Spanish word of the day
Quote: WizardTough! I admit I don't know much about Mexican politics but since when is employment guaranteed for life in a capitalist economy?
These days any group that's large enough, loud enough, violent enough and in favor enough with some part of the government, can get anything it wants.
Quote:Are we supposed to hold up progress because somebody might be out of job?
Ideally, no. But then you're not supposed to restrict trade because somebody might be out of a job. But that's been US immigration policy for decades.
Quote: WizardWhere does this TJ rail system stand now? I find getting around Tijuana very confusing, and pretty much learned to park on the US side and rely on taxis.
Tough! I admit I don't know much about Mexican politics but since when is employment guaranteed for life in a capitalist economy? I have a feeling if talks ever got close to extending the LV monorail to the airport there would be a lot of hand wringing about the taxi drivers that would lose jobs. Find other job, for crying out loud! Are we supposed to hold up progress because somebody might be out of job?
There was a lot of discussion about TJ's tram or light rail about 3-5 years ago, and it was supposed to be finished by now.
It's hard to know what happened.
Transportation and warehousing (4.3 million jobs in USA) seems to attract a lot of attention when it creates or loses jobs. Maybe because it is such a basic human need, we are always unhappy with the pace of transport. The jobs in the field are constantly changing.
I don't think it has anything unique to USA or Mexico. A few year's ago the mayor of Calcutta wants to end the practice of rickshaws in the city, ending what many people consider one of the most barbarous and inhumane trades left in the world. Needless to say many of the 18,000 drivers protest, as many have been doing it for decades.
4,259 Transportation and warehousing
1,321 Truck transportation
462 Air transportation
230 Rail transportation
63 Water transportation
377 Transit and ground passenger transportation
43 Pipeline transportation
38 Scenic and sightseeing transportation
565 Support activities for transportation
514 Couriers and messengers
646 Warehousing and storage
Quote: pacomartinA few year's ago the mayor of Calcutta wants to end the practice of rickshaws in the city, ending what many people consider one of the most barbarous and inhumane trades left in the world.
Why? It seems like honest and healthy work to me. I would rather do that than boring work sewing all day.
Quote: WizardWhy? It seems like honest and healthy work to me. I would rather do that than boring work sewing all day.
Many of the rickshaw drivers defend the work. There is not as much hostility to rickshaws with bicycles attached like you see in tourist areas of America. I have seen the bicycle ones in some places in Mexico where they actually were the main transportation system of the town.
But I was looking at one example of the city attempting to update it's transit system, at the expense of some jobs that are "inefficient" .
Many places are trying to build driver free transportation systems like you commonly see in American airports. London has a huge driver free system called the Docklands Light Rail that extends the underground to the newer developments in the East end and canary wharf.
Fecha: 4-8-12
Palabra: Reflexionar
Today's SWD means to think/reflect on something. The much more common word for think is pensar. I think that reflexionar means to think deeper about something, perhaps making an important decision as a result.
Ejemplo time.
Después de reflexionarlo, me decidí a doblar mi cuatro de una clase. = After thinking about it, I decided to fold my four of a kind.
Quote: WizardPulling the rickshaw on foot seems terribly inefficient to me. Why don't they use bicycles in India? They use the ones with bicycles in Cabo San Lucas to transport cruise ship passengers from the dock to the main part of the town. By the way, the rickshaws on the Seattle waterfront are very expensive. I took one for about an hour and was hit with a $70 charge afterward! I did not tip.
Fecha: 4-8-12
Palabra: Reflexionar
Today's SWD means to think/reflect on something. The much more common word for think is pensar. I think that reflexionar means to think deeper about something, perhaps making an important decision as a result.
Certainly in English "to reflect" means "to think" hard and carefully. But generally in English the Latin word is more elevated than the synonym based on an Anglo Saxon word. But you can't always use the English rule directly on Spanish, where both reflexionar and pensar come from Latin words.
One of the definitions of pensar in the DRAE is reflexionar.
In Spanish you have the similar verbs: pensar, imaginar, considerar, discurrir, reflexionar, & examinar.
The "taxi ecológico" in small town in Mexico look like this:
Sometimes "taxi ecológico" refers to a motorized vehicle with a tiny 2 stroke engine.
CNN video on "taxi ecológico" in Mexico city based on Nissan LEAF.
Quote: WizardPulling the rickshaw on foot seems terribly inefficient to me. Why don't they use bicycles in India? They use the ones with bicycles in Cabo San Lucas to transport cruise ship passengers from the dock to the main part of the town.
Why don't they use engines? Join the Twentieth Century before it's... Oh, never mind.
Quote:Después de reflexionarlo, me decidí a doblar mi cuatro de una clase. = After thinking about it, I decided to fold my four of a kind.
You decided to make a fold on your four of one class?
There's no good translation for "fold" in that sense, but "4 de una clase" is wrong. In Spanish the term for four of a kind is "póquer." Yes, that's also the name of the game "poker." Life's like that sometimes. So:
"Después de reflexionarlo, decidí retirarme aunque tenía póquer."
Quote: NareedIn Spanish the term for four of a kind is "póquer." Yes, that's also the name of the game "poker." Life's like that sometimes.
Wow! That would be really difficult to guess. As would escalara for straight, and full for full house.
Quote: pacomartinWow! That would be really difficult to guess. As would escalara for straight, and full for full house.
Would that it were that simple:
Carta más alta
Par
Dos Pares
Tercia
Corrida
Flor ó Color
Full ó Full House
Póquer
Corrida con color
Flor Imperial
I had to learn the English terms, BTW.
Quote: WizardBy the way, the rickshaws on the Seattle waterfront are very expensive. I took one for about an hour and was hit with a $70 charge afterward! I did not tip.
My understanding of the more common business model is that they make revenue by advertising. The cyclists usually specialize in short trips for free (but they expect a generous tip). They are just careful who they accept as customers, preferring the kind of people who will tip generously to a young muscular person.
Quote: NareedIn Spanish the term for four of a kind is "póquer."
That rings a bell from the casinos in Argentina and Uruguay. I guess I forgot.
Palabra: Bochorno
Today's SWD means shameful/embarrassing/degrading. Be careful not to confuse it with borracho, which means drunk. A related word is vergüenza, which means shame, which I think was a previous SWD.
Ejemplo time.
Mi nota en la prueba es bochorno. = My grade on the test is embarrassing.
Quote: WizardMi nota en la prueba es bochorno. = My grade on the test is embarrassing.
Usages again.... You know, it would be a lot easier to learn a language no one actually uses any more ;)
"Mi calificación en el examen es UN bochorno."
Quote: NareedUsages again.... You know, it would be a lot easier to learn a language no one actually uses any more ;)
I suspect it is more of a European word. It comes from a Latin word that means "east wind".
The East Wind is referred to 17 times in the Authorized King James Version of the English Old Testament.
In chapter 41 of Genesis, the pharaoh's dream, that is interpreted by Joseph, describes seven ears of corn blasted by the east wind.
In chapters 10 and 14 of Exodus, the east wind is summoned by Moses to bring the locusts that plague Egypt and to part the Red Sea so that the Children of Israel can escape pharaoh's armies.
Several other references exist, most associating the east wind with destruction usually of "the wicked" by God
Quote: pacomartinSeveral other references exist, most associating the east wind with destruction usually of "the wicked" by God
Perhaps when god causes a natural disaster it is because the wicked affected by it should be ashamed about their behavior -- but aren't, thus the word bochorno. Is it just me or does that word sound very Italian?
Quote: pacomartinI suspect it is more of a European word. It comes from a Latin word that means "east wind".
I meant "nota" and "prueba."
But, BTW, in the very rare isntances I've heard "bochorno" used, it usually means it's hot. Some older epople will say things like "Se siente mucho bochorno," on very warm days.
Palabra: Atontar
Today's SWD means to stupify/bewilder. A related word (I assume) is tonto, which means silly/stupid.
The assignment for the advanced readers it to compare and contrast atontar y desconcertar.
Ejemplo time.
Atonté, cuando Mary Ann besóme. = I was bewildered when Mary Ann kissed me.
Spanish letters: á é í ó ú ü ñ ¿ ¡
Quote: WizardPerhaps when god causes a natural disaster it is because the wicked affected by it should be ashamed about their behavior -- but aren't, thus the word bochorno. Is it just me or does that word sound very Italian?
bochorno
volturno
Volturno is an Italian cognate to Spanish bochorno, both having come from Latin word vulturnus.
The Italian word is the name of a river just north of Naples, slightly more than 100 miles long, which you can see on this map from 1944 in WWII. The allies stoped at the Volturno river (allies are thick blue line)
I am not sure if the word is a biblical reference, but I am hard pressed to think why an East wind brings hotness and shame.
Palabra: Fracasar
Today's SWD means to make a mess of things.
The question for the advanced readers is whether it shares the same root as the English fracture. Another question would be to compare the past participle fracasado with lío.
Ejemplo time.
Gilligan hizo un fracasado de nuestro intento de salir la isla, una vez más. = Gilligan made a mess of our attempt to leave the island, again.
Quote: WizardAtonté, cuando Mary Ann besóme. = I was bewildered when Mary Ann kissed me.
That would be "ME atonté cuando mary ann ME besó." But few people would use that word in such a case.
Quote:Spanish letters: á é í ó ú ü ñ ¿ ¡
To paraphrase Victor Hugo once again: "????"
Quote: WizardFecha: 8-8-12
Palabra: Fracasar
Today's SWD means to make a mess of things.
Actually it means "to fail." But it does NOT mean to obtain a failing grade in a test or assignment.
Quote:Gilligan hizo un fracasado de nuestro intento de salir la isla, una vez más. = Gilligan made a mess of our attempt to leave the island, again.
"Gilligan made a loser of our attempt...."
"Fracasado" means "loser," or "failure" as in "The guy's a misserable failure at everything he attempts."
try: "Gilligan hizó fracasar nuestro intento de escapar otra vez." "Gilligan made our escape attempt fail again."
Quote: NareedTo paraphrase Victor Hugo once again: "????"
I was out of town the last week and a half and posting from my Sony laptop, from which I couldn't figure out how to make the Spanish letters other than by copy and paste. So, so to save myself the trouble, I copied all of them into the post above.
Business idea! The first person to market a keyboard with the Spanish letters, as well as the commonly used English symbols, will make a lot of money. A flaw to the usual Keyboard in Spanish speaking countries is no ampersand. Meanwhile there are 12 function keys, none of which I have ever used.
Fecha: 9-8-12
Palabra: Escupir
Today's SWD means to spit.
Ejemplo time.
La razón por la que no me gusta Major League Baseball es que los jugadores escupen tabaco de mascar en todo el campo. = The reason I don't like Major League Baseball is because the player spit chewing tobacco all over the field.
escupidor de fuego = In English we say fire-breather, while in Spanish you say fire-spitter
When you go to a dentist you use a cuspidor
Quote: Nareed"Fracasado" means "loser," or "failure"
A while back I think we were trying to figure out what the "sixes and sevens" lyric meant in the song Don't Cry for me Argentina.
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
On the Today show there has been a segment called "Al's English Class" where Al Rocker says something in English English and challenges the audience to translate it to American English. Today's sentence included the "sixes and sevens" expression. As I recall, he said it meant to be confused.
Quote: WizardA while back I think we were trying to figure out what the "sixes and sevens" lyric meant in the song Don't Cry for me Argentina.
I can't remember whether I offered this before, but it is in agreement with Al's comment. This is from "Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson, one of the references I keep on my bookshelf:
Quote:sixes and sevens. I'm at sixes and sevens, in a state of confusion, trying to explain this expression, which dates back to 1340. One theory is that it comes from the biblical phrase (Job 5:19): "He shall deliver thee is six troubles: yea in seven there shall be no evil touch thee." More likely the term evolved from the old dice game of hazard. Sinque and sice ("five" and "six") were the most risky bets to make in the old game, and anyone who tried to throw those numbers was considered careless and confused. Later sinque and sice became "six" and "seven." Perhaps the change simply occurred because the terms looked and sounded somewhat alike. But it is possible that six and seven (an impossible throw in dice and two numbers that add up to the unlucky 13) represent a joking shift. Only about a century and a half ago did set on six and seven take on its plural form and become (set) at sixes and sevens. The phrase is still widely used today. A similar, older Italian expression, a tredici, "at 13," may be the source of the expression.
Quote: WizardBusiness idea! The first person to market a keyboard with the Spanish letters, as well as the commonly used English symbols, will make a lot of money. A flaw to the usual Keyboard in Spanish speaking countries is no ampersand. Meanwhile there are 12 function keys, none of which I have ever used.
My keyboard says to tell you: "&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&. Shift-6 :P"
But, seriously, some years ago I remember seeing an idea for a keybaord with tiny screens on top of each key. If you changed the configutation, the screens would display new characters. This would be useful for multilingual users, perhaps, and for gamers.
Quote:La razón por la que no me gusta Major League Baseball es que los jugadores escupen tabaco de mascar en todo el campo. = The reason I don't like Major League Baseball is because the player spit chewing tobacco all over the field.
Too wordy. "No me gusta el beisbol porque los jugadores se la pasan escupiendo tabaco."
love it :))
smart folk on here!
go raibh maith agat:))
Palabra: Despilfarrar
Today's SWD means to waste/squander. In contrast, gastar, means to spend, but not necessarily wastefully.
The question for the advanced readers is to compare today's SWD to the English "pilfer" for a common root.
Ejemplo time.
Gasté parte de mi dinero en putas y apostando. Despilfarré el resto. = I spent some of my money on hookers and gambling. The rest I wasted.
Quote: WizardGasté parte de mi dinero en putas y apostando. Despilfarré el resto. = I spent some of my money on hookers and gambling. The rest I wasted.
That word is a bit archaic by now. The old saw you quoted goes "Gasté mi parte de mi dinero en mujeres y en el juego. El resto lo malgasté." I'm not enamored of that term either....
Try this one: I lost my money in two ways. First gradually & then suddenly.
Quote: WizardDespilfarrar
The question for the advanced readers is to compare today's SWD to the English "pilfer" for a common root.
Sorry: false cognate. The words 'pilfer' and 'despilfarrar' are not related.
The related English word would be "plush" which is "felpa" in Italian. Spanish picked it up with the same spelling, "felpa" as a noun, with "felpar" as a verb (meaning to cover in plush). The word morphed into wasting or squandering presumably by analogy of covering it with something useless.
Quote: pacomartinThe related English word would be "plush" ....
Good work nonetheless!
Quote: Nareed"Mi calificación en el examen es UN bochorno."
Calificación was a correction to my use of the word nota for grade. Although that is how my book translated a grade on a test, it should be noted that Spanish television here has been calling an Olympic diving score as a calificación.
Quote: WizardCalificación was a correction to my use of the word nota for grade.
I don't make up the language. I just make use of it.
Quote:Although that is how my book translated a grade on a test, it should be noted that Spanish television here has been calling an Olympic diving score as a calificación.
You can use "nota" for "grade." But it's rare and "nota" has too many other meanings.
Palabra: Palomitas de maíz
You might think today's SWD means little pigeons of corn, but it actually refers to popcorn. Yes, the word paloma means pigeon or dove. I suppose they get this expression because a piece of popcorn does look kind of like a pigeon flying.
Ejemplo time.
Yo siempre compro palomitas de maiz in el tamaño del cubo de caballo en el cine, por que él sólo cuesta un dólar más que el tamaño más pequeño. = I always buy the horse bucked size of popcorn at the movies, because it costs only a dollar more than the smallest size.
Note: Of course, I always overeat and feel sick afterward, but I just can't resist an economy of scale.
Quote: WizardYes, the word paloma means pigeon or dove.
I thought that meant "rat with wings."
Anyway, it also means moth, a check mark, and a hand-made firecracker.
Quote:Yo siempre compro palomitas de maiz in el tamaño del cubo de caballo en el cine, por que él sólo cuesta un dólar más que el tamaño más pequeño. = I always buy the horse bucked size of popcorn at the movies, because it costs only a dollar more than the smallest size.
The "Yo" is redundant. "IN" is not a Spanish word. You shouldn't use the word "tamaño" twice in one sentence. Using horse bucket to indicate size wouldn't work in Spanish, either. Lastly, few people will bother to say "palomitas de maíz," preferring to simply say "palomitas."
Try: "Siempre compro las palomitas más grandes en el cine, porque solo cuestaN un dolar más que la medianas."
Quote:Note: Of course, I always overeat and feel sick afterward, but I just can't resist an economy of scale.
A huge bucket of fresh popcorn drenched in faux butter is about the only thing I miss about the movies.
Quote: NareedThe "Yo" is redundant.
I thought one could throw in a "yo" for emphasis.
Quote:"IN" is not a Spanish word.
Oops. I forgot to translate that.
Quote:You shouldn't use the word "tamaño" twice in one sentence.
It is bad style in English too. I didn't see that.
Quote:Using horse bucket to indicate size wouldn't work in Spanish, either.
Why not? Is it that nobody thought to give a horse water from a big bucket? Or do they just not have those enormous popcorn containers at movie theaters in Spanish-speaking countries?
Quote:A huge bucket of fresh popcorn drenched in faux butter is about the only thing I miss about the movies.
I always tell them "please put on one third the normal amount of butter," but the zitty-faced teenagers working the concession stand never seem to understand what "one third" means.
Quote: WizardI thought one could throw in a "yo" for emphasis.
It's not wrong, strictly speaking. But it's like saying "I, myself, always buy...." Spanish affords more opportunities for such redundancies and other types of grammatical and semantic mistakes.
See if you can tell me what's wrong with this sign I spotted: "Calcetines especiales para diabéticos de algodón." I find that translating the mistake into English is hard.
Quote:Why not? Is it that nobody thought to give a horse water from a big bucket?
The simile isn't there. And it's not like caring for horses is something most people in this Century come across often; I dare say most of us don't come across it at all.
Quote:Or do they just not have those enormous popcorn containers at movie theaters in Spanish-speaking countries?
I haven't been to the movies in over two years. But I think portions here tend to be smaller. FYI, that helps not at all in preventing obesity, should Nanny Bloomberg happen to be reading this forum.
Quote:I always tell them "please put on one third the normal amount of butter," but the zitty-faced teenagers working the concession stand never seem to understand what "one third" means.
Oh, if you want less you should request "no butter."
Quote: NareedCalcetines especiales para diabéticos de algodón."
Going word for word, I would say "Special socks for diabetics of cotton." However, I assume what they meant was "Special socks for people allergic to cotton."
Speaking of which, what is the difference between calcetínes y medias? The dictionaries say the former is a sock and the latter a stocking. However, I've seen sock translated in calcetínes before.
Quote: WizardGoing word for word, I would say "Special socks for diabetics of cotton." However, I assume what they meant was "Special socks for people allergic to cotton."
As written it means "Special socks for diabetics made of cotton."
What it intends to mean is "Cotton socks made special for diabetics."
I've no idea how socks for diabetics differ from regular socks, or how you came up with allergic.
Quote:Speaking of which, what is the difference between calcetínes y medias? The dictionaries say the former is a sock and the latter a stocking.
That's exactly the difference.
Quote:However, I've seen sock translated in calcetínes before.
I think you mean "medias." I've seen that used, too. It's one of life's mysteries. Like why Spaniards call white beans "judías."
Quote: NareedI've no idea how socks for diabetics differ from regular socks, or how you came up with allergic.
I don't know that much about diabetes, but why would they need different socks? All the diabetics I've known wore the some clothes everyone else did. However, some people are allergic to cotton, for which I could see using socks made from something else.
Murió uno de los cachorritos salvados de un incendio por una perra en Chile
The word cachorritos is based on a Basque word. I don't know if it is more or less common than perrito in Mexico. This female dog took her 5 puppies out of a burning building and put them on the fire truck where she thought they would be safe, unfortunately one was already too injured.
Quote: pacomartinThe word cachorritos is based on a Basque word. I don't know if it is more or less common than perrito in Mexico.
I've a chaotic kitchen going (the best kind) so:
Cachorro: puppy
Perrito/a: doggie, small/little dog.
Palabra: Arruinar
Today's SWD means to ruin. "How does that differ from estropear, you ask?" Estopear seems to be used much more often. My guess, based on context, is that arruinar is a stronger word, probably used when something really important was ruined, or just for emphasis.
BTW, Estopear was the SWD on 3/4/12.
Ejemplo time.
No hables tan fuerte, o el souflet se arruinada. = Don't talk so loudly, or the soufflé will be ruined.
Arruinar = To ruin.
Quote: WizardEstropear seems to be used much more often.
Spanish estropear is from Italian stroppiare which is a variant of storpiare which is from vulgar Latin exturpiare which is derived from Latin turpis which is an ancestor of English turpitude.
The English word 'turpitude' is an older word that means "depravity, infamy" related to that which is"vile, ugly, base, shameful".
See the Shakespearean quote from Antony and Cleopatra (IV, 6)
I am alone the villain of the earth,
And feel I am so most. O Antony,
Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid
My better service, when my turpitude
Thou dost so crown with gold!
I realize the English word is archaic, but if you run into it now if you read it, you will recognize it.
================
A Spanish idiom for spoil is "echar a perder" which I heard in Oaxaca, although it more literally translates as "throwing to lose"
The title of this book from the cartoon is clearly "How to ruin a relationship in 10 days". The word ligue looks like "league" which must be a Spanish idiom for "relationship".
My tutor said in Peru a novia is a fiance. I asked her what the term would be for a girlfriend you're not engaged to. As I recall, she said there is no particular term.
Speaking of this topic, one flaw in the English language are the terms "boyfriend and girlfriend." They are fine up to a certain age, like 25, but just start to sound silly as you get older than that. I had quite the feminist girlfriend in college who would have bitten by head off if I used that term about her, and she was only 20 or 21 at the time. She was a psychology major, so suggested the term "significant other."
Quote: WizardI see that magazine she is holding says trajes de novia. Is that the term for a wedding dress?
It's used in some countries. The proper term is "vestido de novia." BTW, in English the proper term is "wedding gown," but there are exceptions as not all possible wedding dresses are actually gowns. And to finish this train of thought, there is no word in Spanish for "gown."
Quote:My tutor said in Peru a novia is a fiance. I asked her what the term would be for a girlfriend you're not engaged to. As I recall, she said there is no particular term.
Those wacky Peruvians :)
Novia = girlfriend = bride
Novio = boyfirend = groom
Depending on the context, of course.
Fiance = Prometida/o
Quote:Speaking of this topic, one flaw in the English language are the terms "boyfriend and girlfriend." They are fine up to a certain age, like 25, but just start to sound silly as you get older than that.
No, it doesn't. Delusional, maybe, but not silly :P
Quote: WizardMy tutor said in Peru a novia is a fiance. I asked her what the term would be for a girlfriend you're not engaged to. As I recall, she said there is no particular term. Speaking of this topic, one flaw in the English language are the terms "boyfriend and girlfriend."
The languages were formed in an earlier time when social mores were very different. Now you have FWB for "friends with benefits" and BC for "benefits without bothering with the friendship". Plus "baby mama" for the mother of your child with whom you have little or no contact with, and does not interfere with you FWB and you BC's.
When I went to school in Oaxaca there was a young kid (age 19-20) from Philadelphia who wanted to work in a mission to the Mazatec indians. He was a good looking kid, but he grew up in a big city. In his first week he got caught with a little hand holding (possibly a kiss or two) with a young Mazatec indian and ended up being thrown out. I don't think he had any idea he was doing anything wrong.
A wealthy New York banker went to study under Maria Sabina, a The Mazatec shaman, in 1953, and was responsible for introducing hallucinogens to the western world by virtue of a widely circulated LIFE magazine. The Mazatecs used the hallucinogens as part of a cultural cleansing ceremony. She was actually a serious tobacco smoker, so the widely circulated photo makes people assume that she is smoking a joint.
Is that really the culture or did I distort it in the interpretation?
Quote: DocThat's an interesting culture from a U.S. perspective: Go ahead and do the hallucinogenic drugs, but don't dare kiss a girl you're not ready to marry.
Is that really the culture or did I distort it in the interpretation?
It's a little distorted. They don't do hallucinogens for recreation. They are only part of a rituals.
It's hard to imagine today, but there was a time when most of the Western culture was completely unaware of hallucinogens. They knew about opiates since they were widely used in medicine in the 19th century, and they were aware of cannabis, and obviously alcohol.
On June 29, 1955, R. Gordon Wasson, then a vice president of the prestigious banking firm J.P. Morgan, together with his friend, New York fashion photographer Allan Richardson, made history by becoming the first whites to participate in a velada. The nocturnal mushroom ceremony took place in the remote village of Huautla de Jimenez, in the northeast region of Oaxaca, Mexico under the guidance of Mazatec curandera Maria Sabina.
When they told their story in the 1957 Life magazine article, the editor coined the term "magic mushrooms". After this article, Timothy Leary and others tried hallucinogens and eventually spawned the culture.
Huautla de Jimenez in the Sierra Mazateca is about 150 miles of freeway + 85 miles of local roads from Mexico City airport today. But in 1955 it would have been extremely difficult to reach, and very difficult to find your way around since most people didn't speak Spanish. At the time it wasn't really legal to do these ceremonies and take these drugs, but there was very little direct influence from the government in these small villages.
LSD was first synthesized in 1938, and was first intentionally ingested on April 19, 1943. It was introduced as a drug with trade-name Delysid for clinical psychiatric uses in 1947. But it wasn't until the LIFE magazine article ten years later, and people began experimenting with mushrooms, that the synthetics began to be used as a recreational drug.
The CIA project to use LSD for mind control was officially sanctioned in 1953, but was severely cut back in the 1960's and eliminated entirely by 1973. It was only then that the general public became aware of the project.
