Cinco de Mayo – few celebrating know why they do
Posted By RichC on May 5, 2010
As the population of the United States continues to expand, particularly with those of Mexican ancestry, Cinco de Mayo celebrations are becoming more and more popular in all parts of the United States. Not a single American I asked knew why May 5th has become such a popular day of celebration for all Americans (me included). Most ‘guessed’ that it was Mexico’s independence day … no, that would be September 16, 1810 …and none guessed that is was due to the Battle of Puebla (what???). Add to the mix that it was against the French forces and most admitted that they were clueless that the French were even in Mexico – one friend said, “you mean a battle against the Spanish forces?”
The date May 5th is celebrated because on that day in 1862, much larger and better equipped French army was defeated by the Mexican army, lead by General Ignacio Zaragoza Sequin in the Mexican state of Puebla. 
The victory really wasn’t the beginning of success for the Mexican army, but one which just delayed the French from advancing on Mexico City. The French invaded Mexico after President Benito Juárez refused to make interest payments their nation’s debt. Eventually the French went on to occupy Mexico and put a puppet leader in control in 1864, Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico. It wasn’t until 1867, pressured by the U.S., that the French removed their forces which saw Benito Juárez return to power (executing Maximilian I).
What makes the Battle of Puebla impressive is that the odds were stacked 2 to 1 against the Mexican army, yet they still defeated the well-equipped French army, something that hadn’t been done for 50 years. Interestingly in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday limited primarily to the state of Puebla. 
For the most part the celebrations combine food, music, and dancing.
In the United States, the holiday has expanded over the years and is celebrated by Americans of all cultures; it has become a day much like St. Patrick’s Day, Oktoberfest and the Chinese New Year which celebrates the culture and experiences of Americans with a particular ancestry. All I know is that I love Mexican food and hospitality … and that I’ll be celebrating even closer to home every week of the year!
🙂
BP oil disaster is affecting thousands and will cost billions
Posted By RichC on May 4, 2010
According to an Associated Press report, the casualties are starting to show up on the Gulf of Mexico. Experts are hesitate to point to the oil spill as the cause of death for every specie, but it is easy to speculate that oil is a contributing factor for many of the fish and birds. Sea turtles are also being found and although they don’t have noticeable oil on their carcass, it is likely they are being affected too.
Besides the environmental damage, the economic impact will also be felt far and wide. Everything being shipped in and out of the ports as well as the obvious tourism industry in the gulf shore areas will be impacted. BP has pledged to “it would compensate people for legitimate and objectively verifiable" claims from the explosion and spill,” but many may have a difficult time figuring out how to seek compensation … especially those who businesses and jobs may be impacted for more that a single season.
The AP also stated that “The new image found oil covering about 2,000 square miles, rather than the roughly 3,400 square miles observed last Thursday, said Hans Graber of the University of Miami.
The new image also shows that sizable patches have broken away and are moving to the north and east, Graber said.
Crews have been struggling to stop the more than 200,000 gallons a day spewing from the sea after an offshore drilling platform blew up and sank last month in a disaster that killed 11 workers. The accident is the worst U.S. oil spill since the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska, leaking nearly 11 million gallons of crude.
Chemical dispersants seemed to be helping to keep oil from floating to the surface, but crews haven’t been able to activate a shutout valve underwater. And it could take another week before a 98-ton concrete-and-metal box is placed over one of the leaks to capture the oil.
More ominously, it could take three months to drill sideways into the well and plug it with mud and concrete.”
American Express marketing USB gadget – Safe?
Posted By RichC on May 3, 2010
American Express continues their rich and creative advertising using USB technology computer technology to entice card members 
and ‘would be’ card members to apply for one of their credit cards. I started to ponder the safety of popping the little fold out USB plug into a waiting computer … wondering just who made the card and what might be included on the circuitry? I regularly read that many of the USB memory chip devices coming from China are laced with programming other than what was intended for the product. Electronic photo display frames have been especially a problem.
I’m not doubting the integrity of American Express or its marketing division, 
but suspect these kinds of low cost advertising items are produced overseas where ‘who knows what’ can be unscrupulously added to the USB circuit. Still, the temptation was too much and I plugged the website launching redirect in to my Mac … chose not to plug it into my Windows notebook.
I dissected the foam credit card just to see what was actually included in the little USB plug. This can’t cheap to produce, but on the other hand a annual fee paying American Express customer must be worth the marketing?
🙂
Roz Savage TED Talk and spreading oil slick off Louisiana
Posted By RichC on May 2, 2010
Since I follow, and have posted, the rowing and progress of Roz Savage, I thought I would post her recent Tedprize MissionBlue TED Talk (Wikipedia info). Although I don’t see eye to eye with her robust embrace of the‘green political’ bureaucracy, I do recognize the impact we humans have on oceans and the marine environment.
For many, if our ecological mistreatment isn’t readily noticed, but ocean habitats are fragile as we are all noticing with the recent oil slick spreading in the Gulf of Mexico.
Below is Roz’s short speech during the recent MissionBlue Galapagos conference.
American sized all-electric vehicles by AMP Electric Vehicles
Posted By RichC on May 1, 2010
A few years ago when I posted about the opening of AMP Electric Vehicles in my backyard of Blue Ash, Ohio (Cincinnati), the company company was in the planning stages of electrifying two place vehicles like the Pontiac Solace and Saturn Sky. As technology and battery technology improved, so did their vision in building useful American sized family vehicles.
Take the AMP version of the Equinox crossover for instance, it is powered by two direct to wheel water cooled electric motors which provides plenty of power and still offers a range of 150 miles, according to company CEO Stephen Burns at the 2010 New York Auto Show. For many of us, having a second car that seats five + storage, can be recharged in 1 to 4 hours and still zip to 60 in 7 seconds sounds pretty good. Introductory pricing is currently being quoted as a “$25,000 conversion price after tax incentives.” Take a look at what it would be like driving a nicely equipped Electric Equinox (video below).
Veggie Van smashes Guinness record for longest journey on alternative fuels
Posted By RichC on April 30, 2010
Good news, bad news …
Posted By RichC on April 30, 2010
With a new El Rancho Grande Mexican restaurant opening close to home, I won’t have to drive as far to get my chips and salsa ‘fix.’ Unfortunately being so close is going to be a real temptation.
Times have changed – what happened?
Posted By RichC on April 30, 2010
It is interesting how different generations respond to this 1950s advertising photo from the Bradley Corporation.
A pre-boomer, not as tuned into today’s political climate and mindset, commented “what’s wrong with the ad — it doesn’t show any nudity?” A boomer, a bit older than me, responded with a raised eyebrow and a comment … “oh for a return to the good ol’ days.” A 20 year old, with his only reference the last couple decades, declared “that’s just wrong.”
What happened to our society?
Less inclusive airline travel and fees for additional services
Posted By RichC on April 29, 2010
It has become challenging to fly commercial airlines in recent year, especially since 9/11. Not only has the process of going through most airports become time consuming with all the additional security precautions, but the airlines themselves have made changes which most agree have become irritating to down right miserable for passengers, I’m thinking about those passengers who’ve been stuck on the tarmac for hours.
With competition, high or fluctuating cost and economic pressures, airline companies are all looking for places to pinch their pennies. Besides the recent trend of charging a per bag price for luggage, Spirit Airlines will be the first to charge for carry-on items if they need to be stored in the overhead bin. According to recent reports this is due to the trend of passengers not checking luggage to forgo the baggage fees and opting instead to carry on their suitcases. According to industry experts this slows the loading and unloading of airplanes delaying flights. Passengers, me included, struggle to cram their luggage into the already full overhead bins. Discount airlines like Spirit have also added additional seats (ie. more passengers) and now with less overhead space have an even bigger problem. Enter the ‘fee’ for carry-on luggage, up to $45 on August 1, 2010.
At first glance I bristled since the checked baggage fee already sent me huffing and puffing in complaint, but eventually realized that the free-market is the best approach in working this out … so as long as we all know up front what flight/service we are getting. Frankly, the same should be true for a fee for carry on luggage. We can all choose with our wallets what kind of flying experience we what to have, be it a door to door elite private jet service or self serve discount airline flying 40 year old planes. It’s both our freedom to choose (within a set ‘safety’ limit) and our responsibility to be a value conscious consumer.
But … enter big brother: Some of our ever further reaching Federal legislators see it as their job to be the ones to legislate and no doubt ‘tax’ us to pay for another bureaucratic department (just a California politicians do for ‘toys’ in McDonald’s Happy Meals). To be fair though, they might also be concerned over loosing tax revenues since the ‘fees’ the airlines charged aren’t taxed as high as airline tickets… hmm.
There Ought to Be a Law
Some in Congress believe airline fees should have limits. A bill has been introduced to outlaw carry-on baggage fees; another effort is aimed at taxing fees just as tickets are taxed so government doesn’t lose out on revenue as airlines shift their charges from tickets to fees.
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.