Something to Talk About

2009-11-10T04:30:00.000-08:00

When the sun is finally begining to shine in my life, the weather in France gets colder and colder. No problem, as long as my life is like a warm and sunny day, let it snow outside. All right, is not snowing yet, but it will, soon. Now, can someone please call me crazy? I speak Portuguese, English, Spanish and un petit peu de française, and the last one is beacuse I live in France. So instead of immersing myself in the French culture and language, I decided that I want to study English Literature; of course that shouldn't be to dificult for someone that is bright, but the problem is that I am not included in that category. I was really excited when I've been admited by University of London External System, but now that I realize how many books I will have to read, and how difficult the exams are, I am really, really scared!

2009-06-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I am making a big fuss out of this, this is not the first time I reveive a no for a answer. Why do I have to be so miserable? Good question. I had enough, cried my eyes out for a day (and night, and part of the morning). Enough is enough. Besides torturing myself, I am making people around me miserable as well. So, this afternoon I tried to shake out this bad mood. I went for a walk and took my humble camera with me, maybe doing something I love will help me get through this. As I walk I fell my knee complaining, I wonder if that's the result of being inside for a entire week. Thanks to my wonderfull aunt, now I proudly own I brand new Ipod suffle, (fourth generation, mind you) I look around, looking for the perfect picture, that helps me take my mind out of my failures. I see a tree, flowers and roses, beautifull roses, that should do it. An hour and half and 52 pictures. I guess I need help, I'm going nuts. Whatever, I think, I am just going to enjoy life a little, the best way I can right know. I blame myself for not getting a real good camera when I could, I am trying to do way to much for panasonic 7.2 megapixels. Oh, well. As I walk back home, a car horns, I lift a finger (sorry mom, I just can't help it). Right now looking at my pictures I realize there is a fine line between crapppy pictures, and something you could actually call it art. I am trying to cross that line, but for now I am just going to call it crappy. Whatever...

Spring in Paris

2009-05-31T05:52:00.000-07:00

Spring in Paris is something very special. One day, the trees are completely dead, it looks as if it were asking to be cut and trown in the fire. The next day, things changes, and you can see signs of life. It starts with a shy ton of green, almost shallow, then suddenly, life spreads all over, sending us a message, "Spring is here and the show is about to begin". The tulips are the first to show off their elegance and beauty, around them you see all kinds of flower, and when you think the show is over, the roses take over the stage...

2009-05-05T01:08:00.000-07:00

Ludwig Van Beethoven, who hasn't heard of him? Well, indians and natives of places where music is still played on tambors and other instruments that Yanni loves to use in his concerts, maybe they haven't.

His music is well known for the feelings it transmits. Even today still moves people, I can't imagine how it made listeners fell at the time. Certainly their ears weren't prepared for all that. I know there was Mozart, Bach and other famous compositors, but there was something special about Beethoven, he refused to follow the rules. Actually it seems that he loved to break them. He often got in trouble for his long and complicated compositions, and by no means he accepted sugestions. ''It should be played as it is written". he would say.

Beethoven battled most of his life with worst thing could happen to a musician. "Deafness'". It could be lead poisoning, or maybe he had an distended inner ear, or something else. The fact is that his loss of hearing haunted him and made him draw into himself, avoiding socializing. At the beginning he hid the problem afraid for his reputation. It was defenetly a major problem, but not big enough to imped him to compose.

Lucky with an amazing talent, unlucky with family, love and money. That was his life. He couldn't seem to ever solve his problems. Perhaps, that's what made him so emotional and was the inspiration for his compositions. Even though, there were several ladies in his life, he never married. It is speculated that he might have had a daughter. Minona. It could be the daughter of the "Immortal Beloved". A misterious lady for whom Beethoven wrote love letters. Altough is tempting to think that he had a secret daughter, there is nothing to prove the theory. I would write the classical 'we will never know the truth' but technology always surprise us. What really matters is what he left for humanity. His amazing music.

Weekend in Geneve

2009-04-27T01:29:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend in Geneve. I was amazed to realize how little I know about the world. Even though the last post that I wrote was about politics, I am not a person who knows much about the subject. Laugh if you want, but I didn't realize until I got there it was the location of the Palais des Nations, the largest United Nations after New York headquarters. Only now it hits me the humanitarian inportance of the city, which hosts not only the ONU, but Unicef, and Red Cross. Next to the Palace of Nations is Ariana Museum, Musee Suisse de la ceramique et du verre. Their collection is beautiful, but I was more impressed with the arquitecture. There are beautiful marble collunns in the entrance, each room have something unique. The gardens are gorgeous. Taking pictures is not allowed, but I just saw that after I took the shot. Sorry, but I was not going to delete it.

The city is surrownded by the Alpes, and on the border of a beautilful lake, where you have a view of the Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Europe, with 4807m, 15.771ft. On the lake there is the Jet d'Eau, the tallest font in Europe, 140m, 459ft. A little further is the English Garden, with it's showstopper The Horlege Fleurie (Flower Clock). Being famous for their watchmakers, no wonder the city has even a clock made with flowers.

2009-04-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

Be civil to all;
sociable to many,
familiar with few;
friend to one'
enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin

Is that what's Obama is trying to do? I believe so, especially on the "International Relations", and "Clean Energy" subjects. While he is trying focusing on America's most important goals, some poltiticians are trying to distract the people from what really matters. What's going on with Dick Cheney saying that he is a weak president? With world in crisis, people should concentrate on working together, not pointing each other's weakness's! Another disctracting thing going on is the "torture" that happened with the convicteds of terrorism. Was it Bush admnistration fault? Should they be prosecuted? Yes, if thery are proved guilty, they definetly should suffer the consequences, but what really matters is that, what happened in the past is not happening anymore, and we should pay attention to more important things, and I am pretty sure, it's not just playing cards in Politcs, but working together for a better world. I'll, certainly do my part, what about you?