by New York Times Spotlight on the Home

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their “Spotlight on the Home” series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing ­a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores  for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams..

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life’s everyday problems.

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by the El Reportero’s news services

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

In the face of Argentina´s disapproval, the “Falklands”´ flag is waving at 10 Downing Street, official residence of British Prime Minister David Cameron, marking the thirtieth anniversary of the end of the war over the islands.

To commemorate the occasion, Cameron reiterated his commitment to continue British occupation of that South Atlantic territory and recalled the courage of the European soldiers who participated in the 1982 conflict over the archipelago, stolen from Argentina in 1833.

Likewise, despite considerable disapproval from the international community, the British secretary of state for Latin America, Jeremy Browne, attended celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the war that killed 649 Argentines and 255 Britons.

Meanwhile, before the full United Nations today, Argentina´s president, Cristina Fernandez, reaffirmed her country´s right to the islands, overwhelmingly supported for historical, geographic and political reasons, and backed by Latin America.

In that sense, the president expressed her deepest gratitude to the more than 70 countries supporting the Argentine claim over the Malvinas, (called “Falklands” in English) the South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia and surrounding maritime areas.

Fernandez took advantage of her visit to the UN´s Decolonization Committee, the first visit by a head of state, to ask London to comply with Resolution 2065, urging the two governments to open negotiations to resolve the issue of the islands´ sovereignty.

So far, Britain has rejected the chance to discuss the situation, to the point of violating over 40 UN resolutions, directed toward cordial dialogue and a diplomatic solution to the century-old conflict.

Two days ago, in a surge of tensions on both sides of the Atlantic, at London´s request, the local government of the Malvinas appealed to the principle of self-determination and called for a referendum vote in 2013 over the disputed political status of the archipelago. (Prensa Latina).

Correa gears up the military for public security role

Latin News reported that the government of President Rafael Correa has been gearing up the armed forces to act, ostensibly in support of the police, in public security tasks. Hundreds of military personnel have been undergoing special ‘military police’ training that includes anti-riot and anti-crime tactics.

This come as evidence emerges, writes Latin News, that Correa has been using a special presidential unit to infiltrate the civic organizations that have been protesting against mining and oil drilling projects, which he has denounced as part of a conspiracy to destabilize his government.

­Venezuela: World leader in proven oil reserves

Venezuela surpassed Saudi Arabia becoming the world´s new leader in proven oil reserves holding a figure equivalent to 296,500 million of barrels by the end of 2011, official sources informed on Thursday.

According to the Statistical Review of World Energy released by British Petroleum Company, Saudi Arabia´s figures were equivalent to 265,400 million barrels.

Caracas´ increase was of 85,300 million barrels regarding the 2010 figures, so Venezuela holds 18 percent of the total amount of reserves worldwide.

The BP review estimated that the world´s reserves reach 1,650,000,000 barrels with a 1.9 percent of growth in comparison to 2010.

Canada is in the third position of the countries with largest proven oil reserves with 175,200 million barrels (11 percent) and is followed by Russia with 88,200 million barrels.

by Michael Snyder
The American Dream

Once upon a time, the open highways of America were one of our greatest symbols of liberty and freedom. Anyone could hop in a car and set off for a new adventure at any time and even our music encouraged us to “get our kicks on route 66. But today everything has changed. Now the highways of America are being steadily transformed into a high tech prison grid.

All over the country, thousands upon thousands of surveillance cameras watch our highways and automated license plate readers are actually being used to track vehicle movements in some of our largest cities. Many state and local governments have come to view our highways as money machines and our control freak politicians have established a vast network of toll booths, red light cameras and speed traps to keep cash endlessly pouring in. If all of that wasn’t enough, TSA “VIPR teams” are now hitting the interstates and conducting thousands of “unannounced security screenings” each year. Driving on the highways of America used to be a great joy, but now “Big Brother” is rapidly sucking all of the fun out of it.

Eventually, it may get to the point where Americans simply dread having to go out on the highway.

The following are 10 signs that the highways of America are being transformed into a high tech prison grid.

#1 Surveillance Cameras

All over the United States, a vast network of surveillance cameras is carefully watching our highways. The following is an excerpt from a recent article in the Baltimore Sun http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/services-shopping/dp-nws-public-camera-surveillance-20120520,0,3815887.story about this phenomenon.

The room is large and well lit, and it buzzes with activity even though its occupants remain seated.

The video screen at the front of the room is as wide as an IMAX, though not quite as tall. It consists of 64 smaller screens – 16 columns of four apiece – that monitor every inch of interstate between Great Wolf Lodge and the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. There is an emphasis on tunnels and bridges, and one corner screen is tuned in to a 24-hour weather report.

If you are driving on an highway in Hampton Roads, VDOT is watching you.

#2 Automated License Plate Readers

In a previous article, http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/rise-of-the-beast-system-11-ways-that-amerika-is-becoming-more-like-north-korea. I detailed how automated license plate readers are being used to track the movements of every single vehicle that enters Washington D.C.

A recent Washington Post article http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/license-plate-readers-a-useful-tool-for-police-comes-with-privacy-concerns/2011/11/18/gIQAuEApcN_story.html explained that most people do not even know that they are there.

More than 250 cameras in the District and its suburbs scan license plates in real time, helping police pinpoint stolen cars and fleeing killers. But the program quietly has expanded beyond what anyone had imagined even a few years ago.

With virtually no public debate, police agencies have begun storing the information from the cameras, building databases that document the travels of millions of vehicles.

Nowhere is that more prevalent than in the District, which has more than one plate-reader per square mile, the highest concentration in the nation. Police in the Washington suburbs have dozens of them as well, and local agencies plan to add many more in coming months, creating a comprehensive dragnet that will include all the approaches into the District.

A lot of police cruisers are being outfitted with this technology around the nation as well.

So if you see a police car pull up behind you, there is a very good chance that a computer has already read your license plate and is giving the officer all of your information.

#3 Ridiculous Regulations

Some of the new “auto safety laws” going in around the nation are absolutely absurd.

For example, do you buckle up your pet when you go for a ride?

Well, in New Jersey you can now be fined up to $1000 http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/06/02/new-fines-in-place-for-cats-and-dogs-that-dont-buckle-up-in-new-jersey/ for not having your pet properly restrained while you are out driving.

#4 Outrageous Fines

In many areas of the country, unpaid traffic tickets can rapidly become a major financial burden.

For example, the new tolls on the 520 floating bridges in Seattle are absolutely killing http://www.king5.com/home/520-toll-late-penalty-fight-153604065.html some commuters.

Registered vehicle owners who do not pay their toll within 80 days or more will be mailed a $40 civil penalty for each unpaid toll transaction in addition to a $5 reprocessing fee.

WSDOT confirmed some tolls plus penalty fees have added up to more than $1,000.

#5 Oppressive Toll Roads

Toll roads have become one of the favorites “revenue raising tools” for our politicians.

At this point the tolls on some roads have become so incredibly oppressive that many people simply cannot afford to drive on them anymore.

And for some reason the toll increases are coming especially fast and furious this year.

A recent USA Today article http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-10/toll-road-bridge-tunnel-us/50722352/1 summarized some of the oppressive toll increases that we are seeing all over the nation.

•California and Washington authorized high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, where tolls rise or fall depending on traffic flow. Texas enacted laws authorizing private toll roads and allowing regional authorities to collect tolls. Indiana removed a provision requiring legislative approval for toll roads.

•Some Maryland tolls will double this year as the state seeks money to rehabilitate aging roads, bridges and tunnels.

The use of tolls on interstate highways also is spreading:

•Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, just won approval from the Federal Highway Administration to add tolls on Interstate 95 in his state. The state estimates that tolls on the heavily traveled corridor could generate $250 million over the first five years for 1expanding, improving and maintaining the highway.

­•New York and New Jersey recently announced that E-ZPass commuters will pay $1.50 more and cash customers $2 more to cross bridges and tunnels between the two states.

•Georgia just created toll lanes on Interstate 85 in suburban Atlanta. The toll hikes are more than chump change: Cash tolls on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge jumped to $4 from $2.50, and to $12 from $8 on all the New York-New Jersey Hudson River crossings.

Toll roads are one of my pet peeves. Any time I see a tollbooth it immediately puts me in a bad mood.

#6 Red Light Cameras

Red light cameras are another favorite “revenue raising tool” for the control freaks that run things.

Unfortunately, these cameras don’t always work right so a lot of innocent people end up getting ticketed.

But politicians love them because they can raise a lot of cash. The following is from a recent Business Insider article http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-10/toll-road-bridge-tunnel-us/50722352/1.

This article was cut to fit space. The complete article will be publish in www.elreporteroSF.com next week.

­

by Louis Nevae

New America Media

Mexico Elections: Mexico prepares for new elections and a new form of media.

MERIDA, México – Mexico’s presidential elections are less than six weeks away, and for now it appears that opposition candidate Enrique Peña Nieto remains the clear favorite. His party’s reliance on traditional media, however, has ignited a firestorm within the country’s “Facebook Generation.”

Younger Mexicans expected this to be the first presidential election cycle in which social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn would transform the political landscape. Instead, they’ve found, Old Media is striking back.

At last check, Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) held a 20-point lead over his rival Josefina Vázquez, from the ruling National Action Party (PAN).

­Vázquez, a Social Media sensation, got millions ­of women Tweeting, and enlisted millions of youth as “Friends” on Facebook. But her campaign has run up against a PRI advertising blitzkrieg that has blanketed the country’s newspapers, billboards and airwaves.

Concepción May is a PRI member. For the past few months she has been hard at work organizing neighborhoods – handing out T-shirts, making sure voters have transportation to polling places and delivering campaign posters people can hang on doors and windows. “This is a campaign and the winner will be chosen by people who get away from their computers and go vote,” she says.

That’s a far cry from her sister, who supports the PAN candidate but spends her time on the sofa with her Facebook friends. “She might as well be playing video games,” May says. “I doubt she even knows where to vote.”

The PRI, which expects to win the presidency after 12 years of PAN presidents (Vicente Fox and the incumbent Felipe Calderon), appears to share that skepticism in social media.

In an unprecedented display, the PRI has blanketed Mexico with posters, billboards and fliers displaying the party’s candidates. Television and radio advertisements are running nonstop, as are full-page ads in newspapers and magazines. Millions of T-shirts, banners and stickers, meanwhile, along with full-size advertisements on buses and billboards have become common place, as was customary before social media.

It is the audacity of the PRI – which has spent an untold fortune on traditional advertising – that has enraged Mexico’s youth.

In a series of “strikes,” “protests” and “rallies,” the so-called Facebook generation has taken to the streets in the hundreds of thousands, directing their anger at the opposition and at traditional media – newspapers and television broadcasters – who, they say, have sold out to the relentless advertising of the PRI.

More intriguing still are the demographics behind these mounting protests: 24 million Mexicans (out of a population of 105 million) are aged 29 and under. Of these, 14 million are expected to vote for the first time in presidential elections (in 2006, they were too young to vote).

Most are too young to remember the heavy handed tactics of the PRI, and how it governed when it ruled Mexico. Instead, they denounce what university organizers call “a Soap Opera Democracy.”

Their movement , moreover, is emboldened by video clips on YouTube, some showing the parents of protestors – identified by name – holding signs in support of their children. One video that went viral soon after it emerged shows Peña Nieto being jeered off stage during an election campaign rally. Students are heard shouting “Fuera!” – “Out!”

– as organizers were forced to cancel the event, which ultimately descended into chaos. Seen more than 600,000 times, the clip has fueled further protests.

The PRI’s subsequent statements — that the incident was the result of 131 malcontent students – triggered an improvised “I am #132” YouTube campaign, in which university students denounce the PRI and the media they see as capitulating to the financial incentives of massive advertising.

The largest rally to date occurred May 20 and was centered on Mexico City’s Monument to the Angel, on the city’s Paseo de la Reforma. Drawing more than 40,000 protesters, it paralyzed city traffic.

Political commentators and observers see this social media backlash against the PRI’s campaign as the beginning of a “student movement” that stands to upend the presidential race in the last month of the campaign.

While the latest polls show Peña Nieto with a comfortable lead, they do not reflect the student insurgence that began two weeks earlier. Whether it will be enough to upend the PRI and their Old Media allies is another question.

— Also read article on page 2. Yo Soy 132/I am 132.