In Search of My Latino ‘Bi-dentity’

Wonder what the new generation Latinos are all about? Look no further than the most recent research by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and The Intelligence Report, which concludes marketers must address these kids’ “bi-dentities” to better market their wares (i.e. fattening sodas, junk food, bad music, etc.)

“It’s a mix-and-match lifestyle… It’s the same as the person who orders a hamburger but with jalapeños,” CAA Christy Haubegger told Brandweek magazine.

Well, I guess as I approach my 40th birthday, I am no longer a member of this so-called new generation. Besides, if I were to express my “bi-dentity,” food-wise, I’d rather go for a crepa de huitlacoche. Jalapeño burgers don’t do the trick.

Ay caramba!

When the Going Gets Tough… Ban Taco Trucks

The Associated Press reports this morning that Los Angeles County has passed a law making it a misdemeanor crime for taco trucks to stay in a spot longer than one hour. The reason?

“Many restaurants are forced to close their doors because they cannot compete with a catering truck’s prices,” said Louis Herrera, president of the Greater East Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. “It’s unfair competition.”

Maybe if the area restaurants were to serve better food, they might be able to compete with a delicious, greasy and contaminated street taco… That said, consider how taco-trucker attorney Phillip Greenwald came to the defense of the taqueros ambulantes:

“This is parking, after all,” he said. “They’re not selling porn, they’re not selling drugs. This is food and beverages.”

Well, Mr. Greenwald, you just gave Mexican taco truckers an excellent idea!

I’ll Wear my Red Shawl, So I Can Look Just Like Her

First came Cinco de Mayo Barbie, then the “authentic,” Hispanic-looking [sic] quinceañera and more recently Kmart’s new line of ethnic dolls.  So let’s welcome now the Friends Forever Reina Doll, the latest “multicultural” addition to the Dolls Like Me line.

Reina, its creators inform us, not only means Queen in Spanish but, at $89 apiece, comes clad in a red shawl and zippered backpack: a truly Latino-look if you ask me. She is kind of cute, or at least better looking than Ugly Betty.

But wait! Can somebody please explain why Kameko (below) is only $59.95? (I guess this is one of these instances in which size DOES matter!)

 

Let’s Now Boycott UPS, Shall We?

OK this is it!. Forget about Absolut Aztlán. Now it is Mexicans turn to feel the outrage. Look closely at this “very detailed” map of the world and tell me: Where the hell is the Baja California peninsula? Last time I checked it showed as part of the Mexican territory (even though Americans are always there, hanging out).

The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced the UPS Whiteboard campaign is part America’s plan for world domination. So I suggest we all boycott UPS until a) they learn how to draw a map of Mexico, or b) give us Baja back!

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

(Hat tip to Carlos, a reader, for sending this over)

And Now… Caribbean-Themed Doughnuts!

Wondering what people eat in the Caribbean? Look no further than your local Krispy Kreme outlet. The Winston-Salem, N.C.-based company is introducing two new treats “bursting with island flavor!”

“The Caribbean Kreme doughnut and Chillers feature the intense flavors of freshly ripened tropical fruits. The doughnut is filled with a blend of exotic mango, pineapple and passion fruit, and topped with delicious white icing and shortcake crunch.”

I am so jealous of Cubans right now, as I’m sure they’re happily enjoying this burst of tropical flavor down in that island of theirs…

 

For the Latin Man in You

H para Hombres (you gotta love this name!) is not your average male-targeted glossy mag. The Maya Magazines-owned title pitches itself as the ultimate source of information for the ultimate target:

“H speaks to the Latin man who is hip and accomplished, yet slightly mischievous,” say H’s editors.

The magazine also prides itself with celebrating the “mind and spirit” of today’s most coveted women, exposing them “elegantly,” which is evidenced by the very elegant mink coat sported by Aylín Mujica, the Cuba-born telenovela star, who is as “addictive as a cigar.”

Ay, ay, ay!

We Querer Mucho America (the Continent, that is)

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) knows a lot about screwing financing the Thirld World, and now it wants to say so with a song.

On Friday, at its Annual Meeting in Miami, the IDB launched Yo Amo America [sic] campaign, “an advocacy and social marketing initiative” featuring Ricky Martin, Juanes and Juan Luis Guerra among others.

According to the IDB: Each celebrity will become the spokesperson for one strategic area in the fight against poverty, including birth registration, early childhood development and access to financial services, housing and safe drinking water.

Oh.. and by the way: to some of the geographically-challenged people commenting on my March 31 Absolut Vodka posting, America is a continent not a country.

‘La Fea’ Goes to China

feabellaa.jpg

Forget the Olympics! Another type of “world-class entertainment” is coming to China.

Mexico’s Grupo Televisa today began production of Chou Nu Wu Di, the Chinese version of La fea más bella, the telenovela it refried from Colombia’s Yo soy Betty la fea and gave birth to Ugly Betty.

According to Televisa, the drama could extend for as long as 400 episodes, and it has been “adapted to Chinese tastes” (?) to make sure its content doesn’t offend the locals.

(I certainly hope the $20 million investment will serve such a purpose, as I’m still very offended by the Mexican version.)

Before you Absolutely Boycott Vodka

I have to appreciate the feedback, and the mostly passionate responses to my Absolute posting. But por favor, dear readers, before you go on a Lou Dobbs-type of boycott against Absolut vodka, consider History for a second. This is actually what Mexico looked like before the infamous Treaty of Guadalupe, which marked the end of the Mexican-American war in 1848. The land you know now as Upper California and New Mexico were indeed part of Mexico before such a war.

mexico1847.jpg

It doesn’t really matter if we like it or not. Unfortunately, it is wars and invasions that make up our ever-changing world Geography. Consider the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Do we know what Iraq will look like in a few years?

As an absolute lover of Absolute, all I can say is: Keep on sipping!