Closed for a long Christmas vacation, from Friday 24 December to Monday 17 January 2005. We are flying to Washington DC, renting a car and driving down to Florida. I'll pass your kind regards to Mickey Mouse, of course. And to George W Bush, too? ;-)


Cerrado por vacaciones de Navidad del viernes 24 de Diciembre al lunes 17 de Enero 2005. Volamos a Washington DC, alquilamos un coche y nos vamos hasta Florida. Le doy recuerdos a Mickey Mouse de parte vuestra, por supuesto. Le doy tambien recuerdos vuestros a George W Bush, quiza? ;-)



The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy and Windy
11C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind:From the West at 28 mph
Dew Point: 7C
Humidity: 78%
Visibility: 9 miles
Barometer: 1,012.2 mb

More on flying...the dreaded jetlag! Some smug people out there still maintain that jetlag is a myth. An imaginary illness. They say all is in the mind. Well, sorry but no , you smug people who probably don't fly that much. Jetlag is real and scientifically proved. Many experts have tried to give advice on how to minimize the effect of jetlag. Melatonin , a natural hormone ocurring in our body, has had its defenders and detractors. Our bodies naturally produce melatonin when it gets dark. It then makes us feel drowsy and sleepy. Daylight comes and production of melatonin stops in our bodies. So why not use melatonin for jetlag then? Well, several studies have been made and proved unconclusive. Some researchers said it didn't work. Others said it did. The doses and time of consumption varied in every study. And no big farmaceutical lab seems interested in researching onto it. Probably because melatonin is just as vitamins. You cannot patent it. No patent, no money. So I guess this is the explanation why big labs are not interested in melatonin. It can be bought over the counter in the US, though. And many people are using it to counteract jetlag when flying.

So I decided to give it a try and bought 80 one mg pills over the internet, using Biovea , who ships melatonin to the United Kingdom. Before trying it on the plane which could have unexpected results, I tested the melatonin pills last night. Experiments are best done at home than in a transatlantic flight, I think! Well... I slept like a log. And believe me, I very often wake up in the middle of the night, so I know what I'm talking about. And best of all, we are not talking about a sleeping pill, but about a hormone that our bodies already produce naturally every night. Will it work to help with jetlag? I'll tell you when I'm back in January. As all studies have proved unconclusive, the doses and timing are never clear. I have decide to follow the advice of a Canadian, Udo Erasmus , who popularised the use of flax oil. Even if he does not sell melatonin, he provides information about it as it has worked for him. I hope it works for me, too!


Y algo mas sobre volar... el temido jetlag! Algunos pedantes aun sostienen que el jetlag es un mito. Una enfermedad imaginaria. Dicen que no es fisico, que no existe. No comparto vuestra opinion, pedantes que nunca tomais un avion. El jetlag es real y esta cientificamente comprobado. Muchos expertos han intentado aconsejar sobre como minimizar los efectos del jetlag. La Melatonina , una hormona que el cuerpo humano segrega naturalmente, ha tenido defensores y detractores como cura para el jetlag. El cuerpo humano produce melatonina cuando anochece, es lo que nos hace sentir adormilados y con ganas de ir a la cama. En contacto con la luz del dia, nuestro cuerpo deja de producir melatonina. Asi que parece logico usar melatonina para combatir el jetlag. Se han realizado algunos estudios y todos han resultado inconclusivos. Algunos investigadores dijeron que no funcionaba. Otros sostuvieron que si. Las dosis y el tiempo de las tomas variaba en cada test. Y los grandes laboratorios farmaceuticos no estan interesados en financiar estos estudios. Probablemente, proque la melatonina es como las vitaminas. Sustancias naturales que nuestro cuerpo produce. No puedes pantentarlas. Y sin patente, no hay ganancia. Se puede comercializar, pero nadie posee la patente. En Estados Unidos la melatonina se compra en farmacias sin receta medica. Y muchos viajeros la estan usando desde hace anios para combatir el jetlag. En otros paises, solo puedes conseguirla mediante receta medica,lamentablemente.

Asi que decidi probar la melatonina y compre 80 grageas de 1 mg a traves de internet a la empresa Biovea , que vende melatonina en el Reino Unido desde el extranjero. Por supuesto, hice la prueba en casa, nada de subirte al avion en un vuelo transatlantico y empezar a probar nuevas sustancias!....lo sabre yo, que probe los chicles de nicotina en un avion hace anios y casi vomito mi primera papilla... Volviendo al experimento, tome melatonina ayer por la noche. Y dormi como un tronco! Y creedme, se lo que me digo, tengo gran experiencia en despertarme a menudo a medianoche. Asi que funciona. Y sin efectos secundarios. No son somniferos, que quede claro. Es una hormona que el cuerpo humano produce cada noche de nuestras vidas. Funcionara para el jetlag?? Os lo cuento cuando vuelva en Enero. Ya que todos los estudios realizados hasta ahora se han realizado con diferentes dosis y tiempos de toma, he decidido seguir los consejos de un canadiense, Udo Erasmus , personaje muy conocido en Canada ya que popularizo el uso de los aceites Omega 3 y 6. Aunque el no vende melatonina, si que proporciona informacion sobre esta hormona ya que a el le ha funcionado. Espero que a mi tambien me sea util!



The weather today:
Mist
9C
UV Index:0 Low
Wind: From the West Southwest at 24 mph
Dew Point:9C
Humidity: 97%
Visibility: 5 miles
Barometer: 1,011.5 mb

Flying anywhere this Xmas? Check this website : Flyana.com . For instance, I have just learnt that flights to and from some countries are regularly sprayed with pesticides! That first class passenger and pilots enjoy better air than coach passengers, who get just recycled air over an over again. Disgusting! Shocking!!


Vas a volar estas vacaciones? Echale un vistazo a esta pagina web (en ingles) : Flyana.com . Por ejemplo, me acabo de enterar que los vuelos a ciertos paises son desinfectados con insecticidas toxicos incluso mientras los pasajeros estan a bordo! Y que los pasajeros en primera clase (o business) y los pilotos respiran aire puro, mientras que los de clase Economica respiran aire reciclado durante casi todo el vuelo. Pero que deplorable!


The weather today:
Haze
3C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the North at 7 mph
Dew Point: 3C
Humidity: 93%
Visibility: 4 miles
Barometer: 1,025.4 mb

My boss D. gave me this card for my birthday last Friday. It's from Harolds Planet . I didn't know my musings in front of the computer were THAT obvious!


Mi jefe D. me dio esta targeta de cumpleanios el viernes pasado. Es de Harolds Planet . Vaya, pues no pensaba yo que lo que hago en horas de trabajo frente al ordenador fuera TAN obvio!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
7°C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the South Southwest at 15 mph
Dew Point: 2°C
Humidity: 70%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,017.3 mb

Today is my birthday. So I deserve a rest and there is no post today! Congrats to myself!


Hoy es mi cumpleanios y como me merezco un descanso, no escribo el post! Felicidades!!


The weather today:
CRAP! Of course! It couldn't be another way!!
Rain
9C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the South at 20 mph
Dew Point: 8C
Humidity: 97%
Visibility: 2 miles
Barometer: 989.2 mb

Yesterday we watched the The Butterfly Effect (2004),not to be confused with the 1995 Spanish film 'El efecto mariposa', the first doesn't have anything to do at all with the second! This film is more than what meets the eye, a young man who is able to travel to his past and change it, therefore changing also his present. But I see it also as a personal journey the young man takes to realise who is he and to learn to take the right decisions. Or rather, to learn than right decisions can have good and bad consequences. First, his decisions are made as to influence his life, he wants to discover what happened when he was a child and suffered several blackouts after which he could not remember what had happened. Then he tries to save his girlfriend. But he realises the outcomes can be good for some, but bad for other. Not all of them will be happy at the same time. But he keeps trying. He slowly realises his saving his girlfriend is still selfish, as he saves her because he loves her. He tries to commit suicide and end the story when everybody is happy except himself. But he changes his mind when he sees his mum is sick and dying in hospital, so not all of them are happy yet! Finally, he takes the right decision (for this film, at least). He decides to scare away the person he most loves, his girlfriend. Back in the past, so they will never become friends and lovers. Thus, through self-sacrifice, all of them will achieve happiness. He has become selfless and then the journey ends. A bit like Groundhog Day , although definitely not a comedy! An entertaining sci-fi film to watch, not at all boring with all these changes in the past and the present.


Ayer vimos The Butterfly Effect (2004), que no hay que confudir con la pelicula espaniola de 1995 'El efecto mariposa', ya que no tienen nada que ver la una con la otra. Esta 'Butterfly Effect' es mucho mas de lo que a simple vista parece. Un joven que tiene la capacidad de volver a su pasado y modificarlo, cambiando asi su vida actual. Pero yo la considere nas un viaje personal del protagonista, donde se descubre a si mismo y aprende a tomar las decisiones correctas. Al principio el proposito de sus decisiones es entender esas paginas en blanco de su vida. Al poco tiempo, los cambios son para salvar a su novia. Pero no funcionan. Cuando las cosas salen bien para unos, salen mal para otros. Su decision de salvar a su novia puede considerarse egoista. O interesada. La salva porque la quiere. Mas adelante, pierde el poco egoismo que tenia. Cuando cree que todos son felices pero el no lo es, decide suicidarse, aunque no lo intenta de nuevo al saber que su madre esta gravemente enferma en el hospital. Finalmente, toma la decision correcta (para la pelicula, al menos). Decide asustar en el pasado a su novia. Nunca seran amigos ni novios en el futuro. Asi, mediante su sacrificio, consigue que todos sean felices. El protagonista no tiene ya ni un gramo de egoismo en su persona y el viaje termina. Un poquito como Groundhog Day (El Dia de la Marmota) pero en este caso, de comedia nada de nada. Un film de ciencia-ficcion entretenido y nada aburrido, con un ritmo trepidante gracias al constante cambio de pasado y futuro.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
11C
UV Index: O Low
Wind: From the West at 24 mph
Dew Point:6C
Humidity: 70%
Visibility: 10 miles
Barometer: 1,001.4 mb

I saw a mouse in our house yesterday night. Our tv was on and we were having a conversation when suddenly I turned my head and saw a mouse happily walking down the corridor as if it was going to open the main door and leave the house.
I shouted 'A rat! A rat in the house!'. I am still amazed at the capacity of understanding of these little animals. The little mouse turned its head to me, screamed back : 'I am a mouse, not a rat!' and ran away to the kitchen. We chased it and moved things in the kitchen. We thought it may come out and then we would hit it with the broom. But no luck. The mouse disappeared. We suspect it may have entered the kitchen through a crack on the wall behind the washing machine. We have now put a heavy piece of wood on top of the crack. And also rat poison nearby. But it's not a nice feeling knowing a mouse has been walking on your carpet and maybe looking for food in the kitchen.

PS: OK, you are right. I knew I could not fool you. The mouse did not screamed 'I am a mouse, not a rat!'. But I think he looked very offended by my saying he was a rat. He seemed really annoyed. Really.


Ayer noche vi a un raton en casa. Teniamos la television en marcha y estabamos hablando cuando, de pronto, gire la vista y vi a un raton andando alegremente por el pasillo, como si se dirigiese a la puerta para salir de casa. Grite : 'Una rata! Una rata en casa!'. Y que impresion me dio la capacidad de entendimiento del animalito. Se paro, me miro y grito a su vez : 'No soy una rata, soy un raton!' y se largo corriendo hacia la cocina. Lo perseguimos y movimos muebles de la cocina, para ver si salia corriendo y le podiamos dar un buen escobazo. Pero nada. El raton desaparecio. Sospechamos que podria haber entrado a la cocina a traves de una grieta que hay detras de la lavadora. Asi que hemos colocado una pesada tabla de madera encima de la grieta y hemos distribuido mata-ratas en la cocina. Pero como comprendereis, no hace ninguna gracia saber que un raton ha estado andando en tu moqueta o buscando comida en tu cocina.

PS: OK, teneis razon. Ya sabia que no os podria enganiar tan facilmente. El raton no grito nada de 'No soy una rata, soy un raton!" Pero os aseguro que parecia muy indignado y ofendido de que le hubiera confundido con una rata. De verdad.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
11C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the Southwest at 9 mph
Dew Point: 9C
Humidity: 88%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,017.3 mb

We are now seriously thinking about buying a digital camera. Because we don't want to go to a shop and buy the first camera that catches our eyes, I bought a magazine especialized in digital cameras. But... With all the reviews, and comparisons and features, we are now more confused that we were at the beginning, when we were totally naive and innocent about this. All this information is driving me crazy. Should we buy the Canon Powershot A95? It looks all right and the reviews on the internet seem good..although some reviewers talk about 'purple fringing' with this camera. What in the hell is that??!! I didn't even know something like that could exist. Which proves the more you know..the more complicated life is. Is it better not to have the knowledge and live your life with rose-tinted glasses? Or is it better to know and spend your life questioning everything? Ah you see, philosophy is not an old fashioned subject. It is there with you, even when buying a digital camera!


Estamos considerando seriamente la posibilidad de comprar una camara digital. Y como no queremos ir a una tienda y comprar la primera camara que caiga a la vista, compre una revista especializada en camaras digitales. Pero...con tanta informacion, comparaciones y especificaciones, ahora estamos mas confundidos que cuando empezamos a buscar, cuando eramos basicamente 'inocentes' en el mundo de las camaras digitales. Toda esta informacion nos esta volviendo locos. Que hacemos? Compramos la Canon Powershot A95? Parece que esta bien y las criticas en internet son buenas... aunque algunos usuarios hablan de 'purple fringing' con esta camara (porque leo las criticas en amazon en ingles). Y que carajo es 'purple fringing'? Ni siquiera sabia yo que existiera algo llamado asi. Lo que viene a demostrar que, cuanto mas sabes, mas se complica la vida. Es mejor no saber y vivir la vie en rose? O es mejor saber y pasarte la vida haciendo preguntas y cuestionandolo todo? Ya veis, no es verdad lo que dicen algunos de que la filosofia como asignatura esta pasada de moda y no se aplica al mundo de hoy en dia. Todo lo contrario. Se aplica a todo. Incluso a la compra de una camara digital!


The weather today:
Haze
9C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the South Southwest at 12 mph
Dew Point: 8C
Humidity: 90%
Visibility: 5 miles
Barometer: 1,022.4 mb

I was playing with the remote control yesterday, having a look at the usual crap the different channels are offering us when near Xmas. I stopped for a minute in some channel when 'famous' people and 'celebrities' were talking about Xmas. Somebody said they liked Xmas because of the 'wonderful smell of the Xmas trees' on the streets. Uh? What smell? The smell of plastic needles? I have not smelt a 'real' Xmas tree in ages! I can't remember who this celeb was but considering their generally not very high nor cultivated intellects, it may have been that they were referring to plastic Xmas trees. It wouldn't surprise me. At all.


Ayer estaba jugando con el mando a distancia, cambiando de canal en canal para ver que cantidad de porqueria nos ofrece la television ahora que se acerca la Navidad. Pare por un minuto en un canal donde famosos y famosillos hablaban sobre la Navidad. Uno de ellos de cuyo nombre no puedo ni acordarme, dijo que le gustaba la Navidad por el 'maravilloso olor a abetos' de las calles. Eh? Pero que olor? Sera el olor de los abetos de plastico, no? Porque yo no he visto un arbol de Navidad 'real' ni en calles ni en centros comerciales desde hace anios! Aunque, reflexionando, se me ocurre que como estos 'famosillos' no gozan de un gran coeficiente intelectual, igual si que se referia a los arboles de plastico. No me sorprenderia. En absoluto.


The weather today:
Haze
5C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the Northeast at 9 mph
Dew Point: 3C
Humidity: 84%
Visibility: 2 miles
Barometer: 1,025.4 mb

We had our office Xmas lunch today. I should go and get a t-shirt customized with the motto "I survived the Xmas lunch 2004". After four hours my face was frozen in a permanent smile. It looked like a Miss World contest: scary. Otherwise, it was the usual stuff. I've experienced by myself the annoying British trend of trying to get you drunk.
- Have another one!, they said
- But I still have not finished this drink! I replied a thousand times
- Nevermind, have another one! they insisted.
What an obsession they have!


Hoy tuvimos nuestra comida de Navidad de la oficina. Me dan ganas de salir a comprarme una camiseta e imprimir en ella : "Yo sobrevivi a la comida de Navidad del 2004". Despues de cuatro horas, se me habia congelado la cara con una permanente sonrisa que recordaba a los concursos de Miss Universo. Daba miedo. Por otro lado, fue de lo mas normalito. He vivido otra vez la irritante experiencia de que los britanicos traten de emborracharme.
-Tomate otro! me decian
- Pero si aun no me he acabado lo que estoy bebiendo - repetia yo por milesima vez
- Da igual, tomate otro! insistian ellos/as.
Pero que obsesion que tienen!


The weather today:
Cloudy
4°C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: calm
Dew Point: 3°C
Humidity: 87%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,025.4 mb

Goodbye Lenin! This is not a sci-fi film but we watched it yesterday and found it hilarius, poignant and ironic. A teenage boy from the ex-GDR tries to recreate the world before the fall of the Berlin Wall for his mother, who spent eight months in a coma after suffering a heart attack. Her situation could deteriorate and she may die if she were to suffer another heart attack so it is obvious she cannot be told the world in she lived and believed does not exist anymore and that capitalism is now with them.

Goodbye Lenin! Esta no es una pelicula de ciencia ficcion pero la vimos ayer y nos parecio genial, hilarante, con toques ironicos y muy agudos. Un adolescente de la ex-Republica Democratica Alemana intenta recrear el mundo tal como era antes de la caida del muro de Berlin para su madre, quien ha pasado ocho meses en coma despues de sufrir un ataque al corazon. La situacion de la madre podria empeorar o podria incluso morir si sufriera otro ataque, asi que para el chico es obvio que ella no tiene que enterarse de que el mundo en el que vivia y creia ya no existe y que el capitalismo les ha invadido.


The weather today:
Haze
7C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the North Northeast at 3 mph
Dew Point: 4C
Humidity: 80%
Visibility: 3 miles
Barometer: 1,021.3 mb

Inspired by a comment by Hightoro ("Let's all watch Sci-fi movies then!")after his suffering when watching romantic flick Before Sunset , I thought about all the Sci-fi movies I've watched and liked in my life. And decided to put together a list, by alphabetical order, which you can see below. Clicking on the film's name will take you to the Internet's movie database file for each film. Because sometimes we don't remember the title of the film, but bells rign when reading the plot or seeing the poster. As I said, this is a list of films I like. You will notice 'outrageous' absences, like Space Odyssey by S Kubrick. Simply put, I don't like it. On the other hand, you will see B-films, cheap films, commercial flops and blockbusters. With excellent or terrible FX. Who cares if the ideas and characters are great. They are in the list because I like them. Because they made me laugh or scared me, or made me think or they inspired me. Whatever. I like them.

Sometimes it happens that you remember the plot but cannot remember the title of the film. This website : All Sci-fi can help! Although its design is not very attractive, the information is very good. Using the menus on the right-hand side of the screen, you can choose by different plots, actors and directors and find that film whose title you can't remember. I used it to find Silent Running and it worked! I could only remember giant spaceships carrying thousands of plants and trees to outer space to save them from a nuclear devastated Earth. Years later, when I saw the Eden Project , I thought 'gosh! like in that sci-fi film I saw when I was a child!'. Anyways, it's a good website to find those forgotten titles.
So...any sci-fi films you especially like?


Despues de leer un comentario de Hightoro ("Y si vemos de ciencia ficción y ya?") provocado por los sufrimientos que padecio al ver la pelicula romantica Before Sunset , me puse a pensar en todas las peliculas de ciencia-ficcion que he visto y que me han gustado. Y decidi hacer una lista, en orden alfabetico. La podeis ver abajo. Si haceis click en los titulos, os llevaran a la pagina correspondiente de la Internet's movie database de cada pelicula. Porque, a veces, no recordamos el titulo de la pelicula, pero al leer el argumento o ver el poster, todos decimos "ah si! esa pelicula! claro que la he visto!". Como he dicho, esta es una lista de peliculas que me gustan. Ya vereis que hay ausencias 'imperdonables' como Space Odyssey de S Kubrick. Simplemente, no me gusta. Por otro lado, hay un monton de peliculas de serie B, peliculas baratas, fracasos de taquilla y exitos comerciales. Con bonisimos o pesimos efectos especiales. Que mas da si las ideas y los personajes son excelentes! Si estan en la lista, es porque me gustan. Porque me hicieron reir, o me asustaron, o me hicieron pensar o me inspiraron. Lo que sea.

A veces ocurre que recordamos el argumento pero no hay manera de recordar el titulo. En esta web : All Sci-fi encontrareis ayuda! Aunque el disenio no es muy atractivo, lo que cuenta es la informacion que contiene. Usando los menus de la derecha, podeis buscar un titulo mediante el argumento, los actores y directores y encontrar ese titulo que no hay manera de que nos venga a la memoria. Use esta pagina para encontrar el titulo de Silent Running, que habia visto en mi niniez. Solo recordaba las enormes naves espaciales que contenian arboles y plantas, flotando en el espacio, a salvo de la devastacion nuclear que habia ocurrido en la Tierra. Anios despues, cuando vi el Eden Project , pense :"anda! como aquella pelicula de ciencia ficcion".
Y ya puestos, a vosotr@s...que peliculas de ciencia-ficcion os gustan?

My favourite Sci-fi films (in alphabetical order):

1984
12 Monkeys
Accion Mutante
Abre los Ojos
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Akira
Alien
Alien Resurrection
Aliens
Alien 3
Apollo XIII
Armageddon
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
Back to the Future
Back to the Future II
Back to the Future III
Batman
Battlestar Galactica
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
Blade Runner
Body Snatchers
The Boys from Brazil
Brazil
The Butterfly Effect
Capricorn One
The Company of Wolves
A Clockwork Orange
Cronos
The Crow
Dawn of the Dead
The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Dead Zone
Delicatessen
Dr Strangelove
Earth Girls are Easy
Enemy Mine
Equilibrium
Escape from LA
Farenheit 451
The Fifth Element
Flash Gordon
Forbidden Planet
Frequency
Gattaca
Ghosts of Mars
Highlander
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The Invisible Man
It
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
King Kong
K-Pax
Logan's Run
Mad Max
Mad Max II
Mars Attacks!
The Matrix
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
Men in Black
Metropolis (1927)
Night of the Living Dead
The Omega Man
The Philadelphia Experiment
Plan 9 from Outer Space
Planet of the Apes
Riverworld
RoboCop
Silent Running
Solaris (1972)
Soylent Green
Spider-Man
Stargate
Starman
Star Wars
Starship Troopers
Strange Days
Terminator
Them!
The Time Machine (1960)
Time after Time
Tron
Les Visiteurs
The War of the Worlds
Westworld
The X Files (the movie)
The 5000 Fingers of Dr T

I have written all my Xmas cards. The grand total of 59 Xmas cards! 17 for family abroad and 42 for my work colleagues. One cannot escape from sending Xmas cards if living in the UK. And we are talking 'real' Xmas cards that you have to write by hand, put in an envelope and write the address, and not electronic cards! Anyways now I'm on that topic...have I told you that...I wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year! And don't make me tell you or write it to you one more time!


Ya he escrito todas mis postales de Navidad . La suma total ascendia a 59!! 17 para familia y amigos en el extranjero y 42 para companieros de trabajo. Viviendo en el Reino Unido, no hay escapatoria. Hay que escribir postales. Y hablo de postales 'reales', de las que has de escribir a mano, poner en un sobre y escribir la direccion. Ah si fueran postales electronicas, eso si que es sencillo y rapido! Y ya que estoy en el tema... aprovecho la ocasion para desearos feliz Navidad y Prospero Anio Nuevo! Y no me lo hagais decir o escribir ni una vez mas!


The weather today:
9C
Mostly Cloudy
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the North Northeast at 3 mph
Dew Point: 7C
Humidity: 88%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,028.1 mb

Yesterday we went for a visit to the V&A Museum in London. We saw only a small bit as the museum is quite big. At one point, feeling tired and thirsty, we decided to go to the canteen and grab a coke. The canteen happened to be at the Gamble Room, pictured above, which the V&A offers to rent for corporate events. I guess that corporate events deserve proper lighting and because they pay, they will have it. However, normal visitors who pay the outrageous £3.95 for a ridiculous sandwich do not deserve proper lighting. The Gamble Room was so dark that a poor lady crashed onto the mirror, thinking there were more tables behind it. It is a beautiful tiled Victorian room, as you can see in the photo. With proper lighting. Without it, it feels depressing and prone to accidents. So come on, V&A, turn on the lights, the overpriced sandwiches and drinks we have paid deserve better treatment!


Ayer estuvimos visitando el V&A Museum en Londres. Vimos solo una pequenia parte del museo, ya que es un edificio enorme. Cuando, agotados y sedientos, decidimos ir a uno de los cafes del museo a tomar una Coca-cola, fuimos al que se encuentra en la Gamble Room (foto de arriba), que el museo tambien alquila para eventos corporativos. No dudo que en el caso de una cena o acontecimiento de empresa, pagando por el alquiler de la sala, los del V&A Museum la iluminan de maravilla, como en la foto. Sin embargo, los visitantes normalitos que pagamos la exhorbitante cantidad de £3.95 por un ridiculo sandwich, parece que no tenemos derecho a iluminacion decente. La Gamble Room estaba tan oscura que una pobre seniora se dio de narices con un enorme espejo, creyendo que era un arco que llevaba a la otra parte de la sala, donde ella veia mas mesas. He de decir que es una sala preciosa, cubierta de azulejos y perfecto exponente del estilo victoriano, como podeis ver en la foto. Eso si, con iluminacion adecuada. Con las cuatro bombillas que tenian encendidas ayer, es de lo mas deprimente y no me extrania que haya accidentes con los espejos. Asi que desde aqui hago un llamamiento al V&A Museum, y les digo que enciendan las luces ya, con lo que nos cobrais por los diminutos sandwiches y las bebidas, bien que podeis aniadir unas pocas bombillas mas!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
11C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the West Southwest at 15 mph
Dew Point: 5C
Humidity: 67%
Visibility: 6 miles

As if I didn't have enough things to do, I had to go and help with the mumps immunisation programme for University students. I was handing in forms and checking they had been completed correctly and keeping an eye on the students after the vaccination, to make sure nobody fainted or had an adverse reaction. Fine with this. What I found outrageous was the advice given by the nurse. When asked if somebody should be given the jab if the person had the mumps when they were a child, the nurse said yes, have the jab. Having had the mumps does not give you immunity. I was shocked to hear that. Of course you are immunised if you had the mumps as a child! Jeez, I could not believe it! And another one : should someone have the jab if they had it already when they were a child, complete with the booster some years later? Oh yes, said the nurse, you should have the jab again. What? What is the point of this? If you have been given the jab and the booster, you do not need to get vaccinated again! I know that and I am not a nurse or a doctor. It just reinforces my belief that the British medical system is full of morons who treat their patients as if the patients were idiots or ignorants. A doctor or a nurse cannot believe you know about your own vaccinations or the illnesses you suffered when you were a child.So there you go, just in case, have another jab! Mad. Mad. Mad.


Como si no tuviera bastantes cosas que hacer, me toco ir hoy a ayudar con la vacunacion de las paperas (Parotiditis)para estudiantes universitarios. Mi 'gran colaboracion' consistia en darles los formularios y comprobar que los habian rellenado correctamente, ademas de vigilar que ninguno se nos desmayara o tuviera una reaccion adversa a la vacuna. Hasta aqui bien. Pero lo que me parecio escandaloso fue la manera en que la enfermera les contestaba las preguntas. Se le pregunto si, habiendo tenido las paperas en la niniez, la vacuna era necesaria. Si, dice la enfermera. No estas inmunizado contra las paperas. Queee? Digo yo. Si tuviste las paperas, raro es el caso de que las vuelvas a tener, lo sabre yo! Otra vez le preguntaron si, habiendo recibido la vacuna en la niniez, y una segunda toma anios despues, era necesario vacunarse ahora de nuevo. Si, contesta la enfermera, y le pincha sin contemplaciones. Queee? Digo yo. Si te han vacunado dos veces, para que carajo otra vacunacion? Ya estas inmunizado, segun todos los canones medicos en Europa. Eso lo se yo, y no soy ni enfermera ni medico. Y estas situaciones no hacen mas que confirmar mi parecer de que el sistema medico britanico esta plagado de inutiles que tratan a sus pacientes como si estos fueran idiotas o ignorantes. Porque aqui, un doctor o enfermera no se cree que tu, como paciente, estes al dia del nombre correcto de la enfermedad, ni de si la pasaste, ni de si te vacunaron. Asi que, por si acaso, ya que el paciente es tonto, ala! vacunemosle de nuevo. Es de locos, locos, locos.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
5C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the South Southwest at 6 mph
Dew Point: 4C
Humidity: 93%
Visibility: 4 miles
Barometer: 1,023.0 mb

Another beautiful day of meetings and stuff like that!

Otro dia encantador de reuniones e historias similares!

When I was a child, my favourite cartoon character was Spiderman. He was clever, fast and friendly. Hiding behind the hero a shy and normal Pete Parker had trouble with girls and his bullying boss at the newspaper. It was very likable. A normal person with normal problems who becomes a super-hero. The child in me identified with that. I still have a soft spot for Spiderman. However, a new hero entered my life when I was in my twenties.It was a happy and naive child fighter with a monkey tail who never gave up. Goku from Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z . Goku's main strength is just that: he never gives up. It is also his main weakness because never giving up endangers his life several times and even kills him. Of course in the Dragon Ball world Goku always ends up resurrecting thanks to the seven magic dragon balls. Dragon Ball has many fans and also many critics. The critics have labelled the series as a non-demanding simple cartoon series. Personally, I find Goku's hope and endurance very inspiring. A Dragon Ball chapter always puts me in a good mood.


Cuando era nini@, mi personaje de tebeo preferido era Spiderman. Era inteligente, rapido de reflejos y simpatico. Y detras de la fachada del super hero se escondia el timido y sencillo Pete Parker. Siempre con problemas con las chicas y con su abusivo jefe. No podia dejar de caer bien. Una persona normal con problemas normales que se convierte en un super-heroe. Normal que muchos nini@s se identificaran con Pete. Aun hoy en dia tengo a Spiderman en un lugar especial de mi corazon. Sin embargo, un nuevo heroe entro en mi vida a los veinti-pocos anios. Era un ninio feliz e inocente con cola de mono que nunca se daba por vencido. Goku de Dragon Ball y Dragon Ball Z . El digamos 'super-poder' de Goku es que nunca se da por vencido. Esa es tambien su mayor debilidad, claro, porque seguir luchando hasta el final hace que muera varias veces en la serie. Digo varias veces porque en el fantastico mundo de Dragon Ball los amigos de Goku consiguen con esfuerzo las 7 magicas bolas de dragon y le piden como deseo al dragon que Goku resucite. Dragon Ball tiene muchos fans y muchos detractores. Los detractores dicen que es una serie muy simple y no acaban de entender la increible alegria e inocencia de Goku, incluso cuando es adulto. Personalmente creo que la esperanza, coraje y perseverancia de Goku me inspiran. Ver un capitulo de Dragon Ball siempre me pone de buen humor.


The weather today:
Cloudy
6C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the North Northeast at 6 mph
Dew Point: 3C
Humidity: 83%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,009.8 mb

Another non-stop horror day. I'd better not tell. And the nightmare will not end until at least, Friday 10 December. Now I mention Friday, I "have been offered" as volunteer to help in the mumps immunisation programme for University students. Yes, you heard that. Mumps. University students. I couldn't believe it either. But it seems that because lots of British parents do not want to give the MMR (triple vaccination, including mumps) to their children since the autism scare some years ago (although it has not been scientifically proved and the scientist who made those allegations has now lost his reputation), now many children get mumps. And pass them to older siblings at University. Shocking!


Otro dia de horror sin limites. Mejor no lo cuento. Y la historia no se acabara hasta por lo menos, el viernes 10 de Diciembre. Hablando de viernes, me han "ofrecido" voluntari@ para ayudar en la vacunacion de paperas a los estudiantes universitarios. Lo que ois. Paperas. Universitarios. No es una alucinacion. Yo tampoco me lo creia. Pero es cierto. Desde que muchos padres dejaron de vacunar a sus hijos/as con la triple vacuna MMR (que incluye las paperas). Y eso ocurrio porque se publico un articulo donde se relacionaba la triple vacuna con el autismo. Y aunque ahora a ese cientifico se le ha desacreditado, algunos padres siguen sin vacunar a sus hijos. Y los ninios pillan las paperas y las pasan a los hermanos mayores. Que van a la Universidad y contagian a sus companieros. Penoso!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
9C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the East Southeast at 8 mph
Dew Point: 3C
Humidity: 68%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,010.5 mb

My two bosses and I happen to share the same Zodiac sign : Saggittarius. One of our common traits is to leave everything for the last minute. Having my job to do plus the tasks they give to me, it means there are always 3 last-minute projects on my hands. I have therefore become an ogre, asking them for things two weeks in advance:
- Give it to me, NOW!
- But it's two weeks early!
- NOW, I want it NOW!!!!
It seems I don't scare them enough. That's why I am now amending some bloody statistics for the third time in a month and of course, we are late!


Mis dos jefes y yo compartimos el mismo signo del zodiaco : Sagitario. Una de nuestras caracteristicas comunes es que siempre lo dejamos todo para el ultimo momento. Asi que si tengo mi trabajo por hacer, ademas siempre habran las tareas que ellos me encomiendan. Lo que quiere decir que siempre hay tres proyectos pendientes en el ultimo momento. Esta situacion me ha llevado a convertirme en un ogro que se pasa el dia gritando y pidiendo que me pasen tareas dos semanas antes de lo previsto :
- Damelo AHORA!
- Si aun faltan dos semanas..!!
- AHORA, que me lo des AHORA!!!
Y aun asi, no les asusto lo suficiente. Por eso ahora mismo estoy arreglando unas jodidas estadisticas por tercera vez en un mes y, por supuesto, con retraso!


The weather today:
Partly Cloudy
10C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the North Northeast at 6 mph
Dew Point: 4C
Humidity: 68%
Visibility: 9 miles
Barometer: 1,017.9 mb

I can see a beautiful sunset over the harbour from my window at the office. Which doesn't have anything to do with what I was going to say in this post, but for one day that there is a sunset, instead of rain and clouds, I might as well mention it!
What I was going to say is that we have already booked our tickets to fly to Germany on the 12-13 February for Michael's birthday. The cheapest flights are with Air Berlin . I just hope we have some money left to go to Athens in Easter!


Ahora mismo estoy viendo una bella puesta de sol en la direccion del puerto desde la ventana de mi oficina. Lo cual no tiene nada que ver con el tema del que iba a hablar en este post, pero por un dia en que veo la puesta de sol, en lugar de lluvia y nubes grises, pues lo menciono, no?
Lo que realmente iba a decir es que ya hemos comprado los billetes para volar a Alemania los dias 12 y 13 de Febrero, para el cumpleanios de Michael . Los vuelos mas baratos son con Air Berlin . Solo espero que nos quede algo de dinero para ir a Atenas en Semana Santa!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the West Southwest at 16 mph
Dew Point: 10°C
Humidity: 88%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,019.0 mb

The geographical situation of our city is such that sometimes it feels like living in an island. Ferries, a road and a motorway connect us to the county. If there is a major accident on the motorway, we are trapped in our city. Which is what happened this evening. A crash some miles away made the city centre stand still. Cars and buses were stuck, nobody could move. It started at around three o'clock in the afternoon and nothing moved until almost eight o'clock in the evening. Walking home I saw all those people, trapped in their cars, bored, nervous, talking on their mobile phones, trying to make sense out of it. They were trapped. I was free.


La situacion geografica de nuestra ciudad hace que, a veces, de la sensacion de que vivimos en una isla. Los ferries, una carretera y la autopista nos conectan con el resto del condado. Si ocurre un accidente de trafico grave en la autopista, nosotros estamos atrapados en la ciudad. Justo lo que paso esta trade. Un accidente a unas millas fuera de la ciudad hizo que toda la ciudad se paralizara. Coches y autobuses parados, nadie se movia. Empezo hacia las tres y no se empezo a solucionar hasta hace poco, a las ocho de la tarde. Andando a casa vi a toda la gente en los coches, aburridos, nerviosos, hablando por los telefonos moviles,intentando saber lo que sucedia, entender lo que estaba pasando.Estaban atrapados.Y yo era libre.

I read in the Lonely Planet guide to Florida :
" Cassadaga : About 20 minutes north of Winter Park, this sleepy little town is home to the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, established in 1884 by George P Colby. today it's a federally registered historic district. The camp houses a group of about 25 spiritualist-mediums who live an dwork in privately owned homes on church-owned land. The church, the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meting Association, believes in infinite intelligence, everlasting life on many planes of existence, and the precepts of prophecy and healing. For what it's worth, we believe that these folks genuinely believe in what they are doing and aren't charlatans. Their goalis to spread the word as opposed to line their pockets. They don't practise witchcraft or black magic; they don't condone hypnotism or promise to tell you your future; and they don't call themselves psychics but rather mediums".

Maybe this is the place where I will find my mum's auntie Maria. If she is anywhere, she is here. She always said it didnt' matter what happened to her body after she had died. The body would be just a corpse, irrelevant. The spirit however, would roam free forever. She was a believer in Spiritualism. A shame she lived in Spain under 40 years of dictatorship and Catholic respression. She had to hide her beliefs. She would have been happy living in Cassadaga (Florida).



Leo en la guia Lonely Planet de Florida:
" Cassadaga : A unos 20 minutos al norte de Winter Park, esta tranquila ciudad es la base del Campamento Espiritualista de Cassadaga, fundado en 1884 por George P Colby. Hoy en dia esta declarado distrito historico por las autoridades federales. El campamento es el hogar de 25 espiritualistas-mediums que viven y trabajan en sus casas particulares en tierras propiedad de la iglesias. La iglesia, llamada Asociacion Surenia Grupo Espiritualista de Cassadaga, cree en la inteligencia infinita, la vida en el mas alla en otros planos de existencia y en los preceptos de la profecia y la curacion. Segun Lonely Planet, estos mediums son genuinos, creen en lo que hacen y no son un puniado de charlatanes. Su ideal es darse a conocer a cuanta mas gente mejor y no el afan de lucro. No practican brujeria ni magia negra; no condonan el hipnotismo ni prometen adivinar el futuro. Y no se llaman a si mismos 'psiquicos' sino 'mediums'".

Quiza este sea el lugar donde encontrar a mi tia abuela (tia de mi madre) Maria. Si esta en 'otro plano de existencia' seguro que es en Cassadaga. Siempre dijo que le daba igual lo que ocurriera con su cuerpo cuando muriera, el cuerpo era solo eso, un cadaver. El espiritu, sin embargo, seria libre para siempre. Realmente ella creia en el espiritualismo. Lamentablemente, viviendo en Espania y bajo cuarenta anios de dictadura y represion catolica, ella tuvo que esconder sus creencias. Cassadaga (Florida) le hubiera gustado.


The weather today:
Cloudy
11C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the Southeast at 6 mph
Dew Point: 8C
Humidity: 82%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,030.1 mb

I recovered the capacity of communication with the outside world during office time thanks to Hightoro , who told me about MSN Messenger in Beta version . It is a simpler version of Messenger where there is no need to download any programme to the computer but the box chats are new Explorer windows. Especially useful when the company/institution you work for has banned the downloading of Messenger! Anyways...just as well that today I didn't have much work to do...because I spent the whole morning talking to one of my cousins and the rest of the afternoon talking to Hightoro. Oh my gosh and now another one of my cousins has arrived! Result: no theme for today's post (unless it's family gossip, I would not inflict you with that!) and productivity at Zero level. Ah well... it's almost Xmas! Don't they say Xmas is time to spend with your family? I do it with Messenger!


Recobre la capacidad de comunicacion con el mundo exterior durante el tiempo que paso en la oficina garcias a Hightoro , que paso la informacion sobre la version Beta de MSN Messenger . Beta es una version mas sencilla del Messenger normal, que no precisa que el usuario se baje el programa a su ordenador, sino que abre las ventanas de los chats en Explorer. Muy util cuando la empresa/institucion para la que trabajas ha bloqueado la posibilidad de bajarte Messenger. Sin embargo... hoy me he pasado la maniana hablando con uno de mis primos y parte de la tarde hablando con Hightoro. Y ahora veo que entra otro de mis primos!! Resultado: que no tengo tema para el post de hoy (a menos que sea cotilleo familiar, a que punto hemos llegado)y productividad laboral a nivel Cero. Aunque...mirad, 'casi' es Navidad! Y no dicen que la Navidad es tiempo de pasarlo en familia? Pues yo paso tiempo con mi familia en Messenger!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
11C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: calm
Dew Point: 9C
Humidity: 89%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,027.4 mb

This is the building where I work. It was built between 1901 and 1908, starting as the city's Technical School and Public Library and eventually becoming the main building for the Faculy of Humanities and Social Sciences. And we have two ghosts! Apparently, when the building was a Public Library in the 30s, one male librarian was having an "illicit" affair with a female librarian. I guess by "illicit" they mean adultery but who knows...anyways, the male librarian felt very guilty about it until he couldn't stand it anymore and committed suicide. The female librarian, upon finding her lover's corpse, committed suicide too. What a shame they didn't tell me how. But I imagine him hanging himself from a ceiling beam and she jumping from the third floor landing to the basement. Through the stairs, just where there is the lift nowadays. That would explain why the lift is always out of order. Now they say her shadow can be seen at the canteen in the basement and his footsteps can be heard late at night on the third floor. That's all right, then if they stay where they are. I am based on the 4th floor and my internet radio is always playing quite loud.


Este es el edificio donde trabajo. Se construyo entre el 1901 y el 1908, siendo en un principio la Escuela Tecnica de la ciudad y Biblioteca Publica. Anios despues, se convirtio en el edificio principal de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales. Y tenemos dos fantasmas! Segun me han dicho esta maniana, cuando el edificio era una biblioteca en los anios 30, un bibliotecario tuvo un affair "ilicito" con una bibliotecaria. Supongo que con 'ilicito' quieren decir 'adulterio', aunque nunca se sabe... el problema es que el bibliotecario se sentia terriblemente culpable. Tanto, que un dia no pudo soportar mas su 'gran pecado' y se suicido. Al encontrar el cadaver de su amante, la bibliotecaria, desesperada, tambien se suicido. Lastima que no digan como. Yo me lo imagino a el colgado de una viga en el tercer piso y a ella saltando por el hueco de la escalera desde el tercer piso hasta el sotano. En ese hueco justo donde ahora tenemos el ascensor. Eso explicaria que el ascensor se nos estropee cada semana. Dicen que la sombra de la bibliotecaria se ve a veces en la cantina del sotano. Y que los pasos del bibliotecario resuenan en el tercer piso cada noche. Y a mi me parece muy bien mientras se queden donde estan. Yo estoy en el cuarto piso y siempre tengo la radio de internet a maximo volumen.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
13C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the West at 20 mph
Dew Point: 8C
Humidity: 77%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,019.0 mb

We booked our hotel in Washington DC for our Xmas holidays. It's the Best Western Key Bridge hotel . It is a big non-appealing building in Arlington, but the advantage is there is a Metro station across the street and the parking is for free. Before that we checked the reviews at Trip advisor . We saw contradicting reports. Good value and decent hotel. Terrible, ugly and aging. A good report, a bad report. A whole list of reviews like that. Are the clients raving mad? Is it the hotel manager writing the good reports? Really, I don't know. But we have stayed in Best Western hotels before and they were all right, so let's see what happens this time. And yes, we checked other hotels. And the reviews were even worse!! So Best Western Key Bridge it is.


Hemos reservado hotel en Washington DC para nuestras vacaciones de Navidad. Es el Best Western Key Bridge hotel . Es un hotel grande, no muy atractivo exteriormente, situado en Arlington. La ventaja es que hay una estacion de metro nada mas cruzar la calle y el parking es gratis. Antes de reservar miramos las opiniones de ex-clientes en Trip advisor . Las opiniones eran de lo mas contradictorio. Hotel decente y buenos precios. Fatal, feo y viejo. Buen reporte, mal reporte. Y asi toda la lista de opiniones. O los clientes estan locos o bien es el director del hotel el que escribe los buenos reportes! Ni idea, tu. Pero otras veces nos hemos alojado en hoteles Best Western y todos estaban bien, decentitos, asi que a ver que pasa esta vez. Y si, miramos otros hoteles en Trip Advisor. Y las criticas eran incluso peores! Asi que va a ser Best Western Key Bridge y ya me oireis quejarme (o no!) a la vuelta.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
5C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the West Northwest at 7 mph
Dew Point: -1C
Humidity: 65%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,023.0 mb

Too much time spent uploading photos to Flickr . Not enough time to post in my blog!


Demasiado tiempo subiendo fotos a Flickr , asi que no queda tiempo para postear!


The weather today:
Not even enough time for the weather!!

Thanks to Michael and Toro for their help and tips with the re-sizing of the pictures for the Green card application. Michael actually re-sized them for me and Toro gave me a good tip on downloading a programme which may help in the future. Now if we get that green card (we should be sooo lucky! there must be millions of applicants and only 50.000 cards), you are both invited to the US. In the mean time, you are still invited to visit us in the UK, supposing this rainy country is your strange choice for a vacation!


Gracias a Michael y Toro por su ayuda y consejos en el tema de arreglar el tamanio de las fotos. De hecho, Michael me las arreglo en un momento, y Toro me dio la pista de un programa que sera de ayuda en el futuro. Si conseguimos esas green card (y vaya suerte que tendriamos que tener, considerando que hay millones de peticiones y solo 50.000 tarjetas) estas invitados a visitarnos en los US. Mientras tanto, siempre podeis visitarnos en el Reino Unido, suponiendo que seais tan locos de escoger este lluvioso pais como destino para vuestas vacaciones!


The weather today:
Cloudy
13C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the West at 20 mph
Dew Point: 9C
Humidity: 80%
Visibility: 10 miles
Barometer: 1,021.7 mb

This is a useful website : Anonymous Browsing Quick-Start page . It provides a list of all the free anonymous proxy websites. You only have to write the url where you want to go using any of the anonymous proxys provided and there you go, theoretically nobody can trace your IP. Some of these anonymity providers will only allow you to use them say 5 fives for free. After all, they want you to sign up. So I find it is very useful to have a list of them in one page so when I get restricted usage in one, I just hop on to the next! I've checked and there's a couple of dead links. Anyways, better this than having a long list of them in your Favourites.


Esta es una pagina web util : Anonymous Browsing Quick-Start page . Te da una lista de proveedores de proxys anonimas. Solo tienes que escribir la url de la pagina web que quieres visitar en una de las ventanas y alla vas, en teoria nadie sera capaz de reconocer tu IP. Algunos de estos proveedores te daran surfeo limitado, digamos 5 veces, por ejemplo. Porque claro, lo que quieren es que pruebes su servicio gratis pero que luego lo pagues. Asi que tener el listado de todos los proveedores de anonimidad en una pagina me es muy util. Que uno no me deja usarlo mas hoy, pues me paso al siguiente. Cuidado que hay un par que no funcionan, pero aun asi mejor tener todos en una lista que no un interminable listado de links en tus Favoritos.


The weather today:
Cloudy
12C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the West at 8 mph
Dew Point: 10C
Humidity: 90%
Visibility: 10 miles
Barometer: 1,026.1 mb

I thought scanning photos was easy but I am now stuck with a problem which I don't know how to solve. I need a 300x300 pixel scanned photo. Right, I scan a printed photo, ask the scanner for size 300x300. It seems to do it. But when I check the photo's properties, the size is bigger than 300x300. I've tried re-sizing it but it doesn't work! Any ideas? I won't be able to apply for the Greencard lottery if I don't get this blasted photo with the right size!


Pensaba que escanear fotos era facil pero ahora mismo tengo un problema que no puedo resolver. Necesito una foto escaneada a 300x300 pixels. Cojo la foto (tradicional, en papel). La escaneo. Pido tamanio 300x300. El escaner lo hace. Pero cuando abro la foto...es mas grande de 300x300. Y tiene que ser justo ese tamanio, ni mayor, ni menor! He intentado ajustarle el tamanio pero que va, no se deja. O alguien me da ideas, o no entro a la Greencard Lottery!


The weather today:
Cloudy
10C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the West at 13 mph
Dew Point: 7C
Humidity: 81%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,026.8 mb

Just what I needed : the Washington DC public transportation website WMATA . With this and Mapquest I can check the accuracy of the hotels information. You know, when they say they hotel is located 2 blocks from the White House or 20 minutes from the Pentagon. Mapquest provides me with the map and if I give it two addresses (hotel and White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest), it calculates the time it will take me and the itinerary to follow. For Europe, I do recommend Mappy , though. Easier to use.


Justo lo que necesitaba : la pagina web de los transportes publicos en Washington DC WMATA . Con esta y con Mapquest compruebo si las informaciones que dan los hoteles son veraces. Ya sabeis, cuando dicen que el hotel esta situado a dos manzanas de la Casa Blanca , o a 20 minutos. Mapquest me da el mapa y si le doy dos direcciones (hotel y Casa Blanca - en el numero 1600 de Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest) me da el itinerario y el tiempo que tardare en realizarlo. Para Europa recomiendo Mappy , por eso. Mas facil de usar.

The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
13C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the West at 10 mph
Dew Point: 10C
Humidity: 82%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,019.0 mb

As it is sunny and nice, I strolled down to Gunwharf Quys at lunchtime. It was very peaceful, the clear breeze, the sounds of the waves lapping at the harbour, some people sitting in outdoors cafes. Then I thought how I hated it when we first arrived in this country. The horrid town were we lived then was only a 20 minute drive from here. But it wasn't on the sea. It felt enclosed, stale. I like cities on the seaside. They are open, there is always the endless sea, the immense sky and a way out for the body and the mind. You can feel the winds of change coming from overseas, there is freedom out there. I have decided I will never live in a block of flats. Never again. And I will only live in seaside cities. There is a wide choice of them in every continent : Barcelona, Portsmouth, Auckland, Sydney, San Francisco, New Orleans -right, beside a lake and river, but who cares with a city like New Orleans!


Hace sol y buen tiempo, asi que camine hasta Gunwharf Quays durante mi pausa para almorzar. Ah que paz... la brisa fresca, el sonido de las olas en los muelles, gente sentada al sol en las terrazas de los cafes. Y se me ocurrio pensar que poco me gustaba todo cuando llegamos a este pais. La ciudad provinciana donde viviamos quedaba a 20 minutos en coche de aqui. Pero no estaba al borde del mar. Habia una sensacion general de claustrofobia, de moho. Me gustan las ciudades al lado del mar. Son abiertas con su mar infinito, el cielo inmenso, puertas abiertas para escapar fisica y mentalmente. Casi puedes sentir los vientos del cambio que llegan de otros paises, la libertad al alcance de la mano. He decidido que nunca mas voy a vivir en un bloque de pisos o apartamentos. Nunca mas. Y solo vivire en ciudades al lado del mar. Y hay muchas para escoger en todos los continentes : Barcelona, Portsmouth, Auckland, Sydney, San Francisco, New Orleans -vale, esta ultima esta al lado del lago y del rio, pero que carajo, con una ciudad como New Orleans no hay pegas que valgan!


The weather today:
Sunny
12°C
UV Index: 1 Low
Wind: From the North at 6 mph
Dew Point: 3°C
Humidity: 58%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,022.4 mb

I bought a Radio Controlled Projection Clock from the Science Museum for my brother's birthday. Integrates time, date and temperature and projects time or temperature on the wall/ceiling. The time is kept constantly accurate by a radio link with the UK’s official time signal, which I think it's great, you always have the exact time, no more no less. The only problem is...my brother doesn't live in the UK so I guess he will not receive the radio link!



Compre un Reloj Proyector controlado por radio del Science Museum para el cumpleanios de mi hermano. Da informacion de hora, fecha y temperatura y proyecta la hora o la temperatura en el techo o pared. La hora es siempre exacta gracias a un enlace por radio con la senial de la hora en el Reino Unido. La hora justa y exacta, ni un minuto mas ni uno menos. Perfecto! El unico problema es... mi hermano no vive en el Reino Unido asi que no creo que le llegue la senial de radio!


The weather today:
Partly Cloudy
11C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the North at 18 mph
Dew Point: 4C
Humidity: 63%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,015.2 mb

Every time I listen to the song Sunday Regatta from the Moods of Indigo album (1996) by Danny Wright I think about Auckland and miss it as if I were homesick. Which I can't be, as I was NOT EXACTLY born in Auckland nor down under, either!


Cada vez que oigo la cancion Sunday Regatta (Regata en domingo)-para escucharlo, click en el icono de sonido del link anterior-del album Moods of Indigo (1996) del compositor Danny Wright me acuerdo de Auckland con mucha nostalgia, como si me recordara a mi hogar. Lo cual es imposible porque yo no naci en Auckland, precisamente!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
10C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the South Southwest at 5 mph
Dew Point: 6C
Humidity: 76%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,014.9 mb

Ironic and poignant cartoons by Jacky Fleming. More here


Y que quieres ser de mayor, ninia?
HORRIBLE!
Vinietas ironicas y contudentes de Jacky Fleming. Mas aqui

The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
12C
UV Index:0 Low
Wind:From the West at 9 mph
Dew Point:5C
Humidity:62%
Visibility:6 miles
Barometer:1,031.2 mb

This is deplorable. I read in El Periodico : " A woman from Puigcerda (Barcelona, Spain)doesn't dare to leave her home. She is scared her ex-boyfriend will fulfill his promise of killing her. The young woman asked the magistrates to intervene before 'it's too late'.
Can you believe this? What breed of men are these ex-boyfriends and ex-husbands? What do they think they are? Or who do they think they are? Should we call them 'men'? Or shouldn't it be better calling them sub-human? And what's going on with the law and the police who are supposed to inforce the law and protect the victims? What's more, what is being done to stop men behaving or even thinking on behaving like that?


Esto es de verguenza. Leo en El Periodico: " Una mujer de Puigcerdà (Barcelona, Espania) no sale de casa para evitar que su exnovio, con una orden de alejamiento, cumpla la amenaza de matarla. La joven pide al juzgado que intervenga "antes de que sea tarde".
Pero esto donde se ha visto? Que mierda de ex-novios y ex-maridos hay en el mundo? Que se creen que son? Quien se creen que son? Esto son 'hombres'?Yo mas bien les llamaria sub-humanos. Y que mierda de justicia y de proteccion policial reciben las victimas? Y lo que es mas, que hace el gobierno y la sociedad para parar esto? Y para evitar que algunos 'sub-humanos' sigan comportandose asi?

The weather today:
Partly Cloudy
13C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the North Northwest at 7 mph
Dew Point: 4C
Humidity: 54%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,021.0 mb

Thanks to the ever-present clouds and the light saving change of time, now we don't see any sun at all during the day...and it's dark at 4.30pm! The clouds do really bother me. They never seem to go away. It's like in a shot from Matrix : Revolutions. When Neo and Trinity fly with a shuttle from Zion to the machine-world. They fly up to the sky, it's all dark and cloudy..and then they fly through the clouds and ohhh! it's sunny up there! When you take a plane in the UK, it's exactly the same. The plane flies up up up.. breaking through the clouds..and oooh! suddenly you realise the sun still exists, up there! Yep, it's true. To live in the UK is to forget the sun shines forever. It's as if somebody had turned off the lights for nine months.


Gracias a las nubes de siempre y al cambio de hora, ahora ya no vemos el sol para nada durante el dia. Y se hace de noche a las 4.30! Las nubes me fastidian muchisimo. Parece que no se van nunca. Es como en una escena de Matrix : Revolutions. Cuando Neo y Trinity viajan en una nave desde Zion al mundo de las maquinas. Vuelan hacia arriba, a gran velocidad, todo es oscuro..y de pronto, atraviesan una gruesa capa de nubes y...ooooh! el sol! Cuando tomas un avion en el Reino Unido, experimentas la misma sensacion. El avion se eleva, pasa sobre la capa de nubes y ooooh! te das cuenta de que el sol aun existe, alla arriba. Viviendo en este pais, en invierno te olvidas de que el sol existe. Parece como si alguien apagara la luz durante nueve meses.



The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
11C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the East Southeast at 8 mph
Dew Point: 9C
Humidity: 88%
Visibility: 4 miles
Barometer: 1,015.9 mb

Yesterday, Halloween. Today...Christmas! I just came back from Commercial Road in the city centre (5 minute walk from the office) and can confirm that it is Xmas. Tinsel and baubles have invaded the shopping mall. How fast! From Halloween to Xmas in one day.

Ayer era Halloween. Hoy es...Navidad! Acabo de volver de la calle comercial en el centro de la ciudad (a cinoo minutos de mi oficina) y os confirmo que YA es Navidad. El centro esta ya invadido por las decoraciones navidenias. Que rapidez! De Halloween a Navidad en un dia!



The weather today:
Cloudy
11C
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From the North Northeast at 9 mph
Dew Point: 7C
Humidity: 74%
Visibility: 9 miles
Barometer: 1,020.3 mb

I think this piece of advice should be written in bold capital letters in everyone's minds :
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
Mark Twain.

Pienso que este consejo tendria que escribirse en mayusculas y negrita en nuestros cerebros:
"Alejate de la gente que intenta disuadirte de tus ambiciones. Eso es lo que hace la gente pequenia, mientras que las grandes personas te haran sentir que tu tambien puedes aspirar a ser grande"
Mark Twain.

The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
14C
UV Index: 1 Low
Wind: From the South Southeast at 22 mph
Dew Point: 12C
Humidity: 83%
Visibility: 7 miles