3:35 pm By la Macha · society · 3 Comments
29 Jan 2009Admittedly, I’m one of those losers from the Ice Age that does not own a cell phone (well, technically, I do, I’ve got one of those emergency phones that you buy minutes for and are primarily used for emergencies). So there’s nothing more irritating to me than a driver that is in front of me and rolls all over the road or is doing 20 under the speed limit because they are on the phone. But I don’t know about this one:
Hawaii state senator Clarence Nishihara, a democrat, has advocated for more than a simple fine if you get busted driving and using your cell phone. According to Truemors, he says those who don’t shut up and focus on the road should face “confiscation of their beloved cell phones. He’s a former school principal, a pro at effective discipline, it seems.”
Pretty much everybody I know would get on their shit kicking boots and pull out their chola knives if somebody tried to take their phones. They live and die with those suckers. I fear for the lives of any being that would try to take the phone of some of the business people I know (who seem physically incapable of ever turning the damn thing off, even in the middle of children’s birthday parties, etc).
Plus there’s the whole issue of legality–what right does the government have to confiscate personal items like that? I guess I see a legal precedent in the way they can tow your car when you have too many unpaid tickets or are parked illegally–but I don’t know. Phones seem different than cars. Especially if people are storing information outside of “driving” on them. Would the police be allowed to go through the information on the phone?
What do you think–should this law pass?
2:06 pm By la Macha · Immigration · Comments Off
29 Jan 2009
From the AC360 blog comes the heart breaking story of a Palestinian family that has been targeted for deportation by ICE. Both parents and the oldest son are eligible for deportation, while five other children in the family are U.S. citizens.
“Please help us, there is no country greater than this country,” is Mohammad Mohammad’s plea to the American people. That’s his message spoken by cell phone to me as the handyman drove from Alabama to Louisiana to pick up his wife and 18-year-old son, Imad, from an immigration detention center. Federal officials have declared all three illegal immigrants. All three, who have no passports, no traveling documents, are now worried they will be deported.
But the case gets more complicated because Mohammad and his wife, Sana Alsayed have five other children, ages 5, 6, 13, 14 and 17. They were born in the U.S. They are 5 U.S. citizens. And they could remain in the country while their oldest sibling and parents do not.
The irony here is that because the three family members are Palestinian (who have no right of return), if they are deported, they would probably be sent to Saudi Arabia or Jordan rather than Israel.
What is a family that is made homeless through colonialism supposed to do? Where are they supposed to go? It’s an answer I have yet to hear answered by anti-immigration forces.
12:50 pm By Maegan La Mala · Events|language|literature|New York City · Comments Off
29 Jan 2009
I’m running a little slow today because I’m tired and yes, a little hungover, pero it was all worth it. Last night’s HISPANIC PANIC! reading at Nowhere,NYC hosted by Charlie Vazquez, was the most fun I have had in a long time.
I read two older poems and a new poema en tres partes called @ndo aka Twitterputeando/Fucking Statehood. Charlie Vazquez read a story about juegos/jugos de pelotas. Charles Rice-Gonzalez, Executive Director of BAAD!, read from his forthcoming novel Chulito, and Karen Jaime spit poetic love to Dominican Yols, drag kings and hope. We were quite a mix as was the audience that came through and had nothing but love.
Plus I met some wonderful new amigos, drank wine, and danced to Cuban music.
I think I’m going to try and make these readings regularly and so should you. The next one is in February, which is billed GENDER PANIC! and March (GIRL PANIC!), which will feature female erotica writers.
Just tell them Patty Peña sent you.
10:53 am By Maegan La Mala · children|Immigration|Justice · 2 Comments
29 Jan 2009
600 children are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Obama administration demanding that the deportation of their parents be stopped. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the children, who are mostly Latino U.S. citizens, by Nora Sandigo CEO of American Fraternity, a pro immigrant organization based in Miami.
“Children continue to suffer by being separated from their parents because of deportations that the President may be able to suspend.” Sandigo asserted. She also explained that filing this law suit is not because she or these children are against him, but to use his authority and urge him to issue an executive order to stop the deportations, and adopt new immigration laws.
10:27 am By Maegan La Mala · Activism|Cities|Funny|Obama inauguration|Politics|San Francisco · Comments Off
29 Jan 2009
Bush Street in San Francisco is one of my favorite thoroughfares — in spite of the name. In this, the dawn of the Obama age and the end of the Bush era, a few concerned San Franciscans thought it only fitting to change the name of that street to reflect our current political reality:
The San Francisco-based organization Concerned Republicans Assaulting Posterity (C.R.A.P.) is claiming full and complete responsibility for the street sign changing of Bush Street to Obama Street the morning of Tuesday, January 20. A small but mighty group of about 40 fairly intelligent individuals joined together Monday evening and distributed the signs amongst C.R.A.P. members and loyalists in an unusual moment of solidarity with Barack Obama supporters.The group began changing the signs shortly after midnight. “Even though at first we thought Bush Street was named for our beloved Bush family, we realized that wasn’t true after we did some reading,” said one shirtless and bearded group member, who called himself Molotov II. “We wanted to show people that even we and our world renown organization, vehement supporters of the Republican party — we believe 92 percent of all Democrats are dirty — we are all still Americans, just like Mexico said on 9/11.
Check out the video after the jump for “The Making of Obama Street”. There’s also a group on Flickr for photos of the urban transition.
7:52 am By Maegan La Mala · Controversia|Latin America|Politics|Venezuela|World · Comments Off
29 Jan 2009
A few weeks back, after initially having exercised some restraint with regard to Israel, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez gave diplomats from that country the boot, effectively closing up shop on Israel-Venezuela diplomatic relations. Now it’s Israel’s turn; not to be outdone, they’ve given Venezuelan diplomats walking papers as well:
Venezuelan head of mission Roland Betancourt and two other diplomats were given until Friday to leave.“Due to the decision of Venezuela to cut relations with us a few weeks ago, we told the Venezuelan charge d’affaires that he and his staff should leave Israel,” Foreign Ministry official Lior Hayat said. “We told them they are declared persona non grata in Israel.”
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.
About | Advertise with us | Contact | Twitter