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Out spoken and on line
Whether feeding you the latest in Latino celeb gossip or opining on the state of Latin
American politics, our favorite blogs have something to say.
By Kiko Martinez
You might refer to a political blog like the Daily Kos as an alternative to mainstream news, or visit websites like
Perez Hilton to get an occasional dose of sleazy celebrity gossip, but have you ever surfed around the blogosphere for Web logs (aka blogs) helmed by Latinos ready to vent on everything from the 2008 presidential election to killer banana spiders from Brazil? Here is a list of seven of these Latino-managed blogs from across the U.S. that highlight the breadth, depth and diversity of the Hispanic blogosphere.
GUANABEE
Website www.guanabee.com
Topics of conversation Gossip, pop culture
and lifestyle
Latina at the computer Cindy Casares
and staff
Why visit? It’s self-described as the “spicy
coverage for the Latino in you”—and well it
should be. Although it’s a bit top heavy with
political commentary (what blog isn’t these
days?), Guanabee still has time and sense of
humor enough to give its two cents about
a maple bacon doughnut sold in Portland (maybe a subtle association between Latinos
and diabetes?).
Just a sample “Political mastermind Daddy
Yankee’s public endorsement of John Mc
Cain has, obviously, decided this election
for us. But did you know he initially approached Barack Obama’s people about
an endorsement? And there were all like, ‘You ain’t our Papi, Daddy.”
MACHO CHIP
Website www.machochip.com
Topics of conversation Sports, technology and videogames
Latinos at the computer Alejandro De La
Cruz and staff
Why visit?Guanabee might be “spicy coverage” but Macho Chip calls itself “puro coverage.” It includes everything from a video of a cheerleader getting leveled by a soccer ball to
chastising Fox Sports channel for mistaking
Carolina Panthers’ tight end Daunte Rosario
for actress Rosario Dawson.
Just a sample“We like Lance Armstrong
because he’s a great symbol of perseverance
and dedication. Every time we want to quit
blogging and dedicate our lives to some altruistic pursuit, we dig deep into our wretched,
money-loving soul, and tell ourselves to keep
pushing on like Lance would want us to.”
BABALU BLOG
Website www.babalublog.com
Topic of conversation Politics
Latinos at the computer Valentin “El Barbaro” Prieto and staff
Why visit? IIf you’re hoping to fi nd video of
Desi Arnaz singing and playing the conga,
you’ll be sorely disappointed. Still, there’s
plenty of material at Babalu Blog, starting
with its fearless criticism of Cuba’s dictatorship. No wonder its slogan is “an island
on the net without a bearded dictator.” The
site may not spur an actual revolution, but
at least it’s bitter enough to make us cheer
a little louder for democracy
Just a sample “While Cubans recover and
somehow fi nd a way to survive on their own
after the devastation of Hurricane Gustav,
they can feel better about their slave master’s
lack of attention. You see, their slave master
would love to help but he’s a little busy
right now.”
LATINO PUNDIT
Website www.latinopundit.com
Topic of conversation Politics
Latinos at the computerLouis Pagan and“El Loco”
Why visit?“Su voto es su voz” might be
a familiar campaign to many Latinos during an election year, but the Latino Pundit
proves that while voting may be the voice of
an underrepresented people, venting on an
Internet platform can be just as important
to kick-start political dialogue amongst
Latino Web surfers. Plus, Pagan can still
blog about his baby’s poop consistency
in between legislation talk, and we’ll still
read on.
Just a sample “I’ve been telling people
for a long while that when Latinos look at
Obama and Johnnie Mac, the choice will
be so crystal clear that Obama won’t have
a hard time garnering the lion’s share of the
Latino vote.”
THE LATIN AMERICANIST
Website www.ourlatinamerica.blogspot.com
Topics of conversation Business, politics,culture
Latinos at the computer Miguel, Taylor Kirk, Erwin C., Maegan la Mala, Alison
Why visit? If you like your blogs bipartisan,
the Latin Americanist is a pretty safe bet.
Instead of ridiculing the Sarah Palin choice
in August, the site posted a story on the his-
tory of female politicians in Latin America.
Did you know that in 1974 Isabel Peron
of Argentina was the ? rst-ever democratic
female head of state? Now you do.
Just a sample “It will be interesting to see
what direction McCain takes on immigra-
tion. Will he ... take the moderate approach
that led him to co-author a bipartisan im-
migration reform bill last year? Or will he
opt for a harder line on the issue and ally
with those who worked against that very
proposal?”
LATINA LISTA
Website www.latinalista.net
Topic of conversation Politics
Latina at the computer Marisa Treviño
Why visit? According to the Tomás Rivera
Policy Institute at the University of Southern
California, 9.3 million Latino voters will go
to the polls on Election Day. This represents
a 23 percent increase (1.7 million more
voters) from the 2004 election. We think
Treviño probably knows the effect a huge
Latino turnout will have in November.
Just a sample “As a woman, I am all for
supporting my hermanas when it comes to
pursuing opportunities and blazing their
trails in politics ... [but] the selection of
Sarah Palin as Sen. John McCain’s running mate is a stunt that is pandering for
the gender vote, and that is insulting on so
many levels.”
LA PLAZA
Website http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza
Topics of conversation All Latino issues
Latino/as at the computer L.A. Times correspondents
Why visit? It might be one of 41 blogs
featured at the Los Angeles Times site, but
it de? nitely knows the demographic it is
aiming for. From stories on local Latino-
themed festivals to Bolivia’s struggle for
independence, La Plaza is a one-stop-shop
for those who’d rather read their news on-
line than buy an actual paper.
Just a sample “Joacim Naranjo plays the
trumpet pretty well. But the 16-year-old
from East Los Angeles found himself ? ap-
ping his sore lips like a hors as he and a half
dozen other boys tried to master the rapidly
cascading sounds of a mariachi song.”
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