Thursday, July 31, 2008

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

'La Danza en Dos Tiempos'

Music


La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña, Inc. in collaboration with Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños at Hunter College
Presents William Cepeda’s Puerto Rican Music Roots & Beyond
“La Danza en Dos Tiempos”
Traditional and Contemporary Danza Music

La Danzante & Bronx Arts Ensemble, Pedro Rivera Toledo , Musical Director
with special guests Carlos Aponte, tenor & Thelma Ithier Sterling, soprano
and William Cepeda AfroRican Jazz, featuring Eric Figueroa

8 p.m., Saturday, August 9
Heckscher Theater at El Museo del Barrio
1230 Fifth Avenue, NYC's El Barrio

La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña invites you to “La Danza en Dos Tiempos” a concert of traditional and contemporary Danza music. This event is part of a series of concerts, workshops and lecture-demonstrations of a monumental project called “Puerto Rican Music Roots and Beyond” organized by internationally renowned artist William Cepeda (composer, trombonist, educator, researcher and producer).

Puerto Rican Music Roots and Beyond seeks to preserve, disseminate and promote Puerto Rico’s musical heritage to audiences throughout New York , Puerto Rico and beyond. A vision of William Cepeda, the project is an innovative, wide reaching, multi-faceted endeavor that will span 18 months from September 2007 to March 2009. Puerto Rican Music Roots and Beyond is a unique comprehensive musical documentation of la Bomba, Plena, Danza and Música Jíbara, in traditional form, and the reinterpretation of the tradition in a contemporary musical setting. Danza is Puerto Rico's national dance; the national anthem of Puerto Rico, “La Borinqueña” is a Danza.

Puerto Rican Music Roots and Beyond will document these four genres (Bomba, Plena, Danza and Música Jíbara) by professionally recording the concerts, workshops and other project activities to be used in the creation of DVDs and CDs for educational and commercial release. These materials will include extensive historical and contextual bilingual essays and curriculum guides. The materials will be disseminated to K-12 schools, non-profit organizations and libraries.

The project is a collaboration between el Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños at Hunter College and La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña.

General Admission $15; Seniors/Students $10
Tickets & information: La Casa, (212) 722-2600 or (212) 400-8874

source: La Casa

August in Puerto Rico

Get ready for a busy month in Puerto Rico. Two big events are happening in San Juan, fiestas patronales, or patron saint festivals, are occurring all over the island...For more on this Puerto Rico Travel blog go to,
http://gopuertorico.about.com/b/2008/07/27/august-calendar.htm

Film

Pagan Images, Inc., in association with Anthology Film Archives, invites you to the NewLatino Filmmakers Screening Series - The best and only independent Latino “cinematheque” showcase in New York City -- now in its 6th year! -- is still ONLY $5! Docs, shorts & features. "Come early, stay late, pay one price."

When: TONIGHT, 6-9:30 p.m.
Where: Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue, Manhattan
Price: $5 admission ~ at the box office

6 p.m. - Documentary Shorts Program
7:15 p.m. - Narrative Shorts Program
8:15 p.m. - Narrative Feature

"LATINAS IN CINEMA: FILMWORKS BEYOND THE GLASS CEILING"

Curated by Edwin Pagan

NewLatino Filmmakers puts the spotlight on creative Latinas working behind the cameras in both the independent film and Hollywood systems as image-makers. This emerging crop of dynamic filmmakers and producers are putting their unique mark on the industry with their own unique spin on the Latin Film New Wave, and blazing the trail as today's emerging auteurs. Featuring short-form documentary, narrative shorts and feature presentations. Live panel discussion and Q&A with the filmmakers.

6 p.m. NEWLATINO FILMMAKERS - DOCUMENTARY SERIES

* AL OTRO LADO Natalia Almada, Altamura Films, (2006, 66 Minutes, Video)

Al Otro Lado (To the Other Side)" tells the human story behind illegal immigration and drug trafficking between the U.S. and Mexico through the eyes of Magdiel, a 23-year-old fisherman and aspiring composer who dreams of a better life. For people south of the border, the "other side" is the dream of an impossibly rich United States, where even menial jobs can support families and whole communities that have been left behind. For people north of the border, "Al Otro Lado" sheds light on harsh choices that their neighbors to the south often face because of economic crisis.

As movingly chronicled in "Al Otro Lado," Natalia Almada's debut feature, the border is a place where one people's dreams collide with another people's politics, and the 200-year-old tradition of corrido music vibrantly chronicles it all. In fact, if you really want to understand what is happening on the U.S./Mexico border, listen to the corridos, troubadour-like ballads that have become the voice of people whose views are rarely heard in mainstream media.

7:15 p.m. NEWLATINO FILMMAKERS - SHORT FILM PROGRAM

* JOLOPEO, Glenys Javier, Director / Michael Diaz, Producer (2007, 5 Minutes, Video)

Living that life leads to death, I choose to LIVE!

* SOLEDAD IS GONE FOREVER, Mabel Valdiviezo, Writer/Director (2007, 14 Minutes, 16MM)

SOLEDAD IS GONE FOREVER is a spellbinding, visually stunning, psychological drama that explores the long-term psychological impact of political persecution. Based on real accounts, this film presents an intimate portrait of a young immigrant photographer living in San Francisco, Soledad Gonzales, who learns her father’s remains have been found in a mass grave in Chile. Soledad’s recurring visions of chilling childhood images shatter her life, making her discover that these are real memories that have been repressed for twenty years.

Torn by her aunt Delia's advice to forget the past but faced by the implications of her father's death, Soledad must make a crucial decision. Does she have the courage to pursue the truth and will this realization finally bring peace to her tortured soul?

* LOSS OF INNOCENCE IN LOISAIDA, Veronica Caicedo, Writer/Director (2007, 30 Minutes, Video)

Joana is a curious teen ready to explore and have sex and willing to go all the way with her boyfriend, Tommy. Not prepared for the situation, Tommy must score some condoms -- FAST -- but he must first get past the gatekeeper to his bliss: the local pharmacist, who also just happens to be Joana's father!

8:15PM NEWLATINO FILMMAKERS - FEATURE PRESENTATION



MUNECA, Christina Soto, Writer/Director (2007, 70 Minutes, Video)


You find love in the most unexpected places. All Esteban wants to do, is to be happy and recapture his creative inspiration. With the death of his muse, and best friend, Pepe -- a miniature fox terrier -- it seems as if everyone in his life is trying to push their idea of a replacement on him with that of a perfect woman. What's a man to do?

source: Edwin Pagan

celestial


celestial
Originally uploaded by mino..
Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by mino. It was taken in Arecibo, P.R.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

'The Death Event and The Puerto Rican Bloodline'

The Reading Life



July 30
at 6:30 p.m., Cemi Underground, NYC's El Barrio
Book Presentation by Angel L.Vega Marzan
A guide to understanding the legal and administrative implications of the death event on the island of Puerto Rico and its impact upon you and your family bloodline.
Free
(Members of genealogy associations receive a 10% discount towards the purchase of the book with proof of group membership.)
Go to www.cemiunderground.com for more information.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Cotto Loses, Margarito Cheers

Commentary

When two of today's best Latino boxers below the Middleweight Division faced off on a Las Vegas ring last July 26, they put up a good and intense fight.
In the end, Antonio Margarito from Mexico overpowered undefeated welterweight champion Miguel Cotto from Puerto Rico. Margarito score a Technical Knockout with 2:05 of the 11th round.
The fight started slow at first. After the third round both Cotto and Margarito exchanged blows left and right, fighting toe to toe and fighting alongside the ring side ropes.
Margarito, who is known as the Tornado, has said he got stronger after the 7th round. And, it surely became the Tornado’s night.
In the start of the 11th round, Margarito scored a knockdown.
When Cotto’s corner saw he was banged up pretty badly, they threw in the towel to stop the fight.
But Cotto is no loser.
Cotto fought like the fighter he is as his family members, including his little boy, watched and cried.
With his eye nearly shut and his face bleeding, Cotto started to back up and Margarito charged.
After the fight, Cotto described Margarito as being an “excellent fighter” who “did his job better than I did.”
I say that both fighters deserved every penny for their boxing performance.
A rematch in the works?
Oh Yes! -- Ismael Nunez

Union Rincoena


IMG_9384
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Today's featured photo from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group by Clarisel Gonzalez

La Union Rincoena in the Bronx is a social gathering place focusing on people who hail from Rincon, the westernmost town in Puerto Rico. Back in the day, there were social clubs in honor of different towns on the island in the Bronx and elsewhere in the city. There are fewer today. The Union Rincoena is still there.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Puerto Rico Convention Center Goes Green

On the Environment


Following the recent pledge by Puerto Rico's government to convert several of its public properties into "green" buildings, the Puerto Rico Convention Center and the Coliseum of Puerto Rico are to become the first properties on the island to be modified into eco-friendly buildings.

With an investment of $250,000, the Puerto Rico Convention Center and other developments within the 113-acre District will decrease the use of water by 30 percent and the use of electricity by 50 percent, for ongoing savings of $450,000 per year once the project is completed.

After completely incorporating these initiatives, the buildings hope to receive the US Green Building Council's 'Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)' Certification, considered the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Key elements of the Puerto Rico Convention Center “green project” include:

The installation and use of automated control systems for air-conditioning and lighting of the facility, as well as the incorporation of natural lighting to reduce overall energy consumption.
Providing preferential parking spaces around the facility for hybrid cars, as well as enhancing and encouraging the use of public transportation to the District.
Replacing conventional lamps throughout the facility and District with lighting materials that consume less energy.
Landscaping the District with native plants and other flora that require less maintenance and require less water, as well as utilizing an automated watering system to conserve the use of water.
Implementing already-established eco-friendly policies and green standards for the Center. This includes utilizing green products such as recycled paper products and eco-friendly cleaning supplies in the use and maintenance of the facility, as well as requiring contractors to apply and adhere to green standards and practices in their work with the facility and District.
Maintaining already-established waste reduction and recycling programs. -- posted by Mc Don Dees

This article was published in Donde Quiera at http://blog.dondees.com.
Theater

Featured story

Jets? Yes! Sharks? ¡Sí! in Bilingual ‘West Side’

More than 50 years after the musical “West Side Story” had its original Broadway premiere, it is set to return in February in a darker, grittier, bilingual revival, the show’s producers said (recently).
Arthur Laurents, who wrote the original book for "West Side Story," suggested the bilingual production and will direct.
In an element that its director, Arthur Laurents, said would heighten the passion and authenticity of the show, much of the dialogue — both spoken and sung — will be in Spanish.
For the complete New York Times report,
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/theater/17bway.html?ex=1231992000&en=34fa0f7e24d3c677&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=TH-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M053-ROS-0708-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click&mkt=TH-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M053-ROS-0708-HDR

Editor's Note: Gente, what do you think? Should "West Side Story" return as a bilingual production? What do you think of the idea of this musical returning as a "darker and grittier" revival? Would you go see it?
Ay Bendito, Cotto lost!

Featured story

Margarito stops Cotto in 11th, takes crown

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Antonio Margarito stopped Miguel Cotto in the 11th round Saturday night, blemishing Cotto's unbeaten record and claiming the WBA 147-pound title with one last incredible barrage of punches.
Margarito, the Mexican star so often ducked by the division's best fighters in recent years, dropped the Puerto Rican champion twice in the 11th round to win his third title belt.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

The mask


The mask
Originally uploaded by haymaco.
Today's featured photo from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by haymaco. It was taken at el Cafe el Punto in Old San Juan.

In Old San Juan

Today's featured footage from the PRSUN Video group is by the docman.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Artist Spotlight: Fascious


Fascious Brings Hip Hop Theater to El Barrio

Anthony Martinez from the Bronx is a self-described “Hip-Hop Head” who is better known by his pseudonym Fascious. His mission is to promote Hip Hop Theater, telling and dramatizing what he calls the untold stories of the Hip Hop Generation.
Tonight you can catch Fascious in action when he performs his one-man Hip Hop Theater show “Penumbra” at Cemi Underground in NYC’s El Barrio.
Just like a poet, Fascious breaks down what every letter in his name represents.
“Each letter symbolizes several words beginning with that same letter, which collectively defines the essence of its meaning,” he says.

F is for the final fatal fights for freedom facing fickle fears frozen from finicky feelings forcefully fenced.
A is for the anticipation of Armageddon, awaiting are agents, apostles and after-life arrangements. Allocating Anthony Alphabetic acrobatics ascending authenticity…admire an angel’s anatomy
S is for the Schizophrenic suicidal side separated since Satan’s spectrum subsided significantly surpassing superstitions. Still some see sugar satisfying sacrificing self-sufficiency.
C is for the cascading colors confirming creativity concerning certain circumstances.
I is for the Ill ideas ignited instantly implying inconspicuous idioms I imprint inside my eyelids.
O is for the obvious, often-oblivious…opinions opposing our oval office oozing oil, omen orbits.
U is for the urgency underlying umbrellas uncovering underestimated ulcerations.
And the other S…that’s for serenity. Strings suppressing such severe solemn solutions.


While Fascious is rooted in the word “Fascist” which is known to have a negative connotation, he says, his name has a positive spin.
“As an adjective, the word Fascious contains flexibility with respect to meaning and allows more admittance to truth,” he says. “Fascious embodies the elements of one’s personality that permits militancy in advocating action over word as words are a means of action. In order for Fascious to gain power, he has to lead a movement and this movement begins…with music, poetry…the arts.”
Fascious is currently working with the Hip Hop Theater Festival, which aims to invigorate theater and Hip Hop by nurturing the creation of innovative work.
Hip Hop Theater, he says, serves as a way of bringing theater to young people from low-income and working class families who otherwise may not appreciate or patronize theater.
“How do you explain to a 14 year old kid whose father is in jail, whose mom is a drug addict, and who academically is on a 5th grade reading level that watching Hamlet is going to affect his life in a positive way? Hip Hop Theater seeks to address these and other such issues in a way that is tangible, multi-disciplinary, and overall engaging. It also seeks to preserve the art of live performance while promoting new work within the genres of Hip Hop and Theater through celebrating culture, community outreach and education.”
Fascious, who was born and raised in the Bronx near the Eastchester Projects, says that his childhood was not easy. Growing up he remembers that his father was in prison. He recalls the pressure to fall to the pits of drugs, gangs, and violence was “ infinitely overwhelming.”
But, he says, every struggle has proved to be an opportunity to grow and learn life lessons.
Luckily, he discovered his love of music early.
He remembers that it was in middle school when he decided to cultivate his passion for the Hip Hop art form.
“The first ‘rhyme’ or ‘lyric’ I ever wrote was in the hospital after hearing my grandfather’s last words delivered to me from his deathbed,” he recalls. “Writing became a way for me to facilitate my own therapy.”
His influences in Hip Hop range “from the socio-political elements that generated its initial movement to the words and rhythms of its poetry.”
Other influences include Hip Hop’s underground scene, salsa, merengue, boleros, funk, jazz, rock, gospel, and “pretty much anything I can get my hands on.”
“I like to keep my heart open and mind expanding,” he says.
His Bronx roots definitely influence his art.
“Bronx is the fertile mother in which birthed and served as the vessel for nurturing the founding movement of Hip Hop,” he says. “From DJ Kool Herc setting up block parties in 1973 and Afrika Bambaata advocating peace in the midst of gang wars and violence to Big Pun becoming the first Latin Hip Hop Artist to go platinum. The Bronx is a site of rich history and culture. Every block corner is an inspiration.”
Being a Puerto Rican from New York City is an inspiration too.
“As an individual living in New York City and of Puerto Rican descent, I take a lot of pride in representing both cultures,” he says. “But I especially stress learning the significance of my ancestral past.”
To learn more about Fascious, visit www.fascious.com. -- Clarisel Gonzalez

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Survey Says Hispanics Support Obama for Prez


Politics

Hispanics Support Obama over McCain for President by Nearly Three-to-One, Pew Hispanic Center Survey Finds

Hispanic registered voters support Democrat Barack Obama for president over Republican John McCain by 66% to 23%, according to a nationwide survey of 2,015 Latinos conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, from June 9 through July 13.

The presumptive Democratic nominee's strong showing in this survey represents a sharp reversal in his fortunes from the primaries, when Obama lost the Latino vote to Hillary Clinton by a nearly two-to-one ratio, giving rise to speculation in some quarters that Hispanics were disinclined to vote for a black candidate.

In this new survey, three times as many respondents said being black would help Obama (32%) with Latino voters than said it would hurt him (11%); the majority (53%) said his race would make no difference to Latino voters.

In addition to their strong support for Obama, Latino voters have moved sharply into the Democratic camp in the past two years, reversing a pro-GOP tide that had been evident among Latinos earlier in the decade. Some 65% of Latino registered voters now say they identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party, compared with just 26% who identify with or lean toward the GOP. This 39 percentage point Democratic Party identification edge is larger than it has been at any time this decade; as recently as 2006, the partisan gap was just 21 percentage points.

The report also examines Hispanic registered voter engagement, party identification, ratings of national conditions, and top campaign issues.

The report, 2008 National Survey of Latinos: Hispanic Voter Attitudes, is available at the Pew Hispanic Center's website, www.pewhispanic.org.

The Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, is a non-partisan, non-advocacy research organization based in Washington, D.C. and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

source: Pew Hispanic Center release

(photo courtesy of Barack Obama's photostream at flickr.)

Flags in El Barrio


IMG_9320
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group

I shot this photo earlier this week at a community garden in NYC's East Harlem. Visit my photostream at flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel) for more recent photos of East Harlem.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

the third dimension


the third dimension
Originally uploaded by mino..
Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by mino. It was taken in Arecibo.
Featured story

Puerto Rico convention center goes green

Following the recent pledge by Puerto Rico's government to convert several of its public properties into "green" buildings, the Puerto Rico Convention Center and the Coliseum of Puerto Rico have been tapped as the first properties on the island to be modified into eco-friendly buildings.
For the complete report, go to Caribbean Net News at
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-9273--21-21--.html

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

New: PRSUN Video




Puerto Rico Sun's newest project is PRSUN Video at flickr. Like the Puerto Rico Sun photo group at flickr, there is now a video group too showcasing short videos about Puerto Rico or Puerto Rican-related themes.

Today's featured video is by Luis Munoz. It is a true beauty of Old San Juan. Luis did a nice job.

To check out the PRSUN Video, go to
http://www.flickr.com/groups/prsunvideo/

The demise of newspapers is not overrated

Featured Commentary

Late last year Entrepreneur magazine predicted that newspapers would be extinct within ten years. While this might be something you can't really see when you consider the Darth Vader-like death grip El Nuevo Dia has on the market here, elsewhere, however, this prediction is advancing quite nicely, thank you very much.

The last two months have seen a bloodbath at some of America's largest newspaper publishers, with substantial job cuts hitting a number of papers, including a high proportion of newsroom positions. The layoffs have visited McClatchy, Media General, the Tribune Co., the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post, among others.

For those of you keeping score at home, here are how the layoffs stacked up:

Media General got things started in late May with its announcement that it would cut 810 positions across its properties in the southeast. As part of the reductions, the Tampa Tribune (along with its sister broadcast station WFLA-Channel 8) lost about 110 positions, or about 8% of the total 1,326, including at least 50 in the newsroom. Why for such drastic action? Media General's total revenues fell 10% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2007, to $204.8 million.

The Washington Post cut 100 newsroom positions--or about 12% of the total 800--through a combination of voluntary buyouts and attrition. This followed two earlier rounds of buyouts in 2003 and 2006.

Gannett has also cut hundreds of positions since May, including 50 at USA Today, 55 layoffs at four newspapers in New Jersey, 150 buyouts at the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News (about 7.5% of the total 2,000) and an unspecified number of graphic design positions company-wide. This week Gannett announced that total revenues tumbled 9.9% in the second quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, to $1.72 billion, with President and CEO Craig Dubow admitting that "the weakening economy had a dramatic impact on our results."

In mid-June McClatchy announced that it was cutting 1,400 jobs, or about 10% of its work force--the single biggest cut in the mid-summer purge (so far). McClatchy's restructuring plan follows an earlier reduction of 13%--or around 2,000 employees--from 2006-2008. The company will have shed over 20% of its workforce in three years, when the second round of cuts is complete.

The Tribune Co. is hitting all its big properties. The Chicago Tribune is cutting 80 newsroom positions, or about 14% of the total 578, and an unspecified number of jobs in other divisions like ad sales and production. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times is cutting 250, including 150 positions in the newsroom, or about 17% of the total. The Baltimore Sun is cutting 100 positions across its various divisions. Several of Tribune's smaller papers were hit especially hard: the Hartford Courant is losing 57 and the Orlando Sentinel 50 from its newsroom.

I think you get the idea here. But guess what? That's not the end of it. There were cuts announced at the Orlando Sentinel, Tampa Tribune, the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the Palm Beach Post, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Wall Street, the Boston Herald, and the New York Times.

Conclusion

While I think that, like most other business trends and technologies, it's going to take some time before we start to see this at El Nuevo Dia, I think that it's coming. I've been noticing that the Dia has been on a bit of a diet lately. Many times throughout the week, the number of pages printed seem to be less and less. This is not a good sign for them. Between the lost revenue in their classified department, and now the shrinking paper, I bet they are in the red and losing blood quickly. While their sister paper Primera Hora has already let some people go, I've yet to see any from the Dia, but I'm guessing it's only a matter of time.

The demise of newspapers is a little alarming when you consider that we now have less journalists covering the news. Maybe it's retribution for the shitty job they've down covering the Bush administration and the Iraq conflict, but remember, less is always less. So less journalists means that there are fewer chances now that someone will have the balls to write the things that need to be written.

Help us Obi-Wan Blogobi, you're our only hope

While we may be less professionally prepared, the blogging community is quickly becoming our last hope. By separating the economic incentive from the desire to communicate the news (or at least from a bloggers limited perspective and reach), we can easily see a complete transformation of the news industry in progress. I see some real similarities between what is happening with news generation and what happened with Open Source Software and the rise of a community of developers motivated by scratching their own itch rather than a paycheck. Of course the dis-similarities make the two industries unique enough to demand much more research and analysis to better understand what new business models might be possible; business models that can potentially save the journalism industry.

Journalism, as pointed out by Al Gore in his new book "An End of Reason," is a critical piece of the democratic process. Without a well-informed citizenry, special interests will have it easy when they want to manipulate the remaining news mediums to their benefit. This my friends, is a very dangerous path we are on. In order for our democracy to have any chance of surviving we must find a way to keep its citizens informed. The Internet seems like that way. If that seems to be the simple answer, (for now), then we should begin to transform our news consumption habits. While you may not think of Dondequiera as a news source, I'd ask why not? Did you know that I studied journalism in a previous life and almost decided to work in that profession? Did you know that I've been blogging (writing) for 7 years now? What makes Dondequiera any different than El Nuevo Dia? Sure they have more reach and can cover more topics, but we are talking about quantity, not quality here.

I think that everyone should start to examine how they are incorporating blogs and other amateur news mediums into their lives and start to give them the support necessary to keep them around. Whether that is supporting the businesses behind those mediums (i.e., buying their products), making donations, telling your friends to subscribe to their RSS feeds, or beginning the two way conversation so essential to an informed citizenry; they need our help. The more choices we have when it comes to our sources for news, the better; let's all work together to grow as many as possible. -- Mc Don Dees of Donde Quiera

This commentary by Mc Don Dees was originally published in the Donde Quiera blog on July 19. Visit the blog at http://blog.dondees.com.
The Reading Life



Father Luis Barrios reads from his book "Coquiando: Meditaciones subversivas para un mundo mejor" at a recent event at Cemi Underground in East Harlem. (photo by Ismael Nunez)

Monday, July 21, 2008

.Flamboyán flowers.

Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by Mi nombre no es cLaRa bOw.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Friday, July 18, 2008

'Borinquen Lives in El Barrio' at City Parks


TeatroStageFest Goes Outdoors!

Free Performances of "Borinquen Lives in El Barrio"
August 10-17 in NYC Parks


The Latino International Theater Festival of New York, Inc. (TeatroStageFest) and City Parks Foundation's CityParks Theater, Presented by Time Warner, have joined forces to present free outdoor performances of Borinquen Vive en El Barrio (Borinquen Lives in El Barrio), Tere Martinez's acclaimed political drama, this summer in local New York City Parks. Free performances will run August 10 through 17, marking the first time a TeatroStageFest production that was featured in the annual two-week festival of local and international theater transfers outdoors.

"Last June Borinquen Vive en El Barrio captivated audiences when it played during the second annual TeatroStageFest at Hostos Center for the Arts. Now new audiences will get to experience this great production by Hostos Repertory Company, free and under the summer sky, thanks to our new partnership with City Park Foundation's CityParks Theater. I urge everyone to call friends and family, grab a blanket, and join us in the parks for a picnic under the stars as we enjoy a great show that draws on humor to expose the political issues that both bring together and keep apart Puerto Ricans living in the island and those that have moved to New York," said Susana Tubert, Executive Producer and Co Founder of TeatroStageFest.

About the Play:

Borinquen Vive en El Barrio (Borinquen Lives in El Barrio) is the almost neo-realist portrait of a Puerto Rican family in East Harlem forced to reexamine the past, present and future of their home island when an unexpected visitor challenges their cultural identity. Through each family member, the audience gets a moving glimpse of the most important moments in history influencing the destiny of Puerto Ricans in New York and in their homeland, starting in the 1950's. Borinquen, the proud matriarch carries the native Taíno Indian name for Puerto Rico; her Americanized daughter Minerva has uprooted and made Connecticut's suburbs her new home; her ex-boyfriend Carlos, a former Young Lord holds on to his youthful idealism for the island's independence - along with his unrequited love for Minerva.

The bilingual show features English and Spanish language dialogue. Written by Tere Martinez and directed by Angel Morales, Borinquen Vive en El Barrio has been praised as an unbiased and brutally honest document delving into Puerto Rican immigration in New York and the complex issue that has torn apart many Puerto Ricans for generations: the status of their home as U.S. territory. The play was presented June 6-8 during TeatroStageFest 2008 by Hostos Repertory Company at Hostos Community College.

WHEN & WHERE:
Sunday, August 10 @ 8 p.m.
East River Park, Band Shell (East River between Grand & Jackson Streets) Lower East Side, Manhattan.

Tuesday, August 12 @ 8 p.m.
Thursday, August 14 @ 8 p.m.
Sunday, August 17 @ 8 p.m.
St. Mary's Park (Entrance on St. Ann's Avenue at E. 146th Street), the Bronx

For more information, (212) 695-4010 or www.teatrostagefest.org.

source: TeatroStageFest release
Community Calendar

Stars to Light Up the Screen at the Ninth Annual New York International Latino Film Festival

The New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF), presented by HBO, returns for its Ninth Annual Edition from July 22-27 and will have its biggest line-up yet with over 100 national and international films, documentaries and shorts. NYILFF also boasts more premieres than ever before including Opening Night's AMERICAN SON, directed by Neil Abramson and starring Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz and Jay Hernandez, and Closing Night's THE MINISTERS, directed by Franc. Reyes and starring John Leguizamo and Harvey Keitel. Other talent represented in this year's NYILFF include Daddy Yankee, Laurence Fishburne, Taye Diggs, Rosie Perez, Wilmer Valderrama, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Tyson Beckford, skateboarding star Paul Rodriguez, Jr., Jesse Garcia, Emily Rios and David Banner, many of whom are confirmed to attend.
For more information, visit
http://nylatinofilm.com

See related story at
http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2008/07/16/2008-07-16_urban_grit_and_latin_song_at_nylff-1.html

Guanina Ojos de Miel


Guanina Ojos de Miel
Originally uploaded by Pacu007.
From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group, today's featured image is by Pacu007. This doggie waits to see a vet.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

'La novela'

Pensamientos

La novela
makes life
simple
My mom understands
her life through
novelas
-- Samaris Ayala

Gente @ Plaza de Luquillo

Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by Eduardo Veguilla.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

A Father's quest for honor: a hero's journey


You know how we love to see movies or read books about people that inspire us? It's like when you see a movie about someone who struggles against all odds and even though they get hurt (physically or emotionally) they keep going. In the end they might not get exactly what they were shooting for, that is unless you are the director of the movie, and your goal was to move the viewer emotionally and reinforce in them that there is always hope.

Who hasn't seen those movies? But have you ever had a friend who was like that? Someone that no matter what they do, they always seem to see beyond what you or I can perceive and divine out a larger truth that, when revealed, inspires us, makes us ask more of ourselves? Well I have one, his name is Francisco Martinez, or Paco for short.

Briefly, I met Paco 13 years ago when we met at my first job in Puerto Rico. He later worked for me as I moved my way up in the company. In many ways, we were kindred spirits from the start as we were both veterans and as such, shared many beliefs instilled in us from our military service. But further than that, he was also someone who was always trying to better himself. He was never willing to rest upon his success, plus he was one of the few people I've ever met that loved computers more than me, which is saying a lot.

As we each went through many different challenges in our individual lives, he always remained a loyal friend. However, nothing could have prepared us for the life shattering loss of his son (Francisco G. Martinez, Pauito) to a sniper in Iraq. On March 20th, 2003 Paco's life descended into hell as the news of his son's death came knocking on his door.

As the war in Iraq raged on, so did the war within Paco's soul. When the news of Abu Ghraib broke across our television screens a transformation began within him. A staircase began to emerge that would lead him out of hell. As he followed his escape from hell, he discovered a way to transform his pain into service. He finally realized that in order to honor the sacrifice his son had made he must also follow him. So at 43 years of age, he re-enlisted into the Ari Force Reserves and began once again to serve his country.

Yesterday, Paco took yet another transformational step in his life and his story when he began a six month deployment to Iraq. Something quite interesting about this story is how available it is through Paco's blog, starting with the initial announcement of his son's death, up until the most recent announcement of his deployment to Iraq, all of it is online and available for you to experience. If you want to learn about duty, if you want to learn about service, if you want to see how far some people are willing to go to do what they think is right, I encourage you to follow Paco's story.

I hope you'll join with me to honor Paco's son, and to also wish Paco a safe and quick return from Iraq. You're also invited to follow along with his tour in Iraq because to the best of his abilities he has promised to share with everyone his experience through his blog. ¡Vaya Con Dios Paco! -- Kevin Shockey

This article by Kevin Shockey was originally published on July 14 in Donde Quiera. Check out this blog from Puerto Rico at http://blog.dondees.com. Photos courtesy of Donde Quiera.

Here's a link to Paco's Blog:
http://www.mfconsulting.com/blog
Featured story

Green collar jobs in Puerto Rico: A well kept secret or are people simply misinformed

Although “green collar jobs” have existed in Puerto Rico for over ten years many people don’t know what the job title means and don’t realize that the existing jobs on the island could possibly become the industry of the future.

“Green Collar Jobs” have been around for a while, quietly tucked in Puerto Rican businesses, municipalities and non-profit sectors. The fact is that most Puerto Ricans, even those that are “green collar workers,” are unaware that they are in fact “green collar employees.”

To read the complete article, go to
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-9155--21-21--.html

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

On Latino Policy

The National Institute for Latino Policy recently provided some interesting information on Puerto Ricans stateside and how the stateside population continues to outnumber those living on the island.

Here's an excerpt of an entry from the Institute July 14 bi-monthly newsletter, edited by Angelo Falcon:

Puerto Rican Population Stateside
Continues to Exceed that of Puerto Rico


In 2004, the Atlas of Stateside Puerto Ricans documented for the first time the stateside Puerto Rican population exceeded that of Puerto Rico in 2003 by 163,246. The latest statistics from the Census Bureau, from the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS), estimates that this gap has grown: in 2006 there were 3,987,947 Puerto Ricans living stateside compared to 3,745,007 in Puerto Rico, meaning that there are 242,940 more Puerto Ricans stateside than in Puerto Rico. Does this development have implications for the politics and policy issues of the Puerto Rican community as a whole?




Interesting question. What do PRSUN readers think?

Anyway, if you are interested in Puerto Rican and Latino policy issues, the Institute's bi-monthly e-newsletter is a wonderful resource. It regularly features items related to Puerto Ricans.

Go to www.latinopolicy.org to subscribe.

By the way, the National Institute for Latino Policy was formerly known as the Institute for Puerto Rican Policy. It changed its name as a way of better representing policy issues impacting Latinos.

The National Institute for Latino Policy is a independent nonprofit and nonpartisan policy center established in 1982 to address Latino issues.

Artesanias Puerto Rico


Artesanias Puerto Rico
Originally uploaded by verodomica.
Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by verodomica. Photo was taken at an art fair earlier this year named Feria Internacional de Artesanias. This picture captures the work of artisan Puffay.


Visit a set named "Puffay" at verodomica's photo site at flickr:
http://flickr.com/photos/verodomica/sets/72157605773710297/

Monday, July 14, 2008

Boricua Hip-Hop Activist Rosa Clemente Runs for VP of the US in Green Party Ticket



The Green Party, which captured less than 1 percent of the vote in the last U.S. presidential election, has chosen the former Democratic Representative Cynthia McKinney. McKinney's running mate for the November election is vice presidential candidate Rosa Clemente, a hip-hop artist and activist who is boricua.

Here's an entry posted in www.greensforgreens.org:

Cynthia McKinney Wins Green Party Presidential Nomination

Cynthia McKinney won the Green Party of the United States presidential nomination at the July 12 GP-US Convention in Chicago. McKinney, a former Member of Congress from Georgia, received 313 of 532 first round votes to earn nomination by Greens delegates from across the country excited that she will be their standard bearer this year. Hip-hop activist and journalist Rosa Clemente was selected to be the vice-presidential candidate of the Greens.
McKinney served six terms representing DeKalb County’s 4th Congressional District before moving to California and becoming a Green. About 800 Greens are attending the convention at the Chicago Symphony Center.
Clemente said she accepted McKinney’s invitation to be her running mate because she believes the former Georgia Congresswoman’s platform addresses issues not addressed by Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.
“I chose to do this, not for me, but for my generation, my community and my daughter,” said Clemente, 35, in the statement. “I don’t see the Green Party as an alternative, I see it as imperative.”

Here's a link in Wikipedia about Clemente and her background:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_clemente

For more info on the Green Party and its recent national convention in Chicago, go to
http://www.gp.org.


(photo courtesy of the Green Party site)

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Featured story

Puerto Rican vets shorted on benefits

Unequal health plans come with overseas status


Military widows and veterans in Puerto Rico receive fewer health benefits than their counterparts in the United States, even though Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and serve shoulder-to-shoulder with their countrymen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That means that, like all island spouses whose soldier husbands or wives were killed in the latest U.S. wars, the widow of Army Sgt. Jeffrey Michael Rada Morales would get less than fully paid health insurance -- simply for living in Puerto Rico.
For the complete report by Robert Friedman, go to
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1053045,CST-NWS-Rican13.article


Editor's Note: This is so unfair to Puerto Rican soldiers and their families. Again, this has to do with Puerto Rico's political status issue. Puerto Ricans fight the same battles, yet are not equally paid. Come on!

Pregones' Summer Tour




MIGRANTS! Cantata a los Emigrantes is a bilingual play with music celebrating the Puerto Rican men & women who first toiled to establish a thriving and diverse Latino community in New York and throughout the eastern United States.
MIGRANTS! Cantata a los Emigrantes is a collective creation of Pregones Theater (in the Bronx) and it draws from written and oral histories, lore and legend, and the memory of landmark writers like Luisa Capetillo (Mi opinión), Julia de Burgos (Canción de la verdad sencilla, El mar y tú), René Marqués (La carreta, Los soles truncos) and Clemente Soto Vélez (Caballo de palo, La tierra prometida).
Premiered in 1986 and heralded by critics & audiences alike, MIGRANTS! is now re-staged to commemorate 10 years of Pregones' free-admission Summer Stage Tour. Presented in Spanish & English.


Click on image for larger text and full lineup of performance dates and venues. The tour runs from July 31-Aug. 12.

For more information, go to www.pregones.org.

source: Pregones

Keeping the Stickball Tradition Alive




These are some of the faces of stickball players and enthusiasts who are keeping the old school NYC street tradition of playing stickball.

Today is the 111TH STREET SALSA STREET PARTY AND OLD TIMER'S STICKBALL GAMES in NYC's El Barrio. For more information on this outdoor festival, check out this link at
http://www.salsanewyork.com/events/111th-street-salsa-street-party.htm

(photos from a stickball event last week by Ismael Nuñez)

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Meetup

Featured site



This Meetup group is dedicated to promoting and celebrating Puerto Rican culture in New York City. The group's next meetup is
a CopaCabana dance cruise.

Esperen, muchachos!


Esperen, muchachos!
Originally uploaded by Jorge Rodriguez.
From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group, today's featured image is by Jorge Rodriguez.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Lee y Sueña Tour de Lectura

In the First Person

When I first came to Puerto Rico, one of the first things I tried to find were the libraries. The first one I found was when I moved to Caguas when I discovered the location of the Caguas Municipal Library by accident. At the time the only book stores of any merit were Thekes in Plaza Las Americas and Bell , Book, and Candle. As someone who has spent most of his life with his nose in a book, this was, uhh, a big shock. I remember wondering to myself, how does everyone find a good book to read, or where can they find research materials to read for a project?

I know know the truth of the situation. The reason why there aren't really any good public libraries (well which really isn't true there is the Bucapla Library and the Manati Library), the real reason is that the majority of the populace doesn't read anything deeper than the El Nuevo Dia, which is quickly being replaced by the photo-heavy Primera Hora.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who believes that this might be the root cause of a lot of the challenges we face on the island. So when I heard about the First Lady's program to reinforce reading to children, "Lee y Sueña", I was impressed and pleased.

The Read and Dream Program is an initiative of the Office of the First Lady. It is attached to the Department of Family and is developed by ASPIRA, Inc. de Puerto Rico. It was created in 2006 with the aim to provide parents and caregivers the tools needed to develop the habit of reading to their children every day.

This weekend and next "El tour de lectura" will make stops in the Jardin Botanico de Rio Piedras and the Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera. This Saturday, July 12th, at the Botanical Gardens, celebrities such as Elwood Cruz, Jessica Cristina, and Karen Cintrón will lead families in the reading of entertaining stories. In addition there will be marionettes and theatrical shows.

Then next weekend, Sunday July 20th, at the Bosquecito in the Luis Muñoz Marin Park, the tour will make another stop. The same activities are planned. Both activities are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and last until 4 p.m.

For more information call (888) 359-7777 or visit the programs website at www.leelesatuhijos.org. -- MC DON DEES

This article by MC DON DEES was originally published in Donde Quiera at http://blog.dondees.com. Visit this blog.
Featured story

Puerto Rico, The 51st State in the Union?
Closer to Washington, by its own choice

With 4 million Puerto Ricans on the island, and another 4 million in the United States, Puerto Rico is experiencing an unusual situation that many wish to change. Supporters of statehood and those affiliated with the Commonwealth are beginning to see a new tendency, which, while not exactly pushing for independence, leans toward Washington.
To read the full report by Javier del Rey Morató, go to the Safe Democracy Foundation site at
http://english.safe-democracy.org/2008/07/10/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-in-the-union/#more-691

Thursday, July 10, 2008

La Perla


La Perla
Originally uploaded by #(J).
From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group, this La Perla shot is by #(J).

'Political Animals' Film Fest

Film

Handball Court Summer Film Series
at White Park, NYC's El Barrio

"Political Animals", this year's curatorial theme…

MediaNoche presents the free Handball Court Summer Film Series at White Park beginning Saturday, July 12. The series at White Park (106th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues) will run Saturday nights at sunset (about 8 p.m.) until August 30.

Curator Judith Escalona brings together a set of fictional films, dramas and comedies, examining the U.S. electoral process. The Candidate (1972), which looks at how a young politician slowly gives up his ideals to be elected, is as relevant today as when it premiered 36 years ago! In the more recent Head of State (2003), a young politician who knows the ropes finds his voice and a way to embrace his ideals. The last film in this set is actually a documentary entitled An Unreasonable Man, a moving portrait of America's greatest public advocate Ralph Nader that includes a critical view of the entrenched two-party political system.

"Hazardous to your health" groups films dealing with health and the environment. Not to be missed are: Sick Around the World, comparing health coverage in five capitalist democracies, and The Medicated Child, how troubled children are over-prescribed medicines that have unknown long term effects. Lastly, An Inconvenient Truth, screened last year but presented here again, to stress the urgency of global warming.

MediaNoche is a project of PRdream.com.

For the complete lineup and more information, visit http://www.prdream.com/wordpress/?cat=5, e-mail info@medianoche.us or call (212) 828-0401.

source: Judith Escalona

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Nubes con Prioridad


Nubes con Prioridad
Originally uploaded by ΡπΙρΣπ.
From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group, today's featured image is by ΡπΙρΣπ.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008


Things to do

Destination: NYC's El Barrio. Free Walking Tours
Every Saturday, through October 11, 3 – 5 p.m.
Tour meets each Saturday at the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and 104th Street. Guides from Big Onion Walking Tours lead excursions highlighting the thriving scene of Latino arts, culture and cuisine native to El Barrio. This program has been developed for El Museo del Barrio and the East Harlem Board of Tourism through grants from the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Admission: Free.

For advance registration, e-mail elbarriotours@elmuseo.org.

source: El Museo del Barrio

(Photo courtesy of El Museo)

Puerto Rican Music Roots & Beyond Project


From left, Leticia Rodriguez, executive director of La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña, Inc., and Hector Ortega, a class participant, at a July 6 event in NYC's East Harlem that focused on Puerto Rican roots music.

La Casa as well as El Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños at Hunter College is working with William Cepeda, a renowned composer, trombonist, educator, producer and artist, on a project titled “Puerto Rican Music Roots and Beyond.” The New York State Music fund and the National Endowment for the Arts is helping to fund the project.
The goal is to promote Puerto Rico’s musical heritage to a wide audience throughout New York State, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere. The project will document four genres (Bomba, Plena, Danza, and Musica Jibara) by recording the concerts and other project activities to be used in the creation of DVDs and CDs for educational and commercial release. La Casa is located at 1230 Fifth Avenue, Suite 458. It is a nonprofit, cultural and educational institution. For more information, visit http://www.lacasapr.org/-- Ismael Nuñez

(photo by Ismael Nuñez)

Monday, July 07, 2008


In the Mailbox

Hello Everyone!

Thank you for your continued support of Latino Arts and all its many forms! We are truly grateful!

We are proud to announce LOISAIDA CORTOS LATINO FILM FESTIVAL'S 7th year of bringing quality short films to our community (in New York City) and to cities in Europe such as Barcelona, Madrid and Antwerp since 2005. Also our first Mexico screening at THE LATIN AMERICAN FOOD SHOW (www.lafs.com.mx) in Cancun this September 2008 and for 2009 our first screenings in Brazil and China!!!

This year our festival has moved up to Sunday, August 24 with pre-festival events (this Thursday!!!!) THURSDAYS JULY 10 & AUGUST 7 @ NUBLU (www.nublu.net) with performances by "ROPA VIEJA" and NUBLU's resident DJ's plus FREE COCKTAILS FROM BUDWEISER & BACARDI for those of you who get there early!!!!

With all this said...we want to remind you that our call for submissions is in full effect and our deadline is: AUGUST 8 ! So, please help us spread the word through myspace, facebook, e-mail, text message or fire signals! Any help is truly appreciated...just one click of the mouse!

For more details, submissions forms and guidelines please visit: www.loisaidacortos.com.

Thank you again! We look forward to seeing your bright shining faces throughout the summer!

Ellie Diez
Executive Director
Loisaida Cortos Latino Film Festival

'Coquiando' at Cemi


Community Calendar

6 p.m., Thursday, July 10
Book presentation: "Coquiando: Meditaciones subversivas para un mundo mejor" by Father Luis Barrios
Admission: FREE!
Cemi Underground, NYC's El Barrio
For more information, www.cemiunderground.com or www.coquiando.org.

(Click on image to see larger text.)

Decisions


Decisions
Originally uploaded by chente922.
Featured photo

From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group pool, image by chente922

"Some retired gentlemen playing domino at the Plaza del Mercado in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. It's really interesting how well they are at this game, analyzing every move since the beginning." -- Chente922

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Puerto Rican Film Series in Chicago


Film

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC) announces the
Puerto Rican Film Series 2008, kicking off with FLAGS OF STEEL Saturday July 12


Bring blankets, folding chairs and picnic baskets and enjoy a film under the stars!

Starting Saturday, July 12 and continuing every other Saturday, IPRAC presents the Puerto Rican Film Series, an outdoor film festival featuring the film work of new and established Puerto Rican directors, producers and actors. In its fifth year, the series has become in a Chicago summer favorite. The Puerto Rican Film Series is the only Puerto Rican/Latino film program in the park system gathering visitors from Chicago and the Midwest counting in average 300 attendants per screening. Families with their pets, couples and friends can bring their picnic baskets, folding chairs, blankets and enjoy a film under the stars at the beautiful grounds of the Humboldt Park Boat House. FREE parking, admission, popcorn, raffles and a night of culture and entertainment.

This year the Puerto Rican Film Series kick off Saturday July 12 with a film program by Chicago filmmakers featuring “Flags of Steel” by Mildred Amador and the short film “Between Western and California” by Nick Medina, Darrell Robbins and Amir George. “Flags of Steel” is a historical recount of the Puerto Rican community in Chicago. The documentary recognizes first Europeans settlers and recounts the on-going transformation of this community. The film documents the design, engineering and fabrication of the neighborhood gateways while paying homage to many Puerto Ricans who migrated to the Midwest to work in the steel mill industry.

The Puerto Rican Film Series also presents titles such as “Mambo to Hip Hop” by Luis Chaluisan (Sat. July 26), “Ocho Puertas” by Paloma Suau (Sat. Aug. 9), and “Los Peloteros” by Jack Delano (Sat. Aug. 23). The film program appeal different audiences and films are subtitled when in Spanish.

The series is presented by Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC) in collaboration with the Chicago Park District, Division Street Business Development Association and the Chicago Children’s Museum.

The series will run from July 12 to August 23 at dusk (approximate 7:30 to 8 p.m.) at the Humboldt Park Boat House, 1359 N. Sacramento (Humboldt Blvd), Chicago, IL.

For more information, call IPRAC’s program office 773-486-8345 or email: JorgeFelix@iprac.org. The website is www.iprac.org.

source: Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) press release

(Photo courtesy of www.prcc-chgo.org/paseo_boricua.htm)

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Puerto Rico American Idol Auditions


Despite my disdain for the show and it's evil twin Objetivo Fama, there is no denying that I'm in the minority, because both dominate the ratings. And so it is, that for the first time, American Idol will conduct auditions for the 8th season of the show here in our little corner of the ocean.

On August 2nd, in the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, the production team from American Idol will conduct auditions. While the trio of judges, that I think everyone universally hates, but is strangely attracted to, will not be present at the auditions, it is rumored that they will be present when they begin to whittle the list of local contestants down. Or whatever it is they do during the course of the the show, because, I truthfully have never seen an episode of the program. Of course, since I've been doing the whole starving entrepreneur thing for a while now, cable is a distant memory. Anything I want to watch now has to come via BitTorrent, and believe me, my bandwidth is too precious to be spent downloading episodes of American Idol. In fact you can probably count on one hand the number of shows I do consider BitTorrent worthy.

While Puerto Rico has been excluded from the first seven seasons of the program, due to the popularity of Objetivo Fama (OF), I guess they want to jump on the bandwagon and see if they can duplicate the following of OF. I'm skeptical, because there are many factors that work together to make OF so successful here in PR. I guess we'll soon find out. If you start to hear people talking about American Idol everywhere you go, then they will have succeeded.

To participate in the auditions, participants must be between 16 and 28, and be willing to travel to the United States. Two days before the auditions, the production team of the program will be giving out bracelets to aspiring singers, which will determine the time of their audition. They are hoping that will limit the usual insane behavior that that usually accompanies an event of this magnitude. I wish them luck with that, LOL. -- by MC DON DEES

(This article by MC DON DEES was originally published in Dónde Quiera at http://blog.dondees.com/. Check out the blog.)

IMG_8624
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Featured photo from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group at flickr by Clarisel

On a wall in New York City's gentrifying El Barrio

Friday, July 04, 2008

Puerto Rican Music Roots and Beyond

Community Calendar



Concert featuring William Cepeda and his group Afro-Rican Jazz

The “King of Plena,” Angel Luis Torruellas, salsero Michael Stuart and more

This Brooklyn concert will focus on the Puerto Rican folkloric genre of Plena, both traditional and contemporary.

Saturday, July 5 at 7 p.m.

The concert is part of the All Celebrate Brooklyn series of summer performances at the Prospect Park Bandshell. The entrance to the Prospect Park Bandshell is located at Prospect Park West & 9th Street in Park Slope. Free though there is a $3 suggested donation at the gate.

For more information,
http://www.briconline.org/celebrate/070508.asp

Happy Fourth of July

Enjoy the beach, the barbecue, the baseball game, the traffic, the fireworks or whatever it is you will do to celebrate the day. Have a great day.

DSC_0234


DSC_0234
Originally uploaded by Pacu007.
From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group pool

Featured photo by Pacu007

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Featured site: Sazon Boricua

Sofrito al estilo puertorriqueño

If you are interested in recipes or information related to Puerto Rican food, here's a site for you: www.sazonboricua.com.

I just visited Sazon Boricua for the first time today. Boricua Jeannette Quiñones (aka fruttadi on flickr.com and a member of the Puerto Rico Sun photo group) runs Sazon Boricua. Her current entry features Puerto Rican-style sofrito.

I am adding a link to the site in this blog as well. Apoya lo nuestro.

Photo "Sofrito al estilo puertorriqueño" by fruttadi

pelican


pelican
Originally uploaded by mino975.
from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group pool

Featured photo taken in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, by mino975

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Do You Believe Puerto Ricans are Happiest?

Did you know that Puerto Rico has been ranked among the top 10 happiest countries in the world? I'm wondering whether you agree that Puerto Rico is one of the happiest countries. Do you think people in Puerto Rico are really so happy and why?

Anyway, the top most happiest country in the world title goes to Denmark. But boricuas on the island are happy too if you believe this report. Puerto Rico is supposedly the second happiest country.

Featured story

Denmark 'happiest' country in the world

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Denmark is the world's most content nation, according to a new study on global wellbeing, but the good news is, despite the credit crunch and rising fuel and food prices, all of us are getting happier.
Denmark's prosperity and democratic systems are seen as key to its contentment.
Researchers at the University of Michigan said Denmark's prosperity, stability and democratic government placed the country at the top of the rankings, with Colombia, Canada, Puerto Rico and Iceland all in the top 10.
The United States -- the world's richest nation -- ranked 16th among 97 countries, while Britain was placed 21st.
For more, go to
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/07/02/nations.happiness/index.html?eref=time_health

Here's a related press release from Science Daily:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630130129.htm

So, what do you think? Do you believe people in Puerto Rico are really among the happiest in the world?

New: PRSUN Flags Line Stamp

Support PRSUN



You can use this stamp to send your mail via the U.S. Postal Service. This is a way not only to support the Puerto Rico Sun project, but to show some boricua pride every time you send a letter. This Zazzle custom stamp features a photo by Clarisel Gonzalez titled "Flags Line."

UPDATE: New customized designs have been added. I plan to offer a variety of postage designs, so visit my store at www.zazzle.com/prsuncom. Thanks.

A Latino Version of 'In Living Color'



Community Calendar

Rhina Valentin as Iris Da Safacon in LOSE CONTROL
Saturday July 5
Lose Control Comedy Troupe
Live at The Broadway Comedy Club, NYC

Latino flair with an urban edge. Pure hilarious kick ass fun!!

Chulisi and the Lose Control Comedy Troupe grace the stage for a third season of laughs and good old fashion home feeling comedy. Bringing to you Iris De Safacon, Jocks and Espiritista with an all star cast that are sure to make you laugh and guffaw in your seats.

Lose Control Comedy Troupe is the modern day Latino version of "In Living Color". It takes a light-hearted approach at live theater by mixing pop culture, family upbringing experiences and everyday people living a day in the life. Blending it with comedy, dance, poetry and music. Lose Control's themes are common with a predominately young cast who are bilingual, and who choose to identify with both their American and diverse cultural background. Lose Control celebrates this new generation through hysterical skits and improvisations. No one show is the same. Each month a new show is given so that it stays fresh and easily impressionable through out it's run. It's hosted by Chulisi who also does stand up in between sets.

Tickets are $15
Broadway Comedy Club
318 West 53rd St. between 8th and 9th avenues


7 p.m. Saturday July 5
Reservations Call # 718-809-3734

source: Rhina Valentin's newsletter

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Featured story

Puerto Rico archeological find mired in politics

SAN JUAN -- The lady carved on the ancient rock is squatting, with frog-like legs sticking out to each side. Her decapitated head is dangling to the right.
That's how she had been, perfectly preserved, for up to 800 years, until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers came upon her last year while building a $375 million dam to control flooding in southern Puerto Rico.
She was buried again last week with the hope that some day specialists will study her and Puerto Rican children will visit and learn about the lives of the Taino Indians who created her. But archaeologists and government officals first had to settle a raging debate about who should have control over her and other artifacts sent to Georgia for analysis.
For more of this report, go to the Miami Herald site at
http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/589011.html

Y DE CAMINO


Y DE CAMINO
Originally uploaded by Dr3d5.
from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group

photo by Dr3d5 on flickr