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Mi gente...
Buen Provecho!
- The Urban Jibaro
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Amanda Velez, a native of Puerto Rico, moved to New York at the age of 9 years old. Upon her arrival to the states, she dedicated her self to not only learning, but mastering the English language; in the midst of her studies, she discovered her love for poetry. She has been writing poetry since the age of 12 years old and has developed a number of writing styles. Amanda is a Student at Fordham University, where she studies psychology.
Gracias Amanda for sharing your voice... - Urban Jibaro
=========================================
Beautiful Music
You are a melody
running through my mind.
I cannot get myself to
hum another tune.
Your melody attracts
my musical inclination like
no other song I've heard.
Though I have written
down the notes to
this lovely piece
in my mind,
over and over again,
I am still a little
apprehensive
about playing it aloud.
How could I ever know
if you would allow me to?
But I would love to indulge
in playing this piece
over and over and over again.
And I would love to be
the words to your
catchy melody.
I'd be glad to let you play
the keys of my piano,
if only you'd let me bang
on your very steel drum.
We could be a duet.
Harmonious with every inhale.
In absolute sync with every exhale.
And, together,
you and I could make
Beautiful Music.
- Amanda Velez
_______________________________________________________________
MENTAL STIMULATION
Are You Open?
Is your mind wide open
and fully aroused?
Are your thoughts in sync
and utterly espoused?
Can I interest you in some Mental Fornication?
Breaking down barriers
with a metaphorical application.
Lyrical liberation with subliminal connotations.
Are You Open?
Come and get high with me…
...Fly with me.
Let your psyche lie by me.
Embrace the joy of Aural Ecstasy,
subconsciously…
rather than just oral apostasy,
unconsciously.
So...
Are You Open?
Do you feel the flames of desire
burning the edges yet?
Let me spark that flame in your mind.
Ignite you with a flammable rhyme.
Blazing liberation, your own internal inferno...
Burning away all the hesitation,
and years of captivation.
But...
Are you open?
Is your mind accessible and lubricated?
Are you prepared to be mentally penetrated?
Let me give you the test.
Close your eyes...
and feel the warmth of my breath,
massaging your neck,
as my words impale your deepest intellect.
Now...
Are you open?
My words are the foreplay
to this beautiful game.
A simple prelude,
before I enter your brain.
Are You Open, yet?
Are your minds natural juices flowing?
Are you ready to have your aura glowing?
Are you ready for the consummation
of true liberation?
Your concentration on our conversation
is all I need as confirmation...
that you're ready for me.
Talk to me.
Share your thoughts with me.
Show me you can meet the qualifications
of making our collaboration an exhilaration.
Build with me.
Let your words be the basis
of your construction.
And put my soul into a flutter
with your Mental Seduction.
Now, tell me...
Are You Open?
Open - Minded, that is.
- Amanda Velez
Familia...
We all know that the countries economic situation is tough right now. Many of our readers (and Radio Capicu listeners) experiencing loss of jobs due to downsizing and layoffs. We are currently recruiting several prominent financial experts to share information with our community via both the website and radio show.
Responding to one of my many Facebook status updates, my friend (and lawyer) Libby Vazquez send me this great resource that is published by the City Bar Justice Center.
I hope that you share this with anyone and everyone that needs to weather this storm after losing their job. remember we are all in this together....This is an issuethat touches all communities regardless of race and/or ethnicity.
Thanks Libby!!!!!
Buen Provecho!
As I am,
George Torres
The Urban Jibaro
About Urban Jibaro
Poet, writer & creator of Sofrito For Your Soul Online Magazine, co-founder of Capicu Poetry & Cultural Showcase and host of the first live Latino talk show on the web, Radio Capicu (Blog Talk Radio).
Web. www.SofritoForYourSoul.com
1. Apply for Unemployment Insuranceas soon as possible as there is a one week waiting period. There is an online application and you need to choose whether you were laid off, fired or quit. You will not get benefits if you quit or were fired for misconduct. See www.labor.state.ny.us/ui for further information. You can also call 1-888-209-8124 to apply over the telephone.
Review severance package with a lawyer. Your employer doesn’t have to offer you a severance package unless it is required by an employee handbook or you have an employment contract that requires it. However, some employers will offer one week of severance for each year worked and you may be able to negotiate certain improvements. If you are over 40, your dismissal notice will tell you to review it with an attorney. You can call the LRS at (212)626-7373 to get a referral for an expert employment law attorney who can review your severance offer and advise you on how to respond.
Elect COBRA to keep your health insurance. If you have health insurance through your employer and your employer has at least 20 employees, you can elect COBRA and you should receive a notice when you are laid off informing you of your right to COBRA. It allows you to pay the premium each month and maintain your group health coverage. Hopefully you will not be out of work for long and thus COBRA will be short term however you can keep it for up to 18 months. If you are disabled, you may have an additional 11 months. Further information is available at www.dol.gov.
Avoid credit card debt. Avoid running up credit card debt which can carry interest rates of 19% or higher. If you do have credit card debt try to make the minimum payments each month to avoid additional fees.
Rental housing: If you are unable to pay your rent, your landlord has to take you to court to evict you. First you will receive a 10 day demand for rent. If you fail to pay, your lease is terminated and the landlord must start a summary nonpayment proceeding. Don’t trust the landlord if he or she tells you that you don’t need to go to court You need to go to court to answer the court papers and file what is called a “general denial.” See the NYC Housing Court website for further information www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/nyc/housing/procedural-housing.shtml. You may be able to negotiate a payout plan with your landlord. Make sure it is in writing and gets filed with the court as a “settlement” that is signed by the judge. If you can no longer afford the apartment, you need to negotiate with the landlord to let you out of your lease obligations. You should do this in writing so you will have a written response letting you out of the lease. If the landlord doesn’t agree in writing to let you out of the lease, you remain liable on the rent due through the end of the lease unless someone is willing, with the landlord’s permission, to take over your lease which is called an assignment of the lease. If you need legal help call LRS at (212) 626-7373.
Owner occupied housing: If you fall behind on your mortgage payments, or know you will soon fall behind, contact your lender’s Loss Mitigation Department and make a hardship application. Call 311 and ask for a referral to a HUD-certified Housing Counselor for assistance in negotiating a loan modification with the lender. If you are served with a foreclosure summons and complaint, be sure to answer the complaint, and make a request for a settlement conference. Consider selling the property if you have equity in the home and are unlikely to be able to afford it in the future. The City Bar Justice Center Lawyers’ Foreclosure Intervention Network (212) 382-6648 may be able to find you a pro bono attorney to help you negotiate with the lender or represent you in a foreclosure case if one is brought against you. Do not respond to anyone offering to rescue you from foreclosure – these offers are, for the most part, scams.
If you find yourself falling behind on paying bills due to lost income, prepare a family budget of all income and expenses. Determine which bills must be paid first. Always pay family necessities such as rent, mortgage, food and utilities first. Other debts such as credit cards and loans can go at the end of the list.
When determining how to pay the bills use your income and savings first. If at all possible do not take loans against pension plans or make withdrawals from retirement plans such as 401(k)s. These are protected assets that creditors cannot reach. An early withdrawal of such funds can lead to income tax penalties.
If debt problems become overwhelming you can consider personal bankruptcy as an option to get an economic fresh start (See the guide “ Personal Bankruptcy: Is It Right For You?” at www. nycbar.org, under Reports / Publications). Bankruptcy can help lift a wage garnishment, remove a restraint on a frozen bank account or stop the loss of other property.
If you have any questions about debt collection or bankruptcy issues please call the City Bar Justice Center Hotline at 212-626-7383.
If you have no income and no more than $2000 (or $3000 if you are over 62 years old) in resources, you may be eligible for public assistance. You can apply at one of the City’s “Job Centers”. To find one near you, call 877-HRA-8411. If you have no money or food, you may be eligible for immediate emergency aid.
You may be eligible for food stamps if you have little or no income and no more than $2000 (or $3000 if a member of your household is disabled or at least 60 years old) in resources. You can find out if you are eligible by going to the Food Stamp Outreach Project’s website at http://www.foodstampshelp.org. You can also call the Community Food Resource Center at 212-894-8094 or call 311 to find a Food Stamp Office.
LawHelp. A terrific resource to find free legal assistance in your community and online information on your legal rights is www.lawhelp.org.
An ALL Latina
Poetry Review “Her Food For Thought” I have gathered published and
emerging poets with topics that broad in range. Voices that are passionate and
experiences that are personal and sometimes painful. Each artist brings a
unique style and vision to the stage.
The listeners will relate to the challenges that some have faced and recognize
the accomplishments that others have achieved. The poetry will evoke dialogue
and discussion. They will convey a deep sense of spirituality and culture, an
understanding of the power of “Woman” and the Magic she creates.
Poetry that will grab you out of your seat, take your imagination farther than
it has been before and talk to your soul. Tamed and untamed some, theatrical,
happy and sad, funny and erotic ….. Her Food For Thought…. Will
leave you hungry for more!
And to tease those taste buds we have Jennifer Nieves and Joshua Lutz opening
the show with a hair standing musical performance that should not be missed.
Her top singles being "If i were a BITCH" & "High
Heels". Support Women Artists Now Day is March 26th, come by and help us
make it a memorable one.
For more info, click on the flyer!
Mi Gente...
Saludos y Happy St. Patricks Day to all of those that it applies to...or anyone happening to wear green for the day because it gives you an escusa to party on a Tuesday afternoon. I was on the web trying to find out about some cultural facts or resources of people that may be Irish - Latino...and ran into this great article on one of my favorite NYC Latino sites. It is an article written by RAFAEL MERINO CORTÉS that actually traces such a connection between the Irish and Latinos...very educational...
I do not have permission to publish the article in it's entirety but the link is provides so you can enjoy not only this article but everything the NY Latino Journal has to offer.
Que lo aprovechen
As I am,
George O'Torres
The Irish Jibaro
(at least for today)
PS...according to my peeps on Facebook, Chupacabra would beat the Leprechaun in a fair one...read about that here.
by RAFAEL MERINO CORTÉS
n St. Patrick's Day, everyone's Irish. Even Latinos put aside their Medallas, Dos Equis and Presidentes for a pint of Guinness. However, our commemoration to the shamrock and salute to the Emerald Isle has a more interesting foundation than the excuse to consume Irish stout (as if we needed an excuse).
In fact, we can trace our connection to the folks of Éire to before Christianity – and before Latin America became "Latin" or "America."
On behalf of Sofrito For Your Soul's readers I would like to congratulate this organization of women on 20 years of commitment to the Latino community. Whether it be social, educational or service oriented, Omega Phi Beta has always raised the bar for what a sorority should be.
They were the first "Unsung Souls" on this site years ago for their extensive work in the war against HIV and AIDS.
I am looking forward to seeing this amazing sisterhood grow in numbers and people they touch.
As I am,
George Torres
The Urban Jibaro
(and fellow Latino Greek)
About Omega Phi Beta
Omega Phi Beta was founded on March 15, 1989 as a non-profit organization in the State of New York. We are a latina-oriented sorority dedicated to serving our community and providing a rich sisterhood. Our membership comprises of women from various ancestries throughout the world including: Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as parts in Africa, Europe and Asia. Our diversity is not only limited to our ethnicity but also to the various characteristics and talents that we bring as individuals that come together as a unit to make Omega Phi Beta a successful, prosperous and advancing organization.
The mission of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is to serve and educate
people of diverse backgrounds through sisterhood, leadership and guidance.
As positive role models, we promote unity of all cultures, focus on the
empowerment of our gender and raise the standards of excellence in our academic,
social, and personal endeavors.
Change is Good
