Issue 834, April 1st - 7, 2013

April 1st - 7, 2013 | Issue 834

The paper used in this publication is ecology friendly

Free Issue

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Natural Orchids at Vallarta Botanical Gardens

VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

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The Natural Beauty of OUR Mountain

Plants

2000

Mammals

80

Birds

300

Amphibians and Reptiles

Butterflies

85

500

50% of these species are endemic to MĂŠxico.

We propose the area to be designated a

Natural Preserve Because for Vallarta,

Without the Mountain...

There is no future

Editor's Note

VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

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‘Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so.’

Doris Lessing Hello Puerto Vallarta, Life moves in mysterious ways, and often we are presented with new and exciting opportunities when we least expect them. I have been living in Mexico, with my family for the past year and a half, developing a dream of my own. I am the editor of the publication, Mexi-Go!, that showcases all that Mexico has to offer, to a Canadian audience. While this dream moves forward, I have also been presented with the enviable opportunity to recreate your weekly newspaper, the Vallarta Tribune, as a source of information for English speakers regarding all things here in Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas. I want to invite you to join me on this adventure.

Why did you move here? What opportunities do you see in Mexico, in Puerto Vallarta? How has living here changed your life? Through my recent travels I have met so many people in

this country with stories that captivate and charm. Many of us come here to seek new opportunities and to explore new avenues in our lives. A part of this process requires that we immerse ourselves into our new communities, which can mean changing our perceptions, or working to change the circumstances of others (even pets!).

Ultimately we are here because we have embraced an opportunity to explore a new dimension in our lives.

In the coming issues of Vallarta Tribune you will see many changes, some that might work and some that might not but it is my intention to create a newspaper that explores the many opportunities we have here in Vallarta and Mexico. I ask you to please, let me know what you want to see in these pages and together we can build on this opportunity to create a resource that truly speaks to life in Mexico.

Madeline Milne Editor, Vallarta Tribune

Enjoy free bus tours of Jalisco this Easter Break

On your marks, get set, swim!

In Riviera Nayarit 500 swimmers from all categories are expected to participate in the third edition of the Aguas Abiertas Riviera Nayarit, which will take place on April 27 at Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

Swimmers all categories are invited to join this fun competition. Children 7 to 10 will swim 500m; ages 11 and 12 will swim 1.250 km.; ages 13 and 14 will swim 2.5 km, and amateurs 15 and older will be required to complete 3.75 km in under 2 hours.

The main competition will be a 5k race for professionals with a time limit of 1 hour, 20 minutes. In 2012, two competitors from Guadalajara won this race: Alan Rojas Sagrero, timing 1:01:33, and Lizeth Rueda Santos, at 01:03:26, were the champions.

TO PARTICIPATE Registration will be open until April 24. The cost is $550 pesos, and rises to $600 pesos after April 21st.

For more information, contact: belin@ nadoseguro.com or pedromoran@ nadoseguro.com

In front of the Degollado Theater, La Manzanilla de la Paz, San Sebastian was the kick-off for the annual annual del Oeste, Puerto Vallarta, San Julian, free tours offered by Setujal.

San Miguel Alto, Mexticacán, Ocotlan, Jamay, Atenguillo, and Talpa de Offered to residents of Puerto Allende.

Vallarta over the weeks of Easter and Passover, these tours will feature Those wishing to take part in these twenty round trips and thirteen tours must be present at the Ministry overnight trips for a total of thirty-three of Tourism, 105-A Paseo Degollado, free tours within the state of Jalisco, Plaza Tapatia, to reserve your spot. starting March 25th through April 6th. Spaces will be awarded by lottery on March 27, March 29, April 01 and April During this holiday period the day 03 at 10:00am. long tours will visit nine destinations including Amacueca, Sayula Atengo, For the day tours families will be Ahualulco Market, Etzatlán, Villa given up to 4 tickets. In the case of Corona /Aquatic Park, San Juan de los the overnight trips you must register Lagos and Santa Ana de Guadalupe. a family of four.

Overnight trips will be to Colotlán, Call the Social Tourism Coordinator Bolaños, Conception of Buenos Aires, for more information 3 668-1607

Welcome

VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

AREA: 1,300 sq. kilometers POPULATION: Approx. 325,000 inhabitants CLIMATE: Tropical, humid, with an average of 300 sunny days per year.

The temperature averages 28 oC (82oF) and the rainy season extends from late June to early October.

FAUNA: Nearby Sierra Vallejo hosts a great variety of animal species such as iguana, guacamaya, deer, raccoon, etc.

Cover Photo by Moralea Milne

www.vallartatribune.com

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fernando Gonzalez Corona DIRECTOR Lic. Arturo Martinez Rojas

MANAGER ADVERTISING & SALES For advertising call Office: 226-0829 or

MANAGING EDITOR Madeline Milne mads.milne@gmail.com

DESIGNER Cynthia Estela Andrade Gutierrez cisandra@vallartatribune.com

Vallarta Tribune is an activity and entertainment guide and merely publishes information as it is provided by the advertiser or event host.

We do not assume responsibility in errors or omissions other than to correct them as soon as they are made known to us regarding event schedules, locations and/or prices. In addition, we do not assume any responsibility for erroneous inclusion or exclusion of information except to take reasonable care to ensure accuracy, that permission has been obtained to use it, and to remove it as soon as is practical upon receiving your notification of error.

We recommend you always confirm prior to attending or visiting an event or establishment.

Editor.

Weekly publication edited, printed and distributed by Ediciones y Publicaciones Siete Junio, SA de CV Grupo Editorial Tribuna Calle 21 de Marzo # 1174 Col. Lomas del Coapinole Del. El Pitillal, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco México CP 48290 Tel. (322) 226-0829, 226-0800

SANCTUARIES: Bahía de Banderas encloses two Marine National Parks - Los Arcos and the Marieta Islands - where diving is allowed under certain circumstances but fishing of any kind is prohibited. Every year, the Bay receives the visit of the humpback whales, dolphins and manta rays in the winter.

During the summer, sea turtles, a protected species, arrive to its shores to lay their eggs.

ECONOMY: Local economy is based mainly on tourism, construction and to a lesser degree, on agriculture, mainly tropical fruit such as mango, papaya, watermelon, pineapple, guanabana, cantaloupe and bananas.

CURRENCY: The Mexican Peso is the legal currency in Mexico although Canadian and American dollars are widely accepted.

BUSES: A system of urban buses with different routes. Current fare is $6.50 Pesos per ticket and passengers must purchase a new ticket every time they board another bus.

There are no “transfers”.

TAXIS: There are set rates within defined zones of the town.

Do not enter a taxi without agreeing on the price with the driver FIRST. If you are staying in a hotel, you may want to check the rates usually posted in the lobby.

Also, if you know which restaurant you want to go, do not let the driver change your mind.

Many restaurateurs pay commissions to taxi drivers and you may end up paying more than you should, in a second-rate establishment!

There are 2 kinds of taxi cabs: those at the airport and the maritime port are usually vans that can only be boarded there.

They have pre-fixed rates per passenger.

City cabs are yellow cars that charge by the ride, not by passenger.

When you ask to go downtown, many drivers let you off at the beginning of the area, near Hidalgo Park. However, your fare covers the ENTIRE central area, so why walk 10 to 15 blocks to the main plaza, the Church or the flea market?

Pick up a free map, and insist on your full value from the driver!

Note the number of your taxi in case of any problem, or if you forget something in the cab.

Then your hotel or travel rep can help you check it out or lodge a complaint.

TIME ZONE: The entire State of Jalisco is on Central Time, as is the southern part of the State of Nayarit - from San Blas in the north through to the Ameca River, i.e.: San Blas, San Pancho, Sayulita, Punta Mita, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Bucerías, Nuevo Vallarta, etc.)

TELEPHONE CALLS: Always check on the cost of long distance calls from your hotel room. Some establishments charge as much as U.S. $7.00 per minute!

CELL PHONES: Most cellular phones from the U.S. and Canada may be programmed for local use, through Telcel and IUSAcell, the local carriers.

To dial cell to cell, use the prefix 322, then the seven digit number of the person you’re calling.

Omit the prefix if dialling a land line.

MONEY EXCHANGE: Although you may have to wait in line for a few minutes, remember that the banks will give you a higher rate of exchange than the exchange booths (caja de cambio).

Better yet, if you have a «bank card», withdraw funds from your account back home.

Try to avoid exchanging money at your hotel. Traditionally, those offer the worst rates.

WHAT TO DO: Even if your allinclusive hotel is everything you ever dreamed of, you

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should experience at least a little of all that Vallarta has to offer - it is truly a condensed version of all that is Mexican and existed before «Planned Tourist Resorts», such as Cancun, Los Cabos and Ixtapa, were developed. Millions have been spent to ensure that the original “small town” flavor is maintained downtown, in the Old Town and on the South Side.

DRINKING WATER: The false belief that a Mexican vacation must inevitably lead to an encounter with Moctezuma’s revenge is just that: false.

For the 17th year in a row, Puerto Vallarta’s water has been awarded a certification of purity for human consumption. It is one of only two cities in Mexico that can boast of such accomplishment.

True, the quality of the water tested at the purification plant varies greatly from what comes out of the tap at the other end.

So do be careful.

On the other hand, most large hotels have their own purification equipment and most restaurants use purified water.

If you want to be doubly sure, you can pick up purified bottled water just about anywhere.

EXPORTING PETS: Canadian and American tourists often fall in love with one of the many stray dogs and cats in Vallarta.

Many would like to bring it back with them, but believe that the laws do not allow them to do so.

Wrong. If you would like to bring a cat or a dog back home, call the local animal shelter for more info: 293-3690.

LOCAL SIGHTSEEING: A good beginning would be to take one of the City Tours offered by the local tour agencies.

Before boarding, make sure you have a map and take note of the places you want to return to.

Then venture off the beaten path.

Explore a little.

Go farther than the tour bus takes you.

And don’t worry this is a safe place.

Nature in Mexico

VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

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Vallarta Botanical Gardens: Orchids of Mexico

Moralea Milne Mexi-Go!

Not every view in Mexico needs to be a long, sandy beach dotted with colourful umbrellas. Once the novelty wears off, you can begin to appreciate the towering mountains clothed in verdant tropical forests and the fresh clear water of a swift flowing stream, both teeming with an abundance of biodiversity that nature in Mexico provides.

Nestled into the forested hills of Costa Collegres, a thirty minute drive south of Puerto Vallarta, the world renowned Vallarta Botanical Gardens provides birds, butterflies, and botanical wonders easily viewed from accessible trails or while sitting in their charm-laden, curiositiesfilled restaurant, Hacienda de Oro (available for special events).

In 2004, Robert Price and his mother Betty came to Puerto Vallarta from Savannah Georgia and immediately recognised the incredible biodiversity of the area.

They soon purchased the twentyfive acres that house the Vallarta Botanical Gardens and began work on the installations. A derelict farmer's field provided enough space for buildings and the initial gardens, so that no trees needed to be cut, allowing almost half the site to be left in its natural state. In order to retain the diversity of bird and insect life, no pesticides are used.

If your heart stirs to the romance of orchids, you will find the Gardens irresistible. Mexico is home to about 1,200 species of orchids, 300 of them found only in Mexico. In a recent study of the five km surrounding the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, fifty-one wild orchid species were documented. The Gardens house a fabulous collection of native and

hybrid species, with plans afoot for the creation of a comprehensive national collection of the orchids of Mexico, that will allow for the study and propagation of all of Mexico's orchids.

Robert's true commitment though, is for the education of young people about the incredible natural bounty that lies within Mexico's many ecosystems. The trees that supply fruit and other secondary resources are a particular passion; save the forests and you can reap benefits that last long after the short term gain of logging. He encourages both students and teachers to explore the gardens by supplying free admission to them. The Pasitos de Luz, a daycare for severely handicapped children has a special place in his heart.

Robert is also involved in a new project that takes flight this year.

What plant do you associate with the beauty of the tropics? If your mind goes immediately to the red, white and pink profusion of bougainvillaea, the Puerto Vallarta First Annual Bugambilia Festival will be a must visit, May 17-24. To date, over 500 bougainvillaea have been planted and a number of activities and events are planned: vallartagardenclub.com/ events-eventos/ Explore the nature of Mexico from the comfort of the well developed and maintained Vallarta Botanical garden, experience the exquisite beauty of Mexico's orchids and enjoy a day that you will remember long past the fading suntan of your beach and margarita time.

The Vallarta Botanical Gardens is a registered Mexican charity that can also offer both US and Canadian tax deductible receipts. www. vbgardens.org

News

covering 3.8% of the Canadian market and 5.5% of its imports. On the other hand, 2.1% of Canadian production was acquired by Mexico, Canada’s 5th export market. 2 The majority of traded goods between both economies are manufactured products: of VALLARTA TRIBUNE93% 834 6 April 1st - 7, 2013 Mexican exports to Canada in 2010 were mainly electrical devices, televisions, cars and auto parts, whereas their imports from Canada constituted 82% of cars, auto parts, among others.

Mexico-Canada Bilateral Relation: A strategic partnership.

Angel Villalobos Rodriguez Consul General of Mexico in Vancouver, B.C.

Mexico-Canada Trade (Million Dollars)

Political dialogue and cooperation Mexico's imports from Canada

Growt Rate %

1993

2010

2011

1,175

8,607

9,645

Average Annula Growth Rate %

1993-2010 2010-2011 1993-2011 632.5

12.1

12.4

The 202nd anniversary of Canada's imports from Mexico 2,876 21,469 24,843 646.5 15.7 12.7 Mexican Independence and the celebration of sixty-eight years since Total 4,051 30,076 34,488 642.4 14.7 12.6 the establishment of diplomatic ties, Source: www.nafta-mexico.org serve as an opportunity to underline the excellent level of bilateral relations between Mexico and Canada. In fact, the A dreamed tourist location at the crossroads with the forums. Both countries participate relationship between these two North destination Asia-Pacific regionInvestment explains the actively in international and regional American countries has strengthened Foreign Direct Mexico is world renowned for presence of ProMexico (Mexican Trade organizations such as the UN, OAS, and broadened in all areas, evolving its beaches, hospitable people and Comission) and Tech BA (Technonlogy OECD, WTO, G-20, APEC, among into a strategic bilateral relationship, During Accelerator), the last 12 years, Foreign (FDI) has been a key delicious cuisine.

It isDirect also oneInvestment of the Business agencies whichCanadian others.

The interest of Canada and boosted by the implementation of world’s top touristsectors: destinationsfrom (10th January complement work of the Consulate Mexico 2010 to join to theJune Trans-Pacific NAFTA in 1994. Furthermore, the factor forthe the integration of our productive 2012, since 2010 ), and last year alone, 22.67 General as liaisons between Canadian Partnership is a step in this direction.

Canada-Mexico Partnership signed Canada’s cumulative FDI in Mexico reached 11.6Mexico, billion USD, becoming the fourth million foreign tourists visited investors and business opportunities The successful G20 Leaders Summit in October 2004 has enhanced this setting a historical has invested in Mexico. source of FDI in Mexico. held last June Los Cabos, strategic association by furthering largest Last year record. aloneCanada Canada asinmuch asillustrated 729.2 established itself as the second country Exports of Mexican products to our shared goals towards restoring cooperation between public and private million from USDJanuary and for the2012 2000-2012 Canadian investments represented of of originperiod with a total of 1.6 million Canada to July global economic growth,4.1% financial sectors of both countries. Collaboration 3 Canadians visiting Mexico in 2011. totalled 14.6 billion amount environment stability, promoting quality jobs As and Initiatives such as the Mechanisms Mexico’s FDI . USD, Thisanfavorable is the result of NAFTA’s legal framework.

Moreover, over 250 thousand British almost ten times more than the improving food security. on Labour and Youth Mobility and 4 of July 2012, 3,059 firms with Canadian were registered in Mexico Columbianscapital travelled south that trade value of 1993 (1.5 billion USD).

I would like. to conclude by the Seasonal Agricultural Workers year, representing 13% of Canadian Mexico was, from January to July stating that Canada and Mexico are Program (SAWP), which has benefited visitors to Mexico. The presence of the 2012, Canada’s third commercial strategic North American associates the Canadian agricultural sector and Mexico Tourism Board in Vancouver partner and supplier covering 3.8% with complementary economies and over 200,000 MexicanSource: workers since Ministry of Economy underlines the importance of this of the Canadian market and 5.5% of strong political, social and cultural 1974 are 2 examples of this spirit of market.

In addition, thousands of imports.

On the other hand, 2.1% of ties. Moreover, our relationship grows collaboration.Taking In British the Columbia example ofits the mining sector, total bilateral trade amounted to 1.4 billion 1 http://www.economia-snci.gob.mx/sic_php/vp3/pages/files_varios/pdfs/Can_Jul12.pdf Canadian expatriates and retirees have Canadian production was acquired by stronger, compelling us to continue only, 3,570 Mexican workers and 5. over 2 USD in 2011 Figures Mexico, are bound to grow considering thatchosen Mexico is the world’s largest http://www.economia-snci.gob.mx/sic_php/vp3/pages/files_varios/pdfs/Can_Jul12.pdf Mexico as a second home.

Canada’s 5th export market. exploring this enormous potential and 366 local farms have participated in 3 destination for mining exploitation (1st in Latin America). It silver during producer, the 4th The majority of traded goods between to work together in order to strengthen the SAWP program the 2012 http://www.economia.gob.mx/files/comunidad_negocios/comision_nacional/2012_ii.pdf 4 A is shared vision economies are environment, manufactured and our relationship at all levels. season. It is important to the point outbestboth possesses 5th mining business considered the third most http://www.economia-snci.gob.mx/sic_php/vp3/pages/files_varios/pdfs/Can_Jul12.pdf Mexico and Canada are more products: 93% of Mexican exports to that, with the involvement of both attractive country for the Toronto Stock market, where 58% of world mining public References: than just strategic bilateral partners governments, we have been able to 6 Canada in 2010 were mainly electrical arelabour listed . devices, televisions, cars and auto and allies: they share a common PROMEXICO (2012). Mexico: Canada’s expand and companies guarantee the strategic partner. Negocios ProMéxico (México), vision on global issues in multilateral parts, whereas their imports from rights of the seasonal workers.

A dreamed tourist II, p.10-11 Canada constituted 82% of cars, auto Another bilateral program worthdestination http://www.economia.gob.mx/comunidadparts, among others. mentioning is the TEC-UBC Joint negocios Academic Program, in which each http://www.ottawa.economia.gob.mx/ Foreign Direct year 100 qualified students from the Mexico is world renowned for its beaches, hospitable http://www.nafta-mexico.org/ls23al.

Investment Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey people and delicious cuisine.

It is also one of the world’s php?s=24&p=3&l=2# During the last 127years, Canadian (ITESM) study at the Faculty of Arts, ), and last year top tourist destinations (10th since 2010 http://www.economia-dgm.gob.mx/dgpm/ Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has Faculty of Land and Food Systems produccion/produccion.htm been a keytourists factor forvisited the integration and the Sauder School 22.67 of Business of alone, million foreign Mexico, http://www.siimt.com/en/siimt/siim_siom of our productive sectors: from the University of British Columbia,record. setting a historical Canada has established itself http://www.promexico.gob.mx/es_mx/ January 2010 to June 2012, Canada’s participating in a program combining as the second country of origin with a total of 1.6 million promexico/home cumulative FDI in Mexico reached academic and life-learning experiences. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/ 11.6 billion USD, Moreover, becoming theover fourth Canadians visiting Mexico in 2011.

250 foreign_workers/ei_tfw/sawp_tfw.shtml A successful trading largest source of FDIsouth in Mexico. thousand British Columbians travelled thatLast year, http://vancouver.techba.org/ partnership year alone Canada invested as much representing 13% of Canadian visitors to Mexico.

The http://embamex.sre.gob.mx/canada/index.

As of today, Mexico and Canada as 729.2 million USD and for the 2000presence of the Mexico Tourism Board in Vancouver php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3 are each other’s third largest trading 2012 period Canadian investments 6&Itemid=28 partners. During the first the semester represented 4.1%market. of Mexico’sInFDI . This underlines importance of this addition, http://www.tec.ubc.ca/ of this year, total bilateral trade flows favorable environment is the result thousands of Canadian expatriates and retirees have reached 17.5 billion USD, an increase of of NAFTA’s legal framework. As of 847% in trade volume in comparison July 2012, 3,059 firms with Canadian to pre NAFTA capital were registered in Mexico .

5 years. By the end of http://www.economia-dgm.gob.mx/dgpm/produccion/produccion.htm 2011, the value 6 of total trade between http://www.economia.gob.mx/comunidad-negocios/industria-y-comercio/informacion-sectorial/mineria Mexico and Canada reached record Taking the example of the mining 7 http://www.siimt.com/work/sites/siimt/resources/LocalContent/1119/61/PDF_RankingOMT_2011_Sep12.pdf levels amounting to 34.5 billion USD, sector, total bilateral trade amounted 1.6 billion coming from the total trade to 1.4 billion USD in 2011 . Figures are between Mexico and British Columbia bound to grow considering that Mexico (BC) alone. It is important to highlight is the world’s largest silver producer, that BC is Mexico’s 4th business the 4th destination for mining partner among Canadian provinces, exploitation (1st in Latin America). It representing 5.1% of Mexico-Canada possesses the 5th best mining business trade for the January-July 2012 period. environment, and is considered the In fact 5.8% of total exports to Canada third most attractive country for the went to BC for that period, amounting Toronto Stock market, where 58% of to 844.4 million USD . The province world mining public companies are is one of the most dynamic and listed . competitive places to do business Source: Ministry of Economy in North America and its strategic Taking the example of the mining sector, total bilateral trade amounted to 1.4 billion USD in 20115. Figures are bound to grow considering that Mexico is the world’s largest

Financial

VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

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Trying to justify the interest rate cut

Rodolfo Navarrete

• The reference interest rate was lowered to 4.0%, but it is not necessarily going to stay there.

• The central bank is trying to avoid significant exchange rate appreciation and offset the adverse economic effects of efforts to balance government finance.

The minutes of the March 8 monetary policy meeting, at which the central bank lowered its reference interest rate, clearly confirmed our earlier observations that bank officials had come up with a somewhat torturous rationale with which to justify a decision that had been taken a priori.

To that end, the central bank’s board of governors employed three unconventional arguments. They began by citing a deterioration of the balance of risks with respect to economic growth and an improved balance in terms of the inflation outlook, though on this latter point the most significant argument was that the bank was observing a series of structural changes such as a reduction in the rate, volatility and persistence of inflation; the absence of second order effects in the process of price formation in light of changes to some relative prices such as the exchange rate; and the combination of an anchoring of expectations, and reductions in interest rates and inflation risk premiums.

While there is truth to these observations, many of these phenomenon, especially the former three, have been observed for at least the past ten years, so it is not apparent why the central bank would believe that they have suddenly assumed such great importance. Furthermore, falling interest rates are probably more the result of the global liquidity

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco March 22nd, 2013.- Local residents from across different sectors came together to attend the second Events Committee Meeting on Wednesday at SETAC on Calle Constitución in Old Town.

The group of local business leaders, led by long time Vallarta resident Bill Hevener, met to discuss the proposed event that may include a parade in the Zona Romántica ending with a music festival at Lázaro Cárdenas Park.

Bill Hevener spoke of the importance and impact of local community initiatives that have emerged to work in tandem or as a supplement to official promotional campaigns in Vallarta. The group reviewed tentative dates for the event and learned that a draft proposal had been submitted to City Hall to gauge support for the event.

The group is hoping to create up

arising out of the expansive monetary policies pursued by some developed and emerging economies than due to lower rates of inflation.

The central bank governors were careful to skirt the possibility that changes in other structural factors would have a significant impact on inflation including i) the programmed hikes in fuel prices, ii) the practice of wage inflation indexing; and iii) the monopoly character of price formation in the case of goods and services in Mexico.

Secondly, central bank officials said that the decision to lower the monetary policy interest rate was made in part to preempt exchange rate appreciation that would have the effect of tightening monetary policy. They argued that “if Mexico’s central bank were to leave its reference interest rate at its [then] current level, given the considerable, additional, relaxation of monetary conditions that a significant number of economies are expected to implement, it could lead to disproportionate capital inflows,” something that would, in turn, translate into exchange rate

appreciation. We are to understand that the decision to cut the reference interest rate would tend to dissuade such inflows, thereby sidestepping the sort of exchange rate appreciation that would have occurred had the bank’s reference rate pause been extended.

Presumably this would avoid a further deterioration of external accounts and would provide a timid response to what the head of the central bank termed the “perfect storm” that engulfs countries receiving too much in the way of external capital inflows that at some point will reverse direction.

This argument suggests that the central bank from now on will take note of exchange rate performance in making its interest rate decisions. In other words, we can expect a further reduction of interest rates in light of the exchange rate appreciation that began immediately after the rate cut announcement. The market has begun to price in such a future lowering of the interest rate thanks to the observation in the minutes that “while this lowering of the reference interest rate is a one-off move, we will at all times evaluate what

monetary posture is best suited for the economic environment.”

Third, the central bank also said it lowered the monetary policy interest rate to offset the effects of government policy moves expected at some point this year that will be aimed at lowering the fiscal deficit. On this point, the minutes note that “it is advisable to complement the lowering of the public deficit the presidential administration proposed and which the Mexican Congress approved, with a lowering of the monetary policy reference interest rate.”

In this sense, the central bank is counter-posing an expansive monetary policy to a tightening fiscal one in an effort to both sustain economic growth and to lower the government’s local currency debt servicing costs, something much to the likening of the Ministry of Finance. We are to assume that such costs will fall not only because of the need for less debt once the budget is fully balanced but also because a lower monetary policy interest rate favors lower domestic interest rates in general.

The lower cost of money is supposed to favor economic growth not only by expanding internal spending, but also by stoking external demand to the extent that the exchange rate can be kept depressed. This would be justified under conditions of a relative slowing of the economy also long as there are assurances regarding such a deceleration.

Unfortunately, the headline rate of inflation for the first half of March (0.52%) brought us back down to reality last week. While that surprising inflation bounce reflected a rise in prices for some fresh produce items, there were also some troubling developments on the level of core inflation.

LGBT Pride Vallarta

to 4 annual events to draw the pink dollar to Vallarta to increase tourism during what has been traditionally considered low season. The group hopes that events such as Vallarta Pride and Mardi Gras will demonstrate to potential visitors that its business as usual in Vallarta.

“Vallarta has always been an LGBT destination,” commented Hevener “while the recession did impact on all tourism, we are seeing signs of a recovery. Nevertheless, the value of creating LGBT focused events to attract Vallarta’s LGBT segment cannot be understated. Competition is definitely up as destinations around the globe are attempting to reposition themselves as gay-friendly.”

The recent suspension of the Latin

Fever circuit party has intensified interest in organizing LGBT events to promote Vallarta to the LGBT segment. The group expects a positive response from the city before the end

of March. The group is meeting next on Wednesday at 6 at SETAC’s office on Calle Constitución.

For further information, please contact bill@gegpv.com.

Travel

VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

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A paradise where nature is truly surprising the Marietas Islands There is a common misconception that makes this destination even spectacular: it’s said that the bluefooted bobby can only be found at the Galapagos Islands. However, nothing could be further from the truth: the blue-footed booby and many other exotic species, on land and sea, can be found at the Marietas Islands in Riviera Nayarit.

Located in the northern end of Bay of Banderas, off the tip of Punta Mita, the Marietas Islands are comprised of an archipelago with four formations: two islands and two islets that are recognized as Biosphere Reserves and protected by UNESCO. Traveling to and from the Marietas Islands is as simple as booking a local tour, renting a panga or chartering a boat. You can easily access water taxi services from many of the oceanside towns. Some are smaller affairs with simple taxi services while others offer fully guided tours with lunch and activities such as snorkeling and whale watching.

During the winter, you can enjoy

the thrill of watching humpback whales that arrive to birth their young. During the summer months, travelling to the islands is the perfect excuse to keep an eye out for one of the thousands of Olive Ridley turtles that lay their eggs on the beaches of Riviera Nayarit.

As the Marietas Islands are part of a Biosphere Reserve program, tourist activity is regulated to help protect and preserve the habitat of the many species that have made their home there.

However, this regulation does not diminish the pleasure travellers find around the Bird-watching from the boat will allow you to see the blue-footed bobby, and snorkeling in the nearby reefs give you great opportunities to photograph and swim among giant rays, dolphins, turtles and an infinity of colorful fish.

The Marietas Islands are an excellent reason to visit Riviera Nayarit, a destination where luxury blends in with nature and the magic of its landscapes becomes an adventure.

Travel

VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

With the romantic and intriguing description of Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Villages), the Mexican government is promoting the preservation of the natural beauty, cultural richness and historical relevance of many of its towns and villages. Along with the right to a Pueblo Mágicos designation comes government funding that can be used to develop discrete tourism initiatives and help protect the authentic qualities that have made these communities so special. To date fifty-four Pueblos Mágicos has been recognized, not surprising from a country so blessed in history, beauty and tradition.

Pátzcuaro, Michoacán Most of Mexico's vast expat community arrive in the fall, exchanging cold, sleet and snow for a relaxed lifestyle, free of winter jackets, snow shovels and slippery ice. Typically they head home in March or April, ready to reengage in a more temperate spring and summer. However, for those who stay year round, or for the knowledgeable summer travelers, Mexico offers so much more than overwhelming summer heat. They head to the plateaus and mountains where the higher altitudes provide more moderate temperatures.

Pátzcuaro, a historic town situated about three hours southwest of Guadalajara, at an elevation of approximately 2164 m (7,100 ft) has been chosen to be one the United Nations’ designated “100 Historic World Treasure Cities”, as well as being one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos.

Visiting at the end of July, when most of the North American continent was baking in an oppressive heat wave, the temperature was a pleasant 22ºC (71ºF), everyone was comfortable wearing jeans and lightweight sweaters, many elegantly draped in one of the locally handcrafted shawls.

Founded centuries before Spanish colonisation, Pátzquaro, known in pre-Hispanic times as the “Entrance to Paradise”, exudes ancient history, colonial architecture and charm in equal measure. The entire town is painted white and red, which lends a pleasing harmony and it is clean and tidy, which reassures our North American sensibilities.

The town is located at the south end of Lake Pátzcuaro, famous for its islands and white fish. Isla de Juanitzio, with its towering statue of the hero José María Morelos, can be seen clearly from the shore. The lake, the extensive wetlands and the forested hillsides have contributed to a rich diversity of wildlife and an endangered salamander, known only from the lake. Birding is enjoyed in the area, more than 200 species frequent the wetlands, some endemic to the area.

Bishop Vasco de Quiroga had the cathedral (now a Basilica) of Nuestra Señora de la Salud (Our Lady of Health) constructed in the sixteenth century over a pre-Hispanic ceremonial site

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and it remains in use today. Pilgrims flock to the Basilica to ask the Virgin of Health to aid in the wellbeing of loved ones. The Gertrudis Bocanega Library, named after a woman executed for her participation in the Mexican War of Independence, is housed in an equally venerable building, the Ex Temple of San Agustin, which was founded in the 16th century.

Pátzcuaro on market day is a cacophony of sound and colour, with hundreds of stalls selling every fruit and vegetable imaginable, as well as day-to-day products and high quality local handicrafts. Nearby rustic villages have specialized in certain types of goods; Santa Clara del Cobre is famous for its coppersmithing; Erongarícuaro for its woodwork; and Paracho for guitars; you will find stoneworks, pottery, agricultural products, wovens, and many forms of arts and crafts as you wend your way around the lake.

Corn is an important crop and tamales are de riguer when you visit.

Savour one with a hot chocolate and top off your repast with a pasta ice cream, made with milk, cinnamon, almonds and honey. Michoacán is renowned for the quality of its ice cream; in Pátzcuaro the vendors use fresh fruit, real sugar and rich cream and prepare dozens of delicious flavours that will test anyone’s resolve.

Pátzcuaro, the magical village, and the surrounding lakeside deserve a few days of your time, at the least. Indulge your senses at La Casa Encantada, a centuries old hacienda style B&B that is overflowing with comfort, tranquility, art and charm. The staff and service are exemplary, the beds luxurious and the breakfast delicious…I’ll see you there next summer! lacasaencantada.com ecomexico.org/birds.html patzcuarobirder.blogspot.ca

Local For visitors to Puerto Vallarta who wish to do a good deed for the less privileged in our little paradise, this is a list of some of the many organizations that could benefit from such kind gestures.

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Non-Profit Charitable Organizations

Asilo San Juan Diego homeA for the elderly - Contact: LupitaSanchez Covarrubias Tel. 222-1257 or malupita88@ hotmail.com or visit the website www. mexonline.com\asilosanjuandiego.htm Asociación Down - The Foundation for assistance to persons with Down’s Syndrome - Contact Ana Catalina Eisenring at 224-9577.

Banderas Bay Women’s Shelter Safe shelter to women & children victims of domestic violence. Enables women to become financially independent through jobs, education and non-interest micro loans, professional counseling for them & their children. www. compassionforthefamily.org Becas Vallarta, A.C. – provides scholarships to approximately 300 high school and university students. Donations are tax-deductible in Mexico and the USA. Polly Vicars at (322) 223-1371 or Buri Gray at (322) 221-5285. Website: www.puertovallarta.com/amf Casa Hogar a shelter dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned, abandoned, disadvantaged or vulnerable children.- Contact: Luz Aurora Arredondo at 221-1908, Rita Millan (322) 141-6974. casamaximocornejo@gmail.com Centro Comunitario SETAC-GLBT - provides essential services to the GLBT community, including physical & mental health treatment and referrals, education & recreation, free AA meetings, English classes, HIV testing and counseling. Paco Arjona 224-1974 or paco@setac.com.mx Clinica de Rehabilitación Santa Barbara - Rehabilitation of thehandicapped.

Contact: Laura Lopez Portillo Rodriguez at 224-2754.

CompassionNet Impact - forms strategic partnerships & initiates programs that provide opportunities for people living in chronic poverty to transform their own lives. Bookmobile, homes, jobs creation, loans, English & computer classes, emergency food, medicine & clothing, etc.

Tax-deductible in Canada & the U.S. Cell: (322) 133-7263. ric@4compassion.org Cruz Roja (Red Cross) - handles hospital and emergency service in Vallarta.

It is the only facility that is authorized to offer assistance to injured people on the street, transport them to their facility or other ones indicated by the injured person.

Contact: 222-1533, 222-4973 Discapacitados de Vallarta, A.C. (DIVAC) association of handicapped individuals dedicated to helping one another. Contact: Ivan Applegate at 2215153.

GrupoEcològico de Puerto Vallarta Contact R.C. Walker at 222-0897, e-mail: rc_ walkermx@yahoo.com.mx

The International Friendship Club (IFC) - a registered charitable organization in Mexico listed as Club Internacional de la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta A.C. The IFC supports the Cleft Palate Surgery Program & families in need. Funds are raised through Membership & Home Tours.

Phone: 322-222-5466. www.ifcvallarta.com. ifcvallarta@gmail.com.

Navy League - Meets and greets visiting Naval vessels from all nations, assists in the transportation of donated medical supplies from the U.S., organizes work groups to paint and repair schools and other public/ charitable facilities, and operates the local Toys for Tots program. Contacts: Bill Clark at 222 3616 or Jerry Lafferty at 221 6156. www.vallartanavyleague.org.

New Life Mexico - a British Charity working in Mexico. “Challenging Child Poverty with Health and Education Programmes”. Contact: Philippa.

VernonPowell@facebook.com Pasitos de Luz (Mamas Unidas por la Rehabilitación de susHijos) - substitute home for low income children with any type of handicap, offers rehabilitation services and special support to their families. 299-4146. www.pasitosdeluz.org PEACE Mexico – Works on Protection, Education, Animal health (free mobile spay/neuter program for cats & dogs), Culture, Environment & economic development, with communities in the Bay of Banderas area and beyond. Tax deductible in Canada & the U.S. Gretchen@ peacemexico.org or www.peacemexico.org

Pro Biblioteca de Vallarta raisesfundsfor Los Mangos PublicLibrary.

Tax-deductible receipts for Mexico and USA. Contacts: Ricardo Murrieta at 2249966 or Jimmie Ellis at 222-1478.

ProyectoPitillal, “Busca un Amigo” - association created by underprivileged mothers of paralyzed children who need society’s help. Tel.: 299-44 95.

PuRR Project - a no-kill cat shelter with approx. 250 resident felines living in a natural environment, un-caged, kittens in the Kitten Nursery, on-site clinic with daily veterinarian services. www.purrproject. com Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza Shelter for children. Contacts: Madre Mari at 222-7857 or Sudy Coy at 222-5765.

Donations are tax-deductible in Canada and the U.S. www.ccshf.ca The goal of Roma’s Kids - a registered corporation in Mexico is to educate the children of the Volcanes and surrounding area, to provide them with the skills necessary to become employable by the major industry here in Puerto Vallarta – tourism: math, English and computer programs a priority. 100% goes to the kids. www.kids.romamexico.com “Toys for Tots Vallarta” is a nonprofit organization that is celebrating 13 years in Puerto Vallarta. Distributes toys and constructs playgrounds for lessadvantaged kids in the Puerto Vallarta area during the Christmas holiday period.

Contact: Jerry Lafferty (322 221 6156) or Lourdes Bizarro (lourdes.bizarro@ marriotthotels.com.)

Christ Church by the Sea Worldwide Anglican Communion

Services Sunday 10:00 a.m Now! Services held each Sunday year around English-Traditional Holy Communion All faiths welcome-Casual Dress Across from airport, northbound service road next to Sixt and Thrifty Car Rental Blvd. Fco. Medina 7936, Puerto Vallarta Questions? Call Father Jack Wehrs 322-209-0895 cell: 044-322-229-1129

www.ChristChurchByTheSea.org www.IglesiaCristoDelMar.org

SPCA PV – provides private vet costs for rescued animals, volunteers to create & maintain a data base of adoptions, to walk dogs at the foster home, Casita de Guadalupe, foster homes for dogs & cats, trap & release program for feral cats, etc. www.spcapv.com Un MañanaBrillante (A Brighter Tomorrow) - partnership of Americans and Canadians to support the ColegioMexicoAmericano. Contact: Margi Baughman. Email: mach1@prodigy.net.mx or David Bender, email: dbender@prodigy. net.mx Vallarta Botanical Gardens - Vision: to build Mexico’s greatest botanical garden in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. Research & education of plant life, city beautification programs, bird watching, etc. Donations to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens are tax deductible in the USA. Tel.: 223-6182 or email info@vallartabotanicalgardensac. org.

Environmental lThe brainchild of a Mexican entrepreneur who not only wanted to spin a profit, but foster a culture of sustainability, Solartec is a wellpositioned, world-class company engaged in research and development in the renewable energy industry

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Equitable, Profitable and ecologica

by David Ricardo Vizcarra In 2009, Gustavo Tomé, founder of Solartec, decided to focus his enterprising spirit on a project that he is still excited about today: photovoltaic systems.

All they knew was that, at least in the near future, electricity was going to be in increasingly greater demand as per capita consumption and the world population continued to grow. The only thing that was destined to change –and soon– was how we generated it.

It is estimated in 20 years from now, between 10% and 25% of the electricity we consume will be solargenerated. In this terrain, Mexico has several points in its favor. For instance, Mexico receives twice as much solar radiation as Germany –which has the highest installed capacity in the world in terms of photovoltaic systems– and rates among the top five countries in the world with the greatest potential to capture solar radiation. To put this into perspective, if we covered just 1% of the northern state of Sonora with solar panels, we could generate enough electricity to supply the entire country’s needs.

So, Tomé and his partners put their faith in the sun, a virtually inexhaustible and impartial source of energy –unlike other natural resources, which are distributed unevenly, the sun shines equitably on the whole planet.

From its base in Guanajuato, Solartec has set itself the goal of becoming the benchmark for the global renewable energy industry, with products that offer its clients optimum returns on their investment.

Manufactured in compliance with the highest quality standards, its products have UL and Electrical Power Saving Trust Fund Label (FIDE) certification. They also comply with the IEC-61215 standard and, pending one final audit process, will have ISO9000 certification.

Today, the company is highly specialized and invests heavily in the development of new technologies at its Environmental and Energy Sustainability Innovation Center in Irapuato, Guanajuato, into which over 4.5 million usd have been channeled.

Here, Solartec’s R&D team works on technologies that can be patented and developed in Mexico, although its lines

photos courtesy of solartec

When they started out, Tomé and his partners didn’t know much about generating electricity from renewable sources.

of research are geared mainly toward the development of third-generation solar cells and improving the efficiency of photovoltaic panels.

Already its research has translated into tangible consumer products like garden lamps and accessories, solar battery chargers, plague and insect control equipment, outdoor lighting systems and a range of solar-powered accessories.

In addition to promoting a culture of sustainability by collaborating on programs with the authorities and academic and social associations, one of the solutions the company offers the Mexican market is a kit for remote rural communities that costs just 110 usd and that can power up to three light bulbs.

Another product it sells in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food’s (SAGARPA) Shared Risk Trust is a solar-powered pump that extracts water from the subsoil. Used for irrigation purposes, the pump allows farmers to produce all year round, as opposed to depending on seasonal

crops.

Solartec has also begun working with property developers like GEO and URBI, and offers a homeowners’ solar kit under the Green Mortgage program operated by the National Workers’ Housing Fund Institute (INFONAVIT).

Alternatively, homeowners can apply for financing under the company’s own Enercity plan, which includes a diagnosis of electricity requirements and the adaptation and installation of the system. “Contracting Enercity is as simple as ordering a pizza,” says Tomé.

But the residential sector isn’t the only one Solartec has tackled. Its corporate portfolio includes names like Wal-Mart, where it installed the county’s first hybrid system at the company’s corporate offices. Designed entirely by Mexican engineers, the system is powered by a combination of solar photovoltaic and wind energy.

Solartec has also installed PV systems at several Wal-Mart stores around the country, with Water Capital pitching in on the financing side, and at some ten HSBC branches. Sometimes the panels serve a dual function. For instance, at one particular HSBC

branch in Mexico City, the panels double up as a facade, and in the case of the Schneider plant, they serve as roofing for the company’s parking lot.

With sales of 20 million usd in 2011 and projected sales of 37 million usd for 2012, Solartec is well positioned to continue converting golden opportunities into clean electricity in Mexico’s renewable energy sector. www.solartec.mx

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VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

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Food

By Gary R. Beck

VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

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Top Dishes of Mexico

Have you opened a menu anywhere in Mexico and seen a dish or five listed of which you are unfamiliar? There are countless offerings which are fairly unknown in Canada, the United States and Europe. Here are ten of the most popular ones which you would have a greater chance of finding available.

Top Dishes of Mexico Mexico, due to its extraordinary range of dishes throughout the country, many from ancient days, has been named a world gastronomic heritage site. Many aficionados been fortunate to sample creations from different parts of the country. Picking a top or favorite list is difficult and personal, but keep in mind the T's of Mexican cuisine: tostadas, tlayudas, tamales, tortillas, tortas, tequila and — first among all — tacos.

Red Snapper Sarandeado Unique and delicious traditional grilled whole fish dish is served along Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

The recipe uses a chile and garlicbased seasoning paste and a final glazing of flavored mayonnaise before it goes on the grill. Also, you can use any fairly thin fish filet for this very special dish, such as Robalo, Red Snapper and Tilapia.

It is grilled and topped with lots of vegetables. The real secret is in the sauce that the fish is brushed with before grilling. The recipe for the specialty varies all over Mexico. In some parts of Mexico, a rub is used in place of the sauce.

Red Snapper a la Veracruzana There are many versions of this recipe but a true Veracruz-style sauce should contain tomatoes, onion, garlic, capers and green olives, which are served over a baked, mild, white-fleshed fish

fillet. Good Mexican cuisine: nothing heavy, no refried beans and no elaborate preparations or heavy sauces.

Cochinita Pibil

Traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork dish is from the Yucatán Península.

Preparation involves marinating the meat in strongly acidic citrus juice, colouring it with annatto [achiote seed] and roasting meat while wrapped in a banana leaf.

Baja Fish Tacos [Ensenada Style] Requires: corn tortillas heated on a grill, battered and deep fried [not grilled] fish fillet usually halibut or snapper, shredded cabbage, mild or tangy crema, a light sour cream-based sauce; hot salsa; a squeeze of lime; onions and cilantro.

Dress tacos from a condiment bar of fresh guacamole, chopped onions, minced cilantro, smoky red pico de gallo and mild but tangy salsa verde.

Tacos al Pastor Seasoned porkstacked on a vertical spit in the shape of an inverted cone is turned slowly, cooking against a vertical rotisserie. A pineapple may be placed at the top of the apparatus for additional flavouring. Meat is cooked on charcoal, mesquite or a gas burner.

While cooking, the meat is shaved off the stack with a large knife. There are many uses with tacos the most prevalent.

Aztec Tortilla Soup This famous soup, maybe the most known and loved soup in the country, is tomato-based with garlic, onion, jalapeño or other hot green chile, chicken stock and diced cooked chicken breast.

Garnishes are typically tortilla strips, grated Mexican cheese such as

XX Pozole

Oaxaca or Chihuahua, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, sour cream and lime wedges.

Pozole Stew based on a rich homemade stock with corn [soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, usually lime water, and hulled] incorporates meat, usually pork, chicken, turkey, pork rinds [chicharrón] plus chile peppers and other seasonings and garnishes.

Vegetarian and vegan versions also exist.

Oaxacan Tlayuda Considered a classic street food in the Oaxaca City, Mexico region. A Tlayuda, sometimes misspelled as Clayuda, is a type of Mexican pizza that is made with a baked wheat flour tortilla topped with spicy black bean purée.

Meats such as chicken or chorizo can be added as well as tomatoes, lettuce, shredded cabbage, onion, garlic, ground cumin, lime, cilantro and avocados.

The Tlayuda can be served openface, like a pizza or folded in half. The Pasilla de Oaxaca chile is added to the black bean purée and gives this dish heat and smoky flavors.

They may be prepared in the oven or on the grill. The traditional preparation is in a clay skillet directly over hot coals.

It’s a tie between similar dishes!

Ceviche - seafood cocktail made with fresh raw fish and/or shellfish marinated in lime juice and spiced with chiles. Additional seasonings such as onion, salt, cilantro and pepper may also be added.

Aguachile - Spanish for "chile water". This is the lesser known spicy, tart cousin of ceviche, where acid cooks seafood in place of heat. In this case, star ingredients are only barely allowed to cure before being served cold and almost entirely raw. Shrimp is most often seen, but also octopus, scallop and fish.

XX Red Snapper Sarandeado

XX Aztec Tortilla Soup

Food

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Asparagus with ShallotHoney Dressing Special to The Washington Post.

6 to 8 servings This holiday side dish is gluten-, egg- and dairy-free. The dressing has a creamy quality. Feel free to add grape tomatoes, pine nuts and/or chunks of ripe avocado for more texture and color.

MAKE AHEAD:

The asparagus can be cooked, cooled and refrigerated up to 1 day in advance. It's best to toss it with the dressing just before serving. You'll have leftover dressing, which can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Adapted from a recipe by Elaine Gordon, a master certified health education specialist and creator of EatingbyElaine.com.

Ingredients

2 pounds asparagus, preferably similar in thickness 1/4 cup finely chopped shallot Juice from 1 lemon (2 tablespoons) 1 tablespoon honey 2 cloves garlic 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, or more as needed 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more as needed 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Steps

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Fill a large bowl with ice water and ice cubes.

Meanwhile, trim the woody ends of the asparagus. Peel some of the stalks, if desired. Cut the asparagus on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces.

Add the asparagus to the pot and cook/blanch for 2 to 3 minutes, until it is just tender and bright green. Use a Chinese skimmer or wide slotted spoon to transfer it to the ice-water bath to cool.

Combine the shallot, lemon juice, honey, garlic, sea salt and pepper in a mini-food processor. Pulse until well combined. With the motor running, add the oil in a slow, steady stream to form an emulsified dressing.

Drain the asparagus; transfer it to paper towels to dry, then place in a large bowl. Add 4 tablespoons of the dressing and toss to coat evenly. Taste; adjust the seasoning or add dressing as needed.

Serve at room temperature.

Mango, Pineapple and Pomegranate Salad The Washington Post

6 servings Clean and bright-tasting; consider this the fresh alternative to those Passover candy orange slices.

Fresh pomegranates or refrigerated packages of their arils (seeds) can be a little hard to find during Passover; chopped, dried sweetened cranberries may be substituted.

MAKE AHEAD:

The salad needs to be refrigerated for at least 1 hour, and up to 1 day, to meld the flavors. Adapted from "The New Jewish Table: Modern Seasonal Recipes for Traditional Dishes," by Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray with David Hagedorn (St. Martin's Press, 2013).

Ingredients

1 pound peeled and cored fresh pineapple 1 large ripe mango, peeled (about 14 ounces) 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar 2/3 cup passion fruit juice (from concentrate is okay) 1/3 to 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds 6 to 12 mint leaves, finely chopped Steps

Cut the pineapple and mango into 1/2-inch cubes and place them in a mixing bowl or plastic zip-top bag.

Whisk together the sugar (to taste) and juice in a liquid measuring cup until the sugar has dissolved. Pour over the fruit and stir to coat. Add the pomegranate seeds and mint. Cover or seal, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to a day.

Stir before serving; if the salad has been refrigerated for a day, you may wish to add a bit more fresh mint.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 130 calories, 0 g protein, 35 g carbohydrates, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 mg sodium, 3 g dietary fiber, 30 g sugar

Health

Malignant tumors of the testis are mostly picked up in men younger than 40. While earlier detection and better treatments have increased survival, curing the cancer often requires removal of the affected testicle, reducing fertility. Survivors also have a higher risk of developing metabolic conditions, such as diabetes, in later life.

By Kanoko Matsuyama Bloomberg News Rising rates of testicular cancer in Scandinavia have sparked an urgent search for chemicals in the environment that may be damaging baby boys.

Incidence of the usually uncommon malignancy is now almost 10 times the global average in Norway and Denmark, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon. Hundreds of chemicals, including drugs, pesticides and plastic materials, are being screened by scientists from Stockholm to Helsinki to find the cause.

The probe is focusing on compounds thought to interfere with hormone signaling called endocrine disrupters, which the United Nations said last month may be causing more diseases than previously thought. The European research may reveal why testicular cancer is increasing across the developed world.

"We don't know what it is, but we know that it must be something in the environment causing the increase," said Olof Akre, a cancer epidemiologist at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute, in an interview. "When it happens, it's really a crisis for these men."

Malignant tumors of the testis are mostly picked up in men younger than 40. While earlier detection and better treatments have increased survival, curing the cancer often requires removal of the affected testicle, reducing fertility. Survivors also have a higher risk of developing metabolic conditions, such as diabetes, in later life.

"You might make some of these men totally infertile depending on the remaining ability to produce semen," said Akre, who is part of a network of researchers in the Nordic region investigating the region's testicular cancer epidemic.

Incidence last year was highest worldwide in Norway, with a rate of 12.7 cases per 100,000 men, and 12.5 per 100,000 in Denmark, according to IARC data. That compares with a rate of 1.5 globally, 5.8 across Europe and 5.1 in the U.S.

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Nordic Testicular Cancer Mystery Spurs Chemicals Probe The American Cancer Society predicts there will be 7,920 new cases and 370 deaths in the U.S. this year.

The five-year survival rate for men with testicular cancer that hasn't spread to other parts of the body is 99 percent, and 96 percent if the cancer has spread to regional lymph nodes, according to the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.

Sweden's rate of 7.2, much lower than that of Denmark and Norway, has been "constantly enigmatic," said Akre.

"We are pretty close neighbors, yet we just don't understand how we can have such big differences in the scope of testicular cancer," he said. The nations' agricultural systems "probably has had some consequences on what we eat and drink, but that's where it stops. We have no more better ideas than this."

Other Nordic countries may catch up. Cases in the region have been steadily rising for decades, increasing about 3 percent annually in Norway, 2.6 percent in Denmark, 3.2 percent in Sweden and 3.9 percent in Finland, Akre and colleagues found in a study published in 2004. The pace of growth matched rises in lung cancer and heart disease, he said.

"In all these countries, the trend is very similar," said Jorma Toppari, professor in the departments of physiology and pediatrics at Finland's University of Turku. "The same phenomenon is occurring in different countries with differences in time. It may be leveling off in those countries with the highest incidence."

Testicular cancer also growing in other countries besides Nordic region.

The incidence rate in Britain has more than doubled to 7 per 100,000 in the 33 years through 2008, according Cancer Research U.K. In the United States, the rate grew 2.3 percent annually from 1975 to 1989, and 0.8 percent from 1989 to 2009, the National Cancer Institute said.

While testicular cancer is more common among Caucasians than Asians or Africans, studies on immigrants suggest environmental factors may be a more important driver of testicular cancer in the Nordic region compared with other malignancies, Toppari said.

People born outside Denmark

XX A businessman walks to work in the Aker Brygge financial district of Oslo.

who migrate there have a lower risk of testicular cancer than native-born Danes. That advantage is lost for children of migrants born in Denmark, according to research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2008. A similar trend has been observed in Sweden.

"It matters where you were born and when you were born," Toppari said.

Although testicular cancer is most commonly diagnosed in men in their 30s, the groundwork for it may be established in the first months of fetal development with abnormal growth, or dysgenesis, of the testis, said Niels Erik Skakkebaek, a professor in the department of growth and reproduction at the University of Copenhagen.

Almost all testicular cancers begin in sperm-making germ cells, according to the National Cancer Institute. The hypothesis is that in men with testicular cancer, development of the testes was distorted such that some of the embryonic stem cells that should have developed into germ cells didn't differentiate properly and were maintained in the testes as stem cells, according to Skakkebaek, who was a member of a panel of experts that helped prepare last month's report by the UN's Environment Programme and the World Health Organization.

If the testes don't properly develop in the womb, they may not produce sufficient testosterone and other chemical signals to trigger their natural descent from the abdomen to the scrotum before birth, he said. The idea is supported by experiments in animals, which have shown that testes are less likely to descend if they're abnormal. A current hypothesis is that perturbations in testes development may be caused by exposure to chemicals, leading to undescended

testis and endocrine disorders, Skakkebaek said in an interview.

That suggests testicular dysgenesis may be the result of a combination of environmental and predisposing genetic factors, Skakkebaek said, adding that more research in humans is needed to validate the finding.

The same interplay is probably also causing higher rates of cryptorchidism, the condition in which the testes fail to descend from the abdomen to the scrotum; hypospadias, an abnormality of the penis in which the urethra opening is in the wrong place; and reduced sperm concentration, Toppari said.

Several epidemiological studies have shown "weak" associations between cryptorchidism in sons and exposures of their mothers to drugs such as diethylstilbestrol, or DES, previously used for female hormone replacement therapy; the painkiller paracetamol; and mixtures of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, used for flame retardant; and pesticide application, the UN report said.

Cryptorchidism at birth is associated with a fivefold increased risk of testicular cancer and also with impaired semen quality and subfecundity. A testicle remaining in the abdomen at puberty is a risk factor for testicular cancer, said the University of Copenhagen's Skakkebaek.

In Denmark, cryptorchidism occurs in 9 percent of boys, four times higher than the rate in Finland and more than double the rate observed in 1961, a study published in 2004 found.

In comparison, about 3 to 4 percent of full-term infants born in the U.S. have undescended testes, according to U.S. National Library of Medicine.

No studies have investigated a potential link between fetal exposure to endocrine-disrupter chemicals and the risk of testicular cancer decades later, the U.N. report said.

Researchers have so far only analyzed several hundred of the possibly thousand or so chemicals and chemical combinations that may be implicated, the University of Turku's Toppari said.

"There is a big mixture of chemicals that may contribute," he said.

Health

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Statins: They're Good for the Heart, but They Can Affect Your Memory

By Christie Aschwanden Special to The Washington Post.

A lawyer contacted Beatrice Golomb, a physician at the VA San Diego Healthcare Center, because he could no longer follow a normal conversation with his clients. A radiologist told Golomb that he found himself suddenly unable to distinguish left from right. A third person told her he had grown so forgetful that his doctor assumed he had Alzheimer's.

All three had developed their memory problems after taking a cholesterol-lowering statin drug, and the symptoms improved after they stopped the medication.

The statin revolution began in 1987, when lovastatin was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then, this class of drugs has transformed cardiac medicine, says Allen Taylor, chief of cardiology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. "Cardiovascular disease affects one in two people. This is the one drug that works."

But these drugs are not without risks. Golomb has amassed thousands of reports at her website Statineffects. com, detailing adverse reactions from statins. She says that cognitive problems are the second-mostcommon side effect reported in her database, after muscle pain. In a 2009 report in the journal Pharmacotherapy, Golomb described 171 patients who'd reported cognitive problems after taking statins.

The idea that a cholesterollowering drug could make your brain fuzzy might sound crazy, and Golomb says the notion was greeted with suspicion at first. But eventually the FDA received enough such reports that last February it ordered drug companies to add a new warning label about possible memory problems.

No one knows how common the cognitive side effects are. Golomb says the data that she's collected are all selfreported and voluntary. And the FDA's MedWatch database is similarly built of mostly voluntary reports, though drugmakers are required to submit to the FDA adverse events that they know about. So without more systematic tracking, it's impossible to measure how commonly these side effects occur.

Many doctors believe the problem is fairly rare, posing little risk for the tens of millions of people using statins every day to keep their cholesterol levels in check.

"It's not a very common side effect," says Orli Etingin, an internist and professor in women's health at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

"But it's definitely real. Typically, it's a fairly high-functioning woman who is having difficulty remembering and multi-tasking."

Taylor points out that clinical trials on statin use have never turned up memory problems and that researchers once held hopes that the drugs might actually prevent cognitive decline. However, a 2002 clinical trial designed to determine whether statins might decrease the risk of memory problems in elderly patients found no difference in cognitive function between participants who took pravastatin and those who didn't.

"I'm very skeptical [of the link between statins and memory problems]," Taylor says. Most patients taking statins have a greater risk of developing cognitive decline from heart disease [which can impair blood flow to the brain] than from the drugs.

Golomb says that detecting cognitive side effects is hard because subtle changes are difficult to measure even under ideal circumstances.

Multiple memory tests, for example, may not be very informative, because you become better at them the more you do them, and so performance from one to the next can be highly variable, she says. Unless the changes are dramatic, they may evade measurement.

Furthermore, most people don't undergo cognitive testing until they start having memory trouble. "Unless you have baseline data, you have no way to measure what's happened," Golomb says.

If you're taking a statin, what kind of problems should you look out for?

"Often it's trouble with multitasking or word retrieval," says physician Gayatri Devi, a neurologist in New York whose practice focuses on memory loss. "It's short-term memory.

It won't make you forget your child's name." She warns against panicking.

Don't assume it's your statin every time you can't find your keys. "People tend to misconstrue the level of the effect," Devi says. "It might cause cognitive changes, but it won't put you in a coma or cause completely irreversible memory loss."

Devi advises patients who worry that they may be having statin-related side effects to stop taking the drug for two weeks, under doctor supervision, to see if things improve. If the statin is to blame, the problems should clear up within that time period.

For people without heart disease

who take a statin as part of cholesterollowering strategy aimed at prevention, going off the statin for a month or two should not pose any risk, Etingin says.

If the symptoms stop after you go off the drug, the next step would be trying a different statin, Etingin says.

But don't make any changes without consulting your doctor first, especially if you've already been diagnosed with heart disease, Taylor says. For people with heart problems, "this is the one drug that works," he says. If you quit your statin and then have a stroke, your memory troubles will be far worse.

If you suspect that a statin is impairing your memory, talk with your doctor about the options that make sense for you. "If your doctor says you're crazy, look for another doctor," Golomb says.

(Statin makers AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer and Merck declined to comment for this article.)

Health High Salt Consumption Tied to 2.3 Million Heart Deaths Worldwide In the study linking salt and heart deaths, researchers analyzed 247 surveys on sodium consumption by adults from 1990 to 2010 and determined how the levels of salt people were eating affected cardiovascular disease risks. No more than 1,000 milligrams per day of salt was considered ideal.

By Stephanie Armour Bloomberg News

Eating too much salt contributed to 2.3 million heart-related deaths worldwide in 2010, and 40 percent of those deaths were premature, researchers said.

Fifteen percent of all deaths from heart attacks, stroke and other cardiovascular disease were caused by excessive salt, and most were in lowerincome countries, according to a study presented Thursday at an American Heart Association meeting in New Orleans. The United States ranked 19th of the 30 largest countries studied for deaths due to excess salt.

Excess sodium consumption is a global problem: Seventy-five percent

of the world's population eats nearly twice the daily recommended amount of salt, according to a separate study of 187 countries presented at the meeting.

The American Heart Association advises limiting sodium to no more than 1,500 milligrams a day.

"National and global public-health measures, such as comprehensive sodium reduction programs, could potentially save millions of lives," said Dariush Mozaffarian, one of the study's lead researchers and associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

In the study linking salt and heart deaths, researchers analyzed 247 surveys on sodium consumption by adults from 1990 to 2010 and determined how the levels of salt people were eating affected cardiovascular disease risks. No more than 1,000 milligrams per day of salt was considered ideal.

Nearly 1 million of the deaths, or 40 percent of the total, happened in people who were 69 years old or

younger, according to the study. Sixty percent of the deaths were in men and 40 percent were in women.

Eighty-four percent of the deaths were in low- and middle- income countries. Those with the highest death rates were Ukraine, Russia and Egypt, and the lowest were in Qatar, Kenya and United Arab Emirates.

Global sodium intake from various sources such as prepared food and soy sauce averaged nearly 4,000 milligrams a day in 2010, according to Saman Fahimi, lead author and a visiting scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health. In the U.S., the average intake was about 3,600 milligrams a day. While the World Health Organization recommends sodium intake of fewer than 2,000 milligrams a day, 181 of 187 countries representing 99 percent of the world's population exceeded the recommended level.

Consumption of salt starts at a young age. In the U.S., nearly 75 percent of commercial pre-packaged meals and savory snacks for toddlers are high in sodium, according to

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XX Excess sodium consumption is a global problem

additional research presented at the meeting. A product was determined to be high in sodium if it had more than 210 milligrams of salt per serving.

Some toddler meals had as much as 630 milligrams per serving, about 40 percent of the 1,500 daily limit recommended by the heart association.

"The less sodium in an infant's or toddler's diet, the less he or she may want it when older," Joyce Maalouf, lead author and fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said in a press release.

Does Your Dog Need Therapy?

By Maura Judkis The Washington Post

The two dogs faced each other from across the sidewalk, like cowboys in a spaghetti western shootout. One was Milky, a 5-year-old fluffy white Coton de Tulear mix adopted by my fiance, Scott. The other was a comically fake stuffed dog on a leash handled by our trainer, Jamie Eaton of Spot On Training. It was the final evaluation in a series of tests to diagnose behavior problems in Milky and Milou, our other Coton de Tulear.

We approached Eaton and her "dog," getting bewildered glances from the neighbors, and Milky began a familiar routine: straining at the leash, growling, then launching into fullblown meltdown mode, pulling and barking. Only when she was allowed to approach the stuffed dog did she calmly begin to sniff out the traditional dog greeting, right at the fake dog's behind.

So how did we get to this point?

Our dogs didn't always act this way.

Five years ago, Scott was given the dogs — the breed is a descendant of bichons whose name means "cotton" — when he was working as a French translator in Madagascar for a public health project. After they got their shots and flew home with him, Milky and Milou spent afternoons by the water in San Francisco, happily playing with other pups at the dog run.

But once they moved to Washington, Scott's law school

schedule left little time for dog parks.

The pair grew suspicious of other dogs and didn't greet them in their oncefriendly way. They became the enemy of every Chihuahua and toy poodle on the block, even barking at dogs twice their size. After trying a few ineffective training methods on our own, we gave up and avoided other dogs, crossing the street if we saw one coming.

But city living is especially challenging when you have a difficult dog, so it was time to bring in a professional. Because our dogs were so reactive to other dogs, a class was out of the question. Instead, we sought a behavior consultation, a session with a professional trainer or animal behaviorist who diagnoses tricky problems that go beyond basic obedience and creates a behavior modification plan to change the dogs' interactions. Our behavior consultation with Eaton felt like therapy, or maybe confession. Our sins as dog owners came pouring out: the time they got in a spat with each other and Milou nipped Milky's foot. How we used to let Milky sleep on the bed. Therapy is a common analogy among clients, said Eaton, who has even had clients cry during sessions.

"The dog is a member of their family," she said. "They take it to heart and they get very upset if there's some sort of behavioral issue, and they think that maybe it reflects upon them."

Hilary Bolea, a certified professional dog trainer and owner of

Old Town Dog Behavior in Alexandria, Va., used to be a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill, and she said her experience in politics has informed her work with dogs. In both of her professions, she said, "It's all about persuading someone to do something they don't want to do, in an area where they feel they know more than you.

You have to leave enough of a window to let them believe they came up with the idea themselves."

Training and desensitization, which gradually exposes the dog to its triggers to reduce sensitivity and fear, take time and patience on the owner's part and require following instructions and doing your homework. Don't expect your dog to be instantly changed, either.

"A big part of [training] is not exposing the dog to a situation where it's going to fail," said Mary Huntsberry, an associate certified applied animal behaviorist for Helping Pets Behave in Gaithersburg, Md. "It's not a quick fix, especially with dogs that are older. It's a long-term relationship," said Morris, "I'm a firm believer in wanting our clients to think of us as partners for life."

Eaton gave us daily homework, which changed after each session. We clicker-trained our dogs for obedience commands, which taught them to associate a clicking sound with good behavior and treats. We created food puzzles for them by stuffing treats in toys, which alleviated their inactivity

and boredom.

For our second session, Eaton brought Uka, her Newfoundland, who is 12 times the size of 10-pound Milky. For our dogs' desensitization, Scott and I took turns letting each dog approach Uka and rewarded them with mini-meatballs whenever they paid attention to us instead of Eaton's dog.

We aren't far enough in our training yet to prevent Milky and Milou from barking at other dogs, but at least we're able to get them to stop right away — a good sign of progress.

We can tell they're happier, and we better understand the way they think, too. It's not uncommon for the owners to end up learning more than the dogs, Eaton said.

"Dogs . . . live in the moment. They don't think about tomorrow, they don't think about yesterday." she said. "We could actually learn a lot from that."

Health

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Get Smarter As You Get Older: Tips for Aging Gracefully hard for what you want, and work hard for what you dream for. Give yourself every opportunity to make those dreams become a reality. There are no shortcuts. The way you age gracefully, as far I am concerned, is to always give 100 percent.''

8. Jane Fonda: Happiness may surprise you.

"When I was in my mid-60s approaching 70, I realized I was so happy. It took me by surprise because I come from a long line of depressives. . . . It turns out through very extensive studies of hundreds of thousands of people that over-50s — men and women, married, doesn't matter — have a sense of well-being. They are less stressed. They are less hostile. . . .

They tend to see what people have in common rather than the differences, which is why we become good mediators.''

9. Joseph Giordano, George Washington Medical Center surgery department chairman and founder of the trauma team that saved President Ronald Reagan's life after a 1981 assassination attempt: Learn something new.

XX You can stay strong even in your senior years.

By Laura Hambleton Special To The Washington Post.

What are the tricks older people use to stay wiser, a step ahead? Here are tips from successful people:

1. Cal Ripken Jr., Hall of Famer: Think about the next thing.

"You don't live each day remembering who you were. Baseball almost seems like another lifetime ago.

You need to do something that makes you feel good day-to-day. Just as you have a sense of accomplishment as a baseball player each and every day — you have a goal to win a game or success as a hitter or make good plays in the field — I need to feel I am accomplishing something.''

2. Jane Goodall, primatologist: Walk with the dogs.

"When I'm in England, which is home, where I grew up, where my sister and her family live, there are

always dogs. There I get my relaxation walking the dogs where I used to scramble as a child.''

3. Maya Angelou, poet: Forgiveness.

"The most wonderful thing, as soon as possible, is to forgive yourself.

People do only what they know to do, not what you think they should do. Not because they were experienced or were exposed to this and went to this school and have this degree. We think they know, but not necessarily. . . . I forgive anyone who comes in my earshot.''

4. Tom Hayden, 1960s radical: Choose your openings. ''I don't miss the rush of being a young revolutionary. People who have those feelings at old age need to get a grip. You need to play your role, which is to carefully observe and listen and see if you have anything to offer.''

5. Susan Stamberg, NPR host: Find young people.

"I think the big key is keeping young people in your life. I have some very good friends who are considerably younger than I am — 10 years, 15 years younger. My son is one of them. He is a good friend to me, as well as my child.

He's way across the country, which is part of why I go out there in the winter.

That keeps me thinking.''

6. Stephen Hunter, novelist, ex-film critic: Understanding.

"I feel like I am smarter than I was 10 years ago . . . I mean understanding the systems of governance and culture.

I mean sort of understanding those things that are worth investing anger or emotion in and those things that aren't.''

7. Sugar Ray Leonard, exboxer: Give your best, still.

"Don't expect things to be handed to you. Don't expect entitlement, work

"Next year I will be working with medical students at the Uniformed Services University, helping out with anatomy. I will probably end up knowing more anatomy than I did when I was practicing. You learn anatomy from a different perspective when you are a surgeon. It is very practical. You know what you are doing and where it is. When you study anatomy, you learn everything.''

10. Leonard Slatkin, conductor: Get closer. ''When one is young, the focus of attention is on the technical matters: how to beat time, where to cue in the different instruments, et cetera. As I get older, I do not even think about the technique anymore and only consider how to get closer to the intention of the composer.''

Entertainment

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The Beatles Become Headliners

By Forrest Wickman Slate

Brow Beat is following the Beatles in "real time," 50 years later, from their first chart-topper to their final rooftop concert. Fifty years ago this month, The Beatles set out on tour in support of their first album, opening for American singers Chris Montez and Tommy Roe. The Beatles wouldn't be openers for much longer. [end ital] When the Beatles set out on yet another in a grueling series of package tours in March 1963, they were still at the bottom of the bill. Though their popularity had skyrocketed during their tour with Helen Shapiro, with "Please Please Me" hitting the top of the charts, there had never been any question that the Beatles were still the opening band. Their next tour started just five days later, and they still didn't see themselves as the stars.

The headliners, a couple of Yankees, didn't see them that way either. "Who are these guys The Beatles?" commented Chris Montez, fresh off the hits "Let's Dance" and "Some Kinda Fun." "I try to keep up to date with the British scene," he added, "but I don't know their work." Montez shared top billing with Tommy Roe, who had a No. 1 hit six months earlier with "Sheila," and the Beatles were the openers. This was a mistake. And that

This Week in History, Apr 1 - Apr 7 Apr 01, 1700 April Fools tradition popularized Apr 02, 2005 Pope John Paul II Dies Apr 03, 1860 Pony Express debuts Apr 04, 1968 Dr. King is assassinated Apr 05, 1614 Pocahontas marries John Rolfe Apr 06, 1896 First modern Olympic Games Apr 07, 1994 Civil war erupts in Rwanda

was clear from the first night of the tour. In "Anthology," George Harrison describes the emergency meeting that ensued after that initial performance: There was a big huddled meeting after the show because Arthur Howes, the promoter, said The Beatles had better close the first half. We said, "No,

no, Tommy and Chris close," because they still sounded like big names to us. I remember Tommy Roe getting all uptight, saying, "I'm contracted, and I'm going to leave if I don't close the show!"

The audiences were particularly hard on Montez, who, like the recently

deceased Ritchie Valens, was a pioneering Latino rock star. As with Shapiro, Harrison felt embarrassed about how the Beatles were upstaging him: I felt sorry for Chris Montez, he was just a little Mexican bloke. He did a slow song on a chair, a Spanish tune, and the Teds were all shouting, "Boo, f--- off." He said, "Oh, you don't like it, OK," and he stopped and put down his guitar and tried something else. It was sad, really.

Eventually Roe backed off, Howes prevailed, and the Beatles began closing out the shows.

Full-blown Beatlemania hadn't yet arrived, but there were signs at these shows that it was beginning to set in. You can get a sense for what the shows sounded like from a March 12, 1963, episode of the radio show "Here We Go." The program was taped at Manchester's Playhouse Theatre just three days before the Montez-Roe tour, and you can already hear some early squeals: "I'm beginning to see why nobody can live on the same stage with this outfit," observed the host of the BBC's "Saturday Club," during another radio performance, a week after the tour's start. He had a message for the acts set to open for the Beatles the next month: "Good luck to you, mates."

Searching for the Building Blocks of Life on Mars

By Maggie Fazeli Fard The Washington Post.

ROBOTS IN SPACE

Focusing on Mars rover, book describes NASA's innovations in space science "Red Rover" by Roger Wiens Last August, the Curiosity rover landed on the surface of Mars with one mission: Determine if the Red Planet ever could have supported life. The rover has since found proof of water and organic compounds in the crimson soil. In the process, it has shown that the United States is still capable of space innovation.

In "Red Rover," geochemist Roger Wiens, who built Curiosity's ChemCam laser device, tells the story of this new era of space exploration.

He describes NASA's Genesis mission — its spacecraft was launched in 2001 and returned in 2004 with samples from solar wind — and the tight deadlines, slim budgets, shutdown threats and engineering problems that the Curiosity project has faced.

The book illuminates the dayto-day challenges that the public never sees and leaves unanswered some questions, including whether it will be possible for humans to live on Mars one day. "The beautiful but

deserted terrain of Mars evokes the feeling of an abandoned mansion," Wien writes. "It seems that everything

is there except the occupants. . . . Maybe that will change someday."

Time to Learn Spanish?

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10 tips to get you on your way

We are lucky in Puerto Vallarta that most of our day to day needs can be handled in English. The local Mexican population is patient and helpful while we struggle to get our point across. And in fact many prefer if you speak English so that they can practice. But to really embrace your new home in Puerto Vallarta and the get the most from your time in Mexico, you should consider learning even the basics of Spanish. Here are some tips to get you started!

time. Even if you only have a couple of minutes, you can use it to study a few flashcards.

Don't expect to be perfect!

Progress in language learning does not follow a straight-line graph.

You cannot expect to make the same amount of progress, day after day, week after week. You may find yourself struggling at times, seeming to make no progress. Don't let this discourage you.

It is normal to reach plateaus in your learning progress. If you find yourself "stuck" try spending time going back and reviewing things that you already know well. Often this will help prepare you to break through to the next level.

Label your surroundings.

Make labels for things all over your house. For example: la pared (wall), la puerta (door), el escritorio (desk) etc.

Remove the labels only after you have mastered the vocabulary.

Be patient.

Can you remember when you learned to ride a bicycle? Did you ride perfectly right from the start? When learning a new language, know that you will make mistakes, and don't be embarrassed by them!

Work on developing an "ear" for Spanish.

Language is first and foremost oral communication. A written alphabet is a collection of symbols used to represent the sounds of the language, and cannot capture every nuance of sound and intonation. Try to develop a "good ear" for Spanish. An easy and fun way to do this is by listening to Spanish music, watching Spanish movies, or watching TV in Spanish.

Practice SPEAKING! Probably the most difficult aspect of learning a new language but the only way to learn to speak a language, is by actually SPEAKING. You can study for years, and master all of the grammar rules, but unless you actually practice speaking, you will never speak well.

When you are practicing speaking, remember to do it out loud, at normal conversational volume.

Be consistent.

To really learn a language takes time and commitment. Scheduling a solid twenty minutes a day, nearly every day, you will be far more successful retaining what you are learning than if you "cram" for an hour or two, but only sporadically.

Talk to yourself.

You’re not crazy! You’re practicing!

When learning a foreign language, it is common for listening skills to develop more rapidly than speaking skills, leaving the learner in the unfortunate

situation of being able to understand, but unable to respond. A good way to overcome this problem is to talk to yourself as much as possible. Because there is no one else around, you won't be weighed down by the inhibition that so frequently burdens the beginning language student.

Use flashcards.

One of the best tips we can offer is to make and use flashcards. Make cards that are small enough to easily carry with you, and write the English on one side and Spanish on the other.

Be sure to ALWAYS have some cards with you. This way, you can capture "wasted" time (standing in line, riding the bus, waiting for class to start, etc.) and turn it into productive study

Find a partner.

Try to find a native speaker who can be your conversation partner. This can be your greatest asset and perhaps you can also provide assistance to your partner in your native language. There are plenty of great conversation groups in Puerto Vallarta that you can join.

Read out loud.

Try reading out loud. You will get all of the benefits of reading, plus you'll get really good pronunciation practice.

In fact, as a beginner, you should read aloud as much as possible.

Sports in the week

Monday April 01

NBA Detroit Pistons at Toronto Raptors 7:00 PM ET o Toronto, ON Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks 7:30 PM ET o Atlanta, GA Orlando Magic at Houston Rockets 8:00 PM ET o Houston, TX Charlotte Bobcats at Milwaukee Bucks 8:00 PM ET o Milwaukee, WI Boston Celtics at Minnesota Timberwolves 8:00 PM ET o Minneapolis, MN San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies 8:00 PM ET o Memphis, TN Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz 9:00 PM ET o Salt Lake City, UT Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Clippers 10:30 PM ET o Los Angeles, CA

MLB Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees 1:05 PM ET| ESPN o Bronx, NY

VALLARTA TRIBUNE 834 April 1st - 7, 2013

Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals 1:05 PM ET o Washington, DC San Diego Padres at New York Mets 1:10 PM ET o Flushing, NY o Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates 1:35 PM ET o Pittsburgh, PA Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers 2:10 PM ET o Milwaukee, WI Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox 4:10 PM ET o Chicago, IL Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins 4:10 PM ET o Minneapolis, MN Los Angeles Angels at Cincinnati Reds 4:10 PM ET o Cincinnati, OH San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers 4:10 PM ET| ESPN o Los Angeles, CA Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves 7:10 PM ET| ESPN2 o Atlanta, GA Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics 10:07 PM ET St. Louis Cardinals at Arizona Diamondbacks 10:10 PM ET| ESPN2 o Phoenix, AZ

NHL New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils 7:00 PM ET o Newark, NJ Winnipeg Jets at New York Rangers 7:00 PM ET o New York, NY Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens 7:30 PM ET o Montreal, QC Colorado Avalanche at Detroit Red Wings 7:30 PM ET o Detroit, MI St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild 8:00 PM ET Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks 8:30 PM ET o Chicago, IL Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars 8:30 PM ET o Dallas, TX Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers 9:30 PM ET o Edmonton, AB Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks 10:30 PM ET o San Jose, CA

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Entertainment

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Challenge your brain! Sudoku is easy to play and the rules are simple. Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain only one of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

Easy

medium

HARD

TRAVEL LIGHT

HUB-WORDS How many words can you make from the letters in the wheel? Each word must contain the hub letter G. Can you find a 9-letter word and at least 25 other words of four letters or more avoiding proper nouns?

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

AIRBED, BACKPACK, BATTERIES, BINOCULARS, CAMPFIRE, CAN OPENER, CANVAS, COMPASS, FIRELIGHTER, FIRST AID KIT, FLASK, FOOD, FUEL, GRIDDLE, GROUNDSHEET, HIKING BOOTS, KINDLING, LANTERN, MAPS, MOSQUITO NET, PANS, PEDOMETER, POTS, ROPE, STOVE, TENT, TINDER, TOOLS, TORCH, WATER.

23

HUB-WORDS 9-letter word - ENIGMATIC Some other words of four letters or more containing the hub letter G: cage, gain, gait, game, gate, gent, geta, gnat (UK), giant, icing, image, magic, mange, tinge, acting, aiming, citing, eating, enigma, ignite, magnet, mating, taming, timing, imagine, mintage, teaming, magnetic.

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Shopping & Restaurant Guide

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多PLEASURE OR BUSINESS?

RESERVACIONES 293.09.00 / ZONA HOTELERA NORTE, PUERTO VALLARTA / WWW.LALECHERESTAURANT.COM

Francisco I Madero # 202, corner Pino Suarez, Emiliano Zapata Olas Altas Reservations 222 6593 www.latiavallarta.com e-mail latiavallarta@hotmail.com