It is mostly agreed that Art is supposed to bring out a response from the viewer. Some artists want to provoke, others want to 'make people think' -as they say...-, others want us to relax and enjoy a painting, a photograph, a scuplture... So it is said the purpose of art is getting a response, a reaction, from the viewer. Some think that only a 'educated' viewer can really appreciate and adequately respond to Art. Not so, not so! A football hooligan showed his appreciation of a photographic exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, where a great FIFA footballers exhibition was taking place. On seeing David Beckham's portrait (worth £7,500, taken by the portrait photographer Mike Holm)the hooligan adequately reacted to 'Art''s influence! Taking out his felt tip pen, the hooligan wrote LOOSERS in Beckham's portrait, a reference to losing the match at the European Football Cup 2004 and spelt with a double 'o' a possible reference to Rebecca Loos, the woman who earlier this year claimed she had had an affair with Beckham. So there you are! Even 'non educated' viewers do have a reaction to Art! Supposing Beckham's photo is Art, of course...but that's another topic!


El moderno punto de vista sobre el Arte es que su proposito es despertar una respuesta por parte del publico. Algunos artistas quieren provocar, otros quieren 'hacernos pensar' -eso dicen-... otros quieren que nos relajemos y disfrutemos sus pinturas, fotografias, esculturas.. Algunos 'expertos' en el tema mantienen la postura de que solo el publico 'con cultura' puede apreciar y responder adecuadamente a las obras de arte. Ah! Pero ahi se equivocan,y la prueba esta en la Royal Academy of Arts en Londres, donde se exhibe una muestra fotografica de grandes futbolistas de la FIFA. Al contemplar el retrato de David Beckham (valorado en £7,500, obra del retratista Mike Holm), un hooligan britanico reacciono adecuadamente a la influencia del 'Noble Arte'. Sacando el rotulador del bolsillo, el hooligan escribio en el retrato la palabra 'perdedor' (looser - con doble 'o', para hacer referencia a Rebecca Loos, la chica que a principios de anio declaro que habia mantenido relaciones sexuales con Beckham y a la perdida de la EuroCopa 2004). Asi que ahi lo teneis! Incluso el 'Arte' ejerce su influencia incluso en el publico 'sin cultura'. Suponiendo que una foto de David Beckham sea Arte, claro...pero eso ya es otra cuestion!


The weather today:
Cloudy
16C
UV Index: 1 Minimal
Wind: From the Southwest at 13 mph
Dew Point: 13C
Humidity: 81%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,015.2 mb

How would you look if you were a Lego character? I bet you would like to know too. Well, now you can! In this website : Reasonably Clever you can recreate yourself as a Lego character with full body and complements (Mizer) or just concentrate on the head (blockhead). Do not forget to read the instructions on how to save your creation before starting!


Que pinta tendrias si fueras un munieco de Lego? A veces me hago este tipo de preguntas. Seguro que hay otros/as ahi afuera preguntandose lo mismo. Pues ahora tienes la respuesta en tus manos! En esta pagina web : Reasonably Clever puedes diseniarte como una figurita de Lego con todos los complementos (Mizer) o bien concentrarte solo en la cabeza (blockhead). No olvideis leer las instrucciones de como guardar el disenio antes de empezar!


The weather today:
Partly Cloudy
21C
UV Index: 6 Moderate
Wind: From the Southwest at 12 mph
Dew Point: 10C
Humidity: 49%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,025.1 mb

I remember people using the saying 'driving/speeding like Fittipaldi' when I was a child. Like in 'your cousing drives like a Fittipaldi in his new sports car'.When I asked, I was told he was a legend in Formula 1 races. For years, I thought that Fittipaldi had died long ago. After all... surely a 'legend' should be dead?. But no. I was reading the newspaper today and found an article about last weekend's Festival of Speed in Goodwood (United Kingdom). And then, to my surprise, I read that Emerson Fittipaldi had attended the festival! Wops! So he is alive then! A bit like when Bela Lugosi re-appeared in the Ed Wood's film Glen or Glenda, when everybody thought he had been dead for years. Now I understand the saying 'legends never die'...


P.S.: Although I have to point out that Bela Lugosi is dead. Truly dead and buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. For a full list of all famous Hollywood stars buried there, see here.


Conduce como un Fitipaldi. Cuantas veces habre oido esa expresion, en mi infancia? Cuando pregunte que era un fittipaldi, me respondieron que era una leyenda del Formula 1. Durante anios, pense que Fittipaldi habia muerto. Porque...una 'leyenda' no puede estar viva, no? Pues no. Hoy estaba leyendo el periodico y vi un articulo sobre el Festival de la Velocidad en Goodwood (Reino Unido)durante el pasado fin de semana. Y, para mi asombro, lei que Emerson Fittipaldi habia acudido al festival! Anda! Asi que esta vivo! Se parece al caso de Bela Lugosi , al que el publico americano dio por muerto durante anios y, de pronto, reaparecio en el film Glen o Glenda, dirigido por Ed Woods. Aja. Ahora entiendo el dicho 'las leyendas nunca mueren'...


P.S.: Pero Bela Lugosi SI esta muerto y bien enterrado. En el cementerio de Holy Cross en Culver City, California, junto con muchos otros famosos actores y actrices de Hollywood : ver lista aqui


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
18C
UV Index: 5 Moderate
Wind: From the West Southwest at 23 mph
Dew Point: 12C
Humidity: 66%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,025.7 mb

Very interesting for travellers: Cholera vaccine is launched in UK
UK travellers will be able to obtain a cholera vaccine for the first time in a decade from Thursday. The Dukoral vaccine , taken as a raspberry-flavoured drink, will be available from GPs and travel clinics. Cholera is an acute intestinal infection, spread by contaminated food and drink. Experts said the vaccine will help protect against traveller's diarrhoea - a bigger threat to holiday-makers than cholera.


De interes para los que viajamos : Lanzamiento de una nueva vacuna contra el colera en el Reino Unido. Los britanicos podran desde este verano inmunizarse durante dos anios contra el colera mediante la nueva vacuna Dukoral, que ademas es efectiva contra la tipica diarrea que afecta a miles de turistas al salir de sus paises. Curiosamente, hay mas turistas afectados por diarrea que por el colera, violenta infeccion intestinal propagada por comida y bebida contaminadas. La nueva vacuna, en forma liquida y con sabor a frambuesa, estara disponible en farmacias con receta medica y en clinicas de atencion al viajero.


The weather today:
Partly Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 7 High
Wind: From the West Southwest at 16 mph
Dew Point: 13C
Humidity: 69%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,017.9 mb

I read in a Spanish newspaper: X cinemas (porn cinemas in Spanish) will cease totally to exist in Barcelona due to the closure of the last porn cinema.
"After exactly 20 years of existence, the already historical X cinemas will definitevely disappear from urban Barcelona this year. Because the last surviving theatre, Cinema Oriente, also known as Sala Roma at Arago Street, will be knocked down in six months time. The massive appearance of videoshops, a great demand for renting porn tapes and the sex shops cabins, in addition to the internet and the broadcasting of porn films on TV, has killed the initial popularity the X cinemas had in the last decade. They were a typical feature during the Spanish transition from dictatorship to democracy in the mid 70s. .Three months ago another historical X cinema, the old Maryland in Urquinaona Square closed its doors. Before that the X cinemas in Bonsucces Street and the mythical Avenida de la Luz X cinema had already dissappeared."

Well, at the end their clients were mostly dirty old men so no surprise that younger audiences were discouraged to enter these premises and were rather happier with renting videotapes. But it is true X cinemas were a typical feature in Barcelona. Now they are going to dissappear, I am happy I went to see a couple of films in they mythical Avenida de la Luz cinema and the Maryland cinema. For historical reasons, of course. It is something younger generations of people will not be able to do never again!


Leo en el periodico: Las salas X desapareceran de BCN con el cierre del ultimo cine porno "Despues de exactamente 20 anios de existencia, la imagen de las ya historicas salas X desaparecera este anio definitivamente del panorama urbano de Barcelona. A la ultima sala X que sobrevive, el antiguo cine Oriente o Sala Roma de la calle de Arago, le quedan solo seis meses de vida. La aparicion masiva de videoclubs, con una gran demanda de alquiler de cintas pornograficas, y de sex shops, ademas de internet y la difusion cada vez mas amplia de peliculas porno en television, han acabado en la ultima decada con la popularidad inicial de las salas X, que con un cierto retraso fueron una de las grandes novedades de la transicion. Hace tres meses se cerro la penultima, otra historica, el viejo cine Maryland en la plaza de Urquinaona, a la que ahora seguira el de la calle de Arago, un local casi anonimo entre Muntaner y Aribau. Antes ya cerraron locales como las salas X de la plaza Bonsucces y la de la desaparecida avenida de la Luz."
No me extrania que lo cierren, porque ultimamente todos los clientes eran viejos verdes. Por supuesto, a la gente mas joven no le hacia ninguna gracia ir a estos cines y verse rodeados de esa clientela tan poco sofisticada. Mejor alquilar el video y verlo tranquilamente en casa. Pero si que es verdad que fueron algo muy tipico de la ciudad, y ahora me alegro de haber ido a un par de sesiones al mitico cine de la Avenida de la Luz y al Maryland. Por razones historicas, por supuesto! Las generaciones mas jovenes de barceloneses nunca sabran lo que era un cine X!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
16C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the West Southwest at 23 mph
Dew Point: 6C
Humidity: 52%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,006.1 mb

Another very easy recipe : Tapenade.
Tapenade is an intensely flavored French topping for crusty, rustic bread or as an accompaniment to fish or poultry.
Ingredients:
1 cup pitted black olives
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/4 cup capers
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/8 cup anchovies
Salt (a pinch and added at the end, depending on how salty are the olives)
Chop all the ingredients very small and mix together until it forms a paste with texture (not puree) which you can spread on bread. Delicious!


Otra receta bien facil : Tapenade. Tapenade es una pasta francesa de intenso sabor para untar en pan o acompaniar platos de pescado o pollo.
Ingredientes:
1 taza de aceitunas negras sin hueso
1 cuchara sopera de ajo triturado
1/4 taza de alcaparras
5 cucharas soperas aceite de oliva virgen
1/8 taza de anchoas al aceite
Sal (una pizquita, aniadir al final si es necesario, dependera de si las aceitunas son my saladas)
Triturar (con mortero o robot de cocina) todos los ingredientes hasta que forme una pasta con textura, pero no pure, que podais untar en pan. Delicioso!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy and Windy
16C
UV Index: 4 Low
Wind: From the Southwest at 52 mph
Dew Point: 13C
Humidity: 78%
Visibility: 2 miles
Barometer: 993.6 mb

My favourite sauce : Pesto!
Pesto is an Italian cold light green sauce which can be easily prepared at home using a food procesor or manually. It is originary from Genua, where you can find many different varieties, depending on the ingredients. The classic pesto is made with fresh basil leaves are essential, that's why we always keep a pot of pesto growing on the windowsill. Once you've tasted the homemade version, you will never EVER resource again to the jars available in supermarkets. The homemade version being sooo easy to prepare and sooo tasty!


Ingredients (although at home we just improvise with the quantities!):
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Olive oil
3 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
Place basil leaves in small batches in food processor and whip until well chopped (do about 3/4 cup at a time). Add about 1/3 the nuts and garlic, blend again.
Add about 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese; blend while slowly adding about 1/3 of the olive oil, stopping to scrape down sides of container.
Process basil pesto it forms a thick smooth paste. Repeat until all ingredients are used, mix all batches together well. Serve over pasta.


Mi salsa preferida : Pesto!
El pesto es una salsa fria italiana de color verde claro que se elabora en mortero o de forma mecanica (con el robot de cocina). El pesto clasico, originario de Genova, se prepara con hojas de albahaca frescas trituradas, ajo, aceite de oliva, sal, pimienta, piñones y queso, aunque podeis encontrar otras variedades de pesto, segun los ingredientes (tomate, berenjena..)Se utiliza para acompaniar los platos de pasta. Cada vez es más frecuente comprarla envasada, pero os puedo asegurar que no tiene NADA, pero NADA que ver con la que puedes preparar en casa en solo unos minutos. En nuestra cocina siempre hay un tiesto de albahaca creciendo en la ventana.


Ingredientes (aunque en casa lo hacemos a ojo y no miramos los gramos!):
50 gr de hojas de albahaca
4 cucharadas (60 ml) de piniones,
2-4 dientes de ajo,
120 ml (1/2 vaso) de aceite de oliva virgen extra,
115 gr de queso parmesano recién rallado,
Triturar la albahaca, los ajos y los piniones hasta conseguir una pasta homogenea. En casa lo hacemos con el robot de cocina! Aniadir 60 ml de aceite de oliva y batir para darle a la pasta una consistencia cremosa. Incorporar el resto del aceite poco a poco, en forma de hilo fino, sin dejar de batir para conseguir una emulsion perfecta. Aniadir el queso y remover con una cuchara de madera. Probar y aniadir sal y pimienta si fuera necesario, que normalmente no lo es, porque el queso parmesano ya tiene un sabor fuerte de por si. Servir encima de spaghetti cocinados al dente.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
16C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the Southeast at 10 mph
Dew Point: 9C
Humidity: 66%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,010.5 mb

One of the most beautiful (and famous) gardens in the world: Monet's garden in Giverny . I don't know why but the photos I find in most of the websites look dull and boring, it may be that only going there for yourself or seeing it in a painting by Monet it is possible to see the beauty of it? If you have to visit one place in France, that should be it for me!


Uno de los jardines mas bellos (y famosos) del mundo : el jardin de la casa de Monet en Giverny . Curiosament, ni la pagina web oficial ni otras de aficionados le hacen justicia al jardin. Las fotos son horrorosas y descoloridas! Quiza es que solo se puede apreciar su gran belleza en persona o bien a traves de las obras de Monet? Si me dan a escoger un lugar, tan solo uno a visitar en Francia, tendria que ser Giverny!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
17C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the Northwest at 10 mph
Dew Point: 4C
Humidity: 42%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,007.1 mb

I am now reading Brideshead Regained by Michael Johnston. This book is a follow-up to the story of the doomed aristocratic Catholic family, the Flytes, written by Evelyn Waught and so well depicted in the Granada production Brideshead Revisited (this previous link is quite good, giving a summary by chapters of what the book is about). But in doing so, Mr Johnston has incurred the wrath of the Waugh estate, which threatened him with legal action over the unauthorised sequel. Now Mr Johnston has had to agree that his work will never be sold in bookshops. Instead it can only be sold online and all copies must bear a sticker telling the reader: "This sequel is not authorised by the Waugh estate." My copy of the book is from the Library, I guess they bought it on the internet too... I did very much like Brideshead Revisited the book. And the tv series was superb. After reading about 10 pages of this sequel, I would not risk saying this sequel is rubbish but...somehow the characters seem not to be as real as in the first Brideshead. Let's see what I think when I finish the book.. By the way, the wonderful Brideshead mansion can be visited in England, its real name it's Castle Howard . I've been there and found it as gorgeous as depicted in the tv series.


Estoy leyendo Brideshead Regained de Michael Johnson. Este libro es una secuela de la novela de Evelyn Waugh sobre la aristocratica familia Flyte , vista a traves de los ojos del artista Charles Ryder durante los felices anios 20 en Gran Bretania. Probablemente os sonara mas la serie de television, una produccion de Granada basada en el libro y llamada, como este, Retorno a Brideshead (el link os llevara a una pagina en ingles donde hay un buen resumen, capitulo a capitulo, de la historia). Pero al intentar publicar esta secuela, Michael Johnson se encontro con la total oposicion de la familia de Evelyn Waugh, quienes amenazaron con llevarle a los tribunales por no pedirles autorizacion ni consultarles sobre el tema. Asi que Johnston ha tenido que conformarse con vender su libro en internet y que, en la contraportada, aparezca una etiqueta donde se informa al lector que esta secuela no esta autorizada por los herederos del escritor Evelyn Waugh... Mi copia del libro es de la biblioteca. Lo habran comprado online, supongo. Encontre fascinante el libro original, asi como la perfecta adaptacion en la serie de television. Llevo leidas unas diez paginas de esta secuela y no se...no me convence mucho. Los personajes parece que hablan y piensan igual que en el original, pero no los veo muy reales, es como si se esforzaran demasiado, como si fueran imitaciones.... Ya veremos lo que pienso cuando acabe el libro! Por cierto, la maravillosa mansion de Brideshead se llama, en realidad, Castle Howard y se halla en el norte de Inglaterra. Es tan majestuosa como en la serie, puedo asegurarlo, ya que la visitamos hace un par de anios.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
18C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the West at 13 mph
Dew Point: 8C
Humidity: 52%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,011.9 mb

I read in The New Zealand Herald another piece of bizarre news courtesy of our kiwi friends:
Pot grower who fed dope to pig dies
"A Wairarapa man whose special friendship with a wild pig made world headlines in the early 1980s has died. Ivan Churcher and his pet pig Barry shared more than just friendship and fun times together -- they shared a fondness for cannabis that brought both of them to the attention of the law and international media. Mr Churcher, who lived most of his life in rural South Wairarapa, was arrested for possession of cannabis, cultivating 380 cannabis plants and having a pipe for smoking the drug. He pleaded guilty in Masterton District Court and his novel excuse -- that he was growing the plants not only for his own use but also for Barry was not only accepted by the court but has become part of Wairarapa folklore. The prosecuting sergeant at the time John Johnston, who is now Masterton police area controller, conceded that "one smokes it and the other eats it" and that it was likely the pig was addicted to cannabis. Instead of feeling the full weight of the law for his transgressions Mr Church was given a minimum punishment, 75 hours community service. The resulting news story of the court appearance was published through New Zealand, Australia and Britain and even made it to the prestigious New York Times.

Mr Churcher first met Barry in 1976 when he was on a hunting trip in the Haurangi Ranges. He caught the little piglet then about two days old and decided to take him home. Barry proved to be a super intelligent pet who would sit on command and come when called. He also learned to share a smoke and a bottle of beer which he would pick up in his mouth and drain before placing the bottle back down on the floor. The pig also did his bit for charity often appearing at shows for people to try to guess his weight, or how many biscuits he could eat in 24 hours. He enjoyed nothing better than to be given a soapy bath and a wash down with the garden hose afterwards.

Ivan Churcher was involved in several environmental campaigns being passionately anti 1080 poison that he claimed was killing wildlife, other than the possums it was intended for, and also many birds. He also spoke out against those who abused fishing laws by taking undersized crayfish, saying that if sheep farmers went about killing their capital stocks in the same way they would go bust. Ivan Churcher moved north but returned to Wairarapa in his last years and died on Sunday."

Leo en el New Zealand Herald otra noticia inverosimil, cortesia de nuestros amigos kiwis:
Fallece el hombre que alimentaba a su cerdo con cannabis.
Resumo el articulo para no cansar al personal.. Ivan Churcher, vecino del pueblo de Wairapa, ha fallecido este domingo. El senior Churcher alcanzo fama mundial en 1980 cuando fue juzgado por posesion y cultivo de cannabis, alegando ante el juez que el no vendia cannabis, sino que lo cultivaba para su uso personal y de su cerdo. El lo fumaba, el cerdo se lo comia. El juez dicto una leve sentencia de 75 horas de trabajo para la comunidad, la noticia se publico en periodicos de Nueva Zelanda, Australia y Gran Bretania, e incluso llego a aparecer en el New York Times. Ivan Churcher y su cerdo se conocieron en 1976, cuando estando Ivan de caza se encontro con un pequenio cerdo salvaje nacido dos dias antes y abandonado por su madre. El cerdo resulto ser un animal de gran inteligencia, que acostumbraba a sentarse en el sofa y mirar la television y responder a ordenes de su amo. Ademas de comer cannabis, a Barry el cerdo le gustaba beber cerveza en botella, siendo capaz de sostener la botella en su hocico y despues depositarla con delicadeza en la mesa. Le gustaba darse banios de agua caliente con mucha espuma y despues bajar al jardin y que Ivan le aclarara el jabon con una manguera. Ivan Churcher y Barry participaron en numerosos actos publicos de Organizaciones No Gubernamentales (ONGs) y de beneficencia, dando soporte a campanias de preservacion y defensa del medio ambiente. Ivan se mudo hace unos anios al norte del pais, pero recientemente volvio a Wairapa, en donde fallecio el domingo".

The weather today:
Partly Cloudy
18C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the Northwest at 8 mph
Dew Point: 11C
Humidity: 64%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,022.0 mb

From right now, we Yahoo! users have a 100Mb account. Isn't that great?

Desde ya, los usuarios de Yahoo! tenemos 100Mb de capacidad en la cuenta de correo. Genial, no?

The weather today:
Sunny
21C
UV Index: 4 Low
Wind: From the West Southwest at 9 mph
Dew Point: 18C
Humidity: 83%
Visibility: 9 miles
Barometer: 1,023.4 mb

A large number of New Zealand citizens is asking for the government to have a referendum on the question of changing the country's flag for a more representative, all inclusive and non-colonialist symbol.
If you would like to see New Zealand have a referendum on the question: "Should New Zealand change its flag? " please read this website and sign the petition online here: : HERE . I've already signed! Good luck to the campaigners!!


Una gran mayoria de ciudadanos de Nueva Zelanda quiere cambiar su bandera nacional. La nueva es mucho mas atractiva, representa a todos los ciudadanos y no es un testamento del pasado colonialista. Si quereis que Nueva Zelanda proponga un referendum para decidir si es apropiado cambiar su bandera, visitad esta pagina web y firmad la peticion online : AQUI .Yo ya he firmado! Mis mejores deseos para la campania!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
20C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the West at 8 mph
Dew Point: 17C
Humidity: 85%
Visibility: 7 miles
Barometer: 1,030.8 mb

As English Heritage has been doing for the past years, free entry to Stonehenge will take place on the evening of the 20th June, for the Summer solstice celebrations. With restrictions, of course. No bonfires or standing inside the circle, as used to happen when in the past travellers forced entry to the site and the police ended up attacking them and throwing them to jail. Now there is free entry, but one has to behave!.
Sunrise will occur at 04.58 on Monday 21st June 2004
Designated Car Park Opens - 2000 hours (8pm) Sunday 20th June
Access to Stonehenge - 2200 hours (10pm) Sunday 20th June
Stonehenge Closes - 0900 hours (9am) Monday 21st June
Last Admission to Designated Car Park - 0800 hours (8am) Monday 21st June
Designated Car Park to be vacated - 1300 hours (1pm) Monday 21st June
For more information and conditions of entry, have a look at English Heritage.


Tal y como han venido haciendo en los ultimos anios, English Heritage ofrece entrada libre a Stonehenge por la tarde y durante toda la noche del dia 20 de junio, para las celebraciones del solsticio de verano. Con restricciones, claro. Nada de encender fuego ni entrar en el circulo, como solia ocurrir cuando la gente forzaba la entrada y la policia acababa desalojando al personal a la fuerza. Ahora la entrada es libre, pero hay que comportarse.
El sol saldra a las 04.58 del Lunes 21 Junio 2004
El parkign abre a las 20.00 h del domingo 20 Junio
El acceso a Stonehenge empieza a las 22.00 h del domingo 20 Junio
Stonehenge cerrara a las 09.00 h de la maniana del lunes 21 de Junio
Ultima admision al parking : 08.00 h del lunes 21 de Junio
Ultima salida del parking :13.00 h del lunes 21 de Junio.
Para mas informacion y condiciones de entrada, mirad en English Heritage.


The weather today:
Fair
20C
UV Index: 5 Moderate
Wind: From the West at 16 mph
Dew Point: 5C
Humidity: 37%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,017.9 mb

Last Friday, Big Brother UK launched a competition looking for any individual over the age of 18, to take part in Big Brother's BIGGEST competition. Basically the title sequence before the show (images and music, by the way, composed by Paul Oakenfold) contains a secret message - its up to you to crack it.The judges, at their discretion, will select a number of people with the correct answer to come to the studio and battle it out for the big prize: Being Big Brother for a day and taking decisions on how to run the house : lights, shower, tasks, rewards and punishments.. The competition closes on Friday 9th July 2004.
The numbers are:
23.8.15
19.1.9.4
12.9.6.5
23.1.19
6.1.9.18
So I gave the numbers to SD this afternoon...and after 5 minutes he came back with the correct answer, saying it was very easy! Now, 5 minutes, that is really good, eh? SD is the most intelligent kiwi on the planet!

El viernes pasado, Big Brother Reino Unido presento una competicion novedosa (solo para mayores de 18 anios). La secuencia del inicio de BB (imagenes y musica, por cierto que esta ultima es de Paul Oakenfold) esconden un codigo secreto. Hay que descifrar el codigo, enviar la respuesta a BB y un panel de jueces escogera a algunos de los ganadores para que se desplacen hasta el estudio de BB y compitan por el premio final : ser Big Brother por un dia. Es decir, decidir como funcionara la casa ese dia : agua caliente, iluminacion, el reto diario a los habitantes de la casa, darles premios o castigarles... El ultimo dia para presentar las respuestas es el 9 de julio.
El codigo es:
23.8.15
19.1.9.4
12.9.6.5
23.1.19
6.1.9.18
Le pase los numeros a SD esta tarde..y en cinco minutos ya me enviaba un email con la respuesta correcta, diciendo que era pan comido!! Sera pan comido para SD, pero no para mi. Y cinco minutos! Vaya record! Definitivamente, SD es el kiwi mas inteligente del planeta.


The weather today:
Sunny
24C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the Southwest at 15 mph
Dew Point: 13C
Humidity: 50%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,016.9 mb

I must be getting old... My brain cells are dying!! My mind went totally blank this morning. I really could not find some EXTREMELY important documents. I should have send them to a Board for approval. But I could not remember having done it. But they were not in the folder where I used to keep them. I could not interrupt the Board to ask if they had the documents. So I went through ALL my archives and folders looking for this documents. I found docs which looked as if they belonged to the Iron Age (provided people then had paper and pen, which they didn't). But not the docs I was looking for. The Board took ages to finish. Then I could not get hold of the Minutes Secretary. Finally I managed to speak to the Chair. This very nice gentleman came back to me after 5 mins with the news that the docs where indeed submitted to the Board. Wow! I forgot I sent them there then! But now it comes a horrid twist...some other docs have been recorded in our system as submitted to the Board but nobody can find the hardcopy! Is it my cells dying or is it...Gremlins!!??



La vejez nos llega a todos..incluso a mi! Mis celulas grises se mueren!! Esta maniana me quede totalmente en blanco. No podia encontrar unos documentos de EXTREMA importancia. Tendria que haberlos enviado a un comite para que fueran aprobados. Pero no podia recordar haberlos enviado. Y los docs.no estaban en el archivo donde se suponia tenian que estar. No podia interrumpir al comite para preguntar si tenian o no los documentos, asi que ha cundido el panico y me he dedicado a rebuscar en todos los archivos y carpetas. He encontrado documentos que parecian de la Edad del Hierro (suponiendo que en aquellos tiempos hubieran tenido papel y boli, que no tenian!). Por supuesto, he encontrado de todo excepto los documentos que buscaba. La reunion del comite ha durado horas y horas. Al finalizar, no ha habido manera de encontrar a la secretaria que tomaba las minutas. Finalmente, he conseguido acorralar al presidente del comite quien, muy amablemente, me ha informado en cinco minutos de que mis documentos habian sido presentados y aprobados por el comite. Y yo ni siquiera recordaba haberlos enviado! Ay! Pero, para mi horror, ahora me comunican que el original de otro documento que aparece como aceptado en el sistema, no se encuentra. Es decir, esta en la base de datos, pero el documento se ha volatilizado en la version papel. O a mi se me mueren las celulas grises o son los...gremlins!!???


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the West Southwest at 17 mph
Dew Point: 17C
Humidity: 88%
Visibility: 7 miles
Barometer: 1,019.3 mb

On June 8th, 2004 a celestial event of historical scientific importance is taking place when the silhouette of the planet Venus once again crosses the face of the Sun as seen from the Earth. This event or transit of Venus last occurred in 1882, so no one alive today has ever witnessed the transit of Venus.


Hoy 8 de junio del 2004, tiene lugar un acontecimiento historico y cientifico : desde la Tierra se puede ver el planeta Venus orbitando delante del sol. El transito de venus ocurrio por ultima vez en 1882, asi que ningun ser humano vivo hoy en dia ha visto este fenomeno anteriormente.


The weather:
Fair
26C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the South Southeast at 6 mph
Dew Point: 16C
Humidity: 54%
Visibility: 6 miles

This magnificent array of waterfalls is located in Southern Brasil in the state of Parana on the border between Argentina and Brasil. They stretch for 2.5 miles plunging 269 feet (82m) into Iguaçu River. They are absolutely fabulous. Numerous rocky and wooded islands on the edge of the escarpment over which the Iguaçu River plunges divide the falls into some 275 separate waterfalls or cataracts. The name of the falls comes from the Guarani Indian word meaning "great water." In 1986 Iguacu Falls were declared a Natural Heritage of Mankind by Unesco. Iguacu is also the name of the restaurant where SD's parents organised a gathering for friends and family to meet me in 2000. I do heartily reccommend this restaurant, if you happen to be in Auckland.


Esta magnifica serie de cascadas esta situada en el estado de Parana en Brasil, casi en la frontera entre este pais y Argentina. Tienen 2,5 millas de ancho y una profundidad de 269 pies (82 metros). Hay, ni mas ni menos que 275 cascadas espectaculares, creadas por la acumulacion de diferentes isletas rocosas al final del abismo a donde cae el rio Iguazu. El nombre de las cascadas es el termino usado por los indios Guaranis para describir una gran cantidad de agua. En 1986 la UNESCO declaro las cascadas de Iguazu patrimonio natural de la humanidad. Iguazu es también el nombre del restaurante donde los padres de SD organizaron una reunion para que amigos y parientes me conocieran en el anio 2000. No dejeis de ir a comer a este restaurante si se da la casualidad de que pasais por Auckland. La comida es deliciosa!


The weather today:
Sunny
24°C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the East Southeast at 8 mph
Dew Point: 21°C
Humidity: 82%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,016.9 mb

Well, I was sooo excited with the D-Day anniversary, that I forgot another anniversary! Believe it or not, this Wednesday 2nd June was the ONE YEAR anniversary of this blog! So Long and Thanks for All the Fush& Chups is a year and 2 days old! Congrats my little blog!


Con la emocion del 60 aniversario del D-Day se me olvido otro aniversario!! Parece increible pero este miercoles 2 de junio ha sido el PRIMER ANIVERSARIO de este blog! So Long and Thanks for All the Fush & Chups tiene 1 anio y dos dias! Felicidades, querido blog!

This Sunday 6th June is the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, when the allied troops left Portsmouth and other British harbours determined to liberate Europe from the Nazi's tyranny. I feel a deep admiration for the photographer who took the above photo : Robert Capa. He must have been scared to death but he was there just as the soldiers were. Just as he had been with the soldiers and risking his life as well when he stood by the Republican Army in the Spanish Civil War. You can see all the photos Capa took in Normandy : here and then click on the black & white photo on the right side of the screen.


Este domingo 6 de Junio es el 60 aniversario del D-Day, Desembarco de Normandia, cuando las tropas aliadas partieron de Portsmouth y otros puertos britanicos con la determinacion de liberar Europa de la tirania nazi. Siento una gran admiracion por el fotografo que tomo la foto de arriba : Robert Capa. Debia estar muerto de miedo pero estaba alli y el pulso no le temblo, al igual que los soldados. Igual que habia estado al lado de los soldados del ejercito de la Republica, arriesgando su vida, durante la Guerra Civil Espaniola. Podeis ver todas las fotos que Capa tomo en Normandia : aqui , haciendo click en la foto en blanco y negro a la derecha de la pagina.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
23C
UV Index: 4 Low
Wind: From the West Northwest at 17 mph
Dew Point: 17C
Humidity: 70%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,020.3 mb

We may go up to London to see Edward Hopper's painting exhibition at the Tate Modern. This retrospective exhibition is the first major Hopper show to take place in the UK for over twenty years and presents many of his most iconic images, like Nighthawks. Unfortunately, they are not exhibiting my favourite painting by Hopper : Gas (see picture above). It has been repeated ad nauseam that Hopper is the best in portraying loneliness. I may agree with that, but to me the uneasiness you feel when looking at a Hopper it is mostly caused by the subtle creepiness of the image. In Gas, for instance, one can sense that fear felt when you are driving on a deserted road at dusk and your car is about to run out of gas and what will happen to you then? Will some psycho creep out of the woods and stab you on the back? Then you happen to see the lights of a gas station. You are saved! Or are you? Maybe the psycho is waiting for you at the gas station! So you fill up the tank with fear, quickly start the car and drive again into the dark road...into safeness? I think it is this feeling of uncertainty, of wondering what will happen next that stays with you while looking at a Hopper's painting. I would not hang a Hopper's at home. But then, I think most of paintings are not for decoration!


Quiza vayamos a Londres a ver la exposicion de pinturas de Edward Hopper en la Tate Modern. Esta exposición retrospectiva es la primera en tener lugar en el Reino Unido en mas de veinte anios, exhibiendo muchas de sus pinturas mas conocidas, como Nighthawks. Lamentablemente, no incluye mi Hopper preferido : Gas (ver foto arriba). Los criticos han repetido hasta la saciedad que Hopper es el pintor contemporaneo que mejor refleja la soledad en sus cuadros. En parte, estoy de acuerdo. Pero a mi parecer, la sensacion de intranquilidad, de sentirse incomod@ al contemplar un Hopper creo que es causada sobre todo por el horror que no se ve. En gas, por ejemplo, se siente el miedo de conducir por una carretera desierta cuando esta anocheciendo y nos estamos quedando sin gasolina. Que ocurrira entonces? Se parara el coche y nos quedaremos indefensos en la oscuridad? Aparecera un psicopata entre los arboles y se avalanzara sobre nosotros con un cuchillo afilado? De pronto, suspiramos aliviados. Vemos una gasolinera en la distancia. Estamos salvados. O no? Y si el psicopata nos esta esperando en la gasolinera vacia? Llenamos el deposito de prisa y con miedo, arrancamos el coche deprisa y conducimos otra vez por la oscura carretera, pensando que estamos a salvo. O quiza no? Creo que es esta sensación de incertidumbre, de preguntarse que sucedera despues, eso es lo que pervade en nuestro pensamiento cuando miramos un Hopper. Yo no colgaria un Hopper en mi casa, por mucho que me guste. Porque soy de l@s que piensan que el arte sirve para mas que para decorar el salon!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 4 Low
Wind: From the South Southeast at 9 mph
Dew Point: 13C
Humidity: 68%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,028.4 mb

Today I started reading 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Tracy Chevalier. In seventeenth century Delft, a prosperous town in Holland, life was orderly. Rich and poor, Catholic and Protestant, master and servant: all know their place. So when Griet becomes a maid in the household of the painter Johannes Vermeer, she thinks she knows her role: housework, laundry, and the care of his six children. She even feels able to handle his shrewd mother-in-law, his restless, sensual wife and their jealous servant. What no-one expects is that Griet’s quiet manner, quick perceptions and fascination with her master’s paintings will draw her inexorably into his world. As she becomes part of his work their growing intimacy spreads tension and deception in the ordered household and even – as the scandal seeps out – ripples in the town beyond. Tracy Chevalier was inspired by the girl from one of Vermeer’s most loved and mysterious paintings. She has created an extraordinary and moving novel on the corruption of innocence and the price of genius. For a detailed study of the painting, see the link here.. The film's website is here.

Hoy he empezado a leer 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' (La muchacha con el pendiente de perla, en espaniol) de Tracy Chevalier. En el siglo XVII, en Delft, una prospera ciudad holandesa, la vida cotidiana es puro orden. Ricos y pobres, catolicos y protestantes, amos y criados: todos saben bien a que clase pertenecen y lo que la sociedad espera de ellos. Cuando Griet empieza a trabajar de criada en la casa del pintor Johannes Vermeer, ella tambien cree que sabe su 'sitio': hacer las tareas domesticas, lavar la ropa y cuidar de los seis hijos del pintor. Griet incluso cree que puede manejar a la suegra del pintor, a su nerviosa esposa y a la celosa criada. Lo que nadie en la casa se imagina es que las maneras reservadas de Griet, sus sagaces opiniones y la fascinacion que siente por las pinturas de su amo haran que este la introduzca inexorablemente a su mundo. La tension y el enganio crecen dia a dia a medida que Griet se va acercando mas y mas a su amo, dicha situacion llegando incluso a transpirar fuera de las paredes de la casa y ser conocida en la ciudad. Tracy Chevelier se inspiro en la muchacha que aparece en la mas conocida y admirada de las obras de Vermeer, creando una novela fascinante sobre la corrupcion de la inocencia juvenil y el precio que se paga por ser un genio. Para un estudio detallado de la pintura, ver aqui.
La website de la pelicula esta aqui.

The weather today:
Sunny
21C
UV Index: 3 Low
Wind: From the North at 9 mph
Dew Point: 10C
Humidity: 50%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,025.1 mb

As if the Eurovision Song contest had not been addictive enough for this month, Big Brother 2004 started last Friday. They said it would be 'evil' and yes, it's evil in cliches and stereotypes. I wonfer how the producers select the contestants.. do they write a list like : Right, this year we need two gays, a transgender, a lesbian, a naive blond, a sexy blond, a bubbly brunette, a vain body builder, an asylum seeker... Big Brother pretends to be 'a good portrait of our society'. Sure. But mind you, in black and white. Because in Big Brother contestants are either goodies or baddies. Nice or rude. Black and White. The other colours do not exist in BB. Let's make things easier for the audience, think the producers. Let's mash the potatoes for the children!


Por si el festival de Eurovision no hubiera sido ya suficiente para los adictos a la tele-basura, Big Brother 2004 empezo este viernes. Y esta vez los estereotipos y cliches pasan de castanio oscuro. Me pregunto como seleccionan al personal los productores. Haciendo una lista en plan : A ver, este anio queremos a dos gays, un transexual, una lesbiana, una rubia inocente, una rubia sexy, una morenita graciosa, un chico musculado y vanidoso, un inmigrante africano...Big Brother pretende ser un 'reflejo de la sociedad de hoy en dia'. Ya. Pero que quede clarito, en blanco y negro. En Big Brother o se es bueno, o se es malo. O se es simpatico, o se es antipatico. Blanco y Negro. El resto de colores no existe. Para que sea mas facil para los telespectadores, deben pensar los productores. Hagamos pure de patatas, bien blandito, que sea mas facil de comer para los ninios. Porque eso es lo que somos la audiencia : ninitos.


The weather today:
Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 1 Minimal
Wind: From the Northwest at 10 mph
Dew Point: 14C
Humidity: 73%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,013.9 mb