Monthly Archives: June 2010

Books, Sports and Life – A Blog Worth Reading

I’ve known Elio Martinez, a partner in the South Florida law firm Concepcion, Sexton & Martinez, for at least two decades through bar association activities. Beyond his life as a lawyer, I considered him one of the most reliable sources around when it came to books and restaurants – and particularly the latter. He bears responsibility for introducing me to my all-time favorites, Versailles on Calle Ocho in Miami and to El Palacio de la Papa Frita, serious-food restaurants where the tables are lined up with precision, the waitstaff stooped, elderly men who would’ve been old long before either of us were born, and the air filled with political intrigue over at the corner tables.

Not until he unveiled his new blog, Books, Sports and Life, did I know about Elio’s past as a sports statistician and historian. It’s amazing what a blog can reveal.

 

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Bolivian Coca Colla Is The Real Thing — Coca Leaf Included – The Consumerist

Back in the late 19th century, Coca-Cola hooked customers with a narcotic hit drawn from its namesake coca leaf. These days, Coke is cocaine-free, and may or may not still have coca-leaf flavoring, depending on who you speak to. But a new drink from Bolivia, Coca Colla, isn't shy about its ingredients, even sporting a bright green coca leaf on its label.

via consumerist.com

The Presidential Semaphore

 

ARTICULO 34.-LA BANDA PRESIDENCIAL CONSTITUYE UNA FORMA DE PRESENTACION DE LA BANDERA NACIONAL Y ES EMBLEMA DEL PODER EJECUTIVO FEDERAL, POR LO QUE SOLO PODRA SER PORTADA POR EL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA, Y TENDRA LOS COLORES DE LA BANDERA NACIONAL EN FRANJAS IGUAL ANCHURA COLOCADAS LONGITUDINALMENTE, CORRESPONDIENDO EL COLOR DE VERDE A LA FRANJA SUPERIOR. LLEVARA EL ESCUDO NACIONAL SOBRE LOS TRES COLORES, BORDADO EN HILO DORADO, A LA ALTURA DEL PECHO DEL PORTADOR, Y LOS EXTREMOS DE LA BANDA REMATARAN CON UN FLECO DORADO.

Yesterday, President Felipe Calderon switched that around, flipping the presidential sash so that red instead of green would appear topmost. So, what’s behind that move? Is it simply to show the world that he’s still Boss of Mexico? Or is it another step toward the North American Union? All right, so what does this signal?

 

Women in the Mexican Wars for Independence and Revolution

2010 marks the bicentennial of the Mexican wars for independence and the centennial of the Mexican Revolution. We in Mexico believe in doing things efficiently. Drop in over at the Mexico 2010 website. You could easily spend a week there. And it’s presented in Spanish as well as English.

 

A Bitch in Need

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This bitch’s mother does nothing but practice law all day long so that she can feed three hungry poodles. She has no life except attending dog shows and participating in listserves. Her only human friends are imaginary. Please brighten her day by going here or here or here, and voting this dog A Dog’s Purpose Dog of the Week. And tell everyone you know to do the same.

Gancho: Learning English

Via Matt Yglesias and Made in America, evidently today's Spanish-speaking immigrants pick up English significantly more quickly than previous waves of immigration, though slightly more slowly than today's non-Spanish-speakers:It seems clear that today's immigrants are not taking longer to adapt linguistically than in the past, and one can only assume the acculturation goes beyond mere language. I wonder what the reason for the difference between then and now is: better schools, less clustering in ethnic ghettos, more familiarity with English upon arrival, a variety of other factors I've not thought of?

via ganchoblog.blogspot.com

Burro Hall: Balls Like Mexican Churchbells

In 20 years of watching bullfights, we’ve seen quite a few failures of nerve, and occasional displays out outright cowardice – including our own, like the afternoon in Mexico City in 1994 when a bull flew over the first barrier (but not the second) not too far from where we had splurged on front row seats, causing us to squeal like schoolgirls at a Jonas Brothers concert. But we can say with some confidence that we’ve never, ever seen anything like the show young Cristian Hernández put on this weekend during a novillada at Plaza Mexico.

via burrohall.blogspot.com

A mostly middle class country « Mexico Institute

Despite widespread opinion to the contrary, Mexico is becoming a middle-class society, largely because this is how most of the population perceive themselves. The strengthening of this sector is perhaps the most important issue for the country’s future development and the most significant historical event of recent decades.

via mexicoinstitute.wordpress.com

Patzcuaro and the State of Michoacan: Salvador Tera and sons wood sculpture

Most of the wood carvers around the Patzcuaro area focus on masks but years ago Salvador Tera broke the Tocuaro tradition and started his wood sculpture business and his sons are following in his footsteps. Without knowing the full family history I assume Salvador is related to Felipe Horta Tera, a famous mask maker and son of Juan Horta. Much of Salvador's work is church commission and I've heard he has a piece in the Vatican.

via sparks-patzcuaro.blogspot.com