JLo to produce Quinceanera-themed show

marc_jlo_041207-thumb.jpgJLo‘s trying her hand at TV producing again. First it was the reality show about dancers struggling to make it big (how did that ever go? Anybody…?). Then she said she wanted to bring her story of love with husband Skel…Marc Anthony to the small screen. Now Jenny’s got her eye on a new show about teenagers running a party-planning business. I’m on the edge of my seat…DO. GO. ON!

“The Amigas Sweet 15 Club” is being billed as a half-hour comedy with dramatic undertones. It is based on an original idea by Jane Startz, who produced the film and TV series based on the popular “The Baby-Sitters Club” books. Startz will executive produce with Lopez.

In addition to the music-centric TV show, they plan to develop “Amigas” into a series of young adult books, Latin music-inspired CDs and potentially other franchise properties targeting female tweens.

Cha-ching! Imagine all the licensing possibilities…clothing, lunchboxes, dolls, accessories…I hope JLo signed a pre-nup.

Via / Yahoo! Entertainment

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Peru Update: Thousands Still Not Getting Aid? Por que?

peru_flag_large.bmpWhile it’s been about two weeks since a grade 8 earthquake hit Peru but yesterday Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross announced that parts of the country look like the earthquake just happened because aid isn’t reaching them.

Aunque el auxilio ha llegado a Pisco, e Ica, ciudades arrasadas por el sismo de 8 grados del 15 de agosto, Médicos Sin Fronteras envió el martes un comunicado a la AP en el que alertó que “decenas” de pequeños poblados se mantenían aislados y sin ayuda de ningún tipo, y sus residentes se encontraban durmiendo a la intemperie, apenas con agua o apenas comiendo algo.

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Gonzales Legacy : Top Latino Sellout?

gonzales.jpgWhile many are celebrating the resignation of Alberto Gonzales. But believe it or not there are those saddened by his leaving because it will mean no top Latino in the Bush administration. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, having someone who is Latino in a high ranking position isn’t enough, especially if he does nothing for the Latino community and in fact does more harm than good in general. Some have said he let the power get to his head. Others say he just sold out. Liza over at Culture Kitchen has an interesting perspective that reminds me of my own father, who worked in NYC government under Mayor Koch and proudly could have been labeled “the white man’s Latino”, that is palatable to the mainstream (whites)and pushing their agenda.

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Noriega to be extradited

1990bush06-noriega.jpgA U.S. judge has ruled that former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega should be extradited to France to face charges of money laundering in that country.

Judge William Turnoff’s decision was a formality after a judge last week rejected arguments by Noriega’s lawyers that he should be returned to Panama.

Noriega is currently serving a 15-year sentence in Miami for racketeering and drug-trafficking, and is set to be released next month, at which point he will be sent to France.

Via / BBC News

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Prince William Latinos Fight Back With Their Wallets

princewilliam.jpgEconomic boycotts are an extremely difficult political tactic. They require widespread mass support in order to be effective. But the difficulty of using such a weapon isn’t stopping Latinos in Prince William County, Virginia from using it as a tool against anti-immigrant policies. The boycott, which began yesterday, is a week long campaign targeting all non-immigrant-owned businesses, including such chains as Wal-Mart and McDonald’s. At such an important time for businesses, back to school time, the impact of a boycott could be great. Although, those that back the measure aren’t so sure.

“They don’t have a prayer of reversing this resolution, which has the support of 80 percent of county residents,” said Greg Letiecq, an activist who heads Help Save Manassas. “This is an attempt to bully immigrant businesses.”

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Beyonce is “Irreemplazable”

beyonce072806_05-thumb.jpg“To the left, to the left”
“Everything you own in a box to the left”

I shamefully admit that I love Beyonce’s Irreplaceable. And when I heard she’d be doing the song in Spanish, I imagined some terrible lyrics like “A la izquierda, a la izquierda”. Those aren’t the lyrics, but the real ones aren’t much better (video after the jump).

Today she launches her new Spanish album “Irreemplazable” with versions of her English-language hits, including duets with Alejandro Fernandez and Shakira, reports Venezuela’s El Universal.

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Latin Grammy Nomination Annoucement Just One Day Away

grammy.jpgLast week I told you about some the incredible participants in the Latin Grammy Nominations scheduled to be announced in just one day. Well the list just keeps getting better. Added to the roster of participating artists include Elvis Crespo, Pablo Montero(yum), and Emilio Regueira of Rabanes.

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Chavez goes off on Europe for criticizing his re-election plans

hchavez.jpgVenezuelan president Hugo Chavez is spittin’ mad at Europe for daring criticize his plans to change the constitution to allow for his re-election ad nauseum. He’s calling Europeans out country by country as “cynical” and hypocritical. Venezuelan daily El Universal reports:

“Europe is the queen of cynicism. They are making a big deal because we are here proposing that the people decide on a figure that has existed in Europe for centuries,” said Chavez in his Sunday radio and TV program ¡Aló Presidente! N° 291.

Chavez was referring to the fact that “government without limit” is still valid in many a European country, among them Italy, France, Germany and Portugal.

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The Puerto Rico Palestine Connection

titokayak.jpgBoth are considered occupied territories and one Puerto Rican activist wants to make that fact crystal clear. Tito Kayak is conducting a speaking and film tour throughout Puerto Rico and the United States. In Puerto Rico the tour will take place Aug. 23-31 in Puerto Rico and in the U.S. Sept. 1.-21.

Puerto Rico to Palestine: Uniting Struggles in Defense of the Land On April 20, ’07 Puerto Rican Activist Tito Kayak scaled 10 story Israeli Surveillance tower & unfurled Palestinian Flag as Palestinian Film Journalist Emad Bornat documented the action.
The two will speak and show the documentary “Bil’in Against the Wall”.

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