What’s a Few Guns When You Can Make Some Extra ‘Dinerito’?

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0916covdx1Undeterred by American TV anchors reporting on Armageddon south of the border -and despite what Anderson Cooper wants you to believe— U.S. manufacturers are flocking to Mexico in search of some extra dinerito. (Even when things are so messed up that BusinessWeek is using rifles to spell out the name of the country!)

According to the April 20th issue of BusinessWeek big business is standing its ground for one simple reason: 

“Manufacturers have good reason to hang tough. The 41% drop in the peso against the dollar since August has made Mexico an even cheaper place to manufacture: Factory workers in Juárez can be hired for $1.50 an hour.” 

$1.50 an hour!?? Good lord! That’s not even enough to get you a spicy Whopper across the border. Crap!

The New Whopper is a Sandwich Filled with Cajun Sauce, Frijoles and Plenty of Stereotypes

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texicanwhopper

What happens when you merge a tall, good-looking Texan man with a stocky, chubby  guy wrapped in the Mexican flag and wearing a wrestling mask? 

Answer: you get a Burger King Texican Whopper, yet another “delicious” creation from the hamburger chain.

The print ad hails from Spain, and it pitches the new Texican Whopper, an impossible fusion of cajun sauce, cheddar cheese, meat taco and beans (!) The tagline, Unidos por el destino, means “Brought together by destiny.”

My sources tell me that Mexico’s ambassador to Spain, Jorge Zermeño, has already asked Burger King to take down the ad and apologize –apparently because it offends our already decimated flag, and not our cuisine.

But wait! there’s more: the Texican is also a hit in England and has its own TV spot:

Former ‘Hoy’ Employee to Launch Newspaper in NYC. Taps Local Beauties to Help Promote it

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al-dia-juan-carlos-sanchez

And just when you thought the so-called ethnic press was dead, a group of former Hoy employees in New York City are getting ready to launch NY Al Día, a Monday to Friday daily expected to circulate 20,000 copies starting April 20.

According to general manager Juan Carlos Sánchez (in the photo), NY Al Día  will cost 0,40 cents and will be sold 1,800 points of sale in New York City, Long Island and New Jersey.

This blogger, of course, promptly attended the April 8 press conference at the Paramount Hotel. Alas, there were no free drinks for the crowd, but plenty of eye-candy for the hombres. Let’s just hope these Latin beauties will help make Latinos read again.

Photo: Javier Castaño

Texas Church Helps Hispanics Find Their Inner Cowboy

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picture-2When it comes to ethnic and religious diversity the sky is the limit.

That is why the Texas Fellowship of Cowboy Churches is launching its first Hispanic venture, the Iglesia Vaquera, which is attracting parishioners by the minute.

“[The Iglesia Vaquera] follows the Cowboy church model, including simple sermons and keeping services to an hour. But instead of country music with gospel lyrics, [Pastor] Howard brings in mariachi bands and groups that play Mexican norteño and banda music,” according to the Dallas Morning News

Some parishioners say the new church has helped them not only to find God but to discover their inner Cowboy.

And that, my friends, is just heavenly!

Photo: Dallas Morning News

At Last, a Marketing Program I Can Embrace

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There is nothing like free cash to get people do anything (even eat more junk food.) According to Advertising Age, one of Mexico’s most successful ongoing marketing promotions is Sabrilana, in which PepsiCo’s Mexican subsidiary Sabritas is stuffing mucho dinero into the packaging of Doritos, Tostitos, Ruffles and other snacks.

During the promotion, which started in January, sales were up 18% by value and 20% by units, Francisco Jimenez, Sabritas marketing director, told AdAge. Me cae!

And because nothing goes better with free cash than state-of-the-art advertising, here’s the spot pitching the promotion.

U.S. Government Finds Innovative Ways to Send Latinos Far, Far Away

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acabaThe NASA is boosting marketing efforts to reach out to Hispanics, in Spanish, so that one day we, too, will be walking on the moon.

“The future astronauts and NASA scientists are among 8- and 10-year-old Hispanic kids,” Jose Granda, an Ecuadorean NASA Faculty Fellow told the Orlando Sentinel.

The excitment around Hispanic astronauts gained momentum last month when NASA sent its first Puerto Rican to space, Joseph Acaba (in the photo), who by the way is NOT related to Elvis Crespo, despite his name and his love for aerial adventures.

Myrka Helps Kick Off ‘Hispanic Oral Health Month.’ Proves She Still Has a Full Set of Teeth

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myrkagc2North Korea might be launching rockets all over the Pacific, but there’s plenty other stuff going on in the world.

For example: Colgate and the Hispanic Dental Association (yes, there is such a thing) this week officially declared April El mes de la salud bucal: un mundo de sonrisas saludables (Oral Health Month: A World of Healthy Smiles), because even if Latinos “overindex” in the use of video games and portable electronics, we are apparently not very neat when it comes to cleaning our teeth.

The official kick off took place last week in Miami, with the presence of several “Oral Health Month Ambassadors,” including Colgate Total’s spokesperson Myrka Dellanos, who was at hand to prove not only that she cares about your health, but that despite the mañas of her former husband, she still has a full set of teeth.

Clinton on the Sacred Cloak: Who Painted This Thing?

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MEXICO-US-CLINTONAnd speaking of God and his many talents, Hillary Clinton failed to acknowledge one of his mightiest deeds. Ever. During her recent visit to Mexico City’s Basílica de Guadalupe, the Secretary of State was so mesmerized by the sacred cloak of Juan Diego, that she couldn’t help but ask:

“And who did you say painted this thing?”

Thank goodness Monseñor Diego Monroy was at hand to provide the only correct answer.

“God!” he replied.

Of course. And you thought HE was only good at teaching English.

Elvis Crespo Wants You To Know He Didn’t Get Detained. No Word, Yet, on the ‘Other’ Stuff

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It seems like Obama’s civic message delivered on Thursday during Univision’s Premio lo Nuestro compelled our favorite Puerto Rican handy-man to come out in the clear about what did and didn’t happen during a flight between Houston and Miami. Watch carefully, as he assures us how he never was arrested, nor detained. Ever.

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Obama to ‘Premio’ Viewers: ¡Sí, se puede!

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My favorite moment of Univision’s Premio lo Nuestro was, of course, the Presidential message (even though he didn’t appear in a mariachi garb as I had hoped) Here it is:

“Buenas noches. I want to thank the millions of you who voted for tonight’s winners, and I also want to thank all of you who voted in that other election back in November – even if it wasn’t for me. With the challenges we face right now, it is absolutely critical that you stay involved and make your voices heard. I want you to know that I will always be listening, and my Administration is working hard so that we can expand opportunity for all Americans and reach that better day,” he continued. “Now I know you tuned in for Premio Lo Nuestro,so let me get right to it. I don’t know who’ll get married tonight or who’ll get Video of the Year, but I know you’re in for some great performances that celebrate the rich diversity of Latin music, and that’s good news. So enjoy the show, y para los nominados que se preguntan si ésta será su noche, les digo, ¡sí, se puede!”

Click on the photo to watch the video on Univision.com

Barack Obama Joins Daddy Yankee, Fanny Lu, Don Omar and Others in Univision’s Music Extravaganza

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Well, my friends, time has come for the nation’s president to be serious about U.S. Hispanics. Very serious. And that is why Barack Obama is taking a break from his busy schedule fixing AIG, Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantánamo and other stuff to come talk to us during tonight’s broadcast of Univision’s Premio lo Nuestro.

Per a Univision press release: The president will appear via video “to give a message of hope and civic engagement.” Immediately afterwards we’ll go back to enjoying a parade of scantily-clad Latinas and not very “civic” Latinos. (I’m sure Elvis Crespo needs an extra hand.)

Can’t wait!

Want to Denounce a Crime in Mexico? Call Your Local Bank

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hot-lineYou gotta love Mexico’s politicians.

As part of its ongoing fight against organized crime –and presumably in an effort to impress Hillary Clinton, who is paying a visit— the Mexican government this week set up a hot line for people to call in anonymously to denounce criminal activity. Alas, the number published nationwide on the Official Journal of the Federation turned out to be the switchboard of a local Scotiabank branch.

The Office of the Attorney General is sending countless corrections and even some apologies. Well, I mean, nobody’s perfect!