Cultura
It’s Not News to Us
Live at Temple B’nai Pocho: Yom Kippur musical confession (video)
Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, starts at sundown tonight, and Judios all over the world confess their sins and ask forgiveness from each other and God.
In this short video, Reform Temple B’nai Pocho‘s Cantor Mindy Raf sings the traditional Yom Kippur confession hymn.
Unsung Heroes of Hispanic Heritage Month: Mel Krupke
They were ordinary people living ordinary lives, until one singular sensation of circumstances conspired with fate to make them UNSUNG HEROES OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Commercial pilot Mel Krupke’s wings iced up on Feb. 3, 1959, near Clear Lake, Iowa, sending his light plane, carrying Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, crashing into the frozen earth. The fatal crash was immortalized in song as The Day the Music Died.
With one crash, Flight Officer Krupke (1925-1959) catapulted Pacoima pocho Valens into eternal celebrity and helped launch the careers of Hispanic heart throbs Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales.
Spanish art-restoring abuelita expert makes her mark at La Basilica
(PNS reporting from MEXICO CITY) Famed Spanish art-restoring abuelita Cecilia Gimenez has decided to visit La Basilica here, which houses the famed image of La Virgen de Guadalupe.
The fading portrait miraculously appeared on Aztec Indian Juan Diego’s robe 500 years ago.
The image needed some touching up, said Gimenez, who waited until the Basilica closed and somehow pried open the sealed display case and did a quick restoration.
“It looks so much better now,” said Gimenez from the Mexico City jail, adding, “I just don’t know why Jesus would appear to some Indio dressed like a woman.”
Upon seeing the restoration, the Mexican government quickly awarded Gimenez the Aztec Order of the Eagle medal.
Full image here:
Mas…Spanish art-restoring abuelita expert makes her mark at La Basilica
Unsung Heroes of Hispanic Heritage Month: Sophie Wasserman
They were just ordinary people, living ordinary lives, until one singular sensation of circumstances conspired with fate to make them UNSUNG HEROES OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Sophie Wasserman, Ph.D., (1923-2001) was a DuPont chemical engineer and the chief scientist behind the petroleum polymer extrusion technologies that formed the basis for smooth sheets of soft and flexible plastic “fabrics.”
One of her innovative new materials was branded as Corinthian Leather, the Chrysler Cordoba luxury feature that led to fame and fortune for Ricardo Mantalban, the Most Corinthian Man in the World.
Mas…Unsung Heroes of Hispanic Heritage Month: Sophie Wasserman
Rick Bayless is National Council of La Raza’s ‘Mexican of the Year’
(PNS reporting from GRINGOLANDIA) After being awarded the prestigious Order of the Aztec Eagle by the Mexican government in June, culinary guru and TV star Rick Bayless has been selected by the National Council of La Raza as their 2012 Mexican of Year.
“Generalissimo” Bayless (as he has been dubbed by NPR’s Scott Simon), famed for swooping into indigenous communities, stealing their recipes and making millions from them, is pumped:
It is an honor to represent La Razza and I intend to make them muy, muy, MUY proud of me.
“I am absolutely floored by this, guys! Really! I mean, when I got the Aztec thing, I was like: ‘Whoa!’ But this? Man…this will really up my street cred! Viva La Razza!” Bayless said.
Mas…Rick Bayless is National Council of La Raza’s ‘Mexican of the Year’
Unsung Heroes of Hispanic Heritage Month: Jonathan Norwen
[They were just ordinary people, living ordinary lives, until one singular sensation of circumstances conspired with fate to make them UNSUNG HEROES OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH]
Jonathan Norwen was just your typical intern at Univision, working towards his communication degree from Florida International University, when he was assigned the all-important task of keeping Don Francisco sober enough to get through a taping of Sabado Gigante. Norwen immediately formed a bond with Francisco and continues to hide the Don’s stash of Chivas Regal to this
day.
Hollywood casting directors’ racial stereotyping never ends (video)
Another day in Hollywood, another casting call. Getting a good part is hard enough without the racial stereotyping and White Casting. (NSFW language.)
Chico is undocumented, unafraid: ‘My Immigration Status’ (video)
Chico Mendez sings the song of dreamers: My Immigration Status. (NSFW language.)
Unsung Heroes of Hispanic Heritage Month: Dikran Karabedian
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They were just ordinary people, living ordinary lives, until one singular sensation of circumstances conspired with fate to make them
UNSUNG HEROES OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Dikran Karabedian (1904-1967) was a humble immigrant shoemaker from Armenia with a knack for invisible and indestructible leather stitchery when he caught the eye of famed Hollywood costume designer Aida Cabeza. Karabedian’s architectural acumen was the secret structural salsa that made the towering fruit hats of Carmen Miranda possible.
Clorox Latino’s abuela has a few words for you; also, don’t eat flies
Are you familiar with Clorox Latino? Did you know Clorox Latino has an abuela?
It was our friends at LatinoRebels.com who first tipped us off to Clorox’s new Spanish-language Facebook page.
The page features a photo gallery of “grandma’s sayings (refranes de mi abuela)” to get you in the bleaching mood, like this mysterious saying about moscas — flies.
POCHO translated these timeless bits of wisdom into English for all of America, since it’s Hispanic Heritage Month 2012 and we want to share.
Mas…Clorox Latino’s abuela has a few words for you; also, don’t eat flies
Randy Newman: ‘I’m Dreaming of a White President’ (video, audio)
Randy Newman weighs in on the election with I’m Dreaming of a White President.
Here’s streaming audio and a free download:
Mas…Randy Newman: ‘I’m Dreaming of a White President’ (video, audio)
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month? Money won’t buy you love
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month. Break out a novelty sombrero and a bottle of Patron, because like a taco smothered in salsa, heritage is waay more palpable when it’s smothered in consumerism…
I often encounter people who don’t understand why I identify as Hispanic. I’ve given it a lot of thought and I think it comes down to this: they’re eating the shit sandwich.
The shit sandwich is served-up fresh daily by consumerism. Let’s process culture, strip it of all that gunk we don’t need (like knowledge and power), and behold — now you can buy a poncho at Urban Outfitters. Culture itself has no value outside the bounds of consumption.
Culture is no different than a box of cereal.
Pocho Ocho scary things Latinos threaten their kids with
8. El guau guau – Also known as a dog. Ferocious creatures.
7. The old country – If you don’t behave I’m going to send you to México next summer, is that what you want??? That’s what I thought!
6. La policia – Look, if you don’t behave I’m going to call the police over and they are going to take you away.
Mas…Pocho Ocho scary things Latinos threaten their kids with
Sure was hot over the weekend! How hot was it?
Sure was hot outside Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo this weekend in Los Angeles. How hot was it? It was so hot even Superman needed to see the paletero man.
Tia Lencha’s Cocina: Mexican flag three-color salsa for El Grito
Happy Day of the Mexican Independence!
Is Tia Lencha here. Today we make a salsa that is the colors of the Mexican bandera (flag for you pochos).
Tia Lencha is all dress in her green, white, and red to celebrate El Grito, but all of her pocho and gringo friends is a little confuse. They are no in the streets today, wearing the big sombreros, fake bigotes (mustaches for you pochos), and drinking like pescados (fish for you pochos.)
This is the day for the Mexicans to celebrate 200 years free from Christopher Colombus and his amigos, and Indians turning on their own people, and diseases, and dying by the millions, and survive only to be treated like caca by the colonizers.
Thas a lot to celebrate if ju ask Tia Lencha.
Mas…Tia Lencha’s Cocina: Mexican flag three-color salsa for El Grito
Blow that funky shofar, bot boy (Happy Rosh HaShanah video)
A musical shoutout (and Hebrew/Spanish pun) to all our friends at Temple Beth Pocho who, at sundown tonight, are celebrating Rosh HaShanah, which marks 5773 years since the creation of the world. What is that on the Mayan Calendar?
(Tekiah? One of the traditional four blasts on the ram’s horn, or shofar, on the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.)
Dear Sexy Girl Offering Me Free Nude Pictures (NSFW video)
Yessir. I got the link via email, and then later by text message. It was from this really hot chica — well at least her profile pic was hot. And she wanted to send me — ME — free nude photos!
Pocho Ocho ‘Hispanic Heritage’ items we want in the Smithsonian
Are you buying a new dress, ladies, perhaps a chingon chapeau? Inviting the family over for a Sonoran hot dog party? After all, National Hispanic Heritage Month 2012 starts on Saturday. Your special month is brought to you by the good folks at Tio Sam Dot Gov, the same people who thought “Hispanic” made sense on U.S. Census forms.
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.
While we’re sure the gente in Washington are doing their very best, we have our own list of the pocho ocho “Hispanic” iconic items that should be in the Smithsonian:
Mas…Pocho Ocho ‘Hispanic Heritage’ items we want in the Smithsonian
La Piedra: In a game of rock-paper-scissors, someone must lose (video)
A pocho and a gabacho’s fine bromance runs into a hitch when their time-honored dispute resolution process — the game of rock-paper-scissors — involves a girl. Wesley Rodriguez’ La Piedra, made this summer in a single day, was the winner of the University of Florida 24-Hour Film Festival.
RIP Johnny Perez, drummer for original Sir Douglas Quintet (videos)
Johnny Perez, the original drummer for Tex-Mex superstar band Sir Douglas Quintet, died Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 69. This 1965 video shows Perez and his bandmates performing their hit She’s About A Mover on NBC’s Hullaballoo.
Here’s the band with Mendocino:
Mas…RIP Johnny Perez, drummer for original Sir Douglas Quintet (videos)
Cilantro haters, come out of the closet! You were born this way
Cilantro is a key ingredient in Mexican cooking. The herb flavors Thai and Indian and Middle Eastern food too. But some people just can’t stand it and insist it smells/tastes like soap and looks “green as old vomit.”
You people — it’s OK. You can come out of the comida closet now. You were born this way.
From Nature.com:
A genetic survey of nearly 30,000 people posted to the preprint server arXiv.org this week has identified two genetic variants linked to perception of coriander, the most common of which is in a gene involved in sensing smells. Two unpublished studies also link several other variants in genes involved in taste and smell to the preference.
Mas…Cilantro haters, come out of the closet! You were born this way
Meet Payasos, activist Latino Los Angeles ‘Rad Queers’ (NSFW video)
They’re here, they’re queer. Oh dear! 😉 (Potentially NSFW depending.)
Pocho Ocho best words the French gave to Spanglish
The French have contributed a great deal to pocho culture, including some choice palabras. We got a few of them together for your review:
8. Mamón You might think it means “asshole,” but in French it sounds like “mother.” Don’t be a douche.
7. Chingadeaux It sounds fancy when you spell it in French, but in Spanish it’s an expletive.
6. Le Cuchí In French it means “smart woman.”
My summer vaycaycay by Peligrozo Azul (photos)
He’s dangerous. He’s blue. He’s plush luchador Peligrozo Azul by artist Dennise Rodriguez and he had a very cool summer. Here are his photos.
5PM Live Stream! Pochopalooza at Cypress Park Library: ¡Ban This!
POCHO Jefe-in-Chief Lalo Alcaraz joins an all-estrella Xican@ literary line-up at the Cypress Park Library Tuesday night Sept. 11 to read from ¡Ban This!, the anthology edited by POCHO contributor Santino J. Rivera.
An Evening of Mass Education starts at 5PM and features Alcaraz, Rivera, POCHO Subcommandanta del News Sara Inés Calderón, Gustavo Ask ¡A Mexican! Arellano, writer Gina Ruiz (we have her science fiction short story here) and many more.
The cool peeps at the library have lots more information on their blog. Look for live Tweets during the gig with hashtag #BanThis.
We’ll be streaming the evening here:
Mas…5PM Live Stream! Pochopalooza at Cypress Park Library: ¡Ban This!
Why do I discipline my daughter – and dance – in Español?
As a small girl, I refused to speak Spanish with my mother.
She was born in Sonora, MX and grew up speaking nothing but Spanish so this must have frustrated her. Now, I think, wouldn’t it have been easier to just learn the language while I was small?
Thankfully, I finally realized the value of being bilingual in my teen years and made a commitment to become fluent in Spanish during high school.
I watched only Spanish TV and every summer my mom would drop me off in Hermosillo to be immersed in the culture and spend time with my cousins. It was a lot of fun, and it worked.
Now that I am a mom, I think I might have figured out why I refused my mother’s native language for so long. Just the other day, my daughter acted out in public over the absence of her sippy cup and the first words that came flowing out of my mouth were, “Mi hijita, no me grites. Espérate por favor.”
The situation caught my attention when everyone around us stopped what they were doing and looked at us, confused. That’s when I realized I raise my daughter in English but I discipline her in Spanish.
Mas…Why do I discipline my daughter – and dance – in Español?
ZOMG! Mainstream media discovers pochismo for profit
Mainstream media has finally awakened to the profit potential of pochismo, according to the prestigious Columbia Journalism Review:
Lalo Alcaraz [photo, right] has always embraced the word pocho. It refers to Mexican-Americans who have lost their Mexican culture and speak English, and it’s what relatives occasionally called Alcaraz when he was growing up in San Diego. He has leveraged it ever since. In the 1990s, Alcaraz and a friend founded POCHO Magazine, which led to pocho.com. Both projects used English when, for years, “Hispanic media” usually meant Spanish-language content. They satirized Latino issues and poked fun at biculturalism. “We had the National Pochismo Institute,” he says, “where we would send out a fake survey and ‘rate your pochismo.’ ” Currently, Alcaraz hosts a radio show called the “Pocho Hour of Power” on KPFK in Los Angeles.
If every picture tells a story–does this one? Caption contest! *UPDATED
*We have a winner! Scroll down for all the entries and the best caption.
Caption this image to win something cool from us and perhaps the esteem of pochos everywhere!
Contest begins now and ends at midnight PDT tonight. POCHO decisions final. Bribes accepted but no guarantees, OK? Deal? Deal. Write your caption below to enter. Captions posted on Facebook don’t count, even with bribes. You can’t win a prize if you don’t enter a real email address.
Image borrowed from The Chita’s Clitoris, a Tumblr well worth your adult eyeballs; the pre-cholafied painting is here.