February 3 2010 Page 2

Max Toledo - PVNN
January 28, 2010

For more information, visit RefrigerantesNaturales.com.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – A new era in "earth-friendly" refrigeration comes to Banderas Bay with the launch of a new company, Refrigerante Naturales del Pacifico. Refrigerante Naturales del Pacifico can cool your home or business with sustainable natural refrigerants saving you up to 30% in energy costs.

Natural refrigerants have been successfully used as a gas substitute for over 5 years by large companies including; Coca Cola, Mabe, Millennium Hotels, the Holiday Inn Hotel chain, CFE, etc. with proven and documented energy savings. Now this sustainable gas substitute used by major corporations is available to the average citizen and companies right here in Banderas Bay.

The savings can be dramatic and the benefits can be enjoyed from the first day that Refrigerante Naturales del Pacifico replaces your current gas in your refrigerator or air conditioning units with their more earth-friendly gas.

"We experienced an average of 30% drop in amps used starting the very first day the gas was replaced," exclaimed Ron Biggs, one of the first residential customers to make the switch in Banderas Bay. "Our electricity bill dropped 18% as compared to the same time last year. This change will pay for itself in only a matter of months, it is better for our air conditioning units because the gas is lighter so our machinery doesn’t have to work as hard, all of that plus, it helps the environment!"

The non-toxic gas used by Refrigerante Naturales del Pacifico is a blend of natural gasses developed through years of research and development. These gasses have been proven to not harm the ozone layer and to effect global warming.

To set up an appointment today for your home or business, call Max Toledo (Español) at 044-322-116-9007 or Ad Dalebout (English) at 044-322-135-2419. To learn more, visit RefrigerantesNaturales.com.

Filed of flowers in a Mango Grove north of Las Varas Bill Bell Photograph

Recipes of Hope

Breast Friends Cookbooks 

©Tara A. Spears 

When over thirty women gathered recently for lunch at the La Penita RV Park to hear the inspiring story of a small group of rural Saskatchewan, Canada, women who are making a big impact in the fight against breast cancer, one could feel the positive energy. Organizing in 2004, the ten Canadian women were mourning the loss of loved ones to this disease but decided to turn their grief into  action that would help other women survive this tragic disease. The positive result of their effort has raised over $700,000 dollars that go to support cancer agencies, research, purchase equipment, and to assist with patient needs across Canada. Now, Breast Friends, Inc. has reached across national borders to help the women of Nayarit with a $5,000 donation and a huge supply of bras to be used for prosthesis at the upcoming Cancer de Mama clinic February 6- 8, 2010.    

Carole Thacker, left, RV park manager and local philanthropist, provides the venue for the luncheon and the annual breast cancer clinic that is primarily run by park resident volunteers. Although the  RVers, who arrive from Canada and the US, live in the Riviera Nayarit for up to six months, they work all year long with various local charities to improve and address the needs of their adopted community. They provide expertise, good will through their countless hours as volunteers to get the job done, in addition to financial generosity.  While this truly amazing group of people doesn’t seek the limelight, they certainly deserve applause. 

Breast Friends, Inc. Accomplishments:

As the effervescent presentation by one of the founding members of Breast Friends, Linda Helgason, detailed the history and successes of the grassroots non-profit organization, the aura of hope prevailed. “We never dreamed that the cookbooks would be so successful,” said Linda. “We are just a group of small town women- with a total of 60 grandchildren- that hope that we will soon see an end to this dreaded disease.”   In the four years of operation, Breast Friends cookbook sales have contributed to diagnostics and treatment centers; provided shuttle services between hospices and treatment facilities; purchased mobile mammogram machine, digital mammography and radiation equipment, and chemotherapy infusion pumps. Local Cancer de Mama co-chair Maruca Dinsmoor with speaker Linda Helgason, right photo.

 About the Cookbooks:

All of the cookbooks are professional printed with an easy-to-use spiral binding and color photographs. The 400 uncomplicated and family favorite recipes are grouped into 11 categories with an index and table of contents for quickly locating what you need. Besides the excellent recipes, these unique cookbooks offer cancer facts and advice, inspirational quotes and quips that will make you smile: “a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.” The first two books are dedicated to loved ones who have lost the fight against cancer; the third in the series, ‘Breast Wishes,’ is a tribute to the brave survivors that the organization has met in the last four years. Volunteer Brenda Cambell, left, with cookbooks. To obtain a cookbook, contact Linda (cell) 306 272 7478 or email: blhelgason@sasktel.net;  Maurca 327-274-0715 or  email marucadinsmore@aol.com; Judy at  joekrajnc@hotmail.com; or  

Carole:    2740996    carole@lapenitatrailerpark.com

 All of us know someone whose life has been touched by cancer, know first-hand the tragic impact on the individual, their family and friends.   We also know that early detection of any type cancer is saving lives. The mission of the Breast Friends, Inc. is to bring comfort, enjoyment, and hope while fighting for a cure for this disease. 

Enrique Morones - borderangels.org
January 29, 2010

20 20 Studios: The Migrants' Journey (Border Angels videos)

On Tuesday, February 2nd Border Angels and Gente Unida will again lead the annual Marcha Migrante advocating for Humane Immigration Reform. Previous National Marchas Migrantes (Feb 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) have helped galvanize country to National Marches of 2006, share migrant stories 2007, Get out the Vote 2008 and last year "We marched we voted, now it's time to deliver" as we went to DC and White House.

"This year's 'Marcha' may be most important ever as it's Immigration Reform Now, under this administration as I mentioned to President Obama personally, every day we don't have humane immigration reform, two people die crossing border. We want to highlight to the world that for many entering this country, the only way they currently can, with no visa and in deadly conditions, end up at the Holtville Cemetery, No American Dream for them, only a Nightmare!" states march organizer and founder Enrique Morones.

"The country needs to learn what is really happening at the border and that we need to treat people in a humane manner and not a forced death march as they have now" states, writer and poet, Josefina Lopez ("Real Women Have Curves) as she joins march for first time.

Ivan Gonzalez, of Azul Violeta and formerly MANA, also joins Marcha as he has been working with Border Angels for the last year on a Border Concert in Tijuana, No More Deaths, Reform Now!" "We are closer than ever to Humane Reform, now is the time."

The March schedule is below and includes the participation of dozens of organizations and individuals including, Border Angels/Angeles de la Frontera, Gente Unida, Dolores Huerta, UURISE (Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education), Si Se Puede, South Texas Immigration Council Josefina Lopez, SDSU Imperial Valley Campus, CCIME, MECHA, COFEM, Casa Refugio Elvira, Hermandad Mexicana, CNDH, SWC, Florida Immigration Council, Angeles del Desierto, American GI Forum, Latino Coalition from Coachella, Azul Violeta, Pirmin, Trail of Dream Walkers, Comita Latino Coachella, Brown Berets, Mexica Movement, Florida Immigration Council, and many more.

• February 2 Sasabe, Sonora, Mexico to Tucson, Arizona
• February 3 Tucson, Arizona to Phoenix to Coachella, California
• February 4 Coachella, to Yuma, Arizona to Calexico, California
• February 5 Calexico, California to Holtville, California

"American Dream or American Nightmare, No More Deaths, Reform Now" 5th annual Marcha Migrante Sasabe, Sonora, Mexico to Holtville, California,

"Last year I participated in Marcha for first time and realized how powerful it was to take it to the streets, talk and listen to communities across the country, then go to DC and deliver message personally" states Rita Mandez from Miami, Florida.

"On Saturday February 6, the day after Marcha many Marcha participants will join other organizations, for a pro-legalization action at San Diego's CHICANO PARK, we will discuss latest on Immigration Reform, give immigration advice as will have immigration attorneys donating time to the community" states Isabel Montano, Border Angels Volunteer Coordinator as she will join Marchers in Calexico on Thursday and continue through Saturday's mobilization.

"Join us as we have helped remove Lou Dobbs, spur judiciary investigation of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, pressure Congress to act, gather thousands of letters for immigration reform, join us " states Benigno Pena, original Marcha member from Texas.

Contact: Enrique Morones (619) 269-7865 www.borderangels.org

Mark de Leon - TeknoGeekz.com
January 29, 2010

(IguanaNancy)

Although many come to the Banderas Bay area with a foreign Cell phone, or VoIP, this article covers domestic services.

Cell Phones are EXPENSIVE in Mexico, no matter how cheap they tell you they are, you will soon find out there are many hitches to the cheap calls.

There are three Major Cell phone carriers in Puerto Vallarta, they are; Telcel, Movistar, Iusacel, and Nextel. Officially Nextel is not a Cell phone carrier in Mexico so, as I say, three cell carriers. More on Nextel later. There is currently one single fixed phone carrier.

In most cases calling from one cell phone company to another will cost over 4 pesos per minute on any pre-paid plan. So to call from Telcel to Movistar or Movistar to Telcel is the single most expensive kind of call you can make. Of course Telcel to Telcel or Movistar to Movistar will have a lower rate of just over 1 Peso per minute.

Nextel is NOT officially a cell phone carrier. This is because the numbers they offer are NOT Cell phone numbers, rather fixed numbers. When calling Nextel numbers in Mexico, they are dialed just like Telmex numbers. This is different from all other cell phone carries because they all require the prefix of 044 or 045 to be reached from a Telmex line (521 for international callers).

This means that the person calling from a Telmex line to a Nextel line pays the same rate as to call any other Telmex number. Whereas a caller calling from Telmex to Telcel or to Movistar pays a higher rate of over 2 pesos per minute.

As for folks calling from outside of Mexico Cell phone numbers must be dialed as 521. So from the USA and Canada, callers must dial 011 521 322 XXX XXXX for a cell phone and 011 521 322 XXX XXXX for a home, office, or Nextel phone. Of course, the cost to call a cell phone in Mexico is substantially higher, thus necessitating the different 521 prefix. From most of the rest of the world this is 00 52 XXX XXXX and 00 521 XXX XXXX.

Data Plans

Most Cell phone data plans are equally expensive. It appears that to date, Movistar does not offer data plans. This leaves Telcel, Iusacel and Nextel. Each with their own rate structures. Watch out for monthly bandwidth limits, restrictions, and "introductory" rates that apply only for the first few months of service, as often times the rate may double after the introductory period, and you most likely will be bound to a contract.

Dialing in Puerto Vallarta

From Telmex:

XXX XXXX (seven digit dialing) from Telmex to Telmex, or from Telmex to Nextel

01 XXX XXX XXXX (01 + Ten Digits) for dialing long distance fixed phones

044 322 XXX XXXX (044 + Ten Digits) for LOCAL Cell phones

045 XXX XXX XXXX (045 + Ten Digits) for LONG DISTANCE Cell Phones

From Cell Phones:

XXX XXX XXXX (ten digits from/to any number on most cell phones)

As of this writing I have confirmed that Telecable is entering into the Telephone market in Puerto Vallarta. Details will follow as they become available.

Mark de Leon has worked 20+ years in the USA as a Video Engineer for Rogers, The Merv Griffin Group, and Trident Media Group. Later he started and ran his own VoIP company. He has presented at the “Encuentro de Sistemas” at the University of Guadalajara CUC Vallarta campus instructing VoIP. He is a full time resident of Puerto Vallarta where he has now lived for over five years. Mark can be contacted through www.teknogeekz.com or 044 322 205 5236 Cel or +1 206 203 5561 USA

Click HERE to learn more about the services provided by TeknoGeekz.

Frida and christina