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Empty Bases

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Empty Bases Gone is the crack of the bat The roar of the crowd The rounding of third Collisions at home The pause of the ump The dust in the air A fastball in the back Pine tar Stolen signs Pick-off plays Oh, how we long for… The good old days Gone is everything: From missed tags to rosin bags From outfield speed To sunflower seeds Everything from ticket fees To the suicide squeeze From screaming comebackers To ball flight trackers Missing is the bunt single Dropped in the perfect place The creaky-kneed catcher Taking one off the face Pitchers with blisters Home run hitters And 23 hoppers That find their way through An infield that shifted Or that little blooper Perfectly lifted Absent is the groundcrew Always raking, spraying And cleaning up chew Absent are the workers And all the fans that we knew Lemonade like Gramma made Hot dog man in mid-bark Cotton candy and churros Everything h
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Remembering Joseph Hill of Culture

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Remembering Joseph Hill on his birthday today - January 22, 2019 - by posting this eulogy I wrote over 12 years ago after learning of his passing.  Joseph Hill & Culture As we ponder the great loss of Joseph Hill we reflect on his many works. Going back to the foundation of reggae music, Joseph brought forward a sound vibe that still echoes in my brain. As a top-notch vocalist, song writer, and human I'll never forget Josephs influence on me as a reggae listening youth. "Psalm of Bob Marley" brought a tear to my eye, now we need a "Psalm of Joseph Hill." With his straight forward lyrical statements he left no doubt about his meaning, now we need more straight shooters like him. His admonitions in "Youth Man Move" moved you to dance, moved you to take control of your destiny. In "Work On Natty" he stresses the importance of hard work, of being diligent in the face of poverty. I ask Joseph "Tell Me Where You Get It?" Now I ask
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Murals of Phoenix

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Muralism: Portraits of Phoenix Work by Angel Diaz -- 1st Street south of Jackson -- Phoenix, Az Murals are more than an art form, they are part of the lifeblood and fabric of the communities in which they are painted. Whether their locale is a barrio or a newly gentrified neighborhood, murals paint a picture of struggle, culture, history, politics, and activism. They are an outlet for the oppressed, a conduit that connects people from various walks of life, they are a link between the past and present, they are at once a symbol of protest and a beacon of hope for what a unified community could look like. Murals in Mexico predate the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the early 16 th century. Much like paintings on cave walls, murals were a communication tool for the illiterate masses. They depicted images of the gods, warriors, animals, changes in seasons, life and death. One of the immediate difficulties the Spanish faced upon their landing in Mexico was the lan
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Final Four salsa

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I created this salsa in honor of the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament here in Phoenix....for those who like it hot! It has four roasted peppers: red bell, Anaheim, jalapeno, and serrano (5 if you include toasted chiltepin). Final Four Pepper Salsa 6 roasted jalapenos 6 roasted serranos 3 roasted Anaheim peppers 1 roasted red bell pepper 5 roasted tomatoes 1 ½ tsp toasted chiltepin 3 cloves roasted garlic ½ tsp cumin 2 ½ tsp salt ¼ c roasted red pepper juice 2 tblsp  apple cider vingar 2 tsp oregano Put all the above in a blender jar and blend or pulse to desired thickness, thin with more vinegar if needed. Enjoy! Jesse A. Phoenix, Arizona 4/1/2017
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Ex of the Isle - UPDATED

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Rafael and Castro Were born on the same day On the beautiful isle of Cuba Just several miles away Both born in the countryside The exact time isn't clear Both full of Cuban pride... 1926 was the year Rafael was born dark Of the Afro-Cuban race Castro had light skin... And a smooth Spanish face Rafael Canivaro used to play drums He hung out in bars Drove American cars...and Chomped on cigars with his barrio chums They spoke of politics And the working mans pain Laughed at the USA's dirty tricks And played futbol in the rain That was before Castro Antes de la revolucion When Cuba was free Though life wasn't perfect Prosperity was on the rise And a certain lady... Had that look in her eyes He now lives north of Havana In a west coast Florida town While its not his little isle There are Cubans all around And they sit on a bench Under a Banyan tree Consumed by a game of chess Dreaming of 1943... At the age of 20...he was rolling ciga
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Sonoran Barbacoa - REPOST

Sonoran Barbacoa Sizzling peppers send smoke signals Carne asada sears over mesquite A hungry traveler lurks in the brush And dreams of something to eat On the road so long Himself grilled by the sun Nearly out of water And not out to harm anyone As a tendril of smoke fills his nose And a bastard buzzard circles overhead Smells from his youth tickle his soul And coax him back from the dead From menudo to adobo With rice and beans Con mas frutas y dulces He smells it all… it seems He thinks about Durango And cool mountain air And fresh roasted corn At the village town square He wishes he was there Or just up the arroyo Where blazing ranchero music Mixes with the smoke of grilled pollo And so off he goes With his hat in his hand Where he’ll join with those gringos… For his first meal in this land By: Jesse Alberson Tucson, Az
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Fieldwork Exercise - Sanctuary in the Desert

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Shadow Rock United Church of Christ - Phoenix, Az       I recently visited a local Phoenix church as part of a fieldwork exercise for my Anthropology class in which we were tasked with observing church rituals, practices, and symbols. I chose a church nearby and found it more interesting than I bargained for. This particular church, Shadow Rock United Church of Christ, is a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, providing a safe harbor for those in need. With lots of talk by Donald Trump about building a wall along the southern border, a major piece of his presidential bid, its worth noting the dilemma many undocumented immigrants face after being released from ICE custody. Occasionally they're cleared of any wrong doing and need a place to go, lest they be left to wander the streets. Some undocumented immigrants, many I imagine, are being accused of crimes they didn't commit and face extradition before their cases can be heard in a court of law. These immigrants are forc
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