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.