Tag Archives: Robert J. Hawkins

fiction, Rants and raves, San Miguel de Allende, Writings

Atlas once, Atlas twice — but is he tougher than Jesus Christ?

“The Mini – Solve in seconds”

That’s the promise, or more probably, the challenge of the daily five-by-five crossword puzzle on the New York Times games page.

Monday’s second row, down, challenge was “Rockefeller Center statue depicting a Greek Titan.” Five letters.

Obviously not Prometheus – the golden, cast-bronze statue in the lower end of Rockefeller Plaza – since it busts the five-letter wall. But that’s the one everyone knows, even if they have never been to New York, because it is always in the frame with the Rockefeller Christmas tree.

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fiction, San Miguel de Allende, Writings

Of opportunipees and slabadinks — ‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe’

It was one of those days when you wake up feeling so clever because a unique word came to you in the middle of the night — opportunipee.

And you wrote it down. In a notebook. In the dark.

And it was legible.

A Jabberwokian euphoria fills your pores.

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Reviews, San Miguel de Allende, Writings

Hedrick Smith on Democracy’s Future: A Dicey Road Ahead

Hedrick Smith

Even as the Pulitzer Prize-winning Hedrick Smith was navigating “the road ahead for American Democracy” during his i3 talk on Tuesday, even more Bozos were being added to the Trump Clown Car up ahead.

A once-respected doctor turned TV pill-shill was nominated to oversee Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.

The empress of a studio wrestling empire was nominated as Secretary of Education.

And the hits keep on a coming.

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San Miguel de Allende, Writings

Luring touring musicians to San Miguel, one Pehuenche at a time.

His name is Pehuenche and he will be in concert this Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Tres Fuentes hotel and as exciting a singer as the Veracruz native may be, there is an equally exciting story behind the concert.

San Miguel de Allende isn’t exactly on anyone’s music circuit – those well-traveled paths that bands and other performers follow from town to town – or at least it hasn’t been.

At least until now.

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San Miguel de Allende, The Week in SMA, Writings

i3 talk: Navigating the road ahead with Hedrick Smith at the wheel

Back in September, the San Miguel de Allende lecture series “i3: Ideas that Inform and Inspire” announced its new season and among the most-anticipated speakers is veteran journalist and author Hedrick Smith. 

His speech, titled “The Road Ahead for American Democracy,” is set for Nov. 19.

Way back in September, the title seemed an anticipation of the celebration that would be democracy in action – a successful election during which the majority of the people would choose as their leader an intelligent, earnest, and compassionate woman over an aging and angry revenge-driven criminal.

That didn’t happen.

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Rants and raves, San Miguel de Allende, Writings

Did you hear the one about the cannibals and the breakdown of society …

There is an old joke about two explorers who are captured by cannibals. One is a Californian and the other is a New Yorker.

The explorers sit at the bottom of a large vat filled with water. Natives run around collecting firewood and depositing it at the base. It is going to be a big fire. It is going to be a big feast.

The chief of the cannibals stands over the two explorers and admires their pale skins. 

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photography, San Miguel de Allende

Around the Dia de Muertos parade in 90 pictures

OK, I can sit here all night and write about the beautiful Catrinas and Catrins. About the amazing make-up jobs and costumes. About how people came from all over the world just to parade from Calle Cordo to the Ancha to the Jardin in Centro.

Did I mention this is San Miguel de Allende, the most magical city in the world?

No, I didn’t. And I won’t go on because this is one time, my friends, when pictures speak way louder than words.

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photography, San Miguel de Allende

Just another Friday in San Miguel de Allende? Far from it (Updated with Saturday morning walkabout pics)

The Day of the Dead has begun, in the most beautiful ways imaginable.

This morning dozens of people, young and old, arrived at the Jardin Principal to build large public oftendas, the altars that pay tribute to family, friends, classmates, motorcycle and Rotary club members — our loved ones who have passed away.

It is a beautiful and heartwarming thing to watch.

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Rants and raves, San Miguel de Allende

Welcome to Dia de Muertos: Any ofrenda mine is an ofrenda yours

The family ofrenda, created by Rose Alcantara.

Tonight in the public park (The Jardine) there will be scores of kids in costume, each carrying a satchel or plastic pumpkin. Arrayed around the park will be ex-pats with bags full of candy.

The twain shall meet.

Halloween is becoming bigger every year, much to the consternation of the grumpiest among us. Perhaps rightly so, there is some concern that the holiday will dilute Mexico’s own customs.

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Reviews, San Miguel de Allende

From Squash to Storytelling: Ivy Pochoda’s Journey

Author Ivy Pochoda with an admirer at the Art of the Story conference.

The bifurcated psyche of a world-class athlete who grew up in a literary household.

Now, that has all the makings of a great novel.

Not coincidentally, these are the circumstances that led world-class athlete Ivy Pochoda to become an excellent novelist, with six titles and counting. But getting those two lives – high-powered athlete and high-powered novelist – working together, well that was the topic of a most entertaining talk by Pochoda on Tuesday as the inaugural headliner of the Art of the Story conference.

Pochoda’s life story fits in quite well with the overall theme of San Miguel de Allende’s newest literary festival. That is – if I may interpolate from the list of fascinating workshops and events scheduled – inspiration is all around us, if you know how to look for it.

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