As I took the “five” hour video last week at a driving school where I plan to pursue my driving license, a topic that was discussed was drunk driving. The instructor of the school stressed a point that a driver who is drunk is not a safe driver. Simply put, a drunk driver puts other drivers and people at risk. However, this story weighed heavily on my mind last night not so much because of what he did for a living, but because he died so young: only 22 years old.

It was maybe 10pm or 11pm when I stumbled upon the news on ESPN. My mouth dropped because this was a young man who had finished pitching six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics Wednesday night, and a couple of hours later, his life was taken away.

I’ve read a few articles about Nick Adenhart and this is what stands out to me:
Excellent mound presence. Projected to be a top pick in the 2004 MLB draft who dropped to the 14th round after suffering a severe elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery two weeks before the MLB draft. Signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and under their watchful eye, was able to rehabilitated under their care. Highly-regarded pitching prospect, sought by many teams when it came to trade talks and a top prospect in the Angels system. This is a story about a young man who was persistent, focused, worked hard and was determined.

This story isn’t just about Nick Adenhart. It is also about two other people who died in this tragedy: Courtney Stewart and Henry Pearson. A fourth passenger in the car, Jon Wilhite, remains in critical condition. Raymond Alexander Rivera (a passenger in Gallo’s vehicle) was taken to a hospital and his condition is unknown. A third vehicle driven by Esteban Quiroz was also involved in the accident but there is no confirmation of injuries to the driver or if he had any passengers. This story is more about countless people who die because of a drunk driver every year.

The drunk driver in this case, 22-year-old Andrew Gallo, blew through a red light at 50 to 60 mph driving a Toyota Sienna minivan striking the Mitsubishi Eclipse being driven by Courtney Stewart. Gallo has a past history which includes a DUI in 2006 and marijuana possession in 2007. Fullerton police already has intentions to file felony hit-and-run driving, DUI, vehicular manslaughter and, possibly, murder charges against Andrew Gallo which more should be known by today.

According to M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving):

• In 2007, an estimated 12,998 people died in alcohol-impaired traffic crashes involving a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater). These deaths constitute 31.7 percent of the 41,059 total traffic fatalities in 2007.
• On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes. In 2007, an estimated 12,998 people died in drunk driving related crashes—a decline of 3.7 percent from the 13,491 drunk driving related fatalities of 2006.
• Fifty to 75 percent of drunk drivers whose licenses are suspended continue to drive.
• In 2002, surveys estimates that Americans took over 159 million alcohol-impaired driving trips, compared with only 116 million in 1997.
• A 2008 AAA poll measuring the traffic safety culture of Americans, found that 80% supported requiring drivers who have been convicted of DWI to use equipment that tests them for alcohol, i.e. an ignition interlock device. Also, 88% of the respondents in the poll felt that drunk driving is a serious traffic safety concern.
  

It was 3:30am when I finally managed to get myself to go to sleep. In closing, never take anything for granted. Appreciate what you have now, especially friends and family who are dear to you.

Makes me wish I was still a Fordham University student. However as an alumnus, I am glad that U2 is now a part of Fordham University history. Their new album, No Line On The Horizon, is a must have! My favorite track – Magnificent. U2 performed several songs for the GMA taping which included: Magnificent; Get On Your Boots; No Line On The Horizon; I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight; and Beautiful Day. Check out the YouTube video and enjoy the show if you happened to miss Good Morning America (3/6/09).

Photo Credit: Ryan McDowell, Fordham Grad. Student and Aarti Maharaj (another Fordham Grad. Student)

August 7, 2009 is circled on my calendar. This is a concert I am looking forward to with great anticipation. A few years ago, I saw this man give an awesome performance at the WAMU Theater in Madison Square Garden. Other than Juan Luis Guerra, Ricardo Arjona is one of my favorite artists.

Ricardo Arjona was born on January 19, 1964 in the Jocotenango, Guatemala, a municipality of Sacatepéquez located in the Chimaltenango region. His first album, “Déjame Decir Que Te Amo” was released in 1985 to very little success. It wasn’t until 1990 when his career took off with the release, “Jesús, Verbo No Sustantivo” and was able to parlay that success to a recording deal with Sony.

My first time listening to Ricardo Arjona was in 1998 when he released “Sin Daños a Terceros“, and the first two songs I heard from his album – “Desnuda” and “Dime Que No“. Desnuda was featured in the Spanish telenovela, Tres Mujeres in 1999. Amongst his many hits are several my favorites – Mujeres (Animal Nocturno); Realmente No Estoy Tan Solo, Señora De Las Cuatro Décadas, Historía De Taxi (Historias); Mesías (Galería Caribe); El Problema, Minutos (Santo Pecado); A Ti, Acompañame A Estar Solo, De Vez En Mes (Adentro); Quién (Quién Dijo Ayer); and on his current album, 5to Piso – Sin Ti Sin Mí, Como Duele, Que Nadie Vea, and Tocando Fondo.

For a limited time, you can download a 20 song sampler for free courtesy of Nacional Records, AOL Latino and iTunes.

Please Note: The iTunes application will launch once you click on the link below. If you do not have iTunes installed, you will need to do so by going to http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ and install the application.

To download the 20 song free sampler: http://www.itunes.com/mixto-selecto

Here is the track listing for the free downloads. Enjoy!

1. Bomba Estereo – Fuego
2. Manu Chao – Politik Kills (Prince Fatty Remix)
3. Mexican Institute of Sound – Escríbeme Pronto (Nickodemus Remix)
4. The Pinker Tones – S.E.X.Y.R.O.B.O.T.
5. Plastilina Mosh – Pervert Pop Song
6. DJ Bitman – El Diablo
7. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – Padre Nuestro
8. Gonzalo Yañez – Maldigo Del Alto Cielo
9. Andrea Echeverri – Baby Blues
10. Manu Chao – La Vida Tómbola
11. Eric Bobo – M.O.T.M.
12. Pacha Massive – All Good Things
13. Hector Buitrago – Altísimo
14. Fidel – Emocionado
15. Nortec Collective Presents Bostich+Fussible – Tijuana Sound Machine
16. Monareta – Llama
17. Todos Tus Muertos – Mate
18. Sara Valenzuela – Si Me Voy
19. Aterciopelados – Rio (Sidestepper Tigris Remix)
20. Señor Flavio – Retirada Murguera Porteña

To learn more about Nacional Records and its artists, please visit http://www.nacionalrecords.com

After a two month hiatus, I hope I can now find the time to consistently update my blog site. A lot has happened in the time I have been away.

I have been working on my resume non-stop while looking at the job market which right now is brutal with so many people unemployed. Now that my resume is ready, I hope that I am able to land a job whether it is full-time, part-time, contract, consultant or temp-to-perm.

Secondly, a few days ago two men were arrested and held without bail in connection with the hate-crime murder of my cousin-in-law, Jose Sucuzhañay. It’s good to see that justice will soon be served to these two men and anyone else who may be connected in the heinous attack. As we go into March, more needs to be done in the case of Laura Garza, the young woman who disappeared and was last seen with convicted sex offender, Michael Mele, whom she met at Marquee in late 2008 and has been labeled a “person of interest” in her disappearance. Mele is the son of retired MTA Assistant Deputy Police Chief William Mele and was currently on probation after a conviction of forcible touching. Michael Mele was added to New York State’s sex offender registry in April 2008. As it stands right now, I do have a few questions: What type of background check did the landlord conduct that would allow a convicted sex offender as young as Mele (23-24 yrs. old) to live on his own? Last but not least, upon checking the New York State Sex Offender Registry, I was unable to locate Michael Mele’s name. According to the site, “a law suit filed by The Legal Aid Society on behalf of some sex offenders, not all Level 2 and 3 offenders can be listed on this site at this time. However, even though an offender may not be listed on this site, information about the offender is available through DCJS’s 800 # at 800-262-3257.” So many questions… very little answers!

My brother broke his ankle in two places while ice skating at Bryant Park in January and is now fully recovered. He still has to go through physical therapy while having two metal plates inserted, screws and the ankle having to be reconstructed. As much as my brother is a pain in the you know what, I am happy he is walking but he still has a long way to go to recover and gain flexibility.

Lastly, after having put off starting the Body-for-Life Challenge while working on my resume and job hunting, I will finally start the twelve week challenge with the goal of completing sometime between the end of May and early June 2009. As soon as I select the date, I will be posting updates to my blog, including pictures (before, during and after) my BMI measurements (before, 6 weeks later and at the end of the challenge); meal plan; work out regimen and supplements I am taking. As of right now, I purchased Myoplex protein powder (42 packets) and BetaGen. I will be purchasing at least three more Myoplex protein packets (126 total) which will be enough to carry me into May since the program requires you to consume six (6) meals per day. Wish me luck!

I thought about creating two separate posts but decided to write one single post as both themes have to do with the other. By the time you finish reading this post, you’ll begin to wonder the following:

1. You’re crazy!
2. You should think of yourself first!
3. You are a hero!

So here’s what happened on my way back home from Manhattan on Friday night, December 19th at around 6:30pm:

I was in the last car on a Brooklyn bound train after having boarded the “L” train at 14th Street – Union Square. Once it crossed into Brooklyn, the train got less crowded and there was more room to sit. While minding my own business listening to Juanes’ “La Vida Es Un Ratico”, an argument broke out between two young Puerto Rican males (high school students) and two drunk Mexican men, allegedly over one of the inebriated men exposing himself to one of the kids. Now keep in mind, I did not see the man expose himself but if I did, rest assured I would have had him arrested.

While the rest of the people who were on the same car walked to the other end of the train, I had remained seated. The drama started to get heated and one of the young kids pulled out a switch blade. Immediately, one of the riders got in between all four men. The drunk Mexicans refused to back away, one of them saying. “I’m Mexican! I work harder than you… you lazy Puerto Rican!” Remembering what had happened in early December, and no one else in the car willing to step in and help squash the situation which was getting pretty dangerous, I decided to step up and risk my life to prevent the situation from escalating even further.

I pulled one of the drunk men back and while it took some effort, I managed to get him to sit down. The other guy was quite resistant as he was trying to bait one of the kids. Within a matter of minutes, both men were sitting down and still talking a lot of caca! It got even more interesting because the drunk men were getting off at Jefferson Street, and both men did not know when to shut up. Once the train doors closed, it was over. Nothing more happened. We got to talk to both kids and let them know that the men were both drunk from alcohol, which they had no idea. We got off at the same train stop (Myrtle-Wyckoff) and I told them, that as young latino males, you have to learn to take the high road and don’t let anything anyone says provoke you to do something you will later regret. In the end, the people who will be hurting most will be their parents. They thanked me and we wished eachother a Happy Holiday.

After the whole episode, I began to think about what was said… some of it which struck a nerve. For one, obviously you shouldn’t pay attention to a word a drunk person says to begin with because they are only making fools of themselves. But obviously, to me I just feel there is a divide whether it is cultural or identity between Latino immigrants (legal and illegal) and Latinos born in the U.S. As a Latino man of Dominican heritage, no one would ever guess I am Dominican because my complexion can resemble a Puerto Rican, Italian, Russian, Middle Eastern, Colombian… or Jerry Seinfeld’s long lost son! I can’t comprehend what is the purpose to not only to disrespect young Latino kids by calling them “Gringos” (not that the word offends me because I don’t give a damn!), but to provoke people because they are not “Spanish enough”.

An example I will use: Panamanian-Americans born in the U.S. to Panamanian parents have a hard enough time getting dual citizenship than someone who is not Panamanian. Dominicans tend to call Aléx Rodríguez a “Fake Dominican” because of a simple question that was asked: Do you consider yourself Dominican. Obviously, A-Rod for all the talent in the world and his faults, said he is American because he was born in New York. So typical of the Dominican press, twist his words around claiming he denied he is Dominican. Yet – I go to the Dominican Republic and as much as I consider myself Dominican-American, to people in D.R. I am not Dominican. However, the legendary Julio Iglesias and one hit movie wonder Vin Diesel are Dominicans. Think anyone can explain to me other than the size of their bank accounts, how are they considered more Dominican than yours truly?

Last night, I went to Coppola & Migleio Funeral Home located in Corona (Queens) to pay my respects to José Oswaldo Sucuzhañay, an Ecuadorean man who was beaten to death on December 7, 2008 in Bushwick, Brooklyn. As I arrived at the funeral home with my aunts, with trucks from Univision, Telemundo and ABC parked in the vicinity of 104th Street and 49th Avenue; walking inside the funeral home, you can feel sadness in the room for a life taken away by a group of thugs.

Throughout the evening, prayers were said; words spoken and people made their way to pay their respects to the family – friends, neighbors, countrymen and strangers. From priests to elected city officials – Commissioner Guillermo Linares (Office of Immigrant Affairs), NYC Council Member Eric Gioia who represents District 26; Reverend Al Sharpton and people who are involved in the community.

You probably might be asking if I knew the victim. To answer that question, no I did not know him personally. In the days following the attack as I heard about it on television, and more I heard about it – the last thing I would expect is he would be somehow related to me. José Sucuzhañay is my cousin’s brother-in-law. I know his brother Diego Sucuzhañay, who is married to my cousin and have a child together. I know Diego to be a good man and someone who works hard, and I am sure that José Sucuzhañay was the same. I hope his family finds peace and that the person(s) responsible for this heinous attack be brought to justice.

A mass will be held today for José Sucuzhañay at 1pm at Our Lady of Sorrows (104th and 37th Avenue, Corona Queens) and viewing will be held from 4pm-9pm at Coppola & Migleio Funeral Home. His body will be flown to Ecuador where it will be received by Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa Delgado.

It has been one month since I was laid off from The Partnership for a Drug-Free America due to budget cuts. When I was told that my position was being eliminated, it was really a shock. I did not see it coming nor was I expecting it. It took me a couple of days and a movie (Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa) to lift my spirits back up. I have to say that it has been a trying experience since I still live with my parents who don’t seem to understand how tough the job market is right now; especially with so many layoffs taking place in various fields with the country being in a recession.  What I have been doing lately is scan the job boards, network with friends to make contacts with people in the field and attend the Five O’Clock Club meetings every Wednesday. I also became an official member of The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). Lastly, I decided to start a blog site to give me a platform where I can talk about what is going on in my mind and discuss other things of interest – workouts, books, news and my beloved baseball team, the New York Mets who recently signed Francisco (K-Rod) Rodriguez, formerly the closer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and traded for Seattle Mariners closer, J.J. Putz.