Monday, February 28, 2011

Monte Alban-Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://adventurezinmexico.blogspot.com
Feb 28/2011



Monte Albán is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca (17.043° N, 96.767°W). The site is located on a low mountainous range rising above the plain in the central section of the Valley of Oaxaca where the latter's northern Etla, eastern Tlacolula, and southern Zimatlán & Ocotlán (or Valle Grande) branches meet. The present-day state capital Oaxaca City is located approximately 9 km (6 mi) east of Monte Albán.

The partially excavated civic-ceremonial center of the Monte Albán site is situated atop an artificially-leveled ridge, which with an elevation of about 1,940 m (6,400 ft) above mean sea level rises some 400 m (1,300 ft) from the valley floor, in an easily defensible location.

In addition to the aforementioned monumental core, the site is characterized by several hundred artificial terraces, and a dozen clusters of mounded architecture covering the entire ridgeline and surrounding flanks (Blanton 1978). The archaeological ruins on the nearby Atzompa and El Gallo hills to the north are traditionally considered to be an integral part of the ancient city as well. Read More Here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Alb%C3%A1n


Monte Alban Mariposa

Monte Alban, Oaxaca City

Peaking in the tunnel - Monte Alban


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 state parties[1] which are elected by their General Assembly.[2]

The program catalogues, names, and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. Under certain conditions, listed sites can obtain funds from the World Heritage Fund. The programme was founded with the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage,[3] which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on November 16, 1972. Since then, 186 state parties have ratified the convention.

As of 2010[update], 911 sites are listed: 704 cultural, 180 natural, and 27 mixed properties, in 151 States Parties.[4][5] Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites to date with 45 sites inscribed on the list. UNESCO references each World Heritage Site with an identification number; but new inscriptions often include previous sites now listed as part of larger descriptions. As a result, the identification numbers exceed 1200 even though there are fewer on the list. Read more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site



View Larger Map


Here's a good video that shows a little bit of everything. RedKnot Video

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Gypsy Junker, Tumble Weed Houses, Bodega, Weebie



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
Feb 26/2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/garden/24tiny.html
The Gypsy Junker, one of four structures Derek Diedricksen built at his home in Stoughton, Mass.
By JOYCE WADLER
Published: February 23, 2011


A HOUSE tour is the highlight of a visit with a proud homeowner, but when one drops in to see Derek Diedricksen, who makes playful micro-shelters out of junk, it is less so. Possibly because the temperature up here on a cold winter day is less so, possibly because his square footage is less so.

At about 24 square feet, the Gypsy Junker, made primarily out of shipping pallets, castoff storm windows and a neighbor’s discarded kitchen cabinets, is the largest of Mr. Diedricksen’s backyard structures. The Hickshaw, a sleeper built on a rolling cedar lounge chair (or as Mr. Diedricksen calls it, “a rickshaw for hicks”), is considerably smaller, at 2 1/2 feet wide by 6 1/2 feet deep. The Boxy Lady, two cubes on a long pallet, is the smallest: 4 feet tall at its highest point. Read More Here
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/garden/24tiny.html
---------------------------------------

He's written a book http://relaxshax.wordpress.com/

http://relaxshax.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/the-books-finally-here-gary-larson-meets-bob-vila-housingfortsmall-houseshack-book/



http://www.youtube.com/user/relaxshacksDOTcom

Tiny Yellow House featuring Jay Shafer of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company




Deek interviews Jay Shafer who owns Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, one of the leading resources in the tiny house movement. Since 1997, Jay has been building tiny homes for himself and helping countless others build homes that get rid of excess or unused space.

Host Derek "Deek" Diedricksen explores a "Hickshaw" he built, as the pilot episode kicks off a look into the world of tiny structures that can be used for a variety of purposes. 



In this follow-up episode, Host Derek "Deek" Diedricksen gives a tour of his mini-cabin/house built out of recycled junk (from dumpster diving/repurposing) and curbside materials.....with a guitar tease/appearance from Age Against The Machine/Anklelock/Any Given Enemy guitarist Bill Bracken Jr. who appears in the subsequent Tiny Rehearsal Space Episode (#3 with doumbek and cajon solos, van halen, nirvana, journey, and rage tunes galore- acoustically!- coming REAL soon...). Filmed by Steven Sherrick of Obscure Knowledge Productions



---------------
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

Tumble Weed Tiny House Company
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/bodega/



http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/bodega/
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/weebee/

These ideas are so cool and fit right in with my Sustainable Urban Housing ideas that go with my ideas for The Changemakers Competition- Edible Schoolyards and Cob Houses.
http://www.changemakers.com/search/apachesolr_search/tina%20winterlik

EL Tule- Oaxaca City, Oaxaca



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://adventurezinmexico.blogspot.com
Feb 26/2011




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81rbol_del_Tule

El Árbol del Tule (Spanish for "the Tule Tree") is a tree located in the church grounds in the town center of Santa María del Tule in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, approximately 9 km east of the city of Oaxaca on the road to Mitla. It is a Montezuma Cypress (Taxodium mucronatum), or Ahuehuete (meaning "old man of the water" in Nahuatl). It has the stoutest trunk of any tree in the world. In 2001 it was placed on a UNESCO tentative list of World Heritage Sites.[1]

In 2005, its trunk had a circumference of 36.2 m (119 ft), equating to a diameter of 11.62 m (38.1 ft),[2] a slight increase from a measurement of 11.42 m (37.5 ft) m in 1982.[3] However, the trunk is heavily buttressed, giving a higher diameter reading than the true cross-sectional of the trunk represents; when this is taken into account, the diameter of the 'smoothed out' trunk is 9.38 m (30.8 ft).[2] This is still slightly larger than the next most stout tree known, a Giant Sequoia with a 8.98 m (29.5 ft) diameter.[4]

The height is difficult to measure due to the very broad crown; the 2005 measurement, made by laser, is 35.4 m (116 ft),[2] shorter than previous measurements of 41–43 m (135–141 ft).[3] According to the signboard by the tree (see gallery, below), it has a total volume of 816.829 m3 and a weight of 636.107 t (701.188 short tons); these figures are however not independently verified, and given the same signboard's claim of a girth of 58 m (190 ft), must be treated with suspicion.

It is so large that it was originally thought to be multiple trees, but DNA tests have proven that it is only one tree.[5] This does not rule out another hypothesis, which states that it comprises multiple trunks from a single individual.[6]

The age is unknown, with estimates ranging between 1,200 and 3,000 years, and even one claim of 6,000 years;[6][7] the best scientific estimate based on growth rates is 1,433-1,600 years.[8]

Local Zapotec legend holds that it was planted about 1,400 years ago by Pechocha, a priest of Ehecatl, the Aztec wind god, in broad agreement with the scientific estimate; its location on a sacred site (later taken over by the Roman Catholic Church) would also support this.[6][7]

The tree is occasionally nicknamed the "Tree of Life" from all the images of animals that are reputedly visible in the tree's gnarled trunk.

As part of an official project local schoolchildren give tourists a tour of the tree and show all manners of creatures that the trunk features, including jaguars and elephants. Read More Here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81rbol_del_Tule

Read More on Oaxaca on TomZap
http://www.tomzap.com/coaxaca.html

Photography and video by Tina Winterlik- Adventurez in Mexico
© 2011- El Tule - Photographer Tina Winterlik- Adventurez in Mexico

© 2011- El Tule - Photographer Tina Winterlik- Adventurez in Mexico

© 2011- El Tule - Photographer Tina Winterlik- Adventurez in Mexico

Santa Domingo Church in Oaxaca City



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://adventurezinmexico.blogspot.com
Feb 26/2011



The beautiful Santa Domingo Church in Oaxaca City.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Santo_Domingo_de_Guzm%C3%A1n_%28Oaxaca%29


The Church and former monastery of Santo Domingo de Guzmán (Spanish: Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán) is a baroque ecclesiastical building complex in Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico.

The complex includes a substantial sanctuary and an extensive system of courtyards, cloisters and rooms that formerly constituted the monastery

As its name implies, the church and monastery were founded by the Dominican Order. Begun in 1570, they were constructed over a period of 200 years, between the 16th and 18th centuries. The monastery was active from 1608 to 1857. In the period of the revolutionary wars, the buildings were turned over to military use, and from 1866 to 1902 they served as a barracks.

The church was restored to religious use in 1938, but the monastery was made available to the Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca. In 1972 it became a regional museum, and in 1993 the decision was taken to undertake a full restoration. This was completed in 1999.

It is an exceptional example of conservation architecture. The architect responsible was Juan Urquiaga.

The church has also been fully restored. Its highly decorated interior includes use of more than 60,000 sheets of 23.5-karat gold leaf. Read more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Santo_Domingo_de_Guzm%C3%A1n_%28Oaxaca%29


Oaxaca- Tomzap http://www.tomzap.com/coaxaca.html
http://www.tomzap.com/SantoDomingo.html

© 2010 Tina Winterlik Photography

Visit Oaxaca City



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://adventurezinmexico.blogspot.com
Feb 26/2011



Come visit Oaxaca with us as we watch a parade in the Zocalo, Angel gets her face painted, check out all the local shops, ride a pony in front of the Beautiful Santa Domingo and eat Marzipan treats for Semana Santa. March 2010

Zipolite- February 2010



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://adventurezinmexico.blogspot.com
Feb 26/2011



Check out the iguanas, gorgeous waves and incredible sunsets. Watch Angel playing on the sand and saying goodbye to all our favorite places in Zipolite in Feb 2010

Huatulco & Zipolite



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://adventurezinmexico.blogspot.com
Feb 26/2011



Join Adventurez in Mexico for a quick trip to Huatulco, Hanging out in Zipolite in the hammock, playing with kittens and more

Friday, February 25, 2011

All We Need is Love!!



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
Feb 25/2011


Sharing the Love! The Beatles! All We Need is Love! Happy Friday Night Amigos!

Playing for Change - Imagine



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
Feb 25/2011



In the beginning of 2010 the Playing For Change crew began work on a new Song Around the World, John Lennon's "Imagine." It has been an amazing year of production, taking the crew from the favelas of Brazil to the shrines of southern India, from villages in Nepal to the glittering urban landscape of Tokyo and New York, and beyond.

This song is the Playing For Change Foundation's gift to the world. The Playing For Change Foundation feels honored to have the blessing and generous support of Yoko Ono as music lovers around the world join together to launch the Power to the People campaign. The campaign seeks to advance John Lennon’s vision of peace by engaging artists and audiences to contribute to music education programs worldwide.

Proceeds raised will help build music schools, support teachers and music programs, purchase instruments, and connect schools for cross-cultural learning and conflict resolution across borders. Music IS the power: Power to the People.

To stay informed about the PFC Foundation, the schools we are building, the lives we are touching, and how you can participate, please join our mailing list at playingforchange.org, and participate in this global movement.

http://vimeo.com/pfcfoundation

http://playingforchange.com/


Playing For Change Foundation Overview from PlayingForChangeFoundation on Vimeo.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Flash Mob For Peace at White Water



Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://adventurezinmexico.blogspot.com
Feb 24/2011


The Koots do it with Style. Check out this very Original and Cool Flash Mob for Peace Video.

I love the Kootenays! I have lived in Castlegar and attended Selkirk College, and Nelson and Angel and I have lived in Nelson 2x. One day I plan to move back to the Kootenays, it's a beautiful place. With wonderful creative peace loving people.

Way to go, Guys!! Super Awesome!

----------------

The Mir Centre for Peace http://selkirk.ca/research/mir-centre-for-peace/at Selkirk College organized a flash mob against war and consumerism earlier this month.

Mir Centre - Peace Studies in Canada


Located at Selkirk College in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, the Mir Centre offers a unique program of studies in peace building and cultures of peace. Mir programs and lectures make a significant new contribution to Peace Studies in Canada and the world.

The mandate of the Mir Centre is understanding and building cultures of peace through learning.

The Mir Story

For Selkirk College, the story of this land and the Mir Centre for Peace begins in 1966 when the site and buildings were inherited by the College. The story of this magnificent piece of land and the people who have lived there stretches back for centuries.

Today, the Mir Centre for Peace at Selkirk College is the focal point for many activities, all of which build on the Centre’s inspiring statement of mission: “To understand and build cultures of peace through learning.

http://selkirk.ca/media/innovation/mircentreforpeace/Mir-Story-2009-lr.pdf
--------------------------------------------
Staged at Whitewater Ski Resort on Sunday, Feb. 13, the flash mob included a performance by the war mongering Lucas Myers and singing by dozens of people at the ski hill’s lodge.

Here’s the video.




http://www.skiwhitewater.com/

White Water, Nelson BC

I found this here on the Nelson Post.
http://thenelsonpost.ca/2011/02/24/flash-mob-for-peace-at-whitewater/
Nelson Post

Surfing! Super Board!




Pukas - Tecnalia Surfsens project from Pukas Surf on Vimeo.

Esta por mi amigos en Zipolite, (This is for my friends in Zipolite,) Oaxaca Mexico who LOVE TO SURF!


http://www.pukasurf.com


http://www.tecnalia.com/en

Zipolita's Spring Newsletter



 Zipolita's Spring Newsletter, please retweet! Gracias http://t.co/7BuwtrW  via @zipolita

If you don't know Zipolita is my Twitter name and I use it for lots of my online id. This is my Spring Newletter http://t.co/7BuwtrW. I hope you'll check it out, if chocked full of really great links to videos and valuable info. 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

One Mother, One Tribe, Little Grandmother's Message






http://littlegrandmother.net/default.aspx

http://littlegrandmother.net/BIO.aspx
Kiesha Crowther, also known as "Little Grandmother," was initiated as shaman at age 30 by a Native American elder and was told that her task was to be shaman and Wisdom Keeper of the “tribe of many colors.”

As a child, she spent long periods of time alone in the wilderness, where she lived with and learned from the four-legged, one-legged, winged-ones and swimmers, as well as the star and stone people. Her young life was marked by many unusual experiences and abilities that she did not understand. As a child, she had been taught by the ancestors, grandmothers past, and Mother Earth, and was known for her ability to sense and communicate with wild animals and to see and work with energy.

Since being initiated on her path as shaman and wisdom keeper, Kiesha has begun to share teachings and to conduct ceremonies and healings for individuals and Mother Earth. She feels her  responsibility to be carrying and communicating earth wisdom and the ancient knowledge for our current age. Toward this end, she has released videos of her talks, which are freely available on YouTube and which have been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people so far all over the globe. Her work as a Wisdom Keeper also includes the planting of sacred crystals in very specific locations around the world for the renewal and strengthening of Mother Earth's precious ley lines. Her powerful message emphasizes how to shift individual and planetary consciousness, how to live in the heart in right relationship with Mother Earth, and to remember who we are--THE GREAT I AM.


http://littlegrandmother.net/EVENTSCALENDAR.aspx 

Little Grandmother with Kahuna priest during healing ceremony
Maui, Hawaii - June 2010
 

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Four Years. Go!



A Campaign to Change the Course of History

The goal of Four Years. Go. is to build a global movement of commitment and action that will cause a positive tipping point in humanity’s future by the end of 2014, setting us irreversibly on a new path to a just, thriving and sustainable future for all.

This will be done through inspiring commitment, connecting individuals and organizations in action, and amplifying stories of hope and success.




Who We Are

The impetus and initial stewardship for the FOUR YEARS. GO. campaign came from a core group of organizations, that continues to expand. The Pachamama Alliance, as part of that group, has provided the funding for the initial development of the campaign and is acting as the fiscal sponsor at this time. Other organizations that helped to create the concepts of the campaign were P:5Y (Peace in Five Years), and The 2020 Fund.


Creative inspiration and media assets are the work of Wieden+Kennedy, the largest independent advertising agency network in the world (creators of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign and Lance Armstrong’s “Live Strong” yellow bracelet campaign).

 Watch Lynne Twist in this Powerful Video


Lynne Twist Presents FOUR YEARS. GO. from FOUR YEARS. GO. on Vimeo.


Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/fouryearsgo?sk=app_7146470109


Declare Your Commitment Now!
Four Years. Go
http://www.fouryearsgo.org/commit/ Four Years.Go Twitter

http://twitter.com/fouryearsgo
Four Years.Go Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/fouryearsgo
Four Years.Go Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=2778495

A Call For Our Time!



Please for the sake of our Children and our Future and Nature and Mother Earth, Please watch this powerful video!



A Call For Our Time: The Story of The Pachamama Alliance (2010) from Pachamama Alliance on Vimeo.

http://www.pachamama.org/

http://awakeningthedreamer.org/
The Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium is an interactive transformational workshop that inspires participants to play a role in creating a new future: an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on this planet. Find out how you can get involved.

Generation Waking Up!
http://awakeningthedreamer.org/content/view/297/220/

Generation Waking Up is a global campaign to ignite a generation of young people to bring forth a thriving, just, sustainable world.

We strive to:

- Awaken in young people a clear sense of who we are as a generation, an understanding of the urgent global challenges and opportunities we face, and a calling to take action.
- Empower young people with the training, mentoring, and support needed to thrive as global citizens, leaders, and change agents in the 21st century.
- Mobilize young people locally and globally across issues, geography, and all lines of difference, unleashing the collaborative power of our generation.

http://www.fouryearsgo.org/
TAKE A STAND.
CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

Humanity’s current path is leading to a future no one wants, and it could soon be too late to change course. We have the technology and know-how to change our direction – all that’s missing is the collective will to get it done. You can help generate that will by making your own personal commitment, enrolling others, and taking action.

Jungle Mamas



Here's a very interesting program

Even though I wanted a natural childbirth and had a birthplan and thought I had it all figured out that I could do it, mind over matter, my body did not co-operate, and after 40 hours of labour the doctor told me "Yes!" When I said thru my tears "Am I going to have to have a c-section?" 

Women used to die during childbirth, it was very common. Today with all the knowledge available and hospitals, the risk is much lower. But imagine living in the jungle, where everything is natural, but perhaps there is no clean water, or because of encroaching pollution from outsiders or all the other elements that hinder education in these matters. Perhaps the elders haven't been able to pass on their knowledge.  I can see where a program like this would be very helpful as long as the women can retain there heritage and value but keep themselves and their children healthy and alive.

Jungle Mamas 

http://www.pachamama.org/jungle-mamas/ 

Purpose and Vision

The purpose of the Jungle Mamas Program is to empower indigenous women and their communities, to ensure safe birthing and the health and well-being of the Achuar people. We view empowerment of Achuar women as the unifying element to ensure success on joint projects and to build the capacity to become self-sustaining.

We consciously build into all our initiatives the opportunity for women’s leadership to emerge.

Our main focus to date has been saving lives of mothers and babies by teaching prevention, recognition and response to pregnancy and birth emergencies.

We have done this by addressing the urgent issues of maternal deaths, infant morbidity and family planning, as well as broader family and community health concerns.

Background

“We used to think we HAD to go into the jungle alone to birth our babies. Now, thanks to Jungle Mamas we know there’s a better, safer way.”
— Achuar participant trained as birth attendant
One of the most persistent and prevalent development issues globally is reducing maternal mortality and morbidity.

The women and communities of the Amazonian rainforest also face these challenges. This situation is directly related to the undervaluing of women and girls’ contributions to society and their lower social status.

 Read more here  http://www.pachamama.org/jungle-mamas/

Contact Jungle Mamas

Margaret Love, margaret@pachamama.org, 510.558.0994

 http://www.pachamama.org
The Pachamama Alliance

The Mission Possible - Visionary Youth- Aviva- Free The Children



Here's another really cool thing I would like to share!!
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf10579


The Mission Possible - Visionary Youth
About This Idea:
Budget:
Large ($100K - 500K)
Category:Youth
Posted by: Jennifer Hough
Organization: The Youth Ripple Effect Team
Location: Stouffville, Ontario, Canda
Idea Created: November 22, 2010
Overview:

The Mission Possible ‘Movie-ment’ Goal:
• To touch the lives of those who are feeling the Global Awakening through the stories of youth that are making a difference to peace on the Planet and within themselves
• To cause inspired action through a movie about visionary youth & young adults who are leaders for hope and change in the world
• To create an interactive web community where schools, organizations and companies from around the world can connect & share their Ripple Effect Projects
• To create an interactive weekly action toward a better world, that anyone can do

WHAT IS A MOVIE-MENT? A movie-ment is a term we use to describe a project that involves a movie that inspires action, and then provides the platform to take that inspired action. The Mission Possible is just such a project.

THE MISSION POSSIBLE MOVIE The Premise: Our children are awakening to their ability to make a powerful impact in the world as individuals. The stories of these beautiful souls need to be told. We will be telling the many stories of young ‘Agents of Change’ from around the world who are standing up for what feels right in their hearts so that others can remember that they have the same capacity to make a difference in their families, communities and lives.


The Movie Concept: This movie is a documentary that follows the lives, accomplishments and passions of the young people who are creating lasting change on the planet. It will also show the impact their actions have had on their families, friends and communities. The stories will be followed by short vignettes of children from schools answering the question “What would you do to make the world a better place?”This documentary will be a launching pad for the Web Based Ripple Effect Peace Project.

THE MISSION POSSIBLE – RIPPLE EFFECT PEACE PROJECT

The Premise: The Ripple Effect Canadian Peace Project – is a web based 365 Day Plan for those who want to be a part of global change for the positive. On the website every day, there will be a Plan to Peace action step that anyone can do, from anywhere in the world. Millions of people (organizations, schools, corporations and families) can participate in simple daily inspired actions and share them online with each other and inspire more action and interconnection.

The Concept: Each month will have a different theme: kindness, Earth appreciation, forgiveness, abundance etc. Each day of the month will have a simple action related to the theme of the month. It is a follow-up to the movie and is intended to bring people together for the common good. Each day is taught by a different person (child, hero, adult, leader, sage). As different organizations, schools, families and corporations get involved and take on the actions steps and projects we introduce, they can share their experience, audios and videos online to create global community toward a peaceful Earth.

THE TEAM The Mission Possible was founded and co-created by a group of visionaries that are committed to empowering youth and adults alike to make a difference in their communities:

Jennifer HoughChief Executive Dreamer (Founder of The Vital You Clinic, Life Make-Over Coach, Author of “ A Search for Purpose”, Host of SOUL Radio) – www.thelawofawakening.com

Brad MorrisDirector of Inspiration (Co-founder of Agents of Change Global Movements Inc, The Junior Attractors, Manifesting Awesomeness radio & Hayhouse Author) – www.juniorattractors.com

Matthew AshdownVP of Global Transformation (Co-founder of Agents of Change Global Movements Inc, The Junior Attractors, Manifesting Awesomeness radio & Hayhouse Author) - www.juniorattractors.com

Nigel SealeGM of Here Comes Everybody (Chairman & Founder-Earth Day Canada; Chairman of Earth Day Canada 1990; Chairman-Earth Day globally 1991 & 1992)

Hailey ClarkThe Treasurer of Big Heartedness (Olympic level softball player, world traveller, and children’s coach)

THE YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS OF THE MISSION POSSIBLE MOVIE In the movie, we will be following the journeys of youth leaders, who are making a difference.

One example is Bilaal Rajan (Age 13 - Toronto, Ont, Canada) IMAGINE: Journeying with Bilaal to the AIDS communities in Malawi, watching his unique ability to wake people up to who they are and see first-hand the beauty of one person to change the lives of thousands. Imagine talking to the volunteers, neighbours & families that are inspired to make a difference because of this youth and see the full ripple effect on those in need because of one child’s efforts.

•It started for Bilaal at 4 years old when he sold clementine oranges door-to-door to raise money to help the 2001 earthquake victims in Gujarat, India

•He targeted global poverty and to date (2007) has raised over $50,000 for The World Partnership Walk. A powerful benefactor, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), matched his contribution

Bilaal authored two books on his fundraising efforts & Success Principle

Winners have been announced.
See Winners http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/home/search/level:winner
 ------------------------------
Free The Children
In 2010, Aviva launched a new partnership with Free The Children, a dynamic organization devoted to mobilizing youth to eradicate child poverty and exploitation around the world. Over the past 15 years, by working with school children across Canada and the US to show how they can make a difference in the developing world, Free the Children has been able to build and operate more than 500 schools in places such as India, China and Africa. The organization has built a reputation worldwide for their innovative programs and ability to achieve amazing results.

Aviva's partnership with Free The Children is aligned with our global Street to School program, the company's first international charity program which supports local and international charity partners to improve the lives of thousands of children and youth worldwide. In North America, our Street to School partnerships focus on prevention and intervention, targeting youth who are vulnerable to becoming homeless or dropping out of school.

Our support for Free The Children includes the implementation of leadership programs in schools with a predominance of at-risk youth in high needs areas, as well as sponsorship of "We Day". This annual event involving celebrities, thought leaders and politicians from around the world, inspires young people to celebrate their opportunity to shape and influence the world.

The Graditude Dance!!




 This is the guy responsible for my travel bug. Maybe not totally but watching one of his videos like this about 5 years ago, just filled me with this "I got to go do that!!"
Wow! He's been so blessed to travel to all these incredible places. Really amazing!
Now I guess they call it the Gratitude Dance and a friend shared it with me on Facebook today, so it made me feel really great to watch this again.

And to think it was all because of gum commercial! Stride! Crazy!
----------------
Here's another Gratitude Dance


http://thejuniorattractors.com
http://www.thegratidudes.com

It all truly began for the GratiDudes with their now famous Youtube video, “The Gratitude Dance.”  The Gratitude Dance lead the Dudes to become speakers all across North America, catering their positive message to youth and the young at heart.  The GratiDudes NOW are pursuing their childhood dreams (like everyone should) of becoming film-makers, as they create their first webisode series, "The Adventures of the GratiDudes," while pursuing their own individual projects and passions.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Mexican Soups



http://www.google.ca/images?hl=en&xhr=t&q=mexican+soups&cp=13&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1366&bih=549

Hungry? Here's something fun to do click this link and shows all sorts of different Mexican soups. Mmmmm makes me hungry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mexican_soups

Caldo de pollo is a common Latin-American soup that consists of chicken and vegetables.
What makes this soup different from many other versions of chicken soup is that Caldo de pollo uses whole chicken pieces instead of chopped or shredded chicken. Other differences are that the vegetables are usually of a heartier cut. Potato halves, not cubes, are used, and whole leaves of cabbage are added.

A typical recipe for Caldo De Pollo will include the following: water, chicken pieces (drumsticks, breasts, thighs), sliced carrots, sliced celery, potato halves, corn on the cob, diced tomato, sliced onion, minced cilantro, cabbage, and garlic. While it is common to eat Caldo De Pollo plain, most add lemon juice or hot sauce. Some recipes call for cubed avocado added just before eating. Caldo De Pollo can also be served with hot corn tortillas. In Mexico it is also common to add steamed or boiled rice in the same bowl while serving, specially at fondas. In the rest of latin American countries is called sopa de pollo and not caldo which means only broth. Read more here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldo_de_pollo


Caldo de siete mares (in English, "seven seas soup"), also known as caldo de mariscos ("seafood soup") is a Mexican version of fish stew,[1] popular in coastal regions in Mexico.[2] It is typically made with chicken, tomato, fish, or seafood broth with local fresh seafood ingredients and, like other Mexican soups, cooked quickly in a thin broth.[2]  Read More Here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldo_de_siete_mares  

The burnished Caldo de 7 Mares—“soup of the 7 seas”—comes to the table, bristling with antennas, spiky fins and claws. Plump langostinos crowd the peppery red-gold broth alongside small shrimp, succulent crab claws, mussels in the shell, and a meaty tilapia head. The fish and shellfish are sweet and fresh, the sopa de mariscos is briny, spiked with tomato and a touch of hot chile. No aioli, of course, but who cares when you’re eating an authentically delicious seafood soup that’s come almost a thousand miles from home? http://www.spicelines.com/2007/08/local_flavors_at_taqueria_lope.htm

 This gorgeous photo is from Spice Lines, check them out!!

Menudo is usually eaten with tortillas or other breads, such as bolillo. It is often chilled and reheated, which causes a more concentrated flavor. The popularity of menudo in Mexico is such that Mexico is a major export market for stomach tripe from US and Canadian beef producers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menudo_%28soup%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menudo_%28soup%29

The soup menudo is a traditional Mexican dish, made with beef stomach in a clear broth or with a red chili base (this variation is called menudo colorado). Usually, lime, chopped onions, and chopped cilantro are added, as well as crushed oregano and crushed red chili peppers. Boiled tripe has a tough chewy texture very similar to calamari, but with a completely unique flavor and smell.



Pozole (Nahuatl: potzolli, which means "foamy"; variant spellings: pozsole, pozolé, pozolli, posole)[1][2] is a ritually significant, traditional pre-Columbian soup or stew from Mexico. Pozole was mentioned in Fray Bernardino de Sahagún's "General History of the Things of New Spain" circa 1500 CE. It is made from nixtamalized cacahuazintle corn,[1] with meat, usually pork, chicken, turkey, pork rinds, chili pepper, and other seasonings and garnish.[3] Vegetarian and vegan versions also exist. After colonization by the Spaniards, the ingredients of pozole changed, but the staple corn remained. It is a typical dish in various states such as Sinaloa, Michoacán, Guerrero, Jalisco, Morelos, México and Distrito Federal. Pozole is often served in Mexican restaurants in the American Southwest.

Here's a cool video of people in Chicago serving Mexican Food. How to eat Pozole!


Zucchini Soup Recipe
The Zucchini Soup is a classic Mexican soup. It is a combination of wonderful ingredients like zucchini , onion. A healthy appetizer, the soup is truly refreshing. Enjoy a wonderful culinary adventure that is sure to have a delicious ending.
http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/zucchini_soup_0
Zucchini Soup

submitted by John04 at ifood.tv

Avocado Soup
http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/mexico/avocsoup.html 

Avocado Soup (Sopa de Aguacate)

3 ripe avocados, peeled

1/4 cup cream
3 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon dry sherry
Salt
White pepper
In a blender, purée avocado with cream and 1 cup of broth; set aside. In a saucepan, bring the remaining 2 cups of stock to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the puréed avocados. Season the soup with sherry, salt and pepper to taste.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Tortilla_Soup 



What Are Some Mexican Soups -Best Easy Mexican Recipes.com http://besteasymexicanrecipes.com

Tortilla soup is a usually reddish to orange colored soup with a spicy and rich flavor. Tortilla soup tastes as if it lacks something at first, but the tortilla chips, although slightly broken, make a good complement to the texture and substance of the soup. As for the avocado, it does not contribute as much flavor, since it is masked by the other ingredients. The cheese adds a delicious and distinct flavor and makes little gooey chunks as it melts slowly on the soup. With these ingredients together, they can complement each other very well. You can add the lime, but sometimes the difference it unnoticeable.

Tortilla soup recipes are quite simple to follow, and people tend to mix and match the ingredients according to their own tastes. Tortilla soups are like enchilada soups with tortilla chips and bits of chicken. Tortilla soup recipes require a short amount of time to prepare, and they are good for people who love the spicy parts of life. Whether or not you wish to add a bit of chili to it is entirely up to you. Make sure to try it on a cold morning, which is when its true flavor is appreciated. Here is an example of a tortilla soup recipe that you can make and enjoy to serve to your family and friends:

Ingredients:

• 6 dried out corn tortillas (preferably 6 inches)
• 1 chopped small onion
• 1 can of undrained diced tomatoes
• 1 ripe avocado
• ¼ cup grapeseed or peanut oil
• 2 finely chopped cloves of garlic
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• ½ teaspoon coarse salt
• Chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 seeded medium Anaheim, Poblano or Jalapeño chili, (remove veins and chop)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 ½ cups of shredded cooked chicken


Tortilla Mexican Soup

submitted by chefallen at ifood.tv

Read the rest here http://www.besteasymexicanrecipes.com/tortilla-soup-recipe.php




Mexican Black Bean Soup
http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Mexican_Black_Bean_Soup

Mexican Corn Soup
http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Mexican_Corn_Soup

Mexican Butternut Squash Soup
http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Mexican_Butternut_Squash_Soup


74 Mexican Bean Soup Recipes from 20 Cooking Websites
http://www.recipebridge.com/recipes/q-mexican-bean-soup-recipes.html

The Fun Theory!!





Escalator vs Stairs-
Watch what happens when they try to make stairs more exciting & fun!! ;)
They call it The Fun Theory!!

Solstice Yoga Center -Zipolite Oaxaca Mexico






http://www.solstice-mexico.com/index.php




Take a personal journey into self-renewal when you join Brigitte at the Solstice Yoga Center in the La Loma Linda resort located in the charming beach village of Zipolite on the sun-splashed Pacific Coast of Mexico.

The warm winds, bright sun and the rhythm of the waves encourage relaxation. On the Oaxaca Coast (also known as the Costa Chica) you'll find clean water, golden sands and a place where people still have time.




The beautiful 1.5 km stretch of pale sand called Zipolite is fabled as southern Mexico's perfect place to lay back --- a magical combination of pounding sea and sun."
-- Lonely Planet, Mexico

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Rock & Roll!! Pirate Radio! The Boat that Rocked!













In honor of Zipolite & Bucerias, and all the great Rock & Roll we listened to in Mexico, and all the other great music in Mexico. It's only Rock & Roll, but we like it, like it, yes we do!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boat_That_Rocked

For the soundtrack album, see The Boat That Rocked (soundtrack).
The Boat That Rocked, four men walking the plank, Theatrical release poster
Directed by Richard Curtis,
Produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Hilary Bevan Jones
Written by Richard Curtis
Starring Tom Sturridge,Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Talulah Riley, Chris O'Dowd, Rhys Darby,Ralph Brown, Jack Davenport, Kenneth Branagh, Cinematography Danny Cohen
Editing by Emma E. Hickox
Studio StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Distributed by Universal Pictures
Focus Features, Release date(s) 1 April 2009 (2009-04-01) (United Kingdom)
13 November 2009 (2009-11-13) (United States), Running time 135 minutes (UK)[1],116 minutes (US)
Country United Kingdom,Germany,United States,France,Language English
Budget over GB£30 million, Gross revenue $36,348,784[2]

The Boat That Rocked (retitled Pirate Radio in North America) is a 2009 British comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis, with a story based on pirate radio in the United Kingdom during the 1960s and an ensemble cast featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, and Kenneth Branagh. Set in 1966, the film tells the story of the fictitious pirate radio station "Radio Rock" and its crew of eclectic disc jockeys, who broadcast rock and pop music to the United Kingdom from a ship anchored in the North Sea while the British government endeavors to shut them down. It was produced by Working Title Films for Universal Pictures and was filmed on the Isle of Portland and at Shepperton Studios.

The film opened 1 April 2009 and was a commercial failure at the British box office, making only GB£6.1 million in its first twelve weeks, less than a quarter of its over £30 million production cost. It received mixed reviews, with most criticism directed at its muddled storyline and 2¼-hour length. For its North American release it was re-edited to trim its running time by twenty minutes, and retitled Pirate Radio. Opening 13 November 2009, Pirate Radio was still commercially unsuccessful, earning only about US$8 million (approximately £5 million).

"Well maybe it didn't do well at the box office, but I really liked it!!"

Plot
In 1966, numerous pirate radio stations broadcast to the United Kingdom from ships anchored in international waters, specializing in rock and pop music that is not played on BBC Radio. Seventeen year-old Carl (Tom Sturridge), recently expelled from school, is sent to stay with his godfather Quentin (Bill Nighy), who runs the station "Radio Rock" anchored in the North Sea. The eclectic crew of disc jockeys and staffers, led by brash American DJ "The Count" (Philip Seymour Hoffman), quickly accept Carl as one of their own. "Doctor" Dave (Nick Frost) attempts to help him lose his virginity, but the plan goes awry and results in embarrassment for Carl.


In London, government minister Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) resolves to shut down pirate radio stations due to their commercialism and low morals, instructing his subordinate Twatt (Jack Davenport) to find legal loopholes that will serve this end.

They attempt to cut off the stations' revenue by prohibiting British businesses from advertising on unlicensed radio stations. Quentin counters this by bringing massively popular DJ Gavin Kavanagh (Rhys Ifans) out of retirement and onto Radio Rock, enticing his advertisers to work around the law by paying their bills from abroad.

Gavin's popularity creates a rivalry between himself and The Count.
On his eighteenth birthday Carl is introduced to Quentin's niece Marianne (Talulah Riley) and falls instantly in love with her, but is heartbroken when she is seduced by Doctor Dave. Carl's roommate "Thick" Kevin (Tom Brooke) observes that the sex, drug, and alcohol-filled atmosphere of Radio Rock is clearly no place for Carl to get on the straight-and-narrow.

He theorizes that the real reason Carl's mother sent him there is that his father—whom Carl has never met—is someone on the ship, with Quentin being the likeliest suspect.
DJ "Simple" Simon Stafford (Chris O'Dowd) marries Elenore (January Jones) in an onboard ceremony, but soon learns that she only married him as a means to live on the ship and be with Gavin, with whom she is infatuated.

The Count challenges Gavin to a game of chicken in defense of Simon's honor: The two DJs climb one of the ship's radio masts in a clash of egos, reconciling after they are both injured by jumping into the ocean below. Marianne returns and apologizes to Carl for sleeping with Doctor Dave, and she and Carl have sex.

When Carl's mother Charlotte (Emma Thompson) visits for Christmas, she denies his suspicion that Quentin is his father. As she departs, Carl passes on a cryptic message from reclusive late-night DJ "Smooth" Bob Silver (Ralph Brown), leading to the unexpected revelation that Bob is actually his father.

Meanwhile, Dormandy's mission to ban pirate radio advances when Twatt comes across news of a fishing boat whose distress call was blocked by Radio Rock's powerful signal. Twatt proposes the creation of the Marine Offences Act, which will make pirate radio stations illegal on the grounds that they endanger other vessels.

Despite public opinion being heavily in support of the pirate stations, the Act passes unanimously through Parliament and takes effect at midnight on 1 January 1967. The Radio Rock crew choose to defy the law and continue to broadcast, firing up the ship's engine so that they may avoid arrest by relocating.
 ,
The aging vessel cannot take the strain, however: the engine explodes and the ship begins to sink. The DJs broadcast their position in hope of aid, but Dormandy refuses to send rescue boats. Carl rescues the oblivious Bob from his cabin while The Count vows to continue broadcasting as long as possible. With the lifeboats inoperable, the crew gathers on the prow as the ship sinks.

They are rescued by dozens of fans who have heard their broadcast and sailed out to save them; Carl himself is rescued by Marianne. The Radio Rock ship disappears beneath the sea, with The Count emerging from the sinking vessel at the last moment. Though pirate radio in Britain comes to an end, the music lives on, with rock and pop becoming increasingly popular in subsequent decades.

Ponyo- We LOVE Ponyo!!







Watching Ponyo again! Everyone should watch this movie! It's fantastic! Has such wonderful messages! Powerful!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponyo

onyo (崖の上のポニョ, Gake no Ue no Ponyo?, literally "Ponyo on the Cliff"), initially titled in English as Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, is a 2008 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. It is Miyazaki's eighth film for Ghibli, and his tenth overall. The plot centers on a goldfish named Ponyo who befriends a five-year-old human boy, Sōsuke, and wants to become a human girl.

The film has won several awards, including the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.[2] It was released in Japan on July 19, 2008, August 14, 2009 in the US and Canada and February 12, 2010 in the UK.[3] The film reached #9 in the U.S. box office charts for its opening weekend

The plot centers on a fish-girl who lives in an aquarium in her father's underwater castle with numerous smaller sisters. When her father takes her and her siblings on an outing in his four-flippered submarine, Ponyo is driven by a desire to see even more of the world and floats away on the back of a jellyfish. She ends up stranded on the shore of a small fishing town and is rescued by a boy named Sōsuke, who cuts his finger in the process. She licks his wound when he picks her up, and the wound heals almost instantly. After taking a great liking to her, Sōsuke names her Ponyo and promises to protect her forever. Meanwhile, her father, Fujimoto, is looking for his daughter. Upset that she ran away, he believes the humans have now kidnapped her, and he calls his wave spirits to return Ponyo to him. After the wave spirits take Ponyo away,Sōsuke is heartbroken and goes home with his mother, Lisa, who tries to cheer him up to no avail.

Ponyo and her father have a confrontation, during which Ponyo refuses to let her father call her by her birthname, "Brunhilde." She declares her name to be Ponyo and voices her desire to become human, because she has started to fall in love with Sōsuke. Suddenly she starts to grow legs and turn into a human, a consequence of the human blood she swallowed when she licked Sōsuke's finger. Her father turns her back with difficulty and goes to summon Ponyo's mother. Meanwhile, Ponyo, with the help of her sisters, breaks away from her father and releases his magic to make herself human. The huge amount of magic released into the ocean causes an imbalance in the world, resulting in a huge tsunami. Riding on the waves of the storm, Ponyo goes back to visit Sōsuke. Lisa, Sōsuke, and Ponyo wait out the storm at Sōsuke's house, and the next morning Lisa leaves to check up on the residents of the nursing home where she works.

Granmamare, Ponyo's mother, arrives at Fujimoto's submarine. On her way there, Sōsuke's father has seen and recognized her as the Goddess of Mercy. Fujimoto notices the moon has come out of its orbit and satellites are falling like shooting stars. Granmamare declares that if Sōsuke can pass a test, Ponyo can live as a human and the world order will be restored. If he fails, Ponyo will turn into sea foam. Sōsuke and Ponyo wake up to find that most of the land around the house has been covered by the ocean. Lisa has not come home yet, so with the help of Ponyo's magic, they make Sōsuke's toy boat life-size and set out to find Lisa.

While traveling they see prehistoric fish swimming beneath them. After landing and finding Lisa's empty car, Ponyo and Sōsuke go through a tunnel. There Ponyo loses her human form and reverts into a fish. Sōsuke and Ponyo are taken by Fujimoto into the ocean and down to the protected nursing home where they are reunited with Lisa and meet Granmamare, both of whom have just had a long private conversation. Granmamare asks Sōsuke if he can love Ponyo whether she is a fish or human. Sōsuke replies that he "loves all the Ponyos." Granmamare then allows Ponyo to become human once Sōsuke kisses her on the surface. The film ends with Ponyo jumping up and kissing Sosuke, transforming into a little girl in mid-air.