Monday, June 10, 2013

Transformer Can't Handle Two Pumps, Catholic Celebration Concluded, Sandy Street Causes Skids, Turtle Love Offshore & Patrols Protecting Their Beaches At Night, Whale Shark "Pirates", Mayan Roles In Isla Mujeres News Monday, June 10 Today's Articles & Events: The Final Edition

..This is the live webcam at North Beach / Playa Norte








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Lake Levels Dropping: Transformer Caused Problem
Personnel from the Civil Protection agency have been running the storm water removal pumps 24 hours a day for six days. They have removed nearly 100,000 cubic meters of water from Salina Grande lake, which is the main receptor of storm water for nine neighborhoods. They received help from a generator lent by Aguakan, and during five days the lake level dropped ~50 centimeters. They returned the generator on Saturday, and will continue draining water until Salina Grande drops another ~30 centimeters and attains its normal level. (30cm is a foot and 50 cm is ~20 inches) The problem that occurred last week was explained by an Aguakan employee who said the pumps each have a capacity of 30 horsepower (with a sixteen inch pipe), but the capacity of the transformer is too small to run two engines simultaneously. Staff from the Civil Protection agency said with the generator (lent by Aguakan) the pumps functioned properly, and consumed 460 liters of fuel while being operated for five days around the clock. While 97,286 cubic meters of water were removed from Salina Grande by Sunday evening, about half that amount was removed from the smaller lake, Salina Chica. Source Diario Q Roo/Manuel Valdez

 38 Catholics Confirmed & Festival Concludes
Sunday morning, thirty eight people were confirmed at the Catholic Church in La Gloria, Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, by visiting Bishop or Archbishop (?)(Obispo) Pedro Pablo Elizondo, who acknowledged the work of the parish priest Raul Sanchez Alonso. The celebrations of the church's annual festival have now conclueded. Source: Diario Q Roo/Manuel Valdez 

Requesting Sweeping of Street
Residents near the Punta Sur/ South Point area are requesting that the City remove the sand and gravel that were left on the road after the recent rains, because it is causing some vehicles to skid, which is particularly hazardous for motorcycles. Source: Diario Respuesta/Jesus Molina

Young Volunteers Encouraged To Help Turtles
The Department of Parks and Museums is conducting its comprehensive management plan for the care and conservation of sea turtles, which includes raising awareness with activities in local schools, as well as providing information to the general public. The turtle season officially began on May 15 and ends on October 15, and the Committee in charge of their preservation is also assisted by the Civil Protection agency and the Navy.  Beaches are monitored and turtle eggs are removed to be incubated and protected from predators at the Tortugranja. Young people are invited to volunteer to monitor the beaches or join the environmental education program at the turtle farm. During the 2012 season they rescued 851 nests containing 103,816 eggs, ow which 95,064 were green turtles, 6,215 were loggerhead, and 2537 were hawksbills. There were 92,670 hatchlings released which is a hatching rate of 89 percent. In Isla Mujeres, the beaches they nest on are: Media Luna, Piedra Rota, Bachilleres, Chiapanecos, Acapulquito, Rastro, Punta Sur and Barrancos. Source: Diario Respuesta/Jesus Molina


Whale Shark Tour "Pirates"
Tourism service provider Jose Luis Mena told Por Esto that there are boats offering whale shark tours who do not have permits, and have not been trained. He said whale sharks with injuries from propellers have been observed, and he blames these illegal operators. He said they also offer rates below the official prices. This article says that amount is believed to be $150, but other reports have generally said the official price is $125usd. The tour boats with permits are required to have a type of propeller that stops when it comes in contact with an object. The article calls the illegal operators "pirates" and says they have become "indirect predators" of the whale sharks.  PE says there are ~240 licensees in the municipalities of Isla Mujeres, Benito Juarez (Cancun), and Lazaro Cardenas, and estimates there are 80 boats operated by "pirates" who offer the tours clandestinely. Source: Por Esto  


Tourists Enjoyed Improved Weather
The beaches and businesses of Isla Mujeres were busier Sunday with tourists enjoying the improved weather. A few business people were disappointed and suggested that more promotion would improve tourism. In the very early morning, the skies were partly cloudy with some wind, but both domestic and foreign visitors arrived  and spent their day enjoying the beaches, the sea, and the other tourist attractions of Isla Mujeres. Source: Por Esto  



Quintanarroense has an article about the social & political organization of the Maya before the arrival of the Spanish. (probably written by Fidel Villanueva Madrid.) Rather than translating that, I found similar information in English, whose author is not given, and it is provided by the William P Palmer III Collection. (paste)

Overview
hm626, Palmer CollectionAncient Maya civilization spans more than 2000 years (1000BC-AD1542), flourishing in a time during the Classic Period between 300 and 600 AD. The Maya established many small cities that often competed with one another, and ranged geographically from present day Guatemala and Honduras to the northern Yucatan peninsula. An elite aristocratic class made up of Nobles and Priests controlled each city. Both commoners and slaves labored for these elite, and are responsible for creating the architectural monuments the Maya are identified with today. The Maya are known for their incredible advances in mathematics and astronomy, and their success in establishing accurate calendar systems. As an agricultural society, the Maya focused on the production of corn, or maize. In addition, they grew kidney beans, squash, and avocados, and raised a breed of dog to eat. During the 16th century when Spanish explorers such as Cortes began arriving in Latin America, much of ancient Maya civilization had already unraveled due to the internal conflicts that existed between cities. Nevertheless, aspects of the ancient culture continue into the present and can be seen in the Maya descendants still living throughout Latin America.

Maya Society
hm4627, Palmer CollectionMaya society was broken into a class structure with four main levels: the nobility (Maya almehenob), the priesthood (Maya ahkinob), the common people (Maya ah chembal uinieol), and the slaves (Maya ppencatob). The most powerful of the ruling elite was known as the halach uinic (HM 1172), or “true man.” As a hereditary position the office of halach uinic was typically passed from father to eldest son; however, when no suitable heir was available, a council of lords would elect a successor from the noble families. The halach uinic held ultimate political authority over the city-state and saw to civil affairs as well as relations with neighboring cities. So revered was the halach uinic that a cloth was held in front of his face to prevent anyone from speaking to him directly. From the wealthy Maya aristocracy that made up the nobility (HM 4627), the halach uinic selected provincial managers known as batabs. These batabs would assist the halach uinic in controlling local governments and would oversee the village’s required payment of tributes (taxes) to the hierarchy.

Maya priests also held a very high position in society. In addition to their religious duties, priests were able administrators, scholars, astronomers, and mathematicians. The priesthood carried equal if not more influence among the Mayas as the nobility. Feared and respected for their knowledge, priests were able to take advantage of the superstitions of the masses. Among the duties of priesthood was human sacrifice, a rite performed by a priest called the nacom. Elected for life, the nacom would cut out the heart of sacrificial victims during ceremonies. Other religious practices included the study of divination, interpreting spiritual omens, and predicting future events.

At the bottom of society sat the commoners and slaves. Subject to the rule of the nobles and priests, commoners spent their days as farmers, architects, stonecutters, and carpenters, laboring to support not only themselves but also those above them. Maya architectural splendor can be credited to the commoners. The prevalent use of slaves emerged during the Post-classic era of the Maya. Slaves included prisoners of war, orphans, the children of those already enslaved, and those caught stealing. As law and custom allowed for the possible redemption or paid release of a slave, the length of one’s servitude was not necessarily for life. In general however, slaves were at the mercy of their owners, and were considered too lowly to be given a place in society’s class rank. (end paste)

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View from rooms
Small room
Large room
Fine dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the traditional neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. Stroll five minutes down the coastal sidewalk to Mango Cafe or Monchi's,shop at Chedraui or visit restaurants, bars, & beach clubs; minutes away by bike or on foot. Our guests recommend the Yoga classes a couple villas away at hotelito Casa Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks away in the village, as well as a pharmacy and variety of other stores and small local restaurants


Sunrise this morning from MVC B&B

no photos taken this morn

 On the internet in the past 24 hours...

LIVE MUSIC In Isla Mujeres 
 Scheduled for TODAY / TONIGHT: MONDAY


Early                         Time
 The Joint                     1-4          Marco (Reggae)  LINK
Casa de los Suenos  4-7          Banda Sin Nombre  LINKLINK
Sunset Grill-                Dusk       keyboard/vocals LINK

~8p
Faynes-                        8-10          Raul Alexis   LINK
Cafe del Mar-              8p            ?  LINK LINK
Comono Roof              8:30-11     La Guera & Willys Blues LINK


Late
Faynes-                       10:30-12:00     ? LINK
.John Cain.Cafe del Mar Tuesdays 8-10













Monday's teaser....hope to see you at Barlito Tuesday through Saturday, 8am to 3pm!


The young man from Isla Mujeres that I have been sponsoring will be graduating from university in September with a certificate in criminology. David has some expenses associated with his graduation that are due to the university by July 2nd. David has worked very hard to get to this point in his life. His team of sponsors wants to ensure that he has the proper funds for his graduation so he may put his education to use working in his trained profession.

Less than $600 may not seem like a lot of money to those of us in the US or Canada but David and his family live on an island where the average daily wage is around $8. ($470 titulo (diploma), $75 for the graduation certification and $16 for the event on the day.)  Please send me a PM if you can help David complete his goal of graduating and using his training to support his family which as of April includes a newborn son.


Diane White Daniel    Solitudel at Bahia Tortuga Restaurant-Bar / Hotel / Marina.



Tony Garcia   Sunny. Blue sky above on isla good. Wind from east
The view from my table with feet in the sand — at Brisas Grill.

Jackie Conlon  What a great view! — at Brisas Grill.
 
 
 
 
Jackie Conlon added 3 new photos to the album Isla Mujeres - Food June 2013. — at Brisas Grill.
Shrimp avocado salad with the pineapple on the side — with Brisas Grill R P at Brisas Grill.







Richard Lowe  Bahia Tortuga and the Sol Rockers - Good Job!

















Last 24 hrs "Time Lapse" of Playa Norte Webcam:  LINK  

  Playa Norte now in real time in Isla Mujeres   



  The Early Edition with the newspaper photographs and headlines is usually published around sunrise.
This Final Edition with the translated articles, plus original photos including the sunrise and the "Around the Internet in the Past 24 Hours" section usually publishes around noon.
Both blogs always have links to the original articles.
 Usually if an article is "missing",  it may have been published in another paper recently, and translated.in a previous post.
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