NEXT STOP, Oregon! And that's my beat. Here's a new MTV Choose or Lose blog wherein I lay down just the littlest bit of historia and shed some light on one of the factors that had an influence on how Oregon became the first state to switch entirely to a mail-in ballot system. There's something for everyone in this installment: cults, millions of dollars, a town named Antelope, a man with a white beard, and just a splash of domestic terrorism. Oh the THINGS you never knew about Oregon!

The latest blog by Oregon's Official MTV Choose or Lose Street Team 08 Citizen Journalist, Nezua.


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 12:55 PM.
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A CONCISE AND UNEMOTIONAL article on why the Clinton Machine couldn't crest the hill. Some say "old guard" and this piece more or less backs that up. Their thinking is yesterday's news in various ways and that's why they never saw what hit them. Bam, bam, bam! Blogmigo Kai just told us all to stop using fighting metaphors but I'm gonna sneak food out tha kitchen in my Thank You Hand and say when the Clintons rushed forward to exploit what they thought was an unguarded ribcage, they didn't see the Spinning Hook Kick swooping around the back of they head. Until it tagged them and hard.

In Febrero (seems so very long ago!) I wrote a post on the national zeitgeist and how Obama embodies that in a post called Change and Sway. That's essentially number one on Time's list. The Clintons had no sense of the country's mood. The Time article paints a solid picture of how this political team is rooted in yesterday's politics. And after all, this might be why so many older folks hold fast to HRC's run. They don't want to move forward to anything new, untested, or unfamiliar. A human trait, sure. But the youth do. And make no mistake, these are some very committed youth (at least the ones I've interviewed. (Part 3 soon to come, we'll hear a couple speak for themselves.) Despite how so many now invalidate their voting choice and lack of experience now that it doesn't line up with others' expectations.

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The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 7:35 AM.
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GRACIAS to Jessica Wakeman, who interviewed me yesterday for her Cinco de Mayo article at mainstreet.com.

Thanks, Jessica, for doing just what you promised by putting some focus on certain points I hoped to stress. Even if that geography wasn't originally in your plan.

What? My tacky chile pepper lights, of course!


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 11:58 AM.
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I'M RATHER DISAPPOINTED that the Clintons will not be moving back into La Casa Blanca. After all, it would have been great to have Hillary as President. I could have proudly pointed both my daughters to her and show them how a strong and smart woman should act in this world. I'd say "remember to slam alcohol to make people like you," and of course, "change the sound of your voice to make people around you think you belong" and "when challenged by competition, make up stories about how brave you are." Another good lesson she would embody for tomorrow's women is "violence, especially obliteration, is a key to getting along." And we can't forget the great skill of relying on people's fear of muslims and invalidating achievements of African Americans—very handy tools for anyone who wants to lead in this multicultural world of ours.

When Hillary reminded us that amidst all of today's problems and conflicts we need "a President who is going to summon us to greatness again," she was so right. Clearly, the people have heard her message and responded.


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 8:30 AM.
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TALK ABOUT people who did not live to see this day. Wow. This is horrible.

The death toll from the devastating cyclone in Myanmar over the weekend escalated to nearly 4000 people on Monday, with thousands of others still missing and at least one entire village wiped out, state television and radio reported.

—NYTimes

update, tues, May 6: Death toll now over 22,000. Has there even been such a huge disaster since Iran's 2003 earthquake? [Actually, this tsunami took a horrendous amount of lives, not to mention the more recent one. I don't even know how to imagine that many people dying at once....]

update, tues night: They are worried the toll will be as high as 50,000.


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 8:21 AM.
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MIS AMIGOS! It's a sunny day, we're alive in a moment many others have not lived to see, and still we refuse to be ruled by fear and misdirection and by those who would control us and keep us mired in an occupation of the mind, soul, and belief systems. I raise my virtual fist high in this brilliant blue Internexian sky and join you in shaking it all about.

Esperando we can take this day to reload, to restock, to refresh the spirit, to sit with any meaning we can find in our gatherings (aside from the quite-noble desire to throw some cash into the pockets of anheuser busch, corona, and frito-lay) and I wish you much music, guac, salsa, cervezas, amigos, familia, orgullo, comida, and any ole damn level of freedom and festivity you can kick up!

Let Nezua do his tiny part to help by playing YouTubian DJ to this virtual fiesta.

And let us begin by sampling the Classics:

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The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 5:27 AM.
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So, the weekend kinda flew by what with all the celebrating I've been doing. I'm only sad that I couldn't make it to Nez' fiesta. I know y'all that made it had a blast, and you can bet that I was at least there in spirit.

Since I missed posting last weekend I definitely wanted to get a post in this weekend, and now here I am, the weekend about to end, and I got nothing.

Oh, but wait! I do have something. One of the all time great Hip Hop groups of all time!

Remember Disposable Heros of Hiphoprisy? I still love this group. What's amazing is that their debut album, Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury, is 16 years old and this still sounds fresh. And of course, Michael Franti's intelligence and political/social awareness are on point. Skills, brains, and a conscious. Makes me long for the old days of hip hop. Enjoy, and see you next weekend.


Kevin, when not battling the evil forces of academia, wiles his time away writing about truth, justice, and the American way at A Slant Truth. He most definitely doesn't have a comic book fetish, but he does seek to redefine those terms to mean something more humane. He also wants to make you dance. This post created at 5:42 PM. 
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THE FORCE is strong with this one.


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 5:34 AM.
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DIPPING IN QUICKLY to say hey! Hope you are having a good weekend. I have been running around all day getting ready for my little fiesta. Not to overprepare, because it won't be a Kid N Play sized event, just a few amig@s chillin', but the fact is my place has not seen any real company for a while and we both work full time+, and we can't forget that Luna takes the place apart every minute she's innit! So there's been a lot of cleaning that needed to happen. También, I was freaking for a bit because in trying to get my iTunes to stream to the livingroom ([√] done) I took down the entire network, and couldn't figure out what I did! Oh, that was fun. I was calling people around the nation. HELP ME APPLE EXPERT!!! I'VE DESTROYED MY ABILITY TO SURF!!!!1. But I figured it out finally and it was ridiculous. Turns out the plug to which I moved the base station rendered it invisible! Go figure. So I lost a couple hours on that unforeseen disaster.

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The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 11:28 AM.
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OYE, lovers of Carne Asada and other related deliciousness! The Great Endangered Taco Truck is not just an issue in Jefferson Parish, New Orleans! As la buena gente at saveourtacotrucks.org/ reminds us, Carne Asada is Not a Crime!

As mentioned in The Los Angeles Times, to celebrate this year’s May Day we’re announcing Taco Truck Night. Take your family, your friends, or anybody else who loves tacos. Go out, get some carne asada or al pastor and support your local hard working taco vendor.

While you’re there be sure to hand out some posters and tell your fellow Angelenos what’s happening to our beloved Taco Trucks. We’re looking to raise awareness in the community as well as provide a nice cash infusion to the hard working men and women who labor into the early hours to keep our bellies full.

—Taco Truck Night - May 1st

Sign the petition. And enjoy! MmMmMM!

sombrero tip to an on-the-ball and lovely source in califas, carmen d.


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 8:37 AM.
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LAST WEEK we watched a young man (whom one person wrote me and called "arrogant") engage the democratic process as he questioned Hillary Clinton during her Town Rally at the South Eugene High School (April 4). The bold student wanted to know if when all was said and done the Senator was more interested in her own candidacy than preserving or encouraging the viability of the Democratic Party's eventual as-of-yet-unselected nominee. In Part 4, this conclusion to our four part series, she responds.

(Please excuse the audio buzz that can be heard for aprx. the first 50 seconds.)

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4

The latest video by Oregon's Official MTV Choose or Lose Street Team 08 Citizen Journalist, Nezua.

Clicking the picture above will take you to the video page.


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 7:52 AM.
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HAPPY MAY DAY. And may the day resonate with the energy of our collective hopes and la lucha that can not end until justice is felt in the heart and the lives of all those who need to be so recognized. The USA teaches us many myths: the Hero Myth, the Great White Myth, the Savages in the Wild Myth, the GodDaddyNation Myth....and so on. Fodder for our cartoons, bland teen movies, and unceasing war rationales. The truth, while somewhat less glitzy, is just as exciting, age-old, and far more empowering. For we—the centuries-strong, the been-here-all-along, the weak, the meek, the She, the black, the brown, the grown-up-from-this-ground, the despised and forgotten and the poor and ground down—are in this fight together. And it is a fight, look all around. A fight for equality, a fight for justice, and sometimes simply a fight for food and human dignity. And as long as we are divided and fighting over scraps and ladder rungs and tossed off politician-dung, there is no justice. So let us remember why it is that we stand here, why we stood up; let us loan one another our strength, and move side by side.

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The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 6:32 AM.
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IT'S BEEN PRETTY QUIET here, overall. You know what I mean. Less posts, less text, easy topics. (Aside from "anal bleaching," I suppose.) That's because I'm actually closing in on this massive knot of work that has been bottlenecking my peace of mind and daily schedules. It's always a tough balance. People find me through this blog and hire me for my words or art and so I go to work on their job(s). They can see my blog posts while they wait for their work and they wonder why I won't stop blogging, even when the work is late. Not understanding that at all costs, the blog must eat!!! The ability to support myself is managed through the ongoing opportunities that come at me through this blog. Believe it or not. And that's what I usually use those dark hours of the morning for. (And future posting as well as hitting them in pieces.)

Of course I began the blog because my head and heart were exploding with the whole anti-Mexican sentiment rising to the level of no longer being able to be ignored in everyday society and culture. Well, because of the confluence of a few events. Anyway, for a long time I poured out text and grafiks with the pressure and intensity and endurance of a firehose gusher. Now there is less original content and time spent on the blog, but its continued existence and relevance and showcasiness is what keeps tapping interest. (Plus...I HAVE NO CHOICE!!!!1.)

I haven't explained yet a couple things going on. There are honestly about ten or twenty posts I could make, that I want to make, that are not just fly-by posts, but either informative as to what's going on with the life and reach of the UMX blog and our little UMX comunidad, but also are slower meditations on some issues integral to the blog, to the communities online we travel in, and even to our political circus show going on all the time—a feast I cannot help peck and sniff at, even at my most irritated days.

Leer más de "UMX State of the Tortilla" »


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 11:30 AM.
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HMMM. At this point, I'd like to go listen to Wright's speech interview in full. Interesting. Not that I have the time at this very moment, but clearly I'll have to do that soon.


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 11:35 AM.
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MEXCELLENT.

AUSTIN, Texas — The School of Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin is offering an online course for working journalists on how to incorporate the voices and views of their communities' Latinos into their reporting.

The four-week course, "Covering the Latino Community," will teach journalists across Texas how to produce more balanced and comprehensive news stories through online reading material; a series of podcast lectures on topics from U.S.-Mexico relations to culture and education; and by teaching journalists how to use some of the free research tools available on the Web.

The course, which runs from May 5-30, is being taught by Guillermo X. Garcia, a 1971 University of Texas at Austin journalism graduate and city government and politics reporter for the San Antonio Express-News. A native of Laredo, Garcia has been USA Today's southwest bureau chief, the Orange County Register's Latin American correspondent and Cox Newspapers' Mexico City bureau chief, among many other journalism positions.

"The Latino community is the fastest growing demographic in Texas and the United States," said Lorraine Branham, director of the School of Journalism. "While this course focuses on how to better cover the Latino community, the strategies being taught apply to any minority group, such as African Americans or Vietnamese."

—School of Journalism Offers Course for Journalists "Covering the Latino Community


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 9:58 AM.
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TAKE the power back.

This is unacceptable.

The eight University of Montana students who stormed Main Hall earlier this month, staged a sit-in protest in the campus president's office, and were arrested for disorderly conduct and trespassing will get a lesson in consequences from UM administrators on Tuesday.

Charles Couture, UM dean of students, is scheduled to meet privately with each of the students who were protesting the university's refusal to sign an anti-sweatshop policy that would enforce certain codes of conduct and monitor factories that are being paid to manufacture university apparel.

Over the weekend, each of the eight protesters - who belong to UM's Students for Economic and Social Justice - received a letter from Couture summoning them to the mandatory meeting and warning they may be suspended for allegedly violating several sections of UM's Student Conduct Code.

—UM might suspend students for sweatshop protest

The band of patriots in the stories I was told in high school—those ones who so bravely threw the Boston tea party and supposedly imbued all that came after with a proud and defiant and people-centered agenda based on standing up for rights and against tyranny—are emulated today only in shades, and when you and I do so, we are usually ridiculed, punished, and/or locked up—if not shot with electrified barbs first.

Just as our presence as it is in the Middle East will only spawn new America-hating missions and mindsets from that very area, so does such unfair repression of the youth's consciences and voices only engender disillusioned and disenchanted minds in tomorrow's adults. Because...perhaps the students have a point?

Kahlil Gibran spoke of us learning about tomorrow through the young, and their take on the world we have made.

This is not how to do that.


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 9:30 AM.
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