Category: Spanish

AMLO’s ‘Sharp Critique’ of Trump –and Trump’s Wall, now Available in English

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Mexican presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador is running on an odd platform, enlisting politicians from all walks of life (and political positions) to his campaign. And while his politics and rhetoric have pretty much divided the country, there is one thing he has in common with millions of Mexicans: His contempt for President Trump –and his proposed border wall.

And now, in hopes of making his message get across the border, his 2017 book has been translated into English.

I have not read this thing –nor I’m sure if I’ll ever do it, but according to an enthusiastic morning press pitch: ¡Oye, Trump! Saying Yes to a New Start for Mexico, Saying No to a Wall (OR Books) presents a “no-holds-barred condemnation of corruption in his own country and a sharp critique of what he regards as the baleful influence of the United States in Mexican politics, especially under the Trump presidency.”

New York City’s New School Chancellor Is a Professional Mariachi. No, Really.

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If everything else fails, Richard Carranza can always go back to serenading las muchachas. ¡Ajúa!

From the Archives of I Could Not Make This Thing Up if I Tried comes Richard Carranza, the recently appointed New York City Schools Chancellor, who took a very unsual approach when discussing his new job with Mr. De Blasio and wife: He serenaded them with mariachi song María Elena.

His background is plain awesome. Per the [failing] New York Times:

At Monday’s news conference, Mr. Carranza said he had been a mariachi musician since he was about 6 years old. When he wanted to stay up late with his father and his uncles, they said the only people staying up late were people playing instruments — so he learned to play the guitar. He later worked his way through college at the University of Arizona “gigging,” as he put it on Monday.

Now you know. If running our disastrous public school system turns out to be too much for this fellow Mexican, he can always go back to serenading las muchachas. ¡Ajúa!

Just WATCH:

Via: New York Times

Darth Vader, Stormtroopers Help the Mexican Government Raise Awareness of HIV, Because Mexico

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May the Force (of Campeche’s Healthcare Professionals) Be With You!

Campeche is not only one of my favorite Mexican states; it is also the force behind a deliciously bizarre government advertising campaign to help raise awareness of HIV and AIDS.

Using the slogan HIV doesn’t kill; discrimination does, the government of Campeche has tapped none other than Darth Vader and a stormtrooper to help raise awareness of the virus, and urge citizens to attend the Capasits (a chain of ambulatory, educational centers to help people understand HIV and learn tips on prevention and other issues.)

Because, honestly… What else can be more impactful than the good ol’ Star Wars folks telling you to take care of yourself?

Just WATCH.

Via: Publimetro

Speaking of Israel –and Bizarre Propositions…

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Delfín Hasta el Fin, Wendy Sulca and La Tigresa de Oriente want you to go dance in Israel.

With president Donald Trump’s “bold, historic decision” to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, this blogger could not help but reminisce over that other bold, historic –and truly bizarre– move made by three of Latin America’s tackiest stars to help praise Israel as an awesome tourist destination, and not a place one should be afraid of because of the killings and all.

En tus tierras bailaré (In Your Land I Will Dance) features Andean superstars La Tigresa del Oriente, Wendy Sulca and Delfín Hasta el Fin, and while it was released in 2010, it continues to gain popularity. At the time of this writing, the video had gone way over the 4.6 million views on YouTube.

I’m not sure how these three got together to help promote tourism in Israel, but I must admit the chorus is quite catchy.

How pretty Israel is!
Israel, Israel
In your lands one day I’ll dance.

On her solo, Wendy Sulca praises Tel Aviv as a camel (yes, a camel) walks past her band while she sings: In Tel Aviv, I will love you, I will love you very much…

Yup, that’s a camel back there.

Just WATCH and behold the Andean costumes, the changing landscapes and the ebullient dancing in this, the campiest music video you’ll ever see.

For more insights to the above video, and background of these Andean artists, read Alma Guillermoprieto’s wonderful take here.

Justin Trudeau Goes to Mexico; Hilarity Ensues

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A bromance months in the making…

It was brief –and hilarious.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week visited Mexico, partly to address the bilateral agenda, discuss the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA,) and –very likely– to discuss El Loco.

But at some point, during a speech to the Mexican senate, a photographer captured the above image, which of course was crafted into beautiful meme art form.

As I said yesterday: Mexican Twitter never disappoints, so here are only a few of the many images that made the rounds on Twitter Friday afternoon after the great @Vampipe invited his followers to chip in their own ideas.

Mexicans: How can anyone NOT like us?

Amor del bonito

@SoyElPoblano

Pecado original

@Hoyanosoyo

50 Shades of Grey

@Untalfilip

Brokeback Mountain

@hectortorresa

En Guanajuato, of course

@SpiderManChoco

Oh.. and this Headline

This Woman Protesting the End of DACA Is My Spirit Animal

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Chancla Power on Display

Americans from all walks of life took to the streets Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017 to protest Donald Trump’s cruelest decision to date: To kill DACA, a program implemented by the Obama administration that granted undocumented children protection from deportation as well as permits to be able to work legally in the US.

The decision sparked nationwide protests, including one outside the Trump Tower in the heart of New York City where dozens of protesters were arrested. Among the brave — and most hilarious — protesters was the woman above, who had a clear message for Donald Trump (or rather his Twitter handle.)

Photo via: @NYSYLC

Mexican Daily Jumps on the ‘White Supremacy’ Bandwagon, Because Nothing Makes Sense Anymore

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Well done, periódico Reforma!

Not Photoshop. Not an Internet meme. This is the actual front page of today’s sports section of Reforma, one of Mexico’s largest daily newspapers. In case you were wondering, the “white supremacy” (in this instance) is that of the Real Madrid after it beat Barcelona 2-0 on Wednesday night. They wear white uniforms, get it? Ha Ha Ha.

Anyway, I believe I don’t need to tell you how timely the above headline is as it comes on the heels of the deadly mass riots organized by white nationalists — and self-described Neo-nazis — in Charlottesville, Virginia this past weekend.

Good job, Reforma… [SIGH]

Hat tip: @jrisco

Trump’s White House Tweets in what it Thinks is the Spanish Language

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¡Sorpresa! The White House’s Spanish Twitter account sucks

It’s been over five months since the tragic day President Donald Trump took over the White House, and yet it seems determined to keep ignoring Spanish speakers. Or at least that’s what one can surmise after reading the tweets coming out of @LaCasaBlanca, the White House’s Spanish twitter account, which is a mix of bad Spanish with even worse Spanglish.

The above annotations (by the editors of The Associated Press) are only a small fraction of the horror that this thing is, not to mention that many tweets were actually sent out in English, because why bother?

The @LaCasaBlanca Twitter handle was restored in February after having disappeared following Trump’s inauguration. The Spanish-language Twitter account that was active during the Obama years has moved to @LaCasaBlanca44 and is currently managed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA.)

Via: CNET en Español

This Beer Features Donald Trump Wearing a Mariachi Hat and a Swastika Belt Buckle — for some Reason

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No, I don’t feel like buying/drinking this thing

People have got to stop doing this.

According to my sources (i.e. the World Wide Web) Mexican and U.S. brewers have gotten together to reinvent Donald Trump as a “gun-slinging mariachi” to promote Amigous, a beer supposed to “celebrate cross-border cooperation.” But the gun is only the beginning. From the little I could read, Trump’s trousers are held up with a swastika belt buckle, and the rear label of the beer informs the reader that the 71-year-old New Yorker belongs “in a mad house, not the White House.”

The “innovative” product comes on the heels of the Trump-inspired toilet paper and other crazy ideas out there.

I am not going to spend too much time on talking about this thing, because 1) I’m super busy and 2) It’s almost impossible to keep up with all the marketing nonsense around our current administration and the dark, sad hole we’ve all fallen into.

So… wake me up in 2024, will ya?

Via: Univision

Parisian Eatery Features “Original French Tacos,” Because it’s 2017 and Nothing Makes Sense Anymore

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Remember Paris real authentic Mexican restaurant or the super popular Le Guacamole version Grandé?

Well, Parisians have outdone themselves and are going all in with the whole We-Too-Can-Make-Original-Tacos.

Introducing O’Tacos, “Original French Tacos” that you get to make yourself, or so I can surmise from their logo featuring something that looks like La Pyramide de Louvre — or a tortilla chip, I’m really not sure.

Anyhow, as any pompous French would tell you: C’est quoi ce truc?

Photo: Europe Taco Correspondent, @KentGerman

 

Texas Protesters to Rep. Matt Rinaldi: ‘No Guacamole for You!’

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Take that, Rinaldi!

Hispanics might have found the perfect way to make politicians think twice before taking away their rights and/or implement some BS anti-immigration legislation: Cut down their salsa *and* guacamole supply.

That was in full display earlier this week in Austin, when dozens of Hispanics protested outside state Rep. Matt Rinaldi’s office after he threatened to “put a bullet in one of his colleague’s head” during a scuffle over SB 4, the state’s new anti-“sanctuary cities” law.

But that was not all. According to several press reports, Rinaldi also told Texas democrats in the House that he had called ICE officials on Hispanic activists and wanted them all deported and stuff.

This, of course, didn’t sit well with my people, who retaliated with the most powerful tool at their disposal: By pledging to cut down the supply of salsa, guacamole and other delicious “Hispanic goods” to offending legislators.

So… U.S. politicians have been properly warned: They’d better think twice before messing with Latinos. It’ll be, like, No salsa, No Guacamole for YOU!

Hat tip: Melissa Salas Blair