Volume XXIX Number 03 January 21, 2005

FrontPage Stories

Overcoming adversities

Barrio Logan student wins $10,000 scholarship

By Pablo Jaime Sainz

Last year, after Bernice Ramirez’s mother separated from her partner, the whole family had to move to Tijuana in order to survive economically. For several months, Bernice had to wake up at 4 a.m. to commute from Tijuana to La Jolla, where she is a senior at Preuss School at UCSD.

After school, Bernice had to wait for her mother Vianey to come out from her night classes at City College. Then they would return home in Tijuana around 11 p.m.

“It was pretty hard,” said Bernice, who would usually spent the rest of the afternoon waiting for her mother at Barrio Logan College Institute, a college preparation program, where she would do her homework and participate in extracurricular activities.

But the lack of sleep and the long hours outside her house, affected Bernice’s academic performance.

“My grades dropped a little bit,” she said. “I knew I could be doing better, but it is so difficult when you’re not at home.”

Nevertheless, Bernice never gave up.

Just like she had overcome all the adversities she had faced in her life, such as growing up without ever knowing her father and in a barrio where it is more common for young people to join gangs than to finish high school, Bernice was able to pull things together and managed to maintain a high grade point average in school.

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Mexican State Gains First Representative of California Migrants
By Elena Shore
FRESNO — Jesús Martínez Saldaña last week followed in the tradition of Mexican immigrants before him — he crossed the border, leaving his wife and child behind, and began a new job to make life better for his family back home.


Imagen de Cristo se aparece en un madero
Usted lo puede ver en una mueblería de San Ysidro
Por Pablo Jaime Sainz
José Pérez se encontraba en el taller de carpintería donde fabrica muebles que después vende en su mueblería, cuando sucedió lo que él nunca pensó le sucedería.


Image of Christ appears on a piece of pine wood
You can see it at a furniture store in San Ysidro
By Pablo Jaime Sainz
Jose Perez was working at his carpentry shop where he makes furniture that he later sells in his furniture store, was surprised to see what he never thought would happen to him.


Vanessa Bauche: Entrevista con una de las actrices jóvenes más importantes de México
Por Luis Alonso Pérez.
¡Ya llegó Vanessa! Exclamó una señora, y en cuestión de segundos el cine Mann de Hazard Center se convirtió en una gran fiesta. Un conjunto de mariachi comenzó a tocar cuando entró al vestíbulo del cine y docenas de personas que asistieron a la premier de la película Un amor silencioso rodearon rápidamente a la joven actriz con la esperanza de retratarse y obtener su autógrafo. Las cámaras no paraban de flashear mientras Vanessa, con una tremenda amabilidad y paciencia, posaba con sus admiradores antes de que comenzara la proyección organizada por los miembros del Festival de Cine Latino de San Diego, en su ciclo mensual Cinema en Tu Idioma.



Stories

‘Occupied Democracy’: A New American Foreign Policy
By Jamal Dajani
During the last year the United States has sought to bring elections to Afghanistan, Iraq and what may become Palestine. If American ideology is embraced by the Muslim world, the thinking goes, our heavy military and financial involvement in these areas will be validated. This strategy has spawned a new trend in U.S. foreign policy that might aptly be called “occupied democracy.”


Searching for Heroes
Who’s in your living room?
By Juan Sifuentes Jr.
As I sit here in my living room. I am listening to all the bad that is going on in the world today. Que. cosas no? Gone are the days when everything was so simple. People could leave their homes to go to the store and not have to lock their doors. Neighbors cared for each other and watched each other’s children. Todo estava tranquilo. What I remember the most was the Heroes on the television. Even the comic books. I remember Jim Brown with the Cleveland Browns. I remember “Combat” the series. Who could forget the Cisco Kid and Pancho. Where are our heroes today? Let me tell you about a special Hero de MI sangre.


México del Norte
Jorge Mújica Murias
De San Andrés a San Cristóbal
En un casi inconcebible ataque de honestidad, Vicente Fox Quezada confesó que “su gobierno carece de una respuesta eficiente y total en la defensa de los migrantes mexicanos”.


Conferencia del Dr. Jorge Castañeda Gout
“Cuatro ideas de cambio político”
Por: Paco Zavala
La Universidad de Tijuana, inauguró su Ciclo de Conferencias intitulado “Los Desafíos de los Mexicanos”. Con ésta conferencia se abre el ciclo correspondiente al año 2005; período en el que se presentarán diversos temas que serán expuestos y desarrollados por importantes personalidades de la educación, ciencia, historia, política, etc., etc., que participarán invitados por la institución.


LA TERCERA OLA POLITICA EN AMERICA LATINA
Por: Manuel R. Villacorta O.
Los detallados informes de los organismos internacionales y las cada vez más reiteradas protestas populares, evidencían sin duda alguna que la calidad de vida de los latinoamericanos (tradicionalmente precaria) está degradándose vertiginosamente. Mientras tanto, la mayoría de gobiernos no dan muestras de capacidad para revertir la situación.


Anna Escobedo Cabral Sworn in as U.S. Treasurer
Anna Escobedo Cabral was sworn in today by Secretary John W. Snow as the 42nd U.S. Treasurer. President Bush nominated her to the post on July 22, 2004 and the U.S. Senate confirmed Cabral on November 20, 2004.

Under the Safety of Megan’s Law
Why a Website Profiling Sexual Offenders is Good Thing
Story by Jessica Valadez // Art by Fernando Amaro
The other day Megan’s Law happened to be the topic of conversation amongst some friends. Megan’s Law is a law that was passed in 1996 after a 7-year-old girl named Megan Kanka was raped and killed by a known sex offender. It requires sex offenders to register with the State after their release.


City Provides Contracting Opportunities for Small and Emerging Businesses
One of the most innovative programs designed to further the success of small and emerging businesses is alive and well in the City of San Diego after a two-year run, and the City is encouraging more businesses to take advantage of the wide range of opportunities this program offers. The City of San Diego’s award-winning Minor Construction Program has aggressively assisted small and emerging contracting businesses by providing a mix of contracting opportunities, contractors’ assistance, and, in partnership with the Engineering and General Contractors Association, a two-year series of workshops and mentoring program.


LA COLUMNA VERTEBRAL
Por Dra. Aida Giachello
La Alimentación del Recién Nacido
Las mujeres de hoy en día se hallan balanceando constantemente sus múltiples papeles de empleada, esposa, madre, hija y amiga. Para todas, sin duda, el rol que ocasiona la mayoría de preocupaciones – y la mayoría de satisfacciones y de preocupaciones – es el de ser madre. En realidad, el rol de madre comienza antes del nacimiento del bebé. Siendo las Latinas quienes tienen las tasas de fertilidad más altas en los Estados Unidos, necesitamos asegurarnos que nuestras mujeres tengan la nutrición y el cuidado prenatal apropiados para tener un embarazo, parto y bebé saludables. Desafortunadamente, muchas Latinas no tienen acceso a servicios de cuidado prenatal debido a barreras financieras, culturales e institucionales, aunque ha ocurrido una mejora significativa durante la última década.


Es hora de enviar la solicitud para participar en COSMOS, un programa de matemáticas y ciencias para jóvenes del 8º al 12º grado con talento en estas disciplinas
Los estudiantes a quienes les encanta y sobresalen en las matemáticas y las ciencias tienen la oportunidad pasar cuatro semanas este verano en un recinto de la Universidad de California para aprender sobre astronomía, ingeniería sísmica, biología marina, robótica y mucho más.


Friends of the California State Fair Doubles Scholarship Awards for 2005
In a move that demonstrates their ongoing commitment to fostering youth participation in the areas of agriculture, art, education and economics, the Friends of the California State Fair  today announced that their 2005 Scholarship Program will offer more than $50,000 to California students – nearly double the scholarship amount from 2004.  The group is now accepting applications for their Scholarship Program for the 2005-2006 academic year. College students and graduating high school students currently attending California institutions are eligible and must apply by March 25, 2005.


Grossmont College Offers New Chance For Young Adults Without Diplomas
EL CAJON — Young adults 18 -24 without high school diplomas have a new chance to improve their basic skills and begin to build vocational skills in a short-term project beginning January 24 at Grossmont College.


San Diego City Schools to Hold Workshops on Curriculum and Instruction
Seven content areas to be discussed over next four months
The San Diego City Schools Board of Education will sponsor a series of workshops to receive input from parents, educators and community members in an effort to improve its educational program.



Editorials

Editorial:
Condoleezza Rice Flunks Senate Foreign Relations Hearing
After spending 4 hours of listening to Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice spoke of why she should be confirmed as America’s new Secretary of State before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, it became abundantly clear that she had failed to overwhelm the Senators and the viewing Television public. Her responses made it quite clear why America is so embroiled in a war it cannot win!


Editorial
With Little Fanfare the Search for MWDs Comes to an End
It was with little fanfare, and barely a mention by President Bush, only to say ‘isn’t the world better without Saddam Hussein?’ that the United States officially called an end to the search for Weapons of Mass Destruction (MWD). Last week the Iraq Survey Group announced that it was officially ending its search. This wasn’t even front page news with San Diego’s largest metropolitan newspaper; you had to turn to page three to get this news. This was in sharp contrast to two years ago when the case was being made for a war on Iraq.


Commentary
I Have a Dream, Too
By Sylvia Sullivan
Ironically, the same week we honor the memory and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., also marks 32 years of the infamous Roe v Wade 1973 Supreme Court ruling. The ruling legalized abortion and left behind the civil rights of pre-born children.


Commentary
Will Washington Tolerate a Chinese-Venezuelan Petro Pact?
By Seth R. DeLong, Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow
• Venezuela is quickly emerging as a major player in the global energy game due to China’s skyrocketing energy demands and the escalating instability of oil sources in the Middle East and West Africa.


Commentary
The High-Likeability Floater
By Larry Stirling
Please allow me to proffer an additional term for your verbal toolbox for analyzing the problems of public administration. That term is “the high-likeability floater.”


The Public Forum . . . El Foro Público
The Logan Library
My wife, Francisca and I are strongly against the proposed library site for Logan Heights. We are homeowers just a block from the school. We also have five daughters of which all at some point in their academic career will attend Logan Elementary. We have been lied to by many individuals regarding the conceptual development and subsequent construction of this library. Frankly, as a homeowner, opposing the construction of a library would be considered to be absurd because it would definitely increase the value of my home. So to raise a voice of opposition was signal to you that there is more here than meets the eye. ... I read the 300 plus pages of the library and the justification and rational provided to the community for this library. It is filled with some interesting points, one of which is the following:


Etc. Etc. Etc.
Entertainment, Reviews, Sporting news, and other tid bits


Tania Libertad, de Visita por Tijuana
Por: Paco Zavala
Hablar de un artista de la talla de Tania Libertad, quien es Agregada Cultural del Perú en México, es hablar de una super dotada; son pocas y muchas las cosas que se pueden expresar, Tania Libertad; es poseedora de una de las mejores voces de Latinoamérica y del mundo actual, indudablemente.


VAMOS AL CINE
Soy de “El Elemento”
Rick González se afianza de su crecer urbano en Coach Carter
Por Jose Daniel Bort
Haberse formado en las calles de la gran ciudad ha sido vital en la carrera del talento latino de la actuación Rick González, ya que le ha permitido entender ese espíritu urbano necesario para representar sus personajes. “Si, venir de ‘el elemento’ definitivamente me ayudó a entrar en películas como Biker Boyz y en esta Coach Carter, ya que el lenguaje sale ‘natural’. Sin embargo, tuve que bajar un poco el acento neoyorquino para que no se hiciera más prominente que los demás”, dijo González.


VAMOS AL CINE
 El contador de historias
“Million dollar baby” demuestra lo mejor de Clint Eastwood
Por Jose Daniel Bort
Todos quieren ser Clint Eastwood. A sus 74 años, el antiguo Harry El Sucio está desarrollando el mejor cine de su larga carrera, como actor, director, músico y laúd. Su afinado instinto le permite contar los dramas más sólidos de este lado del hemisferio occidental, con la gracia y astucia de los grandes maestros.


Glamour en los Globos
Especial desde Los Ángeles
Por Jose Daniel Bort
La fiesta anual de la asociación de los periodistas extranjeros del espectáculo tuvo un aire de locura y sofisticada elegancia durante la alfombra roja de su usual recinto, el hotel Beverly Hilton de Beverly Hills. La apenas salida del cascarón Emmy Rossum, nominada como mejor actriz por “El Fantasma de la Opera” fue la gran revelación de la noche, en un vestido ceñido y sin hombros de Ralph Lauren.


Las Abuelas: Latina Grandmothers Explain the World
San Diego Public Library celebrates the exciting conclusion and culminating event of the series, Stories of Faith: Religion & Diversity in San Diego, on Friday, January 21, 6:30 pm at the City Heights Library Performance Annex, 3795 Fairmount Ave. Live music and refreshments will be provided. Special events will include the screening of the documentary film specially made for the project: “Las Abuelas: Latina Grandmothers Explain the World & Other Stories of Faith.”


 Guidelines and Applications For The City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture’s
FY2006 Festivals and Celebrations Programs are now Available
The City of San Commission for arts and Culture (Commission) announces the release of the FY2006 Festivals and Celebrations Program guidelines and application. Each year the Commission provides matching funds to approximately 50 neighborhood street fairs and community cultural festivals through the Festivals and Celebrations Program. Application deadline is Monday, February 28, 2005. Guidelines and applications can be obtained by calling (619) 533-3050. They are also available on the Commis-sion’s website at www.san diego.gov/arts-culture.


Martinez is Eastlake’s Most Improved
By John Philip Wyllie
When Andrew Martinez first arrived on Eastlake High School’s South Bay campus four years ago, he did so with a tall and lean physique perfectly suited for playing basketball. But like his two brothers before him Martinez was far more interested in pinning his opponents than he was is dribbling through them. Somewhat awkward at the time and lacking in technique, his coaches knew that they had a project on their hands. They were however, impressed by his determination and willingness to learn.


Rodriguez a Key to Hilltop’s Soccer Success
By John Philip Wyllie
At 13-1-1 heading into this week’s league opener, Hilltop High School is looking more and more like the team to beat in men’s South Bay soccer. With an attack led by top scorer Chris Diaz, a midfield controlled by playmaking Venezuelan exchange student Diego Diaz and a defense anchored by goalkeeper Jose Castro, the Lancers offer a lineup that is solid from top to bottom. Junior sweeper Ruben Rodriguez, a team captain, might be the most outstanding player on a team that is dripping with talent.


Se Conocen Nóminas de México y Suecia Para Encuentro Internacional en San Diego
Jugaran partido en PETCO Park el 26 de enero en preparación a las eliminatorias rumbo al Mundial
NUEVA YORK - El técnico de la selección de México, Ricardo Lavolpe, y Lars Lagerbäck, su contraparte con la selección de Suecia, convocaron 18 y 20 jugadores respectivamente para su partido internacional en el año nuevo, estrenando la gira 2005 Coca-Cola presenta Futbol Mexicano de Verdad, el miércoles, 26 de enero a las 8:00 p.m. (hora del Pacifico), en el PETCO Park de San Diego, CA (en vivo por Telemundo y Futbol de Primera).


Registration Open for Pardee Torrey Pines 5K Race for Knowledge
A day of individual and team competition, family fun and kids’ races in Carmel Valley
Registration is now open for one of San Diego’s most popular 5K races. The 18th annual Pardee Torrey Pines 5K Race for Knowledge is set to run on Feb. 27, 2005. This family-oriented event runs through the beautiful neighborhoods of Carmel Valley and finishes on the upper field at Torrey Pines High School.


Youth Indoor Soccer, Track & Field Registration Starts Jan. 31
Registration will start on Jan. 31 for the Youth Coed Indoor Soccer Leagues and Youth Track & Field Club, both sponsored by the City of Chula Vista Recreation Department. Registration will be taken by mail or online.


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