Unemployment
Last time I checked, insiders told me that the team in which I was serving has gone down the drain. Things don't get done, projects are delayed and in general all our former clients are mightily pissed off. Moral: you can't replace somebody with 20 years experience with 10 guys with 2 years experience each (not quite the situation, but you get my drift).
Life in unemployment is wonderfully weird. No crowds, fast public transport, empty eateries (thus you bet the office workers to the best tables). This is working quite well for me so far, with the recession looming we shall see how things pan out, but that does not worry me at the moment.
Barcelona
I visited Barcelona for personal, very sad reasons. I found the time to go to the Barceloneta, and this being summer, saw plenty of lovely girls sunbathing topless. I can't help but think how shocked should be the people of one or two generations before. Spain, the bastion of Catholicism under the rule of the fascist Franco, hosting some of the more liberal places in the world. Jolly good I say.
I also went to the place where the first cava (Spanish "champagne") was produced (Codorniu cava makers). The main attraction was a ride in a little carousel underground, where all the bottles are left to age, kilometres and kilometres of bottles (our guide said that tourists without much sommon sense have got lost there and could not be found for 2 or 3 days).
Races
I ran 10k in London a couple of times, the most recent was Nike's Human Race last Sunday. The race started in Wembley Stadium, my wave started while there was a very nasty rain, fortunately half way the rain stopped. I took several pictures, unfortunately I can't share them here since I just realized that my Google email is already out there, linked to my name. Oh well. I was intent in sharing my Google albums in this and other websites but that is really a show stopper, Google is supposed to provide a facility to address this but is not working....
PROMS
The PROMS are in full swing, from the start 2 orchestras grabbed the attention: the Berlin Philharmonic and the NY Symphonic.
Each orchestra gave two performances, all of which had my bum in a seat. The Berlin Philharmonic is outstanding and the NY Symphonic was very impressive.
I don't know what is it with British audiences. during the brief transitions between movements people here (at least in the PROMS) cough, sneeze, chat and in general make a nuisance of themselves, in other places this brief pauses are understood as part of the performance, the respite necessary to progress, so people remain silent. Sir Simon made a point about this by refusing to start playing until the audience was completely silent, and for a good reason, the pianissimos of the Berlin Philharmonic are absolutely perfect, and you really can't enjoy them until the hypochondriacs quiet down.
The NY Symphonic, conducted by Lorin Mazel, has a wonderful metal section, which was put to very good use, specially during Stravinsky's Rite of Spring to spectacular effect. This orchestra and NY's Met Opera would be amongst the few reasons I would endure applying for a US visa as a Mexican citizen, but since they are coming here and we get live relays I can live in hope I will not need to get one.
I have tickets for the Last Night, so if you see a Mexican flag in the stall area, it may be me.
Questions for the Republicans
For Mrs Palin really:
1.- Did you talk about contraception with your daughter? What was your advice? If you didn't, why not?
2.- Do you think God is pleased with the war in Iraq?
3.- How old is planet Earth?
the more I think and read about her and her politics the more it looks like a bad choice: provincial and parochial in the worst senses of both words, and by extension it reflects in Mr McCain's poor judgment. I think she is a sitting duck, a complete liability, which is a shame, because women deserve to be better represented (compare her to Condolezza Rice, unfortunately for Condie she was far too close to Bush, her major political mistake, she could have jumped ship at some point to save her reputation, that is if she had bigger ambitions at some point).
Travel plans.
I'll be in Sheffield this weekend for another race (racing in organized events is the only way to keep my interest in running, otherwise I would not do it), I still do not know what to do there, bar avoiding hen and stag parties, but now that I think about it, such gatherings may present interesting photographic opportunities. We shall see.
The morning after the Last Night of the PROMS I will catch a flight to Mexico. A long overdue visit to family and friends, as well as a break in Cancun (hurricanes permitting). I am already savouring the great (and cheap) food, most likely I'll go to a Pumas UNAM game in the Olympic stadium. Gosh, to think about our old Olympic Stadium compared to China's Bird Nest is really amazing. Our stadium looks provincial now in comparison.
I have booked already for Lanzarote during Easter. This place will become very popular since Pedro Almodovar is filming his latest movie there. Very dramatic landscape, it will be interesting to watch.
As for the other destinations China is a real possibility, there is a Solar eclipse there next year, and although it would be an expensive trip I think it would be worth it, I have watched 3 total solar eclipses (Mexico City, Austria and Turkey) and I can't think of a better excuse to go there.
As for Australia I would be there to lend support to the valiant UK and Mexico triathletes in the world championships. I wish I could join the fun, but I can't bike for all my sins, and even if I could, the competition is fierce in my age group, no way I would make it in a national team. So waving flags it is then...
Work? yeah, at some point. I am having far too much fun to think about it for now. If Mr Darling keeps scaring people into recession then I may start to worry (not really), his incompetence and lack of tact are astounding. Would it be possible for Gordon Brown to sack him (well yes) and then to become Chancellor while also being the PM? I think it would be a good move, but since I don't fully understand British politics I ignore if it is possible at all....
Last time I checked, insiders told me that the team in which I was serving has gone down the drain. Things don't get done, projects are delayed and in general all our former clients are mightily pissed off. Moral: you can't replace somebody with 20 years experience with 10 guys with 2 years experience each (not quite the situation, but you get my drift).
Life in unemployment is wonderfully weird. No crowds, fast public transport, empty eateries (thus you bet the office workers to the best tables). This is working quite well for me so far, with the recession looming we shall see how things pan out, but that does not worry me at the moment.
Barcelona
I visited Barcelona for personal, very sad reasons. I found the time to go to the Barceloneta, and this being summer, saw plenty of lovely girls sunbathing topless. I can't help but think how shocked should be the people of one or two generations before. Spain, the bastion of Catholicism under the rule of the fascist Franco, hosting some of the more liberal places in the world. Jolly good I say.
I also went to the place where the first cava (Spanish "champagne") was produced (Codorniu cava makers). The main attraction was a ride in a little carousel underground, where all the bottles are left to age, kilometres and kilometres of bottles (our guide said that tourists without much sommon sense have got lost there and could not be found for 2 or 3 days).
Races
I ran 10k in London a couple of times, the most recent was Nike's Human Race last Sunday. The race started in Wembley Stadium, my wave started while there was a very nasty rain, fortunately half way the rain stopped. I took several pictures, unfortunately I can't share them here since I just realized that my Google email is already out there, linked to my name. Oh well. I was intent in sharing my Google albums in this and other websites but that is really a show stopper, Google is supposed to provide a facility to address this but is not working....
PROMS
The PROMS are in full swing, from the start 2 orchestras grabbed the attention: the Berlin Philharmonic and the NY Symphonic.
Each orchestra gave two performances, all of which had my bum in a seat. The Berlin Philharmonic is outstanding and the NY Symphonic was very impressive.
I don't know what is it with British audiences. during the brief transitions between movements people here (at least in the PROMS) cough, sneeze, chat and in general make a nuisance of themselves, in other places this brief pauses are understood as part of the performance, the respite necessary to progress, so people remain silent. Sir Simon made a point about this by refusing to start playing until the audience was completely silent, and for a good reason, the pianissimos of the Berlin Philharmonic are absolutely perfect, and you really can't enjoy them until the hypochondriacs quiet down.
The NY Symphonic, conducted by Lorin Mazel, has a wonderful metal section, which was put to very good use, specially during Stravinsky's Rite of Spring to spectacular effect. This orchestra and NY's Met Opera would be amongst the few reasons I would endure applying for a US visa as a Mexican citizen, but since they are coming here and we get live relays I can live in hope I will not need to get one.
I have tickets for the Last Night, so if you see a Mexican flag in the stall area, it may be me.
Questions for the Republicans
For Mrs Palin really:
1.- Did you talk about contraception with your daughter? What was your advice? If you didn't, why not?
2.- Do you think God is pleased with the war in Iraq?
3.- How old is planet Earth?
the more I think and read about her and her politics the more it looks like a bad choice: provincial and parochial in the worst senses of both words, and by extension it reflects in Mr McCain's poor judgment. I think she is a sitting duck, a complete liability, which is a shame, because women deserve to be better represented (compare her to Condolezza Rice, unfortunately for Condie she was far too close to Bush, her major political mistake, she could have jumped ship at some point to save her reputation, that is if she had bigger ambitions at some point).
Travel plans.
I'll be in Sheffield this weekend for another race (racing in organized events is the only way to keep my interest in running, otherwise I would not do it), I still do not know what to do there, bar avoiding hen and stag parties, but now that I think about it, such gatherings may present interesting photographic opportunities. We shall see.
The morning after the Last Night of the PROMS I will catch a flight to Mexico. A long overdue visit to family and friends, as well as a break in Cancun (hurricanes permitting). I am already savouring the great (and cheap) food, most likely I'll go to a Pumas UNAM game in the Olympic stadium. Gosh, to think about our old Olympic Stadium compared to China's Bird Nest is really amazing. Our stadium looks provincial now in comparison.
I have booked already for Lanzarote during Easter. This place will become very popular since Pedro Almodovar is filming his latest movie there. Very dramatic landscape, it will be interesting to watch.
As for the other destinations China is a real possibility, there is a Solar eclipse there next year, and although it would be an expensive trip I think it would be worth it, I have watched 3 total solar eclipses (Mexico City, Austria and Turkey) and I can't think of a better excuse to go there.
As for Australia I would be there to lend support to the valiant UK and Mexico triathletes in the world championships. I wish I could join the fun, but I can't bike for all my sins, and even if I could, the competition is fierce in my age group, no way I would make it in a national team. So waving flags it is then...
Work? yeah, at some point. I am having far too much fun to think about it for now. If Mr Darling keeps scaring people into recession then I may start to worry (not really), his incompetence and lack of tact are astounding. Would it be possible for Gordon Brown to sack him (well yes) and then to become Chancellor while also being the PM? I think it would be a good move, but since I don't fully understand British politics I ignore if it is possible at all....
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