Every Day is Magic: Ada Limón
In her 2015 collection, Bright Dead Things, a National Book Award finalist for poetry, Ada Limón writes of moving to Kentucky: “Confession: I did not want to live here.” It’s perhaps not a surprising sentiment coming from a coastally oriented person who was raised in Northern California, attended college in Seattle, and then spent over a decade in New York City.
But Limón and her husband, Lucas, have been in Lexington for seven years now and the effects of settling into this place are noticeable in her new book, The Carrying (Milkweed, Aug.). It’s a phenomenally lively and attentive collection replete with the trappings of living a little closer to nature. While Bright Dead Things is marked by a preponderance of light, such as images of fireflies and neon signs, The Carrying features numerous appearances by various trees, birds, and beetles. Limón also demonstrates a greater willingness to be explicit in naming colors, particularly green. “It’s crazy green, the whole book,” she says. “Lexington is the greenest place I’ve ever lived.” Similarly, where in Bright Dead Things, Limón tells a lot of stories and anecdotes, in The Carrying she is very present in her thoughts and experiences.
As it turns out, these shifts in focus have another, altogether unexpected source. While putting Bright Dead Things together, Limón was diagnosed with chronic vestibular neuronitis, which can cause bouts of vertigo. “If I’m really having vertigo, it’s pretty intense and I really have to focus,”
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Gabriel García Márquez’s last novel is published against his wishes
“Before his death almost 10 years ago, Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez had nearly completed his final book. Struggling with the ravages of dementia, he told his sons to rip it up and never publish it.
But they decided to go against his wishes and on Wednesday, on what would have been García Márquez’s 97 birthday, they are releasing the novel in Spanish. (The English version will be out on March 12.)…”
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/06/1236246186/gabriel-garcia-marquez-novel-until-august-published
Meet the Jury for PhotoVogue and Vogue Mexico’s 2024 Open Call: Latin American Panorama
“Meet the Jury of Our Regional Open Call: Latin American Panorama. Vogue Mexico and Condé Nast staff, alongside experts from the international visual community with diverse backgrounds, will be reviewing your submissions!
This Open Call is open to everyone who identifies as Latin American, whether you’re based in the region or living abroad. The sole requirement is that applicants must be at least 18 years old…”
https://www.vogue.com/article/photovogue-local-open-call-2024-latinamerican-panorama-the-jury
Mexico got rid of daylight saving time. Should the U.S. end it, too?
State of the Union 2024: Where Americans stand on the economy, immigration and other key issues
“…About six-in-ten Americans (57%) say dealing with immigration should be a top policy goal for the president and Congress this year, a share that’s increased 18 points (from 39%) since the start of Biden’s term.
This change is almost entirely due to growing concern among Republicans: 76% now say immigration should be a top priority, up from 39% in 2021. By comparison, the 39% of Democrats who cite immigration as a priority has remained fairly stable since 2021…”
How many Mexican gray wolves call New Mexico home?
“…“Each year, the free-roaming Mexican wolf population numbers increase and the areas they occupy expands. Genetic management using pups from captivity is also showing results. In total, 99 pups carefully selected for their genetic value have been placed in 40 wild dens since 2016, and some of these fosters have produced litters of their own. While recovery is in the future, examining the last decade of data certainly provides optimism that recovery will be achieved.”…”
Debunking Viral Claims: No U.S. Invasion Plans for Mexico, Experts Confirm
“…As the narrative around the U.S.-Mexico relationship continues to unfold, it is crucial for audiences to approach sensational claims with skepticism and to seek out reliable sources. Reflecting on this episode, it becomes evident that the integrity of information is not just a matter of journalistic responsibility but a cornerstone of democratic engagement and international diplomacy. By prioritizing accuracy over sensationalism, societies can better navigate the complexities of global interactions in an increasingly interconnected world…”
Trump’s deportation plan is modeled on ‘inhumane’ 1950s program, experts say
“After hundreds of thousands of Mexican migrants were put on buses, planes and boats during the scorching summer of 1954 and sent across the U.S. border into often-unfamiliar parts of Mexico, the head of the Immigration and Naturalization Service declared the border “secured.”…”
Edinboro welcomes Mexican-American artist as juror for annual Spring Show
‘Following the success of 2023’s 100th Spring Show, the Erie Art Museum and PennWest’s Art Department will once again partner to promote and award local artists for their work.
Edinboro’s art community and the Erie region are invited to the Nicole & Harry Martin Spring Show – which runs from March 15 through Aug. 9.
This year, Tanya Aguiñiga – a binational award-winning artist, designer and craftsperson – was selected as the official juror for the show.
Aguiñiga is scheduled to present at the Erie Art Museum and Edinboro’s campus during March. She will be meeting with students on Wednesday, March 13, and Thursday, March 14 – with a keynote lecture at 6 p.m., March 13, in the Dr. William P. Alexander Music Center’s recital hall…”
Researchers develop molecules for a new class of antibiotics that can overcome drug resistant bacteria
“About a decade ago, researchers in UC Santa Barbara chemistry professor Guillermo Bazan’s lab began to observe a recurring challenge in their research: Some of the compounds they were developing to harness energy from bacteria were instead killing the microbes. Not good if the objective of the project was to harness the metabolism of living bacteria to produce electricity…”
Professional training at the centre of museological development: Training Workshop for Museum Professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean
“Training for museum professionals has been a recognised and highlighted necessity for more than a century. Much of the knowledge and expertise that museum professionals have acquired and developed has been based on experience and on an unwavering quest to improve their own practices.
In the Latin American region, museological training has become a first-hand necessity. Although great efforts have been made by universities and learning centres, the academic offer, mainly present in large cities, is still scarce and has not been replicated in the peripheries.
Based on this premise, we welcome the initiative and implementation of the Training Workshop for Museum Professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean, which took place in Mexico City from 16 to 20 October 2023. This was a joint effort of the ICOM Capacity building and Museums and Society department in close collaboration with ICOM Mexico, ICOM LAC and ICOM MPR…”
Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies Receives $1.2M to Advance Graduate Study
“Federal de Electricidad, has awarded $1.2 million to the University of Houston’s Center for Mexican American and Latino Studies (CMALS).
The funds will go to the Lydia Mendoza Graduate Fellowship Program and be used to help recruit and retain graduate students interested in studying the experience of Mexican Americans and Latinos in the U.S. All students studying in any field are eligible for up to two years of funding. The program began recruitment Feb. 1 for the first fellowship year, 2024-2025…”
https://uh.edu/news-events/stories/2024/february/02192024-cmals-award-graduate-studies
Who is Bella Hadid’s Mexican-American boyfriend Adan Banuelos?
“Bella Hadid has gone social media official with her boyfriend, and people have questions, like ‘who is he?’ On Friday, the model shared a gallery of photos from her birthday on October 9 that appeared to be rodeo-themed. In the mix was a tender PDA moment with Adan Banuelos…”
Mexico Nearshoring Boom to Require Massive Energy Investment, Experts Say
“Mexico will need to attract more than $41 billion in investment to generate an estimated 37 GW of additional electricity capacity required to meet the increased energy demand anticipated by nearshoring, Abraham Zamora, president of the Mexican Energy Association (AME), said during a recent presentation in Monterrey…”
Cesar Millan Net Worth
“Cesar Millan, the renowned Mexican-American dog trainer, author, and TV personality, has amassed a net worth of $20 million through his groundbreaking work in the world of canine behavior and training. Best known for his hit television series “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan,” he has revolutionized the way people understand and interact with their furry companions…”
Gustavo Arellano Honored for Distinction in Chicano Literature at UC Santa Barbara
“Gustavo Arellano — longtime reporter, columnist, and food writer who has used his pen to explore the deeply beautiful and conflicted history of Mexican-American culture in California — visited UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday, February 7, to accept the Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature. The Los Angeles Times journalist was celebrated for his career-long dedication to covering the Latino community on a wide scale.
“I can’t overemphasize how humbled I am to win this award,” Arellano said. “The previous recipients are scholars, playwrights, poets, essayists, thinkers. I’m just a Mexican with glasses from Orange County in the dying trade of journalism. To be with literary Latino greats at least lets me know someone has read some of my work!”
Mexican cartel violence likely to increase in 2024, experts say
“…Global Guardian recently published its 2024 Global Risk Assessment. It lists Mexico as a high-risk country on par with Haiti, Venezuela and Ecuador, where criminal gangs went on a rampage last month, taking over a television station at gunpoint and capturing and executing police officers and soldiers.
“There’s a lot of cartel violence, especially in border states,” Ballard said. “The violence is rampant. We are seeing clashes frequently. On social media, we’re seeing footage of clashes between CJNG (the Jalisco cartel) and the different factions within Sinaloa [….] I know some parts of the country have been hit worse by the cartel violence. Zacatecas and Colima have extremely high murder rates. In Guanajuato, security forces are being targeted at an almost unprecedented rate.”…”
Latin America Roundup: Brazil, Mexico lay out regulatory priorities
“…Mexico’s Federal Commission for the Protection Against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) also recently made public its priorities and work agenda for 2024, some of which parallel those laid out by ANVISA.
In a document released on 30 January, COFEPRIS described efforts to promote regulatory certainty, improve confidence in its processes, and expand digitalization as a strategy to speed approvals.
COFEPRIS said 2024 would see the launch of its biosimilars unit and pharmaceutical development committee, both of which share the goal of expanding Mexican manufacturing. The agency also promised to refine rules for conducting clinical research “with the aim of achieving competitive service times.”…”
Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano to receive Luis Leal Award
‘Reporter, author, columnist and food writer Gustavo Arellano has covered California’s fastest growing — and now biggest — ethnic group for the past two decades. His coverage of the complex influences of Mexican-American culture on the Golden State and beyond has ranged widely from weekly satire to long-form investigations — a body of work that will be honored by UC Santa Barbara’s Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature…”
Peso Pluma, Karol G, Gaby Moreno, Natalia Lafourcade & More Latin Winners at the 2024 Grammys
“…There, Peso Pluma, who was not nominated for the 2023 Latin Grammys, became a Grammy-winning artist when he received the award for best música mexicana álbum (including tejano) for Génesis.
The Mexican star was not there to accept his golden gramophone for the set — which shook the music world with hits such as “Rosa Pastel” with Jasiel Núñez and “Lady Gaga” with Gabito Ballesteros and Junior H and…”
https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/2024-grammys-latin-winners-list-1235597719/
Aging in disadvantaged neighborhoods may worsen age-related cognitive problems, especially among Mexican Americans
“…A team of researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, and other institutions analyzed data from 1,614 participants age 50 years or older in the Health and Aging Brain Study — Health Disparities. More than half of the participants identified as Mexican American, with the rest non-Hispanic White, and were on average age 66. To measure cognition, the researchers examined performance on cognitive tests assessing memory, language, attention, processing speed, and executive functioning. Neighborhood disadvantage of each participant’s current residence was characterized using the Area Deprivation Index, which uses indicators of poverty, education, housing, and employment….”
