The Secret of Eternal Life

Yesterday was the 100 birthday of Johnny Mercer, famous lyricist and singer and it brought something to mind. As Westerners we are deftly afraid of death we do not want to die and we will do anything to prolong life.
We see death as the end and it probably is at least from the physical side true but there is more to life than the physical life and people like Johnny Mercer teach us this. Mr. Mercer has been physically dead for the last 38 years but his spirit lives on through what he gave to the world.
I often find myself whistling or singing one of his tunes like " Blues in the Night", "Jeepers Creepers" or "Moon River" every time this happens whether it is me or Tony Bennett Johnny Mercer lives.
This also comes to mind when I think of Michael Jackson and think that this rare human being was ageless, timeless and will always live in the hearts and minds of the world. His music,manner and style will never be repeated. Michael lives on.
We all will live on when we depart the physical world through everyone who knew us even if if it was just one person.
I often think of this because my father as the result of a stroke is in a nursing home. Physically he is not the person that he once was but I will always remember him in the way he has been. When he finally departs this world he will live on . I remember his wit, strength, compassion and sense of humor all of which I have inherited. To know me is to know him and through me and everyone who knew him he will live on.Do you know who told me this? My father.

Happy Birthday to Me

Today I celebrated my birthday and it was today as it always has been, a very special day.
When I was younger, it was special because I got a special gift and a cake and ice cream where everyone in the room sang happy birthday, gave me my special present and a good time was had by all.
When I got older, I asked my mother for pizza instead of a cake, I think it was something that I saw on an Archie comic book cover but my mother who was always a good sport went the extra mile and not only gave me a pizza for my birthday but made it from scratch with all of my favorite toppings. She did this for the rest of my childhood and teen years.
Because we had such a big family and I had few friends, I never had a birthday party and have only had three in my entire life. As I got older, I discovered the the real importance of birthdays and the real gifts that we receive.
A birthday is a celebration of one of the most important days of our life, the day we left the protection of our mother's womb and began our life in the outside world. The day we went from being an expectation to a person it must be and should be the greatest day of our life.
As for gifts the greatest ones we receive are the ones from those closest to us . My parents gave me the greatest gift of all, they gave me life and made me the person that I am. My sisters gave me the love of siblings. All three of them would do anything for me and I them. They would rush to my side if and when I am in need. My family gives me family love that couples praise with criticism. My love for my wife and daughter is unconditional as is their love for me. This is a gift that is priceless and like many gifts is returnable.
My friends give me the gift of friendship that goes beyond all boundaries and is requited . My friends give me both support and criticism they share in my good times and bad. There has never been a time when they did not come when I needed them and made me feel better than I did before they came. sometimes they say everything sometimes nothing.
I received the gift of writing from my grandmother who could always spin a good yarn on the front porch of our house. She told me that all is possible with faith not just faith in a higher being but yourself. She like my parents gave me the gift of learning and the love of learning.
When I think about this birthday, I am happy to say that my cup runneth over with gifts and will never become empty.
Happy birthday to me.

I live in Charlie Brown Land

When I moved to Minnesota over 20 years ago there was this sense of that I had left the United States and gone into a totally different world, Charlie Brown land. Recently, I watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and I realized that Minnesota is so Charlie Brown Not because Charles Schultz was born and raised in Minnesota but there is an air about this place that brings to mind kids skating on a winter frozen pond safe, secure and without a care.
In Charlie Brown land there are diners on every block and fresh bakeries on every corner. When I first arrived here, there was a malt shoppe on the corner of Randolph and Snelling called the James Soda Grill, where you could still get milk shakes, fries and grilled cheese sandwiches for a great price. The soda jerk even had the traditional white uniform, garrison cap and all and this was 1988.
In Charlie Brown land, the politics are as clean as the streets and as liberal as the portions at Keys Cafe. Education was a priority in Charlie Brown land where in Garrison Keillor's words the children are above average as noted from the test scores.
In Charlie Brown land, the snow falls every winter and it is greeted with joy instead of disgust. Kids still skate on frozen ponds or ice rinks and hockey is not hokey . In Charlie Brown land people still have that sing-song accent that can lull you to sleep and make you dream of better times.
Sometimes it is almost like Minnesota is in a time warp stuck between Eisenhower and Nixon and sometimes it is past George Jetson. Charlie Brown land is not some fictional place in the mind of a dreamer, it is a real and vibrant place where life is lived and changes are made.
Minnesota may be Charlie Brown land but that's OK because I am Charlie Brown.

Heros Are Not Perfect

The other day. I was reading one of my favorite books " The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" and another teacher came into the room and she said, " Why are you reading about Theodore Roosevelt." I said that Roosevelt was one of my heroes growing up and he still is. She reminded that Theodore Roosevelt was against immigrants and was an imperialist. My response was no body's perfect. I knew all of the negatives about TR long before this person ever learned them . What makes Theodore Roosevelt and for that matter President Barack Obama my heroes is because as presidents they did something, they were agents of change.
President Roosevelt offered the "Square Deal" the first attempt by a president since Abraham Lincoln to better the quality of life for all Americans. He seriously looked at the health and well-being of all Americans. President Obama is taking on the hurdle of health care reform which will change the way we live for generations to come.
President Obama is not perfect and neither was president Roosevelt but what they desire for all Americans and the actions they take have changed and will change this nation for the better.
President Roosevelt gave us safe food and drugs to consume, the national parks, a regulated business community, a second to none military and national security. President Obama is trying and I think he will succeed , health care for all, quality schools, a strong economy and an America that is not the policeman of the world but an equal player in world affairs that dose not deal the cards but is an equal player with other countries.
Neither of these men is perfect and one of the problems with politics and voting is that we often try to find the most perfect person to lead us and that perfection does not always spell success.
TR had the same vision and vigor that President Obama has, the same sense of change and the courage to follow through and he received the same criticism everything from is youth and lack of experience to his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize.
These presidents are not perfect nor do they have the divine right of a kings . The president is, simply put, a real man not a perfect machine, he will make mistakes along the way but in his heart, his belief in America , who we are and what we can become makes both of these men great and always my hero's

The Bond

The fraternity and sorority system is often put down by the people from the outside looking in because they do not know what that bond means to many of of us who were involved in that system.
The only reference the general public has for fraternities and sororities is through movies. It is either Animal House, a light comedy where the frats are either blitzed out or sadistic or Fraternity row where, they are all pretty much sadistic, racist, exclusive and any other negative stereotypes that the movie view can conjure up but there is another story of fraternity life that is rarely told in the movies or the media. It is the story of a young man who did not make friends easily and who was often put into categories that he did not belong in . It is my story and the other young men who meant a great deal to me in college who accepted me for who I was and became some of my best friends.
United by the bond of Kappa Alpha Psi we, laughed together sometimes cried but always shared what we had. I transferred from another school and the brothers of the delta delta chapter at Jackson State unconditionally took me in. Finally, I could be who I was and be that way around other people who accepted me for who I was . I was a Kappa man and that was all that mattered.
My style, thoughts and dreams were often different from theirs but we were united in the bond. To this day, I have few associates who are as accepting and supportive but these young men all of these young men were.
Fraternities are not about , drinking, womanizing and exclusion. Fraternities are about about acceptance, support and inclusion. It has been over 25 years since I have seen many of these guys but the bond we had is still strong and lifelong.
Fraternities and sororities may not be for everyone but for me they made all of the difference. Me the permanent outsider, found a home and solace with Kappa. Wherever I go whatever I do I know that Kappas worldwide are my brothers and they accept me unconditionally without reservations and I the same with them.
Here is to the men of Delta Delta chapter and the impact they had on my life then and today. I may not always wear the shirt on my back or the ring on my finger but I will always have Kappa Alpha Psi in my heart.

Education is the Thing

I am currently writing this blog from the the Education Minnesota Professional Conference taking place in Saint Paul Minnesota Thursday and Friday making it s 4 day weekend four-day weekend for teachers and students and believe me we need it. All of that aside, it came to me while walking around the exhibits that we have a pretty good thing with public education. The high school where I teach, Central High School recently had an assembly to induct alumni into the Hall of Fame.
What was unique about this was that the the inductees came from all walks of life. They were professors, lawyers and community leaders with one thing in common they graduated from our high school. One came from around the block and another from the jungles of Columbia. They all were accomplished in their fields and would be considered successful in any gathering. Lastly they were products of the public schools not just Central but the University of Minnesota as well.
This coincidence is not just the Minnesota miracle but the American miracle that allows any one regardless of their circumstances to get a quality education and go on to a life of success and security . I tell my students every day that you sit in the place where millionaires once sat, where judges and professors once sat and where artists hone their art.
Many of my former students have realized and have gone on to lucrative careers . They have become learned professionals and they all came through Central high. It is not enough to tell teachers they are doing a great job we can look around and see that but it is important that all of us know that quality schools are the foundation of our society, the corner of our American way of life and we must do all that is necessary to see that public schools always provide the best for the future.

The Cool and the Uncool

Someone once asked me the definition of cool. I said my definition of cool is some who is not affected.
What I mean by that is in America, we often follow the crowd and pay little attention to our own path. Trends lead the nation and many people follow them because they think they are cool.
When I lived in Washington DC in the 1980s Reggae was all the rage. I knew people who spent every night at the Saba Club on Connecticut Avenue. Many of these people bought all of the albums and even went so far as to grow dreadlocks. Most of these people failed the cool test and passed the affected test.
What are these tests you might ask? I will start with the affected test. Upon questioning these people about Reggae and It's roots most of them knew nothing about it. The only person who actually knew Reggae's roots and spiritual meaning was M.L. Johnson, she was from Omaha, Nebraska but she had been a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica and had developed a fondness for the music and culture of the island. M.L. failed the affected test but she passed the cool test . She marched to her own drummer and did not care who knew it. The rest passed the affected test.
You pass the affected test if you a. follow the crowd and b. have no idea of what direction that you are going in . The cool lead the way. Do you think Charlie Parker cared what other people thought about his sound. Someone asked him once why did he play anchors aweigh right in the middle of one of his pieces. He said with a straight face "you did'nt see the sailor come into the room. Do you think Andy Warhol cared that some of the critics did not like his conception of Marilyn Monroe. No. He said art is anything you can get away with. The cool set the trends and the uncool follow.
I come in contact we both types during the course of a day and realized that the world needs both and one can help the other learn and love this great world that we live in. So be uncool or cool but be something.

Nobody leaves here without singing the blues.

The other day, I was watching the movie "Cadillac Records" and something came over me, we live in a blue world and the blues is our oxygen. Listening to Muddy Waters and Little Walter brought home. In the words of Leroi Jones ( Amiri Baraka ) we are blues people. Whether we like it or not the lifeblood of every American is the blues.
The blues accounts our struggles and triumphs and tells us that today is not so good but tomorrow may be worst next week on the other hand may be alright.
Traditionally thought of as the music of Black America ( and it is) but it is also the music of the people who make this country good and bad. The blues was born of the sweat and toil of all Americans and Black America lent it's voice.
If the blues is the mother of all America, jazz is the father. I listen to the blues at work, at play, when I work out or just sit. I don't use drugs except for the blues, it is my high and my low. The blues keeps me company, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, KoKo Taylor and Little Walter are my house guests and accompany me to the gym . They make my workout smooth and ease the pain make me peddle faster and lift harder.
Buddy Guy is my muse along with Etta James and B.B. King.
Anyone who seeks inspiration should go no further than the nearest juke joint. Some hip hop artists are inspired by the blues and the good ones understand why. Hip hop is just the continuance of the blues, an expansion of the story. Hip hop is blues with an attitude and a business manager. Most great blues men from Leadbelly on have died with nothing more than the clothes on their backs . Some made it big but most met the fate of most blues men shot or stabbed over bad dice.
With all of that, the blues is still my anthem and always will be. In the words of Albert Collins, "Nobody Leaves Here without Singing the Blues." I think he meant nobody leaves life without singing the blues.

Chill Out

When someone rants and raves about how uncomfortable they are when people are speaking a language other English around them, I say "chill out" with a capital C.
The other day I listened to someone who got into a big argument with someone who felt in this person's words made them "very uncomfortable" about about three people were speaking Spanish to each other. That is so rude is one of the utterances that came out of this person's mouth followed by an experience that this person had before where they felt uncomfortable when other people felt comfort in speaking their own language.I have heard this before. In a class I was taking once, a woman felt comfortable in saying that she felt uncomfortable when Latino men spoke Spanish around her because she felt they were planning to do something to her.
I say again, "chill out" people speak other languages because they feel comfortable speaking in that language for a variety of reasons: It may be their first language and their speaking ability is better, they speak it with others because it gives the speakers a sense of comradery that other get by talking shop, jive or any of the things we talk about to create a circle of friends.
I am sure that people who speak languages other than English also feel uncomfortable in America especially Spanish and Arabic speakers but I rarely hear them rant about being uncomfortable around all of the English speakers.
Chill out and learn that this is not our world, we just live in it and whatever others choose to speak, so be it . It is easy to be the ugly American, we have been doing it for decades . Chill out, calm down and enjoy the ride.

Email You Fail

What happened to to the good old reliable email of years past. You know what I am talking about, when email was email.
I can remember opening my first email account with yahoo 9 years ago and it became my door to a new world, a world that I rarely visited,the world of cyberspace. It really was like going to a new world literally. The same day that I opened my email account was also the day that I got my first cell phone through Sprint. I was beginning my adventure through cyberspace.
That aside, what has happened to the email that I knew and trusted, I remember it well, you sent email, you received email and that was it. Things have changed quite a bit since 1999 when I first began email.
Today email is sometimes more of a hindrance than a help. Each day I get over 100 unsolicited emails . Some are just junk mail trying to sell you a good or a service others are just plain annoying.
For instance, how many times am I going to get an email from someone in Nigeria who wants me to help them withdraw thousands of dollars in frozen assets and they would be more than willing to split the money with me.
Are these Nigerian con-men stupid or do they think everyone else in the world is dumber than them. Either way, I wish they would stop wasting every one's time and realize that we in America have all heard of the pigeon drop .
If that were all I had to deal with in the email category it would be fine but every cheap scam and product is hawked on email. Everything from online degrees to timeshares and everything in-between.
Email used to be a nice refuge in the Cyber world from the conventionality of the real world. Now it's just the infomercial from hell that you meet every time you check your email. I remember when AOL would beckon to me, "you've got mail" and there were only a few messages in your box and they were from people you knew, not some Nigerian con-man who want a favor.

Cheap Eats , Good Treats

In today's tough economy, one has to find some financial relief. Since most of us are not Wall Street firms, values have to be found where you can find them. I have found my value oasis in Dinkytown, that enclave on the east bank of the University of Minnesota where bicycles outnumber cars and the diversity raises the diversity level throughout the state of Minnesota.
All of that aside if you want to eat cheap go to Dinkytown. I have made it my mission in life to sample every restaurant this area has to offer. Tonight I began with Binh and Duffy's Tavern.
Binh is a delightful pho restaurant behind the University technology center. What first struck me about this establishment was how clean and quiet it was. I did not do my bathroom test first but my server assured me that their bathroom was the cleanest. I sat down to a clean table near the window and began to peruse the menu. After a few moments, the server arrived. To start with I ordered what I always order when I have pho , crispy Vietnamese egg rolls , next I asked the server if they had grilled pork meatball bun alas, they did not. I asked why and she said it was on the menu but they removed it because it was not popular. At first, I was taken aback because grilled meatball is my favorite bun. She calmed my senses and assured me that the grilled pork bun was excellent.
When the egg rolls arrived they were as good and crispy as they always are and the bun was fantastic. It had plenty of well-grilled meat that was throughout the salad. In some bun you sometimes have to send out a search party to look for the scarce supply of meat. There was also an even distribution of veggies throughout the salad as well.
I was not just pleased with the meal but also with the price. For a little over $10 I had a good meal and ample change from my twenty.
Leaving Binh, I decided to go to Duffy's tavern for one reason, curiosity . I live in Saint Paul's Highland Park and there is a house on Fairview street that has a truck parked next to it with the sign Duffy's Tavern Dinkytown Pizza on the door. I have often said to myself while passing the truck that I was going to find Duffy's Tavern, tonight I did.
Duffy's is an unassuming place with pictures on the wall of what I assume is the owners many trips. I went up to the counter and ordered a slice of sausage pizza to go. The order came to $3.80 . When paying, I saw their late night special, a slice for 99 cents truly a value. When I brought the slice home and ate it it was New York heaven better than most in the cities and up there with Rays Pizza of New York.
So for roughly 14 dollars, I sampled two of Dinkytown's finest and have enough money left over to sample more. The journey continues.

I love the night

I am one of the people you might call "early risers" . I love to wake up early and watch television, go off to the gym and come back and work on my blogs, come up with ideas for school and find out the news before the rest of the world wakes up. That is easy to do in my house because I am at least up 3 to 4 hours before anyone else.

There is something mysterious about being up before dawn almost spiritual. You can't just get up however, you have to do something, run, walk, write study, something but you can't say you are up and continue to sleep while the t.v. is on. It is said that Thomas Jefferson did not let the sunrise catch him in bed. He began his day in the dark, reading, writing and planning our nation's future. He probably got more done before sunrise that most of us get done all day.

With the exception of owning 300 slaves, I try to pattern my life after Thomas Jefferson in the sense that I try to start my day early with purpose. As I write this, piece, I have already been up for 5 hours. See you tomorrow. Early!!!

It Feels good to be Done

Yesterday, I was done.
What dose this mean? It means that I did everything yesterday that I said I was going to do. I worked out, completed work assignments and attended my daughter's soccer game.
Accomplishment is the blood of life, frustration sets in when we cannot do all that we set out to do.
I have always been one that has tried to complete all of the goals that I set out to do. From graduating from high school and college to earning my latest graduate degree in technical communications. I have always tried to complete my tasks. I am not the greatest runner in the world but I completed the Twin Cities marathon and received a medal for it. I was tired toward the end but continued because I had made a commitment. I have not always been rewarded for my accomplishments by others but the self fulfillment that I receive from my accomplishments far outweighs what others think or do not think. These accomplishments have also made me always qualified for any job that I would want to take.
If you want real fulfillment start completing tasks start with little ones and then go to bigger ones. Do not blame other people because the task is not complete. The choice is up to you whether to work toward a goal and finish it or use excuses as to why you did not. Excuses have never and will never replace accomplishments.

What the World Needs. Another Ipod

The other day, I received an email from apple that the new ipods have just come out . The new nano, touch and classic. I say to the people form Apple this is great, but do we really need a new ones?
Apple says that these new ipods are the best ever. That is what they said last fall when they came out with a new device. Apple, in many ways takes advantage of the consumer by dangling new things over their noses every three months.
It seems to me that Apple had the technology for all of the things they are presented this fall last fall. Don't you feel like a real smuck that you brought last year's ipod instead this years and because you want an ipod that records video, does voice-overs and has the ultimate in mp3 players the coveted FM tuner.
You now want to go out and but this new ipod and give to old one to your nephew for a graduation present( hey that's a good idea) he'll never know.
I love apple products and have had very little trouble with any of them but enough is enough. Do us a favor apple only present new ipods every two years to give us time to save up the money to buy it. Or not.

Don't Disect the Check

How many of you go out to dinner with cheap friends who practice one of the most annoying things known to the population of us who dine out. Check surgery.
What might you ask is check surgery. It is when you go out with your friends and everyone orders pretty much the same thing and enjoys it until the bill comes. When the bill comes your fellow diners sink deep into what I call check denial.
Check denial takes place in 3 steps: 1. Viewing the bill and thinking"how did we spend that much". 2. The other person or couple ate more than their share. 3. Separating what you purchased from what everyone else purchased and proclaiming loudly, " my portion of the bill comes to $35.00."
This is called bill dissection. You can always spot the would-be check surgeon because they always grab the bill first and begin the process. Those who are better in math figure out their portion secretly in their heads and then pass the bill on to their unsuspecting companions.
Even though everyone ordered entrees similar in price the rest of the group is always stuck with paying more. The other annoying thing about check surgeons is that they never claim the appetizer. Even if they eat half or most of it. If they did not say at the beginning, "lets order chicken wings," they do not want to split the cost of them so the rest of the group is forced to pay for an appetizer and most of the cost of wine. I end up paying for wine at dinner and I don't even drink.
You might ask, " how does a dinner party defend itself from these butchers. Here is a good tip. At the start of the meal, all diners create a pot. As in poker, everyone contributes the same to the pot. $20 is a good standard for this pot. This will cover appetizers and wine. Four people $80. Five people $100. This may sound silly but it may help you being stuck with a large bill that you are only partly responsible for.
So if the bill comes to $200 and there are 4 people, even if check the ripper wants to pay for their portion they have already paid $20 and this relieves the burden for the rest of the group.
The easiest way to deal with this of course is to simply split the check in even portions and not nickel and dime your fellow diners with the game of who bought what.
Even Steven as they used to say it works and everyone usually leaves with a sense that justice was done. The check cut and paste specialist may not like this and their argument usually goes like this " you guys ate more that me." If you eat out with the same people all the time, it balances itself out . Of course the person who is worse than the check surgeon is the one who loudly proclaims at the start of the meal the often used phrase,"separate checks." This type is worst than the check surgeon because they from the beginning have no sense of fairness or justice.
For both of these types , I say if you can't work it out exclude them from your dinner lists. Dining should be a pleasant experience not a math lesson.

A modest Proposal

I am sitting in a classroom where it is 80 degrees outside and about 95 degrees inside. At the end of the day around 6th hour it is miserable. I have never been to hell but i suspect that it is something like Central high school at 6th hour during the month of September.
The air is still and so thick that one could cut it with a knife. As I look at the bottle of hand sanitizer on my desk it reminds me of the air in my class room. What makes matters worse is that the 9th graders, innocent children that they are, who have done nothing to anyone have to suffer this fate worse than death daily. As I teach, they sit lifeless on the brink of collapse but good troopers that they are fight everything to stay alert.
If we really want improve education as a nation, the first thing we should do is improve the environment and make it as conducive to learning as possible. Air conditioning would be a start. Adequate computers and cold water fountains would finish it.
Students want to learn but it is hard when they have to struggle to stay comfortable in this tropical rain forest we call high school.

School Days School Days

Today was the first day of school and it was great not just because it is a work day that I get paid for. I got paid for the previous week but I did not feel the same. The first day of school is unlike no other. Why, you might ask? because the week before even if it was filled with staff returning from their summer breaks with a number of stories about the trips they took and did not take. It's different with kids, they do not have complete control over their lives and school gives them what vacation does not semblance of order and an investment in the future.
When the students are tin the building, they breathe life into to . They perform CPR on an otherwise dying structure . If schools have a life's blood, it is the students that attend it. Over the years that I have been associated with Central high school, I have seen students come and go so full of life and hope. Many are still around and some are not .
As they breathe life into the school, they also breathe it into the staff. Our principal has been with the school district for 40 years and she does not seem to have missed a step. I think that secretly she has found the fountain of youth and it flows through the halls of Central high school.

Food Finds and Other Things: Chicago

Located in Chicago's south loop, a new restaurant has emerged in this tough economy and is surviving. When I describe the excellent ding experience, you will understand why. When I walked into the Gage yesterday, I thought it was going to be the typical of many of the fusion restaurants, overpriced and underfed but I was pleasantly surprised when it was neither.
Located just one door down from the Chicago Athletic Club, it is described by one of the clubs' members as a place to go when the 3 restaurants that the Chicago club runs are closed . So at 9:30 pm there were still a number of people seated and enjoying their meals. When I sat down, I ordered for appetizer 3 of the specialties of the house: chicken livers, Scotch Eggs and French Fries.
You can and should always judge a restaurant by their French fries for two reason: first it is the quintessential western side dish and frankly, if the french fries suck, you might as well order nothing else because the rest of the meal will probably stink too.
These French fries were heavenly and had a twist that set them above many of the fries that I have the pleasure to sample, they offered a curried gravy for dipping.
Chicken livers are an acquired taste but they happen to be one of my favorite foods. These livers were excellent, they were well seasoned and served on a bed of lettuce . They were crisp and tasted the way livers should, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Next, I tried another food on my top ten food list, Scotch eggs. If you do not know what Scotch Eggs are, I will try to explain them to you. They are hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage, rolled in bread crumbs and deep fried ( as most things Scottish are) . With just the right amount sausage,bread crumbs fried to a crispy golden brown with grainy mustard on the side .
After the appetizers, I had their house burger, medium rare. As burgers go it was excellent, food of the gods and in my top 10 of great burgers.
With melted cheese, onions lettuce and tomatoes it was a basic burger, but in my humble opinion, that is what makes a burger good, when you add too much, you take away the flavor from the meat.
But that is for another discussion.
The other way to gauge (no pun intended ) a good restaurant is from the service that you receive and it was excellent . The server was not only attentive but had good knowledge and familiarity with the menu. Unlike some servers, the waiter actually likes food, wine and good service so he provides the same.
I left Gage last night with the sense that I would return soon and bring friends. I hope some of my readers will take the initiative, visit and see for themselves what a little oasis this is in the center of the south loop.

I am Proud to be an American: So Should You

I believe in the United States of America right or wrong up or down and I respect its' leaders whether I agree with them or not . I criticize them and inject my opinion when ever I can but I respect the government and its' leaders from president Barack Obama to Larry the letter carrier who delivers my mail 6 days a week.
I have always been this way, from when I was in elementary school through high school during the war in Vietnam to today. Republican or Democrat, I respect that leadership is a difficult task in America and I take my hat off to anyone who has the fortitude to serve. As a teacher , I teach my students to respect our leader and support them. I always say that I leaders all believe in the United States of America and the great democracy that we have they just differ on how the nation should be run and how we reach our goals.
When it is all said and done our nation is a work in progress and those architects who shape it come from many perspectives and experiences. I was always taught to respect the job even if I did not respect the person. I usually respect the person and the job, because as easy as it seems from the outside looking in the mantle of leadership is a heavy one. That is why the events of the past few days have been upsetting.
President Barack Obama has decided to speak to American school children on the first day of school for many of them and it has caused a big uproar. There are parents who are threatening to keep their children at home if districts run his message and some Republican leaders, including Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty have criticized the speech calling it a distraction.
I do not think that Governor Pawlenty or any governor of any state in the United States has the right to pass on a speech by the president of the United States. He not have supported President Obama in the election but he is the president now and he represents not just Democrats or the people that voted for him he represents all Americans and our American ideal. My country right or wrong my leader agree or disagree. This is what our American democracy is all about . Governor Pawlenty who has presidential aspirations should know better.
He should realize that in America there is no right or left just right and wrong and as the governor of the state of Minnesota he is wrong to impose his personal feelings on his office and use it as a weapon and not what it was intended to be used as, an instrument of democracy.
All of us have to realize that we can disagree without being disagreeable . In the eyes of many, this is politics as usual, but in my eyes it is an erosion of the political values that this country is supposed to espouse, respect our leaders, respectfully criticize them but work with them to achieve the American ideal of liberty, justice, equality and above all understanding that this country belongs to us all and all must be respected.

Travel Tip of the Day: Tip!!!!

Those of you who like me love to travel here is a tip from me, take care of the people who take care of you. I am referring to the people in the service industry who work hard to serve our every needs when we are away.
As a union man and an advocate for working men and women, I think that it is imperative that we all understand that people in the service work for and need tips.
The tip, the gratuity, taking care and hooking up. Whatever you call it make sure that if you receive service give your gratitude in the form of financial compensation.
Here are some guidelines that will make all who read this expert tippers.
First and foremost, know what the prevailing tip amount is in the area that you are in. Some areas 15% is acceptable in other areas it is 20% still others 25% is the going rate. You can find this information through travel guides and by simply asking.
Next tip for all service no matter what it is. Some people only tip when they are being served at a table by a server. Any place that you receive service you should tip. If you pick up carryout at a restaurant, tip. Someone had to prepare your food and package it for take out tip appropriately .
Pizza delivery the driver is just like a mobile server tip the same as you would tip a restaurant server. Even if you eat at a buffet, tip the person who brings you drinks and takes away your plates.
When you stay at a hotel you should not just tip the bellman and the doorman, tip the housekeeper as well, those people are not paid well to clean your room and they also have families to feed. When you check out leave an envelope on the sink with a few dollars in it this will be greatly appreciated.
The golden rule with tipping is any service that you are given provide monetary compensation, even if the service is not good. We all have bad days so do servers in many cases they have no control over whether your food comes out on time. There are kitchen fires and other mishaps that cause these delays do not blame the server, they work hard for you.
In short as my father always told me, and he should know because he spent most of his youth working in the service industry, if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to go out stay in until you do.

Tollbooth Etiquette

Today I drove from my home in Saint Paul Minnesota to Chicago. The highway is toll free until you get to Illinois for about one hour ( depending on where you exit) you pay about 4 tolls from the Illinois state line to the Chicago city limits.
What I have experience during this trek could make a book and I would call it tollbooth etiquette .
Since most of the toll roads have an e pass line there is not much contact with the tollbooth attendant and this leads to a culture that has become increasingly cold and distant. Attendants used to take your money with a smile and welcome to their section of the road . Many attendants barely give you a smile and seem impatient when you have to count out correct change and are not fast enough.
Today one attendant dared to boldly go where no attendant has gone before, he actually smiled and told me to have a nice day and a safe trip. He actually spoke more than two sentences, almost a paragraph.
The only other very positive tollbooth attendant experience occurred in July of 2007 When an attendant not only wished me a good day but she went above and beyond by giving me directions to downtown Evanston, Illinois.
These two experiences lead me to believe that there is hope for the tollbooth system in general and tollbooth attendants in particular. They are not all like the insensitive attendant in the movie, "The Godfather" that let Sonny Corleone meet his maker without any warning of preeminent danger . Many are like the attendant in 2007 that went above and beyond or the gentleman today who simply said hello and wished me a safe trip.
If tollbooth attendants can reform, maybe we all can just get along.

Old School vs. New School

What does it mean to you when someone says that something is old school. To me it means that it is classic and still applies to today like being a sharp dresser or knowing how to treat people right. Old school also means someone who is not afraid to be themselves no matter what the room says. If you have ever seen the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" the character Demone says it is the "the attitude" that no matter what the house is doing you do your own thing and you do not let someone else' attitude influence yours.
If someone is old school they are not interested in the status quo. Status is not important. Respect and reputation is. When you deal with an old school person you have to come correct. What does this mean? It means that you have to come to them with respect and they will accept nothing less. An old school person is known by their rep and no one crosses them because they do first and say later . They don't say of you come at me in a certain way I will punch you in the mouth an old school person just punches them in the mouth. Old school does and does not threaten . New school is bluff, smoke and mirrors. Old schools says your word is everything. New school says your word can be changed as it suits your needs. Old school is the ultimate in cool. New school is the ultimate in flash and shallowness.
Examples of old school guys and dolls: Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Malcom X, Robert F Kennedy,Stevie Wonder, Alan Ginsberg, Amelia Earhart, Lena Horne and Dinah Washington. Fictional characters: Humphrey Bogart, Jethro Gibbs from NCIS , Ed Deline from Las Vegas.
Old school is not just an attitude it is a lifestyle where you live by your wits and by your standard. We need more old school guys and less weak, whinny dishonest new school manipulators. People of action not faction those who have a passion not a fashion.

Something Called High School

Tomorrow is the freshman orientation at Central high school. I can remember my first day at that thing called high school.
It was 1972 when I entered high school and it was a mystery to me . I have two older sisters and they went to high school before me but I really knew nothing of it . During the time that I was growing up younger brothers and sisters usually did not visit their older siblings schools plus what is there for a boy to learn from an all-girls school?
So I was in a fog when I entered high school, there were no websites, no touring groups and few opportunities to view your new school. Students today at least have that advantage but little else.
Many of the students tomorrow will come through the doors of Saint Paul Central high school with apprehension . They are coming from schools where they were student council presidents, team captains, band section leaders, newspaper editors etc. They are all coming to Central as freshmen, the low end of the pyramid, the bottom of the heap, the Rodney Dangerfields of the school in that they get no respect. But it has to be that way, for if it was not what would freshmen have to look forward to.
My request to all of you . As a father with a daughter entering high school I say go easy on them but let them know that it gets better each year.
When I entered high school the upperclassmen were not as hospitable . They were out to get you and they made that clear. Lets send a message to the class of 2013. Central is a cool place to be if you come correct.

Football for Life

I used to be an A number one football hater until I saw football for what it is a metaphor for life. As a high school teacher and ski coach one of the highlights of my year now is to sit in our stadium and watch high school football practice.
The other night, I was watching "Any Given Sunday" and the defensive coach played by Jim Brown said to the head coach played by Al Pacino that he was going to retire and coach high school football because kids play football for the sake of playing, money is not an issue only love.
I do not know if that is the case for all high school players particularly for the stars but it is the case for those who are near the top or closer to the bottom of the football hierarchy. Football for many young men is one of the only reasons they attend high school, the only reason they make passing grades , the only reason they get up in the morning.
Some people say this is wrong and young men should not be as focused on sports and more focused on academics. I say anything that keeps them in school and achieving is very important. Football if coached right builds character and creates in young men a work ethic and a sense of pride.
The football coach at the school that I teach at Saint Paul Central high school is Scott Howell. Coach Howell is a living example to these of the importance of character on both the playing fields, the classroom, the city and life itself. I have seen him bench star player with attitude problems, bad school behavior or players who do not take their academics seriously . Scott has a no pass no play policy that he extends not only to the worst players but the stars equally.
Often sports are criticized by society as not being a good example of what young men and women should focus on . I see it as a good way to build solid citizens who have goals and expectations. These students more often reach their goals when they are led by coaches like Scott Howell who understand that football as in life extends to many areas beyond the playing fields.

Start the school year Right

In today's economy or any economy the more you save the better off you are. the less you spend the more capital you will have to do the things that you want to do like travel, go to school and become financially secure. My aunt Rosie used to say, if you make a dollar a week save fifty cents. Twenty to twenty five percent of your salary should be saved every pay check.
You might ask how does one do this? The question is, how does one not do this? It is almost a rule of survival all of the time not just when the economy is bad or good. Frankly the economy is as much an individual endeavor as it is national or international . All investors know this. If your accounts are fluid and you expenses limited you can weather any economic storm. They only way this can be done is to cut back on expenses and increase savings.
By my own design, I have 25% deducted from my pay every pay period, that is not enough so this year, I am deducting another 20%. I know 45% sounds extreme now but it is important to give myself more economic stability. It is not that I need the money and I guess that is the point save it when you don't need it not when you do.
The next part of this stability is to cut back on expenses. The best way to do this is to look at all of your expenses and eliminate duplication of services. If you have a Netflix account you do not need all of the premium cable channels because Netflix delivers first run movies at the same rate as cable. I am not saying get rid of them all but choose between HBO,Showtime, Cinamax, Encore etc. One cell phone will do customize it with different rings to distinguish business calls from personal calls and increase the number of minutes. Also go to each of the companies that you use tell each that you are going to drop one or the other depending on which gives you the better deal.
Eat out less eat in more, avoid the theaters except for matinees and then limit movie going to once a month. do not worry about those movies that you missed because either they will be on Netflix or cable 3 months after they are in the theater .
Clothes make use of consignment shops the clothes there are a fraction of the costs of new clothes and they are environmentally sound because the energy used to produce new clothes is not needed for used.
Transportation.
Pay off your car early and keep it for ten years, it may not be as up to date as a new car but the money you save can be used on airline tickets to interesting places instead of driving town in your new car. After you car is paid off, save for a new car and send in at least half of the car's total value with your first car payment.
Get rid of what I call nuisance accounts. Those that have a balance of $500 or less. Each month pay off one of these accounts and keep this payment going into another account for a year.
Finally limit you spending to 20% of your income and stick to this save for the future, do not spend for the present.

New Tech Find

Once again another tech find. This time it is not merchandise per Se but a service that provides everything in tech. These of you in the Dinkytown area of Minneapolis on the campus of the University of Minnesota may have used this service before. It is called Computer Mega Mall And it owner Syed Mia can meet all of your tech needs . From repairs to sales the mega mall has it all. I went over there today in search of a monitor for my laptop and I was not disappointed Syed produced two color monitors one 19inch and one 17inch he recommended the 17 inch because of more versatility.
While Syed was preparing my purchase I perused the shop and found several great buys including a Mac duo desktop G-5 with a WiFi card and two monitors for only $900 .There was also a uni-body aluminum Macbook for the same price.
In addition to sales the Mega Mall also offer service and tech support . What out found out from talking to him is that the Mega Mall offers repairs and service for a fraction of the cost and all prices are negotiable.
I only brought a monitor today ( by the way it was $100 including cords) but I will be back for other merchandise and services. I think I have found what all techies are looking for reliable service and good prices . Is that too much to ask ?

Best Kept Secret in Used Cars

I know there has been a great deal of hype over the last few days concerning the Cash for Clunkers program but in the final analysis in this trying economy making a major purchase may not be the best thing for the old bank account. Even with the $4500 rebate one still has to come up with the rest of the money to purchase a new car and to my recollections most are over $20,000 . To save yourself from becoming deeper in debt, may I suggest purchasing a used care about 4 to 5 years old with many of the desirable features of a new car yet the low price of a used car.
The car that I have in mind is the 2005 Pontiac Aztek. The Aztek was developed in the early 2000s as a crossover vehicle and received many complaints in the early years of the vehicle but like many GM cars those complaints were answered and corrected . By 2005 the last year the Aztek was produced it made a great deal of changes like installing side-curtain airbags as standard equipment and reinforcing the doors with steel beams .
The GM engine that also received a number of complaints was replaced by a smoother more efficient Honda engine . So all purposes the Aztek is a Honda with a GM price tag.
For those who like outdoor adventure the Aztek has many features including all-wheel drive, water repellent seats and a compressed air pump in the rear to inflate bicycle tires. Set on a minivan frame this car has lots of room, rear seats that are completely removable for heftier loads. It also has an optional tent that can be attached to the back of the car for spontaneous camping.
Considering the high costs of fuel the mileage on the Aztek is sweet 19 in the city and over 25 on the highway. In addition to all of these fine features the sound system is also sweet and depending on the model can include an XM radio, mp3 cd player or single cd player.
So instead of paying $15-$20,000 for a new car a 2005 Pontiac can be yours for between $7500 and $10,500. So forget about Cash for Clunkers and pay cash for a good inexpensive car that will last a few more year until the economy is on an upswing.

Labor Day Travel

The last weekend of the summer if you have not gone anywhere all summer maybe next weekend is the time for you to take a short economical vacation, next weekend would be even better. I do not think that one should not always run with the pack except for the Labor Day weekend. Why labor day because it is one of the few holidays that celebrates working men and women. So what better way to praise our fellow worker than to take the long weekend off.
Where should we go ? There are a few options one is the economically popular stay cation. This type of vacation allows one to sleep in a nice hotel but stay close to home. My favorite spot for a stay cation is the Radisson across from the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. What I like about this hotel is that it is fabulous, It is centered around an indoor water park the rooms are comfortable yet luxurious . The king suites have families in mind because in addition to having a king size bed in the room there is also a couch and a bunk bed for the kids. The hotel's restaurant the Split Rock Grill has excellent food. Try the walleye fingers they are superb . They also have a breakfast buffet on weekends. For the Stay cation, I highly recommend the Radisson.
If you would like to leave town Duluth is always a good choice, it is not too far away and most of the hotels have a view of lake Superior. My suggestion for accommodations would be the Edge water hotel the price is reasonable ( rooms start at $69), there is an indoor water park ( not as elaborate as the Radisson but it will do) It is also approximately 20 minutes from the Superior's North Shore, the hotel also has a beautiful view of the lake and free bicycles to ride on the paths.
Chicago is my next suggestion for next weekend. Every Labor Day weekend, the city of Chicago hosts a free jazz festival in Grant Park. If you make reservations early enough you may have the opportunity to get a hotel within walking distance of the park I would suggest the Hilton Garden Inn on Grand avenue in the heart of the magnificent mile. They are one of the only downtown hotel that truly honor the AAA discount and make it worth your while. So if it is booked this weekend, try it on another weekend when there is not a major event taking place.
For this weekend, I would suggest something north of the city and either drive down or take the train into the city. There is also a Hilton Garden Inn in Oakbrook Terrace (home of the MacDonalds Corp.best MacDonalds in the country is located there) The room rates are reasonable and if you want to leave the city early grab a bite to eat, watch a movie or catch a show this hotel is located near it all and the Internet is free.
So instead of watching a TV series marathon or take a trip to the state fair get in your car van or wagon and enjoy this Labor Day on the road.

Ted Kennedy's Passing

Last night a man who over the years has meant a great deal to me Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy died last night. As a lifelong Democrat whose father once said that there are only two races in the world the people who have to work for money and the people who have money work for them, I have been a livelong follower of Senator Ted Kennedy, who has been a champion of working men and women all of his political life. From his support of civil rights and great society programs in the 1960's to his support of health care, a living wage and the presidency of Barrack Obama, Senator Kennedy has been my champion.
When I worked in Washington at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Youth Policy Institute, I had the opportunity to meet many of the Kennedy family including Senator Kennedy and I was impressed by his patience and ability to listen to the young people who worked at Youth Policy listening to our ideas and giving respect and credence to them.
The best tribute that I can give to Senator Kennedy is to support the issue that he has spent most of his political career working on Health Care.
Chris Matthews said this morning on NBC's Today Show that now that Senator Kennedy is gone that President Obama must be the quarterback. I do not think that the president was ever the quarter back, for what I know of football, he was the coach and he gave the ball to Congress to play it out.
So I am saying to members of Congress regardless of your politics pass health care reform for Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a tireless fighter for the uplifting of working and poor people. Work out the details with subsequent bills but get something passed this fall. Do it for Senator Kennedy, do it for the American people.

Start the School Right with the Right Computer

Desktop vs laptop? That is the question. It think it is a question of mobility or stability. If you are more stable and sit at your desk to do most of your work in one place and or not in college, graduate school, law or medical school, a desktop is the thing for you.
Most people who regularly use desktops do their work in one place print it out and send it out. They usually have in-home offices and transfer data from their at-work office to their in-home office and use by flash drive or portable hard drive. Stability is the the goal of desktop users.
Now laptop users are a different breed. They are people who are always on the go and need a computer wherever they are . Laptop users would use their laptops in the shower if they could. The people who fall into this category are usually students of all ages, travelers who need to bring their homes and offices with them. They have a desire to check their email, make online purchases and find out a little bit or a great deal about where they are. Laptops have become the filofax, Franklin planner, reference library and personal assistant all rolled into one.
Students use laptops to take notes, do research, download music and movies and it is a must for success in college. I has replaced the calculator, encyclopedia and numerous trips to the library. Since most universities have online access to the library, students can research and write papers without leaving their dorm rooms.
Now that we have established who uses what type of computer and why, we must answer another question, MAC or PC?
That is a matter of preference. The official line is that macs are for the artist, writer ,designer, musician and the PC is for the accountant, scientist and engineer.
Those descriptions are not fair to either computer. There are people from all disciplines who use both Macs and PC's but I will admit that you find more musician, film makers and artists who use a Mac and many scientists who use PC's . It usually comes down to costs .
For a long time many students used PC's because the price was affordable for them. When Apple dropped the price of their laptops and desktops and created the ibook and now the under $1,000 Macbook plus the $100 student discounts you see more Macbooks in the hands of students at all universities. More students are now purchasing Macbook for another reason most schools also use a majority of Macs . This encouraged students to also use Macs as well.
But as Macs have gotten cheaper so have PCs . One can purchase a PC laptop for as little as $200 so as you probably realized they are more PC users that Mac users.
So what is the answer to the question, PC or Mac? The answer, whatever.

Summer Fun Summer Food

If you live in the Twin Cities area you should try to get to Sea Salt in Minneapolis. Located on the Hiawatha parkway and at the main park pavilion. Sea Salt is one of the most unique seafood restaurants in the Twin Cities. You can sample a variety of seafood prepared with love and care . From Po boys made from catfish, oysters, craw fish or shrimp or some of the best calamari I have Had the pleasure to taste or fried or grilled fish platters . If you are lucky a band may be playing in the band shell and you can have music with your dinner. If you have not dropped by this fine establishment do it soon because it closes in October.

Workout music

I workout every day because I have to. I am at the point now that I am used to working out and it is a part of my daily routine. What makes the hour that I put into my daily workout pleasurable is to do things that keep up the pace and change up the routine.
One of the things that does this is choosing different music for each workout. When you have an Ipod with over 11,000 songs that is not hard to do.
I have found that certain music is better for certain workouts:
Yoga is best done listening to Ravi Shakiur, Tony Scott and maybe a little classical or Kenny G. Weight lifting or fast aerobics is best done while listening to Rock: The Stones, ZZ Top, Van Halen or Lenny Kravitz. If you want to get your heart rate up listening to squeeze box is the way to do it.
The cooldown should always be accompanied by Isley Brothers slow songs or world meditation music.
I workout seven days a week riding over 60 miles a week on the exercise bike and lifting over 3,000 pounds per week to prolong life, spirit and attitude.

The Mannings are the Men

When I was in the 7th grade in Jackson Mississippi, the greatest football player that I knew was Archie Manning, not be cause he was the establishment's football player but because he was a nice guy who loved the sport and took superficial things like race and politics out of it. Archie was the real deal.
Sports writers tried to get him to expose on whether Ole Miss should or should not play against teams with black players. Archie did not see football players as black or white just players opponents and team mates . He saw the game as a game and players as players.
Archie was never pretentious never verbose . I remember being at music camp ( not football camp) at Ole Miss and Archie came by to visit friends of his who worked at the camp. We all got to meet him he was kind and cordial to us all black or white male or female. Archie was kind and made us all proud that he played for Mississippi, not just the University but the state for us all not just half of the state. A few years later when I was a student at Ole Miss, the school had changed since Archie played there many of the players were black and many of the students thought like Archie with a since of fairness and a concern for the future of Mississippi and the nation.
I often judge people by there children and Archie is no exception, his sons Peyton and Eli are fine examples of what young athletes should be positive in their public image always giving back to the community of humankind. When Katrina hit the Manning boys were the first on the scene along with Archie to do whatever they could to help their city.
I think Archie was an all-American and the name not only applied to his football playing ability but to his overall manner. I am proud to be from the same state as Archie and will never forget what he did for the state and the nation.

Back to the Turnpike

Heading toward Maine, I passed Toledo the home of Tony Paco's Hungarian hot dogs and I could not go there because it was off the turnpike. Not being on the turnpike creates many problems for businesses because most drivers are trying to get there. You might ask, where is there? There is the destination that you would like to reach before the sun goes down . There is where you plan to stay for a couple of days. There is why you are on the trip in the first place. The turnpike also does not allow you to ride past anything because all of the sites are off the turnpike.

East Coast Travel : Keep the Change!!!!!!!

Two weeks ago, I went on a trip to the east coast to Maine and New Hampshire. During that trip I encountered what many of us in the mid west are not familiar with the dreaded toll roads . Not the kind that you encounter going to Chicago From Minnesota that usually run no more than 5 dollars but the mother of all toll roads I-90 From Indiana to Maine I paid fee after fee to stay on this road as little as $5.00 to as much as $30 . I did not mind the payments I just wish that the payments were more organized. For instance if it is the same highway why must one pay a different fee for Pennsylvania than for New York . Why must all the hotels be off the toll road and why is it that all of the good restaurants are off the tool road?
These and many other questions will be answered in my next blog