Gringo Food [and Traditions] Can Be Fatal

In an effort to replicate one of America’s most stupid popular eating challenges, a company in Mexicali, Baja California, offered to give away $5,000 pesos ($450) to the person who could eat as many hamburgers possible in 10 minutes.

One of them didn’t make it. According to La Jornada, 37-year-old Samuel Gallego Sánchez died of asphyxia in front of his family while stuffing himself with hamburgers, a contest organized by local eatery Las Calotonas.

Why the obsession with disgusting food challenges? How about how many books can you read in one month? how many hours can you go without using the net? How many companies can we fine for encouraging people to be fat? Anyone?

Does this Look Like an Islamic Extremist to you?

In the latest sign of people’s paranoia (and the fact that some of us just have nothing better to do) a group of enraged New York moms is demanding Fisher Price to pull this doll from the stores’ shelves. Why? Because she is calling the world to convert to Islam!!

Mmmmm, I wonder if they’re going to try to blame the Obamas for this one, too. 

Click on the following video and judge it yourself.

‘Marketing y Medios’ is Dead. Again

Continuing a tradition of dumping Hispanic media and marketing coverage down the toilet around Hispanic Heritage Month, Nielsen Media has decided to throw the towel on Marketing & Medios, the online/Special Report hybrid it created upon folding the magazine I founded in July 2004.

The company has not yet made any announcement (and I doubt it will) but its Web site remained suspiciously abandoned for a week or so now. Insiders tell me that the company has eliminated Della delafuente’s position, and that Hispanic media and marketing will be covered on a freelance basis. Whatever.

I am -of course- pissed saddened by all this. It is as if my child was taken hostage, tortured, mutilated, burn and finally thrown to the wolves instead of just killing it already and be done with. As my favorite comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, would say: “You should just do it like a Band-Aid. One motion! Right off!” The company was never committed to covering the Hispanic market with cojones as we naively tried to do. Anyhow, I just hope this time will be for real. Quite frankly I don’t think I have the guts to see this thing die ad Eternum.

Marketing y Medios Requiescat in pace.

You are not the Only One Feeling the Pinch

According to a study released this week by the Spanish Parliament, prostitution is down by between 30 and 40 percent, with Spaniards spending less and less on supporting the world’s “oldest trade.”

Reports the Associated PressAccording to figures from Spain’s National Association of Brothel Owners, Spaniards spend around 50 million euros a day on prostitutes.

Wait… There is a National Association of Brothel Owners? Maybe we can suggest Mr. Michael Pinga to apply for a job there if he fails to reach the State Senate.

Just an idea.

Weary of World Financial Crisis, Salma Hayek Makes Peace With Billionaire

An image is worth a thousand words -and a reconciliation might be worth a lot of millions of Euros. According to the Italian edition of Vanity Fair magazine (above) Hayek and Pinault are back together. No mention of the mysterious blond who got into his pants captured his heart so briefly. Times are hard, so if you have a billionaire husband/lover/father of your child, think about giving him a second time.

That is a Whole Lot of Frijoles!

The economy might be going down the toilet but things are looking pretty peachy for Latino-owned Goya Foods, which is on track to generate $1 billion in sales this year.

“People tend to go back to the basics,” he said. “We’ve seen spikes in the sales of rice, beans and cooking oils. People aren’t eating out at restaurants, they’re cooking at home. That’s why we continue to grow,” Evelio Fernández, Goya’s vp told the press.

(So those out there who still blame immigrants for the financial mess should re-consider.) How dare they?

Dear Mr. Laden: Please Don’t Bomb Our Paisanos

If you are remotely familiar with Mexican catholic fervor, you’ve probably seen exvotos adorning a church. An exvoto is an image offered to a deity or saint as a form of prayer or as a thank you for an unanswered prayer.

I’ve seen hundreds of exvotos in my life, but nothing quite like the above one, dated September 30, 2001 and loosely translated as follows:

“Dear Virgin of Guadalupe don’t let this guy Osana vin Laden [sic] attack the United States again, much less with nuclear weapons because I have family working over there, in Los Angeles, California; and may peace reign and not WAR, because we are all your sons. Give them good sense in behalf of humanity.”

Hat tip to the Unfabulous Mr. Badgerous

Missing in Mexico: 5,000 Condoms, 800 HIV Tests and Giant, 7-Meter Pink Prophylactic

Ok people. Mexico City’s crime wave is just getting ridiculous. Despite having found the Condomóvil today, (which was stolen a few days ago) cops say a few things are still missing, including a stereo, an iPod, 5,000 condoms, 800 HIV tests and a giant, 7-meter inflatable preservative.

Could the robbers be so kind to give back at least the giant prophylactic? I mean, how far can you go with that thing? It’s pink, for God’s sake!

Anyone?

The Jolie-Pitts Want South American Bundle of Joy

And speaking of brown, adopted babies, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt want to spice up their multi-ethnic, racially-diverse and weirdly-named clan with a bundle of joy hailing from South America.

“They are looking into one of the more impoverished countries, possibly Bolivia or Paraguay,” says New York Post’s Liz Smith about the couple’s intention to adopt a new baby.

That’s cute. I just hope the poor angel will not end up bearing a weird name like those the Pitts are so fond of. How about Pedrito? Lupe? Laurita?

OMG You Guys! Moctezuma and Cortés Were an Item

Ever wondered why the Mexican empire fell in the hands of a bunch of bearded, uninteresting Spaniards? Well, according to Mexican writer and career diplomat José Luis Basulto Ortega, the whole thing was nothing but an amorous gesture between two lovers:

“El Imperio de México fue un obsequio de Moctezuma a Hernán Cortés como parte del cortejo amoroso que tuvieron”, (Mexico’s empire was a gift from Moctezuma to Cortés as part of the amorous relationship they had) Basulto writes in his most recent book Culioni: Historia de una lágrima.

Basulto claims to have “fifteen documents” that irrefutably prove a homosexual relationship between Cortés and Moctezuma, and that, in a nutshell, Mexico was lost because of a queer (“México se perdió por una loca.”)

I wonder now if Santa Anna and David G. Burnett were getting cozy by the time we lost Texas… Oh, dear.

Sorry Latinas: When it Comes to the Bedroom, Blondes are More Adventurous… and Have More Fun

Forget about all you’ve heard about Brown-Power and Brown Being the New Blond. As of today, I will be dying my hair blond. The reason? “Women who dye their hair blond are more confident, less inhibited and have better moods than those who remain au naturel.” concluded a group of researchers at the University of Nottingham. And that is not all.

“Those with lightened locks are also more likely to ask someone out, complain at unfair treatment, be more adventurous in the bedroom, ask for a pay rise, or be assertive with friends.”

Adventurous in the bedroom? Man! and to think I’ve been wearing the wrong hair color all these years…. [sigh.]