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Monday, February 20

3:00pm  Expedition Cruise in the Land of the Ice Bears.  Biblioteca: Teatro Santa Ana  Lecture

Rex Fritschi, the USA-wide noted travel counselor, has returned to his beloved San Miguel for another thee month stay. Rex is widely traveled. He and his wife, Barbara, have visited more than 165 countries and islands, have stopped counting after 350 trans-Atlantic crossings and have sailed on more than fifty cruise ships. His specialty is advising upscale travelers-often in their own private jets - on visiting remote places and experiencing the unusual. He is also an intuitive photographer and an acclaimed lecturer.

On Tuesday, February 22, at 3 PM in the Santa Ana Theater of the Biblioteca he will present his personal experience of the Arctic. You travel north, well beyond the Norwegian mainland to Arctic Svalbard, into the land of the midnight sun - a world of deep fjords, snow-capped mountains and massive ice sheets. Svalbard is the best place to travel to view polar bears in their natural habitat on the pack ice. Come aboard a National Geographic expedition cruise ship. and travel to the Arctic with an enthusiastic team of scientists which help you experience Arctic travel and maximize polar bear sightings. Rex and Barbara were lucky: they sighted 26 polar bears. One came right up to the ship and is now prominently featured in National Geographic brochures. We hike the rolling tundra in search of reindeer, kayak around icebergs where walrus and seals reside, approach high cliffs housing tens of thousands of aquatic birds that swarm around the ship, besides sighting humpback and blue whales, also take a plunge in the Arctic Ocean at 80 degrees north latitude (!) -all under a sun that never sets!

Rex will be offering three more presentation on exciting destinations, such as the mighty Volga River from Moscow south to the Caspian Sea. This will be on March 1st. then two more on March 11 and 18. Please mark your calendars.

Tuesday, February 21

10:00am  The Making of the U.S. Tribute System  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

With Betsy Bowman, Ph.D.

Dr. Betsy Bowman, a founder of the Center for Global Justice, examines "The Making of the U.S. Tribute System"on Wednesday, February 23, at 10am in the Sala Quetzal of the Biblioteca Publica.

Globalization and the US dollar as the world's reserve currency have effectively established an international economic system which is tantamount to a system of rendering tribute to the US. Both within the wealthy countries and in the world at large, elites have been able to arrogate to themselves the vast majority of the increase in wealth due to productivity increases and advantageous trade treaties. Globalization has wrapped the world's economies in straight-jacket trade treaties and deregulated financial markets that people are virtually helpless to undo. As local economies are destroyed by products from transnational corporations that flood markets, all wealth is transferred to elites within individual countries and to the elites of the world's already very rich countries. This was not an accident.

As foreign countries exporting to the US market earn US dollars, they recycle them back to the US by buying US Treasury bonds. The US then finances both its trade deficit and its budget deficit with the US dollars other countries return to us that we originally had sent to them to buy their products. The US Federal Reserve has an endless amount of credit-IOUs or Treasury bonds-that it can print and sell. The Federal Reserve can then lend this money to the US government to finance tax cuts, the Defense Dept. and its empire of 865 military bases in foreign countries, or it can give/lend it to the banks and financial institutions. The recent financial and economic crisis shows what the banks and financial institutions can do with lots of really cheap, borrowed money. On the one hand, they crashed the economy hurting millions of regular folks; on the other hand, they kept handing out huge salaries and bonuses to themselves and their employees.

1:00pm  The Monarch Butterfly. The privilege to enjoy this wonderful natural phenomenon.  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

By: Arturo Morales Tirado.

This unique natural phenomenon in the Planet has been threatened in the last year since of the relative population of the colonies in the 12 sites where they hibernate generally, in 5 colony of them did not report some itself and in the other 7 sites, the occupied surface diminished in a 75% four years ago. To visit the biosphere reserve of the Monarch Butterfly, it is important to understand this phenomenon and enjoy the experience of this phenomenon is critical awareness of the threat that human activities in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. has imposed on this incredible insect that weighs less than 2 grams and lives in one of three generations during a year, more than double that of the other two (between 150 and 210 days).

Migrates near 4,000Km. In 30 days, they support snowed, hailed, rains, temperatures under 0oC., natural predators like certain sparrows, the destruction of its habitat in Canada, E.E.U.U. and Mexico.

Arturo Morales has visited this site in the last eight years at least 20 times each cycle. This Tuesday at 1:00 pm in a conference profuse in images comment on this amazing phenomenon and the visit is from San Miguel de Allende from November to March.

This year's visit to the sanctuary of the Monarch Butterfly, led by Arturo Morales, will cause more financial support to Public Library directly with the purchase of Tickets for this purpose.More information: www.tasma.info or http://www.tasma.info/P%20conferencias/P%20Conferencias.html

3:00pm  Jan harvey and Bill Pearlman read at Pen Writers Aloud  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

Canadian short story writer Jan Harvey will read from her work in PEN's Writers Aloud series.

While relatively new to the short fiction genre, Jan has worked as a journalist and feature writer for Canadian newspapers. Her play"George's Vision" won best original play in the Dawson City, Yukon, Drama Festival. She has worked as Editor of the Weekender newspaper and ran her own advertising agency in Whitehorse for eighteen years. After retiring from advertising, Jan followed her two passions-music and fiction writing. She completed a piano performer's degree with the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and began writing short stories. Presently, Jan is working on a collection of short stories that depict the tragic and the comic aspects of life in Canada's far north. One of her stories was recently published in the inaugural edition of SOL, English Writing in Mexico, literary magazine.

Joining Jan will be poet and series founder Bill Pearlman, who recently was a featured reader at the Language of the Soul Festival in San Luis Obispo, California. Bill has published several volumes of verse and a book about Jungian psychodrama, Characters of the Sacred. His most recent collection is Brazilian Incarnation (Selected Poems 1967-2004). He is co-editor of Sol, English writing in Mexico and is editor of a blog roughroadreview.com. He has taught at Univ. of New Mexico, UCSB, LSU and NM Central Community College. He is also a licensed psychotherapist in New Mexico and trained in Jungian analysis in Santa Fe, NM.

Proceeds for the PEN series help support both Biblioteca and PEN scholarships for children. PEN is an international writers' organization which supports writers worldwide.

Wednesday, February 22

Thursday, February 23

Friday, February 24

3:00pm  Handwritting Reveals and Heals  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

Changing your writting can change your life!

Did you know"Sloppy writting" reveals more creativity and intelligence than"pretty writting?" it tells of a focus on leadership , uniqueness and creativity.

The fingers cannot keep up with a fast mind intent on expressing itself and its potential , so they develop their own shorthand. In 25 years I have only once seen writting that I would call trully illegible. Illegible means that the writer does not communicate clearly and likely can be very deceptive.

Even if you don't know how to write or print or only use a computer , the way you make marks on a paper still reveals your personality.

Your writting reveals how you express your current level of personality by revealing much about your physical , menta, spiritual health. Every mark and space tells something about your talents and those you would like to develop.

Remember that since we are all unique your writting is unique. Please don't demand that everyone should be and write like you. Just because many churches , schools an parents want you to conform and do it"Their Way" does not mean they trully know what is best for you. It is one of the best tools for understanding and dveloping compatibility between anyone . It can help ANYONE understand themselves or others.

In this workshop everyone will get a brief analysis of their writting. It will give you the opportunity to see and compare your writting with others and see how unique everyone is and give you a chance to understand your uniqueness.

Changing the lines and spaces that indicate the frustration and depression, stress and tension will bring greater happiness to your life.

Handritting analysis is a respected Science in Europe and generally every job resume must include a handwritten cover letter.

Colin Hanlen , MA has been using and teaching Graphology for over 25 years as a Consultant and Therapist. he has written HANDWRITTING ANALYSIS SIMPLIFIED. A booklet for the person who wants to get the basics without having to read a big book.

Saturday, February 25

12:00pm  Women and Finances  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

With Jim Posner

Almost a century after American women won the right to vote , a higher than ideal percentafe are not skilled in overseeing their own finances, not to mention investments.

Please join us for an hour long long session about the world of finance and the importance of taking responsibity for our financial future.

Mr Posner will offer a brief explanation of financial terms , discuss the importance of defining personal objectives and will offer suggestion for gaining both the knowdlege and the confidence to achieve these goals.

All questions welcome!.

Sunday, February 26

Monday, February 27

Tuesday, February 28

3:00pm  The Magnificent Maya: Part I  Biblioteca: Teatro Santa Ana  Lecture

With Guillermo Mendez

They were the most advanced of all the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems.

The Maya inhabited southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and the western boundaries of Honduras and El Salvador. They built cities and paved roadways, although they used no wheeled vehicles of any kind. Their astronomers plotted the movements of the visible planets and stars using a mathematics that included zero, a rare accomplishment in world history. They were the only people of the New World to develop a complete written language that could express in writing, anything spoken. They made books that combined illustrations and glyphs.

Today, the Maya and their descendants form sizable populations throughout the Maya area and maintain a distinctive set of traditions and beliefs that are the result of the merger of pre-Columbian and post-Conquest ideas and cultures. Many Mayan languages continue to be spoken as primary languages today; the Rabinal Achi, a play written in the Achi' language, was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005.

The magnificent Maya are the subject of a lecture that will focus on architecture and art, the Bonampak murals and Maya mathematics. Retired Professor of Humanities, Guillermo Mendez is the lecturer.

Wednesday, February 29

Thursday, March 1

3:00pm  Russia's mighty volga  Biblioteca: Teatro Santa Ana  Lecture

With Rex Fritschi

Rex Fritschi, the States-wide noted, expert travel consultant is at work in his"winter office" in the"paradise" of San Miguel. He admires the great works of the Biblioteca and offers his contribution by giving these travelogues to very unusual corners of the world. (All ticket proceeds go to the Biblioteca).

This presentation is on a very interesting and decisive area of Russia that is hardly visited by tourists: The Volga river, a grand waterway that once served as the principal connection between Persia and Scandinavia, the"Great Portal", connected the people of Asia and Europe for centuries. The Volga basin bore witness to some of the most significant events in Russian history: the emergence of the Golden Horde, Ivan the Terrible's overthrow of the Asian Khans, the founding of a string of fortified cities by Catherine the Great, the naval battles of the Russian Civil War, Stalin's slave-labor built dams and locks, the and the terrible battlefields of World War Two. From Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages to the rise of the Slavic principalities and beyond, the Volga has long held majesty over Eastern Europe.

As one travels south from Moscow-the most expensive city in the world-towards Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea transportation facilities and hospitality services rapidly deteriorate. Therefore, this area is best explored on a comfortable river boat. Present day Russia is a 21st century version of our old"Wild West"-a stunning, chaotic hodgepodge of the expensive luxuries of Moscow and the serf like peasants still existing in primitive squalor.

Mark your calendars for Rex's next two offerings on March 11 and 18.

5:00pm  The Romance of Ruins: A Visit to Pozos  Biblioteca: Teatro Santa Ana  Lecture

Mineral de Pozos, an abandoned mining center northeast of San Miguel, is less than an hour's drive from our fair city, but for residents and visitors to San Miguel without a car (or a guide) it is a three-hour, four-bus expedition, a difficult and demanding enterprise. But you can experience Pozos vicariously with a slide show and talk called"The Romance of Ruins: A Visit to Pozos."

On Tuesday, March 1, at 5 p.m., long-time San Miguel resident Robert de Gast will present a one-hour talk and show his photographs of Pozos in the Teatro Santa Ana at the Biblioteca.

The town and its myriad of abandoned buildings lie at an elevation of 7,500 feet. Once heavily forested, the area now is almost totally denuded. The Spaniards taught the Indians European methods of ore extraction, but it was not until the middle of the 19th century that large-scale operations began, with British investors dominating the various mining companies. One of the largest companies, Cinco Senores, was organized in 1888. There were also dozens of smaller operations, some with wonderful names like Progress, Hope, Future, Pardon and Insurgents, but also, since this is Mexico, with names like Virginia, Isabel, Magdalena, and Guadalupe....

The area around Pozos was mined for more than 300 years before being abandoned shortly after the start of the Revolution in 1910. Three smelting ovens, dating from 1597, survive in the Santa Brigida area. Most other buildings date from the late 19th century, during the reign of the dictator Porfirio Diaz (the city, then with a population of perhaps 40,000, was briefly renamed Ciudad Porfirio Diaz). It was declared a Historic Monuments Zone in 1982.

For a long time Pozos was wealthy with mining operations yielding silver, gold, copper, lead, magnesium, mercury, and other metals, but after the Revolution the town was virtually abandoned and mining was suspended due to a lack of manpower, capital, and spare parts for the mining machinery. The mines flooded and mining was never resumed. Today fewer than 1,000 people live in Pozos. In the last couple of years, however, a number of foreigners have begun new businesses: there are two bed-and- breakfast hotels, two restaurants, and a half dozen art galleries and studios. Still, the overall sense of the place is one of utter abandonment.

Friday, March 2

1:00pm  The Monarch Butterfly. The privilege to enjoy this wonderful natural phenomenon.  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

This unique natural phenomenon in the Planet has been threatened in the last year since of the relative population of the colonies in the 12 sites where they hibernate generally, in 5 colony of them did not report some itself and in the other 7 sites, the occupied surface diminished in a 75% three years ago.

To visit the biosphere reserve of the Monarch Butterfly, it is important to understand this phenomenon and enjoy the experience of this phenomenon is critical awareness of the threat that human activities in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. has imposed on this incredible insect that weighs less than 2 grams and lives in one of three generations during a year, more than double that of the other two (between 150 and 210 days).

Migrates near 4,000Km. In 30 days, they support snowed, hailed, rains, temperatures under 0 Celsius, natural predators like certain sparrows, the destruction of its habitat in Canada, E.E.U.U. and Mexico.

Arturo Morales has visited this site in the last seven years at least 20 times each cycle. This Thursday at 1:30 pm in a conference profuse in images comment on this amazing phenomenon and the visit is from San Miguel de Allende from November to March. Join us this Tuesday, December 23 at 1:30 pm at the Santa Ana theatre, for this extraordinary lecture on the monarch butterflies tickets 50 pesos at the theatre box office

3:00pm  PEN Writers Aloud Series Featuring: Geoffrey Young  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

Geoffrey Young was born in Los Angeles in 1944, and grew up in San Diego. He was educated at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has taught Art & Literature at Columbia, UC Berkeley, and Vassar, as well as Art Criticism at the University at Albany. His small press, The Figures (1975-2005), published more than 125 books of poetry, fiction and art writing. Several of his own poetry books, including Cerulean Embankments, Lights Out, and Fickle Sonnets, have been illustrated by Carroll Dunham, James Siena, and Donald Baechler, respectively. His most recent book of poems, The Riot Act, was published by Bootstrap Editions, in 2008. Over the past nineteen years he has curated more than 70 exhibitions of drawing and painting at his contemporary art gallery in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where he has been living since 1982.

Proceeds from these readings go to PEN and Biblioteca scholarship funds.

10:00pm  Egypt and people power  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal  Lecture

We have all been stunned by the non-violent demonstration of People Power in Egypt. A broad, massive social movement was able to overthrow a repressive dictator, retaking ownership of their nation. As a result the political culture of the country has been transformed. But how strong is civil society? Will they now be able to consolidate their victory by building democratic institutions? Was this a revolution or a reform to save the regime? What are the lessons other peoples in the Arab world and in the U.S. can learn from the courage of the Egyptian people?

Sunday, March 4

12:00pm  Women and Finances  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

With Jim Posner

Almost a century after American women won the right to vote , a higher than ideal percentafe are not skilled in overseeing their own finances, not to mention investments.

Please join us for an hour long long session about the world of finance and the importance of taking responsibity for our financial future.

Mr Posner will offer a brief explanation of financial terms , discuss the importance of defining personal objectives and will offer suggestion for gaining both the knowdlege and the confidence to achieve these goals.

All questions welcome!

Monday, March 5

Tuesday, March 6

Wednesday, March 7

Thursday, March 8

3:00pm  Magnificent Maya: Part II  Biblioteca: Teatro Santa Ana  Lecture

The ancient Maya culture of Mesoamerica has been the subject of considerable attention lately as we approach the year 2012. As perhaps the most advanced of many sophisticated indigenous cultures of this hemisphere the Maya are especially noteworthy for their achievements in glyphic writing, mathematics, astronomy and an artistic tradition of magnificent architecture, sculpture and painting.

The Maya were also great time-keepers. They utilized three different calendars and believed that time and history were cyclical. Does their conception of time portend an end to ours? Should we be getting our affairs in order and forgetting about that new diet?

What the ancient Maya had to say about 2012 will be considered in a lecture by San Miguel resident, retired professor of Humanities, Guillermo

Mendez. The lecture will also focus on Maya architecture, mathematics and painting.

All of the lecturer's fee is donated to the Bibliotheca's general fund.

Friday, March 9

10:00pm  Reforms in Cuba  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

With Cliff DuRand

For the last half century the Cuban Revolution has inspired both hope and fear: hope among the Latin American masses that there is an alternative to actually existing capitalism, and fear among the hemisphere's elites of the good example of that alternative. The accomplishments in Cuba are impressive in areas of health, education, and sports. But there are also serious problems, as has been recognized by Cuba's leaders. To address these, the country is now in the midst of significant reforms. Some say this is a renovation of its socialism. Others say it is a turn toward capitalism. Only time may tell.

“Reforms in Cuba" will be the topic of a talk by Cliff DuRand of the Center for Global Justice. Long a student of Cuba, Dr. DuRand has visited and lectured there over 25 times and regularly leads educational trips to the island. His March 9 talk will kick off a short course on"Cuba Today" that he is offering this month. It will give an overview of the Cuban Revolution over the last half century. How has this Revolution been able to survive 50 years of hostile action from the U.S. to overturn it? And at what cost? What have been its accomplishments and what are some of the major challenges today? He will explore Cuba's efforts to build socialism, the economy, issues of race, the position of women, health care, education, democracy, agriculture, and U.S.-Cuban relations. Register for the course at admin@globaljusticecenter.org or by calling 150-0025.

1:00pm  Teotihuacan, virtual, magical and mystical tour through the place were the gods are born.  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

By: Arturo Morales Tirado.

Visit Teotihuacan represents attend the celebration of Mexican myth of the birth of the gods, experience an urban design with more than 2,000 years old, reflecting the cosmic order and that was his pattern of cultural development for about 700 years.

A cosmopolitan city where old and wise Teotihuacan architects placed the city as an extension and permanent link between it, the region, the planet and the universe.

This city that came to have a population between 80,000 and 120,000 people was one of the most populated in the Planet in his time and was the most influential in Mesoamerica during the classic historical period.

Today is the most investigated and perhaps the most spectacular archaeological sites of pre-Hispanic Mexico is the cultural and social bridge between the formative eras and Post-classic in Mesoamerica, 6 one of the original civilizations in the world. Now is enshrined in our Mexican iconography and idiosyncrasies such as the uses of public spaces to make social the knowledge, ideas and ideology of the moment.

We invite you to go virtually this humankind heritage site (UNESCO), in a lecture with dozens of photographs.

In addition to exploring the pyramids (the second highest in the world), his murals, squares, palaces and residential areas, Teotihuacan offers one of the most successful museums in volume and museum speech, designed by Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, as well as one of Mexican restaurants more peculiar, inside a spectacular natural cave with Mexican folk dance.

We mention recent discoveries found at this archaeological site and its relationship to the contemporary Mexican cultural syncretism.

3:00pm  Two Authors, Two Stories, Two Presentations  Biblioteca: Sala Quetzal   Lecture

Pen writers aloud series last event

Wednesday, March 9th at 3:00 PM at The Sala Quetzal, PEN Writers' Aloud presents: Author Helen Rivas-Rose who will be reading from her book, Brave: A Memoir of Overcoming Shyness. Following her presentation, Roland Salazar Rose, author of My Fathers' Room with The Four Seasons of the Master Myth, will give a talk and project images from his paintings.

From recollections of a long life of suffering from shyness, Helen Rivas-Rose's memoir reveals the hurt and anguishes that acutely shy people experience and discloses the course of action she took to overcome it.

She says,"I spent the last ten years writing and the result was the first full-length memoir about being shy and overcoming it. My goal was to inspire other shy people to believe that they too could overcome it and also to show the non-shy what it's like to suffer from chronic shyness." Author Helen Rivas-Rose worked in several locales and fields; giving private English lessons in Madrid, Spain; teaching school and adult education in Calgary, Alberta; owning and operating a medicinal herb store in Lisbon, Portugal; preparing income taxes and later directing a non-profit alternative artists' gallery in Portland, Maine. Shyness affected her every activity.

Brave, a Memoir of Overcoming Shyness may be purchased at the Library, online at Amazon or at the talk. Learn more about Brave, its reviews and Helen on www.shynessbook.com where you are also invited to click to read her blog.

Roland Salazar Rose long term resident of San Miguel and celebrated artist will read from selections from his recent memoir My Father's Room with the Four Seasons of the Master Myth.

Written in two parts, Part one expresses what shaped and influenced his work as a visual artist. He wrote: "This book was written for anyone who cares about the past, its relationship to the present, and its importance in seeking harmony and meaning in one's life. It is a story about my father and me, and it searches for conversations I never had with him in real life."

Part two: The Four Seasons of the Master Myth is a multi-media work started in 1990 in Maine where he created this painting series of 1,000 small images. Images in this series that are embedded in the book and included in the DVD that accompanies his memoir will be projected during the Part two reading.

In his Introduction the author states:"Young and old, we are all searching for ‘value' in our lives. My Father's Room with The Four Seasons of the Master Myth suggests a path toward that enlightenment; the one which may enable us to achieve our ‘sacred spaces,' whether in our father's room or wherever we are in life."

Visit his Website: www.e-artbooks.com for"words & images" on his electronic art books.

Saturday, March 10

Sunday, March 11

3:00pm  What libya looks like  Biblioteca: Teatro Santa Ana  Lecture

With Rex Fritschi

Rex Fritschi's presentation on Friday, March 11, at 3 PM in the Santa Ana theatre at the Biblioteca could not be more timely! Right now, we are witnessing the horrors Ghadaffi is inflicting on his own people. You, surely, will want Rex to show you what this sad country looks like and what outstanding, world-class treasures of antiquities it harbors-these were the sole reason for the Fritschis recent visit.

The donation of 50 pesos goes in full to the Biblioteca.

Barbara and Rex were in Libya just after the USA and the West schmoozed up to this murdering Ghadaffi, forgave him his sins-even those of Lockerbie. Why?

Why, for Big Oil and the new gas pipe line under the Mediterranean to Europe…. that's why!

Rex will show you how today's Libya is strongly influenced-if not built-in the Italian colonial period, and, more important, Rex will show you the vast archaeological treasures of ancient Greece and Rome. Still standing are the immense ruins of cities and harbors of the Golden Age when this area was the breadbasket of Rome. Within these ruins in palaces and baths are unbelievable floors of Roman mosaic, completely untouched and unprotected since they were created 2,000 years ago.

Also of interest are the ancient granaries of the Berber tribes and deep south in the desert an intact, deserted, underground city that was once a thriving hub for the

Camel caravans criss-crossing the endless desert.

Also, please mark your calendars for Rex's next and final offering on March 18 - same place, same time - on a delightful romp through colorful India's Rajastan aboard a super luxury train, the fabled"Palace on Wheels".

Feel free to consult with Rex on your travel plans-the more demanding, the better. To make an appointment phone him at 152-1044, or by e-mail: rex@rexclass.com. He will be in SMA until then end of April.

Visit his web-site: www.rexclass.com