How to do a Mexican alebrije?

For decades, artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico have carved and painted bright, fanciful animal creatures known as alebrijes. These creations stand out for their detailed paint finishes; these are accomplished by repeating dots, lines, and geometric motifs with small implements.

Your little one can ignite her creativity by designing her own version of an alebrije, making it slightly easier to work with by substituting sculpted clay for carved wood. Constructing a three-dimensional fantasy creature will give your child a chance to unleash her imagination as she develops important fine motor skills.

What You Need:

• 
• Bake-able polymer clays in various colors
• Paper clips
• Tempera or acrylic paint
• Toothpicks
• Paintbrushes
• Cotton swabs

What You Do:

1. If you have a book or website available with images of alebrijes, inspire your child with the pictures. Explain that alebrijes are creatures that may share characteristics of common animals, but usually have fantastical elements.
2. Have your children sculpt a base for the alebrije using Sculpey, Fimo or another type of polymer clay. Your child can roll balls, logs, and coils in alternating colors to create the body of an alien, spider, or snake.
3. Determine where to add antennae or legs. For these segments, children can unbend small paper clips and insert them into the clay base.
4. Bake the polymer clay according to the manufacturer's instructions. Allow ample time for the clay and paper clip inserts to cool.
5. Have your child paint the alebrije creatures. She can begin with large stripes and dots, applied with the tips of cotton swabs. Once those dots dry, invite her to create smaller inner dots and stripes with toothpicks or the point end of paintbrushes.

This art project illuminates a craft tradition popular in Oaxaca, where entire villages now devote themselves to creating alebrijes. Consider extending this activity by having your child write a story or poem about her new fantasy creature, giving it a name, background, and even special powers.

MAYAS

The Maya civilization inhabited a large part of the region known as Mesoamerica , in the current territories of Guatemala , Belize, Honduras , El Salvador and in the range of five southeastern states of Mexico : Campeche , Chiapas , Quintana Roo , Tabasco and Yucatan , with a history of about 3000 years .

During this long time , in that territory hundreds of dialects generate about 44 different Mayan languages ​​are spoken today . Speaking of the " ancient Maya " is referring to the history of one of the most important pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures , as its scientific and astronomical legacy is worldwide. Contrary to a widespread belief, the Mayan civilization never " disappeared " . At least , not entirely, as their descendants still live in the region and many of them speak any of the languages ​​of the Mayan family .

The Mayan literature illustrates the life of this culture. Works as the Rabinal Achi , the Popol Vuh , the various books of Chilam Balam , are proof of that . What it was destroyed by the conquest is the model of civilization until the arrival of the first Spaniards , had generated three millennia of history.

The Spanish conquest of the Maya was not consummated until 1697 , with taking Tayasal , capital of the Itza Maya and Zacpetén , capital Ko'woj Maya in the Peten ( Guatemala current ) . The last Maya state disappeared when the Mexican government of Porfirio Diaz in 1901 occupied its capital, Chan Santa Cruz, thus ending the so-called Caste War.

The Maya did great and impressive buildings from the Middle Preclassic and cities as Nakbé , El Mirador , San Bartolo , Cival , located in the Mirador Basin , Northern Petén , and during the Preclassic , known cities of Tikal, Quirigua ( both the first to be declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 and 1981 respectively) , Palenque , Copán, Río Azul , Calakmul , Comalcalco (built of baked brick ) and Ceibal , Cancuén , Machaquilá , Dos Pilas , Uaxactún , Altun Ha, Piedras Negras and many other sites in the area. It can be classified as an empire , but it is unknown if the time of colonization imposed their culture or it was a result of his organization in independent city-states were the basis of agriculture and trade. The most notable monuments are the pyramids they built in their religious centers , together with the palaces of their rulers ( government and places of residence of the nobles) , the largest found so far Cancuén in southern Peten , many of whose structures were decorated with murals and stucco ornaments . Other important archaeological remains include stone slabs carved usually called stelae ( the Maya called them Tetum , ' three stones ' ) , showing portraits of the rulers with logographic texts describing their genealogy , enthronements , military victories , and other accomplishments . The Mayan pottery is ranked as one of the most varied , fine and elaborate the ancient world.

The Maya participated in long distance trade in Mesoamerica and possibly beyond. Among the trade goods were jade, cacao , corn , salt, and obsidian.

Presidents

Since the founding of the nation to its erection as a global superpower, here's a list of the ten presidents who have played a decisive role in U.S. history .

1. George Washington
The first U.S. president held office for two consecutive terms from 1789 to 1797.

He played a major role in the War of Independence, the signing of the Constitution and the formation of the National Government , so it is one of the Founding Fathers .

George Washington is considered the Father of the American homeland.


2 . Abraham Lincoln
Library of Congress of the United States , digital code cph.3a53289
The sixteenth president of the United States and the first by the Republican Party held office between 1861 and 1865.

Opponent of slavery , played an important role during the Civil War and during peace , being a key figure in the reconstruction of the country.

By Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 announced that all slaves in the Confederate States would be released .

He was the first president who was assassinated in 1865.

3 . Thomas Jefferson

The third U.S. president held office for two terms between 1801 and 1809 . Considered one of the Founding Fathers, was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.
The consolidation of borders occupied a prominent place during his tenure and, among other things , there was the Louisiana Purchase .

Man of the Enlightenment , founded the University of Virginia in 1819.


4 . Woodrow Wilson
Library of Congress of the United States , digital code cph.3a04218
The twenty- eighth president held office between 1913 and 1921.

With it began a U.S. interventionist policy in South America and became an important part of European policy through its participation in the First World War.

After the war, Wilson took part in the Paris Peace Conference and promoted the creation of the League of Nations , which led him to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919.

5 . Harry S. Truman
The thirty-third president of the United States held the position for two terms between 1945 and 1953.

During his tenure there was a large foreign interventionism , taking part in the Second World War , after which it played an important role in the founding of the United Nations . He was in charge of the Marshall Plan , which helped rebuild Europe by U.S. investment , while making served to U.S. positions on the continent and to promote their economic growth and to halt the spread of Communism , something also occupied a central role in the interior with the call Truman Doctrine . Truman authorized the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

6. Dwight D. Eisenhower

The thirty-fourth U.S. President held office for two terms between 1953 and 1961.

Eisenhower fought in World War II and played an important role in the Normandy landings . His position of total opposition to the rise of the Soviet Union led to the arms race and increasing the U.S. nuclear weapons during the Cold War , as well as a strong internal anti already signed agreements to stop overseas the Soviet advance . His meeting with Nikita Khrushchev ushered in negotiations with the Soviet Union.

7. Franklin D. Roosevelt
The thirty-second president of the United States is the only one who has held the post for three terms between 1933 and 1945.

He faced the Great Depression by the policy of " New Deal" , focused on increased public spending and investment in infrastructure which greatly modernized the country.


8. John F. Kennedy
National Archives and Records Administration , ARC Identifier 194255
Kennedy fought in World War II and in the context of the Cold War , continued the anti-Soviet policy of his predecessors during his tenure produced the invasion of the Bay of Pigs , the Missile Crisis in Cuba , the construction of the Berlin Wall , the beginning of the Vietnam War and the space race .

Kennedy 's presidency was an important step in the field of civil rights. He was assassinated in Dallas (Texas ) on November 22, 1963 .

9. John Adams

The second president of the country held office between 1797 and 1801.

It is one of the Founding Fathers of the nation and with Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Never had slaves and was against its use.


10. Barack H. Obama

The forty-fourth president of the United States, in office since 2008.

It is the first African American president. Its policy focuses on coping with the call of the Credit Crisis . In 2008 Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize .

They have led the country in key moments of its history . The question that remains , then, is this: the importance resides in the President himself or the era in which he holds the position

UFOs

                                                 UFOs!!!!!

We've all heard stories of unidentified flying objects ( UFOs ) , mysterious green men and alien invasions . These issues have also been the argument of many Hollywood films and television series but ... what really lies behind science fiction ? Around the world , from the UK to Brazil, there are thousands of reports of real people who claim to have seen or witnessed something extraordinarily abnormal. Many of them even claim to have been transported out of this world . Though these stories are surprising and in many cases difficult to believe, occasionally show very interesting facts worthy of study and analysis. UFO STORIES , an amazing collection of the most amazing stories of UFOs and alien world .
Since the fall of unexplained objects that transform our landscapes to reports of aliens that have created human harvesting programs and the existence of strange and terrifying creatures that feed on the blood of animals . They are stories out of this world crumbles Discovery Channel for evidence , witnesses and victims who claim to have come in contact with aliens. In an effort to discover the truth , UFO STORIES also features interviews with experts, skeptics and fanatics who have dedicated their lives entirely to the study and analysis of the most incredible stories of UFOs and aliens of all time .
Traveling with viewers around the world, UFO STORIES analyzes each and every case with rigor , dedication and skepticism. The stories of classified government files , alien sexual encounters with aliens and other creatures that suck the blood of animals , will manage to attract both those who believe in life outside of our planet as the most skeptical