Archives for "July 2009":

Bias in the DTOP on July 31, 2009 in Puerto Rico

Light night I wrapped up an assignment for my Quantitive Methods course. My subject of choice was Puerto Rico's state Department of Transportation and Public Works as well as possible bias in its distribution of federal funding. The findings were interesting indeed, as the ruling PNP party has spent its transportation stimulus dollars in a radically and bluntly biased form....

Barriomulas on the Beer Summit on July 31, 2009 in Politics

We all recall the "Professor Gates" story from a few weeks back. If not, you can read about it here.When it all occurred I took little note of the situation. Though unfamiliar with the actual details, I took the situation lightly as things of the sort occur almost daily in small towns in the South. In fact, a similar occurrence...

Mix by Me Vol. 33 on July 31, 2009 in Music

I'm quite pleased with this mix. I've included some hard salsa, trip hop, and electro clash. Enjoy: Kavita Krishnamurthy - Dhola Re Dhola Alice Russell - Let Us Belong Prodigy - Phoenix Quantic - Linda MorenaWes Montgomery - In and OutIzza Kizza - They're EverywhereSP - Motown Part 2 of 2 f/ SulaiCassius - Toop Toop (Mr Oizo Mix)Angel Canales -...

Quantic - Linda Morena on July 30, 2009 in Music , Videos

Quantic is doing some amazing stuff. It seemed as if he originally sampled old Latin and jazz music, later bringing in original instruments to complement his beats. Now he's gone all out instrumental as his new album is played entirely by a Latin soul-style band. This is refreshing indeed, as it's been decades since anybody made music like this. Enjoy....

MTV vs. "Sky is Falling" on July 30, 2009 in Music

My buddies Jacob and Derek ("Minus a Few") are now in the top 20 for an MTV contest that would allow the winning three bands to open up for the MTV Video Music Awards. Be sure to check out their entry and jam their track, "Sky is Falling" which was produced by yours truly.Enjoy....

In Mom's Words... on July 30, 2009 in Personal

One morning during my high school years I had decided that I didn't want to go to school that day. I locked myself in my room and buried myself under a mountain of blankets. My mother had a "no blood, no vomit, no day off" policy, so I knew that my act was going to cause some friction with the...

Solving Aguas Buenas' Traffic Problems on July 29, 2009 in Puerto Rico , Society

Downtown Aguas Buenas has always been plagued with serious traffic problems. The City's two-century old layout is its biggest obstacle, with the only way to fully solve the situation being to bulldoze the town and build it over again. Thin roads built for horses and carriages, cars pulling in and out of their parallel parking spots, and its "convenient" proximity...

Miles Turns 1 on July 29, 2009 in Humor , Photos

A few weeks ago we went to the birthday party of our friends Amber and Richard's one year old son, Miles. When we arrived he was sitting on his high chair in the middle of the garage, covered from head to toe in cake frosting. As a birthday perk they gave him the freedom to dirty himself as much as...

Weekend with Amaia on July 29, 2009 in Photos

A few days ago I uploaded the above gallery on flickr of this past weekend with my daughter, Amaia. Only now have I had the chance to upload share it with everybody. Enjoy....

G-Unity on July 29, 2009 in Humor , Latin America

I was rummaging through the Internet looking for news on the Honduras situation (which hasn't changed much since last wrote about it almost a month ago) when I found the above picture of ousted President Zelaya briefly crossing the Nicaraguan border into Honduras. What caught my eye was homeboy in the bottom right with the "Property of G-Unit" t-shirt....

Luis is Chillin', Amaia's Chillin', What More Can I Say? on July 27, 2009 in Personal

I know, I know, I've been out of action for the last few days. That's unlike me. Especially during these last few weeks. I've just had plenty of things on my plate (that's how the saying goes, right?).First of all, I received news that my daughter Amaia and her mother will be moving to Spain. I'm comfortable with the move,...

Photo of the Day on July 24, 2009 in Humor , Photos

I found this laying on Jake's living room floor. It's a small stuffed monkey finger puppet. Quite disturbing....

Izza Kizza, VSU? on July 24, 2009 in Humor

The student featured on the homepage of the Valdosta State University website looks like rapper Izza Kizza. I just couldn't resist:...

Hair Cut Blues on July 23, 2009 in Humor

I walked into a random barber shop and took a seat. A Black barber and his black client looked at me odd. "I'm just here to get my haircut. I'll wait here." "Alright," responded the barber. A few minutes passed. I failed to notice the stack of Ebony, Jet, and Black Enterprise magazines on the coffee table. The client finally...

Photo of the Day on July 23, 2009 in Humor , Photo of the Day

Twas a laundry night. Here is Crystal about to get whooped in UNO....

Photos of the Aguas Buenas Caves on July 21, 2009 in Photos , Puerto Rico

My hometown of Aguas Buenas features a set of amazing natural caves. Unfortunately, this attraction is not very well known to outsiders and is not even frequently visited by locals. The caves have in recent decades become the site of hang outs, drug usage, cult rituals, and vandalism. A number of rare, endangered species as well as original indigenous glyphs...

Car Font on July 20, 2009 in Music , Videos

These cats designed a font with their smart car. Intersting stuff. The beat is pretty fresh, too:...

In Mom's Words... on July 20, 2009 in Personal

Rummaging through my mother's writings again. Here's a comment of hers on a cancer-diagnosed family member's trip to Puerto Rico:It is weird.....everybody I know that is Puertorican wants to go around the island when they face death.....It is so beautiful...On a friend's decision to put their suffering cat to sleep:It would be so selfishto keep him alive and suffering.....my mom...

Photos of Mom & Dad on July 20, 2009 in Photos

Dad just hooked me up with the following pictures of him and my mother in their 20s. I would have to say that these are probably the most beautiful pictures that I have of  her. The above image is not my desktop wallpaper....

Luis at the Braves on July 20, 2009 in Photos

Kicked it last night at the Atlanta Braves game with some of Crystal's people. Great chicken burger, I must say....

Photo of the Day on July 18, 2009 in Photo of the Day

I freakin' killed three side orders to rice from Shogun....

Ali G and Kobe Bryant on July 18, 2009 in Videos

I'm a big fan and Borat and thought that Bruno was funny but I never really got to see any Ali G. I guess it's because I didn't have a TV when he was at his prime. I stumbled upon the following video and just had to post it:...

Mix by Me Vol. 32 on July 18, 2009 in Music

Enjoy. Again, in no particular order:The Bar Kays - Theme From Hell's Angels Prodigy - Spitfire Beck - Diskobox Mexicano 777 - Se Testigo II f/ Select Alice Russel - Remember to Forget Lobo y Melon - Oiganlo Mikey Dread - The Voice of Joah Cavalucci - Guatauba 2000 M.I.A. - Come Around Kavita Krishnamurthy - Dhola Re Dhola  Alice...

"Entre el Bien y el Mal" by Mexicano on July 16, 2009 in Music

"Mexicano" began rapping back before reggaeton was even called reggaeton. "Entre el Bien y el Mal" was his first CD, and if I remember remember correctly was released in 1998. Even today the beats and flow are impressive. Enjoy: Via Rapidshare....

Mo' Horizons - Ten Years Of on July 16, 2009 in Music

Mo' Horizons is a Latin jazz band from Germany. Great stuff. Disc one is actually the best of the two. Enjoy:Via Rapidshare....

"Kool Aid v1.1" Beat on July 14, 2009 in Music

A few nights ago I whipped together the "Kool Aid" beat using some tribal-sounding drums, a bit of ambiance and some high-pitched snares. Enjoy:...

"Bueninvento" by Julieta Venegas on July 14, 2009 in Music

Every time I hear the name Julieta Venegas I think of a Venezuelan state-owned gas company. That's an interesting coincidence because not only am I down with Hugo Chavez but I'm also down with Julieta's "Bueninvento". Only way I could describe her (and please don't shoot me for this) is a female, Latina, fresa version of Jack Johnson and Norah...

"Inspiration Information" by Mulatu Astatke on July 14, 2009 in Music

Ethiopian jazz artist Mulatu Astatke is crazy fresh. And "Inspiration Information" is his best album yet. Here he works with the Heliocentrics, a modern London-based group that obviously has influences in electronic music.Enjoy:Via Rapidshare....

Interesting Articles on July 14, 2009 in Economics

The Baltimore Sun has recently published a story about efforts from the City to find creative uses for its 30,000 vacant lots. Images were submitted to flickr and citizens were invited to submit their own ideas. Pictured below is one of the submissions.Fortune suprisingly utiliezd a picture of the following mural in one of their articles on the bailout:Fast Company...

Fake Food, Vegetarianism, and Modern Diets on July 14, 2009 in Society

I'm about one third through "the Paleo Diet" by Loren Cordian. Some of her findings are indeed interesting: Much of today's food is fake, meaning that it was not grown on a field but that it was industrially engineered. This fake food along with other ingredients that our bodies were not made to process (sugar and salt) distort our appetites....

Wal-Mart Puerto Rico and Job Creation on July 14, 2009 in Economics , Puerto Rico

I have always opposed the colonization of Puerto Rico by monolithic multi-nationals such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and similar companies. My reasons are endless, though I always wondered to myself whether or not Wal-Mart actually generated more jobs than it took away.  Utilizing very limited data from 2003 and 2006 (I couldn't find anything more recent), I established the following employee...

In Mom's Words... on July 14, 2009 in Personal

Some more quotes from my mother. Here's one on an autistic student of hers:Tommy (my student) is doing so much better each day with my undivided attention...Yesterday he even took a nap after lunch.  Everyone was asking what I did to make him nap.  I just covered him with another mat and he loved it and fell asleep.  I used...

Sex, Race, Sexuality, and Magazine Ads on July 14, 2009 in Society

I receive subscriptions to about a dozen magazines. Whenever I fly on an airline that I know I wont use again, I will use the few hundred frequent flier numbers I accumulate on free magazine subscriptions. One of the magazines that I subscribe to is called "The Advocate" which promotes gay and lesbian interests. My magazine collection ranges from extreme...

Public Hearings, Participation, and Democracy on July 13, 2009 in Society

My workplace subscribes to a variety of housing, urban development, and planning newsletters. These publications would have never fallen in my hands otherwise, as they have ridiculous subscription fees that only a large institution could afford. While there are many bureaucrats who will simply just toss them aside and never read them, I get the back for our (or shall...

Do I Match? on July 13, 2009 in Humor , Personal

"Do I match?" I ask Crystal as I head out the door. "I was meaning to wear a plain white guayabera, but it was damaged by the iron. Is this blue stripe alright?" "Yes, your fine," she grunted. Part of me feels like she said so just to rush me out the door.Despite her assurance, I still feel like everybody...

Invading the Vintage on July 13, 2009 in Photos

I just stumbled upon an interesting set of artwork by of Franco Brambilla called "Invading the Vintage". The description read "cute aliens invading grandpa's postcards". Click here to check out the flickr set....

Latin Mix by Me on July 13, 2009 in Music

I decided to throw together a mix of some of my recent Latin-tainted favorites. Enjoy:1. Julio Gutierrez - Cosa Buena2. Mulatu Astatke - I Faram Gami I Faram3. Ismael Rivera & Kako - Lo Ultimo en la Avenida4. Cal Tjader - Borneo5. Wali & the Afro Caravan6. La-33 - Que Rico Boogaloo7. Julio Gutierrez - Guantanamera8. Gabriel Rios - Unrock9....

"The Caves of Steel" on July 13, 2009 in Society

I finished reading "The Caves of Steel" by Isaac Asimov for my Organizational Theory Behavior course. Below can be found my term paper on the book, where I compare the book's futuristic version of society with a number of popular and significant organizational theories as outlined in two classroom texts. I apologize in advance for the repetitive citations, but this...

"Kala" by M.I.A. on July 12, 2009 in Music

I know that everybody probably has a copy of M.I.A.'s "Kala". But after years of giving the album terrible reviews, I finally gave it another listen and have come to like it. It's still no match against M.I.A.'s "Arular", but the album has enough blips and booms to keep me on my toes. "Come Around" is just sick, by the...

"Progressive Latin" by Julio Gutierrez on July 12, 2009 in Music

I purchased "Progressive Latin" by Julio Gutierrez a few years ago off of the bargain rack. Though I didn't like it that much at first, I recently gave it another listen and have deemed it suitable to slap it on the 'Pod. This album features a nice, well-rounded mix of various Latin genres, including Latin Jazz, mambo, and Andean.Via Rapidshare....

Two of my Favorite Books now on PDF on July 11, 2009 in Society

Whenever I meet someone who is on my same page, I usually send buy them a copy of "Beyond Civilization" by Daniel Quinn. I believe so much in the contents of this book that I am willing to spend a few bucks on anybody and everybody who I feel might be touched by it. I was rummaging through the net...

The Paleo-Diet on July 11, 2009 in Society

My mother was a health nut. Not only was she a vegetarian, but she made various attempts at growing her own food. She even dedicated a room in our house to her wheatgrass seedlings. She would always make statements like "meat is unhealthy" or "drinking milk is bad", followed by a lengthy explanation as to why. Though what she said...

"Invaders Must Die" by Prodigy on July 11, 2009 in Music

Prodigy's "The Fat of the Land" was crazy ridiculous. Their recently released "Invaders Must Die" is just as hard core, if not more. Breaks + electronic + a pinch of metal, punk, drum & bass, hip-hop, and even booty bass in their track "Omen".Via MediaFire....

Aguas Buenas Photoset on July 11, 2009 in Photos

Whenever I get homesick I rummage through some old photos of Aguas Buenas. Below are a number of photos taken from 2000 to 2008. One or two of them might have been taken by one of my siblings, but I'm not sure who. Click the gallery screenshot to check out the flickr photoset....

DJ Krush - Holonic, the Self Megamix on July 11, 2009 in Music

DJ Krush is sick. His "Holonic The Self Megamix" is friggin' amazing. Even though Krush's music is not the type that'll have you excitingly jumping from song to song, wondering which one to listen to first, his beats provide a steady soundtrack to vibe to. If you dig 1990s-era hip-hop breaks and ambiance, then check this album.Via Rapidshare....

The Next Level in e-Government on July 10, 2009 in Politics

MacWorld recently announced the upcoming release of a City of Boston iPhone app. The app will allow citizens to report such things as pot holes and dead street lamp bulbs. As a public administrator I can tell you that citizens are the front line of defense when it comes down to identifying maintenance needs and situations that can occur. I...

In Mom's Words on July 9, 2009 in Personal

Rummaging through my mother's writings again. Here's a touching experience she had with one of her substitute classes:We had a cats-and-dogs rain today, all day.  The school I am in has the classrooms in trailers.  The building is being renovated forever.  Those poor kid would get drenched everytime they had to go to a special class or lunch.They had raincoats...

Old Family Photos on July 9, 2009 in Photos

My little sister Sandra sent me a couple scanned family photos from the 1980s. God, I can't believe how dark I was! Click the gallery snapshot below to link to the flickr gallery. I will try to upload some more later to the same photo set....

Budgets, Budgets, Budgets on July 9, 2009 in Photos

Crunching numbers like I crunch skulls....

Hetzberg, Motivation, and Lame Employees on July 9, 2009 in Society

My "Organizational Behavior" class recently assigned to us a lecture by Frederick Hertzberg; a cat who looks like he stepped out of a 1970s porno. With his thick curly hair, his Vietnam-era liberalism, and his unfiltered cigarette in hand, it was difficult at first to focus on his message. You can see the wikipedia article on his "Two-factor Thoery" here...

Photo of the Day on July 9, 2009 in Photo of the Day

Papa Joe's, Opelika, Alabama....

Grub on July 9, 2009 in Photos

You gotta' check those dates!...

Mix by Me Vol. 31 on July 8, 2009 in Music

Enjoy:MF Doom - Arrow RootMulatu Astatke - Cha ChaSade - Feel No PainKnaan - What's HardcoreCal Tjader - Azucar MamaMulatu Astatke - Addis Black WidowRocca - Aux Frontieres du ReelCannonball Adderley - The Fat ManPiero Umiliani - Fox TrotMulatu Astatke - Fire in the ZooRocca - Rap Contact IIMulatu Astatke - Esketa DanceWordsworth - One DayKnaan - My Old HomeGang...

Barriomulas now on Twitter on July 8, 2009 in Personal

I don't tweet. It's just not something that I can't see myself doing. But I've linked barriomulas' RSS feed with twitter so that those of you who do can receive tweets every time the site is updated. The link can be found in the top right corner of the homepage.Enjoy....

Organization and "Start Up" Anarchy on July 8, 2009 in Society

In my Foundations of Public Administration course we are discussing POSDCORB - a concept coined during the depression era to sum up the activities needed for "good" administration. POSDCORB stands for planning, organization, staffing, directing, coordination, reporting, and budgeting, in that order. The concept fits in well with the era's fascination with technical planning and efficiency; causing me to make...

The Leap Year LP? on July 8, 2009 in Music

(2003)I have been making hip-hop music in one way or another for a little over a decade now, primarily as a hobby and social activity. I have been most active in a loose collective based in Columbus, Georgia composed of a handful of MCs and a DJ, titled "Forbidden Dialect" (or 'Dialect, for short). Though I have not battled or...

Notes on Advertising on July 7, 2009 in Economics

I am a big fan of the writings and legacy of Austrian economist Ludwig Von Mises. I try to keep up with his writings and those of his followers, including those published on his institute's blog. Recently, contributor Robert Murphy posted an article titled "Is Advertising a Sham?" Murphy argued on behalf of advertisers, stating:The restriction of the right of...

The Fajita Eater on July 7, 2009 in Humor , Photos

Whenever I order fajitas I generally eat a couple only to leave half the plate. That probably explains why they bring you only three or so tortillas. I don't know what was up with me but last night I freakin' killed six of those bad boys in a row. Crystal took the following photo progression of me devouring them, one...

Much Change Needed in the PPD on July 7, 2009 in Puerto Rico

The Partido Popular Democratico (PPD) finds itself in one of its worst conditions since its creation in 1938. In 2004 the PPD won the elections by a hair, securing a win only after a series of court cases authorized the counting of a handful of controversial votes. The 2008 elections was even more of an embarrassment, as the opposition Partido...

Rice Crispy Treats on July 7, 2009 in Humor

We are living the life of high class ballers: we made Rice Crispy Treats last night using real Rice Crispies (R)....

Google Archived News! Joy! on July 7, 2009 in Personal

Every once and a while Google flops (like it did with its cellphone and web browser). But when it does a good job, it really really does a good job. I joke around that if Ikea and Google were to merge, that they would easily take over the world. In such a case, I would openly embrace corporate capitalism.I was...

Letter Openers on July 7, 2009 in Humor , Personal

I try to open these things in an orderly fashion, I tell you. My father would always scold me for not using a letter opener, but it just doesn't work. The excitement overcomes me half way through....

In Mom's Words on July 7, 2009 in Personal

Reading through some more of my mother's letters.Here's my mother on the topic of infidelity:Men....it is an ego thing.  They desperately need their egos stroked constantly and the young thingies are in awe of them and their egos gets stroked the way they like it.  My mother was a substitute teacher for a significant portion of my youth. Apparently here...

Dare Me Not on July 6, 2009 in Humor , Photos

After an evening of swimming in my father's pool, Crystal dares me to try to put on her booty shorts. Good thing that my t-shirt was long enough, as the shorts wouldn't even zip. I would have to say that I look like a stereotypical redneck in this photo....

"You Give Me Fever..." on July 6, 2009 in Humor , Music

I was rummaging through some temporary files a few days ago and found this short recording titles "fever1.mp3". I had just constructed my recording booth in Puerto Rico and was giving it a try. You can hear me strumming the melody of "fever" while pathetically trying to remember the lyrics. Enjoy:fever1.mp3...

In Mom's Words on July 6, 2009 in Personal

I've gotten a lot of feedback from my posting of my mother's "Amsterdam Adventure" story. To follow it up, I'd like to post the following comments that my mother made a following e-mail. I think it shows how cheerful she was:Back to Orlando's call..........It was nice to hear his voice.  He has his daddy's voice, very masculine.  Actually , all...

In Mom's Words on July 6, 2009 in Personal

(Yea, I know that my mother was the hotness). I'm reading through my mother's writings again. Here are some quotes of interest.My mother on the subject of religion. Though she was quite a religious person, she was quite diplomatic about it and served a good example through her comportamiento:I try to be careful with religion.  It turns off some people...

Honduras, the OAS, and Cuba on July 6, 2009 in Latin America

I was boring Crystal last night with my Honduras-talk as we ate at a new Mexican place. I could tell by her blank expression that this was something that was better fit for the pages of barriomulas.com.The crisis in Honduras is something that has consumed me for the last few days. When I'm not rummaging through Latin American news papers,...

Crisis in Honduras X on July 6, 2009 in Latin America

Some more updates:Chavez and Zelaya are calling on Obama for more action (La Prensa, La Prensa).Micheletti government is "willing to negotiate" (Xinhua).The pilots of the plane carrying Zelaya were Venezuelan (Cooperativa) and another source reported that the plane belonged to the PDVSA (El Heraldo).Zelaya said he will try to return on Monday or Tuesday (AP).Some of the soldiers retreated due...

Breakfast on July 6, 2009 in Photos

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Crisis in Honduras IX on July 5, 2009 in Latin America

Still waiting for news on the subject. I'll update this post as I get it. So far:Zelaya's plane was turned back, as it was refused landing authorization. (Radio Nacional) The plane has been diverted to El Salvador. (Earth Times)Violence has erupted as at least one person is dead and three injured. (AFP) Other sources have reported 2  (Notimex) and 3...

Crisis in Honduras VIII on July 5, 2009 in Latin America

These hours are tense. Zelaya left Washington earlier this morning for Honduras (Granma) and should be arriving anywhere between noon and 2pm (La Prensa, RNV). The Honduran government has closed down the airport (26 Noticias) and has stated that they will block any attempt from Zelaya to make a landing (Xinhua, AFP, BBC). Zelaya has been quoted as saying that...

The King of Revoltillos on July 5, 2009 in Humor

I'm a bad ass at making revoltillos. Or at least I have been with the last two that I made. Since my buddy Juancho taught me that you were to add the vegetables, eggs, and cheese in that order, I have begun taking pride in their perfect texture and thickness. In fact, I felt so confident that I put on...

New Shorts on July 5, 2009 in Photos

Crystal got me some shorts with purple pockets. Cool stuff. They were only $7 too. But then again, maybe she told me that because she knew that I would like them more. I used to not wear shorts but I'm starting to notice that my legs look better than most people's....

Crisis in Honduras VII on July 4, 2009 in Latin America

Detailed reports on alleged violations of press freedom. (OEN)Chavez states that he will not accept the results of an election mounted by the coup's government. (El Heraldo)The nation's electoral authority is carrying out an analysis concerning possible early elections (El Heraldo)A pro-Micheletti diplomat based in Panama claims to be victim of reprise. (La Prensa)The new government reports that Zelaya has...

Crisis in Honduras VI on July 3, 2009 in Latin America

I'm not going to debate the legality of former President Zelaya's actions nor those of the generals and politicians that ousted him. As I've said before, both sides can make a valid argument of their actions' legitimacy as many news articles and editorials have portrayed. I think that this debate hinges on a constitutional "gray area" and a failed state...

So, So Wrong on July 3, 2009 in Humor

Dave was explaining to me how to tell which watermelons are the sweetest. I found it so hard not to laugh and take a photograph.When he found out what I was laughing about, he ditched out the picture....

Hanging with the Boys on July 3, 2009 in Photos

Kicked it with the crew yesterday. Here's some photos:Rafael showing me some music he's been working on to some of my beats.This was totally a coincidence. We did not coordinate this.BuddiesJacob and Jason...

Additions to the Archives on July 3, 2009 in Personal

I have backed up blog postings from the as early as 1999. Every once and a while I rummage through them and pick out things that need to be re-posted. I have retroactively added the following posts. Some are choppy, poorly written, or simply just outdated, but I feel it necessary to assure that they are at least archived.2003 re-post...

Crisis in Honduras V on July 2, 2009 in Latin America

The new President is flirting with the idea of utilizing a referendum on whether or not Zelaya should return. (Al Jazeera, Reuters)Another source reports that that's exactly what he's going to do (El Universal)The OAS is demanding Zelaya's "unconditional return" (AP)U.S. puts hold on aid until Zelaya's return (VOA)Zelaya plans to return this weekend after the end of the OAS'...

"The Rule" on My Beats. on July 2, 2009 in Music

I'm frequently asked by musically-inclined friends and associates whether or not they can use any of my music for their personal projects. Throughout the years my "policy" has changed a bit. I have decided to publish the following rule, outlining my requirements of those who wish to use my beats. I thought it would be handy if this list is...

"My Sister's Keeper" on July 2, 2009 in Personal

Last night Crystal and I went to see "My Sister's Keeper" starting Cameron Diaz and that little girl from "Little Miss Sunshine" (I know, I'm terrible with the names of actors). I must say that it was a very difficult movie for me to watch. My mother experienced cancer twice and I cringe whenever I see little children going through...

My (First) Will & Testament on July 2, 2009 in Humor , Personal

I have decided to write a Last Will & Testament. No, no - I'm not considering suicide. It's just that will all these my grandfather's age, my mother's letters, and all these surprise celebrity heart attacks, I thought it was necessary to throw together an improvised will at least until I have enough possessions to write a real one. I've...

Crisis in Honduras IV on July 2, 2009 in Latin America

Obviously the first thing I did upon waking up was run to my computer to read up on the crisis in Honduras.Both groups for and against Zelaya's return have been filling the streets during the previous days. Both sides have presented arguments in their favor (here's another article on the legality of Zelaya's actions, by the way), both claims that...

An Alternative to Ugly Highway Barriers on July 1, 2009 in Environment

Cement is ugly. Even if you are not an environmentalist, one has to admit that the look of old, dirty cement is unattractive. Governments on all levels invest a tremendous amount of man power, resources, and effort in doing whatever they can to keep the City's cement walls clean. It's not uncommon to see a lane shut down as a...

Wednesday Night Turn-On on July 1, 2009 in Humor , Photos

"Crystal... you turn me on"...

Crisis in Honduras III on July 1, 2009 in Latin America

TThe international community continues to isolate the new Honduran government as it settles in and embraces for what's to come. The Organization of American States (OAS) has given a 72-hour ultimatum to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya or face expulsion from the organization (El Financiero). Aside from the political consequences, this does not mean much, as Cuba has long been...

Puerto Rican Day Parade '09 on July 1, 2009 in Photos

Not too long ago our friend - and my mentor - Juancho visited us from Puerto Rico. The following photos are from our trip to the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City (represent represent!). Click the collage below to link to the flickr gallery. Enjoy:...

In Mom's Words... on July 1, 2009 in Personal

I have decided to take Vicki's advice and read these things one at a time. There's not enough to last forever and a writing a day from my late mother is enough to uplift me.I am learning so much about my mother. My oldest sister has my mother's journals and this has struck my interest in looking over them again....

Crisis in Honduras II on July 1, 2009 in Latin America

I've been tossing and turning all night. Decided to lug myself to the computer and complete a post that I had begun earlier about the coup occurring in Honduras.Anti-Zelaya material was easy to come by, but the pro-Zelaya blog "Honduras en el Mundo" has been a great source of information. With the new government limiting access of information -...