President Obama has chosen federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, two sources told CNN on Tuesday.
Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic U.S. Supreme Court justice if confirmed
Obama plans to announce his nominee at 10:15 a.m. ET Tuesday.

Mexico's ambassador to Spain said posters for the new "Texican whopper inappropriately display the Mexican flag, which is draped over a diminutive wrestler like a pancho. "This advertisement denigrates the image of our country and uses improperly Mexico's national flag."
Burger King apologized and cancelled the advertising campaign.

While there are a few Histinos in the NFL, most notably future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, Mark Sanchez may become the biggest draw for the Latin market of them all. He might singlehandedly transform American football into something Histinos watch more often.
Sanchez, of Mexican heritage, was drafted #5 overall in last week's NFL draft by the New York Jets. While he has a long way to go to match the stellar careers of Gonzalez or Hall of Fame offensive lineman Anthony Munoz, Sanchez may easily eclipse their fame. The fact is, Sanchez will play in the biggest media market and in the most high profile position on the field.
With all this pressure, the big question is, will he produce on the field? If he does, Madison Avenue will have a field day marketing Sanchez to two different cultures.

While there have been sporadic cases throughout the globe of the Swine Flu epidemic, no place has been hit hardest than Mexico. Records show that at least 90 cases have been confirmed worldwide, including 50 in the United States. None of these cases have caused any fatalities to date.
It is a far different story in Mexico. By early Tuesday, the swine flu outbreak in Mexico was suspected in 152 deaths and more than 1,600 illnesses. Many of the cases overseas can be directly linked to Mexico. In one instance, 28 people associated with a Catholic School in New York have come down with the virus. Some of the students and faculty at the school visited Mexico during Spring Break.

Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo admitted that he fathered a child out of wedlock. Yet, that isn't even the interesting part of the story. He fathered the child while he was a Roman Catholic Bishop.

This seems more like an episode of Jerry Springer. I can only imagine the immediate fallout that would happen if something like this occurred to Obama.

Merengue star Elvis Crespo was accused of masturbating aboard a flight from Houston to Miami. According to the police report, the witness said that about 15 minutes after the plane left Houston, "Crespo covered himself with a blanket and began to masturbate, then exposed himself."

15 minutes after the plane took off? Geez, at least wait for the peanuts.

Although not quite the fanfare that the Conan O'brien or Jimmy Fallon shows received, George Lopez will be hosting his own show. The show will air on TBS beginning in November.

Here are four things you should know, and incorporate into your job search.

1. If you are currently employed and looking for a job with a different employer (or a better job within the same company), it is very important that you clearly communicate the value that your language skills have added to your current and past employers and have references to back up those skills.

Too often, we depend on our English language skills to get us the job. We stress how fluent in English we are, omitting the strength of intercompany and external communication that engages the Spanish language. If you have a business writing skill in Spanish, any employer who does business with this community (and what company doesn't in this day and age?) will quickly see your value.

So, while it remains important for you to express your strong English skills, it is equally to your advantage to put forward your Spanish speaking and writing skills.

2. Don't limit yourself to considering that the only jobs using Spanish skills are the ones that post for bilingual skill. At every opportunity, ask if your skills can be of value. If you are currently employed and looking to advance yourself, or secure continued employment in a company that is engaging in layoffs, check within other departments to learn if you can assist. Even if you have to offer up your skills without extra pay, it's worth it today to make yourself a stronger employee and job candidate.

3. Stay connected to job boards, like CareerBuilder.com and Empleoscb.com, and agencies to learn where the opportunities are. Make it a habit to match your current abilities to what employers are asking for, regardless of whether you are looking for a job or not.

You will learn a lot about what companies are paying and about the opportunities to expand your strengths and successes by putting yourself through "phantom" job matches.

4. Remember that the best place to look for career growth is within the job you have right now. This is the best place to shine and show your stuff. All companies are looking for ways to save money and grow market share.

If you speak two languages and do excellent work in your current job, you are part of the magic your company needs. It is not uncommon these days for companies to let the higher-paid employees go and give the lower-paid ones an opportunity to perform. If you are as knowledgeable as your boss or a more senior person in your department and you speak two languages, keeping your job may just be an easier proposition for you.

While Team Venezuela has advanced to the Quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic, some fans of the team are not in a celebratory mood. Many boos were directed at Detroit Tigers slugger and Hugo Chavez supporter, Magglio Ordoñez.

Lou Dobbs is famous for his anti-immigrant rants on CNN, but even this is going off the deep end for him even. In response to President Obama's speech to the Hispanic Chanber of Commerce, Dobbs had this to say:

"I don’t know what’s happened to this White House, but the wheels appear to have come completely off here over the last several days. Making a decision to talk about a national initiative on education from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which is effectively an organization that is interested in the export of American capital and production to Mexico and Mexico’s export of drugs and illegal aliens to the United States. This is crazy stuff."

Trying to capitalize on the fast growing Hispanic population, Walmart will convert two of its neighborhood stores into Hispanic supermarkets. The stores will be in Phoenix and Houston and are expected to open in the first part of this year.

In the competitive toy business, keeping up with the likes and dislikes of kids is a never ending battle. Toy maker Mattel, thinks it has found a way to stay above the changes in kids' interests as they grow older. This decision, however, has angered many parents.

Dora the Explorer, the popular bilingual toddler cartoon will soon undergo a transformation. This, in an effort to appeal to the"tween" kids population. The goal is to keep that demographic of child interested in Dora, once they have started school. The problem is that some parents think the new look makes Dora look like a "streetwalker. A sexed-up version of a children's icon. A poor example for kids." These are some of the comments parents have bombarded Mattel with.

Mattel says they are not eliminating the original Dora for toddlers, just adding this new option for older kids.
What do you think?

Bolivian president, Evo Morales, on Monday expelled US Embassy official Francisco Martinez from La Paz, Bolivia. Morales accused him of having contacts with some of Bolivia's opposition groups. It is not the first time Morales has accused a US Diplomat of unsavory doing in Bolivia. Six months ago, U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg was accused of having encouraged anti-government demonstrators to violence.

During a press conference Morales, sounding more like his quasi mentor Hugo Chavez, vowed that, "The times of the colony will end in Latin America."

President Obama on Tuesday addressed The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and focused the conversation on teachers and the teacher's union. He told the members that he supports the idea of merit pay by saying, "It is time to start rewarding good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones."
The teacher's union, which backed Obama during the 2008 election, is vehemently opposed to the proposal, saying that it puts teachers against teachers. They say it is unfair to those who work in disadvantaged areas where it can be difficult to increase student performance.

What's your opinion?

a Providence School Administrator (ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL) has been put on paid administrative leave after an incident with a student last week.

http://www.abc6.com/news/40692242.html

The Brookings Institute, a nonprofit think thank based in Washington, has suggested lifting travel restrictions and other measures in the hopes of normalizing relations with Cuba. The US has not had diplomatic or trade relations with the island nation for 50 years.

I think its time to open those borders. If we have trade relations with China and Vietnam, there is no reason for this embargo with Cuba. Especially since every other one of our allies, particularly Canada and Britain, have trade relations and no travel restrictions for their citizens.

If you've been watching the news over the last few weeks, much attention has been placed on the drug wars throughout Mexico. One major city that has erupted into daily violence is Ciudad Juarez, a Mexican town across the US border from El Paso, Texas.

Drug traffickers have become much more defiant of police and government officials. The homicide rate hit a record level in 2008 and all indications are that this number may be exceeded this year.

Things have gotten so out of hand that, Roberto Orduna, Ciudad Juarez's police chief stepped down Friday after criminal gangs told him he either resigned or the gangs would kill an officer every 48 hours. After initially defying the request, Orduna obliged hours after gunmen killed a police officer and a jail guard and left signs on their bodies saying they had fulfilled a promise made.

The US State Department has issued a travel warning to all Americans traveling to Mexico.

I hate to keep posting baseball/sports stories because that is not what the site is about only but, I found this story very interesting.
According to news reports, the Washington Nationals baseball team are upset because a few years ago they gave a Dominican baseball prospect a $1.4 million signing bonus contract. Esmailyn “Smiley” Gonzalez, the player, was 16 years old, or so the team thought. Gonzalez, was sent to the Nationals' minor league team in Florida, where he was the league MVP.
Fast forward 3 years, while the team thinks the player is 19, in actuality he is 23. Also, his name, Esmailyn “Smiley” Gonzalez? Nope, he falsified that too.
Needless to say the team is upset. If I'm the player, do you blame him for falsifying his age? A foreign baseball player has a very small shelf life, when they are young. The age, where most American baseball players are just getting out of college to go and play baseball in the minor leagues, this Dominican has already played 3 years of professional ball and was the MVP of the league.
Is the criticism on the player fair then?

In the wake of the ARod steroid admission, the NY Daily News sends a reporter to the Dominican Republic and he buys steroids at a pharmacy without a prescription. I understand what is legal and illegal in the USA, but in most countries one can go to a pharmacy and get steroids over the counter without a prescription. Are we going to now make the witch hunt against players from the Dominican Republic? Will we now cloud all players from there because one can obtain steroids pretty easily? Apparently, Bonds, Clemens, Jason Grimsley, Ken Caminiti and a whole host of other players didn't need to go to the Dominican Republic for steroids......so why insinuate that this is somehow only a problem in the Dominican Republic?

Joseph Acaba, a 41-year-old schoolteacher from Houston, is preparing to become the first astronaut of Puerto Rican heritage. Acaba will launch on Sunday with six other astronauts on the space shuttle Discovery.

While touring a hospital in the war torn country of Sierra Leone, Salma Hayek came across a baby, who's mother was unable to produce breast milk to feed him. Hayek, who has a one year old child of her own, decided that she would help and breast fed the baby.

When I first read the story, I thought this was kind of weird. However, after pondering it further, when you really think about what she did, all joking aside, this is one of the more selfless acts one can imagine doing. Good for you Salma!

Another day, another ballplayer in trouble. Miguel Tejada, of the Houston Astros, has been charged with lying to Congress about steroids. Tejada is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday where he is expected to plead guilty.

According to the report, he "unlawfully withheld pertinent information from the committee because defendant Tejada, before and during his interview with the committee staff, then and there well knew that player #1, one of his teammates on the Oakland Athletics, had used steroids and HGH,"

Which basically means he lied about knowing that McGwire was on the juice. Either he is loyal, or he didn't want it to get back to him about his own usage? I'm going with the latter.

What an eventful week its been for baseball. Good thing pitchers and catchers report on Saturday!

AY!A-Rod.. QUE VAMOS A HACER CONTIGO?

THE PRESSURE MADE HIM TAKE THE DRUGS...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3894847

The link below is for the trailer to the movie "SUGAR" a story about a Dominican Pitcher who is called up to the minors from San Pedro de Macoris.

Very interesting...

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/sugar/

Below is a link to a story done by NYC Local Fox channel "shame on you" segment. In a posh Greenwich Village bakery cookies are being sold with the name of "DRUNKEN NEGRO FACE COOKIE" or "OBAMA HEADS COOKIE".

When the reporter asked the baker if he thought it would be upsetting for black people he responded, "I got both sides of the fence ... My brother in Law is CUBAN, I like everybody".

Everyone has a minority friend when they are being accused of racism.

I'd rather have the peaceful black and white cookie.

http://www.blackbottom.com/watch.php?v=uDvdMGxFpzw>

Thanks to Lorraine for sending me this video.

Interesting article in the NYTimes regarding the hardships some teens have when they begin school in the United States. Many of these students had never set foot into a school in their native country and have a tough road ahead in our school systems. The New York City Department of Education estimates that only about 29 percent of these students graduate.

So according to Joe Torre Alex Rodriguez was considered a big fat fraud by his teammates.

Now a report is saying that A-ROD is taking the high road by saying that the comments made by Torre do not bother him.

Here is the ESPN article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3863517

I know this isn't Histino related.......but DAMN that was messed up!

Brazilian model Mariana Bridi da Costa, who just a few days earlier had both her hands and her feet amputated due to a life threatening infection, died yesterday. Da Costa had fallen ill a month earlier with an infection which grew worse by the day.

Doctors determined that she had contracted a bacteria that caused a fast deadening of tissue and insufficient blood flow. She was 20 years old.

The link below is from a show called "TIEMPO" that broadcast on WABC NY Sunday mornings.

Interesting topic, please view and post your opinions.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=6591870

maybe a Chimi is what you need to warm your heart and stomach.

Un articulo de ahiequeprende.com

Si la Juramentacion de Obama fuera Dominicana.

It is a hilarious read, even though it is in DOMINICANO.

Here is one of my favorite lines:

"Su molestoso vestido me hizo irónicamente admirar las cosas que hubieran sucedido en mi tierra. Inmediatamente se hubiera asignado a dos carajitos del barrio para agarrarle esa cola."

http://ahiequeprende.com/2009/01/22/%C2%BFy-si-la-juramentacion-de-obama-fuera-dominicana/

Happy reading.

The Spanish actress Penelope Cruz was nominated today for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Woody Allen film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Cruz plays a troubled woman who comes between her ex-husband and his new lover.This is Penelope's 2nd Oscar nomination, the first was for her role in the 2007 movie Volver.

Cruz has gained critical acclaim for this role, having won best supporting actress honors from the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Her competition at the Oscars will be, Amy Adams (“Doubt”), Viola Davis (“Doubt”), Taraji P. Henson (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler.”)
The Oscars will be held on February 22nd.

The following is a link to a very special event going on in NYC.
The Dominican Student Association sponsors this event in order to unite and celebrate the Dominican Student Community in the United States.

Check it out, this will be taking place April 10-12, 2009

http://www.dominicanstudentconference.com/purpose.html

Apparently the bad economy in the states, is doing wonders for vacation destinations where the US dollar is still strong. Mexican tourism officials say they saw an estimated 3% increase in 2008, and expect more of the same in 2009. Orbitz online travel booking agent, saw a jump of 25% in Mexican hotel bookings.

So dust off that Speedo and pack your drinking shoes. Perhaps the cure for the economic blues is to get hammered with some Tequila in Mexico.

Mexico All-Inclusive: 15% off & $200 resort credit at Orbitz! Exp 7-7-09

One of the more important issues in some circles during the Inauguration was the clothes that Michelle Obama would wear. The dress she wore was a yellow dress and matching overcoat made of satin-backed wool by a Cuban-American designer named Isabel Toledo.
I have zero fashion sense, but the First Lady certainly looked very classy and dignified. There is definitely a Jacqueline Kennedy look about her.

"Tomorrow we will come together as one people on the same Mall where Dr. King's dream echoes still"

Inauguration Day is usually a day for renewed hope for our nation and a fresh start.....Never has this been more true than this time around. January 20, 2009 will be the answer to many a trivia question for many generations to come. It is the day we will see Barack Obama, an African American, sworn in as our 44th President of the United States.

Whatever party affiliation one may affiliate themselves with, this is a time to unite, if for one day. Our nation has overcome many obstacles to reach this point in its history. While racism no doubt still exists, we can only hope this will be one more step towards true unity in our world.

Where do we start? Is it with the pants? The shoes? Your little friend?

Ricky for real, you have the money, I know its cold, but either you dress up like a big boy or you stay home! I know you probably liked Star Wars as a kid, I did too....but no need to dress up like a Storm Trooper.

Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 88. The veteran actor had been a star in Mexican movies when he came to Hollywood in 1946. While he made many MGM musicals and played opposite many of Hollywood's leading ladies, he is probably best known for his role as Mr. Roarke in TV's "Fantasy Island" during the late 70's and early 80's.

I remember vividly Saturday nights as a kid watching Fantasy Island. Montalban made wearing a white suit cool and Tattoo a household name. I'll have to wear that suit tomorrow in honor of him.....RIP Mr. Roarke!

Bill Richardson, who was President-elect Obama's choice for Commerce Secretary, suddenly withdrew from consideration from that post, after it was revealed that a federal investigation was under way into ties he had to a company that has done business with his state.

So we go from pride to a Histino receiving a high office appointment within the administration, to the usual low that politicians give us when they let us down.

My question is, wasn't Richardson running for President at one point? Did he not think these supposed shady dealings would get out? No entiendo la estupides de nuestro politicos!!

What is wrong with people? Mexican beauty queen, Laura Zuniga who was crowned as Miss Sinaloa in July 2008 was arrested in December 2008. Apparently Zuniga was stopped at a checkpoint, where she was riding in one of two trucks with seven men. Found in the trucks was a large stash of weapons, $53,300 in U.S. currency and Zuniga's dreams of ever being on Sabado Gigante.