Mexi Vocabulary: Foreverear

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Guera

What are you doing, listening to Smashing Pumpkins/ Stone Temple Pilots/ Bonnie Raitt/ that one song from Dido, and staring out the window? You’re forevereando. The best translation of this I can think of is feeling nostalgic, or taking a walk down memory lane, or discovering old mix tapes (!) and CDs you made last decade, or spreading your records out on the floor, and getting absorbed back into the moment. It’s that feeling you get when listening to music that you loved in your formative years. And yes, it all depends on your generation.

Siri teaches Spanish

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Guera

“Can you help me get to 2nd Street?”

“Chinga tu madre, cabrón.”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3zufedBeao]

I think we’ve all had a real life equivalent of this learning experience.

How 2 bros in hockey masks are going to take out a Mexican cartel

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Guera

The latest video game to generate a stir of anticipation is the third edition of Army of Two, called The Devil’s Cartel. Here’s your live action trailer, below. Note that all the ‘Mexicans’ located ‘somewhere in Mexico’ are basically teenage ranch hands wearing bandanas and hiding in horse stables. What does the drug war need? Some burly American guys just have to hop a wall, make some puns, and shoot a lot. Problem solved, caballeros. Will it reference Day of the Dead in some culturally insensitive way?
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vgo-7iYXiE]

You betcha. The deluxe package comes with a Day of the Dead themed gun and masks: “Celebrate the Day of the Dead: Bust out your Day of the Dead themed assault rifle and take on Mexico’s most ruthless drug lords in your DoD outfit and three masks.” Actual masks that you can wear while playing? That’s not creepy at all.

From the game’s site:

You’ll face off against the world’s most vicious drug cartel in Army of TWO The Devil’s Cartel. Take part in a private military operation against The Scythe, a wide-spread criminal operation that has brought murderous terror to the besieged nation of Mexico. Lead your own insurrection as you battle tenacious foot soldiers and ruthless drug lords in a story that’s ripped from today’s headlines. Do whatever it takes to end the corrupt cartel’s stranglehold over the country, and bring the head of The Scythe to swift and bloody justice. The Army of TWO may be vastly outnumbered by the villainous Devil’s Cartel, but they certainly will not be outgunned.

Problem solved, bro! High fives all around. I’m sure all the Americans doing loads of cocaine aren’t to blame for this drug war, it’s those Mexicans.

The next time someone asks you what it’s like to live in Mexico just send them this:

Elvis in Acapulco, words to live by

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Guera

It’s nearly the weekend. Though Acapulco can be kind of gross, in a cheap-side-of-Vegas way, a smart plan is to have friends with nice beach houses.

May this be your theme song:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVYPO0N8KF4]

The whole Elvis movie Fun in Acapulco is available on YouTube, starting here:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQTq3708eOc]
Part 2: “I’m down to my last peso, and I’m not afraid to say so.”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?index=17&list=UUs8seGlRhgXmCwQJnqc7--Q&hl=en_US]
The rest of 1-10 are here.

Happy Limonada Day

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Guera

There’s a day for everything, and today is Lemonade Day. While this may be something of note in the rest of the world, we know that one of the small pleasures of living in Mexico is that adults have an abundance of limonadas to order–with sparkling or regular water–without feeling like a kid.

To make them at home, try Laylita’s limeade/lemonade recipe.

Obviously, add mezcal for at home cocktails. Here’s a few lemon booze drinks to start with. I also love adding jamaica (hibiscus) to everything.

In case you missed it, Tequila Day in the USA is July 24th.

Mexico’s first Olympic gold…against Brazil! In football?!

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Guera

Whoa. Mexico as of now has it’s first Olympic gold of the 2012 Summer Olympics, after beating Brazil this morning in, of all sports, football. Go, Mexicanos, go!

Here’s the current standing of other countries with 1 gold, from London2012.com:

And here’s the first of what I’m sure will be many, many images to pass around the Internet on this historic occasion:

Felicidades, Mexico!

How English sounds to non-native speakers

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Guera

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt4Dfa4fOEY]

I admit, I don’t totally get this video. Frontline, sure, fucking asshole, these strike me as very English English, the rest of it is a little mumbly. Is this what we sound like?

My favorite Mexican Spanish words are escuincle, mapache, cacahuate, and guacala.

Via one of my favorite design blogs, Swiss Miss.

Social Ridesharing Reaches Mexico City

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Guera

If any city needs a site where you can share rides, it’s DF. But sharing with strangers and their tamale breath and regaeton appeals…very little. That’s why Dame Un Aventon, the new carsharing service, has a Facebook connection to find friends, and friends of friends, heading where you need to go.

Three things make me think this is a good idea.

1.) You can connect to friends and friends of friends, which in Mexico is everybody.

2.) Everyone is always visiting their relatives in nearby towns, and those repeat visits are a perfect match for carsharing.

3.) This is a total eco bonus: The service plants a tree for every trip taken.

Drivers can post their rides and the amount they would like passengers to pay. It’s already gaining trips. Full disclosure: Some of my friends are the makers. Because it’s Mexico, the tiniest giant city on earth, you probably know them too.

Check out the brand new Dame Un Aventon.

Book Drunk Saturdays at Under the Volcano

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Guera

It’s events day! The Que Tal Calendar is starting to gather momentum, but I haven’t pulled together your complete list of activities in one place. Yet. So for now, this weekend: A BBQ at a bookstore! Bring your own alcohol and your literary friends for a Saturday get together at Under the Volcano Books in Roma. It’s a secondhand English bookshop and hang out space, all are welcome. Because drinking and literature just go together.

12-5, Saturday the 11th. Cerrada Chiapas, 40-C (at the back).

Bonus: People teaching Spanish to foreigners can use the space during business hours, for free.

Streaming radio on Rock101

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Guera

Friends who are awake tomorrow (Wed) at 8-9am CST, my friend will be playing new Mexican music (and some hits) on Rock101.com.mx. It’s a streaming station that you can sign into from wherever.