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Puerto Vallarta, Jal. - University of Vallarta (UNIVA) initiated Diploma courses for those with a Bachelor degree on Engineering and Architecture, with the participation of well known Architects.
The water taxi ground gently onto the beach, and we hopped over the side into warm, knee-deep surf.
It happens every day: Around 3pm, I start fumbling for quarters and trying to decide which unsatisfying, wastefully packaged, nutritionally vapid nugget to get from vending machine around the corner.
But what if instead of candy, chips, and soda, a vending machine could dispense hot pizza and cupcakes? That'd make them more like an automat, and a heck of a lot more enticing.
Good news: There are a growing number of companies working to create vending machines that dispense your favorite treats. It's a new dawn for speedy snacking.
According to Pizza Marketplace, Americans consume 350 slices of pizza a second (collectively, not per person). With five billion pizzas eaten worldwide each year, it's no wonder Dutch company A1 Concepts has created a pizza vending machine.
The coolest thing about this contraption is that it actually constructs and bakes your pizza on request, rather than reheating a frozen pie. The mechanical wonder starts with all the base ingredients like flour, water, and tomato sauce. It only requires 2.5 minutes to prepare and serve a personal size pizza, and each one costs €3.
Just imagine the profits from putting one of these in a college dormitory.
Made by a Chinese company and apparently in use all over Europe, these french fry–making marvels actually deep-fry your frites in 90 seconds, and spit 'em out along with ketchup, salt, and a napkin. In the video above, you can see one in use at a Romanian gas station. Could there be a better place?
American cupcake bakery chain Sprinkles has created a vending that dispenses fresh cupcakes. Let's let that sink in for a second...
Aaaaaand we're back!
Crucially, these aren't just stale pieces of pastry. Each "ATM" (not actually an ATM) is loaded with up to 600 fresh-baked cupcakes, and a rotating flavor selection keeps things even fresher. Bakery staff also stock the machine up after close, giving you a shot at getting a tasty cake while you're stumbling home drunk at 2am.
The success of Sprinkles' L.A. experiment has prompted the company to expand to other cities. Do you think they get more business at lunchtime or just after last call?
Frozen Yogurt
Nothing reminds you that you live in an affluent society quite like automated, machine-dispensed fro-yo. Getting the stuff is already pretty easy: You just go to your nearest Pinkberry, Red Mango, or other similar chain location, dispense your desired quantity of underwhelming frozen treat, top it with stale candy, and pay by weight.
But D.C.-based Frobot thinks it can make the whole process even easier with its new fro-yo vending machine. You just swipe your credit card and frozen yogurt comes out.
Is this the future?
Automation has always been met with a mix of excitement and fear. On the one hand, there's been a steady increase in productivity, safety, and precision in the American workplace. And sure, these vending machines have the added bonus of being available 24/7. But on the other hand, not even my job is immune from automation.
You know what? I think I'm going to keep my $1.25 and eat the leftovers I brought from home.
Source
Carl Djerassi poses for a portrait at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany, on April 28, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO – Carl Djerassi, the chemist widely considered the father of the birth control pill, has died.
Stanford University spokesman Dan Stober said Djerrasi (jer-AH-see) died Friday of complications of cancer at his San Francisco home. He was 91.
Djerassi was a professor emeritus at Stanford, but was most famous for leading a research team in Mexico City that in 1951 developed norethindrone, a synthetic molecule that became a key component of the first birth control pill.
“The pill” as it came to be known radically transformed sexual practices and women’s lives.
In his book, “This Man’s Pill,” Djerassi said the invention also changed his life, making him more interested in how science affects society.
Later in life, Djerassi wrote poems, short stories and plays.
Source
This time it seems to be for real – Disney is introducing its first Latina princess, Elena of Avalor, an olive-skinned beauty who will make her debut in a special episode of "Sofia the First," the Disney Junior hit TV show, and then will go on to have her very own spin-off.
If the news sound vaguely familiar it’s because a little over a year ago there was a lot of buzz when Sofia the First was mistakenly introduced as Hispanic. Despite the Spanish spelling of the name, it all turned out to be a misunderstanding, with President and CEO for the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) Alex Nogales playing a central role in clarifying the issue.
Now Nogales says he is pleased to see a Latina princess is finally coming to light.
“We are very happy about it,” he told Fox News Latino. “We all know that Latinos consume media, we all know they are the biggest consumers of this kind of media – so it makes sense, right?”
Nogales was told of the new character by Disney Junior’s VP Nancy Kanter, who called him on the eve of the official announcement, he said. They had met in 2012, to discuss and clarify the confusion regarding Sofia’s ethnicity, and in a way Elena of Avalor is a product of that meeting.
“I told her ‘when are we going to have a real Latina, not a counterfeit?’” he recalls.
The announcement that “Sofia the First” was Disney’s first Latina princess drew fire by some Hispanics who said she looked “too white” to be Latina, and the network’s decision not to emphasize her Hispanic roots.
Disney backpedaled after the controversy, saying Princess Sofia was not Latina but was of “mixed-heritage.”
“Princess Sofia is a mixed-heritage princess in a fairy-tale world,” explained Gerber. “Her mother is originally from an enchanted kingdom inspired by Spain (Galdiz) and her birth father hailed from an enchanted kingdom inspired by Scandinavia,” Co-Executive Producer/Writer Craig Gerber said at the time. “Sofia was born and raised in Enchancia, which is a make-believe ‘melting pot’ kingdom patterned on the British Isles. Sofia considers herself a normal Enchancian girl like any other. Her mixed heritage and blended family are a reflection of what many children today experience.”
In making the announcement on Thursday, Kanter said her creative team has delivered “a universal story with themes that authentically reflect the hopes and dreams of our diverse audience." The princess will be voiced by Aimee Carrero, of ABC Family's "Young & Hungry."
"What excites us most is the chance to use distinctive animation and visual design to tell wonderful stories influenced by culture and traditions that are familiar to the worldwide population of Hispanic and Latino families and reflect the interests and aspirations of all children as told through a classic fairy tale," she added in a statement.
The new series will start with one full-hour episode and then will continue developing as a series. Nogales said he is not bothered by the fact that Elena is not jumping to the big screen anytime soon.
“You start somewhere,” he said. “They are going to have a big long episode and then they will take it from there.”
[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2015/01/29/latina-princess-is-finally-born-disney-introduces-elena-avalor/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]
Carmody Groarke has been picked to design the UK Pavilion at the 2015 Feria Internacional del Libro (FIL) in Guadalajara Mexico.
The structure will celebrate the UK’s connections with Mexico at the largest Spanish-language literary festival in the world (28 November to 6 December 2015).
Carmody Groarke has previously built several award-winning pavilions, including the temporary restaurant for Studio East Dining (see AJ 25.06.10), the Skywalk for the London Festival of Architecture and the ‘timber-lined rooms’ at the Frieze Art Fair (see AJ 12.10.11).
The UK pavilion at Guadalajara will house a range of uses including a shop for a bookselling partner, a business area for publishers, exhibition spaces and an informal area for literary and music events.
Speaking about the announcement Kevin Carmody and Andy Groarke at Carmody Groarke, said: ‘We see this as an opportunity to make the UK pavilion a centrepiece for congregation, exhibition and debate within the book fair.’
The FIL Guadalajara has become the most important Spanish-language publishing industry gathering in the world drawing more than 1,900 publishing houses from 43 different countries participate, alongside nearly 700 authors and over 750,000 visitors.
The UK Pavilion will be the biggest celebration of British creativity in arts, culture, innovation and business ever to take place in Mexico with events and projects across the country.
The practice, which was shortlisted for the 2013 Stephen Lawrence Prize, has previous success working on temporary installations - the firm was commissioned to turn a disused filling station near Kings Cross into a temporary restaurant, cultural and social space.
Last year Carmody Groarke also reworked SOCA’s London Dresser scheme as an interim drop-in cancer centre for Maggie’s in Liverpool (see AJ 04.07.14).
David Elliott, British Council Head of UK in Mexico 2015, said: ‘Guadalajara will be a highlight and the culmination of our programme this year, and will showcase the high-quality, innovative, diverse and welcoming nature of British culture, both to Mexico and to the wider Latin American region.’
Vicky Richardson, British Council Director Architecture, Design, Fashion, said: ‘We were impressed by Carmody Groarke’s inspired response to the brief, which relates sensitively to the context of the Book Fair and also proposes a bold, flexible structure. The pavilion will be the platform for the British literary programme at the Fair as well as representing British design excellence and innovation.’
Everything is ready for the second edition of the Night Golf Tournament in Flamingos Golf with the participation of 72 players that will step boldly into the dark…
Puerto Vallarta’s attractions and the recovery of the traveling market in USA, motivated Southwest Airlines authorities to decide incorporating a new daily flight from Los Angeles, California to Puerto Vallarta starting June 7.
The warmer weather. The beaches. The lower cost of living. The many options for health care coverage. And the proximity to the United States.
Those are among the top reasons that Americans increasingly are looking south of the border to retire, or for those not yet ready to comb gray hair, to start a new mid-life chapter. They are particularly appealing during the winter months, when large swaths of the country are dealing with nasty snow storms and sub-zero temperatures.
Top destinations include Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia, according to organizations that follow such trends.
Social security records also show an uptick in American expats in Mexico, the Caribbean and South America, among other places.
Americans getting Social Security checks in Panama rose 112 percent from 2005, 32 percent in Costa Rica, 87 percent in Colombia and 47 percent in Ecuador, for just a few examples.
Region-wise, U.S. Social Security checks sent to Central America and the Caribbean went up 26 percent since 2005, and to South America, 48 percent, according to the Christian Science Monitor.
Ecuador is becoming, dare we say, super hot as far as Golden Years desitinations go.
It snatched the No. 1 slot in a ranking of best countries in the world – yes, world – to retire. International Living’s Annual Global Index 2015, released just this month, said: “Expats are drawn by the low cost of living, perfect climate, the beautiful and diverse landscapes and the favorable retiree benefits. The country gets top scores in the Buying and Renting and Climate categories and scores high across-the-board in all other categories.”
Panama and Mexico round out the top three in the list of 10, which includes other Spanish-speaking countries.
Ecuador has also been generating more and more of a buzz among vacationers, and the South American country of fewer than 16 million people is building on that attention.
Ecuador is said to be the first foreign country that is buying a 30-second ad, costing $3.8 million, during this Sunday’s Super Bowl game, telling Americans to go and discover Ecuador.
Dan Prescher, senior editor of International Living and a former Nebraskan who has lived in the mountain town of Cotacachi, Ecuador with his wife, Susan Haskins, for the last six years says a retiree can live in Ecuador for about half what it costs in the United States.
“The cost of living is a major draw,” Prescher said, “and weather is an incredibly important category” in ranking retirement places around the world.
“If you’re going to move somewhere, you should move somewhere where it’s beautiful weather.”
He and his wife live in a condominium unit where they have a view of two extinct volcanoes and a green valley.
They don’t have a car because, Prescher said, Ecuador’s public transportation suffices.
And they’re close enough to the United States, he said, “So that you can have breakfast in Quito and brunch in Atlanta.”
But there are drawbacks, of course.
“We’ve seen some U.S. expats come here thinking it’s going to be just like the United States, only at half cost,” he said.
Not quite.
It becomes important to learn at least functional Spanish, and things take longer, in general, to get done, he said.
“It’s a more laid-back culture, it’s just difference. Type A personalities who are used to getting things done right away get disappointed.”
When it comes to the ‘Benefits and Discounts for Retirees’ category of the Index, Panama has always ranked at the top with a perfect score of 100. Simply put, no other country in the Index does more for retirees, both local and foreign, offering a host of discounts with its Pensionado visa program.”
And Mexico gets a nod because of its proximity, for one thing.
“Established expat havens in communities such as Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel de Allende ease the integration process, while excellent property can still be found for far less than you’d pay in the States.”
Elizabeth Llorente can be reached at
[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/money/2015/01/27/trying-to-beat-winter-blues-more-and-more-americans-heading-to-latin-america/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]
Puerto Vallarta, Jal. - Capture Mexico’s nature in an image. Several Mexican Institutions have gotten together to promote the conservation and knowledge of Mexico’s beauty through photos. National Geographic en Espanol, Mexicanisimo, SECTUR,SEDEMA, the National Commission for knowledge (or Information) and the office of Environmental issues , invites everyone who enjoys photography, to participate in the First National Nature Photography Contest which began December 17, 2014, and will go on until March 15, 2015. The official site for the contest is Mosaico Natura Mexico.
The initiative for Mosaico Natura Mexico derives from CONABIO, National Geographic en Espanol and CANON’s combined initiative. Its purpose is to promote information of Mexico’s Natural beauty through pictures. The artistic show has already brought together 181 photographers from 21 different states. They have all made their contribution with spectacular images of the richness of Mexican Biodiversity. Some of these images have already been published in the National Geographic en Espanol, and CONABIO’s Biodiversity bulletin, as well as in Mexicanisimo magazine. Some photos have also been used in advertizing editorial products, workshops run by experts and in exhibits that have taken place in the Federal District, as well as in several other provinces.
Some of the work already promoted is: 25 Miradas al Bosque (25 Looks at the Forest), Mexican Biodiversity, creArte conCiencia (which could be read as Create Art with Science); and more recently: Tierra de Sol (Land of the Sun) as well as Mexican scenery as seen by young photographers and old time travelers, which is currently being exhibited at Casa CEM Gallery, of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
In a little more than four years after being released, in September 2010, Mosaico Natura Mexico has started again and it has become the official front page of the First Nature Photography Contest. National, foreigner, professional and amateur photographers can participate in this contest.
There are two categories: Adults, 18 years and older and Youth, 17 years and younger. What should you do if you want to participate in this Contest? You can register your photos, taken from 2011 until the closing date, via Internet at: www.mosaiconatura.net.
Photos should represent Mexico’s biodiversity and show different kinds of plants and animals in their natural habitat, their surroundings, their level or state of conservation and/or their touristic attraction. Keep in mind those pictures taken from 2011 up to the day the contest is close to the public, are accepted.
Each participant may send up to 5 photos (limited one per topic). Topics are:
1. Wild animals in wild life
2. Plants and mushrooms
3. Nature and human beings: How nature is used, customs related to their natural surroundings, agricultural, arts and crafts, medicinal, and spiritual, recreational and ceremonial activities.
4. Panoramic views and natural conserved ecosystems.
5. Nature in different touristic attractions.
The best 30 photos will be chosen: five from each topic in the Adult category, and one for each topic in the Youth Category. Jurors will take under consideration the following criteria: artistic value, originality, techniques, level of difficulty (attached to the type of ecosystem). In the Adult category, the first three places will receive cash: 15,000 pesos (a little more than US$1,000) first place; 10,000 pesos (about US$700.00) second place, and 5,000 pesos (about US$350) third place. Their work will also be published in the National Geographic en Espanol and Mexicanisimo magazines. They will also receive an annual subscription to these magazines and a trip to any of the natural protected areas in Mexico. They will be two honorary mentions for each category that will also be awarded. The prize for the youth category will consist of a compact camera and an annual subscription to the above mentioned magazines.
The 30 winner pictures will become part of Mosaico Natura Mexico exhibition that will be displayed throughout 2015 at Bosque de Chapultepec, Reforma Avenue, and will also be part of the mobile exhibits that will be displayed at different Mexican cities. As part of the promotions and information, a catalogue might be published with picture from the First Nature Photography Contest.
The winner’s names will be announced on May 2015 during the celebration of the fifth Biological Diversity Week, event that has been going on for four consecutive years, celebrating the International Biodiversity Day.
This first National Nature Photography Contest is like a showcase to photographers who with their art successfully transmit a message of reflection which helps to revive the desire to get to know and preserve Mexico’s natural means.
Find out more about this Contest at the official site of Mosaico Natura Mexico. Go ahead and participate!
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Contrary to popular belief your yearly resolution to keep active does not have to wane on holiday. With an abundance of activities on land, water and in the air on offer in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, its time to uncover the destination’s highlights, guaranteed to ensure an adventure like no other…
Featuring miles of vibrant jungle, intertwined with striking mountainous ranges, what better way to experience this part of Mexico than by zip lining through the tree bed in Puerto Vallarta. Experience the rush of gliding from a high point back to base level, taking in the sensational view as you go. This excursion can be done with Vallarta Adventures, who offer a chance to travel on Mexico's longest and fastest zip line, which is nearly 4,000 feet in length and reaches speeds of up to 60 mph!
You can also be one of the first people to test out the latest pioneering technology and try flyboarding. This exhilarating activity uses over 400 pounds of lift to defy gravity and propel an individual up into the air. The once-in-a-lifetime feeling of flying into the sky, or soaring through the water by jet is made possible by Vallarta Adventures. With trained instructors on hand for 30 minute sessions this is sure to indulge extreme sports fans and thrill-seekers.
If that doesn’t fill your adrenaline quota try off-roading through the jungle in Puerto Vallarta. Vallarta Adventures also offer the opportunity to test your off-road driving skills and navigate the rugged jungle floor, zooming across rocky river beds, uneven foliage and climbing up hills in a daring Polaris RZR UTV.
Over in neighbouring Riviera Nayarit there are also plenty of opportunities to stay active and indulge your competitive side at this time of year. From 12th- 16th March 2015, the pristine beach at the world-famous Hard Rock Hotel plays host to the IV International Beach Polo Cup. This glamorous event draws in an impressive crowd looking to watch the exciting competition unfold and learn tips from the masters of the sport.
Sailing enthusiasts will also be thrilled as from March 3-7th 2015 the 23rd annual Banderas Bay Regatta is set to take place in Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit. This regatta is one of the biggest cruiser regattas in the world, combining an exhilarating mix of short and long course races. As well as great racing, visitors are guaranteed a fun filled week of music, gastronomy and camaraderie on the shores of the Pacific.
Banderas Bay is also a fantastic destination for scuba diving. Dive in and get up close to Mexico’s vibrant marine life, ranging from tropical fish, lobsters, turtles and octopus, to dolphins, eels and manta rays. The best sites include Las Marietas Islands Marine Reserve, home to the iconic ‘Hidden Beach’ and El Morro diving site. Las Marietas Islands Marine Reserve is ideal for beginners seeking a 1-tank dive, with depths of 25-75ft and an average visibility of 39ft. For more advanced divers El Morro is a perfect spot, as the site is comprised of a series of rocks which provide a diverse mix of technical dive challenges below the surface including wall and cave diving - the ultimate eco adventure.
The simplest way to slice a bunch of cherry tomatoes is to sandwich them between two plastic lidsand run a long knife through all of them at once!
Wow there has to be one or two that you didn't know about , but are glad now you do
Keep brown sugar soft by storing
with a couple of marshmallows.
Install a regular coat rack low
down the wall to store shoes
safely off the floor.
Create a thrifty watering can by puncturing holes in the
top of a used milk bottle.
Remove pet hair from furniture and carpets with a squeegee 
Flip a toaster on its side to make grill cheese. INGENIOUS!!
Water straight from the tap becomes cloudy when frozen.To make ice cubes crystal clear,
allow a kettle of boiled water to cool slightly
and use this to fill your ice cube trays.
Use a large muffin tin to cook stuffed peppers in the oven - it will help keep them upright.
To prevent potatoes budding,
add an apple in the bag.
REALLY?
Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to the water when hard-boiling eggs to
make the shells incredibly easy to peel off.
WD40 can be used to remove crayon marks
from any surface! Cool!
To tell if eggs are fresh, immerse them in a bowl of water.
Fresh eggs will lie on the bottom, while stale eggs will float to the surface.
To clean a wooden chopping board, sprinkle on a handful of Kosher salt
and rub with half a lemon.Rinse with clean water
and dry to ensure it is clean and germ-free.
Use ice-cubes to lift out indentations made
by furniture on your carpets.
soil from escaping through the holes in the base
of flowerpots by lining with large coffee filters.
To sharpen scissors, simply cut through sandpaper.
ANOTHER GOOD ONE!
Use rubber bands to help open a jar easily:place one around
the jar lid and another around the middle of the glass.
The rubber provides friction to prevent your hands from slipping.
To prevent your eyes watering while chopping onions,
wipe the chopping board with white vinegar
(which won't affect the taste of the onions).
Store bed sheets inside their
pillowcases for easy storage and access.
Drop a couple of denture cleaning tablets into the
toilet bowl at night to clean off stubborn stains.
Use cupcake cases to cover drinks glasses in the summer
and prevent flies from dropping in.
GOOD ONE
Use egg boxes to store delicate Christmas tree decorations.
This has to be the simplest way to open those annoying blister packs!
TERRIFIC!
Use a cut potato to easily
remove a broken light bulb.
Use chalk to remove grease stains from clothes.Simply rub white chalk
on the affected area and wash as normal - the chalk will absorb
the grease and be washed away in the cycle.
FROZEN GRAPES ARE GREAT EVEN WITHOUT THE WINE
Use a rubber band to rescue
a stripped screw.
Wrap rubber bands around the ends of a coat hanger
to prevent dresses from slipping off.
This is one way to let your wife know ... something.
A man in New York state rented a bulldozer and demolished the house without letting his wife know. His wife says all of her belongings were inside the home at the time, and she was shocked to come home to rubble.
"I came around the corner and I just saw my neighbor's house, and I didn't see my house," homeowner Diane Andryshak told News 12 Westchester.
The man's wife, Diane Andryshak, is the legal owner of the home.
If that wasn't weird enough, the man with the plan and the bulldozer, James Rhein, was surprisingly chill about the whole situation, giving two local TV stations interviews while sitting in his truck.
"Why not wait and let her get her things out," WNBC's Jen Maxfield asked.
"I tried calling her. She didn't answer the phone," Rhein said.
"She only got one day's notice," Maxfield responded.
"How many days should I give her," Rhein asked. "The foundation was bad. We had to take it down."
Think that's strange? Yeah, so did everyone else. Here are just a few of the reactions:
"He better do something big on Valentine's Day," one "Today" anchor said.
"If she wants him..." another quipped.
One "Morning Express" anchor joked, "I remember what happened to me when I put the dishes in the wrong cupboard. This guy. My friend, you are in for a dry spell."
The couple says they weren't fighting about anything, but we're renovating the house. Rhein says he tried to file for a permit Monday to legally excavate the house, but government offices were closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Rhein is out on bail for the stunt.
[readon1 url="http://www.aol.com/article/2015/01/21/ny-man-nonchalantly-illegally-bulldozes-wifes-home/21132959/?icid=stnwsltr%7Caol"]Source:www.aol.com[/readon1]
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