“Lotería Jarocha”, a revamp of a traditional Mexican game

Help Alec Dempster launch the Lotería Jarocha game.

This project will only be funded if at least $6,000 is pledged by Thursday, Aug 14 2014 10:59 PM EDT. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/276896498/loteria-jarocha-a-game-of-mexican-music-poetry-and

Visual arts and musician Alec Dempster is transforming the traditional Mexican "Lotería" game and creating a new musical version to promote the game in Mexico and abroad. Recently he started a campaign on the website Kickstarter.com to fund the cost of recording a CD that will accompany the board game.

The “Lotería” game is a Mexican form of Bingo. The traditional “Lotería” consists of images and verses rather than just numbers. His adaptation called “El Fandanguito” includes 60 images which represent “sones”, which are jarocho folk songs from the state of Veracruz. The songs are sung while the players listen and try to identify the corresponding images on their boards. 

Sources: alecdempster.net / cafeconpan.ca

The new game will include the CD, 8 letter press boards and a deck of 60 illustrated cards (linoleum printed images with the lyrics or verses, written specially for the playing of the game). Each verse is an "adivinanza" (riddle) with the title coming at the very end or poetically insinuated. The game is played by reciting or singing the verses, explains Dempster on his website.

Dempster spent three years in Mexico creating the print images which then custom printed on 8 playing boards at Lunar Caustic Press in Toronto, using the letter press technique, explains on Kickstarter. 

Sources: alecdempster.net / cafeconpan.ca

Watch the images from the Lotería Jarocha game:

http://www.alecdempster.net/Loteria_Jarocha/Fandanguito_Gallery.html

Supporters may receive one the following rewards:

- His most recent CD "Nuevos Caminos a Santiago" along with a CD of unreleased live Cafe Con Pan music group recordings.

- Signed copies of his book about son jarocho called "Lotería Jarocha"

- Choose from 30 of the "Lotería" limited edition prints.

About Alec Dempster:

Dempster was born in Mexico City and grew up in Toronto where he received his formal art training. It is in Veracruz, Mexico however that his work became synonymous with son jarocho folk music and other aspects of local popular culture. Over a period of twelve years his printmaking has been part of a multidisciplinary project combining; research of local oral history, doing field recordings with elderly musicians, creating educational games, as well as performing professionally with established son jarocho groups. 

Source: http://www.alecdempster.net/

Alec Dempster‘s biography on Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/people/dempstergrafik

About the music group: Café con Pan

Alec Dempster and Kali Niño conduct interactive son jarocho workshops, classes and courses, for all age groups. They lead to a broader understanding of Mexican culture, Spanish language, and develop musical skills. An important component is the zapateado dance form which has been described as “Mexican tap”, as well as singing, playing the jarana and percussion.

Source: http://www.cafeconpan.ca/ 

 

Aída Ulloa, Editor The Visionaries Media Follow us: Twitter @VisionariesMed www.facebook.com/thevisionariesmedia

Relaxation techniques of Patch Adams

A long time ago I had the opportunity to listen to one of Patch Adams conferences in Mexico City. Yes! The real Hunter "Patch" Adams, the visionary doctor who revolutionized medicine with laugh therapy.

Laugh improves mood for any patient but his teachings can help us not only in the field of medicine, but also to improve our daily lives and stop being so grumpy at work.

In his lectures, Adams provides some exercises that appear to be simple, but in reality are loaded with significance and are really good for relaxing. Try some of his techniques and see the difference in your mood.

The first exercise is to act as furniture, for example a sofa. "You do not necessarily have to be a living thing to be happy, I used to take people to the morgue and tell them don’t you feel better than that poor man?” said Adams.

The second is to act as a statue in a salute position; the third is to make funny or enthusiastic faces. The fourth is to approach a stranger and talk about the joys of life (if you don’t have, you must invent them). "As a doctor you have to know how to love people, I asked my students to greet everyone and achieve a dinner invitation after half an hour."

Other activities that help improve mood are: dance, have physical and visual contact with others, build strong communities and relationships that give a sense of belonging to combat loneliness and avoid depression. In addition, develop creativity (e.g., inventing things with just a sheet of paper).

Being grateful is vital. "To be grateful you got to turn and see famine and places like Africa," said Adams.

Joy is not only a reward for something (like graduating from college or getting a good job); we celebrate being alive. 

Aída Ulloa

The Visionaries Media Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @VisionariesMed www.facebook.com/thevisionariesmedia

Las técnicas de relajación de Patch Adams

Hace algún tiempo tuve la oportunidad de asistir a una de las conferencias de Patch Adams que dio en la Ciudad de México. En efecto, el verdadero Hunter “Patch” Adams, el visionario doctor que revolucionó la medicina con la risoterapia.  La risa ayuda a los pacientes a mejorar su estado de ánimo, pero sus técnicas también pueden aplicarse en nuestra vida cotidiana.

En sus conferencias, Adams ofrece algunos ejercicios que al parecer son simples, pero que están llenos de significado y son buenos para relajarse. Prueba alguna de sus técnicas y sentirás la diferencia.

El primer ejercicio es actuar como un mueble, por ejemplo, un sofá. "No necesariamente tienes que ser algo vivo para ser feliz, solía llevar a la gente a la morgue y les decía ¿no te sientes mejor que ese pobre hombre?".

El segundo es actuar como estatua en una posición de saludo, el tercero es hacer caras sonrientes o entusiastas. El cuarto es buscar a alguien no conocido y platicarle de las alegrías de la vida (si no las tienes, debe inventarlas). "Como médico tienes que saber amar a la gente, yo pedía a mis estudiantes de medicina que saludaran a todo el mundo y que lograran una invitación a cenar después de media hora".

Otras actividades que ayudan a mejorar el estado de ánimo son: bailar,  tener contacto físico y visual con otros; formar comunidades y relaciones sólidas que den un sentido de pertenencia para combatir  la soledad y evitar la depresión. Además de desarrollar la creatividad (por ejemplo, inventar cosas con tan sólo una hoja de papel).

Ser agradecido es vital. “Para estar agradecido tienes que voltear y ver la hambruna y lugares como África", enfatizó Adams.

Para Adams, la alegría no es una recompensa por algo (como graduarse de la universidad o conseguir un buen trabajo), Alegría es celebrar el simple hecho de estar vivos.

Aída Ulloa

The Visionaries Media Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @VisionariesMed www.facebook.com/thevisionariesmedia

Mazunte Cosmetics

If you are planning to go on your next vacation to the beach, maybe you could consider Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico, where warm and friendly people will welcome you with open arms. Mexican Pacific beaches are an attraction of choice for Mexicans and foreigners for their beautiful sunsets that will take your breath away.

Near Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, you'll find the community of Mazunte, now a protected area which has become an ecotourism center. In this town you will also find the organic cosmetics factory "Mazunte Cosmetics".

A few decades ago the main activity of the population of Mazunte was the hunting of turtles. Historians tell that the beaches were painted red because of the blood trail that hunters left in the sand. The Mexican government decided to transform Mazunte into a sanctuary and protect turtles from overhunting. However, families were left without their main source of income.

Then the town then became an ecotourism center; the Turtle Museum and Mazunte Cosmetics were created. Among other things the company manufactures soaps, cosmetics and other natural and handmade products: shampoo, conditioner, moisturizers, bath gel, anti cellulite cream, reductive gel, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hair styling gel, deodorant, among others.

http://www.myhuatulcovacation.com/huatulco-news/feature-articles/shopping-in-huatulco-mazunte-natural-cosmetics/

Today Mazunte Cosmetics has modernized and you can buy through their website. www.cosmeticosmazunte.com

Mazunte is a great example of sustainable development and social responsibility. Caring for the environment has been possible thanks to the joint work of the villagers, government and visitors. An important part of the success of the change has been a continuous process of education of its residents and visitors. Do business and take care of the planet is possible!

Mazunte Cosmetics products are of high quality and made with organic ingredients, natural oils and essences: sesame, coconut, eucalyptus, lemon, avocado, etc.

#TheVisionariesMedia #VisionariesMedia #Mazunte #Cosmeticos #CosmeticosMazunte #Mexico #Oaxaca #Huatulco #PuertoEscondido #Turismo #Business #Businesses

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Cosméticos Mazunte

Si estas planeando ir en tus próximas vacaciones a la playa, tal vez podrías considerar Puerto Escondido en Oaxaca, México, donde gente cálida y amable te recibirá con los brazos abiertos. Las playas del Pacífico Mexicano son un atractivo turístico por excelencia para mexicanos y extranjeros por sus hermosos atardeceres que te quitarán el aliento. Cerca de Puerto Escondido se encuentra la comunidad de Mazunte, hoy en día un lugar protegido y convertido en centro ecoturístico, además de la fábrica de cosméticos ecológicos "Cosméticos Mazunte".

Hasta hace algunas décadas Mazunte era un pueblo que vivía de la caza de las tortugas. Cuentan los historiadores que sus playas se pintaban de rojo debido al rastro de sangre que los cazadores dejaban en la arena. El Gobierno Mexicano decidió convertir Mazunte en un santuario y proteger a las tortugas de la caza excesiva. Sin embargo, las familias se quedaron sin su fuente de ingreso principal. La población entonces se convirtió en un centro ecoturístico.

Se crearon, entre otras cosas: el Museo de la Tortuga y la Empresa cooperativa de Cosméticos Mazunte, donde se fabrican jabones, cosméticos y otros productos naturales y artesanales como: shampoo, acondicionador, cremas humectantes, gel para baño, crema anti celulitis, gel reductivo, protector solar, repelente contra los mosquitos, gel fijador para el cabello, desodorante, entre otros. Los productos de Cosméticos Mazunte son de gran calidad, con ingredientes orgánicos, aceites y esencias naturales de ajonjolí, coco, eucalipto, limón, aguacate, entre otros.

Hoy en día Cosméticos Mazunte se ha modernizado y es posible hacer compras a través de su página de internet. www.cosmeticosmazunte.com Mazunte es un gran ejemplo de desarrollo sustentable y responsabilidad social. Cuidar el medio ambiente ha sido posible gracias al trabajo en conjunto de los pobladores, el gobierno y los visitantes. Parte importante del éxito en el cambio ha sido el proceso continuo de educación de sus pobladores y visitantes. Hacer negocio y cuidar nuestro planeta es posible!

#TheVisionariesMedia #VisionariesMedia #Mazunte #Cosmeticos #CosmeticosMazunte #Mexico #Oaxaca #Huatulco #PuertoEscondido #Turismo #Negocio #Negocios

Pet funeral services, a growing business

Those who have pets know that they are part of the family and when a pet dies is actually the loss of a loved one. Over the last decades the number of companies dedicated to funeral pets has increased.