Back Blog: Mexico Trip - Random Images of DF

To finally put this line of entries to rest, I want to close with a few pictures of el Distrito Federal.

La Casa Azul de Frida Kahlo - it was a beautiful house inside but you couldn't take pictures

The courtyard of El Palacio Nacional - with amazing Diego Rivera murals

El Angel de la Glorieta de la Independencia

El Palacio de Bellas Artes - a truly stunning building. David and I watched the Ballet Folklórico de México

DF has some amazing outdoor art

Not sure what I was up to here, but I wanted a picture of me up :-)

Why is there a statue of Gandhi in Mexico?

David HAD to have his shoes shined

How anonimous is it if there is a big sign outside?

The flag waving proudly

I don't know what she was about, but thought she was so cool. You have to love eccentrics.

Mexico City vistas

Back Blog: Mexico Trip - Los Voladores

So trying to finish my Mexico City entries (considering I've been at it for 4 months now - pathetic, I know) I wanted to post the pictures of Los Voladores de Papantla. It's basically Mexico's version of the Maypole Dance, but way scarier and way cooler. Apparently the dance, has ritualistic roots.














Here is a video that someone took to give you an idea of what is going on:

Backblog: Mexico Trip - Teotihuacán

Continuing the much delayed posting of the summer trip to Mexico, it is time for Peanut to show his pictures. As we know Peanut does enjoy his outings, and this trip was no different.

We went to Teotihuacán, and aside of having to climb the Pyramid of the Sun (and its endless steps - though not for Peanut because the lazy git just hitched a ride up on my shoulder) it actually was a great day out. The weather was absolutely perfect warm with a light breeze. We go there before the buses full of fat American tourists arrived. And after walking around the archaeological site for a bit we had a tasty, yet expensive lunch.

Peanut was really looking forward to the Pyramids - he wants to be an archaeologist when we grows up.

And from this high up you can see the nice smog cloud which covers the State of Mexico valley.

Aren't we cute :-)

Nopales with tuna (also known as prickly pear, I will say - I tried the leaf, I tried the fruit - it wasn't for me)

Oh no, Peanut is going to get eaten!

La Gruta - the food was overpriced, but you can't beat the ambience.

Backblog: Mexico Trip - Vera Cruz

So last month Anthony and I went on a short trip to Mexico City (he was working the flight, I just tagged along) and though he is usually pretty good about chronicling his work trips, for some reason this particular one fell on the wayside. Not that I am insecure or anything, but I do wonder if it has to do with me having gone with him. Anyway, with the crappy weather in London I was inspired to finish posting my pics from Mexico (from back when I went in August) and hopefully this will encourage Anthony to finally post about Mexico.

So after the International AIDS Conference ended, I decided to stay in Mexico for an extra week and hang out with David since this was my first time in the country. Well it turns out that David's family was already planning a weekend to the beach - lucky me! They being the hospitable spics that they are, invited me to come along; and me being cheap and up for anything said yes.

So the family and me (all 10 of us) got up early, prepared some snacks, crammed ourselves into 2 cars and drove the 5 hours to Vera Cruz. Road trip! It was great fun. The weather was perfect, the view was scenic, and it provided the perfect escape that we all needed.

So just to rub it in a little, and because I am sick of the British winter here are some pics from that trip.

El Popo - between Mexico City and Puebla you can catch a glimpse of one of Mexico's most famous volcanoes.

I was in awe of this beautiful misty valley

Group Picture! The Diaz-Trujillo Family and Me :-)

Big ass mango on a stick What would a beach weekend be, without burying someone in the sand?
Ok, yes it was hot, and the water was refreshing, and I can understand seating under an umbrella in the sand...but seating under an umbrella in the water!? - for the record, they were not with us.
David passed out - we did come for some R&R after all.
David trying to work it. He doesn't look half bad for a Mexican.
Even the fish like pork rinds :-)
I think I got a bit too much sun :-) I had forgotten what that felt like
Downtown Vera Cruz is beautiful, full of life and music
And dancing in the streets.

Yeah good times were had :-)

I'm really impressed with Google

Why can't more companies and people be like this:
Transgender Remembrance Day
11/20/2008 10:01:00 AM We believe great ideas can come from anywhere and everyone. And we aspire to be an organization that reflects global diversity, because we know that a world's worth of perspectives, ideas and cultures leads to the creation of better products and services. We have more than a dozen employee-driven resource groups, from Gayglers to GWE (Google Women Engineers), that actively participate around the world in building community and driving policy at Google. The post below kicks off an occasional series, entitled Interface, about valuing people's similarities and differences in the workplace. For more information on how Google fosters an inclusive work environment, visit Life at Google on our Jobs site. – Ed.

November 20th marks Transgender Remembrance Day, which takes on a special significance in a world awakening to the need for unity among all people. In observing this day, the Gayglers — the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) group within Google — extend their wholehearted support to the LGBT community at large, as we reflect on the senseless violence perpetrated against transgender people around the world.People who identify or express their gender differently than the one assigned to them at birth usually call themselves transgender or transsexual. All too often, they are subjected to a range of not-so-subtle prejudices and transphobia, from verbal abuse to physical violence. Imagine walking into a public restroom in a state of dread over a confrontation about your appearance. Imagine visiting a doctor and worrying about how far to "out" yourself to receive appropriate care. Studies suggest that transgender people are 16 times more likely to be killed than the general population -- earlier this month, in fact, a transgender woman in Tennessee was murdered -- and this is just the most recent of many such cases.We're fortunate here at Google, where there are LGB and T people at all levels of the company, thanks to enlightened hiring and promotion practices that set aside sexual orientation or gender presentation. Ultimately, Google fosters a workplace where everyone has the ability to be themselves at work. For transgender employees in particular, that means everything.On this Transgender Remembrance Day, take just a few moments to remember the trans siblings, parents, friends and lovers who lost their lives to gender-based intolerance and hatred. Let's all share in a future where tolerance and understanding transforms the world. And let's work to create a better place for everyone to live peaceably in an all-inclusive world community that merits our deepest pride.

Posted by Kai Johnson, Software Engineer

Told you girls had cooties

Women's hands 'harbour more bugs'

Human skin harbours many bacteria

Women have a greater range of different types of bacteria on the palms of their hands than men, US research suggests.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7705608.stm