Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Mexican Celebrations

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When people think of Mexican celebrations, they often think of Cinco de Mayo. My friend, there are many more Mexican celebrations to enjoy than just this celebration of a military victory over the French.

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Mexican Celebrations

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Mexico is a diverse and ancient country, full of many different traditions and celebrations. The native culture of the Mayans, mixed with the Spanish and even German cultures of those who have ruled Mexico make for a combination of holiday styles and reasons to celebrate that are unparalleled in other countries. The predominant Catholic religion also plays a part in the many different Mexican celebrations, and taking a trip to Mexico during one of these holiday times will make for a most memorable vacation.

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One of the oddest (at least to those outside of Mexico) celebrations in this country is the Day of the Dead (El Dia de Los Muertos). Taking place over two days on November 1st and 2nd, this holiday is used to celebrate those who have passed away and other ancestors. In Oaxaca, Mexico, this Mexican celebration is especially important. Starting on noon on November 1st, families flock to the cemetery where Mariachis play music for the dead and items and food are brought to the graves of the deceased to honor them. All of the favorites of the dead relatives are included, and many families set up altars in their homes to honor their ancestors. Started with a religious picture (usually of the Virgin of Guadeloupe), these altars also include pictures of the dead along with offerings of favorite foods and even items such as liquor and cigars.

The Day of the Dead celebrations last two days with the first day and night being primarily for the children and the second being for the adults. Candles and incense burn all through the towns and cemeteries, and a marriage of the pagan roots of this ceremony and the Catholic traditions that were infused into the holiday can be seen throughout the ceremony. Mexican celebrations are extremely happy occasions. Even this one that celebrates the dead is not a scary or dark. Rather, it's an interesting festival that helps people to commune with those who have left them and to come to terms with death while giving the process the respect it deserves.

Many Mexican celebrations spring from religious tradition, such as the Day of the Dead, Christmas pageantry and Easter passion plays. Visiting Mexico during one of these times can help to give tourists a great sense of what the country and its inhabitants are truly like, while also giving visitors a chance and excuse to party.

Mexican Celebrations

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Lasagna: The Quick, Easy, and Delicious Way

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Do you know that the local restaurant you frequent probably doesn't make everything from scratch? I learned this when I worked in a New York City a while back. Much to my dismay, I watched one day as the kitchen staff unpacked boxes of already-made sauces, packages of conveniently chopped vegetables, and even prepared cookie dough and pie-shells. There is a well-known chain of sandwich shops that boasts heroes with "freshly baked bread". But you might be expecting to find frenetic yeast rising and dough rolling in the back. Chances are you would see globs of dough pre-formed into hero-bread shape, waiting to be put in the oven. And what's the difference? The cookie or bread would taste freshly baked, and the cooks wouldn't waste time with rolling pins or discarding dough that didn't rise. It makes for a much more efficient kitchen, right?

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Well, why not use the same principle in your own kitchen? You can make a delicious lasagna without rolling out the pasta dough, or even toiling over a stove to make your own sauce, like Grandma did. Of course, if you want to do everything from scratch, more power to you, because you probably have no kids, don't have to work for a living, and have someone to clean the mansion and do the laundry. But for the rest of us, leave the saucing to Francesco Rinaldi, and the pasta artistry to Ronzoni. Your guests will think you knocked yourself out for them, and you can still put your own culinary signature on your lasagna. To this day, friends still call me on me to tell them how to make "my" lasagna, and my name doesn't even end in a vowel!

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First, buy a package of lasagna pasta. To make it special, you can get green spinach pasta. If you want to make it really outstanding and you live in a big city, or an area with a big Italian population, you can go to the local Italian deli and get fresh lasagna noodles, instead of picking your box off the grocery shelf. Check with the store about cooking time and make sure you tell them you are making a lasagna, so the pasta will be put in the oven after cooking. Sometimes you get already-cooked pasta that you can put right into the oven without par-boiling. If you use pasta from the box, do not boil it for the 15 minutes they tell you on the box. You want your pasta to be "al dente" which is a little hard, because when you put it in the oven to bake your lasagna, the pasta will cook more, and you don't want it to overcook it and let it get mushy.

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The next thing you are going to put together is your filling. Now, here is where you are going to put your own signature on your lasagna. Mine was little mini-meatballs, but you can also brown the chopped meat and put it in too. Start with some tomato sauce. Here too, take liberty and pick out a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce. You can use meat sauce and you don't have to brown any meat. You can use sauce with sausage, or to make it really special, buy already-made Italian sausage. Make sure you cook it first. Want to add your own special vegetable? You can put in cooked eggplant, zucchini. Onions, peppers or whatever you want. Add fresh herbs if you desire. If you want to make a vegetarian lasagna, leave out the meat. Want to go easy on the calories and cholesterol? Use chicken or instead of chopped beef, use chopped veal or even chopped turkey. For a very different lasagna, put in seafood -- calamari, mussels, or even shrimp.

Now you are ready to assemble your lasagna and put it in the oven to bake. You will need a large container of ricotta cheese and a package of mozzarella cheese too. Take a rectangular baking dish- either glass or metal, or even disposable. Spray the bottom with non-stick cooking spray or a thin layer of olive oil. Then line the bottom of the pan with sauce. Then cover the bottom with a layer of your pre-cooked "al dente" lasagna noodles. Next, slather on your ricotta cheese in a thick layer. Then, put on your filling and sauce. Then, put another layer of lasagna noodles, again slather on ricotta, and again your filling. Top off with a layer of lasagna noodles, liberally pour sauce on top, and then slices of mozzarella to cover the top. Put the pan in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes, or until the mozzarella on top is completely melted and the sauce is bubbling.

Make sure to serve some Italian bread and compliment with a good bottle of wine, and your guests will never know that you didn't slave all day. You can even make the components of the filling the day before. That way, all you have to do on the night of your dinner party is parboil the lasagna noodles, assemble the lasagna, and pop it in the oven. Everything is already cooked; you only have to put it all in the oven to melt the mozzarella and heat everything up. The lasagna is your creation. You have chosen what goes into it and what flavors and spices your guests' taste buds will enjoy. And the best part? If there are leftovers, you can reheat it and enjoy it again. I will never figure out why, but Italian food always tastes even better the second time around. Isn't there a song like that? Or is it love that is better the second time around? Love? Lasagna? They certainly go together.

Lasagna: The Quick, Easy, and Delicious Way

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Fun Facts About South America

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DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

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Brazil has many famous actresses, some of them are: Gloria Pires, Fernanda Montenegro, Florionda Bolkan, Sonia Braga, Regina Duarte, Vera Fischer, Xuxa, and Bruna Lombardi.

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DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

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Miss Universe pageant 1982 was held in Lima, Peru, where Karen Diane Baldwin of Canada won. The judges were: Cecely Tyson ( actress), Mario Vargas Llosa (writer), Ron Duguay (sportsman), Franco Nero (actor), Carole Bouquet (actress), Dong Kingman (painter), Ira von Furstenberg (princess), David Coperfield (illusionist), David Merrick (theatrical producer), and Gladys Zender (Miss Peru and Miss Universe 1957).

DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

Quito, Ecuador´s capital, is a city which reflects beautiful colonial architecture. It is surrounded by big mountains.

DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

"Evita" a film by British director Alan William Parker was inspired in the life of Maria Eva Duarte de Peron, who was first lady of Argentina in the past century.

DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

Oswaldo Guayasamin was one of the best painters in South America.He was born on July 6, 1919, in Quito, Ecuador.

DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

Colombia hosted the Pan American Games (1971).

DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

Gabriel Jose Garcia Marquez is one of the best writers in South America. He was born on March 6, 1928, in Aracataca, Magdalena,Colombia.Gabriel Garcia Marquez won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982.

DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

Rosalia Arteaga Serrano de Fernandez de Cordova had an ephemeral government. She became Ecuador´s first female head of state for only two days in 1997.

DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

Brazil has had many famous athletes in the 20th century: Joao Carlos de Oliveira (track and field), Ana Mozer (volleyball), Edson Arantes do Nacimento (soccer), Djan Madruga (swimming), Maria Esther Bueno (tennis), Marcelo Ferreira (sailing), Hortencia Marcari Oliva (basketball),Gustavo Borges (swimming), Robson Caetano da Silva(track and field), Adhemar Ferreira (track and field), Marcia Fu Cunha (volleyball), Oscar Schmidt (basketball), Marcelo Negrao (volleyball), Joaquin Cruz (track and field), and Rogerio Sampaio (judo).

DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

UNESCO has declared Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (Bolivia), Rapa Nui National Park (Chile), Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (Colombia), Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Suriname) and Jesuit Missions of La Santisima Trinidad de Parana and Jesus de Tavarange (Paraguay) World Heritages Sites.

DID YOU KNOWN THAT...

The Colombian people have two idols: Shakira (singer) and Carlos Vives (singer)...

Fun Facts About South America

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Airplane Crashes - Causes and Prevention

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Flying in small airplanes often carries a greater risk than flying in large aircraft, though accidents can occur with either. Sometimes airplane crashes happen low to the ground and can be relatively minor, while high speed crashes or crashes at high altitude may result in serious injury or death. A crash can be emotionally and physically devastating for passengers and crew alike.

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Sometimes crashes occur because of equipment malfunction or human error. If you or someone you know has been involved in an airplane crash, a personal injury lawyer can help determine who is legally responsible and can help crash victims and victims' families fight for compensation.

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Causes of Aircraft Crashes

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There are a number of interfering factors or errors that can cause an airplane to crash, including:

Storm interference. Lightning can interfere with equipment function, and strong winds can blow a plane off course or cause the pilot to lose control of the aircraft. Equipment malfunction. The readings on equipment may be wrong or the equipment may cease to work altogether. Improper maintenance. Maintenance workers may fail to catch a worn out part or other faulty equipment, or may improperly install a part. Pilot error. A pilot may interpret readings incorrectly, miss certain instructions, or otherwise cause the plane to crash. Control tower error. Air traffic controllers may get aircraft courses wrong or relay incorrect instructions to pilots, which can cause a crash.
Avoiding a Crash or Injury

As a pilot or crew member on a personal aircraft, always check the weather, your equipment, and your course before you depart. If you feel that something is wrong with the aircraft, do not try to fly. Always confirm instructions from the control tower and readings on navigational instruments. If you feel that something is wrong during flight, communicate the problem to the crew and to the control tower and attempt to land the plane as soon as possible.

If you are a passenger, the best thing you can do is stay calm and follow crew instructions. Keeping calm during a crash and listening to directions can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

Airplane Crashes - Causes and Prevention

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

How to Buy Discount Movie Tickets Online

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Going to the movies is a great past time for families. However, it has become very expensive in recent years. It can be quite costly for a family of 4 or 5 to visit the movie theater when you factor in movie tickets, popcorn and soda. Because of the costs, many families have cut-back on going to the movies.

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Today's difficult economic climate has caused many to re-evaluate what they do in their spare time. When times were good, it wasn't uncommon for families to take many vacations per year, or spend money on fun activities like skiing, theme parks and other fun things. Recent job losses have caused many to think twice about spending money. Families have started to look for things to do together that don't have to cost a lot of money. If you shop around, going to the movies doesn't have to be expensive.

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Did you know that you could save money by buying your movie tickets in places other than at the movie theater? It's true! There are a few different places where you can purchase your movie passes at a discount without putting a hole in your wallet. The following are the top three places to buy discount movie tickets:

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AMC Theatres

AMC Entertainment Inc. is a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company with interests in 309 theatres with 4,628 screens. Approximately 99 percent of AMC's theatres are located in the United States and Canada. The AMC Theatres website sells movie gift cards and movie coupons at discount prices. These discounts are available to individuals as well as corporations.

Costco

Costco is a large warehouse store that also sells movie tickets. When most people think of Costco, they think of buying large items or buying food in bulk. Costco also has arrangements to sell tickets for some of the largest movie theatre chains at a discounted price. Often they sell ticket packages, which include not only the movie tickets, but also credit at the concession stand for popcorn and drinks.

Regal Entertainment Group

Yet another place to buy cheap movie tickets is through the Regal Movies site. This website is owned by the Regal Entertainment Group, which operates a large chain of movie theatres. They have various programs available to organizations, companies, groups and individuals who may benefit from buying movie tickets in bulk, or individuals that wish to purchase gift cards for someone special. You can save time and money by buying your movie tickets through their website.

Going to the movies is a great past time for families. Follow these tips to save money on your next movie ticket purchase.

How to Buy Discount Movie Tickets Online

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Intimate Vegas Wedding For Two - How to Do it Right

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An intimate Vegas wedding for two is something a lot of newly engaged couples contemplate. These days, wedding costs are very expensive and money is super tight. Getting married shouldn't be about money and extravagant settings. It should be about two people starting a new life together and building a future of happiness.

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Unfortunately, many couples set out to start a new life together and everything goes all wrong once they arrive in Las Vegas, Nevada. The very best way to plan and prepare for these situations is to get very clear about your goals and your shared vision for the ceremony together. Maybe this sounds obvious but you do not want to look back on this first experience together with regret.

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If an intimate wedding is what you have your heart set on, you have the right idea. Las Vegas is a great place to elope and not worry about what everyone else might think. Not only can modern weddings be very expensive, they also can be extremely stressful and debilitating on your health. Women are usually quite strained by the wedding planning process because of the heavy emphasis our culture places on their special day.

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There is something very smart about just skipping off to Vegas and doing it all in one fell swoop. You just need to be sure you don't spend more money than you have to and that you do the right research before you head out to wed. There is so much information available online, you have to be very careful about which sites you trust and where you get your tips and tricks.

My emphasis in helping people plan Las Vegas weddings has always been on saving money and keeping costs down. That way, once you're married and the deal is done you can actually enjoy your vacation time in the exciting city and have a great time you will never forget!

Intimate Vegas Wedding For Two - How to Do it Right

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Large Dog House Plan - Big Dogs Need Space!

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If you've got a big dog, like a doberman, you'll want to build your dog's kennel from a large dog house plan. Big dog houses come in a variety of forms, and can be a standard kennel or a duplex (for more than one dog). This article gives you a general outline to both types, and aims to guide you to the next step in building a DIY dog kennel.

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The Standard Large Dog Kennel

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You can opt to build out of wood, brick, or even stone. I highly recommend wood, as it's the cheapest and simplest to construct from. Once you've purchased or downloaded a base-plan, you'll need to make a few choices.

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Things to keep in mind include:

- Do you want a flat roof or an angled roof? Both have advantages. The angled roof allows water to run off easier, and the flat roof gives your dog space to lay out in the sun. You could also use it for some pot plants.

- Just how large a dog house do you need? Most large dog house plans are very easily adjusted to the size of your dog. Ensure to measure the height of your pet, as well as the space it takes up when sleeping.

The Duplex Dog House For Multiple Dogs

For those of you with more than one dog, a duplex dog house is really not that hard to build. You pretty much just build 2 kennels with a removable wall. This way your pets can sleep on their own or together. It's a great option to have, especially in the cooler months.

Obtaining Large Dog House Plans

You can usually find dog kennel plans in your local hardware store. However, you might like to know that you can also download DIY construction schematics from the internet, which can save time and money. Generally these packages will provide you with more than one building plan included, so you can change your mind at any time after downloading.

Large Dog House Plan - Big Dogs Need Space!

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