Los Sabores del Mundo

Cocina mexicana despierta interés en la UNESCO

2010-11-30T13:13:00.000-08:00

De las 47 propuestas para formar parte de la lista de Patrimonio Inmaterial de la UNESCO, discutidas en la sesión pasada en Nairobi, Kenia, sólo la de la cocina tradicional mexicana despertó una reacción entusiasta, afirmaron hoy expertos.

Los miembros del Consejo Directivo del Conservatorio de Cultura Gastronómica Mexicana (CCGM) , Gloria López Morales, Sol Rubín de la Borbolla, José Iturriaga, Alfonso Cebreros y Roberto González Guzmán, dieron una conferencia de prensa para explicar cómo ocurrió este logro de la cultura mexicana.

En la Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana (UCSJ) recordaron la declaración como Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad por parte de la Organización de Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO) ocurrió el 16 de noviembre pasado.

En el momento en que la Comisión Intergubernamental reunida en Nairobi decidió lo anterior, la noticia dio la vuelta al mundo, puntualizó la presidenta del CCGM, Gloria López Morales, porque se trata de un logro muy complejo.

Detalló lo anterior al explicar que haber obtenido la inscripción de la cocina de alguna cultura en dicha lista es algo revolucionario para los países que ya tienen otros bienes inscritos.

Y enseguida resaltó: aunque en 2004 la propuesta fue rechazada, ahora le ganó a la gastronomía de Francia. 'No exagero, ese día se inscribieron otros 47 bienes y sólo uno provocó una reacción entusiasta, y a la vez llena de expectativas'.

Sostuvo que este éxito marca un hecho sin precedentes en los anales de la UNESCO, porque responde a la aceptación de un sistema cultural, en toda su complejidad, como demostración implícita de que un bien de este tipo sustenta la vida misma en su aceptación mas amplia y funge como amalgama de la vida colectiva de una comunidad.

Resaltó que la inscripción de una cultura gastronómica es un hecho muy complejo porque se trata de un bien inmaterial, a diferencia de cuando se anota un sitio arqueológico o un inmueble, en los que los valores son claros, visibles.

Precisó que fue al inscribir 'La cocina tradicional mexicana', por razones técnicas el formulario que se debió llenar exigió un estudio de caso y acciones concretas realizadas a favor de la preservación del patrimonio culinario de alguna localidad, entre otros requisitos.

De este caso, detalló, se requirió el testimonio firmado por los directores de las cocinas a nivel colectivo e individualmente, a manera de testigos de que ese caso es portador de las tradiciones que se pretenden poner en salvaguarda.

Por ello, anotó, se propuso como ejemplo el programa de las Cocineras de Michoacán, desarrollado a lo largo de los últimos siete años y que se presenta eventualmente como modelo para adoptarlo al resto del país.

La presidente del CCGM señalo que ahora le toca a las autoridades del país asumir su compromiso para diseñar políticas de apoyo a la producción de alimentos y a la creación de condiciones para que las cocinera de las comunidades conviertan su actividad en un medio de vida digno.

Bases que las hagan partícipes en los procesos del desarrollo local y regional, para que la cocina mexicana se convierta en un factor decisivo en la creación de riqueza del país, aseveró.

Cabe mencionar que el expediente que sustentó la candidatura fue presentado por el gobierno mexicano a través del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores y la Comisión de Cooperación con la UNESCO y el CCGM.

2012: Beginning of the End or Why the World Won't End?

2010-02-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

Remember the Y2K scare? It came and went without much of a whimper because of adequate planning and analysis of the situation. Impressive movie special effects aside, Dec. 21, 2012, won't be the end of the world as we know. It will, however, be another winter solstice.

Much like Y2K, 2012 has been analyzed and the science of the end of the Earth thoroughly studied. Contrary to some of the common beliefs out there, the science behind the end of the world quickly unravels when pinned down to the 2012 timeline. Below, NASA Scientists answer several questions that we're frequently asked regarding 2012.

Question (Q): Are there any threats to the Earth in 2012? Many Internet websites say the world will end in December 2012.
Answer (A): Nothing bad will happen to the Earth in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.

Q: What is the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?
A: The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012. Then these two fables were linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 -- hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.

Q: Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?
A: Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then -- just as your calendar begins again on January 1 -- another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.

Q: Could a phenomena occur where planets align in a way that impacts Earth?
A: There are no planetary alignments in the next few decades, Earth will not cross the galactic plane in 2012, and even if these alignments were to occur, their effects on the Earth would be negligible. Each December the Earth and sun align with the approximate center of the Milky Way Galaxy but that is an annual event of no consequence.

"There apparently is a great deal of interest in celestial bodies, and their locations and trajectories at the end of the calendar year 2012. Now, I for one love a good book or movie as much as the next guy. But the stuff flying around through cyberspace, TV and the movies is not based on science. There is even a fake NASA news release out there..."
- Don Yeomans, NASA senior research scientist Q: Is there a planet or brown dwarf called Nibiru or Planet X or Eris that is approaching the Earth and threatening our planet with widespread destruction?
A: Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax. There is no factual basis for these claims. If Nibiru or Planet X were real and headed for an encounter with the Earth in 2012, astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye. Obviously, it does not exist. Eris is real, but it is a dwarf planet similar to Pluto that will remain in the outer solar system; the closest it can come to Earth is about 4 billion miles.

Q: What is the polar shift theory? Is it true that the earth’s crust does a 180-degree rotation around the core in a matter of days if not hours?
A: A reversal in the rotation of Earth is impossible. There are slow movements of the continents (for example Antarctica was near the equator hundreds of millions of years ago), but that is irrelevant to claims of reversal of the rotational poles. However, many of the disaster websites pull a bait-and-shift to fool people. They claim a relationship between the rotation and the magnetic polarity of Earth, which does change irregularly, with a magnetic reversal taking place every 400,000 years on average. As far as we know, such a magnetic reversal doesn’t cause any harm to life on Earth. A magnetic reversal is very unlikely to happen in the next few millennia, anyway.

Earth, as seen in the Blue Marble: Next Generation collection of images, showing the color of the planet's surface in high resolution. This image shows South America from September 2004.

Q: Is the Earth in danger of being hit by a meteor in 2012?

A: The Earth has always been subject to impacts by comets and asteroids, although big hits are very rare. The last big impact was 65 million years ago, and that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today NASA astronomers are carrying out a survey called the Spaceguard Survey to find any large near-Earth asteroids long before they hit. We have already determined that there are no threatening asteroids as large as the one that killed the dinosaurs. All this work is done openly with the discoveries posted every day on the NASA NEO Program Office website, so you can see for yourself that nothing is predicted to hit in 2012.

Q: How do NASA scientists feel about claims of pending doomsday?
A: For any claims of disaster or dramatic changes in 2012, where is the science? Where is the evidence? There is none, and for all the fictional assertions, whether they are made in books, movies, documentaries or over the Internet, we cannot change that simple fact. There is no credible evidence for any of the assertions made in support of unusual events taking place in December 2012.

Q: Is there a danger from giant solar storms predicted for 2012?
A: Solar activity has a regular cycle, with peaks approximately every 11 years. Near these activity peaks, solar flares can cause some interruption of satellite communications, although engineers are learning how to build electronics that are protected against most solar storms. But there is no special risk associated with 2012. The next solar maximum will occur in the 2012-2014 time frame and is predicted to be an average solar cycle, no different than previous cycles throughout history.

Addition information concerning 2012 is available on the Web, at:

NASA Astrobiology Institute: "Nibiru and Doomsday 2012"
Bad Astronomy: "The Planet X Saga: The Scientific Arguments in a Nutshell"
Sky and Telescope Magazine: "2012: The Great Scare"

10 Important Forex Trading Tips

2010-01-26T15:40:00.000-08:00

10 Important Forex Trading Tips

Tip 1.
Gamblers go to casino. All unproved, spontaneous actions in Forex trading — are a part of pure gambling.
Any attempt to trade without analysis and studying the market is equal to a game. Games are fun except when you lose real money...

Tip 2.
Never invest money into a real Forex account until you practice on a Forex Demo account!

Tip 3.
Go with the trend!
Trend is your friend. Trade with the trend to maximize your chances to succeed. Trading against the trend won't "kill" a trader, but will definitely require more attention, nerves and sharp skills to rich trading goals.

Tip 4.
Always take a look at the time frame larger than the one you've chosen to trade with.

Tip 5.
Never risk more than 2-3% of the total trading account.

Tip 6.
Put emotions down. Trade calm. don,t try to take revenge after losing a trade. Don't be greedy by adding lots of positions when winning.
Overreaction blocks clear thinking and as a result will cost you money. Overtrading can shake your money management and dramatically increase trading risks.

Tip 7.
Choose the time frame that is right for you.

Tip 8.
Not trading or standing aside is a position.
When in doubt — stay out. If it is not clear where the market will move — don't trade. In this case saving your present capital is a better choice than taking additional risks and losing money.

Tip 9.
Learn to use protective stops. Respect your stops and don't move them.
Hoping that market will turn in your direction is a very delusive hope. By moving a stop loss further a trader increases his chances to end up with a much bigger loss.
Tip 10.
"Keep it simple, stupid" — applies to indicators, signals and trading strategies.
Too much information will create a controversial picture of when to trade and when not to. To avoid lots of confusion create a simple but working method of trading forex.

What is a Business Broker?

2010-01-12T15:22:00.000-08:00

What is a Business Broker?

The Business Broker acts as intermediary between buyers and sellers of businesses. It is responsible of uniting the parties and seeks to sell businesses.

The best way to locate the role of a Business Broker is compared to its closest relative ... the Real Estate Broker. The job of a Real Estate Broker is the place to hunt and Home Sellers with potential buyers. In the event that the sale is achieved earn a commission.
The Business Broker does exactly the same job as a Real Estate Broker, except for selling businesses. The Business Brokers assist business owners in preparing your business for sale, show business has in its portfolio, which may be locate businesses for sale, prepare and deliver all documents necessary to close the deal, and assist in the closing the sale.

What are the functions of a Business Broker?

A Business Broker is owner clients who want to sell your company and potential investors wishing to acquire a business.

The general functions of a business broker are:

* Capturing business portfolio.
* Advise the owner in the valuation of the business.
* Gather all the information of the company and request the necessary documents for the sale thereof.
* Put together a promotional package and sell the business.
* Promote your business you have in your portfolio.
* Address, guide, qualify and register prospective buyers.
* Mediate negotiations between buyers and sellers.
* Bringing the two sides to the professionals that help complete the transaction (lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, brokers and Notaries Public).
* Guiding Buyers and Sellers to achieve the closing.

* Prepare and monitor both sides until the "Closing Date".

The magic plant: natural fuel source

2010-01-12T02:04:00.000-08:00

The magic plant: natural fuel source

Engineers and scientists believe that Jatropha oil, a very hardy shrub, you can get fuel. Moreover, the plant tends the soil, creates jobs and benefits countries with few resources.

"The seeds of Jatropha are shaped like a walnut, although a little smaller. When your outer shell, usually green, begins to make a yellowish hue, the seeds are ready for collection. When removing the shell, we find other three seeds. Each contains 40% oil, "says Professor Klaus Becker, who is dedicated to testing the strength of Jatropha in countries such as Egypt, India and Madagascar.

Source of "biodiesel" Jatropha has natural advantages over other biodiesel and practices so far producidos.Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The Jatropha has natural advantages over other biodiesel and practices so far produced.
For two years, Becker works supported by the car manufacturer Daimler-Chrysler. Given oil prices, environmentalists are not the only ones interested in finding alternatives to oil.
"Fuel is still under development. But the Jatropha oil fuel that has now been produced in line with the qualities a must have fuel to run a modern diesel engines," said Stefan Keppeler, engineer in charge evaluation of fuel.

Jatropha oil would not be the first natural fuel used in Europe. Until now, scientists have extracted oil from other plants such as rapeseed, a kind of cabbage, which does not grow on any soil or under any circumstances. Thus, the advantage of Jatropha to rapeseed is its strength.

"Madagascar could be planted 10 to 20 million hectares if we were to put up a plant with a little cold. This would mean that seven years would be capable of producing all the fuel that Madagascar needs more shipments of fuel sufficient for export "Becker said. Also for Latin America Jatropha plantations are presented as a unique opportunity.

Resistant to all

The Jatropha resists high temperatures and drought, while protecting and fertilize the suelo.Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The Jatropha resists high temperatures and drought, while protecting and fertilize the secret that makes suelo.El Jatropha is resistant to all their venom. The plant is so poisonous, that Becker does not even have to worry about predators protect its natural oil factory.

In desert places where it does not place a root or the weed, Jatropha can create, with its shrubs reaching six meters, authentic green forests. More than eight months of drought each year and temperatures around 40 degrees to the Jatropha wilt not, as we have seen Becker in Gujarat, India.

Soil erosion by wind and water also hurts the Jatropha. Not only that, thanks to her, the eroded soil to be fertile again. "In Africa we find that the wind and water, along with particles of Jatropha, create layers of sediment is precious to 0.7 centimeters per year. With the passage of time eroded soils become unfit for cultivation", Becker said.
Extensions hitherto useless land could be cultivated, creating jobs and benefits to countries with few resources. Meanwhile, the Jatropha protects the soil from erosion and pound to heaven from gaseous pollutants. Have you could ask more of a plant?

In the times we live in is much talk of protecting the environment, we should be open minded to receive all the changes for us and especially to the place where we all live our planet is. Please take care of the planet sooner or later we'll regret. Thanks for reading

What are the franchises?

2010-01-05T14:17:00.000-08:00

The franchises are contracts, through which a company grants rights and delivery obligations to another company or person, so this make gains through the exploitation of a brand, product or service. What's in the franchisor? Apart from allowing its brand to continue growing, the franchisee must pay a fee or royalty of sales during each month duration of the franchise.

Who seat delivery rights and obligations of a trademark license shall be called the franchisor. Meanwhile, who gets the franchise, is named franchisee.

The attraction of franchising is that they are fairly quick to acquire a business and at the same time obtaining know-how that has developed over the years.

Since the acquisition of the franchise, the franchisor must deliver their knowledge (know-how or know-how), the franchisee. Besides, with the franchise, you acquire a product, backed by a brand that has already achieved a penetration within the target segment of it.

Moreover, the franchisee may sell legally, the respective product. So with a brand and a product that they have progressed in terms of penetration respective results will be achieved more quickly.

With respect to the history of the franchise, these are part of the business world, more than 150 years. Because in Europe, already practiced franchising, inchoately among brewers. Similarly in the U.S. going through the railroad companies.

Today, franchises are very popular, thanks to the efforts of fast food chains. Some of the most emblematic cases, their constituent Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald `s Pizza Hut. They are also known franchises like TGI Friday'sy Hooters.

Thus, like franchises, are the way that some companies manage to extend their brands within a nation and even on a global basis. Thus many of these companies manage to increase its assets steadily. This, as the franchise system is fairly simple and low risks for franchisors. Because only the licenses should be delivered on the brand and business knowledge, so that someone else, further grow the brand in question. Sure, but the franchisee can make poor management. For this, the franchisor, through the franchise agreement provides that the franchisee should allow control by the first, of how management is the new franchise.

Thus, as both parties must incur mutual obligations, which are: The franchisor should license out the brand and its symbols. It must give all its know-how, with respect to the business. This often includes training for new staff in a local set that may last several months. Moreover, the franchisee must supply of all the machinery required to start the franchise or company. All this has a cost of course and that is why a franchisee of any known brand can cost quite expensive.

Finally, as mentioned above, the operator of the franchise, shall pay a fee or royalty on sales of the month. Apart from performing all his efforts, within the regulatory framework that gives the franchisor.

Apophis: The Asteroid murderer, 2036

2009-12-31T23:36:00.000-08:00

Apophis: The Asteroid murderer, 2036

The Venezuelans, like the inhabitants of the Kamchatka peninsula in far eastern Russia, will now have another reason to worry. Indeed, there is one chance in 45,000 of receiving, on 13 April 2036, the direct impact of an asteroid almost 500 meters in diameter and more than twenty million tons. This, at least one of the venues managed by astronomers to follow, since its discovery in 2004, the trajectory of the asteroid 99942, known as Apophis.

With an orbit around the Sun that is very similar to that of Earth, this large space rock, one of 127 considered by NASA as potentially dangerous, often intersects with our planet. It has been estimated that future approaches will occur in the years 2013, 2021, 2029 and 2036. The first two there is no danger, because Apophis will pass far enough so we can sleep peacefully.

In 2029, however, both paths (the Earth and the asteroid) are so close that when it happens, Apophis is to 38,000 miles (just over a tenth part of what separates us from the Moon) and very close orbits are, nowadays, many of our communications satellites.

Changing course

And then something happens that can greatly complicate things. The force of Earth's gravity will change the asteroid's trajectory, in fact become much more dangerous than the next meeting, on April 13, 2036.

Shortly after being discovered (June 2004), the asteroid was assigned a level four on the Torino Scale (which rate the risk of impact from 0 to 10 where 10 is a safe collision), the maximum degree of danger of all monitored bodies of this type before. At that time, the probability of collision in April, 2036 increased to one in 37. However, subsequent calculations lowered their position on the ladder to level one, which currently occupies with that collision probability of one in 45,000. The following year, in 2037, Apophis will come across the Earth, but only one chance to collide with it from 12.3 million ...

In fact, the program experts NEO (Near Earth Objects) from NASA have calculated that the April 13, 2036 the asteroid about our world could fall anywhere along a huge stretch diagonally across the Pacific Ocean, from Siberia to the South American coast, and which extends to the edges of the African continent.

Most likely, if the collision actually come to pass, that the object is bigger than the Empire State, to fall directly into the water. Some consolation it, as its tremendous energy (equivalent to over one hundred thousand atomic bombs of Hiroshima) would be enough to cause tsunamis several hundred meters. Monster waves then sweep the coasts, with devastating effects on several continents.

Making decisions

A 45,000. This likelihood, very remote, has been sufficient, however, in order to seriously consider drafting a protocol specific focus, which would be responsible United Nations, whose final text could see light in 2009. "Someone will have to make decisions," says Russell Schweickart, a former member of the Apollo missions and founder of the Association of Space Explorers, formed by veteran astronauts and cosmonauts.

This association is the ultimate driving force behind the drafting of this treaty, which must determine what concrete steps would be necessary to continue in the case of confirming the existence of an asteroid impact trajectory with Earth. The first of the workshops to produce the document will take place in May in Strasbourg.

For its part, Congress has tightened the screws to NASA to be taken more seriously the issue. And is that the list of potentially dangerous objects may be increased to several thousand in just a decade. The craters that show on your skin all the planets of the Solar System are the best proof that, sooner or later, a large comet or asteroid will collide with Earth. It is best to prepare now, we're on time ...