¡COMO MEXICO NO HAY DOS!
Begun in Ciudad de México, the city that never takes a siesta, where masked transvestite wrestlers, and machete-wielding naked farmers are as much a part of the “Real Mexico” as any thing else in the Republic, the Mex Files looks at Mexican art, history, culture, politics, economics, news, some travel and the general weirdness that usually comes blowing in from the north.
What began as Richard’s e-mails from Cuernavaca, Mexico City and (for a few weeks) Monterrey back in 2001 eventually became too much to handle. The e-mail list kept exapanding, and one of the recipients — at the time, an out of work programmer in Melbourne, Australia — was playing around with “blogger” and set up a “quick n dirty” blog under “richtexmex.blogspot.com”. Richard started adding more political news, and — originally as a way to practice — translations.
It was more or less “hit or miss”, but with political changes in Mexico, there was a need for an English-language Mexican website that wasn’t a tourism site, or “my life in wherevertlan” . While Richard has edited and written for the alternative press for years, he didn’t have the time to really devote to the project, and the lack of editing showed (and still does). When he returned to the U.S., the need for serious news and commentatary became even more obvious. Living on the border, much of what he writes reflects concerns in that regioun.
Lyn_2 and a few others from time to time have added their thoughts, and the Mex Files sort of took on a life of its own. Lyn’s background includes work with immigrant laborers, including the migrant community in Colorado, and extensive travel in Mexico for many, many years.
Others too may start posting soon, and we try to have “guest bloggers” when we can. While one person could control a personal blog, “blogspot” is difficult to deal with when there are multiple users. So, starting in Novermber, 2006, we started migrating the Mex Files to this platform. Word Press should be easier to manage and to read (and — more importantly — it has editing functions to save our sanity. Much of the material is posted at the wee hours of the morning when typos have a way of looking right).
20 responses so far ↓
Tim Green // November, 22, 2006 at 4:17 am
Who is Lyn?
Ted Davis // November, 23, 2006 at 11:56 pm
This is the best site on Mexico I’ve found in ten years.
On the page reached by clicking on a Starbucks link, I was initially puzzled by the relationship between Starbucks and bishops who approve of condoms, but it became clear to me after a stiff shot of coffee.
As I get it, Starbucks and the Catholic Church have found safe ways to screw Mexico.
http://mexfiles.wordpress.com/category/gringos/starbucks/
t edward bak // April, 6, 2007 at 1:18 pm
What a great site. My mother’s family is Mexican-American (from Denver via southern Colorado) and I consider myself Chicano (most of the time, though my father is German-American but I identify with both lineages) and it has only been over the course of the past 10 years or so that I really began embracing my Mexican heritage and have been eager to learn more about it. Great work on the site!
Salvador // April, 16, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Excellent site! Please keep the site up and running as I need your help to continue a creative writing project that I’ve been working on. I don’t mind donating to internet sites especially one like yours that offers nearly everything a person needs to explore Mexico from a computer. Keep up the good work!
Lorena Diaz de Leon // April, 22, 2007 at 1:58 pm
This is the kind of website I have been searching for! Intelligent. Thought-Provoking. Bravo!
Karen Plumley // April, 22, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I’m just sending this comment because I’m an American Citizen Who believes That The Chapman family got a real raw deal, .
Someone messed up with letters that Brady speaks about.Here is my comment-You can laugh
if you want to and call them all TV stars-but Why would you want to keep a convicted rapist in Mexico?Well Hers’ why.Sheesh you’ll never print this anyway,
USA-believes in convicted in absentia
Mexico does not
USA-Luster has no Liberty to be deprived of-he is convicted Felon
Mexico-Says Luster pressed charge of Deprivation of Liberty-against who?(if its’ true)
Mexico arrested all six men-3 Chapmans,1 Luster and 2 TV people
who deprived Luster of Liberty-Mexico? because of arrest-or Chapmans because of capture?
Mexico lets Chapmans go-”dont come back” from lawyer
Usa takes Luster-now serving 124 years
3 years later Mexico gives USA Warrant for Chapmans
USA signs it,not even knowing what deprivation of Liberty is-no Law in USA
in Mexico-misdemeanor-Mexico did not expect warrant to be signed.
Now all embarrassed-But we cant sacrifice Our Chapmans to save a few red faces.
Money was at the root of Mexicos’ thinking-like 30 million(Luster)
Drug Lord exchange of 11-12 men was made 1 week after Chapmans” arrest.
Forget about Condi,Gonzalez and Bush
Mexico must drop charges-public opinion weighs in heavily-we have got to keep going-
Tancredo,Ward,and all Americans and OUR LORD.
Thats how The Chapmans will be freed.
Keep The Faith
Karen
Alex // April, 25, 2007 at 10:42 am
Thank You
Satelin-Torres // June, 1, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Love your site, great info and comments…pero no entiendo como, viniendo del “american way of life” an olvidado el tema CIUDAD SATELITE!!!
Nos encantaría saber su opinión al respecto.
O mejor dicho: intercambiar opiniones al respecto.
Pongo esta info aquí porque I couln’t found an email address.
good suerte *
EcoBaja // June, 10, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Dear Mexico Blogger,
You are cordially invited to become a member of EcoBaja: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecobaja/
EcoBaja..the Mexican view from all sides…plus, “All the Mexican news that’s fit to print”,and, your most comprehensive daily source of English language news about Mexico.
EcoBaja exists as a public service…and is, of course, presented absolutely free to you.
We may be the most extensive daily English language source for Mexican news to be found anywhere.
We concentrate on all important news and information about/from Mexico in general, as well as, a focus on Baja, Mexico.
Our news reports and stories come from sources anywhere/everywhere on Earth…., e.g., Mexico, Canada, China, Austalia, U.K., Latin America, Europe, Africa, S. Pacific, and the U.S.
We exist for members who have a general interest in Mexico, as well as for those who are interested in identifying, discussing, learning about, preserving, protecting, sharing information, enjoying the the great and natural treasure called Baja Norte and Baja Sur California, Mexico.
Especially welcome are ideas and contributions relating to poverty, education, health, shelter, sustainable development, conservation, ecology, alternative systems, culture & the arts.
As everything exists in some kind of context, it is also appropriate to communicate, discuss, share, examine and consider developments inside and outside Mexico that may have some impact on life and conditions in Mexico.
Please accept this invitation to join EcoBaja.
Thanks!
Moderator, EcoBaja
ps. As we post as many as 25 news articles per day, we recommend that subscribers select the “Daily Digest” option when joining the group. By selecting this option, members won’t become overburdened with single article emails. The Daily Digest contains all the text that single emails contain, yet arrive as a single email. Average file size for the Daily Digest ranges from about 100 kb to about 150 k
pps. if you want to have the Daily Digest delivered to you directly (rather than your Yahoo email address), be sure to use your direct email address as the delivery address when designating the email address to be used.
Don Mac Rae // June, 25, 2007 at 4:21 am
Thanks - always trying to find the bits and pieces of background information which illuminate the mass media presentation.
jack // July, 15, 2007 at 3:29 pm
It looks like the mexicans just don’t get it yet. I’m afraid there is a heavy price to pay and its on its way. There are too many good mexicans who will suffer because of it. Good luck.
Lila Evans // July, 31, 2007 at 9:38 pm
As an American student of Spanish and German, I find this website very interesting and informative.
Edith // August, 2, 2007 at 3:44 am
Great site, and very very informative! I’m from Holland and I’m interested in Mexico. The amount of information on your blog is truly amazing and I like your political angle. I’d rather spend some hours here and learn something than wasting my time watching stupid TV shows.
Keep up the good work, ¡viva la comunidad internauta!
Susannah Page-Garcia // August, 14, 2007 at 10:40 am
This is a fabulous site, I’m glad I stumbled across it. Have a question, tho- is there a Hispanic or Mexican concept that’s similar to the Gothic Novel? I’ve looked all over the internet (that’s how I found this site), and can’t find anything helpful…
Liliana Miranda Townshend // October, 4, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Amigos, muchas felicidades por esta pagina! Me encantaria invitar a todos sus reporteros ciudadanos que se unan a nuestra http://www.tierranatal.com y que compartan su orgullo, historia, fotos y videos de sus experiencias con nosotros.
TierraNatal es un lugar donde juntos creamos el perfil de nuestros pueblos mexicanos.
Nos vemos en tierranatal.
Con carino.
Liliana
http://www.tierranatal.com/liliana
Lena Bartula // October, 14, 2007 at 3:58 pm
You are invited to attend my installation / exhibition, EL SILENCIO; HOMENAJE A SOR JUANA at her Claustro, Thurs. Oct. 25, between 7:30 and 11:00 pm. yes, they party late in this city.
If you don’t make it, maybe you’ll stop by and see it sometime before it closes on Dec. 21. If you look at my website, click on installation and you’ll get the idea. I enjoyed reading your article on her.
Rubén Alberto Moreno Zavala // October, 14, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Even if you think you are analyzing mexican history and current happenings with a privileged vision, you must clear up that you are doing so from a very particular point of view neglecting all others, for your political observations are those of a light reader of mexican culture and political system, or more clearly, of a person who reads no more than one paper to make sure that what he reads is accurate enough to publish an opinion.
Sandra Huerta // November, 14, 2007 at 3:45 pm
I am always very very glad when I find americans who don’t think of México as their backyard. Thank you very much for the site.
I live in Mexico City; if you need some info that you think that I can provide, don’t hesitate to ask for it. Since today, you consider me as your fan.
Sandra
Steve Gallagher // January, 16, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Thanks for the good work. I came across this site while researching the Oaxaca Teacher Strike. You have an unbelievable ollection here of all things Mexican, a good mix of history and news.
My wife is part Mexican, Durango, mostly Scottish though. I have been visiting Mexico off and on since 1968, and have spent some winters there. We have a house in Cuitzeo,Michoacan but are living and working in Vermont right now.
We were recently visiting friends in Oaxaca, and got to talk to some of the teachers. Mostly spent time there in a little village called San Mateo. Photos posted here:
http://www.photos.net/Oaxaca_Dec_2007/
bibomedia.com // March, 5, 2008 at 6:41 am
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