cluster/bunch seating arrangements wasn't reflective of an expected experience in Latin America? But, looking back on those years, that room WAS kind of a foreign land with it's own language and culture. Oh yeah, and those strange rituals.
But hey, I got to say Xtabentún and I even bought a nice-sized bottle and brought it home. Later folks.
As for the chance to speak some Spanish? Utter disappointment. After years, mind you, YEARS of diligent study -in the windowless, concrete block classroom with the low table and pillow in the corner with the dimmed lights, eccentric music and cluster/bunch seating arrangements - but still YEARS of diligent study, I didn't use that phrase a single time while I was on the Yucatán peninsula. All of those words, I flaunted with ease for years still remain untested. I could not find (and I tried) a single situation in which to use "¡Albóndigas! No te dije?" or Tegucigalpa. Why didn't someone warn me? Could it be that the Spanish-speaking world I experienced in that windowless, concrete block classroom with the low table and pillow in the corner with the dimmed lights, eccentric music and cluster/bunch seating arrangements wasn't reflective of an expected experience in Latin America? But, looking back on those years, that room WAS kind of a foreign land with it's own language and culture. Oh yeah, and those strange rituals.
But hey, I got to say Xtabentún and I even bought a nice-sized bottle and brought it home. Later folks.
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