LATINoSUTRA DIARIES: "ATTRACTIVE ARREST"

LATINoSUTRA delves into the relationships and sex lives of latinos.  This week:  Female, Straight, 26 years old, singer and writer.

Day 1

“Ay dios mio”, I thought to myself.“ Look who just walked in?” 

I took a double take when he opened up the door to my spa. He looked like an Abercrombie & Fitch model, about 6 feet tall, fair skinned with a bristled beard and mustache. Without hesitation, he walked right up to me, asking for my help to purchase a face cream (As if he needed it).

“Hey I’m back, I told you I’d stop in.  Listen, I ran out of my shaving cream and a few other products. I was hoping you could show me your selection?”

“Yeah, sure. Of course! I didn’t think I’d see you so soon though.”  I smiled from cheek to cheek, still pleasantly surprised.

I pumped a lotion onto his hands so he could feel the texture, my heart racing as my soft dainty fingers glided against his big, rough ones. And while taking my time, I massaged it into his palms, going around in circular motion. He then lifted my hand as if to kiss it, but it was just to smell the fragrance. Despite my excitement, it was an easy sale.

“Hmm, so you’re a Brooklynite like myself. Don’t you love BK?” I asked as I stood by the registrar, typing in all of his personal information into our clientele data base system.

He leaned his right elbow onto the glass counter.     

“Brooklyn’s great but I’m looking to buy an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen. Manhattans always fit my personality more.”  

“Oh yeah? So the concrete jungle pulls your heart huh? You’d probably look good in one of those I LOVE NY T-shirts.”

He chuckled “How ‘bout you? You hang out in the city at all? Or do you take the train into Brooklyn after your shifts over and call it a day?”

“Ummm…I’m a little like you. At one time I even thought about moving into the city but…Brooklyn’s been changing pretty fast. It’s up and coming ya know. Anyway, I’m really glad you stopped in. Good luck finding a place in the city and don’t be a stranger. Come back again soon.”  I handed him his bag and smiled.

He lowered his eyelids to give off a dreamy effect, “What time you get off work?”

Behind him, my boss gave her approval with thumbs WAY UP! And one of the esthetician’s who was leaning against the wall, lifted her leg up in a white nurses skirt and fanned her face saying, “He’s hot”. But I made an excuse as he kept probing questions and gently led him out of the spa. My boss then walked over to smack my arm, “Tu estas loca? Que guapisimo ese hombre! Tu le vas a llamar?"

“Yo no se”, I replied. “I can’t believe he actually came in here though. I met him earlier today at that little Jewish restaurant down the street. The one you told me to go into. Anyway, I was scrambling for change inside of my wallet and I got so frustrated; I ended up emptying out the entire thing. Hay, yo estaba muy avergonzada!  I couldn’t even afford a freak’n bagel with cream cheese, so he just gave it to me for free since he’s the manager”.

Rolling my eyes up to the ceiling, I let out a sigh before continuing. “When he walked over to introduce himself, I told him he had the most beautiful hazel eyes I’d ever seen.”

CLICK READ MORE BELOW TO CONTINUE.....

HUGO CHAVEZ TO USE PLANES TO FORCE RAIN OUT OF CLOUDS

So what's a president to do when your country is experiencing severe water supply issues?? You tell everyone how to take a shower of course! 

Last week in a broadcasted interview, Leftist President Hugo Chavez called on Venezuelan's to stop singing in the shower and to wash your shit in 3 minutes. Venezuela has recently been plagued by a string of power shortages. The country is struggling to provide adequate electricity and water to its people as it contends with underinvestment and a drop in water levels in the hydroelectric dams that provide the nation with much of its energy.


Calling for water conservation, he said low rainfall caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon meant water levels were critically low in the El Guri reservoir, one of the world's largest dams. "Some people sing in the shower, in the shower half an hour. No kids, three minutes is more than enough. I've counted, three minutes, and I don't stink," he said during a televised Cabinet meeting. "If you are going to lie back, in the bath, with the soap and you turn on the what's it called, the Jacuzzi ... imagine that, what kind of communism is that? We're not in times of Jacuzzi," he said, to laughter from his ministers. 


Among his strategies to deal with the country's water supply issues Chavez mentioned that the government would be using airplanes to try and force rain from clouds. YES..seriously.  Someone in Colombia must of sent Chavez a shipment of the bad shit cause it looks like he forgot to get off the crazy train and went straight on to LOCO VILLE.

LIGHTS.. CAMERA... ACTION: WE'RE BACK ON!

Dear LV Users,

After a short interruption in publishing, we're coming back with amazing new content catered to reflect the voice of the young latino community. There's many new exciting projects in the works including a new editors and a sex/relationship column!

Stay tuned, lots of good stuff on the way.

Saludos,

The Editor

SONIA SOTOMAYOR SWORN IN AS NEW JUSTICE

Justice Sonia Sotomayor took the judicial oath on Saturday, becoming the first Hispanic and third woman to serve on the Supreme Court in United States history. At just past 11 a.m., Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. administered a pair of oaths to her in two private ceremonies at the Supreme Court building, completing her ascent to a life-tenured position as the nation’s 111th justice, and the first to be nominated by a Democratic president since 1994.

ESCANDALO! COPS TASER PREGNANT MEXICAN WOMAN & GRANDFATHER

Now we all know that latino baptism parties can get a little loud, but thats no reason to start tasering the shit out of people!!

Cops in Prince William County, Virginia broke up a backyard baptism party that got loud and boozy.  The popo was responding to a noise complaint and are claiming that the owner of the house, a 55 year old grandfather, refused to identify himself and resisted arrest when they asked him to turn down the music.  The pregnant mother of the baptized boys then attempted to help the grandfather who was on the ground and her ass got some too!  However, according to the family the popo didn't even give the grandpappy  a chance to show his I.D. when they were already tasering him.  Both victims are facing criminal charges but the family is fighting back by claiming discrimination and use of excessive force.  Click here to check out the story on Fox News:

DAILY VIBE: IN THE NEWS

*Oh snap!  - Prominent opponents of President Ahmadinejad's snub his re-election ceremony.  

- NYTIMES.COM

*Despite repeated denials by President Hugo Chavez, new evidence suggests that Venezuelan officials have continued to assist commanders of Colombia's largest rebel group.  

- NYTIMES.COM

*Let the battles begin! - Michael Jackson's mama seeks control of estate.  - CNN.COM

*Its about time - Episcopal church nominates 2 openly gay priests as bishops.  

- HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

*If you care (and can even remember) that dirty old reverend, Alberto Cutie who got caught doing the nasty with his lover of two years, you'll be happy to know that he's now happily married and graces the over of People En Espanol.  - PEOPLENESPANOL.COM

*Drama! Google vs. Apple.. no pulling off wigs ladies! - Google Inc Chief Exec Eric Schmidt is resigning from Apple Inc's board of directors, Apple said, citing increased competition between the two leading technology companies.  - REUTERS.COM

*HSBC is in the shit hole!  - Europe's largest bank by market value said net profit for the first six months of 2008 was $3.3 Billion compared to $7.7 Billion a year earlier.  GULP.  HSBC, we'll go ahead and fax you the bankruptcy application asap.  - WSJ.COM

*Ent' that mah' baby for sale on the internet?? - A Massachusetts mom finds out someone is using her baby's picture in a Craigslist adoption scam!  - CNN.COM

RICKY MARTIN LAUNCHES "POST CARDS FROM THE STARS"

Nothing says "I love you boo" like a video message e-card from Ricky Martin!

This wonderful masterpiece of an idea has been in Beta since October but will officially launch in 2010.  "Post Cards from The Stars" is a website where you pay $3.99 for a personalized video greeting starring Ricky Martin himself or other mystery stars not listed on the site (I'm reallyyy hoping that Charo or Don Francisco are included on the list!!).  

We're wondering if there are any "restrictions" on what the message can say...?  For $3.99 that bitch best get ready to deliver some nasty explicit shit!  After all, we're paying for the service and demand our money's worth!  I'm thinking a sexually explicit video message from a gay lover to another involving leather.  I'm sure Ricky Martin won't have any issues delivering those type of messages.   Click below to watch the video.

WTF: CRISTIANO RONALDO'S LEGS ARE WORTH WHAT?

When we read that the Real Madrid football team has purchased an insurance policy for Cristiano Ronaldo's legs we thought it would be fun to guess for how much.  Say $1MM just for fun?  Ok, perhaps $10MM?  Needless to say we were wayyyyyy off.  

Ronaldo's legs have been insured for $100MM EUROS (Thats $142MM dollars)!  God damn!  We can't even afford to make our monthly insurance payment for COBRA which is already subsided by the guvment!  In a effort to lift our spirits, here's a really hot pic of those legs.  

- Source:  Terra.com

TEXAS HOMEOWNER WANTS HISPANICS TO "KEEP OUT''

A homeowner in Azle, Texas has created a mild stir in his neighborhood after choosing to display a sign reading “Hispanics, Keep Out!” on her property. Some neighbors feel the sign is in poor taste at best and, at worst, hateful and that it should be taken down.

The homeowners, however, are inclined to disagree. A 72-year-old woman who answered the door for reporters echoed the sentiments expressed on the sign and is, in fact, so proud of her convictions that she refused to disclose her name to the press, perhaps so that her words may belong to the people, like a dirty limerick whose original author is lost to time:

Well, you know, I don’t care. I’m upset about them coming over here illegally, too.

We think this is our privilege as an American to protect our property. This is our property.

Poor aunt Ethel.  Still ignorant after all these years.  I'm thinking she might regret the above statement when she checks into a nursing home and finds out that her caretaker is a LATINA.

- WFAA.COM

DAILY VIBE: TOP HEADLINES OF THE DAY

*Darkness falls in Asia during eclipse. - CNN.COM

*In health care fight, Obama reaches a defining moment. - NYTIMES.COM

*Californians are pissed at the Governator. - NYTIMES.COM

*Damn - iPhone factory worker commits suicide over lost G4 prototype.

- NYDAILYNEWS.COM

*Off with their heads - Rats eat toes of Ohio baby, married couple and mom´s boyfriend charged with felony. They should add an ass wipping and let NY rats eat their toes.

- NYDAILYNEWS.COM

*You know the economy is bad when mexicans can´t even make it across the border.

- CNN.COM

GLOBILIZATION IN LATIN AMERICA AND ITS HIDDEN PATH OF DESTRUCTION

A look around and few deep breaths are all that are needed to understand that there is something seriously wrong with the town of La Oroya--tucked away in the once beautiful valleys of the Andes Mountains in Peru. According to the Blacksmith Institute, La Oroya is listed as one of the world’s 10 most polluted places: 97% of the children, below the age of six, are poisoned with lead (study conducted by St. Louis University). The industrial plant in La Oroya conducts heavy metal mining and processing where chemicals such as lead and sulfur dioxide are produced.

While many who live in La Oroya work at the plant and earn their livings there,, the workers’ health is at serious risk. The plant emits 1.5 tons of lead and 810 tons of sulfur dioxide daily. One worker, Claudia Albino, who is a washerwoman at the plant talks about her seven year old daughter’s stunted growth, “This man Rennert [owner of the industrial plant in La Oroya, Peru] I’ve heard of him on television, of his great wealth...as for me, I cannot afford to test these lead levels in my daughter’s blood any longer.”

Finally, Doe Run, which owns the industrial plant in La Oroya, has developed an environmental management plan to be implemented over the next four years. Doe Run plans to install equipment that will reduce emissions, at a cost of $400 million. However, a concerned NGO in the local area has created a movement that is pushing to implement compensation and provide healthcare to the 35,000 residents of La Oroya. In addition, legislation has been passed to deal with the deadly smog of La Oroya. Peru’s Government National Environmental Council has approved a contingency plan for the states of alert. The plan’s aim is to send red alerts out to residents of La Oroya to stay inside their houses when a signal is sounded that air quality or weather conditions are exacerbating pollution levels.

While these measures may reduce the environmental toxicity in the future, the health of many residents of La Oroya is very fragile due to years of unregulated emissions of lead and other toxic chemicals.

By Stephanie Mercado

REPUBLICAN TOM COBURN SAYS SOTOMAYOR HAS "ALLOT OF SPLAININ' TO DO"

Our first reaction to this news was WTF?  

In one of the most hilarious moments of a boring and repetitive third day of her Senate confirmation hearing, Sotomayor made the gun analogy after Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn repeatedly prodded her to explain if the Second Amendment gave every American a right to self-defense.

"Do I have a right to personal self-defense?" Coburn said.  Sotomayor said she couldn't recall a single federal law that dealt with that issue.  "Most criminal law statutes are passed by states," she said. "The issue of self-defense is usually defined in criminal statutes by state laws."

"Is it okay to defend yourself in your home when you're under attack?" Coburn insisted. "Those are the kinds of things people would like you to answer."

The Bronx-bred Sotomayor wasn't taking the bait. As she has throughout the hearing, she refused to express her opinion on any issue that may come before the high court.  New York law, she replied, allows citizens to "use force to repel a threat" but only "if the threat is imminent."

She then tried to placate Coburn with a hypothetical example:

"If the threat was in this room, 'I'm going to come get you,' and if I go home, get a gun, come back and shoot you, that may not be legal," she said.  Laughter swept through the audience.

"You'll have lots of 'splainin' to do,'" Coburn retorted. It was an obvious reference to the broken-English phrase made famous decades ago by Desi Arnaz, the Cuban bandleader and co-star of "I Love Lucy."

Ummm... I'm not sure if we should just lighten up and take it as a funny joke (which it kind of was) or take it as an insult meant to ridicule?  Share with us your thoughts!  PLEASE COMMENT!

By GC

TOP FIVE INFLUENTIAL LATINO CANDIDATES FOR THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

With the historic election of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States, racial barriers in politics have been destroyed. Americans have shown their willingness to break from tradition and elect quality officials regardless of their national origin, color, sex, or religion.  Considering this, as well as the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, we thought it would be appropriate to highlight five Latino politicians who could potentially run a successful presidential campaign in 2012.

Antonio Villaraigosa- He is the mayor of the City of Los Angeles. First elected in 2005, he was then elected to a second term in 2009.  Born in Los Angeles in 1953 to Mexican immigrants, he has shown exceptional leadership locally and the potential to take his success national.  He served as the national co-chair on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, as well as part of then president-elect Obama’s economic transition team. With this he has shown an aptitude for national issues and the ability to put his skill to use on a grand scale.  During his time as mayor, he has modeled himself after New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who has taken strong stances on gun-control, education, and quality of life. He has sought to implement similar policies in Los Angeles.  Shortly after his election, Mayor Villaraigosa was featured on TIME Magazine’s list of the 25 most influential Latinos.

Bill Richardson- He is the current governor of New Mexico. He was elected in 2003.  He also served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Energy Secretary under President Clinton.  He also served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives where he sponsored legislation for equal rights for Native Americans, a major constituency in his state.  He also engaged in solo negotiations with Saddam Hussein in the 1990s. He is the son of a white father and Spanish-Mexican mother.  He was nominated by President Obama to be the Commerce Secretary but withdrew himself due to scandal rather than tarnish the President’s image.  He has shown exemplary leadership and a commitment to equal rights for all.  His various offices and appointments make him uniquely qualified to deal with national as well as global issues. 

 

Adolfo Carrion Jr. - He is currently the Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs Policy, which is charged with the duty to coordinate and implement policy for urban areas nationwide as well as set urban policy agenda with all the executive departments.  President Obama chose him for this position.  Before accepting this position, he was the Bronx Borough President in New York City, which is the boroughs chief executive. In this capacity, he was also the States highest-ranking Latino elected official.  He was born in New York to Puerto Rican parents. He has dedicated his career to helping the under-privileged. He constantly worked with the Mayor and New York City council to improve the quality of life for New Yorkers and minorities.  He would bring a fresh perspective to national politics.

 

Joe Baca- He is the Congressman from New Mexico. He has served in this position since 1999 when he won a special election.  Rep. Baca is a Vietnam veteran, where he served in the Army as a member of the Army’s airborne division.  He has spent his career fighting for veterans rights, anti-violence, agricultural issues, financial responsibility, and more Latino representation is corporate America.  He was born in New Mexico to Mexican laborers.  His experience with national issues and Latino empowerment make him a worthy candidate for the presidency.

 

Luis Gutierrez- He is a Congressman from Chicago.  He was elected in 1992 and became the first Hispanic elected from the Midwest.  He was born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents.  He is a supporter of Puerto Rican independence and the rights of Vieques’ citizens.  He has spent his career in Congress fighting for immigration reform and immigrants rights as well as financial responsibility and affordable housing for urban areas.  His seventeen years in Congress have given him the experience to deal with local and national issues.  His experience with immigration issues also makes him qualified to tackle the sensitive areas of our relationship with Mexico and Latin America.

While these politicians may have their flaws, like any other, they would bring diversity and richness of experiences to the office of the Presidency.  While their race or ethnicity should not be a determining factor, it would undoubtedly have an affect on how they run the nation and treat minorities nationwide. 

By Chris Carrion

FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK: INTERVIEW WITH JAMES DE LA VEGA "BECOME YOUR DREAM"

“Fuck everybody”, stated the 38-year-old controversial Artist and Philosopher, James De La Vega.  Sitting below the capitol cased letters “BECOME YOUR DREAM” painted above the entrance of his art gallery located at 102 St. Mark’s Place in the East Village, he delivered a message.

“Once you allow people to bend you, eventually they’ll break you, so don’t ever change who you are for no one”, commented Vega.

Underneath his aviator like shades and brown fisherman’s hat, he hides behind a façade yet his opinion exhales like the smoke from his cigar as we discussed how to make a difference through art, music and literature.  He further explained that when one pursues a goal, one must have the confidence to stay true to their vision without compromising. This frame of mind is partly the reason for his arrest back in July of 2003 when he spray painted a fish jumping out of a bowl on the side of a Bronx warehouse with hopes of inspiring random pedestrians, which indeed won him a favorable reputation in the neighborhood, but hardly any with law enforcements. There after, he served 90 days of community service, yet continued coloring the streets of New York with pieces of chalk. One example in particular is of a bird resting upon his mother’s arm with a message underneath. It reads, “Be Free, My Son, Be Free.”

His unconstrained words of advice definitely matched his liberal lifestyle, perhaps due to his father’s independent influence before he died of A.I.D.S. in the early 90’s.  “My father owned a few small business’s… He was always a Boss”, said Vega.

Although De La Vega suffered a great loss in his early teens, today the majority of his art collection pays tribute to Elsie Matos, his mother who was left alone to raise him in El Barrio, better known as Spanish Harlem on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. In an effort to inspire confidence and enlighten the public, he uses his mother’s character in which he refers to as a “strong woman” to portray worldwide celebrities and public figures in various illustrations.

For example, in a 5 x 8 drawing of his mother entitled, “My mother as Rosita Parks”, she is drawn as the only Latin women wearing gold hoop earrings with a slight mustache sitting in the last row of a bus occupied by Black passengers. Thus, the racial slur ‘nigger’ is blatantly crossed out which is replaced by the following statement: ‘Spics not allowed to sit in the front of the bus’.  The next canvas also projects a racist concept with its title, “My mother as Amadou Diallo”. Here, her character is covered with 40 bullet wounds excessively dripping blood while aggressively shooting back with two machine guns, one held in each arm. Although these images are drawn in a cartoonist fashion, it conveys a serious issue while keeping the mood humorous. To further create a lively environment, salsa music circulates the room while one gazes upon the universal selection of innovators and world leaders such as pieces entitled, “My Mother as David Blaine breathing in a fish tank”, “My Mother As Fidel Castro In A Yankees Outfit” and “My Mother as John Lennon wearing a T-shirt that says ‘Nueva York”.

Like a kaleidoscope, this square shaped store is three dimensional, offering even more imagination than what was just previously observed and mentioned. There is a rack filled with greeting cards. The cover of one card has a stick drawing of a fish in three separate scenes. In the first he’s swimming with fins, in the second he sprouts legs, and in the third he runs onto land. A fish with legs! Needless to say, the picture speaks for itself.

“You know, all we have is each other”, De La Vega said. “I can honestly say that if I died tomorrow, I would be satisfied with what I left behind,” and he raised his arms to show off his amazing store that is a reflection of his artistic soul. Therefore when I asked him to explain what his personal dream was, since he motivates others to follow theirs, it wasn’t surprising to hear his reply.

“I want people to know that they can achieve anything they want to achieve and become whoever they want to become”. “OK, but what is your ‘personal’ dream for yourself?” I insisted

“I’d like to open up more stores across the country, especially in Los Angeles. A store in Puerto Rico would be nice too.”  However as of recently, Vega’s work has been invited to participate inside of several restaurants and venues around Manhattan such as NYC’s Sofritos Restaurant (Puerto Rican Cuisine), The East Side Community High School and theatres throughout Manhattan, making him a highly respected artist in demand. Furthermore, while De La Vega focuses on imbuing a mass public, he proudly makes his Puerto Rican heritage known. “Conviertete En Tu Sueno” is written across a free sticker that he throws in every bag after every purchase. However, although the tattoo on his forearm says “BECOME YOUR DREAM”, The English translation for the sticker means, “Transform Into Your Dream”.

After I left for the evening, pleased at our motivational dialogue, I saw three black chairs in front of his store with individual messages written in white letters. They read, For Black’s Only, For Jew’s Only and For Gay’s Only. And off to the far left, was a fourth chair that read For Fat Girl’s Only. Knowing that De La Vega purposely invokes one to think outside the box through visual concepts, I realized that no one should take a seat and that everyone should stand up for their right to dream.

 By Jasmine Clemente

DAILY VIBE: TOP HEADLINES OF THE DAY

*McNair shot dead in sleep by 20 year old girlfriend who was distraught about mounting financial problems and her belief that he was seeing someone else.  - YAHOO.NEWS.COM

*Michael Jackson's daughter touched the hearts of millions when she bid a tearful farewell to her father at his memorial service in a rare public appearance.  CNN.COM

*Google challenges Microsoft with new operating system.  - WSJ.COM

* Thousands of Chinese troops flooded into this city Wednesday to separate feuding ethnic groups after three days of communal violence left 156 people dead, and a senior Communist Party official vowed to execute those guilty of murder in the rioting in western China.  - YAHOO.NEWS.COM

*Barf - GOPers would still vote Palin for prez in 2012 shows poll.  If that ever happens, which I'm sure it won't, I'm moving countries.  - NYDAILYNEWS.COM

*Oscar Mayer founder dead. R.I.P.  - I grew up on those!  Mah' mama used to cook them on a fork and feed me when she didn't want to cook dinner.  Actually that kinds of sad... - HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE U.S. WORKFORCE: LATINO IMMIGRANT WORKERS

Immigrant latinos represent a valuable part of the U.S. workforce.  Cheap labor has always been a huge asset to corporations in the U.S.  who employ immigrant workers for jobs that need to get done, but nobody really wants to take on.  By employing immigrant workers companies save huge amounts of money that would otherwise pay for insurance benefits among other costs that come along with employing a legal worker.  In other words, cheap labor contributes to the wealth of U.S. companies and in turn to lucrative earnings of corporations.

We recently came across an amazing photographer by the name of Dulce Pinzon who has captured the lives of these unsung heroes of the U.S. workforce.  Dishwashers and other laborers take center in Dulce's art.  Dulce Pinzón was born in Mexico City in 1974. She studied Mass Media Communications at the Universidad de Las Americas in Puebla Mexico and Photography at Indiana University in Pennsylvania. In 1995 she moved to New York where she 

studied at The International Center of Photography (Pinzon 1).

As a young Mexican artist living in the US, Dulce soon found new inspiration for her photography in feelings of nostalgia, questions of identity, and political and cultural frustrations. In her black and white series “Viviendo en el Gabacho” (a Mexican colloquialism for living in the US) she illustrates the phenomenon of the integration of the Mexican immigrant into the New York landscape (Pinzon 1).  The Real Story of the superheroes” comes full circle to reintroduce the Mexican immigrant in New York in a satirical documentary style featuring ordinary men and women in their work environment donning superhero garb, thus raising questions of both our definition of heroism and our ignorance of and indifference to the workforce that fuels our ever-consuming economy (Pinzon 1)

Her work has been published and collected internationally. In 2001 her photos were used for the cover of a publication of Howard Zinn’s book “A People’s History of the United States”. In 2002 Dulce won the prestigious Jovenes Creadores grant in Mexico for her work. In 2006 she won an Honorific Mention in the Santa Fe project competition and she won the 12th edition of the Mexican Biennial of El Centro de La Imagen (Pinzon 1). Dulce was a 2006 fellow in Photography from the New York Foundation for the Arts and is now participating in the 2007 fall session of the Bronx Museum’s AIM program. She is currently a Ford Foundation fellow and lives in Brooklyn New York (Pinzon 1).

 Here's a few of the photographs that we found most interesting and compelling.  

*Latinas take care of your children, teach them manners AND jump start them with the spanish language skills.  Put a price tag on that!

*Some are climbing buildings cleaning the windows with that amazing view from your office.  

*Others are washing your underwear and dirty laundry!  

We personally find Dulce's work not only inspiring but also empowering.  You can read more about her work on her webiste:  http://www.dulcepinzon.com.   Make sure to checkout the site to view complete series!

- (1) Sources:  Pinzon, Dulce.  "Dulce Pinzon Biography."  http://www.dulcepinzon.com/index.

htm.  8 Jul. 09

DAILY VIBE: TOP HEADLINES OF THE DAY

*The world says goodbye to Michael Jackson.  Jackson's body will be at memorial.  More than 1.6MM people registered for free tickets to Jackson's memorial.  Only a total of 8,750 people were chosen to receive two tickets each.  - NEWS.YAHOO.COM

*Mexico's ruling party, PAN, loses mid-term elections to PRI.  - CNN.COM

*Sarah Palin on her political career.  Still trying to stay relevant (keyword is relevant).  She should just join the cost of dancing with the Stars, that always does the trick.  - NYPOST.COM

*Hundreds of protesters in Urumqi, China, defied a government ordered lockdown on Tuesday a day after deadly clashes between Uighurs and Han Chinese.  - NYTIMES.COM

*Sarah Palin hit with another ethics complaint. - HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

*U.S. consumers fall behind on loans at record pace. Egh, join the club.  - REUTERS.COM

*Obama asks Russians to forge partnership with US.  Gulp.  - NEWS.YAHOO.COM

FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK: "NAVEGANTE"... YOU'LL BE ROCKING THESE BEATS!

There’s a fresh tune hitting the streets of NYC, an electric-Latin funk rhythm that could spread as easily as swine flue. Okay, maybe that’s exaggerating, but the King of Rock himself Carlos Santana, describes Navegante as, “the artist that will carry the torch into the future.”

Navegante is led by Puerto Rican/Peruvian vocalista and cuatrista Jean Shepherd, who you might have known as the front man for the innovative group Radio Mundial. Haciendo la banda completa, is Wash Duke, rocking the Afro beat and Latin rhythm mixed with electro beats; and Guillo Colon, providing his bass and synthesizers skills. 

So what inspires Navegante to be? The fans.

According to the Q&A we had with Navegante, “The faces of the people that truly feel our music at shows is always moving.”

Besides the band presentandonos with cool and inventive beats, there’s a mensaje that Jean and his co-band members want to comunicar.

“Hope. I want my music to give hope to those people who've watched me work hard steadily throughout all the pitfalls and roadblocks, says Navegante. “I do this for them so they can see the possibilities that are out there. “

What a humble message! They’re down to earth people who won’t let their rock star status get to their heads. This is something we all can appreciate because no one likes a big head.

“Those who have supported from the beginning you know that I love you deeply, and that I do this for all of us,” says Navegante.  “My every action is to empower the community, lead by example, and bring as many smiles to you all as possible. None of this Rock star sh#t. I love my people.”

Navegante has many future projects and events.

“I’m touring with Navegante for our Album release, and I'm also working on A Cable TV show called the Flaco Show,” said Shepherd.

If you want to see how awesome Navegante is and view live show listings, check them out on www.navegante.tv.  If you’re in NYC, you can experience the sound uptown at Camaradas, on 115th and First Avenue. Now, go rock out to their album Microcosmos!

By Sharon Saint-Hilaire

WELCOME CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: SHARON SAINT-HILAIRE

LatinVibe would like to welcome our new contributing editor Sharon Saint-Hilaire! 

Originally from New York and of Dominican descent, Sharon majored in Public Relations at the State University of New York at New Platz.   

One of Sharon's major passion points is expressing her creativity through writing.  Her humorous and spanglish latino writing style reflects her youthful and creative personality.  She also enjoys keeping up to date with el mundo de entrenimiento and is addicted to her CrackBerry's (of course we mean BlackBerry!) "Google App" which keeps her informed 24/7.  Other activities include partying until the sun comes up in New York City!  Lol.

LV is very excited to have Sharon on board as a writer... welcome!