Seriously,
Why do I have the worst luck? Don't get me wrong, but I am extremely excited about my new job with Marketing Werks in Chicago. But why did they schedule Yuju the week after I leave to Chicago? Seriously?
ZOE --- MODERATTO -- DIVISION MINUSCULA -- LOS CLAXONS -- NINA PILOTS..
All under one stage! At the island. :( This is a show that is impossible to find in the states and It's going to be in my own backyard and I wont be able to go...
PLUS - VIP tickets are ONLY 800 pesos (50 USD)!
Oh Well, For those who CAN go, here's the link:
http://yujufest.com/
Here's a taste of what I'll be missing
Los Claxons - one of my favorite bands!
Zoe - CLASSIC.....
Nina Pilots - Newcomers
March 14, 2009
March 13, 2009
Laura Pausini ft. James Blunt
James Blunt sings in Spanish? Not as bad as you think. His enunciation is actually pretty good. He paired up with Italian singer Laura Pausini to sing "Primavera in anticipo" (Spanish)
(More on Laura Pausini later)
(More on Laura Pausini later)
March 12, 2009
Hola Everyone - Madrid 2016
So the Race for the 2016 Olympics is own. According to the International Olympic Committee, the current standings for the 4 candidate cities are as follows.
1st - Tokyo - 8.3
2nd - Madrid - 8.1
3rd - Chicago - 7.0
4th - Rio de Janeiro - 6.4
So the race right now is heating up between Tokyo and Madrid. I went over both Tokyo's and Madrid's plans for the Olympics and it seems that Madrid (who has applied 3 times to host the Olympics) is the most prepared and capable, with Chicago coming in a close second. Tokyo is the only city that has hosted the Olympics. However, no South American country has ever hosted an Olympics. Madrid has bid on 3 separate occasions but has never hosted.
My vote is for Madrid, with Tokyo coming in a close second and Chicago third. I would much rather have Lima or Buenos Aires be the first South American cities to host the Olympics than Rio (I'm not a fan).
The decision is going to be made in October. I can't wait to see who it is!
March 09, 2009
D.A.N.C.E.
I'm going through an Electro-House music phase.....
This video is by French House duo... Justice.
One of my favorite concepts for a music video....
This video is by French House duo... Justice.
One of my favorite concepts for a music video....
March 03, 2009
JD Natasha - Rise and Fall
The story of JD Natasha always seems to amaze me. JD Natasha, an Argentine-Cuban-American was born and raised in Miami. At the age of 16 she landed a 5 album record deal with EMI and was poised to be the next big thing in the states. There was one problem though. Her record producers, after hearing her sing in Spanish, decided that they wanted to market her to the Spanish speaking market. Mexico, specifically, had not yet seen a rocker chick act that was oh so popular in the US at that time (Avril, Pink, etc.) So the record producers decided to release her CD as both an English version and Spanish Version as the same time. This quickly linked her to Latin Artists who had a considerable Spanish fanbase trying to crossover in the English market. Many of these artists were unsuccessful except for Shakira. In reality, JD Natasha was already an American act trying to crossover to the Spanish Market. She was very successful in Mexico and the rest of Latin America, she was even nominated for 3 Grammys for her debut CD.
However, the US market was not as kind and she went unnoticed. After watching her Spanish interviews, it seemed as if she was unhappy in the position she was. First of all, her Spanish was horrible. Second, it seemed as if she was being forced to be someone she wasn't, a Latin Pop Star. Do you know where this is headed? :)
She walked away from her EMI record deal. WHAT? Apparently, she was unhappy and simply walked away from her record deal. That was in 2006. Today she has a new band called, Fancy Me Yet, an Indie Rock band similar to the likes of Paramore and Flyleaf. Check them out.
However, the US market was not as kind and she went unnoticed. After watching her Spanish interviews, it seemed as if she was unhappy in the position she was. First of all, her Spanish was horrible. Second, it seemed as if she was being forced to be someone she wasn't, a Latin Pop Star. Do you know where this is headed? :)
She walked away from her EMI record deal. WHAT? Apparently, she was unhappy and simply walked away from her record deal. That was in 2006. Today she has a new band called, Fancy Me Yet, an Indie Rock band similar to the likes of Paramore and Flyleaf. Check them out.
Allison Iraheta ....
A few months ago I posted that David Archuleta was going to be the next American Idol. I was wrong. But he did win second place and got a record deal and a few hits.
My prediction for this season is Allison Iraheta. Her voice is amazing. Allison, like Archuleta, is a Hispanic 16 year old who has been watching AI for years. A few years ago, she competed in a Mexican version of American Idol called Quinceanera. She has a lot of potential. Hopefully she isn't forced into becoming what shes not. That will just leave us with a JD Natasha Part Deux (more on her later). As with Allison, make sure to check out American Idol....
PLUS, unlike Archuleta, she has the potential to be marketed to both the English (300 million) and larger International Spanish (322 Million people) Markets. Although his Spanish language songs are AMAZING, David Archuleta was marketed as an All-American, wholesome kid in order to win over all the young tween girls. None of his tracks in his debut CD were in Spanish, nor are there any future plans to "Cross Over", into the spanish Market.
My prediction for this season is Allison Iraheta. Her voice is amazing. Allison, like Archuleta, is a Hispanic 16 year old who has been watching AI for years. A few years ago, she competed in a Mexican version of American Idol called Quinceanera. She has a lot of potential. Hopefully she isn't forced into becoming what shes not. That will just leave us with a JD Natasha Part Deux (more on her later). As with Allison, make sure to check out American Idol....
PLUS, unlike Archuleta, she has the potential to be marketed to both the English (300 million) and larger International Spanish (322 Million people) Markets. Although his Spanish language songs are AMAZING, David Archuleta was marketed as an All-American, wholesome kid in order to win over all the young tween girls. None of his tracks in his debut CD were in Spanish, nor are there any future plans to "Cross Over", into the spanish Market.
February 27, 2009
Kudos
This isn't an official BlackBerry Ad, But Kudos to the creatives who put this together.
Great Concept..
BUT.... the Copy Writing was WAAAAAAAAAAAY OFF..
"Nothing can touch it" - Really?? LAME
February 22, 2009
First Published Photograph
Yeap...
So I have my First Billboard in the bag.
Now I can add my first Published Photograph.
This picture, titled Stone, Wood, Metal is going to be featured in a photography book. Not only that, it is going to be one of a select few who are going to be featured as the Opening Photographs for each Chapter.
I'm Excited!
I took this picture while walking throughout the streets of Monterrey, Mexico back in July.
Downtown McAllen
I've been rather bored lately. Last weekend I decided to venture to downtown McAllen. :/ Formerly known as the bad side of town, It seems to be evolving due to gentrification by younger, hipper peeps. For example, 17th Street has been completely transformed. It now resembles a miniature version of 6th Street in Austin. Plans indicate that the downtown area will only continue to transform into the "hip" part of town. A lot of new Clubs and restaurants have opened shop to cater to the emerging art scene. The Art Walk, held every First Friday of the month, is as strong as ever. Historic Cine El Rey seems to be holding many of the coolest concerts in town. Things are looking good for downtown McAllen.
http://www.mcallenheartofthecity.com/
February 21, 2009
Demi Lovato en Español
Demi Lovato has just debuted a new music video, and its called "Lo Que Soy". It's the Spanish version of "This is Me" from Disney's Camp Rock. Lo Que Soy is the featured Bonus Track on Demi's Re-release of Don't Forget (Deluxe Edition). I think we will be seeing a lot more of Demi Lovato in the future, both in the Hispanic and General Markets. The kids love her....
Lo Que Soy:
La La Land:
February 19, 2009
February 18, 2009
First Billboard
So this was the final design for my first billboard. The client loved it. Me.... not so much. It just seems to noisy, crowded, and messy. I really went out of my element designing this. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices to make the client happy. :/ The ad was displayed on three billboards all across the Valley.
Thoughts... Comments
February 16, 2009
Tokyo!
I am extremely excited for this movie. It follows the styles of Paris Je T'aime and New York, I Love You, two films that I highly recommend. By the looks of the trailer, it seems like the directors are moving towards the Magical Realist artistic route. After taking a course on Mexican film, I quickly became a huge fan of Realismo Magico. Magical Realism has been a strong element in Mexican and Spanish film and literature.
A Magical Realist film I recommend : La Science des rêves - The Science of Sleep (Michael Gondry)
Who wants to go see TOKYO! with me?
February 15, 2009
February 09, 2009
¡Feliz cumpleaños Mariano!
Este fin de semana celebramos el cumpleaños de Mariano en el Cimarron en Sharyland. Estaba muy divertido, aunque perdi en Beer Pong. Me la pase bien con todos! Esto es lo que resulta cuando combinas 2 botellas de Tequila, una de Vodka, y un poco de Bud Light:
Pastel de Oreos.
Se lo terminaron antes que pudiera agarar un pedaso.
Monica y yo.
Esta chika es muy divertida y de buena onda.
Cake in yo face!
La cachucha tambien fue victima de la mordida.
Los Tres Amigos
Cliche, lo se.
Monica, Andrea y Mariano.
La Gaby
Que Ondeux?
De quien es esa mano?
Donde estoy mirando?
Creo que Andrea tambien estaba tomando una foto.
Pastel de Oreos.Se lo terminaron antes que pudiera agarar un pedaso.
Monica y yo.Esta chika es muy divertida y de buena onda.
Cake in yo face!La cachucha tambien fue victima de la mordida.
Los Tres Amigos
Cliche, lo se.
Monica, Andrea y Mariano.
La Gaby
Que Ondeux?
De quien es esa mano?
Donde estoy mirando?Creo que Andrea tambien estaba tomando una foto.
Fin
February 06, 2009
Mexico = Best performing economy? Thats Right.
When the New York Times reached out to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim for a $250 million loan to keep the newspaper afloat, it became clear to the world what Mexicans already knew: Mexico had been able to avoid the worst of the U.S. economic crisis. Mexico's stock market fell 23 percent in 2008, the "best" performing major index at a time when the U.S. markets fell 38 percent. Here's how they did it.
MERIDA, Mexico – The economic crisis sweeping the globe has spared no nation, but some are showing remarkable resilience. Mexico's economic performance, for example, has shown tremendous strength. When the U.S. Federal Reserve extended a loan of $30 billion each to the central banks of Brazil, South Korea, Singapore and Mexico, Mexico did not touch those funds. It simply reinvested them in Treasury bonds, leaving them in accounts in New York.
This is no accident. It stems from prudent economic policies implemented after the December 1994 devaluation of the Mexican peso that sent the economy into a tailspin. At that time, President Ernesto Zedillo had been in office a few days, and his entire agenda was thrown into disarray by the crisis.
The Clinton administration had to issue an emergency $50 billion loan –- which Mexico paid back ahead of schedule and with interest -– and the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, helped craft a recovery program. It was a painful adjustment as budgets were slashed, fiscal restraint was implemented across the board, and the Mexican people saw their investments and savings diminish.
That was 15 years ago, and the lessons learned the hard way are now paying off: Mexico's stock market fell 23 percent in 2008, the "best" performing major index at a time when the U.S. markets fell 38 percent and Russian markets collapsed by an astounding 70 percent.
Last fall, some feared that the Mexican economy would not be able to escape the turmoil engulfing the United States, and the Mexican peso fell almost 30 percent vis-à-vis the American dollar. It has since recovered, although it has suffered a 20 percent devaluation since the economic crisis began last summer. These currency fluctuations reflect the fact that, because of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, neither Mexico nor Canada have "decoupled" from the U.S. economy.
There are several reasons for Mexico's economic resilience. One is the fiscal restraint that Zedillo initiated and that his successor, Vicente Fox, continued.
Fox, a former corporate executive, made significant strides in eliminating Mexico's foreign debt. Mexico's current president, Felipe Calderon, has kept spending in line, even as revenues have increased. When disaster struck, Mexico had a balanced budget, almost no foreign debt and rising federal revenues, allowing it to intervene to stabilize prices.
Mexico also dodged the housing speculation that brought its neighbor to its knees. Mexico's financial system has always been stringent in extending credit. Americans roll their eyes at the bureaucracy this entailed –- two forms of ID are required to open a bank account in Mexico; when customers request checks, they have to pick them up at the bank, where their signature and ID are verified; credit card applications must be made in person at the financial institution, and not over the phone or through unsolicited mail-in applications. As a result, "identity theft" is almost non-existent in Mexico, and it was nearly impossible for a housing bubble to emerge there.
Another factor is the windfall oil profits – despite the sudden drop in oil prices. When oil peaked at $147 a barrel last summer, there was disbelief around the world: Would it shoot up to $200 or fall back? The conventional wisdom was that $100 a barrel for oil was the new reality going forward, and there was a frenzy to lock in prices through futures contracts. Mexican officials at Pemex, the state-owned oil monopoly, didn't believe that price was sustainable; their economic models indicated that, with slacking demand due to the recession, a price range between $60 and $80 was "sustainable." Other countries -– most notably Venezuela and Russia –- were more ambitious, and reckless. Both countries let spending explode, believing that they could finance anything they wanted. The economies in both countries today are in freefall.
Mexico, by comparison, was prudent, saving the oil windfall, and Mexican traders implemented a strategy that hinged on the price of oil falling below the $60 to $80 range. "They're great traders," Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading Corp., said of Pemex futures traders. "If the economy continues to slow, they're looking like geniuses."
The world economy has more than slowed: It has hit a wall. And Mexico is collecting $90 to $110 per barrel today, for oil that is trading in the $38 to $45 range at the beginning of 2009. Having hedged its exports, Mexico is getting a premium, and a significant windfall that will total several billion dollars this year, enough to sustain social spending without massive federal deficits.
Will this be enough to prevent Mexico from slipping into recession in 2009? Probably not, but the fact that it has managed to escape a debilitating slowdown –- the United States is in its 14th month of official recession –- suggests that whatever economic slowdown there is will be relatively mild, considering the global situation.
"The U.S. needs to show some proof they have a plan to get out of the fiscal problem," Ernesto Zedillo told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week. "We, as developing countries, need to know we won't be crowded out of the capital markets, which is already happening.
New America Media, News Report, Louis Nevaer, Posted: Feb 06, 2009
MERIDA, Mexico – The economic crisis sweeping the globe has spared no nation, but some are showing remarkable resilience. Mexico's economic performance, for example, has shown tremendous strength. When the U.S. Federal Reserve extended a loan of $30 billion each to the central banks of Brazil, South Korea, Singapore and Mexico, Mexico did not touch those funds. It simply reinvested them in Treasury bonds, leaving them in accounts in New York.
This is no accident. It stems from prudent economic policies implemented after the December 1994 devaluation of the Mexican peso that sent the economy into a tailspin. At that time, President Ernesto Zedillo had been in office a few days, and his entire agenda was thrown into disarray by the crisis.
The Clinton administration had to issue an emergency $50 billion loan –- which Mexico paid back ahead of schedule and with interest -– and the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, helped craft a recovery program. It was a painful adjustment as budgets were slashed, fiscal restraint was implemented across the board, and the Mexican people saw their investments and savings diminish.
That was 15 years ago, and the lessons learned the hard way are now paying off: Mexico's stock market fell 23 percent in 2008, the "best" performing major index at a time when the U.S. markets fell 38 percent and Russian markets collapsed by an astounding 70 percent.
Last fall, some feared that the Mexican economy would not be able to escape the turmoil engulfing the United States, and the Mexican peso fell almost 30 percent vis-à-vis the American dollar. It has since recovered, although it has suffered a 20 percent devaluation since the economic crisis began last summer. These currency fluctuations reflect the fact that, because of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, neither Mexico nor Canada have "decoupled" from the U.S. economy.
There are several reasons for Mexico's economic resilience. One is the fiscal restraint that Zedillo initiated and that his successor, Vicente Fox, continued.
Fox, a former corporate executive, made significant strides in eliminating Mexico's foreign debt. Mexico's current president, Felipe Calderon, has kept spending in line, even as revenues have increased. When disaster struck, Mexico had a balanced budget, almost no foreign debt and rising federal revenues, allowing it to intervene to stabilize prices.
Mexico also dodged the housing speculation that brought its neighbor to its knees. Mexico's financial system has always been stringent in extending credit. Americans roll their eyes at the bureaucracy this entailed –- two forms of ID are required to open a bank account in Mexico; when customers request checks, they have to pick them up at the bank, where their signature and ID are verified; credit card applications must be made in person at the financial institution, and not over the phone or through unsolicited mail-in applications. As a result, "identity theft" is almost non-existent in Mexico, and it was nearly impossible for a housing bubble to emerge there.
Another factor is the windfall oil profits – despite the sudden drop in oil prices. When oil peaked at $147 a barrel last summer, there was disbelief around the world: Would it shoot up to $200 or fall back? The conventional wisdom was that $100 a barrel for oil was the new reality going forward, and there was a frenzy to lock in prices through futures contracts. Mexican officials at Pemex, the state-owned oil monopoly, didn't believe that price was sustainable; their economic models indicated that, with slacking demand due to the recession, a price range between $60 and $80 was "sustainable." Other countries -– most notably Venezuela and Russia –- were more ambitious, and reckless. Both countries let spending explode, believing that they could finance anything they wanted. The economies in both countries today are in freefall.
Mexico, by comparison, was prudent, saving the oil windfall, and Mexican traders implemented a strategy that hinged on the price of oil falling below the $60 to $80 range. "They're great traders," Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading Corp., said of Pemex futures traders. "If the economy continues to slow, they're looking like geniuses."
The world economy has more than slowed: It has hit a wall. And Mexico is collecting $90 to $110 per barrel today, for oil that is trading in the $38 to $45 range at the beginning of 2009. Having hedged its exports, Mexico is getting a premium, and a significant windfall that will total several billion dollars this year, enough to sustain social spending without massive federal deficits.
Will this be enough to prevent Mexico from slipping into recession in 2009? Probably not, but the fact that it has managed to escape a debilitating slowdown –- the United States is in its 14th month of official recession –- suggests that whatever economic slowdown there is will be relatively mild, considering the global situation.
"The U.S. needs to show some proof they have a plan to get out of the fiscal problem," Ernesto Zedillo told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week. "We, as developing countries, need to know we won't be crowded out of the capital markets, which is already happening.
New America Media, News Report, Louis Nevaer, Posted: Feb 06, 2009
February 04, 2009
Interview Part Three
I applied for a job two months ago. Got a call last week. Got an interview last week. Got another interview last week en Espanol. Got my background check done. I have another (hopefully final) interview later today.
More info about the job later. (If I get it.)
But here are a few clues: Chicago, Spanish, Verizon
Estoy emocionado!
More info about the job later. (If I get it.)
But here are a few clues: Chicago, Spanish, Verizon
Estoy emocionado!
February 03, 2009
The Valley in all its Glory
I usually cringe when I see local TV ads. They are plain, simple, and not very creative. REGARDLESS! (inside joke.) Today, this spot caught my attention. Its perfectly shot, grabs your attention, and portrays the essence and spirit of the valley.
Check it out.
Check it out.
February 02, 2009
Projector!
So my finally finally came around to buying a projector yesterday. Yes... The super bowl actually played a huge factor in that decision. We have had a retractable screen installed for a little over a year now, but never got around to buying a projector. I guess my parents were waiting for the latest and greatest?
Well, last night the projector was effin sweet!
Can't wait to use that baby for Guitar Hero Parties...
:)
Well, last night the projector was effin sweet!
Can't wait to use that baby for Guitar Hero Parties...
:)