CHICANO RADIO NETWORK U.S.A. Blog

THE CROSSROADS OF LATINO MUSIC AND NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!

Mormons/LDS/FLDS want to pass bill requiring for everyone to go to Church.

Now let’s see, I’ve been on Facebook since 2009. From the beginning I have been against the Mormon/FLDS/LDS for profit and deviance because of what they do and have done to the state or Arizona. I’ve said time and time again that they believe that church and state are one of the same. I have for years told you how evil and corrupt they are and how they are making Arizona their Utah. I’ve had many that have criticized my messages. But is an advocate which aims to protect and inform people of a group founded on white supremacy and greed, and bad thing? I’ve warned folks about how you shouldn’t view the crisp collars and well manicured lawns as nothing more than a front for the evil that is discussed in their stakes and temples. She mended guns and faith, it will only be a matter of time that she argues that the LDS/Mormons/FLDS it the only organization that she feels meets her nirvana where the will of the white establishment supersedes all others. Read more about this Arizona politician…

Frank M. Miranda
CRNLive

From AZCentral……..

Our Father who art in heaven … could you take a moment out of your busy schedule and come down here, please?

We need You to explain a few things to Arizona state State Sen. Sylvia Allen.

(I know. You’re shaking your head, aren’t you? This might be too daunting a task even for YOU.)

Allen, as You know, is a Republican from Snowflake, a Tea Party favorite who wants to pretend Arizona is an independent country rather than a state, and who believes government should stay completely out of people lives — unless she can use her position to help out a son-in-law who got into some hot water over behavior with some of the inmates he was guarding at a women’s prison.

But that’s another story.

Anyway, Big Guy, they were debating a gun bill at a legislative committee meeting at the State Capitol this week so, naturally, Allen brought up religion.

(In Arizona, complete lack of logic is natural. But, you know that, too)

This was one of those crazy bills in which lawmakers want people to be able to bring concealed weapons into public buildings. Allen got upset because a few people expressed common sense opposition to the idea. Lawmakers here cannot abide common sense.

Allen said, “Probably we should be debating a bill requiring every American to attend a church of their choice on Sunday to see if we can get back to having a moral rebirth,” adding “that would never be allowed.”

She hinted that guns in public buildings might be necessary until there is a moral rebirth.

(I couldn’t find anything about that in the New Testament, but I’m no biblical scholar.)

“I believe what’s happening to our country is that there’s a moral erosion of the soul of America,” she said.

Allen later told the Arizona Capitol Times that she wished things were more like they were in the 1950s.

(Again, I know what you’re thinking: Civil rights problems. Women’s rights problems. Voting rights problems. Segregated schools.)

Allen told the Times, “People prayed, people went to church. I remember on Sundays the stores were closed. The biggest thing is religion was kicked out of our public places, out of our schools.”

I’m not sure that even a Supreme Being such as yourself could get through to the lesser beings in the Arizona Legislature, but perhaps You could take a moment and explain to them the Constitutional reason for a separation between church and state. And perhaps explain as well that religion and morality are not something that comes from public schools, but from our faiths, our families and, ultimately, ourselves.

I’m not one for mixing religious faith with newspaper work, but I say this with both exasperation and solicitation:

God help us.

Source: http://www.azcentral.com/story/ejmontini/2015/03/26/sylvia-allen-arizona-legislature-mandatory-church/70482802/

More Chicano Voting Power! Assemblywoman Gonzalez Partners with Secretary of State Padilla To Bring Oregon’s Universal Voter Registration Law to California

Photo Credit:  Califaztlan / Adam Sandoval

California is going to work on adopting Oregon’s automatic voter registration. In CA, this will add nearly 7 million more voters onto the rolls. Many of them Chicano and/or Latino.

Thanks for sharing this Ryan Trabuco!

Just in:

 

Assemblywoman Gonzalez Partners with Secretary of State Padilla To Bring Oregon’s Universal Voter Registration Law to California

 

California New Motor Voter Act Would Streamline Voter Registration Process for Millions of Eligible, Unregistered Voters

SACRAMENTO – (Thursday, March 26, 2015) – California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla today proposed the California New Motor Voter Act, which would result in the addition of millions of new registered voters in Californians by registering every eligible resident who goes to a DMV to get a license or renew one, with the ability to opt out.

The California New Motor Voter Act, which will be considered by the Legislature as Assembly Bill 1461, calls for data already being collected by the DMV to be provided to local election officials to expand voter registration while protecting the public’s right to privacy and to decline registration.

An estimated 7 million Californians are eligible to vote but unregistered, ranking the state 38th among the 50 states in voter registration.

“The California New Motor Voter Act provides an opportunity to bring millions of eligible voters into the electoral process,” Gonzalez said. “Our democracy is stronger when more people in the community have a voice at the ballot box. Even as some states are becoming more restrictive in guaranteeing the public a voice in our democracy, California should do everything it can to ensure people’s right to be a voter.”

Modeled after the recent “New Motor Voter” law in Oregon, AB 1461 allows for data already collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles to be provided by the Secretary of State to verify a resident’s eligibility to vote. After determining a resident to be eligible to vote, the Secretary of State then provides the information to county Registrars of Voters who maintain each county’s voter rolls. Those residents who are eligible to vote would be contacted by the Secretary of State with the option of declining registration or adopting a political party affiliation. The bill would continue to protect those covered by existing confidentiality policies, and voters would retain their right to cancel their voter registration at any time.

Secretary of State Padilla said he is excited to work with Assemblywoman Gonzalez to bring the Oregon law to California.

“One of the biggest barriers to citizen participation is the voter registration process. A new, enhanced Motor Voter law would strengthen our democracy.  It would be a game changer,” Secretary Padilla said. “While Oregon could expand its voter rolls by as much as 300,000 voters through their new enhanced Motor Voter process, California could expand it rolls by millions.”

In 2014, Gonzalez authored the VOTE Act (AB 1873), creating a pilot program in San Diego County to provide all voters with mail ballots in special legislative elections.

For more information on AB 1461 or to interview Assemblywoman Gonzalez, contact Evan McLaughlin at (916) 319-2080 or (619) 850-2790.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez represents California’s 80th Assembly District, which includes portions of the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista and National City. She serves as Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Women in the Workplace and is a single mom. For more information, visit http://asmdc.org/members/a80/.

Sir Doug Sahm Tribute In Austin, TX, With Legendary Chicano / Tejano Artists

This is the one event you do not want to miss if you are attending the SXSW in Austin City, Texas!  Join the Sir Doug Sahm Tribute Night on Saturday, March 21 at The Paramount Theater. The all-star lineup includes Doug Sahm’s former bandmates Augie Meyers, Flaco Jimenez, and the Texas Tornados, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez (Chingon musicians) and more that he worked with throughout his life.

You can find out more via Alex Ruiz Music or the official SXSW:

Sir Doug Sahm Tribute Night

 

From SXSW:

 

Announcing The Sir Doug Sahm Tribute Showcase & Music Conference Session

SXSW Presents Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove: A Gathering of the Tribes on Saturday, March 21 at The Paramount Theatre. This show will be open to Music and Platinum badges and Music Wristbands. There will also be single tickets available in advance via The Paramount Theatre’s website.

The all-star lineup includes Doug Sahm’s former bandmates Augie Meyers, Flaco Jimenez, the Texas Tornados, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and more musicians that he worked with throughout his life.

In addition to this SXSW Music Festival tribute to Doug Sahm, there will also be a Music Conference session dedicated to Sir Doug’s legacy on Friday, March 20 in Austin Convention Center Room 16AB. Speakers include Bill Bentley of Vanguard Records and writer/filmmaker Joe Nick Patoski.

A documentary feature chronicling the details of Doug Sahm’s life and career, titled Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove, will have its World Premiere just two nights prior to the showcase, on Thursday, March 19, at The Paramount Theatre.

The unsung hero of Texas music, Doug Sahm was country and western child prodigy on steel guitar, a teenage rhythm and blues guitarist who fell under the spell of chitlin’ circuit legends such as T Bon Walker and Gatemouth Brown, and hitmaker with number one radio hits in his hometown of San Antonio when he was still in high school. He rode the wave of the Beatles and the British Invasion with his band the Sir Douglas Quintet, landed in San Francisco in time for the Summer of Love, and planted his flag in Austin at the birth of the Austin music scene, creating his own Groover’s Paradise.

Respected as a musicians’ musician, Sir Doug’s greatest triumph was founding the Tex-Mex supergroup The Texas Tornados with his one time mentor Freddy Fender, his lifelong sidekick Augie Meyers, and accordion legend Flaco Jimenez, whom Sahm took from the West Side barrio to worldwide renown.

Front page photo by Van Brooks

 

Here are dates and times for the tribute per the Premiere Doug Sahm Documentary FB event page:

 

Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove
SXSW 2015 Event Schedule

$10 Admission

3 showings
Thursday, March 19
7:30PM – 8:52PM
Paramount Theatre
713 Congress Ave

Friday, March 20
2:30PM – 3:52PM
Alamo Drafthouse Lamar C

Saturday, March 21
11:00AM – 12:22PM
Vimeo Theater

Sir Doug & The Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove tells the story of Doug Sahm, the wild man musicians’ musician and unsung hero of Texas music. A country music child prodigy and teenage rhythm & blues dynamo who caused a riot at his San Antonio high school, Sahm emerged as an international rock star leading the Sir Douglas Quintet. He landed in San Francisco just in time for the Summer of Love in 1967. He returned to Texas as the cowboy hippie rocker who built a burgeoning music scene in Austin before forming the Tex-Mex super group The Texas Tornados. A kinetic, quirky character with a solid sense of place as well as an innate wanderlust, Doug Sahm’s story is the story of Texas music.

Section: Documentary Feature
Premiere Status: World Premiere
Country: USA
Language: English
Year: 2015
Runtime:82min
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/events/event_FS18152

45th Annual Chicano Park Day in San Deigo With Artwork by Tlaloc Bustillos

The Chicano Movement also known as “El Movimiento” still continues.

Here is the poster for the 45th annual Chicano Park Day celebration with Artwork by Tlaloc Bustillos.

Chicano Park Day will be April 25, 2015 from 10 am – 5 pm.

 

No Stinkin’ Badges Event During SXSW in Austin, Texas!

Don’t want to pay between $700-$1700 for a badge at the SXSW 2015 in Austin, Texas?

You’re in luck!  You can enjoy music for free!  Click here for more details!

 

From the FB event page:

 

Join us for two FREE nights of highly unofficial live music! Set times for both shows are listed below …

▼▼MONDAY 3.16 Carousel Lounge▼▼
—————–DOORS 6PM—————–
7PM – Eric Tessmer Band [Pysch Rock]
♫ “Lullabye” ► bit.ly/1MJHCUm
8PM – Mayeux and Broussard [Bayou Blues]
♫ “Sky High Rider” ► bit.ly/1z7PAwc
9PM – Devin James Fry [Salesman]
♫ “We Were Born Fully Formed” ► bit.ly/180ibOf
10PM – The Deer [Ether Folk]
♫ “Take Flight” ► bit.ly/1DFFP04
11PM – Tinnarose [Folk Rock]
♫ “When You’re Gone” ► bit.ly/1wbIqg7

▼▼TUESAY 3.17 Swan Dive▼▼
————-DOORS 7PM————-
6PM – Grace London [Indie Folk]
♫ “Mary Anne” ► bit.ly/1FKLM9g
7PM – Sam Pace & The Gilded Grit [Pysch Rock]
♫ “Ice Cream Samurai” ► bit.ly/1aTwPZb
8PM – III BONES [Lo-Fi Soul]
♫ “Lioness” ► http://bit.ly/1N3Clr4
9PM – Wildcat Apollo [Indie Pop]
♫ “No. 6” ► http://bit.ly/1FIM4NN
10PM – Diamond Kings [Afro Beat]
♫ “Clutch” ► http://bit.ly/1zRlGgi
11PM – CAPYAC [Disco Duo]
♫ “Cloud” ► bit.ly/190Ig0J
12AM – GGOOLLDD [Dance Pop]
♫ “Boyz” ► bit.ly/1zvCjOo
1AM – Prom Date [Synth Pop]
♫ “Good Morning, Boyfriend” ► bit.ly/17GXeaI

NO COVER
NO STINKING BADGES

 

“Chingon” places to go during SXSW week in Austin Texas Without Wristbands

There are a couple of places folks can go to that does not require a wristband during SXSW week in Austin, Texas.

1)  Lupe Valdez of Anteros Films and LA based film producer, Mike Benavides with Oddly Nimble Pictures invite you to the 2nd Annual TEXAS FILM FIESTA. Join and mix with the movers and shakers in film
WITH or WITHOUT a badge where they will be working on feature films in Texas in the coming year and want to celebrate with you!

2) SXSW starts tomorrow in Austin, Texas. Via Alex Ruiz — lead singer of Chingon, please don’t forget to check out Chingon on the 16th at the Belmont (no wristband needed) and the 18th on the Google stage.

The Chicano Collection / La Colección Chicana Documentary Film

In this documentary film, Cheech Marin reveals his passion for collecting Chicano art and shares his life’s mission to elevate public consciousness of it throughout the nation and the world. It features interviews with many of today’s top Chicano/a artists, including Chaz Bojorquez, David Botello, Melesio Casas, Gaspar Enriquez, Margaret Garcia, Rupert Garcia, Carmen Lomas Garza, Raul Guerrero, Roberto Gutierrez, Wayne Alaniz Healy, Adan Hernandez, Ester Hernandez, Leo Limon, Jose Lozano, Gilbert “Magu” Lujan, Cesar Martinez, Frank Romero, Alex Rubio, Marta Sanchez, Eloy Torrez, Jesse Trevino, John Valadez, Patssi Valdez, Vincent Valdez, and George Yepes. It also features discussions of work by Carlos Almaraz, Richard S. Duardo, and Artemio Rodriguez. Interviews also include those by Raul Pacheco of Ozomatli, David Hidalgo and Cesar Rojas of Los Lobos, museum professionals, gallery owners, art dealers, and project team members and supporters.

Produced to accompany “The Chicano Collection,” an archival print project by Richard S. Duardo of Modern Multiples in partnership with Cheech Marin and Melissa Richardson Banks (as well as a subsequent traveling exhibition produced and managed by Melissa Richardson Banks), the film describes the personal journeys and viewpoints of the 26 featured artists and their struggle for acceptance by American art museums. Overall, this collection of stories demonstrates how Chicano art evolved from a political movement begun in the late 1960s and emerged as a legitimate art school after breaking down the walls in the fine art world to get the work seen and respected. Directed and written by Tamara Hernandez. Executive Producers: Cheech Marin, Richard S. Duardo, and Melissa Richardson Banks. Produced by Tamara Hernandez, Melissa Richardson Banks, and Heather Flores. Music by Timoteo Aaron. Cinematography by Richard Briglia, Kristoffer Carrillo, and Tarina Reed. Editor: Garth Grinde. Motion Graphics Designer & Editor: Dan Prussmann. Sound Design: Sunny Basham. Released on November 8, 2005. Running time: 53:05 minutes. Details on IMDB at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846767/
Category
Music
License
Standard YouTube License

Paz, Amor, y Musica The Alex Ruiz Story Directed by Israel Marquez

I have a strong history of promoting Chicanos and raza that range from writers, to musicians, to artists y todo. I would like Chicanos and Latinos to keep an eye out for a new documentary featuring Alex Ruiz directed by Israel Marquez to be released this upcoming December.

Alex Ruiz has recorded and performed with music legends such as Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Del Castillo and continues to perform with his own band The Night Mothers. You can also hear Alex in Robert Rodriguez’s movie band called Chingon. Chingon can be heard on films such as Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Sin City, Kill Bill, From Dusk Till Dawn T.V Series, and more. This documentary is sure to leave you with the idea of what Peace, Love, and Music is.

Please visit Paz, Amor, y Music — The Alex Ruiz Story Facebook page for updates.

 

 
Documentary starring Alex Ruiz to be released this upcoming December 2015. Special Guests will include Director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City), Willie Nelson, John Paul Djoria(Paul Mitchell), and many more.

 

 

New Television Drama American Crime Premiering THURSDAY MARCH 5 on ABC

With writing, timing is everything. Being in the right place at the right time.

John Ridley

Above:  Benito Martinez — photo credit American Crime.

This powerful sneak peek trailer for a new television drama American Crime was heart wrenching for me to see. American Crime will be premiering this upcoming THURSDAY MARCH 5 10|9c on ABC.

 

3 things came across my thoughts while watching the impassioned performance from both Johnny Ortiz and Benito Martinez in the trailer:

 

1)     I put myself in the shoes of the parent (Benito Martinez) whose kid was being detained for the allegation of murder. The young man (Johnny Ortiz) was complaining about his father being overbearing — but the  patriarch made no apologies for his strict parenting.

2)     As the authorities were separating the child from his father in light of the allegation, I thought of the immigrants who were and are separated from relatives because of a clearly broken immigration system the Republicans have stalled and refused to fix. The broken immigration system criminalizes hard working immigrant fathers and mothers who were forced to be torn apart from their children until the Obama administration used his executive powers to give some relief to these families.

3)     Lastly, I thought about a friend of mine – Joaquin, who was falsely accused of a crime. My childhood friend had not yet even met the “victim” who was living in another state during the time of the allegation. I watched Joaquin’s mom and dad go through a living personal hell and watched them stand by the side of their only son.

 

In this American Crime Podcast hosted by film critic and radio personality Elvis Mitchell, you get to hear a 30 minute interview of the show creator John Ridley and Executive Producer Michael McDonald who discuss the series. American Crime centers around the brutal attack of a young couple in Modesto, California. Matt Skokie, a war vet, is murdered, and his wife, Gwen, is left unconscious, barely hanging on. The crime sends shock waves throughout the community stirring up tensions across socioeconomic and racial lines in this gritty new drama — from the points of view of all those involved. “It’s not about the police. It’s not about the prosecutors. It’s really about the family,” creator John Ridley says.

 

Essentially Ridley stated this drama was about familia and how a 3 a.m. phone call in the middle of the night can happen to anyone.

 

The sneak peek managed to capture a patriarch caring father chastising his son who was being detained — yet while they were taking his son away to jail after being charged for murder, you saw the hard ass of a dad turn into a very different emotional state.  No matter what, the dad was going to be there for his boy to ensure he received a fair trial. You could see it in Benito’s eyes and his acting was moving.

 

Through the lens of a Chicana, I believe American Crime will captivate the tough love we see in ourselves an what we would do for the protection of our kids, family or friends. Often times in our culture, I see tough love displayed through discipline and/or the sheer defense of those we love in order for them to survive.  Kids are our livelihood and many of us know we would die for our children no matter what.

 

Joseph JT Campos (playing Bruno the immigrant border jumper in the American Crime series) is an actor who made me aware of this new television drama and I’m glad he did because the sneak peak is powerfully irresistible.

 

I encourage my readers to watch American Crime this upcoming Thursday on ABC.

Dusk Till Dawn: The Series Can Be Seen On Netflix!

Above:  Joseph T Campos / Photo Credit:  El Rey Network

I have known for some time the movie From Dusk Till Dawn could be seen on Netflix, but I did not know we could see From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series until recently. In order for me to keep up to speed on Robert Rodriguez’s projects, I visit the actual El Rey Network pages on Facebook.   [For the record, Netflix is offering a “start your free month” special so that you could at least give it a trial and/or keep it if you are happy with them. Personally, I am happy with my Netflix.]

I was complaining to an actor of the series via  Joseph JT Campos because our COX cable provider does not allow us to see El Rey Network on our television sets,  when he told me the series was available on Netflix.  Sure enough after checking, I discovered Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (written by Alvaro Rodriguez) is indeed on Netflix.

So there you have it! Chicanos / Mexican Americans living in the southwest can now see the series on Netflix if their cable provider does not offer it.  Marketing department heads of the cable providers in the southwest really ought to understand the explosive dynamic growth of our ethnic group considering we have significant buying power in the United States.   Cable companies specifically in the southwest ought to offer El Rey Network and I hope they consider it.  In the meantime, my audience can consider themselves informed on the series.   The vampires shown in the series are not sparkling or glittery — they are raw and thirsty for blood.

Enjoy!

 

Above:  Alex Ruiz and Del Castillo of Chingon performing on the series.

Photo Cred:  El Rey Network