ntpyshxo

[ntpyshxo]

Retire In Latin America: The 6 Most Relaxing Countries For Stress-Free Golden Years

This Huffington Post article most recently updated today takes a page from pre-Castro depictions of Cuba, but now frames Latin America as a paradise for elderly US Americans, rather than a place of vice. 

Ever dreamed of retiring to a tropical paradise? With the low cost of living and vibrant expat communities of many countries south of the border, some retirees have found that it's easier than ever to make those dreams a reality. Increasing numbers of older Americans are choosing to retire abroad, and many are opting to go south. If you're looking to enjoy warm weather, natural beauty, a slow, stress-free pace of life and low real-estate costs, Latin America could be an ideal retirement choice. 

-Ian

[ntpyshxo]

Criminal Teachers' Unions in Mexico

This Wall Street Journal video which accompanied an article in today's paper is filled with rhetoric that seeks to normalize a view of Mexico/Mexicans as corrupt/inept/etc. 

Accountability is a foreign concept for many who go into teaching, which explains why teaching students are part of the rebellion. In April, violence broke out in Chilpancingo, the state capital of Guerrero, when the state legislature refused a request by activists to reject the new evaluation process. Union thugs vandalized property. They also blocked the highway that runs from Mexico City, through Chilpancingo, to Acapulco, with serious economic consequences. Most teachers unions at least pretend to care about their students. Many striking teachers in Mexico just walked off the job, leaving children and parents in the lurch.

-Ian

[ntpyshxo]

Thinking about the way images can color a story, compare the top photo from a BBC article about Chilean student protests on May 8 to a few pictures posted on the Facebook of the Federación de Estudiantes de la Universidad de Chile. Interestingly, the BBC articles describes the "wave" of demonstrations, but I'm tempted to not try to read too far into it and frame it in Santa Ana water metaphor terms. Regardless, this contrast between the photos helps show the impossibility of journalistic "neutrality."

[ntpyshxo]

“For our People, Our Culture, Our Future”

Though their video is a year old, the recent Richwine controversy brought the white supremacist National Policy Institute into the national media spotlight. Paraphrasing Professor Volk, it’s hard to see how the inclusion of this kind of rhetoric in the mainstream media leads to anything that isn’t very, very scary. 

-Ian

[ntpyshxo]

Sesame Street’s New Latino Character

Sesame Street prepares to announce the introduction of a new Latino character on May 10. This will not be the first Latin@ character in the fictional puppet neighborhood.

  From Huffington Post:

Latinos Sonia Manzano and Emilio Delgado, who play the role of Maria and Luis, started working on “Sesame Street” back in 1971. There is also the character of Rosita, which debuted in 1993. She is the first bilingual Muppet and will go back and forth in Spanish and English mid-sentence. Rosita, who can be recognized by her turquoise coat, is from Mexico and often plays the guitar and teaches her fellow friends Spanish words they are not aware of.”

  Though I don’t expect the introduction of a new Latino character to play into the current immigration debate, I do find hope in the possibility that dynamic (non-stereotypical) Latin@ characters in popular culture aimed at children will incline viewers to embrace diversity and multiculturalism later in life.

  -Ian

[ntpyshxo]

US as 50 States with Equal Population

Perhaps others have already seen this redrawing of the US as 50 equally populated states. As conceived by the artist, this map would help prevent the electoral college from over- or under-representing certain states. 

-Ian