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Archive for December, 2007

2008 Will Be a Tough Year for Mexico

11:24 am By Maegan La Mala · mexico|Money · Comments Off

24 Dec 2007

capt.sge.fcy42.140307015051.photo01.photo.default-512x407.jpgPredictions of a recession in the U.S. in the coming year has experts in Mexico forecasting a bumpy ride for that country in 2008. The Center for Research of Private Sector Economy (CEESP) of Mexico says that the country’s dependence on the U.S. will have a negative impact on the economy:

“…2008 is looking ‘complex, because the strong dependence of our country on the productive mechanisms of the United states will mean huge risks if the weakness of our Northern neighbor gets worse.”

According to the document, the prediction that the U.S. will slow growth in the last trimester of the year, with the possibility of falling into recession, has created a complex context for Mexico’s economy.

Other contributing factors for the dismal outlook (according to the CEESP only 19% of economists in Mexico predict a change for the better for business) are rising fuel costs and the high prices of international goods.

As they say, when the U.S. sneezes, Mexico gets a cold. And if 2008 plays out the way economists predict it will, the bad economy in Mexico will inevitably impact immigration, as poorer Mexicans leave their homes to find a better life in the U.S.

Via / La Jornada

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pitbull.jpgNo, this isn’t something you’d see on Animal Planet, rapper Pitbull (a.k.a. name Armando Perez) has been arrested for driving under the influence. We hate to follow one DUI story with another, but we guess it’s just that time of year. Reports TMZ:

According to the police report obtained by TMZ, Perez was stopped after flying past a marked cop car in his silver Mercedes, doing 93 mph in a 55 zone. At first, the rapper wouldn’t get out of the car, and when he did, the officer writes that he “could detect a strong breath odor of alcohol over the gum he was chewing,” that Pitbull’s speech was rapid and slurred and his eyes were bloodshot.

Results of the sobriety test weren’t pretty either: he couldn’t do the finger-to-nose touch, he was swaying, and basically mangled the “walk and turn” portion of the test, losing his balance, stepping off line and starting without being told to do so.

TMZ also claims that Pitbull allegedly yelled repeatedly to officers “This is a big waist [sic] of time your time papo.”

The rapper was then booked and his bail was set at a modest $1000.

Check out TMZ for the arrest report, video (including Pitbull laughing off the incident) and more developments on this story.

Via / TMZ

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Mexican Beauty Queen Arrested for Drunk Driving

4:39 pm By Maegan La Mala · Chismes|mexico · Comments Off

21 Dec 2007

perales.jpgFormer Miss Mexico and winner of the 2007 “Miss International” contest Priscila Perales was arrested yesterday in Monterrey for drunk driving when a blood alcohol test revealed she had a level of 0.9.

Perales will be hit with the largest fine possible for the offense: 20,000 pesos (about 1800 dollars), which is the highest fine for drunk drivers in Mexico.

The model and beauty queen was also among the finalists for the 2006 Miss Universe pageant.

Via / El Universal (Venezuela)

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250jean-charles_0.jpgIn the wake of the London bombings of July 2005, Scotland Yard police mistook Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes for a terrorist and shot him to death. This “accident” shook the world and had Brazilians everywhere demanding justice. Unfortunately, it looks as if they will get just the opposite:

No Scotland Yard officers will face disciplinary action over the fatal shooting of innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, the police watchdog announced.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said four senior officers, including Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, should not be disciplined over the killing.

Shocking but true. It seems that in England, just like in so many other countries, skin color profiling and “shoot first, ask questions later” are considered proper protocol. Just despicable.

Earlier this month the head of anti-terrorism at Scotland Yard stepped down due to death threats associated with the case.

Via / The Press Association

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robbins.jpgFresh Direct doesn’t have a great relationship with POC communities to begin with. The company that offers NYC buyers the chance to order produce, groceries, and prepared food online and have it all delivered to their door, won’t deliver to most POC ‘hoods. But ever since the company, based in Queens, began it had relied on a largely undocumented Latino labor force. These workers, mostly relegated to working the graveyard shift in a freezing cold warehouse, are barely paid minimum wage and receive no benefits. Those hundreds of workers now are preparing not for the holiday season but to be without jobs ever since the company announced that all employees needed to prove that they were legal residents thanks to an impending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (‘ICE’) at the Department of Homeland Security official review.

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Papa Noel

10:11 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Food|Peru · 1 Comment

21 Dec 2007

Chilian%20Potato%20Christmas%20Tree%5B2%5D.jpegStudents in Lima, Peru made an arbolito de Navidad using 98kg (216 lbs) of potatoes.

Via / Random Citations

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Uruguay OKs Civil Unions

5:35 pm By Maegan La Mala · GLBT|society|Uruguay · 1 Comment

20 Dec 2007

22207068.jpgUruguay took a massive step towards equality yesterday when it became the first Latin American country to legalize same sex civil unions.

The Congress passed legislation creating a civil union registry for same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples.

The measure had previously passed the Chamber of Senators.

The new law was a manifesto commitment of the ruling leftist coalition of President Tabare Vasquez.

While gay marriage is still illegal in Uruguay, the move marks a step left in the traditionally Catholic country. And, of course, not everyone is pleased. PinkNews UK reports that a representative of the Uruguayan Episcopal Conference was quoted as saying “In no way can homosexual cohabitation be accepted because it does not meet the basic criteria defining marriage, it is therefore unacceptable to place it in suchlike equal level.”

Whatever. Congrats Uruguayos!

Via / PinkNews.co.uk

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Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas : Drugs

11:50 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Bizarro|Drugs|Gifts|Shopping · Comments Off

20 Dec 2007

w5.jpgOk, I’m totally kidding (I would never advocate the selling, buying, or distribution of drugs) but this picture that arrived in my inbox was way too good to pass up. Apparently there are three people licensed to sell the hallucinogenic cactus peyote in the United States and this guy is one of them.

In all seriousness, Peyote is a sacred plant, used, like many other plants, for religious ceremonies by many indigenous tribes in the Southwest region of what is now the U.S. In the U.S., the use of Peyote is protected but only as part of a religious ceremony (sorry druggies).

Via / Activate

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060323_longoriaparker_vlg_12p.standard.jpgTony Parker isn’t taking the allegations that he cheated on his Desperate Housewife, Eva Longoria, sitting down. Chisme website X17 had reported that Parker was being untrue to Longoria with a French model who supposedly had been a guest at their wedding. Now X17 is going down:

“This is false. It never happened. And X17 had to know that the story was false, or, at the very least, it had to have entertained serious doubts about the credibility of its supposed source,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit also alleged that X17 never contacted Parker, Longoria or their representatives before running the stories, and refused to retract them after being told the claims were false.

The model was allegedly introduced to Parker by French soccer star Thierry Henry at Eva and Tony’s wedding ceremony. Eva is defending her guy saying he’s the “world’s best husband”. Parker is seeking $40 million in damages from X17.

Via / Yahoo! Entertainment

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obama.jpgApparently no amount of reggaeton or novela-like ads is going to get presidential candidate Barack Obama the oh so coveted Latino vote. Polls show Obama ranking way lower than Hillary Clinton. Some reasons for this is a lack of Obama name recognition in the Latino community and Clinton’s longer history courting the Latino community. Then of course there’s good old fashion racism.

Over the last two decades, there has been evidence of growing hostility from Hispanics toward African Americans. Some of this hostility is the result of conflicts, or perceived conflicts, over politically controlled resources in cities and states. But as Tanya K. Hernandez, a professor of law at George Washington, has argued recently, it may also be a legacy of an older Latin American prejudice against blacks that has been transplanted to this country.

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VivirLatino is a daily publication published by Mamita Mala Media, dedicated to featuring all the latest politics, culture, entertainment of interest to the diverse Latin@ diaspora.

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