Monday, December 25, 2006

Today will never come again

Today is already Christmas Day, 25th Decembre 2006. Today will not come again, it will not pass again in the whole history of the world. It is an unique day as the others. But Christmas Eve used to be a special day some years ago. And it really was.
Today I have felt very worried about future, maybe for the first time. Many "What if's" have covered my mind and make me feel very bad.
As I am drinking some red wine and listening to The Appleseed Cast I know this moment will never come back, and I know that every time I will remember "that Christmas Eve when I was 30", I will remember how horrible it has been, and I will never be able to change it.
Live your life as happy as you can feel, and do not ruin any day of your life or another's, do not ruin special days, they will never come again.

Hyvää Joulua kaikille!!!

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Genetic Memory // Memoria Genética

As usually: Scroll down to read the english version

Hace unos 10 días, tuve la oportunidad de ver un documental sobre un tema científico muy interesante, la verdad es que decir eso sería poco.
La cuestión suena absurda, planteada desde el punto de vista del ciudadano de a pie, pero para un cientifífico, podria tener un significado mucho más serio, y, por qué no, preocupante. La pregunta es simple: ¿Podrían nuestros comportamientos o condiciones de vida influir en el normal desarrollo de nuestra descendencia? Y ese ciudadano normal y corriente diría: No, ¿por que me habrían de influenciar las condiciones de vida que llevó mi padre o mi madre a mí hoy en dia?
Pero la respuesta podria no ser tan sencilla. Investigadores han descubierto evidencias que demuestran que, por ejemplo, las siguientes generaciones de los individuos nacidos en un ambiente de hambruna, aún sin estar en las mismas condiciones que sus padres, desarrollan las características que llevarían a pensar que tienen poca comida a su disposición. Este caso concreto fue estudiado en un remoto pueblo de Suecia, aislado en los largos inviernos lapones, u, por consiguiente, con un bajo suministro de comida. Se descubrió que, las generaciones consecuentes desarrollaban los mismos detalles fisiológicos característicos de la hambruna, aquellos que sus progenitores ya poseían, y, esto es importante: incluso sin estar expuestos a esa hambruna.
¿Cuál puede ser la clave que lleva a heredar estas características, por otra parte, tan poco deseables?
El cuerpo humano está compuesto de células, millones de ellas y de muchas clases, que dan lugar a los diferentes tejidos. Cada célula por sí sola contiene la información genética que nos define: el ADN (plegado formando los cromosomas), en 2 copias, excepto los gametos: las células que están destinadas a la reproducción: poseen una única copia de la información genética.
A grandes rasgos, el ADN está formado por genes, que más tarde, en dos procesos llamados transcripción y traducción, da lugar a las proteínas, que, a su vez, tienen, cada una, una función específica en la célula o fuera de ella.
Existen millones de genes, cada uno da lugar a una proteina diferente o incluso a más, con lo cual la complejidad de la red es grandísima. No sé si alguna vez se llegará a conocer completamente. Pero no todos los genes que existen se traducen en proteinas: hay genes que llamamos latentes: no se expresan bajo condiciones normales, con lo cual, no se ve el efecto que causaría si diese lugar a la proteina que codifica.
Ahora bien, imaginemos que recibimos un estimulo externo que hace que un gen que NO se expresa normalmente lo haga. Hasta aquí todo sería normal, el gen se expresaría con o sin un efecto en nuestro organismo. El cambio de la teoría está en que la expresión de ese gen sería heredable, es decir, se daría una Memoria Genética, transmitiéndose a nuestra descendencia. La posible explicación a este fenómeno estaría en que ese estímulo incidiría en todas las células del cuerpo humano, incluidos los gametos que serán utilizados más tarde en la reproducción, con lo cual, los hijos o hijas del individuo en cuestión tendrían un gran probabilidad de presentar los mismos síntomas que el o los progenitores.
Ilustremos esto con otro ejemplo. Se investigó en mujeres embarazadas más de 7 meses el efecto que podía tner el estrés en sus vidas, y en las de sus futuros hijos. El estrés al que se sometieron las madres debido a sus ajetreadas vidas tuvo el efecto de producir Cortisol en su organismo, y, de algún modo, ese Cortisol introdujo un cambio en la expresión de un gen, demostrándose después que los hijos eran propensos a sentir estrés, incluso si las condiciones no eran adecuadas para ello.
Y, extrapolando a las consecuencias más desastrosas que éste descubrimiento tendría: abuelos expuestos a un agente externo que causa una enfermedad alterando el ADN pasarían ese gen mutado o sobrexpresado a su descedencia, con lo cual, sus nietos, por ejemplo, tendrían una más alta probabilidad de sufrir esa enfermedad que el resto de la población normal, sin estar expuestos a ese agente externo.
Ya no sólo nosotros tendríamos que preocuparnos de que lo que hacemos sea perjudicial para nosotros, tendríamos que preocuparnos de las consecuencias que podríamos provocar en nuestra descendencia.


English


About 10 days ago, I had the opportunity to watch a documentary on a very interesting scientific topic, the truth is that saying very interesting could be a little adjetive.
The question sounds absurd, raised from the point of view of the normal citizens, but for a researcher, it could have a much more serious meaning, and, why not, worrying. The question is simple: did our behaviors or conditions of life may influence the normal development of our offspring? And this normal citizen would say: Why should I be influenced by the actions of my parents?

But the response might not be so simple. Investigators have discovered evidences that demonstrate that, for example, the following generations of the individuals born in an environment of famine, yet without being in the same conditions that their parents, develop the characteristics that would lead to think that they have little food at their disposition. This concrete case was studied in a remote village of Sweden, isolated in the long winters of Lapland, and, consequently, with a low supply of food. It was discovered that, the following generations were developing the same physiological details typical of the famine, those that their progenitors already were possessing, and, this is important: even without being exposed to this famine.

What can be the key that leads to inheriting these characteristics, on the other hand, so little desirable?
The human body is composed of cells, millions of them and of many classes, which give place to the different tissues. Every single cell contains the genetic information that defines us: the ADN (folded forming the cromosomas), in 2 copies, except the gametes: the cells that are destined for the reproduction: they possess the only copy of the genetic information.
To big features, the ADN is formed by genes, which later, in two processes called transcription and translation, form the proteins, which, in turn, have, each one, a specific function in the cell or out of it.

Millions of genes exist, each one gives place to a different protein or even to more, with which the complexity of the net is the biggest. maybe it won't be completely known . But not all the genes that exist are translated in proteins: there are genes that we call latent: they do not express under normal conditions, so, we do not see the effect that it would cause if it forms the protein that it codifies.
Now then, let's imagine that we receive an external stimulus that makes a gene that does not express normally to express. Hitherto everything would be normal, the gene would express with or without an effect in our organism.The change of the theory is that this change in the gene expression would be inheritable, that is to say, a Genetic Memory, being transmitted to our descent. The possible explanation to this phenomenon would be in that this stimulus would affect in all the cells of the human body, included the gametes that will be used later in the reproduction, with which, the children or daughters of the individual in question would have one great probability of presenting the same symptoms that the progenitors.
Let's illustrate this with another example. There was investigated in pregnant women, more than 7 months, the effect that stress could have in their lives, and in those of their future children. The stress to which the mothers surrendered due to treir harassed lives had the effect of producing Cortisol in their organisms, and, somehow, this Cortisol introduced a change in the expression of a gene, being demonstrated later that the children were inclined to feel stress, even if the conditions were not adapted for it.
And, getting close to the more disastrous consequences that this discovery would have: grandparents exposed to an external agent which causes a disease altering the DNA would pass this mutated or everexposed gene to their offspring, and their grandsons, for example, would have a higher probability of suffering this disease than the rest of the normal population, even without being exposed to this external agent.

Already not only we would have to worry that what we do in our life is harmful to us, we also would have to worry about the consequences that we might provoke in our descent.


Friday, November 24, 2006

The Lake House

I watched "The lake House" last thursday night. It was a very good film, full of love, magic and coincidencies, in this case with me.
It is the story about a man and a woman, who live in the same house (a marvellous one, by the way, see the picture) , but with 2 years of difference, and, somehow, they deliver letters to each other in real-time, just leaving the letters or messages in the letter box, also present in the picture.
But that is not the important thing to know, and, besides, if I tell you more about the film, I would ruin a possible attendance to the cinema.
On thursday I recovered a book I had to read since a long time ago. It is "Persuasion" by Jane Austen, a book that me and my class mates had to read 2 years back in time during Christmas 2004/05, just when I knew I was leaving to Finland. Of course, I did not read the book, I was lazy andI was getting prepared for my trip, and also I was reading "Pride and prejudice", also by Jane Austen, so I had enough, for me they are quite difficult books to read, so, I was not going to read 2 at the same time , No way! But then I tried twice or three t¡mes without a success until thursday, I started in the underground while I was coming back from visiting my grandma, and it grabbed me!
Then, in the film it is the favourite book of one of the main characters. What a coincidence! It seems that the book is about 2 persons that fall in love but could not be together at that period of their lifes, and then, after some years, they meet again. Some of the sentences Keanu Reeves pronounces could have been said for me some months ago. Sometimes things like this happen, a film then exactly shows something similar to what you lived, and of course touches you... it is normal.
So, definitely, I am determined to read the novel, also to practice my english after my graduation (now I am only going to finnish). And see what does it have for me, what things can I learn from the novel. You always get good things and new experiences from everything, that is why I like to do many different things.
I hope all the coincidences are back in my life. I need to believe in them again (I still do, but I have not seen them in some months), I need to believe that I will be happy in life. Let's believe and choose the right way.
Good night.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Autumn finally... or something like that

Finally, after months of a more than usual warmer temperature for october and november, it seems that the begining of the winter is here. It is true that it has rained a lot ( what a relief!) but the temperature was really warm for this period of the year. Now, more or less for a week, temperatures have dropped a little bit, although they would be similar to those during spring in Europe or even summer. Today was sunny (it is already dark, at 18:25), and temperatures were nicer, at least for me. I can' stand when the weather is not what is supposed to be in a period of the year. Something like 10 days ago I felt like wearing my coats, but I obviously couln't, it was 20 or even more. Climate change I guess.
I played 90 minutes footbal game with my team, and it was horrible, with more reason because I also played with hangover. Maybe this was the very reason I felt so bad.
Anyway, here you have the link to see the weather forecast for Madrid.
I know that for many people in Europe this would be a stupid complaint, but I need a little bit of coldness down here in Spain. I am sorry!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Blogger beta..., good or bad?


Bueno, al principio, cuando mi amigo Litri nos comunico que se había pasado a la versión beta de blogger en nuestro querido blog del Rakiss Meiniss, una punzada de incertidumbre rondó todas mis ideas acerca del diseño de la página, patrimonio de todos los jugadores y fans, y, a la vez, de mi blog, éste que estáis leyendo ahora. Realmente pasé horas hasta que "diseñé" uno que realmente me gustara y en personalizarlo, poner mil y un enlaces y códigos web de los que poco sé. Miles y miles de pruebas y presionados de ese "Vista previa". Y ahora, alarmado, veo como otros internautas se echan las manos a la cabeza y cuentan cómo han perdido TODO su blog al actualizar a la dichosa versión beta. Aparte de la incompatibilidad de algunas de las plantillas, sobre todo las más complicadas. Y la mía opertenece a ése rango, quité algo de aquí, sustituí los tamaños de algo, el color, etc etc etc. Incluso conseguí después de mucho trajín hacerlo de 3 columnas.
Con el paso de las horas, leyendo auún más comentarios y páginas web con toneladas de información sobre el tema, creo que no es tan preocupante, al menos en cuanto al diseño, más fácil, quizás, porque te permite cambiar y añadir cosas sin tener que tocar el template, cosa que tuve que hacer en este blog. De hecho ya he encontrado un template de 3 columnas muy interesante y que actualmente estoy testeando.
El problema puede resumirse en que mi blog, de 1 año y 4 meses de antiguedad, desaparezca por completo en cualquier agujero negro de la programación html. Y ahora que me acuerdo, tengo también un par de blogs más, secundarios, uno de fotografias que me gusta mucho, donde sólo posteo eso, fotografías, y otro de categorías que probablemente desaparezca con el nuevo estilo. Veremos.

Nueva cuenta adscrita a Google y más de una queja

Una cosa que no me gusta, aunque en principio carece de cierta importancia, es que tu nueva cuenta es la misma que la que posees en google (gmail), y, si no tienes una, has de crearla obligatoriamente. Un buen truco de Google para hacerse con más usuarios para su servivio de correo electrónico. Pero ya se sabe, a más grande y rica una compañía es, más tratará de serlo. Lo raro es que el rey de las búsquedas en internet no hubiera hecho nada hasta ahora con blogger, ya que fue comprado en el año 2003. Google crece sin parar, hace poco compraba también You Tube, servicio de almacenamiento de videos por excellencia del web.

No han sido ni uno ni dos los internautas que he comprobado que no gustan de Blogger beta. Algunos, obligados, por la traumática desaparición de su espacio web, y otros, simplemente porque no les ha gustado el cambio.El tema trae cola en los foros desde el momento en que se produjeron las primeras migraciones.

Recomendaciones


Mis consejos y recomendaciones son sencillos, hemos de tener paciencia con el cambio. No cambies sin estar seguro de que tu plantilla va a ser soportada sin ninguna alteración. Más vale un poco de investigación y lectura en internet y tardar un poco más en cambiar (aún no es obligatorio el cambio pero lo será en un par de meses, dicen) que encontrarte con que has perdido tu plantilla o, peor todavía, tu blog entero.
Haz un backup de TODO tu blog. Hay herramientas que lo permiten, basta tan sólo con echar un vistaz en ñblog , excelente web para utilidades de blogs. Aquí se explica fácilmente cómo hacerlo.

English version

Well, initially, when my friend Litri reported to us that Blogger had passed to beta version in our beloved blog of the Rakiss Meiniss, a twinge of uncertainty was getting about all my ideas over the designing of the website, patrimony of all the players and fans, and, simultaneously, about my blog, this one that you are reading now. Really, I spent hours until I "designed" one blog that I really liked and thousands of hours also in personalizing it. Thousands and thousands of tests and pressed of the "preview " button.

And now, alarmed, I see as other internet users throw the hands to the head and tell how they have lost ALL their blogsdue to having updated to the new version thread. Apart from the incompatibility of some of the templates, especially the most complicated. And mine belongs to those, I took something from that one of here, replaced the sizes of something, the color, etc etc etc. Even I managed, after many hours spent, to do it of 3 columns.

With the step of the hours, reading even more commentaries and web pages with tons of information about the topic, I believe that itis not so worrying, at least as for the design, easier, probably, because it allows yourself to change and to add things without having to touch control yourself, thing that I had to do in this blog. In fact, I have already found a template of 3 columns very interesting and that nowadays I am testing.
The problem can be summarized in that my blog, of 1 year and 4 months of exage, should disappear completely in any black hole of the programming html. And now that I remember, I have also a couple of blogs more, secondary, one of photographies who me pleases much, where only posteo it, you come out in photographs, and other one categories that probably it(he,she) eliminates with the new style. We will see.


New account assigned to Google and more than one complaint

A thing that I do not like, though at first lacks certain importance, is that your new account is the same that the one that you possess in google (gmail), and, if you do not have one, you have to create it obligatorily. Google's good trick to be done by more users for its e-mail service. But already it is known, the bigger and rich a company is, the more it will try to be. The strange thing is that the king of the searches on the Internet had not done anything untill now with blogger, since it was bought in the year 2003. Google grows steadily, they bought also You Tube, most famous service of storage of videos in the web.

They have been neither one nor two the internet users who I have verified that they do not please Blogger beta. Some, obliged, for the traumatic disappearance of their blogs, and others, simply because they have not liked the change. The topic brings tail in the forums from the moment in which the first migrations took place.

Recommendations

My advices and recommendations are simple, we have to be patience with the change. Do not change without being sure that your template is going to be supported without any alteration. More it is worth a bit of investigation and reading on the Internet and being late a bit more in changing (still the change is not obligatory but it will be in a couple of months, they say) that to check that you have lost your template or, worst still, your entire blog.
Do a backup of ALL your blog. There are tools that allow it, it is enough to take a look in ñblog, excellent web for utilitiesfor blogs. Here it explains easily how to do it.



Thursday, November 09, 2006

Maaaaybe tomorrow, I find my waaaay hooome

Acabo de terminar de ver la película "Crash", la verdad es que me ha dejado impresionado, realmente ha sido una muy buena, después de la cual me tengo que replantear seriamente por qué no veo más cine. En fin, y ¿por qué el título de este post? Cuando el film acaba, la canción "Maybe tomorrow" de Stereophonics comienza a sonar, y es una canción que me gusta especialemente, parece que definiera mi búsqueda. El largometraje da una lección a los espectadores, esos, por qué no decir todos, que juzgamos a los personajes que encarnan los actores, y con similitud con la vida real, donde no paramos de juzgar. No sé si alguien tendrá derecho a ello, a juzgar a las personas por lo que hacen, los jueces lo tienen, cierto, pero no siempre aciertan, ni siempre juzgan moralmente.
Procuro no juzgar a nadie, trato de veras de no hacerlo, porque eso significa encasillar a la otra persona para ya difícilmente dejarla salir de ese juicio. Y qué dificil es, si, realmente lo es. Personas en este mundo hay 6000 millones, más, y creciendo. No todas son personas muy buenas, otras muchas no han nacido en el lugar ni el tiempo adecuados, pero no las juzguemos por sólo 10 segundos de aparición en pantalla, si acaso molestemonos en ver el resto de su película.


I have just watched the film "Crash", the truth is that I am impressed, it really was a good film, after which I have to seriously reconsider why do not I watch more films. Well, and, what about the title of the post? When the motion picture ends, the song "Maybe tomorrow" by Stereophonics, starts to being played, and it is a song that I truly like, it looks like it defines my search..
The movie teaches the audience a lesson, those, why not saying everyone, we judge the characters whose are performed by the actors, and with a similitude the real life, where we do not stop judging. I do not know if somebody has the right to do it, to judge the people due to the things they do, Judges have the right, but they are not always right, and they do not always judge morally.
I try not to juzgar anybody, I truly try not to do it, because that means to type-cast the other person and he/she would hardly find a way to get out that judgement. And how difficult it is, yes, it really is. Persons in this world are more than 6000 millions and growing. Not every of them are good persons, many others were not born in the correct place and period of life, but let’s not judge them just for 10 seconds of appearance on the screen, let's better take a look at the rest of his/her film.


"So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home"


Thursday, November 02, 2006

Promised pictures of Norway

Ridderspranget, with its impossible shapes of ice, November 2003

Aqui están dos reproducciones de las fotos que tengo en diapositivas de mi estancia en Noruega. La primera es en Ridderspranget, un lugar atravesado por un río y con una montaña(en realidad no recuerdo si era el nombre de la montaña). Hay numerosos desniveles y cañones y unos saltos de agua espectaculares. Imprescindible una visita si estás cerca. En verano, hasta se baña la gente. En invierno, como podeis comprobar aqui, ya en noviembre parte de río está congelado y las paredes del cañón son vestidas por extrañas, pero preciosas formas imposiblesde hielo.
Allí donde criaturas de leyenda como los trolls, y animales tan reales como el alce habitan, sin embargo, igualmente difíciles de avistar que los primeros. Un lugar mágico. La segunda es de una mini-excursión que hicimos a las puertas del parque nacional Jotunheimen, este es un lago inmenso que delimitaba el parque. Al fondo se pueden ver las grandes cumbres del parque, entre las que se encuentra el más alto de Noruega.
Las fotos no están muy bien escaneadas, pero, de todas formas dan una visión de lo descrito.
En el post "Three years ago"cogué otra foto tomada en Noruega. Disfrutad!

The pictures are not so well scanned, but, however, they give a view of what is described.

These are two reproductions of the pictures I have as slides, taken during my stay in Norway. The first one is Ridderspranget, a place crossed by a river and with a near mountain (in fact I am not sure if the name corresponds to the mountain). There are many drops and canyons and some spectacular water falls. Indispensable to visit if you are nearby. In summer people even have a bath there. In winter, as you can notice, here, even in november, part of the river is frozen and the canyon's walls are dressed with strange, but beautiful and impossible ice shapes.
There, where creatures of legend like trolls and animals as real as moose live, however, equally difficult to see. A magic place. The secong picture was taken in a mini expedition to the doors of the national Park Jotunheimen, that was an inmense lake that borders the Park. In the background of the image can be seen the high peaks of the Park, among them is the highest mountain in Norway, Galghøpiggen.

In the post "Three years ago" you can find another picture I took there as well. Enjoy!

Saturday, October 21, 2006

New Posts

I have been quite busy in the last month, due to that I have not written anything. Now I have 2 new posts and some new pictures at Only pictures. I hope that all you visitors will enjoy them!
Thank you!!

He estado bastante ocupado durante el último mes y no he podido escribir nada. Ahora tengo 2 nuevos posts y algunas fotos nuevas en Only Pictures. Espero que toso vosotros, visitantes de esta página las disfruteis.
¡Muchas gracias!

Three years ago


Three years ago I was in Lusæter gård, Heidal community, in the middle of Norway, yes, and also in the middle of nowhere, for 6 months. The farm is quite near the Galdhøpiggen, the highest peak in the country, you can check the map above.
It was the perfect spiritual retreat that I needed in that moment. It changed my life forever, and I am very proud that it did change it. I learned many things, I saw many things, impossible to see anywhere else, I made forever new friends. I saw the Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights, moreorless 3 years ago exactly. I met nature and I saw its cruelty and its love towards all things that are inside it.
And one of the most important things I have ever done or met: Freedom. I met Freedom and I will never forget it, and I will be forever thankful to whom showed it to me. A thing that every single human being should meet in his/her life, and should look for it at least once in his/her life.
Near Lusæter gård, ascending to the little mountain Gråhø, with a magnific view


I learned the correct value of things like milk in a great and warm breakfast, milk that you had previously milk from the cows. Heat in a really cold winter. Listening to music or watching a film was the best things we could do, and I was very pleased that for once in my life I had real peacefulness and silence. And that I could see the stars every cloudless night, taking pictures of them just walking away a few metres from the room I lived in. Marvellous.
I took there very good pictures with my old-fashioned (I don't mind) film camera. It was still a good one to learn. Hopefully, let's see if I can digitalize some of the slides I took.
Norway, Norway, Norway, I have you in my thoughts every day. Maybe we will meet again for a long or a short time soon.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Madness


Yes, I think it is the name of a band, but this will not be referred to it, this will be referred to how mad and insane some persons are. I just do not understand why some people act as they do, and why this kind of things happen. Mankind is absolutely insane.

Si, es el nombre de un grupo de música, pero no me voy a referir a él, esto va referido a lo loco y lo poco cuerdas que algunas personas son. No entiendo por qué alguna gente actua como lo hacen, y por qué este tipo de cosas pasan. La humanidad está absolutamente loca.

Read about what happened:
Source: click here:


Protests over new golf course in Avila, Spain

Ecologists appeal to Regional Government to prevent the destruction of a pine forest in Avila, Spain.The Spanish trade union CCOO and Centaurea, an association of ecologists, are trying to force the regional government of Castilla y Leon to respect a sentence passed by the Supreme Tribunal Court and to stop all building activity in the Golf course Ciudad del Golf in Las Navas del Marqués. The regional government supports the construction of this new golf course and leisure complex in Avila, even though it involves the destruction of an extensive natural area of pine forests which are home to some of Spain's rarest bird breeds, including the black stork, imperial eagle and the black vulture.CCOO and Centaura have published a press release accusing the regional government of deliberately ignoring the sentence which was passed at the end of last week. According to the two associations, and contrary to the orders of the Supreme Tribunal Courts, this weekend the construction company has continued to cut down hundreds of trees and and other vegetation. The land belongs to a private company set up in 2000 by the regional administration of which 70 percent belongs to the local council, 20 percent to the Castilla y Leon Regional Government and 10 percent to the Provincial Government. All authorities are governed by the Popular Party. The ecologists and trade union representatives say that the decision of the company to carry on with its plans represents an act of "scorn towards social and legal order" and "revenge for the decision of the Courts, two days after sentence was passed protecting in the public's interest the very area damaged this weekend, because of its natural, environmental, landscape and ecological worth".Protests over new golf course in Avila, Spain
Ecologists appeal to Regional Government to prevent the destruction of a pine forest in Avila, Spain.The Spanish trade union CCOO and Centaurea, an association of ecologists, are trying to force the regional government of Castilla y Leon to respect a sentence passed by the Supreme Tribunal Court and to stop all building activity in the Golf course Ciudad del Golf in Las Navas del Marqués. The regional government supports the construction of this new golf course and leisure complex in Avila, even though it involves the destruction of an extensive natural area of pine forests which are home to some of Spain's rarest bird breeds, including the black stork, imperial eagle and the black vulture.CCOO and Centaura have published a press release accusing the regional government of deliberately ignoring the sentence which was passed at the end of last week. According to the two associations, and contrary to the orders of the Supreme Tribunal Courts, this weekend the construction company has continued to cut down hundreds of trees and and other vegetation. The land belongs to a private company set up in 2000 by the regional administration of which 70 percent belongs to the local council, 20 percent to the Castilla y Leon Regional Government and 10 percent to the Provincial Government. All authorities are governed by the Popular Party. The ecologists and trade union representatives say that the decision of the company to carry on with its plans represents an act of "scorn towards social and legal order" and "revenge for the decision of the Courts, two days after sentence was passed protecting in the public's interest the very area damaged this weekend, because of its natural, environmental, landscape and ecological worth".


En resumidas cuentas, ahora ya en mi lengua materna, y dando mi opinión personal: se cargaron una zona de alto valor ecológico (y quieren seguir cargándosela) para construir un maldito campo de golf para que los que les gusta este deporte (afición que yo, personalmente, detesto, pero perfectamente respetable) y unos cuantos chalets seguro que ni siquiera para vivir durante todo el año, sólo como segunda o tercera casa.... ¿En que se está convirtiendo este mundo?

Una puta locura.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Helsinki sessions



Una de las cosas que me traje de mi última visita a Helsinki es un cd con 5 temas grabados en el estudio de la Kirjasto 10, biblioteca espectacular donde las haya, que, entre otras cosas e instalaciones, tiene un "estudio" donde grabar lo que te dé la gana con la sola condición de que poseas el carnet que te acredite vivir en la ciudad. Maravilloso. Una vez confirmado el hecho, y, tras la reserva pertinente, me dirigí el pasado día 4 de septiembre a dicha biblioteca, y me quedé anonadado. Una mujer perteneciente al personal de la misma me condujo a la habitación, llamemósla del pánico, y la vista era impresionante: una mesa de sonido en vertical con, lo menos, 150 botones, ésta conectada a un 8 pistas, y este conectado a un ordenador con 2 monitores TFT. Además, altavoces, micrófonos, dvd y tele, plato, una caja de ritmos (intuyo que era eso), y algo mas que no recuerdo. Y le rogué a la mujer que me explicara lo básico para poder grabar, como es costumbre, yo solo, sin agobios para tal íntimo momento. Y llamo a otra persona y en resumidas cuentas llegaron a estar 3 empleados en la sala conmigo hablando en finés y yo esperando a ver si se aclaraba cómo se utilizaba eso, y después de 1 hora y media, nada, me comunican que me tengo que ir, que reserve para otro día y que esperan que el problema se solucione.
Reservé entonces para el miércoles 6, justo un día antes de que abandonara el país. Era poco margen, pero no había otra forma. Las canciones creo que las llevaba bien preparadas, estaba bastante seguro de que la grabación iba a ser decente, no tenía ninguna presión. Había una canción que había acabado en el bus media hora antes de entrar aquel lunes, pero no importaba. La letra donde la he escrito esta escaneada aquí, la verdad es que mola el caos de escritura que hice, pocas veces he sido tan caótico escribiendo una canción, pero es que cambié y añadí cosas por doquier. Me gusta mucho esa canción, es muy buena.
El miércoles más de lo mismo, pero afortunadamente, entre que yo me habia leído un poco un manual del Pro-tools (el programa grabador) y que el chaval que vino sabia un poco más y que tuvimos un poco de suerte (todo hay que decirlo), conseguimos que aquello funcionara. Y después, tocando yo un poco más me hice con lo básico. Añadir nueva pista. Lo malo es que me quedaba una hora y media solo. Grabé 1 ó 2 en directo, sólo 1 pista y otras 2 con guitarra y voz separadamente. Quedó decente, estoy bastante contento de cómo se oye para lo malo que era el micrófono y estar yo sólo grabando sin un técnico. Y dieron las 15:00 y me tuve que ir porque otra persona había reservado de nuevo el estudio...y tenía que volver a grabar el cd!!! El día siguiente, afortunadamente tenían espacio de las 12:00 a las 14:00, o sea que echando de nuevo un vistazo a un manual del programa conseguí grabar en un cd. Además, como tenía tiempo grabé una versión acústica de "Ballenas". Querría haber grabado una nueva que tenía hace tiempo que es un hit, pero no recordaba la letra demasiado bien.
Y así abandoné Helsinki, oyendo la "más que demo" en mis cascos y mirando por última vez, quién sabe hasta cuando, las calles y suburbios de la capital finlandesa. Se oye muy bajo, pero está bien. Las "Helsinki Sessions".


One of the things I have brought from my last visit to Helsinki was a cd with 5 songs recorded at the studio that belongs to the Kirjasto 10, amazing library, that has, between other things and facilities, a "studio" where you can record whatever you want, with the only condition of having a library card that proves that you live in the city. Marvellous. Once confirmed the fact, and after the compulsory reservation, I went towards the "Bibliotek" the past september 4th and I was just astonished. A woman who belongs to the personnel led me to the room, let's call it the "panic room", and the view was impressive: a vertical soundboard with at least 150 buttons, connected to an 8-track, and this connected to a PC with 2 TFT screens. Besides, speakers, microphones, a dvd with its tv, rhythm box (I guess it was that) and something more I do not remember. I requested the woman to teach me the basics to record, as the habit is there, alone, without any stress for that intimate moment. And she called another person and, to sum up, 3 employees were in a moment at the same time with me in the room, speaking in finnish and,trying to solve the problem. In my case, just waiting to see if they clarify how to use the machine. And after one hour and a half they just said that I had to leave, that I should reserve for another day and that they expect that the problem will be fixed.
Then I reserved for the 6th , just a day before I had to leave the country. It was no so much leeway, but there was not another way. The songs I was sure that I prepared them quite good and I was quite sure too that the recording will be decent, I had no pressure. There was a song that I finished in the bus just half an hour before getting in the library, but I was not worried. The sheet where I have written it is scanned here, it is cool how chaotic the writing is, not so many times I have been that chaotic while writing a song, but this time I changed and added a lot of new sentences meanwhile. I really like this song, it is very good one, in my opinion.
On wednesday there were more problems, but, fortunately, I had read some about Pro-tools, the software I used, the kid who came knew more about it, and, with a little bit of luck, we managed to make it work properly. Then, tring other things by myself, I managed to get the basics. The worst part is that there was only one and a half hour left. I recorded 1 or 2 live, singing and playing at the same time and the rest in 2 tracks, voice and guitar separately. I am quite haoppy about the results, because the micro was a bad one and I did not have a technician.
And the clock struck 15:00 and another person came to record, and I had to come back to record a cd!! The following day fortunately they had space between 12 and 14 and I got to record on a cd. Furthermore, I had time, so, I recorded an acoustic version of "Ballenas"; I wanted to record an old song I consider a hit, but I did not remember the lyrics.
And I left Helsinki listening to the "more than a demo" in my headphones at the bus and looking through the window for the last time, until who knows when, the streets and suburbs of the finnish capital. It is not so loud, but it is ok. The "Helsinki sessions".

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

The sound of Silence...and rain

The sky does not have a proper colour...!!



Scroll down to read the english version!!!!!

Hoy he estado en el Parque Nacional Nuuxio, en Espoo, cerca de Helsinki, una vez mas. Que belleza!! Paisajes preciosos y el verdadero sonido de el Silencio. Acogedor y a la vez impresionante. EL sonido de la naturaleza en su estado puro, solo perturbada por los molestos aviones aproximandose a Vantaa lentoasema.
No tengo sufiecientes palabras para describir lo que se siente. Pequeñez, tal vez, sí, seguro, pero es una sentimiento mas profundo que eso, te hace re-encontrarte con lo que un día fuiste en otra vida: parte de esa naturaleza, perteneciendo a ella con todas sus consecuencias, las buenas y las malas. Y que Paz... Uno se siente pequeno y afortunado de que aun existan sitios asi y que se puedan visitar.
Y despues: Lluvia. El sonido de millones de gotas cayendo a la vez. Que manera de llover! Y esto no es muy grato si estas en medio del bosque, como he dicho antes, sin refugio alguno, formando parte del medio al 100%, calado hasta los huesos como animal libre que vive en el parque.
Y al menos, me dio tiempo a dar la vuelta, completamente calado llegue al refugio donde habia comido mi bocadillo tan solo unos momentos antes. He echado de menos unas cerillas o un mechero para encender un fuego en el sitio adecuado y secar mi ropa y mi cuerpo. Al menos no era invierno, y la temperatura era agradable. Y estaba sacudiendo mi ropa sin camiseta.... pero no se seco. Y corri como nunca habia corrido hacia el autobus, a unos 3 km de distancia, parte cuesta arriba, y con solo 20 minutos de margen para cogerlo. Y lo hice, casi sin aliento, medio mareado y sudando a todo mas sudar. Ayer hice mi comienzo de pre temporada para el Rakiss. Casi me muero.
Y en casa, una ducha reparadora, una cerveza, buena musica y algo de picar. Despues un paseo disfrutando de la noche en VIikki, y vuelta a casa. Un dia para recordar.

"Marvellous landscapes"
I have been today in Nuuxio National Park, in Espoo, nearby Helsinki, another time. What a beauty!!! Marvellous landscapes and the true sound of Silence. Warm and at the same time impressive. The sound of nature in its pure state, only perturbed by the annoying sounds of the planes arriving to Vantaa airport.
I do not have enough words to describe what can be felt there. Small, you feel small, maybe, yes, sure, but it is a deeper feeling than that, it makes you find again what you were one day in another life, part of that nature and belonging to it with all its consecuences, good and bad ones. And what a Peace.... One feels small and fortunate that still places like this exist and that we can visit them.
And then: Rain. The sound of millions of drops falling at the same time. What a way of raining! And this is not very pleasant if you are in the middle of the forest, like I have said before, being part of the nature at a 100%, with no shelter to cover at, and soaked to death, like free animal that lives in the park.
And at least I had time to go back and I walked back the way I had already walked, until the shelter where I had had my lunch just few moments before. I have missed some matches or a lighter to light a bonfire, there was a place designated to do it, in order to dry myself and my clothes. At least it was not winter, and the temperature was pleasant. I was shaking off my t-shirt...but it did not dry.... And then I had to take the bus, and I ran like I had never run before, something like 3 km uphill and with only 20 minutes left to do it. And I did it, out of breath, half dizzy, and sweating to death. Yesterday I did my pre season for Rakiss, I almost die.
And at home, a shower to get my strength back, a beer, good music and something to eat. Then, a walk enjoying the night in Viikki and back home. A day to remember.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Self portraits

What are you thinking about Vik?

Like painters in their days did and still do nowadays, I am some kind of maniac of self portraits, i like them, not the way I am "reproduced" in the pictures, because most of the times I don´t like them, but I do like the feeling of creation, the feeling of leaving behind a part of me that will hopefully last for a long time ...anyway... Enjoy this one, or hate it.... It is a funny one, in my opinion.

Cd´s I have borrowed

I have borrowed all these cd´s from Kirjasto 10 in Helsinki. Wonderful collection of music that they have. All kind of cd´s, al considered as culture. As it should be.

Estos son los cd´s que he alquilado en Kirjasto 10 en Helsinki. Allí tienen una gran coleccion de música. Todo tipo de cd´s, todos considerados como cultura, como debería ser.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

The Sea

Maybe it is because I am from a city where the word "Sea " implies a long distance to cover until seeing it, but the truth is that I have never given it the importance that it deserves.
I have always loved the mountains more than the Sea, I still do, because I grew up surronded by mountains, and also because I have never liked so much the facts that "going to the beach" has in Spain. Beach culture during summer. I practiced it during years. Summer by summer, I may say, until I was 16 or 17.
But now, today, in Helsinki, just few metres away from it, I have given it its correct value. That lovely smell, that playful sounds, that sensatin of calmness...
I started to feel better yesterday and today; Today after the course I have found it, at the end of Mariankatu, surrounding Kauppatori, and I have walked towards it. And now I am just there, by its side, enjoying the care it is taking of me. I hope this feeling will last for a long time.

Written in Helsinki, 14 august 2006, 20:20 hrs. approximately.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Rainy day

Today it is raining in Finland. It is funny than just when I am starting to feel better and that painful sadness is getting away through playing the guitar, writing and "The Sea"
(I will post something about this soon),
Finland is crying, like crying its sadness out, like I have done, like cleaning its sadness and at the same time mine. Thank you.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

First post in Helsinki

Now I am just some metres away from The White Cathedral at Senaatintori, Helsinki. It is like it is taking me under its protection to make me feel better. It seems that the whole city helps me to feel better.
But today is just impossible, I feel so down that nothing can cheer me up. Today I hate life. I hope tomorrow I will love it.
My life is just a rollercoaster, always up, then down, up again, referring to my state of mind. Some days I think that everything is marvellous and that I will find my place soon, that it is a matter of a short time. But that never happens, I never reach that. I need a girl, today I need a girl specifically, I need a job I would work for free in, and a need my place. Some moments I feel so tired, of waiting to those things that never come.
I would be a dead man walking if I wouldn really enjoy some moments, like yesterday at Botta, like friday, taking pictures of the sea side here in Helsinki... I have to say thanks for that.
It is time to move to Esplanadi for a while.

Once in Espa, I have not done much, I have just sat down not even looking at the people just thinking, like I usually do, and trying to understand why things happen in my life. I have fallen asleep even, I am tired today, the night was long. Then I came here and I guess I am going home now. I don know. This is so weird, how I feel. So strange.

Monday, July 31, 2006

When the ground spits fire

It is annoying how warm is Madrid in summer, it is unnatural for me and I can't stand it, it is useless to have a shower just before going out because in 10 minutes you are sweating to death. The ground acummulates heat and it spits it directly to you and to every living being. And then, the sun, fortunately only during the day, it makes impossible for me to stay outside the shade...Unbelievable.
Nowadays I don't have PC at home, so that means that I can not post even if I have ideas to do it...
I am PC junkie, I have to say, maybe, but I am sure that that will disappear when I will be busy working, and the fact that I listen to music in the PC and I am listening to it every single second I am at home, that is the main reason. I have probably lost all my mp3 and DVD's I had in my hard drive... that is a pity.
But, time is running out here in the cyber, so,I hope to see you soon, maybe from Finland.
Moikka!!!

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

A cup of tea after a long and cold walk

They had a promise to keep. Both were at the place they promised to meet one day. They both did it, in one or another way, how does not matter anymore. Girl and boy, woman and man, meet in the Harbour, just where all these boats for tourists sail, where both took those boats themselves one day in the past, as travellers they were. It is a sunny saturday morning of a typical winter. It's cold, very, but it does not matter, it is sunny and they both like sunny winter days.
Just a Hello! and an embrace and the couple starts walking along Espa, it is all full of snow, they are walking over it, and, of course, as usual, he has brought his camera. He is talking pictures of everything, incluiding her. She is smiling, in a way, she believes him crazy, but in the good sense. He smiles too. Finally, she is his particular model, well, although he does not consider this conditions as the best to takes pictures of her. He would like it to be in a studio, at her or his place, for example. In a more intimate atmosphere. But today is a first opportunity. The conversation that has already started is great, free and easy, as the first times they talked. They are enjoying it. They really do, and they deserve it, after all the time spent in thinking and looking for an opportunity to see each other.
The station is just a few metres further away, their destination is the National Park near the city. First they are taking a train and then a bus. They will spend there some hours. An easy walking route will be enough.
It takes time to arrive to the Park, but once they are there it's worth the trip. They follow the short route finally, it's about enjoying nature, not being exhausted, maybe they are going out tonight.
The lakes are frozen, for him it is still strange and exciting, and scary, of course, he is from south Europe, and that is not common there. He likes cold, that white and attractive landscapes. When he was young he used to play with snow every occasion that he could. On the contrary, she does not like cold, she is a northern european, she prefers the warm soft summers, but she smiles because she is having fun, and she is happy, all her ghosts, all that state of apathy from the past is gone. She has been smiling all the morning, and he loves to see her on that mood. It is a true smile, it comes from her inside, from her heart.
They walk over the ice, it is not the first time, but it is still exciting. He takes more and more pictures, it is a perfect day for it. It is a perfect day for everything.
They follow the path until they choose a beautiful place, to have something like a "lunch", and some warm drink, coffee, I think. And they continue until they complete the path. It took them almost 3 hours to do it and it was very beautiful. It takes a while until the bus to return home comes, then a train, and, once in the city centre they decided to have a warm tea and more conversation, focusing on it and, why not, rest. They are tired.
They laugh at the pictures again, and he promises to give her a cd with them, or go one day to her place to tranfer them into her PC.

-And what about tonight? Do you feel like going out?
-Yes, although I am tired, but we can recover and sleep tomorrow, it's sunday.
-Ok, great!! Where do you want to go? We could maybe go to the place we met. Do you remember?
-Yes, it would be perfect if we go there. Great!

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Europe, Europe, Europe,....

..., the Old Europe. How beautiful it is, how many lovely hidden places belong to Europe. I was travelling through it during 2 inter rails that I will remember among the best trips of my whole life. And, no, I am not in Europe, we are not in Europe, we are in Spain, part of it geographically, but far away of its culture, respect and facilities, ok, why do I give examples...Of almost everything. Far away from everything,except sun and party. Ands I would change all our sunny days for a better country, I would without any remorse or regret. Europe starts in France, if they do consider themselves as europeans. Why don't we have trams? Why don't we have a more pleasant summer? Why that stupid (but true) sentence "Spain is different"? I am sorry, very sorry, but I am not proud of being spanish. Good night.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

In the Matrix

Last weekend I was talking with a friend about films. I am not very very very fond of cinema or buying Dvd's or collecting special editions. I like it, more and more since I went to Norway, where it was one of our best distractions. But nothing comparable to collecting cd's, I love that. But today it was one of these days that you feel like staying at home watching a film. I felt very bad (emotionally and physically) the entire week so I decided that it would be good to stay at home today. And it was a good choice.
I have watched the game Germany-Portugal first. Nothing really special. Germany won as I expected. Then I wanted to watch "Fargo", one of my favourite films ever, but I realized that I hadn't admired "Matrix" for a long time. Yes, well, many persons like it because their fights and such stuff. I do also, but, the philosophical similarity that it has with our reality is amazing. Just judge yourself. Maybe you like it or not, maybe you find it Science fiction, but further away, I believe, first of all, that this is a philosophical film. And a harsh critic to mankind, and I love it also. We are like a virus!! It sounds disgusting maybe, but, for me, it sounds funny because I think that, in a way, it is what we are.
I like when Morfeus tells Neo something like: "Nobody has to tell you what or who you are, it doesn't have to be prove, you just have to know it yourself" (I insist in "something like that", don't take it as read). In a society like ours, where "What the rest would say" matters, and a lot, this sentece amazes me. We have just to figure out what we are, and know it, believe ourselves important, because we are. KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Goodnight, inhabitants of the Matrix.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Writings coming back

Today is has just been a really bad day. 3 nights from the last 6 I have had nightmares. Today I did not, but I had a tremendous headache when I woke up. People in general in Spain don't speak English. Maybe I have figured out what to do this summer finally and maybe work and study. it is sad to say that the best thing has been the World Cup game between Italy and Germany. I've been visiting my grandmother.
But the main subject of this post is this I have written.


Tu voz
se torna ausente
tus letras desaparecen
noto tu ausencia,
pese a que nunca has estado.
Veo tu sonrisa,
en fotos de lugares dorados.
Te echo de menos,
pese a que nunca te tuve en mis brazos.
Y aún tengo (o tenía) planes,
para una visita fugaz,
pero en la que se pare el tiempo
y ya nada importe,
nada.

Me pregunto si aún me esperas,
fumando en la noche,
si aún sueñas con mis besos,
que te harían temblar,
si aún te ríes con mis bromas,
o te las tomas a mal.
Me pregunto tantas cosas,
y no sé ninguna.
Quisiera estar en tantos sitios,
y no estoy en ninguno.
Querría hablar tantas horas contigo
que me quedaría sin voz,
y entonces,
gastaría mi vista sólo en mirarte,
mi tacto en acariciarte,
y así,
hasta quedarme sin sentido alguno.



Your voice
turns absent
your words disappear
I feel your absence,
although you have never been.
I see your smile,
in pictures of golden places.
I miss you,
although I never had you in my arms.
And i still have (or had) plans
for a brief visit,
but, in which the time stops,
and nothing else matters,
nothing.

I ask myself
if you are still waiting for me,
while you smoke in the night,
if you still dream about my kisses,
that would make you shake,
if you still laught with my jokes,
or you take them bad.
I ask myself so many things,
and I don't know any.
I would like to be in many places,
and I am not in any.
I would like to talk so many hours with you,
that I would loose my voice,
and then,
I would consume my sight only in looking at you,
my touch in caress you,
and in that way,
until I had no more senses left.


Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Back from Bilbao

Ayer volví de pasar 3 días en Bilbao con los Julios. Gracias desde aquí por lo BIEN que se portaron conmigo. Me hacen sentir como en casa. Pondré alguna foto en "Only Pictures" pronto. Quizás (bueno, sin el quizás) demasiada fiesta y poca visita a Bilbao, pero me tengo que buscar fines de semana en los que no haya fiestas. La proxima vez.

Yesterday I have came back after spending 3 days in Bilbao with the "Julios". Thanks a lot for how pleasant they were with me. They make feel like at home. I will post some pictures at "Only Pictures" soon . Maybe (well, without maybe) too much party and less visits to Bilbao, but I have to go another weekend withoput parties. Next time.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Today is just another day

Today the calmness and peacefulness I talked about a couple of days ago has gone, lead by the weeping of a city and a nation. I haven't felt as comfortable as other nights. Helicopters, police cars with their sirens, more people than usual. The game against France and the loss of our virginity in this Football World Cup 2006 has caused a little nightmare in Spain. I have felt that all that things have spoilt my quiet and calmness walk with my dog (that is usually only interrupted by the fear he has of other dogs). Many red T-shirts, many conversations about the game. And it is just another beautiful day. And tomorrow it will also. Nothing should change that. Our life will not change just with a game or a result. Forget about it fast and enjoy life. I want to have my calm nights again. Life is not a 90 minutes game. It is just a little longer.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Again here

It was such a long time with no new posts, I was not so inspired to do it and I have been quite busy.
I am listening to the new Sonic Youth record. It is very good, I guess. It is my first listening.
Just back from getting the dog out. I only find peacefulness, calmness, and, of course, a pleasant temperature at night in this city. The stress of a big city is suddenly gone. I like it. Only a few people walking, or enjoying Madrid's marvellous temperature at night: 24ºC. Many, many, many, cities and their inhabitants would like to have that temperature during the whole summer the day hours. Here, we have it at night. It sounds funny.
I don't know what has changed me. I like calmness and silence in my life. I believe I am asking for too much and Madrid can not pleasantly give me that pleasure. And fresh nights...not anymore. Too big city. I would like it to be half or a fourth its actual size and population. It would be great. there should be a limit, "This city is already full. Only visits." Yep, but maybe that is too radical. I guess. Let the people live where they want. And let me dream about leaving this city.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Mundos opuestos // Opposite Worlds

Esto fue escrito el pasado día 6 de junio, y ha sido traducido hoy, día 13 del mismo mes.
This was written las 6th of june, and it was translated today, 13th of the same month.



Gran diferencia
la que representa tan sólo un cristal,
una puerta cerrada,
pero aún transparente para algunos.
Dos mundos opuestos
separados sólo por centímetros,
y por libertades contrarias.

Pájaros se dejan mecer fuera en las ramas al sol,
sólo porque lo desean,
personas dentro ni siquiera se dan cuenta,
de lo que son privadas.

Días y días pasar
ninguno de ellos es diferente,
en todos esa misma espera,
esa triste calma,
donde uno a uno todos abandonan el barco,
de pena o arrastrados
por olas de olvido.

Tantos y tan bellos ojos profundos,
ojos que han visto vidas enteras,
y que ahora te miran con pena,
de verse con almas expertas,
pero cuerpos que no responden.

Ojos que recuerdan qué han sido,
cada instante incluído en sus vidas,
que se ven abocados ahora a un final poco digno,
a una sinrazón que sólo ellos no ven lógica.



Big difference
that one represented by only a glass,
a closed door, but still transparent for some.
Two opposite worlds,
only separated by centimetres
and by contrary freedoms.

Birds let themselves being rocked outside in the branches at the sun,
only because they wish it,
people inside don't even notice
of what they are deprived.

Days and days pass,
none of them are different,
all with that same wait,
that sad calmness,
where one by one all drop out of the ship,
of sorrow or swept out
by waves of oblivion.

Many and such beautiful deep eyes,
eyes that have seen entire lifes,
and that now look at you with grief,
of seeing themselves with expert souls,
but bodies that don't respond.

Eyes that remember what have them be,
every instant filmed in their lifes,
that now see themselves doomed to a non worthy end,
to an unreasonableness that only them don't see logic.

Monday, June 05, 2006

The misunderstood (persons)

It seems to be the title of a film, a sad one, I believe it could be. Every single day of our lives we meet people who, in one way or other, are different and apart of the society. And they are discriminated or treated in different ways because this conditions. It doesn't matter if it is skin colour, or religion, that is obvious, but this fact goes further on, and things less obvious, like those who think different, who have differerent ideas than the rest, those ideas that nobody understand or such conditions nobody care about. For example, where is the limit between a sect and a religion? Or why is a religion considered the evil religion for other religions, if they are all the same? They are trying to look for something they don't have with quite stupid rules sometimes, very stupid rules, I must say. Rules shouldn't exist.
Those people are just put aside of the society, the others don't even try to understand their ideas, the others just judge.
A great example of this are The elderly people. We just don't understand them, Do you know why? Because we are not old, we will only understand them, and we will become part of the Misunderstoods, when we will get older and "nobody" will understand us.
Have you ever been in a Residence for The Elderly? Sad places, like prisons, not because they were guilty of doing anything wrong against the law, just because they are not like the rest, just because they don't fit in the society anymore.
I've been visiting my grandmother today: great and modern facilities, but still, I do not get used to the fact that she is going to spend there the rest of her life...in such an isolated place, with all the sunlight and warm that it was, the surroundings looked like a plot.There are no excuses, of being between a great area of nature, or ot, it doesn't mater, it is not important, they are not going out, they are inside forever, and the feeling of having 2 little bushes inside doesn't help... Such confortable place to live, it should be, but it is like being in jail with all the confortabilities...and of course it doesn't conmpensate. I hate it.
And I have re-discovered today two things about my life:
1.- I can not stand summers in Madrid, mainly because its unbearable hot. How do I like The Sun, yes, but I just can not be under its rays in summer here.
2.-I can see that The elderly can really see my beauty, everytime I go with my grandmother everywhere, they say to her, oh, what a cute grandson you have!! I like it. It makes me smile and it makes smile her.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Almost 13 hours listening to music

Here, now listening to Jose Gonzalez I have noticed that It is such a huge number of hours. And believe me I haven't cheated anything. I have just stopped to it while I was having lunch and while I wasn't at my room. While studying finnish, while chatting, etc...always listening to Music. Today, from Jose Gonzalez to Sepultura, passing by Mogwai, Shout out Louds, PANIC! at the disco, and many many more....
You can see the list of the songs here, in a word document.
I was obliged to delete the text with the songs because it was too long.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Some moments when everything ....

when everything just seems to be against you, when nothing you want to work works. It is a sensation of being nothing, nobody. But I still think that everything has a reason, and if those things haven't worked is because something.
Here I am, 3:13 at night listening to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, at least Winamp works. I wanted to record my voice tonight, I wanted it to be a present, in fact I've been speaking for over 6 minutes without knowing than the microphone didn't work. I looked for the sofware in the internet, I made some tests, but when it had to work it didn't.
I've been also trying to write a Motivation letter for applying for money to do my PhD, I didn't know what to write and I better left it for tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a better day. I really hope I won't have those nightmares I had last night. Horrible, I mean, really horrible, maybe I will write it down some day, it is about to be written in my non-electronical diary. Why?
And that finnish language: God, why wasn't I born Suomalainen? But at least I like it.


I will keep on singing in my dreams, and I hope to dream about u.

"Good good things happen in bad towns" (Yeah yeah yeahs, Honeybear)

What will happen in The Village?

Good night

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Lordi did it: They won Eurovision!!!



Finally, the traditional Eurovision song contest brings something new and different into our homes, that had been punished with no reason year after year with old-fashioned clichés.
And Lordi got into the contest, not without a polemic choice in their home country, Finland, and receiving critics from a clergyman from the Orthodox Church, who said that Lordi "is a stupid joke of Finland".
But still they won.
And I say, why all that criticism?, Why all that accusations of being an incitement to Satanism? Why is still some people in Europe that close-minded?
Ok, it is not my kind of music, neither it is the "typical political cliché" music that we used and use to see at Eurovision, but at least is a REAL band, chosen by the Finns, and that is a reflect of them: Suomi has many fans of hard rock and guitar rock.
And what about Spain? Again and again and again: deplorable in a word. Why always all that spanish guitars, all that latin spirit, there's only left the bullfighter and the bull itself. It sucks. I really wanted Spain to be the last country. A comitteé of experts chose "Las Ketchup" as the candidates, and well, it doesn't get far better when the crowd has the right to do it...
Another thing that was a surprise (although i knew it) was the politic burden this contest has: we got 12!! points from Andorra!!! Al lot of countries surronding Russia voted them and the same with Scandinavians, they voted each other.

Well, and as Helingin Sanomat proclaimed this morning: "It's official: Hell has frozen over. Finland has won". And it is true, nobody who hasn't been in Finland knows how a Finn felt when they were told about their performances in Eurovision. All those years of humilliation and zero points have ended, now they have their winners: Lordi.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Time for writings

Los tonos cremas de las luces nocturnas
te iluminan mientras fumas.
Tu mirada perdida
delata pensamientos profundos
y mientras, en otro lugar,
con similares luces y parecida belleza,
alguien recuerda tu sonrisa,
alguien piensa en odiar o amar la vida.

Y no sabes por qué no puedo, simplemente
aparecer de la nada en tus calles
y no en las mías;
caer, como la lluvia cae del cielo
y abrazar tus sentidos;
ser Luz que te ilumina
y transformarme luego en hombre;
ser parte de esas calles que admiras,
doblar la esquina
y ver mi cara y la tuya juntas,
y sellar un beso,
por fin,
como amantes de un pasado siglo hicieron,
como amantes de hoy en día hacen.



The night lights' cream colours
illuminate you while you smoke.
Your lost look
betray deep thoughts,
and, meanwhile, in other place,
with similar lights and alike beauty,
somebody remember your smile,
somebody think in hate or love Life.

And you don't know why can't I, simply,
appear from anywhere in your streets,
and not in mine;
fall, like rain falls from heaven,
and embrace your senses;
be Light that illuminates you
and then transform myself in man;
be part of those streets you admire,
turn the corner
and see your face and mine together,
and seal a kiss,
finally,
like lovers from a past century did,
like lovers nowadays do.

Monday, May 15, 2006

And a second one // Y un segundo

Mi desconfianza en mí mismo
me hace ver golpes donde no los hay,
me hace sentir cosas que no son,
ilusionarme cuando la ilusión no existe,
y pensar en el pasado cuando todos saben que
éste ya no importa.


My distrust in myself
makes me see blows where there are not
makes me feel things that are not,
builds up my illusion when illusion doesn't exist,
and think about the past, when everybody know that
it 's not important anymore.

Un nuevo escrito // A new writing

Y escuché una explosión
tan grande que rompió todas las ideas,
las opiniones más dipares.
Juntó a todas y las fundió en la verdad;
tan sorprendente pareció a unos y otros
pero decidieron perdonarse a sí mismos y a los demás,
ya que, la verdad era tan imposible de descubrir
que sólo ella sabía que existía.

And I heard an explosion,
as big that it broke all the ideas,
the most different opinions.
It joined all together and united them in the truth;
such surprising it seemed toone and others
but they decided to forgive themselves and the rest,
because, truth was so impossible to discover
that only She knew that existed.



Friday, May 12, 2006

The begining of a new stage of my life?

Today I have re-started the reading of "The Celestine Prophecy". I hope it will help myself and I will see life as clear as before. This wednesday I bought a cd "Placebo", my favourite cd from them, the first one, although they have really composed good cds later, the last one"Meds" is very good.
I identified that cd with my early twenties, and with a girl, who I haven't see for years.
I was very doubtful about buying the cd, but I finally did.
Then at night, I was with a girl who was having a cigarette in the street, and suddenly, the girl I identify the cd with appear, and we talked for a while. Curious, isn't it?
I am wondering if I wouldn't had bought the cd, would i had met the girl? ....I guess I wouldn't, something says to me....I hope all the magic coincidences are starting again.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

The World has turned and left me here

I need a change in my life. I need new horizons, new illusions, new places to discover. I am thinking in reading again "The Celestine Prophecy" ("Las Nueve Revelaciones") by James Redfield, book that I consider as something like my bible (almost), and that guided me in some of my most important decisions in the past. Because I am, in a way, lost. Lost in this jungle as I was once. That book made me see life as nothing did before, and it made me trust in it again.
I went to Norway (the best decision I have ever taken), because some coincidences and facts that happened when I did not know what to choose, and I am proud and happy I did, there I learned many things about life: Life showed me what is Freedom like, and what is life and dead in their pure nature, and believe me it was like living Magic, like if I were a magician.
I asked for things, personal ones, things I believe I truly needed. Life, or destiny, or all the universe's magic forces together granted me, and in one way or another I got my wishes. The saddest way to resolve a problem, in one of the cases, but, who cares now?, that time has passed... A way that I couldn't imagine and that made me suffer at the begining, in other case, but I was glad to live it in that way.
I ask myself today: Where is all that Magic, where are all that coincidences? I must have chosen a wrong way, I don't know what is exactly the limit and what should I change. I know some things I must change, like accepting who I am and try to unfold more my personality, but I don't know which way to take now, I believe I know, but, if I'm wrong? Maybe I am right and I get the wrong idea about the time to go. If I have to wait a little bit?

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Almost 30

Yes, in a week now I will be 30 years old...
How does it sound? Old. Is not depression, but I feel I have to find something soon: a place to live feeling Victor 100%, a thing to do for living feeling that it is a thing I would do without getting paid...That means that I love it
I want to find out who the fuck I am and what is the reason why I am here, in planet Earth.
Maybe I am asking for too much, maybe not, but I could not live feeling that I don't have anything to do here, that I am just here to work for the rest of my life going to work and coming home and doing anything else. I still trust this life. (for once I have removed the word "but")
My god!

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Kashmir

Very recently I have discovered a new band, an extraordinay one. With all this internet stuff, discovering new bands for the audience and being discovered by the audience for the bands is much easier. I have discovered many, very good ones, but Kashmir has something more. Too bad that they have entered my life this late, they created the band in 1991in Copenhagen, so it is 15 years of playing, 5 LP's, 1 EP and a live album, plus a documentary released on DVD.
That's all, only my recommendation of listening to this great danish bands...again...Scandinavians....





Some of their extraordinary songs:

Miss you (The good Life, 1999)
Surfing the warm industry (Zitilities, 2003)
Melpomene (Zitilities, 2003)
Kalifornia (No balance Palace, 2005)
She's made of chalk (No balance Palace, 2005)



Enjoy the Music!

Music Therapy

A couple of days ago, I was reading "El País" and I found an interesting news. Of course, I read the whole article, and I thought to make a comment, at least, in my blog.
It says like this: "Musicaltherapy in postoperatory". It seems that somebody has done a research study about the effect of Music in people who was operated recently, and a review has been published in one of the most important magazines of Medicine: "The Cochrane Library".
Patients who listened to music, compared to those who did not, complaint much less aout pain after the operations, says the article.
Science has not yet discovered the mechanism or mechanisms through which Music relieve pain, but distraction or relaxation can contribute to it.
You can read the press article here (in spanish) or here (in english).

Session of Music Theraphy in a Hospital

In my personal opinion, this a great news, and, well, why unsdiscovered or unfolded until now? I think everybody believes in that the recovery from a disesase, specially if you have to stay at a Hospital (horrible places, by the way) depends a lot on the personal state of mind of the patient. So, Music, as I truly think that can lead you into a state of absolute calm and/or happiness, should help out in the, sometimes diffcult, recovery.
For me, Music is deeply connected with persons and their state of being, and it is a way of interchange "vital energy", so, people can get high or down with it. I think that part of the composer stays "inside" the song forever, it is like a "mark". Part of their soul, perhaps, goes away with the song, and part of our state of mind. Then, even some of the listeners could take or leave their part in the song, take away the pain or sorrow... Who hasn't listened to a song and believed that takes something out of him/her, or gives him/her the courage to face life again? I have felt it....like if only me and the song existed, and nothing was more important than that.
I want to believe.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Thinking.....like most of the time I am deeply thinking....

Just back from meeting my friends, like every single weekend, how much do I love them!!! Currently listening to new Poets of the Fall cd...
On my way back home I have been walking something like 20 minutes, alone, and, of course, this means that I have plenty of time to think about important things, mainly, my future. I have discovered, or just unfolded, that I would go almost anywhere in the world if I could, to work in a field that I like. I suppose I am getting frustrated because now I know what do I want to do in life and what do I am, a Scientist, and a person who would like to leave a footprint here, in planet Earth, but I am not working and I am afraid of becoming a person who will not work in a place that he likes and in a place where he will not use his brain and creativity.
Also, a wish: work mainly in Scandinavia, Helsinki, or Norway, why not, I am bound to those places already, so why not coming back?
I am afrad, why? Of being considered old to research, being denied in grants applications because there are many more younger people trying to get into Science...I am not afraid of anything else except that, being considered "not worth" because of age, previous experience, etc.
I am just asking for an opportunity, and I will demonstrate how worth I am....
Difficult times, but I will be allright... I must!!!!!

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Conclusiones / Conclusions

Si, han pasado ya un par de dias desde que llegué, y voy interpretando el viaje de una manera más objetiva, al no estar allí. Tengo que reconocer que las pasé canutas algunos días y con algunas situaciones, y que me jodió bastante tener que vivir en un Youth Hostel la mayor parte de los días, excepto aquellos que me alojé en Piia's (Kiitoksia!), también que el frío y el tener que andar todo el día casi sin rumbo fijo hicieron mella en mi infinita paciencia y en mis ánimos. Pero, pese a todo, Helsinki es una ciudad que me encanta y donde me encantaría vivir unos años.
Algunos días realmente me pregunté si de verdad quería ir allí de nuevo, la verdad es que sería difícil, pero nada que no pudiera manejar. De todas formas también has de abrirte un poco más y no descartar otras posibilidades, porque está complicado volver allí así como así, y, desde luego, a menos que cambie algo radicalmente, no va a ser mañana. Así que, una de las principales conclusiones, es que has de tener paciencia en volver y ponerte a hacer cosas aquí y a aprender el idioma.
Otra cosa es que también has de pensar mucho más objetivamente, algo sólo entre tu mente y tú, sin influencias externas. Tú al 100%. Y creo que aún así me querré ir, pero quizás un tiempo ha de pasar para que eso ocurra. Time will tell.....

Yes, some days have passed already since I came back to Madrid, and I am starting to interprete the trip in a more objective way, since I am not there. I have to admit that I passed hard times some days and with some situations, and that it was annoying to live in a Youth Hostel most of the days, except those I accomodated at Piia's (Kiitoksia!), also that cold and the fact that I had to walk almost all day without specific direction, took their toll in my patience and in my spirits. But, in spite of all that facts, Helsinki is a city that I love and where I would love to live some years.
Some days I really asked myself if I truly wanted to go there again, the truth is that it would be difficult, but nothing I couldn't handle. Anyway, also I should open my mind a little bit more and do not rule out other possibilities, because it is complicated to go back there that easy, and, of course, unless something change drastically, it won't be tomorrow. So, the one of the main conclusions is that I have to be patient in going back and start to do something here, and learn the language.
And another thing is that you have to think much more objectively, something only between your mind and you, without external influencies. 100% you. And I believe that even with that I would want to leave, but maybe some time have to pass until that happens. Time will tell....

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Pariisin Lentoasemalla

No me gusta juzgar. Procuro no hacerlo, pero cuando me cabreo, como ahora, no puedo evitar hacerlo. Siempre tengo problemas con los franceses. El único que se salva es Stephané, pero ¡Dios! con los demás siempre pasa algo.

De hecho, gracias al retraso ocasionado por la espera a unos franceses en Helsinki y a el retraso de 2 horas en el Charles de Gaulle perdí el tren a Madrid, y me quedé en Barcelona 1 día.

I don't like to judge. I try not to do it, but when I am angry, like now, I can not help doing it. I always have problems with French, except my friend Stephané, but God! it always happens something with the rest.

In fact, thanks to the delay because to wait some french at Helsinki airport and the 2 hours delay at Charles de Gaulle, I lost my train to Madrid and had to spend a day in Barcelona.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Hanging around in Helsinki

Me siento muy raro. Ya no tengo nada que hacer aquí en Helsinki, y, de alguna manera, siento que he venido para nada, sé que en el fondo no, pero me siento muy bajo de energía , siento que siempre espero más de antemano de lo que luego recibo. Y es que es muy triste venir a una ciudad donde tienes amigos y tener que estar solo gran parte del día, si no todo. Pero comprendo que la gente tenga cosas que hacer, aunque sigue siendo triste, muy triste.

Fue el peor día de mi visita a Helsinki.

I feel strange. I don't have already anything to do here in Helsinki, and, in a way, I feel that I have come for nothing, I know deep inside that it is not like that, but I feel really low about Energy, I feel that I always expect more beforehand than what I finally get. And it is very sad come to a city where you have friends and have to be alone most of the time. But I understand that people have important things to do, although it is sad, very sad.

It was just a bad day, the worst of my visit to Helsinki.

Olimpic Stadion Youth Hostel, Helsinki

The craziest adventure of my whole life (and one of the most expensives) is ending. I am finally leaving on saturday and I am going to feel a deep sorrow, but this time I know there is no other option. My days in Helsinki are running out for this time, and up to new and good news, if they will ever be. Who knows? Perhaps after all my destiny will not be bound to this city again. I don't know. I would like it to be, but I don't have the power of decision about my life that fate has. I just trust future and what it could give to me. I am much stronger that some years ago and all that come I will know how to manage it. I am strong and I am not leaving this life defeat me. I will never do. Only when I die I'll leave it take me, but until that moment I'd really want to live in this world. Really.

La aventura más loca de mi vida (y una de las más caras) toca a su fin, me voy al final el sábado y voy a sentir una gran pena, pero ésta vez sé que no hay más narices. Mis días en Helsinki tocan a su fin de momento y hasta nuevas y buenas noticias, si es que las hay. ¿Quién sabe? Quizás después de todo mi destino no se cruzará con esta ciudad otra vez. No lo sé. Me gustaría que sí lo hiciera, pero yo no tengo el poder de decisión sobre mi vida que tiene el destino....
Sólo confío en el futuro y en lo que me pueda dar. Soy mucho más fuerte que hace unos años y todo lo que venga lo sabré torear bien. Soy fuerte y no voy a dejar que esta vida me derrote. Jamás lo haré. Sólo al morir dejaré que me lleve, pero hasta ese momento me quedan muchas ganas de vivir en este mundo. Muchas.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Helsingissä minä olen

It is incredible how do I love this city.

It seems unbelievable that after this years after my graduation at university finally I have changed my mind and today it is the opposite thought about life. Staying at my own country or live anywhere else. I would be glad to live here, in Helsinki for some years, who knows then what will happen after those years, maybe I can not live without Helsinki anymore.
These days I am walking the streets like I have never done and I am getting all those beautiful pictures in my mind, all those beautiful and romantic streets.
Yes, maybe I am living only past memories of the last year, but today I do want to live here.

Kirjasto 10, Helsinki

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Tampere - Helsinki bus, GMT +2

It scares. When I think that, maybe, this stay will do more harm than good, it scares me. And that, maybe, this is not my destiny after all. Because if I think that I will get the PhD I am absolutely happy and enthusiastic, but it has to be really hard to live here 3 or 4 years, if you think to do it alone. I don't know. When I see that sometimes I don't understand the reactions of the people, when I think about the language, and how shy I am, it makes me shudder. And my mood is depressed also since, this morning in Standsted I noticed the difficulty I have to understand english people (outside the frame of the BBC, which I don't have any problem with).
Well, what did you think? You must not let it affect you that much and create that insecurity.
[...]
I have seen a detour to the Haartwall Arena, so we are arriving.
Moikka!

Asusta. Cuando pienso que quizásésta estancia me haga más mal que bien me asusta. Y también el quen quizás no sea éste mi destino al fin y al cabo. Porque, si pienso en que me van a dar el PhD me pongo contento, pero realmente debe ser duro vivir aquí 3 ó 4 años, sobre todo si tienes pensado hacerlo solo. No lo sé. Cuando veo que a veces no comprendo las reacciones de la gente , cuando pienso en el idioma, y en lo tímido que soy, me da escalofríos. Y mis ánimos están un poco bajos desde que esta mañana, en Standsted, me diera cuenta de que tengo dificultad en entender a los ingleses. La BBC, perfecto, pero lo que es en la calle me cuesta un poco. En fin, ¿qué pensabas? No dbes dejar que te afecte tanto y te cree esa inseguridad.
[...]
He visto un desvío al Haartwall Arena, o sea que estamos llegando.
Moikka!!