Is There Hope in Arizona?

Over my protests, I have lived in Arizona since 1971. Actually, from October until the second week in June, it's a great place to live. As an observer of Arizona weather for 42 years now, I have made some observations that should make anyone who lives here feel a little better, especially in the middle of May. 

August-no temperatures over 120.

September-no temperatures over 115.

October-no temperatures over 110.

November-no temperatures over 100.

December-no temperatures over 90.

January-no temperatures over 85.

February-you're on your own.

NOTE: All of the above are generalities and could change due to global warming.

Despicable Me 2 revisited

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Despicable Me 2 two

Some years ago, I worked with a young Hispanic woman. She was brilliant, talented and passionate about her ethnicity. I had worked on a film documenting the positives of our school. When the film came out, my co-worker was upset that no Hispanic teachers on the staff were represented, especially one who was very popular with all students. Justifiably so. I told her I was responsible for the content and that I had to agree with her. Our Hispanic students felt marginalized to a large extent and given the preponderance of them, I should have been more sensitive. As is usually the case, Anglo students didn't have a problem with making the school their own. 

I thought of my friend and co-worker this last week when I saw Despicable Me 2 a second time. The villain, El Macho, in the film is an Hispanic full of stereotypes and a heavy accent. Grue, the hero of Despicable Me, did not want his adopted daughter hanging around with the villain's son. It was all played for laughs, but I am surprised the Hispanic community has not raised a stink about the negative portrayal of Hispanic characters. The presence of an Hispanic character, of course, should be encouraged, even if the individual is on the wrong side of legality. But in Despicable Me 2, the Hispanic character is so full of stereotypes that it made me a bit uncomfortable. That is thanks to my wonderful co-worker and others who have helped me be more aware.

I am a Mormon. In the last three years or so, my religion has had its fair share of stereotyping, poking and prodding with the results being far from positive. Like Hispanics, blacks, women and other minority groups which are frequently demonized, I have become more sensitive yet to the plight of others who are are more frequently victims of thoughtless jokes, bias and bigotry. We still live in a tough society and any one in the minority still seems to be fair game.

How much damage will there be from this one film. Will those who watch it put El Macho into the cartoon category or will there be fallout in schools and neighborhoods across our country from further stereotyping. I fear the latter and if one Hispanic kid is demonized as a result. it will be one too many.

The villain in the first Despicable Me was a small fellow with glasses and a pot belly. He was obnoxious, but not stereotypical (unless geeks of the world unite). Some one has to be a villain, but I hope the next time movie makers are a bit more sensitive to the difficulties they might cause. While I am not an advocate of taking life too seriously, this stereotyping dimmed what was other wise a funny, enjoyable film.

Maybe they can pick on fat, bald, old men next.

The Zimmerman Verdict

I was going to write something brilliant and insightful about the Zimmerman verdict, but the Wall Street Journal did it instead:

An American criminal defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and that's the standard to keep in mind when considering the jury's not guilty verdict Saturday for George Zimmerman in the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

The case has been fraught with racial politics from the start, but inside the Sanford, Florida courtroom, the jurors had to wrestle with the standard that is a hallmark of American justice. No one but Mr. Zimmerman knows what happened that early evening in 2012 when he followed Martin, an unfamiliar young, African-American male visiting the neighborhood. A scuffle ensued, Zimmerman shot Martin in what he says was self-defense, and prosecutors never produced an eyewitness or even much evidence to disprove Mr. Zimmerman.

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George Zimmerman listens as the verdict is announced that the jury finds him not guilty, on the 25th day of his trial at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center July 13, 2013 in Sanford, Florida.

The verdict compounds the tragedy for the Martin family, but no one can claim that their son was not represented in court. The state threw everything it had at Mr. Zimmerman. Gov. Rick Scott replaced local prosecutors with a special team from Jacksonville, the judge often ruled favorably for the prosecution, including the addition of the lesser manslaughter charge (in addition to second-degree murder) at the end of the trial.

Still the state could not prove its case to the satisfaction of the six jurors, all women, for whom the easiest decision in terms of public approval would have been to convict. No less than President Obama had commented on the local case after Mr. Zimmerman was not originally charged by local authorities.

"If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," Mr. Obama said. He was echoed by hundreds of politicians and commentators who wanted to put racial profiling on trial as much as they did Mr. Zimmerman. But a criminal trial is not a legislature, or a venue to debate social policy.

Benjamin Jealous of the NAACP is already lobbying Attorney General Eric Holder to indict Mr. Zimmerman on federal civil-rights charges. To do so and win a conviction would require proof that Mr. Zimmerman was motivated by racial animus when the record shows little more than a reference by Mr. Zimmerman to "punks" in a comment to a police dispatcher.

Millions of Americans would see such federal charges as an example of double jeopardy, and a politicized prosecution to boot. In this context, it was good to see Mr. Obama's statement Sunday that "we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken."

The larger issue of how American society, and especially the police, treat young black males deserves attention and often receives it. There is no doubt that many law-abiding black men are eyed suspiciously in some quarters because they are black. The motivation may sometimes be racial. But such a discussion also cannot exclude that the main victims of crimes committed by young black men are other blacks. A policy like New York City's "stop and frisk" rule prevents more crime in minority neighborhoods against minorities than it does in white areas of Manhattan.

Mr. Zimmerman made many mistakes that February evening, not least failing to heed police advice not to pursue Martin. Despite his acquittal, he will pay for those mistakes for years as he defends against a possible civil suit and must wear a bullet-proof vest to protect himself from threats of violent revenge that he has to take seriously.

If there is any satisfaction in his acquittal, it is that the jurors followed the law's requirements that every defendant deserves a fair trial, even one who becomes a symbol of our polarized racial politics.

Movie Review

Despicable Me 2

I have three grandchildren, the only three with last name of Ross, who's birthdays all fall within one week of each other. What's more, their mom also has a birthday that week. We try to do things to make each birthday unique for them, but this last week I threw in the towel and just took them all to see Despicable Me 2. The first version of this two parter was one of my favorite movies three years ago. It was funny and original. The characters were well developed... oops, let me rephrase that. The characters were... delightful. The writers of Despicable Me created new creatures call minions. They have instantly, if you can call three years instantly, become beloved figures. What is a minion? Who knows, but they are funny and often have the best lines.

The main character in DM 3 is Grue. A former bad guy, Grue has adopted three wonderful little girls who make him want to be good. If Grue is an id, the girls are his super ego. They've brought him up a notch. Grue is captured  by a secret organization for the purpose of spying on bad guys. His partner is a woman he hates. The girls think since they live with Grue that he should get married. You can figure out the rest.

Some adults may feel they are too sophisticated for a cartoon, but this is one of the funniest movies in many years. Fans of raunchy humor will be bored, but my tastes are for clean fun and that's what DM 3 provides. The minions take center stage and are a combination of the Marx Brothers and milder Three Stooges. The minions rarely speak English, but have their own language. When they do speak English, the results are side splitting.

As we were driving away from the theater, the youngest of my three grandchildren said enthusiastically, "I can't wait for Despicable Me 3!" I told him it might be another three years, but as hinted during the closing credits, the next movie will be "The Minion Movie." Now I can't wait.

The Seasons of Central Arizona

Fall-October 31-December 20

This place is heavenly! It's is amazing. Why isn't the entire world here? A little air pollution is no big deal.

Holiday Season December 21-January 1

Oh, it does get cool here, but it is better than shoveling snow. Who are all those people from Iowa and why can't they drive?

Winter January 2-January 28

I knew it would get cool this winter, but I didn't know it could get cold. Trees finally dropped their leaves. Would you mind looking up the definition of inversion and EPA pollution alert?

Early Spring January 29-March 10

That was a short winter. The trees are leafing out again. I think I'll plant a garden. This is perfect. Drove to Flagstaff for the first time. Didn't take a jacket, it's Arizona. It snowed. Missed 9 days work with pneumonia.

Middle Spring March 11-April 5

I didn't know it could get hot in March! I wonder how much a swimming pool costs. At least the lousy drivers have all gone back to Iowa.

Late Spring April 6-May 22

I'm glad I have air conditioning. If it's this hot now, what's it going to be like? Well, the mornings and the nights are cool. Dang, my air conditioning bill is over $150 already.

Early Summer-May 23-June 14

They said it was a dry heat, but 114 is ridiculous. At least I can go for a walk by 10:30 PM. I don't think I was so smart to move here. Maybe I can walk in the mall if I don't have heat stroking walking in from the parking lot. How can I get a handicapped plate?

Summer June 15-20

I don't think I was so smart to move here. My doctor is testing me for something called "Valley Fever." Missed three weeks of work. He said I could get a handicapped plate if the lung damage is bad enough, but I'd die by the time I'm 43.

HELL June 21-Forever (August 23) The monsoon storms will cool things down? It's 89% humid in my bedroom, 110 outside and raining! I'll bet San Diego is nice this time of year. I WANT TO MOVE!!!! At least in the winter you can put a coat on, or was winter just a figment of my imagination?

Late Summer or who left the oven on? August 23-September 15

San Diego just passed a law that they won't allow any more Arizonans to move there. Shoveling snow isn't as bad as I remembered. I wonder if my company has offices in Winnipeg. They just advertised $12 golf after three PM. Is that someone's attempt at humor? $375 for air conditioning last month.

Endless Summer September 15-October ?

This heat never ends. Rented a moving van just to see if it is possible. They play football in this? These people are nuts. The leaves have already turned at Notre Dame. My air conditioning went out. I paid extra for express service meaning they can come at the end of November.

The Big Break  Some Time in Late October

This doesn't last forever. It was only 96 today. Fall is in the air! Maybe I'll stay.

Butterflies!

A new exhibit, the Butterfly Wonderland has just opened in Scottsdale (101 and Via De Ventura). It is supposed to be the largest butterfly pavilion in the United States. It starts by offering a 3-D film on Monarch Butterflies. The film is very educational, but a bit dark. That didn't seem to bother some of the very young set who, at times, reached their hands out to touch the 3-D butterflies. The migrations of the Monarchs are impressive. They are tough little creatures.

After the film, one is escorted into a small room where butterflies in various stages of metamorphosis can be seen. This is the real deal and is quite impressive. Everyone wanted a close up view, so it was hard to see as much as desired. A little patience corrected that problem.

The pavilion itself is spectacular. There was one estimate of  3,600 butterflies in the pavilion when I walked in. They were all sizes, shapes and colors. I was impressed with the variety which came from all over the world. Parents and grandparents in the pavilion were all as excited as their young counterparts. We were warned not to touch the butterflies, but is was alright if they landed on us. Some two and three year olds couldn't resist. I had a hard time resisting myself. The pavilion was more humid than the surrounding desert air, but it was cool enough that the moisture was not a problem.

The ant exhibit is not impressive, but should attract those who have never had an ant farm. The honey bee exhibit was much more fascinating as glass cases enclosed a working hive and the various roles of honey bees could be viewed. Most interesting was the area where one could watch the bees "dance" as the communicated location for nectar for the other bees. I had seen that on film, but never in person until visiting the exhibit.

The hands on tank for petting sting rays is still a work in progress. I've seen these in other places (San Diego, Monterey), but Scottsdale's has a ways to go. There were only three to four very small sting rays in a large tank. More will be added soon. Surrounding the tank is the Amazon fish tanks. Of course, I was hoping to see piranhas, but there were a variety of other interesting fish. No piranhas.

The last stop was the gift shop. Butterfly items were all over. Butterfly hats, blown glass and coloring book were everywhere. This was a great place for a memento of the visit. I was disappointed that the gift shop did not have more books and videos on butterflies, but if one wants something for the kids or a glass butterfly for the desk, this is a great place to find it.

The Phoenix area has a great new attraction which, mercifully, can be viewed during summer months. The Butterfly Wonderland is open seven days a week and information can be found at http://www.butterflywonderland.com/. I confess to buying a year long grandparents pass. Butterfly Wonderland demands more than one visit!

Arizona Secrets #1

This will likely be a series of posts. In 1972, the first spring Brenda and I lived in Arizona, we jumped in our little red Mustang and made our way to the Grand Canyon and back in one day. Since that time we have explored every corner of the state, even some places the public can't go to now There is such variety here that we have found many surprises and have been amazed with what we have experienced. We've found alpine mountains with a Canadian climate, swamps, hidden canyons, a mini-Yosemite, lush arroyos, unique history and, of course, fascinating desert. Even if you are an Arizona native, I'm confident you will find something here you didn't know about.

Terrenate
In the 1770's, a small group of Spaniards tried to settle the SanPedro River Valley. Between the towns of Benson and Sierra Vista, west of the river from Tombstone is the remains of that settlement, Terrenate. To reach Terrenate, one must travel a few dirt roads which are easily accessible in a car. Then there is a hike of about a mile to reach the ruins. In 1776, the Apaches drove the Spaniards out and the settlement fell into ruins which remain today.

I've read varying stories about the settlement. The one I like the best is that the Apaches knew if the Spaniards could build a wall over five feet tall to protect the settlement that they would not be able to keep the Spanish from settling their homeland. In a series of attacks, the Spaniards were driven out and abandoned all plans to settle the San Pedro River Valley.

Terrenate is a best Arizona secret.

Ramsay Canyon
The Nature Conservancy owns Ramsay Canyon and it is protected as a nature preserve. In southern Arizona, the desert is dotted with what are called sky islands. Sky islands are mountains which rise from the desert floor to an elevation of 8,000 to 12,000 feet. Obviously, the ecology changes the further one goes up a sky island. The most famous of these is Mt. Lemon north of Tucson. There is a road to the top with the country's southernmost ski resort at the top.

Ramsay Canyon is located just southwest of Sierra Vista in the Huachuca (wa-chew-ka) Mountians. Ramsay has a limited number of people who can go in each day, but there are cabins available to rent. One advantage being that one can hike in the morning and evening when the canon is closed to other visitors. In the spring, it is a birders paradise as migrating humming birds travel through. Ramsay is a mecca for bird watchers and draws people from around the world. A short hike through Ramsay Canyon is like you being on display for the animals to view: a reverse zoo. We've seen numerous deer, a cheerful coati and, of course, countless birds.

Snakes and bears have been seen, so one must exercise a bit of caution at Ramsay.

Sandhill Cranes
Just east of Tombstone and south of Wilcox is a large playa or dry lake bed. Every winter this area plays hose to thousands of Sandhill Cranes who wisely winter in Arizona. They are noisy and interesting large birds. The town of Wilcox celebrates the arrival of these cranes and is a great place to obtain information about where to go for a look. Bring binoculars as it is not possible to get too close. There is also a rare beetle that lives on the playa, but I didn't try to find them!

If you enjoyed reading about these "Arizona secrets," there is more to come.