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By Michael Lopez

Though it’s far from being a national holiday, this Friday marks Earth Day 41st anniversary and we’re certain the original founders would be proud of the eco-friendly accomplishments that have been made within the past five decades.

From electric cars, to solar panels and beyond, plenty of people from around the world have adapted to “green” technology, including several high-profile Latino celebs. So, in honor of Mother Earth, we thought it would be fun to profile a few of our personal favorites.

Christina Aguilera – Xtina actually gets bonus points for her recent “green” gesture. Not only did he she team with Chrysler to design an eco-friendly car, she helped auction it off to raise money for Haiti. Featuring cactus-colored seats, bamboo appliqué door trims, and a recycled interior, her “Eco-Style” ride fetched a pretty penny on the bidding circuit.

Jessica Alba – Jess has taken her environmental beliefs to the home front. Latina magazine once dubbed her pad an “eco-friendly paradise” and it’s easy to see why. In Alba’s living room you can find rugs made out of recycled tennis balls, trash cans built from potato chip wrappers, and a doggie bed that used to be plastic bottles. And if that wasn’t enough, she also makes a point to dress her daughter Honor in organic cotton clothing.

Salma Hayek – Those who follow Salma’s career know that she’s always supported numerous causes. And helping Mother Earth is one of the issues she feels most passionate about. Not only has she launched her own organic beauty line, she also sits on the board of Global Green USA, a charity dedicated to combating climate change. Plus she has solar panels in her home and drives a sporty hybrid car.

Penelope Cruz – You may not want to pull up in a diesel-powered truck next to Penelope Cruz. This A-list Latina is all about eco-friendly four wheelers. A staunch supporter of GreenerCars.org, Pe encouraged her famous friends to switch their cars to hybrids and has even arranged for alternative fuel vehicles to shuttle stars to their high-profile events.

Cameron Diaz – For years Cameron has been an advocate for green energy, but her true passion lies in protecting the world’s eco-systems. Back in 2005, she teamed with MTV for the environmental series Trippin, which had her traveling to Yellowstone, Patagonia, and Bhutan. On each of the journeys, Diaz would profile endangered species and gorgeous wildlife preserves that were being impacted by pollution.

How do you plan on celebrating Earth Day this year? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Cameron Diaz, Celebrities, Christina Aguilera, Deep Thoughts, Earth Day, go green, Jessica Alba, Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek

By Michael Lopez

As 2010 nears to an end, we'd like to take a moment to reflect on some of the amazing individuals who passed away this year. These folks left an indelible mark on us and we will not soon forget them.

José Saramago: In September, we told you about Saramago's Nobel-Prize winning approach to literature. Sadly, his death in June prevented him from seeing the massive success that his final book achieved.  Elephant’s Journey proved to be a fantastic footnote to his 60-year writing career, but by no means the defining moment. For that, we recommend reading his controversial book, Gospel According to Jesus Christ.

Greg Giraldo: The 44-year-old comedian died in September from an accidental drug overdose. A Harvard law school grad who gave it all up for a standup career, Giraldo’s wit and “roasting” abilities were unparalleled. Mainstream America would probably recognize him most for his stint on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, but if you want a taste of the real Greg, we definitely suggest watching one of his uncensored comedy specials.

Jamie Escalante: Who can forget the landmark 1988 film Stand and Deliver? Actor Edward James Olmos earned an Oscar nomination for his memorable portrayal of Bolivian-born calculus teacher Jaime Escalante. Of course, there is no way a two-hour movie could encapsulate the 25 years Jaime dedicated to changing lives in East Los Angeles. His unique teaching methods empowered thousands of students to further their educations and earned him countless awards, including the Presidential Medal for Excellence in Education. Sadly, Escalante passed away in March at age 79.

Sandro: Considered to be one of the greatest Latino pop singers of all time, Sandro had a huge following in Argentina and Europe during the 1960s. Known for his hip-shaking dance moves, vocal range and larger-than-life stage presence, he even earned the nickname “Argentine Elvis.” You trivia buffs may find it interesting to note that in 1970, he was the first Latino to sell out Madison Square Garden. Sadly, a lifetime of cigarette smoking led to health complications, which ultimately took his life in January.

José Lima: A true free spirit in the world of professional baseball, Dominican-born José Lima had a full career in the major leagues. During his 13 seasons, he pitched for both the Dodgers and the Mets. His flamboyant field presence (which included dancing, waving and singing to the crowd) led to the creation of “Lima Time,” which fans would shout whenever he took the mound. José’s unexpected death from a heart attack shocked the sports world and set off multiple tributes from the all-star slugger community.

Did you lose any loved ones in 2010? Comment below or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Cultura, Deep Thoughts, Greg Giraldo, Jamie Escalante, Jose Lima, Jose Saramago, RIP, Sandro

By Michael Lopez

The Golden Globe nominations are in, and we're excited that two of our selected holiday films, along with our favorite Modern Family gal, Sofia Vergara, were nominated for the coveted awards.

We admittedly haven't seen all of the nominated films yet, but we're going to go out on a limb here and cast our vote in the Best Motion Picture Drama category for David Fincher's The Social Network. The critically acclaimed movie weaves together an intricate story about the creation of Facebook with incredible performances from the cast, including Jesse Eisenberg.

In the Best Motion Picture Comedy category, we’re going against the odds and voting for Burlesque. Since so many critics panned it, we were actually surprised that Christina Aguilera's flick made the cut, but we like an underdog and we like Cher even more.

Last month, we made a point to praise Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal's chemistry in the film Love & Other Drugs. They both scored Best Actor nods for the film and, frankly, we hope they win. Each gave a funny, heartfelt performance. Plus, they showed off quite a bit of skin for their roles, which this writer has no problem endorsing!

Although Hollywood Foreign Press Association failed to deliver any Golden Globe love to Biutiful star Javier Bardem or director Alejandro González Iñárritu, we are thrilled that it was nominated for Best Foreign Film. The movie’s touching life-and-death story crosses language barriers, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it takes home the prize.

Moving on to television, we’ve got to give some props to Sofia Vergara, who was nominated for Best Television Actress. Is this her year or what? An Emmy nomination, an $8 million Kmart deal and now a Golden Globe nomination. She’s up against some heavy hitters, namely Glee’s Jane Lynch, but we still think she has a shot. And regardless, we can’t wait to see what she wears on the red carpet.

The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards airs January 16.

Who are you rooting for at this year’s Golden Globes? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Award Shows, Biutiful, Deep Thoughts, Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globes, Movies, Movies & CineMás, Television

By Michael Lopez

When Blogamole first heard about this story, we thought it was a joke. Do disenchanted Latino voters across the country really want to launch a Tequila Party? In the same way that the Tea Party formed its own movement within the Republican realm, rumors are flying that Democratic Latinos may form their own sect, too.

Although he didn't come up with the concept, Fernando Romero, president of Nevada’s Hispanics in Politics, recently told Fox News Latino that support for a Tequila Party movement is growing fast in his home state:

“We don’t have immigration reform. And by the looks of it, it isn’t going to happen. We were impressed, like I think everyone else was, by the strength the Tea Party showed. And we thought, ‘Why not do, basically, the same thing?”

Why? To begin with, the Senate's failure to pass the DREAM Act last September was a major blow to immigration reform activists. We all knew conservative Republicans would vote against the measure —  which would allow undocumented immigrants who are under age 30 and came to the U.S. as children to remain in the country pending two years of college or military service — but some Latinos felt disappointed with Democrats, too. Could the Dems have fought a little harder? It depends who you ask. Some Dems, including President Barack Obama, are trying to push the bill through Congress before the end of the year, but it continues to be an uphill battle.

Then, there’s that other situation in Arizona. The state stirred up tons of controversy this summer when it passed SB 1070, an anti-immigration law that made it a state crime for non-U.S. citizens to be there without their papers and cracks down on anyone who shelters illegal immigrants. Although a judge issued a federal injunction to block the most controversial parts of the law, many Latino voters felt their voices were ignored throughout the legislative process. And don’t get us started on Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s “illegal alien hunting posse.”

In all honesty, the Tea Party may not be the best political role model to follow. In case you forgot, they were the strongest supporters of SB 1070 and have taken strong stances against amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Plus, is it really wise to call it a Tequila Party? We love Cuervo as much as the next blog, but if you want to be taken seriously in Washington, that may not be the best name for your cause.

So, while we definitely agree that it's time to tackle these big issues, we don’t think you need a kitschy name or polarizing spokesperson to do it. Learn about the issues and hit those politicians where it hurts — at the voting booths!

What do you think of forming a Tequila Party? Sound off below or @MTV3!

Tags Cultura, Deep Thoughts, Politics, SB 1070, Tea Party, Tequila Party, the DREAM Act

By Michael Lopez

Be honest. With web videos, cell phones blaring, mp3 players, and more, it’s pretty hard to stay focused . Even when clicking on Blogamole, do you go through every word of an article or just scroll down to the good stuff? Don’t worry, you most likely don’t have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), but there’s a good chance someone you know does. Studies just released claim that the amount of Latinos with ADHD has gone up 53% in the past five years.

Image : A Just Society

Classified as a neurobehavioral development disorder, ADHD affects roughly 10% of all children in the United States today. Symptoms typically include difficulties following instructions, forgetfulness, impatience, and the urge to constantly be in motion.

Though the rate of Latinos classified has gone up substantially, Anglos and African-Americans under the age of 18 are still much more likely to be diagnosed. According data from the survey, 10% of white and African-American children have ADHD. For Latino kids, it’s more along the lines of 6%.

That’s still quite a jump from the study conducted five years earlier. Notes from the report concluded that that the rise in Latino children with ADHD may be attributed to families having a better understanding of the disorder.

As the footnotes stated, “[The Latino increase] might indicate a shift in cultural acceptance of ADHD or changes in access to care.”

So in fact, the number of Latino children with ADHD may have already been at around 6%, it just so happened that families weren’t able to properly diagnose them. Another theory for the increase could be the assimilation of more Latino immigrants into the over-stimulated American culture.

With hundreds of television channels, video games, and flashy sites, how could you NOT have a hard time focusing on just one thing? Though there are medications for more severe ADHD cases, if you feel your attention is starting to wander, we suggest turning off those buzzing gadgets and honing in on a nice long Blogamole article.

Does anyone you know suffer from ADHD? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags ADHD, Cultura, Deep Thoughts, Education

By Michael Lopez

Que lastima! Less than a year after Oprah revealed that she was saying goodbye to television, her Cuban counterpart Cristina Saralegui has announced that she’s doing the same thing. Yup, after over 20 years on the air, her groundbreaking Spanish talk show, “Cristina” is going off the air.

photo via Hispanic PR Wire

Since its major debut in 1989, "Cristina” has been a staple of Spanish television. Her professional demeanor and friendly attitude has attracted some of the biggest names in Latino entertainment. Stars like Shakira, Ricky Martin, and Gloria Estefan have all taken a seat on the legendary stage.

photo via El show de Cristina/Univisión

Of course, unlike Oprah, Ms. Saralegui wasn’t afraid to shy away from the outrageous. Throughout the years, she’s been known for her silly costumes (you’ve got to love that barrel outfit), beauty contests, and half-naked cowboys prancing on the set.

And as far as heavy-hitting goes, her dramatic interviews with former Menudo members and controversial star Gloria Trevi scored huge ratings. And by all accounts, “Cristina” is still riding high. Which makes us wonder, why the premature exit?

According to Saralegui, “It is bittersweet to announce the end of what has been a very rewarding experience, but after many wonderful years, now is the perfect time to retire the show and move on to the next exciting phase of my career.”

What exactly will that be? According to sources, she’s still under contract to Univision, which means we can expect plenty of Cristina specials in the near future. But as far as “Cristina” the show goes, the final episode is set to air November 1st and you can bet Team Blogamole will be watching (with plenty of tissues in hand).

Source: [L.A. Times]

Are you going to miss “Cristina”? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Celebrities, cristina, Cristina Saralegui, Deep Thoughts, Gloria Trevi, Menudo, Oprah, Television

By Michael Lopez

Move over Lance Armstrong, there’s a new cycling stud on the scene! Spanish bicyclist Alberto Contador recently won his third Tour de France by a margin of 39 seconds (pretty impressive by bike standards) and is primed to take his place as the new king of the two-wheelers.

Though only 27 years old, “El Pistolero” as he likes to be called, has already won multiple Tour de France titles, the coveted Giro d’Italia, and the Vuelta a Espana (making him the fifth cyclist in history to conquer all three Grand Tours). His specialty is considered to be “climbing” or being able to take on immense inclines at rapid speeds. He was also recently named ambassador for the World Stroke Organization, six years after recovering from a brain injury. Hardcore!

If you think those high settings on the spin bike are tough, imagine having to compete for endless miles among the huge sloped hills of Europe! Alberto can ace them flawlessly and has built quite a rep for his time trial numbers as well (covering 5.5 Tour de France miles in a little over 25 minutes).

Yes, Alberto was recently beaten in a street race, but that doesn't change his amazing record! So where did this all-star pedal pro come from? The small town of Pinto, Spain. Unlike a lot of athletic phenoms, there was no heavy parent-coaching going on in the Contador household. Alberto discovered cycling through an older brother and eventually dropped out of high school to pursue his dream.

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Tags Alberto Contador, Cycling, Deep Thoughts, Lance Armstrong, Sports, Tour de France

In our latest installment of Deep Thoughts, Blogamole contributor Michael Lopez reflects on the alarming amount of recent natural disasters. Team Blogamole sends our love to those affected in Ecuador and around the world.

By Michael Lopez

There have been WAY too many earthquakes throughout Latin America in the past few months. Now, with the most recent 7.1 that struck Ecuador last Thursday (August 12), we hope more individuals pay attention to these areas and contribute in any way they can.

But the real question is…what’s causing all of this? According to scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, 2010’s large number of Richter-tippers is “well within the normal range.” It probably doesn't feel very normal to those caught in the disaster!

People often forget (probably because of the French language) that Haiti is considered part of Latin America, and we all remember what an epic disaster they went through back on January 12... A 7.0 magnitude quake devastated Port-au-Prince and reportedly killed over 230,000 people.

A little over a month later on February 27, a record-breaking 8.8 ravaged Chile (sending tsunami threats all the way to Hawaii)! It actually measured as the seventh strongest rattler of all time. But thankfully since it was in a less populated region, the death toll was substantially smaller.

Then, on April 4, a 7.2 hit Mexicali (which was felt up in LA) - and now a 7.1 in Ecuador! Amazingly, the Ecuador shaker was recorded as lasting over 10 minutes and felt across most of the nation. The fact that its epicenter was so deep (131 miles below the surface) helped stifle much of the impact.

Since 1900, an average of 16 quakes (magnitude 7 or bigger) have occurred worldwide each year.
Some years have had as little as six, while others (like 1943) had a whopping 32! With this past weekend's earthquake of 7.2 in Guam and Northern Mariana Islands, that stat isn’t very comforting.

Let’s just hope 2010 met its quota. To find out how you can help earthquake victims, visit the American Red Cross.

Did you have any family impacted by the quakes? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Cultura, Deep Thoughts, Earthquakes, Ecuador, Haiti

In our latest installment of Deep Thoughts, Blogamole contributor Michael Lopez stretches the definition of a "deep thought" by taking us on a fist pumping breakdown of Snooki's endearing and not-so-hot traits.

By Michael Lopez

Why is it that we can’t peep a gossip site or pass a tabloid newspaper without a shot of Snooki front and center? Everyone’s favorite orange-tinged "Jersey Shore" star just can’t seem to escape massive media attention…for better or for worse!

That’s why, with Season 2 of her show in full effect, Team Blogamole thought it would be a good idea to break down the pros and cons of Nicole Polizzi, featuring the good, the bad, and the downright offensive.

photo credit: Emily Shur

PRO – She’s always entertaining. Love her or hate her, watching Snooki is a definite cure for the back to school blues. In a TV landscape of lame summer shows and boring reruns, “Jersey Shore” Miami has not only delivered hot ratings, but outrageous moments as well (mostly thanks to Ms. Polizzi). Can you believe she called that place a "tranny store"?!

CON – Is Snooki a secret denier of her Latina heritage? Rumors aside, we know that in the beginning she wasn’t quite that forthcoming about her Chilean background (she was born in Santiago). It is understandable since she was adopted by Italian parents, but c’mon…can’t you ever wave the La Estrella Solitaria flag too?

PRO – She doesn’t take herself too seriously. And really…how could she? Sure she wears shocking outfits, goes to the gym in full makeup, and is addicted to self-tanner, but at least she’s 100% honest about it. There’s no pretense with Snooki, a fact she even clarified herself when she told the NY Times, “I’m a nut job. And I don’t care.”

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Tags Chisme, Deep Thoughts, Jersey Shore, MTV, Nicole Polizzi, Snooki, Television

In our latest installment of Deep Thoughts, Blogamole contributor Michael Lopez reminds us that it's still fun to sit at the breakfast table and enjoy the funnies (printed or digi) — especially one by comic O.G. Lalo Alcaraz.

By Michael Lopez

Flip open your local newspaper and chances are in between Snoopy and those Far Side rip-offs, you’ll come in contact with Cuco. Yup, we're talking about that bug-eyed, sharp-witted Latino icon who’s actually a trailblazer among comic strip characters.

In the last few decades, comics like "La Cucaracha" have brought talented diversity and created a forum for a much different political perspective.

“Cucaracha”'s creator, Lalo Alcaraz, has taken his ideas even further with radio shows, books, and thought-provoking Tweets!

Lalo Alcaraz

Born in SoCal, Lalo began his art career at San Diego State University, drawing editorial cartoons for the local paper. Since then, he’s created comics (in both English and Spanish) for The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Village Voice, Latina Magazine, and beyond.

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Tags Art, Comics, culture, Deep Thoughts, La Cucaracha, Lalo Alcaraz