Alma Awards will air on CBS @ 8/7 C. visit www.almaawards.com for details.
Dont forget Alma Awards tomorrow
Alma Awards will air on CBS @ 8/7 C. visit www.almaawards.com for details.
Mexican American makes immigration stand
Reporting from Mexico City - He may have soared a gazillion miles in outer space, but back here on Earth, U.S. astronaut Jose Hernandez has stepped knee-deep in controversy.
Hernandez, the California-born son of Mexican immigrants, is a full-fledged media star in Mexico. Fans here followed his every floating, gravity-free move during his two-week journey in space as he Twittered from the shuttle Discovery and gave live interviews to local TV programs.
After the shuttle returned Friday, Hernandez told Mexican television that he thought the U.S. should legalize the millions of undocumented immigrants living there so that they can work openly because they are important to the American economy.
Officials at NASA flipped. They hastened to announce that Hernandez was speaking for himself and only for himself.
"It all became a big scandal," Hernandez later told television viewers. "Even the lawyers were speaking to me."
Hernandez was back this week on Mexican network Televisa's popular morning chat show, where he has seemingly been a fixture, to update host Carlos Loret de Mola on how he was adapting to life back on Earth.
Loret de Mola asked Hernandez, 47, about the controversy, and the astronaut said he stood by what he had said earlier on the same program, advocating comprehensive immigration reform -- a keenly divisive issue in the United States.
"I work for the U.S. government, but as an individual I have a right to my personal opinions," he said in a video hookup from a Mexican restaurant owned by his wife, Adela, near NASA headquarters in Houston. "Having 12 million undocumented people here means there's something wrong with the system, and the system needs to be fixed."
He added that it seemed impractical to try to deport 12 million people. In the earlier conversation, he spoke of circling the globe in 90 minutes and marveling at a world without borders.
Hernandez, whose first language was Spanish, grew up picking cucumbers and tomatoes in the fields of California's San Joaquin Valley. His parents, Salvador and Julia, had migrated from Mexico to Northern California in the 1950s in search of work. They eventually became U.S. citizens and raised four children, including Jose, the youngest.
As a kid, Hernandez continued to visit his parents' home state of Michoacan (his cousins and aunts and uncles have been featured repeatedly in interviews in the Mexican media) and lived what he has called the typical life of a migrant worker, moving constantly with his family to follow the crops.
It was a second-grade teacher who persuaded Hernandez's parents to set down roots near Stockton to give their children a better education and more stable life. Young Jose excelled in math and today traces his dream of becoming an astronaut to the Apollo spacewalks he watched on TV.
After earning bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering, Hernandez applied every year for 12 years to enter the space program, finally being chosen in 2004.
Mexicans were over the moon when they learned that someone with such close ties to their country would be reaching such heights. Normally, space travel is not a popular topic here, perhaps because it is such an other-world experience.
Hernandez has tweeted in English and Spanish, with the moniker Astro_Jose. His orbit-trotting on the Discovery mission included a salsa demo and mini-science lessons for viewers. He made taquitos for his fellow fliers and fielded questions from YouTube users.
TV host Loret de Mola said viewers were flooding him with one question above all: How does a humble son of peasant immigrants manage to become an astronaut?
Hernandez, a father of five, cited two crucial factors: a good education and parents who forced him to study, who checked his homework and stayed involved in his schooling.
"What I always say to Mexican parents, Latino parents, is that we shouldn't spend so much time going out with friends drinking beer and watching telenovelas, and should spend more time with our families and kids . . . challenging our kids to pursue dreams that may seem unreachable," he said.
Hernandez said he planned to visit Mexico soon to take up President Felipe Calderon on an invitation to the presidential residence for a meal. Calderon extended the invite during a nationally televised videoconference with the astronaut before the Discovery voyage. Calderon also hails from Michoacan, and the president has called the astronaut his paisano.
In his most recent tweet, Hernandez wished Mexicans a happy Independence Day on Wednesday, adding, "Now time to rest!"
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Obama praises Sotomayor at Hispanic gala
Speaking to a black-tie gala for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the president also promised action on immigration, although he left unspoken a timeline. During a star-studded night that included Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, he also reminded the caucus that he successfully nominated Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the nation's first Latina member of the Supreme Court.
"Our own royalty, somebody who we have become so extraordinarily proud of, somebody who I've just come to adore, and who is somebody who's going to make us proud for many, many years to come, because she's not term-limited, the newest justice of the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor," Obama said, bringing the room to its feet to applaud Sotomayor, who attended the dinner.
He said the proudest moment of his presidency was when Sotomayor took the bench.
"As she lifted her right hand to take the oath, our nation took one step closer to fully realizing the founding ideals that the court itself was established to defend. And across America, millions of children's sights are now set higher; their dreams are a little bigger. That benefits all of us."
But implicit in his message: Have patience with me.
Part rally for his agenda and part reminder to a key constituency, Obama's speech to a packed ballroom promised help for the Hispanic community and the nation more broadly. He said the problems Hispanics face cut across all communities, from crumbling schools to a devastated economy.
"Todos somos Americanos," Obama said. "We are all Americans."
The president — himself the first-generation son of an immigrant father — challenged the audience to work with him to deliver on campaign promises. It will take time, though.
"The American people did not send us to Washington to ignore problems just because they're tough," said Obama, whose campaign slogan of "Yes, We Can" borrowed from Cesar Chavez's "Si, Se Puede."
Echoing that pledge, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a cheering crowd that immigration overhaul and improvements in education would come.
"All of you have made America more American," she said.
And before the president spoke, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., told the crowd: "I know he's going to help us with comprehensive immigration reform."
Yet that priority — changing the nation's immigration system — is not yet the top priority of either the White House or the Democratic-led Congress.
To a quiet crowd, Obama told the audience that his health care plan would specifically exclude illegal immigrants. He ticked through the familiar talking points on health care, then added: "Even though I do not believe we should extend health coverage to those who are here illegally, I also don't simply believe we can ignore the fact that our immigration system is broken."
First, though, he has to win passage of a health care overhaul. In the interim, Obama highlighted early accomplishments since taking office in January.
He claimed he had hired more Hispanics in his administration than any other and pointed to senior members of his Cabinet, including Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.
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Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony: Leaders
All glammed up for their big night on the town, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were spotted stepping out of their hotel in Washington
Leguizamo plays Twins in 'The Ministers'
Watch trailer and tell us what you think.
David Archuleta Performs At US Open
The 18-year-old singer was joined by United States Marine Corps, 6th Communications Battalion, Brooklyn NY in the anthem.
David tweeted from the world-class tennis match, “Got done singing ‘America the Beautiful!’ So neat especially with the marines! Gonna watch some of the game now! Feeling really tired for some reason, but what a great day! Thanks so much you guys for watching tonight and your comments! Good night!”
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Cypress Hill Prepare to Host Smokeout
You can still get high (um, naturally, of course) at the Cypress Hill Smokeout on October 23 and 24 at the San Manuel Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, California. The multi-stage event will feature performances by Sublime, Geto Boys, Goodie Mob, Method Man & Redman, Afrika Bambaataa, Slipknot and other acts—all in the name of cannibis legalization. But the highlight of the show will arguably be headliners Cypress Hill, who will perform all 14 tracks from Black Sunday and plan to unveil material from their upcoming album, Rise Up, which Sen Dog has described as “definitely hard-core hip-hop.” Needless to say, prepare to go “insane in the brain.”
For more info, go to http://www.guerillaunion.com/smokeout/
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Penelope Cruz: ‘I am not pregnant’
The Spanish actress has officially denied the speculation that she is expecting a baby with her boyfriend actor Javier Bardem, after getting fed up of the mounting gossip.
Speaking at the Toronto Film Festival where Penelope looked stunning in a one-shoulder sky blue dress for the premiere of her upcoming movie Broken Embraces, the actress spoke out saying: ‘I start getting some presents from friends saying, 'Congratulations, you're pregnant.' And I say, 'No, I'm not, so return the presents'.’
Last week the Volver actress was photographed smoking with fellow actress Salma Hayek at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont hotel, prompting criticism if she was indeed expecting.
However, now Penelope has officially silenced the gossips.
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Shakira laughs off VMA dress double-up
Both wore identical shimmering black mini-dresses, but the Colombian insists there was no catfight -- just a lot of giggles.
She says, "My stylist told me, 'Oh my God, this is one of a kind! Nobody has this.'
"I'm pretty proud to wear it, but I'm even prouder to see it on Pink. ... She has good taste, I like her."
The pop pair met up on the red carpet to chuckle about the designer double-up.
Danny Rivera to join Juanes in Cuba
“I'm honored and thrilled to take part in this event,” said in a statement released by the artist's management, Ariel Rivas Entertainment, this week.
Rivera, one of the island's premiere popular music voices, joins Puerto Rican tropical music singer and Grammy-winning artist Olga Tañón, who last month announced in an open letter that she would take part in the second “Paz Sin Fronteras” concert despite the heated debate that surrounds the show.
Widely known for his social activism, the interpreter of “La camisa negra” has been under fire from a group of Miami-based Cuban exiles who contend that the event is nothing but a move in support of Cuba's communist government.
Still, Juanes has insisted the show will have no political overtones despite being staged in the plaza that pays homage to revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
Earlier this year, the Colombian rocker also invited Puerto Rican artists Ricky Martin and Luis Fonsi, but they turned down the offer.
To date, confirmed headliners include legendary Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez and the swinging Cuban salsa ensemble Los Van Van, among others.
“She confirmed her participation last month in an open letter and she hasn't changed her mind. She's ready to go,” television producer and Tañón's husband Billy Denizard told the Latin Music Examiner this week.
“She continues to support him [Juanes] 100 percent,” he added.
In her letter, Tañón lamented that some blasted her for having backed Juanes' initiative. “Juanes and I, like many other artists, have shared the gift of our voices and our music across all the countries that have invited us to perform. Our commitment has always been with those cultures, not with their ideologies nor the political systems that rule them. Our commitment has been to share our talent and never exclude a country that opens up its arms to us. Cuba can't be the exception,” she said.
“La Mujer de Fuego” added that she can tolerate criticism, but contended: “What's categorically impermissible for me, is to accept those based on lies and are only filled with rage and hate for the mere reason of not sharing the same political vision. I can't also tolerate critique over Juanes' honest intention to hold a a concert of love and compassion through what we know to do with our hearts, music.”
In addition, she said she's aware that Cuba's political situation is a hot topic, but stressed that her goal isn't to become part of the controversy.
“I recognize that Cuba's political theme throughout history has been a delicate, complex subject, full of feelings and different visions. That's why I have always respected it and never have gotten involved in it. And for that same respect is why I backed my friend Juanes in this daring proposal. My aim has never been, nor will ever be, to intervene in this matter, but to create ties with Cubans thorugh music,” she concluded.
In mid-August, Juanes— who now calls Florida home — told Miami police that he had received death threats via his Twitter account and said he was going to cancel the show for concerns about his family’s safety. The message said, among other things, "I hate what you are saying but you will die for defending your right to say it." However, a few days later Juanes' publicist announced the show would go on as planned.
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