Monthly Archives: October 2009

The Future of Chicano/Latino Studies

Posted on October 16, 2009 by

We’ve reached the end of Latino Heritage Month 2009.  Hope you had a good one.  I live every month like its Latino Heritage Month, so for me it’s been as good as life… I thought I’d leave you with an … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Education, Academia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

See ‘ya Captain Lou!

Posted on October 15, 2009 by

Captain Lou Albano has died.  He was 76. The brazen, rubber-band-wearing figure of professional wrestling achieved “crossover fame” in the 1980s when professional wrestling did the same.  Many who would never have seen him in the ring knew him instead … Continue reading →

Posted in Obituary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Columbus sucked.

Posted on October 12, 2009 by

Today is October 12th, which is many things in different parts of the world (Día de la Raza in Mexico) but in the U.S. is officially “Columbus Day.” I wasn’t going to write anything about the holiday since, I figured, … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Liz Cheney is, sadly, no “farce”

Posted on October 11, 2009 by

Liz Cheney–spawn of Dick–shared her views on Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize on, of course, FOX News. She labeled Obama’s award as a “farce,” not because he is a wartime president but because the Nobel Committee wants us all “to live … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Obama’s Nobel Win is not Global Affirmative Action

Posted on October 9, 2009 by

When I first heard Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize I reacted with a fair amount of surprise. And then terror. While I have only been a lukewarm supporter of the President’s initial period in office–less than impressed … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Australian blackface and Harry Connick Jr.

Posted on October 8, 2009 by

Are Australians racist? If you haven’t heard about the blackface controversy Harry Connick Jr. found himself in last night, then start by seeing this.  It is a performance on an Australian show on which Connick served as one of three … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Food Politics” Has Lost an Advocate

Posted on October 5, 2009 by

News came today that Condé Nast–publisher of The New Yorker, Vogue, and Wired among other notable magazine titles–is closing Gourmet magazine.  The powerhouse title has been published since 1940 and is a veritable icon in food magazine publishing. The loss … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Obituary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Anne Frank Video

Posted on October 2, 2009 by

This video–only recently posted on YouTube–is the only known video footage of Anne Frank.  It is film of the wedding day of Anne’s neighbor, July 22, 1941. You can read a bit more about it here. Is there anybody born … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Latino Heritage Month: Miguel Piñero

Posted on October 2, 2009 by

Miguel Piñero (1946-1988) entered this world in the belly of U.S. empire, the island of Puerto Rico.  Like almost half of the island’s population, he and his family migrated to New York in the 1950s, settling in the urban jungle … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Walter Alston is Still Dead…

Posted on October 1, 2009 by

Walter Emmons Alston died 25 years ago today, eight years after having retired as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He passed away on October 1, 1984, at the age of 72. Alston managed the Dodgers for 23 seasons, four … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Obituary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment