Let's Play...Who Will Win

Once again the 2010 World Cup gives us reasons to even do more activities on the internet! I'm currently registered with ESPN's 2010 Soccer Pick 'Em fantasy league and I'm loving it. It's really fun to see who we pick. In fact, it's interesting to see how we pick; just because a top ranking team is playing a low ranking team doesn't mean the top team will win. In fact, I'd say 50% of the WC games have been ties!

So who do you have winning? If you look at past winners, survey's say Brazil, Germany or Italy are favorites. You'll also notice that no North American, African or Asian team has won the WC since the beginning (1930). For some reason I'd like to see Spain win...maybe even Japan.

Jarritos are Winning My vote

Ah yes, I finally had a Jarrito! Although I usually do not like drinking soda, this was actually quite refreshing. May I add there are 11 flavors for you to choose from!? The word jarrito means "jugs" in Spanish and refers to the Mexican tradition of drinking water and other drinks in clay potter jugs. Jarritos comes in 12.5 and 20-ounce glass and plastic as well as 1.5 liter bottles. They are also one of the few soft drinks in the United States containing actual sugar cane rather than the controversial high fructose corn syrup.

Does anyone know where to get them? Luckily I ate lunch at Distrito last Saturday and there was an entire wall full of them. I hope to be able to taste every flavor; there's even a "Jamaica" flavor which is pretty awkward yet intriguing. Of course the one I tasted at Distrito was fruit punch; so far...Jarritos is winning :).

P.S. Don't forget about the contest!

OUT THE OFFICE!

That's right. The actual full time job is keeping me busy 24/7 until next Monday. Hasta pronto!

NYC PR Parade Honors...

I'm a fan of celebrating our culture but when we can that one day when we can go crazy, I think it's a bit much. The NYC Puerto Rican Day Parade is this weekend and I'm sure all Latinos are running a muck. To be honest we shouldn't use this one day a year to go crazy. I'm not saying go crazy every day, I just think it's weird how some people can wave a flag and not even know what the colors mean. If you do attend the parade, please act like you have an education.

On a related note, today Osvaldo Rios stepped down from participating in the parade. According to the NBCnewyork article, the Telemundo actor decided not to participate in New York City's Puerto Rican Day parade, after critics called for a boycott of the festivities because of his history of domestic violence. Apparently Rios was going to be named "padrino internacional" by the parade; whatever that means. This just proves someone's past can quickly come back to haunt them.

What Am I Doing This Week?

For 4 days I get to take a camera crew around Philadelphia. LTV Productions, the people behind Orale Con Veronica, will spend the rest of the week filming for an upcoming show on Philly tourism. Where do I plan on taking them? Well here's a quick schedule:

1. Day 1 - Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Square 1682
2. Day 2 - Historic Philadelphia
3. Day 3 - Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum and El Centro de Oro
4. Day 4 - Sesame Place, Distrito and the Comcast Center (HD Wall)

This will be an intense week at work but I'm looking forward to the next few days. When looking at the bright side, this is another way for me to do what I do for a living. It's one thing promoting all these things in Philly, but it's another to actually experience them. So wish me luck and be sure to follow @PhillyTeAma on twitter for minute to minute updates.

The Jersey Shore Strikes Again

So what happens when you mix Latinos, mainstream music and the Jersey Shore? You get Enrique Iglesias' new video featuring Pitbull and the cast from the Jersey Shore. Not sure who exactly agreed to this partnership but it's stupid. Guanabee did note there must have been lots of film editing because at no point do you see anyone in the same room together. EI's music is different from a lot of "Latinos going mainstream" but egh I'll take it; he's doing his thing.

I couldn't even watch the whole thing but if you want to...

La pasión del Mundial

As you all should know Shakira recorded the official song for the 2010 World Cup...which actually starts soon! And because this is probably the most watched sport/event in the freaking world, everyone is taking advantage of this opportunity. Univision of course has teamed up with the World Cup and they're taking it to the next level.

Pretty soon you'll be watching the World Cup in the movie theaters; well not exactly. Univision and the World Cup has rolled out an advertising campaign in movie theaters across the country which features international superstar Shakira singing “Waka Waka (Esto es Africa/This Time for Africa)The vibrant 30-second spot features images of Shakira singing, exciting soccer moments and the cultural richness of the host country of South Africa – it conveys the incredible energy of this month-long event and the passion the fans feel for the game.

And remember, with futbolunivision.com you can stream all 64 games for free, and with smart phone applications for iPhone, Droid and BlackBerry you keep updated on the go.

Make that Child Lighter?

As if the SB1070 issue in Arizona isn't getting out of hand, now we have education leaders telling artists/schools to change the tone of a mural. According to an article in AOL news, Officials at Miller Valley Elementary School in Prescott, Ariz., asked the painters of the mural to lighten the skin of children depicted after a city councilman denounced its prominent portrayal of ethnic minorities. Following protests, the principal apologized today for making the request. "Miller Valley made a mistake when we asked them to lighten the mural. We made a mistake," said Principal Jeff Lane.

Really though? You're asking to change the skin tone what is supposed to be a Mexican-American child? According to some comments made by AZ citizens, the mural is "tacky," "ghetto" and "ugly." I have no clue how they come to that conclusion from the above mural but it's definitely not ghetto. I don't understand how and why this is happening in AZ but we can't let this go any further.