Evil incarnate: Sandy Hook Elementary reminds us that like the genocide in Rwanda, skeletons of which are pictured here, evil really exists. Let’s not mince words. (Photo by Manny Ruiz)
BY MANNY RUIZ (@MannyRuiz)
1. The Sandy Hook murders were plain and simple EVIL. Yes, it may well be that Sandy Hook murderer Adam Lanza had a history of mental issues, Dyslexia or whatever will soon be psychologically attributed to him but the Sandy Hook murders – like all murders committed throughout history – were EVIL. They need to be labeled as such. When hundreds of thousands of Nazis systematically exterminated 6 million Jews that was EVIL. When nearly 1 million Rwandans were raped and murdered during a 90-day gun-and-machete killing spree in the 90s that was EVIL. Columbine, the Colorado movie theater rampage, last night’s local neighborhood killing in your town and mine…all of them have EVIL in common. (more…)
By MANNY RUIZ
Our Thanksgiving break family vacation to New York marked a number of milestones for our infant Naomi and her sister Briani. Our trip began with a few days in the city, where Naomi officially uttered her first word “Mama” (she said it twice so we know it was real) and culminated with a visit to family and friends in upstate New York where we spent Thanksgiving and also had a chance to visit the famous Orange County Choppers headquarters.
New York City Moments
Visit to Orange County Choppers
Although I’ve never cared for motorcycles I have to say we were very impressed with our visit to Orange County Choppers in Newburgh, New York. Orange County Choppers is the headquarters for the Discovery Channel show American Chopper. The new restaurant next door is also notable for what I thought were some amazing burgers so when you go be sure to visit the restaurant.
Thanksgiving 2012
Octavio Navarro and Manny Ruiz form the new PapiBlogger.com tandem of old school Latino dads.
BY MANNY RUIZ (@MannyRuiz)
I love blogging because over the past two years of publishing PapiBlogger.com I’ve had the chance to journal about my family and in the process I’ve been able to do some amazing things that are truly a blessing. Blogging on this platform has not only taken me on some incredible road trip adventures but it has also helped keep me fresh thinking for other ventures that I’m involved in such as the Hispanicize event, Latina Mom Bloggers and the new DigiBunch.
As this blog goes on its third year in operation, I’ve come to realize that in order to take things to the next level, PapiBlogger has to evolve beyond me. I know this platform matters to many of you as well so I’m proud to say that PapiBlogger is ready to take a major step that will not only change it but will improve it. Today I want to announce that my marketing industry colleague, friend and former Ford Motor Company client Octavio Navarro of Orange, California is joining me as my co-PapiBlogger. (You can call him West Coast Papi). (more…)
BY MANNY RUIZ (@MannyRuiz)
I’m more jaded than ever about politics and politicians but one thing I don’t ever pass up is the opportunity to take my kids with me to the voting booth. Today’s brave soul was my eight year old daughter Elena. This was her third presidential election and its only fitting my kids always accompany me to the polls because each of my four children were born in presidential election years: 2000 (Jonathan), 2004 (Elena), 2008 (Briani) and 2012 (Naomi).
Makes you wonder if that’s just coincidence or an omen of things to come.
Vote from the past in 2004: Elenita was 8-months old when she first went to the polls with me.
My wife Angela and I just concluded a whirlwind 12-day visit to the West Coast that included baby Naomi’s first airplane ride, her first family road trip courtesy of the new Ford Fusion, celebrity encounters with film stars, hanging out with hundreds of influential Latinos and a special development for PapiBlogger that will greatly benefit the future of this family forum.
Naomi’s 1st Flight Came with a Celebrity
Three months after her birth Naomi “finally” got her first plane ride on JetBlue (I was 16 before my first flight). Our trip from Ft. Lauderdale to L.A. was a good one for Naomi who took special interest in looking out the window but what made the flight extra interesting was that mid-flight I discovered I was sitting next to the incredibly talented tween actress Bailey Madison (“Bridge to Terabithia” and “Just Go With It”). (more…)
Get Updates Via
