Category: Print media

I Might Not Be Beautiful, But I Crashed People en Español’s Bellos Party

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You might have guessed this, but yesterday was not a good day for this blogger. It was the morning after People en Español’s Bellos Party, an annual ritual for me and 50 other beautiful Hispanics.

This year, the party took place at Guastavino’s and -unlike previous years- it was much, much smaller, and the room looked kind of empty at times. Also missing was some form of entertainment, which last year was delivered by the awesome Cucu Diamantes and her troop.

Still, some celebrities were lucky enough to get themselves photographed with this blogger, something that -I can assure you- will do plenty to boost their careers.

Some highlights:

Sofía Vergara trashed everyone’s high hopes simply by not showing up…

Lili Estefan “limped” the purple carpet…

Sammy Sosa still looks like he will not be detained in Arizona any time soon…

Univision’s news anchor María Elena Salinas reminded this blogger -again- that no matter how smart you are, you can still look very hot…

Saúl Lisazo reminded this blogger that, no matter how old you are, you can still be one hot papacito…

With the one and only: Sammy Sosa

Censored ‘Fortune’ Cover Featured Guantánamo Prisoners, Mexican Workers, Sinking Homes

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So this is the cover Fortune magazine first assigned to comic book artist Chris Ware, who chose an accurate -and clearly uncomfortable- way to depict modern capitalism.

According to Chicagoist, Ware was asked to design the May cover of the magazine, but his final product, which featured Guantánamo Bay prisoners, Mexican factory workers, and a few potshots at money-grubbing politicians was apparently not what Fortune had in mind.

So here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Ah… don’t you just love the Internet?

‘People en Español’ to Unveil 50 Most Beautiful Latinos [Hint: I’m Not One of Them]

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One more year has gone by and this blogger’s dreams have been shattered… again. Not content with not picking me among its 15 Most Influential Latinos, People en Español this year forgot to send me my application for this year’s Los 50 Más Bellos special edition.

The list is expected to be unveiled Monday night (April 26) during El Show de Cristina, giving Univision viewers “an exclusive peek at this year’s coveted issue, revealing the list of celebrities, as well as the cover, before the magazine hits the stands on April 30th.”

So there you have it. I’m now almost certain I didn’t make to the the list, but that’s OK, as long as they keep me on board as the un-official chronicler of the Bellos party.

Otherwise, I’m just going to have to keep hoping. As my abuela used to say: “La esperanza muere al último”.

Washington Hispanics Excel at Spanish. I Want to Move There to Excel at Something

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Of all the shocking revelations I’ve been exposed to lately, this one takes the cake: Hispanics and Chinese students are packing college-level Spanish and Chinese language classes and acing their AP tests at rates far higher than their English-speaking peers.

According to the Washington Examiner:

In Maryland, Virginia and D.C., public school students identified as Mexican-American, Puerto Rican or “other Hispanic” passed Advanced Placement Spanish language and literature exams at a rate of nearly 80 percent, compared with less than 60 percent of their white peers and less than 30 percent of black students.

This state of affairs has some native, U.S.-born English speakers kind of upset, because not only we are taking their jobs but we are beating them to language proficiency. [It also has made me kind of jealous since I’ve never really excelled at anything.]

Hat tip: F. Benitez

It’s NOT the Network. It’s la Fiesta Total!

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I suppose my career counselor was right when he said advertising was not for me. Otherwise, how could I possibly explain my failure to conceive a creative piece like the one below? Showing mariachis and folkloric dancers to show your cellphone provider has coverage in Mexico??!

Shame on me.

Still, there are other creative pieces I like much better, at least in their use of the ubiquitous Mariachi, including French’s, Lucas and CNN Expansión. [Not to mention, of course, political campaigns like that of Miss Meg Whitman in California.]

And This is How Mexicans Will be Celebrating the Centennial of Our Revolution. ¡Ajúa!

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Meet Fernanda and Isabel Calles Carranza, great-granddaughters of revolutionary leaders, who are celebrating the centennial of the Mexican Revolution by -what else?- posing nude for Playboy.

According to EFE, the twenty-something sisters were “convinced” by the magazine’s publishers to appear in the February edition of Playboy México, which has confirmed that:

Fernanda and Isabel Calles Carranza “will show off their beauty in a lovely pictorial to kick off the 2010 festivities.”

Oh, yeah! that’s lovely… not to mention über-revolutionary!

Photo: EFE

Hat tip, again, to my un-paid, eagle-eyed Mexico correspondent Keith Dannemiller.

UPDATE: Some lady named Alejandra Elías Calles has come forward to sour the party for everybody (particularly this blogger) claiming these damiselas are nothing but a scam. I will, of course, keep you posted, because, well, I have nothing better to do.

Sonia Sotomayor Joins Sarah, Michelle, Hillary and Caroline as Cartoon Superheroine

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Because I’m sure you were dying to know: Sonia Sotomayor’s ascension to the U.S. Supreme Court will hit the comic stores in April 2010, as Bluewater Productions prepares a new series featuring the Neoyorican judge. The pitch:

The Supremes have a new member! Meet the latest justice to don the black robes of America’s highest court. Sonia Sotomayor rose from humble beginnings in a Bronx housing project to become only the third woman and the first Latina to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. Relive her historic journey in a comic book biography that’s ripped from today’s headlines.

With this, Sotomayor becomes the first Latina to appear in Bluewater’s Female Force collection: Other “luminaries” include Hillary Clinton, Barbara Walters, Caroline Kennedy and Lady Gaga.

I guess we should congratulate Sonia for yet another mainstream achievement.

Should we?

And Just When You Thought Hispanic Media Couldn’t Sink Any Lower…

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Target Style magazine, a title I’m not rushing out to buy, had the “brilliant” idea of body painting Niurka Marcos with the colors of the U.S. and Cuban flags… Why? may we wonder…

To “Raise awareness about 50 years of Cuban exile,” said the magazine’s editor, apparently with a straight face.

I could not possibly add anything else here, except that I’m off to check myself into the MIDBFM (Mental Institution for Depressed -and Bitter- Former Magazine Editors.)

Wanna join me?

Adweek’s ‘Marketing Special’ Unveils Shocking Revelations About U.S. Hispanics

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Nielsen-owned Adweek, Brandweek and Mediaweek magazines, which -surprisingly- are still around, this week released a 5-page special advertising issue featuring some shocking revelations about U.S. Hispanic market, including:

-Hispanics are the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S.

-Famous Hispanics include Salma Hayek, Alex Rodriguez and Gloria Estefan

-Not all Hispanics are created equal; there are Mexicans, Dominicans, Cubans, Chileans, etc. etc. etc. z z z z z z z

-You can reach Hispanics in Spanish AND in English

-Hispanics don’t live in a vacuum [I suppose they live in apartments, houses or -as is increasingly the case- in mobile homes]

Turns out, the “special feature” is nothing but an advertising section, presumably (or shall I say, hopefully?) paid for Acento advertising and People en Español.

Phew!

Click on the following link if you are brave enough want to read the full report:

1130_HispanicMktg_lo_res

FULL DISCLOSURE (And before you think I’m just resented, here): I was the founding editor of Marketing y Medios, an English-language trade publication co-branded with Adweek, Mediaweek and Brandweek and I’m a regular blogger for AdAge.)

Hot, Passionate, Illegal… and Fully Literate?

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Man, there was so much I didn’t know about Cristián de la Fuente, including the fact that he is prepping for the Dec. 29 release of Hot. Passionate. And Illegal (Penguin $24.99) a 304-page personal account of his experiences as a Latin person in the U.S.

According to Penguin:

“De la Fuente uses his personal and funny experiences as a Latino in Hollywood to dispel common myths and admit the sometimes embarrassing, yet endearing, truths about Latinos.”

Basically, what that means is: you will be paying $24.95 to learn about some “embarrassing, yet endearing, truths about Latinos,” something I’ve been doing for years (at absolutely no cost for you!)

So, if your financial situation is not looking very peachy, just stick to this blog, and uncover some embarrassing things about Latinos , including recent literate incursions here, here and here.

[See? I might not be very caliente or apasionada, but hey, at least I’m generous… And don’t get me started on the legal, illegal thing.]

Eva Longoria Named ‘Philanthropist of the Year.’ Perhaps She Can Treat me to Some Tortilla Española

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You might not know this but The Hollywood Reporter this week named Eva Longoria (a.k.a. La Prieta Fea) “Philanthropist of the Year,” reportedly…

“For her relentless dedication to giving back to her community and serving others as well as for her long-standing commitment to Latino causes.”

Which I think is great, because as a member of the uninsured Latino community, I could use a discount on the $34 Spanish tortilla that graces the menu pages of her Hollywood eatery.

Now, that would be very philanthropic… and delicious!

Having Annihilated Lou Dobbs, ‘El Diario la Prensa’ is Out to Get “La Puerca”

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Upon rejoicing over Lou Dobbs’ departure from CNN, New York City’s El Diario La Prensa graces its cover with yet one more wonderful headline, this time dealing with the potentially deadly H1N1 virus, from now on also known as “La Puerca” –not to be confused with “La Prieta,” who by the way also happens to grace the paper’s Sunday cover.

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‘El Diario’ Says ‘Adiós’ to Our Favorite Hate Monger

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Under an op-ed piece titled Good-bye to an anti-hispanic, New York City’s El Diario La Prensa today applauded CNN for the decision to oust Lou Dobbs, who -among other things- had claimed immigrants are responsible for “an increase in leprosy in the U.S.”

In its Thursday editorial, El Diario editors stated:

“We applaud the determined organizing by Latino, immigrant and media groups and we applaud CNN for coming to the right decision… Now, we’re off to get Beck and O’Reilly.”

[Well, actually that last bit was a contribution by this blogger.]

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Mario Lopez Has Written a Book. And It’s Got Something to Do with Tacos

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tn-500_ml03If you thought Geraldo and Niurka were the only infamous Latin “luminaries” entering the world of Literature, think again. Our favorite Mexican-American not-out-of-the-closet-yet TV host Mario Lopez has found the time in his busy agenda to write a book. No shit.

Mud Tacos was written in both, English and Spanish, and it’s got something to do with Lopez and his little sister growing up in Chula Vista, CA making mud tacos. According to a press release:

“Mud Tacos!,” a picture book written by Lopez with his sister, Marissa Lopez-Wong, is a loving tale about their family and the nurturing bond between a brother and sister. The story follows Mario and Marissa and their cousins Chico and Rosie playing in their nana’s backyard and using their imagination to have fun”

In a recent interview with Momlogic, Lopez said he has a “few stories in the pipeline,” and he’s probably going to come up with another book real soon. [I wonder if it would be a sequel, for which this blogger would like to suggest a title: Dirt Enchiladas.]

‘Forbes’ Unveils Univision’s Secret to Future Success: Content from “Columbia”

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75864-Joe_UvaI love it when the so-called mainstream media decides to care about Hispanic stuff -and nope, I’m not talking about the marketing extravaganza a.k.a. CNN’s Latino in America.

Here’s a Q&A by Forbes’ Lacey Rose with Univision Communications’ chief, Joe Uva, where we learn that not only there a lot of new “telenovellas” on the pipeline, but they are going to come from “Columbia,” which I think is simply great.

How often do we get Ivy League-quality content on Spanish-language TV?

(click on the text below to read the full interview)

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