Author: Mi Blog es tu Blog

Telemundo’s Adaptation of ‘Les Miserables’ Features ‘La Chule’ as Jean Valjean

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Aracely Arámbula will play the role of Lucía Durán in Telemundo's 'Les Miserables'
Aracely Arámbula will play the role of Lucía Durán in Telemundo’s ‘Les Miserables’

You can say anything about Hispanic TV networks, but they are a quite inventive bunch when it comes to Spanish-language adaptations of world-renowned dramas.

Take Telemundo, which has kicked off production of its own version of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th Century. But instead of an old, boring male Jean Valjan, the role of the protagonist -who served a prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread- will be played by none other than Aracely Arámbula, aka “La Chule” or the stunningly-blond-Mexican-mother-of-Luis-Miguel-children.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Telemundo’s upcoming telenovela is a “strange and free” adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, taking the adaptation all the way to the present time in a Texas town.

I’m all up for free adaptations. I mean, wouldn’t you rather see La Chule and her well-known cleavages instead of the always pathetically sad mug of Valjean? [right]

Duh.

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Yeah, I’d rather see Arámbula -and her cleavage- than this fellow.

Mexico First Lady not Regal, nor Maternal: ‘Washington Post’

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UPDATE: This story has been updated to add a video of Mexico First Lady speaking -in depth- about her butt and her method to decrease the horniness.

There is already talk of “controversy” around the July 2014 issue of Marie Claire Mexico and Latin American magazine, featuring Mexico’s first lady Angélica Rivera Peña alongside daughter Sofía Castro.

According to Robin Givhan, of The Washington Post, Rivera’s pose is not only “startling,” “provocative,” and “sexy,” but it clearly contrasts with contained images of U.S. first ladies, who tend to be more “regal” and/or “maternal” and pose in a way that they deny their own bodies.

Per Givhan piece:

“For an American woman who steps into the role of first lady, the body must be denied. It can’t be too exposed. Too strong.  Too overtly sexual. Beauty is acceptable — even expected. But that most intimate expression of self — sex appeal, sexuality — is off limits.” 

I totally agree, but calling Rivera un-regal, un-maternal purely based on the Marie Claire photo shoot, is not historically correct. The Washington Post -and all the other media that I’m sure will follow suit- would be well advised to look at other, more accurate portrayals of our our telenovela-actress-turned-first-lady.

You know… those from the time when we simply knew her as La Gaviota and she was more into bikinis than politics.

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Come to Mexico: We’ll Put you in a Nice Hotel, and have Indians Dance Around you

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How nice! I can just lie down here, have a fruit salad and have Indians dance right in front of me

The latest campaign promoting Oaxaca’s famed Guelaguetza Dance Festival trumps over any other cringeworthy images depicting my country’s relationship with its Indians.

Watch as a light-skinned Mexican young lady strolls around Oaxaca (smartphone in tow) snapping pictures of affable, festive Indians dancing around her, even while she enjoys a refreshing beverage in the patio of her hotel.

"I can even have an Indian making me look pretty just like her!"
“I can even have an Indian making me look pretty just like her!”

I seriously thought at first this was a joke. Alas, it is not and the campaign is on the air an in full swing, as the Guelaguetza kicks off July 21.

via: Despertar de Oaxaca

‘El Diario’ Launches New Design, Adds Hashtags, Because Why Not?

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The new 'El Diario.' Just like the regular Diario but with hashtags and bigger pictures
The new ‘El Diario.’ Just like the regular Diario but with hashtags and bigger pictures

Apparently the big news in the world of Spanish-language media today is the redesign of New York City’s venerable daily El Diario La Prensa.

The announcement comes on the heels of major executive and editorial changes at the impreMedia-owned newspaper; changes that have been the subject of harsh criticism, including this commentary by Ángelo Falcón, who claims the 101-year-old brand is undergoing a “Reconquista” of sorts.

Regardless, El Diario‘s new design –according to its owners–  “greatly enhances reader experience for its iconic brand,” and represents “a renewed commitment to better address the needs of the Latino community.”

All that sounds peachy, but judging from the video below, the new Diario will bring our community bigger pictures and tons of hashtags, because, Twitter, you know?

Note: I have not yet bought my print copy. I will do so later today and will keep you guys posted.

I Want to be Friends with Whoever Translated this Thing

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After almost eight years of blogging about the wonderful world of Spanish-language media, marketing and pop culture, I’ve come across all kinds of weird, poor, lazy, bad and terrible translations from English to Spanish and viceversa.

Some are plain silly, others are just hilarious. But this one above (whose origin is still shady) takes the cake -or should I say ‘se lleva el pastel?’

NOTE: In all honesty, I think the above might just be a case of very witty Photoshop. But… oh, how I wish it were true!

Hat tip: @tropicarlitos

Brooklyn ‘Mexican’ Cantina Serves Mix of Stereotypes & Typos

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Mad Dog & Beans, Brooklyn, NY
Mad Dog & Beans, Brooklyn, NY

Mad Dog & Beans, a new eatery in Brooklyn, has found inspiration in the Mexican Revolution to peddle upscale Mexican food to a local crowd. The eatery, first spotted by a non-Mexican colleague of mine, features on its door the image of a bandito holding a guitar, because even Mexican outlaws are a musical, cheerful bunch.

According to the restaurant’s website:

Mad Dog & Beans Mexican Cantina is a casual-upscale Mexican restaurant featuring a traditional Mexican menu. The theme is based on the Mexican Revolution. The decor features vintage black-and-white photos of banditos and scenes of Mexico printed on canvas and displayed throughout the restaurant. 

The menu, while not especially original, does feature some interesting spelling, including “molcajeta” and “pica de gallo.”

Now, that’s revolutionary!

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Photo and sombrero tip: J. Falcone

Sofía Vergara Shows Twitter Critics What She’s Made of

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SofiaVergaraTwitter

The latest installment of Jimmy Kimmel‘s Celebrities Read Mean Tweets, included some hilarious segments, in which celebrities read mean-spirited tweets about themselves.

My favorite was, of course, Sofía Vergara, who was criticized by user @mamaowl_kirby for her apparently impossible accent. Upon reading the tweet:

“Sophia [sic] Vergara sounds like she has a d**k in her mouth,” the Colombian bombshell replied in a way only she could get away with:

“What’s wrong with having a d**k in my mouth?”

Believe it or Not, These Crayons are Multicultural

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MulticulturalCrayolas

I am almost embarrassed to say this, but -after all these years living in the “First World”- I did not know crayons can also be multicultural.

So apologies to the folks over at Crayola for not realizing this before. Thanks to their website -and a very “multicultural” friend of mine in Tijuana- I was able to learn that crayons come in an assortment of skin hues, rendering them, pues, multiculturales.

Hat tip: Carla Raygoza. Tijuana, B.C., the land of ¡ajúa!