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Gargoyle: Web Interface for Router ConfigurationJul 17, 2009
The Gargoyle project is working on an alternative web interface for better router configuration. The project has now reached its first stable version 1.0.more »
Open PC: Taylor-Made Linux HardwareJul 13, 2009
KDE developer Frank Karlitschek announced the launch of the Open PC Project at the Gran Canaria Desktop Summit. Goal of the project is to assemble a PC fit for optimal use of Linux and free software.more »
Linksys Linux-Based WRT160NL RouterJul 01, 2009
The Linux router WRT54GL from Cisco subsidiary Linksys wrote part of the history of open source a few years ago. Now its WRT160NL WLAN successor is ready to step up to the plate.more »
Device Tricks Intro Techniques for working with devices in LinuxJul 01, 2009
Linux is getting much better at managing devices, and the versatility of open source software leads to some interesting innovations.more »
LinuxTag 2009: Better Bad Drivers than NoneJun 29, 2009
In the conference's traditional "Kernel Kwestioning" seminar this year in Berlin, 11 kernel developers addressed questions from the public. The result was that the panel of experts invited the entire community to send Linux drivers to the kernel mailing list, quality notwithstanding.more »
NVIDIA Eschews Android and Linux, Prefers Windows for TegraJun 21, 2009
NVIDIA sees itself obliged to openly announce its preference for Windows CE for its new Tegra platform. This news alone would be suspicious if it weren't for the graphics chipmaker's not so subtle dig at Android and Linux.more »
Ubuntu 9.04 Server Certified on HP ProLiant G6Jun 18, 2009
Hewlett-Packard and the Canonical Linux firm have announced certification of the Ubuntu 9.04 Server Edition on HP's ProLiant G6 server family.more »
New Atom CPU: First DetailsJun 12, 2009
The new netbook processor from Intel is the N450, its I/O handled by the NM10 controller chipset. The CPU under the codename Pine Trail should be released in October 2009.more »
Issue 168/2014
Buy this issue as a PDF
Tag Cloud
Mozilla Labs Shuts Down
Mozilla's product think tank sinks silently into history.
Internet Giants Launch Collaboration to Improve Open Source
TODO group will focus on open source tools in large-scale environments.
Fedora Announces New Partition Manager App
New tool will look like GParted but support a wider range of storage technologies.
Mozilla Releases a New Firefox
New public key pinning feature will help prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
Tool Predicts Which Websites Will be Compromised
Carnegie Mellon researchers say 3 million pages could fall down the phishing hole in the next year.
SSH Key Management Guidelines
The US government rolls new best-practice rules for protecting SSH.
Knoppix 7.4 Released
Klaus Knopper announces the latest version of his iconic Live Linux system.
PHP Attack Puts WordPress and Drupal at Risk
All websites that use these popular CMS tools could be vulnerable to denial of service attacks if users don't install the updates.
Heartbleed Bleeds On
According to a report, many potential victims of the Heartbleed attack have patched their systems, but few have cleaned up the crime scene to protect themselves from the effects of a previous intrusion.
Drone Brain Goes Open Source
DARPA and NICTA release the code for the ultra-secure microkernel system used in aerial drones.


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How Something You've Never Heard Of Is Changing Your World | TechCrunch
CES: Green Plug plugs digital, efficient power supply | CNET
"Most of the devices on display this year [at the Consumer Electronics Show] are not electronic islands. Nearly everything is a little computer that wants to seek out and connect to other computerized devices, no matter who makes them. Then they will send your music, photos and video around your home, and get even more from the Internet."


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It appears Alistair Overeem's fate for UFC 146 will be decided on April 24 at a hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
According to Keith Kizer, Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Overeem filed his application for a fight license last week, but because of a positive drug test returned for elevated levels of testosterone, he will have to appear before the commission to receive consideration for his application.
More MMA
Kizer also confirmed that as of now, neither Overeem nor his representation have requested that the "B" sample, taken in conjunction with the commission's out of competition testing, be tested prior to the meeting.
Overeem's "A" sample tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone coming back at a 14 to 1 ratio.
Now the former K-1 Grand Prix champion will have to appear before the commission on April 24 to request a license for his fight against Junior dos Santos at UFC 146.
The commission can then decide if they will grant him a license for the fight, or if they find grounds to deny the license based on the drug test results, it could end up with Overeem being unable to apply for another license in Nevada for a year.
The commission hearing will start at 9 a.m. PT on April 24 and that will be the time Overeem's license will be decided upon by the commission.
MMAWeekly.com will have full coverage of the hearing on April 24 as it happens.
Follow @DamonMartin on Twitter or e-mail Damon Martin.
For more UFC News and UFC Rumors, follow MMAWeekly.com on Twitter and Facebook.
So pretty much Overeem is out of the picture.
Who should take his place?
Bring Brock back! Feed him to JDS!
Bring Sergei Kharitonov to the UFC and make him fight JDS.
Segei hasn't done anything to earn the shot. But at this point, JDS needs an opponent.
We can feed JDS Tim Hague, Keith Jardine or other tomato cans. But I am not sure if that would be all that interesting. In fact, it would be cruel for the cans.
Sergei is no can. He has wins over Werdum and Overeem. He is a strong puncher and a boxer too.
JDS might as well just wait for the winner of Mir and Cain, nobody else really makes any sense as far as "earning" a title shot.
I thought the UFC wants to have JDS fight on the card. Otherwise, Mir vs Cain would be the main event.
No one truly deserves a title shot at this point.
But some deserve more than others. However, Cain Velasquez just came off of a loss to JDS.
Mir makes sense but Dana said no.
Barnett is tied up in SF tourney under contract with Showtime.
And no one (that is, no one note worthy) who is currently slated to fight someone in the next two months or has fought someone in the last two months would step up to fight JDS.
And no, Fedor will not take this on short notice and UFC will not sign Fedor.
That is why I tossed Sergei. He deserves the title probably less than any of the people you had in mind. But he is currently not scheduled to fight anyone, he is decorated enough for the fight to make some sense, and given his current situation, he is most likely going to welcome the opportunity.
LOL, you said no then go on to completely prove my point!
LOL..you need to learn how to read dude.
You said, "JDS might as well just wait for the winner of Mir and Cain [because nobody is entitled to a title shot]."
I said, "No [he should not wait but fight Sergei]."
Even though you yourself said he deserves it less than anybody else? COMPLETELY PROVING MY POINT, LOL
What part of my original post did you not understand then? I said nobody else should fight JDS as far as "earning" the shot then you completely go on to prove my point. I only wrote 2 little lines and you think I need to learn to read?
Lot of legalese is about to be thrown at the NSAC. I've been saying it from day 1.
Nick Diaz's marijuana appeal and the Overeem PED controversy, this is going to be one of the most entertaining commission meetings eva! Hope someone streams it.
Not sure if OVereem's meeting this month is what you have in mind.
He is applying for a license. They are going to ask him only simple questions and deny the license.
He might appeal. That is where legalese will be thrown.
If you say so.
U r an MMA groupie.
How about Dan Severn? He'll take any fight anytime.
what is a tomato can? You have to give this fight to werdum he is the only one available. I know he hasn't earned it however he put more of a beating on big country than Dos Santos. Also he got knocked out of ufc by Dos Santos. I just hope Dos Santos fights someone.
I think that Werdum has his heart set on fighting in Brazil.
I think that the only compelling match up that the UFC could sell would be dos Santos vs. Hendo. This is an unlikely possibility but at this point, who else are they going to throw in that would carry as much star power. As much as I`d love to see Hunt get the shot (granted, very undeserving), only a small group of people would be interested in that and I`m sure that the day after Dana announced it, Google would have a a new name in the "suggestions" list.
It is not all about who deserves to fight JDS. It is about who makes the most sense in terms of skills AND promotion.
Cain is obviously the highest ranked fighter available. But from promotional perspective, he is not a good replacement.
Mir would be second highest AND does make some promotional sense (although that means Cain vs Mir would disappear). But Dana said no.
Werdum would be right below Mir in terms of ranking. So in that sense he is a good replacement. But he is slated to fight someone else at this point AND I highly doubt he wants to face JDS on such short notice. JDS to Werdum is like Brock to Mir, an opponent that sapped his manhood.
I think Werdum would take a title fight over just fighting in Brazil. Would be stupid not to.
I really think Jon Jones is gonna get the fight if he can win w/out gettin injured against Evans…I don't think anybody could complain about that not being a good enough replacement but we'll have to wait for that special announcement til right after his next fight
Jones is the 205 champ, why would he move to HW?
Eventually I might move up for various reasons. First, he is a tall 205er so as his body grows (remember he is only 24 or 25) cutting weight might be difficult or unhealthy. Second, being a LHW champion means you are the best LHW. It does not carry the same weight as a HW belt which means that you are the baddest man on the planet.
Any fighter would love to prove that he is not only the best fighter in his division but also the baddest man on the planet.
The three best I think if Mir can't would be to bring Chadd Griggs from Strikeforce, he's a gamer, no star power but would put on a good fight. Gonzaga who has a loss to JDS but is coming off a win and could be built up a bit as a former champ or Pat Berry. He may not be a deserving fighter, none are, but he would make it a good fight and people like him.
Griggs has already been brought over and is fighting Travis Browne at UFC 145.
This card is effed. They either shelf jds, making the card cable worthy but not ppv worthy without a belt on the line. Or they give someone totally unworthy a title shot. Sucks either way and the reem is a cock.
Bus, just move him back one card. he gets another 3 weeks to prepare and no one would notice the change and I am sure the UFC can find someone to step up on short notice to fight Browne.
Maybe someone can explain this to me. Nate Marquard tested w/ high levels of testosterone prior to his fight and was not suspended. The powers told him to bring it down before his fight physical or there would be an issue. When he failed to do so, he was pulled from the fight. Granted he was on TRT–Why cant Overeem claim he was also on TRT, his Dr. screwed up his dosage, and he will have it under the required standard prior to his fight physical–I realize 14 to 1 is twice the allowed ratio, but provided its under the allowed amount at his physical, there should not be a problem–Marquard would have been good to fight if he lowered his dosage prior to his fight physical, so why cant Overeem have the same opportunity–He has over a month to bring his levels in check-give the man the opportunity to do so –Everyone wants to see this fight–dont blow this over some B.S technicality–I could give a sh#t if Overeem used a lil bit of test prior to his fight. Despite what all you know it all key board warriors belive EVERYONE is using something to help them perform better.–Im 99% sure JDS is doing the same damn thing–Let them fight!
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State bureau ups Blaine's fire safety rating
Published on Wed, Aug 15, 2012 by
Jeremy Schwartz
Read More
Blaine residents and business owners could see a decrease in their fire insurance premiums after North Whatcom Fire and Rescue officials (NWFR) reported improvements in the city's fire rating.
After months of in-depth analysis into NWFR's personnel, equipment and operations, the
Washington Surveying and Ratings Bureau
has improved Blaine's fire rating from six to four, NWFR fire chief Ron Anderson said. The rating is on a scale from one to 10, with one representing a community with something similar to one fully staffed fire station every few blocks and 10 being an area with no fire protection, Anderson explained.
"In Blaine's case, it's pretty substantial to drop two full classifications," Anderson said.
The new fire rating takes effect on December 1 of this year. Speaking at the August 13 Blaine City Council meeting, Anderson said the new rating could potentially lower resident and business owner fire insurance premiums by 5 to 10 percent, though he was wary of giving exact figures.
More NWFR full-time personnel added to stations in the Blaine area and upgrades in the city's water system are the main reasons for the improvement, Anderson said. Blaine's fire department, for example, was mainly staffed by volunteers until a series of district mergers culminating in the current NWFR makeup allowed more full-time firefighters to be stationed in Blaine.
"Each one of the mergers has brought new assets to the table," Anderson said.
During the rating process, which occurs every 10 years, the state surveying and ratings bureau scrutinizes all aspects of a fire district's operations, including number of stations, personnel and fire engines and equipment. Ratings officials also test fire hoses, hydrants and other components of a district's water supply, which Anderson said is responsible for 50 percent of a district's score.
"It's a very in-depth look at your fire department," Anderson said.
Anderson cited water supply as one of the main reasons NWFR's districtwide rating did not improve from a five. The district covers an extensive rural area in central Whatcom County near Lynden, and Anderson said the water supply is not as reliable out there as it is in the Blaine and Birch Bay areas.
"You can have the best fire department in the world, but if you don't have water supply, it doesn't do any good," Anderson said.
Ratings officials also found an issue with the amount of time NWFR firefighters spend traveling to emergencies, Anderson said. The district has 13 stations in its coverage area, with four of them staffed 24 hours a day, two part-time and the remainder staffed by volunteers.
Anderson said ratings officials did not count five of the NWFR stations in the district's score because they felt the stations did not have sufficient fire crews responding from them. NWFR has until the rating becomes final on December 1 to show sufficient personnel can respond from these stations, and Anderson said he was confident district staff will be able to do that.
Even though the entire district, which also covers the Birch Bay area, did not see a rating improvement, Anderson said the current rating and the city of Blaine's upgrade are numbers to be proud of.
"There's far more positive coming out of this rating than negative," he said.


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Well I have been working on this all day. I hope you all like it. I searched around and could not find this so I decided to make my own. This is really my first project that I spent more than an hour to do, heck I spent about 7 hours.
Click around, entertain yourself.
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This took a lot of effort : )
As a part of a previously mentioned test protocol, we can no longer lie to you. We will stop enhancing the truth in 3....2....1.....
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...no my friend you are a lie
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is there any way for you to send me all the wav files please XD i kinda want to make a movie and i would credit you for the sounds if you can send them . kthxbai
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I love it Can You Add The Other Cores Please Also i love the Easter Egg !


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Gift Guide: For Spirits Imbibers and Cocktail Lovers
There's no guarantee you'll find the perfect gift idea here, but as a spirits writer and cocktail enthusiast, I can say from experience that introducing drinks and bar items into the gift options usually makes people pretty happy. From basic bar tools to artisan syrups to just a damn good bottle of scotch, here are seven gift for the imbibers on your list.
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Amarillo, TX - Aristotle once said, "It is not enough to win a war - it is more important to organize the peace." But our congressional leaders are saying a war in Syria is likely unwinnable, and lasting peace is likely unattainable.
In a special address Tuesday (Sept. 10), President Obama presented his argument for American intervention in Syria on both moral and logistical grounds.
He says the U.S. has an ethical responsibility to step in, and that doing nothing would ultimately threaten our own national security.
"The facts cannot be denied," stated Obama. "The question now is what the United States of America, and the international community, is prepared to do about it. Because what happened to those people -- to those children -- is not only a violation of international law, it's also a danger to our security."
Russia has proposed allowing Syrian President Bashir al-Assad to voluntarily relinquish his chemical stockpile to be destroyed by international agencies.
In a June interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was not taking sides with any country, but rather upholding international laws.
"We're not defending the current Syrian government - we're defending other things entirely," said Putin. "We're defending the principles and norms of international law. We're defending the current world order. We're defending the rule that even the possibility of using force must be discussed within the framework of existing world order and international law."
Representative Mac Thornberry just released a statement today, voicing his opposition to intervention and skepticism of Putin's proposal. Here is an excerpt from that statement:
"I cannot support the President's request for Congress to authorize the use of military force in Syria. I am extremely doubtful that the Russian offer to put Syria's chemical weapons under international control is genuine or even possible. But regardless of the outcome of that offer, I am concerned that the Administration does not have a clear, obtainable military plan to advance effectively the national security interests of the United States."
As of this writing, 295 members of Congress have expressed their opposition to U.S. involvement in Syria, with only 49 in favor of it.
You can find the full transcript of Obama's speech along with more background information at the links attached to this story.


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I've seen several ancient ruins during my years living in Mexico: Chichen Itza, Tulum, Yobain, Ek Balam, Palenque and Lamanai (ok, that last one is in Belize). When people ask me which one was my favorite, I always think hard about it and come up with the same answer: "They're all… so beautiful in their own way!" Chichen Itza is amazing in its importance and scientific details. Tulum has the best location on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean. Yobain is so tiny and unknown that it feels as if it belongs to a select few of us. Ek Balam is secluded and has the best buildings to climb. Palenque has a striking contrast of dark gray stone and lush green, and you can explore inside the temples. Lamanai has incredible views and is fun to get to. During my recent trip to Oaxaca with Mexico Today, I jumped at the chance to see the Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban. I'd heard of it before and seen a few pictures, but nothing could have prepared me for how beautiful it really was. Set atop a carved-out mountain, the site stunned me with its… immenseness. I'm not sure if it's bigger than Chichen Itza or Palenque, but it sure LOOKS bigger. From several vantage points you can see the entire site, with towering mountains in the background. Definitely one of the most surreal and awe-inspiring things I've seen. Our guides throughout the trip were from El Convento Tours. I highly recommend them if you're ever in Oaxaca! The company belongs to the Martinez family… who will forever live on in my heart as some of the best storytellers I've ever met. (If you get the chance to meet them, ask to hear about the "rebozo". Trust me.) We took a van up into the mountains, less than half an hour from our hotel. Once there, it was a steep but surprisingly easy walk up to the museum, where our guide Ulises gave us a fascinating tour, talking about Zapotec customs (sacrifices, pottery, writing and friezes) and beauty secrets (flat foreheads, crossed eyes and pointy teeth embedded with jewels, sexy!). Then we made our way up to the ruins. Filled with temples, stairs, plazas, a ball court, an area for human sacrifice and breathaking views, Monte Alban is truly an unforgettable site. So where does Monte Alban stand on my list of favorite ruins? I'd say it's tied for first with all the rest. Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the Mexico Today Program. I was also invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Oaxaca as part of my role. All stories, opinions and passion for all things Mexico shared here are completely my own.
I remember my first taste of agua de horchata. I was living in Acapulco and I stopped by a little neighborhood cafe with a girlfriend. She told me it was a refreshing drink made with rice, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar. This piqued my curiosity because I had a hard time understanding how rice… could be refreshing. The waitress set a glass down in front of me filled with what looked like milk with a slight beige tint. I took a sip, and my love affair with aguas frescas was born.
Aguas frescas roughly translates to "refreshing waters" in Spanish. They're delicious drinks with a water and sugar base, infused with fruits, cereals (like rice or wheat), or even flowers. You can find them at any food establishment throughout Mexico, whether it's a taco stand or a five-star restaurant, and they provide an incredible alternative to water or soda.
My friend Leslie Limon is also a huge fan of aguas frescas. She's a beautiful American woman raising a family in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. (Oh, who am I kidding? She's practically Mexican!) On her blog, La Cocina de Leslie, she posts mouthwatering Mexican recipes, including aguas frescas.
Since she is so much more talented than I am in the kitchen (ahem), I'll share some of my favorite recipes from her blog…
Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Water) Leslie refers to this drink as part of the "aguas frescas trinity" (Jamaica, Horchata and Tamarindo, the three flavors you're sure to find everywhere in Mexico). It's a personal favorite… very refreshing and made from dried hibiscus flowers. Talk about exotic!
Agua de Pepino (Cucumber Limeade) I tried this for the first time at theMexico Today Kick-Off Event in Oaxaca. I just wish I'd discovered it sooner! I prefer mine with extra lime.
Agua de Sandia (Watermelon Water) No explanation needed for this one! Just as refreshing as it sounds.
(Leslie, you're missing my favorite! I'd love to see your recipe for agua de melon.)
During my trip to Oaxaca, a few of us also got to experience an aguas frescastasting with the city's famous Aguas Casilda. They set up a table offering clay pots of refreshing drinks, then combined them to make unique flavors.
They offered us different combinations of tuna (aka pitaya), horchata, lime, and even pumpkin. The pumkin water didn't look too appetizing, but trust me, it was delicious!
It was an incredible experience to taste these incredibly fresh aguas frescas. If you want to learn more about different flavors, you can check out Aguas Casilda's website by clicking on the button (Make sure to click on the "Sabores" tab to see everything they offer… pretty impressive!)
Next time you're in a restaurant in Mexico, make sure to ask, "Qué aguas tienes?"
Have you ever tried any aguas frescas? What's your favorite flavor?(Mine is agua de melon… canteloupe water!)
Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the Mexico Today Program. I was also invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Oaxaca as part of my role. All stories, opinions and passion for all things Mexico shared here are completely my own.
We're really pleased about where some Mexican government agencies are heading with their regulatory improvements. Since time immemorial, industry associations and analysts have intoned about the cost to the economy of excessive regulatory red tape. This can be particularly vexing… for inexperienced exporters to Mexico.
We're really pleased about where some Mexican government agencies are heading with their regulatory improvements. Since time immemorial, industry associations and analysts have intoned about the cost to the economy of excessive regulatory red tape. This can be particularly vexing for inexperienced exporters to Mexico who may be unfamiliar with some of the more arcane requirements for the importation and sale of their products in the country. We touched on one such confusing regulatory situation recently here. In any case, on July 13, 2011 authorities announced welcome modifications to import requirements for certain medical and health care products.
Currently, a wide range of products are classified by the Mexican government as "medical devices," and as such they are required to be registered with the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risk (Cofepris) before they may be imported for resale. This has meant that a gauze sponge was subject to the same detailed requirements as, for example, a remote controlled radionuclide applicator system. Under the new system, 1,700 products will no longer be classified as "medical devices" and therefore will no longer require the registro sanitario or sanitary registration with Cofepris.
But wait, as they say, there's more:
Products still classified as medical devices but designated as "low-risk" will now be subject to a simplified sanitary registration. The low-risk designation will include products such as diagnostic agents, hygiene products, bandages and some dental materials, according to Cofepris.
So we were about to put our remote controlled radionuclide applicator system in a box and ship it to Mexico, when we realized we still had two big questions: 1) When do the new rules go into effect, and 2) what products are in each of the new classifications? And the answer is, it's hard to tell. Cofepris said the definitive list of products that will no longer require sanitary registration will be published on their web site "in August," so hopefully when the list is posted it will indicate the date on which the regulatory change goes (or went) into effect. For the moment, several helpful pieces of information are provided here, such as the current requirements and guidelines for obtaining a sanitary registration, classification of products by degree of sanitary risk, and a list of products that do not require sanitary registration. For an overview of the sanitary registration process in English prepared by the U.S. commercial service, go here.
Cofepris estimates that the revised regs will save consumers approximately 240 million dollars. We're not sure how they came up with that number, but if they save consumers 240 million pesos we'll consider ourselves well served, and especially relieved for the importers and exporters who can benefit from the new rules. Cofepris also announced it has signed an agreement with the Federal Regulatory Improvement Commission (Cofemer) to collaborate and exchange information in order for Cofemer to evaluate Cofepris's regulations and procedures with an eye toward recommending further improvements. We promise we'll respect federal agencies more if they keep making changes that help those of us in trade get our business done faster and more cheaply. Well played, sirs!
Much wringing of hands is done in Mexico over the country's excessive dependence on the United States as the primary market for its exports. With good reason: For years now, the United States has accounted for over 80% of Mexico's goods exports. In boom times, Mexico makes… hay while the sun shines.
Much wringing of hands is done in Mexico over the country's excessive dependence on the United States as the primary market for its exports. With good reason: For years now, the United States has accounted for over 80% of Mexico's goods exports. In boom times, Mexico makes hay while the sun shines. But when the U.S. economy tanks, like it did in a big way in 2009, Mexico suffers severely. The Mexican government has aggressively pursued trade pacts elsewhere around the world in the hope that local exporters would follow through with enthusiasm in exploring new markets. It seems to us, though, that Mexican exporters overall have shown little thirst for adventure in foreign lands. But maybe, with the U.S. economy still slow to gain strength after the long recession, new opportunities are beginning to capture the attention of more Mexican companies.
A look at export figures provided by the Economy Ministry (SE) reveals some interesting details. First, while the United States was the destination for just about 80% of Mexican exports in 2010, this percentage actually has been declining slowly since a high of 88% in 2002. A closer look suggests that Mexico has been taking advantage of strong demand from the BRIC economies: exports to Brazil grew by an incandescent 325% from 2005 to 2010, while exports to China increased by a merely torrid but nonetheless impressive 270% over the same period. China has come from a long way off to become Mexico's third largest export market as of 2010. Mexico has also taken advantage of partial bans on Brazilian beef by Russia, developing an important new market in the process. The value of Mexican exports of frozen beef cuts to Russia through May 2011 had surpassed US$41 million, higher than at least the four previous years combined.
Perhaps the most intriguing growth market for Mexico right now is Japan. Mexico's exports to Japan did rise following a trade liberalization agreement that entered into effect in 2005, but the pace of growth has been uneven. Through May 2011, Mexican exports to Japan are on a record pace, led by the automotive industry and food products. The current strong performance may be receiving an unusual push due to distortions in the Japanese market following the earthquakes and tsunami early this year. Nonetheless, the increased presence of Mexican meats and fruits in Japan should help pave the way for the introduction of more variety and greater volumes of Mexican products in the future.
Could Mexico be setting its sights on the Middle East next? An Agriculture Ministry (Sagarpa) representative recently cited growing numbers of Mexican food producers seeking kosher and halal certification. The results may yet be a ways off, but we like where this is heading.
By Lisa Coleman For many, many years the big chain hotels defined tourism in Mexico. Over time, however, the boutique hotel experience has… carved out quite a niche for itself. It seems more and more travelers are looking for an intimate and authentic look at Mexico. They are stepping away from the one price fits all "wrist band" vacation and opting for time in something with some cultural bite. In 1999, I was working in Mexico full time and started to hear a buzz about a new hotel group. Back then, Mexico Boutique Hotels (MBH) was just getting a foot hold in the market. Today MBH is one of Mexico's most prominent and respected hotel associations and has raised the bar high for small luxury properties. The lovely and brilliant Sylvie Laitre is the Director of Mexico Boutique Hotels (MBH). Originally from Canada, Sylvie graduated with dual (bilingual: English and French) degrees in Communications and Leisure Studies (specializing in tourism development) from the University of Ottawa. She worked in Canada in museums, at festivals, and even as a private fashion consultant (while in college). She moved to Mexico to learn Spanish and never looked back. She moved up through the ranks of the hotel world wearing a number of hats ranging from guest services, sales, and reservations to accounting, reception, and public relations. I recently talked to Sylvie about MBH and learned more about the "boutique" experience in Mexico. Tell me about MBH and how it came to be, how long it has been around and a bit of the history? MBH was created at a time when hotels didn't have websites (and if they did, they were unilingual or very poor), when large travel sites didn't see the point of promoting small boutique hotels and when it was still difficult to find someone that spoke proper English when calling hotels. The founder—John Youden—met boutique hotel owners through his travels in Mexico and realized they all had similar challenges; promoting on a very, very small budget, being taken seriously as far as quality, and understanding the hotel business (as most were not hoteliers). These small properties needed economies of scale and a brand of quality that would help put them into a group and give travelers, agents and writers the confidence that these were quality hotels. They needed a bridge and MBH became that bridge. These hotels also needed eyes and ears outside their property… Someone who was watching trends, keeping up with technology, monitoring the industry, etc… And I do that for them. How many properties in how many states? And what are the requirements are to be a member? MBH was founded in 1999. Today, we have 35 hotels in 26 destinations throughout Mexico. The criteria are part tangible (quality linens, elegant decor, original artwork, great amenities, etc) and part intangible (how does this hotel make you FEEL? Are you inspired to take a photo everywhere you look? Does the property tell a story? Is it part of the local heritage? Does the hotel a clear voice and personality?) In translating this concept into hotels, potential member properties must be intimate in size (our requirement is under 50, but most have less than 30 rooms), be meticulously and tastefully decorated, have perfectly choreographed, impeccable service and, most importantly, be willing to go to great lengths (and think outside the box) to provide guests with a faultlessly tailored, exceptional experience. What do you feel the appeal is of the smaller properties in Mexico for the boutique traveler? This is a great question as I just posted something in Spanish on our blog (inspired by a recent study I read about the appeal of B&Bs and Inns): My title was Hoteles Boutique de Mexico; calidad, calidez y conocimiento (quality, warmth and knowledge). Basically, the appeal of a small hotel is just that: Quality of experience, decor and services. Warmth in service and details. Knowledge of local culture and the ability to help guests connect with this. As a society, we are over-informed, over-digitalized, and over-programmed nowadays. The small, boutique hotel takes you back to simpler times where you matter, and where the experience is truly personal. Travelers want unique, meaningful experiences and MBH is one of the channels. Small boutique hotels are also affordable, competitive, good to their loyal visitors and focused on 'celebrating' your visit. Boutique traveling is a completely different experience than the all-inclusive route, what's the single most important thing you want travelers to know about that experience? All-inclusive experiences (aside from their economical pluses) are tailored to please groups of people and therefore must be standardized and somewhat generalized in terms of what they offer. They are molded to please the majority of guests who do not want to venture out of their comfort zone too much. A boutique experience throws you out of the zone…in a good way. It allows you to connect, to experience something different and to immerse yourself in a local culture. I know some of the properties are located in "off-the-beaten-path" locations; can you address the fears that travelers may have? True, many are off-the-beaten-path. But, the very nature of the boutique hotel (taking care of you even before you arrive) makes sure someone is expecting you, in many cases picking you up directly at the airport, sending a driver, etc. My personal philosophy is that an unbeaten path presents much less traffic and thus, less interest for potential trouble makers. Like anything, and anywhere in the world, preparedness, knowledge and common sense are important. How are the hotels working together to thrive in this tourism climate? I've seen more cooperation in terms of recommending each other. Group promoting is important and necessary. Shared co-op ads have been placed in key national magazines, and we have a good repeat guest program where our hotels pamper past MBH guests (even if the person did not stay in their own hotel). The hotels are working together to make the MBH traveler feel special and hopefully encourage more repeat business between properties. There are other hotel groups in Mexico, what makes you unique? Our niche. Our bi-cultural position (knowing and living in Mexico yet still understanding what a foreigner expects and needs). Our size (in terms of operation): we're not corporate. We're not government run. We're just a very tiny group of people that love Mexico, love hotels and curate them in order to help others have the best experience possible. We don't accept hotels that want to buy membership and we must know each of our properties. I recently made an important decision that I believe truly sets us apart. We no longer commission bookings. We can still help with reservations BUT not through commissioning. I am allowing the hotel to present its best rate and allowing the traveler to get the best deal on my site. I want to be a channel and a voice for small hotels. I want to be a friend for travelers that want a good recommendation. What are the goals of MBH and what are your plans for the future to build your brand? I want to give great, small hotels a platform to promote, a network to communicate with each other and share tips and strategies. I want to help fantastic hotels continue to get the word out and help them see what is so great about themselves. It's also very important for me to be their eyes/ears on the Web. They don't have the time or the resources to monitor activity and reputation. I enjoy doing this and keeping them aware. For the traveler, I want to be a friend. I want to be the girl who lives in Mexico, who visits hotels; the one who will tell you the truth. The one who puts together a list of places she thinks are pretty fantastic. For the media and travel agents: a one-stop shop. A place for advice, for recommendations, for the latest news on boutique hotels in Mexico, for current deals, etc. I'm updating our site to be more of a portal with great links to others sites. I don't need to know everything; I just need to know where to find it and how it all fits in. We'll be posting relevant blog posts on our hotel pages for example now. Great articles on other sites, maps, destination reviews; anything I think can help a traveler make a more informed decision. And of course, if they need me, I'm always an email away. Sylvie and Mexico Boutique Hotels are a dynamic combination. They are a small group with a huge impact. This attention to culture and detail is fantastic trend for all travelers and could change the face of how we see travel in Mexico. For more information visit http://www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com/ and for Sylvie's blog go tohttp://www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com/wordpress/. MBH is launching a new website in the next few weeks so stay tuned. Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here are completely my own. Mexico Today is a joint public and private sector initiative designed to help promote Mexico as a global business partner and an unrivaled tourist destination.
By Lisa Coleman
There was time (not so long ago) when you still needed a paper ticket to fly and there was no such thing as airport security. Back then, using an agent was THE only option when considering international travel. But technology and online booking engines stepped in and suddenly everyone spent hours surfing the web and travel became somewhat of a do-it-yourself business. Now I enjoy looking at hotels and destinations just as much as the next person, but when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of a trip, especially an international trip, the travel agent is still the way to go.
I attended the ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents – the world's largest association of travel professionalswww.asta.org) annual Fiesta in the Desert show last weekend. It was great to see over 150 agents in one room still thriving and going strong. According to the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) there are 9,386 travel agency firms operating 15,671 retail locations across the United States. (Not to mention a stout number of very successful agents operating from their homes.)Today's agent is a completely different breed from those our parents used. Today's agent simply has to be knowledgeable and savvy to succeed.
Mexico has always been one step ahead of the game in terms of building travel agent relationships. Perhaps it's the country's traditional nature, but Mexico has a very long history of partnering with travel agents, and has always taken tremendous steps to keep those agents educated and motivated to sell south of the border.
Leading the way for travel agent education is the extremely popular and successful Magic of Mexico program. Run by Greg and Jane Custer of Destination Ventures in Bend, Oregon, this educational series was launched in 1991 and caught the eye of Mexico's Secretary of Tourism in 1992. Since then, the Magic of Mexico seminars have become the standard in the industry for learning about Mexico. They have kept pace and evolved the program into a comprehensive online sensation with accredited courses, interactive "campuses" and webinars to ensure travel agents have the most complete Mexico education possible. Thousands of agents have successfully completed the Magic of Mexico courses so there is a good chance you can find one in your neck of the woods.
So next time you Google "vacation in Mexico" and 1.7 million results pop up, ask yourself if it's worth the time to book the trip yourself. Chances are pretty good it's not. After all, saving money isn't just about price, it's about value. What's your time really worth? What's peace of mind worth if something goes wrong with the flight, the hotel or the tour? Think about it, and after you've burned hours surfing that trip, maybe take another look at your local travel agent.
Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here are completely my own. Mexico Today is a joint public and private sector initiative designed to help promote Mexico as a global business partner and an unrivaled tourist destination.
Joined: 12.08.2011
Let's take a look at why lots of baby boomers think it might be a good idea to retire to Mexico. You might be surprised by what people are saying and experiencing.
"I was just so tired of living in extremes of weather in my home state in the USA! Terrible heat and humidity in the summer combined with freezing cold and snowstorms in the winter—I needed a break and the climate I found in Mexico is almost perfect! My partner says if she dies and goes to Heaven, the weather there will be like it is in this part of Mexico."
"My wife and I found out that we could live in some parts of Mexico without heat or air conditioning bills, and that there were plenty of cities and towns where we could do without a car. Our cost of living would be reduced by a lot."
"The Mexican peso goes a lot farther than the US dollar. We discovered that we could do more of the things we really enjoy in Mexico: we eat out more often, take in more movies, and actually get to go to the symphony without breaking the bank."
"We moved to Mexico and got healthy! Because we can walk almost everywhere, we get way more exercise than we did in our home city. Because fresh, ripe fruits and vegetables are available and inexpensive all year round, we eat better at home. Because we are almost free of stress, my blood pressure is normal for the first time in years and my wife could finally give up her tranquilizers."
"I thought I would have to speak only Spanish, and it's been a long, long time since I studied it for two years in high school. But imagine my surprise when we found out that where our investigations led us in Mexico there was a huge English-speaking community! My partner and I can get by with limited Spanish and still live in this fabulous country!"
"We met a ton of new friends in the town where we retired. People are actually out walking, talking to one another, and enjoying 365-days-a-year of a new and exciting social life. Where we used to live, folks just drove from home to work and drove from home to the store, then stuck the car in the garage and never had time for a little neighborly chat. We didn't have many friends, it wasn't part of the lifestyle. Now we feel like Cinderella at the ball! We socialize with new pals several times a week."
Huatulco has been one of my favorite beach destinations since my first visit in 1997. Since then, several of the large resorts have changed name and ownership, there are new paved roads, hotels, shops, and tourist amenities, but the area maintains a laid-back feel, the beaches are as clean and… beautiful as before, and the natural areas surrounding the resort development are just as lush and verdant as ever. Since my first visit to Huatulco I have returned many times, staying in budget hotels or enjoying the modern amenities of an all-inclusive resort, and most recently enjoying the convenience of a vacation rental. I've always enjoyed the lovely beaches and striking landscape, but in recent years my appreciation for Huatulco has grown even deeper, particularly because of the efforts that are being made to protect the beautiful natural areas that surround it. Located on the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, Las Bahías de Huatulco (the Bays of Huatulco) is made up of nine protected bays that stretch over 22 miles of rugged coastline with 36 unspoiled beaches, as well as a national park. Established in the mid-1980s, Huatulco was the fifth resort development to be initiated by FONATUR (Mexico's National Trust for Tourism Development) after Cancun, Ixtapa, Loreto and Los Cabos. Huatulco was designed from the outset to be ecologically sustainable, and the community has maintained its commitment to protecting the environment. As one of FONATUR's "Integrally Planned Centers" there is a plan for the long-term development of the area that ensures proper management of natural resources, so that development and economic growth do not adversely impact the marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The Huatulco resort development is surrounded by the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range, where you can find coffee plantations set amid semitropical forests. In 1998, the Huatulco National Park was founded, protecting 5516 hectares of marine territory and 6375 hectares of land which are officially set aside to be left undeveloped. In 2006 this area was listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Over 700 species of animals make their home in the park, as well as a wide variety of fish and shellfish. The park is open for scuba diving, bird-watching and hiking. Huatulco is the only destination in the Americas to have received EarthCheck Gold certification, evidence of the commitment of the Mexican government, business owners, and residents to protecting the natural environment. EarthCheck (previously Green Globe) is an independent organization which offers environmental benchmarking for the hotel and tourism industry. In order to achieve certification, a property or community must show evidence of superior levels of practice in several different areas, including water and waste management, renewable energy, biodiversity, and conservation of natural species. Some of the measures which have been taken to reduce the environmental impact of the tourist development in Huatulco include a water management infrastructure including 17 km of storm protection channels, 23 re-lift stations for sewage treatment and management, and harvesting structures which collect storm water runoff. A recycling center has been built, and a training program for hotel staff, area residents, and local schoolchildren has been instituted. My most recent visit to Huatulco was this past January. I went with my family and the family of a longtime friend who was visiting from Canada. Since we both have small children, we decided the most comfortable accommodation option would be a vacation rental. My internet research led me to Villa Valencia (http://www.villapaita.com/valencia.html), a villa with two separate guest houses and a private pool, located by the Tangolunda golf course, and a short drive to the beach. We enjoyed shopping in the local market and preparing food (and cocktails!) in the well-equipped kitchen. The best part about staying in a vacation rental was being free to have our meals and activities at whatever time was convenient for us, with no worries that we or our children might bother other guests. Since my husband is an avid birder he would rise at dawn and venture out to roam the area around the golf course with his binoculars, while the rest of us slept in or got up for an early morning dip in the pool before breakfast and then heading out to the beach. We enjoyed visiting different beaches each day, particularly La Entrega and El Arrocito, beaches which have gentle waves and were perfect for our little ones to play in the sand by the water with no fear that a large wave might come and knock them over. We would have lunch at a beachside palapa, and in the late afternoon head back to our villa to rest and enjoy quiet evenings. On the final day of our stay, the men took the children to the beach and my friend and I enjoyed a ladies' day of pedicures and shopping in La Crucecita. A most satisfying vacation! Huatulco is a wonderful beach destination, offering a variety of conditions within its various bays. Parents of small children will be pleased with the beaches that have gentle waves and safe swimming and snorkeling conditions, others looking for more excitement may prefer beaches with stronger waves. Nature lovers will be thrilled with the diversity of birds, animals and plants in the area. But one thing that should please all visitors to Huatulco is knowing that they've chosen a destination that's committed to being environmentally sustainable.
Mexico is an excellent destination for a vacation or extended stay for families with children of all ages. A visit to Mexico can expand children's horizons: they'll be introduced to a different culture, language, and beautiful landscapes, and they'll have a great time as well. Mexican culture is… extremely child-friendly, and people are very welcoming of families with children, and will go out of their way to be helpful to them. It's a very large country and there are sites and activities to interest all ages. There's plenty for children and their parents to see, do and learn in Mexico.
Mexico is a family-friendly destination. People are very welcoming and accepting of children. You may even find that having your children along helps people to relate with you more easily, and provides a common ground when meeting Mexican families. While in the United States and Canada it often seems that children are segregated into their own special sphere, in Mexico, children are accepted virtually everywhere. Even fancy restaurants usually have a highchair on hand, though you may be more comfortable taking your children to more casual establishments.
There are plenty of activities that are fun and interesting for children. Some obvious ones come to mind immediately, like beach and water activities, or kids' clubs at all-inclusive resorts, but there are many more activities that your children can enjoy. Museums, nature reserves, archaeological sites, town plazas and markets can all make for fun visits for children. Timing your vacation to coincide with a holiday or local celebration can allow you to witness and participate in the festivities.
Educational opportunities abound in Mexico. Kids can learn about wildlife, history, and archaeology, as well as local culture. They can also practice their Spanish language skills. Learning to communicate in another language can be fun. Older kids and teens may enjoy ordering their own meals in restaurants or bargaining with vendors in the market for souvenirs. Younger kids may enjoy reading signs or learning to count in Spanish, and even the smallest ones can practice greetings and saying gracias.
Besides being fun and offering a change of pace from everyday life, the best vacations also provide opportunities to learn and grow. Traveling with your family to Mexico can give your children some learning experiences and wonderful memories that will stay with them forever. Traveling allows us to see the world from a different perspective, to see how alike and different people really are, and that's a great gift to give our children.
Some tips for traveling to Mexico with children:
Las Bahias de Huatulco (the Huatulco Bays), most often referred to simply as Huatulco (pronounced "wah-tool-ko"), is a beach area made up of nine bays with 36 beaches. Located on the Pacific coast of the state of Oaxaca, 165 miles from the state capital of Oaxaca City, and 470 miles from Mexico City,… this area was chosen in the 1980s by FONATUR (Mexico's National Tourism Fund) for development as a tourist resort area. Huatulco stretches out over 22 miles of coastline between the Coyula and Copalito rivers. It is set within a beautiful natural area with the Sierra Madre mountain chain forming a beautiful backdrop to the tourist development. The lush lowland jungle vegetation is particularly verdant in the rainy season, from June to October. Its biodiversity and pristine landscapes make Huatulco a favorite destination of nature lovers.
The Holy Cross of Huatulco: According to legend, in Prehispanic times a bearded white man placed a wooden cross on the beach, which the local population then venerated. In the 1500s the pirate Thomas Cavendish arrived in the area and after looting, tried by various means to remove or destroy the cross, but was unable to do so. The name Huatulco comes from the Nahuatl language "Coahatolco" and means "place where the wood is revered." You can see a fragment of the cross from the legend in the church in Santa Maria Huatulco, and another in the cathedral in Oaxaca City. History of Huatulco: The area of Oaxaca's coast has been inhabited since ancient times by groups of Zapotecs and Mixtecs. When FONATUR set its sights on Huatulco, it was a series of huts along the beach, whose inhabitants practiced fishing on a small scale. When construction on the tourist complex began in the mid 1980s the people who lived along the coast were relocated to Santa Maria Huatulco and La Crucecita. The Huatulco National Park was declared in 1998. Later listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the park protects a large area of the bays from development. In 2003 the Santa Cruz cruise ship port began operations, and currently receives some 80 cruise ships each year. The Huatulco Bays: Since there are nine different bays in Huatulco, the area offers a variety of beach experiences. Most have blue-green water and the sand ranges from golden to white. Some of the beaches, notably Santa Cruz, la Entrega and El Arrocito have very gentle waves. Most of the development is centered around a few of the bays. Tangolunda is the largest of Huatulco's bays, and is where most of Huatulco's large resorts are located. Santa Cruz has a cruise ship port, marina and shops and restaurants. Some of the beaches are completely pristine and only accessible by boat. Huatulco and Sustainability: Huatulco's development is proceeding under a plan to protect the surrounding environment. Some of the efforts made to make Huatulco a sustainable destination include reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, reducing waste, improving energy efficiency and management of natural resources. A large part of the area of the Huatulco Bays is set aside as ecological reserves, and will remain free from development. In 2005, Huatulco was awarded the Green Globe International Certification as a sustainable tourist area, and in 2010 Huatulco received EarthCheck Gold Certification; it is the only destination in the Americas to achieve this distinction. La Crucecita: La Crucecita is a small town located just a few minutes drive inland from Santa Cruz bay. La Crucecita was built as a support community to the tourist area, and many of the tourism workers have their homes here. Although it is a new town, it has the feel of an authentic small Mexican town. There is an abundance of shops and restaurants in La Crucecita, and it's a good place to do some shopping, have a meal, or an evening stroll. The church in La Crucecita, La Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, has a 65 foot tall image of the Virgin of Guadalupe painted in its dome. Dining in Huatulco: A visit to Huatulco will offer an excellent opportunity to sample Oaxacan cuisine, as well as Mexican seafood specialties. There are numerous beachfront palapas where you can enjoy fresh seafood. Some favorite restaurants include El Sabor de Oaxaca and TerraCotta in La Crucecita, and L'Echalote in Bahia Chahue. What To Do in Huatulco:
Where to Stay in Huatulco: Huatulco has a good selection of luxury hotels and resorts, most of which are situated on Tangolunda Bay. In la Crucecita you will find many budget hotels; some favorites includeMision de los Arcos and Maria Mixteca. Huatulco also has many options for vacation rentals. Compare rates for Huatulco hotels. Getting There: By air: Huatulco has an international airport, airport code HUX. It is a 50 minute flight from Mexico City. The Mexican airline Interjet offers daily flights between Mexico City and Huatulco. From Oaxaca City, regional airline AeroTucan offers daily flights in small planes.Find flights to Huatulco. By land: At present driving time from Oaxaca City is 6 hours on route 175 (stock up on Dramamine ahead of time). A new highway presently under construction should cut driving time in half. By sea: Huatulco has two marinas which offer docking services, in Santa Cruz and Chahue (see boating in Huatulco). Since 2003 Huatulco is a port of call for cruises of the Mexican Riviera and receives an average of 80 cruise ships each year. More about Huatulco
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By Jim Johnston
The perks are already flowing in from my new job (see previous post)--at least for my readers.By Jim Johnston
The perks are already flowing in from my new job (see previous post)--at least for my readers. (As one of the writers for Mexico Today I'm not eligible.) So click the link below, cross your fingers, and light a candle to the Virgin of Guadalupe--you may win a free trip to Mexico! http://www.facebook.com/MexicoToday?sk=app_180588498662106 Several people have asked if I am continuing with this blog--the answer is YES. Everything I write for Mexico Today will appear here, in addition to posts that will only appear on this blog.
By Jim Johnston
One of the great opportunities of being an expatriate is the chance to view life from distinct vantage points. A poster I saw here in Mexico City the other day got me thinking. It was an ad for "Lucha Libre--La Experiencia" which I thought had an elegant sound to it, like the title of some romantic foreign movie. But as you may know, lucha libre is that curious form of Mexican wrestling in which men –and occasionally women - dressed in flashy Las Vegas style costumes and horror movie masks stomp, throw, bend, crush, squeeze and mangle one another violently around a ring, while the crowd roars its approval.
I confess I've never quite understood the allure of it all. But I recognize that the sport- if that's the right word- is extremely popular here and is definitely an international symbol of Mexican culture.(Check out Julie Carmann's blog for a true fan's point of view).
My strongest memory of lucha libre is of the crowd. It was very much a family event; people of all ages, even babies were there. Everyone seemed to be in motion, gesturing toward the ring, screaming at the wrestlers, hopping up and down the aisles.
The lady in front of me looked like somebody's sweet old grandmother - the woman who sells tortillas at my local market. That is, until she stood up and started screaming at the top of her lungs "Mátalo!, mátalo!" ("Kill him, kill him"). Something about the wrestling match seemed to unleash a base animal instinct, although I never worried that it would pass beyond the verbal.
A few weeks ago, in New York City, my old home town, I was riding the subway when I witnessed an altercation between two women. It appeared that one of them bumped the other with her elbow. Anger flared, words darted. The scene reached its grand finale as one woman sneered, "You're a worthless piece of shit!" Turning up the volume, her adversary spit out the last line: "YOU'RE a worthless piece of shit!"
No one else in the subway car seemed to notice—just another day underground. I watched in disbelief as these two people, having met only 90 seconds ago before, descended the ladder of civilized behavior to its lowest rung—in public no less!
I could not imagine such a thing happening in Mexico City. I find Mexicans to be generally polite, kind and courteous. In fact, in the 12 years I've lived here I can only recall two incidents in which I saw people raising their voices in anger to one another. Both cases involved damaged cars, so at least there seemed to be a good reason for it.
Perhaps this means that Mexicans are calmer by nature than New Yorkers. Or do they just save their screaming until they get home or attend a lucha libre match? Should the mayor of New York build alucha libre arena in Central Park?
What do you think?
For more information on this upcoming event, which takes place in Mexico City on July 23 and 24, see the website:http://www.luchalibrelaexperiencia.com/
Joined: 12.08.2011
By Silvia Martinez
Como la mayoría de ustedes bien lo saben, yo nací y me crié en el bellísimo México, llegué a los Estados Unidos hace diez años y aunque he hecho de California mi casa y amo a mi país adoptivo, México todavía tiene mi alma.
Año con año vuelvo con gusto, principalmente para visitar a mi familia (sobre todo desde que tengo hijos, ya que ellos necesitan convivir y conocer a toda su familia mexicana), amigos y conocidos, pero también para recargarme las pilas con su comida, su cutura, sus colores. Cada que voy es como sentirme "en casa", los recuerdos me envuelven, y me recuerdan mi esencia.
A mis hijos les encanta ir, y ¡a mi me encanta que les encante! ellos son sumamente felices corriendo en el jardín, alrededor del kiosko, comiendo nieves y fruta con chile en la calle y teniendo pan dulce para sopear en su chocolate caliente todas las noches, eso sin contar las piñatas, balnearios y fiestas familiares. Me ablanda el corazón verlos convivir con la familia y abrazar con alegría todas nuestras tradiciones.
Extraño mucho a mi México…
Sin embargo, la vida, que siempre está llena de sorpresas, me ha regalado algo que nunca pensé recibir, la oportunidad de compartir el amor por mi tierra y todo lo fantástico que ella puede ofrecer, con todos ustedes. Hace un par de semanas recibí una llamada que iluminó mi vida. Fui invitada a ser parte de México Today.
México Today es un programa apoyado por la iniciativa privada y el gobierno de México, mediante el cual 24 personas, todas compartiendo su pasión por México, y mediante sus artículos, serán una ventana que mostrará al mundo lo hermoso y mágico que mi país es. Este programa fué lanzado oficialmente hace cinco días desde la encantadora ciudad de Oaxaca, donde todos los embajadores estuvimos reunidos para conocernos en persona.
Yo siempre me he sentido sumamente orgullosa de mi México lindo y querido, y siempre que puedo lo presumo con amigos y conocidos, y ahora me siento muy honrada de poder hacerlo con una voz aún mas poderosa, en línea con México Today.
Te invito a que conozcas más sobre esta hermosa iniciativa y cada una de las 24 personas (mi otra familia mexicana) que participan en ella, escritores Canadienses, Americanos, algunos viviendo en México, algunos fuera de él. Por favor visitanos en de Facebook, Twitter y www.mexicotoday.org (en inglés, pero pronto en español y alemán también).
México Today, un programa para México… ¡con amor!
Disclosure: Mi participación como contribuidora al programa es remunerada. También fui invitada a un viaje todo pagado a Oaxaca para el lanzamiento del programa. Mis comentarios, opiniones e ilimitado amor por México, son sólo míos.
Joined: 12.08.2011
By Alvin Starkman
Oaxacan wood carvings, the colorful fanciful figures popularly known as alebrijes, have been collectible folk art since the 1980s, their origins dating to as early as the 1960s. Today in the workshop of Jacobo Ángeles and María Mendoza in the town of San Martín Tilcajete, Ocotlán, they represent a sustainable industry for OaxacaBy Alvin Starkman Oaxacan wood carvings, the colorful fanciful figures popularly known as alebrijes, have been collectible folk art since the 1980s, their origins dating to as early as the 1960s. Today in the workshop of Jacobo Ángeles and María Mendoza in the town of San Martín Tilcajete, Ocotlán, they represent a sustainable industry for Oaxaca. The Ángeles – Mendoza taller arguably produces the highest quality alebrijes in the entire state. Jacobo recounts stories of the predecessor to alebrijes; rudimentary carvings dating to pre – Hispanic times, which were placed in a revered part of each Zapotec home, or small amulets which were worn around the neck. Each individual had his own animal protector, depending on date of birth in the 20 day Zapotec calendar. The wood most often used to carve images of these mammals, fish, fowl and reptiles was, and continues to be, copal. Its bark was traditionally used to produce many of the pigments used for painting friezes on ruins such asMitla. Since time immemorial its hardened sap or resin has been burned as incense for rituals, including religious rites. And so copal has been dubbed a sacred tree. But in modern Oaxaca it symbolizes sustainability. Copal and Alebrije Carving in Oaxaca, Mexico The word copal comes from the Nahuatl term copalli, applied to any resin producing plant which gives off an aroma when burned. The copal tree belongs to the genus Bursera. There are about 100 species ranging from Mexico down through the Americas. The copal used to carve alebrijes and produce resin is a softwood, medium sized tree reaching a height of about 12 meters. Alebrijes are carved when the wood is still green and therefore more easily worked. Copal grows with significant bends and contortions, lending itself to the creation of the most whimsical of figures simply by using one's imagination to determine what branch will be used to carve what creature. Some alebrijes are carved from one solid piece of wood, while others are assembled. Sustainability and the Use of Copal Once the figure has been carved and sanded, the artist is left with small wood chips and sawdust. But nothing goes to waste in the workshop of Jacobo and María. The alebrijes must be completely dry before the painting begins. During the drying process, cracks appear – a good thing. The small pieces of wood from the carving process, discarded in the course of the wood being cut with first a machete, then a series of chisels, and finally small finishing knives, are used to fill the cracks. The sawdust is mixed with commercial glue, and the paste is then used to ensure the wooden shims remain in place. Thereafter the paste is used as a coating over the areas which have had remedial work. Any remaining wood chips are used as fuel – kindling and firewood to make tortillas and other prepared foods on the grill or comal. One is hard-pressed to encounter another workshop in any of the three main alebrije villages in Oaxaca which decorates its figures using paints made from fruit, vegetable, insect and mineral material. While María's painting group also works with acrylics, its use of naturally produced colors is the specialty: pomegranate for yellows, pinks and greens; cochineal for reds and oranges; añil or indigo for blues; huitlacoche (corn smut) for ochre and zinc for lightening. Other natural substances are also combined, yielding a rainbow of colors. The copal tree itself can be used to produce a vast range of colors. The inside of the bark of the "male" species, when dried, toasted and ground, yields a deep brown / maroon powder which when mixed with lime juice, baking soda (in pre – Hispanic times sea salt) and other natural substances, creates yet further colors and tones. In order to ensure that these natural colors do not fade with exposure to the sun or absorb into the wood, before application they are combined with a mixture of 50% honey and 50% liquefied (with the application of fire) copal resin – the same resin which continues to be used ritually in Oaxaca at funeral gatherings and prayer services, church masses, and at other times of the year marking important dates, such as Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). In some Mexican cultures, pursuant to local tradition inhalation of the resin or drinking it in a tea is believed to relieve respiratory problems. The smoke is also used to purify the individual, the home, and even as custom at the inauguration of a new business. The humo is also employed as aromatherapy by curanderos (native healers), and in ritual associated with the temazcal, a pre – Hispanic cleansing and curative steam bath akin to the Iroquois sweat lodge. The same liquid resin is also utilized as lacquer. And in Ocotlán, a short drive from San Martín Tilcajete, it is employed by acclaimed knife maker Apolinar Águilar. Apolinar hand – forges knives, swords and cutlery using only recycled metals, with the aid of only a mallet and heat produced by his stone and mud hearth – a technique imported from 16th century Toledo, Spain. To engrave his work with a name, verse or drawing, he uses an ink he makes by liquefying the copal resin with other compounds. Production of copal resin constitutes a distinct industry providing many with work. The trees are tapped by cutting a well from which the sap can easily be collected. Similar to tapping a maple, the copal tree continues to grow once tapped. The copal matures and is ready to be cut for use as wood at about 30 years of growth, a relatively short period of time. But the tree is not simply cut down. Those involved in cutting and selling copal branches to the artisans ensure that the tree trunk remains sufficiently large and viable so that it continues to grow, for future cutting. But since copal remains the wood of choice for carving alebrijes, and alebrijes continue to be popular tourist purchases, copal runs the danger of become a scarce natural resource. Since 1994, the Rodolfo Morales foundation has donated saplings to the cause of ensuring a continuous supply of copal. Every year the townspeople and friends of San Martín Tilcajete participate in a reforestation project which centers upon the planting of 5,000 copal saplings and a further 5,000 mixedwood. The planting occurs during the summer rainy season, to take advantage of the natural irrigation at this time of year. Of course some trees do not survive extremely heavy and sustained rains, and others die during the dry season if watering is insufficient. But most saplings do take, so that eventually irrigating is not required to maintain healthy, fast growth. The cycle of cultivating copal from sapling to cutting is remarkably similar to that of agave, used in the production ofmezcal, another sustainable Oaxacan industry. For generations to come, alebrijes and copal, mezcal, as well as other local industries including production of rugs and hand blown glass, will continue to enhance Oaxaca's reputation as a world ambassador of sustainability. Alvin Starkman (M.A., LL.B.) is a paid contributing writer for Mexico Today (http://www.mexicotoday.org). Alvin has written over 200 articles about life and cultural traditions in Oaxaca. He is a regular contributor to print publications such as Ventana Magazine and The Upper Canadian Antique Showcase. Alvin also consults to documentary film companies working in Oaxaca and is central valleys, works with Chef Pilar Cabrera and tour companies arranging Oaxaca Culinary Tours (http://www.oaxacaculinarytours.com) and assists his wife Arlene operating Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast (http://www.oaxacadream.com).


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By Patrick McCallister
For Hometown News
More than 6,600 pounds of food a day over 10 days. That's what public employees collected during the second annual Feed The Need Food Drive in November.
"It was almost double what they collected last year," said Robert "Bob" Thomas, the Volusia County branch manager of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
The food, and cash-donations, went to Second Harvest, which will distribute it to 105 feeding programs throughout the county.
Volusia County Manager Jim Dinneen created the now annual food drive last year. He said public employees got a front-row seat to the human costs of the protracted economic downturn and wanted to do more to help their communities.
"They see the problems out there every day," Mr. Dinneen said. "It is personal to me. It just came to me one day, 'Why don't we try this?'"
Dinneen approached city managers with the idea, and it was a hit.
Public employees raised 66,841 pounds of food this year, which topped last year's nearly 38,000 pounds of food. The previous food-drive record at Volusia's Second Harvest was 31,000 pounds.
In addition to Volusia County, Daytona Beach Shores, DeBary, DeLand, Edgewater, Holly Hill, New Smyrna Beach, Orange City, Ormond Beach, Pierson, Ponce Inlet, Port Orange and South Daytona participated in the food drive, along with Volusia County Schools and Daytona State College.
New this year was the Volusia County Public Library's Food for Fines program. Last month patrons with fines that were less than $5 could get them waived by bringing in two non-perishable food items. Those with fines from $5 to $25 could get them erased with 10 items. Library patrons donated 6,061 pounds of food through Food for Fines.
Mr. Thomas said the food and cash donations from Feed The Need are enough to feed about 955 families for a week. He said more is always needed.
"The need is still out there," Mr. Thomas said. "It is as great as ever. We're seeing a lot of multiple families under one roof now."
For the second year, Holly Hill raised the most food per employee. Last year, Holly Hill raised just over 4,000 pounds of food. This year the city workers raised about 14,350 pounds, an average of about 135 pounds per employee. Volusia County employees raised the largest amount of food, slightly more than 18,000 pounds.
Mr. Dinneen said next year he hopes to expand the Feed The Need drive by getting more public participation.
"My new goal is to try to get the newspapers on board and try to get the public to match the public employees," he said. "We really do want to make it annual and make (Feed The Need) something the food banks can count on."
Mr. Thomas said other annual food drives have seen increases this year.
"Some of our bigger ones -- Scouting for Food for instance, that was up," he said. "The trend has been a downward spiral the last few years."
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By Michael Salerno
For Hometown News
PORT ORANGE - City leaders are moving closer to finalizing an agreement that would help make it easier to start new businesses on the east side of town.
At a recent special meeting, the City Council discussed the Ridgewood Corridor Plan, a proposed plan to upgrade an aging three-mile stretch of U.S. 1 that extends from Dunlawton Avenue south to the Rose Bay bridge.
According to a draft of the Ridgewood Corridor Plan, the main objectives of city leaders are to make it more attractive, improve its economic position and minimize activities that discourage investment in property. The plan identifies several economic challenges plaguing the area - aging buildings that don't meet development requirements, small lots with inadequate parking and landscaping, and less traffic volume over the last decade.
While the west side of the city has seen a large amount of development in recent years, including The Pavilion at Port Orange and Altamira Village, the east side has remained stagnant. That's where the Ridgewood Corridor plan comes in.
Several residents and business owners along the southern stretch of U.S. 1 offered input to city leaders before a final plan was brought forward for the council's approval. One of them was Brendan Galbreath, owner of Aunt Catfish's restaurant, who restated many issues addressed in the plan as well as adding one of his own - the high cost of business development in the area.
He said business owners in the Ridgewood Corridor are subject to a "huge burden" of impact fees that business owners are responsible for before they're able to build.
"I think I'm going to be out $15,000 to $20,000 by the time I'm able to move some dirt and improve my property," Mr. Galbreath said, urging city leaders to consider lowering or waiving impact fees. "I would rather spend that money on the property than send it down to City Hall. That's something that really needs to be looked at."
Mr. Galbreath also recommended the city allow business owners to hold small-scale special events, such as fish fries and art festivals, to help generate activity in the area.
"They shouldn't have to come to city hall for a special event permit," he said.
One of his other suggestions was for city staff to take an inventory of all the city-owned land in the area and consider selling the land to private owners to stimulate business development.
Crime was also mentioned as a major problem with the area.
Responding to a concern from Councilman Bob Ford that the area needs greater police protection, Public Safety Director Gerald Monahan said the Ridgewood Corridor has the highest amount of self-initiated police activity in Port Orange. He said there were 3,853 calls for service in the Ridgewood Corridor over the last year, as opposed to an average of 1,858 calls in other parts of the city.
"There is a lot of (police) activity here," Mr. Monahan said. "... We're doing the best we can."
Different approaches were offered in making the area more aesthetically pleasing. For example, one citizen suggested easing the costs of improving the facades of existing buildings, while another said existing buildings should be demolished, not improved, to make way for new buildings.
Councilman Dennis Kennedy and Vice Mayor Bob Pohlmann both supported the idea of easing impact fees on the Ridgewood Corridor's businesses, such as building fees and upfront costs.
"The overall opinion is this is a salvageable area," Mr. Kennedy said. "... I think helping the businesses by reducing some of their expenses, trying to get some flexibility, will be a benefit to us."
Mr. Pohlmann also expressed strong support for more special events in the area.
"I do believe we need to have more special events in the city of Port Orange, (such as) fish fries, chili cook-offs and barbecues," he said.
Mayor Allen Green said the public input from citizens and business owners would drive the plan.
"It's going to take you people involved to get something that's doable and affordable," the mayor said. "Otherwise, it won't be successful. You've got to do something for this area."
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FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - After nearly six hours of testimony in Fond du Lac County court, 19-year-old Carly Ottery of Campbellsport was sentenced to one year in jail for causing the deaths of three of her friends in a February traffic crash.
Ottery was driving an SUV with 8 other girls from the Campbellsport High School soccer team. She was traveling over 100 miles per hour when she lost control and the SUV flipped several times before landing in a field.
Judge Dale English did not go along with a no contest plea deal that called for five years probation. English sentenced Ottery to a year in county jail and six years of probation. Ottery must perform 100 hours of community service, must stay away from bars and taverns and is prohibited from drinking alcohol.
Katie Berg, Caitlin Scannell, and Sabrina Stahl were killed in the crash. Six other girls, including Ottery, were injured.
Alcohol was not involved.


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We expect a lot from our travel writers.
Cultural insight.
Entertaining anecdotes.
A little bit of derring-do.
But, mostly, we want them to make us laugh.
As every traveler knows, a good sense of humor is essential when facing the mysteries and miseries of a foreign culture.
That's what makes writers who can deliver fascinating stories from around the world while making us snort our cardamom chai through our noses such treasured commodities.
For the past few months the CNN Travel staff has been scouring our shelves -- and convening a panel of outside experts -- to curate the definitive list of funniest travel books ever written.
If such a task is impossible -- as several contributors have suggested -- then the joke is surely on us.
Experts weigh in
"Making a list of funny travel books is a surprisingly contentious task, because making jokes about the people you travel amongst goes against the whole purpose of travel writing which is to understand and empathize," says Barnaby Rogerson, head of the UK-based Eland Publishing and longtime chair of the Dolman Travel Book Prize.
"The only way out of this conundrum is to turn the humor against yourself, and most especially about our hidden expectations of the heroic traveler or our banal tourist industry."
That's one opinion.
Sage though it is, not everyone applies the same criteria.
Mark Twain, for one, took immense joy in making jokes about the rich and ancient cultures he encountered while writing "The Innocents Abroad": "The community is eminently Portuguese -- that is to say, it is slow, poor, shiftless, sleepy and lazy."
We couldn't raise the cantankerous Twain for his picks, but others who weighed in for us included writers Garrison Keillor, Paul Theroux, Mary Roach, Eric Weiner, Andrew McCarthy, Peter Moore, Andrew Mueller and John Birmingham, as well as industry experts such as Melissa Chessher (director of online journalism and instructor of travel writing classes at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), Shawn Donley (book buyer for Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon, the largest independent bookstore in the United States), Ed Park (editor at Amazon Publishing's Little A imprint) and Elaine Petrocelli and Luisa Smith of the California-based Book Passage Travel Writers Conference.
None of the above were responsible -- not to say culpable -- for the final list, whose contentious entries and order were determined by frequency of mentions, persuasiveness of arguments for and against and, in a couple of cases, naked autocratic preference.
Is it possible we missed a good one? What's your favorite funny travel book? Share your pick in the comments.
15. "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" (2004)
By J. Maarten Troost
The trip
At age 26, Troost leaves the cushy city life and embarks on a two-year stint in the heat-blasted "end of the world" -- in this case, the equatorial Pacific atoll of Tarawa in the Republic of Kiribati.
The endorsement
"Looking for a writer who can capture the hilarity of travel like the beloved Bill Bryson? J. Maarten Troost's 'The Sex Lives of Cannibals' is a comic classic of a travelogue that will completely change the way you look at the idyllic South Pacific." -- Shawn Donley, new book purchasing supervisor at Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon, America's largest independent bookstore
The funny


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Combinatorial methods have been shown to significantly reduce cost and increase quality for software and system testing. The basis for combinatorial testing is the interaction rule, which is based on analysis of thousands of software failures. The rule states that most failures are induced by single factor faults or by the joint combinatorial effect (interaction) of two factors, with progressively fewer failures induced by interactions between three or more factors. Therefore if all faults in a system can be induced by a combination of t or fewer parameters, then testing all t-way combinations of parameter values is pseudo-exhaustive and provides a high rate of fault detection. Two primary tools can be used: ACTS, to generate tests, and CCM, to measure combinatorial aspects of test quality.
Our focus is on empirical results and real-world testing. See: summary and 5-pg overview.
Talks for 2014 (Kuhn): Cloud Tech & Government IT, Defense Strategies Inst., Sept. 23-24, Alexandria; NASA IV&V Workshop, Sept 9-11, Fairmont, WV; Cyber Intelligence USA, June 20, Arlington; Cloud for Defense Symposium, Apr. 25, Alexandria; NITRD/Natl Science Foundation, Apr. 24; IEEE Intl Conf on Software Testing keynote, Apr. 2, Cleveland, American Software Testing Qualifications Board keynote, Mar. 26, San Francisco; US Census Bureau, Mar 13, Carnegie Mellon University, Feb 12
Video of 2013 NASA IV&V conference briefing on application of combinatorial coverage measurement. (Charley Price and Rick Kuhn)
Tool releases, May 2014: Version 2.9 of ACTS testing tool and Version 0.8 of CCM combinatorial coverage measurement tool now available.
Combinatorial Coverage Measurement - NIST IR 7878 (released Sept. 2012)
Tools provided freely on this site are used by hundreds of organizations around the world for software and hardware testing of reliability, safety, and security. Our research collaborations include the U. of Texas Arlington, US Air Force, Carnegie Mellon, U. of North Texas, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, U. of Maryland Baltimore County, Centro Nacional de Metrologia of Mexico, NASA, and the U. of Maryland University College.
This article explains how the approach is related to statistical Design of Experiments.
Combinatorial testing poster summarizes the methodology.
|Our research
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Some of our accomplishments to date include:
Rick Kuhn or Raghu Kacker
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We have over 1,700 users as of June 2014, in nearly all major industries. Here is a breakdown of our user base.
1) Combinatorial testing tool, for generating test suites. Advanced Combinatorial Testing System (ACTS) can compute tests for 2-way through 6-way interactions. An easy-to-use GUI is included. A comparison of ACTS with similar tools shows that ACTS produces smaller test sets (with the same degree of coverage) and is faster than others. ACTS was developed by NIST and the University of Texas at Arlington. To request a copy, send email to Rick Kuhn - email@example.com. Please include your first and last name, and company or university name (this helps us with management support for the project!)
2) Combinatorial coverage measurement tool, for evaluating quality of test suites. Useful for gaining the advantages of combinatorial testing without disrupting existing test practice. The CCM measurement tool can analyze existing tests for 2-way through 6-way interactions they already have. An easy-to-use GUI is included. CCM was developed by NIST and the Centro Nacional de Metrologia of Mexico. To request a copy, send email to Rick Kuhn - firstname.lastname@example.com. Please include your first and last name, and company or university name (this helps us with management support for the project!)
3) Testing tutorial, Practical Combinatorial Testing, NIST SP800-142 (pdf 81 pages, 841Kb). This publication provides a self-contained tutorial on using combinatorial testing for real-world software. It introduces the key concepts and methods, explains use of software tools for generating combinatorial tests, and discusses advanced topics. The material is accessible to an undergraduate student of computer science or engineering, and includes an extensive set of references to papers that provide more depth on each topic. Oct. 2010. Public domain, distribution unlimited; 81 pages.
4) Security policy testing tool. The Access Control Policy Test (ACPT) tool allows policy authors to conveniently specify access control models (such as RBAC and Multi-Level models) and rules as well as access control properties. From the specified models and rules, the ACPT tool automatically synthesizes deployable policies in XACML and generates combinatorial tests to verify security policy implementations. Complete test cases are generated, consisting of test inputs and expected output for each set of inputs. ACPT uses ACTS to provide 2-way to 4-way combinatorial testing of policies. To request a copy, send email to Vincent Hu - email@example.com.
5) Web app testing tool. CPUT (Combinatorial-based Prioritization of User-session-based Testsuites) applies combinatorial methods to testing web applications. Test prioritization is used to make web app testing much more manageable. The tool allows testers to easily collect, prioritize, and reduce user-session-based test cases. CPUT provides (1) guidance to users on how to configure their web server to log important usage information, (2) automated parsing of web logs into XML formatted test cases that can be used by test replay tools, (3) automated prioritization of test cases by length-based and combinatorial-based criteria, and (4) automated reduction of testcases by combinatorial coverage.


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Over the past four years, power prices increased significantly in both restructured and non-restructured states—but then the recession and falling gas prices changed the picture for retail...
2008 CEO Forum: Conservation Compact
Utilities test new models to encourage investments in efficiency and conservation.
today. In our industry, the vast majority of players don't want competition because it will be bad for them. But consumers are voters, who elect politicians and appoint regulators. Ultimately what's best for the consumer will prevail.
The benefits I'm talking about have to be proven in Texas. We're aggressive in delivering our smart energy product, and proving our customers will use less electricity and be happier with the product than they were before.
I don't expect the industry will change very quickly. We will have a lengthy debate, but time will prove competition is a superior model and can deliver an energy efficiency solution better than can a regulated model.


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The Healthy People 2020 evidence-based resources identified have been selected by subject matter experts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. Each of the selected evidence-based resources has been rated and classified according to a set of selection criteria based, in part, on publication status, publication type, and number of studies. This classification scheme does not necessarily consider all dimensions of quality, such as statistical significance, effect size (e.g., magnitude of effect), meaningfulness of effect, additional effect over control, and study design (e.g., sample size, power, internal validity, external validity, generalizability, potential biases, potential confounders).
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The following clinical recommendations come from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) .
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening of adolescents (12-18 years of age) for major depressive disorder (MDD) when systems are in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal), and follow-up.
Learn more
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening adults for depression when staff-assisted depression care supports are in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up.
Learn more
The following consumer resources are from healthfinder.gov.
If a friend or loved one is depressed, talking to him or her about getting help can make a big difference. Use these tips to start the conversation.
Depression is a medical illness that can be treated. If you think you might be depressed, see a doctor who can test you for depression.
Ask your teen's doctor to screen your teen for depression
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If one thing comes of tonight's GOP presidential debate, I hope it's some understanding of why Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan is actually a good idea.
The first two 9's sound good — no, great — at first blush: a 9 percent flat tax on individual and corporate income! No deductions, exemptions or credits (except for charitable gifts). No payroll taxes, capital gains tax or estate tax.
The last 9 is more problematic on its own: a 9 percent national sales tax. Let's look first at why this is a potentially large problem, and then look at some broader criticisms of the entire plan.
Cain sells his plan as a first step toward the Fair Tax, which calls for the federal government levying only a consumption tax to fund itself. The problem that I and other people — mostly, but not only, conservatives — have with the plan is the 16th Amendment, which created the federal income tax.
Fair Taxers say their plan includes repealing the 16th Amendment, but in my estimation they gloss over the sheer
Continue reading 2012 Tuesday: A deeper look at Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan »