That Really Grinds My Gears...No TV

So as much as I want to say, "I can live without cable," I really can't. I've been in my new apartment for a little over 2 weeks and with absolute no access to TV it's starting to get a really weird. Yes I do have a television but I have no channels. Not even any of the regular channels. Therefore I'm missing Modern Family, the Office and yes even the news. Do I feel like I'm missing important information? To be honest I think I am. This proves the internet cannot solve all your problems.

Suggestions?!

See you at the parade

The Philadelphia Puerto Rican Day Parade is this domingo. Many people have their own opinion about the parade but I'm glad it's still on. There were debates on the value of festivals/parades a few months ago and how to pay for them to happen. For more info on what to do this weekend click here.

The Salsa Jackpot

Times like these make me wish I had a vehicle to travel. It's not everyday you run across a "Latin" night in the city; it's always the usual suspects. Well that's why I'm happy a place like Parx Casino - Club 360 is offering a Latino night every Thursday! Only one problem (for me that is), it's in Bensalem, PA. Hence why I would like a car.

The party starts at 8:30 p.m. with a Zumba Show! Zumba fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind dance. One hour late get your free salsa lessons on with Philly finest and world famous salsa instructors. Stay a little later because at 10:30 p.m. La Luna and Estilio students will be performing.

p.s. I wish they stopped calling it "Latin" night. Just sayin.

The DEVIL gets a review

If you believe in GOD then there must be a Devil correct? Most people tend not to want to believe in him or whatever their version of the Devil is. Well M. Night Shyamalan's "Devil" is not about chance encounters nor whether or not you believe in him, it's about reason. Everything happens for a reason and you run into everyone because it was meant to be.

Overall I appreciated M. Night's film because to be honest he has not been winning me over for the past few years. Devil, like other horror flicks, makes you want to be a better person. It makes you realize bad you've done in the past and wish you hadn't. Should it make you believe in God or the Devil? Not really, it just makes you think about your past, present and future. And of course throughout the movie who is the man believing in the Devil...the Latino. 'Nuff Said

Support our Dream Act

In America, we all have dreams. However, due to a lot of small yet powerful laws, sometimes it's hard to manage around this country. The purpose of the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, also called the DREAM Act, is to help those individuals who meet certain requirements, have an opportunity to enlist in the military or go to college and have a path to citizenship which they otherwise would not have without this legislation. So what seems to be the problem with passing the law?

Rewind to 2007 when the NY Times published an editorial story on passing the act. Fast forward to today and we get a similar article. Three plus years of fighting to help our youth and soldiers fighting in other countries. So what can you do? Push for it to be passed! Call your Senator...hurry because you have until 2 p.m. today.

Racial and Ethnic Divides

Look at the picture above and tell me what can you conclude from the map? I'm pretty sure it's obvious...first it's a map of Philadelphia. Second...it's our racial divide. Broken down: Red is White, Blue is Black, Green is Asian, Orange is Hispanic, Gray is Other, and each dot is 25 people. Data from Census 2000. There's an obvious divide and if you know your Philly history, this didn't happen on purpose. One can only imagine what these maps could be used for. Let's see what happens when council districts change in the next few years.

And it's not just Philadelphia. Look at the divide in other cities like Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Chicago etc. The creator, Bill Rankin, created the first map of Chicago stating, "My alternative is to use dot mapping to show three kinds of urban transitions." To view other cities, visit Eric Fischer's flickr page.

Tomabilidad?

Okay so sure a lot of Latinos love to throw around Spanglish and yes there are some disagreements about it, but when businesses try to use it all hell will break lose. Apparently Budweiser, Corona and Coors Light have decided to make up whole new words. An article in the NY Post further explains the new words:

• Tomabilidad: Bud ad speak for drinkability. No such word in Spanish.
• Más una fría que beer: Corona’s ad line, which translates into: “More one cold what beer” Huh?
• Emborícuate: Native speakers are at a loss of what this Coors Light phrase means.

Seriously...what were they thinking? Who did the research and who exactly are they reaching? It's one thing to reach to the Latino consumer, but there are different types of Latinos. By that I mean the Latino who was born in the U.S. and doesn't watch Telemundo or Univision and then you have the Puerto Rican, Colombian, Dominican, etc. who immigrated to the U.S. and watches Telemundo, Galavision, etc. The latter will probably have the slightest clue what "emboricuate" means.

Seriously. What do you think of the ads and made up words?

Celebrate Taller's 35th Anniversary

Photo by D. Cruz

When you think of Latino Philadelphia, one of the most prominent answer would be Taller Puertorriqueño. Well this year you'll be hearing more because they are celebrated 35 years as the "Corazon Cultural del Barrio". Special guests include Ana Ortiz, cast-member of the ABC comedy-drama series "Ugly Betty" and Dra. Ana Maria Polo, lawyer and judge of the Emmy nominated Telemundo show "Caso Cerrado".

Get your tickets now at tallerpr35thanniversarygala.eventbrite.com. Throughout the gala you'll be able to purchase arts and crafts and there will alsoo be a silent auction. Don't worry dance animals because at 8 p.m. you'll be able to dance to the rhythm of "Jibaro con Tumbao".