So here’s the burning question after last Tuesday’s elections in New Jersey.

How did Latinos do?

If your candidate didn’t win, stop moping for a second (and perhaps stop polishing your resume) and listen up.  Ditto for those who correctly bet on the winning ticket and are busy gloating (and polishing their resumes).

Did Latinos stay home like thousands of New Jerseyans because we thought there was no one on the ballot that made it worth our precious time to take a few minutes and head to the voting booths?

Were Latinos feeling disenfranchised, believing that no one listens to us in this so-called Garden State of ours, so why bother to get off the sofas?

Here’s some good news: Some 10 percent of the total electorate – the folks who cast ballots – were Latinos. Yep.

Compare that to 2001 when it was only 7 percent.

So that means that not only are we coming out to vote, our presence in those booths is increasing over the years.

Let’s break it down further.  Based on information provided to me by those who are better at numbers than I’ll ever be, the 10 percent figure comes out to 234,476 Latino votes.

I’m told Bendixen and Associates found 75 percent of the Latino vote went to Governor Corzine, or 175,857.  Edison Research says 65 percent of our peeps voted for Corzine, or 152,402.  And yes that means our other votes went to Chris Christie, although a few lone gatos went for Independent Christopher Daggett’s pitch.

The Bendixen data means that we surpassed the number of Latinos voting Democratic in 2005 and 2006.  If we use the Edison Research numbers, we are at about the same number as in 2006 when U.S. Senator Bob Menendez captured 154,000 votes.

Keeping in mind that we make up more than 16 percent of the state’s population, seems to me that these are numbers – an “amazing trend,” as one political operative put it — that all the political parties need to keep in mind as we move forward.  But those are also numbers we Latinos have to keep seared in the forefront of our own minds.

We just witnessed an election in New Jersey equivalent to having the rug behind yanked from under all of us – no matter if we voted Democratic, Republican or Independent.  For those of us who voted for Corzine, we’re still feeling a bit disoriented.  For those of us who said Christie was our hombre under the Golden Dome, we’re feeling almost giddy as we contemplate the possibilities of the untested waters.  For those of us who went the Daggett route, we’re feeling all of the above.

If Latinos don’t grasp this incredible opportunity to take a collective magnifying glass, if you will, and honestly and unflinchingly study what’s been going on in New Jersey when it comes to the political scene, then we deserve what we get.  Or perhaps better said, we deserve what we don’t get.

And let’s not pretend that this is a Republican Party versus Democrat Party problem or issue.

Yes the majority of the Latinos that came out on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly Democrat.  No surprise there.  “Although that doesn’t mean that the Democratic Party is the better party for the Latinos,” noted another statewide political operative who has been in the trenches for many years and doesn’t make that kind of observation lightly.

And it doesn’t mean the Republican Party is the better one.  And the Independent Party is still a bit of a mystery for most of us.

So if we are to move forward in this crazy New Jersey political world and not just be led along, I submit to you that we have to start our journey together.

We’d be fools to shut out fellow Latinos from our discussions just because they are – or aren’t – a member of a certain party.   Or because they do – or don’t — belong to a specific Latino organization.  Or because they do — or don’t — have roots connected to a specific island or Latin American country.  Or because they’ve been part of the Old Guard and we need fresh blood.  Or because they are young and don’t know what they’re talking about.

And I think some of us will agree we’ve been fools long enough.

Well the year started off with a sparkle (as opposed to a bang), I alone in my apartment with a bottle of wine. Don’t say awww for me; that was my choice. I didn’t want to be around loud, drunk people at Times Square, nor did I want to be with family because Christmas had been enough. I just wanted to be alone, relaxed and no worries. Yeah, that didn’t happen. A subsequent date presented itself and that, needless to say, didn’t go over too well. So 2008 started not too good for the kid.

I attended the InfoSport Soccer Combine later in the week. I played with and against some of the top collegiate players in the country and some foreign talent as well. Although I was invited to participate and the fee was waived by a trainer, I still performed poorly. Well, take into consideration — I’ve only been playing soccer two years. My scores are there for the world to see. I suck. But no one can take that experience from me. It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done and I’m better for it.

I began writing a blog for Latinosnj.com later in that year, which has given me an opportunity to speak my mind and I do so at my discretion. This also has been a great experience. One I wouldn’t trade.

I visited El Salvador where my 86 year-old grandmother taught me the meaning of what young is supposed to be. Vibrant at her age, she does all she couldn’t do when she was young. A mother of 13, she gave her childhood and youth up to take care of the kids. I broke bread with my uncles who are heroes in my book. Seeing my uncles sitting side by side when war just years ago never allowed them to be in the same room was worth the price of the expensive trip. I hung strong with my cousin and drank like I was in college. I visited historical ruins and pyramids. I cracked jokes and was the butt of jokes with uncles and cousins I rarely get to see. Learned about more family history that makes me proud to be related to the great people I’m related to. It was a great trip that almost made me tear up when I left.

My niece was here in August and she once again flipped my life inside out like socks in a washing machine. She ran all over the place, still doesn’t like soccer (‘cause Tio plays soccer) but excels at it. We spent half the summer in a water park called “Sesame Place” in Pennsylvania. We learned that Hannah Montana is really not a good show for girls under 15 to watch. She is the most popular girl in the neighborhood, because she’s pretty, smart and amiable, just like her uncle. She is the light of my life when she is here, except she might not be allowed to come up here after the age of 11, because the boys are already hovering, damn boys!

Then my best friend from California got married. This bringing into reality that I’m the last one left! Three of my best friends have taken the plunge; one has since been divorced and swears never to do it again. The other is happily married and is doing well. Now, my California friend is definitely enjoying married life and hopefully will be bringing in a mini him in a year or two. This event has shaken up my priorities a little. It made me think about my past loves and my once-upon-a-time opportunity to be married. I’m glad I didn’t do it! Pheeew the deep doo-doo I would be in if I would have married the person in question. Congratulations though good friend and like I said at your wedding, “If you are half the husband that you are as a person, marriage should be no problem for you.”

Then we had this thing called an election, wow, talk about your “Holy historical proportions Blackman!” Yup, this country’s first African-American President was elected November 5, 2008. This says something about the direction our nation is headed in forms of racial relations. Although this does not solve the social ills of this country, it does point us in a direction that not too many of us ever thought we would see in our lifetimes. We are all concerned about the economic state of our country and political ramifications this administration will have on the Middle East. We all know who the United States is allied with and with whom it will have all alliance to, no matter who is President, so let’s see what happens and let History tell the story. Oh and this is perfect time for the Independent party to make a move. The Republican Party really lacks vision, and direction at this point.

I went to church for the first time in about 13 years; that was a nice experience (I was invited by a very beautiful woman, I guess God knows how to entice those who are seeking Him). So, I’m trying to include that in my Sunday things-to-do now.

I also resigned from the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission. I’ve learned this year that I have to be a bit more subdued when speaking about my passions. Not everybody can understand why I am the way I am, so if people are not going to take the time to get to know the person instead of just the theories and thoughts, then I don’t need you. I am starting grad school in February and looking forward to it.

Christmas is coming and I’m going to be with my extended family, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because at the end of the day we are family, we’ve been through death of family members and friends, good times, bad times, sad times, and most of all HAPPY “F”en times!

Finally Facebook! Well, thanks to my great friends, I can officially no longer run for a political office! Thank GOD that obstacle has finally been diminished.

So, for the first time in a long time, I’m very happy. Not ecstatically happy but content. The year 2008 was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. But now, let’s see where this happiness ends.

French poet Paul Valery once wrote, “The problem with our present times is that our future isn’t what it used to be.” Valery understood that our perception of present conditions is forged by how we perceive our future.

Today, our perception of our future is made uncertain by turmoil in the financial markets, an economic slowdown and rising unemployment. And because we live in a region where the financial services sector is so concentrated, it is natural for us to be less optimistic about our economic prospects than we were two years ago.

Under these circumstances it has become commonplace for analysts to question whether the Finance Insurance and Real Estate (FIRE) sectors in the New York Metropolitan Area will emerge in tact after the current financial storm. Because of a number of important demographic, historical and economic reasons, we believe that the New York Metro economy and FIRE sector will prove to be more resilient than they may appear to be from today’s vantage point.

While we all have been intently focused on the turmoil in the financial markets, of greater concern are the underpinnings of the economy. Job creation is considered to be a major indicator of economic health. We need to add about 100,000 new jobs a month to keep pace with population growth. However, the US economy has lost an average of 84,000 jobs every month since December 2007.

For the 12-month period ending August 2008, private sector employment in New York City rose by 31,000, or 1.0 percent, to 3,196,100 total jobs. The manufacturing (-6,700) and financial activities (-5,300) sectors lost the most jobs over the year. Although the crises at Lehman Brothers and AIG appear to be working out so as to avoid immediate large-scale layoffs, the continued financial sector turmoil guarantees that job losses on Wall Street will climb rapidly over the next few months.

For the 12-month period ending August 2008, New Jersey private sector employment declined by 12,100 private sector jobs, to 3,455,900 total private sector jobs. The state saw its largest declines in construction (-4,800), manufacturing (-10,500) and financial services (-9,500).

What is striking about these numbers is that New York City and New Jersey employ about the same number of people (New Jersey employs about 300,000 more). An important point that we tend to overlook is the extent to which New Jersey’s and New York City’s economies – and commercial real estate markets – are intertwined.

Through the third quarter of 2008, the commercial and industrial real estate markets have appeared to show signs of weakening but not of breaking. In New York City, 2008 leasing activity reached 15.7 million square feet at the end of September, as compared to 18.3 million square feet at that time last year. The overall vacancy rate has risen during the past 12 months, to 7.4 percent from 5.7 percent. Still, the number of large deals (100,000+ square feet) through the first three quarters of 2008 was up compared to last year, from 17 to 28, and Class A rents continue to climb – up to $92.57 per square foot in Midtown.

In New Jersey, office leasing in the state’s northern and central counties totaled 6.8 million square feet at the end of the third quarter, as compared to 7.6 million square feet at that time last year. The overall vacancy rate was up, from 16.4 percent to 17.8 percent. In Northern & Central New Jersey combined, the number of large deals (100,000+ square feet) through the first three quarters of 2008 was down compared to last year, from 27 to 14. Class A rents have held steady, registering at $30.02 per square foot at the end of September 2007 and at $30.09 per square foot today.

AGGLOMERATION ECONOMIES AND URBANIZATION

For 200 years, New York City has been the largest city in the U.S. and continues to outperform most cities in the world. New York is one of the few major cities in the United States with a larger population today than it had fifty years ago. And its economy remains robust.

In absolute terms, NYC’s $1.13 trillion is second only to Tokyo’s (GDP of $1.19 trillion) among all cities. There are only 14 countries in the world with bigger economies than New York City’s. And though the city has a reputation for a high cost of living, the average New Yorker can buy more than counterparts in London, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

The basic concept of “agglomeration economies” is that production is facilitated when there is a clustering of economic activity. The existence of agglomeration economies is central to the explanation of how cities increase in size and population. This concentration of economic activity in urban centers is the reason for their existence.

They can persist and grow throughout time, only if their advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

The tendency of a critical mass of people to attract more people to a region is the central idea of urban economics, and nowhere is that idea more obvious than in New York. Its initial advantage as a port attracted manufacturing and services to cater to the mercantile firms and to take advantage of low shipping costs. Scale matters because it allows producers to save on the costs of supplying goods and services.

Stock markets tend to be few in each country, often unique, and located in the largest cities. Typically, much of the economic activity relating to the stock market takes place in large cities. These facts suggest that agglomeration economies are as important in the financial markets as they are in manufacturing. In other words, productivity is enhanced for stock market workers and firms located in a large city.

The attraction of finance and business services to New York reflects the city’s advantages in facilitating interaction and in spreading information and innovation. By some estimates, transportation costs for goods have declined by as much as 95 percent over the 20th century; but there has been no comparable reduction in the cost of moving people.

Another factor that will serve to sustain New York and densely populated New Jersey is the global trend toward urbanization. This trend is as old as civilization itself but has accelerated with the industrial revolution of the 19th century and has further accelerated during the last 50 years. Within the next five years, half the population of the world will, for the first time, live in cities.

While cities can generate concentrations of poverty, crime, pollution and congestion, on balance, people lead more successful lives in cities. Cities are important not only as economic centers, but also as centers of culture, art, information and innovation. Cities prosper and grow because, on balance, their advantages outweigh their disadvantages.

At times, citizens and policy-makers in New Jersey tend to underestimate the importance of New York City to our state’s prosperity and well-being. We often view New York as a competitor. It is important that we behave as if the future of NJ is inextricably bound to that of NYC, because it is.

The good news is that with a $1.13 trillion economy, significant agglomeration economies, and critical mass, New York will thrive in the 21st Century and beyond. It behooves the region to harness the forces that have allowed New York City be a dominant actor in the world’s urban and financial stage.

I got a call this afternoon from my younger brother Carlos. After some chit-chat, he tells me he just saved a life.

Whaaatttt???

He said that as he was driving back to his home after running an errand, he spotted a car parked on a ramp just off Route 22 in Bridgewater. Smoke and flames were coming up from the front wheel area of the car.

And there was an elderly man just sitting in the driver’s seat.

Now my brother is one of the most hard-working people I know on this earth. He’s an artist at heart but that doesn’t pay the bills. So he has a full-time job with a trash-hauling company and works at odds and ends so he can make a living and – maybe someday – have the time to paint and create and do all those types of things that artists do.

And despite all the work he puts in, he’s found the time since 1991 to be a proud member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary where he’s picked up some lifesaving skills. In fact, he’ll be going out on patrol with the Coast Guard Auxiliary this Saturday.

Carlos was home today working on the roof when he realized he needed some more wood and headed to the store. As he drove back, he spotted the burning car.

He stopped – as did another vehicle with a few men. He saw the flames starting to go further up the car and realized the whole vehicle would be on fire within minutes.

And yet the car’s occupant – who looked around 90 – didn’t budge. He just looked forward and appeared dazed.

My brother’s training, which calls for rescue first and then seek help, kicked in. As the other men blocked traffic from coming down the road in case the car exploded, he ran and pulled the unbuckled man out.

Carlos said the man was frail and thin, weighing perhaps 90 pounds “if he was lucky.” He gently and slowly walked the man to safety, and then called 911.

“He could only walk a few inches at a time,” said Carlos, who asked the man if he had driven on a flat tire and received an affirmative response.

Emergency personnel responded quickly and took over, and Carlos went home.

He later called the police station and was relieved to find out that the man hadn’t suffered smoke inhalation. He had been heading to a local hospital where he had an appointment. We both wondered why the man was traveling alone.

But there are a lot of people traveling alone out there. In fact, we have another family member driving cross country as we speak, heading back to New Jersey. According to what doctors told him six months ago, he shouldn’t even be around much less driving across the country. But that’s another story.

I’m proud to call my brother Carlos a hero.

And Carlos, one more thing: Sorry for all the times I told you we found you in a garbage can.

I just came back from a luncheon of the Essex County Democrats. That is part of that this convention is all about; going to receptions during the day, meeting people in between events and at around 4pm going to the convention hall to listen to party leaders speak about their vision for America. For those of us who are first time delegates, the receptions give us the opportunity to learn from the pros about what to expect and also build relationships for the work that we have to do when we get back home.

Nevertheless, going from place to place has been a nightmare. Don’t get me wrong, Denver is a beautiful city, but the transportation network, although available for conventioneers, is a hassle. The security perimeter for the Pepsi Center (where the convention is being held) is almost a half-mile radius, which means that there is a long walk before you get anywhere. I am happy to say that I have gotten rid of my nice shoes, and have chosen to walk on my comfortable walking flats. Despite the fact that I would like to look as fashionable as Michelle Obama (and I suspect she does not have to walk as much as I do) I have decided to put on the flats and keep on walking.

I am having a great time especially yesterday when the roll call for the votes was taken and we had to listen to all the states make their pledge. When the time for NJ came up, Governor Corzine announced that all 127 NJ Delegates were voting for Barack Obama. At that moment, the whole Pepsi Center went crazy with excitement. It was a statement of unity and Governor Corzine did the right thing by announcing that as NJ Democrats we are all behind the Obama. I personally felt that the roll call vote was more a power move by the Clinton camp, than an effort to heal the party.

However, I must admit that once President Clinton spoke my doubts of his support for Obama ended. He made it clear that he was there to support Obama, calling him fit to lead this nation. Biden also demonstrated that he can hold his own and that he is ready to help Obama lead this country.

Today, on the anniversary of the “I have a Dream” speech given by Rev. Martin Luther King, we will hear another inspirational speech by a man that personifies the dreams that Rev. Luther King spoke about: that a man should be judged by the content of his character and not the color of his skin. Obama will once again inspire this great country to continue to live to the “Dream” that gave him a shot to become the first ever African American president. Rev. King’s dream is the same for all of us; opportunity for all of us to achieve our God given talents.

History is being made today, but the biggest historic moment will be on November 4th when we elect Barack Obama to become the next President of the United State of America.

I hope you are all watching the speech tonight. Denver will be abuzz with thousands of people pouring into downtown. I will be at Invesco Field and will be listening carefully to his platform, his dreams and most of all, his vision for a better and a more perfect nation.

The last two days at the Convention have been electrifying! Both Michelle and Hillary’s speeches made it clear that this Democratic Party has two women who are amazing in their own right, who can hold their own in terms of policies and who are inspiring and transformational leaders.

On Monday, Michelle showed us that her family is just like any other family working hard to build a better future for their children. In that way, I believed she connected with Latino families. We have the same aspirations as everyone else: a good education for our children, good jobs and opportunities for economic growth. That’s the message that Latinos need to hear…we are in it together and we will win together!

Hillary showed us that the issues that she has fought so hard to champion are the issues that she will continue to fight for with Obama as President. I predict that she will be our champion for universal healthcare; it’s an issue that she loves and she knows how to fight for . . . she will continue to be our leader in the Senate and in the Democratic party!

Our NJ Delegation is inspired to fight for those issues for working people in NJ. Issues like a living wage for workers, the right to organize into unions, the right to have healthcare and a pension . . . those are the issues that matter to all working people in NJ.

Latinos voices were heard on the floor of the convention loud and clear; several Latino members of Congress spoke about the differences between Obama and McCain. They set the record straight that although McCain did talk about immigration reform, he is now being a real maverick by denying his support for his own immigration stands. Unfortunately, it looks like Senator Menendez will not speak on the convention floor; that was a lost opportunity for the Obama campaign as he is a respected voice for all Latinos in the US. However, I believed that he remains committed to making sure Latinos know that the real McCain is not what Latinos need to build their American dream.

We are all committed to make sure Obama wins NJ!

I must admit that I am thrilled and honored to be part of the NJ delegation as an Obama Delegate. But also, I must admit that as a New American (I became a citizen back in 1994) I am here to renew my commitment to fight for an America that continues to be a beacon of hope for all those who left their country like my parents did, to build a better future for their children.

I just left the opening breakfast of the NJ Delegation. We heard from all our elected officials who spoke about the importance of this election. From Governor Corzine to Mayor Cory Booker, we heard about why we need a change: the war, the economic crisis, the need for healthcare reform. These issues will be debated long and hard during the campaign season, and I hope that once Americans hear from both Obama and McCain, they will make the right choice, and choose Obama as our new president.

Today is the opening day of the convention and we will be hearing from Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi; I can’t wait to hear their vision for a new America. I also heard that there is a chance that Senator Menendez might get to speak; that would be a great honor for all of us Latino delegates. Senator Menendez represents the best of our Latino leadership and he deserves as spot at the convention floor.

Outside of the convention floor, there are many exciting activities. I am planning to attend the march for immigration reform planned by community groups; this is important as we need to remind Democrats that immigration is an issue that needs to be addressed right away by the new president. I am also planning to tour the traveling Guantanamo Prison exhibit put together by Amnesty International — a clear reminder that in the middle of our fear of terrorism, we have let the Bush Administration eat away at our constitutional rights of justice under the law for even those accused of committing horrendous crimes.

There is a lot going on in Denver this week. I plan to let you know my impressions as the week goes by. NJ is well represented with a diverse delegation and a good number of Latino delegates. We are here to represent the issues that matter to us as a community. We hope to serve you well…

It seems that the middle of our trip was more focused on love, exposure to reality, and preparation to be used like never before.

I felt loved every single minute, especially when I was with the kids. It does not matter if they were all surrounding me, braiding my hair,* or just looking at me. Every time I was with them I felt the sincerity of their hearts.

During one of our night reflections I mentioned that listening is an important part of love. When I was listening to the kids I felt love either because I saw how much they were lacking it and so there was a natural impulse in me to provide it, or I saw how full of it they were and I had a spirit to receive their embrace. So it does not matter if you are lacking it or full of love, through the art of listening you are in love with that other person. Love is just that: being in that invisible space with someone where your minds agree, your hearts seek understanding of the other, and your body feels at home.

This reminds me of the night that Lydia, one of the FoxFires, told us to read 1 Corinthians 13, the famous bible passage on love.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

She told us to replace the word love with our name. It made me think about all the times I say “I love you” to people. Am I really patient with them? Am I angered? I thought this was a great interpersonal exercise.

Another vivid memory in my mind is a time I was in one of the slums. I was sitting in this small couch and a street kid was looking at me. He was right next to me. I put my hands out and the child touched mine. He had small hands. When I looked into his eyes, it looked like an ocean of happiness. It was as if this simple touch filled his life. It was a sense of acknowledgement. The child knew he existed because of our touch. His eyes were happy. To see this child trapped in this moment, this real and yet unreal moment saddened my eyes. My soul rejoiced, however, because I know that part of my job as Eliana is to bring balance to these people. I was in love at that moment. It was only for one minute, but the residue still lingers in my heart.

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uGPAiO7vj0

As residents of the United States of America, we are fortunate to live in a country where the government is controlled by the people it serves. It is clear when reading the words of our nation’s great Constitution that the architects of this transcendent document meant for “the people” to have the final say in how the nation moves forward. The people’s will is expressed through the representatives they elect to speak on their behalf.

This type of political structure is called representative government. Each Election Day the people have an opportunity to choose a person that will best reflect their will and that of their neighbors. That being said, the questions one must continually ask are: Is this representative making decisions with my best interests in mind? And, is the representation currently in place reflective of the community it serves?

It is critical one realizes the magnitude of these questions. The first is important because it encourages one to question whether the person who was chosen to represent in the past still holds the values and judgment he/she was elected to exercise. This becomes increasingly important when one considers the competing interests from other districts in the overall governing body.

For example, a state legislator whose district includes Sea Girt should base his or her advocacy work on the views of coastal residents. For that representative not to do so, decisions in the legislative body would reflect the needs of other parts of the state, such as urban or agricultural areas, possibly to the detriment of this oceanfront community. Therefore it is important that the representative understand and reflect the will of the people they serve.

The second question deals with ensuring that a governing body reflects the people it serves. In other words, the representatives should reflect the cultural, economic and social makeup of the communities he/she is representing. In New Jersey, this means taking into account the significant diversity that exists within the state. Opponents of this notion will argue that affirmative action is not justified. That is not what I’m advocating for here. Again, take the example of the beachfront community. If the representative is not a beach resident, how can he/she truly know and understand the needs of the community? So should be the case, for example, in areas where there is a large Latino population; there should be representation, at least in part, by individuals who are Latino — who know, understand and participate in the community.

Now, there are many elected representatives that will say “trust me.” However based on the previous information I suggest we turn that question around and say: “We will trust ourselves to hold you accountable.” The architects of the constitution based their work on limiting the power of government and making it of the people, for the people, and by the people. As such, in this type of political structure it is OUR responsibility to ensure that the answers to both of the question above are yes. We cannot, as responsible citizens, relinquish our responsibility to continually demand that our needs based on the cultural, economic and social makeup of our population be properly represented in the governing body.

We should keep this in mind each and every time we step into a voting booth, as well as every time there is a position open where the occupant is responsible for representing a diverse population — from school board member to president, including state legislator. The decisions we make in that booth will not only affect us as individuals but also our community and families as well, and not just now, but for generations to come.

Therefore let us always take responsibility for holding each of our representatives accountable. We are the authors of our future, either through action or inaction. Your community is counting on you.

Y acuerdense — Su voto es su voz. ¡Voten este 4 de Noviembre!

Siempre Adelante!

The number 8 intrigues me. As a matter of fact it’s my favorite number.

Eight is the symbol of infinity and the number of new beginnings. The word sake appears in the Christian Bible eight times. In Buddhism, 8 is a lucky number and Muslims believe that there are seven hells but eight paradises.

Eight represents regeneration and resurrection. It determines the life of a man in China. For example, a boy gets his milk teeth at eight months, loses them at eight years, and reaches puberty at 16 (which is 2 times the number 8).

In chess, each side has eight pawns and the board is made of 64 squares arranged in an eight by eight lattice. In most phones, the 8 key is associated with the letters T, U, and V, but on the BlackBerry it is the key for B , N, and X. In Colombia and Venezuela, “volverse un ocho” (meaning to tie oneself in a figure refers to getting in trouble or contradicting one’s self. Even more interesting, 8 is an often significant number in video games, particularly Mario games (8 worlds in Super Mario Bros., 8 chapters in Paper Mario, etc). I am a big Nintendo fan.

Barack Obama was born in August, the 8th month of the year, in 1961 (1+9+6+1=17……..7+1=8). Not to mention he is the Democratic candidate for this year… 2008. The eight-year-old orphan, El Chavo, from the popular Mexican television show, El Chavo del Ocho, lived in apartment 8. Even Selena’s popular song “El Chico del apartamento 512″ contains 8. If you add 5+1+2 you get …… 8!

Eight is everywhere!!

8 pints make a gallon.
8 legs on a spider.
8 vegetables in V8 juice
8 tentacles on an octopus.
8 is a Fibonacci number.
8 is the atomic number of oxygen.
8 letters in the word b-l-o-g-g-e-r-s.

Only 8 more days left.

In 8 days I will finally step on African ground. In 8 days I will be in Nairobi, the capitol and largest city of Kenya. I am so anxious to interact with the orphans and learn about the culture. I can’t wait to start constructing the orphanage and start traveling from slum to slum to give HIV patients medical attention. I can’t wait till I improve my Swahili and learn the cultural dances of the different tribes. I can’t wait to hold a child in my arms and speak words that will resurrect his soul.

Only 8 more days till my life changes forever. Only 8 more days till a new beginning, one full of hope and promise.