Please bear with me. I’m in Spain and taking it real easy. More complex posts coming soon. Or not.
Photo: Laura Martínez, Sabadell, Barcelona.
Author: Mi Blog es tu Blog
In the Name of Hispanic Marketing, Vonage Trashes the Spanish Language
Call me a mamona purist, but every time I see a Spanish-language commercial for Vonage, I cannot help but cringe, and wonder why the marketing forces behind this campaign didn’t come up with something more creative without trashing the Spanish language.
I guess they were “berry” excited to use a popular saying, so how about this:
Vonage: Bueno, Bonito y Barato.
It’s Cold in America, People!
America is not a country. And according to my latest “research,” it may not even be a continent.
America, it turns out, is a very far away galaxy place located somewhere in the Salta region of Argentina; it has really crappy weather but promises some sun and a high of 72 on Wednesday.
You can even check out the local time here:
Happy learning.
Hat tip: @aqwack
There’s a Culturally-Relevant Journalism School in NYC
I think I’ve said this a million times, but I love my neighborhood.
And not only because I can easily find authentic foods like Hispanic lettuce and ethnically diverse beauty salons, but because business owners really go out of their way to cater to an increasingly Latino demographic.
I might not live near Columbia, but I’m a proud neighbor of the Dominican Institute of Journalism, founded by Dr. Pittaluga in 2005. ¡Sí, señor!
Related articles:
Can you Please Stop Speculating About Miguel Bose’s Sexuality? Thank You for your Cooperation
The Spain-born singer (God) will forever be this blogger’s favorite artist. Dancer. Singer. Casanova. Gay. Or Not. So. Get Over it. Just enjoy this video and watch it over, and over, and over again (Paying special attention to minute 2:30)
Will Ya?
‘Three Die After Being Killed.’ Lessons in Print Journalism
Print is not dead. It will only be dead when somebody actually goes and shoot it to death.
Got it?
Hat tip: @tropicarlitos
‘East Los High’ Promises No Gardeners, No Gangs, No Maids
Hulu and Hulu Plus today are premiering East Los High, a Latino-themed drama set in a Los Angeles high-school.
According to press reports, the show’s creator -and director- has promised “no gardeners, no gangs, no maids,” but apparently tons of cute kids confronting each other for the love of their very young lives while wearing prom king and queen costumes.
Watch here and judge for yourselves. Will you be watching?
Just What This Blogger Needed: A Taco Encyclopedia
For those of you who still think tacos look like this, there’s literary aid coming your way.
Mexican editor Déborah Holtz last night was in Manhattan, presenting La Tacopedia, the result of a five-year taco research documenting everything you’ll ever need to know about tacos: From their origin and their different species, to the brave men and women who make them. “We wanted to make a book that smelled of tacos,” said Holtz, whose book includes -what else?- the recipe for 36 delicious super salsas.
Unfortunately, La Tacopedia is currently available only in Spanish, but this blogger is one crafty freelancer and has decided to stalk Ms. Holtz until she gives me the green light to translate this jewel into English.
[Now, if she doesn’t give me the green light, at least she should provide me with some green salsa.]
7-Eleven Beefs Up its ‘Latin-Inspired’ Food Offering. [Sort of]
It was just a matter of time.
These days, where everything is Latino this and Hispanic that, you cannot just sleep in your laurels and do nada. That is why 7-Eleven, a company which is as American as apple-pie and bad coffee, is all excited beefing up its “Latin-themed” snacks.
Sí señor. As early as this week, 7-Eleven Inc. introduced the Breakfast Empanada Bites, a “Latin-inspired hot foods snack,” which I’m sure are almost as delicious as the 7-Eleven Mini Tacos introduced last year. Per a company press release:
As the fastest-growing U.S. demographic, Hispanics are an important core customer group for 7-Eleven; however, it was the popularity of Latin American foods among all demographic groups spurring the addition of a snack-size breakfast empanada.
But don’t be fooled by their size. These tiny, crescent-shaped pastries are filled with eggs, cheese, bacon, smoked ham and sausage, which I’m sure will go down nicely with a 24 oz. Diet Pepsi.
Oh, and for the underemployed, underpaid Latino in you, they are only $1 for three at at participating 7-Eleven® stores.
This Dominican Salon in NYC Offers Clients a True Full Service
The mostly Latino staff at this Dominican salon on Amsterdam and 107th St. will not only wash, style, blow dry and fix your hair. They will also wash your hands, because, you know, they have to.
Photo: Pierre Lacour
Beware the Giant Afro While Driving in Mexico City
And just when I thought the whole Negrito Bimbo marketing couldn’t get any worse, @elderriver this week spotted this Bimbo moving ad in Mexico City.
1983 vs. 2012: Watch the Evolution of the Mexican ‘Negrito’
1983
2012
If you have ever been to Mexico, chances are you’ve eaten or at least seen a Negrito, an ubiquitous chocolate sweet produced by Mexican food giant Grupo Bimbo and sold pretty much in every tiendita around the country.
I ate one as recently as last month, and while the taste has not changed a great deal, its advertising has.
Let’s Help PA Governor Find a Latino, Shall We?
Poor Tom Corbett; he was asked to talk about the Latino vote and complicated stuff like that… But how on Earth can this poor soul possibly answer all those questions when he needs help from a reporter to even find a Latino? (1:50 in the video.)
Let’s give him a hand shall we? Perhaps he can start here, at the annual Carnaval de Puebla en Filadelfia.
I can spot several, can you?
Video: Al Día
Univision Might Want to Reconsider the Name of ‘Flama,’ its New Millennial Destination
As I reported a few days ago on Portada Online, Univision soon will debut Flama, a “digital destination that promises culturally relevant content targeting Hispanic millennials.”
So far so good. As most Spanish-speakers know, “flama” is Spanish for “flame,” which I think is a great name for a Hispanic media outlet. However, a simple Wikipedia search, informs us that FLAMA is also the acronym of:
The Frente de Libertação do Arquipélago da Madeira (English: Madeira Archipelago Liberation Front), a right-wing terrorist paramilitary organisation from Madeira, whose main goal was to achieve Madeira’s independence from mainland Portugal.
Wait. What?!
I’m sure Univision’s Flama has absolutely nothing to do with a paramilitary organization in Madeira, but just in case, it might be safer to be really “millennial” about it and just call it “Flame?”
Just sayin’
“Mexican” Herbs: Don’t Leave Home Without Them
Organic food marketers will have you believe that us (i.e. The Mexicans) have a way of going about carrying a bunch of essential herbs, including non-essential nor-necessarily Mexican herbs [peppermint leaf, cumin seed, basil and coriander.]
I do carry around some Mexican chili powder, except in Mexico I just call it “chili powder.”
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