Tuesday, December 29, 2009

element of freedom.






and the day came when the risk it took to remain tightly closed in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom... this is the element of freedom.

if you haven't already done so, you MUST get a copy of alicia's new ablum. cuz at the end of the day, how can you resist a track with drizzy and alicia.








Thursday, December 10, 2009

speak.

shakira speaks truth to students at oxford.

Friday, December 4, 2009

grateful.

i know this post is a bit late but, then again, it's never too late to be grateful for a blessing. this thanksgiving, i really sat down and contemplated everything going on in my life. if someone would have told me as a kid that my life would be where it is today, i probably would have just ignored them. now, i find myself, well... here. in this year alone, i've been blessed with so much. i have the most amazing significant other; i gotta love my overly-competitive-board-game-crazed family, my incredible [where-would-i-be-without-you] friends; actually graduating from college [shout-out UCB]; being employed; health; home; car... the list can go on and on. i'm even grateful for every blessing in disguise because at the end of the day, they made me stronger. one thing i can say about this past year is that i've grown up a lot. i've learned to appreciate life. i mean, don't get me wrong... i've always had fun. i've always laughed too hard, talked too loud, and cracked too many jokes. the thing is, something is different now. i guess somewhere along the way i just realized my position in life-- my privileges, my disadvantages, my strengths, my weaknesses. somehow, it all just clicked... life is a beautiful struggle. it seems like many people figure that out once it's too late. don't let that be your story. my advice to everyone: don't live the same day twice cuz life's just too short for that!!

my lil bros... blessings that make you scream and laugh all in one.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

weekend getaway...

i recently took a much needed weekend vacay with the gang for convention. we stayed at the hyatt. it was awesome... plus, i got to room in a villa :)




below is the view walking out of our room...


the mirror was dirty, but that's me... :)


i took the pic below during the one of the after hour concerts...


basking in the weekend fun... :)



Friday, November 20, 2009

RIP public education.

the uc regents have officially approved a 32% fee increase... :(

click here to read more about the approved hike.

the video below documents a ucb strike leading up to the fee approval.


much love and respect to all those students/ californians/ workers/
activists who are standing against the injustice.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

educate yourself.

The news team for Telemundo 52 recently reported on Alma Minerva Chacon, a women who was terrorized by Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Unfortunately, she is just the latest in a long line of Latinos who have suffered at the hands of the ruthless Sheriff whose personal goal is to rid Arizona of all "illegals" and just maybe, all Latinos. Arpaio has repeatedly stated that he is breaking no laws and just enforcing the constitution by arresting more than 600 Latinos a year. But the problem with his tactics is that less than half of those arrested are even in this country illegally.

The most recent atrocity committed by the self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff" involves a woman who was detained while 9-months pregnant. Alma Minerva Chacon's case has been receiving media attention due to the brutality with which she was treated. The very same night of her arrest, Chacon went into labor and found herself afraid and alone, being rushed to a local hospital with her hands and legs chained in shackles.

Once she reached the hospital, nurses repeatedly begged the Sheriff's staff to allow them to unchain the mother, but they refused and Chacon was forced to give birth while still shackled to the bed. At one point, the nurse asked for them to release her so that she could be escorted to the bathroom for a urinalysis, but even that request was denied. But the worst came once Chacon gave birth to her baby girl.

Still chained to the bed, Arpaio's police staff refused to allow Chacon to hold her newborn baby and then warned her that if no one came to pick up the child within 72 hours, she would be turned over into state custody. Telemundo 52 sat down with Chacon and let her tell her side of the story.

Check out the interview below and if you don't support Sheriff Arpaio's barbaric practices sign the petition at www.SheriffJoeMustGo.com:

ahora, salga y infórmese porque hay poder en solidaridad.

click here for the original article on latina.com

peace.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

justice sotomayor.

sotomayor is on the cover of the december/january issue of latina magazine.



here's an excerpt from the article:

I first met Sonia in 1998, after she had been sworn in as a federal judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. I was the Editor-in-Chief of Latina, and a mutual friend, New York attorney Lee Llambelis, suggested that Sotomayor was someone I should meet since I’d probably want to write an article on her (which appeared in our March 1999 issue). Sotomayor’s life story not only inspired readers, but also captivated me.

Since then, we’ve been to each other’s homes for dinner and shared many sweet, honest and confidential conversations. A doting hostess, she puts together cheese platters, makes tasty salads and hooks up a mean churrasco with a tangy lemon marinade. This past spring, she promised to share some of her culinary secrets, so we set a date to fire up the grill in her small yet superb two-bedroom condo in the heart of NYC’s Greenwich Village. Sonia thought things would finally slow down for her by the summer—but that’s when things really started heating up.

During those grueling confirmation hearings in July, Republican senators Lindsey Graham, Jeff Sessions and Jon Kyl dissected her now-famous “wise Latina” phrase, uttered during an inspirational lecture to Latino law students at the University of California, Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law in 2001.

The senators aggressively argued that her remarks proved she would bring bias and a liberal agenda to the bench. But Sotomayor repeatedly explained that her comments were part of a regrettable “rhetorical flourish that fell flat.” “I want to state up front, unequivocally and without doubt: I do not believe that any ethnic, racial or gender group has an advantage in sound judging,” she said. She added that she was simply trying “to inspire young Hispanics, Latino students and lawyers to believe that their life experiences added value to the process.’’


to read the rest of the excerpt click here. the issue hits stands on nov. 17. now go cop one!!

peace.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

UPDATE: sammy sosa??

sammy sosa has apparently admitted to using bleaching cream... duuuhhhhh!! his excuse, however, is that he was using it as "wrinkle cream."

click here to read what sosa has to say.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

on to lighter matters...

Sammy Sosa in 1989 (left), 2005 (center) and at last week's Latin Grammys.
AP PHOTO, WIREIMAGE.COM, RD / KABIK / RETNA DIGITAL

last week, sammy sosa --former cubs player and dominican baseball legend-- donned a new look to the latin grammys. the formerly tan player showed up sans curly hair, dark brown eyes, and tanned skin. initial responses have suggested that the transformation is the result of a common beauty treatment gone awry. i could be wrong, but something about this accidental loss of pigmentation seems a little off to me. what do you think? is sosa the victim of a beauty treatment gone wrong? or does sosa have other end goals in mind???

*hint, hint*


p.s. i know, i know... this post is a tad late.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

nostalgia...

the other day, i woke up only to be greeted by a familiar friend... fog :)
it reminded me so much of the bay area and those early morning strolls to campus!

bedroom window...

closer look outside...

here's rosie dragging herself out of bed on this lazy, yet deliciously foggy, morning!

this, of course, is in contrast to the sunny mountainside i generally wake up to every morning :)

here's the view from my window on a typical day

cheers!


Thursday, November 5, 2009

latin grammy awards...




con saaaabor en vegas!

and the moment i've been anticipating (since his interview on christina a few weeks ago)...

ALEJANDRO SANZ AND ALICIA KEYS making music looove :)

image: michael tran @ gettyimages

other highlights:

enrique iglesias... doesn't he make
your heart pitter patter!
image: ethan miller @ gettyimages

eva longoria!
image: michael caulfield @ gettyimages

reeeiiikkk!!
image: ethan miller @ gettyimages

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

cool art...






by cassandra c. jones.
click here for more.


recent happenings...


here are a few highlights of recent events:

**caught a showing of...


image from http://www.siteforrent.com/

at the...

with rere and company :)


**hit up...


**watched the...
game with n.m @...


mom: what'd you do today?
me: watched the baseball game with nay nay @ bww
mom: ohhh. yankess v phillies, right?! i'm rooting for the yankees!
me: mom, what do YOU know about baseball?
mom: all i know is a-rod and jeeter. 'nuff said.
me: o.O


Thursday, October 29, 2009

is marilyn monroe mexican??




Marilyn Monroe, originally uploaded by skookums.

so, i thought i'd share something that made me chuckle earlier... let me know what y'all think :)

Marilyn Monroe: "She was born Norma Jeane Mortenson (later baptized as Norma Jeane Baker) to her mother Gladys Pearl Monroe in Los Angeles, 1926. Now, did you know that her mother, Miss Gladys, was born in Porfirio Diaz, Mexico, which is known today as Piedras Negras, Mexico? The parents of Gladys Monroe had lived there for years while they worked.

Later, in what would become the star’s last official residence in Brentwood, California, Marilyn used Mexican art and accessories to decorate, which she bought from the country during several trips she made during the last years of her life. Perhaps she felt connected to the culture? What do you all think? Do you consider Marilyn Monroe Latina? Or is it just too much of a stretch for you?"


click here for original article




Tuesday, October 20, 2009

under construction.

the other day, the bf and i were working on some home remodeling projects and i realized that it would be fun to capture some of the action. here is an impromptu photo shoot of rosie in the construction zone... enjoy :)

caught her sleeping... zzzzz!

finally awake!

staring off into the sunset :)

Saturday, October 17, 2009

ugh... disgusting



so, there's apparently an "illegal alien" costume out on the market. here are my thoughts on this...

the term "illegal alien" is a socially constructed term that has a history of discrimination associated with it. Referring to a human being as "alien" is ridiculous. The treatment (of hatred) associated with this status is something that has brought families and individuals of many backgrounds lots of pain and hurt. Many comments regarding this incident suggest that people need to "lighten up" and learn to "joke" about it. Opposing this costume, however, has nothing to do with being able to lighten up and "joke" about it. It has to do with respect to the millions of people that have been persecuted, ridiculed, and even killed over this "joke." This is especially disturbing because it's something that people are dealing with today, right now. It's like (and i know that there are worlds of difference in this example) allowing people to sell Nazi costumes in light of the Holocaust-it's insensitive. I understand that the point of entry for undocumented individuals was/is at the expense of "the law," but how "American" is it to ridicule the unfortunate treatment of others? We should be above this. I mean, the UNITED STATES was the catalyst that created the very conditions that have pushed immigrants to leave their countries and migrate to the US in the first place (don't believe me? research the history of all major migrations to the U.S.). Who knows, maybe 10-20 years down the line when we "fix" immigration we'll be able to look back and "laugh it off," but not today. Not when there are families and children so negatively affected by it.


plus, wouldn't a "green card" make him a resident, not an "illegal alien" like the jumpsuit suggests??

if you'd like to stand in solidarity with the groups of individuals opposing this costume, click here

for links to web articles, check these out:
- CNN: click here
-KTLA: click here

ohh emm gee!!





video says it all.


Wednesday, October 14, 2009

drawing inspiration

now that the bf got his house (we picked up keys on friday-yayyyy!) there is lots of work to be done!

here's to outdoor inspiration.



cheers!

Monday, October 12, 2009

reconsider columbus day


REAL TALK.

Friday, October 9, 2009

friday tidbits

time to update the wardrobe! love these items from Need Supply Co. enjoy!!




Tuesday, October 6, 2009

fantastical...









the obama's celebrate their 17th wedding anniversary in style! cheers to the happy [and stylish] couple :)

Sunday, October 4, 2009

california: a failed state?

will california become america's first failed state?

los angeles, 2009: california may be the eighth largest economy in the world, but its state staff are being paid in IOUs, unemployment is at its highest in 70 years, and teachers are on hunger strike. so what has gone catastrophically wrong?

click here to read an eye-opening article on the state of california.

Friday, October 2, 2009

and 2016 goes to...


...BRAZIL!

the final four contending cities for the 2016 olympics were:
  • chicago, usa
  • madrid, spain
  • tokyo, japan
  • rio de janeiro, brazil
while it is disappointing that the u.s. will not be hosting the 2016 olympics (chi town would've been great!), it is equally exciting that the olympics are heading to south america... for the FIRST time ever! And what better way to inaugurate the olympics in that area, than by choosing brazil as the host! all i know is that starting today, i'm starting an olympic fund to get me to brazil for 2016.

let the games begin!!!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

puppy fashion 101

life with a dog-child has been, well, interesting. while there are some very obvious differences, puppies are very much like babies: they require ALOT of attention! rosie (our dog-child), for instance, has finally been house trained. this has many obvious pros (mainly that she no longer "goes" inside the house), but it also has some drawbacks (i.e. 2:45 am wake-up calls because nature is calling... that's right... 2 AM!). oh, and i should probably also mention that she's still teething. it's like she's in her terrible twos... i always catch her in the middle of some kind of mischievous act. like i said, veeeerrrry time consuming.

despite the responsibilities associated with raising a puppy, i have to admit that it's also equally rewarding. today, for instance, rosie made two new friends: franky and daisy :) she has now been officially invited to her first puppy costume party for halloween... and, yes, i know what you're probably thinking, but those do exist (apparently)! oh, dog-child! how fast they grow.

anyway, hit me up if you have any suggestions for rosie's costume :)
in the meantime, i leave you with a pic of rosie in her first "dressy" dress. enjoy!

and, yes, i know. she's quite shaggy, but she'll be groomed soon.

btw, since i posted a pic of rosie with CAL gear before (click here for post), i figured it would only be fair to post a pic with usc gear (my bf is the sc fan). again, i know, i know, but don't worry... rosie will be CAL geared out for saturday's CAL v. usc matchup. let the battle begin!!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

uc walkouts: speaking truth to power.

today was a historic day for california's uc system. thousands of students, faculty, and staff stood in solidarity against the privatization of our public universities and against soaring tuition fees. to emphasize the injustice and inequality of this situation, a leaflet handed out at the ucberkeley campus read:

"Annually the state pays $49,000 per prison inmate and less than $14,000 per UC student. If the state can lock us up, it can invest in our education for one-third of the cost."

mad props to everyone who participated in the walk-out. i leave you with an image of uc berkeley's sproul plaza.

photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty
way to speak truth to power.
peace.

p.s.
if you'd like to learn/read more about the walk-outs, check out these links:
-thousands march in berkeley over uc cuts (click here)
-university of california campuses erupt into protest (click here)
-california university cuts protested (click here)

Monday, September 21, 2009

eva longoria + chicano studies= :)


"Eva Longoria Parker went back to school at the beginning of the summer, enrolling at Cal State Northridge in a bid to earn a Masters Degree in Chicano Studies and Political Science." 

interesting, i know! click here to read the full article on Latina.com

as an ethnic studies student, i'm always glad to see our people getting educated. now, i can only hope that this will somehow bring more attention to a field that means so much to so many.

keep your fist raised high.
peace. 







image from babble.com

Saturday, September 19, 2009

roooolllll oonnn yooouuuu beeeaarrrrssssss

CAL > minnesota.
let's do this!

Friday, September 18, 2009

l.a. county fair

gotta love it! nothing but food, rides, and southern california weather :)


meet rosie...

the newest addition to our family. (:

ready for the CAL football!



p.s. ignore the date on the pics!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

back in the motherland...

so, i spent my first official weekend back home... i have to admit that it wasn't as bad as i first thought it would be. now, i'm back to the full-time grind: traveling for work.


weekend highlights:

  • finally watched district 9.
  • bday party.
  • claim jumper.
  • played with cloudy (our pitbull)
  • caught up with friends.
  • game night with the fam.
  • home shopping with the bf.
on the flip side, it's horrible to come back home and find socal burning. my heart goes out to all those affected by the fires and to the families of the brave firefighters who lost their lives in the process.

stay strong.
peace.

Friday, August 28, 2009

goodbye...


goodbye, originally uploaded by empirik.

well, i'm currently sitting at the airport waiting for my flight back home. bay area, i'll miss you. we had a good run.

stay strong.
peace