The Coronavirus Cumbia is Here –and it’s Infectious as Hell 💃🏽

Iván Montemayor (aka Míster Cumbia) wants you to dance to the tune of SARS-CoV-2.

A cluster of respiratory illness, originating in the Chinese province of Hubei in December of 2019, has health officials on high alert around the world. The cause is now known to be a new coronavirus that has proven to be particularly infectious and has already claimed about 3,000 lives in a few months.

While Latin America had been free of the virus for some time, the first Mexican case was confirmed on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 coincidentally as this blogger arrived in CDMX for a quick family trip.

Mexicans in Mexico responded swiftly to the threat by –what else?– posting tons of memes while on this side of the border, Mr. Iván Montemayor (aka Míster Cumbia) composed an infectiously melodious cumbia, which is not only perfect for dancing but it’s also … educational. “Wash your hands; take care; prevention is key, etc.”

🎶 Coronavirus, coronavirus, lávense las manos, hágalo seguido… coronavirus, coronavirus, pónganse las pilas en lugares concurridos. 🎶

Here it is. Get up and dance, pues!

 

Netflix Preps Series about Rich, Scandinavian-Looking Mexican Moms

And just when you thought you had seen enough Scandinavian-looking people on Mexican television, Netflix has announced a long list of upcoming films and TV series that will be proudly made in Mexico.

Among the new series there’s Madre solo hay dos, a 10-episode series, that tells the story of “two very different women who come to face with each other uppon finding out their babies were accidentally exchanged at birth.” And –as one would imagine– the protagonists (Ludwika Paleta and Paulina Goto) have to be very blond and fair-skinned because that’s the only way a mostly indigenous, “brown country” would mess up such a situation, right?

Via: CNET en Español

Mexican Entrepreneurship Knows no Borders Part XVI

The deadly Coronavirus might continue to claim victims around the world, but that has not stopped creative Mexicans for crafting their own t-shirts with the legend Ya me dio el (I have contracted the) Corona Virus, a different kind of disease that comes from… drinking too much Corona beer.

And this, of course, is only possible in my beloved Mexico, the land that brought us El Chapo’s special gourmet coffee, and original escape T-shirt, and many, many other things that show my people’s strong entrepreneurial skills.

Mexicans: How can anyone not like us?

Photo via: Reddit

I May Have Found a Reason to Watch this Year’s Super Bowl …

Several reasons, actually: Los Tigres del Norte do the Super Bowl LIV.

I’ve never been a fan of so-called American football –and you wouldn’t catch me dead watching hours upon hours of a Super Bowl. But all this will very likely change on Sunday, February 2, 2020 when my favorite band EVER is set to star in the opening video for Fox Sports’ broadcast of Super Bowl LIV.

Per a company press release:

Los Tigres del Norte and FOX Deportes joined forces for the first time to create a video, filmed in San Jose, celebrating the legacy of Los Tigres del Norte, the 100 seasons of the NFL, and the passion felt by Hispanics for football.

Okay, I might just watch my tigres doing their thing and then move onto more interesting things (happy hour at my local pub probably), but still… ¡Ajúa!

Via: Fox Sports

Taco Mahal Is Coming to New York City, and I’m not Ready for Gandhi-Zapata

Gandhi Zapata wants you to have a Roti Taco, because –really?!

Sources closer to Hell’s Kitchen than me (at least right now) tell me there’s a new, hipster-conceived Mexican-Indian restaurant coming my way.

Called –what else?– Taco Mahal, this fusion eatery promises a “new concept in the realm of delicious tacos” where “the best spices of India collide with the best flavors of Latino America [SIC.]”

I have no idea what any of the above means, but Taco Mahal has been plastering the city with artful collages of Frida-meets-Rigveda / Parvati-Meets-Kahlo. Also, according to a menu posted online, you’ll be able to order stuff such as Roti Tacos or Naan Tacos, which sound just as weird as the below deities blended together.

It’s Indian, you know? but with a taco twist.

Thank God there’s also beer & wine available to wash this thing down; otherwise…

Hat tip: @lechancle

Avocados From Mexico Releases Super Bowl LVI Commercial. It’s as Bad as Anything ‘Avo’ in America

Yeah, because we all carry our avocados like babies, right?

Yeah, it’s already that time of the year when –not content with punishing this blogger with frigid temperatures –and plenty of avocado-hipster nonsense– corporate America starts releasing their Super Bowl teaser commercials.

Enter the 2020 Avocados From Mexico’s Super Bowl spot, featuring a fictitious shopping network for people who love avocados.

The spot, created by Energy BBDO, also features quick snippets of avocado-themed products, including a baby carrier to hold a baby avocado (yup); an avocado pool float shaped like a tortilla chip and a helmet for an avocado out for a ride.

I’m dizzy now. Just WATCH (or maybe not)

Wanna Grow Old? Go Buy Chicken at this Mexican Chicken Shop

Wanna grow old?

Today in the always popular section of Mexicans: How can Anyone not Like us I give you this chicken shop somewhere in Mexico whose slogan is just perfect –and quite impossible to translate without losing all its beauty. But basically, if you want to grow old (viejito,) you might want to go pay $65 pesos (about $3.5 USD) for a pollito (little chicken).

Photo via: Reddit

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