|Publication number||US6004425 A|
|Application number||US 08/875,825|
|Publication date||Dec 21, 1999|
|Filing date||Jan 18, 1996|
|Priority date||Jan 26, 1995|
|Also published as||CA2211591A1, DE19502381A1, EP0805841A1, EP0805841B1, WO1996023040A1|
|Publication number||08875825, 875825, PCT/1996/194, PCT/EP/1996/000194, PCT/EP/1996/00194, PCT/EP/96/000194, PCT/EP/96/00194, PCT/EP1996/000194, PCT/EP1996/00194, PCT/EP1996000194, PCT/EP199600194, PCT/EP96/000194, PCT/EP96/00194, PCT/EP96000194, PCT/EP9600194, US 6004425 A, US 6004425A, US-A-6004425, US6004425 A, US6004425A|
|Inventors||Peter Born, Frank Dittrich|
|Original Assignee||Henkel-Teroson Gmbh|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (16), Non-Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (76), Classifications (23), Legal Events (5)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This invention relates to one-component, hot-curing compositions based on liquid rubbers and fine-particle powder-form thermoplastic polymers and to their production and use as structural adhesives with a breaking elongation of more than 15%.
In modern assembly techniques for joining metal components in machine construction, vehicle or equipment manufacture, more especially in car manufacture, conventional methods of fixing, such as riveting, screwing or welding, are being increasingly replaced by bonding. Spot welding above all, which is a source of future corrosion, is being displaced as far as possible or is being applied in combination with structural adhesives. For this reason, there is an increased demand for high-strength structural adhesives. For assembly reasons, these adhesives have to be used at the so-called white-shell stage of car manufacture, i.e. the adhesives are generally applied to the uncleaned metal surface. These surfaces are often coated with various corrosion-inhibiting oils and drawing oils, so that the adhesives used there should not be functionally affected by these oils. In addition, the adhesives should be capable of withstanding--preferably without pregelation--the various washing baths and installations and the high temperatures of up to around 240° C. prevailing in the baking ovens for electrocoating and should also cure at temperatures of that order. Moreover, the adhesives are required to exhibit good ageing-resistant adhesion to various galvanized steels, for example electrolytically galvanized steel plates, hot-dip galvanized steel plates and the corresponding galvannealed steel plates or galvanized and subsequently phosphated steel plates. Structural adhesives for these applications must also have a minimum strength of about 15 MPa. In the interests of smooth assembly line operation, only one-component materials capable of being transported by pumps and applied by machine are suitable.
On account of the demanding strength requirements, one-component hot-curing epoxy adhesives have mainly been used for these applications in the past. Apart from the advantages of high tensile strength, however, epoxy adhesives have a number of major disadvantages. The paste-like, hot-curing one-component epoxy adhesives do not show adequate resistance to washing in the washing and phosphating baths, so that the corresponding bonds normally have to be pregelled by induction heating or in special ovens. Unfortunately, this involves an additional step. Attempts have been made to overcome this by developing one-component hot-curing epoxy adhesives resembling hotmelts in character. Unfortunately, these adhesives require special application systems because they have to be applied hot. Another general disadvantage of epoxy adhesives is their tendency to absorb moisture under the effect of high atmospheric humidity which can lead to corrosion phenomena and weakening of the bond in the bond line. Although epoxy adhesives are distinguished by high tensile strength, their breaking elongation is generally very poor; even epoxy adhesives flexibilized by addition of rubber have a breaking elongation of less than 5%. In addition, the use of epoxy adhesives based on low molecular weight epoxy compounds (molecular weight<700) is undesirable on industrial hygiene grounds because these low molecular weight epoxy compounds can initiate allergic or sensitizing reactions on contact with the skin.
For some time, compositions based on vulcanizable rubbers have been used as an alternative. EP-B-97 394 describes an adhesive mixture based on a liquid polybutadiene rubber, powder-form sulfur, organic accelerators and optionally solid rubber. According to B. D. Ludbrook, Int. J. Adhesion and Adhesives, Vol. 4, No. 4, pages 148-150, corresponding adhesives based on liquid polybutadienes are capable of attaining strength levels equivalent to those of flexibilized epoxy adhesives through an appropriate choice of the quantity of sulfur and accelerators. Whereas these formulations have good curing properties and show high resistance to ageing and even adhere acceptably to normal oiled steel plate, their usefulness for various galvanized steel plates is limited, in addition to which the breaking elongation of these high-strength rubber adhesives is very poor.
To improve adhesion, DE-C-38 34 818 proposes using OH-terminated polybutadienes for the liquid rubber. According to EP-B-441 244, homopolymers or copolymers containing thiol, amino, amido, carboxyl, epoxy, isocyanate, anhydride or acetoxy groups may be used in addition to hydroxyfunctional homopolymers or copolymers as the functional rubber polymer, although the cured adhesive mixture has a breaking elongation of no more than 15%.
According to EP-B-309 903 and DE-C-40 27 064, polyfunctional epoxy compounds may be added to the adhesive mixtures based on liquid rubbers to improved adhesion and tensile shear strength. Apart from the fact that it is undesirable for the reasons explained above to use adhesive compositions containing epoxy resin, the adhesive compositions disclosed in the last two documents are not suitable as structural adhesives because they only reach a very low strength level of at most 3 MPa.
Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention was to provide adhesives and sealants which could be used with advantage for joining metal parts in automobile shells ("white shells") and which
would show adequate permanent adhesion on a number of the metal surfaces used today without any need for cleaning pretreatments,
could be used as structural adhesives (structural adhesives in the context of the invention being adhesives which attain a strength of at least 15 MPa in tensile shear tests),
would have a breaking elongation according to DIN 53504 of more than 15% and preferably more than 20%, in addition to which
the materials would comprise one component, would be hot-curing and would cure at temperatures of 160° C. to 240° C., their strength properties not being significantly affected by the curing temperature.
Apart from normal oiled steel plates, substrates on which adhesion must be obtained include, in particular, the various galvanized and oiled steel plates and aluminium.
According to B. D. Ludbrook loc. cit., the strength values of rubber-vulcanized adhesives can be significantly increased by the quantity of sulfur and accelerator, but always to the detriment of breaking elongation. It has surprisingly been found that the addition of fine-particle powders of thermoplastic polymers to adhesives based on liquid rubbers not only increases tensile shear strength, it also significantly improves breaking elongation. Since the other properties, for example ageing resistance and adhesive behavior on the substrates mentioned above, are not affected by the addition of the thermoplastic polymer powder, the adhesives in question are very much more universal in their usefulness. Thus, structural adhesives may even used for the first time where, hitherto, it has only been possible to use adhesives with lower strength levels on account of the high elasticity required, as is the case for example with lining adhesives for bonding inner panels to outer panels in car manufacture where high torsional rigidity is required for structural reasons.
The adhesive/sealant compositions according to the invention contain at least one of the following substances:
one or more liquid rubbers and/or solid rubbers or elastomers
fine-particle powders of thermoplastic polymers
vulcanization agents, vulcanization accelerators, catalysts
tackifiers and/or primers
Liquid rubbers or elastomers may be selected from the following group of homopolymers and/or copolymers:
Polybutadienes, more particularly 1,4- and 1,2-polybutadienes, polybutenes, polyisobutylenes, 1,4- and 3,4-polyisoprenes, styrene/butadiene copolymers, butadiene/acrylonitrile copolymers; these polymers may have terminal and/or (statistically distributed) lateral functional groups. Examples of such functional groups are hydroxy, amino, carboxyl, carboxylic anhydride or epoxy groups. The molecular weight of these liquid rubbers is typically below 20,000 and preferably between 900 and 10,000. The percentage content of liquid rubber in the composition as a whole depends upon the required rheology of the uncured composition and the required mechanical properties of the cured composition. The percentage content of liquid rubber or elastomer normally varies between 5 and 50% by weight, based on the formulation as a whole. It has proved to be useful in this regard to employ mixtures of liquid rubbers differing both in their molecular weight and in their configuration in relation to the remaining double bonds. To achieve optimal adhesion on various substrates, a liquid rubber component containing hydroxyl groups or anhydride groups is used in the particularly preferred formulations. At least one of the liquid rubbers should have a high percentage content of cis-1,4-double bonds while another liquid rubber should have a high percentage of vinyl double bonds.
By comparison with liquid rubbers, suitable solid rubbers have a significantly higher molecular weight (MW=100,000 or higher). Examples of suitable rubbers are polybutadiene, preferably with a very high percentage of cis-1,4-double bonds (typically above 95%), styrene/butadiene rubber, butadiene/acrylonitrile rubber, synthetic or natural isoprene rubber, butyl rubber or polyurethane rubber.
The addition of fine-particle thermoplastic polymer powders produces a significant improvement in tensile shear strength while maintaining a very high breaking elongation hitherto untypical of structural adhesives. Thus, tensile shear strengths of more than 15 MPa can be achieved for breaking elongations well above 15% and, very often, above 20%. The high-strength structural adhesives hitherto typically used were based on epoxy resins which only have breaking elongations of less than 5%, even as flexibilized adhesive formulations. The combination of high tensile shear strength values with high breaking elongation is attributed to the addition of thermoplastic polymer powders in accordance with the invention. According to the invention, numerous thermoplastic polymer powders are suitable additives, including for example vinyl acetate either in the form of a homopolymer or in the form of a copolymer with ethylene and other olefins and acrylic acid derivatives, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymers, styrene copolymers of the type described, for example, in DE-A-40 34 725, polymethyl methacrylate and copolymers thereof with other (meth)acrylates and functional comonomers, for example of the type described in DE-C-24 54 235, or polyvinyl acetals, for example polyvinyl butyral. Although the particle size or rather particle size distribution of the polymer powders does not appear to be particularly critical, the average particle size should be below 1 mm, preferably below 350 μm and, more preferably, between 100 and 20 μm. Polyvinyl acetate and copolymers based on ethylene/vinyl acetate (EVA) are most particularly preferred. The quantity of thermoplastic polymer powder added is determined by the required strength range and is between 2 and 20% by weight, based on the composition as a whole, a particularly preferred range being from 10 to 15%.
Since the crosslinking or curing reaction of the rubber composition has a critical influence on the tensile shear strength and breaking elongation of the cured adhesive composition, the vulcanization system has to be selected and adapted with particular care. Various vulcanization systems based on elemental sulfur and vulcanization systems with no free sulfur may be used. Vulcanization systems with no free sulfur include those based on thiuram disulfides, organic peroxides, polyfunctional amines, quinones, p-benzoquinone dioxime, p-nitrosobenzene and dinitrosobenzene and also systems crosslinked with (blocked) diisocyanates. Vulcanization systems based on elemental sulfur and organic vulcanization accelerators and also zinc compounds are most particularly preferred. The powder-form sulfur is used in quantities of 4 to 15% by weight, based on the composition as a whole, quantities of 6 to 8% being particularly preferred. Suitable organic accelerators are the dithiocarbamates (in the form of their ammonium or metal salts), xanthogenates, thiuram compounds (monosulfides and disulfides), thiazole compounds, aldehyde/amine accelerators (for example hexamethylenetetramine) and also guanidine accelerators, dibenzothiazyl disulfide (MBTS) being most particularly preferred. These organic accelerators are used in quantities of 2 to 8% by weight, based on the formulation as a whole, and preferably in quantities of 3 to 6%. In the case of zinc compounds acting as accelerators, a choice may be made between the zinc salts of fatty acids, zinc dithiocarbamates, basic zinc carbonates and, in particular, fine-particle zinc oxide. The content of zinc compounds is in the range from 1 to 10% by weight and preferably in the range from 3 to 7% by weight. In addition, other typical rubber vulcanization agents, for example fatty acids (for example stearic acid), may be present in the formulation.
Although, in general, the compositions according to the invention already show very good adhesion to the substrates to be bonded by virtue of the presence of liquid rubber containing functional groups, tackifiers and/or primers may be added where necessary. Suitable tackifiers and/or primers are, for example, hydrocarbon resins, phenolic resins, terpene/phenol resins, resorcinol resins or derivatives thereof, modified or unmodified resinic acids or esters (abietic acid derivatives), polyamines, polyaminoamides, anhydrides and anhydride-containing copolymers. The addition of polyepoxy resins in small quantities (<1% by weight) can also improve adhesion to some substrates. In this case, however, solid epoxy resins with a molecular weight well above 700 are preferably used in finely ground form so that the formulations are still substantially free from epoxy resins, more especially those with molecular weights below 700. If tackifiers or primers are used, the type and quantity used will depend upon the polymer composition of the adhesive/sealant, upon the required strength of the cured composition and upon the substrate to which the composition is applied. Typical tackifying resin (tackifiers), for example terpene/phenol resins or resinic acid derivatives, are normally used in concentrations of 5 to 20% by weight while typical primers, such as polyamines, polyaminoamides or resorcinol derivatives, are used in concentrations of 0.1 to 10% by weight.
The compositions according to the invention are preferably free from plasticizers for the thermoplastic polymer. More particularly, they are free from phthalic acid esters. However, it may be necessary to influence the rheology of the uncured composition and/or the mechanical properties of the cured composition by addition of so-called extender oils, i.e. aliphatic, aromatic or naphthenic oils. However, this influence is preferably exerted through the appropriate choice of the low molecular weight liquid rubbers or through the use of low molecular weight polybutenes or polyisobutylenes. If extender oils are used, they are used in quantities of 2 to 15% by weight.
The fillers may be selected from a number of materials, including in particular chalks, natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonates, calcium/magnesium carbonates, silicates, heavy spar and also carbon black. Lamellar fillers, for example vermiculite, mica, talcum or similar layer silicates, are also suitable as fillers. It may be useful for the fillers to be at least partly surface-pretreated. Coating with stearic acid to reduce the moisture introduced and to prevent the cured composition from becoming sensitive to moisture have proved to be particularly useful for the various calcium carbonates or chalks. In addition, the compositions according to the invention generally contain between 1 and 5% by weight of calcium oxide. The total content of fillers in the formulation can vary from 10 to 70% by weight and is preferably in the range from 25 to 60% by weight.
Conventional stabilizers, for example sterically hindered phenols or amine derivatives, may be used to prevent thermal, thermo-oxidative or ozone degradation of the compositions according to the invention, these stabilizers typically being used in quantities of 0.1 to 5% by weight.
Although the rheology of the compositions according to the invention can normally be brought into the required range through the choice of the fillers and the quantity ratio of the low molecular weight liquid rubbers, conventional rheology aids, for example pyrogenic silicas, Bentones or fibrillated or pulped chopped strands may be added in quantities of 0.1 to 7%. In addition, other conventional auxiliaries and additives may be used in the compositions according to the invention.
As mentioned at the beginning, a preferred application for the one-component hot-curing adhesive/sealant composition according to the invention is in white-shell assembly in the car industry, so that the compositions should cure in 10 to 35 minutes at temperatures of 80 to 240° C., temperatures of 160° C. to 200° C. preferably being applied in white-shell assembly. A major advantage of the compositions according to the invention over known paste-form one-component epoxy resin adhesives lies in their so-called "washing resistance" immediately after application of the adhesives, i.e. they do not require pregelation in the same way as the above-mentioned epoxy adhesives to be resistant to the various washing and phosphating baths used in white-shell assembly. The compositions according to the invention have the advantage over hotmelt epoxy adhesives that they need only be gently heated to around 30 to 45° C. for pumping and for application, in addition to which their wetting power for cold substrates is considerably better than that of epoxy hotmelts by virtue inter alia of their greater inherent tackiness.
The following Examples are intended to illustrate the invention without limiting it in any way.
To determine tensile shear strength, 1.5 mm thick strips of a 14 O5 steel measuring 25×100 mm were bonded with the adhesives with an overlap of 25×20 mm; the layer thickness of the adhesive was 0.2 mm. The steel strips had been oiled beforehand with ASTM Oil No. 1, coating weight 3 to 4 g/m2. Breaking elongation and tear strength were determined on an S2 test specimen according to DIN 53 504, layer thickness 2 mm. A conventional laboratory tensile testing machine was used for both tensile tests (rate of advance 50 mm/min.). The adhesives were cured in a laboratory circulating-air oven, cure time: 30 mins. at 180° C.
In an evacuable laboratory kneader, the compositions identified in the following Tables were mixed in vacuo until they were homogeneous. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts in the Examples are parts by weight.
TABLE 1______________________________________ Comparison Comparison Example 1 Example 1 Example 2______________________________________Polybutadiene, solid (1) 5.0 5.0 5.0Polybutadiene, liquid (2) 5.0 5.0 5.0Polybutadiene, liquid (3) 15.0 15.0 15.0Polybutadiene, liquid (4) 5.0 5.0 5.0Zinc oxide, active 4.0 4.0 4.0Sulfur, powder 7.0 5.0 7.0Dibenzothiazyl disulfide 5.0 5.0 5.0(MBTS)Polyvinyl acetate, powder (5) 10.0 -- --Calcium carbonate 41.0 53.0 51.0Calcium oxide 2.5 2.5 2.5Antioxidant 0.5 0.5 0.5Tensile shear strength 18.3 MPa 8.2 MPa 14.7 MPaBreaking elongation 26.0% 57.3% 4.96%Tear strength 16.5 MPa 7.0 MPa 14.5 MPa______________________________________ (1) Cis1,4 at least 98%, Mooney viscosity 48 (ML4100) (2) MW about 1800, cis1,4 about 72% (3) MW about 1800, vinyl about 40-50% (4) Polybutadiene/maleic anhydride adduct, MW about 1700 (5) EVA copolymer, Tg about 23° C.
TABLE 2______________________________________ Comparison Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 1______________________________________Polybutadiene, 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0solid (1)Polybutadiene, 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0liquid (2)Polybutadiene, 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0liquid (3)Polybutadiene, 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0liquid (4)Zinc oxide, active 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0Sulfur, powder 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0Dibenzothiazyl 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0disulfide (MBTS)Polyvinyl chloride (5) 10.0 -- -- --Styrene -- 10.0 -- --methacrylate (6)Polymethyl -- -- 10.0 --methacrylate (7)Calcium carbonate 43.0 43.0 43.0 53.0Calcium oxide 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5Antioxidant 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5Tensile shear strength 9.4 MPa 9.8 MPa 11.9 MPa 8.2 MPaBreaking elongation 46.7% 34.1% 29.5% 57.3%Tear strength 8.2 MPa 7.0 MPa 9.9 MPa 7.0 MPa______________________________________ (1) Cis1,4 at least 98%, Mooney viscosity 48 (ML4100) (2) MW about 1800, cis1,4 about 72% (3) MW about 1800, vinyl about 40-50% (4) Polybutadiene/maleic anhydride adduct, MW about 1700 (5) Emulsion PVC, K value 70 (6) Styrene copolymer according to DEA-40 34 725, 7.5% methacrylic acid (7) PMMA containing copolymerized vinyl imidazole
In the tensile shear strength test, cohesive failure was observed with all test specimens.
The only plate thicknesses available for determining adhesion behavior on galvanized steel were the plate thicknesses of 0.8 mm typically used in the automotive industry. However, high-strength structural adhesives of the present examples are already in the strength range of these thin steel plates so that the adhesion behavior on these substrates could only be evaluated by a qualitative peel test. To this end, the steel plates were oiled with ASTM Oil No. 1, coated with the adhesive, oven-cured as described above and then evaluated in a manual peel test. The following substrates were tested: electrolytically galvanized, hot-dip galvanized, galvanized and phosphated and galvannealed steel plates. Cohesive failure was observed in every case.
As can be seen from a comparison of Comparison Example 1 with Comparison Example 2, the tensile shear strength or tear strength of the rubber-based adhesives according to the prior art can be significantly increased solely through a higher content of sulfur, although at the same time there is a drastic reduction in breaking elongation. The addition of polyvinyl acetate copolymer (Example 1) in accordance with the invention produces a significant increase in tensile shear strength but, at the same time, keeps breaking elongation at a high level (26%). As can be seen by comparing Comparison Example 1 (no addition of thermoplastic powder) with Examples 2 to 4, tensile shear strength can be significantly increased by this addition, despite a low sulfur content, through the addition of the various thermoplastic powders with only a very slight reduction in breaking elongation.
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|US20090062411 *||Aug 19, 2008||Mar 5, 2009||Henkel Ag & Co, Kgaa||High strength adhesives with impact peel strength|
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|US20100273012 *||Dec 19, 2008||Oct 28, 2010||Kuraray Co., Ltd.||Thermoplastic polymer composition and shaped article composed of the same|
|US20130288051 *||Dec 22, 2011||Oct 31, 2013||3M Innovative Properties Company||Mechanical and anticorrosive protection vinyl tape|
|USRE44796||Nov 20, 2003||Mar 11, 2014||Zephyros, Inc.||Bladder system for reinforcing a portion of a longitudinal structure|
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text:
March 20, 2020
Dear Valued Patients, Residents and Family Members,
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we diligently continue our precautions against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout Lexington Health Network. While most have been supportive and complied with our precautions, we appeal to those of you who still question the need for these government-mandated measures.
Our top priority is, and always has been, the health and wellbeing of our patients, residents, and our employees. To assure our success, the following measures are in place:
- We continue to monitor and implement guidelines and mandates from the CDC and the American Health Care Association (“AHCA”) which include restricting access for non-essential visitors (except for end-of-life situations). Essential visitors and staff are being screened before entering our buildings.
- Despite these unprecedented times, our Lexington staff continues to be committed to delivering the most compassionate, high-quality, and personalized experiences to those we serve; and we are keeping families connected via telephone and video chats.
- To further boost morale, we are planning a social media campaign in which the community can create messages for patients, residents and staff. For details, follow our Lexington Health Network Facebook page as well as our Lexington Squares (Official) Facebook page.
- In adherence with CMS and CDC guidelines, we have cancelled all in-person group activities and communal dining. In response, we are providing alternate types of activities; and are now serving meals to patients and residents in their rooms or apartments. Please note: special consideration has been given to those individuals requiring a higher level of supervision or assistance with dining.
- At Lexington Square of Lombard, we have extended hours in the Founder’s Café from 12:00pm – 6:00pm and at Lexington Square of Elmhurst, the Market Café is open from 11:00am – 4:00pm. During that time, we are offering menu selection as pick-up items only.
We thank you for your continued cooperation and support, and will continue to keep you informed. For updates, please visit our website at www.lexingtonhealth.com.
Stay safe and be well.
Martin A. Cauz
Chief Executive Officer
Karim Yunez, MD
Chief Medical Officer

domain: medical


text:
In response to Milk, Gus Van Sant’s well-crafted biopic on the San Francisco Gay Rights activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) who was gunned down in 1978, some critics have chided the film and its director for being too “mainstream,” or far too dependent on classical Hollywood cinema. But this seamlessness is the very reason Milk achieves such a sweeping emotional reaction while addressing a volatile situation still playing out on our California streets (Prop. 8 anyone?). The key difference between Milk and say the overly sentimental Benjamin Button is that the former earns every bit of emotion, through both incredible acting from it’s cast and Van Sant’s sly manipulation of perception vs. reality. Both films structure their narratives through flashbacks, but Van Sant uses a first person narrative (Harvey recording his life story into a tape recorder) to display the man’s pitfalls and victories through the hazy lens of a personal history. This occurs most beautifully in the final moment of the film, when Harvey finishes his “Oscar” prose about hope, turns the recorder off and sits silently, left with his thoughts one last time before the screen cuts to black. It’s a stunning ending of uncertainty to a film obsessed with reconciliation, where the battle between doubt and strength plays out in multiple forms and fashions, leaving tragedy, compassion, and revelation in its wake. Thankfully, it’s mainstream enough for everybody to get the point.
11 films made by 11 directors from 11 different countries working with “complete artistic freedom” tackling contrasting experiences concerning the tragic event. A mouth full, but an admirable goal considering the circumstances. Amazingly, most of the films are a success, especially the three standouts – Samira Makhmalbaf’s opening breath of desert air about an Afghan school teacher attempting to relay the massive scope of the disaster to her students, Idrissa Ouedraogo’s charismatic comedy concerning a group of school boys who think they see Bin Laden in Burkino-Faso, and finally Mira Nair’s heartbreaking story of a Muslim mother whose son goes missing after the towers fall, only to watch the media and the F.B.I. call him a terrorist. Other directors like Claude Lelouch, Ken Loach, and Amos Gitai also make an impact with vastly different points of view, using genre as a springboard for emblematic tensions ripe with drama. But there’s a stunning theme of displacement connecting each film, a relentless similarity running parallel to the tragedy unfolding in New York City. It’s not surprising that the American entry, directed to the cinematic edge by Sean Penn, tells of an elderly man (the great Ernest Borgnine) entrenched in darkness, whose sad revelation of loneliness only comes as the towers fall. Have American’s always been this isolationist? Possibly, but September 11 goes to great lengths to jar the viewer (no matter the country) from misjudgment and fear and toward something resembling global compassion.
Most unsuccessful Hollywood films suffer from one common failure – an unworthy story. So it’s great to see Sean Penn’s haunting new film Into the Wild prove how infectious a great story can be when told with care and purpose. Adapted from Robert Krakauer’s source novel about 22 year old Christopher McCandless’ travels through the American wilderness, Into the Wild paints a romantic portrait of the college graduate/runaway hero looking for spiritual rebirth. McCandless (played with charisma and gusto by Emile Hirsch), retreats away from his dysfunctional family, friends, and material belongings for the open air and adventure of the road, meeting a cast of memorable characters along the way, the most wonderful being a hippie couple (Brian Dierker and Catherine Keener), a grain farmer (Vince Vaughn), and a lonely Vet (the sublime Hal Holbrook) with his own heartache to spare. Each falls in love with McCandless’ free wheeling spirit and charm, and are heartroken when he leaves them for the next turn. Chris understands each of their pain, yet he sees them as steps of experience toward the ultimate awakening – living off the land in the Alaskan wilderness. Most of the film is told through flip flopping time frames, paralleling Chris trekking through America’s backwoods, deserts, and rivers, with what ends up being his final resting place, an abandoned school bus in the Alaskan tundra. Penn utilizes this editing style to juxtapose Chris’ wonderful experience with the people he befriends, and his lonely demise after eating the wrong roots from the local terrain. For such a determined character to realize in his final moments the “one with nature” philosophy he’d lived by was incomplete without human connection, really speaks to the power of both Hirsch’s spellbinding performance (especially in the final moments) and Penn’s incredible patience with the material. Into the Wild depends on plenty of fantastic nature photography to create an aura of the wilderness worthy of McCandless’ vision, but these moments stand out only because the story unfolding holds beauty and mystery for the characters themselves. Thankfully, we get to share in the awe, of both McCandless’ fateful and revealing odyssey and Penn’s gallant and conflicted cinematic representation.

domain: artistic


June 17 — CoolIT Systems, Inc. (CoolIT), world leader in energy efficient liquid cooling technologies for HPC, Cloud and Enterprise markets, has expanded its Rack DCLC product line with the release of the new CHx80 Heat Exchange Module (CHx80). This next generation liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger provides cooling capacity with N+1 reliability to manage the most challenging, high density HPC racks. CoolIT will launch the rack-mount CHx80 at the International Supercomputing Conference – High Performance 2016 (ISC16) in Frankfurt.
The new CHx80 delivers 80kW of heat load capacity in a remarkably small 4U of space. This rack-mounted system supports cooling for 120 servers, providing sufficient capacity for the most ambitious HPC system planner. The N+1 redundancy design also ensures continuous productivity for customers.
Warm water cooling is standard at CoolIT: the CHx80 employs an extremely efficient heat exchanger that utilizes ASHRAE W3-W5 (2°C – 45°C). This warm water manages the processor and component heat, eliminating the need for chillers. Customers deploying the CHx80 Module can expect a dramatic decrease in data center OPEX by using less energy for cooling and running fans, and even have the option to reuse the waste energy to heat surrounding buildings.
To ensure superior performance and reliability, the CHx80 Module features centralized pumping as well as a comprehensive control system which manages and reports on over 15 sensor locations within the system. The CHx80 Module can be managed locally via a 4.3” LCD screen or through several network protocols, and has a number of different operating modes that are customizable by the user to fit specific data center needs.
“The Rack DCLC CHx80 Module is an incredible advancement for enterprise-class high-performance computing, and with such a compact form factor, this level of power density is unrivalled in today’s marketplace,” says CoolIT Systems Senior Product Manager, Pat McGinn. “CHx80 Module stands alone as the clear option for liquid cooled racks for now and for the future.”
The CHx80 Module falls into the final step of CoolIT’s modular, three-step process in selecting a data center cooling solution. CoolIT has already received much interest in the CHx80 Module and ISC16 attendees can learn more about the impressive solution by visiting CoolIT (booth 1210). To set up an appointment, contact Lauren Macready at lauren.macready(at)coolitsystems(dot)com.
About CoolIT Systems
CoolIT Systems, Inc. is the world leader in energy efficient liquid cooling technology for the Data Center, Server and Desktop markets. CoolIT’s Rack DCLC platform is a modular, rack-based, advanced cooling solution that allows for dramatic increases in rack densities, component performance, and power efficiencies. The technology can be deployed with any server and in any rack making it a truly flexible solution. For more information about CoolIT Systems and its technology, visit http://www.coolitsystems.com/.
About ISC High Performance (ISC16)
ISC High Performance, formerly known as ISC (the International Supercomputing Conference), is the world’s oldest and Europe’s foremost HPC conference. Its history dates back 30 years, when in 1986 the late Hans Werner Meuer, in his capacity as the director of the Mannheim Computing Center and professor for computer science, organized the world’s first “Supercomputer Seminar” at Mannheim University. In its inaugural year, it drew 81 attendees, mostly German-speaking. Today it is valued by over 2,600 international attendees as a “must attend” HPC event. For more information about ISC16, visit http://www.isc-hpc.com/.
Source: CoolIT Systems


text: Before 1991 residents of the Windsor area had to rely on the Healdsburg Regional Library or the Northwest and Central Libraries in Santa Rosa if they wanted library service. In 1991 the Sonoma County Library began providing bookmobile service one day a week via a stop at the Lakewood Village Shopping Center. Bookmobile service was expanded in 1994 when the bookmobile was located on a site adjacent to the Windsor Town Hall. Serving as an interim branch, it was open Wednesday through Saturday for service to the public. In 1996, when the Town of Windsor offices moved to a nearby building, the existing Town Hall building was renovated to house the Windsor Regional Library. The new full service branch library at the edge of the Town Green was dedicated on Nov. 3 1996 and has faithfully served the people of Windsor and surrounding areas ever since.

domain: history


text:
Dr. Diane F. Merritt graduated from the New York University School of Medicine in 1975. She works in Saint Louis, MO and 2 other locations and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Dr. Merritt is affiliated with Saint Louis Childrens Hospital, Barnes Jewish Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center. She speaks English, French and Spanish.
Years in Practice: 40 Years
Languages Spoken: English, French, Spanish
Medical School: New York University School of Medicine
Graduation Date: 1975
Specialties: Obstetrics & Gynecology
*This physician has multiple office locations. See Appointments for details.


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March 24, 2023
Statement of Hugh Auchincloss, M.D., Lakshmi Ramachandra, Ph.D. and Peter Kim, M.D.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institutes of Health
Each year, on March 24, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH, joins people and organizations from around the globe in marking World Tuberculosis Day. On this day, more than 140 years ago, Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery that most human tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Although our scientific insight into this disease has grown over the past century, TB is still one of the deadliest infectious diseases on the planet. Today, NIAID joins the world in a message of hope: “Yes! We can end TB!”
TB is a challenging disease to prevent, and multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extremely-drug resistant (XDR) strains can be difficult to treat. The most recent World Health Organization (WHO) report on TB noted that in 2021 the estimated annual new cases and deaths from TB increased for the first time in more than a decade. The WHO estimates that 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2021, and 1.6 million people died. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 13 million people in the United States live with latent TB infections. Moreover, according to provisional data, the total number of reported TB cases in the United States rose to 8300 in 2022, an increase of 426 cases from 2021. The symptoms of active TB disease, which can include weakness, weight loss, fever, and (when the infection is in the lungs) coughing and chest pain, can be debilitating, leading to a severe global disease burden. In 2018, this ongoing suffering led NIAID to develop its Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Research, which emphasizes the use of cutting-edge technology and ongoing research collaborations to further our understanding of TB and develop new tools to prevent and treat TB disease among all those affected by TB, including the most vulnerable populations who continue to face the brunt of this global pandemic
This understanding begins at the molecular level. NIAID’s Immune Mechanisms of Protection Against Mtb (IMPAc-TB) supports comprehensive research on the interaction between the immune system and Mtb to inform future TB vaccine design and development. NIAID’s Tuberculosis Research Units (TBRUs), a collaborative network, supports research on other aspects of the interactions between Mtb and the host’s body. Understanding the mechanisms that allow TB to remain latent and persist in the body will inform scientific efforts to improve methods for identifying people at risk for progression to active TB disease, develop new treatments with shorter durations, and interventions to prevent or improve disease outcomes. In addition, some intramural research initiatives at NIAID are working to identify the best antigens to prompt an immune response against TB, which could serve as the foundation for improved TB vaccines.
Other major research initiatives are examining how TB is transmitted from person-to-person and the mechanisms that expel the bacteria from the lungs. Recent research supported by NIAID has found that even relaxed breathing, not just coughing, can aerosolize TB bacteria. Studies like these suggest that TB may be transmitted more readily than previously thought, and NIAID is funding researchers to dive deeper into the primary drivers of TB transmission, both at the individual and population levels.
To treat TB patients effectively, healthcare providers must rapidly diagnose patients and ensure they receive an effective drug treatment regimen. NIAID supports multiple programs to improve TB diagnostics, including the “Feasibility of Novel Diagnostics for TB in Endemic Countries (FEND for TB)” centers, which operate clinical sites in 12 countries where TB is endemic. These centers conduct clinical evaluations of new TB assays and validation studies for promising biomarkers. In addition, NIAID plans to fund awards to support the development of new diagnostic technologies to rapidly identify TB drug resistance, including point-of-care diagnostics. Improved drug-susceptibility testing for TB would help healthcare providers determine the most effective drugs to treat individual cases of TB. One of the centers recently provided data from the first clinical evaluation of the Cepheid MTB-HR cartridge as a triage test for people with symptoms of active TB. The results suggested that the cartridge, which uses a droplet of blood via finger stick, meets the WHO criteria for rapidly ruling out TB in patients who have another respiratory disease.
TB is usually treatable with a long course of several antibiotics, and in recent years, researchers have made great strides in improving upon standard treatment regimens to be shorter and less arduous. Standard treatment regimens can be difficult, especially for patients with drug-resistant TB strains. Discovering and developing new TB drugs is a major part of NIAID’s TB research portfolio. A new TB-selective oxazolidinone drug, developed jointly by NIAID and Merck scientists, is now being assessed in a Phase 1 clinical trial by the Gates Medical Research Institute. The drug, designed to be taken once daily by mouth, is expected to be free of the side effects caused by a similar TB drug, linezolid.
In addition to new drug development, studies suggest that some currently available TB drugs could be used more effectively or efficiently. The “Stratified PatiEnt-Centered Treatment Regimens for Active TB Trial" (SPECTRA TB) study is expected to launch in 2024 and will evaluate different durations for standard treatment regimens and pinpoint circumstances when regimens could be shortened. Another study, ACTG A5409 (RAD TB), will test combinations of new TB drugs to determine which is most effective in treating drug-susceptible TB. Data from the NIAID-supported IMPAACT P1108 study, which tested the safety and tolerability of bedaquiline as a TB therapeutic in children under six years old, informed WHO guidelines on the drug’s use.
NIAID supports global collaboration among TB experts to share knowledge and conduct vital multinational research. For instance, NIAID partners with countries with high TB burdens to run the Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT) program. RePORT networks all over the world facilitate country-specific research and enable international collaborations, making research advances faster, more cost-effective, and more applicable to global populations who suffer from TB.
The NIAID TB Portals Program, a global collaboration of clinicians, scientists, and specifically data scientists, provides researchers a virtual open-access repository of high-quality TB imaging, genomic, clinical data and analytical tools. The program includes data from nearly 9,000 tuberculosis patient cases from around the world, allowing scientists to compare patient comorbidities, drug susceptibility testing, and treatment information. Collaborators from 55 sites in 19 countries bring their expertise in medicine, information technology, genomics, and data visualization to the online, open-access platform. The TB Portals Program website also offers the “TB in VR” feature, an immersive educational experience that allows users to explore tuberculosis pathology and learn about antibiotic resistance, by virtually experiencing TB-affected lung structures and protein modifications throughout the course of the disease.
In addition to new and improved TB treatments, a safe and effective vaccine to prevent TB disease among all ages is urgently needed. The currently available Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine protects infants without HIV infection and young children against disseminated TB disease and death, but it does not provide long-lasting protection for adults. Recently, a NIAID-supported Phase 1 trial found that a freeze-dried version of the experimental TB vaccine called ID93+GLA-SE was safe and capable of inducing an immune response in healthy adult volunteers. This freeze-dried version of the vaccine has the advantage of being stable at room temperatures, which could make it comparatively easy to transport to remote parts of the world, where refrigeration is challenging. NIAID is also investigating other avenues of vaccine development for TB, including the possibility of an mRNA vaccine.
Looking to the future of TB research, NIAID established a series of new Tuberculosis Research Advancement Centers (TRACs) in 2022, allocating approximately $5.8 million in first-year funding to support the next generation of TB researchers. The TRACs will provide mentoring and funding support for new investigators, opportunities for multidisciplinary and collaborative research, and training in laboratory and clinical settings.
Ending TB on a global scale will require ongoing advances in science and implementation, along with the commitment of researchers, healthcare providers, and community members around the world. Today, as one of the leading funders of TB research, NIAID reaffirms its commitment to easing suffering, saving lives, and lifting the tremendous disease burden TB places upon the world.
Hugh Auchincloss, M.D., is Acting Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Lakshmi Ramachandra, Ph.D., is Chief, Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases Section, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, NIAID. Peter Kim, M.D., is Director, Therapeutics Research Program, Division of AIDS, NIAID.


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This post contains affiliate links.
This Mexico vs. Honduras showdown compares two very different countries. Mexico is huge and Honduras is tiny. Mexico is a popular tourist destination, and Honduras is pretty far off the beaten path.
But yet, here you are reading this, which means you’re interested in visiting both, and here I am writing this to help you make the right choice between the two!
I currently live in and love Mexico, which got me curious about how the countries around it stack up both as vacation destinations and long-term digital nomad destinations.
Thus, this Honduras vs. Mexico comparison was born to pit the two countries against each other in categories like:
- Tourist attractions
- Capital cities
- Nature and hiking
- Drinking and Nightlife
- All-inclusive resorts
- Infrastructure and long-term living
Let’s dive in!
White sand beaches in Tulum
Let’s begin with Mexico because it’s somewhat of an area of expertise here on Slight North.
Dan and I lived and worked in Mexico for three months in 2018, six months in 2019, and will come back for another six months in 2020.
By the time we finish, we’ll have lived in Playa del Carmen, Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta, Puebla, Queretaro, and Guadalajara, and visited countless more small towns, villages, and tourist sites as well.
- The pristine beaches of the Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, Cancun, and Tulum
- The Cozumel Barrier Reef (the second largest barrier reef outside of Australia)
- Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula, like Chichen Itza and Coba
- Aztec ruins in Mexico City like Teotihuacan
- Zapotec ruins in Oaxaca like Monte Alban and Atzompa
- The Hierve El Agua natural cliffside pools in Oaxaca
- Hiking, mountain climbing, and waterfall hunting in 67 national parks around the country
- Eating Mexican cuisine and taking food tours in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Oaxaca
- Celebrating major holidays like Grito de Dolores in San Miguel de Allende and Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
- Exploring museums like the Frida Khalo House and the National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City
Mexico has a great mix of city attractions (museums, food, nightlife, art galleries) and natural attractions (hiking, climbing, swimming, ruins) which makes it a crowd-pleaser to pretty much any type of traveler.
But don’t count Honduras out just yet.
The clear blue waters around the Bay Islands in Honduras
What are the top tourist attractions in Honduras?
- Hiking, mountain climbing, and waterfall hunting in 20 national parks around the country
- Soaking up the sun in the Bay Islands (Roatan, Utila, Guanaja)
- Diving with whale sharks in Utila
- Visiting hot springs in Arcilaca
- Wandering the cobbled streets of colorful towns like Santa Lucía, Valle de Ángeles, and the La Lenca Route in Gracias
- Checking out museums like the Sculpture Museum at the Copan Ruins and the National Identity Museum in Tegucigalpa.
- Exploring the Taulabe cave system near Lago de Yojoa.
- Visiting the Copan Mayan Ruins (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Trekking through the rainforest at the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Both countries have awesome natural sites but because Mexico is bigger, they have more: 67 national parks vs. 20 pretty much speaks for itself.
Both have a gorgeous coastline with beaches, diving, and snorkeling, but Mexico also has better museums and city sites (like two of the five biggest church structures in Latin America).
Finally, if you like guided tours and activities, you’ll find zero in Honduras on Airbnb but hundreds to choose from in Mexico!
Mexico vs. Honduras Tourist Attractions Winner: Mexico
Cobblestone streets in Honduras
Next, let’s look a little closer at the capital cities with a Tegucigalpa vs. Mexico City comparison.
Both are the biggest cities in their respective countries. Both are located in central valleys surrounded by mountains. Both are known for beautiful colonial architecture and terrible traffic.
However, that’s where the similarities end. Tegucigalpa has a population of about a million people while Mexico City has almost nine million people.
Mexico City is safer than Tegucigalpa (which came in at No. 39 on a ranking of cities by murder rate) and there is more to do in Mexico City than in Tegucigalpa, where top attractions lists were hard to come by and most included parks outside of the city, malls, and lots of restaurants rather than unique tourist sites.
Mexico City is a vacation destination in its own right while Tegucigalpa is more for passing through to get to the jungles, ruins, and beaches in the rest of the country.
Mexico vs. Honduras Capital Cities Winner: Mexico
Hiking to a hidden cove in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Nature and Hiking
Is Mexico or Honduras better for nature and hiking?
This is probably the closest round in this showdown.
Both have more ruins, beaches, jungles, hiking, trekking, caves, waterfalls, and wildlife diversity than you could ever see on a one or two-week vacation so this one is a tie.
Unless you’re planning to spend a super-extended amount of time in one country vs. the other (in which case, Mexico would ultimately offer more to explore) then you’ll find plenty of gorgeous natural sites to discover in both and truly can’t go wrong.
Mexico vs. Honduras Nature and Hiking Winner: Tie
Want more of the outdoors? Join our new Sustainable Hiking Collective on Facebook to connect with the international hiking community, discover new destinations, join virtual trail cleanups, and take part in monthly sustainability challenges!
Small market in Honduras
How many Mexican restaurants have you eaten at around the world, and how many Honduran restaurants have you seen?
I’ll be straight up, Mexican food is one of my absolute favorite cuisines in the world and I’ve eaten so many memorable meals around Mexico that I even created a guide to 101 Mexican foods to try before you die.
Some of the most popular dishes, drinks, and desserts are:
- Tacos (obviously)
- Chile Rellenos
I mean, the list goes on and on.
One interesting similarity between the two cuisines is that corn tortillas are prevalent at almost every meal in both countries. Some dishes to try in Honduras are also similar to Mexico like tamales, enchiladas, and ceviche.
Others you may not be as familiar with are tajadas (fried plantains) and mondongo soup made with cow intestines. Baleadas are another Honduran staple made by folding flour tortillas over refried beans and cheese.
Still, Mexican food is more popular than Honduran food for a reason – one expat in Honduras described the food as “pretty bland” with “a lot of white rice, white flour, deep frying, cheese, and meat.”
I rest my case.
Mexico vs. Honduras Food Winner: Mexico
Drinking and Nightlife
I like to party on vacation and you probably do too.
So, does Honduras or Mexico have better nightlife?
Mexico is the birth place of one of the wildest liquors in the world, so Honduras is going to have to put up a serious fight to come out ahead in this round.
Tequila – the driving force behind an untold number of terrible drunken decisions around the world – was born in Tequila, Mexico.
All the tequila you have ever or will ever consume is made from blue agave plants in the state of Jalisco (and a select few surrounding areas). If it comes from anywhere else or is made from any other type of agave plant, it must be called mezcal instead.
Beyond just being home to this spectacular drink, Mexico also knows how to party.
Mexico City has tons of bars, clubs, and nightlife for every type of traveler (I love the breweries in Mexico City and craft beer bars and breweries in Oaxaca) and Cancun is one of the most famous spring break destinations in the world.
Honduras has a poppin’ nightlife scene as well. Clubs, bars, dancing, beach-front drinks, you can find it all.
The best nightlife is found in La Ceiba, the gateway to the Bay Islands, which is known as the party capital of Honduras. There are even a few craft breweries scattered around the country for craft beer lovers like me.
Honduras is more dangerous than Mexico, and that’s only exacerbated by being out drunk at night. Because of that, and the fact that Mexico created one of the best liquors in the world, Mexico wins (but Honduras does seem to hold its own in this category as well).
Mexico vs. Honduras Drinking and Nightlife Winner: Mexico
Pretty street in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
I always use the travel advisories from the US State Department to compare safety in different countries.
Mexico currently has a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” travel advisory.
Some states are more dangerous than others but most popular tourist destinations like Mexico City and the Yucatan Peninsula have Level 2 ratings.
Mexico has five of the worst six cities ranked by murder rates and Cancun comes in at a surprising number 13, while Honduran cities don’t appear until the 33rd and 39th slots.
Still, Honduras has a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” rating from the US State Department.
Separate areas don’t have individual ratings, but the tourist-centric islands like Roatan and Utila are somewhat safer than the big cities like Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.
This doesn’t dissuade me from still wanting to visit Honduras, but it is a reminder to travel smart when there. If you’re on the fence, you can book multi-day tours to Honduras and to Mexico with Intrepid to travel with a group.
Mexico vs. Honduras Safety Winner: Mexico
Traditional Mexican Pottery
I’ve never been to an all-inclusive resort because it’s not really my preferred travel style.
But because both Mexico and Honduras are popular resort destinations, I feel like I should touch on it in this comparison.
Mexico is jam-packed with all-inclusive resorts along their coastline in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum on the Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta on the west coast, and in Cabo on the Baja California peninsula.
Some of the top-rated resorts in Mexico are:
- Hotel Xcarat Mexico, an all-Inclusive Resort in Playa del Carmen
- The Cape in Cabo San Lucas
- Resort Paradisus Los Cabos All-Inclusive in Cabo San Lucas
- Grand Miramar Luxury Suites and Residences in Puerto Vallarta
In Honduras, the resorts are mostly concentrated on Roatan Island. Some of the top-rated all-inclusive resorts in Honduras are the Grand Roatan Caribbean Resort, the Infinity Bay Resort, and the Las Verandas Hotel & Villas.
While the value seemed similar to my untrained eyes (Honduras resorts a bit cheaper, but also probably with fewer amenities), one point in Mexico’s favor is the variety.
You could have three completely different resort experiences in three separate parts of the country in Mexico, whereas visiting three resorts on Roatan Island in Honduras isn’t quite as fun.
If you’re just going once, though, both places are gorgeous so I’m inclined to leave this one as a tie.
Mexico vs. Honduras All-Inclusive Resorts Winner: Tie
Kabah ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico
Infrastructure and Long-Term Living
Last, but certainly not least for all my fellow digital nomads reading this, is infrastructure and long-term living.
If you’re thinking of settling down in Honduras or Mexico for a few months to work and play, you’ll want to know how the infrastructure like grocery stores, internet, airports, and visas in each country stacks up.
Honduras was hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. It was the deadliest hurricane ever recorded, killing 11,000 people in Central America and leaving 20% of the Honduran population homeless.
In the aftermath, President Carlos Flores said that Hurricane Mitch wiped out 50 years of economic development in the country. The effects of it on the infrastructure in Honduras are still felt today.
Both countries have pretty good grocery stores (like Walmart) but Mexico has better infrastructure overall when it comes to airports, internet, and day-to-day amenities.
You can find plenty of cheap domestic and international flights from the Mexico City airport while the Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa doesn’t have quite as many options.
The Toncontin Airport runway is cut short due to the mountains around it so it’s also one of the most difficult places in the world to land (a super fun fact for the nervous flyers out there!).
Honduras is ranked 141st overall in fixed broadband internet speeds while Mexico is ranked 74th and Mexico has Uber in their major cities while it’s not yet launched in Honduras. Plus, you can stay in Mexico for six months (and then do a quick visa run and return for six more) while you can only stay in Honduras for 90 days before you have to skedaddle.
As a whole, living in Mexico is easier than in Honduras.
Mexico vs. Honduras Infrastructure Winner: Mexico
Traditional Day of the Dead attire and make up in Mexico
And the Mexico vs. Honduras Travel Winner is…
It came out ahead with a not-altogether-unsurprising score of 6 to 0, although Honduras did manage to snag two tie rounds.
All in all, traveling in Honduras or Mexico will be fun and beautiful but Mexico is safer, has more tourist sites, and has better food and infrastructure for long-term stays. For all those reasons, it comes out ahead in this showdown.
Ready to go?
This article is part of the Latin America Smackdown Series. Read the rest below:
Or, explore more from around the world in the complete Country Comparison Series.
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domain: geography


text: Erica & Melissa are joined by Little Women: LA star, Terra Jolé, to discuss reality TV, juggling a crazy work schedule while being a mom and overcoming life’s most difficult obstacles. Terra is an actress, producer, singer and TV personality. Since 2014, she has gained international recognition as the star and executive producer of Lifetime’s hit TV shows, Little Women: LA and Little Women: Terra’s Little Family. Terra also serves as the Executive Producer on the popular spin-offs, Little Women: Atlanta and Little Women: New York. She is currently a proud member of the Producer’s Guild of America. Prior to her recent success in the reality TV world, Terra has appeared in TV & film productions such as Jackass 3D, The Hunger Games & CSI & in the theatrical production of Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Terra now resides in Los Angeles, California where she’s married to actor & musician, Joe Gnoffo. In March 2015, they welcomed a daughter named Penelope and in August 2016, they welcomed their son, Grayson. Terra made history as the first and only little person to ever compete on Dancing with the Stars, Season 23. In this episode, Terra shares: -The inspiration behind her hit TV show, Little Women: LA -Her family’s experience with hydrocephalus -Why becoming a mom was her biggest life change -How her show has changed the nature of reality television -Where her confidence comes from -Her thoughts on the most recent season of the Bachelorette You can find Terra on Instagram at @terrajole or on her YouTube channel, Mini Mama. You can also purchase her Mini Mama Moscato at www.girlcru.com! Don’t forget to get your 2019 FabFitFun Fall Box, the best seasonal subscription box filled with full-size beauty, fitness, fashion & lifestyle product! For $10 off your first box, enter code YOURSHINE at www.fabfitfun.com. #fabfitfunpartner And say hello to us on Instagram at @shareyourshinepodcast!

domain: entertainment


text:
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In the lockdown ward of a psychiatric hospital, Dr. Nadine Lavoie is in her element. She has the tools to help people, and she has the desire--healing broken families is what she lives for. But Nadine doesn't want to look too closely at her own past because there are whole chunks of her life that are black holes.
When a distraught woman is brought into the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit after a suicide attempt, Nadine gently coaxes her story out of her--and learns of some troubling parallels with her own life. Nadine is forced to confront her traumatic childhood, and the damage that began when she and her brother were brought by their mother to a remote commune on Vancouver Island. What happened to Nadine? And why does the name Aaron Quinn, the group's leader, bring feelings of terror to Nadine even today? And then, the unthinkable happens, and Nadine realizes that danger is closer to home than she ever imagined. She has no choice but to face what terrifies her the most…and fight back.
Only $2.99 (Originally $9.99)
‘It has everything a book should have: action, adventure, violence, a butt-kicking heroine and one hot hero.’ --USA Today
This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergiesmake it increasingly difficult to live a normal life, and after a completely humiliating incident ruins her first (and perhaps only) real party, she's ready to disappear.
"Come and be the most powerful person in the world."
Suddenly, Lily finds herself in a different Salem. One overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women--including Lillian, this world's version of Lily.
"It will be terrifying. It was for me."
What made Lily weak at home, makes her extraordinary here. It also puts her in terrible danger. Faced with new responsibilites she can barely understand and a love she never expeceted, Lily is left with one question: How can she be the savior of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

domain: literature


Purchased my first recently. Appeared to be unfired. I am at work and canít recall where it was made or model, but I think it said Connecticut on it (as in USA), does that make any sense? Took out to range, started at 100 yards and could not place a single shot on target. Had someone spot and they noticed it was shooting around 2 foot high and around 8Ē to the left with the elevation at its lowest setting. This was on a calm day. Front site pin looks to be a bit bent. Tried it at 50 yards just to be sure it was not operator error and I had to aim around a foot and a half low to hit the target. Are there any adjustments I can do or is this one just a dog?


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Today, reading the current reporting and editorials of the large, white-dominated, corporate newspapers, I have a sense of déjà vu. But now it is not just the newspapers of the Southern segregationists that are spewing lies. The “alt right” haters have gained a prominent voice in the national discourse, and they are on their way towards gaining even greater influence, with Steve Bannon entrenched in the White House. So now, as much as ever, the voices of the Black newspapers are needed to combat the evil we face.
On Oct. 3, U.S. forces shot up the hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, run by Doctors Without Borders, killing 12 staff and seven patients. This news upset me greatly. U.S. military personnel can remotely direct drones to kill whatever target they want to hit thousands of miles away. Americans have developed an amazing killing ability. This last week, 26-year-old Chris Harper-Mercer killed nine people and wounded nine at Umpqua Community College in Oregon.
In African lore, rain means good fortune. So when Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced that he was running to fill his father’s mayoral seat on a rainy day in March, it was reassurance that The People’s Movement would forge ahead. Still grieving for his father, Chokwe Antar strapped a city, a people, The People, on his back and vowed to fight for the progress set into motion by Chokwe Lumumba and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. And though Chokwe Antar lost the mayoral election in a close run-off on April 22, he understands, just as his father before him, that one battle does not decide the war.
Michigan political prisoner Rev. Edward Pinkney is now being held in Jackson state prison. He remains in good spirits despite the racist injustice that has landed him in detention over manufactured claims that he changed the dates on five signature entries on a recall petition designed to remove Benton Harbor Mayor James Hightower. This is not the first time that Pinkney has been imprisoned for his political activities.
On Feb. 22, Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco-San Mateo, chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services, introduced legislation to assist pregnant teens and young parents in the foster care system. Legislation helps ensure access to child care, offers support to pregnant foster youth, and provides reproductive health education.
Conservative talk show host Neal Boortz made incredibly racist and violent comments regarding African Americans. Is he saying that Black people from the inner city should be shot on sight? Watch the video and judge for yourself.
Activists renew urgent call for Ferguson police chief’s resignation after cops attack protesters again
A broad coalition of activists and local organizations are calling again for Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson to resign after a new round of police attacks on peaceful protestors last night. Over 200 activists have been arrested in conjunction with protests calling for justice for Mike Brown. Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot and killed Mike Brown, still walks free.
Sen. Sanders, you have spoken out against the depredations of Big Pharma, refused to take donations from any of them, and call for “Medicare for all.” You’ve also spoken to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Currently in Pennsylvania there is a case before a federal court which embodies both of these battles, Abu-Jamal vs. Kerestes. Mumia Abu-Jamal is suing to force the Department of Corrections to immediately provide him treatment with the Hep C drug.
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to let stand a lesser ruling that allows citizens in the state of Illinois to record police officers performing their official duties. Up until just last year, anti-eavesdropping legislation on the books across Illinois meant any person within the state could be imprisoned for as long as 15 years for recording a police officer without expressed consent.
They’re like, “Fuck it. I can die out here for nothing going at these cats from the other side or I could die for justice tonight with these police.” They’re fearless – they’re ready to be a martyr. Now all of this money that it must cost to bring all these cops in, ... all y’all had to do was put one man in jail. That’s it! A thousand police officers are going to be here in St. Louis and for what? To go out and kill another unarmed Black kid in the streets and then leave him there for four hours? I think that the ripple effect of this is going to rock the whole nation. It could be the tipping point for race relations in America when it comes to policing.
Rev. and Dorothy Pinkney have been leaders in the fight against the corporate (Whirlpool) and state government’s direct takeover of the poor, largely African-American Rust Belt town of Benton Harbor, Michigan, the first American city to be placed under Michigan’s draconian new Emergency Financial Manager law. Join them on their Justice Tour in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Fresno Sept. 27-Oct. 1.
‘Over 60 percent of public housing units demolished or disposed never come back online,’ they tell HUD by Matthew Cardinale Atlanta (APN) – U.S. Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Maxine Waters, D-Calif., have written a letter to the...
National civil rights leaders have signed a letter calling on the Walton Family Foundation to follow in Walmart’s footsteps and end their ties with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and specifically voice their opposition to “Stand Your Ground” and voter suppression laws.
On July 9, 28-year-old Sandra Bland drove to Texas to start a new job at Prairie View A&M. On July 10, police stopped Bland just outside the campus for allegedly failing to signal while changing lanes. Police claim that during the stop she became combative, was thrown to the ground, arrested and charged with “assault on a public servant.” On July 13, around 9 a.m., before her family could bail her out, Bland was found dead inside a Waller County, Texas, jail cell.
New Orleans has become a national laboratory for government reforms. But the process through which those experiments have been carried out rarely has been transparent or democratic. The results have been divisive, pitting new residents against those who grew up here, rich against poor, and white against Black.
Battle lines have formed as the West Coast Occupy movements, from San Diego to Alaska, organize for blockades of West Coast ports to support the struggle of the ILWU in Longview, Wash. against EGT of the grain cartel, of port truckers fighting for the right to organize and of Long Beach against SSA, owned by Goldman Sachs.
#LaquanMcDonald: As video released, cop charged with murder 1, activists demand Police Supt. McCarthy,...
The City of Chicago has released, under court order, the dashcam video from the brutal killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer – and it’s as bad as we all expected. At the same time as they released the video, the county prosecutor announced she’d be pursuing first degree murder charges against McDonald’s killer, Officer Jason Van Dyke. Unfortunately, these are charges that should have been filed a year ago.
Seth Rosenfeld’s dramatic announcement that Richard Aoki was an FBI informant provoked an enormous response from Chronicle readers. Could it be true? Or was this a “snitch-jacketing,” a classic FBI tactic used to cast suspicion on a legitimate activist by spreading rumors and manufacturing evidence?
In these harsh times of conflicting state and federal laws regarding medical marijuana, which is currently legal in many states but still illegal under federal law, across the nation public housing and Section 8 tenants are facing discrimination, eviction and homelessness for medical marijuana use. The crazy federal marijuana laws need to be overturned and eliminated because of the harm being done to seniors and others who may or may not be residing in subsidized housing.
There we were – the unhoused, the evicted, the displaced, the disabled, Black, Brown, Indigenous, poor white, youth and elders on one accord, all colors, all nations, all cultures, all ages, all abilities. The 2018 Poor Peoples March on Washington was originally launched by impacted poor, houseless and formerly unhoused people from the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign 15 years ago. Poor folks walked in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Poor Peoples March on Washington in 1968.

domain: news


A Review of the Naturepedic Crib Mattress
Barry Cik is an environmental engineer and found it hard to find organic crib mattresses that were water-proof. Naturepedic is a company that offers comfortable mattresses for children and adults, was the outcome of his research. The company provides organic mattresses and bedding for seniors, children and adults. The company’s name was inspired by the Cik family who are all environmentalists. The company’s goal is to make the world more secure and healthier for everyone.
Naturepedic Crib Mattress
A naturepedic crib mattress comes with numerous advantages. They fit in the majority of cribs. The CPSC has certified that the products of the company are safe and do not contain any questionable chemicals or materials. The company strives to make their products sustainably and using the highest quality of craftsmanship. Organic cotton is healthier for your baby’s surroundings and health than synthetic foam. It is made from non-toxic and waterproof polyethylene which is safe for your baby’s health. Naturepedic mattresses are also manufactured in the USA by Amish craftsmen, which is a departure from other brands.
A Naturepedic crib mattress is a fantastic option for a baby that is greener. Its materials are made from natural materials and are free of harmful chemicals, like perfluorinated as well as polyurethane. The mattresses are also made of food-grade polyethylene and are UL/Greenguard Gold Certified. A waterproof wool puddle pad is able to be used with a Naturepedic mattress. The company is also a member of various environmental advocacy organizations like the Greenguard Certification Program.
Crib Mattress Naturepedic
There are many benefits to choosing Crib Mattress Naturepedic. But organic mattresses have many advantages. They are free of phthalates, flame retardants and other chemicals that can be harmful to the health of babies. Organic crib mattresses are sought-after by many parents who are concerned about the environmental impact of their children’s crib mattress. Naturepedic mattresses have been certified as GOTS, MADE SURE and UL/GREENGUARD Safe.
The organic cotton fabric is free of harmful chemicals, and the cover is waterproof and stain resistant. Organic cotton is healthier than foam mattresses or latex. You can also save more money by buying a certified organic cotton product. The Healthy Child Healthy World program has certified this crib mattress as safe for the environment.
An innerspring crib mattress which is traditionally made from steel springs, provides a firm support. But the Naturepedic version comes with the border wire that is constructed of polyethylene, a heavy-duty material. It is lighter than other lightweight alternatives and has the same durability and strength as innerspring mattresses. If you’re looking for a crib mattress or toddler bed the Naturepedic mattress is a fantastic option. If you’re concerned about price, you could select an Lullaby Earth alternative. The square corners make it perfect for daybeds and toddler beds. The DaVinci crib could be used with a Lullaby Earth bed.
Naturepedic Mattress Twin
The Naturepedic Mattress is an eco-friendly alternative to conventional mattresses. It is made of organic cotton that has been compressed and rolled and is a perfect match for strict standards of social and environmental sustainability. The mattress has been certified as GREENGUARD gold. This means that it has passed the rigorous tests for VOCs and chemicals. The company uses organic cotton from U.S. farms and meets USDA certification standards. The mattress comes with a waterproof, natural and durable cover that is made from organic cotton.
The Naturepedic mattress is also made of organic cotton that is USDA certified organic. The organic cotton fabric is made from stretch knit fabric and is comfortable to breathe. The waterproof side is made from organic cotton fabric with a special coating. The coating meets the requirements for food contact. It is made from sugarcane. The mattress is packaged in a convenient roll-pack that allows for easy storage. It is certified organic and safe for the whole family. This eco-friendly, organic mattress is a delight for both children and parents.
Mattress Naturepedic is a great option to begin your search for an alternative mattress. They provide free shipping and a 90-night trial period. The company is committed to its quality, and this is evident in their 20-year guarantee. In addition to offering a money-back guarantee, Naturepedic offers free shipping within the United States. The company also provides free installation of its mattresses.
In terms of materials, Naturepedic uses GOTS-certified organic wool batting. The natural antimicrobial properties of wool will keep dust mites off from your mattress. You don’t have to worry about your child having allergic reactions. It also has passed the federal test for flame retardants. The mattress is also covered in a thin layer of organic cotton certified by GOTS, sourced from Texas, which makes it air-tight.
Encased coils offer maximum support and comfort, as opposed to traditional innersprings. Because they are individually wrapped, Naturepedic mattresses have no need for chemicals or other materials that can be dangerous to your health. It also doesn’t contain polyurethane foam. So, you’ll be able to sleep peacefully and wake up refreshed each day. All of these features make Mattress Naturepedic a great option for anyone looking for an enjoyable night’s rest.
Naturepedic Change Pad
This Naturepedic Organic Cotton 2 Sided Change Pad is a non-toxic, waterproof surface made of 100% food-grade polyethylene and organic cotton filling. It also has snap-screws to secure it to an organizer. It can be cleaned easily by wiping it with a damp cloth. It has snap-screws for child safety and snap-screws that attach it to a dresser.
The organic cotton used to make the cover is GOTS certified waterproof. The waterproof layer helps prevent bacterial growth. If you want to wash the pad, you can remove the cover and wash it in the washing machine. The cover is also easy to clean since it’s made of 100 organic cotton. This cover is great for families who are trying to avoid vinyl and PVC. The pads are easy to clean, so you can put them in the washing machine.
The Naturepedic Changing Pad was designed to be both convenient and secure. It comes with a one-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The company also offers free shipping and returns. The Naturepedic Changing Pad has one drawback. It is not a standard-sized pad. The majority of the covers for change pads won’t be able to fit it, so you’ll have to buy new ones. This not only incurs cost, but it also uses up resources.
Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattress
The Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattress looks and feels similar to the Classic Crib Mattress but has a padded layer made of organic cotton. You can also choose between an innerspring of 252 coils as well as two-stage dual firmness. The Naturepedic No-Compromise(tm) Lightweight Organic Cotton Crib Mattress pairs the firmness of an innerspring and the softness and comfort of organic cotton batting. It also features a waterproof cover , and is the plushest of the three mattresses.
The Naturepedic organic crib mattress is made from a mix of certified organic and non-toxic materials. The filling is composed of organic cotton that is grown in the U.S. and is obtained from USDA-certified sources. The exterior is made of organic cotton fabric and waterproof polyethylene. This helps prevent odors and stains from entering the mattress. The Naturepedic organic crib mattress is GOTS-certified. It also meets the highest safety standards.
The Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattress is somewhat more expensive than other brands. It’s worth the extra price because the materials it is made of are safe and comfortable for infants. It will last for a long period of time, unlike other crib mattresses. It will never go out of fashion according to the manufacturer. The Naturepedic organic crib mattress is pricey, but the company backs it with the lifetime guarantee.
Naturepedic Changing Pad
The Naturepedic Organic Cotton 2 Sided is a fantastic choice for parents looking for a Changing Pad to gift their child. It features organic cotton fabric and filling and snap-screws for keeping it attached to your dresser. The non-toxic surface is waterproof and is made of 100 100% polyethylene that is food grade. It can be easily cleaned by soaking a damp cloth.
Naturepedic Changing Pads are made from organic cotton and have been certified GOTS. They feature an impervious surface that snaps shut to allow for easy installation. The pad is also constructed of food-grade polyethylene that meets strict GREENGUARD(r) standards. It comes with a 1-year warranty and free shipping and return. The Naturepedic Changing Pad’s primary drawback is its large. It won’t fit the majority of covers for change pads, therefore you’ll need to purchase a new one every time you use it. This can result in a loss of money and resources.
The Changing Pad for Naturepedic uses 100 polyethylene for the waterproof surface. This is a safer, non-toxic alternative to PVC and vinyl. The pad also comes with a safety buckle to keep baby safe during diaper changes. The organic cotton used in the pad is biodegradable and breathable. This makes it perfect for babies with sensitive skin. It also comes with Air-Core technology for solid support.
Naturepedic Mattress Reviews
If you’re on the lookout for a latex-based hybrid mattress that offers great pressure relief, check out the Naturepedic Serenade. The mattress’s coils and cushion top provide excellent support, and the latex layer offers a great deal of flexibility. This Naturepedic Serenade review will help you compare different models to determine the most suitable latex hybrid mattress. This review will provide you with the details required to make a sound purchase decision.
The company is committed to the environment and their products have passed safety standards. Their mattresses are also made in the U.S. with a GOTS organic cotton cover. This cover lets the mattress to breathe and keeps it cool and comfortable. Below are a few characteristics of the mattress. Take a look at your options and make the right choice in accordance with your needs and budget.
The Naturepedic Azure mattress measures 10 inches wide, while the Arcadia and Elysium are 13″ and 16″ long. Organic cotton covers and fill, which help to make these mattresses environmentally-friendly, ensure a comfortable sleep environment for your child. The Naturepedic 2-in-1 Organic Kids mattress is a great option if you’re concerned about the smell of chemicals. It’s constructed with six layers of organic cotton and fill with waterproof material on the bottom.


262291 Mass Transfer Evaluation of CO2 Absorption in a Wetted Wall Column
The chemical absorption of CO2 in solvents is considered as one of the mature process options for reducing CO2 emissions in power plants. Solvents with fast mass transfer rates and high CO2 carrying capacity are therefore desired and continue to be explored to reduce equipment size and its associated capital cost. The wetted wall column provides a relatively facile assessment of solvent mass transfer characteristics and was used in this study to analyze the performance of 30 wt% monoethanolamine (MEA) for CO2 absorption at utility flue gas concentrations that will pertain over the height of an absorber in post-combustion CO2 capture process.
In this work, different CO2 gas concentrations were absorbed by MEA at various carbon loadings and the flux measured. The overall mass transfer of CO2 into MEA was evaluated by considering the relative contributions of the gas and liquid side resistances. The applicability of the pseudo-first order approximation and the instantaneous reaction were assessed for the different conditions to determine the appropriate reaction regimes. It was determined that at lean solvent conditions with low driving force (representative of conditions at the top of an absorber), mass transfer was well modeled by the pseudo-first order approximation.
See more of this Group/Topical: Topical D: Accelerating Fossil Energy Technology Development Through Integrated Computation and Experimentation


Cracker Country @ The Florida State Fair, Tampa
Date(s) - 02/16/19 - 02/18/19
We will be performing two shows daily @ 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm, and we will be demonstrate how to build and play Old Time “Appalachian” Folk Instruments from 9:00 -5:00 each day!!
Check out their website for more info:


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JOHN SAVIDENT: (our Fred Elliott, I say, our Frederick Handel Elliott)
Born: January 21, 1938 in Guernsey, Channel Islands
“My parentage is Swiss and from Guernsey. I’m not English at all,” reveals John who was a Manchester policeman for six years before becoming an actor.
John appeared in a number of top TV Shows like Yes Minister, The Avengers, The Saint, and countless films such as A Clockwork Orange and Gandhi.
In 1994, John was offered a part in Corrie.
“I thought, why not? And I had some old friends in the cast. I'd done a play with Tracy Brabin (Tricia Armstrong) and we'd been good friends since. Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan) I've known for about 40 years. And I was at school with Amanda Barrie (Alma Baldwin).”
“I was asked to star in Coronation Street so I researched the part of Fred and the first time he appeared was five episodes; it was a saga about a black pudding competition so I did research on that and got help from my friend. I think it’s important to know my part and be convincing to butchers and general public as they are the real people, I don’t see myself a celeb, I see myself as an actor.”
“My character is what I created, all things like the repetition and the odd words you know are my creation not the writers.”
“Years ago I met an old actor who'd spent all his life in rep, who used to say that you should always give the audience a hook, perhaps a limp or a stutter, something to wait for. When I started playing Fred that old boy popped into my mind, and I got the idea of the repetition from the rooster in the old cartoon, Foghorn Leghorn.”
Separated at birth?
(image via rikaitch.plus.com)
“Then I remembered an elderly man, I think his name was Mr Garside, who lived in my street when I was a boy. Mr Garside didn't like kids. And when we walked past his garden he would yell, "Geddoff them roses, I say GEDDOFF THEM ROSES!"'
A spot of trivia: John Savident revealed that he told the teenage Prince William to "wash his mouth out" after learning that William watched rival soap EastEnders.


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November 21, 2020 Continue reading What’s Up Lapangan Banteng during Pandemic?
Ennichisai Festival is one of the biggest cultural events in Jakarta attended by hundred thousands of visitors annually. The festival commits to promote Japanese arts and foods to Indonesian audiences since 2010. It’s routinely conducted in Blok M, a huge shopping complex, South Jakarta. Even though it’s such a famous festival in my city and I love Japanese culture as well, unfortunately I often get … Continue reading Samurai Performance in Ennichisai Festival
Anytime I get confused about where to go to Jakarta, Kota Tua is always a helpful option for me. This Jakarta Old Town complex has a lot of attractions to see. Fatahillah Square, as the center of the complex, is surrounded by a couple of interesting museums to see, from Jakarta History Museum, Fine Art and Ceramic Museum, to Wayang Museum. This Time, I prefer … Continue reading Exploring the World of Wayang