October 2013

Editor’s Page By Alejandro Grattan-Dominguez Que le vaya bien!   So what’s the main reason so many foreigners come and later stay here? Some cite the weather, lower cost of living, moderate climate, others mention the fascinating culture or the spectacular vistas…but everyone agrees that the best thing about Mexico is its people. We all

CARLOTA—Mexico´s Lost Empress By Morgan Bedford   She had many names and titles, but the one that has gone down in history was Carlota, Empress of Mexico. The only daughter of Leopold I of Belgium and Louise, Princess of Orleans, Carlota was born near Brussels on June 7, 1840. In 1857, a handsome and unattached

Things Are A Little Different Now By Catherine Lancaster   When in 1837 Charlotte Brontë sent some of her writings to Robert Southey, England’s Poet Laureate, his answer was: “Madam, literature cannot be the business of a woman’s life, and it ought not to be.” Charlotte had the chance to answer Southey ten years later

DEAR PORTIA (Ed. Note: Wherein Portia gets a couple of things off her, um, chest.)   Dear Readers: For those sloshed cry-babies who think the drunk driving laws in the United States, Canada and Mexico are too tough, I offer the following examples of how some other countries sober up those overgrown children who like

Witchcraft & Sorcery In Mexico By Ralph F. Graves   Maria used to hold court at the rear table of a small outdoor cafe in Acapulco´s “Old Town.” She was a curandera and consulted throughout the day with various clients; reading fortunes with a set of tattered tarot cards, offering advice on love, money, family

Fascinating Facts About Mexico By Richard Rhoda, Ph.D   Did you know that Tijuana is closer to Juneau, Alaska than to Cancun? Furthermore, Cancun is closer to Nova Scotia than to Tijuana? While much smaller than Canada or the US, Mexico stretches over 2,000 miles [3250 kms] from end to end and is the world’s

Front Row Center By Michael Warren The Upcoming Season 49   An interesting series of plays are due on stage for the upcoming Season 49 at Lakeside Little Theatre. Here they are: Local Hero, written and directed by Neal Checkoway, October 4-13. The Heiress, by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, directed by Roseann Wilshere, November 8-17.

Uncommon Common Sense By Bill Frayerbillfrayer@gmail.com Emotional Intelligence   For many years, I chaired the Humanities Department at a community college in Maine. It was often a thankless job which required me to locate and hire qualified 30-40 adjunct faculty each semester to teach most of the courses in our department. These were faculty hired