La Yuma Trae Pegue

Producer Miguel Necoechea speaks to the audience.

"Nunca he visto una mujer boxeadora..." This devastating line was uttered by Culebra, played by Rigoberto Mayorga in the Nicaraguan film "La Yuma," which premiered as part of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival at Grauman's Chinese Theater last Sunday.
"La Yuma" was an international collaboration, with French director Florence Jaugey at the forefront (she wrote the script as well,) Mexican producer Miguel Necoechea (whose film "Chamaco" is also out now,) and Nicaraguan cast and crew.
La Yuma is a story of finding hope in seemingly discouraging places. This is what lead actress Alma Blanco portrays so well on screen playing Yuma, a strong young woman who uses boxing as her escape from the extremely littered and dangerous streets of Managua, Nicaragua. As she gets better, it seems that her home and personal life get in her way, with an unsupportive mother who she must support financially along with her innocent brother and sister and mother's disgusting, good-for-nothing boyfriend.
Throughout parts of the film, there are gleams of heroism coming from others, like the job Yuma takes under her comical patrona, and an intelligent young man she shares a romance with after "salvandole la vida," Ernesto. Overall, Yuma's uninterrupted courage and strength allow her to rise up on her own, without handouts, and does not allow herself to be distraught over the contaminated atmosphere she is surrounded by, this including her friends form the barrio, Culebra, El Down, and Polvorita, who throw their own punches to her, bringing her down for pursuing boxing.
The film does not discriminate in the slightest, incorporating actors like twins Emir and Raul Cabezas, who have down syndrome and surprisingly add comic relief to the film, as well as Yuma's close friend who is transgender and also delivers timely and fun lines.
The film was the first ever to premier at LALIFF in the 14 years of its existence. which is encouraging to the Nicaraguan community present who claimed their orgullo to Necoechea, answering questions after the film.
"I want to see if more films can be made" in Nicaragua, Necoechea said. "This took a lot of effort. It took four years to be made and represents great effort form the film making community in Nicaragua," which, until now, Necoechea said was non existent. "La Yuma" strongly demonstrates the reality and talent coming out of Nicaragua and will certainly change that.

La Dora Dorada

The adorable explorer has gone rubia...or at least she has on a jacket being sold in a business in Huntington Park,CA. This bootleg Dora la Exploradora was found in a peluqueria/floristeria in H.P. Surely, the kids won't notice and for those of us who do, reminds us of those days in our Winnie-the-Pooh track suits that our moms bought at the swapmeet (only OUR Winnie came in a neon green color...)

Para Cerati

From the 80s til the present, your music, lucious curls, and colored eyes have embraced many fans from Latin America to the United States. Whatever the true meaning, many words from Soda Stereo's track "La Ciudad de la Furia" speak to your current medical condition, which is why it brought tears to my eyes while listening to it. Sr. Cerati, todavia no te queremos ver volar por la ciudad de la furia. Aun sabemos de ti y por tu creatividad y talento, eres parte de todos nosotros. Por eso lo mantenemos a usted en nuestros pensamientos. You took so many people under your wing, asi es que no hay manera de que sus alas se derritan. Cuanto quisiera saber lo que estara pasando en su mentalidad...obscuridad? Nuevas creaciones? We are so proud of what you have let us borrow, your beautiful music, and as you go on throughout this past year and what is to come, your music is very much still in motion, which won you Latin Grammys, including "Mejor Album Artista de Rock." De verdad, por favor, haga como ha hecho durante todas estas decadas a traés de su music: mantenga su "Fuerza Natural."
Love,
Un Fan Anonimo
"Cuando pase el tembor,sera un buen momento."

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