Here: In My World!

Men Are Pigs Everywhere: Differences of Sex between UK and US Men

2010-07-29T13:15:00.006-03:00

I am just back from my interview with Gaydar here in London where I got to discuss the difference of the sucess of the site in different places (countries, even cities).

I just read this article about Gay men in the U.K. and the U.S. differ in definitions of sex. By Celeste Lavin.

A recent study conducted by the Kinsey Institute found that gay men in the U.K. and the U.S. define having “had sex” differently.

I quite agree. But it is more than just "intercourse behaviour" gap. Afterall the British men also want sex in all kinds of forms. Men are pigs wherever you are on earth. It is just their approach when it comes to "seducing", "hunt" and "sexing up" without showing much passion what in my opinion makes the big difference. American men are very passionate while English (this excludes Scotish, Welsh and Irish) men are rather uncommunicative what it may mislead to an interpretation they are cold.

It is a behavioural attitude in terms of personality what makes the big difference, not their different conceptions about sex and intercourse.

I have paradoxically had more sex in the UK with American men than with UK men. I believe many of the British men are very gorgeous and lovely people but too shy (if not drunk) to come out even for a quickie. And, of course British men lack of being "too direct" in international standards. And, yes, that's a big turned off. It reminds of my native Uruguay because of the red tape and feeling separate from the rest of people feeling like an oyster. This is the way I feel sometimes despite the fact that in London there are so many foreigners that makes it easier to get by in terms of choices.

My British "lovers" are quite unclear and it looks like they are indecisive, thus I never know what to expect from them. I am afraid of being too direct and just ask them "what do you expect from me?".

This issue I have would not be a problem with American men because it would be just a routine question. Yet I am not sure the way a British person could take it, and I do not want to hurt anyone. So, I just get bored and move on, go on for other men who are more in my "tune" and show interest and/or kind of know what they are after without making it an issue.

To end up this entry I would like to highlight that I know US-gay-men standards to compy with while British men are not that easily standarized. And this is the main reason.

A Stomach Experience

2010-07-20T16:38:00.002-03:00

I thought it could be a pretty cool idea

From BBC

Play in either Real OR Windows Media players

Ernesto Neto is considered one of the most influential artists of his generation, renowned for his sensuous and sensory installations.

See in Spanish

Very Impressive: Will get a cyber lover - Platonic Love

2010-07-14T12:55:00.005-03:00

Lilita Carrio (political opposition) abstained from the debate and acted cowardly in my very opinion http://www.tn.com.ar/2010/05/05/politica/02191612.html but she is right when she says that Kirchnerismo never cared for the rights of the LGTB, and prove of it is that they are split, half of them will vote against marriage equility.

Cristina was brilliant when she brought it up as matter of diginity for the minorities, and we must support equality for everyone without guettoning.

Joaquin Morales Sola makes a good political analysis about it and then Carrio comes back to disagree with the Marriage Equality Bill. I used to admired her, and now I believe she is acting very conservative and politically moralist http://www.tn.com.ar/2010/07/13/politica/02205035.html

This is why I need to cheer Cristina's move and action. People know I dislike Kirchnerismo for many reasons but in this case the position from Nestor and Cristina has shown them as serious and professional politicians as they all should be (period).

Marriage equality one day will be something from the past. Something revolutionary could be this phenomenom "virtual humanity". Imagine a virtual husband?

By Jonathan Fildes
Technology reporter, BBC News, Oxford

Milo made his world debut in 2009 at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles

Microsoft has shown off its "virtual human" that reacts to a person's emotions, body movements and voice.

London Lesson 1: Here & Now

2010-06-26T09:58:00.005-03:00

Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche: Verbal Introduction to Zeitgeist, Final Edition

"Spirituality is a particular term which actually means dealing with
intuition. In the theistic tradition there is a certain notion of
clinging into a word. A certain act is regarded as displeasing to divine
principles. A certain act is regarded as pleasing for the divine...
whatever.

In the tradition of non-theism, however, it is very direct
that the case histories are not particularly important. What is
important is here and now.

Now is definitely now. We try to experience
what is available there, on the spot.

There is no point in thinking that
a past did exist that we could have now.

This is now, this very moment,
nothing mystical, just now, very simple, straight forward.

And from that nowness, however, arises a sense of intelligence,
always, that you are constantly interacting with the reality one by one,
spot by spot, constantly.

We actually experience fantastic precision always. But we
are threatened by the now so we jump to the past or the future. Paying
attention to the materials that exist in our life, such rich life that
we lead, all these choices take place all the time, but none of them are
regarded as bad or good, per se, everything that we experience are
unconditional experience.

They don't come along with a label by saying
that this is regarded as bad, this is good, but we experience them but
we don't really pay heed to them properly, we don't actually regard that
we are going somewhere, regard that it is a hassle, waiting to be dead.

That's the problem. That is not trusting the nowness properly but what
is actually experienced now possesses a lot of powerful things. It is so
powerful that we can't face it. Therefore we have to borrow from the
past, invite future, all the time. Maybe that's why we seek religion,
maybe that's why we march in the street, maybe that's why we complain to
society, maybe that's why we vote for the presidents. It's quite
ironical, and very funny indeed..."

A Year in London!

2010-06-23T17:41:00.002-03:00

Part of the London skills I learned is to be accurate and concise to suceed in whatever you are doing!

Today marks a year since the day I landed in London!

I may need more than a blog to write on all of my experiences here but rather to write a few books full of different chapters to cover pretty much of it, and still there's a lot of life left here to go on!

I am not longer a newcomer here but technically starting to be a "Londoner". I prefer to call it "in the process of becoming a local". I also understood I have no place on earth in particular. I feel I belong to the world in all of its different manifestations whether in anger, love, sadness and elation. It is all in me all the time.

Despite of all the informationI gathered in this passage so far the bottom line of all the stories may rely on the fact that everything that comes around in this world, or at least in a big city like London is about your personality. It is basically up to personality the way to work it out there!

I learned that lesson well. No matter how cute I may physically be, how very intelligent I may appear to be, how much wealthy and cultured, etc.: It is my very own personality that will be there to make my life worth it, to create reality, and to know more on almost everything.

Metaphysically speaking I may be equating personality to the cognitive aparatus that via the senses get to know the world and reality. This may be a good investigation to do: their comparisson in between. Perhaps someday. I do not have time now! I just wanted to make a brief entry on my London newcomer stage and reflect on it.

Money is all it matters baby: Gay Couples Get Equal Tax Treatment

2010-06-08T16:53:00.006-03:00

I believe this move is the very key factor for the full recognition of US Federal Government of Same-sex Unions (whether full marriage or Partnerships). DOMA, DADT, ENDA, UAFA, and others are very important measures too but this is the tip of the iceberg.

WSJ's Laura Meckler joins the News Hub to discuss a new ruling by the IRS, which says same-sex couples must be treated the same as heterosexual couples under a feature of tax law.

You can read more details here

Baby Love Protester

2010-05-11T15:30:00.001-03:00

I was wondering of these riot dogs I was watching on BBC and other channels until I stumbled across this article in El Pais and did some research. Amazing!

More Picture of him here

Though there are many weapons available to the street protester, there is perhaps only one for which there is no defense: A really cute friggin’ dog. After Kanellos the Greek protest dog shot to fame when the Guardian published a photographic profile piece dedicated exclusively to him, careful observers started to notice that, hey!

The Song of the Lost ExPat

2010-04-29T19:50:00.005-03:00

This is the way I relate to this song now.

London is a hard place to start off and live in more than you can imagine at first sight! And then you start feeling alone as things seem an eternal struggle and I was told off by my friend Adam exactly in the same way as the words of this beautiful song speak to: The Excuses!

BTW, today I got a junk good amount of money! It is just for the bloody money I am here. Or at least it is what I think of some times!

I agree!

2010-04-24T21:50:00.002-03:00

Surrogacy decriminalized in Australia

2010-02-17T18:15:00.002-02:00

Under reforms in Australia, legal parentage of a child born in surrogacy agreements will transfer from the birth mother to the parent or parents who commissioned the birth. This extends to same-sex couples.

An opposition bill that would see surrogacy continue to be illegal for same-sex couples was debated but it failed to pass.

The Australian State Parliament made the decision after a lot of debate.

Premier Anna Bligh [pictured] has defended her Government's new surrogacy laws - saying same-sex couples and singles are already becoming parents through artificial insemination.

Ms. Bligh told Parliament it would be wrong to ban them from having a child through surrogacy.

"The time for putting our heads in the sand on this issue is over," she said.

Source: http://www.proudparenting.com/node/15015

Task: To Think!

2010-01-30T14:53:00.000-02:00

§ "The whole system that we live in drills into us: that we're powerless, that we're weak, that our society is evil, that it's crime ridden, ect. and so forth. It's all a big fat lie, we are powerful, beautiful and extraordinary. There is no reason why we cannot understand who we truly are, where we are going, there is no reason why the average individual cannot be fully empowered, we are incredibly powerful beings." (TIM GALLOWAY)

§ "I think I spent 30 years of my life, trying to become something, I wanted to become good at things, I wanted to become good at tennis, I wanted to become good at school and grades and everything I kind of viewed in that perspective. I'm not okay the way I am, but if I got good at things. I realized I had the game wrong, because the game was to find out what I already was...
...Now in our culture we have been trained for individual differences to stand out, so you look at each person and immediately it's brighter, dumber, older, younger, richer, poorer and we make all of these dimensional distinctions, put them in categories and treat them that way. And we get so that we only see others as separate from ourselves, in the ways in which they're separate and one of the dramatic characteristics of experience is being with another person and suddenly seeing the ways in which they are like you, not different from you, and experiencing the fact that which is essence in you, and which is essence in me, is indeed ONE, the understanding that there is no other, it is all one.
I wasn't born Richard Albert, I was just born as a human being and then I was TAUGHT and learned this whole business of who I am and whether I'm good or bad or achieving or not, and all of that is learned along the way." (DR. RICHARD ALBERT)

§ "The old appeals to racial, sexual and religious chauvinism, to rabid nationalist fervor are beginning not to work, a new consciousness is developing which sees the earth as a single organism and recognizes that an organism at war with itself is doomed."(CARL SAGAN)

§ "Life is like a ride in an amusement park.
And when you go on it you think it's real, because that's how powerful our minds are.
And the ride goes up and down and around and around, it has thrills and chills and is very brightly colored. And it's very loud and it's fun for a while.
Some have been on the ride for a long time and they begin to question is this real or is this just a ride? And other people have remembered and they come back to us and they say:
"Hey, don't worry, don't be afraid ever - 'cause this is just a ride!"
and we kill those people.
"Shut him up.
I have a lot invested in this ride,
shut him up!
Look at my furrows of worry, look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real!"
...It's just a ride...
But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that - did you ever notice that - and let the demons run amok...
But it doesn't matter, because it's just a ride. And we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice - no effort, no work, no job, no savings of money.
Just a choice right now - between FEAR and LOVE."
(Voicemorphing:
BILL HICKS in "Revelations" 1993, quoted by
David Icke in "UK Lectures" 1995)

Secular Issues

2009-11-04T19:57:00.002-02:00

When I landed in Europe I saw many religious signs in public misleading to the public eye to be a place of tremendous religiosity. In Spain crucifixes are everywhere, too much. In the UK rarely do you get to see crucifixes other than in Churches, the private sphere. It is pretty much like Uruguay, a nation of skeptics, atheists, and layman people.

I see now this debate in Italy about Crosses in Schools. In Uruguay this was an issue a century ago. Uruguay has been a real secular society and country for decades. Uruguay is technologically and commercially lagging behind, no doubt. Yet, in terms of Legislation and Religious freedom is one of the world champions.

Anger at Italy school crucifix case

The Vatican and the Italian government have reacted angrily to a ruling that crucifixes should not be displayed in classrooms.

Solidarity in Multiculturalism

2009-09-11T13:53:00.002-03:00

Oooffff. The day before of Pay-Day I needed to take a pill so badly to cool myself down. So much stress. We are paid once a month. So, I was virtually penniless. Spent all of my money left to come here to London. Coming from Eurozone you definitely notice the change. Food is less expensive but rents are really really high in London.

I even considered moving to another British city. The thing is that there’s nothing in between London and the rest of country’s cities that you would feel more or less the same in terms of opportunity. London is 8 times bigger and the next more populated city, Birmingham, in the UK. Moving to a smaller place making the salary I earn here, minimum wage would imply much better quality of life. No commute, less rent, and working for the same money. But also it would imply saying goodbye to other benefits that living in a truly international place would give to you.

So, my situation before pay-day meant actual hunger, more than being in survival mode, it implied working for pennies and not being able to buy food: Making minimum wage and no adding the London allowance (some money you make extra for working in Central London, especially because of transportation) and paying full (expensive) transportation, the long commute, and then just to make minimum wage on a part-time job. Someone who wouldn’t dare call this not survival mode, or lack of willingness to pursue in being determined about life and looking for something better would be out of place. Getting over a situation like this implies high doses of Self-Prudence.

Here it comes what I want to write about Solidarity in Multiculturalism.

I work for a corporation. The difference about working in a small place or family orientated business and working in a corporation is the policy towards multiculturalism. So, this is the first time in my life I am in a one-on-one situation with other ethnicities and cultures.

Solidarity from my workmates, that I feel they are the closest to what I would call a friend here, that know of my working situation. Human behaviour. One of my workmates, from another ethnicity and culture than the British or my own, gave me out some bread for free that it is not included in our diet, and also gave me some soup for free. That person knows of my current state, and did that for pure compassion-

It is a bit ambiguous because I note that the local culture promotes individualism, in the idea of “it is just a matter of either me or them to survive”-self-preservation but in this particular case there was kind of close (working and personal relationship) solidarity took place without created interest. It just was born naturally. I am amazed. I never faced such a thing. Especially, not in my birth country. But definitely yes with Uruguayans abroad since we empathized-

In Uruguay not many people, including my teachers, professors and colleagues, showed much solidarity to me. Not in Secondary School, not in College, not working as a teacher. Not as a son, not as a brother, not as a nephew, not as a classmate. Why was that? I bet it was mainly because of the cultural stereotypes that people believe in but also because I was different from most people in a society where being the same, not equal, but similar is overrated and too very much well-regarded. I am the same ethnical background than most Uruguayans (white European) but mentally and emotionally I am different from the vast majority of them. So, now and in here, where nobody knows me, where does the solidarity come from? Where are the basic values coming from? I just do not know how to explain where they come other than from the very human condition.

In Uruguay people who had some solidarity to me in terms of understanding my life and my behaviour were mainly foreigners or Uruguayans that were living or lived outside Uruguay.

In Spain the concept of Solidarity was even more linked to the same family origin than in Uruguay, in Uruguay at least some people dared to think outside the box in terms of Psychological freedom regarding family background and family values (the core of the family “ideologies” and family myths). In Spain my feeling is that the society is too much family-orientated so that solidarity can only dwell within the institution of Family. People are strongly individualist; and a type of individualism that differs from the one I see here.

People in Spain are tremendously selfish to each other, yet in terms of helping each other within the core of family there’s more a feeling to help other blood-relatives. So, solidarity is towards within Family members but not towards the other persons of society as equal people and human beings. Not towards the rest, something scary as we know the rest is part of us too because of Transcendentalism as it should be according to the Kantian imperative.

Last thing I want to say in this post is that I feel growing up, with all these experiences, ideas, living situations, closer to the concept a Philosopher should be: Intellect and Experience. Makes me feel more mature in my very own Philosophical system- More intellectually, morally, emotionally authorized source as an intellectual too.

A Very Unexpected E-mail

2009-08-28T12:25:00.012-03:00

Yesterday I received a very unexpected e-mail. You remember about a month ago that I published a post about my experience regarding Homophobia in my school days. Well, despite that the article was sent back to the “draft” folder after I unpublished it to make it longer and more profound. It was not available on line, however a person that I mentioned there googled her name and got to read the article.

It turned out to be a good friend of mine during part of my adolescence, and she clearly remembers all that was happening to me by then. She wrote a very emotional e-mail that caught me by surprise and made me very emotional. I never got to think on the “side” effects that telling such a story would have, as a matter of fact I made it for self-indulgence, saying I need to say this, I need to tell the world about what happened to me. And, and surprisingly it turned out to be that the world was just bigger than my usual readers.

So, with her e-mail she-s giving me the courage I missed to complete the post.

During my school days when I faced homophobia there were some sort of categories of people: foes, people that just hated you for being different, then people who had empathy with you or your situation, and also people who cared nothing.

The ones that cared nothing were Laura Prieto for instance; she was really concerned about guys and romance back then.

Maria Inés Milessi, despite she said she didn’t give damn; she was a bit homophobic with her reactions. She was not a stalker, definitely not, but she wasn’t friendly. She didn’t defend me from homophobic attacks from the phobics. She was always saying “don’t beat women, the men that beat women are gay”, big mistake Maria Inés, a gay person is not the one that beat women, it is more likely a straight man would beat women, and being a stalker than gay men.

Then, there were the friendly people like Diana Calero, super funny cheek, we developed a friendship as well, Pamela Sosa, who really became a real friend. We lost contact when I changed my school shift and had to go but they were good friends, and definitely compassionate about what was going on with the attacks and my persona.

And yes, the foes were there too. Living in the school. They are part of society, they are part of the school.

Here’s an example of the portrait of the homophobic itself. Lorena Pereyra, I will never forget her. She used to call me “el carolo”, I wasn’t Rügnitz (as we were told by our teachers and classmates) or Pablo for her, ever. I was always “el carolo” a very mean and vulgar way to call a gay person “fag”. I remember that day, Pamela and Lorena, who were quite good friends with each other went to my parents’. Close to my parents there is a nice square with play games. We were in one of the games when Lorena called me “you Carolo, you know something bla bla bla”, she called me like that as something natural, normal. I had seen something on TV related to name-calling. I remember I started to mistreat her verbally for calling me “Carolo” as something common. There were other ways to call me, but she couldn’t help using any other way but calling me “carolo, carolo and carolo”. I remember that later when the three of us went back to my parents’ house, and then again she called me “carolo, you know something…”, I couldn’t hold back on the situation anymore and started to grab her hair, I had long hair by then, and I do not remember if she grabbed me back my hair, but it was just by the time my mother was coming back from work, and saw what it was happening. Pamela was paralyzed, she couldn’t believe what it was happening either. At the end, my mother and Pamela put an end to the situation, but it was pretty awkward because I was very angry and I was shouting why this cheek was calling “carolo” the whole time. My mother didn’t get angry at Lorena when I was shouting why I was overreacting in such an aggressive way, she just took it for granted the way Lorena was name-calling me. Well, I remember Lorena was pretty much self-aware from that day on when name-calling me.

Another rule was, “it is a fag, and in order for him to become man, you need to beat him to death until he learns to self-defend himself”. That was true. The male foes were so persistent on this practice. They flocked to beat me everyday, or almost everyday. I hated School for this. Everyone knew of this situation, the teachers, my parents, the other guys’ parents, and the school principal. They did nothing to stop it, they let it on, after it was because of the much beating that I was gonna become full male. And you know, I have become very self-sufficient and quite defensive at times in my life but because of fear, social exclusion, being disregarded, aloof, and trying for my “gay” side not to come out too obvious that I have become what I am, but not for the beating, beating aches a lot at the time, yes, but goes away physically speaking but there are other types of violence, especially psychological remains.

About Homophobia in the Schools

2009-08-01T18:53:00.009-03:00

From the very first day of schooling I was always longing for last day of school.

One big aspect: Homophobia. I was feeling so disregarded by many of my classmates in higher elementary school and of course all along Secondary school completely.

It's been a while since I have been wanting to write about this but was unable. Unable emotionally since I need to concentrate my energy in my new career and place of residence. Fortunately no culture shock this time. And, I feel capable of writing about such a personal experience as I was homophobia during my childhood and teenage years.

It all was triggered by the Article of BBC Mundo tackling a research of Homophobia in Latin America

Then I started to think of the Drop-Out Rate, and how this influenced upon my outcome as a student. It is still hard to write. Let me grab some strength and I will try to finish by tomorrow. Some points I will deepen.

Childhood
Jimena Deak (moral and verbal) Stalker

Tamara Alonso (Friendly)

Teenage years
Pablo Gomez, Ricardo Tapia and Sebastian Romero (Stalkers)

Graciana Terradas (Friendly)

Sebastian Rosales (midway stalker)

Junkies as friends for protection

Paula Jimenez (Stalker)

Teachers

Friendly
Foes

My parents
My dad ---- you are lazy and good for nothing, you are a bad student and you are the only one to blame for.
Feeling guilty

Recommendation from classmates

Happiness Economics- Aspects to Think of

2009-07-25T11:57:00.008-03:00

Listen to the links to the Radio4 Audio I recommend below.

Aspects to consider:

Entrepreneurship, Homogeneous Culture, Well-being, Preserve the Feeling, Protestant Ethics, Idea of Contentment, Ambitions, Expectations, Politics of Contentment, Egalitarianism, (Gender) Equality, Racial Diversity, Similarity, Core of Community, Acceptance of "Society" just as it is, Modesty, Social and Personal Happiness, Business Atmosphere, Far-right, Values of Solidarity, Trust in Society, Low Crime Rate. Always everyone's well. Always happy because you have something precious. Instead about worrying about what they don't have, they seem more concerned about how to preserve what they've got.

One town's bid to cut energy costs

2009-07-25T11:06:00.004-03:00

I am so glad to read good news about Uruguay at last and on a practical matter that help improve lives of people, not just the Priviledge ones of the very same endless times of Uruguay. There's a lot of wind in down there, so finally it exists Public Policy to approach the advantages of such phenomenon.

Solar power lights are more reliable and save energy and money

This is not a typical town square in Uruguay.

The square, in the town of Suarez some 40km from the capital Montevideo, has gone over to solar energy and LED technology.

The aim is to reduce electricity costs and at the same time light more streets.

If it works, the plan could serve as a model for other towns across the country.

In the current economic crisis and upward pressure on electricity prices, it should be a way of reducing energy costs. Read +

Economic crisis boosts Dutch Calvinism

2009-07-10T17:38:00.001-03:00

Ruben van Zwieten is a trainee reverend who spreads the message

Five hundred years after the birth of French Protestant theologian John Calvin, his teachings seem more topical than ever.

Hard work and frugality, the values espoused by Calvinism, are back in fashion as people reassess their lives because of the economic crisis.

Nowhere is this more so than in the Netherlands, which is often described as the most Calvinist nation in the world. Calvin never set foot there, but his influence is hard to miss.

Read +

We Shall Always Remember You!

2009-07-06T16:13:00.000-03:00

I never completely understood him but I really liked him in his complexity

Secular State. Religion & Gay Rights

2009-06-27T19:51:00.004-03:00

Open Link here

Spainish Justice System Going Backward

2009-06-27T17:23:00.001-03:00

The most famous case was an attempt to extradite Gen Pinochet in 1998

For more than a decade, a drab, beige building in central Madrid has been the global destination of choice for anyone wanting to file allegations of genocide, torture and crimes against humanity.

Spain's left-leaning government sees things rather differently.

This is not about pressure from one country or another, but rather it's about deciding the best role for Spain in tackling impunity

In parliament, it is sponsoring a controversial change in the law, which would limit the future scope of universal jurisdiction to cases in which (i) the victims are Spanish, (ii) the alleged perpetrators are in Spain, or (iii) some other clear link to Spain can be demonstrated.

The Audiencia Nacional - National Criminal Court - has heard complaints of human-rights abuses as far afield as Guatemala, Rwanda, Chile, Tibet, Gaza and Guantanamo Bay.

Currently, 10 cases from five continents are being investigated by Spanish judges, under the principle of "universal jurisdiction," which holds that some crimes are so grave that they can be tried anywhere, regardless of where the offences were committed.

In a recent statement, almost 100 organisations collectively praised Spain's "pioneering approach," gushing that the country "should feel proud of itself" for becoming a reference point for other nations.

Read +

Not the Same One before and After Valencia

2009-06-23T04:54:00.001-03:00

Obama on DOMA

2009-06-16T21:16:00.001-03:00

June 15, 2009

President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President: I have had the privilege of meeting you on several occasions, when visiting the White House in my capacity as president of the Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights organization representing millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people across this country. You have welcomed me to the White House to express my community’s views on health care, employment discrimination, hate violence, the need for diversity on the bench, and other pressing issues...

If we are your equals, if you recognize that our families live the same, love the same, and contribute as much as yours, then the answer must be no.

We call on you to put your principles into action and send legislation repealing DOMA to Congress.

Sincerely,

Joe Solmonese

Read +

Fascism/Individualism like The One Below Hurts me, Makes me Mad!

2009-06-11T20:37:00.002-03:00

Spain to punish 'barbaric bakery'

A Spanish bakery accused of barbaric behaviour towards an illegal worker will face "the full weight of the law", the government has vowed.

The statement comes amid shock over the case of a Bolivian worker whose arm was cut off in an accident at work.

Bosses at the bakery in Valencia are accused of dumping him 100m (330 feet) from the hospital entrance and throwing the severed limb in a rubbish bin.

A Beautiful Courageous Gay Love Story

2009-06-11T17:42:00.001-03:00

(San Angelo, Texas) The mayor of this West Texas sheep ranching town offered a stunning explanation when he suddenly resigned: He was in love with a man who was an illegal immigrant and had gone to Mexico.

They had to move, he said, because there was no legal way for them to remain together in the United States.

“It wasn’t a decision that any U.S. citizen should have to make,” former Mayor J.W. Lown said in an interview from Mexico. “I left a home. I left a ranch. I left a promising political career.”

“I did not want to consciously violate the law,” Lown said. “We want to make a life together and do it in the right way and follow the law.”

San Angelo, meanwhile, will be without a mayor until the City Council decides whether to appoint someone or schedule a special election.

Lown hopes to eventually return here with his partner.

“I don’t know how long this is going to take. It could take months. It could take years, but I’m prepared to wait as long as it takes,” he said. “I hope I’ll have some shred of my good name left when this is resolved.”

EU adopts Blue Card Scheme for Skilled Migrants

2009-05-26T10:30:00.002-03:00

The EU on Monday (25 May) adopted plans for a European Union work permit aimed at attracting highly skilled foreigners to the bloc, similar to the US' Green Card.

Dubbed the Blue Card, it will allow foreign workers to be employed in any EU member state except Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark and enjoy limited social and welfare rights for themselves and their family members for a renewable period from one to four years.

The EU tries to attract high-skilled foreigners on its labour market. (Photo: European Commission)

They will grant Blue Card holders equal treatment with nationals when it comes to "working conditions, including pay and dismissal", recognition of qualifications, the right to participate in trade unions and limited social security and pension rights, as well as access to housing and counselling. Read More.

Spain-EU holds 'voodoo' traffickers

2009-05-23T00:08:00.004-03:00

The traffickers allegedly supplied women for the sex trade across Europe

Spanish police have arrested 23 people suspected of trafficking Nigerian women into the country and forcing them into prostitution by using voodoo curses.

Experts said the women were scared into submission because of a vow they were forced to take on the graves of their ancestors before they left Nigeria.

The money the women earned was then kept until they had paid off the debt incurred getting to Spain, police said.

Prosecutors said most were minors at the time they disappeared from Dutch asylum centres, ending up in Italy, Spain and France.

'Black magic'

In a statement, Spanish police said they had detained 23 people after raids on 10 homes across the country. Material used in voodoo rituals, computer equipment and several passports were also seized.

Police said they had opened an investigation in February after receiving a complaint from a Nigerian woman in the south-eastern city of Seville, who said she had been one of the traffickers' victims.

The suspects had carried out "voodoo rituals and black magic to frighten the women and keep them always under control with the threat of 'destroying their souls' or 'making them crazy'", they added.

It is Good to live Without Legal Homophobia

2009-05-17T13:53:00.003-03:00

Today's anniversary againt Homophobia was marker by event like the one in Russia or the USA.

We as advocates for Human Rights ought to keep demaning equality and dignity across the world in the form of Civil Right but also in awareness and acceptance. In a personal basis my family back in Uruguay has been making some progress in this regard.

Interesting Question: Who has more freedom?

2009-05-11T20:06:00.004-03:00

Back in England on a flying visit, I notice a real kickback against the initial surprise, not to say horror, over the Government's decision to ban Michael Savage from the UK thus giving the publicity-seeking chap exactly the oxygen he seeks.

He is not without his supporters back at home and this is the mainstream view in the popular press at least in the UK but this riposte raises the interesting issue of what limits on freedom of speech are reasonable.

Americans are not allowed to yell "fire" in a crowded room, but the Times piece is quite right - they have much more freedom of speech in most other areas.

The one that always strikes me is discussion of court cases replete with speculation about whether the accused is innocent.

Which nation is freer - the nation that protects minorities from abuse or the nation that lets a thousand voices scream?

Read More

Sister doubt

2009-05-10T12:57:00.001-03:00

Someday I'll explain what this song meant to me. For now you can see the clip and an English translation of it below

Sister doubt
(Jorge Drexler)
Mexico DF, 10/14/04

I don’t have anyone to pray to
asking for light,
groping my way through space

Don’t misunderstand me
i’m not complaining about it
i’m the gardener of my own dilemmas

Sister doubt,
the years will go by
the styles will change
other wars will come
the same ones will lose
and I hope that you
will keep me within range.

But tonight,
sister doubt
sister doubt,
give me a break.

I don’t have anyone to blame except myself
with my trail
of loose ends

Don’t misunderstand me,
i carry them well,
or at least I make the attempt.

Sister doubt,
the records will go away
the waters will rise
the crisis will change,
the same ones will pay
and I hope that you
will keep biting my tongue.

But tonight,
sister doubt
sister doubt,
declare a truce.

Glad 4 Maine, Glad 4 America

2009-05-06T19:54:00.001-03:00

Congrats!

Great, seems that the fear the Bush Administration brought in and the obedence by state parliaments and some Governors is going away once and for all. This is why I admire so much the so-called "Activist Courts" that have so far been the major warranty for our rights to be granted. I welcome the move of the parliaments of some states to move forwards Evolution and legal equality, yet I shall never forget all the big struggle and change the courts brought to us and discussion in the North American Society. You think about it!

A Change

2009-04-30T08:33:00.008-03:00

It is exactly a year since I was kicked out from my flatmate experience with Spaniards, my own "diaspora". Later I spent one month at my friend Andres´s place. After a month, I moved with my parents to a Ghetto.

I got to experience living with people who are segreagated by the Valencian society like people from Africa, Paskistanis, and other minorities of whom I had no experience of cohabitating in the same surrounding. People raised in the Uruguayan culture are part of racism by nature, not xenophobes though. Racials attitudes. Living with people of different make-ups helped me understand my feelings about the global more and carve my racial attitudes, especially my coming from a homogenous culture.

I outline a few phrases from the clip "The type of neighbourhood that you're living... it is about Education and the type of neighbours that you have... It is not about urban versus rural rather than who you live with... Racism is predicted by: The interaction of living with people unlike you".

Valencia is doing very bad in these regards lacking networking everyone but "ghettotizing" the "unlike you". The only people of diverse background you see in the streets that are in the "unlike you" in an interacting way are just the tourists. Not the local "unlike you" population who are very ostratized in my opinion, and not for good reasons.

The local government is doing little if nothing to help our networking in a real way. Almost monopolizing the offering the "unlike you" people the shitty jobs and positions, marginalizing the populations even more, while the "original" local population are unlikely to do, this is called de facto discrimination.

I can't imagine something like this is a global, competitive, multicultural and equal opportunity culture like cities in Canada, the USA or Brazil where there's much more equal opportunity on an actual basis. I do not know if setting quotas to help equal opportunity based on differences like background would solve this issue a bit but Valencia ought to do something in these regards to be open to the world and be part of the idea of becoming a global village.

When you R Powerless

2009-04-17T16:13:00.006-03:00

This post is about a time in my life that I was feeling so powerless. Back to 2006 when I had to leave my parents' place and move forward.

In the last post I was tremendously blunt about my current state-of-mind and how I see a relationship back in time and how the pain goes so you can gain objectivity. Also, objectivity points me to the suppport I got for that person (some times I wonder whether in the shape of manipulation or liberation or both at once) to overcome a situation of humillation and lots of pain.

I gotta point out that without that support or platform I wouldn't have never amounted too much. And, I have amounted to some things and I feel much better now. I do not know if I should be thankful or just point a fact with objectivity as a particular matter out of the whole story but I am definately better-off now, and much happier with my life and person.

A Crude Awakening: Dealing With Lies

2009-04-12T10:22:00.005-03:00

Darwinismo: Selección Sexual

Our Project

I felt Powerless for a long time. Now I can move on. I am no longer Powerless.

"Perfect by nature"... "More Lies about a world that never was and never will be"... "You're not real, you can't save me"

Buy me... Love me... Use me... Own me... Sweet little Lie... Crazy... Lies: Follow Your Passion. I know the Truth now, I don't love you anymore.

Data Removed from his blog on purpose after the manipulation was created:

From: IBMike
Date: December 27, 2007 8:58:32 PM PST
To:
Subject: [A Maverick's Odyssey] My Promises to You Pablo Mi Amor

I will marry you because I love you and want a future together with you.
I will never lie to you or deceive you.
I will never do anything to intentionally hurt you.
I will be faithful to you both physically and emotionally.
I will consult with you on all decisions that affect our family and we will make those decisions together.
I will encourage you to develop and grow as a person because I believe that our individual self-fulfillment is the best thing for the health of our family.
I will strive to always be your best friend and someone who you can trust and confide in.
I will try to be the best husband I can possibly be.

I will try, if we have children, to be the best father I can possibly be.
I will listen to you and do my best to fulfill your emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.
I will work with you to overcome any hardships we may encounter throughout the years ahead.
I will celebrate with you our love for each other every chance we get.
I will live these promises each and every day from this moment on.
I will mary you in a civil wedding in January 2008 which will show the world that you and I are creating a legal family.
I will stand at your side during our commitment ceremony later in 2008 which will strengthen our bond and show our friends and family that we have become a family.

Pablo, I feel so lucky to know that you love me. You are intelligent, honest, caring, loving, and handsome. I fell in love with you in October 2006 when I was in Seattle and you were in
Uruguay. When we met on November 1, 2006, my feelings for you were confirmed. Over the next 11 months of living together you stood by me through the most difficult moments of my life. At times you have understood my feelings and behavior better than I have. You have
been patient, caring, and loving with me. For all these reasons and more I love you and want to be your husband.

--
Posted By IBMike to A Maverick's Odyssey at 12/28/2007 02:52:00 AM

From: IBMike
Date: December 27, 2007 8:20:40 PM PST
To:

Subject: [A Maverick's Odyssey] The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

For those of you who know me you know that it's difficult for me to write about personal things in such a public way. It truly makes me vulnerable. This is ironic since I fell in love with Pablo because of his ability and courage to post personal things on his blogs http://a-philosophical.blogspot.com/ and http://filosofito.bitacoras.com/ and http://filosofito.blogspot.com/. He bared his soul and I loved what I saw. I, on the other hand, have been terrified about exposing my innermost feeling. I've been so afraid of being "judged" by others. But at the same time very quick to criticize others. And again, an irony because I constantly preach that what other people think of me should have no impact on me or my behavior. If "they" don't like it then it's their problem and not mine.

Pablo is in the process of pushing me outside my comfort zone. Encouraging me to write about myself warts and all. He is right in doing this. It is good for our relationship and it is good for me to start to be more open and transparent. This entry may be difficult for me because it is uncharted territory. All my life my defense mechanism has been to keep things in, avoiding the truth, or lying about details for fear of being judge. Now I'm being encouraged to let things out to set myself free. Free is better than fear so I'll do my best to proceed.

First of all, I look at relationships as a balance of energy and commitment. So many people falsely believed that Pablo was drawn to me because of my money but what most people don't know is that he comes from a family that is much more wealthy than mine. I explained in my last post that he couldn't have been drawn to me because of money since almost immediately after my arrival in UY most of my money was stolen back in California. Pablo and I developed an emotional and intellectual, and believe it or not, a love relationship before we even met and set eyes on each other for the first time. From the begging of October 2006 until the day we met in person in Montevideo on November 1, 2006, we exchanged multiple emails every day. We were very open with each other and in many letters shared hopes and dreams that we had never shared with anybody else in our lives. I honestly can say that we loved each other before we set eyes on each other. From the day we met in Montevideo on November 1, 2006, we were inseparable. Indeed, inseparable. From November 1st, 2006, until mid July when I flew to Seattle we slept every single night under the same roof. No exceptions. Then again from when we reunited in Canada in July until he left the US.

Two weeks after my arrival in Uruguay I came down with a severe case of food poisoning. Pablo spent the entire evening at my bedside in the emergency room making sure the doctors didn't forget about me and making sure they did everything possible despite that fact that because of a heterosexual society that marginalizes gay people he was treated by the hospital staff as "just a friend." Two days later I was feeling much better when he caught the bug from me. It was now my turn to nurse him back to health. These were a horrible few days but days during which we cared for each other and bonded even more. It was also during these days that I got the first email indicating that there was a problem with my primary investment back in California.

Since I was in denial about the impending financial disaster I continued to look for luxury housing for us without putting much thought into whether or not we, as a couple, would be able to afford it. It was summer time and I fell in love with a cute old house near the Rambla in Punta Carretas. Pablo warned me of the winters in MVD but I decided to go with the house anyway. He definitely had a "told you so" moment when winter came and water was flowing down the walls and through the ceiling and we were unable to keep the house warm. I sure wish I had been able to discuss our housing situation together and have made a decision together. Instead I made the decision on my own and disregarded his input.

Because of the physical problems with the house and my dwindling savings we decided to break the lease on the house. Pablo took care of this 100%. During the process one of the landlords made insulting, homophobic remarks to Pablo which hurt him and enraged him. Eventually the landlord gave a sheepish, insincere apology. Pablo was very hurt by this incident.

Fast forward to our months in NYC after my parents died. As I mentioned previously I was shutting down emotionally. Feeling nothing -- nothing good, suppressing the bad, and killing the feelings of love. I was completely stressed out and literally felt I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Some of you know of the problems we had getting our dogs out of Uruguay. Pablo took this stress on and did an excellent job coordinating everything despite all circumstances conspiring against us.

By the time we got the dogs back my job prospects were non existent. Pablo was miserable being in Manhattan and I was completely closed to any of his suggestions about finding a place where we could live together equally as a gay couple where neither one of us would be "illegal". The original agreed upon destination was Canada, a place we both admire. In the US he felt uncomfortable in a society where the government is run by religious right-wing conservative homophobes who were very vocal and self righteous in their public demonstrations against us "perverts" and we had to live that in person. Demonstrations and boycotts against the LGBT community by homophoes were seen and lived by us more than once.

Another society that treated us the same way was Uruguay (despite the fact that both are so different from each other). In Uruguay we were just friends and I was a tourist. In the USA we were just friends and Pablo was a tourist. In a society where he couldn't work or live "legally" as any other American or opposite-sex spouse of any American legal resident (as if a person can simply be legal or illegal based on their location on this planet). All of this made Pablo miserable. I was miserable and shutting down.

I couldn't handle anything any more. I withdrew completely. Pablo and I slept in the same bed but I curled up into a ball and didn't touch him and didn't let him touch me. One day he insisted we hug each other and deep down it felt so great but I was burying all feelings and was unable to express that or return the hug we equal feelings. I was unable to meet his emotional needs... or mine for that matter.

My interviews were going horribly. I had gained weight after returning to the US and could no longer fit the suits I bough before leaving Uruguay. I was unable to concentrate and respond to interview questions rapidly and correctly. Anybody who knows what a technology job interview is like will understand that it is impossible to be hired under these circumstances.

Something in me snapped. I couldn't handle anything any more. The job hunt felt hopeless, money was running out and we'd soon be homeless (only alternative was to live with my brother very far out on Long Island). Pablo was miserable and rightly so. Canada and Spain were our only two legal options since I could immigrate to Canada under a NAFTA technology worker's program and sponsor Pablo as my spouse. Pablo is a Spanish Citizen so we could immigrate to Europe as a couple. We were literally on the verge of being penniless and out of credit on the credit cards. This is when I completely pushed Pablo out of my life. At first I suggested he go to Miami for a few days to stay with some of our friends then return to NY but that turned into an argument so, as it turned out, he went to Miami for a week then on to Uruguay. We haven't seen each other since and I miss him terribly (my ability to feel started again towards the end of November and my first feelings were the loss of my love, Pablo).

When Pablo left for Miami then Uruguay he had very little cash on him. Even though money was very tight as soon as he got to Uruguay he wire transfered me enough money to pay my rent in NYC.

During the days before Pablo left for Miami a friend of mine in Miami told me how he met his current boyfriend on a gay dating Web site. I was curious and logged on to check it out. I created a profile to be able to see the other profiles on the site. I had no intention on meeting anybody. My libido was dead, my feelings were dead, my desire for human interaction was virtually nonexistent. Pablo and I have always shared our two computers. Unbeknownst to me he found my profile and understandably concluded that I was trying to get rid of him so that I could start dating or having sex with other men. Yet one more way I hurt the man I love. He and I knew each other first on line then in person for 15 months. For the past 22 or 23 months he's the only many I've been with ... period. When I saw the profiles of the other guys on that web site it saddened me because so much of the online gay culture is based on sex --- intellectual and emotional connections are seldom valued. Pablo and I have an emotional, intellectual and sexual bond. Something in my 43 years I have never experienced with another human being. The only thing looking at that web site did for me was make me feel more despair.

A couple of days ago I did something that really angered him. He had kept emails and photos of an ex-boyfriend of his on one of his online email accounts. Something happened that day that made me recall those emails and triggered anxiety and jealousy in me. I logged onto his account (he has always been open and non-secretive with me so we know each other's passwords) and I deleted all of the emails from and to his ex. I should not have done this. My feelings may or may not have been valid but that's not the point. I should have spoken to Pablo about it. After he found out that I did it he gave me a very clear intellectual reason why he kept those emails. My jealousy was totally unfounded. And his anger was very real.

Pablo believes that I behaved as a monster towards him several times during this year and a few months. He's right. I behaved in ways that hurt him and were unappreciative for all he has done for me. There have also been many good times but it seems like the bad moments create stronger memories for us.

Anybody reading this who doesn't know us well is probably thinking that I'm describing the worst relationship two people could ever have. That's not the case at all. We do love each other. We understand each other. We have an inexplicable bond with each other. We both care for human rights and gay rights. We enjoy spending time together, talking on the phone, and writing long intellectually, sexy, and dreaming emails to each other. The reason I am writing all of this is to balance the perspective our friends may have about our relationship. It has always been my defense mechanism to blame others for my own shortcomings. So many times over the last year I used Pablo's behavior as an excuse for my reactions and behavior. For these reasons and more I want to set the record straight and to publicly apologize to Pablo.

One positive thing that has come out of all of this hardship is that Pablo and I have been reconnecting at a level of intimacy that we never had before. We are sharing feelings, dreams, hurts, pleasures, and desires that we previously kept to ourselves. It is my hope that through these mistakes, pains, and hurts that we will become better people and a better couple. It is my hope that we will work towards our goal of becoming married and living in a country that respects us as human beings and as a couple.

I love you very much Pablo my osito. I want us to succeed as a couple and a family. I want us to parent a child together. I want us to get married and commit ourselves to make this a successful relationship and family.

--
Posted By IBMike to A Maverick's Odyssey at 12/27/2007 08:33:00 PM

From: IBMike

Date: December 27, 2007 2:32:57 PM PST

To:

Subject: [A Maverick's Odyssey] An Email to Pablo

I wrote this email to Pablo a couple of weeks ago. It was a first attempt and apologizing to him and explaining to both him and myself what I was going through and some of the reasons behind my behavior. From where I am now so much of it seems like a bad dream. I feel like I woke up from a nightmare, looked around, saw that Pablo was gone, and realized it wasn't a dream after all.

===========================

Dear Pablo,

I don't think you full understand my numb state. I was truly on the verge of a breakdown. The only way for me to get through everything was to stop feeling. Stop feeling the loss of my savings, stop feeling the pain of my parent's death, stop feeling love for you, stop feeling happiness and sadness.

Yes, I am feeling now, slowly. First was pain, lots of pain, and loss. Then I felt pain for what you have been through because of me. You were the only man who I loved who stayed by me when things were difficult. You helped me, were honest with me, loved me, and were faithful to me. I'm sorry that all of the circumstances of my life conspired to create an incredibly difficult time for me and for you. Neither one of us deserved to live through this past year. I lived through it because things were happening to me. You lived wit hit because you loved me and stayed with me. I thank you for that with all my sincerity and love that I have. You were good to me, in love with me and I allowed my pain and suffering to be transfered to you. It's not fair and I am sorry. The only way I would have been able to protect you from everything would have bee to end our relationship. I felt guilty for keeping you in my life because I knew that I was in no condition to be the man who you wanted. That first time in Uruguay that I tried to end our relationship I was trying to save you the pain of seeing me go through what was happing. It wasn't because I didn't love you. I did --- and still do. I felt helpless to give you the kind of relationship we both wanted. When you refused to leave the house, very selfishly, I was happy. I didn't want you to go. I wanted my problems to go and for you to stay. After you stayed and worked so hard on outinuruguay.com I fell even more in love with you. You were doing what you could to help and to create something that you were passionate about. Your staying with me made me fall more and more in love with you.

So, when I finally accepted the fact that I couldn't stay in UY and earn enough money to survive I though of Canada. I think what turned me off of Vancouver was stories I read on the Internet about Americans working up there. Overall, Americans were treated as agents of George W Bush. Also, pay is less, taxes are higher, and real estate costs about the same.

When we got to NYC things didn't happen they way I planned. The dogs were delayed, finding a appropriate apartment was difficult and expensive. Finding a job quickly was impossible. By the time we got the dogs out of MVD I was so close to a breakdown. Then my blood pressure medicine ran out and made things worse. I know I didn't do a good job interviewing. I was nervous and lacked self confidence. I couldn't think clearly which made it difficult to answer questions rapidly. I was a mess. I started shutting down even more the week the dogs were supposed to be here. The week of my birthday. I didn't fall out of love with you --- I just couldn't feel the love I have for you. I couldn't fee the death of my parents. I could handle the fact that we had just weeks before all money ran out.

That day when I suggested you fly to Miami for a few days and then come back to New York I was serious. I had been talking with Mirlan [a friend of ours in Miami] and he suggested it. I was having a breakdown and needed space to figure things out. I though it was a good idea. You'd spend 5 or 6 days in Miami enjoying yourself (which you very much needed) and I would have some alone time to figure out what to do and how to do it. I thought it was a good idea and I knew that after you being gone for those days I'd miss you. But when I brought the idea up to you you assumed that I wanted to send you to Miami and from there directly to UY. You didn't believe me when I said that that's not what I wanted. I was suggesting that you go to Miami then return to New York. Then we'd still have almost a month before your visa would have run out. You got angry at me because you though I was trying to get rid of you. I just couldn't take any more pressure so I caved in and said yes, I think it's best you leave. I wish I could have been calmer to explain to you that that wasn't my intention. I really thought that if you could have some fun in Miami you'd be much more relaxed and if I could have some alone time to concentrate on my job hunt and interview, I would make progress with my job search and focus on the problems at hand.

Pablo, I don't know if you want to hear about this or not. I'll end it now and wait for your reply. No matter what the future holds please know that I loved you, do love you, and will always care about you. I wish we were back on path to be married on 8/8/08. That was a nice thing I was looking forward to.

ALANIS MORISSETTE LYRICS

"One"

I am the biggest hypocrite
I've been undeniably jealous
I have been loud and pretentious
I have been utterly threatened
I've gotten candy for my self-interest
the sexy treadmill capitalist
heaven forbid I be criticized
heaven forbid I be ignored

I have abused my power forgive me
you mean we actually are all one
one one one one one one one
I've been out of reach and separatist
heaven forbid average (whatever average means)
I have compensated for my days
of powerlessness

I have abused my so-called power forgive me
you mean we actually are all one
one one one one one one one

did you just call her amazing?
surely we both can't be amazing!
and give up my hard earned status
as fabulous freak of nature?

I have abused my power forgive me
you mean we actually are all one
one one one one one one one
always looked good on paper
sounded good in theory

--
Posted By IBMike to A Maverick's Odyssey at 12/27/2007 08:15:00 PM

The Real Crisis? We Stopped Being Wise

2009-03-28T16:51:00.003-03:00

This time Schartz makes it very emotional, lacking deep philosophical argumentation on the matter of the 'Crisis' but very emotional speech. Almost pleading on the human race behaviour to change its patterns from night to dust. In my opinion he needed to make more emphasis on the need to end with corruption as the source of misleading individualism if we are to base our lives more on a planetary vision.
Yet, I applaud once more his kind of basic summary steps on how to affort happiness and living in an ethical way. Is is ok. Anyways, it is a reflexing Talk @ TED I wanna share with you.

Here: In This World

2009-03-28T13:44:00.009-03:00

A Human Rights Campaign is Censored by Uruguayan Media

2009-03-28T12:31:00.003-03:00

From an old friend of mine in UY I am publishing this on his behalf and since I have my access to OutInUruguay.com completely blocked by M.A. Batal. Blocking my capacity to write and publish news on LGBTQ matters in OutInUruguay. Thank Juan Pablo.

By Juan Pablo Milessi (Montevideo, Uruguay)

Friday 27th. March 2009

Another paradox in the Southamerican pampas?

"Un beso es un beso" (A kiss is a kiss) is the name of a huge visibility campaign developed by Ovejas Negras (Black Sheep), a Uruguay based GLBT organisation with the help of the Dutch embassy. The TV spots feature couples kissing and aims at making people aware that Uruguayan legislation condemns discrimation. An individual can be sentenced to almost 2 years imprisonment if he/she is found guilty of harassing or insulting people for their sexual orientation. Apart from radio and television, buses have been wrapped and big posters will be exhibited in different parts of Montevideo. It is a fight against homophobia. People need to know their rights.

Channel 10 (Saeta) stated that the kisses shown in the spots were too aggressive. Ovejas Negras then decided to make some changes to the original and sent back to Saeta but they rejected it once again. Channel 4 also decided not to broadcast the spots. These two channels spend almost all afternoon broadcasting soap operas where women are degraded and humiliated one episode after the other, programs which feature the cheapest gossip and lots of frivolous sex. Despite all this, they will not adhere to this campaign which in part, tries to educate the whole community

This is the TV spot (taken from Ovejas Negras Youtube site). Please share this note with your friends.

Juan Pablo Milessi
Montevideo, March 27th 2009

A Crude Awakening

2009-03-21T22:01:00.000-03:00

One of My Happiest Days: La Malvarrosa

2009-03-07T19:12:00.004-02:00

This is La Malvarrosa where I live. The day my family and I moved in was of the happiest days I ever had in this town. Here's a full article you can read about it.

My Family Here

2009-02-24T16:17:00.000-02:00

I usually do not speak personal events of my life other than my very inner life, very in abstract at times. But this time I will tell and come out about my surrounding. My next-of-kin here in Valencia.

The one I have mentioned here before and posted pictures of is my very friend Andres. He must be even more than a friend. He is the brother I never had. Biologically speaking I only have two dull and older sisters whom have always been too much attached to themselves all usually left me behind them in different times of our lives. Despite the fact that they are not twins; they have little age difference and did too many things together including School, Secondary School, GYMs, Discos, Doctors, Friends, Vacations and Work. They are too much of a kind despite that there have some differences in between.

The closest to a sister I have had could be my friends back in Uruguay Elena, Francisco {I called him my Sister Blister}, Natalia, and Natalie, though not biologically but yes emotionally.

Andres represents a character in my life I would have never thought of as a need during my biological needs. I was always the only boy. I never had the chance to share with another male as a relative, not a cousin, not a friend, and of course, not a lover because lovers come and go. Brothers and Sisters are forever.

Andres means so much to me in the sense that thru him I met my spiritual parents. The parents I never had, the family could have never dreamed of.

My S-Parents are not perfect by any means, and I am not going to fantasize of facts they are not. They are just parents. Human beings far away from perfection but close enough to love and share with. To relate, to have things in common, to feel affection and the need to see, speak, hear, discuss at times and also hug (we are all Uruguayans, we do not touch too much like other latins). So, I have felt like being a family for the last few months. It is matching of many different emotions and intellectuality.

I feared my blood family in Uruguay. I live with my S-Parents in Europe. We share more than a house. We make a home. We make a family.

Being with them, somehow, helped overcome and let go the grudges I have had with my biological parents basically.

I usually speak with my Biological mother once a month or so. Sometimes I phone my sisters and speak with my niece and in-laws. When it comes to my blood father he stays in a position of ‘staying away’ I do not know how to analyze but it could be fear of seeing life as it is. The evolution of (my) life and seeing in a sadistic way that I am no longer one of his victims but a pretty free individual nor anybody else’s victim.

I have a few good friends here as well. Unfortunately none of them Valencian: Adam, Julia and Stephen. Julia is the only Spanish. She’s an Artist. She’s after the Absolute. Adam is someone that makes me think and relate with me due to a similar experience of coming from a country that condemns diversity, Poland. He’s a very smart and sensitive person. He’s after 1 & 0, and its combinations. And, someday capture the Absolute. Stephen is a person that at times does not appreciate how lucky he was to be raised in a free and secular society with good opportunities. He comes from England. He’s pure sensibility, and the kinda of guy: ‘let me try substances (various)’ and Techno music to feel “the life”. Perhaps he never had to think of freedom too deeply for having always been free.

This is pretty much my surrounding here.

Warning over 'surveillance state'

2009-02-08T16:17:00.002-02:00

Since Spain is badly-off I am planning on relocating {again, yes. Again!}. I have been thinking of the UK as place to relocate. The World Crisis in the UK will not ever hit as hard as it has been hitting Eurozone or the US. However, news like the one below discards me from making a move there.

Lord Norton: "We are a world leader in surveillance"
Electronic surveillance and collection of personal data are "pervasive" in British society and threaten to undermine democracy, peers have warned.
CCTV cameras and the DNA database were two examples of threats to privacy, the Lords constitution committee said.
It called for compensation for people subject to illegal surveillance.
The government said CCTV and DNA were "essential" to fight crime but campaign group Liberty said abuses of power mean "even the innocent have a lot to fear".

Read more @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7872425.stm

Worse Than America

2009-02-06T16:37:00.001-02:00

Swiss-EU relations challenged by eastern workers referendum

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The economic downturn in Switzerland could mean that Swiss voters this weekend decide against allowing Bulgarian and Romanian workers access to their country, a move likely to lead to a freeze in EU-Swiss relations.

With foreigners representing 21 percent of the population and some 80,000 people settling in Switzerland last year, especially from Germany, many Swiss citizens have begun to believe that free movement of persons was more to the benefit of the EU than their own.

"Six months ago, we were very optimistic about this vote. But now we get news of companies having troubles every morning, of jobs being cut, of people going on unemployment. Such a situation promotes protectionist reflexes. People fear losing their job and this is not a context favourable to a vote on the free movement of people," the Swiss ambassador to the EU, Jacques de Watteville, told the EUobserver.

The anti-immigrant Swiss People's Party (SVP) has picked up on these fears ahead of Sunday's referendum (8 February) with posters showing huge black crows picking at the Swiss map, echoing a 2007 poster campaign in which three white sheep kick a black sheep off of the Swiss flag they all had been standing on. The poster, notorious across Europe and accused of being racist, was banned by the Geneva city council at the time .

"Extending freedom of movement to people from Romania and Bulgaria is an excessive concession if we consider their economic delay, corruption, criminality and high unemployment. The consequence would be a plundering of unemployment, motherhood and invalid benefits. This would lead to higher taxes and VAT, jobs would be lost and foreign criminality would rise", the No-campaign website argues.

More at http://euobserver.com/9/27556/?rk=1

Not be suitable for minors?

2009-02-01T12:07:00.001-02:00

Recommendable---> Davos: World Economic Forum and So Forth!!

2009-01-31T18:20:00.006-02:00

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9 - Final

Spanish Recession

2009-01-30T14:38:00.005-02:00

I suffer a lot from it. I had the worst time in recent Economic History to move here. I came here when the money was gone. And only few coins were left. I do not repent it though. I had to come here to escape from hostility and persons taking advantage of me from such hostility.

I had never lived in such a freedom before. So, although times are not easy at all. I am glad I made it. I am now thinking of moving out from here temporarily. I have ties to this land like my spiritual family and good friends I do not want to let go. But sadly, this is the reality. We are fucked-up

Unemployment in Spain has been rising sharply

Spain's economy is in recession for the first time since 1993, according to figures from the Spanish central bank.

The Bank of Spain said gross domestic product (GDP) fell 1.1% in the final quarter of 2008, following a 0.2% decline in the third quarter.

The Spanish government has already forecast that the country's GDP will shrink by 1.6% during 2009.

Spain has the worst unemployment rate in the EU, with 13.9% of the workforce out of a job.

The latest labour figures from the Bank of Spain showed that unemployment rose by 3% in the quarter.

The eurozone as a whole entered recession in November.

Real estate bubble

Spain's economy has in recent years been one of the healthiest in Europe, but the global financial crisis and rising unemployment have hit it hard.

The fact that the adjustment is so brutal is a reason to be optimistic for the longer term

Dr James Nixon
European economist, Societe Generale

The country's reliance on construction means it has also suffered from the collapse of the real estate bubble.

Mortgage lending was down 51% in November, marking the biggest fall in 10 straight months of decline.

"Spain is going through a very sharp correction having grown very rapidly for a decade," said Dr James Nixon, European economist at Societe Generale. "That growth is now being very sharply reversed.

Eurozone jobless at two-year high

Eurozone unemployment is rising as the economy worsens

Unemployment across the nations that share the euro rose to its highest level in more than two years last month, as more firms laid off staff.

The eurozone unemployment rate totalled 8% in December, according to the latest official European Union data, up from a revised 7.9% in November.

Unemployment was highest in Spain, which recorded a 14.4% figure.

Meanwhile, eurozone inflation fell in January to 1.1%, its lowest level in almost 10 years, from 1.6% in December.

While Spain saw the highest unemployment last month, the lowest was Netherlands on 2.7%, and Austria at 3.9%.

Fresh rate cut?

The latest unemployment and inflation figures will increase the pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB) to further cut eurozone interest rates to help bolster the economy and bring inflation closer to its 2% target.

The decline in Spain's property market is an extraordinary story

Ben Shore, Europe business reporter

Europe's growing jobless headache

Earlier this month the ECB trimmed rates by half a percentage point to 2%, its fourth reduction since September, when rates stood at 4.25%.

However, eurozone interest rates remain above the current 1.5% in the UK, and between 0% and 0.25% in the US.

The ECB makes its latest decision on interest rates next week, but the bank's president Jean-Claude Trichet has so far hinted that there won't be a fresh rise until March.

Economist Matthew Sharratt of Bank of America said the latest data had put the Bank in a difficult position.

"They [members of the ECB's governing council] have probably put themselves into a corner for next week's meeting," he said.

The eurozone unemployment figures for December do not include Slovakia, which earlier this month became the 16th nation to adopt the single currency.

For the 27-nation European Union as a whole, the unemployment rate rose to 7.4% in December from 7.3% in November.

Now That He's Gone! Last but not Least, huh, huh!!

2009-01-21T07:24:00.003-02:00

Historical Memory-------> Spaniard of origin!

2008-12-28T19:46:00.007-02:00

Today is a very important day for the Spanish born outside Spain like I am.

In law, we are now recognized as fully Spaniards and it does make us feel more integrated and belonging to this land somehow.

Not less nor any better than any other Spaniard. Just equally the same as any Spanish-born citizen.

We are born abroad for various reasons part of the History of this country we didn't have a say in them. We're just the consequence.

I always complain about the lack of self-consciousness in the Spanish people, and I still feel like that. However, via the Historical Memory Law a population mainly ignorant [or worse, the ones that forgot] of their own History and background has the capacity, at least now, to reflect on their origin and the Role of Franquismo and The Republic in Spanish History and their livelyhoods.

Not only the Spanish oughta do that, but also other peoples abroad like the cuban are doing it already.

The main changes are summarized below and in the Spanish Justice Ministry site.

There are three categories of Spanish citizenship: de origen (original citizenship) which is [almost exclusively] acquired at the moment of birth, mainly to a Spanish parent, and which can never be lost; and that which is acquired through a predetermined period of legal residency in Spain, known as por residencia. The distinction is important because Spanish nationality laws primarily follow iure sanguinis, including those relating to the right of return. The third category is por opción (by choice), this is given to some people of Spanish origins that, though not complying with the requisites to attain the original citizenship, are able to prove close ties to Spain; this option is given mainly to the children of people that have attained or recovered Spanish citizenship after their birth, but it has age limits and one must exercise this choice prior turning 20 (in some countries, like Argentina, prior turning 23, as majority of age is attained at 21 there). Most of the por opción clauses do not confer original status (except those included in the Historical Memory Law), thus it can be lost, and, in case one possesses nationality other than those described below as historically related to Spain (eg. United States), renounce their current nationality in front of Spanish consular officials.

In practice this renounce has little practical effect, and in some cases null effect, as only renounces made to one's own country's officials has effect to the linked nationality.

The Historical Memory Law (Spanish: Ley de Memoria Histórica), which will take effect in December 2008, introduces temporary (two-year) changes to current Spanish nationality laws. Those whose father or mother were born original Spaniards (regardless of their place of birth, whether they are still living, or whether they currently hold Spanish nationality) and those whose grandparents emigrated due to political or economic reasons will have the right to de origen Spanish nationality. Until and while the Law of Historic Memory takes effect, the following laws will also apply:

1. Spanish-born emigrants (mainly exiles from the Spanish Civil War and economic migrants) and their children are eligible to recover their de origen Spanish nationality without the requirement of residence in Spain. They also have the right to maintain any current nationality they possess.

2. Regardless of their place of birth, the adult children and grandchildren of original Spaniards (original Spaniards are those who, at the moment of their birth, were born to people who possessed Spanish citizenship) can also access Spanish nationality on softer terms than other foreigners: they require just 1 year of legal residence, and they are exempted from work restrictions. This law in practice also benefits the great-grandchildren of emigrant Spaniards as long as their grandparents (born outside of Spain) are/were original Spaniards.

From Wikipedia

So Very Xmass

2008-12-22T00:07:00.003-02:00

The kids call me Santa in the streets

In between
What I find is pleasing and I'm feeling fine
Love is so confusing there's no peace of mind
If I fear I'm losing you it's just no good
You teasing like you do

Whether You Believe it or Not Switzerland opens its borders

2008-12-12T12:09:00.004-02:00

Switzerland, right in the heart of Europe, but not in the European Union, is opening its borders to EU member states. Under the Schengen Agreement, which Switzerland is joining, cross-border passport checks will be abolished.

The move is the latest in a long and complex series of bilateral agreements which the Swiss government has negotiated with Brussels, in order not to be isolated within Europe's powerful trade zone.

Click for map of Schengen area

But the Swiss people have regularly indicated that they do not want their country to join the EU, so getting their agreement on something as sensitive as opening national borders was not easy.

"There was a highly controversial public debate," admits Urs Bucher, head of Switzerland's office of European Integration.

"Some people feared we would be opening our borders to criminals, and to thousands of illegal immigrants, but we are convinced this won't happen."

Increased security

In the end, the Swiss approved joining Schengen in a nationwide referendum. One factor which swayed voters was the fact that, by joining the Schengen area, Switzerland would have access to the Schengen Information System (SIS), a Europe-wide electronic database containing thousands of details of wanted or missing people, and stolen goods and vehicles.

"This is a very valuable contribution to our security," says Luzius Mader, deputy head of the Swiss justice and police department. "It will allow us to carry out police work much more effectively."

The long queues at Swiss border check points are expected to disappear

In practice, what Schengen means is a much less visible presence at the borders, and more selective but intense scrutiny behind the scenes. At Switzerland's border with France in Geneva, thousands of cars can now drive straight through, but mobile border patrols can still check anything they regard as suspicious.

So, in an office just a stone's throw from the border itself, Swiss border police are already using the SIS.

"We get up to 1,000 calls a day from our colleagues in the field," explains Juergen Zumbuhl. "And with the SIS we can check the records of a person or a vehicle right across Europe."

'A tonne of jam'

Nevertheless, for most people entering or leaving Switzerland, crossing the border will be much faster.

In Geneva and Basel in particular, where tens of thousands of people live in France or Germany, but work in Switzerland, queues at the border have long been a source of irritation.

But those hoping to cross from one country to another without even noticing may be disappointed. The most heavily used borders will still have guards, now however wearing new blue Schengen uniforms, as opposed to the old Swiss green.

Swiss border guards will trade their green uniforms for blue ones

One reason for this is that although Switzerland is joining Schengen, it is not joining the European Customs Union. So, while systematic passport checks will be abolished, checks for illegal goods will remain.

So does that mean that an empty-handed person will go straight through, but someone with, for example, a jar of French jam, will be stopped?

"It depends how much jam," explains border police spokesman Michel Bachar. "A tonne of jam we wouldn't be very happy about."

Principality exception

Perhaps the biggest visible change is taking place at an unexpected spot: Switzerland's border with Liechtenstein.

"The principality of Liechtenstein is a special case," explains Mr Mader. "Because contrary to what was expected, Liechtenstein will not join Schengen at the same time as Switzerland, so we will have a new external border there."

"It is a very curious situation

Random control checks are still possible

," he admits. "We will be putting up new controls at a place where there has been no real border for 100 years."

In fact, Switzerland had hoped to avoid erecting a border with its tiny neighbour, and even took security chiefs from EU member states on a trip along its border with Liechtenstein in a bid to show them how peaceful it was.

But EU policy demands that Schengen area external borders be controlled, and Liechtenstein is no exception; border controls will be introduced there until the principality itself joins Schengen too.

Record ballot

In joining Schengen, Switzerland has now adopted some of the EU's most contentious policies, including the free movement of labour, the relaxation of border controls, and the Dublin agreement on asylum.

Each bilateral agreement has been painstakingly negotiated with Brussels, has been approved by parliament, and, in the case of Schengen, Dublin and the free movement of labour, has gone to a nationwide referendum for final approval.

The SIS is supposed to improve security

Many might think it would be easier for Switzerland to simply join the European Union, and spend its negotiating time contributing to EU policy development.

But Swiss government officials have long memories; they point out that Swiss voters rejected moves to join the EU back in 1992, and say there is no indication they have changed their minds.

"Schengen is just one more step on the bilateral path," insists Mr Bucher. "It is not a step towards EU membership."

Instead, on 8 February 2009, Swiss voters will be going to the polls for a record sixth ballot on Switzerland's relations with the EU. This time they will be asked to approve an extension of the free movement of labour to new EU members Romania and Bulgaria.

Many Swiss are uncomfortable with the prospect, fearing an influx of cheap labour. The problem is, if they say no, all the other bilateral agreements could be in jeopardy.

Expansion phases:

1995: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain

1997: Austria, Italy

2000: Greece

2001: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden

2007: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

2008: Switzerland

Q&A: Schengen agreement

Story of Stuff

2008-12-09T09:42:00.001-02:00

Religious 'shun nanotechnology'

2008-12-08T13:02:00.002-02:00

Nanotech particles can be small enough to get inside body tissues

Attitudes to nanotechnology may be determined by religious and cultural beliefs, suggest researchers writing in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

They say religious people tend to view nanotechnology in a negative light.

The researchers compared attitudes in Europe and the US and looked at religious and cultural backgrounds.

They say the findings have implications for scientists and politicians making policy decisions to regulate the use of nanotechnology.

'Religosity'

The researchers compared attitudes to nanotechnology in 12 European countries and the US.

They then rated each country on a scale of what they called "religosity" - a measure of how religious each country was.

They found that countries where religious belief was strong, such as Ireland and Italy, tended to be the least accepting of nanotechnology, whereas those where religion was less significant such as Belgium or the Netherlands were more accepting of the technology.

Professor Dietram Scheufele from the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin, who led the research, said religious belief exerted a strong influence on how people viewed nanotechnology.

"Religion provides a perceptual filter, highly religious people look at information differently, it follows from the way religion provides guidance in people's everyday lives," he said.

The US was found to be the most religious country in the survey, and also the least accepting of nanotechnology.

Cultural beliefs

The researchers say it is understandable that there would be a conflict between religious belief and nanotechnology, especially when looking at what they call "nano-bio-info-cogno" (NBIC) technologies, the potential to create life at a nano scale without divine intervention.

"It's not that they're concerned about not understanding the science, more that talking openly about constructing life raises a whole host of moral issues," said Professor Scheufele.

Nanotechnology could be used to treat disease at a sub-cellular level

A similar study in the US looked at attitudes to nanotechnology and wider cultural and political beliefs.

People were asked about their views on a range of subjects, including risk from the internet, genetically modified food, nuclear power and mad cow disease.

Broadly, if they thought these were risky, they thought nanotechnology was too.

The researchers say their finding support the idea that underlying cultural beliefs have a stronger influence on opinions formed about nanotechnology than science based information about its potential and pitfalls.

Professor Scheufele says the findings have implications for policymakers trying to regulate nanotechnology.

"How do we regulate something where we have different moral ideas from the public?

"We need to get to grips with the idea that the exact same piece of information can have a different meaning to different people, its the age-old dilemma for science about what could be done versus what should be done."

2 Understand Is To Transform What Is

2008-12-02T11:16:00.005-02:00

Therefore, we need to expose this financial failure for what it is, using this weakness
to our advantage.

Here are some suggestions for social change:

1) Expose the Banking Fraud. Citibank, and JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America are the most powerful controllers within the Corrupt Federal Reserve System. It’s time to boycott these institutions. If you have a bank account or a credit card with any of them, move your money to another bank. If you have a mortgage, refinance with another bank. If you own their stock, sell it. If you work for them, quit. This gesture will express contempt for true power behind the private banking cartel, known as the Federal Reserve. And create awareness about the fraud of the banking system itself.

2) Turn off the TV News. Visit the emerging, independent news agencies on Internet for your information. CNN, NBC, ABC, FOX and all the others, present all news, pre-filtered to maintain the status quo. With 4 corporations owning all major media outlets, objective information is impossible. This is the true beauty of the Internet and the establishment has been losing control because of this free flow of information. We must protect the Internet at all times, as it is truly our savior right now

3) Don't ever allow yourself, your family, or anyone you know… to ever join, the military. This is an obsolete institution, now used exclusively for maintaining an establishment that is not longer relevant. US soldiers in Iraq, work for US corporations, not the people. Propaganda forces us to believe that war is natural, and the military is an honorable institution. Well, if war is natural, why are there 18 suicides every single day by America veterans, who have post-traumatic stress disorder? If our military men and woman are so honored, why it is that 25% of the American homeless population are veterans.

4) Stop supporting the energy companies. If you live in a detached house, get off the grid. Investigate every means of making your home self-sustainable with clean energy. Solar, wind and other renewable energies are now affordable, consumer realities and considering the never-ending, raising cost of traditional energies, it likely will be a cheaper investment over time. If you drive, get the smallest car you can, and consider using one of the many conversion technologies that can enable your car to be a hybrid, electric or run on anything other than Establishment fuels.

5) Reject the Political system. The illusion of democracy is an insult to our intelligence. In a monetary system there is no such thing as a true democracy… and there never was. We have 2 political parties owned by the same set of corporate lobbyists.
They are placed in their positions by the corporations, with popularity, artificially projected by their media. In a system of inherent corruption, the change of personal every couple of years has very little relevance. Instead of pretending the political game has any true meaning, focus your energies on how to transcend this failed system.

6) Join the movement, Go thezeitgeistmovement.com and help us create the largest mass movement for social change, the world has ever seen. We must mobilize and educate everyone about the inherent corruption of our current world system, along with the only true, sustainable solution- declaring all the natural resources on the planet as common heritage to all people, while informing everyone as to the true state of technology and how we can all be free if the world works together, rather than fights.

The choice lies with you. You can continue being a slave to the financial system, and watch the continuous wars, depressions and injustice across the globe, while placating yourself with vain entertainment and materialistic garbage…

Or you can focus your energy on true meaningful, lasting holistic change, which actually has the realistic ability to support and free all humans, with no one left behind.

But, in the end, the most relevant change must occur first inside of you. The real revolution is the Revolution of Consciousness and each one of us first needs to eliminate the divisionary, materialistic noise, we have been conditioned to think is true…while discovering, amplifying and aligning with the signal coming from our true, empirical oneness. It's up to you.

The Golden Rule

2008-11-28T20:38:00.004-02:00

Some sort of Universal Kantian Imperative

Nanotechnology!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-23T20:00:00.000-02:00

IBM to build brain-like computers

By Jason Palmer
Science and technology reporter, BBC News

Mimicking synapses like this one is crucial to the effort

IBM has announced it will lead a US government-funded collaboration to make electronic circuits that mimic brains.

Part of a field called "cognitive computing", the research will bring together neurobiologists, computer and materials scientists and psychologists.

As a first step in its research the project has been granted $4.9m (£3.27m) from US defence agency Darpa.

The resulting technology could be used for large-scale data analysis, decision making or even image recognition.

"The mind has an amazing ability to integrate ambiguous information across the senses, and it can effortlessly create the categories of time, space, object, and interrelationship from the sensory data," says Dharmendra Modha, the IBM scientist who is heading the collaboration.

"There are no computers that can even remotely approach the remarkable feats the mind performs," he said.

"The key idea of cognitive computing is to engineer mind-like intelligent machines by reverse engineering the structure, dynamics, function and behaviour of the brain."

'Perfect storm'

IBM will join five US universities in an ambitious effort to integrate what is known from real biological systems with the results of supercomputer simulations of neurons. The team will then aim to produce for the first time an electronic system that behaves as the simulations do.

The longer-term goal is to create a system with the level of complexity of a cat's brain.

Prof Modha says that the time is right for such a cross-disciplinary project because three disparate pursuits are coming together in what he calls a "perfect storm".

We are going not just for a homerun, but for a homerun with the bases loaded

Dharmendra Modha
IBM Almaden Research Center

Neuroscientists working with simple animals have learned much about the inner workings of neurons and the synapses that connect them, resulting in "wiring diagrams" for simple brains.

Supercomputing, in turn, can simulate brains up to the complexity of small mammals, using the knowledge from the biological research. Modha led a team that last year used the BlueGene supercomputer to simulate a mouse's brain, comprising 55m neurons and some half a trillion synapses.

"But the real challenge is then to manifest what will be learned from future simulations into real electronic devices - nanotechnology," Prof Modha said.

Technology has only recently reached a stage in which structures can be produced that match the density of neurons and synapses from real brains - around 10 billion in each square centimetre.

Networking

Researchers have been using bits of computer code called neural networks that seek to represent connections of neurons. They can be programmed to solve a particular problem - behaviour that appears to be the same as learning.

But this approach is fundamentally different.

"The issue with neural networks and artificial intelligence is that they seek to engineer limited cognitive functionalities one at a time. They start with an objective and devise an algorithm to achieve it," Prof Modha says.

The ultimate goal is to create a circuit with the complexity of a cat's brain

"We are attempting a 180 degree shift in perspective: seeking an algorithm first, problems second. We are investigating core micro- and macro-circuits of the brain that can be used for a wide variety of functionalities."

The problem is not in the organisation of existing neuron-like circuitry, however; the adaptability of brains lies in their ability to tune synapses, the connections between the neurons.

Synaptic connections form, break, and are strengthened or weakened depending on the signals that pass through them. Making a nano-scale material that can fit that description is one of the major goals of the project.

"The brain is much less a neural network than a synaptic network," Modha says.

First thought

The fundamental shift toward putting the problem-solving before the problem makes the potential applications for such devices practically limitless.

Free from the constraints of explicitly programmed function, computers could gather together disparate information, weigh it based on experience, form memory independently and arguably begin to solve problems in a way that has so far been the preserve of what we call "thinking".

"It's an interesting effort, and modelling computers after the human brain is promising," says Christian Keysers, director of the neuroimaging centre at University Medical Centre Groningen. However, he warns that the funding so far is likely to be inadequate for such an large-scale project.

That the effort requires the expertise of such a variety of disciplines means that the project is unprecedented in its scope, and Dr Modha admits that the goals are more than ambitious.

"We are going not just for a homerun, but for a homerun with the bases loaded," he says.

My Current State of Mind

2008-11-23T15:37:00.001-02:00

Just a Choice Right Now Between Fear and Love

2008-11-18T20:36:00.000-02:00

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

Scandal: What A Shame!

2008-11-13T22:27:00.012-02:00

Uruguay head vetoes abortion bill

Mr Vazquez said he disagreed with the bill both philosophically and biologically

Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez has vetoed a bill approved by parliament earlier this week to legalise abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

He said it was more important to help women with unwanted pregnancies than to enable them to have abortions.

Tourism Minister Hector Lescano said the bill's backers lacked the majority they needed to overturn the veto.

Proponents argued that it would have reduced the number of women who die after resorting to illegal abortions.

Under the current law, women who have an abortion and the people who assist them face prison. Abortion is only allowed in the case of rape or when the life of the woman is in danger.

In a statement released on Friday explaining the veto, Mr Vazquez said: "Our laws cannot ignore the reality of the existence of human life in the gestation period, as scientific evidence clearly shows.

"It's more appropriate to look for a solution based on solidarity, giving a woman the freedom to make other choices and thereby save both her and the baby."

'Irreversible'

In a rare step in a Latin American country, the Uruguayan Senate voted on Tuesday to decriminalise abortion by 17 votes to 13.

The bill would have allowed abortion if there was a health risk to the mother or foetus. It would also have allowed a woman to end her pregnancy in the first 12 weeks under other circumstances, such as extreme poverty.

Moves to decriminalise abortion have provoked fierce debate in Uruguay

But two days later, as many of the bill's supporters expected, Mr Vazquez vetoed the legislation.

The president, himself a doctor, had earlier warned that he opposed the Law of Sexual and Reproductive Health because it included elements "with which I disagree, philosophically and biologically".

Opinion polls had suggested a majority of Uruguayans favoured easing their country's restrictions on abortion.

Most Latin American countries allow abortion only in cases of rape, when the woman's life is in danger or if the foetus is severely deformed.

But both Cuba and Mexico City, though not the rest of Mexico, allow abortions without restriction in the first 12 weeks.

Read more details at

Uruguay Daily News 1
Uruguay Daily News 2
Uruguay Daily News 3

BBC

Diario El Pais

Google

Because of Discrimination

2008-11-11T12:48:00.009-02:00

So, finally the outcome is here. Not only Prop-8 was passed but also any attempts to promote (and allow) gay rights or equality were defeated beforehand in Florida, Arizona, in addition to the bestiality of Californians' so-called democratic decision.

This video made me very emotional.

I use the word so-called on purpose. I only see a methodology of brainwashing operating with multiple tentacles:

Organised Religion

Dividing individuals, nations, etc. The way to stick to Power and govern efficiently.

Behaviourism (also masked nowadays as Cognitive Psychology, lack of insight but treating (programming) the patient as if a machine, a robot. NOT a Person)
And, of course, lots of bigotry part of the lack of "common sense"; a consequence of a Programming creature and also a programmed individual. Summing up, a deep lack of real freedom but deep manipulation to stand power (and therefore the system).

Divide and Conquer
It is the product of a model of tremendous individualism and envy-based society: “If you have something that favours you or makes you equal to me, I should get you rid of it.” It is (some sort of mandate).

We very well know that Utilitarianism is the fountain of the American society. This means that the majority ought to rule on every (minorities) matters. Constitution of Latin American countries is a copy of the North American Constitution that gives the chance of a general vote on state and human rights matters.

This time around, this methodology is seen in Europe as an example to take up, despite that it goes against the very concept of (French) Freedom- liberté, egalité et fraternité.

This last week when we all saw the victory of the Democratic party in the National Election of the USA we also saw the much bigotry and manipulation certain groups of society ruling against others. Now, this methodology wants to be used in Europe to overturn social matters like a Christians faith openly suggested last week in Madrid.

Rights, Human Rights are accomplished human dignity recognised. They are not negotiable goods. We saw in Uruguay particularly how this sort of Referendum was used to make legal a discrimination and unjusticeness real, prevail and last in time these not only throughout dictatorship but forever more. The people backed this unjusticeness. Reason: Society lacks of a Political Science handed-manual to try to really understand what is behind or under these referenda. They shouldn't decide on someone else's rights. (period).

Not only did we see Referenda against Gay Rights but about against foreigners for instance the one in Florida.

The number of deported (poor) immigrants multiplied by 3 or 4 times in the last year, and now (rich) foreigners are deprived for the right to buy property in one of the states of the USA: Prop-1

I do not want to sound mind. I live in Spain. A country embracing lots of vanity. As you can see in the big marketing made out of married military gay man divorcing.
But, this is Spain. Everything goes. Not a moralist society. Not opinionated.

However, as a Uruguayan and as a person I have felt so much pain for the abuse, for the methodology.

Theoretically speaking, while Positivism condemns the possibility to behave or be different for the matter that it is out of the rule (paradoxically despite that the foundations of Positivism is a sign of the secular state, it has called societies to confort to some sort of matrix), in Utilitarianism is the (preachy, judgmental and mechanical-based mentality of the) majority acting against the ones that behave differently (to the average). Here, we have the effective use of Behaviourism mechanizing minds and depriving individuals of being autonomous, spontaneous, and literally free by themselves. They obey orders, in this case of a moralist society from Organised Religious Organizations.

In my practical life:

In the first term, Positivism in Uruguay depriving a society not to accept diversity and lack of change took me to be a rageful advocate to look for a change. But, I had to leave Uruguay after every single effort to remain. But despite I left I still face problems in the outer world, like it is not easy to (in practical life) accept diversity in real life in a cosmopolitan culture, in an actual world. I come from a very homogenous society. You know that I suffer because of this.

And, on the second term: the self-hatred developed in my formerly loved ones that affected me indirectly. This time I can quote the case of Timothy but I can write even worse about others, for instance I wrote about it three years ago but still prevails in him. The Logic of Death. It is the way society works in North America. Take it or leave it.

Of course, I do not want to see myself drawn on this. I have been a dreamer. I am a dreamer. I have my dream here to go on. It was there three years ago and, continues. I am a brave one. I must go on and work for a better world for all not matter where. I want to be whole, human, full of dignity and joy because I struggle for a better society, societies and planet. I can't be happy otherwise. That's the way I am.

The American Beauty Never Ends!

2008-11-04T09:18:00.001-02:00

Passport offer for Spanish exiles

2008-11-01T23:35:00.003-02:00

Descendants of people who fled Spain during the country's civil war are to be allowed to apply for citizenship.

Log on to the Official site with detailed information (In Spanish and English)

The Spanish Civil War left the country bitterly divided

Descendants of people who fled Spain during the country's civil war are to be allowed to apply for citizenship.

The decision will allow an estimated 500,000 children and grandchildren of civil war-era exiles to seek to return.

That number is believed to include 300,000 people in Argentina alone, Spain's government says.

The measure is part of new legislation passed last year that aims to compensate and rehabilitate victims of Spain's 1936-1939 civil war.

An estimated 500,000 people died in the civil war, which left Spain as a dictatorship under the rule of the Fascist General Francisco Franco.

Old wounds

Descendants of Spaniards who left the country for fear of political persecution or economic hardship between 1936 and 1955 will now be able to apply for nationality before 2011.

Spain's government has said those who accept any offer of citizenship would not be required to give up their current passports.

Thousands of Spaniards fled their home country during the war, which saw the Nationalists defeat the Republican armies.

An estimated 500,000 people died in the conflict, which divided Spain sharply along ideological lines.

The country only began a transition to democracy after the death of Gen Franco in 1975.

As part of the new law, the current Socialist government will now be allowed to embark on an effort to remove Franco-era symbols and rename roads, avenues and squares.

Passing the law of restitution - of which the citizenship offer forms a part - was controversial in Spain, where opposition conservatives complained the legislation reopened old wounds.

Elderly former members of the International Brigades, the collection of anti-fascists who travelled to Spain to fight Gen Franco's forces, will also be eligible for citizenship under the new law.

Previously members of the International Brigades would have been required to give up their other nationality to accept a Spanish passport, the Associated Press reported.

R.I.P.

2008-10-31T20:57:00.002-02:00

Legal Homophobia?

2008-10-29T20:08:00.003-02:00

To Be Gay = To Be Delinquent ?

2008-10-29T19:50:00.001-02:00

Yes, it does in many places (still)

Pale Brown Eyes

2008-10-11T20:39:00.008-02:00

Forbidden Love

2008-10-04T22:43:00.005-03:00

Maybe I am not the best examplary of a Same-Sex marriage but I believe people are free to do whatever their want of their lives as long as they do not hurt anybody. Gay Marriage does not hurn anyone (but likely ever in time, to the ones that may be marrying only).

I am very concerned of the Fascism and abuse of Religious/Political Institutions in I usually see here in Valencia at times, but when I see this crap of A-8 in the US I absolutely feel I live in some sort of Heaven of Freedom and Respect to the Individual's Life and quite a lot of Diginity. See this piece of crap below and compare what's worse. To be a "Legal-Slave" with Papers in Spain or a paperless "Ilegal-Slave" in the US?

Do the Math! It just comes easy!

'Laissez-faire' capitalism is finished

2008-10-02T21:37:00.004-03:00

'Laissez-faire' capitalism is finished, says France

ELITSA VUCHEVA

26.09.2008 @ 09:30 CET

Both France and Germany on Thursday (25 September) said the current financial crisis would leave important marks on the world economy, with French president Nicolas Sarkozy declaring that the under-regulated system we once knew is now "finished," and German finance minister Peer Steinbruck saying the crisis marks the beginning of a multi-polar world, where the US is no longer a superpower.

"The all-powerful market that always knows best is finished," says France's president (Photo: European Parliament - Audiovisual Unit)

Speaking to an audience of some 4,000 supporters in Toulon, France, Mr Sarkozy said the financial turmoil had highlighted the need to re-invent capitalism with a strong dose of morality, as well as to put in place a better regulatory system.

"The idea of the all-powerful market that must not be constrained by any rules, by any political intervention, was mad. The idea that markets were always right was mad," Mr Sarkozy said.

"The present crisis must incite us to refound capitalism on the basis of ethics and work … Self-regulation as a way of solving all problems is finished. Laissez-faire is finished. The all-powerful market that always knows best is finished," he added.

He accused "this system that allows the ones responsible for a disaster to leave with a golden parachute" of having "increased inequality, demoralised the middle classes and fed [market] speculation."

A European response

The French president also criticised "the logic of short-term financial profit" and said risks were hidden "to obtain ever more exorbitant profits" – something which, he said, was not the true face of capitalism.

"The market economy is a regulated market ... in the service of all. It is not the law of the jungle; it is not exorbitant profits for a few and sacrifices for all the others. The market economy is competition that lowers prices ... that benefits all consumers."

The speech by Mr Sarkozy, who is also the EU's current president-in-office, echoes similar statements he made earlier this week, when he called for an international meeting to discuss the crisis before the end of the year.

On Thursday, he also called on Europe to "reflect on its capacity to act in case of an emergency, to re-consider its rules, its principles," while learning the lessons from what is happening worldwide.

Mr Sarkozy said: "For all Europeans, it is understood that the response to the crisis should be a European one."

"In my capacity of president of the Union, I will propose initiatives in that respect at the next European Council [15 October]," he added.

'The world will never be the same again'

Meanwhile, German finance minister Peer Steinbruck criticised the US for failing to act in the wake of the crisis and said it would now lose its status of "superpower."

"The US will lose its status as the superpower of the world financial system. This world will become multi-polar," with the emergence of centres in Asia and Europe, he told the German parliament on Thursday.

"The world will never be as it was before the crisis," he added.

Mr Steinbruck's criticism of the US has been amongst the sharpest yet made since the beginning of the crisis.

He notably blamed Washington for resisting stricter regulation, even after the crisis started last summer, and said this free-market-above-all attitude and the argument "used by these 'laissez-faire' purveyors was as simple as it was dangerous," the Associated Press reports.

He stressed that Germany had made recommendations last year for more rules, which Washington refused to consider.

They "elicited mockery at best or were seen as a typical example of Germans' penchant for over-regulation," Mr Steinbruck said.

Earlier this week, German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said the US should have listened to the advice coming from Europe, notably from Germany, that more control was needed.

"It is a discussion that we have had for a long time in Europe, that the completely unregulated parts of the international financial market must be more closely monitored and that we must try to reach an agreement on common regulations," he said during a visit to the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, according to Forbes.

US must take responsibility for global crisis, Brussels says

LEIGH PHILLIPS

30.09.2008 @ 22:17 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has expressed impatience with Washington over the defeat of a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street, calling on the US to "take responsibility" for the crisis. Meanwhile, fears are growing that the money central banks are pumping into markets are not putting out the financial fire.

The Great Depression: crowds gather in New York outside the American Union Bank, which went out of business in 1931 (Photo: wikipedia)

Calling the Monday vote by the US House of Representatives a "disappointment," commission spokesperson Johannes Laitenberger in unusually strong language said on Tuesday (30 September) that "the turmoil we are facing has originated in the United States. It has become a global problem."

"The US has a special responsibility in this situation [and] the commission expects the decision will go through soon. The US must take its responsibility [and] must show statesmanship for the sake of their own country and for the sake of the world."

The commission expects "the decision to go through soon" despite the bill's initial failure, he added, contrasting Europe's response to the events.

"The last few hours have once again shown that European authorities are assuming their responsibilities. Europe is engaging and calling for international cooperation," Mr Laitenberger said, highlighting a call by the French EU presidency for an international conference on the crisis in autumn.

With the crisis still unfolding, the Irish government on Tuesday decided to guarantee all deposits held in the country's banks along with all money borrowed by the banks for two years.

Dublin made the €400 billion move following a massive decline in the shares of Irish banks Allied Irish, Anglo Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Irish Life and Permanent, Irish Nationwide Building Society and the Educational Building Society.

In mainland Europe, the Belgian and French governments gave €6.4 billion of tax payers' money to rescue Belgo-French bank Dexia, the world's biggest lender to local governments.

"The European Commission ... is supporting [government action to rescue] Dexia and the decision of Irish government to guarantee deposits with Irish banks," the commission's Mr Laitenberger explained. "This shows that public authorities in Europe can live up to the task of preserving financial stability and protecting savings where different EU countries are concerned."

Liquidity loans hoarded

The EU official also praised national central banks in Europe and the Frankfurt-based European Central Bank (ECB) for providing liquidity to struggling money markets, saying the ECB has done a "superb job."

Brussels' praise came despite concerns that some private banks were taking ECB money and re-depositing it with the ECB for safe-keeping, instead of lending it to other banks to get markets moving again.

Banks have as of Monday "parked €44 billion with the ECB deposit facility" ECB spokesperson William Lelieveldt told EUobserver, citing the most up to date figures available. This figure was €1.4 billion one week ago on 23 September, climbing to €4.2 billion on 25 September and hitting €28 billion by 26 September.

"It is true that this is a relatively high amount," said Mr Lelieveldt. "But this must be compared to the much larger sums provided to these banks by the ECB."

Some economists say government action may be required to get banks to lend to each other once again.

"Banks are hoarding their money as there is no expectation that loaning money will be profitable and not loss-making," UK economist Barry Gills of Newcastle University said. "Central banks have been injecting massive amounts of liquidity for months but the insolvency problem within banks is actually spreading."

"All this liquid is not putting out the fire," he said.

"We need a much higher level of co-ordinated action than at member state or even EU level. We need a global regulator. It's the logical outflow of the globalisation of finance - the globalisation of financial regulation," he added.

The expert predicted that economies in eastern Europe, especially Ukraine and the Baltic states, will find it harder than old Europe to weather the storm, saying the International Monetary Fund may have to be called in to deliver stabilisation loans.

'Casino capitalism'

The Socialist group in the European Parliament meanwhile is demanding the "urgent and profound reform of the worldwide financial system."

"This crisis confirms the excesses of casino capitalism," Socialist group leader Martin Schultz said, denouncing "a savage capitalism that no longer invests in enterprise and the creation of jobs, but contents itself to let loose to make money with more money."

The Green group questioned the European Commission's position on government bailouts of ailing banks.

"The commission seems to have suspended its normal operating procedure of responding to mergers and state aid and this may be okay given the scale of the emergency, but in the longer term what we need is a joined-up politics," British Green MEP Caroline Lucas told EUobserver. "The solution to the financial crisis is the solution to the ecological crisis."

Echoing US President Franklin Roosevelt's reaction to the Great Depression in the 1930s - his 'New Deal' - Ms Lucas called for a stricter regulatory regime and concomitant investment in environmental protection providing jobs to prevent social fall-out from the crisis.

"We need a green New Deal - the re-regulation of the financial system and massive investment in green infrastructure, renewable energies, new technologies and so on that will deliver quality jobs to Europeans - the hiring of a carbon army, if you will - to ensure we don't have millions thrown into unemployment."

[Comment] In defence of Anglo-Saxon capitalism

CHARLES GRANT

Those who never liked 'Anglo-Saxon' capitalism are feeling smug. Marxists, fans of 'Rhineland' capitalism and those who simply cannot stand American power are crowing.

"The US will lose its status as the superpower of the world financial system," says Peer Steinbruck, Germany's finance minister.

Where are the European Googles, Microsofts, Ciscos and Intels? asks Charles Grant (Photo: CER)

"Self-regulation is finished. Laissez-faire is finished. The idea of an all powerful market which is always right is finished," says France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy.

The British academic (and sometime fan of Margaret Thatcher) John Gray proclaims that "in a change as far-reaching in its implications as the fall of the Soviet Union, an entire model of the government and the economy has collapsed."

All this hyperbolic froth and windy rhetoric conceals a real danger for the European economy.

The perceived failure of one model of capitalism, combined with growing protectionist pressure from all continents, could push EU governments to ban or discourage a whole range of 'Anglo-Saxon' practices and institutions.

Cross-border takeovers and equity issues, the private equity and hedge fund industries, and even privatisations - all of which can help to make economies more efficient - may come under threat.

Furthermore, some governments may think that because the EU's 'Lisbon agenda' of economic reform is British-inspired, they can relax their efforts to carry out its painful but essential prescriptions.

Schadenfreude

Of course, the credit crisis has exposed huge weaknesses in the American and British financial systems. The so-called phantom banking industry of institutions and instruments that focused on fiendishly complex off-balance sheet financing was poorly regulated.

Those in charge of many leading banks appear to have had no idea about the risks they were taking on. Their pay packages were ridiculous and unjustified, especially when those who had failed received tens of millions of dollars of 'compensation' for being fired.

The property and credit booms in the US, the UK, Spain and Ireland were excessive. And the British decision to allow the building societies (mutuals) to turn themselves into banks - and their subsequent move into risky financial instruments and models of funding - may have been an error.

But politicians such as Steinbruck should not indulge in too much schadenfreude. For the next few years, some of the core euroland economies may be lucky enough to escape some of the pain that will afflict the Anglo-Saxons. But the continental banks are certainly not immune from the crisis, as the rescue of the Belgo-Dutch Fortis Bank shows.

The capital ratios of some of the top continental banks are inferior to those of their American peers. And if a European bank involved in several members-states did head for the rocks, could the EU's ramshackle regulatory system - with national authorities holding many of the key powers - move as quickly as treasury secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve governor Ben Bernanke have done?

The nature of capitalism

Many of today's Cassandras mistakenly assume that financial crises are a uniquely Anglo-Saxon phenomenon. Very different sorts of financial system - such as those of Japan and Sweden in the early 1990s - have ended up being bailed out by governments. Financial crises are inherent in the nature of capitalism, rather than one particular brand of it.

However the current crisis turns out, many continental European governments will have to tackle serious structural flaws in their economies.

They are held back by a lack of competition and restrictive practices in a host of sectors, especially services. Their universities cannot compete with the world's best. In many of these countries, old-fashioned trade unions block reform and modernisation (look at the pitiful saga of Alitalia).

Excessive state aid distorts the allocation of capital and may deter new entrants. Over the past 20 years, France, Germany and Italy have performed poorly on economic growth and job creation. Europe as a whole has a poor record on innovation and the adoption of new technologies.

Among the EU-27, the UK has not been the star of the class. In recent years the Nordic economies and the Netherlands have had the best record of combining on the one hand high employment and active labour market policies, and on the other generous welfare and high-quality public services.

But the UK has many strengths (as well as notable weaknesses such as infrastructure). Its liberal labour markets have helped to push the employment rate above 70 per cent of the workforce - the only other EU countries above 70 per cent are Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. And of the EU's large economies, Britain is the most open to foreign investment, which is one reason why it has a good record of adopting new technologies.

Moreover, the City of London remains a big British strength - despite everything that has happened. Much of what the City does is valuable not only to the UK, but also to Europe and indeed the world economy.

If properly regulated, mergers and acquisitions, corporate advice, City law firms, hedge funds, private equity, the euromarkets, the fund managers, the Lloyds insurance market, the currency markets, the international equity markets, and much else, add value.

The City is in for a lean few years, but it will come back - after some consolidation and regulatory reform - because the world needs a centre of expertise for international finance.

European economies need the Lisbon agenda

Nobody should write off the American economy. Compared to its European peers, its history of recovering rapidly from recession is impressive. Its track record on innovation and start-ups is the envy of the world.

Where are the European Googles, Microsofts, Ciscos and Intels?

The US has most of the world's best universities. It consistently out-performs the EU on productivity. Despite the rise of the BRIC economies, at market exchange rates the US will remain the world's leading economy for many decades.

China's leaders know this very well and have not resorted to the kind of hubris that we have heard from certain continental politicians.

Some European leaders may view the Lisbon agenda of economic reform as 'Anglo-Saxon', but they should not abandon it. Parts of the agenda are rather Anglo-Saxon, such as the emphasis on creating employment, liberalising utilities and enhancing competition. But much of the agenda has a broader scope: boosting innovation, improving R&D, reforming pensions and helping start-ups.

All the European economies need the Lisbon agenda, whether they are Anglo-Saxon, Rhineland, Nordic, East European or Mediterranean. At some point the financial turmoil will settle down. Then EU leaders will need to return to two key questions: why is the trend growth rate of the EU economy about one percentage point less than that of the US, and what can Europe do to catch up?

The author is director of the Centre for European Reform

A New Life! A New Surrounding!

2008-09-29T17:45:00.009-03:00

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold

I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I Am Oblivion... I Am Love

2008-09-18T22:45:00.003-03:00

Do you mind this music?
Do you like opera?

I am not that familiar
with opera, Andrew.

Oh, this is my favorite aria.

It's Maria Callas.

It's Andrea Chenier.

Umberto Giordano.

This is Madeleine.

She's saying how...

during the French Revolution
the mob set fire to her house.

And her mother died,
saving her.

She says, "Look!

The place that cradled me
is burning.

I am alone."

Do you hear the heartache
in her voice?

Can you feel it?

Now, in come the strings,
and it changes everything.

It's like the music...
it fills with a hope.

And that'll change again.
Listen.

Listen.

"I bring sorrow
to those who love me."

Oh, that single cello!

"It was during this sorrow
that love came to me.

A voice filled with harmony.

It said, "Live still.

I am life.

Heaven is in your eyes.

It's everything around you.
It's the blood and the mud.

I am divine!

I am oblivion.

I am the god...

that comes down from the heavens
to the earth...

and makes of the earth a heaven.

I am love.

I am love."

My Reflection!

2008-08-30T15:36:00.003-03:00

Just a moment. Look below: This is my Reflection

I would never have been in such a rush
I would never have tried to control
I would never have worn such 'fear lenses'
I would never have held on so tightly

I would have kept my boundaries set
My loving no’s, my unwavering yes’s
Risked abandonment and stood by that
And thereby felt constant connect

This fountain of regret, this looking back with twenty-twenty
Torturous hindsight if i knew then what i know now
This mountain of remorse won’t repeat with my understanding
This wouldn’t have happened if i knew then what i know now

I would’ve gone slower
Pushed infrequent
Would not have rushed into such commitment
I would’ve shown restraint as my feet got wet
I would’ve baby-stepped into intimate

This fountain of regret, this looking back with twenty-twenty
This torturous hindsight if i knew then what i know now
This mountain of remorse won’t repeat with my understanding
This wouldn’t have happened if i knew then what i know now

I would’ve known much more
Known that time was all we had for future depth to unfold
I would’ve had more faith at every step
I would’ve kept intact through the whole process

Oh this fountain of regret is looking back with twenty-twenty
Torturous hindsight if i knew then what i know now
This mountain of remorse won’t repeat with my understanding
This wouldn’t have happened if i knew then what i know

The Prophecy

2008-08-22T11:01:00.002-03:00

Justify My Love (The Beast Within Mix)

[from Revelation 1:3]
Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy
And blessed are those who hear
And who keep what is written therein
For the time is near

[from Revelation 1:7]
He is coming with the clouds
And every eye will see him
Everyone who pierced him
And all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of him

[from Revelation 2:1-4]
Those of you who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan
I know your works, I know your toil, and your patient endurance
And how you cannot hear evil men
But have tested those who call themselves apostles, but are not
And found them to be false
I know that you are enduring patiently and bearing out for my namesake
And you have not grown weary
But I have this against you
That you have abandoned the love you had

[from Revelation 2:9-10]
I know your tribulation and your poverty
And the slander of those who say that they are Jews, but they are not
They are a synagogue of Satan
Do not fear what you are about to suffer
Behold the devil is about to throw you into prison

Wanting, needing, waiting for you to justify my love
Hoping, praying for you to justify my love

[from Revelation 13:1-10]
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads
And a blasphemous name upon its head
And the beast that I saw was like a leopard
Its feet were like a bear's
And its mouth was like a lion's mouth
And to it the dragon gave his power, and his throne, and great authority
One of his heads had a mortal wound
But it seemed to have a mortal wound that was healed
And the whole earth followed the beast with wonder

Men worshipped the dragon for he had given his authority to the beast
And they worshipped the beast saying
"Who is like the beast and who can fight against the beast?"
And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words
And it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months
It opened its mouth to utter blasphemous words against God

It was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer
And authority was given it over every tribe
And a people and tongue and nation
And all who dwell on earth could worship it in vain
If anyone has an ear let him hear
If anyone is to be taken captive, into captivity he will go
If anyone who slays with the sword, with the sword

Wanting, needing, waiting for you to justify my love
Hoping

[from Revelation 21:1-8]
Then, I saw a new heaven and a new earth
And I heard a great voice from the throne saying:
"Behold the dwelling of God is with men
He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people
And God himself will be with them
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes
And death shall be no more
Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore
For these things will have passed away

To the thirsty I will give water without price
From the fountain of the water of life
He who conquers shall have this heritage
And I will be his God and he shall be my son

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted
As for the murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolators, and all liars
Their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone."

[from Revelation 22:10-13]
And he said to me, he said to me:
"Do not seal up the words of the prophecy, for the time is near
Let the evildoers still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy
And the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy
Behold, I am coming soon
I am the alpha and the omega
The first and the last
The beginning and the end."

Amen

What are you gonna do?

Happy Birthday Pop Diva!

2008-08-16T15:40:00.002-03:00

To Love You is to Be Part of You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could the credit crunch destroy the Eurozone?

2008-08-01T12:39:00.000-03:00

EUOBSERVER / COMMENT - Anybody who believes the Eurozone is immune to the havoc created in the Anglo-Saxon economies by the credit crunch would do well to look again. Recent figures suggest the outlook for the EU-15 is poor - and if one factors in weakness of the Eurozone's economic governance, the outlook is positively grim.

"what is less known is that business sentiment is deteriorating in the Eurozone" (Photo: European Community)

* Print
* Comment article

This week marks the first anniversary of the credit crunch, the moment when it dawned on bankers that the US$12 trillion mortgage market was in meltdown and that an unknown fraction of the securitised mortgage bonds held by banks and funds was toxic.

Since nobody knew quite how much toxicity was in the system, banks started writing off bad debts and calling in loans while highly leveraged hedge funds found themselves in dire straits: last August, two of Bear Stearns hedge funds collapsed, America's largest mortgage bank (Countrywide) announced itself in distress while in France, BNB Paribas blocked withdrawals of US$2.2 billion in funds.

The US Fed and the European ECB quickly (and correctly) poured massive amounts of liquidity into the markets to prevent them seizing up altogether: US$70bn and US$ 140bn respectively. Moreover, the Fed cut interest rates drastically: whereas its rate stood at 5.25% in early 2007, it is now down to 2 percent. Still, the crunch has deepened in 2008. In the US this week, mortgage approvals hit a record low while the fall in US house prices continued to accelerate. In Britain, retailers were reporting that sales in July 2008 were at their lowest level in a quarter of a century. Both Britain and the US are headed towards recession, and there is no end in sight.

While it is widely recognised that property markets in Spain and Ireland are tumbling and that in France the market has softened dramatically, what is less known is that business sentiment is deteriorating everywhere in the Eurozone. Last week's Purchasing Managers Survey of the EU-15 revealed the worse outlook since November 2001.

In Germany, until recently thought to be bouncing back, corporate sentiment surveyed by Munich's Ifo Institute for Economic Research is at its lowest in three years, while the recent INSEE survey in France suggests the outlook there is worse. To add to the gloom, the IMF's latest Global Financial Stability Report says there is no sign of recovery from the credit crunch. In the words of Jaime Caruana, one of the IMF directors, ‘As economies slow, credit deterioration is widening and deepening, and as banks deleverage [cease lending] and rebuild capital, lending is beginning to be squeezed, restricting household spending and clouding the outlook for the real economy.'

Key lessons from the crunch

Until early 2008, the orthodox view in the financial community was that the crunch was a short term affair; the real economy would soon bounce back, all the healthier for having purged the bad debt from the books.

But there were many possible triggers for recession besides toxic mortgages; one had merely to look at America's treble deficit - on current, government and household accounts - to realise that the US economy was in for a great unravelling, almost certainly taking the EU with it. As the financial journalist Larry Elliot has argued, coming to grips with the crisis requires at least four things.

First, the denial has to stop - this is not a short term crisis, nor even the beginning of a 2001 style recession - it is far more serious. Secondly, the financial system needs regulating. It is in deep trouble, largely of its own making. Yes, governments will need to pour billions of taxpayers' dollars and euros into the system if confidence is to be restored, but the quid pro quo is that the financial services sector must accept serious government intervention, minimally of the sort which existed prior to Reagan-Thatcher style ‘deregulation'. Franklin Roosevelt saw this clearly in the 1930s when he pledged that government must become an effective counterweight to Wall Street's financial oligarchy.

Thirdly, the historical precedent is not the Great Crash of 1929. Rather, it is the Japanese property bubble of 1989 and the deflation and long-term stagnation which followed. Some readers will recall a time in 1988 when it was claimed that the value of a few square kilometres of real estate in Tokyo exceeded the assets of the US state of California.

The bursting of the Japanese property bubble brought with it a similar credit crunch, and fearing the worst, Japanese households cut their spending thus sending the economy deeper into recession. The Bank of Japan initially did the right thing, flooding the market with liquidity and holding nominal interest rates close to zero. But in the early 1990s, price levels started to fall - causing consumers' nominal debt to rise in real terms and leading them to postpone consumption even more. The result was nearly two decades of stagnation. As Keynes recognised, there comes a point when the use of monetary policy alone is as ineffective as ‘pushing on a string'.

The fourth point - following logically from the third - is that Keynesian fiscal policy is very relevant today. Ultimately, when nobody else is willing to spend and when credit is tight, it is government which must spent its way out of the crisis. This was the lesson of the 1930s and 40s, the lesson in Europe of Marshall and the the trente glorieuses, the lesson of Japan, and it is still the lesson today. But Europe has been vulnerable to stagnation for the past decade.

Why Europe is vulnerable

Lest Europeans should think themselves smugly superior to America in terms of economics (we after all have not engaged in sub-prime lending), the reader might ponder the ECB's current obsession with inflation.

True, oil prices are rising and food is dearer (particularly in the world's poorest countries), but to raise interest rates in the face of impending recession as the ECB has recently done is little short of economic madness. Oil prices are high because of growing uncertainty about the future of the Middle East; food prices are high in good measure because of switching agricultural land to biofuel crops. Tighter money in Europe may squeeze household demand, but it will not help resolve the underlying causes of inflation.

More ominously, the Eurozone is vulnerable to crisis because of the lop-sided nature of its economic governance - a powerful central bank, but a tiny, non-adjustable EU budget, with fiscal spending at member-state level constrained by the SGP.

In this sense, the US is far better equipped to combat recession; its Central Bank is required to treat inflation as only one of three criteria, while Congress has discretionary power to use the federal budget counter-cyclically; eg, it accepted George Bush's reflationary package worth 1% of GDP, however poorly targeted the package may have been. The EU has no such discretion, but instead is bound by rules-driven automatic stabilisers inspired by bankers' notions of ‘sound money'.

True, when the downswing really starts to hurt the ECB still retains plenty of scope to cut interest rates. But what happens when monetary policy becomes ineffective. In truth, Brussels will need to reconsider Keynes and the Eurozone's economic architecture will need to alter drastically, or else the very existence of the Eurozone will be in peril. For pro-Europeans like myself, that is the harshest lesson of the present crisis.

The author is Professorial Research Fellow at the University of London, SOAS, and author of ‘Super Rich: the growth of inequality in Britain and the Unites States' (Cambridge: Polity)

Incomplete

2008-07-29T09:00:00.000-03:00

Mad 'bout You!!!!!!!!

2008-07-24T07:24:00.000-03:00

My Favourite Game

2008-07-20T09:09:00.002-03:00

Latin American leaders condemn 'racist' EU law

2008-07-04T11:04:00.001-03:00

Latin American leaders condemn 'racist' EU law

LEIGH PHILLIPS

02.07.2008 @ 09:14 CET

Latin American leaders have sharply criticised as "barbarous", "xenophobic" and "racist" new European Union legislation on clandestine immigration that allows extended detention of undocumented workers.

"It hurts us deeply that there is no respect for the human rights of Latin American immigrants, who had to leave and seek elsewhere what they don't have in their own lands - just like their grandparents did," said Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez, speaking at the 35th summit of the Mercosur trade bloc in Argentina.

The EU laws are "xenophobic and discriminatory," he said, Bloomberg reports.

The EU's "return directive", which was passed by the European Parliament in June, allows the detention of irregular immigrants up to 18 months, and bans re-entry for scofflaws for five years.

The law has received repeated strong criticism from South American leaders, who were intent on issuing a resolution condemning the policy during the Mercosur meeting.

Combined, the bloc is the fifth largest economy in the world, which together with the other South American trade zone, the Andean Community, aims to form a South American Union, Unasur, modelled on the EU.

'Legalised barbarism'

The Mercosur "member states and associate states reject any attempt to criminalise the irregular migration and the adoption of restrictive immigration policies," reads the resolution, which also noted how, conversely South America had welcomed with "generosity and solidarity millions of European migrants in previous centuries."

The contrast in the two continents' attitude towards immigration was a common theme amongst the leaders.

Europeans who landed in the Americas "took possession of thousands of hectares of land, mines, natural resources and exploited our people," accused Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, while immigrants in Europe "are not exploiting anyone - they are not taking possession of thousands of hectares of land and mines; they are not destroying the natural resources."

"We were very generous with the Europeans who arrived in our land in the last century, and the truth is that it is not fair for our people to get a denigrating treatment," said Chile's Michelle Bachelet.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, for his part, said that the Return Directive embodies racism and discrimination.

"We need a strong stance...in defense of the dignity of our people," Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez told his fellow leaders, according to the Associated Press.

"Civilized Europe - I say that ironically - has legalised barbarism."

Mercosur brings together Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, while Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru have associate member status. Mexico is an observer.

Hope There's Someone

2008-07-02T07:00:00.003-03:00

The One

2008-06-28T12:20:00.000-03:00

Something To Remember --------------------- > The four precepts

2008-06-26T17:59:00.007-03:00

I went to MuVIM. It made me think!

The following quote from Discourse on Method presents the four precepts that characterize the Method itself:

1. "The first was never to accept anything for true which I did not clearly know to be such; that is to say, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to comprise nothing more in my judgment than what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of doubt.
2. The second, to divide each of the difficulties under examination into as many parts as possible, and as might be necessary for its adequate solution.
3. The third, to conduct my thoughts in such order that, by commencing with objects the simplest and easiest to know, I might ascend by little and little, and, as it were, step by step, to the knowledge of the more complex; assigning in thought a certain order even to those objects which in their own nature do not stand in a relation of antecedence and sequence.
4. And the last, in every case to make enumerations so complete, and reviews so general, that I might be assured that nothing was omitted."

By clear and distinct he suggests the evidence of the senses.

The enumerations have in time developed into many forms. He suggested drawing boxes on a paper, and connecting them. This idea has led to a multitude of graphic thinking aids that we use today.

Morals, and Maxims accepted while conducting Method

The following three maxims were adopted by Descartes so that he could effectively function in the "real world" while experimenting with his method of radical doubt. They formed a rudimentary belief system from which to act before he developed a new system based on the truths he discovered using his method.

1. Obey the laws and customs of my country and religion
2. Be as firm and resolute in my actions as I was able
3. Endeavor always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and change my desires rather than the order of the world, and in general, accustom myself to the persuasion that, except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power; so that when we have done our best in things external to us, all wherein we fail of success is to be held, as regards us, absolutely impossible.

Descartes uses the analogy of tearing down the house to its foundation in order to build a secure edifice (He even extends the analogy to move next door into a house of morality, while his own house is being rebuilt). The foundation he reveals appears to have three parts.

Proof of God and the Soul

Applying the method to itself, Descartes challenges his own reasoning and reason itself. But Descartes believes three things are not susceptible to doubt and the three support each other to form a stable foundation for the method. He cannot doubt that something has to be there to do the doubting (I think, therefore I am). The method of doubt cannot doubt reason as it is based on reason itself. By reason there exists a God and God is the guarantor that reason is not misguided.

Perhaps the most strained part of the argument is the reasoned proof of the existence of God and indeed Descartes seems to realise this as he supplies three different 'proofs' including what is now referred to as the negotiable ontological proof of the existence of God (some argue that Descartes inserted his statement on the existence of God in the Discourse on Method to appease censors of the time; a very serious concern, as within Discourse Descartes points out that he was at first reluctant to publish the work because of the recent show trial of Galileo by the Roman Catholic Church in 1633, only four years earlier).

US Religious Right increasingly active against LGBT rights at European level

2008-06-21T13:37:00.000-03:00

US Religious Right increasingly active against LGBT rights at European level

by Nigel Warner, ILGA-Europe’s Council of Europe Advisor

Two recent initiatives suggest that the US Religious Right may be becoming increasingly active in opposing LGBT rights at European level.

An organisation called the European Centre for Law and Justice (which is very closely linked to the American Center for Law and Justice) has published a paper attacking the work of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on legal recognition of same-sex partners. The ECLJ is reported to be "spearheading a campaign with other NGOs" to oppose any resolution by the Assembly on legal recognition. The full text of the paper, which contains significant factual errors and displays a low level of knowledge of the European Convention, can be found at: http://www.eclj.org/PDF/080307_ECLJ_Memo_Same_sex_union.pdf

In an apparently separate development, the US-based Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute, known more widely by its short name, C-Fam, has published a lengthy paper entitled "Europe's Social Agenda -- Why is the European Union regulating Morality?" It reviews the history of developments on "morality" at the EU and makes much of the “biased” support for NGOs such as ILGA Europe. It also includes a considerable number of factual errors. It is written by C-Fam's “Chief EU Strategist”, Maciej Golubiewski, who, incidentally, is the person who has publicised the ECLJ paper referred to above. The text of the C-Fam paper can be found at: http://www.c-fam.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=545

Global outcry against EU immigration directive

2008-06-21T13:34:00.000-03:00

Human rights advocates are disappointed with the EU's return directive on clandestine migrants (Photo: European Commission)

LEIGH PHILLIPS

19.06.2008 @ 09:33 CET

The European Parliament has approved stringent new laws for dealing with clandestine immigrants – a move that has come under forceful criticism from the United Nations, human rights advocates and developing countries.

The parliamentary assent is the last stage in the passage of common rules on migration, making it possible to detain irregular migrants for up to 18 months.

* Print
* Comment article

The rules, or "return directive" will not cover asylum-seekers, but all those who overstay their visa period will be affected.

It will be up to EU member states' governments to decide whether to deport the immigrants or regularise them. But in most cases they will be given two options – to return home voluntarily or face deportation.

Those who refuse to go voluntarily could be forcefully removed and banned from coming back to EU territory for five years.

In addition, the same individuals could be detained for up to 18 months in some circumstances – a time-limit which exceeds that of most EU states.

A total of 367 members of the European Parliament voted in favor of the bill and 206 MEPs opposed it, while 109 members abstained.

UN convention

The United Nations however has attacked the new laws as not providing sufficient protection for the "vulnerable."

The UN high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour said at a press conference in Geneva on Wednesday (18 June) there lay in the new rules a "difficulty in advancing the fundamental principles of the protection of individuals' rights who are in a very vulnerable situation," according to a report from AFP.

Ms Arbour would have preferred that the EU instead ratify the UN convention on rights for migrant workers.

Leading human rights NGO Amnesty International has also attacked the law, saying it was "deeply disappointed" with the EU.

The directive "does not guarantee the return of irregular migrants in safety and dignity," said the group in a statement. "On the contrary, an excessive period of detention of up to 1.5 years as well as an EU-wide re-entry ban for those forcibly returned, risks lowering existing standards...and sets an extremely bad example to other regions in the world."

Amnesty International is worried that there were insufficient guarantees for unaccompanied minors within the legislation, and that there was little mention of judicial oversight of the recourse to detention.

Ahead of the vote, the group's secretary-general, Irene Khan said: "I want to remind European governments that just because some persons do not have documents, it does not mean they do not have rights."

Directive is 'shameful', say third world leaders

Criticism has also come from some of the developing countries from where migrants launch their sometimes perilous journey to what they hope will be a better life in Europe.

Ecuadoran president Rafael Correa on Wednesday called the directive "shameful," while his Latin American counterpart, Bolivian president Evo Morales, described the new laws as "draconian."

"The directive is not a return directive, but a directive of shamefulness, it is truly a shame what Europe has done," Mr Correa said.

Writing in the UK's Guardian newspaper on Monday, Mr Morales described the directive as "hypocritical, draconian and undiplomatic."

In an open letter to the European Parliament issued on Wednesday, the Bolivian attacked what he called "concentration camps" for detainees.

"How can we accept without reacting for [detainees] to be concentrated in camps our compatriots and Latin American brothers without documents, of which the great majority have been working and integrating for years?" he asked in the letter.

"On what side is the duty of humanitarian action? Where is the 'freedom of movement', and protection against arbitrary imprisonment?"

My Inner Gestalt

2008-06-19T11:02:00.000-03:00

A Little Secret!!!!!!!

2008-06-14T13:34:00.001-03:00

Healthcare in Valencia

2008-06-14T13:33:00.000-03:00

The Beach!

2008-06-14T13:28:00.002-03:00

Xenophobia 'N Immigration

2008-06-08T17:56:00.003-03:00

Alianza Nacional se manifiesta hoy en Torrente contra la inmigración

I live it

Alanis Talking About Between Self-hatred And Trying To Save The Planet and Lives

2008-06-06T09:07:00.003-03:00

Alanis Morissette - "Underneath" (making of)
Cargado por eloradanann

I really reasonated with Alanis´s words about how much lost we can be very often when we try to save someone else or the world, and we are uncapable to have our own harmony. I'll be thinking about this. And, I'll be listening to her full new album and try to experience her new project and how it impacts on me. Stay tune!

After A Month: I am Alive

2008-05-31T18:01:00.004-03:00

When you lose an ideal situacion or a life full of joy is as if you have lost your own life.

2008-05-30T11:50:00.004-03:00

It is interesting to address the concept of feeling guilty or interiorly unfaithful when it comes to having sex after a broke-up. There could be an emotional blockade. That happened to me in different moments along my teenage years and adulthood.

The blockade comes as a result not that you cannot have sex but the fact that you want to have sex with someone in particular. Sex is communication, not just an orgasm, you recieve and give a bunch of things: kisses, tenderness, consented violence, you get horny provided the other person motives you.

Is it a good thing when we are selective about sex mates?

It is of very good luck when you like all men/women because in each of them you find something appealing, and this makes you happier. It is the same as those who see different kinds of movies and likes them all or those who like all books that he reads or all kinds of food. I would love to find something appealing and desire in all things and beings. That would make me happier.

When I address the problem of an emotional blockade I am showing my vulnerability as someone affected by the environment, the surrounding.

On the other side we could find the egoist person, that type of person that depends on and cares for oneself. It is after define objectives (goals) and it is finding his/her way to them no matter what. It has the tendency to show off, show off something that is unreal but needs to show to the outside (world) while in the inside suffers deep hollow for the actual lack of such a wonderful life.

Acceptance of Immigrants

2008-05-29T17:52:00.000-03:00

After a few talks with a Spanish friend we started to think that there could be four ways in which we could categorize the immigrants here in Spain. We discussed the difference amongst integration, asimilation, and exclusion.

On the top of the most accepted are Western Europeans and North Americans.
Followed by mix-race Latinamericans. Then, white Latinamericans.
And at the botton Asians and Africans.

Europeans have the right (of abode) to live within Europe. Many of them come here for a short-term like the ERASMUS scholars, seasonal worker or employees of international companies. Others relocate here as prices are cheaper than the rest of Europe and the quality of life much higher (becuase of the weather, the national healthcare, etc). These individuals live in Spain but not a Spanish way of life. They do like the Spanish way of life though, so they generally integrate very very well into this society. A good example of this is “Chipper” an African-American having great success in a TV show à la Amercan Idol. Needless to say that Americans and the American culture are very good regarded here, more than it could be in LatAm. Many areas of Valencia resemble the US, and Barcelona has the NYC spirit and cosmopolitism. I do not understand why, but the Spanish ask me more about North America than the River Plate. Doesn’t upset me but do not understand. Here’s a chip of this talented American singer:

Another category are mix-race Latinamericans. These immigrants generally do not integrate to the local culture not because of the language gap but for the different mentality the Spanish society has developed over the last 15 years or so. This is a very liberal and free society. For these latins, integration to these values is a little too much to ask for. They mostly integrate among themselves, and the only interaction with the Spanish limitates to workforce. They tend to ghetto themselves, many times for lack of legal status.

White Latinamericans are part of a paradox. They are racially caucasican (European) but grew up in societies that segregate the difference. They integrate with the Spanish in a wider way than mix-race Latinamericans. The level of integration could be very high, the only noticeable difference to locals is the way they speak Spanish. Eventually they may be living like the Spanish and get access to top jobs like the locals and weatern Europeans. Very little ghetto.

Asians and Africans do not generally integrate to the Spanish society. The biggest gap is the language but mostly the local culture. There’s a difference in the type of employment Asians do, they usually own their bussiness while Africans sell they workforce and many lack of legal status.

It is a bit concerning to me now the question how do we assure integration. Is there a method, a way, a possibility?

In Uruguay integration meant homogenation but in a country like Spain where so many “Spanish” nationalities has lived for centuries what’s the way to go?

Economy

2008-05-28T09:12:00.002-03:00

Well, it is time for me to voice about my finances. The more visible I am, the more peaceful I become.

I am living on my unemployment benefit. This means, I am broke.

I have had many interviews for different types of jobs but the offers I finally got “firmed” were not good enough for me to take them in terms of money and the fact that they were not stable for more than 2 or three months. If I take one of those offers that are not good enough I risk losing my benefit for a lenghth of time. So, I can’t even risk my survival mode unless I have an offer that allows to save some money for the time in between my unemployment benefit ceaces till it returns.

Spain is not a country that follows the Ethics of Works like Britain or Germany. Here it is likely you’ll get a position because you know someone, or you’re a friend of a friend of a friend. Briefly, it sucks. I have not so many contacts yet, so it is being difficult. I am really striving to make more contacts as I do need them to survive.

In addition to this, Spain is living a “flu” in terms of economic growth. Spain was deemed to grow at a 3 % at the begining of the year, yet the real growth in the first third of the year has been reduced to 0.3 %. And, annually it is now deemed to be growing 2.3 %, not 3 % as expected.

Basically, the unemployment has risen in the construction jobs. There are several jobs in other fields like “Sales” (which I did and don’t like), “Waiter” (which I did but was dismissed for being too slow), “IT Professionals” (something I want to learn some but don’t have a degree or strong skills on it), and “Attendants” (that I need to make a course and pay about 1,000 euros I lack of). Finally I have been focusing on Languages, Customer Service, Hotels, Discos, and other related positions. Another thing that is negative when I apply for a position is the fact that I do not drive and do not own a car (to get to the place of work).

The crisis here is noticeable but it will never be like the one I lived in the River Plate where the system literally collapsed.

1- Here, the currency is very strong, in Uruguay/Argentina the currency devaluated a lot, at least by two or three times the original value.
2- In Spain in case of a crisis, countries like Germany (doing very well nowadays) will bail out, Argentina/Uruguay were left stranded.
3- In Spain economic growth affects the employment rate, in Argentina/Uruguay unemployment didn’t grow up as we had been living a resession for a few years before.
4- In Spain loans are not offered as “easy and fast” as before, in Argentina and Uruguay loans were never easy to get.
5- In Spain inflation is not too much, in Argentina/Uruguay inflation jumped by at least by 30 % within days.
6- Retail consuption in Spain has barely fell in some areas while travel agencies are doing very very good as Europeans are travelling more than ever, in Argentina/ Uruguay retail consuption dropped substantially and hasn't even caught up nowadays the economy is doing ok.
7- The real state here dropped a lot, but you do not see an entire neibourhood on “sale” like I witnessed in Uruguay.
8- And finally, banks in Spain are doing very well getting a lot of deposits from America. Everyday we see more banks opening (I've never seen so many different brands and agencies anywhere as I see here everyday). In Argentina/ Uruguay banks were closed and/or deposits were “frozen” as most of the money and deposits were taken away.

To sum up, crisis here is too different to what I lived in the River Plate. Something close to the River Plate slump I saw in Florida where I felt a closer environment to the crisis we lived in South America.

For Healing

2008-05-26T12:06:00.001-03:00

Part of my rite of passage to my future relates on how I have chosen to deal with my blood family. I understood that I had no right whatsoever to inherit myself and to my life all the pain and grief from the past. I had to heal myself, I had to overcome the frustration, my anger, rage and mourning. This action of healing myself gave me the tools to go ahead, to feel stronger, much more determination and power over my own life in general. It helped me grow up.

This action some call it forgiveness but I prefer to keep it nameless for fear of thinking that I forgot all the pain and became a tabla-rasa in terms of emotions (as we delete data from a hard disk), this is not actual. I did not forget, and I will be conscious about everything but without the burden of holding grudges. I feel freer, and more appreciated.

Life is not easy, I am facing very hard times indeed. Nothing is perfect, there’s no perfection. I recently was a victim of a case of discrimination here in Spain. I will tell more about this in the future, not now since I am going thru a process of healing and I am not ready yet (to tell things).

Part of the action to heal goes along with theory of the Flow of Heraclitus, the logos, the evolution and the idea that nothing remains exactly the same forever but changes all the time. On the contrary we have Parmenides theory about the Eternity of things, everything stays the same without changes but stagnation. Basicaly I am quoting these old Greek thinkers to locate my action of healing the pain.

The healing is vital because we ought not to pass all this aching to the future, this can be read in many different ways. I just adjusted it to family matters since I am facing situations that make me evolve. For example when I recieve letters from Uruguay from my family and I dare read them and answer too. I feel free, not locked indoors like I did a year ago that I didn’t dare to be in Montevideo streets for too long for fear of meeting some family member by random. I felt a lot of paranoia back then. This is true, I felt tremendous fear, I do not anymore. I have evolved. I healed myself by my own actions of getting a hold of them and trying to relate somehow without losing my own indepedence. This is a very good feeling and I definately feel much better.

The healing can be seen on a political level too. For example the rite of passage of South Africa Apartaid and the role of Mandela. The blacks forgive the pain in order not to inherit it to the future generations. They do not renounce or deny the pain and the attrocities, they just do not dare hold the grudges anymore for the negative presence it could have in the future. They evolve as a nation. And, this can be seen in Charter of Rights in that country and the Rights of the LGTB community has attained. There’s healing, a lot of it. There’s still poverty and hunger, but there’s less pain in the people.

I choose to bring up the case of South Africa as it is a developing country like Uruguay but I was thinking of Spain evolution too. I evolved a lot when I was in Uruguay after spending sometime outside knowing other realities. I hated my country to the bone. Well, in many aspects I still do. For example, the stagnation. However, I decided to heal that pain I had burdened for so long. I needed it. I was ready to come to Europe, I was about to leave for a new life in a new place. I had the need this time to let go a lot of ache I had about my own country. At times, I feel I want to go back, but this is now that I went thru the process of healing. I didn’t feel like this before. For me going back to Uruguay that time was like losing a battle and return in big defeat. If I return to Uruguay I will not feel like that anymore as I started to see my country from a different perspective. I met many Uruguayans living abroad, we shared some of our pain, and we found out that even if we decide not to live there anymore, we belong there and we can’t renounce to it.

In this case we need to go thru that healing in order to be able to integrate the new country (culture), not carbon-copy the new country pretending to be someone we are not, this is in my opinion a deep resentment and means ultimately not a real integration but too much imitation with a lot of imperfections. Integration means welcoming but not giving up who we are or where we come from, it is adding up new ingredients to our lives to make them better.

My Renoucement to Platonism

2008-05-20T09:33:00.003-03:00

Over the last year I have played the role of Socrates to the bone. That’s over. As you know the end of Socrates was nothing but fateless.

I still hold big admiration to many of his attiudes and values, yet in my case to reproduce such Socratism would be fateless, and I therefore renounce to it in order to keep alive and fight life.

Being Socrates takes so much energy and it doesn’t pay at last. It may pay during certain stages, it swells one’s pride (and spirit) and the feeling of being some sort of hero but it doesn’t pay in the long term as the end is self-destruction.

Plato enhanced the role of Socrates because he was rich, noble, he was capable to live without working and his scorn towards materiasm was such that the Socrates’s life seemed perfect to show his intellectualism (anti-materialism) per se.

There’s a lot of seduction towards the reader in Plato’s dialogues. That seduction is merely intellectual. When we try to apply Plato’s teachings to real life, we risk ourselves to being the biggest disgrace. That’s me. This is why I give it up. To go on. To feel whole and entirely, not just a separation between intellect and material. Both have a connection that cannot be separated as two independent things but dependent to each other. They go along with each other to build reality. Reality cannot be just intellectual or material. It is a combination of both. It is the total.

Frozen

2008-05-15T16:51:00.001-03:00

Genealogy of Morals

2008-05-12T18:13:00.002-03:00

I repeately enhanced the role of the Super Man in Nietzsche’s Philosophy. I got to a point to thinking and feeling that being the Super Man is deep incapability. The incapability relies on the fact that in order to become the Super Man one must be beyond Good And Evil. And this could be possible in the scenario where we lose our human condition and we become just nothingness. We do not exist as a Spirit – Gheist.

I am going to bring examples to my conclusion after years of thought, and now experience.

As you know I am living in Spain, my forefathers land. I feel that we have things in common like some traditions, and of course the language. Yet, intellectually speaking we are very different. This is not good or bad, it is a fact. During thesedays I have felt very alone. I have some friends, and I have made some kind of connection with some Spaniards but I feel hollow and empty.

I once felt close to the Super Man that could dwell anywhere but it now appears to be false to me. I need of certain surrounding AKA family and my friends to dwell. Or else, I feel isolated from (my) world. Although I have big admiration to this country I have ties somewhere else than Spain I can’t let go. I am not the Super Man. I can’t survive like this- Or well, I may survive on the price of losing my own humanity likely.

I have come to this conclusion after feeling tremendous pain, and starting to see the world from a different perspective.

I have measured Love from a different perspective as well. I am positioning to you where I am standing right now.

The initial idea of this post was about Love, and how we evolve by letting the pain go away or how we risk inhereting the grief in to the future.

No Bloodshed

2008-03-21T20:30:00.005-03:00

Here's the last book I read. "An essay of Homosexuality". It has a fantastic argumentation about how the gay visibility and the LGTBQ movement has evolved here in Europe and in the post Franco Spain particularly. It tackles the place a real Democracy should play with the (LGTBQ) Citizenship.

Unfortunately it does not have a translation to English (yet). I wish I could provide some brief summory on it when I have a computer and a good dictionary to provide with a good translation.

The essay was written by Javier Ugarte in 2003, a couple of years before same-sex marriage became a reality in Spain (when the Conservatives, Pro-War, Opus Dei influenced, and Bush-Administration alignment Spanish Government were in office). Ugarte acted as some kind of visionary back then to what we are living in Spain nowadays. It is very intellectual (rational) book but very heartening and emotional for me as a gay Uruguayan to know there is a way out to be able to be you, and not to pretend be someone you are not. This is what's implied in the study of full citizenship and how we LGTBQ comminity should act.

I want to provide a translation to this excellent essay. It is very important because it raises a lot of conciousness in the Gay world and brings in an astonishing analysis full of reasons and political-philosophical argumentation for advocates to use worldwide in search for Freedom and Equality.

Thank You!

2008-03-20T19:53:00.003-03:00

Hey there,

I am greatly impressed of the excellent feedback I got from many readers of A-Philosophical about my last entry. Yes, I share joy, the good times, my doubts and existencial pain. A bit of everything. We are a bit of everything.

The feedback came from different sources, my chaps in Uruguay, and as well as friends and beautiful strangers out there reading my blog namelessly.

I have spent quite a considerable amount of time skyping and e-mailing people. Connecting with people in my effort to feel "whole" to get off of the hole. I feel so much lighter on the contrast to the lots of confussion I have been in. This communication with people has been very liberating for me because it gave me the chance to step away and gain some objectivity again.

I feel much better now. I alleviate my pain a great deal.

I am not the kind of guy that writes a daily journal, I am repressor: I repress for some time, and then it just explodes.

Thematically, I think, I see thankfully some evolution in the department of taking responsability. Not singularity blaming other people for all the challenges in my life. Taking responsability, much more levity, self-deprecation, infatuation relationship.

To take responsability is such an empowering thing to do, it is the hardest thing to do and I realize that there is a pay-off to it.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me, even from the distance virtual world. I am grateful.

Confused?

2008-03-19T18:39:00.003-03:00

I am very confused. Today I locked myself up again. The last time I had done something like this was in Miami when I was about to leave for Uruguay suffering lots of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I am taking care of my friend's Andrés Apartment while he's in the South.

I am having dreams. I am remembering things in my dreams about the past. This is why I am even more confused. Because I do not know how to interprete them clearly.

I do not know anything for sure and this climate of inestability is finally paying a price: I have no home, I have no job, I have less possibilities to get one (because I do not know how to drive, and I so far do not know the system well enough), I have no country, I have no family to count on. I am alone.

I really want to find a good reason to go ahead. So far I have only got very much confussion and abuse from certain people that I allowed their influence upon me. So, it is up to me to accept blame.

None of us can tell for sure how's the future is going to be but at least have some clue. I have no clue, no image, no direction what's next but more survival mode in Spain or going back to Uruguay to survive as the insane homosexual family member that nobody understands. But I do not want to go back there permanently. I want a real home, I want a real life, and I do deserve it. Any orientation out there on what I should do?

Amazing!

2008-03-15T15:59:00.005-03:00

After being back to Valencia I am discovering the enchantment of the place. I spent some days in Barcelona with my sister as you know. I like it but I definitely love Valencia. No place is perfect. The job market is not as good as I expected to be but the energy of the Fallas de Valencia and the cosmopolitanism we sense is something hard to explain.

The city is bursting 24/7. Fireworks (quite very potent) all the time. We have a hard time to be sleeping either day or night.

I am becoming back to life. After I am finished writing this e-mail I am going to sense a bit of life: with my IPod and Seal. A great talented artist I am rediscovering.

In a political sense and personal I am getting off of the hole I was in when I came here the second time. It is the Spanish way of life. It is not easy to explain but BELIEVE no depression, too much sunlight, cosmopolitanism and lots of very much FREEDOM! I wish love were all around! Perhaps it will! Who knows it for sure?

Freedom :- )

2008-03-02T17:39:00.002-02:00