The Urban Scientist recently posted a meme in honor of Latino Heritage Month (Sept. 16th - Oct. 16th). Here’s an excerpt:

“Can you name 5 Latin/Hispanic Scientists?

Rules:

1. Be sure to name their discipline or field.
2. You can’t choose people from your own institution or company. (I may go soft on this one, this time)
3. You can’t Google or use the internet to aid in your search. (But if you know someone is a scientist, but not sure what disciple, you can look that up).
4. You can consult textbooks, journals, and class notes.
5. You can ask others to help you brainstorm, but they can’t use the internet just to get 5 names fast (see #2).
6. Living and deceased scientists are acceptable.
7. Links to or references about the named scientists are greatly appreciated. Let’s share the knowledge, and tell as many as you can, even if it isn’t five.”

::gulp::

Ladies, and gentlemen, I only knew one of the top of my head. Only one. Jamie Escalante, and he’s not known so much for his mathematical achievements as he is for his classroom achievements. In other words, I, along with thousands (if not millions) of Latinos out there as well as millions of Americans have been deprived of the contributions of these scientists, engineers, astronauts, mathematicians, and leaders in their respective technical fields. Granted, there’s a dearth of said individuals in the field (which is why organizations such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) was created), but Black innovators in the technical fields are a little easier to come by (George Washington Carver, Benjamin Banneker, and Madame C.J. Walker come to mind almost instantly).

Thus it behooves us to encourage students, especially those proficient in math and science to continue pursuing those careers. Many fellow teachers don’t encourage those occupations because, frankly, they don’t know enough about engineers and what they do in our society besides the stereotypical assemblance of machinery and messing with multi-colored potions. It also seems that, in Black and Latino communities, the lack of people actually working in the technical fields perpetuates this cycle of technical condemnation.

Of course, I’m coming off a meeting where we’re discussing education and how lack of funds and social inequalities promote the digital divide across demographics, wondering if, after some of my fellow technical people graduate, they go back to the hoods where they came from and inspire others to become more than just computer-literate. It’s one thing to know what a computer does and how to get on your cool social network and quite another to understand the computer’s inner workings.

This will take a concerted effort from those of us who have scientific backgrounds to concentrate our efforts into letting children know that there’s this whole industry that we’ve had such a pivotal role in, but have very few trailblazers in. I know I’m doing my part, but I’m sure I can do more.

And maybe the next time someone asks me how many I can name, I’ll have a scroll in my back pocket, waiting to be read aloud …

jose, who thanks Urban Scientist for reviving my computer science background …

p.s. - If you think starting off Latino Heritage Month by honoring J. Lo is the way to go, you’re out of your mind. As an astute administrator said in reply, “OK, so should we start Black History Month off with Diddy?” Well said, sir. Well said. J. Lo, like Diddy, are cool with me, but … really?

Someone recently thought aloud, “Why am I on Twitter?!” (actually a little more … terse)

So without further adieu, my top 5 reasons:

1. The 140 Character Challenge: In Twitter, you’re only allowed to use 140 characters to express your thoughts, announcements, desires, and visions. As a writer, I first thought it’d hurt my creative process since I can’t use big adjectives and nouns to pontificate and ruminate. Then I thought about how awesome an exercise it would be to focus on delivering a message as concisely as possible, as we writers tend to be a little long-winded. Twitter is perfect for conciseness.

2. Talk To Your Favorite Bloggers Like Never Before: Before Twitter, I didn’t really have the chance to communicate with bloggers like UMX, Slant Truth, or Liza, but through Twitter, I’m given a platform where not only do I follow them, but I can respond to their thoughts quicker than, say, a comment on their respective blogs. And they all respond back!

3. Interactive Blog Publicity: Yes, everyone can use an RSS feed to instantly get what I just wrote on my blog, but on Twitter, people can get a quick snapshot of your blog and click right on the link without feeling obligated to log into their Netvibes, G-Reader, or FeedBlitz. The post is linked right in the middle of their other conversations on Twitter.

4. One-Liner Insanity: If you get a nice cabal of regular Twitterzens on your Twitter, you end up in some madness. For example, last night, my Twitter friends and I had a rousing rendition of jazz ciphering … followed by a game of “Who’s More Old School?” People broke out Slick Rick, Earth Wind and Fire, Prince, The Cure, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, and a random assortment of peopleI haven’t heard from musically in ages. Ended at around 3am, and everyone else jamming to our link war. Fun was had by all.

5. (and my real answer) Everybody’s On It!: And I do mean everyone. Check the people who I follow.

You know what? Rather than mention anyone, just log in. Go on. Join the conversation. Follow me. And just to be like the rest of us cool kids, add a profile picture too. Anyone you see me having conversation with on my profile page is cool peoples. Add them, too ;-).

jose, who wonders, if we are on Twitter, does that make us Twits? hahah …

p.s. - I’m not a fan of people trying to teach me about something I’ve been using before them.

I’m now a writer for a sinister cabal of superior writers. Or something like that. For my first magic trick, I speculated on why computers will replace people with a little help from Mr. Roboto.

Support, mi gente. There’s more in store. And of course, this is still the #1 place for my writing. Just need to sharpen the skills ;-).

jose

Breakthroughs in the way people communicate often leave the older technologies at a search for its own identity. This is especially true in today’s media (most visible within sports and news). Sometimes when the old media tries to find its identity, it finds ways to destroy any and every other media outlet without much success and with a heavy backlash.

For instance, there’s been a few instances in which radio or television personalities will lash out at bloggers for simply reporting on rumors or offering their (often popular) opinions on certain topics.. While it’s true that sometimes the bloggers get it wrong, it’s equally true that these entities have also gotten it wrong. Hence, bloggers end up looking like saints while these older media entities look like morons for not adapting.

Of course, there have been many trailblazers on the corporate level that have adapted to the ever-growing blogosphere. Some, such as Keith Olbermann and Mark Cuban took it upon themselves to become more accessible through this media, and that’s awesome. Also, some of the independent bloggers have been bought up by the bigger media companies, and that sounds like a win-win: the blogger gets more publicity for their own writing and the corporate looks like it’s in tune with the people’s wants.

But, but, but … there we run the risk of another big-company takeover. The trend happens all too often: small startups start a trend and shift the way people think, and the media company, whether it be fear or similar goals (usually the former), take that company over before it becomes too big and out of their control. While it profits both entities in some way, the movement itself usually suffers. It hurts to say, but blogs will go from buying in to selling out.

Does this mean that whenever the masses have an independent and opinionated movement, it’ll get bought out by one of the big companies out there trying to control every and any form of communication out there? Who knows? Personally, because there is a movement that still hasn’t been squashed (”illegal” downloading), there’s hope for the people just yet. Until then, I can only hope that blogs carry on the independent tradition we’re so desperately in need of.

(By the way, I’m doing alright after having written my most personal post on here. I’m only scratching the surface in terms of my writing / poetry / publicizing, but it’s coming along. )

jose