West Side Story

Reblogueado desde Boricuolandía:

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West Side Story is a widely well-known American musical and it's probably Jerome Robbins' most beloved and associated work as a choreographer. In 1957 this new concept burst onto the Broadway scene in the form of a modernize retelling of the classic Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet, only this time the featuring became the Puerto Rican Sharks and the American Jets, two rival street gangs fighting for dominance in Northern Manhattan, NY, while the title characters became Tony and Maria.

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Made in France

Tenemos un pase anual al Museo del Louvre que solemos aprovechar los miércoles por la noche, por la simple razón de que ese día y los viernes el museo cierra más tarde de lo habitual.

Cuando terminamos nuestra visita, cruzamos invariablemente la Plaza del Palacio Real (Place du Palais-Royal) para tomar nuestra imprescindible línea 7, siempre accediendo por el gran Kiosco de los Noctámbulos (Le Kioske des noctambules) de Jean-Michel Othoniel, del cual les prometo subiré un par de fotos en estos días, una entrada de metro que tiene la particularidad de estar decorada con esferas de aluminio y vidrio de Murano. Es una chulada, se las recomiendo.

En fin, todo esto para decirles que la Place du Palais-Royal es muy viva. Siempre hay exposiciones de gastronomía regional, artesanías, chicos patinando de manera atípica, manifestaciones políticas – la plaza está justo frente al Consejo de Estado (Conseil d’État) – y el miércoles pasado abrió su espacio a un montaje publicitario muy creativo para visitar la exposición “Made in France, Salon de la Haute Façon, 10 ans“, que tuvo lugar el 10 y 11 de abril del 2013 en el Carrousel del Louvre.

Made in France, Salon de la Haute Façon, 10 ans. Exposition du 10 au 11 avril 2013.

En espera…

Cambiamos oficialmente de estación hace unos 5 días, pero el clima no hace más que jugar con nosotros. Seguimos esperando, tal vez ingenuamente, a que nos lleguen los primeros rayos de sol para poder guardar ya las estorbosas chamarras de invierno. La espera podría ser larga…

En 2011, el sol no salió sino hasta primeros días de mayo con unas cuantas concesiones en abril. Y para muestra, aquí una foto que tomé el 1 de mayo del 2011 frente a la entrada de la pirámide de cristal del Louvre. La pareja de chicos que están en el fondo de la fotografía, seguramente turistas, aún portan ropa abrigadora, mientras que el chico de traje, él por su lado seguramente parisino, harto de ponerse y quitarse la bufanda, decide que ya es hora de disfrutar a como de lugar los pocos rayos de sol que nos llegan.

Todos para uno y un vélib’ para todos

Ya Radinito les había platicado de este maravilloso servicio de “bicicletas públicas” Vélib’ (vélos en libre-service) de París aquí. En teoría, el Vélib’ esta limitado a una sola persona a la vez pero algunas veces nos topamos con escenas como esta:

Vélib Paris en familia (Ratonet, 24 feb. 2012)

Puerto Rico and the United Nations

Originally published in “Boricuolandia.wordpress.com“

According to the United Nations, as of October 2009 there were 16 non-self-governing entities in the world: American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands / Malvinas, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau,Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands, Western Sahara. These territories remain on the agenda of the United Nations until their status is satisfactorily resolved.

You may probably wonder: why is Puerto Rico off the list? Making the story short, Boricuoland was erased from the list in 1952 after the U.S. decided to redefine its political status to that of a Commonwealth and authorized Puerto Rico to draft and approve its own Constitution. This means that Puerto Rico is internally self-governing- as it is the case with the Netherlands Antilles and the Cook Islands. Nevertheless, many Puerto Ricans still question this special relationship and even consider themselves to be second-class American citizens as they are prohibited from voting in presidential elections, denied voting representation in Congress, and not entitled to receive certain welfare benefits. So, asking a Puerto Rican about his views with respect to the island’s relationship with the United States (are they pro statehood, pro independence or pro Commonwealth) may be like asking Catalans about their relationship with the Kingdom of Spain… the issue of political status is a centuries-old problem and your question may no doubt end up in an endless discussion…

What is Puerto Rico and to what extend is the island really no longer a colony? Do you really believe that its status has been “satisfactorily resolved” ? This UN list, as you can imagine, is quite controversial and many scholars and international leaders also urge for a consensus to clarify this ambiguous status. During the UN General Assembly that took place on October 5th, 2009 (GA/SPD/422) with regards to Decolonization Issues, Cuba (Rodolfo Eliseo Benítez Versón) called on the United States to expedite a process that would allow Puerto Ricans to fully exercise the right to self-determination and independence (Cf. Resolution 1514, XV).

“It took Alaska 92 years to become a state of the Union; the efforts were driven by Alaskans, not the Federal Government. This probably means that the efforts toward any change of status have to be driven by the people of Puerto Rico themselves.” (Carmen Lugo-Lugo, ”Nobody’s Colony: The United States, the United Nations and Puerto Rico’s Invisibility”)

Farm Labor, the Newcomers

Originally published in “Boricuolandia.wordpress.com“

In the post-World War II era, the peak period of Puerto Rican migration, many men and women – displaced from rural economies – went to continental US in search for work. Many of them did it via a seasonal agricultural labor contract. The state promoted farm labor programs enabling poor rural people to migrate directly to the States without even saving money for the trip. Needless to say that these programs met the State’s immediate need for cheap seasonal agricultural laborers.
People signed labor contacts with employers and then the contacts were approved by Puerto Rico’s Commissioner of Labor: “Farmers requested Puerto Rican workers through the local offices of the U.S. Employment Service. The requests were forwarded to the regional office of the Bureau of Employment Security which certified the need for laborers and contacted Puerto Rico’s Employment Service for recruitment.” (Cf. Carmen Teresa Whalen, From Puerto Rico to Philadelphia, 2001, p. 49)

The three largest Puerto Rican communities in the US were New York, Chicago and Philadelphia

Don Julio

Born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico in 1925,  used labor contracts for two years before settling in Philadelphia in 1953. Don Julio: “Well, you see, I’ve always worked. Well, then I wen to work to earn money, and the work that there was, was sugar cane. Work in sugar cane is really though. Sugar cane, it irritates [your skin] badly, ooh. I worked for about a year. Then I heard the news that they were going to bring people to work in the United States. Then, I went and filled out a paper. I came.” (Whalen, 2001, p. 71)

Farm Jobs. Farm placement Service. State Employment Service. 1064 Maine St., Auburn, GA. August 1, 1950. (Taken from “Farm Labor Bulletin: North Dakota State Employment Service)

Division of Employment Security, Missouri. Post Office Box 59, Jefferson City. Telephone 3080. May 12, 1950. (Taken from “Farm Labor Bulletin: North Dakota State Employment Service)

Farm Labor Information 1/2 mile ahead. U.S. Department of Labor. U.S. Employment Service (Taken from “Farm Labor Bulletin: North Dakota State Employment Service)

Farm Labor (Taken from “Farm Labor Bulletin: North Dakota State Employment Service)

Extract Agreement Governing Employment of Puerto Rican Labor
(Taken from “Farm Labor Bulletin: North Dakota State Employment Service)
Farm Labor Bulletin
North Dakota State Employment Service
April 20, 1950
Bulletin No. 2 ??
Agreement Governing Employment of Puerto Rican Labor
(Extract)
a. The United States Employment service, bureau of Employment Security, will consider Puerto Rico as a supply source of domestic labor and will extend clearance orders to the Puerto Rican Department of Labor, after clearance has been madder in the Stat and region of demand, and thereafter in the interregional clearance if labor demands of the employer have not been satisfy. If an employer states a preference for Puerto Rican labor and the State agency determines that labor is not available within the State or adjoining States, the order may be extended by the headquarters office of the Bureau to the Puerto Rican Department of Labor, through its New York Office.

Full text in PDF file here : FarmPlacementHandbookPT2 Virginia State

Farm Labor Bulletin
North Dakota State Employment Service
April 20, 1950
Bulletin No. 2 ??
Agreement Governing Employment of Puerto Rican Labor

(Extract)
a. The United States Employment service, bureau of Employment Security, will consider Puerto Rico as a supply source of domestic labor and will extend clearance orders to the Puerto Rican Department of Labor, after clearance has been madder in the Stat and region of demand, and thereafter in the interregional clearance if labor demands of the employer have not been satisfy. If an employer states a preference for Puerto Rican labor and the State agency determines that labor is not available within the State or adjoining States, the order may be extended by the headquarters office of the Bureau to the Puerto Rican Department of Labor, through its New York Office.

Indignation and action

« Créer, c’est résister. Résister, c’est créer. »

To create is to resist. To resist is to create.

Stéphane Hessel (1917 – 2013)

 

” Stéphane Hessel was one of the authors of the 1948 UN Human Rights Declaration. Six decades later, his booklet was another global appeal to individual human beings, but this time on a more personal and subjective level, through one of our most distinguished and noble sentiments: indignation. Throughout his life and writings, Stéphane Hessel has, however, appealed to indignation not only as a feeling, but as a driver for action. This is why many connected him to recent protest movements all over the world. These movements were grounded not only in the assertion of individual human beings’ indignation but also of their will to become actors in their own lives. Like most of Alter-Globalization youth in the early 2000s, the movements that surged in 2011 draw on highly individualized, personal commitments. They have no leaders, no heroes and no manifestos. Boosted by the 2011 Arab Uprisings, the indignados in Madrid, Athens, New York and Cairo point to the structural limitations of representative democracy and develop prefigurative activism and local alternatives, implementing a more direct and participatory democracy in their assemblies, neighborhoods and local economies.  They haven’t remained at the stage of indignation but moved on to experiment with alternative paths that could lead to a better world. And this is probably why they resonate so closely with Stéphane Hessel’s life testimony and with his appeal to indignation and action”.

Geoffrey Pleyers, a sociologist at the University of Louvain and at the EHESS-PAris, is the author of “Alter-globalization. Becoming Actors in the Global Age” (Polity Press, 2011).

Inspirational French writer Stephane Hessel dies at 95
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21599477

Pau, Pablo, Paul…

Originally published in “Boricuolandia.wordpress.com“

Pau Casals (1876-1973)

S’il est bien un nom à retenir au sein du petit monde de la musique classique portoricaine, c’est bien celui-ci. Né en Catalogne de mère portoricaine, sa carrière brillante et le fruit d’une rencontre imprévue avec la reine d’Espagne, qui a éclairé son destin. Alos qu’il joue du violoncelle au Café Tost pour gagner un peu d’argent, elle le repère et, séduite par son talent, lui prend en charge pour lui trouver une bourse. Pablo Casals est aujourd’hui l’une des grandes références  de l’histoire du  violoncelle, avec l’azerbaïdjanais Mstislav Rostropovitch. Il a mis en place de nouvelles techniques, et fait évoluer l’instrument. Egalement compositeur, ce musicien a laissé une formidable œuvre pour violoncelle. En Espagne, il est respecté pour son engagement contre le fascisme. Il n’a jamais accepté d’aller jouer en Allemagne sous le nazisme, et n’a tenu aucun concert pendant cinq ans en Espagne pour s’opposer à Franco. Finalement, il choisit Porto Rico, où il fondera l’orchestre symphonique et donnera de nombreuses master classes. Il décèdera à San Juan à l’âge de 96 ans.

Puerto Rico Ilustrado, Artwork

Originally published in “Boricuolandia.wordpress.com“

For many years Puerto Rico Ilustrado was one of the island’s most important magazines. It was weekly published from March 6th 1910 through December 27th 1952, a length of time during which it amassed a collection of 2227 issues.

At the French National Library (Bibliothèque National de France, BNF) someone donated four of these magazines issued between September and October 1938. Like many others I find myself captivated with vintage advertising, specifically it is the advertising before the 50′s that is most aesthetically pleasing to me. I have then photographed a couple of ads from  these magazines that I want to share with you through this blog.  I think my favorites have to be Ron Venerable and the oil stove ad. It makes me giddy that I can still get the same products that were advertised 70+ years ago.

I have talked about this magazine before, here.

Usted puede usar el mismo maquillaje que Myrna Lay! – Max Factor Hollywood

Portada de la Revista Puerto Rico Ilustrado

Puerto Rico Ilustrado. Ano XXVIII, N. 1491. 8 Octubre de 1938. 10 céntimos (.10 $)

Ron Kofresi – Puerto Rican Rum; Ponce

Ron Kofrensi. Puerto Rican Rum. Monllor & Boscio – Licoreria “La Bodega”. Ponce

Una taza o vaso de Kresto cuesta muy poco pero sus beneficios son inmensos.

Ron Venerable – Puerto Rican Rum (Destilled and Bottled by J.R. Nieves & Cia. ); Arroyo, Puerto Rico.

Asi no, Pepe… suavecito! – Micromatic Blades, Gem Doubledge et Gem Singledge. Como afeitarse con hojas GEM.

Puerto Rico Ilustrado. Ano XXVIII, No. 1492, 15 de octubre de 1938.

Usted puede depender en las Bujias Champion para aceleracion. Chispas fuertes en calor son necesarias para que su motor funcione suave y activamente. Es su carrio tardio o brusco? Vea cuanto mejora con un juego nuevo de bujias Champion. Se pagan con la gasolina que economizan. – Julio T. Rodriguez; O’Donell No. 6, San Juan. Champio Spark Plug Company

Excursiones semanales para Islas Virgenes. La excursion que tantos repiten y de que miles quedan encantados. Viajes inolvidables de placer y de alegria en tierra. Divertida y saba camaderia a bordo. Visite estas romanticas y misteriosas Islas, sus legendarias e historicas ciudades, sus pintorescas campinas. Una vacacion extraordinaria. Haga su reserva con tiempo. Para mas informes dirijase a Bull Lines (San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez)

Instituto del Turismo. Lo que tiene que hacer el ciudadano que desea convertir a Puerto Rico en un Centro Turistico de primer orden (Decalago)

Juegos de bano (en colores) Notara cuan bajos son nuestros precios, tan sumamente bajos o mas, que si usted ordenara estos juegos a la fabrica. Consultenos antes de comprar.

Cocinas de Petroleo “Los Muchachos”

Ahorre tiempo y dinero con nuestras Cocinas de Petroleo “Los Muchachos”. Marca EVERITE de 2 hornillas y marca KEROGAS de 2 hornillas.

Nuevo Vapor Turista Puerto Rico. Recientemente agregado a nuestra flota, el moderno y comodo vapor “Puerto Rico”. Viene a mejorar aun mas nuestro servicio de carga, correo y pasage. Porto Rico Line

Presentamos ahora un nuevo tipo de cerveza “Corona Gold Label” en una nueva botella “Steinie”; Corona Brewing Corporation. Santurce, P.R.

Información del Artículo

Título:	+ Agentes de Puerto Rico Ilustrado (anuncio)
En:	PUERTO RICO ILUSTRADO, 1938
Temas:	Puerto Rico ilustrado Publicidad de revistas
Revista:	Puerto Rico ilustrado
Resumen:	El artículo-anuncio describe el proceso para recibir la revista. Toda persona que deseaba suscribirse a la revista, podía acudir al agente del pueblo respectivo o dirigirse directamente a la administración de la misma.

Palabras Claves:	Palabras claves : subscripción, agentes, revistas
Areas Temáticas:	Industria y comercio

Cuidado con Rita

Originally published in “Boricuolandia.wordpress.com“

Cuidado con Rita (Don’t mess with Rita)

Energetic Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress Rita Moreno sings Fever, accompanied by Floyd and Animal.
Animal gets hilariously out-of-control playing the drums wildly while Rita sings Fever. Rita has some harsh words with him in Spanish, but animal decides to play in an even louder way. Aggravated Rita stops her song and smashes Animal’s head between two cymbals.

I must confess she’s one of my all time favorite guest stars.

[Rita (Spanish) : Oye buddy. Nomás quiero decirte que no debes hacer eso. It's not nice ¿Entiende ? Mírame a mi cuando te hable. Éste es mi número y si tú me fastidias más te voy a dar una gaznata que te va a dejar bobo. Cool it."]

If you are wondering what Rita says in Spanish, here it is: “Listen Buddy. All I wanna tell you is that you shouldn’t do that. It’s not nice, you understand? Look at me when I’m talking to you. This is my number, and if you keep on bothering me I’m going to punch you so hard you won’t know who you are. Cool it.”