[from The Latin American Herald Tribune, 07/29/10]
Argentina Boosts Pensions, Aid to Poor Families
BUENOS AIRES – Argentine President Cristina Fernandez announced Wednesday a 16.9 percent increase in payments to pensioners, aiming to preempt efforts by opposition lawmakers to push through a significantly larger boost.
A total of roughly 10 million people are expected to benefit from the pension hike and a 22 percent increase in child subsidies to low-income families.
Starting in September, the minimum pension will be 1,046 pesos ($265) a month, while the monthly child subsidy will rise to 220 pesos ($56) for each minor in qualified households, the president said in nationally broadcast speech.
She said the benefit hikes represent an expenditure equal to 1.35 percent of Argentina’s 2009 gross domestic product, measured at $315 billion.
[from The Underground, 07/29/10]
Gay marriage law in Argentina signals waning Catholic influence
The recent enactment in Argentina of a gay marriage law is being largely viewed to indicate the waning influence of the Catholic church in Argentina–and generally, Latin America.
The law, which allows gay couples to marry and adopt children, is perceived to indicate that there is a greater desire for more liberal social legislation in what had long been viewed as a Catholic stronghold, Reuters said.
The law was signed by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on July 21 after bitter legislative debate and strong lobbying from the Catholic church, with a 33-27 vote.
The Catholic church’s failure to derail the law is also indicative of a new cultural direction in Latin America, which is comparable to the experience of Portugal and Spain, both of which have legalized gay marriage despite a strong history of Catholicism and a near-past history of Catholic dictatorships, Time Magazine says.
Among Argentina’s gay community, it is believed that the vote reflects loathing towards the Catholic hierarchy, Marcelo Ernesto Ferreyra of the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission said. Time Magazine noted that Ferreyra cited the loss of prestige of the Catholic church in Argentina.
Gay marriage is also legal in Mexico City and Uruguay; while Chile’s president Sebastian Pinera also has expressed plans to enhance the rights of same-sex couples, Reuters said. With the new law, RD Magazine said there may be new changes in the future, for example abortion may soon be legalized in Latin America.
Already, a leading candidate for president in Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, has expressed favor for legalized abortion. Of note, Brazil has the highest Catholic population in the world, Reuters said.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Snow
[from El Tribuno, Saturday July 17, 2010]
Salta dressed in white
The snow began late on Thursday and lasted all day yesterday. Whole families of tourists and Salteños packed nearby towns such as Vaqueros and San Lorenzo.
View from Vaqueros | Snow along the side of the road, people enjoying the moment; a postcard repeated around the city and the towns.
It was an unforgettable Friday. The historic day began on Thursday night when sleet appeared as an awaited miracle; later snowflakes began to accumulate and to paint Salta’s silhouette white. Yesterday morning began with joy and a contagious enthusiasm that the youngest passed along to the adults.
The snow that fell all night and most of the day can only be compared with that long ago Monday, July 10, 2000. Not since then has such an event occurred. What particularly sets this apart, said the INTA meteorologist, Ignacio Nieva, is the duration of the snowfall, which began in the late hours of Thursday night. "It is a phenomenon quite unique and surprising because of the duration and extent of the precipitation," he said.
For this reason children, adults, and seniors had the great opportunity to enjoy the snow for several hours. The majority chose to go by car to San Lorenzo and Vaqueros. Roads, around noon, experienced unusual traffic, to the degree that just as in summer, driving was at a crawl.
The shoulders of provincial route 28, the road to San Lorenzo, were filled all the way to the top of Castellanos. Impromptu snowball fights, competitions to build the largest snowman, and even photo shoots with ingenious poses were the activities that prevailed throughout the Salteña morning.
The people’s joy
"It'll be on Facebook, Mami," a teenager clicking his camera madly told a woman who was piling up a mound of projectiles. "If that happens, I'll kill you, Baby," the mother shouted as she raised a finger.
The cold didn’t disturb the San Lorenzo River, where during siesta fun and smiles reigned. "This is a blessing," a nun who visited the Quebrada yesterday told The Tribune. "The snow, like rain, they fall for everyone. It's moving,” she said.
On many cars one could see a snowman. In several cases these were arranged irresponsibly, to the point of blocking the view of drivers who circled the highways as their sculptures melted.
Cafayate
For Cafayate, yesterday was a historic day. No townspeople remember when the snow marker, the San Isidro mountain, as it is known, awoke so covered in a white blanket, as happened yesterday. Cafayateños and many tourists turned their cameras and camcorders to this marker, which continued to cause admiration among the people.
General Guemes
General Guemes dawned white. The municipality always measures a temperature 4-5 degrees higher than Salta; it’s warmer in summer and less cold in winter. However, yesterday, Cobos, near Campo Santo, was a snow scene and became a meeting point for families, many of whom never had had the chance to touch this phenomenon.
Metán
Metán had an amazing sunrise. The trees on the sidewalks, roofs, green spaces, and cars were dressed in white and many people took the opportunity to build snowmen. The highest precipitation was observed in the mountains west of the city, in the San Cayetano and AMEC neighborhoods. It was one of the largest snowfalls in recent decades.
Rosario de la Frontera
La Ciudad Termal had to wait 11 years to see snow. El Naranjo, a tourist town located a few kilometers from the town, became the favorite spot by the Rosarinos to watch the snow across the mountains. "In Rosario de la Frontera the last snowfall was recorded on July 11, 1999," recalled a neighbor, watching the hills covered by a white blanket.
April - July 2010 weather
The green line along the bottom indicates precipitation: 0 = clear skies; 10 = rain or snow; note the July snowstorm.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Jennifer Lopez
The Actor Jennifer Lopez
Birth name: Jennifer Lynn Lopez Also known as J.LoBorn: July 24, 1969 (age 40)
Origin: The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Genres: Pop, R&B, hip hop, dance-pop, Latin pop
Occupations: Actress, singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, fashion designer, television producer, model, choreographer, entrepreneur,
Miami Dolphins: part-owner
Years active: 1986–present (acting) 1997–present (singing)
Labels: Epic (1999–2010) Def Jam (2010–present)
Website www.JenniferLopez.com
Biography
The one of the famous celebrities Jennifer Lynn Lopez frequently nickname J.Lo, is an American actress, fashion designer and television producer, singer, record producer, dancer,. She is the richest one of Latin American dive in Hollywood according to Forbes, and the majority powerful Hispanic artiste in the U.S. according to People en Español's list of "100 Most powerful Hispanics". She parlayed her media fame into a fashion line and various perfumes with her celebrity endorsement. Exterior of her work in the activity industry, Lopez advocates human rights, vaccinations and is a follower of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
Awards
| ALMA Awards (Nominated:1,Year: 2001,2002 & Won:4, Year:1998,1999,2000,2001) | |||
| | |||
| Year | Result | Award | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2001 | Won | Special Achievement Award | Female Entertainer of the Year |
| 2000 | Won | Special Achievement Award | Female Entertainer of the Year |
| 1999 | Won | ALMA Award | Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film in a Crossover Role |
| 1998 | Won | ALMA Award | Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film |
| | |||
| Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (Nominated:1,Year:1988 & Won:1, Year:2001) | |||
| 2001 | Won | Blockbuster Entertainment Award | Favorite Actress - Science Fiction |
| | |||
see more Awardsfor more news about:Jennifer Lopez
Derek Jeter
The Baseball Player Derek Jeter
No. 2 ShortstopBorn: June 26, 1974 (age 36) Pequannock, New Jersey
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 29, 1995 for the New York Yankees
Career Statistics (Through July 19, 2010)
Batting average .315
Hits 2,850
Runs 1,636
Home runs 232
Runs batted in 1,112
On-base plus slugging .842
Teams
New York Yankees (1995–present)
Biography
The one of the famous celebrities Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American specialized baseball player. He is a Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop who has played his whole career for the New York Yankees. Derek Sanderson Jeter has serve up as the Yankees' team captain since 2003. Jeter's attendance in the Yankees' lineup, highlighted by his hitting prowess, played an instrumental role in the team's late 1990s dynasty.Derek Jeter Awards
| Year | Awards |
| 1994 | Minor League Player of the Year Award |
| 1996 | Players Choice: Outstanding Rookie of the Year Award |
| 1996 | Rookie of the Year Award |
| 1996 | Sporting News Rookie Player of the Year Award |
| 1998 | Player of the Month Award |
| 2000 | All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award |
| 2000 | Babe Ruth Award (World Series MVP) |
| 2000 | World Series Most Valuable Player Award |
| 2004 | Gold Glove Award for Shortstops |
| 2005 | Gold Glove Award for Shortstops |
| 2006 | Baseball Digest Player of the Year Award |
| 2006 | Gold Glove Award for Shortstops |
| 2006 | Hank Aaron Award |
| 2006 | Silver Slugger Award (American League) |
| 2006 | TYIB: Hitter of the Year Award |
| 2007 | Silver Slugger Award (American League) |
| 2008 | Silver Slugger Award (American League) |
| 2009 | Gold Glove Award for Shortstops |
| 2009 | Hank Aaron Award |
| 2009 | Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award |
| 2009 | Silver Slugger Award (American League) |
| 2009 | Sportsman of the Year Award |
| | |
for more news about:Derek Jeter
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
jackie chan
The Actor Jackie Chan
Name: Jackie ChanBorn: 7 April 1954 (Age: 56)
Where: Hong Kong, China
Height: 5' 8"
Awards: No major awards
Biography
The one of the famous celebrities Jackie Chan, is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, director, comedian, filmmaker, producer, and stunt performer. Inside his movies, he is recognized for his gymnastic warfare style, comic timing, use of off the cuff weapons, and ground-breaking stunts. He has been acting since the 1970s and has come into view in over 100 films. He has customary stars on the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Because a cultural icon, Chan has been referenced in various pop songs, cartoons, and video games. He is also a Cantopop and Mandopop star, having released a number of albums and sung many of the theme songs for the films in which he has starred.Awards and Nominations
| Daytime Emmy Awards (Nominated:1 , Year:2002 & Won:0) | |||
| | |||
| Hong Kong Film Awards (Nominated:13 , Year:1983,1985,1986,1990,1993,1994,1996,1997,1999200,2005,2006 & Won:3 , Year:1989,1996,1999) | |||
| Year | Result | Award | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 1989 | Won | Hong Kong | Film Award Best Picture |
| | |||
| 1996 | Won | Hong Kong | Film Award Best Action Choreography |
| | |||
| 1999 | Won | Hong Kong | Film Award Best Action Choreography |
| | |||
for more news about:jackie chan
Regis Philbin
American Media Personality Regis Philbin
Full Name: Regis Francis Xavier PhilbinBorn: August 25, 1931 (age 78) New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation: TV presenter, Talk show host, Game show host
Years active: 1961–present
Spouse(s): Kay Faylan (1955–1968), Joy Philbin (1970–present)
Official website
Biography
The one of the famous celebrities Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality and infrequent actor and singer, known for facing various talk and game shows. Come into view on television since the late 1950s, Philbin is often called “the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a TV camera. With each TV appearance, he adds to his record for most hours logged (15,662, as certified by Guinness World Records in 2006). Regis brands include his excited manner, his New York Bronx accent, his wit, and disrespectful ad-libs. Regis is most extensively recognized for Live with Regis and Kelly, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Million Dollar Password, and for hosting the first season of America's Got Talent.Awards and Nominations
| Daytime Emmy Awards (Nomination:15 , Year: 1989,1996 to 2009& Won:2 , Year:2001,2006) | |||
| | |||
| Year | Result | Award | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2006 | Won | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Special Class Special |
| | |||
| 2001 | Won | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Game Show Host |
| Outstanding Talk Show Host | |||
| | |||
see more Awards
for more news about:Regis Philbin
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