Rural Musicians In The City

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Poverty is the worst form of violence.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.”
― Aristotle

“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint.

When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.”
― Hélder Câmara

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There is love in extreme poverty?

“If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.”
― Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle

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Unity

“The truth of art lies in its power to break the monopoly of established reality to define what is real.”

“Free election of masters does not abolish the masters or the slaves.”
― Herbert Marcuse

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Tlayuda

Tlayuda is a handmade dish part of traditional Mexican cuisine, consisting of a large and thin crunchy partially fried or toasted tortilla, covered with a spread of refried beans, asiento (unrefined pork lard), lettuce or cabbage, avocado, meat (usually shredded chicken, beef tenderloin or pork), Oaxaca cheese, and salsa.

They are a popular antojito (snack food) originating from the state of Oaxaca, and can be found particularly around Oaxaca City. Tlayudas are also available in the center-south region of Mexico, such as Mexico City, Puebla or Guadalajara, but by tradition, the tlayuda is considered a representative iconic dish of Oaxaca.

The dinner-plate-sized tortilla is baked, not fried, either on a comal, a barbecue grill, or directly over coals. Once the tortilla has been cooked, refried beans are applied on its surface, along with lard and vegetables, to serve as a base on top of which the main ingredients will be placed. The rules for topping a tlayuda are not strict, and restaurants and street vendors often offer a variety of different toppings, including tasajo (cuts of meat typical of Central Valley of Oaxaca), chorizo, and cecina enchilada (thin strips of chili powder encrusted pork). They may be prepared open-faced or folded in half.

The Tlayuda topped with roasted grasshoppers was featured on episode 8 of the documentary-styled travel and cuisine program Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern on the Travel Channel. The dish also appeared on Globe Trekker with Neil Gibson as host. Both presenters compared the Tlayuda with a large pizza. [Wiki]

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Light Stela / Estela de Luz

Bicentenary Light Stele

Mexico architect Cesar Perez Becerril was commissioned to design and oversee the construction of the Estela de Luz (Stele of Light). The monument was to be two erect columns, one for each 100-year anniversary of Mexico’s war of independence. The completed monument weighs over 1,700 tons, is 104 meter (341 feet) high, 9 meters (29 feet) wide at its base, and is sunk more than 50 meters (164 feet) into the ground. A stainless steel frame molded and forged in Finland surrounds the monument. Sitting on the frame are 500 translucent quartz plates, said to be found only in Brazil and which were laminated in Italy.

The original budget for the project was 400 million pesos ($30.2 million) and the Stele of Light was to be unveiled at Mexico’s bicentennial celebration in September of 2010. Fast-forward to the chilly night of January 7, 2012. President Felipe Calderón presided over the inauguration ceremonies, which had been advanced one night without publicity. Instead of a large public event, those in attendance were members of his cabinet and a few hundred selected guests. The unannounced advancement of the ceremonies was to trick protesters who had planned to disrupt the festivities. A few showed up in spite of the change in time, but 1,200 police officers stood guard to keep the protestors a safe distance away from the ceremonies.

Sixteen months late in completion and at a final cost of 1 billion pesos ($76 million) many Mexicans are outraged. It has caused heated debate about corruption in the country. Protestors from a union pointed out than 150 schools could have been built with the same money. “We call it the Stele of Corruption,” said Pablo Escudero Morales.

A study conducted by the National Academy of Engineers claims the actual costs were closer to $37 million, leaving many Mexicans to wonder where the rest of the money went. Critics believe the delays and cost overruns were attributable to corruption more so than engineering challenges. [The Mazatlan Messenger]

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