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The Palacio de Lecumberri is a large building, formerly a prison, in the northeast of Mexico City, Mexico, which now houses the General National Archive. Known in popular culture as The Black Palace of Lecumberri, it served as a penitentiary from 1900 to 1976. It was inaugurated by President Porfirio Díaz.
The Diary of Lecumberri by Colombian Poet Álvaro Mutis, describes his time thereafter being imprisoned in 1958. The living conditions within the prison were very dangerous due to the inmates' treatment by the guards or staff. Torture and beatings were common. Corruption was also present within the prison system.
Here are the other parts of the Leyenda Series:
E09: Leyendas I: La Llorona E17: Leyendas II: La Lechuza E25: Leyendas III: El Monstruo de Xochimilco E29: Leyendas IV: El Palacio de Lecumberri E38 Leyendas V: Una Trágica Historia de Amor
If you’ve ever wondered how it would be to visit the Yucatan Peninsula and the Riviera Maya, if you are a nature lover and flora and fauna enthusiast, you’ve probably heard about some mystic places called cenotes.
A cenote is said to be quite significant to the Mayan people. Whilst cenotes were their main water source, they were also considered to be the entrance to the Xibalba, translated to the underworld, and a place where the Mayan gods would visit, especially Chaac, the Mayan god of rain, lightning, and thunder.
Flag Day, or ‘Día de la Bandera’ as it’s known in México, is celebrated on February 24 every year, since it was first established.
To fly the national flag is a sign of pride and patriotism. It is a positive affirmation of loyalty and commitment. It marks out a country that has confidence in itself and is comfortable with its place in the world, its history, and its future.
The central emblem is the Mexican coat of arms, based on the Aztec symbol for Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City), the center of the Aztec empire. It recalls the legend of an eagle sitting on a cactus while devouring a serpent that signaled to the Aztecs where to found their city, Tenochtitlán.
The green represents hope for the nation, the white represents peace and unity, and the red symbolizes the blood of those who died fighting for the nation’s independence and the Aztec warriors who defended Tenochtitlán.
When the rain began drenching the California landscape in December 1861, none of the state’s 500,000 residents could have imagined the devastation that was about to strike the region.
Just a few months earlier, the farmers and ranchers of California had been praying for rain to spare their parched land from the two previous decades of exceptionally dry weather.
The Great Flood of 1862 began in late November 1861, when early winter storms dropped heavy snow in the higher elevations of Northern California and Oregon. In the first few days of December, temperatures in California rose dramatically, and the northern snow packs began to melt.
A deadly scenario was taking shape, and after weeks of heavy rain and snow, the real monster storms arrived.
Acapulco, a beach resort town on Mexico's Pacific coast, is set on a large bay backed by high-rises and the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. Made famous by the jet set in the 1950s and ’60s, it's known for its high-energy nightlife, beaches, and golf.
The screen of the Flores theater projected that night the short entitled The passion for billiards. The astonishment of the large audience was almost hypnotic in the face of such a dazzling prodigy. The figures moving with great speed will suddenly freeze and noisy protests will not be long in coming. Upstairs, in the projection booth, the inexperienced operator Enrique Flores uses his shirt to put out a small fire. The flames will rise in seconds devouring everything.
Flores is the first and then more than three hundred of the four thousand inhabitants of the port would perish that night. It was 10:10 p.m. on February 14, 1909.
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bakersfield is Sharktooth Hill. First documented by William P. Blake in 1853, Sharktooth Hill is one of the most significant Miocene fossil sites in the world
Sharktooth Hill is a middle Miocene marine exposure of the Round Mountain Silt unit of the Temblor Formation. Using magnetic stratigraphy data, the age of this unit is estimated to be around 15.2 and 16 million years old (Prothero et al., 2008).
However, above the bone beds, the sediments accumulated in the Temblor Sea at a fast rate, and animal remains were not disturbed by ocean currents. So, occasionally associated specimens of marine animals, such as Cetaceans, Sea Lions, Sea Cows, and Sea Turtles can be found. Examples of these associated specimens can be seen at the Beuna Vista Museum of Natural History.
A California hotel reminiscent of the lodge in the horror film The Shining has had a long history of paranormal activity and what are believed to be ghostly guests.
The Padre Hotel in downtown Bakersfield first opened its doors in 1928, and the Spanish colonial revival structure has been the setting for a series of deaths and related tragedies through the years. According to local archives, examples include a woman jumping off the building’s roof, a man killing himself in a bathtub and a love triangle resulting in a deadly shooting.
Legend has it that the Padre Hotel now hosts shadowy figures that roam the eight-story historic landmark’s hallways — possibly victims from a fire in the 1950s — and what looks like a little girl’s ghostly handprint on a pillar in the lobby won’t go away even when it has been cleaned or painted over.
The upper floors, particularly the seventh, are said to be a hotbed of unexplained activity.
Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War. led by General Ignacio Zaragoza.
While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.
The Linda Vista Hospital was first established in 1904 as the Santa Fe Coastlines Hospital, a prospering healthcare facility dedicated to servicing employees of the Santa Fe Railroad. During the early decades of the 20th century, the hospital flourished as did Los Angeles' surrounding Boyle Heights neighborhood.
East LA was slowly transformed into a less affluent area, and the number of violent crimes escalated. Lowered funding at the hospital resulted in less staff to treat the influx of patients; as a consequence, the hospital's death toll rose.
By the 1970s and '80s, the gangs of East LA sent a steady stream of gunshot wounds and stabbings through Linda Vista's ER doors. The neighborhood was getting worse, as was the survival rate of patients admitted.
In 1991 the last patient checked out of Linda Vista.
While the hospital is no longer in operation, some have told stories of the various hauntings that take place on the grounds themselves. Since the hospital’s closure, many paranormal experts were known to spend the night here in hopes of catching whatever evidence they could find for paranormal activity. It had become a hotbed of ghostly activity for quite some time on account of the number of patient deaths that have occurred over the years.
Hundreds of years ago, when the Aztec Empire dominated the Valley of Mexico, it was common practice to subject neighboring towns and to require a mandatory tax. It was then that the chief of the Tlaxcaltecas, bitter enemies of the Aztecs, weary of this terrible oppression, decided to fight for his people’s freedom.
The chief had a daughter named Iztaccihuatl: the most beautiful of all the princesses, who had professed her love for young Popocatepetl, one of her father’s people and the most handsome warrior. Before leaving for war, Popocatepetl asked the chief for the hand of Princess Iztaccihuatl.
The father gladly agreed and promised to welcome him back with a big celebration to give him his daughter’s hand if he returned victorious from the battle.
Later, Princess Iztaccihuatl was told that her beloved had died in combat. Crushed and overwhelmed by sadness, the princess died without even knowing that it was a lie. Popocatepetl returned victorious to his people, hoping to find his beloved princess. Upon arrival, he received the terrible news of the death of Iztaccihuatl.
The young warrior lovingly kissed her cold lips, took a smoking torch, and knelt in front of his beloved to watch over her eternal sleep.
Here are the other parts of the Leyenda Series:
E09: Leyendas I: La Llorona E17: Leyendas II: La Lechuza E25: Leyendas III: El Monstruo de Xochimilco E29: Leyendas IV: El Palacio de Lecumberri E38 Leyendas V: Una Trágica Historia de Amor
Being dwarfed by Earth’s most massive tree, the giant sequoia, fills you with wonder. It’s hard to believe that a living thing can be so enormous and old. Also known as Sierra redwoods, the largest of these trees live in California’s rugged Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Giant sequoias grow so large because they live a very long time and grow quickly. To thrive, giant sequoias require a great amount of water, primarily from the Sierra snowpack that accumulates over the winter months and soaks into the ground when it melts.
Giant sequoias are generally well able to protect themselves against their natural threats, allowing them to survive for thousands of years. They are too massive to be blown over in the wind, and their bark is thick and rich in tannins, which protect them against fire and insect damage.
Fire is an important element of the giant sequoia forest. Sequoia seedlings need nutrient-rich soil, lots of sunlight, and an area free of competition from other plants to thrive. Periodic wildfires help to produce all of these conditions and are therefore very beneficial to the reproduction of sequoia trees.
Here are the previous parts of this series:
E28: Parque Nacional I: Yosemite E39: Parque Nacional II: La Tierra de Gigantes E58 Parque Nacional III: Joshua, El Señor de los Desiertos
The 1992 Los Angeles riots, were a series of riots and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County, California, in April and May 1992.
The unrest began in South Central Los Angeles on April 29, after a jury acquitted four officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) charged with using excessive force in the arrest and beating of Rodney King. This incident had been videotaped and widely shown in television broadcasts.
The rioting took place in several areas in the Los Angeles metropolitan area as thousands of people rioted over six days following the verdict's announcement. Widespread looting, assault, and arson occurred during the riots, which local police forces had difficulty controlling due to lack of personnel and resources.
When the riots ended, 63 people had been killed, 2,383 had been injured, more than 12,000 had been arrested, and estimates of property damage were over $1 billion, which made the riots one of the most-devastating civil disruptions in American history. Koreatown, situated just to the north of South Central LA, was disproportionately damaged.
The Pacific Northwest Coast is a geographic region in western North America bounded by the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west. Though no official boundary exists, the most common conception includes the U.S. states of California, Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Few areas of the United States are as diversely beautiful as the Pacific Northwest. You probably know about the foggy beaches and wooded mountains, but that’s just the beginning—we’re talking islands teeming with wildlife, and endless fields of green and luscious forests. The Pacific Northwest is not only highly scenic but also was the destination of my summer 2022 road trip.
Come join me on this road trip as we visit the Oregon coast, the sand dunes, the redwoods, the Sea lions Cave near Florence!
The 1994 Northridge earthquake that struck the densely populated San Fernando Valley in southern California, U.S., on January 17, 1994, was the third major earthquake to occur in the state in 23 years and was the state’s most destructive one since the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the costliest one in U.S. history.
The earthquake occurred just after 4:30 AM local time along a previously undiscovered blind thrust fault in the San Fernando Valley. Its epicenter was in Reseda, a suburb located about 23 miles (37 km) west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The major shock lasted 10–20 seconds and registered a magnitude of 6.7.
Fatality estimates range from just under 60 to more than 70 people killed. The timing of the earthquake (early morning during a federal holiday) is thought to have prevented a higher death toll, as most residents were in their beds, rather than on failed freeways or in other collapsed structures (such as office buildings or parking lots). Most casualties occurred in wood-frame apartment buildings, popular in the San Fernando Valley, particularly those with weak first floors or lower-level parking garages.
During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying and creepy real-life ghost stories, where you will hear about the unexplained paranormal and supernatural occurrences that have stained the pages of the history of the United States.This is the first story.
This is part 1 of the Halloween Special 2022 Series
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693.
More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft—the devil’s magic—and 20 were executed. Thirty people were found guilty, 19 of whom were executed by hanging.
Here are the previous parts of this series:
E43 Halloween Special I: Las Brujas de Salem E44 Halloween Special II: La Casa de Terror de Amityville E45 Halloween Special III: Los Espectros de Gettysburg
During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying and creepy real-life ghost stories, where you will hear about the unexplained paranormal and supernatural occurrences that have stained the pages of the history of the United States.
This is part 2 of the Halloween Special 2022 Series
Inside The Real Amityville Horror House And Its Story Of Murder And Hauntings: The quaint-looking house at 112 Ocean Avenue was the scene of the grisly DeFeo murders before the Lutz family claimed to endure paranormal terror there that inspired The Amityville Horror.
In the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 1974, one Amityville house in Long Island, New York became more than a mere suburban home. Instead, it became a ghastly crime scene, as Ronald DeFeo Jr. skulked the halls with a rifle and killed his parents and four of his siblings in their sleep.
Despite the widely-publicized 1974 killings, numerous families have since moved in and out of the house, now listed as 108 Ocean Avenue. Meanwhile, the purportedly paranormal occurrences that happened here have spawned a slew of books and films like The Amityville Horror, which have kept tourists flocking to the house ever since.
Though DeFeo's grisly crimes were all too real, is it possible that he was actually under the control of evil spirits that inhabited the house and haunted the Lutz family that moved in soon after?
Here are the previous parts of this series:
E43 Halloween Special I: Las Brujas de Salem E44 Halloween Special II: La Casa de Terror de Amityville E45 Halloween Special III: Los Espectros de Gettysburg
During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying and creepy real-life ghost stories, where you will hear about the unexplained paranormal and supernatural occurrences that have stained the pages of the history of the United States. This is the last story
This is part 3 of the Halloween Special 2022 Series
For over 100 years, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, has been flooded by reports of paranormal activity. From phantom cries of wounded soldiers to life-like apparitions, many visitors to Gettysburg have been touched by its haunting past.
Gettysburg was the site where Confederate and Union armies clashed on July 1, 1863. The battle was a three-day bloodbath that would change American history forever. When the cannon smoke cleared, the Union soldiers had won, but nearly 5,000 horses and 50,000 men lay dead or dying. Many of the Confederate soldiers never received a proper burial. Now, more the 14 decades later, these unsettled spirits may still linger in Gettysburg!
Here are the previous parts of this series:
E43 Halloween Special I: Las Brujas de Salem E44 Halloween Special II: La Casa de Terror de Amityville E45 Halloween Special III: Los Espectros de Gettysburg
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination near the end of his third year in office. Kennedy was the youngest person to assume the presidency by election. He was also the youngest president at the end of his tenure. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his work as president concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A Democrat, he represented Massachusetts in both houses of the U.S. Congress prior to his presidency. On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. His vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, assumed the presidency upon Kennedy's death. Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested for the assassination, but he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby two days later. The FBI and the Warren Commission both concluded Oswald had acted alone.
Despite his truncated presidency, Kennedy ranks highly in polls of U.S. presidents with historians and the general public. Kennedy is the most recent U.S. president to have died in office.
On the evening of 8 December 1980, English musician John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles, was shot and fatally wounded by an obsessed fan outside of the Dakota, his residence in New York City.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono returned to the Dakota Apartments at approximately 10:50 p.m. As Lennon passed by, he glanced briefly at Chapman, appearing to recognize him from earlier. Seconds later, Chapman drew his gun, which was concealed in his coat pocket, aimed at the center of Lennon's back, and rapidly fired five hollow-point bullets from a distance of about nine or ten feet.
John Lennon was declared dead one hour later in the Roosevelt Hospital in New York. He was 40 years old.
As we approach the end of another year it is important to reflect on the experiences that one has lived, it is important to analyze the success you obtained and your failures, it is also important to make plans, and set goals to achieve new purposes, you have to put energy into things that are worthwhile, dedicate time to yourself and the people you love in life.
While some wait until January 1 to make positive changes, the end of one year and the beginning of another offers a natural opportunity to consider the big picture of your life, and doing an end-of-year reflection is essential for success!
The día de Los Reyes is better known as the feast of Epiphany in English. Los Reyes Magos – known as the Three Wise Men, or Three Kings in English – are three men who followed the North Star to the town of Bethlehem to welcome baby Jesus into the world. Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar traveled from a faraway place to gift the Son of God with gold, incense, and myrrh.
While children in everywhere received their presents on Christmas day, those living in México and other Latin-American countries are still waiting for January 6th. Why? Because it is the day when the 3 wise men from the Orient will arrive and bring their presents to baby Jesus, or at least that’s how the story goes.
That day they will also celebrate eating the popular “Three Kings Bread” called Rosca de Reyes in México, and Mexican hot chocolate. People do not usually bake their Rosca bread. This is a busy time for the Mexican bakeries that will be selling these delicious Roscas not just to eat at home, but also in the office or school.
Inside the bread, or Rosca is a plastic little doll (about one inch long) representing baby Jesus. Whoever gets the doll in their slice has to cook tamales on February 2nd. Also called Candelaria Day.
Fort Ord is a former United States Army post on Monterey Bay on the Pacific Ocean coast in California. In its prime, Fort Ord was once one the most coveted military training grounds in the U.S. Founded in 1917, Fort Ord was the first stop for many new recruits in many different wars such as WW2, Korea, and Vietnam.
The fort closed in 1994 due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action. Most of the fort's land now makes up the Fort Ord National Monument, managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management as part of the National Conservation Lands, while a small portion remains an active military installation under Army control designated as the Ord Military Community.
For nearly 80 years Fort Ord accommodated a small city of soldiers and housed an arsenal of munitions hidden in underground bunkers all over the property. Today, the training ground is a far cry from what it used to be. The only sounds left at Fort Ord are the winds piling up the sand and the waves breaking them down. Fort Ord is an abandoned place.
On February 6, 2023, at 04:17, local time, a 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. making it the largest in Turkey since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake of the same magnitude, and jointly the second-strongest recorded in the history of the country, after the 1668 North Anatolia earthquake. The confirmed death toll stood at 57,658: 50,399 in Turkey, and 7,259 in Syria. And helped arrived... Mexico is sending some of its famous search and rescue dogs to Turkey to help look for people buried under rubble following February's earthquake.
A plane with 16 dogs on board took off from Mexico City earlier on Tuesday.
Mexico, which is prone to earthquakes, has highly specialized civilian and military teams which are often deployed to help when disasters strike.
The dogs won the hearts of Mexicans during the country's 2017 quake when they saved several lives. The dogs are trained to sniff out humans and alert their handlers by barking and scratching the ground where the smell is strongest.
Proteo was one of those dogs, who participated in saving people who were trapped under buildings. However, this canine hero died during the commission of his duties.
While it was first believed that Proteo died in a building collapse during a rescue, his trainer, Carlos Villeda Maquez, explained that other factors were responsible for the dog’s death. The conditions – including the brutally cold temperatures — were very harsh for the almost 10- year-old Proteo. His body was transported back to Mexico where he will be laid to rest as a hero.
“Proteo, we are waiting for you at home, because a soldier, when completing his mission, returns to his home, to our beautiful and beloved Mexico. Your colleagues from the Mexican Army and Mexican Air Force are proud of you, our great hero,”
Cesar Chavez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American labor leader and civil rights activist. Along with Dolores Huerta, he co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), later to become the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union.
Born in Yuma, Arizona to a Mexican-American family, Chavez began his working life as a manual laborer before spending two years in the United States Navy. Relocating to California, where he married, he got involved in the Community Service Organization (CSO), through which he helped laborers register to vote.
In the 1960s he began organizing strikes among farmworkers, most notably the successful Delano grape strike of 1965–1970. Chavez emphasized direct nonviolent tactics, including pickets and boycotts, to pressure farm owners into granting strikers' demands.
Cesar Chavez died in bed on April 23, 1993. He was aged 66.[409]
His birthday is a federal commemorative holiday in several U.S. states, while many places are named after him, and in 1994 he posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Listen to the next part: E53 La Fuerza Unida, Parte II: Dolores Huerta
Before you start on this second part, please listen to E52, part I: Cesar Chavez
Co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association, Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta is one of the most influential labor activists of the 20th century and a leader of the Chicano civil rights movement.
Born on April 10, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, Huerta was the second of three children of Alicia and Juan Fernandez, a farm worker and miner who became a state legislator in 1938. Her parents divorced when Huerta was three years old, and her mother moved to Stockton, California with her children.
In 1955 Huerta began her career as an activist when she co-founded the Stockton chapter of the Community Service Organization (CSO), which led voter registration drives and fought for economic improvements for Hispanics. She also founded the Agricultural Workers Association. Through a CSO associate, Huerta met activist César Chávez, with whom she shared an interest in organizing farm workers. In 1962, Huerta and Chávez founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), the predecessor of the United Farm Workers’ Union (UFW), which formed three year later. Huerta served as UFW vice president until 1999.
Throughout her work with the UFW, Huerta organized workers, negotiated contracts, and advocated for safer working conditions including the elimination of harmful pesticides. She also fought for unemployment and healthcare benefits for agricultural workers. Huerta was the driving force behind the nationwide table grape boycotts in the late 1960s that led to a successful union contract by 1970.
The recipient of many honors, Huerta received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award in 1998 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. As of 2015, she was a board member of the Feminist Majority Foundation, the Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America, and the President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
The following episode includes graphic content that may not be suitable for some audiences. Listener discretion is advised.
During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying horror Halloween movies, where you will hear about the creepy monsters all wearing their iconic masks that hunt you in your nightmares. This is the first story.
This is part 1 of the Halloween Movies Special 2023 Series
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American horror film produced, co-composed, and directed by Tobe Hooper, and it was released in the United States on October 11, 1974. While the film initially received mixed reception from critics, it was highly profitable, and it has since gained a reputation as one of the best and most influential horror films. It is credited with originating several elements common in the slasher genre, including the use of power tools as murder weapons, the characterization of the killer as a large, hulking, masked figure, and the killing of victims.
The plot follows five friends who head out to rural Texas to visit the grave of their grandfather and fall victim to a family of cannibals. On the way they stumble across what appears to be a deserted house, only to discover something sinister within. Something armed with a chainsaw.
The film was marketed as being based on true events to attract a wider audience and act as a subtle commentary on the era's political climate. Although the character of Leatherface and minor story details were inspired by the crimes of murderer Ed Gein, its plot is largely fictional.
Here are the previous parts of this series:
E55 Halloween Special I: Texas Chainsaw Massacre E56 Halloween Special II: Friday the 13th E57 Halloween Special III: Halloween the movie
The following episode includes graphic content that may not be suitable for some audiences. Listener discretion is advised.
During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying horror Halloween movies, where you will hear about the creepy monsters all wearing their iconic masks that hunt you in your nightmares. This is the second story.
This is part 2 of the Halloween Movies Special 2023 Series
*** Friday the 13th (1980) may have been panned by critics when first released but since then, it is one of the most famous and influential horror films, the franchise containing one of horror's most iconic villains.
Months after Alice beheaded psycho killer/mother Pamela Voorhees at Camp Crystal Lake, survivor Alice is still traumatized because of the murders. But there is one problem: Mrs. Voorhees' son Jason never drowned and died, so he saw Alice behead Mrs. Voorhees. Jason finds Alice soon and murders her. Five years later, a camp counselor-in-training program begins at Packanack Lodge, right near Camp Crystal Lake. As teenagers in the program start snooping around Camp Crystal Lake, they start getting killed violently one by one.
Here are the previous parts of this series:
E55 Halloween Special I: Texas Chainsaw Massacre E56 Halloween Special II: Friday the 13th E57 Halloween Special III: Halloween the movie
The following episode includes graphic content that may not be suitable for some audiences. Listener discretion is advised.
During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying horror Halloween movies, where you will hear about the creepy monsters all wearing their iconic masks that hunt you in your nightmares. This is the last story.
This is part 3 of the Halloween Movies Special 2023 Series
Halloween is an American horror story released in 1978 and was written by John Carpenter. This iconic slasher media franchise consists of thirteen films, as well as novels, comic books, a video game, and other merchandise. The films primarily focus on Michael Myers, who was committed to a sanitarium as a child for the murder of his sister, Judith Myers. Fifteen years later, he escapes to stalk and kill the people of the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois. Michael's killings occur on the holiday of Halloween, on which all of the films primarily take place. Throughout the series, various protagonists try to stop Myers including, most notably, babysitter Laurie Strode portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis, and psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis.
Here are the previous parts of this series:
E55 Halloween Special I: Texas Chainsaw Massacre E56 Halloween Special II: Friday the 13th E57 Halloween Special III: Halloween the movie
Zoot Suit Riots, a series of conflicts that occurred in June 1943 in Los Angeles between U.S. servicemen and Mexican American youths, the latter of whom wore outfits called zoot suits. The zoot suit consisted of a broad-shouldered drape jacket, balloon-leg trousers, and, sometimes, a flamboyanthat. Mexican and Mexican-American youths who wore these outfits were called zoot-suiters.
Pressures related to U.S. involvement in World War II contributed to the racial tensions that preceded the riots. As part of the war effort, by March 1942 the United States had begun rationing various resources. Restrictions on wool had a direct effect on the manufacture of wool suits and other clothing. There were regulations prohibiting the manufacturing of zoot suits, but a network of bootleg tailors continued to manufacture them. This exacerbated racial tensions, as Mexican American youths wearing the zoot suits were seen as un-American because they were deliberately ignoring the rationing regulations.
Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California. It's characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees, the park straddles Two distinct desert ecosystems: the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler. Keys View looks out over the Coachella Valley. Hiking trails weave through the boulders of Hidden Valley. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself!
Here are the previous parts of this series:
E28: Parque Nacional I: Yosemite E39: Parque Nacional II: La Tierra de Gigantes E58 Parque Nacional III: Joshua, El Señor de los Desiertos
Taking time to reflect on the past and think about what you want in the new year is essential for many reasons. First, it allows you to gain perspective on your life and identify areas where you want to make changes or improvements. Looking back on your experiences and achievements, you can better understand what works for you and doesn't and use that information to guide your decisions.
Reflection also helps you set more meaningful and achievable goals. By considering what you have accomplished in the past and what you still want to achieve, you can create a roadmap for the future that aligns with your values and priorities. This can help you stay focused and motivated as you work towards your goals.
Taking time to reflect can help you cultivate gratitude and appreciation for your life. By focusing on the positive aspects of your experiences, you can develop a more positive outlook and cultivate a sense of contentment and satisfaction. This can lead to greater happiness and well-being overall.
On this rainy Saturday morning, I received a phone call from you, we will chat casually while I prepare my morning coffee and tell you about my plans for today and the many things I like to do. Also, I will tell you about some of the wonderful places I like to visit around here. Join me for a casual look into my day.
Close to 80 years ago, a horrific murder scene, in the quiet neighborhood would shock the neighbors, puzzle the police, and forever stain the pages of the history of United States crime books.
Elizabeth Short, known posthumously as the Black Dahlia, was an American woman found murdered in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 1947, her body was cut in half and severely mutilated and her killer was never found.
Although there are many theories and multiple suspects, this case is considered the oldest cold case in California.
During February 2024, the latest storm brought 1.99 inches of rain to Southern California so far, bringing this month’s total rainfall to 12.56 inches.
The latest storm dropped 1.99 inches of rain in downtown Los Angeles and it makes it the fourth wettest February in downtown Los Angeles since 1877 when records first were reported. The monster storm triggered hundreds of mudslides across Los Angeles.
Why do they happen?
Our story takes 500 years to the past back to the Aztec Empire, who believed in a complex and diversified pantheon of gods and goddesses.
Tlaloc, the god of rain, water, and earthly fertility, is one of the most ancient deities in all Mesoamerica. The Aztecs believed that if sacrifices were not supplied for Tlaloc, rain would not come, their crops would not flourish, and so, human sacrifices were performed...child sacrifices.
Visual accounts of Aztec sacrificial practice are principally found in codices and some Aztec statuary. Many visual renderings were created for Spanish patrons and thus may reflect European preoccupations and prejudices.
Archaeologists have found the remains of at least 42 children sacrificed to Tlaloc at the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan. Tlaloc required the tears of the young as part of the sacrifice. The priests made the children cry on their way to immolation: a good omen that Tlaloc would wet the earth in the rainy season.
The Tlaloc Monolith is among the most photographed public artworks in Mexico City. Standing on the grounds of the National Anthropology Museum it represents an ancient deity of rain and water. The monument was buried from at least the 16th century in San Miguel Coatlinchán, east of Mexico City in Mexico State, and found in the mid-19th century.
In 1964 the statue was moved to Mexico City. The move of the Tlaloc Monolith was accompanied by a tremendous downpour that flooded much of the city center. It’s never been forgotten.
The 1997North Hollywood shootout, also known as the Battle of North Hollywood, was a confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers, Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu, and police officers in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles on February 28, 1997. Both robbers were killed, twelve police officers and eight civilians were injured, and numerous vehicles and other property were damaged or destroyed by the nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition fired by the robbers and police.
At 9:16 a.m., Phillips and Mătăsăreanu entered and robbed Bank of America's North branch. The robbers were confronted by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers when they exited the bank and a shootout between the officers and robbers ensued. The robbers attempted to flee the scene, Phillips on foot and Mătăsăreanu in their getaway vehicle, while continuing to exchange fire with the officers. The shootout continued onto a residential street adjacent to the bank until Phillips, mortally wounded, killed himself; Mătăsăreanu was incapacitated by officers three blocks away and bled to death before the arrival of paramedics more than an hour later.
The ineffectiveness of the standard small-caliber police pistols and shotguns in penetrating the robbers' body armor contributed to motivating the arming of police patrol officers, not just SWAT teams, in Los Angeles and nationwide, with heavier firepower such as semi-automatic AR-15-style rifles.
Legend has it that Death Valley Scotty built his castle on top of his secret gold mine that funded this lavish house. But the true story is even more improbable and interesting!
Hidden in the green oasis of Grapevine Canyon in far northern Death Valley is the Death Valley Ranch, or "Scotty's Castle" as it is more commonly known.
Walter Scott was a rowdy and shady character, with little luck in gold prospecting but great luck in spending investor's money. Albert Mussey Johnson was a well-respected Chicago insurance magnate. The two could not have been more different.
Convinced to invest in Scotty's mine, Mr. Johnson gave thousands of dollars to Scotty over the next several years. Unfortunately, Scotty never delivered the gold. Undaunted, Mr. Johnson finally decided to take a look at the gold mine on a personal tour of Death Valley. Scotty took Mr. Johnson on a grueling trek by horseback through Death Valley. Although he never saw Scotty's mine and was most certainly being swindled, Mr. Johnson did not seem to mind. He had found riches in the desert far greater than those that glitter. In 1920 Albert Mussey Johnson built the house as a vacation getaway for himself and his wife Bessie. Walter Scott, known as "Death Valley Scotty," convinced everyone that he had built the castle with money from his rich secret mines in the area.
At 8:32 a.m. PDT on May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, a volcanic peak in southwestern Washington, suffered a massive eruption, killing 57 people and devastating some 210 square miles of wilderness.
Mount St. Helens is located in the Cascade Range and stood 9,680 feet before its eruption. The volcano has erupted periodically during the last 4,500 years, and the last active period was between 1831 and 1857. On March 20, 1980, noticeable volcanic activity began with a series of earth tremors.
Small eruptions continued daily, and in April people familiar with the mountain noticed changes to the structure of its north face.
The bulge was caused by an intrusion of magma below the surface, and authorities began evacuating hundreds of people from the sparsely settled area near the mountain. A few people refused to leave.
On the morning of May 18, Mount St. Helens was shaken by an earthquake of about 5.0 magnitude, and the entire north side of the summit began to slide down the mountain. The giant landslide of rock and ice, one of the largest recorded in history, was followed and overtaken by an enormous explosion of steam and volcanic gases, which surged northward along the ground at high speed. Approximately 10 million trees were felled by the blast.
The Mount St. Helens major eruption of May 18, 1980, remains the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history.
On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, entered history when landings on the beaches of Normandy in northern France brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the Allied armies and opened a new European front against the troops of the Third Reich during the Second World War.
It was the largest and most dramatic military operation in history, which marked the beginning of the Battle of Normandy, the liberation of France, and the rest of German-occupied Western Europe, and marked the end of the Second World War.
The Normandy invasion was one of the great turning points of twentieth-century history. and often referred to as D-Day, became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history.
To broaden your horizons, get to know other cultures, learn new things, and enjoy life to its fullest, it is necessary to travel at least once in your life.
Traveling is not only a pleasure but almost a human necessity, traveling not only offers you the opportunity to see incredible places and meet interesting people, but it brings many benefits to your mental health, emotional state, your family relationship, and your personal growth.
People generally live every moment of life, from one day to the next in a hurry, with many chores, jobs, and tasks, without taking their eyes off the clock. And we wonder where the time has gone and why we haven't done something more with our day... with our life.
Come and join me during my summer 2024 trip, I traveled approximately 5,000 miles in my travel trailer through the Southwest and Central states, visiting many national parks. This is part one of two.
Listen to the 2nd part: E68 Parte II: Soy el Viajero por el Mundo
This is part 2 of the summer 2024 trip. Be sure to listen to the 1st part first.
To broaden your horizons, get to know other cultures, learn new things, and enjoy life to its fullest, it is necessary to travel at least once in your life.
Traveling is not only a pleasure but almost a human necessity, traveling not only offers you the opportunity to see incredible places and meet interesting people, but it brings many benefits to your mental health, emotional state, your family relationship, and your personal growth.
People generally live every moment of life, from one day to the next in a hurry, with many chores, jobs, and tasks, without taking their eyes off the clock. And we wonder where the time has gone and why we haven't done something more with our day... with our life.
Come and join me during my summer 2024 trip, I traveled approximately 5,000 miles in my travel trailer through the Central states and the Pacific Northwest, visiting many interesting places. This is part two of two.
Listen to the 1st part: E67 Parte I: Soy el Viajero por el Mundo
Welcome to the first episode of InterSpanish, my name is Ana Perales. Immerse yourself in interesting conversations on a variety of different topics in Spanish (Mexico) spoken at a slower pace to increase understanding and build vocabulary.
For intermediate Spanish language learners.
Today we will talk about the difference between learning a first language and the theory of the acquisition of a second language.
Today we will take a narrative tour through the central California valley and visit Piedras Blancas, home to the Northern Elephant seals, you will learn about the history and habits of these extraordinary animals.
Starting in the 1700s, the maritime fur trade of the Pacific Northwest depleted nearly all species of marine mammals including sea otters, whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Elephant seals were hunted almost to extinction for their oil-rich blubber, which was used to make oil for lamps and lubrication. And today, we can enjoy this thriving colony on the Western coast of California.
We are turning our beautiful Ocean into a plastic soup.
About 8 million tons of plastic enter the sea every year, and if we do not change, we face a future with more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. Our plastic addiction and waste mismanagement are condemning countless marine birds and animals to death by entanglement or poisoning. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, no corner of the Ocean is untouched by this global scourge.
The historic center of Mexico City also known as Centro Histórico is the central neighborhood in Mexico City, Mexico, focused on Zócalo or main plaza and extending in all directions for a number of blocks, with its farthest extent being west to the Alameda Central.
This is where the Spaniards began to build what is now modern Mexico City in the 16th century on the ruins of the conquered Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire. As the center of the ancient Aztec Empire and the seat of power for the Spanish colony of New Spain, the Centro Histórico contains most of the city's historic sites from both eras as well as a large number of museums.
The Zócalo is the largest plaza in Latin America. This section of the capital has just over nine square km and occupies 668 blocks. It contains 9,000 buildings, 1,550 of which have been declared of historical importance. Most of these historic buildings were constructed between the 16th and 20th centuries.
It’s fitting that the Hollywood Sign, the worldwide symbol of the entertainment industry, was conceived as an outdoor ad campaign for a suburban housing development called “Hollywoodland.” After all, despite the high profile of the film biz, real estate has always been Hollywood’s primary economic driver.
Although the Sign’s appearance and purpose have evolved over the years, its basic aspirational message remains the same: This is a place where magic is possible, where dreams can come true.
But not everything is beauty and glory, behind the light, there are the darkness of death, legends, and myths.
Come explore the fascinating past and present of this icon symbol: THE RISE, RUIN, AND RESTORATION OF HOLLYWOOD’S BIGGEST NAME
Teotihuacán is an ancient Mesoamerican city located in a sub valley of the Valley of Mexico, which is located in the State of Mexico, 40 kilometers (25 mi) northeast of modern-day Mexico City. Teotihuacán is known today as the site of many of the most architecturally significant Mesoamerican pyramids built in the pre-Columbian Americas.
Teotihuacán ('the place where the gods were created') was built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., it is characterized by the vast size of its monuments – in particular, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, laid out on geometric and symbolic principles. As one of the most powerful cultural centers in Mesoamerica, Teotihuacán extended its cultural and artistic influence throughout the region, and even beyond.
The Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles, California, has been the site of so many gruesome suicides, grisly murders, and unexplained deaths. In addition to the number of guests who have passed while visiting the Cecil, at least two serial killers have stayed at this notorious hotel during their sprees, making it the kind of place where you just might sleep next door to a slayer. However, it wasn't until the LAPD released a disturbing video of a young woman who was later found dead in the water tank on the roof of the hotel that the Cecil reached a level of infamy that required the owner to change the name to Stay on Main.
Regardless of its name, this hotel is definitely the sort of place where you might check-in, but you never check-out.
Racial segregation of Mexican students in the California public school system during the 1910s and 1920s traces its origins to racial ideologies of Anglo-Saxon superiority from the 19th century. “The Eugenics Movement”, an applied ideology of improving the genetic traits and quality of the human population strongly advocated superiority and inferiority beliefs.
In the 1930s racial segregation allowed for the creation of separate white and Mexican schools, with two distinct parallel curriculums: intellectual academic preparation for European American children and manual, agricultural, domestic, decorative, and vocational instruction for Mexican children. And thus, generations of Mexican-American children were predestined to take their roles on the lower rungs of the socioeconomic scale, perpetuating the division of classes.
Mexico is a country known worldwide for its deep-rooted cultural traditions, and legends, which balance between reality and fiction. The legends of the colonial era are stories that have an important cultural message since they are enriched by components of the folklore of the Spanish colonies in America.
Generations of Mexican children have grown up afraid of La Llorona—a wailing woman whose misdeeds in life have left her spirit trapped on Earth, where she torments men, women, and little children alike. She’s the stuff of legend—a myth and spooky bedtime story whose origins date back hundreds of years to the pre-Hispanic peoples.
Here are the other parts of the Leyenda Series:
E09: Leyendas I: La Llorona E17: Leyendas II: La Lechuza E25: Leyendas III: El Monstruo de Xochimilco E29: Leyendas IV: El Palacio de Lecumberri E38 Leyendas V: Una Trágica Historia de Amor
This a special episode to celebrate my 10th episode, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all my audience for the unexpected success and for allowing me to reach out to you wherever you are in the world.
Trust in yourself and believe you too, can reach your goals!
The state of Guanajuato is located in the northern-central region of the República Mexicana (Mexican Republic). Its historical significance is so great for the country, that each of its corners tells a formidable story.
It's known for its silver mining history and colonial architecture. Its network of narrow streets, alleyways, and tunnels is typified by the Callejón del Beso (Alley of the Kiss), so named because the balconies are close enough for a couple to reach across and kiss. In a former granary, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas is an art and local history museum with pre-Columbian exhibits.
In 1810, the independence movement began in the city of Dolores, Guanajuato, when priest Miguel Hidalgo rallied patriots to rise up against Spain. On August 24, 1821, representatives of the Spanish crown recognized Mexican independence under the Plan of Iguala.
Mummies in Mexico?! Yes! The expressions on the faces of the mummies of Guanajuato show the terror they felt when they awoke in coffins and realized they had been buried alive. The Mexican mummies you see in the Guanajuato mummy museum all share a horrifying story.
What is the story behind the Guanajuato mummies? The year was 1833. The place, Guanajuato, a colonial town in the center of Mexico. One day, townspeople suddenly became sick and died. First the very young or very old died, then everyone else. In just a few weeks the population decreased substantially.
Cholera! Panic ensued. People tried everything to ward off the disease; casting bizarre spells, applying strange and useless medicines, and prayer…lots of prayers. Still, the deaths mounted.
As the corpses piled up, the devastated population buried them as quickly as they could to prevent the spread of the disease. The dead were placed in mass graves, multiple corpses were interred in single crypts, bodies were buried in shallow graves.
The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic structure connecting the city of San Francisco to Marin County, California. It spans almost two miles across the Golden Gate, the narrow strait where San Francisco Bay opens to meet the Pacific Ocean. The dream of connecting San Francisco to its northern neighbors became a reality when construction commenced in 1933.
The Golden Gate Bridge opened to the public in 1937, has endured as a picture-perfect landmark and an engineering marvel.
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most frequently used locations to commit suicide, with more than 1,600 known suicides; the number is believed to be higher because of people whose bodies were never found. If you or a loved one needs counseling, reach out to your local suicide prevention center in your region. In the U.S, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255
The federal prison on Alcatraz Island in the chilly waters of California’s San Francisco Bay housed some of America’s most difficult and dangerous felons during its years of operation from 1934 to 1963. Among those who served time at the maximum-security facility were the notorious gangster Al “Scarface” Capone (1899-1947) and murderer Robert “Birdman of Alcatraz” Stroud (1890-1963). No inmate ever successfully escaped The Rock, as the prison was nicknamed, although more than a dozen known attempts were made over the years.
After the prison was shut down due to high operating costs, the island was occupied for almost two years, starting in 1969, by a group of Native-American activists. Today, historic Alcatraz Island, which was also the site of a U.S. military prison from the late 1850s to 1933, is a popular tourist destination.
The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California have fascinated scientists and visitors for over a century, and today, this area is the only actively excavated Ice Age fossil site found in an urban location in the world! Over the last 50,000 years, Ice Age animals, plants, and insects were trapped in sticky asphalt, which preserved them for us to find today. More than 100 excavations have been made at the Tar Pits since the early 1900s, and most of the fossils discovered here are housed in the museum at La Brea Tar Pits, at the center of the Tar Pits! The discoveries range in size from huge, extinct mammoths and sloths to "microfossils," or tiny remains of plants and animals that give us clues about how ancient ecosystems and climates changed. Dire wolves are the most common large mammals from La Brea Tar Pits, with about 4,000 individuals represented in its collections. The remains of over 2,000 individual saber-toothed cats rank second and coyotes rank third.
Bumblebees are going extinct in a time of ‘climate chaos’
Loss of vital pollinators, due in part to temperature extremes and fluctuations, could have dire consequences for ecosystems and agriculture.
Bumblebees, among the most important pollinators, are in trouble. Fuzzy and buzzy, they excel at spreading pollen and fertilizing many types of wild flora, as well as crucial agricultural crops like tomatoes, blueberries, and squash.
But their numbers are dropping. New research using a massive dataset found that the insects are far less common than they used to be; in North America, you are nearly 50 percent less likely to see a bumblebee in any given area than you were prior to 1974.
Moreover, several once-common species have disappeared from many areas they were once found, becoming locally extinct in those places. For example, the rusty patched bumblebee, which used to flourish in Ontario, is no longer found in all of Canada—in the U.S., it’s endangered.
Owls have also long been viewed as harbingers of bad luck and even death. One myth tells us that bad luck will befall anyone who hears an owl hoot three times. Another wild myth claims that owls are the only creatures that can live with ghosts.
Since long before the first Halloween, witches have been linked to owls. The Romans and Greeks once believed that witches could actually transform themselves into owls.
Believe it or not, some people once actually harbored the notion that an owl calling near a home of a newborn baby could cause the child to die or even grow up to be a witch. At one time some people were also sure that an owl landing on the roof of a house was a sure sign that someone living in the house would soon die.
Is it a bad omen to spot an owl at night?
Here are the other parts of the Leyenda Series:
E09: Leyendas I: La Llorona E17: Leyendas II: La Lechuza E25: Leyendas III: El Monstruo de Xochimilco E29: Leyendas IV: El Palacio de Lecumberri E38 Leyendas V: Una Trágica Historia de Amor
Twenty years ago, the nation watched transfixed as planes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001.
Nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the attacks, including the 19 hijackers from the Islamic extremist group, al-Qaida. It remains the deadliest foreign attack on U.S. soil.
Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which triggered major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism and defined the presidency of George W. Bush.
The events of that day forever transformed the country. We Will Never Forget
Independence Day (Día de la Independencia) is a Mexican holiday to celebrate the “cry of independence” on September 16, 1810, which started a revolt against Spanish rule.
Independence Day celebrates the day Miguel Hidalgo is believed to have made the cry of independence (El Grito de la Independencia) in the town of Dolores, in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Hidalgo was one of the nation’s leaders during the War of Independence in Mexico.
Mexicans celebrate their country’s Independence Day with fireworks, parties (fiestas), food, dance, and music on September 16. Flags, flowers, and decorations in the colors of the Mexican flag – green, white and red – are seen in public areas in cities and towns in Mexico. Whistles and horns are blown and confetti is thrown to celebrate this festive occasion. "Viva Mexico" or "Viva la Independencia” are shouted amidst the crowds on this day.
While wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, the fire season in California and across the West is starting earlier and ending later each year. Climate change is considered a key driver of this trend.
Warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced snowpack, and earlier spring snowmelt create longer and more intense dry seasons that increase moisture stress on vegetation and make forests more susceptible to severe wildfire. The length of fire season is estimated to have increased by 75 days across the Sierras and seems to correspond with an increase in the extent of forest fires across the state. National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) predicts portions of the Coast Ranges, Sierra, and the Cascades in California increasing to above normal fire danger in June and July and continuing through September.
Columbus Day celebrations in the United States – meant to honor the legacy of the man credited with “discovering” the New World – are almost as old as the nation itself. The earliest known Columbus Day celebration took place on Oct. 12, 1792, on the 300th anniversary of his landing.
But since the 1990s, a growing number of states have begun to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day – a holiday meant to honor the culture and history of the people living in the Americas both before and after Columbus’ arrival. It is estimated that in the 130 years following first contact, Native America lost 95 percent of its population.
Indigenous Peoples of the Western Hemisphere immediately experienced enslavement and theft of resources by the explorers turned settlers. Colonies created by the Portuguese, Spanish, French, Dutch, and English grew throughout the Americas and increasingly encroached upon Native lives and lands.
Indigenous Peoples' Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October and recognizes the resilience and diversity of Indigenous Peoples in the United States and many Latin American countries.
Day of the Dead (Dia De Muertos) has its origins in the pre-Hispanic cultures of Latin America, and it is a Mexican holiday that honors deceased family members, friends, and ancestors.
It is a two-day holiday that reunites the living and dead. Families create "ofrendas" (Offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored.
The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods, and join in the celebrations!
In Mexico, death is understood to be a natural part of life, so Día de Muertos is not a time of sadness, but rather a celebration of the departed, wishing them well on their journey, and feeling happy remembering them.
November 11 is Veteran's Day in the United States and it is celebrated every November, Veterans Day honors all who have served in the U.S. military.
Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and it is an opportunity to commemorate the contributions of living veterans publicly and to show appreciation toward them.
For much of the rest of the world and especially in Europe, it is Armistice Day, the day that marks the end of World War I. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the armistice was signed, over 20 million people had lost their lives.
The Mexican Revolution was a complex and bloody conflict that arguably spanned two decades, and in which 900,000 people lost their lives.
The Revolution began with a call to arms on 20th November 1910 to overthrow the current ruler and dictator Porfirio Díaz. Díaz was an ambitious president, keen to develop Mexico into an industrial and modernized country. While he worked on implementing a capitalist society building factories, dams, and roads the rural workers and peasants suffered greatly.
Díaz reigned using a campaign of bullying, intimidating citizens into supporting him. While civil liberties such as the freedom of the press suffered under his rule, the greatest injustice came in the form of new land laws. Francisco I. Madero, who was responsible for removing Díaz from power, was a weak leader and failed to implement the land reforms he had promised.
He was quickly replaced by General Victoriano Huerta who had him executed within a week of coming to power. Huerta himself was a dictator and was overthrown by Venustiano Carranza in 1914.
The official end of the Mexican Revolution is often taken to be the creation of the Constitution of Mexico in 1917, however, the fighting continued long into the following decade.
Ultimately while the Mexican Revolution was aimed at ensuring a fairer way of life for the farming classes, many argue it achieved little more than the frequent change of leadership in the country.
In southern Mexico City, a gritty working-class neighborhood gives way to the famous canals of Xochimilco, Xochimilco is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico City, principally for the miles of waterways that run through the area, the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs, which have led to it being dubbed the Venice of Mexico.
To this day, the community is known for its floating plant nurseries and vegetable gardens known as chinampas. Such is the importance of the flowers' presence in Xochimilco, that the meaning of its name is “flower field” in Nahuatl.
Xochimilco is well known for its chinampas and the trajinera rides take visitors on cruises throughout its channels, while food vendors, artisans, and mariachi bands float past.
This place evokes ancient times when the Great Tenochtitlán was a city that stood out among its waters. Xochimilco is perhaps the last living link of the Aztec civilization.
Here are the other parts of the Leyenda Series:
E09: Leyendas I: La Llorona E17: Leyendas II: La Lechuza E25: Leyendas III: El Monstruo de Xochimilco E29: Leyendas IV: El Palacio de Lecumberri E38 Leyendas V: Una Trágica Historia de Amor
Traditional Mexican handcrafted toys are those made by artisans rather than manufactured in factories. The history of Mexican toys extends as far back as the Mesoamerican era, but many of the toys date to the colonial period. Many of these were introduced as teaching tools by evangelists and they were associated with certain festivals and holidays.
These toys vary widely, including el trompo, el bolero, la matatena, las canicas, la lotería, las piñatas, and more—made of many materials, including wood, metal, ceramic, and glass.
These toys remained popular throughout Mexico until the mid-20th century when commercially made, mostly plastic toys became widely available.
Bienvenido a InterSpanish - Intermediate Spanish stories podcast, I am very pleased that you found this show and are ready to bring your Spanish language learning journey to another level. My name is Ana Perales and I was born in Mexico City, where I spent my childhood. During my adolescence, my family moved to California and that is where I went to school. As a bilingual educator, I began this project with the purpose to provide interesting topics for you to listen to and improve your comprehension of the Spanish language.
As a language learner, you might find a few challenges, perhaps now you can read and understand the text and can even write in Spanish, but can you speak? Or even better, can you understand spoken Spanish. Perhaps not, and one of the reasons is that native speakers speak too fast and are often skipping vowels, and do not talk like the lessons you learned in your textbook.
So, this is where InterSpanish comes in, in this show, you will not find verb conjugation drills, grammar lessons, or vocabulary lists, there are so many other great podcasts out there for that. Here you will only find uninterrupted conversations in Latinamerican Spanish, specifically from Mexico, spoken clearly and slowly at an intermediate level to maximize your understanding of oral language. I will tell you stories about culture, history, nature, legends, and interesting facts about Mexico and California.
Perhaps the first time you listen you may not fully understand everything, and that is normal, but you may listen a second time. All episodes come with a transcript and may download it and print it to follow along. You may underline interesting facts and circle new words.
With cheerful red bracts and delicate yellow flowers framed against velvety green leaves, colorful poinsettias are an indisputable symbol of Christmas. In fact, poinsettias are the most commercially important potted plant in the world because of their endearing association with the December holiday season. But how did this warm-weather shrub native to western Mexico become so closely associated with Christmas?
The original Nahuatl name for the plant we call “poinsettia” is Cuetlaxóchitl, cultivated by the Aztecs long before the European colonization of the Americas. The Aztecs used Cuetlaxóchitl for a variety of purposes, including decoration and the production of red and purple dyes, as well as for medicines derived from the plant’s milky white sap.
In 1828, Cuetlaxóchitl was taken from its native home and brought to the United States by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. After successfully cultivating the unique plant in his South Carolina greenhouse, Poinsett began sharing the plant with friends and colleagues who marveled at the plant’s colorful transformation during the holiday season.
But less than a decade after being introduced to the United States, Cuetlaxóchitl came to be known by its most enduring name: poinsettia, after the man who first appropriated the plant from Mexico. Poinsett is celebrated for introducing the poinsettia flower to the United States and for co-founding the Smithsonian Institution. However, his legacy as a slave owner and his role in the displacement of countless Native Americans has led some people today to reject the name “poinsettia” in favor of the plant’s Native name, Cuetlaxóchitl.
Yosemite National Park, one of the ecological treasures of the United States, is located in northern California. The seven square miles (18 sq km) Yosemite Valley is the most popular part of the park. The park features granite monoliths, waterfalls, streams, and Giant Sequoias.
Yosemite National Park offers breathtaking views, incredible rock formations, and the largest waterfall in North America. As one of America’s most beautiful and beloved national parks, it offers an experience of a lifetime for the entire family.
Yosemite National Park was literally carved into the earth by the movement of enormous glaciers. This created some unique topographical features not found anywhere else in the world, including five of the tallest waterfalls on Earth.
Visit Yosemite in the Spring to see the waterfalls at their fullest, carrying the melting snow down the mountains. Whether you’re a novice hiker or an adventure seeker, there are trails for everyone that lead to the waterfalls.
Animal lovers and bird watchers should seriously consider making a trip to Yosemite. There are over 400 species of animals inhabiting Yosemite, and 10% of them have special protection status, including the beloved Sierra Nevada Red Fox. During a hike in Yosemite, you have a good chance of seeing bobcats, mule deer, and bighorn sheep.
“Spectacular” does not adequately describe the sunsets at Yosemite National Park. Many opt to spend a day scaling the face of El Capitan to experience the world-famous sunsets from its peak. Other great sunset watching locations are Three Brothers peaks and the banks of the Merced River.
Here are the previous parts of this series:
E28: Parque Nacional I: Yosemite E39: Parque Nacional II: La Tierra de Gigantes E58 Parque Nacional III: Joshua, El Señor de los Desiertos
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