AMERIQUE:


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: It is the unspoken statistic, but it is as real as anything to do with the lingering U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the military, 1,800 American servicemen have killed themselves since the initial invasion of Baghdad. That is in addition to the more than 4,000 who died in battle. This week, families of the soldiers who committed suicide asked President Barack Obama to change the government policy of not forwarding letters of appreciation to mothers and fathers of these servicemen. By week's end, the White House had reversed the policy and agreed that such letters are needed, as well... - Eduardo Paz-Martinez, Editor of The Tribune

Saturday, June 5, 2010

HURRY SUNDOWN: On A Semi-Gorgeous Morning, We Go in Search of El Rocinante's Darkened World...

By PATRICK ALCATRAZ
Special to the Tribune

HARLINGEN, Texas - On our way to Brownsville the other day for a looksee into the work of the controversial Blog El Rocinante.com, we lost our way and left the highway via the Ed Carey Drive exit ramp here, moved toward the city's main drag and ultimately veered off on Commerce Street and it wasn't long before we saw one of those gorgeous economic breakfast joints of the sort we love - Panchito's, there in the shadow of The Valley Morning Star's despair-white building.

It hit us that our investigative piece on El Rocinante could wait while we quaffed a few cups of jet-black coffee and put away a plate of huevos rancheros in honor of all-things-Mexico. What a fine, fine morning, was our central thought as we exited the place and again set sail for the lard-ass seat of Cameron County government. We'd put away the day's edition of the New York Times, likely a first for any customer in the history of Panchito's. But that was okay. We'd been overly-involved with the local goings-on, attending to the yin & yang of Harlingen politics, but now, now we wanted to head directly into the miasma that is today's Brownsville.

Our piece on El Rocinante will hit the Blog sometime next week. It should thrill fans of the Gonzo-style web site, and it should scare the beejeezus out of the rest of the civilized world. There is no more grand visionary in the entire Rio Grande Valley than its editor, Dr. G.F. McHale-Scully - considered by critics as the man behind "...that Black Hole of unslakable lust." More on El Rocinante in our story.

But this is about our drive up and down U.S. 83, the last proud highway. We left McAllen at dawn, thinking we'll hit a Starbucks in Weslaco for our initial cup of Joe. Then, as we cruised into Harlingen, we were taken by a sports bar there on the right side of the road - Butt Wild, is the name of the place. Immediately, it brought back nice images of my last girlfriend up in Big D. Well, I said to myself, what's all this rot I've been hearing about how sheltered Harlingen is, about how it's the town on the move with a super-tight political wedgie between its legs, about how it's the last bastion of RGV racism, about how no one from richer, prettier McAllen goes to Harlingen 'cause there is no there there. Butt Wild, eh? That business name had to be approved by City Hall, so...

Anyway, the long road loomed. At the Rancho Viejo point in the trip, I smile for the umpteenth time at that silly golf-ball water tower, smiled even longer than we'd smiled at the Freddy Fender Water Tower in San Benito. Freddy's crazy, frizzy hair covers most of that tower, but, hey, they say it's always humid in San Benito. Whatever. We kept rolling, fueled by Panchito's coffee and the songs of Phil Collins bursting out of the dash radio. Su-Su-Sudio on the outskirts of Brownsville can damage your brain, or is it really that messy, mind-blowing fleamarket off to the side of the road? I'd swear every entry into Brownsville smells like either old boots or rotting avocados, or maybe it's all that bad-breadth coming from the town's economic 14th Street cantinas. As my Brownsville galpal likes to say about mysteries of the world, "Quien sobby..."

I dunno, I dunno.

Brownsville proves a motherlode of info on El Rocinante. I now believe it is the quintessential story of everything - love, hate, adultery, porno, betrayal, abuse, bad poetry, profane nicknames and political rumors to end all political rumors. In the end, we decide it is the last elegiac website on the Internet.

It's not until I hit Weslaco on our return trip that breathing again comes easily. By late afternoon, we're sitting in the lovely patio of the coffee shop Savory's Perks, taking in the evening breezes while trying like crazy to come up with a title that'll fit the fear & loathing tale of a website known as El Rocinante. As I lift my cup of coffee for a needed sip, it is the haunting, guttural whinny of an aging black horse trotting by that scares the Holy Hell out of me...
- 30 -  

9 comments:

Marylou said...

El Rocinante is obesses with Juliet Garcia, as is el rrun rrun. I must concede that after doing some research about tsc, the tuition fees are rather observant.
Specially, in an area where jobs are scarces as heck.
As we understand the board of trustees has kept Juliet, in place for unexplainable reasons. Maybe, she is likeable, and the board feels obligated to keep her as the president.
No one knows, the roci would be alright, if they just did away with all the hard core porno. It is shame because the articles aren't all that bad.

Patrick Alcatraz said...

MaryLou: We know enough about both Blogs to say we believe El Roci's bent is perhaps a bit beyond the grasp of Brownsville brains. Montoya's effort likely sits well with those same brains, although calling them brains is being charitable. As for the college stuff, well, we're working on something about that - from an outsider's perspective, which means we won't be as emotional as locals... - Editor

Chano Maracas said...

What a Bunch Of NACOS [ignorant Indians] You all are. You want to Portray the Rio Grande valley as a Cosmopolitan / Metropolitan Area...
When in reality most people from Up North of Corpus Christy and South / Central Mexico, see this area as a remote and Forgiven EJIDO with an Identity Crisis with a bunch of Cast Outs / Outcast from both Civilized Societies !!!

Patrick Alcatraz said...

Chano: There for a second, we almost took that personally. But you're no doubt talking to your mirror, so...Anyway, our feeling is that the RGV - geography, we mean - is a jewel of a slice of Earth. Too bad the politics here suck Big Time. You'd need another Jesus Christ to come traipsing in to have any sort of chance at salvation. Until then, go online and look for a ticket outlet for that last boat out of Brownsville... - Editor

Marylou said...

Chano Maracas, Your last name is consitant with your brains, (They both rattle) Your commentary pretty reflects the locals way of thinking, so are you in food stamps??, and visit the free medical clinics??. You feather brain, it is people like you that keep the LRGV what it is. I will donate the first $5.OO for boat ride to the outhouse of Alaska. Hows that??? You TECO.

Lic. Chano Maracas said...

I Wiil take Those $ 5.00 ... Thank You Guys for Listening and pass on the Great Info Work, These people really, really need to Wake up !!!

> Ahi los Wacho, Guarachos.

Anonymous said...

Dear Editor, does the Herald-Tribune not have a policy regarding intelligent discourse? The above comments are boorish and childish at best, but intelligent discourse? I think not.

Christian

Patrick Alcatraz said...

Christian:...we considered them both and found them to be within our bounds. They are what they are. Intelligent? Perhaps not in the league of Einstein or Hawking. But we can live with them. Discourse allows for many layers of communication styles. We really frown on personal attacks and use of profanity more than anything. We are sure that these two commenters, anonymous as they are, must know they offer words for others to read and consider. If they, indeed, are childish and feel childish, then, perhaps they won't do it again.... - Editor

Anonymous said...

Actually, that Maryrose sounds like she was on her 10th or 12th shot of extremely cheap tequila. Either that or she has the education of a 2nd grader.

Ruben