Ranch Market findings

The King Ranch Market, located on Puente and Citrus in Covina is finally open. The market, once located in Azusa, was closed to make way for a new Target (coming soon) and the closest one was in Monrovia. Lucky for me I got a chance to go today and found some curiosidades  along the way.

We all are familiar with the alcancillas made of "felt." Well, these piggy banks are not your  abuelita's standard puerquitos that you slip coins into. Now, they are available in soccer balls, complete with your favorite Liga Mexicana team's logo on it. Not only that, but they come in various animal forms, such as lions, (por supuesto), dogs, and eagles. Finally included in the bank collection are lovable childhood icons such as Elmo, (with dots that look similar to nail polish,) "Bob Esponja," and an orange Winnie the Pooh. Let's just say it...they are cute and fun.

Finally, while browsing through the produce section, me di cuenta de que Columbian University grows its own bananas!

Why?! There is no excuse for this error.We are all culpables of misspelling...but it is the country...and in a popular market that prides itself on displaying where each specific type of produce comes from. All in all, I have a blast(an affordable blast) when in the King Ranch Market. Anyone can appreciate the quirky, and the low-priced in these times. Te quiero, Ranch!

Times reviews "al" George Lopez

"George Lopez, meanwhile, maintained his position as a Latino Everyman (though one with seats good enough to hear the Lakers trash talk their opponents)." 


So True!
 " He wandered through the well-trodden valley of male comedy where married people don't have enough sex and Mexican food makes you fart. " 


-Television critic Mary McNamara in her review  of George Lopez's new late night show "Lopez Tonight" and Wanda Sykes' "The Wanda Sykes Show." 


Take of the talk, Wanda Sykes, George Lopez

Panamanian parade includes crowd

A Cuban spectator caught my eye as he enjoyed and grooved along with the festivities that took place on Broadway November 7.
Click for Justin Sullivan's beautiful images of the parade.

"El Chupacabras" moves to Mexico for his Chiquita

"Don't feel bad, Ben---no one can make sense of our immigration bureaucracy. It's a cruel machine of contradictory rules and arbitrary decision-making that routinely tears marriages and families apart."
-Columnist Hector Tobar assures former Idaho radio disc jockey in his column about Reed and his wife Deyanira Escalona, who was detained by immigration officials and deported before her wedding was to take place.

Read the entire column:
In an immigrant's moccasins

Market warns la gente

Lario's Market in Covina, which is located on Arrow Highway and Barranca Avenue, caught my eye one night a few months ago. Not for the chillingly empty parking lot (it was about 10 PM) but because of a sign that I was sure had been taken down already.

Lucky for me, it was still there. It stood as a memory for either a good deed or a dangerous one. Maybe I am assuming all of the wrong things. Could they possibly have been trying to convey the message "Make sure to get your license out!" I mean, the sign was not in Spanish, which is how it would have been written if they were trying to tell our friends without even valid Socials to "irse por otro lado."

Whatever the case, it was sketchy to me. If it was set up to forewarn our undocumented hermanos that officials would be asking for that piece of plastic, I feel conflicted. It is not the most law abiding thing to do, but hopefully some people got to keep their vehicles to be able to go to work next morning and be able to support their family...because if this were a very wrong assumption and this was to warn drunk drivers, well, where are we now?

Some dangerous art

Column one from the LA Times' Oct.24 issue is about humble artist Jose Espinosa who paints for "narcos"...their homes and mausoleums. Click on the link for the intriguing, detail filled column.
"Brushwork he can't refuse"

*Photo from the Los Angeles Times by Don Barletti.

A night of Latin American unity

The Semblanza Latinoamericana held its annual Latin American Folk&Dance festival at the Los Angeles Theater Center on October 17. The night was filled with beautiful representations of  Bolivia, Panama, the United States, Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, and Ecuador. Audience members in the cozy theater rooted for their respective countries just as passionately as the fans of the Los Angeles baseball team that was playing somewhere else not too far from there. Even so, their was an all around respect and admiration for all of the countries in general, for it seemed that each country received a gasp and wondering stare from at least one audience member who was not familiar with their dance. Evey one learned something that night, whether it was a lyrical gesture or a greater tolerance for their fellow Latin American neighbor. Most of all, the most prominent lesson was that there is a richness and diversity throughout the countries that form Latin America, and it was appropriately displayed through dance.


Here are some photos from that night.
1.Los Angeles Based Tierra Blanca performing an Afro-Mestizo dance from Veracruz, Mexico.
2.Colombia's group Folklore de Mi Tierra performing "La Puya Loca" cumbia.
3.From Cuatro Caminos Art&Flamenco, Lisa Solar and guitarist Walter Molina performing a style called Alegria.
4.Panama's Ballet Folklorico "Viva Panama" dancing to "El Borracho" and "Viva Panama".

CNN special about Latinos

Watch CNN's special called "Latino in America." It will air both Oct.21st and tomorrow,the 22nd at 9pm. This link is filled with interviews with  Latinos from all backgrounds and the struggles and triumphs they face.

Latino in America

El Tendedero

In our parents' homelands, it was the place to be for chisme. Kids here (and over there) play chase and la queda in and out of it. If one found themselves in the campo, it had that fresh smell of clean air, and maybe, if you were UNlucky enough, chicken feathers. Whatever the case, here, it just sits there, doing it's job of drying our clothes when a mechanical dryer cannot, and brings those memories back. Gracias,tendedero.

Orgullo Hispano en el Phil

From the Times' Ann Powers article:


"As a band, we always mix genres, cultures, generations, and now to have a musical director who does the same, it's awesome," said Ulises Bella of Ozomatli, the Latin hip-hop fusion band, during one introductory segment. Like much of the day's banter, this statement was in English and Spanish, now the unofficial parlance of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
y le decimos "bienvenido a Gustavo"

El Taquero

The host of the best impromptu party on the street: the taquero. A friend who feeds you. A figure which to congregate around and make new compadres. El taquero: because you know that name brand stuff in a frozen shell seems illogical after the first mordida.

Una señora was selling treats for the kids that attend John Liechty Middle School on Union Avenue in Los Angeles...from a stroller. You do what you can with what you have. Just as this photo was taken, her daughter, who was doubling as her watchguard, exclaimed, "Ahi vienen! Here they come!" The police were right around the corner. She told me to hurry up,so I did...so that she could stand in front of another populated place para ganarse la vida, or to earn a living.

For you to see!

The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is hosting two exhibits that are sure to intrigue! So brake from the routine, go see some art, and get ready to get in touch with some history!


The first is called The Baroque World of Fernando Botero which are works from the Colombian artist's collection. As the museum's website states, "...this is an opportunity to view many never exhibited works that the artist reacquired or never parted with." This exhibit will run from September 12-December 6, 2009.


The second is called Latitudes: Latin American Masters from the FEMSA collection. It is running from September 12,2009-January 17,2010. This exhibition includes eclectic "contemporary works" from artists such as Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros, and many more!


Check them out here:
-Botero


-Latitudes

Music to their ears...

What has been all over the news this week (thanks, Maria Elvira Live for extensive interviews and reports,) has been the concert in Cuba headed by Colombian poprock idol Juanes along with Miguel Bose, Olga Tañón, and more. The purpose was accompanied really by no political agenda, though this was disputed by immigrants from Cuba residing all over the world ranging from the 40 years of age onward. They disputed that this would only fuel the Castro regime. The show was enjoyed by predominantly youthful crowd who was overwhelmed with the once in a lifetime experience of seeing a mainstream artist(after this courageous show, which was titled "Paz Sin Fronteras"/Peace Without Borders," hopefully it will not be the last.)

How could anyone in their right mind oppose this? The oppressed people have a right to see,breathe, and listen to all that live music has to offer. To hear the uplifting rythms of artists is something that the Cuban people, scarce income and who do not have much technology at their fingertips as we in the U.S. do, is something they have probably only dreamt of. Did I mention the masses walked to the show? No guagua would transport them there. The footage that was shown on the television of the concert was enough to perplex those that have the freedom,(and I emphasize FREEDOM) to attend as many shows as they want a year, or a month,even.

Bottom line: This had to happen. Rumor has it that Placido Domingo wants to next. Looks like our elders do not always know what's best.

Desfile Centroamericano/Central American Parade 2009

Just as the billboard indicates, many friendships must have been formed among spectators of the 2009 Central American Parade established by COFECA (Comite de festejos centro americanos.) The parade, which was proceeded by a festival, reached its goal of sending a message of unity among the central american community and continued with a euforic and festivo atmosphere.

"Aqui te espero..." (I'll wait for you here.)

-On Alvarado St. in Los Angeles during the Central American Independence Festival.

Apparently, Target in West Covina's Eastland Shopping Center has been carrying these for...well, they couldn't tell me exactly when these popular candles came in...must've been divine intervention...la virgen de guadalupe will cost ya 40 cents more,though.

"obsesion total" over novelas

"No. Hoy no. Mañana. Tengo que ir a ver mis novelas," I heard as I was walking through Big 5 Sporting Goods in Chino. I turned to see a man trailing behind his aggressive wife, defeated upon hearing her plan and wrecking whatever his was.

What is with obsesion de novelas? People will put their lives on hold completely (and their spouse's) just to have an hour of fantasy. Sure, people argue that television is an escape from reality. But who's reality is so horrible that they'd prefer to watch women with double d's throwing painfully obvious fake punches, betraying their husbands with their best friend's cousin's step-brother. The point is probably that novelas pull the viewer so far away from the mondane, it becomes addicting.

Don't discriminate; men watch too. 80 year old men. A Nicaraguan native, Mr. Ben Lacayo could list off all of "his" novelas.(yes, the Spanish speakers refer to them as "Mis novelas" or "my novelas," another sign of intimacy,standing for posession, making them feel that much closer to their nightly outlet.) "Veo La Tormenta,El Amor Es Para Siempre...me gustan las novelas venezolanas/I love Venezuelan novelas," he said. "So you and your wife have a good time watching them together?" I asked. "No. She has her own novelas. We don't have the same tastes." I couldn't say anything after that.

It's true, it depends on the country. Venezuelan novelas may have more storyline than the overly shallow Mexican ones, as do the Colombian ones. If I had to choose, I'd say the Brazilian novelas often set as Period pieces beat them all, for their beautiful scenery, and costumes, and beautiful actors and actresses. Uh-oh.I guess I may have some novelera in me after all.

Por cuanto?

I found this gem at the Community Thrift Store on Arrow Highway in Covina. Let your imagination take you wherever it does as to how the picture got into the frame. The final result: Amigo Mayor Villaraigosa,
vales 1 dolar con noventa y cinco centavos!!

"Esa pared...

Kids from the Youth Institute are taking part in cleaning up walls filled with graffiti. Watch this report by Deborah Bonello from the Los Angeles Times in el D.F.




http://www.latimes.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=b2bc1979-53a9-40ce-bcfa-413e8014f037&src=front

Seemingly unlikely victims of Katrina

As we all know,entire lives have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.As this story shows, not only legal citizens that have established roots in the United States have suffered from the aftermath.Those who have roots abroad are also hurting.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=15273005

"Oh,Tomas...que feo estas..."

Thomas the Tank Engine has officially hit puberty, or at least that's what they're displaying in Ochoa's Meat Market on Arrow Highway in Azusa,California. All grown up...and resembling Homer Simpson?

And now,a special treat...

Yes,the quality is iffy...It's off You Tube.

But, the song is amazing and taken off of Cafe Tacuba's Unplugged session.

Enjoy!!

Foto del Dia/Photo of the day

"NO LOITERING" reads a sign outside of La Puente's Big Saver supermarket. They make an exception for wise royalty,though.

An Indigenous struggle

Being an immigrant in the United States is difficult. Being an indigenous immigrant from Mexico is a horror. This is what La Opinion's sister site impre.com proves in their three part series "Pesadilla Indigena," or, "The Indigenous Nightmare."

Watch and read (Spanish articles, video with subtitles.)

Are they "victims of their own traditions?"

Part 1

See& read part 2 here:

http://www.impre.com/noticias/2009/7/29/laberinto-legal-que-consume-a--138207-1.html

Nicaragua's Abortion

A study done by Amnesty International reports that the absolute ban on abortion in Nicaragua is endangering women's lives, and goes further: leads to their doctors, nurses, and themselves risking prison time.

Read the full article at latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nicaragua-abortion28-2009jul28,0,946345.story

and at amnesty.org.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/shocking-abortion-ban-denies-life-saving-treatment-girls-women-nicaragua-20090727

School house...NOT!

To give you a little taste of how numbers,countless scandals,statistics,dollar bills, and all around "sketchiness" of educational budget cuts are affecting, here are some words straight from the most affected and most important person of all: the student.

Keep in mind that I asked him how school was doing, and instead of the traditional "good" answer, 15 year old Michael Zepeda, in an almost discouraged tone, said:

"I'm learning nothing. My teacher isn't there anymore. They send in people from the office to sit there and watch us as substitutes. We go on the computer for eight hours a day...and do nothing."

10 Reasons to Overthrow A L.L.L.(Leftist Latin(American Leader)

1. You want to stand out from the crowd (Nicaragua,Bolivia,Venezuela,Cuba...Ecuador,Paraguay...You get the hint.)

2. You think having enough eggs and bread for your family is a-okay!

3. Because there's "a struggle underway today on the continent, where a crop of leftist leaders with authoritarian tendencies have risen to power through elections, defied the status quo and tested the bounds of democracy." *

4. You want to be like Honduras when you grow up.

5. You think Zelaya's hat is ridiculous.

6. You think Chavez's EXISTENCE is ridiculous.

7. Happiness is being an uncensored news source... (Globovision.)

8. Jaime Bayly has brainwashed you for the better.

9. Being ruled by a man in yet another hat and dirty beard for 40 plus years is getting dull and frustrating and you want a little bit of democratic spice in your life!

10. You just want to be free.

*Quote: Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times in "How a president is overthrown."

Zentonic:Drink Them In!

Watch out,Cali...or world, for that matter. Zentonic is here and has been for a solid year.If they are this good in that short amount of time, there is much more for our ears to look forward to (yes,you read right!)
This trio of 22 year old Latinos have the discipline to practice once a week collectively and even more so when an individual state and it shows. They have the smooth ability to handle a wide range of material including covers and their original tracks. They can transition from The Beatles' mesmerizing "Dear Prudence" to Caifanes' always danceable cumbia hit "La Negra Tomasa," proving their bilingual skills.


These easy going young men known as Zentonic, who have proclaimed themselves as "modern classic rock" on their Myspace page, prove their greatness through lead singer and guitarist Danny Chavez's seductive, screeching Plant-esque yells, bassist Ruben Cordova's quirky and appealing grooving feet, adding choreography (as much as can be incorporated in rock music), and Kenneth Lopez's constant rythmic enthusiasm.They present to be exactly what they seem: three good friends jamming out, the difference being that they seems as if they've gotten way over their "garage band" state, in a good sense.

As for Zentonic's original recordings, they have chops as Chavez uses a mean vibrato in "She's Come Undone". Their range is eclectic. They are able to present simple, daily anecdotes of blossoming rockers and their adventures in "Misplaced Soul", to a hypnotizing hippy groove that makes even the un-stoned want to dance on "Golden Lights." Whatever their angle, it's all organic and flowing. But does Zentonic even have an angle? " The only 'benefit' we get is the audience that networks with each other. They are the key element," said Chavez, recognizing that the audience is the one that makes or breaks you, and Zentonic has faithful supporters that will for sure keep increasing.

"We just want to present peace through music," says Cordova.Hence the name. "We want to present a message of enjoyment that will make people happy," adds Lopez.

As the lyrics rightfully suggest in their track "Poor California Tour," Zentonic is "the one that makes you wanna come back 'round."

Un hogar para los rockeros

Este pasado Sabado 24 de Mayo, en el periodico de Los Angeles Times salio un articulo sobre un programa de rock en espanol que ha estado en circuito desde 1995. Como puede ser que todo este tiempo la audiencia latina ha estado sin dicho lugar para salirse de la monotonia de Reik, Juanes,La 5ta Estacion, y los demas estrellas de pop rock que ofrecen las estaciones en espanol a diario. Localizado en 90.7 FM, el programa llamado "Travel Tips for Aztlan, ofrece musica de grupos de todo latino america, ademas de los locales. 

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-latinradio24-2009may24,0,4718742.story

"Loncheras" get grilled

One of the most popular ways that the Latino community obtains food is being labeled a burden by different cities nationwide. Restrictions are being established by lawmakers, because they are, according to citizens, "disruptive," "a gypsy fication" echoing "Third world" tendencies, attracts "crowds and crimes."

Professor of law and Chicano studies at UC Davis says it is a perfect example of "the continuing culture clash in the U.S," for the trucks are being run by recently arrrived immigrants. Let's not forget to mention that the trucks cost the owners a pretty $150,000.

For more details, read Jeff Gottlieb's article in the Los Angeles Times.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tacotrucks20-2009may20,0,2209904.story

Artiaga Family Receives Some Help

This family in Winnetka, which is near Canoga Park, is left homeless after trusting a man who they met at their church. They thought he would help them with their loan modification on their mortgage. The money never got to where it needed to be paid off. The Artiagas payed thousands up front, which came mostly from the father who is a busboy. They met the modification agent at their church and trusted him. So much for love thy neighbor.




The Artiaga family, which includes 6 children is living in front of their home. The parents do not speak English. Another case of immigrants betraying their own. It should be the other way,one helping another to achieve their dreams. Luckily, there are good people out there lending what they can.

"Sin Nombre" gives identity

Latinos. The movie that is crucial for perspective and universal tolerance toward one another is Sin Nombre directed by Cary Fukunaga and its more well known indie actors now executive producers Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. I do not mean to exclude anyone but if you yourself, parents, grandparents, tios/tias, or anyone near and dear escaped a struggle, whether it be social, economic,political or (the one that ties both together) emotional, this film will answer the why and why nots that come along with immigrating over here.

In Sin Nombre, a meeting of opposing worlds tales place when a reformed Mara Salvatrucha member is hero to a Honduran girl Sayra, not certain what her definition of family is for she hardly knows her own. Both with their own ghosts, strengths and at time weaknesses, they help each other to eventually hope for the prize of el norte. Edgar Flores' performance as Willy (also known as Casper,) will shake you to the core, for he is as lost as any of us have found ourselves, and portrays a familiar courage as we know those who have decided to cross from their lands have. He and the film itself does an excellent job of portraying the multiple reasons and inner conflicting reasons of why they had to flee wherever they came from.

The grittiness of the scenery brings the reality to the screen, from the tattoos on the many gangsters that no one would think twice to run from, to color of the dirty roads and impoverished neighborhoods that portray devastating reality. The beauty of the three locations, (Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras) are never masked, for its people are portrayed all natural onscreen, without typical Hollywood glam effect. Also, the dialogue is so authentically Central American which is important when it comes to having an audience lured in more,because many who are watching are experts and have maintained their language in tact. Sin Nombre has definitely earned the title of most intense and emotionally gripping drama.

My country,your country

Many times, people around me have demonstrated anything but joy when I asked them what their country of origin was. I'd follow it up with a "Cool! What is it like?" They'd respond, "It's not that great" or "Yeah...I'm from there...but I wish I wasn't" or own up to the country and then make an excuse, tracing back their lineage about three decades and refer to their grandparents' country of origin instead of the one that they regretfully resided in.

All of this is stunning to me. The ultimate place where I drew the line was when I had people tell me that there is no use in having pride in your country because we are all human and in that way,the same. How can a country be thrown away like that? To me,it is more than a piece of soil. With it, comes a culture filled with music, food,scenery which you will never forget when and if you depart from it one day, countless and priceless memories that took place there, from which you could make a map of your very own.

I read on one of the "The Way I See It" quotes on the back of a Starbucks cup, that diversity allows us to see our errors, strengths, and embrace others and ourselves...of course, this isn't word for word but I'm hoping the message is clear.I should not have thrown it away!

Yesterday, I saw a gardener working arduously, wearing a shirt that read Mexico. Shortly after, a man driving a van had the United States flag spread across his dashboard. The day went on and an Ecuadoran flag hung with pride from her rear view mirror. Within those tangible material demonstrations of pride are more than just a name of a land.

Don't let him be "misinterpreted"

Yes, news revolving the Summit of the Americas and the reactions afterward deserves two entries.

Former President of Cuba Fidel Castro has fought back against President Barack Obama's misinterpretation of what his brother Raul Castro,currently in power, according to the Los Angeles Times. Raul owned up and said something that Fidel could and never will admit: "We could be wrong.We admit it.We are human beings." This he said along with Cuba being open to discussing everything, from political prisoners, to human rights issues, and freedom of the press.

Everyone now stands in awe of the younger brother who they thought would never detach from his predecessor's tight grasp on the island and immobile mind set. However, one cannot ever get too comfortable or too certain, because soon after, the former president released a statement on his own blog saying that "without a doubt, the president (Obama) misinterpreted Raul's remarks." Fidel went on to say that his brother's remarks were meant to "show courage and confidence in the principles of the revolution." Does this mean that he is being delusional after years of tyranny and keeping it old school? Or is Raul faking us out by that statement where he recognized that possible errors could have been made? ...like taking away land, killing, limiting liberty, oppressing homosexuals (watch Before Night Falls to witness some of that,) and so on...
Whatever the next step is, let's hope that Raul is being truthful and sincere, because after all, he and his brother are "human."

Friends forever?

There was an article in the Los Angeles Times about the recent Summit of the Americas that President Barack Obama, along with other democratically elected leaders, attended in Trinidad and Tobago. In here, writer Peter Nicholas talks about how much criticism there was toward the hand shake and chit chat among Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez and Obama. I do not think there is anything threatening at all with that.The president defended it by saying it was diplomatic courtesy, as it should be...and believe me,I didn't vote for Obama.It just is what it is...(and everyone disregarded his handshake with Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega,which is one in the same with Chavez,maybe even worse,but why should anyone care right?)

Obama stated " it's defense budget is probably 1/600th of the U.S.,...They own Citgo.It's unlikely that as a consequence of me shaking hands or having a polite conversation with Mr.Chavez tar we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States. Strategic interests. I am not enraged by any of those peace-loving gestures. I agree with an official who said at the summit, "Anybody who's been at international conferences with Chavez knows that if there's a camera around, he's going to find a way to get in it. I mean,you can see that from his furious and wannabe Fidel speeches, (he is his protege.) I'm not angry.

In fact I think it's hilarious that Chavez gave Obama a copy of "Open Veins of Latin America by Eduarde Galeano, discussing Chavez's favorite punching bag and go-to topic, imperialismo! It was a Spanish version, I heard...so does that mean he's going to carry a prompter around...I mean,a translator?I really don't think this is going to turn Obama into the next president with half of Latin America's antimosity toward the U.S. Those are just out of control allegations. Fox news then reported that the book shot up to the number 2 most requested on Amazon.com. Either this is dejavu, where everyone is following this trend of supporting anything Obama touches or people just sincerely want to get educated on how the U.S. has messed up in the past. I'm pretty sure it's the former but we will give the public the benefit of the doubt.

Left...LITERALLY!:President Obama and Chavez. "Let's give 'em something to talk about!"

Can you espell dat out for mi please?

So...
My Latino community shops at countless swap meets filled with discount items(some that are worth the cheap and some not so much) dollar stores, and other offshoots of "big box" supermarkets. Many times, we fall victim to China's factories. No, I don't mean us as the labor,(for once,) but a linguistic crime of sorts: typos. Those annoying little spelling errors can often be overlooked by the common insider(that is, those shopping,) and scoffed at by the outsider. Do these manufacturers or those working at the assembly line do it purposely? Of course not...though my tiny amount of skepticism thinks that those very workers do it as a joke, as my "uneducated people" will not know better. Not just misspelling,but randomly mislabeled oddities!!
Whatever the case...it's funny to catch it. So for your consideration:





This Winnie the Pooh with a D on it...could it be that they gave us the "gangsta" version named instead Winnie Da Pooh? Oh,and let's not disregard the donkey pinata with the happy face for a nose.What?










This may look like your normal bear grabbed by the famous "Claw" machine that reaches in and hands you a cute stuffed animal but, no.This "Happy Birthday" bear is actually a "Happy Bhthday" bear whose former home was a 99 cents store and whose bed was one of those machines.His new home is my room,but I'm thinking of sending him off to a tutor.





There were about twenty minutes spent on trying to figure out if these "Hand Guffs" were the chosen name, just as Pop Rocks is for the crackling candy. Conclusion:No. They probably thought a G would suffice for the half shaped circle we call a C.














Oh, how I love Super Mar...Mabkers.If this is the German or Dutch way to say it,I apologize.If not...then too bad for us. If a toddler grows up to say it wrong, now we know why. Sharpies,please.










Everything may look normal on this piece of a patriotic symbol which has been displayed on my car...but the Asian country never fails us.Have a closer look...




No.In Spanish,we do NOT spell America with a B, but the same way as the Anglos do!














This one's just for fun. Tripped upon it at the 99 Cents store.I'm not one to knock foreign film,but there were a couple of these creepy Canadian Spanish language flicks that were supposedly for children...yeah,to give them nightmares! They're supposed to serve for a morality check...They seemed like 80's Veggie Tales on shrooms and a lot of creepy face painted characters.


So next time you see something we own have misspelling or just a weird vibe,laugh it off and don't blame those that shopped for it,but get on a plane if you have any complaints! Lord knows our parents who purchase this stuff might not get it,but the new Gen does and we embrace the errors! Kinda comes with the territory and adds for entertainment.

*Photos: "...je suis l'art..."

New is the new new,you know?

It's one of the most overplayed phrases in the United States: a noun followed by "is the new" ended with another noun. "Red is the new blue..." is similar to what was displayed on the hit Disney film Wall-E: people completely being consumed by what a big screen or magazine tells them they're gonna be...because it's the updated version of the former. "Coldplay is the new U2. Coldplay, being one of my favorite bands, is it's own music, it's own creativity (minus the Viva La Vida controversy,) and in a totally different era. Sure, U2 is still rocking out as they should(no one wants to hear me rant about that.) They both have balances between political, but U2 more so. Coldplay has heartbreak, bleakness, rejuvenating and inspiring qualities, as their elder fellow Brits do. But to say that they are the "new" is not even worth arguing. Why can't each just be their individual selves? If one were just like the other in a new year, which is exactly what that phrase tries to prove, then there wouldn't be any sense in either of them and for many of my fellow fans, there's plenty of reason. As they say in Spanish, el como, or "the last straw" came when they throw around the notion of Carla Bruni,the French first lady, or our very own Michelle Obama being the new Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Someone who was known the world around for her style and grace smack dab in the middle of one of the U.S.' purgatory for conservative glamor, should not ever be said to be reincarnated in 2009. Every woman has her time and style...to say that Mrs.Obama is up there...disregard my political views because she wouldn't have anything to do with them anyway, but it's just not going to fly. Just because she puts on a high fashion piece and goes "against the tide..." so do countless others and we ridicule them instead of praise.


What's next? Ms.Jolie is the new Mother Theresa. There. I think I've said the most rediculous thing ever.

No is no in any language

I was sitting in the doctor's office waiting room yesterday, trying to rid myself of health paranoia when for a couple of minutes I was sucked into a reality check that I otherwise would have gone on talking about without proof.


A mother was sitting with her three restless children. The eldest boy was about 5 and her daughters were about 3 and 1. When the mother asked her son about what he did in school, he let out a hasty "Everything!" "Everything?" she said, "Like what?" "Nothing," he responded. Isn't that cute when children that age have absolutely no interest in communicating much with their parents? Not much changes! When she finally got it out of him, he started talking about the "fun" part of school: games. When the mother got fed up, she said, "You had to have learned your shapes! Square,circle,triangle," and so on. He was repeating each as she said them aloud, which contunued with numbers. Then, what I have been scolding my own culture about for a while now was proven.


The mother said ,"Did they teach you Spanish?" I could already feel the negative rebelious tension in the air when the child did not respond. "You're gonna learn all of the animals...Oveja,vaca,pollo,gallina..." "No! No! No!" the boy yelled. "I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it!" She went on with the numbers again in her native tounge and still, the boy, acting as if someone was telling him Sesame Street was cancelled...or,in this generation, like someone had stolen his Wii, said, "Lalalalala I'm not listening! I don't want to learn Spanishhh!!"


The shame that comes along with Latino youths knowing Spanish and practicing it is so dated it kind of disgusts me, (think Zoot Suit Riot era, where kids were beaten for saying Hola.) This scenario above has been played out again and again,substituting the age of the child with a 20 something woman, or a "too cool for you" junior high kid with big chain and saggy pants. Many kids just don't care about he Spanish language. It's not their fault. How did their parents let it happen? Even when their parents don't speak one lick of English, they still manage to mute those double rr's and double ll's as inheritence to their children, who, at the end of it all, are left at a disadvantage in todays world of immigration swamped California,where they're hiring "bilingual." Forget that...just knowing it to be a tad bit more well rounded (God forbid,right?)


Parents need to wake up. Your senseless shame of being a mojado or having an accent when you walk up to a register (which is what I've heard many immigrant adults use) should be turned into pride. How else will your children feel pride in themselves? If you want to keep hearing "No" instead of si, then by all means, keep this going.

What's in my name?

Since I'm dry on material until tonight when I head out to A Mic and Dim Lights, I thought I'd give you some insight on my blog title and pen name.


"Juventud,Divino Tesoro" is a direct line taken from Ruben Dario's poem Cancion de Otono en Primavera, in which he reflects on lovers passed, describing each as a season. The following is the stanza in which he uses the line:

Juventud, divino tesoro,
¡ya te vas para no volver!
Cuando quiero llorar, no lloro...
y a veces lloro sin querer.


Translation:
Youth,divine treasure/You are leaving to never return!/When I want to cry, I do not.../and sometimes, I cry for no reason.

When my father made me read this a couple of years back, I immediately knew it's importance and relevance to me. I first felt close ties to it because of the poet's iconic status in Nicaragua, my father's homeland. Second, I just "got" it. We are only young once, appreciate all you have in the present,you know, all the cliche's...As for the second half of the stanza...superfluous youthful hormonal reactions? We have all had them. I just felt this line was an appropriate general title so that nothing will seem too out of place.It's not deep...everything written on here will be coming from a 20 year old...so there.

-Dario:Essential in any Nicaraguan household.

Frida's Twin. When I turned in my blog's url, my adviser asked "Does that mean what I think it does?" Yes, it does. I don't know how many people, have told me,especially after the biopic on her life came out, that I look like Frida Kahlo...thank to the occasional uniting of the brows,most likely,(T.M.I.,i know.)
(The truth is that I'm lying.More people have said I look like the actress who portrays the Mexican artist...you know who! I just never want to admit/insist on that in case a party besides the one who told me I look like her should come along and say in a loud, obnoxious voice, "YOU LOOK NOTHING LIKE HER!" Ouch,says my self-consciousness!) Anyway, along with resembling her, I admire her courageous art, what she wore, and how she,as the film depicted, had that unstoppable passion. Her political,Communist agenda I pay no mind to.


I hope you've gotten something out of this explanation.






- Thanks for having me look at something...and for the look itself!

The haunting train horn sound...

*A calm and reflective Juan, local business owner, looks on at the scene.

It was a Monday night like any other. My friend and I were eating pan dulce from the small Mexican bakery on 2nd street in Pomona. The only thing out of the norm was that we could not step into our usual independently owned hooka cafe Zamir's for some tea. For this reason we were sipping on some tea from the Starbucks chain. Buying from this mainstream giant may have just allowed us to peek into the devastating last moments of a woman's life.


Sitting at these benches across from The Glasshouse went hand in hand with another routine: watching the Union Pacific train go by. We heard it off in the distance. Maybe it was the monotony of seeing the I don't know how many dirty box cars go by with the faded white letters spread across. It might have been wanting to observe the eerie ghost like emptiness of the usually overcrowded 2nd street center.Whatever the reason, we both looked north with curiosity.




At that moment, we saw a young female with the dangerously close speed of Usain Bold darting across about 30 yards away from where we were sitting...toward the train. Now, there are about three yellow caution signs clearly stating that trains are not to sound their horns under any circumstance, I would think for the abundant businesses and amount of people that reside within the area. That was disregarded as the conductor surely saw the girl running toward. My boyfriend was sure that he saw the lights of the train flash upon her. Just as quickly as it takes for a ray of light to reach an object, she was gone. I was positive that I had seen her reach the other side. Now, I know that it was only my mind wanting so badly for that to have been the outcome.

Right:The train comes to
a halt.


After I sat down for a few minutes with the mentality that she had survived, I cursed this "stupid young girl" for playing chicken, and how all of our thrill seeking generation was the same, playing with their lives one way or another, this being uttered not completely knowing what the result had been. My friend had said something about the whole scene being out of an action movie, a "kamikaze" scene. "Want to go look?" was the next thing asked. With hesitance, I said yes.



We made our way across the abandoned and low lit parking lot. As we approached the gate that separated us from this immense transportation giant, we smelled what had been the result of the train's wheels coming to a terribly noisy halt, a burnt and ghostly scent. As we looked to our left,the police had arrived which brought uncontrollable tears to my eyes. Then, we heard them:the ambulance sirens.I was still in denial.We ran down to the next street behind the seemingly abandoned buildings and pieces of this bleak puzzle were coming together.Two fire engines were in front of the scene, accompanied by 3 police cars. A business owner by the name of Juan soon after came along and asked us what had been happening. At that moment I realized that my boyfriend and I and those driving the train were the only ones who saw what happened. We saw what would be her last steps on this Earth.Juan commented that in his 20 years he had never witnessed caution tape covering those tracks.



What my eyes absorbed that night I cannot deny. She ran...ran to the train. I try to justify this by saying that she may have been running to her car which might have been located at the Pomona Transit station, just on the other side of the tracks. There is no way. There is no way that at the precise moment that the train was in full speed she decided that she needed, more than anything, more than her life,even,to get to her vehicle. I only remember her silhouette surrounded by street lamps looking as if they were taken out of the darkest Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde chapter. When I read on thedailybreeze.com that she was reported as "walking across a stretch of railroad tracks," I could not feel more saddened. This was premeditated. To think that she did it with a purpose to put an end to her life is somewhere I don't want to reach.Maybe I am assuming too much. Maybe I'm thinking too much about her life.What she was running to, I cannot say that I truly know what it was to. With her speed it was evident that she was determined to get to her destination.I would like to think that by analyzing, I am keeping some kind of memory of her alive. I have searched and there is no additional information written on this. Whether you all agree with it or not, I went to the police and will report what I witnessed to them tomorrow. It would be great if we could all keep her in mind, no matter what the reasoning for this to happen was.

*Seeing these images would surprise anyone, for it is as if you were in her head,on the way to your demise.It just gives one deeper perspective and hopefully adds for reflection.






*Where,as we know it, she began running.







Photos by "...je suis l'art..."