POCHO amigo Gustavo ¡Ask A Mexican! Arellano maintains in his book Taco USA that the tiny tortilla-wrapped bundles of delicioso are American food now.
We’ve concluded that tacos are American as wontons, at least at Applebee’s, where this all-American appetizer costs $6.99.
Mas…Tacos are American as Applebee’s chicken wontons (photos)
Chinese and Mexican immigrants to the U.S. have a lot in common. And in the Los Angeles area, they live next door to each other. A Chinese-Mexican-American Angeleno explains it all to your official Voice of America (VOA.)
Mas…Your VOA Reports: Chinos + Mexicanos = The new Americanos (video)
You know that thing about Chipotle Mexican Grill and how they couldn’t find any Mexican or Latino writers to decorate their bags?
POCHO amigo Gustavo ¡Ask A Mexican! Arellano explains:
Americans love Mexican foods, he says, but hate Mexicans. In other words, they love the beans but hate the beaners.
She only has one wish, Sandra Bullock told George Lopez in 2009: She wants to be “more Latina.” Sympathetic Lopez gets Bullock a chola makeover.
PREVIOUSLY ON CHOLAS:
Mas…George Lopez helps Sandra Bullock be ‘more Latina’ (video)
Holy Spaghetti Monster! The cryptozoological mystery of the elusive Mexican Bigfoot has been solved at last, courtesy Mark Anders.
PREVIOUSLY ON CRYPTOZOOLOGY:
Mas…Exposed! Mexican Bigfoot is a hairy human who hops trains (video)
Being brown, growing old, living as a short person — Johnny Sanchez shares TMI about the intimate secrets of Mexican-American men.
As POCHO amigo Gustavo Arellano noted Friday, Chipotle Mexican Grill pulled a boner when it decided to put short stories from ten famous authors on its cups and bags but couldn’t find one Latino with words worthy enough to wrap its burritos.
There’s now a Facebook book group organizing around this issue and the Pochodores have been brainstorming inspirational packaging ideas as well.
First off all, short stories? Srsly? TL;DR, amiright?
Here are the Pocho Ocho more upworthy Latino quotes Chipotle should have used:
8. There’s a reason you separate the military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people. (Commander William Adama.)
7. Repression….Recession. It’s all the same thing, man. (Cheech Marin.)
6. In a way, all of us has an El Guapo to face some day. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For us, El Guapo is a big, dangerous guy who wants to kill us. But as sure as my name is Lucky Day, the people of Santa Poco can conquer their own personal El Guapo, who also happens to be the actual El Guapo. (Lucky Day.)
Mas…Pocho Ocho upworthy Latino quotes Chipotle should have used
Pat Cordes, one of the mujeres chingonas responsible for the Mexico Guru website, demonstrates the proper pronunciation of chingadera, and then she uses it correctly in a sentence. [NSFW adult language.]
PREVIOUSLY ON CHINGA:
Mas…Today’s Word: Pronunciation, definition of ‘chingadera’ (NSFW video)
Sweet and Tasty TV’s Professor Oh checks out the Mexican food at Vatos Urban Tacos in Seoul, South Korea. It’s puro L.A. fusion style – Korean kalbi beef tacos a la Kogi, pork carnitas and Baja-style fish tacos. Fresh guacamole and cool Coronas, too. Not to mention Nutella nachos.
PREVIOUSLY ON MEXICAN FOOD:
Mas…Authentic tacos in Seoul, South Korea – and Nutella nachos (video)
It’s not every day mariachis dressed in white play the theme from the classic Nintendo (NES) game Super Mario Bros; you don’t get married every day either. This musical gift, according to the uploader, was a surprise from the bride to the groom.
And here’s the Nintendo original:
Mas…Mariachi wedding band plays ‘Super Mario Bros.’ theme (videos)
Gustavo Arellano (the ¡Ask A Mexican! guy and editor of the OC Weekly) says Mexi food is multicultural by definition.
“Beer, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, teriyaki bowls are just a few of the foods that have bounced back and forth across Mexico’s borders, ” he explained to American Public Media’s Splendid Table radio program.
Mas…Mexican cuisine? It’s multicultural by definition (audio)
Good news for gueros! One easy trick can prove you’re Mexicano, not a culero. [For audio, click on the icon in the top left of the image.]
PREVIOUSLY ON LOOKING MEXICAN:
Mas…One easy trick shows Mexicans you’re not ‘white’ (video)
Cairo, Egypt’s Impact BBDO advertising agency has ‘Mexican’ chips for you! Our question: If this is Mexico, why is the WANTED sign on the sheriff’s office (and the sheriff’s sign) in English?
PREVOUSLY ON ‘MEXICAN’ COMMERCIALS:
Mas…Hello, Egypt: Enjoy our delicious ‘Mexican’ chips! (video)
The tricky choose-your-own race/ethnic questions in the 2010 United States Census didn’t work out as planned.
“As many as 6.2% of census respondents selected only “some other race” in the 2010 census (photo, top), the vast majority of whom were Hispanic,” the Pew Research Center reports.
The 2010 Census form asked two questions about race and ethnicity. First, people were asked whether they are of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin.
Then they were asked to choose one or more of 15 options that make up five race categories — white, black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.
A separate question about Hispanic origin has been asked of all households since 1980, and the census form specifically instructs respondents that Hispanic origins are not races.
To address concerns about a rising share of “some other race” selections, a combined race and ethnicity question is under consideration for 2020 (photo, bottom), in which people would be offered all the race and Hispanic options in one place.
They could check a box to identify as white, black, Hispanic/Latino/Spanish origin, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander or some other race or origin.
It’s a phenomenon older than the United Estates of America. We’ve named it Looking Down On More Recent Immigrants Syndrome:
Last week three latter-day Looking Down Syndrome sightings lit up our screen, INSISTENT MESSAGES from people who want you to know THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT THOSE OTHER PEOPLE OVER THERE — those Mexicans and/or Latinos.
Mas…Don’t call me a ‘Mexican,’ America! Also, I’m not a ‘Latino’
Alana Jones-Mann’s DIY: House Plant Cupcakes (photo) were the first to prick our interest when we saw them last week, so we went on a quest for more cactus cupcake photos. (Alana, by the way, is unsurpassed in capturing the true desaturated green-blue color nuances of actual cacti.)
This succulent-looking delectable is on Craftsy.com via Lola T.:
California cultural ambassador Joseph Alvarado wants you to learn How To Dance Like A Mexican.
PREVIOUSLY ON DANCE:
Standup comic John Vargas looks Mexican (whatever that means) but he talks funny. [NSFW language.]
Rico thinks it would be funny to turn on his web cam and tell his mother he got his girlfriend pregnant. Mom thinks Rico needs la chancla. [NSFW adult language.]
PREVIOUSLY ON LA CHANCLA:
Mas…No joke! Kid gets la chancla after pranking his mom (NSFW video)
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.
Like a Biblical prophet of doom, a God-fearing Christian Conservative who tracks “Degenerate Culture” is trumpeting the news of a clear and present danger:
Hot and spicy tortilla chips are destroying the AMERICA WE LOVE WHICH USED TO EAT LOTS OF PATRIOTIC POTATO CHIPS NOT THESE ADDICTIVE ALIEN ABOMINATIONS.
Derby Mac (An American Patriot who has dedicated his life to loving his country and preparing his family for the National Apocalypse. He would like to thank the Founding Fathers, President Reagan and Jesus Christ for the opportunity to share Wisdom) writes:
They’re dark. They’re spicy. They’re one of the most alluring treats in our food aisles today. For a child, they’re something fancy, like attending a birthday party in a collared shirt.
For a man home alone, a single bag is as good as an entire meal. But what are we really getting ourselves into with these flashy foreign snacks?
Should we be at all concerned that Doritos are now more popular than good old-fashioned American potato chips?
Brandon Calvillo tells his friend David Lopez that he, Brandon, is half Mexican. Lopez, it seems, is not all that pumped.
[Remember, with these Vine videos, you need to hover and click on the top left corner of the graphic to hear the audio.]
PREVIOUSLY ON VINE VIDEOS:
The Aztecs and Mayans released the magic of chocolate (originally, xocolatl) to the world, only to lose the industry to Europe. Now, growing and processing chocolate in Mexico is virtually an An Act of Resistance. Video by The Perennial Plate. To find out about food tours like this, check out Intrepid Travel.
Is George Lopez just as funny when he’s a cartoon? POCHO blogs, you decide! [NSFW adult language.]
PREVIOUSLY ON GEORGE LOPEZ:
Mas…George Lopez cartoon comedy ‘Órale #Chingón La Vida’ (NSFW video)
Oh Em Gee, It’s Eddie G came up with 20 indicators of Mexican-Americanism. Sound familiar? Someone you know? You can follow Eddie on the Twitter.
The match doesn’t always end at the bell, because in Lucha Libre, wrestlers never rest.
PREVIOUSLY ON LUCHADORES:
Chicago artist Diana Delgado Pinada writes:
Listening to the quintessential charro song El Rey accompanied with occasional “gritos Mexicanos” or “mariachi howls” would not be an unusual event. However, when the gritos are performed by a Latina in a Midwest suburban kitchen, in full charro attire, the isolated, elongated cries or howls resonate a little deeper.
Mas…Exploring the sound of the mariachi grito in ‘El Rey’ — solo (video)
Alonzo Alcaraz (no relation to POCHO Jefe-in-Chief Lalo Alcaraz) is the spokesman in this new commercial for 7-Up.
PREVIOUSLY ON 7-UP:
Mas…Mexicans: 7-Up is good for whatever TF that thing is you have (video)
Here is a listicle partially inspired by a mas longer listicle on BuzzFeed, because they are the listicle professionals, tu sabes.
¡Mira! The Pocho Ocho signs you grew up in a Mexican household/family:
8. Virgen de Guadalupe veladoras.
7. Your first introduction to dramatic acting was a telenovela.
6. You always wondered why gringos celebrated Cinco de Mayo more than your family.
5. You can recognize the Aztec princess Iztaccihuatl AND the warrior Popocateptl (photo) on sight.
Mas…Pocho Ocho signs you grew up in a Mexican family/household
Coincidence? Copyright violation? The blockbuster film Gravity – with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney – may not be as original as we’ve been led to believe. Check out the 1966 trailer for the Mexican movie Gravedad.
Hola. Is Tia Lencha here.
Ju want to give presens to eberyone on your Chrismas list or Chanukah or Kwanzaa or Reyes Magos or Chinese Year but ju are short on dinero? No worry! Tia Lencha is going to give ju recipe for to make the oven roast red salsa!
Is nice! Is a good gift for the peoples! And is easy! No like making mole for Turkey Day.
I make this salsa to give to my comadres and the lob it. They have little hearts in their eyes when they see my salsa. They eat with almost eberything. They say they fight their childrens and viejos to eat the last drops of it in the jar. Is that good. Oso, it don’t matter if the peoples are no Mexican. The peoples at my job are no Mexican and they ask me for the salsa.
Mas…Tia Lencha’s Cocina: Roasted red Chanukah Christmas Kwanzaa salsa
POCHO’s Especial Correspondents spread out across America to celebrate Thanksgiving and sent in notes about their day. Some names were changed to avoid unpredictable results. Read their stories and share your own in the comments!
Mas…POCHO Estaff Reports: Mi casa? Real Thanksgiving turkeys!
