Ancient Mexicans didn't have cattle, so their sources of proteins were different: turkey, beans, sometimes game, but also snakes, iguana and certain insects such as crickets, agave worms or jumiles.
Even though nowadays most Mexicans don't eat the more "exotic" products, they can still be found if one knows where to look. Therefore, I found the products pictured above in a store in Oaxaca.
I have to say they taste rather good, but I would still miss a good steak.
Why is it that in countries like Mexico or Brazil you are constantly bombarded by ads that promote government initiatives whereas in other places such as Finland or Belgium that is a completely alien concept?
Why can't the government focus on doing its job instead of just shouting around and wasting money on that?
Usually I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I noticed that there are two things I missed from the Mexican version: CNN en Español and Mexican football programmes.
Good luck trying to get those in Finland.
Me encontré este post en otro blog y decidí compartirlo con ustedes.
Favor de tormarlo con humor (y un poco de filosofía, jajaja).
Whenever you have the chance to visit Mexico, come to Oaxaca. The state capital of the same name, 6 hours away from Mexico City, is a World Heritage Site, has a long history, a strong Indian component to society and a beautiful downtown with lively markets and good food. Within 60 kms you will find plenty of towns specialising in different handicrafts, historical sites and Zapotec and Mixtec archaeological sites. Its people are very warm and the weather is also quite agreeable.
You won’t regret it.
This BusinessWeek article on Mexican microlending and a newspaper note I bumped into detailing the growth of luxury brands in Mexico made me wonder on whether it is ethically sound to sell high-ticket products to a consumer if said person can't afford it.
On one side you have the free will of your customer, on the other the fact that you may knowingly sell them something that will cause them more trouble than enjoyment. I'm all for giving all the necessary information to the consumer, but he/she has to take their decisions independently.
De pura casualidad durante mi visita en México me encontré un programa de discusión y análisis de tópicos de política y economía nacional llamado Contrapunto, el cual por desgracia ya ha sido cancelado. En esta ocasión la conductora y los invitados discutieron sobre el balance de México en 2007 y las perspectivas para 2008. Me quedo con los siguientes puntos:
I truly wonder who was the idiot who decided on the dialing scheme in use in Mexico. Absolutely user-unfriendly, it means that a person roaming there doesn't actually know how to dial a number as the standard international form (country code + area/mobile code + number such as +52 55 5555-5555) just doesn't work. To make matters worse, the number you dial to a mobile phone changes every time depending on where the caller and the receiver are. Absolutely insane!
The details in Lee Iwan's blog.
I've heard before criticism of Mexican TV saying that the actors and acresses there depicted have very little in common with the average Mexican (if there is such a thing). I think it shows a certain aspirational aspect of the Mexican psyche, where being fair skinned is desired.
Mexicans use TV to escape, not to see themselves the way they are.
Even though certain sectors of society rant against neoliberalism and whatnot, the truth is that Mexico has become a rather consumerist society. Everybody is trying to sell you something in TV, in the street and even when you're driving as the photo shows. Status is more and more about what you own, less and less about who you are.
At least it means that the economy (at the macroeconomic level) is in good shape with the Mexican Peso being surprisingly strong.
