The Puerto Rican lineup for the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Presenting Puerto Rico's finest, twenty-three in all and the hopes of a nation ride on their shoulders... no pressure. The games begin on August 8 and we'll live-blog the events.

Athletics
Men's 110m hurdles:
Héctor Cotto
Enrique Llanos

Men's 400m:
Félix Martinez

Women's 400m:
Carol Rodríguez

Men's 400m hurdles:
Javier Culson

Men's 1,500m:
David Freeman

Boxing
Flyweight: McWilliams Arroyo
Bantamweight: McJoe Arroyo
Lightweight: Jose Pedraza
Light welterweight: Jonathan Gonzalez
Light heavyweight: Carlos Negron

Gymnastics
Men's Artistic: Luis Rivera Rivera

Judo
Men's 73kg: Alexis Chiclana Melendez
Men's 81kg: Abderramán Brenes la Roche
Men's 100kg: Pablo Figueroa Carrillo

Shooting
Men's Double Trap: Lucas Bennazar Ortiz

Swimming
Men's 100m breaststroke: Daniel Velez
Men's 100m butterfly: Lennox Silva
Women's 200m butterfly: Kristina Lennox
Women's 50m freestyle: Vanessa Garcia
Women's 400m freestyle: Kristina Lennox

Taekwondo
Men's 80kg: Angel Roman
Women's 67kg: Asuncion Ocasio

Weightlifting
Women's 58kg: Geralee Vega

Puerto Rico's National Basketball Team did not qualify for the Olympics

Source: Comite Olimpico de Puerto Rico

Luis Ramirez, 25, killed for being Mexican in Pennsylvania

On July 12, Luis Ramirez, a 25 year old undocumented immigrant was assaulted by four teens at 11:15pm. The teens, three of them football players at Shenandoah Valley High School had been drinking most of the night when they spotted Ramirez. According to eyewitness reports the teens began mouthing off racial/ethnic slurs at Ramirez and then proceeded to beat him. After bringing him to the ground, a kick to the head put him into a coma from which he would never awaken. On July 14, Luis Ramirez, a laborer who only wanted to provide for his wife and two children, died from his injuries.



The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, or MALDEF, and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund called for federal monitoring of the investigation and prosecution as it is suspected that a wider pattern of ethnic intimidation may exist in the Shenandoah area. The FBI and the Department of Justice are now investigating further into the incident.

At NASDAQ Dominicans protest oil speculation

The story reprinted from the People's Weekly World

NEW YORK—A group of Dominican American and other Latino elected officials with dozens of community members protested petroleum speculation here in Times Square July 30. Called by the League of Dominican American Elected Officials and hosted by New York State Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat, the protest was held outside the headquarters of NASDAQ, which trades oil futures.

“We are here to address rampant unregulated speculation conducted in the NASDAQ trade market,” said Espaillat, who is co-chairman of the league. He and other speakers blamed market speculators and deregulation of the oil markets for the unprecedented oil and gas prices in working-class Dominican American communities in the U.S., and in the Dominican Republic. The national average for a gallon of gas in the United States is now $3.89 and in the Dominican Republic gas tops $6.00 a gallon, according to some reports.

Speakers blamed the staggering gas prices on the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, which opened the door to speculation on energy commodities. U.S. gas prices have more than doubled since the act was passed. The league is supporting legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), which would reestablish some regulation to curb such speculation. President Bush vetoed an attempt to reform the act earlier this year. Espaillat told reporters that Congressional Republicans attempted to kill Reid’s bill by introducing offshore drilling proposals into it last week.

“This winter in New England is going to be a difficult one,” said Rhode Island State Senator Juan Pichardo, referring to predictions of high heating-oil prices next season. “We are stepping up not only for congressional action but to build an alliance with [Dominican Republic] President Fernandez.” Pichardo is the other co-chairman of the league.

In response to the global oil crisis, Dominican President Leonel Fernandez is proposing a Global Petroleum Solidarity Fund be created to assist countries with annual per capita income less than $6,000. Under the proposal, oil-producing nations would allocate 3 percent of their record earnings to the fund.

“Our goal is to let the speculators on Wall Street know, we will not be invisible. We are being impacted by oil prices not only in this country, but in the Dominican Republic,” Councilman Reynaldo Martinez of Haledon, N.J., told the World.

Elected officials from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Maryland participated in the protest and press conference. The American Northeast is home to the majority of Dominican Americans.

The crowd chanted, “Lower the prices!” as they picketed. Some held signs reading, “Talk is cheap. Gas isn’t,” and “Wall Street gets drunk and effects everyone” in English and Spanish. Some held Dominican flags, but one protester assured a curious passerby, “This is for everyone. Gas prices are killing everyone.”

Pichardo said in a written statement, “Without a legal framework to halt market speculation, U.S. Hispanics, as well as all the most disadvantaged groups and countries around the world will end up paying for the profits of speculators who don’t see beyond their own greed.”

Ask-a-Chola calls out Lou Dobbs as her babydaddy

Lou Dobbs, you should live up to your responsibilities and take care of Lupita!!!

Ask-a-Chola is a 'califas' based surrealist comedian... and a favorite of the Latino Insurgent. You can check out all her videos here.

Ludacris raps about Obama

Ludacris released a small rhyme called "Politics" which is causing a little bit of trouble for Senator Obama. Ludacris strikes a defiant tone to say the least with this piece and it's pretty good. But for sanitized ears not accustomed to Hip Hop style throw-downs among rappers, the lyrics are ringing every alarm bell. Click play to check out the song.

Here are the lyrics:
I'm back on it like I just signed my record deal
yeah the best is here, the Bentley Coup paint is dripping wet, it got sex appeal
never should have hated
you never should've doubted him
with a slot in the president's iPod Obama shattered 'em
Said I handled his biz and I'm one of his favorite rappers
Well give Luda a special pardon if I'm ever in the slammer
Better yet put him in office, make me your vice president
Hillary hated on you, so that b^$&%* is irrelevant
Jesse talking slick and apologizing for what?
if you said it then you meant it how you want it have a gut!
and all you other politicians trying to hate on my man,
watch us win a majority vote in every state on my man
you can't stop what's bout to happen, we bout to make history
the first black president is destined and it's meant to be
the threats ain't fazing us, the nooses or the jokes
so get off your ass, black people, it's time to get out and vote!
paint the White House black and I'm sure that's got 'em terrified
McCain don't belong in ANY chair unless he's paralyzed
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped
Ball up all of his speeches and I throw em like candy wrap
cause what you talking I hear nothing even relevant
and you the worst of all 43 presidents
get out and vote or the end will be near
the world is ready for change because Obama is here!
cause Obama is here
The world is ready for change because Obama is here!

Zapatistas get plug on Canadian TV

I was just watching ReGenesis, the Canadian produced drama about scientists saving the world, or North America at least. The show, which is syndicated worldwide, is like CSI without the glitz and with better science. In any case, while watching episode 10 of season 1, my eyes came across this image:



It reads "Ser Zapatista no es delito, EZLN", roughly "Being a Zapatista is not a crime, EZLN". The graffiti doesn't look real to me, but it may be. Still, it's so well framed that I'm sure whoever shot this, knew what they were looking at. So this is either an accidental or deliberate show of solidarity. I'm betting it was deliberate and I wonder if the EZLN ever saw it.

The episode, entitled "The Source" was first aired on January 2, 2005.

Army recruiters bully prospects [VIDEO]

A CBS investigation aired on July 28, uncovers the tactics being used by Army recruiters. Using threats of arrest and accusations of desertion, Army recruiters in Texas have crossed the line. Whether this is a tactic aimed at Latinos or the population in general is unknown at this time, but it points to how low these recruiters are willing to go. Watch the report here.

Obama Reggaeton Song

Not exactly the best reggaeton song out there, but I do think it is the first reggaeton song ever written for a U.S. presidential candidate. Similar to the Viva Obama video from the primaries. It comes from www.amigosdeobama.com. Check it out below.

Black Beard's Rugged Tampons

Don't know where this came from, but I'm glad lady pirates no longer have to deal with scurvy in their nether regions.