Cinco De Mayo History

Usually, I just put up some pictures of tequila, shot glasses, or margaritas and say "ole." But I found one really interesting article that I feel is a must read about the origins of Cinco de Mayo that even I was not aware of. Although, I was not stupid enough about Mexican culture to believe that this is Mexico's Independence Day (which is September 16, by the way), I was of the firm belief that this was more an American holiday, and an attempt to utilize alcohol (especially beer) and attract a more Mexican audience to the beer culture, which based on this article, is actually true.

What I didn't know: During the American Civil War, Mexicans had sided with the Union and not with the Confederates. Also, the French were attempting to invade and control Mexico, which had only had a democratic government for probably 30 some years. The battle at Puebla on the 5th of May (hence, Cinco de Mayo) was when a ragtag group of Mexicans were able to withstand the French army's attempt to take over Puebla. The Mexicans at that time that lived in the United States (mostly in California, and oddly enough, northwestern states such as Oregon) were reading everything they could about the French and their attempt to invade and control Mexico (albeit, in their time, they would be reading things in the newspapers that were probably two to three weeks after the fact), and were excited about the battle and win over the French at Puebla. And that is how the Cinco de Mayo tradition began in the United States. The Mexicans in America at that time would celebrate regularly the victory at Puebla. And, lo and behold, a century later, the beer industry got into the act and started sponsoring Cinco de Mayo events.

I don't begrudge ANYONE finding an opportunity to pop open a brew ... but I did find this information interesting.

Here's another piece that further elaborates on the holiday, and even quotes the link I provided above.

Enjoy some music!

Flaco Jimenez - She Stole My Accordion (ok, you may have to look up Flaco) ... as I have noted on numerous occasions, Flaco was THE accordion guy on many, many records we know but just had no clue there was even an accordion part in the song, let alone, know it was FLACO!!!

Tuba Thefts In Los Angeles Linked To L.A. Banda Bands

As Southern California awoke to the wreckage from a recent massive windstorm, music teacher Ruben Gonzalez Jr. was assessing a different sort of devastation in his band room at South Gate High School.

Thieves had pried open a door and torn the room apart while hunting for a specific instrument. "All they took were tubas," Gonzalez said. Losses included an upright concert tuba and a silver sousaphone — or marching-band tuba — worth a combined $13,000.

[snip]

Those are just the latest in what police and music instructors are describing as a rash of unsolved tuba thefts at high schools in southeast Los Angeles County. The thefts, according to band leaders, were probably spurred by Southern California's banda music craze, as well as the high prices the brass instruments fetch on the black market. A high-quality tuba can cost well more than $5,000, but even an old, dented tuba can sell for as much as $2,000, music teachers say.

How many of us have been there?

Los Tigres Del Note

[Note - Tubas not on video, but, duh, anyone that can HEAR, hears the tubas in the video!]

Just examples of the "la banda" scenario, where the damn tubas are prominent. Educate and learn da music. Por que? BECAUSE.

Gutsy Move By Anonymous

UPDATE: 11/5/11

According to New York Daily News:

The hacktavist collective Anonymous has cancelled Operation Cartel after a member that was allegedly abducted by a Mexican drug cartel was released Thursday, the group's longtime public face announced in an online post.

WOW ... that's some fucking power!
- - - - - - - -

"You made a huge mistake by taking one of us. Release him," says a masked man in a video posted online on behalf of the group, Anonymous.

"We cannot defend ourselves with a weapon … but we can do this with their cars, homes, bars, brothels and everything else in their possession," says the man, who is wearing a suit and tie.

"It won't be difficult; we all know who they are and where they are located," says the man, who underlines the group's international ties by speaking Spanish with the accent of a Spaniard while using Mexican slang.

Apparently, Anonymous is not taking the kidnapping of one of their own lying down.

Earlier today, [Barrett] Brown tweeted: "Just hours into gathering secondary intel, we have the name of a U.S. DA and evidence of his involvement." That was followed by "Requesting the assistance of any journalist who is willing to look into a DA with potential ties to organized crime."

From CNET.

So, Cinco de Mayo ...

The cousin's kids are playing in the Bakersfield area. They put up a video they made and edited. Didn't impress me, but it did make me think about the years I lived in the San Joaquin Valley ...

Streets Of Bakersfield (You all know who performed on this!)


More "Flaco Jimenez" courtesy of The Mavericks


How I got to Manassas, I don't know, but whatever (maybe it was just next to the "M's" in my music list, LOL!



Hey, I'm gonna get wasted tomorrow at my regular bar ... Cinco de Mayo, tequila, beer, yippee!

Drunk Mexican Dance

"This is the new dance thats catching on fire down in Mexico. You should try it for yourself dont take my word for it. Hahahaha"

I Love This Quote

"Are we supposed to change the name of a burrito to something in English?" Cary said. "I'm thinking there's some narrow-mindedness here, but that's just my opinion."

It appears that the racist head is raised again. Reminds me of when certain members of the elitist Republican right wing nutjobs decided to change the name of french fries to "freedom" fries.

What is wrong with these people?

Some Republicans are unhappy with the Bonner County Fair's theme of "Fiesta at the Fair," in light of ongoing battles to stop illegal immigration from Mexico.

The Bonner County GOP said it will decorate its booth with the word "celebrate" instead of "fiesta." The Republicans have also asked Arizona officials for some license plates to put in the booth, to show support for that state's controversial law targeting illegal immigrants.

[snip]

Bonner County fair board Chairman Tim Cary said the fair was just looking for a theme that's fun to decorate with, and the choice had nothing to do with official language or immigration disputes.

Cary noted that one of the fair's regular offerings is the Mexican food sold at the Search and Rescue booth.

Aria Bruss

Since I am highlighting family, here is Aria's MySpace page, with some songs. I don't have time right now to load them up directly onto my blog, so go to the page, and listen to the songs.

What I like is that she and her brother, Gia, sing the songs in Spanish and play the ukelele! Kind of reminds me of the wedding I went to in Seattle (laughs) where the husband was Mexican (among other ethnic combinations) and the wife was born in Hawai'i, hence, the "spanish and uke" reference!