AMLO Proposes Presidential Jet’s Raffle; Hilarity Ensues

A Mexican upon winning the presidential jet raffle

No, I’m not making this up.

Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (aka AMLO) has proposed a raffle by the country’s National Lottery to sell the presidential plane. Tickets would go for about $25 dollars apiece, and while we’re not sure yet how the whole process will work, Mexican Twitter has responded as only Mexican Twitter can.

Here are some of my favorite reactions from Twitter Mexico.

Glorious ride

Who wants a cachito?

 

Going to work in style

Ready for the raffle

See y’all suckers!

Avión presidencial

Via: CNET en Español

Kia Latino Wants us to Be Thankful… for our Car Specs

Kia Latino, which is like regular Kia but Latino, has given us some marketing jewels in the past, including the use of female mariachis to show they really, really, care about my people (i.e. The Hispanics) and diversity. And now, they want to remind us that Thanksgiving is a great time of the year to be thankful.

Thankful for… the specs of our cars, naturally.

Take the following Twitter ad, in which we find our “typical” Latino family passing around –what else?– tamales during what looks to be a very special Thanksgiving meal. The exchange (in an accented Spanish) goes something like this:

-Ramiro, what are you thankful for?

-I’m thankful for the engine, and its 240 horsepower; the heated seats and the heated steering wheel… an 8-inch smart touchscreen…

[DIALOGUE FADES]

I’m a bit suspicious about these particular Latinos as I would only be thankful for tamales. But hey, that’s me!

Now. What are YOU thankful for?

 

Is this Mexican Taquería Peddling Vegan Tacos or Guacamole with no Green Peas? 🤔

Taco Inn, one of Mexico City’s many ubiquitous taquerías, has jumped on the vegan bandwagon with what looks to be meat-looking meatless tacos.

A promo image posted recently by a Twitter user looks to promote a set of vegan tacos for $99 pesos with the legend: sINN chIcharoNN  (obviously playing with the taquería’s name (Inn) to spell out the phrase without pork skin (sin chicharrón.)

However, on closer inspection and by missing an “r” on the word “chicharrón” it looks as if Taco Inn is saying their guacamole has no chícharos (green peas,) which is making this blogger scratch her head in confusion:

Has the failing New York Times gone too far with this hideous thing?

Hat tip: @EdgarNunezM

 

This Beer Wants to Pay Homage to Aguas Frescas –for Some Reason 🙄

Just when you thought marketers couldn’t get any more creative, a new partnership is here to bring us Mural, a “joint homage to the classic agua fresca that also pushes the boundaries of what a beer can be.”

Mural is a joint effort between New Belgium Brewing Company and Mexico-based artisanal beer makers Cervecería Primus and, in what seems to be a very serious description of their product, one learns that:

“In Mexico, agua fresca is everywhere. They’re usually found in street food markets and feature a blend of seasonal fruits. Our cerveza takes inspiration from agua frescas and features hibiscus, agave, watermelon, and lime for a fresh, vibrant sip.”

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to have to pass on this promised vibrant sip. ¡Guácala!

Photo: @LeChancle

Owners of this Music Shop in Mexico Could Use a Crash Course in History

As a guitar enthusiast (and not very good player) I’m always looking around for music and guitar-related stuff online, but I honestly wasn’t ready for this.

Mexican music shop Holocausto Music is being around for over 20 years and –apparently– nobody has ever blinked at their… unusual moniker. Featuring two 1,500-square meters stores in Mexico, the Fender Custom shop has also been the recipient of multiple awards, including one by Fender Guitars itself.

I want to believe they’re not ill intentioned. I guess they just didn’t think this through –or never took History in school.

¡Ay, caramba!

Photo via: Reddit

José José Is Dead –and I Have nothing Funny to Say

You probably don’t know this, but José José (né José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz) was not only one of my favorite Mexican singers; he was pretty much responsible for a lot of crying during my yesteryears. So many of my memories from Mexico are intrinsically linked to a José José song: The first time I got drunk (on a disgusting bottle of Padre Kino white wine;) my first kiss; my first heart break…

I don’t exaggerate when I say José José was the soundtrack of my family life back in Mexico growing up. And, just like Juan Gabriel, another Mexican grande who left too soon, José José was already a staple in my home way before the hipsters or younger people discovered his beautiful voice. Awwww, the parties in San Pedro de los Pinos with us singing out loud to the tune of No me digas que te vas, El triste, Gavilán o paloma or Si me dejas ahora, my mom’s personal favorite.

I’m not sure heaven exists, but if it does my mom is in for a big fiesta with two giants who –just like her– left us way too soon.

Go serenade my mom, príncipe…

Mattel Preps a ‘Barbie Día de Muertos,’ Because Mexican Barbie and Barbie Frida Kahlo Weren’t Enough

Come November, there’s one thing that really, really, gets on my nerves (besides pumpkin-spice stuff, of course) and that is America’s obsession with the Mexican tradition known as Día de Muertos (basically Day of the Dead) or as some gringos dare calling it: Mexico’s Halloween.

Anyhow, in a move that I can only interpret as spite –and to mess up with me and my fellow Mexicans– Mattel on Tuesday announced the upcoming launch of a Day of the Dead-themed Barbie to be called –what else?– Barbie Día de Muertos. Duh.

According to an unnecessarily long press release: Barbie Día de Muertos will feature a “long, embroidered dress decorated with flowers and butterflies. The final touch is completed by a crown with the iconic monarch butterflies and the cempasúchitl flower to honor, in every way, the symbols and offerings of this emblematic Mexican tradition.”

And I thought Barbie Frida Kahlo was pathetic. Now if you excuse me, I’m off to find a non-pumpkin-spiced triple shot of mezcal or something.

[SIGH]

Via: Yahoo News

Eva Longoria to Direct Movie about Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Yay!

Spicy snacks and Latinos in Hollywood? Count me in!

Eva Longoria (aka this blogger’s favorite retroacculturated Latina) has landed the directing gig of movie about Richard Montanez, none other than the creator of the spicy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos snack.

The Fox Searchlight biopic will tell the story of Montanez as he went from working as a janitor at Frito-Lay to achieve the American Dream (namely, to create a very spicy botana for the hungry masses.)

According to press reports, Montanez’ spicy creation was reportedly “inspired by the flavors of his community, helped revitalize the company and disrupted the food industry, creating a pop culture phenomenon that continues today.” Because, if there’s something Latinos (especially Mexicans) are good at is at spicing up the lives of others.

Say what you will about Mrs. Longoria or Cheetos. I’m all up for spicy and more Latinos (retroacculturated or not) in Hollywood.

Via: CNN

Being Hispanic in America Used to Be Challenging; Now It’s Outright Dangerous 😱

I’m not going to lie: These days –after many, many years living on this side of the border– I’ve become increasingly uneasy about doing things that I normally would do in public: Speak Spanish, wear hoop earrings, say outloud I’m Mexican a mucha honra, etc. etc.

The reason? As I keep saying on Twitter, being a minority in America used to be difficult, yes, but now it’s just plain dangerous.

Barely days after an anti-Mexican nutcase shot dozens of people in a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, many of them fatally, another member of the “I Am a White Dude Who Hates Hispanics” clan was arrested after making a series of social media threats against Hispanics in the Miami area.

According to multiple press reports, Eric Lin, a Maryland native, sent a bunch of threatening messages on Facebook professing his nazi beliefs, and vowing to exterminate the entire “Latin Race” [sic] which he also referred to as “rabid dogs.”

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Lin then went on to praise the “great president” of this nation, who as we all know kicked off his presidential campaign by calling us criminals, drug-dealers and rapists.

Coincidence? Ummmmmm….