Drawing on his experience at the big animation houses, Melendez founded his own company in the mid-sixties and produced the holiday mainstay A Charlie Brown Christmas, for which he won an Emmy and a Peabody Award. Meléndez went on to produce over 70 Peanuts specials with creator Charles Schulz.

A true pioneer in the field of animation, Meléndez will be missed by Peanuts fans all over.

Via / Radio Perú

A todos nuestros fans y medios de comunicación en el mundo:

Hemos realizado juntos un sueño que jamás imaginamos podríamos lograr, cantamos, lloramos y reímos con nuestras canciones a lo largo del mundo y ante millones de personas.

Hemos dejado una huella imborrable en las vidas de millones de personas... ¡Nuestros queridos fans!

Ustedes han marcado nuestra vida de una manera inigualable; los llevaremos en nuestro corazón por siempre.

Todo gran proyecto necesita transformarse para trascender y hoy nosotros estamos iniciando ese proceso.

R.I.P., RBD. You were excellent fodder for some of the most widely read posts on VL. Thanks to you, we've received countless pieces of hate mail over the past 3 years from your adoring (albeit deranged and somewhat illiterate) fans.

I can't wait to see what each of the band members has in store for us with their solo careers!

Via / Perez Hilton

The remix of the song is titled "Fiesta Quinceañera Macarena", alluding to its 15th birthday and a party that is celebrated each year by thousands of Latino teens in the United States.

The return of the Macarena was recorded entirely in the U.S., between New York, Miami and Los Angeles, and will be presented there through two events in Disney theme parks on both coasts.

Via / 20 Minutos

contains images and sounds that, in common use, are crude, as well as those that refer to the consumption of alcohol, without showing its effects or attempting to help erradicate addictive conduct...as well as images and sounds which show dramatized violence.

Televen's fine comes not in the form of money to pay but air time. The network has to promise to broadcast 30 second cultural and educational spots for 30 consecutive days.

Via / El Universal

Image via Hypeline.com

The band announced its return via a viral marketing campaign throughout Buenos Aires, Mexico City and other large Latin American cities with enigmatic posters featuring only the name of a Cadillacs song and the date of the beginning of the tour: July 1, 2008.

I just read somewhere else that they will also be hitting the U.S., but I can't find a tour schedule anywhere. Will update you all when I do.

Via / La Razón

With the affirmation of "We are going to make history," Shakira and Miguel Bosé announced on Thursday that the ALAS Foundation will receive a donation of 200 million dollars from businessmen Carlos Slim and Howard Buffett, as well as from wealthy families all over Latin America.

Slim alone is donating 110 million dollars to the cause. The Mexican businessman said he feels a social responsibility towards the less fortunate and said that as a member of ALAS he is using his business experience to help solve social problems.

American Buffett will contribute 85 million dollars. "Poverty has devastating consequences. Those who prefer to live with their eyes closed will see the consequences. ALAS will not allow it" said Miguel Bosé in a press conferenece two days before the massive free concerts that will be held for the cause, which will happen simultaneously in Mexico City and Buenos Aires.

I'm sure the 110 million is no skin off of Slim's nose, but it's nice to see this happen. I've always found it to be an offensive contradiction that one of the world's top 5 richest men would be from a country where half the population lives in poverty and one-fifth in extreme poverty.

Via / El Universal (Venezuela)

Image via AP/Yahoo News

After much anticipation, there is finally a trailer for the new Woody Allen film Vicky Cristina Barcelona, starring Spanish superstar couple Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johannson. From the clip, it's easy to see the chemistry between Cruz and Bardem. But you can even see the chemistry between Cruz and Johansson. And dare I say that the trailer looks more like an Almodovar film than a Woody Allen film? I dare say it. Anyway, check it out and let us know what you think in the comments.

Via / YouTube

I'm excited about this film, and am anxious to see how Allen handles the bilingual thing, and even more curious to see whether English-speaking audiences are receptive to a movie partly shot in Spanish. Others are buzzing about a sex scene involving both Penelope and Scarlett.

Via / El Universal

“I'm very upset. Monna was a great friend, a great woman, and she had an unmatchable voice. Her family informed me today that she passed away on Monday."

Via / El Economista

Last night's episode, "Eek, A Penis!" makes me wonder if South Park has Chicanos from East LA on the writing staff. Half the episode was a parody of Stand and Deliver (1988). The film, based on a true story, chronicles the efforts of Jaime Escalante, an advanced placement calculus teacher at Garfield High School in East LA. Escalante, an immigrant from Bolivia, struggles to motivate and inspire his Chicano students to pass the AP exam in calculus while they deal with all sorts of issues. Many of the students pass the exam, but then are accused of cheating and have to re-take the exam.

The South Park version has Cartman playing the Escalante role (played by Edward James Olmos) as Mr. Carmantez.

Meanwhile, Cartman, taking Kyle's warning about the dangers of inner-city students, disguises himself as a Mexican man ("Mr. Cartmanez") and teaches his students how white people are able to succeed better than they do: by cheating. He then teaches his class numerous cheating techniques, explaining that as long as they succeed, no one will judge them. He teaches them to memorize test answers, use cameras, and, in the case of a pregnant girl, getting an abortion (which he explains is "cheating nature itself"). When the kids do amazingly well, they are then challenged to take the hardest, most secure standardized test in the state, and pass. The class honors "Mr. Cartmanez" for teaching them "The White People Method," and he is universally praised. (source)

The name of the school Cartman teaches at, Jim Davis High School, also parodies the school.

I've yet to find a clip online for the episode, but I'm sure you can find something on YouTube or Hulu in a day or two. In the mean time, if you haven't seen Stand and Deliver watch it!

Via / TV Squad and Wikipedia

That evening, I watched the news with family members in Houston. The joyful Easter Sunday turned solemn as we saw footage of the crashed bus. It was the first time the room -- full of Tejanos and a singular Chicana from LA (me) -- fell silent all day. I left Houston the next day wondering if there was any positive news on Emilio's condition.

It turns out Navaira sustained serious head injuries in the bus accident. He was kept in a medically-induced coma and hypothermia had been inducec to minimize brain swelling (source Houston Chronicle).

Since then, fans have kept close watch on news of Navaira's condition. Last week dedicated fans held prayer vigils throughout Texas. Fans have also kept Navaira's brother, Raulito, in mind and are organizing a fundraiser for him.

The latest news on Navaira came today. The family released a statement thanking fans:

"We are deeply humbled by the unwavering support you have given our family. God has blessed our family in many ways throughout our lives and in each passing day I know he is listening to all of our prayers. We know that your prayers and well wishes are also helping. Emilio has looked into our eyes; he has held our hands as we have held his. Thank you again and we hope to share good news with you soon.

I hope to hear more good news on Navaira.

Via / Latin Notes Now and Ken Burns Hates Mexicans; photo of Dallas Vigil by Carolina

In a letter sent to Spain's El Pais newspaper, Sanz thanks all that have supported him and ends it by saying: "For them and for all Venezuelans who have felt alone, my signature and my gratitude to all of you."

Via / El Pais

...for El tren de los momentos...Sanz overpowered Miguel Bosé (Papito), Jorge Drexler (Doce segundos de oscuridad), Luis Miguel (Navidades Luis Miguel) and Jennifer Peña (Dicen que el tiempo).

Meanwhile, Dominicano Juan Luis Guerra took home the Grammy for Best Latin Tropical Album for La llave de mi corazón. PR's Calle 13 walked out with an award for Best Latin Urban Album for Residente o Visitante. Best Tejano Album went to Little Joe & La Familia for Before The Next Teardrop Falls, and Best Mexican Album went to a personal fave, Pepe Aguilar, for 100% Mexicano.

If you didn't catch the Grammys, the not-to-be-missed moments were Kanye West's tribute to his mom and Amy Winehouse's via satellite performance. Look for them on YouTube.

Via / 20 Minutos

We're told the "Ghost Rider" star is at the famous Cirque Lodge, near Sundance. The Lodge, which treated Lindsay Lohan and other stars, is one of the most respected treatment facilities in the country.

Eva has been at Cirque for several weeks.

Her rep tells TMZ "Eva has been working hard for the past year and made a positive decision to take some much-needed time off to proactively attend to some personal issues that, while not critical, she felt deserved some outside professional support. Out of respect for Eva's privacy, we do not wish to discuss further details."

Via / TMZ