Mexican culture has had a long tradition of nicknames. The nature of some Mexican nicknames could be considered derogatory by other cultural standards – it is not uncommon to call the fattest guy in the group Gordo “Fatty.” Which is both evil and awesome (unless you happen to be the fattest guy in the group).

So, if you’re doing research for a new tattoo or are just curious, here is our running collection of Mexican nicknames (we’re starting with boys’/men’s and will eventually get to girls’/women’s):

A LIST OF MEXICAN NICKNAMES:
• CALACA – “Skeleton” given to the skinniest or boniest guy in the group.
• MOCO – “Booger, Snot” given to the kid with the snottiest nose or the nose-picker of the group.
• MACETÓN – “Jar/Pot” given to the group moron (similar to English “jar head”).
• FLACO – “Skinny” given to the skinniest guy in the group.
• HUEVÓN/GÜEVÓN – “Lazy” given to the laziest guy in the group.
• PANCHO/PACO – “Francisco” a nickname for Francisco (”Frank” or “Francis” in English).
• GORDO – “Fatty” given to the fattest guy in the group.
• CHINO – “Chinese” given to the most Asian looking guy in the group, or the guy with curly hair (apparently Asians have curly hair in Mexico).
• PEPE/CHEPE – “Jose” a nickname for Jose (”Joe,” “Joey,” or “Joseph” in English).
• CHUY/CHUCHO – “Jesús” a nickname for Jesús.
• CHANGO – “Monkey” given to the neighborhood spaz or the monkey-faced guy in the group.
• CHECO – “Sergio” nickname for Sergio.
• NACHO – “Ignacio” nickname for Ignacio.
• CHARRO – “Cowboy/Horseman” given to the guy who looks best in a cowboy hat and boots.
(more…)

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I recently saw Ethan Shoshan’s “Porn Star” pornographic origami exhibit on Notcot. I was impressed with the concept, but disappointed with the execution: Shoshan just made origami stars and the photo subjects were only men.
Eh.

I decided to improve on his concept and made pornigami this afternoon.

You’ll have to click on the links to see the totally NSFW pornigami photos:
• Attack of the Pornigami Vulvasaurs
• Pornigami Frogs
• Pornigami Naughty Bits in 3-D
• Pornigami Breasts in 3-D

Crafty? Yes.
Juvenile? Perhaps.

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I recently broke down and bought the Benjamin Franklin Instant Disguise Kit.

Today I tested this disguise to see if it lives up to its name and the results were astounding: one of the images below is the American forefather Benjamin Franklin, the other is my two year old niece.

Can you tell the real Benjamin Franklin from the impostor?
I rest my case.

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1893 – Fritz and Louis Rueckheim produce Cracker Jacks for the Chicago World’s Fair.

1896 – Their confectionary product is officially dubbed “Cracker Jack.”

1912 – Cracker Jack begins the tradition of including awesome prizes in the box: whistles, celebrity photos, mechanical cards, spacemen, weather indicators, and tattoos.

1990s – Cracker Jack prizes begin to really suck.

2009 – Paper Cracker Jack prizes are nothing more than a tragic reminder of their former glory.

By the early 1980s (my childhood), perhaps the finest Cracker Jack prizes were the vegetable dye tattoos that came in booklets of eight – slap on your arm and lick the backing, wait five minutes. And among the tattoos, the skull and crossbones or the pirate ship were the coolest. If tattoos came in your box, it was a sign of good fortune and the God of Prizes had smiled upon you that day.

As something of a personal nostalgia crusade, I was able to track down original Cracker Jack tattoos through an online vendor – Geri at Silversnow Antiques has a good selection of prizes and she was generous with helping me find the skull and crossbones and pirate ship tattoos. Geri rocks.

I recently made the commitment:
I got real tattoos of the Cracker Jack tattoos of my youth. Staircase Tattoo in Santa Cruz, CA – ‘Tiki’ Tim did a fine job of matching the vegetable dye colors and offsetting the colors just like the originals.

My tattoos: still fresh, sore, and crusty.

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(images: Blogadilla)

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(images: AP/Getty)

Answer the Call Bonus Round:
Obama’s “Answer the Call” mp3 ringtone

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(images from Columbia Pictures, Renaissance Pictures, Disney Pictures, and New Line Cinema)

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