The bizarre world of Shawna Forde

by Greg Martinez

Forde and Gilchrist

On Tuesday February 22, a jury in Tucson, Arizona sentenced 43-year-old Shawna Forde to death for the May 2009 slayings of 9-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father, Raul. Just two years before the murders, Forde ran for a seat on the Everett, Washington city council and got nearly 6,000 votes, or approximately 35%. Around that time, she appeared at a Minuteman rally that featured their founder, Jim Gilchrist. A representative of Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo was also there, and Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter spoke to the crowd via cell phone. Gilchrist himself ran for Congress in 2005 and got 25% of the vote in his solidly Republican California district.

What I’ll carry with me: Lessons from my mother

by Jen M.D. Matos

I talk to my mother at least three times a day. It’s usually when I’m in the middle of an important meeting when she’ll call to ask what channel the news is on. Mind you, she’s been watching the same news program for about seven years now. These are the moments when grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her seems like a great idea. After I calm myself and recognize that I’m lucky to have a mother, I realize, “When she’s gone, I’ll wish she could call with these crazy questions.”

Lately, when I hug her goodbye, hold her hand, or stroke her hair, I try and savor every moment that I have with her. I don’t want to forget one breath.

Autismo

by Nancy Sepulveda

In the years that followed my son’s diagnosis of autism, I continually recounted each moment of my pregnancy, his birth, and those first precious years of life, searching in vain for the cause of a disorder that has no explanation. After endless testing, re-testing, misdiagnoses, and misplaced conclusions, the motherly dreams I’d pinned upon his future crashed down on me in shards of anger, guilt, despair, and the inevitable “why my child?” I am no closer to an answer today than I was then, but I do know this: with ever increasing numbers of children (and adults) diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder annually, we, as parents, educators, and communities, must raise our awareness and rethink our ideas of what it means to be “normal.”

Shakira named Harvard University’s 2011 “Artist of the Year” (Video)

Colombian singer, Shakira, has been everywhere lately.

Congrats to her for her latest honor, Harvard University’s 2011 “Artist of the Year.”

You go Shakira, keep representing us in a positive light!

To see her speech, click below:

Latinos giving back – Shakira

by Eileen Rivera de la Hoz

What were you doing when you were 18 years old? You were probably finishing high school, starting college, or working. An 18-year-old Shakira Mebarak was starting her Pies Descalzos foundation in Barranquilla, Colombia. She was already famous in Colombia in 1995, but the release of her CD Pies Descalzos brought her international acclaim, and Shakira was able to give back to her community. The charity was initially run by her parents and has grown over the years through partnerships with other philanthropic organizations.

BL’s Friday night cocktail- Daiquiri (video)

The daiquiri originated in the small town of Daiquri in the east coast of Cuba. Some reports credit an American with its invention but others insist the drink existed prior to his arrival there. Its popularity so strong that it was President John F. Kennedy’s preferred before dinner drink.

¡Salud!

The at-home cure for two left feet

There are health benefits to dancing, which include increased flexibility, strength and endurance, but one we don’t often think of is a sense of well being that comes from the social aspect of shaking what your mama gave you.

If you weren’t born with natural rhythm and want to learn how to dance, but either don’t have the time  or money—or are maybe too embarrassed—for a class; you can learn at home for free with a little help from YouTube.

Getting to know the BL team!

Managing, Editor, Ulises Silva says, My role in BL is the voice of reason…if by reason we mean snark, sarcasm, and an unhealthy fixation with all things zombie. I got involved with the team when Lance and Libby put out a call for writers on Facebook, a decision I’m sure I’ve made them regret in retrospect.

Twenty random things you didn’t know about…

What did you want to be when you grow up?
An aerospace engineer, despite my crippling lack of any scientific competence. Guess I watched Top Gun and Star Warstoo many times.

Latinos don’t win Oscars

by Adriana Villavicencio

 

Latinos don’t win Oscars. They star in movies, make movies, write movies, design costumes and write scores for movies, but very few have taken the coveted statuette home.

In the history of the Academy Awards, only 15 Latinos have been nominated in acting categories and only 5 have won.

The demise of the music industry

by Joe Barrett

There are eight million stories about the death of the record industry. From former executives and worker bees (now out of the industry) to the few “hanging chads” that pepper the landscape and work within the major labels. All have their take on why the industry will soon be taken off the respirator to make way for a new business model. After 17 years in the industry and departure in January 2009, one question I continue to get asked has nothing to do with the artists I’ve worked with, how I got into the business or if I miss the music business. The question I get over and over is: “What happened?” I’ll tell you. Remember, this is only my look! So, if you have a view, speak on it!