FIRST EVER MILLION-DOLLAR SCREENWRITING SEMINAR!
6/4 AND 6/5/05 ONLY $350! -- $250 FOR NALIP MEMBERS !
WWW.MILLIONDOLLARSCREENWRITING.COM

Only a few NALIP discount seats remain for MILLION-DOLLAR SCREENWRITING, Sat & Sun, June 4th & 5th, 2005, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. in the Director's Room, Holiday Inn, 2005 N. Highland, Hollywood, CA. Call or email now! Contact Info below!

Produced screenwriter, Chris Soth, will reveal the Mini-Movie Method of Story that made him over a million dollars in Hollywood . Breaking a two-hour movie into eight fifteen-minute films, Mini-Movies, or "sequences", are an industry secret not taught in any other course, book or seminar. Once you learn Mini-Movies, you'll never go back to three-act structure!

Chris Soth, BA in Dramatic Literature, MFA Screenwriting, sold his screenplay, Firestorm, for $750,000 while still at USC Film School and knows you can do the same!

Visit www.MillionDollarScreenwriting.com to learn more, but YOU MUST contact Chris directly via phone or email to receive the $100 NALIP discount!

Email: chris@milliondollarscreenwriting.com
Phone: 310-397-3124

Call for Entries: IDA--Independent Television Festival

The FIRST EVER INDEPENDENT TELEVISION FESTIVAL is seeking submissions for its Independent Pilot Competition and is currently accepting entries in the DOCUMENTARY category.

About the Festival
Launching in fall of 2005, the NYTVF will pioneer the movement of "Independent Television." Writers, directors and producers will be given the unprecedented opportunity to screen independently produced Pilot Programs directly to network and cable executives in a festival competition. What festivals such as Sundance did for film, the NYTVF will do for television.

The NYTVF is presented in association with TV GUIDE, partnered with the WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY and working with the CITY OF NEW YORK .

Other categories for competition include Drama, Comedy, Reality and Animation

Submission Guidelines
Description: Pilot Programs for potential series or Single Format Pilots
Length Requirements: Half - Hour (20-24 minutes) or Hour (46-50 minutes)
Deadline for Submissions: August 1st, 2005
Submission Fees: $30 for Half-Hour Programs and $40 for Hour Programs
Documentary Competition Awards: Best Documentary, Best Foreign and Best Director (prizes TBA)

For rules, guidelines and an entry form: www.newyorktelevisionfestival.com

Contact: Brent Burnette
Director of Programming
New York Television Festival
brent@nytvf.com / (212) 903-1105

Summer Playwright Workshop

WHEN: Mondays, 7:00 to 9:00 PM  for 8 sessions, starting June 6

WHY: The goals of the workshop are to engage in playwriting exercises and to write a draft of a new play. The exercises focus on developing character as starting point for story. Each session will include some group writing exercises and then will include reading scenes aloud and garnering feedback from the group.

HOW MUCH: The cost of the workshop is $240.  $120 in advance to secure a place in the class and $120 on the first day of class

WHERE: The Fountain Theater, 5060 Fountain Ave. , LA , CA 90069, http://www.fountaintheatre.com/

WHO: Limited to 10 writers.

QUESTIONS: Contact Anne Garcia Romero at 310-245-6452....or email at agaro@aol.com

About Anne García-Romero:
Anne García-Romero’s plays have been developed and produced most notably at the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater, Arielle Tepper Productions’ Summer Play Festival, The Mark Taper Forum, and South Coast Repertory. She’s taught at Cal Arts, UC Riverside, Wesleyan University and Macalester College . She holds an MFA in Playwriting from the Yale School of Drama and is a member of New Dramatists.

Call For Entries: Tiburon International Film Festival

"This annual festival is a true United Nations of cinema, showcasing films from around the entire world."— Via Magazine

Tiburon , CA --The Tiburon International Film Festival is excited to announce the call for entries for its 5th annual event to run from March 9 - 17, 2006 .  Submissions are open to all genres of film (Fiction, documentary, short, animation, experimental, student, children, sports, music video.....) from any nation of the world. Over 270 films from more than 60 countries were shown at the last festival from over 2000 submissions worldwide. 

Golden Reel Award
The films submitted to the Tiburon International Film Festival are eligible to win the Golden Reel Award in several categories: Best Fiction, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Short, Best Animation, Best Children Film, Best Student Film.....The Audience Award will be presented to one film through submitted ballots and the winners of all categories will be announced at the end of the Festival.  

ENTRY INFORMATION
Entry form and eligibility guidelines are available on the festivals website under Submit Films at: www.tiburonfilmfestival.com.

The deadline for submissions is: December 1, 2005
Festival Date: March 9 - 17, 2006
Phone: (415) 381-4123
Fax: (415) 388- 4123
For full submission guidelines, go to: info@tiburonfilmfestival.com; www.tiburonfilmfestival.com
1680 Tiburon Boulevard , Tiburon , CA 94920 USA

Future Estrellas: Young Latino Performers Conference

“Nosotros” and “Latin Heat Entertainment” Join Forces to Fire Up the Young and Talented Future Estrellas: Young Latino Performers Conference

Hollywood, CA. May 25, 2005 - Nosotros, a non-profit organization founded by living legend Ricardo Montalban; and Latin Heat Entertainment, the only English-language entertainment industry trade magazine focusing on Latinos in the U.S., have partnered to create a free conference to help guide Latino families whose children are interested in pursuing an acting career.

On June 18th , 2005, Future Estrellas: Young Latino Performers Conference will convene at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre, 1615 N. Vine St., Hollywood, CA 90028 from 8:00am to 5:00pm. With the generous support from the Walt Disney Corporation, this bilingual, one-day event will be free to over 600 registered English and Spanish speaking participants and host youths from ages 8-17 and their parents. The conference will promote the importance of education and training. Entertainment industry professionals will provide essential insight into pursing an acting career in two panel discussions titled "Training, Training, Training", and, "The Business of Show Business." The panels will be presented in both English and Spanish. The English version will be presented in the morning and the Spanish version will be presented in the afternoon. Also included will be interactive components where young performers will audition for a pilot, learn audition techniques, have a free picture taken by a professional photographer, compose a professional resume on site and more.

For information on registration call (310) 464-5290; sponsorship and volunteer opportunities and production questions, contact event producer Henry K. Priest (213)739-3385.

For media and interviews contact Rafael O. Calderon (323)842-0403 or log onto www.latinheat.com or www.Nosotros.org.

UCLA Online Film/TV & Media Courses Available NOW!!!

This summer, UCLA's top ranked Department of Film, Television and Digital Media is offering four of its most in-demand courses online. These official UCLA catalogue courses can earn the student college credit -- all from the comfort of their own computer! The courses are offered by some of UCLA's best known senior faculty, including Screenwriting guru Richard Walter, Head of the UCLA Screenwriting Program, Denise Mann, Co-Chair of the UCLA Producers Program and Myrl Schreibman, Professor, Producer/ Director and author of the Indie Producers Handbook, Creative Producing from A - Z which, as stated by Movie Maker Magazine, is "the canon" on independent producing.

This is an opportunity for anyone interested in advancing their knowledge of screenwriting, the workings and ins and outs of the Hollywood industry community or finding out the details of producing and Planning of an Independent Project. The course offerings are arranged to compliment one another so that students can take one or more ....and all from the comfort of their own home. These on line courses were offered last year and received such wide praise for their interactivity, personalization of student contact and involvement with the professors and instructors that it is forging new methods of teaching. Students from last years' courses have gone on to write features and produce their projects professionally.  There is a $300 discount for all non-University of California students! So register now and take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity.

For more information, visit: www.tft.ucla.edu/filmonline.

Special Screening Invitation to ALL NALIP Members ( June 6, 2005 )

Hollywood World Cinema Salon: June 6, at ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood .

Showcasing excellence in the art of filmmaking. Screening followed by reception hosted by film journalist David Poland . Now film fans can enjoy great films and engage in thought-provoking conversation!

The Hollywood Film Festival is pleased to introduce a new monthly series for film lovers -- The Hollywood World Cinema Salon(tm) presented by Arclight Cinemas and the Hollywood Film Festival. On the first Monday of every month, the Hollywood World Cinema Salon will showcase a quality film. A networking session will take place after the film, where film fans can engage in thought-provoking conversation followed by a reception afterwards

JUNE 6 - Palm Pictures' "CRONICAS" by Sebastian Cordero and starring John Leguizamo. From the producers of Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN comes a shocking new thriller about the power of the media. Tabloid TV reporter, Manolo Bonilla (John Leguizamo) has traveled from Miami with his news crew on the trail of a story about a serial killer striking a small town in Ecuador. Convinced this story could be the 'big one' that makes him a star, he is willing to bend the rules to get the facts. But the more information he uncovers the more he finds his carefully planned story spinning dangerously out of control. Featuring a pan-Latin cast and crew, "CRONICAS" is written and directed by Sebastian Cordero and produced by acclaimed filmmakers Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro.

The Hollywood Film Festival kicks off October 18 for a seven-day series of screenings and special presentations with Q/A sessions at ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood . On October 24, the festival culminates with the prestigious Hollywood Awards, which honor both Hollywood and international talent.

Location:
ArcLight Hollywood is located at 6360 W. Sunset Boulevard, between Vine and Ivar. For more information about ArcLight visit http://www.arclightcinemas.com. The sponsors of the Hollywood World Cinema Salon include ArcLight Cinemas, www.Moviecitynews.com, "The Hollywood Reporter" and "Screen International" among others.

For more information or to reserve tickets go to http://www.hollywoodfestival.com
Hollywood Film Festival              
Ph: 310.288.1882 
worldcinema@hollywoodawards.com  

Special Invitation—“Silent Dawn” Screening at BX1: Bronx Artist Festival (June 2 nd, 2005)

You are cordially invited to attend a screening of my documentary, “Silent Dawn”, on the 2nd of June at BX1 Artist Festival.  Please see the info below.  I hope you can make it.  I'll be attending the reception on June 1st at Longwood Gallery.

BX1: BRONX ARTIST FESTIVAL
The first festival of its kind for the borough, BX1: BRONX ARTIST FESTIVAL will showcase current and former winners of the Bronx Council on The Arts' BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) Award.

Kicking off on June 1st and running through June 4th, BX1: Bronx Artist Festival will focus on the talents of Bronx artists working and growing in the literary, media, performing and visual arts.
http://www.bronxarts.org/

Visit BCA's website at www.bronxarts.org for updated info on BX1: Bronx Artist Festival 2005.
June 1st is a free event of the Bronx Council on the Arts.

OPENING IN SAN DIEGO ON JUNE 10th!  POPULAR MEXICAN COMEDIAN ADAL RAMONES STARS IN MEXICAN COMEDY, “SANTOS PEREGRINOS”.

San Diego, CA. — Media Arts Center San Diego's San Diego Latino Film Festival is proud to present Adal Ramones in the popular Mexican comedy, Santos Peregrinos, June 10-16, 2005 at Mann Theatres Hazard Center (7510 Hazard Center Dr., San Diego, CA, 92102).

There’s trouble in the vecindad when it is discovered that a set of holiday statuettes that once belonged to Emiliano Zapata are filled with solid gold. Ernesto Gomez Cruz, Adal Ramones (Puños Rosas, "Otro Rollo con Adal Ramones"), Maya Zapata (De la Calle, Caribe), Julieta Egurrola (Profundi Carmesi), Isaura Espinosa (El Tigre de Santa Julia), and Carmen Salinas head a terrific ensemble cast in this bawdy whodunnit that is a wacky mix between Agathie Christie and Melrose Place. Tempers and libidos flare in this hilarious comedy set in a rundown Mexico City tenement building.  Official website (in Spanish) for Santos Peregrinos:
http://www.santosperegrinos.com/. View the trailer on-line: http://www.santosperegrinos.com/material/videos/santosperegrinoslow.mov

SANTOS PEREGRINOS will screen five times daily—for ONE WEEK ONLY--from June 10th (Fri) through June 16th (Thur) at 12:30pm , 2:45pm , 5:15pm , 7:30pm and 9:45pm .

Tickets are $8.50 general admission, $6.50 students, seniors, & "Aficionados del Cine Latino" club members. SANTOS PEREGRINOS is not rated, but is recommended for mature audiences. In Spanish with English subtitles.

For additional information about screening times and tickets visit: www.sdlatinofilm.com or call 619.230.1638 #2.

“Styleyes” Show Returns For a 2nd Season with a New Host— Premieres March 30th on Sí TV

Los Angeles , CA ( May 25, 2005 ) – Styleyes, the hip fashion and style show returns for a second season on Sí TV, the only all English-language Latino cable network. To mark the date Sí TV will premiere two new Styleyes shows back to back on Memorial Day, Monday, March 30th starting at 4pm ET/PT.

Shot on location in New York City , Styleyes plugs into the urban fashion world by bringing street culture and attitudes alive. The show defines and sets trends by not only profiling the designers who are a step ahead of 7th Avenue, but more importantly, the street kids who inspire them.

Along with returning host Kelly, the 30-minute show premieres with a new host, Stephanie Ortiz. Each week Stephanie and Kelly uncover what’s hot in fashion, music, food, cars and culture. In the second season Stephanie learns to kick some butt with Hector Roca, the boxer who trained Hillary Swank for “Million Dollar Baby.”

Other episodes include profiles on Han Cholo, a jewelry designer who creates Star Wars inspired jewelry; the creators of Antipanties, an alternative to wearing panties under jeans; Lowrider Bike designers in Venice, CA who teach Kelly about lowrider bikes; a team of “Krumpers” from the hood in L.A. who explain this unique hip hop dance form. The show includes short weekly segments like “Where'd You Get That?” A quick look at off-the-wall merchandise from a featured store of the week, and “Eyesore or 2 Die For?” where we bring fashion items to the street and ask people if they are an eyesore or to die for.

For more info visit us online at www.SiTV.com.

Marketing $$$ en Espanol

“Money matters. When it comes to media buys, overall spending is down -- but niche dollars are eating a bigger portion of the pie.”
By Stephen Galloway
Movies & the Media

At long last, after years of spiraling costs, the good news is in: Marketing expenses for studio feature films are finally down.

That's what newly named MPAA president and CEO Dan Glickman told exhibitors during his ShoWest debut in March, announcing that the average amount of money spent to market a major-studio movie had plunged to $34.4 million in 2004, down 12% from $39 million the previous year.

The latest Nielsen Monitor-Plus data provide confirmation: While those numbers account only for media buys and present a less-rosy picture than Glickman's, the downward trend is undeniable. (Media buys are expenditures for advertising on television, in newspapers, etc., and do not include studio salaries, hotel rooms for stars and the myriad other expenses that usually come with marketing.)

Hollywood Reporter, Published May 10, 2005 . For full story, visit:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000913823

Tarantino, Rodriguez grind out horror project for WeinsteinsGrind House joins updated slate for The Weinstein Co. Tarantino and Rodriguez hint that their latest collaboration could spawn new movie series.

Sisterhood reveals secrets of 'Traveling Pants'
Chicago Sun-Times Sun, 29 May 2005 2:48 AM PDT
LOS ANGELES -- Size matters. It's especially relevant when you star in a movie about a pair of magic Levi's. At the moment, three young actresses are lamenting the jean size of Lindsay Lohan.

Spanish Ads On English TV? An Experiment
Washington Post Tue, 31 May 2005 1:28 AM PDT
On a recent Monday night, during the back-to-back wrestling shows "WWE Raw" and "WWE Raw Zone" on the cable's Spike TV, David Carcamo saw a commercial. The for-the-boys programming on Spike, it must be said, is in English. The 30-second commercial, touting the auto Web site Vehix.com, however, was...

Jenny's image on the block: Lopez shifting Latino culture
The Clarion-Ledger Wed, 25 May 2005 3:04 AM PDT
Last year, Kimlan Fong Wong and boyfriend Anthony Taveras stopped talking to each other for three days after she threw a vase at him during an argument. The subject: Jennifer Lopez.

Co-star a major heartthrob in Mexico
San Francisco Chronicle Wed, 25 May 2005 3:35 AM PDT
Before Jaime Camil, 31, auditioned for "The Mambo Kings" in New York in October, someone slipped director Arne Glimcher a note: "Please be nice to this kid. He flew on his own dime." Despite being a popular film, theater and television actor in his...

Director Sergio Arau Joins Ofrenda, Inc.
PR Web Fri, 27 May 2005 0: 05 AM PDT
Ofrenda, Inc. www.ofrenda.com announces the signing of director Sergio Arau. Ofrenda, Inc. is a multi purpose creative group encompassing commercial production services and independent films with a multicultural focus. Celebrated filmmaker, artist and musician, Sergio Arau is the writer/producer/ director of the hit independent feature film A Day Without a Mexican, distributed by Televisa Cine.

The Weinstein cellar opens
Guardian Unlimited Fri, 27 May 2005 2:39 AM PDT
A slew of unreleased and long-maturing films are finally headed for the big screen as Harvey and Bob Weinstein prepare to jump the Miramax ship.

AGENT ASSISTANT WANTED AT TALENT AGENCY

Diverse Talent Group seeks a bright, friendly and motivated individual to assist two agents in the Commercial Dept.

Be sure to indicate you were sent by Jeff Gund/The Info List, and please fax resume to Courtney @ (310) 556-4633.

Job location: Century City
Compensation: $375.00/wk

PRODUCTION MANAGER WANTED FOR MOVIE WITH $2 MILLION BUDGET

Our friends at Boz Productions (Scary Movie & Soul Plane and currently in production on Turistas) are looking for a production manager for a $2 million dollar independent feature to be shot later this summer.

Please send your resumes to Jessica Kill at: twokillfour@yahoo.com
Production Managers with prior experience only to apply, thank you! Click Here

Seeking FCP or Avid Editors and/or After Effects Pros for Film Production Company Brooklyn , NY (Dumbo Area)

A Brooklyn film production company seeks FCP or Avid Editors and/or After Effects specialists. We are based in New York serving as a home to some amazing established and emerging artists. Our vision is to partner with the advertising, entertainment, and fashion industries to bring original, provocative, and forward-contemporary images to the marketplace. You will have an integral part in the company as you will edit our 5 minute production reel. We prefer to view your work online, so send us any links to sites where your work can be seen. Include a shot list describing what you are responsible for in your samples. Hours are flexible. Future employment is possible.

Send resumes and reels and/or examples of your work ASAP to:
ATTN: Lotus One Reel
10 Jay Street, Suite #801
Brooklyn , NY 11201

TO APPLY, PLEASE SUBMIT RESUME: vmacedo@eden.rutgers.edu
CONTACT: Vanessa Macedo

PLEASE NOTE: This is only a two week commitment. Pending on your performance this internship can lead to future employment projects

Casting: UCLA Medical Education Video

“UCLA Medical Education Video”
--Non-Union
--Shoots June 4 and 5 in Westwood
--$150 each for these speaking parts that will require about 3 hours of time
--Parking will be covered by the project

BREAKDOWN:
--MALE: 35-45 year old Latino man to play the father of a 12-year old boy
discussing genetic testing.
--MAN & WOMAN: Mexican man and woman in their 60s to play husband and wife.

NOTE: We would prefer that all actors speak English but with an accent.

CONTACT ASAP:
Jerilyn Higa
JHiga@mednet.ucla.edu
UCLA Dept. of Emergency Medicine
Ph: (310) 794-0526
FX: (310) 794-0599
M:  (310) 266-7485

East LA Repertory Theatre Seeking Scripts

East LA Repertory is currently reading scripts for our upcoming season. This theatre produces playwrights of Latino heritage and is accepting scripts by e-mail AND by mail.

Please submit any/all scripts to
Mail:Jesus A. Reyes
314 N. Chicago St.
LA CA 90033-1827

E-mail: Jesus A. Reyes @ eastlarepertory@hotmail.com

Marketing Firm Seeking Bi-lingual Male/Female Promotional Reps.

Caroline Promotions is a field-marketing agency specializing in on-site marketing strategies. Our wide-ranging programs are designated to create brand awareness and generate incremental sales introducing products and services at fun and exciting events.

Caroline Promotions is looking for dependable, energetic, outgoing, attractive promotional representatives, men and woman, 18 and older, bi-lingual English and Spanish to work as part of a team to interact with consumers and educate them on new products and services and achieve event sampling/distribution goals for National promotional events in their local market area.

Hours may vary depending on event schedules and seasons. Schedules vary too; therefore candidates must be flexible to work a variety of possible schedules including early mornings, evenings, holidays, or weekends.

Other requirements are:
--Candidates must have a professional appearance (No visible tattoos or excessive piercing).
--Must be self motivated, friendly, responsible, and enjoy interacting with people.
--Both, male and females must have the ability to stand for long periods of time, and males must be able to lift 30 to 40 pounds.
--Must be dependable and reliable!
--Promotional experience a plus!

Please send resume and picture to jobs@carolinepromotions.com OR send a fax to (818) 507-5666. www.CarolinePromotions.com

Quibo Compinches,

Thank you all for your kindness and show of concern for my well being. My second procedue to fix mi cabeza has been postponed for next Wednesday, June 1st. Do not fear, mis compadres y comadritas, I assure you all that I shall continue being as pendejo and loco as I always be, but I count with all your continuing prayers.

But enough of me... a bigger fish have been caught that need to be refrito. Please, pretty please, run to your closest newsstand and get the current issue of Newsweek, not to get their apology on the sacred-book-in-the-toilet cagada (excuse the pun, todos la cagamos, que no?), but to read the cover article: LATINO POWER (yeap, in caps, bold and big font). The whole article should be read by all of us.  I can't comment on most of it since the overall theme of the article is POLITICAL POWER, and since I, just because I have been grossly tonto y flojo, after 24 years in this gringolandia, have stayed only a legal resident and have not converted to citizenship, la Migra will kick me out if I get involved at all in the politics of this country. But nevertheless, I can comment and get involved in the business of this country.

On this article there is a map that graphicaly shows the Hispanic Population per state. On it, to the left in a frame, is what may be the most important little fact on all the article. I will not comment on it on its face value, but from the point of view that, if you translate it into purchasing power, not political power, reaffirms something I have been saying for a while. It is not how many we are (y somos un chingo), IT IS WHERE WE ARE!

This frame says the story, and I quote, without commenting on it: "10 States hold 80% of the US Latino Population, 80% of the electoral votes needed to win the presidency are concentrated in those states."

Translate this into consumer markets and the following gets validated.

To save myself time, again I'm muy flojo, I "reprint" a past rambling of mine in this newsletter published on July 2003.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buenos Dias Chicos y Chicas,

Here I’m nursing a mild hangover after Saturday’s and Sunday’s parties at LALIFF (even when I didn’t drink but a single and lonely beer, since I attended the fest with my 12yo daughter Saturday and my 15yo daughter on Sunday and was forced to behave). It must be the withdrawal of the adrenaline rush of being in the best event of the year, watching outstanding films (not a single one of those I have been able to catch has been short of outstanding), chat and love sharing with amigos y amigas, meeting new friends, getting some new business and the incredible Taco de Ojo available.

I could be repetitive letting you know what the awards were or how much fun it has been, but if you read the above included news section you can get updated. Instead, I will abuse of your time here expressing something that I have been repeating in the few seminars I have given, as well as anytime I find a sympathetic ear to my ramblings. Yesterday night, a subscriber to this list pointed out that I should share it with everyone here. So here it goes.

My view is as follows:

First: I’m tired of hearing “the Latino Wave is coming !”, “the Latino Wave is coming!” chanted by most, if not all, of us. Well…I say to that… that is BS! It was not a “wave”, it was a TSUNAMI! And it is not “coming”, it already ARRIVED*! START SWIMMING, STUPID! It is our time to DO, not to plan what we will do. So… start swimming now or be drowned by it.

Second: I’m also tired to hear “we are the LARGEST MINORITY in the USA !” Again, that is another big pile of caca being retro fed by ourselves and the powers to be that may not want us to realize the following:

Please consider this from now on. On the top 5 markets in the USA (two of them the largest markets in the world), to name; NY, LA, Chicago , Detroit and Miami we are the…MAJORITY! Also, and this is even more significant, of these five markets, three of them are the most influential and trend setting markets of the world (NY, LA and Miami with Tokyo and Milan following).

Last year, thanks to the generosity of a friend who came to my rescue in dire times, I was able to be in Seoul , Korea on the night of the opening of the World Cup. I had to be there only for one night on business and the trip was arranged just two days before it, so forth, I just couldn’t find an hotel room in all Seoul and actually my thought was, who in hell needs an hotel room on the Opening Night of a World Cup? Well… of course, I spend the night bar hoping, not less than 10 of them, and all of them were jam packed with people from all over the world; Germans, Italians, French, Japanese, Taiwanese, Zimbawenses, Argentineans, Mexicans, a couple of Martians traveling incognito, etc, etc. and what were ALL of them dancing?...SALSA! And what they were ALL drinking ?...TEQUILA and CORONAS! And what they were ALL snacking on…NACHOS! Yes, hard to believe, but they were all serving nachos in Seoul !

We need to take ownership of what we actually are NOW: we are the trend setters of the world! if NY dances, the world wants to dance to that tune, if Miami drinks, the world wants to drink that beverage, if Chicago, eats chipotle, the world wants the spicy stuff, if the hottest hunks of Hollywood are going out with Latinas, the world wants a Latina for a girlfriend and if LA farts, the world wants to do it with the same beans smell! So what is that you are waiting for ?...START SWIMMING, STUPID!

Just a thought from your truly humble servilleta, CU @ LALIFF!

Alex Mendoza

* June 2001, upon the release of the 2000 Census numbers.