Category: culture

Carlos Vives

Post author By Jon
Post date June 14, 2010
No Comments on Carlos Vives

Translated by Paula Samper.

The text chosen for translation for this project consisted of three songs from a Colombian singer/songwriter, Carlos Vives. My aim is to provide a translation for some of Carlos Vives’ sbest songs for those who do not speak Spanish to be able to understand them and appreciate the songs for their beautiful lyrics. Ideally, those who would like to listen to the songs could have the translated lyrics with them and hear the rhythm, melody and voice of Carlos Vives to get the fullest musical experience possible.

Source texts: “Jaime Molina”, “Quiero verte sonreir”, and “Dejame entrar”.

(Compare “I Want See You Smile” and “Let Me In”.)

Carlos Vives Official Site

“Jaime Molina”
By Carlos Vives

I remember Jaime Molina,
with a few too many drinks
he would always say to me
“If you pass away first I will make you a painting
But if I pass away first you will write me a song.”
Echo: “If you pass away first I will make you a painting
But if I pass away first you will write me a song.”

Now looking back, I’d much prefer
that he’d paint me a picture
and not write him this song.
Echo: Now looking back, I’d much prefer
that he’d paint me a picture
and not write him this song

Famous for going out all night, and keeping his friends from falling fast asleep
With every drink he downed would come a friendly jab
with a kind twinkle in his eye which only he could give
Echo: With every drink he downed would come a friendly jab
with a kind twinkle in his eye which only he could give

Following this he’d sit on my lap
tell me a joke and then have a laugh
Echo: Follwing me he’d sit on my lap
tell me a joke and then have a laugh

It all started as fun and games
Jaime Molina taught me to drink
Wherever he was I would not be far behind
and he would be by my side whenever I needed him
Wherever he was I would not be far behind
and he would be by my side whenever I needed him

Now it hurts to know that he’s gone
I’m left without Jaime and he’s left Rafael
Now it hurts to know that he’s gone
I’m left without Jaime and he’s left Rafael

“I Want to See Your Smile”
By Carlos Vives

I want to see your smile, I want to give you my song
And on a summer day , give you the sun
A scent of jasmine, and piece of my music
I want to give you this song and a thousand kisses just for you.

I want your dreams to meet mine halfway,
I want to be your thoughts and I want
To meet you when the sun sets behind the hills
To discover you with my kisses and give you my love

Laraira, laraira
I want to give you this song
Laraira, laraira
Many promises of love
And the last song that I write, will be written out to you
And plant in your garden things made only for you
I’ll ask Juan Luis for a candle and a match
to be able to brighten the sadness that is in you

I want our eyes to meet in time
I want to be your thoughts and I want
To meet you when the sun sets behind the hills
To free you with my kisses and give you my heart

Laraira, laraira
I want to give you a song
Laraira, laraira
And to plant in your garden
Laraira, laraira
things made only for you
Laraira, laraira
I want to see you smile

I’m looking for you, I want you back
You’ve left me here, alone in the desert
I’m looking for you, I want you back
You’ve left me here, alone in the wild

Laraira, laraira
I want to give you a song
Laraira, laraira
And to plant in your garden
Laraira, laraira
things made only for you
Laraira, laraira
I want to see you smile

“Let Me In”
By Carlos Vives

Let me into your life
I want to reach the depths of your soul
to find comfort in the warmth of your lips
to know you more

Let me stay within the silence
And remember your past…
To know if you really are the girl,
the girl of my dreams

To watch you leave and see you come back
learn to live with the calmness you have
let me be your thoughts
know what you carry with you

Let me into the silence
into your past
to know if you’re the girl
the girl of my dreams.

The girl with hair like the wild grass
the girl with the earth within her fingertips
the girl with a smile you’ve never seen before
the girl who delights in making dreams
who perfumes the mornings
with her bodies’ sweet aroma
and says good morning to the sun
with the warmth of her kisses
Chorus: Let me into your life
Let me in through the window
Chorus: Let me into your life
The window of your heart
Chorus: Let me into your life
Let me see you in the mornings
Chorus: Let me into your life
Even after the sun won’t rise again

Whenever I am with you
I can’t keep my thoughts straight
my heart starts to race

I never thought I’d feel this way again,
it had been so long
to you I sing this song.

Chorus: Let me into your life
Chorus: Let me into your life
Chorus: Let me into your life
Chorus: Let me into your life…

Show me that this is it
Chorus: Let me into your life
Let me be the only one you kiss
Chorus: Let me into your life
Let me into your past
Chorus: Let me into your life
Let your silence bring me life
Chorus: Let me into your life
and let me trace every inch of your body.
Chorus: Let me into your life
let me be the last one to kiss you
Chorus: Let me into your life
Chorus: Let me into your life
Chorus: Let me in , into your life

culture food Spain

Cocina de Mercado

Translated by Kimberly Roberts.

The following translations are part of a collection of recipes, reviews and blogs written by an avid Spanish cook, Sol Filman Delano on her blog titled Cocina de Mercado. As there are several recipes and reviews on the blog, I have only chosen a handful to translate for the purpose of this project, in an attempt to give the English reader a taste of this Spanish cook’s repertoire.

Source texts: “Calçotada”, “Risotto de Alcachofas”, “Tiramisú”, and “Casa Portuguesa”.

Calçots

Last Saturday we attended a calçotada in Corbera de Llobregat that a group of friends invited us to. (Calçotada is a typical gastronomical event in the Catalunya region of Spain, where sweet Spanish green onions known as calçots are consumed in large quantities). After the lamb chops, pork sausage, typical Basque chistorra sausage accompanied with red wine, we had 550 calçots for just the 30 of us. It was a huge feast!

Calçots are a variety of fresh white, sweet onions, native to the region of Catalunya. (They are originally from the province of Tarragona). They are in season at the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring (January-February-March).

The traditional way to cook them is directly over the fire (barbeque). When the tips are tender and the outside layer is completely black, you wrap them in newspaper so that they stay warm until you are ready to eat them. Traditionally, they are brought to the table on a piece of clay tile; you eat them with your hands by pulling away the burnt exterior, to reach the tender center.

Calçots are usually accompanied with a romesco sauce. Yesterday, the sauces used were both homemade and store-bought. Romesco sauce is a sauce prepared with almonds, hazelnuts, tomatoes, peppers, bread, olive oil, salt and vinegar. In Mai’s blog you can find an excellent recipe, click here.

¡Bon Profit!

Recipes: Artichoke Risotto

Risotto is my favourite Italian dish. The last time I prepared it was with a variety of ingredients. I always use arbario rice, which contains a fair amount of starch. You can, however use carnoroli rice, a northern Italian rice. This time I’m making an artichoke risotto…in this blog, you can also find the recipe of my version of shrimp risotto.

Ingredients (serves four)

1 cup arborio rice
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion
6 artichokes
200 ml white wine
750 ml vegetable stock
grated parmesan cheese
black pepper
2 tablespoons truffle oil
Salt

Directions:

1. Prepare artichokes:
a. Rinse under cold water to remove dirt and pat dry. Chop top and tail off.
b. Remove outer layers and snip the top of the remaining leaves with kitchen scissors.
c. Place prepared artichokes in a large bowl of cold water and add a generous squeezing of 2 lemons.
2. Cook the artichokes. (Separate the hearts, cut and reserve. Remove the ‘meat’ of the leaves).
3. Lightly fry in butter, olive oil, and the finely chopped onions.
4. Add the rice. Cook until the rice is translucent.
5. Add the meat of the artichoke leafs.
6. Add a cup of white wine. Stir and let the alcohol evaporate.
7. Add a splash of the hot stock, stirring constantly until the rice absorbs it all. Add more stock and continue stirring. Continue this procedure, a little bit at a time, until the rice is creamy and has a sticky texture.
8. Add the chopped artichoke hearts, more stock and continue to stir.
9. Before serving, add two tablespoons of truffle oil and the freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Recipes: Tiramisu

This delicious Italian dessert always wins me over…there are many different versions to prepare Tiramisu out there, but this is my favourite.

Ingredients (four servings)

1 cup mascarpone cheese
20 lady fingers (or similar cookies)
2 egg yolks
200 ml whipping cream (chilled)
2/3 cup sugar
2 cups freshly brewed coffee
Dark chocolate powder
Dark Chocolate (70%)
4 teaspoons of Marsala wine

Directions:

1. Whip the chilled whipping cream with a teaspoon of sugar until you get firm whipped cream.
2. Over a double boiler, beat the egg yolks with the sugar and the wine until you get a sabayón*; the mix should now be double its volume. Leave to chill.
3. Gently incorporate the mascarpone cheese into the sabayón. Add the whipped cream to the mix.
4. Make the coffee and leave to chill. Soak the cookies in the coffee.
5. Make a base layer of the cookies then grate the chocolate on top. Add a layer of the mascarpone cream and repeat. Finish with a layer of mascarpone cream. Wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours before serving.
6. For presentation, dust with chocolate powder.

Buon appetito!

*Sabayón, also known as Zabaglione or Zabaione, is a traditional Italian dessert. The basic ingredients are: egg yolks, sugar, and Marsala wine. To prepare, you beat them together over a warm water bath, until it becomes a light and creamy consistency.

Restaurant Review: Casa Portuguesa

In the heart of the neighborhood of Gracia (north of the center of Barcelona) you’ll find a café that is devoted to Portuguese gastronomy and culture.

My first few visits to this place were dedicated to the pastries known as pastéis de Belem, which are to die for! Every time I would walk by, I couldn’t resist eating a freshly baked one, sprinkled with cinnamon.

There are also queijadas (little cheese pastries), homemade cakes and cookies, almond pastries, little chicken empanadas, puffed pastry tarts with cheese, vegetarian tarts and more.

They also feature a wine cellar at the back of the café in which they sell a variety of ports, white wines, red wines and vinho verde, the fresh and light ‘green wine’ originating in the northern regions of Portugal.

This place is ideal to enjoy a bottle of wine, accompanied with a selection of fine cheeses. They play eclectic Portuguese and Latin music and no smoking is permitted inside, which is a lot harder to find than you’d think in Barcelona!

At Casa Portuguesa you can also find a large variety of artesian delicatessen products, such as marmalades, oils, preserves, sauces, patés, chutneys, honey, etc.

58 Verdi Street, Barcelona
t: 933683528

Hours of Operation:

Monday– closed
Tuesday – Wednesday: 5:00pm-11:00pm
Thursday – Friday: 5:00pm-11:30pm
Saturday and holidays: 11:00am-3:00pm, 5:00-11:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 9:00pm

culture music Puerto Rico

Wisin y Yandel

Translated by Erin Guest and Shima Safari.

When I first heard about the final project I was excited about the freedom we had to choose to do whatever we wanted to do. I was also a little nervous to have to post something publicly as translation is difficult and this was my first class that involved it. After careful consideration, Shima and I decided we wanted to do something fun for this project and since we both love music (as I think most people do) we decided we would translate one of our favorite artists’ work. I had just come back from Chile in January and while I was there they were constantly playing Wisin y Yandel so it was fresh in my mind and on my iPod so we decided we wanted to translate their work. At first we thought it would be easy as we knew the lyrics off by heart but because we had never considered those lyrics in English, it proved to be a lot harder than we expected but it was still enjoyable. We knew the biggest problems were going to be translation loss and literal translation. The songs contain a lot of Spanish slang so English idioms were going to be necessary to complete this project.

Erin and I were really excited about this project because this was our chance to find something creative to translate. We thought about translating articles, research papers, even books but none of those excited us. However, we both love music so we decided to translate one of our favourite Spanish singers called Wisin y Yandel, they’re from Puerto Rico and their music is very Latino and fun to listen to. Therefore, we each picked two of our favourite songs and began the process of translating. Halfway through, it wasn’t as easy as we thought. There were many things we had to think about prior to translating it, we thought about if we could keep the same rhyming scheme, or use the same expressions, but what we did notice was a lot of translation loss that came with translating the songs.

Source texts: “Besos Mojados”, “Gracias a ti”, “Emociones”, “Abusadora”.

(Compare “Wet Kisses”, “Thanks to You”, and “Abuser”.)

Wisin y Yandel Official Site

Wet Kisses

The revolution
W, Ya-Yandel
Luny Tunes!

Hey Shorty! How’s it going?
It’s been awhile since I’ve heard from you
(You’re not going to believe it when I tell you…)
Honestly, I can’t stop thinking about you
(And I’m being sincere…)

I can’t forget your wet kisses
And the way in which we devoured each other
That night in my room
And the moon was the only witness
To the heat our bodies created
(You know it!)

(You know what I’m talking about…)
Honey, you’re so serious, give me a little of that sweetness
You know how hot you are; now give me a passionate kiss
Take the key, take the code; give me some of that love
And we’ll steam up the windows of this ship

I feel you…
I’m caught up in you…
I want you…
You want me…

So stick to me like a snail
Today you won’t escape me
Honey, give me a little kiss and let’s aim for the top
W, the ladies man
Beautiful, the bottles of champagne are open

(Chorus x2)

(Tell the people what you feelin’…)
Go, tell all these guys hittin’ on you
The man who makes you melt has arrived and today I roll with the gang
If you kiss me, give me the combo that excites me
It’s very simple, if I mark her neck with my lips, she demands me

Here I am: your stallion
The one with the bank account
Honey, cover up cuz in this dilemma you stick out
Love me, cuz when I’m not with you, I die

Dance, so I can do the same
I pet my kitty so that in return she shows me love
I have confidence in her and so that she always returns to me
I feel like I’m in a trance, I smell a romance

(It makes me so happy to see you…)
How’s it going?
It’s been so long since I’ve seen you
(You’re not going to believe it if I tell you…)
(The revolution…)
Truthfully…
(Princess…)
I still can’t forget you…
(No…)

(Chorus x2)

Two protagonists, two witnesses
Only you and I know what happened
W, Yandel… The revolution

Luny Tunes, Victor the Nazi
Simple friend, you know where to find me

I feel you…
I’m caught up in you…
I want you…
You want me…

Thanks to You

W with Yandel
We’ve laughed
We’ve cried
We’ve had many beautiful moments in our lives
(The revolution)
Thanks for being here
You’re special
I only want you to hear to this song

I felt cold and you covered me up
I’ve fallen down and you’ve picked me up
A woman with determination (thank you)
You gave direction to my life (W Yandel)

I felt cold and you covered me up
I’ve fallen down and you’ve picked me up
A woman with determination (aha!)
You gave direction to my life (Yandel)

Thanks to you today I’m happy
When you arrived I learned to live
And it’s thanks to you (thank you)
Today I can be happy
When you arrived I learned to live

(Princess)
A smile (please)
Priestess
You are my queen, my everything
My submissive princess
I iron my shirt so I can accompany her to mass
Always with a laugh
Cutie pie, my sweet breeze

And before, I was bad
Today I want to be good

Aware that sometimes I give up on myself
When you touch me and talk to me I stop and I am calm
Speak no more
She is the owner of my terrain

Thanks to you
Today I am happy
When you arrived
I learned to live
And it’s all thanks to you
Today I can be happy
When you arrived
I learned to live

(Close your eyes and think of something)

A tribute
My babe has courage
She changed me from a savage
She has the potion
That makes me bad (you know it)
And I start to tremble
And I start to fly
And I don’t want to come down

Tremendous lover
So much that without her it is agonizing
That which my heart feels
For her is gigantic
Give me a shock to the heart
Of fulminating passion

Come with me
And never ask me to be somebody I’m not

Gratefully, and yeah you know, I’ve failed to respect you
Thank you for still being here
Thank you for being part of my life
You know you are very special
W, Yandel, Víctor el Nazi, el profesor Gómez

Princess
Pay attention

I felt cold and you covered me up
I’ve fallen and you picked me up (thank you)
A woman with determination
You gave direction to my life

I felt cold and you covered me up
I’ve fallen and you’ve picked me up
A woman with determination
You gave direction to my life

Thanks to you
Today I’m happy
When you arrived
I learned to live

And it’s all thanks to you
Today I can be happy
When you arrived
I learned to live

Emotions

The revolution
Unpredictable
She is my vice

I feel emotions in my body
I am thirsty for you
I feel emotions in my body
I am thirsty for you (the revolution)
When you begin to dance
I have this tension
When you being to sweat
You take me to another dimension
When you being to dance
I have this tension
When you being to sweat
You take me to another dimension
I feel emotions in my body

You want to kiss me
She has skill
Like a spider
You entangle me in your web
Baby I know your type
I’m already ready & chilling the champagne
When you cry I’m here and the one that yells at you
Hey boss, listen I’m crazy by throw
They didn’t tell me your boyfriend had abandoned you
She’s crazy with 2 types that control her throne
W…Yandel…

When she begins to dance
There is tension
When she sweats
You take me to another dimension
When she dances
There is tension
When you start to sweat
You take me to another dimension
The revolution
(W)

I feel emotions in my body
(I’m nervous)

Woman, lion, I am your scavenger
I cut the flower & and next day it grows a sprout
Bite it, hug it, get the poison
Woman, I like it when you perform
Listen crazy & you already fell
If I’m romantic I won’t hide
I won’t front
Knowing Wisin will hit that!
(The revolution!)

I feel emotions in my body
I’m thirsty for you
I feel emotions in my body
I’m thirsty for you (W, Yandel)

When you start to dance
I feel tension
When you begin to sweat
You take me to another dimension
When you start to dance
You make me feel tension
When you start to sweat
You take me to another dimension

I feel emotions in my body…
(You already know)

You are well aware of who has control
Baby I’m asking you for a favor
Never go
W
Yandel
Victor ‘the Nazi’
Nesty ‘the Mastermind’
Marioso
Simple, bringing revolution to Latin music
W
Yandel
El sinónimo de los lideres del movimiento urbano a nivel mundial
Just another name for the leaders of the worldwide urban movement
You know it
Baby, calm down
What we have is pure mind, guaranteed.

Abusive

Eheheh
Eheh
(Yandeel!)
It’s imposible to stop her (doble u)
She’s the best (la revolución)
Aaaah!

Abusive, abusive, abusive (ah hah)
Blessed is the hour in which I found you
Abusive, abusive, abusive
Blessed is the hour in which I found you (Victor el Nazi)

It’s hot in the club, the heat is rising
(You know who we are, the leaders)
It’s hot in the club, the heat is rising
(the revolution)

(Wisin)

Feel it
Feel it
hot
In the club its loud
Women come and say peace out
I holler at her and fall for her
She’s got me
She’s looking to find a ride in a Ferrari
Lined up walking, dressed in a tie
The new leaders have no control to the crawl
The business is a matter of winning
Seduce me I already turned on the fire
The lights are seen of neon and the smoke (I hardly see you)
Girlfriend I want a “cantito” if you leave me I’ll burn you
I consume you
You leave me speechless
I’m sorry to tell you that you couldn’t do it without me

(Yandel)

Its hot uh huh in the club the heat is rising

(Welcome to the revolution)
It’s hot in the club the heat is rising

I feel an energy that I cant already stop
It’s something that takes control of me and I want more, more
Of your seduction love, love
Don’t stop (please listen baby)

(Wisin)

You shield me with your flow come to the show
It’s hit with tequila rose
Move come, go go
You won the screens of touch (super talde)
Janguea at night like an owl
Its sharpened
In her bed, she doesn’t want no rabble!
When you are hot you use it, use it
Si me duermo me saca la gamuza

(Yandel)

Abusive, abusive, abusive (ah hah)
Blessed is the hour in which I found you
Abusive, abusive, abusive
Blessed is the hour in which I found you

It’s hot…
In the club the heat is rising
It’s hot…
In the club the heat is rising

We keep showing that musically
We’re on top of you all
(Eeeeeh)
That’s the way it is…
So you keep taking classes from us
The revolution!!
And… W, Taini, Victor the Nazi
Los campeones del pueblo papi
Del Pueblo Papi!!

culture music

New Music from Latin America

Post author By Jon
Post date May 10, 2010
No Comments on New Music from Latin America

Translated by Megan Edgerton.

In terms of the genre, I want to maintain a casual, but informed register as you would expect to see in a music review magazine or journal. I will do this by utilizing musical terminology where it is possible and a professional but casual tone, especially in the descriptions, verbs, and transitions that could use a boost.

Source texts: “Se avecina tormenta, Doma Tornados”, “Ximena Sariñana: Actriz y cantante nada ‘Mediocre'”, and “Entrevista – Todos Tus Muertos”.

“Monte Negro: Two languages, One ‘Cicatrix’”

Every once in awhile, you’ll stumble upon a band that stands out among the rest. In this case, they’re called Monte Negro. With their first LP, Cicatrix, Monte Negro offers an impressive mix of what truly represents the “Alterlatino” rock scene.

Confining Monte Negro to a specific genre is debatable ; Kinski, the vocalist of the group, jumps from Spanish to English as if they were the same language, leaving the listener wondering whether to classify it as “rock” or “Spanish rock” . The hybridity of their music is clear to see in their first single, “Give me Love (no Llores).” It exhibits a reggae rhythm carried in the guitar line while simultaneously incorporating lyrics that could be confused for those of a rock ballad by Poison or Whitesnake.

On a Monday night, I was lucky enough to witness Monte Negro play a set in the basement of a bar in New York. The room is nearly empty , filled with only the hum of casual conversation and no more than eight people anxiously awaiting the arrival of the quartet. But just ten minutes before the show starts, the venue is filled from wall to wall with rowdy fans. Things are looking good for Monte Negro given their undeniably strong following .

The crowd’s reaction alone is proof that their music is anything but mediocre . As soon as they take the small stage , jumping, clapping, and sweating ensues, and Monte Negro manages to turn this hole-in-the-wall basement venue into a full-fledged rock show . Among the songs from their album, Monte Negro slips in a cover of “Break on Through” by the Doors; nonetheless, their potential clearly stands out in songs like “Pena Colectiva”, “Give me Love (No llores)”, and “Arde el Corazón (Triangled Love)”.

Many of these songs are available for streaming on their Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/montenegrorocks

“An Imminent Storm: Doma Tornados”
Zigor Cavero

Unafraid to put a fresh spin on his South American heritage, up-and-coming artist Doma Tornados has arranged the perfect musical balance between the traditional and the avant-garde. He’s not to be underestimated, despite the region’s unfamiliarity with his take on electronic music. Doma Tornados’s prowess lies in his creative ability to fuse regional music styles, such as his crossbreed of cante jondo and bajos gordos.

Guillermo Piacenza, the man behind Doma Tornados, keeps a busy schedule juggling two other side projects, TANOX (http://www.myspace.com/tanoxmusic) and Guillermo Piacenza (http://www.myspace.com/guillermopiacenza). But other aliases aside , we’re most interested in Doma Tornados, the project in which Piacenza mixes native rhythms (focusing mainly on cumbia but without dismissing funk, champeta, or malambo ) with digital genius , dressing up his creation with imported styles (house, minimal techno) and bringing it to life with lots of dub spirit.

Although Doma Tornados is yet to have a record hit stores – he’s on the verge of releasing his debut on his netlabel, Hipi Duki Muzik– he has already received tons of praise for his musical achievements .

All this said, the best thing to do is to check out Doma Tornados for yourself. When, you may ask? His next appearance is October 10th at Le Rock Party in Barcelona , but he can regularly be caught opening for The Peronists as well as playing percussion for MeNeO in clubs across the city .

“Ximena Sariñana: An actress and singer far from Mediocre”

With a broad range of influences from Fiona Apple to Bjork, it’s hard to know what to expect from young Ximena Sariñana . Her debut album, Mediocre, is critically acclaimed in México and is currently taking over charts in the U.S. at record speed.

Generally speaking, Sariñana’s music can be described as a fusion of jazz, rock, and pop. Regardless of a relatively fixed style, each song bears something unique; the opening title track, “Mediocre,” is so unforeseen it is hard to compare it to the rest of the album. As the album progresses, Sariñana continues to keep listeners on the edge of their seats, especially with the singles, “Normal” and “No Vuelvo Más.”

Despite the fact that she only recently completed her first album, Sariñana has been deeply involved in entertainment since childhood. Her parents, both professionals in the television and film industries in Mexico, introduced her to the business as a young girl. In 1994, Sariñana’s acting career launched with her appearance in Hasta Morir, a film produced by her father. Soon after in 1996, she starred in the soap opera, Luz Clarita. During this time, her music career began with her recording of the theme song for the program. From then on, Sariñana has continued to contribute to the soundtracks of programs and movies that she has appeared in.

If anyone can do it, Sariñana can. Having composed majority of the songs from Mediocre, she’s undeniably armed with compositional and vocal talent that will help her rise to the top of the Latin American alternative scene.

“An Interview with Todos Tus Muertos”

Recently, Spinner was fortunate enough to get ahold of Félix Gutiérrez, the bassist of Todos Tus Muertos, in Argentina via e-mail .

Many groups have recognized Todos Tus Muertos as having a significant influence on their music. What bands have inspired Todos Tus Muertos?
There are lots; we could say that at first it was music from groups like Bauhaus, Crass, The Clash, Dead Kennedys, Stiff Little Fingers…At the same time we were listening to Bob Marley, Rubén Blades, Hector Lavoe, Armando Hernández, The Specials, and with time the list branched out to include hip hop, Los Tigres del Norte…it keeps growing everyday.

An emphasis on peace and justice resonates in the majority of your songs. Do you write each song with reggae or punk in mind?
We like to create a mix of everything that we listen to, but more than anything we mix those [styles] that you mentioned. But we also have a Latin vibe…and even in early songs like “El Tango Traidor,” you can hear our attempts to create a tango-funky-punk.

As a group, you’ve been playing together for quite awhile. What would you say is the difference from being a musical group in the 90s? Do you think listeners have changed much, specifically as a result of the war, the economy, or the environment? Does this affect the way they think and receive the TTM’s messages?
Yeah, there were a lot more people involved in the scene in the 90s. [Back then] It was more underground, but it eventually blew up.

Your latest album, Greatest Hits, recently hit shelves in the U.S. Would you consider going on a U.S. tour? You’ve had a following there for years.
For sure, we’d like to play there. We’re working on it, but it’s gotten a bit hard for us living on this side of the border; it’s getting stricter everyday.

Lastly, do you have any plans for another record?
Of course! We’ve got ten new songs that we occasionally throw into our shows. They’ll all be a part of our next album.

culture literature

Poems for children by Juan Guinea Díaz and José García Velázquez

Post author By Jon
Post date May 7, 2010
No Comments on Poems for children by Juan Guinea Díaz and José García Velázquez

Translated by Michelle Cheng.

Juan Guinea Díaz’s poems emphasize the sound devices such as rhythm and rhyme, which is a common characteristic in children’s poetry because it helps to capture their attention. Therefore, it is my priority to reproduce the phonetic characteristics when translating his poems. In a situation that requires me to make a decision between a word that preserves the meaning and a word that rhymes, I would certainly choose the second one.

The poem of José García Velázquez stresses imagination and imagery. Even though his poem also has a rhyming pattern, it is much weaker than the ones in Díaz’s poems. However, Velázquez’s poem incorporates more imagination and sophisticated concepts. Therefore, I chose to sacrifice the rhyme to better convey the meaning and imagination.

Source texts: “Mi regalo para mamá,” “Mi padre,” “Mis manos,” “Abuela hechicera, abuela cocinera,” “Las recetas de la abuela hechicera”, “Viaje a Fantasía”.

JUAN GUINEA DÍAZ

Presents for my mother
By Juan Guinea Díaz

a present I give to my mother
a shimmering smile like silver
which makes my face look brighter
when at night, darkness covers me over

a present I give to my mother
a hood of the color that couldn’t be redder
to thank her for the tale she told and retold-
a story that I heard with wonder

a present I give to my mother
a fragrance to make the air fresher
to thank her for her comforting hand
that takes my pain away like painkiller

a present I give to my mother
an armed army with archers
to protect her from the frightening monster
that in my nightmare makes me wish I could run faster

A present I give to my mother
The language of the elves
To understand what I say
When no one else understands it other than ourselves

A present I give to my mother
A hat from a magical performer
In which my kisses are filled and wrapped
as a present to my mother

Grandmother, the sorcerer; grandmother, the cooking master
By Juan Guinea Díaz

If there is someone in this universe
who is the greatest sorcerer
she is definitely my grandmother:
sorcerer and the cooking master!

She has a recipe book that’s timeless
With which nothing would be tasteless
from salad with citrus
to charms for princess

The spells hidden
between soups and muffins,
so they won’t be stolen
and only I would know them!

Sometimes my grandmother
allows me to read what she wrote
of all her notes
these are my favorite quotes:

Recipe on how to kill a pirate:
Feed him a fillet buried in maggots
he will choke on vomit

recipe on how to kill a dragon:
why killing a dragon?
To have his tooth as a weapon!

Recipe on how to kill a witch:
Steal her cat like a snitch,
and her sorrow will give her a twitch;
if you return it before your conscience itch
she will turn into a good witch!

Recipe on how to kill a coyote:
Take the pirate we saw before,
Dress him up in a housecoat,
and the coyote will laugh till he burns his throat!

Recipe on how to kill an ogre:
Ask the good witch to give him a flower
and with a love poem that takes away his breath like a killer.

Recipe on how to end the wars:
Don’t kill the laughers anymore,
and throw a big party on the shore
invite the dragon, the ogre,
the pirate and an orchestra to the dance floor.

My clean hands
By Juan Guinea Díaz

I rinse my hands after playing
and take a towel for drying.
I dry all my fingers, including the pinkies
so they’re soft and clean, ready for the cookies

My father
By Juan Guinea Díaz

If a black vampire haunts me at night
or a witch wants to eat me alive
if I see a few bogeys following me in the lamplight
or lions with a big appetite arrive
my father,
with his big hands,
embraces me firmly,
always protecting me,
giving me a rub on my tummy,
kisses me on my forehead,
and guards me from the monsters I see when I am dreamy.
(My father takes care of me
Without feeling drowsy)

If behind the curtain the snakes hide
or a big dinosaur waiting to attack.
if the crocodiles are going to open his mouth wide
or a pirate wants to throw me into the sea like a sack.

(Repetition)

my father,
with his big hands,
embraces me firmly,
always protecting me,
giving me a rub on my tummy,
kisses me on my forehead,
and guards me from the monsters I see when I am dreamy.
(My father takes care of me
Without feeling drowsy)

JOSÉ GARCÍA VELÁZQUEZ

A trip to the wonderland
By José García Velázquez

In the soothing sunset I travel
Through the portal of poetry
To magical places and the kingdom of fantasy
where dreams become real

on the beach chair I rest
without an action my adventure begins
from neuron to neuron
my imagination flows

returning to the old days of my childhood
when life was tender and happy
the memory that almost faded
comes alive suddenly
the aromas of the past linger

in the dusty corners of my brain
I meet people who only exist in tales:
witches, dragons, princesses

colors swirl and dance with musical notes
smells mix with floral adornments

An imaginary flight takes me to the place
where strange beings seem to rest,
safe from curious and aggressive eyes,
far from the perverse and offensive words.

Here,
Everything is amiable
Love is within every breath
If only this dream would last!

culture food health Mexico

The Nopal: Tasty, Cheap, and Good for You

Post author By Jon
Post date May 1, 2010
No Comments on The Nopal: Tasty, Cheap, and Good for You

Translated by Edda Mata

I chose this article because as a Mexican I thought it was important for English speakers travelling to Mexico to understand the benefits of the nopal; an exotic vegetable, and dare them to try it on their next trip to Mexico. Unlike other consumer-oriented articles, this article’s main purpose is not so much to sell a particular branded product to the consumer, but to inform them of the health benefits of consuming a local produce.

Source text: “Nopal: sabroso, benéfico y barato”

The Nopal: Tasty, Cheap, and Good for You
Adriana Hernández Uresti

Its nutritional contributions, its qualities (true or invented) to prevent and/or control some diseases, the possibility of cooking it in different ways and even eating it raw, and its low cost (less than a peso per piece) are enough reasons for this vegetable to have earned a place on the dining table of Mexican families, who in average consume 6.36 kg per year.

The production of nopal has increased over the past decade; not only has its plantings increased, but also the states where it gets cultivated, assured Javier Montes de Oca, president of the Consejo del Nopal y Tuna (Nopal and Pickly Pear Fig Council of Mexico City). According to the farmers’ representative, a key factor in this trend is the organization of the Feria Nacional del Nopal (National Nopal Fair), where the consumption and cultivation of this thorny food is promoted.

Although it is cultivated in 23 states throughout the country, there are four states considered the main nopal producers: the Distrito Federal (303, 755 tones), Morelos (61,110), Estado de Mexico (14,464) and Aguascalientes (13,178). Out of 436, 222 tons farmed each year, 97% is consumed fresh and the other 3% is used as a primary product by food, pharmaceutics, and perfumery industries.

Its demand has also increased outside the country, and even though Mexico is the main exporter, the amount of nopal sold in other countries is still little, less than 1% of the national production. The United States is the main market followed by Japan and some European countries.

For Those With a Big Appetite:

The nopal provides a daring table companion of proteins, calcium, iron, vitamins A and B, and fibre (even though it’s a food with a high amount of humidity, its dietetic fibre content is greater than 20%). These properties can be altered depending on the way it is consumed; for example, cooking it provokes a small loss in all the nutrients, particularly in carbohydrates, potassium and vitamin C.

According to the nutritionist, Cecilia Sommer, it is advisable that people with problems such as high glucose (like diabetics) consume raw nopal, given that it controls sugar levels more effectively than in its cooked form. The specialist also warns about the risks of broiling as this cooking method may result in the nopal containing traces of this mineral such as phenolic compounds derivatives, which are harmful for the health. There are no restrictions in regards to consuming it like that, but one of the thumb rules of smart nutrition must not be: a varied and balanced diet.

In regard to dehydrated nopal (in pills or other varieties), nutritionist Sommer, commented that: “when a food is dehydrated, normally the loss of water causes the nutrients content to increase by net weight; another advantage is that it has a longer shelf life, and for many people the fact that it isn’t slimy is important, however, it is precisely in its sliminess where one is able to find a significant source of fibre. In addition, dehydrated nopal is much more expensive than the fresh one.

The Father of all Remedies

In addition to its proven benefits, there are other fictional benefits that can be added, specially those invented by charlatans, who offer this product as “the mother of all remedies,” even for diseases that up to date have no cure. For Cecilia Sommer, the biggest myth that exists about the nopal is related to diabetes; she admits that there are in fact studies that demonstrate that its consumption decreases the level of glucose in the blood, but up to date there is no evidence to consider it a cure, like many people believe.

Its high fibre content (soluble and insoluble) is the main cause of its medical benefits, as it prevents or delays the absorption of sugars. In the book El Poder Curativo del Nopal (The Healing Powers of the Nopal) by Guillermo Murrayhe mentions that it helps control the following disorders:

Obesity: The insoluble dietetic fibre absorbs water and accelerates the passing of food through the digestive tract, preventing or delaying the absorption of sugars, which provoke a sensation of satiety, through which the ingestion of food is decreased; likewise, it helps regulate the intestinal movement.

Gastrointestinal Problems: The fibre and the mucilage (the slime) control the production in excess of gastric acids and protect the gastrointestinal mucous. Also, they contribute to a good digestion, avoiding constipation problems. Cholesterol: The amino acids, the fibre and the niacin avoid that the excess of sugar in the blood turns into fat; on the other hand, they metabolize the fat and the fat acids, thus reducing the cholesterol levels.

Arteriosclerosis: The effect of the amino acids and fibre, including the antioxidants, vitamins C and A, prevent the possibilities of damage in the blood vessels’ walls, like the formation of fat platelets.

Colon Purity: Insoluble fibres help dilute the concentration of carcinogenic agents in the colon, which can help to a degree prevent the appearance of such disease.

There is no doubt that including the nopal in daily diet is very recommendable, due to its nutritional benefits as well as its medical benefits. Although it is worth mentioning that it is not a drug on its own, but an supplement to help control or prevent the problems already mentioned.

The Scientists raise their hands

The innovations in the production and procedure of the nopal are few; actually, the majority of the farmers use traditional sowing systems. Despite what has been mentioned, researchers of different centres work to improve its farming. Three examples are:

Increased resistance: Doctor Candelario Mondragón Jacobo, at the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Precuarias (National Forest Research Institute of Agriculture and Livestock) works in genetic improvement of nopal in order to increase its protein content and make it more resistant to frost and pests; likewise he develops cactus figs of different colours from the traditional ones in order to make them more attractive. In the case of the forage nopal, he seeks to improve its nutritional content, to facilitate cattle its consumption.

Thorn Free: Engineers at the Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN) (National Polytechnic Institute) have designed a machine capable of cutting off 80% of the nopal’s thorns, at a velocity of four seconds per piece. This equipment could help accelerate the process of de-thorning, a task that has been qualified by farmers as slow, tiring and tedious. Engineers Guillermo Cruz Villa, Jacobo Moreno Cruz and Sigfrido Soria Farias, at the Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería y Technologías Avanzadas (Professional Interdisciplinary Unit of Engineering and Advanced Technologies), work with farmers from Milpa Alta to develop a machine at an industrial level.

Strong Bones: The doctor Mario Enrique Rodriguez, at the Centro de Física Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada (Department of Physics and High Technology) in the UNAM, is the head of the project “Nopal flour as a treatment to prevent osteoporosis.” It is still rather early to offer conclusions, but no one would be surprised that this product could add a new virtue to the ones we already know.

In detail

The nopal is endemic of America; there are 258 species, out of which 100 exist in Mexico, the main producer at a national level. Nopal is the name given to several species of the Oputina genre, of the cactus family. The Nopalea Cochenillifera is the species that we normally consume and the one referred to in this text.

Multiple Possibilities

Nopal mole, nopal pizza, nopales y cheese sauce, spaghetti with nopales or with cream, dirty beans with nopales, Jell-O, marmalade, ate, nopal cake, tamales with nopales and cattle brains, nopal cookies with cinnamon and a tuna salad, are only some of the 112 recipes that the Recetario del nopal de Milpa Alta, D.F. & Colima (number 48 of the collection Popular Indigenous cuisine of the General Cultures Directorate of CONACULTA). The recipes were collected among the people of the Distrito Federal, the majority producers of Milpa Alta. This culinary jewel can be found in Educal bookstores (www.librosyarte.com.mx) and in the National Museum of Popular Cultures.

Nutritional Facts

Every 100 grams of nopal contain: Energy: 27 kcal Proteins: 1.7g Fat: 0.3g Carbohydrates: 5.6g Calcium: 93 mg Iron: 1.6 mg Retinol (Vitamin A): 41 mcg Thiamin (Vitamin B1): 0.03 mg Riboflavin: (Vitamin B2): 0.06 mg Niacin: 0.3 mg Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): 8 mg Source: Instituto Nacional de Nutrición (National Nutrition Institute).

Tips for Nopal Lovers

Pick nopals with firm thorns (a sign of their of freshness) and without brown-orange stains (a symbol of oxidation). When eating them raw, asides from washing them it is indispensable to disinfect them. Boil them with little water, and avoid overcooking them as this decreases its nutrimental benefits. Use a copper pot to cook them if you want them to keep a lively green colour. If possible, buy and consume them the same day. If you want to store them, put them in a plastic bag inside the fridge; they will preserve well for three days. Grilled nopales tend to have some white spots after a couple of days of storage; these are due to the vegetable reactions and signs of decay. Source: Nutricionist Cecilia Sommer.

analysis culture Ecuador politics

Ecotourism and Climate Change in Latin America

Post author By Jon
Post date May 1, 2010
2 Comments on Ecotourism and Climate Change in Latin America

Translated by Lucie Bardos

Both of the ST’s are popular media articles that can be found online. ST1 is from AFP (Agence France Presse) and can be found through Google News, and ST2 is from a Latin American news website, which deals primarily with the issues surrounding nature conservation and sustainability, called “Ecoportal” (www.ecoportal.net). ST1 talks about a small-scale ecotourism business, in the effort to gain economic self-sustainability, initiated by a group of Ecuadorian indigenous people after successful land reclamation from a previous hacienda owner. ST2, on the other hand, talks about some of the main issues that Latin America as a whole will be faced with in the coming years as a result of climate change, and the role that governments should have in managing the risks associated with climate change.

Indigenous People in Ecuador Discover Ecotourism as a Last Hope
By Alexander Martínez (APF) – 18/02/2010

Source text: “Indígenas ecuatorianos hallan en el ecoturismo su tabla de salvación”

PIÑAN, ECUADOR – A marvel of nature in the Andes has become the last hope for an Ecuadorian indigenous community that, after many years, has succeeded in obtaining a chunk of the roughly 27,000-hectare piece of land belonging to an old hacienda owner. Now, the indigenous community is putting its money on adventure tourism.

Colossal mountains of green and ochre that seem to have been outlined by a paintbrush, rivers, lakes, vultures, and foxes all make up the Piñan landscape. Piñan is a village at 3,170 meters above sea level, which 180 Caraqui indigenous people (who long ago faced the Incan Empire in battle) now call home.

Piñan is located in the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, one of the biggest and most ecologically diverse reserves in Ecuador. It also makes up part of a 27,000-hectare hacienda that belonged to a Spanish lord in the colonial period, which now belongs to a non-indigenous family-owned agriculture business.

Even though Piñan is 54 kilometers away from Ibarra, the nearest urban centre, the trip from Piñan to Ibarra takes 4 hours by car due to bad road conditions. The journey, nevertheless, offers a trip back in time through postcard scenes, such as those of the Pucares – perfect concentric rings that served as indigenous fortresses on mountaintops.

“This community has been historically forced into subservience. It’s a prototype of Ecuadorian haciendas, in which the indigenous people were kept captive and were transferred from owner to owner with the property,” says Iván Suárez, Public Relations officer of the indigenous collective and member of the Cordillera NGO, which supports the community tourism project.

The idea began to take shape 10 years ago after a rebellion by the indigenous people, who had become tired of working for the landowner. They began a process of reclaiming the land, alleging that there had been violations of both their ancestral rights and their labor rights.

“They were prohibited from passing through the door to the hacienda; there were threats, assaults. On top of neglect, they had to endure the fact that the owner, who wanted them outside, humiliated them”, remembers Suarez, who also claims that the owner only paid 400 USD a year in property tax.

The request made by the indigenous people ended with the landowner conceding 1,200 hectares of land where the high altitude grassland plains kiss the clouds. After the settlement, the indigenous group created a company that would offer guides, as well as carriage rides and trail rides on horseback.

However, the plan fell short for an indigenous community that cultivates crops for subsistence, and that can barely sell one broad bean harvest a year for the set price, according to Rigoberto Rodríguez (known as ‘Don Rigo’), one of the denizens of Piñan.

From this need arose the proposal for the construction of a mountain refuge for adventure-seekers. The European Union (EU) contributed 60,000 USD and the indigenous group pledged 30 “mingas” (communal working days) for the construction of a lodge capable of accommodating 20 people, between last July and December.

“We are very proud. We never imagined having something like this”, affirms Rodríguez, a 55 year-old guide overflowing with youthful energy as he accompanies the horseback rides on foot. For the purpose of being able to offer these rides, each indigenous family contributed one horse.

The lodge, whose comforts contrast with the humble indigenous communal huts, had its official opening last weekend, just in time for the annual Huairasinchi Adventure Competition (a race which forms part of the Adventure Racing World Series). The contestants of the race were due to pass through the town of Piñan, which also happens to boast views of several volcanoes, one of which is Mt. Cotacachi (4,937 meters above sea level).

A head administrator supervises the earnings made by the lodge and its services, and a percentage of these goes into a savings account. Other types of earning, such as tips, are distributed amongst the workers, and thanks to a store that supplies the town, the earnings made in Piñan stay in Piñan.

The refuge is “the first stage in the construction of the most important trekking route in all of northern Ecuador, because it covers the Intag River, the high altitude grasslands of Piñan, and the thermal pools of Chachimbiro,” explains Suárez.

The Chachimbiro Project, which has been in place for the past 15 years, involves the participation of nine communities that include people of African descent, Indigenous groups, and farming communities. In 2009, they reported sales revenues of 1.1 million USD.

Suárez remarks that if Piñan is to obtain such success, it is necessary that, first of all, the government pass a law that obligates it to buy up private land within the nation’s natural reserves in order to safeguard the conservation of these lands.

“We have been here since this world was born, therefore this belongs to us. Our parents told us to stay here and we will do the same with our own children,” promises ‘Don Rigo’.

Climate Change Will Wreak Havoc in Latin America
20/09/09

Source text: “El cambio climático causará estragos en Latinoamérica”

The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) announced yesterday that due to climate change, Latin America will be faced with growing deforestation and lack of water. These factors will complicate food security in a region where 53 million people suffer from hunger.

According to official government calculations, about 70 thousand hectares of forest have already disappeared from the subcontinent since 1990. They greatest decreases in forest cover have occurred in Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Venezuela.

At the same time, the total amount of agricultural land with access to irrigation has remained virtually unchanged. However, there has been a decrease in areas where cereals are grown, due to droughts that have affected Argentina, Uruguay, and Central America throughout the past few years.

“Governments will have to take action to prevent, adapt to, and mitigate the effects of climate change”, commented head official of the Latin American office of the FAO, Jan Van Wambeke.

On the other hand, there will be a direct threat to the capacity of production in the food and agricultural sector in the region, which currently generates 120 million USD in exports, due in large part to the contributions of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay.

The situation will complicate the availability of key nutrients in cities, and, since around 60 million farmers will have their livelihoods negatively affected, there is the threat of new migrations of farmers to cities.

“It is probable that deforestation, soil degradation, and lack of water will result in concentrated land ownership, given that many farmers will be unable to adapt to the new conditions”, added Wambeke.

He also recalled that this process will be reinforced by the southward expansion of Latin American deserts, as predicted by various studies. In Chile, however, government officials predict that around 2050, the desert will actually shift by 500 km.

Taking these factors into account, the main worry of the governments should be “implementing a system to manage the agroclimatic risk”, said Wambeke.

With this in mind, he showed appreciation for the efforts put forth by Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico, and Chile in confronting the effects of climate change on agricultural production and the environment.

Nevertheless, in the name of the FAO, Wambeke added that “the equation is a very complicated one, since we have to fight the effects of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and problems associated with food security.”

The Challenge Concerning Hunger

César Falconi, head of the Latin American and Caribbean branch of the Investment Centre of the FAO, confirmed that there are currently a billion people suffering from hunger, and that in 2050, the challenge will be to feed 9 billion of them.

At a press conference, Falconi announced some of the conclusions reached at a conference entitled “the Environment and Sustainable Development: Dialogues on Theory and Practice”, which took place at the Menendez Pelayo International University (UIMP) in Santander, Spain. Even though studies suggest that the world has the resources and the technological potential to face this challenge, “increasing investment in sustainable development is of utmost importance”, confirms Falconi.

Source website: www.ecoportal.net.

For more information go to www.pnuma.org (United Nations Environment Program)