It didn’t take a genius to realize that MySpace — one of the “new” internet’s biggest (and most unlikely) success stories — needed to address the issue of language sooner or later. To better serve the presumably millions of Spanish-speaking users already on MySpace and to attract even more (cha-ching!), the company has made the very smart decision to launch MySpace en Español:
“We’re moving rapidly to build communities that reflect and respect the lifestyles of our diverse members,” Travis Katz, senior vice president and general manager of MySpace International, said in a statement. “MySpace en Español opens the community even wider, giving our Hispanic members the choice to share their experiences, connect with family members and plan their social lives in either Spanish or English.”
While Newt Gingrich might think that Spanish is 
Yet again the issue of Puerto Rico‘s status was debated on Wednesday on the floor of Congress with little progress in any direction. Three positions are being argued for. One being to maintain the current Associated Free State status with Ricans on the island granted U.S. citizenship but without being able to vote for members of Congress or the president. They pay no federal income tax but pay about a third of their income to island tax collectors. The second option is to make P.R. the 51st U.S. state. The third option would leave the island an independent country. The reality of the situation is that all the debate of the world doesn’t change the fact that the U.S. Constitution only allows for two options: statehood or separation. So while many tout that fact that the people of Puerto Rico have voted in four plebiscites on their status since 1967, none were authorized or recognized by Congress, which the Constitution charges with overseeing territories.
I watched parts of the Premios Billboard de la Musica Latina live on Telemundo (canal 47 here in NYC) last night ( I channel flipped among the awards, Ugly Betty/Grey’s Anatomy, a PBS documentary about NYC history, and a repeat of a Summerstage concert I saw live with Seu George). The pre-show was a one big advertisement with stars walking down a green carpet sponsored by the green bottled beer (that shall remain nameless) and the Target dog was flashed across the screen more than once.