Alfonsina y El Mar

Ali Zaoua

2011-04-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Caracas, Venezuela: "El teatro pobre no se está haciendo"

2010-12-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

Article and photo published by El Universal.

Entrevista // Gonzalo Camacho, actor
"El teatro pobre no se está haciendo"

"Para mí el Gobierno lo hace muy mal, porque está castrando al teatro"
El artista asegura que el apoyo gubernamental es necesario, por eso no ve con buenos ojos el retiro de los subsidios a grupos de teatro (Nicola Rocco)

DUBRASKA FALCÓN | EL UNIVERSAL
lunes 27 de septiembre de 2010
Gonzalo Camacho (Bolivia, 1940) lo ha tenido muy claro desde siempre: el teatro que hace no da dinero. Su puesta en escena, esa que llama didáctica, de autor, no le ha dejado ninguna ganancia, al menos monetaria. El obrero del teatro, como asegura llamar su labor, llegó a Venezuela en 1969 y se enamoró de las tablas de este país. Y se quedó no para vivir del teatro, sino para que el teatro viviera de él.

Por eso el aumento del teatro comercial, el despojo del subsidio de algunos grupos de teatro, la censura por parte del Gobierno, y la gratuidad de algunas salas preocupan enormemente a este hombre que ha estado 60 años encima de las tablas.

"Yo hago un tipo de teatro didáctico. Ese no da plata. El dinero hay que buscarlo en la televisión o en el cine, pero yo no vine aquí para eso. Puedo decir que he gastado mucho más en el teatro que lo que he recibido de él. Soy productor independiente, jamás he recibido un solo centavo del Estado. Generalmente con mis producciones salgo con las tablas en la cabeza. Siempre he perdido, o he tenido ganancias mínimas. Pero sigo trabajando... sigo haciendo teatro", asegura con misticismo el artista.

-¿Cómo ve el panorama del teatro que se realiza hoy en Venezuela?
-Estoy muy preocupado. En primer lugar, aquí tuvimos momentos hermosos en el teatro en los años 80 y 90. Pero de los 90 para adelante ha comenzado a decaer. Siempre ha habido dos corrientes: el teatro falsamente llamado comercial y el teatro cultural. No sé hasta qué punto el teatro comercial será bueno. Hay gente de la televisión que está vendiendo su imagen. Y, claro, la gente quiere ver al actorcito.

-¿Eso le hace daño al teatro?
-No. Eso está muy bien. No hay ningún problema. Es la calidad de la obra. Dime los unipersonales, los monólogos. Ahí no hay dramaturgo, no hay nada. Es un teatro banal.

-¿Entonces ahora se busca hacer dinero o hacer teatro?
-¡Hacer dinero! Ese es la idea del teatro comercial. Por ejemplo, el teatro que yo hago no le interesa al Trasnocho. No le interesa a ninguna sala comercial. ¿Por qué? Porque Camacho no da dinero. Camacho no lleva plata a la taquilla. Entonces hay pocos grupos. El Rajatabla, que sigue haciendo buen teatro, y alguno que otro grupo... Pero hay una generación emergente de directores muy buenos como Rufino Dorta.

-¿Por qué cree que el Gobierno nacional ha dejado de apoyar al teatro?
-Cuando llegué a Venezuela me asombró el subsidio. Tenían grandes subsidios. Los grupos no cuidaban sus taquillas, regalaban las entradas. Claro, al levantar el telón ya tenían todo cubierto. No les importaba la taquilla, pues para el próximo montaje tenían otro subsidio. En otras partes no es así. En otras partes le dan la mitad del presupuesto y tienen que cuidarla y buscar el resto. Otra cosa que también veo es que hay plata para todo menos para pagarle a los actores. Te ofrecen un sueldo mínimo y te decían que te iban a pagar con la taquilla.

-¿Se puede vivir del teatro?
-No. ¡O por lo menos yo no! Yo tengo mi pensión, gracias a Dios, y mis clases. ¡No vivo del teatro, el teatro vive de mí! Ayer (el martes pasado) estuve en Unearte, donde hice unas funciones sobre una obra de Simón Rodríguez, en mayo del año pasado. Ahí había hecho El Quijote, eran cuatro funciones, pero una se suspendió porque el presidente (Hugo Chávez) fue a Unearte. Esa vez me pagaron mil bolívares por función. Y ahora por Rodríguez me tocan 600. Pero esta es la hora que no me han pagado. No hay dinero.

-Y al mal pago se le une la ausencia de salas de teatro...
-¡Esto es horrible! Vengo de trabajar en El Túnel, donde está el Grupo Acción, que cumple 30 años. Ahí lo que piden son 10 bolívares de colaboración. Entonces el domingo, en el pote nos encontramos que había monedas, que había un billete de 2 bolívares. Gente que no tenía esos 10, imagínate en el laboratorio Anna Julia Rojas que pide por colaboración 20 y a veces no lo dan.

-¿Qué opinión le merece las salas que se abrieron en los centros comerciales?
-100% comerciales. Y es carísimo. Entradas a 40, 60 y hasta 150. ¡Caramba, es una entrada prohibitiva! Dime, ¿un estudiante de secundaria cómo va a pagar eso? Yo no puedo pagarlo. El teatro pobre casi no se está haciendo.

-¿Entonces sí es necesario el apoyo gubernamental?
-Claro, eso es un hecho mundial. Un porcentaje del ingreso del país se destina a la cultura. Me acuerdo que Carlos Jiménez protestaba mucho porque no llegaba al 1% lo que se le designaba a la cultura. Otro punto importante es la docencia. Están saliendo muy mal preparado los muchachos. Es un aprendizaje totalmente dérmico.

-¿Qué le parece la censura que ha hecho este Gobierno al teatro? Fabiola Colmenárez no pudo actuar en la obra por ser de la oposición. Hace dos semanas la pieza fue sacada del Celarg porque una pronunciar la frase "Gobernador que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente"?
-Siempre digo que el Estado y el arte sí pueden reunirse en una mesa a charlar. Pero el arte y la política, no. Ahí se juega a: "O haces lo que te digo o no te ayudo". Alguien me contó que en el Celarg te piden el libreto antes. ¡Eso no puede ser!

-El ministro Francisco Sesto aseguró que la agrupación Akeké Circo Teatro, que montó , no volvería a pisar las tablas de una institución pública... Impromach
-Y seguro lo cumple. Eso no puede ser. Tiene que aceptar la crítica constructiva de altura, sin ofensa. Pero eso es válido eso viene desde los griegos, en Roma, en la Edad Media, en el Renacimiento. Molière, el médico avaro, crítica hacia los médicos. Eso siempre lo ha habido. Para mí el Gobierno hace muy mal, porque eso es castrar el teatro. Pero no solamente en el teatro. La danza también está sufriendo.

-¿Usted, que hizo teatro durante 60 años, recuerda otros momentos de censura?
-Pero no tan rígida. Antes debías llevar una copia del libreto a la Gobernación, por ejemplo. La dejabas ahí y el día del ensayo general o dos días antes mandaban un censor. Veía la obra por si tenía alguna alteración. A la salida te decía si era censura A, B, C o D.

-¿Por qué un gobierno censura un grupo de teatro?
-Porque no está de acuerdo con su pensamiento. O piensas como yo o te arruinas. Igualito que en Cuba.

Caracas, Venezuela: El Hombre de La Flor en La Boca

2010-12-27T21:13:00.000-08:00

Photos and text published by Producciones Audiovisuales Hagalaz

El Hombre de La Flor en La Boca

Obra: "El Hombre de la Flor en la Boca". Guión: Luigui Pirandello. Dirección y Actuación: Gonzalo Camacho. Teatro: Casa del Artista. Sala: Doris Wells.

EL HOMBRE DE LA FLOR EN LA BOCA
EL PARROQUIANO PACÍFICO

Nota. Hacia el final, cuando se indique, asomará dos veces la cabeza, desde la esquina, una sombra de mujer vestida de negro, con un viejo sombrero de plumas lloronas.
Se ven al fondo los árboles de una avenida. Lámparas eléctricas se divisan entre las hojas. A los lados, las últimas casas de una calle que empalma con la avenida. A la izquierda, un mísero café nocturno con veladores en la acera. Delante de la casa de la derecha, una bombilla encendida. En el ángulo de la última casa de la izquierda, que hace esquina con la avenida una farola también encendida.
Es un poco después de medianoche. A intervalos, se oirá lejano el sonido tintineante de una mandolina.
Al levantarse el telón, EL HOMBRE DE LA FLOR EN LA BOCA sentado a uno de los veladores, observa largo rato en silencio al PARROQUIANO PACÍFICO, que, en el velador de al lado, está chupando con la paja un jarabe de menta.

EL HOMBRE DE LA FLOR EN LA BOCA: iAh! Estaba por decirlo; usted es un hombre pacífico... ¿Ha perdido usted el tren?

EL PARROQUIANO PACÍFICO: Por un minuto, ¿sabe? Llego a la estación y me lo veo escapar delante.

HOMBRE: Podía usted haber corrido detrás.

PARROQUIANO: Claro. Es para reírse. Ya lo sé. Si no hubiera sido por el engorro de tantos paquetes, paquetitos y envoltorios... ¡Más cargado que un asno! Pero las mujeres... Empiezan a darle encargos y no acaban nunca. Créame usted: al apearme del coche, tardé tres minutos en colgarme de los dedos los lacitos de todos aquellos paquetes. Dos para cada dedo.

HOMBRE: ¡Debió de ser bonito! ¿Sabe lo que hubiera hecho yo? Dejármelos en el coche.

PARROQUIANO: ¡Ya, ya! ¿Y mi mujer? ¿Y mis hijas? ¿Y todas sus amigas?

HOMBRE: ¡Habrían puesto el grito en el cielo! Y yo me hubiera divertido la mar.

PARROQUIANO: ¡Usted no sabe lo que son las mujeres cuando están de veraneo!

HOMBRE: ¡Claro que lo sé! ¡Precisamente porque lo sé! (Pausa) Todas dicen que no van a necesitar nada.

PARROQUIANO: ¿Sólo eso? Son capaces de decir que van para hacer ahorros. Pero luego, apenas llegan al pueblecito de los alrededores, cuanto más feo, más sucio y más pobre sea, más prisa se dan a embellecerlo poniéndose sus más vistosos adornos. ¡Ah, las mujeres, caballero! Pero, después de todo, esa es su profesión... «¿Por qué no haces una escapadita a ciudad, querido? Es que yo necesitaría esto... o lo otro... Y, ya que vas, si no te molesta -vale un mundo ese «si no te molesta... » -Y ya, de paso, nada te cuesta...» - «Pero, hija mía, ¿cómo quieres que en tres horas haga todos esos encargos?» - «iVamos, calla! Cogiendo un coche...» Y lo peor es que, como vine sólo para tres horas, no me traje la llave de casa.

HOMBRE: ¡Esa es buena! ¿Y por eso...?

PARROQUIANO: Dejé aquella montaña de paquetes en la consigna de la estación; me fui a cenar a una fonda, y luego, para quitarme el mal humor, al teatro. Se asaba uno de calor. A la salida, me digo: «¿Qué hago?: es la una; a las cuatro cojo el primer tren. No vale la pena acostarse.» Y me vine aquí. Este café no cierra, ¿verdad?

HOMBRE: No cierra, no, señor. (Pausa) ¿Así que dejó usted todos aquellos paquetes en la estación?

PARROQUIANO: ¿No estarán seguros allí? Estaban todos bien atados...

HOMBRE: No, no. No lo digo por eso. (Pausa) Ya me imagino que estarán bien atados: con ese arte especial que ponen los jóvenes dependientes para envolver la mercancía vendida... (Pausa) ¡Qué manos! Un buen pliego, grande, de papel doblado, liso... que da gusto verlo; tan fino, que dan ganas de poner en él la cara para sentir su caricia... Lo extienden sobre el mostrador; luego, con garbo y desenvoltura, colocan encima, en medio, la tela, bien dobladita. Levantan primero, con el dorso de la mano, un borde; luego, encima, doblan el otro, y hacen todavía otra pequeña doblez, con gracia; una doblez más, por amor al arte; luego doblan a los lados, en forma de triángulo, y vuelven para abajo las dos puntas; alargan la mano a la cajita del bramante; de un tirón, desenrollan el trozo necesario, para atar el paquete; y lo atan tan de prisa, que ni siquiera ha tenido uno tiempo de admirar aquella habilidad, cuando le presentan el paquetito con la lazada dispuesta para colgarla de un dedo.

PARROQUIANO: Se ve que ha prestado usted mucha atención a los jóvenes dependientes.

HOMBRE: ¿Yo? Caballero: me he pasado jornadas enteras observándolos. Soy capaz de estarme una hora mirando una tienda a través del escaparate. Allí se me vida todo. Me parece ser... quisiera realmente ser aquella tela de seda... aquel bordado, aquella cinta roja azul celeste que los jóvenes de la mercería han medido con el metro, y luego... ¿ha visto cómo hacen?: la recogen formando un ocho alrededor del pulgar y el meñique de la mano izquierda, antes de envolverla. (Pausa) Miro al cliente o a la cliente que salen de la tienda con el paquete colgado de un dedo, o en la mano, bajo el brazo ... Los sigo con la mirada hasta que se pierden de vista... imaginándome... ¡ah! ¡cuántas cosas imagino! No puede usted hacerse una idea. (Pausa. Luego, taciturno, como hablando consigo mismo) Pero me sirve. Me sirve esto.

PARROQUIANO: ¿Le sirve? ¿El qué... ? Y perdone...

HOMBRE: Agarrarme así, con la imaginación... A la vida. Como una enredadera a los barrotes de una reja (Pausa) ¡Ah! No dar un momento de reposo a la imaginación: adherirse... adherirse con ella a la vida de los demás... pero no de la gente que conozco. No, no. ¡A esa no podría! Siento un fastidio, ¡si usted supiera! Verdadera náusea. ¡A la vida de los extraños,
en torno a los cuales mi imaginación puede trabajar libremente; pero no a capricho, sino más bien teniendo en cuenta las menores apariencias descubiertas; en éste o en aquél! ¡Y si supiera usted cómo trabajo, y hasta dónde consigo penetrar! Veo la casa de éste o del otro; vivo en ella; me siento allí como en la mía, hasta percibir... ese aliento particular que tiene cada casa: la de usted, la mía. Pero en la nuestra... nosotros ya no lo notamos, porque es el mismo aliento de nuestra vida. ¿Me explico? ¡Ah! Veo que usted dice que sí...

PARROQUIANO: Sí, porque... Digo que debe ser un gran placer el que usted siente imaginando tantas cosas...

HOMBRE: (Con fastidio, después de haber pensado un poco) ¿Placer? ¿Yo?

PARROQUIANO: Claro... Me figuro...

HOMBRE: Dígame: ¿ha estado alguna vez en la consulta de algún buen médico?

PARROQUIANO: No. ¿Por qué? ¡Gozo de perfecta salud!

HOMBRE: ¡No se alarme! Se lo pregunto, por saber si ha visto usted alguna vez en casa de esos médicos famosos, la sala donde los clientes esperan su turno para ser examinados.

PARROQUIANO: ¡Ah, sí! Una vez tuve que acompañar a una hija mía que padecía de los nervios.

HOMBRE: Bien. No quiero enterarme. Digo, aquellas salas... (Pausa) ¿Se ha fijado en ellas? Divanes oscuros, anticuados... Aquellas sillas con tela acolchada, que a veces no hacen juego... aquellos silloncitos... Es mercancía comprada de ocasión, de segunda mano puesta allí para los clientes; no pertenecen a la casa. El señor doctor tiene para él, para las amigas de su mujer, un salón muy diferente: rico, hermoso. ¡Quién sabe cómo gritaría cualquier silla, cualquier butaquilla de aquel salón, si la trajeran a la sala de espera de clientes, donde bastan esos otros muebles... decentes, sobrios! Me gustaría saber si usted, cuando fue con su hija, observó atentamente los sillones y sillas donde estuvieron sentados, esperando.

PARROQUIANO: Pues... yo... la verdad, no...

HOMBRE: Claro. Porque no estaba enfermo. (Pausa) Pero, muchas veces, ni siquiera los enfermos se fijan, preocupados como están con su enfermedad. (Pausa) Y sin embargo... ¡cuántas veces están allí algunos mirándose el dedo que hace signos sin sentido sobre el brazo lustroso del sillón en donde están sentados! Están pensando y no ven. (Pausa) Pero, al atravesar la sala, cuando se sale de la consulta, ¡qué efecto hace volver a ver la silla, en la cual estuvimos sentados poco antes, en espera de la sentencia sobre nuestra enfermedad, que todavía desconocíamos! ¡Encontrarla ocupada por otro cliente, que también está enfermo y no sabe de qué; o allí, vacía, impasible, esperando a que otro cliente venga a ocuparla...! (Pausa) Pero ¿qué decíamos? ¡Ah, ya! El placer de la imaginación... ¡Quién sabe por qué me habré acordado de pronto de una de esas sillas de la sala de casa del médico, donde los enfermos esperan la hora de la consulta!

PARROQUIANO: Ya... Verdaderamente...

HOMBRE: ¿No ve usted la relación? Ni yo tampoco. (Pausa) Pero es que ciertas asociaciones de imágenes lejanas entre sí, son tan particulares en cada uno de nosotros, y determinadas por razones y experiencias tan singulares... que no podríamos entendernos unos a otros, si, al hablar, no las suprimiéramos. Nada más ilógico, a veces, que esa analogía. (Pausa) Pero, mire usted: la relación, quizá pueda ser ésta: Sienten placer aquellas sillas, imaginándose quién será el cliente que viene a sentarse en ellas, en espera de consulta, qué enfermedad llevará dentro, adónde irá, qué hará después de la consulta? Ningún placer. Pues eso me pasa a mí: ¡ninguno! Las sillas están allí sólo para servir de asiento a tantos clientes como lleguen. Pues algo así es mi ocupación. Tan pronto me ocupo de una cosa como de otra. En este momento me ocupo de usted, y, créame, no experimento ningún placer por el tren que ha perdido, por la familia que le espera donde veranea, por todo el fastidio que puedo suponer en usted.

PARROQUIANO: ¡Y tanto! ¿Sabe?

HOMBRE: Dé usted gracias a Dios, si sólo es fastidio. (Pausa) Hay cosas peores, caballero. (Pausa) Yo le digo que necesito agarrarme con la imaginación a la vida de los demás; pero así, sin placer, sin interesarme siquiera... Más bien... para sentir un fastidio para juzgarla tonta y vana, la vida, de manera que a ninguno pueda importarle acabar. (Taciturno, con rabia) Y esto es fácil de demostrar, ¿sabe?, con pruebas y ejemplos continuos, en nosotros mismos, implacablemente. Porque, caballero, el deseo de vivir no sabemos de qué está hecho; pero..., ahí está, ahí está; lo sentimos todos aquí, como una angustia en la garganta; y no se satisface nunca; no puede satisfacer nunca, porque la vida, en el mismo acto en que la vivimos, es siempre tan voraz de sí misma, que no se deja saborear. El sabor está en el pasado que nos queda vivo dentro. El deseo de vivir nos viene de eso: de los recuerdos, que nos tienen atados. Pero, ¿atados a qué?: a esta tontería..., a este disgusto..., a tantas ilusiones estúpidas..., ocupaciones insulsas... Sí, sí. Esto que ahora, aquí, es una tontería; esto que ahora, aquí, es un aburrimiento; y llego hasta a decir: esto que ahora parece una desventura, una verdadera desventura... sí, señor..., a la distancia de cuatro, cinco, diez años, ¡quién sabe qué sabor adquirirá..., qué gusto tendrán las lágrimas de ahora! Y la vida, ¡Dios mío!, al solo pensamiento de perderla..., especialmente cuando se sabe que es cuestión de días... (En este momento por la esquina de la izquierda, asoma la cabeza, para espiar, la mujer vestida de negro) ¡Mire...! ¿Ve usted allí? Allí, en aquella esquina.... ¿ve usted aquella sombra de mujer? ¡Mire! ¡Ya se escondió!

PARROQUIANO: ¿Cómo? ¿Quién..., quién era?

HOMBRE: ¿No la ha visto? Se ha escondido.

PARROQUIANO: ¿Una mujer?

HOMBRE: Mi mujer, sí.

PARROQUIANO: ¡Ah! ¿Su señora?

HOMBRE: (Después de una pausa) Me vigila desde lejos. Iría a echarla de allí a patadas; pero sería inútil. Es como uno de esos perros perdidos, obstinados, que, cuanto más patadas se les da, más se nos pegan a los talones. (Pausa) Lo que esa mujer está sufriendo por mí..., usted no puede imaginárselo. Ya ni come, ni duerme. Viene siempre detrás de mí, día y noche, así, a distancia. Y..., si al menos se preocupara de cepillarse ese andrajo que lleva en la cabeza, ese vestido... Ya no parece una mujer; parece el trapo de limpiar. Se le han empolvado para siempre los cabellos, aquí, en las sienes; y apenas si tiene treinta y cuatro años. (Pausa) Me da una rabia, que no puede usted figurárselo. A veces la cojo por los hombros y le grito en la cara: «¡Estúpida!», zarandeándola. Se aguanta con todo. Se queda allí, mirándome, con unos ojos... Con unos ojos que, se lo juro, me hacen venir a los dedos un deseo salvaje de ahogarla. Nada. Espera a que me aleje para ponerse otra vez a seguirme a distancia. (La mujer se asoma de nuevo) ¡Mire! ¡Otra vez asoma la cabeza en la esquina!

PARROQUIANO: ¡Pobre señora!

HOMBRE: ¡Qué pobre señora! Ella querría, ¿comprende?, que yo me estuviera quieto en casa, tranquilo, acurrucado en medio de todos sus amorosos y apasionados cuidados; gozando del orden perfecto que reina en todas las habitaciones, de la lindeza de todos los muebles; de aquel silencio de espejo que había antes en mi casa, medido por el tictac del reloj de péndulo del comedor. ¡Eso querría ella! Ahora, yo le pregunto a usted, para hacerle comprender lo absurdo..., ¡qué digo, absurdo...! la macabra ferocidad de esa pretensión; le pregunto si cree posible que las casas de Avezzano, las casas de Messina, sabiendo que un terremoto iba a destrozarlas dentro de poco, habrían podido estarse allí tranquilamente, a la luz de la luna, ordenadas fila a lo largo de calles y plazas, obedientes al plano regulador de la comisión edilicia municipal. ¡Hasta las casas de piedras y vigas se habrían escapado! ¿Se imagina usted a los ciudadanos de Avezzano, a los de Messina, desnudándose tranquilamente para acostarse, doblando sus ropas, colocando los zapatos a la puerta de la habitación, tapándose bajo las mantas y gozando la suavidad de las sábanas bordadas, sabiendo que dentro de unas horas estarían todos muertos? ¿Le parece posible?

PARROQUIANO: Pero..., ¿acaso su señora...?

HOMBRE: ¡Déjeme hablar! Si la muerte, señor fuera como uno de esos insectos extraños, repugnantes, que a veces descubre uno encima de sí... Va usted por la calle; un transeúnte lo para de improviso, y, con cautela, con los dedos extendidos, le dice: «¿Me permite, caballero? Lleva usted la muerte encima.» Y, con aquellos dos dedos extendidos, la pilla y la arroja... ¡Sería magnífico! Pero la muerte no es como esos insectos repugnantes. ¡Cuántos que están paseándose, tan alegres y confiados, quizá la llevan encima! Nadie la ve; y ellos están tranquilamente haciendo proyectos para mañana o pasado mañana. Ahora, yo ... (Se levanta) ¡Mire, caballero!, venga usted aquí ... (Lo hace levantarse y lo lleva junto a la farola encendida), aquí, junto a esta luz..., venga... Voy a enseñarle una cosa... Mire aquí, debajo de mi bigote... ¿Ve usted esta acerola violácea? ¿Sabe cómo se llama esto? ¡Ah! Tiene un nombre dulcísimo..., más dulce que un caramelo: epitelioma, se llama. Pronuncie la palabra, y sentirá su dulzura: epitelioma...; la muerte, ¿comprende?, ha pasado. Me ha puesto esta flor en la boca, y me ha dicho: «Tenla, querido: volveré a pasar dentro de ocho o diez meses.» (Pausa) Ahora, dígame usted si con esta flor en la boca, puedo estarme en casa tranquilo y quieto, como quisiera aquella desgraciada. (Pausa) Le grito: «¿Ah, sí? ¿Quieres que te dé un beso?» «¡Sí, bésame!» Pero, ¿no sabe usted lo que hizo la semana pasada? Con un alfiler se arañó aquí, en el labio; luego me agarró la cabeza y quería besarme... besarme en la boca.... porque dice que quiere morirse conmigo. (Pausa) Está loca. (Luego, con ira) ¡Yo no me estoy en casa! ¡Quiero estar detrás de los escaparates de las tiendas, yo, para admirar la habilidad de los dependientes! Porque..., usted comprenderá..., si en un momento siento el vacío dentro de mí... Puedo también matar, como el que no hace nada, toda la vida de uno que no conozco...; sacar el revólver y matar a uno que, como usted, haya tenido la desgracia perder el tren... (Se ríe) No, no; no tenga miedo caballero: ¡es una broma! (Pausa) Me voy. (Pausa) Me mataré yo, si acaso... (Pausa) Pero..., ¡en esta época hay unos albaricoques tan ricos...! ¿Cómo los come usted? Con toda la boca, ¿verdad? Se abren por la mitad; se oprimen con los dedos..., como labios jugosos..., ¡ah, qué delicia! (Se ríe. Pausa) Mis respetos a su distinguida esposa y a sus hijas, que están de veraneo. (Pausa) Me las imagino vestidas de blanco o de azul celeste, en un hermoso prado, a la sombra... (Pausa) Y mañana, al llegar, me hará usted un pequeño favor: me figuro que el pueblo estará cerquita de la estación; al amanecer, puede usted hacer el caminito a pie. La primera mata de hierba que vea usted en el borde... Cuente usted por mí los tallos que tiene. Tantos tallos tenga.... tantos días me quedan de vida. (Pausa) Pero elija usted una mata muy espesa, por favor. (Se ríe; luego:) Buenas noches caballero. (Y se va canturreando, con la boca cerrada, el motivo de la «Mandolina lejana», hacia la esquina de la derecha; pero luego se acuerda de que la mujer está allí esperándolo; se vuelve y va hacia la otra esquina, mientras el PARROQUIANO PACÍFICO, casi desmayado, lo sigue con la mirada)

TELÓN

[Traducción de Idelfonso Grande, Miguel Bosch Barret para Plaza Janés]

Caracas, Venezuela: Clase Abierta con Gonzalo Camacho en UNEARTE

2010-12-27T21:03:00.000-08:00

Article and photo published by UNEARTE.

Clase Abierta con Gonzalo Camacho en UNEARTE
abril 15th, 2010 by admin
Prensa UNEARTE/ Teresa Quilez
Una serie de ejercicios, el teclado y algunas notas ilustrarán la charla didáctica de éste maestro, la cual gira en torno a la voz y al cuerpo como herramientas principales del trabajo en escena

Caracas, abril 2010. Emociones, recuerdos, la experiencia acumulada de una trayectoria teatral y una clase abierta sobre “Voz y cuerpo: principales herramientas del actor” traducen el propósito de la amena charla que sostendrá el maestro Gonzalo Camacho con estudiantes y público interesado en el marco del ciclo “Diálogos”, que adelanta la Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes, sede Plaza Morelos, Sala Horacio Peterson, el próximo martes 20 a las 5:00 pm.
“Voz y cuerpo: principales herramientas del actor”, conforma el contenido de un taller que Camacho ha venido dictando en varios espacios e instituciones regionales como capitalinas, y en su casa, en donde el maestro explicó tiene una duración de 40 horas, una vez a la semana.
Este hombre emblemático en la historia del teatro, multifacético en varios géneros que van desde la zarzuela hasta el monólogo, indicó que el taller “desarrolla el sentido rítmico, el sentido melódico, el solfeo y la vocalización con el objetivo de agrandar y embellecer la voz”. En ese sentido, y aludiendo al papel de la voz agregó que ésta gana matices con las canciones, algo que suele decirle a sus alumnos “¿ustedes no han escuchado hablar a los cantantes? son melódicos, hablan bonito”.
Por otra parte, el cuerpo, sus sensaciones, emociones, estados de ánimo y su manera de manejarlo es la otra herramienta fundamental del actor, importancia que es transmitida y trabajada en este taller a través de conocimientos inmersos primeramente en danza butoh, la combinación exótica de movimientos japoneses y brasileros de la butoh-capoeria y en el metrónomo.
A su juicio, tanto la voz como el cuerpo deben trabajar articuladamente: “La rigidez corporal produce inconscientemente rigidez en la voz. El gran problema es el divorcio entre estas dos instancias. La voz debe estar absolutamente engranada con el cuerpo. Hay muchos actores que dicen el texto de la laringe para arriba y esto se nota”.
Oriundo de Bolivia, toda la fuerza de este hombre consagrado al teatro vive en cada anécdota y en cada historia: “A los 11 años debuté en el teatro”…”Llegué a Venezuela por unos días y me enamoré de Caracas…comencé a dar clases en 1969, en el colegio La Salle, allí fundé el Teatro Experimental La Salle. Para ganarme la vida también fui pintor de brocha gorda, ayudante de albañilería, y el trabajo que más me gustaba era los sábados y domingos como jardinero en el Country Club, gozaba un mundo”; “hice estudios de teatro en el Conservatorio de Buenos Aires, entré en segundo año porque ya tenía experiencia”; “Cuando trabajé en la zarzuela no era barítono, no era tenor, no era bajo sino era los tres porque yo desarrollé los tres registros: el medio, el alto y el bajo”.
Ama cada personaje que ha encarnado desde sus inicios escénicos hasta ahora y habla de ellos refiriéndose en particular a uno de los primeros: “Trabajé como payaso alambrista, era Chiripita, tocaba el clarinete en la cuerda floja…” entonces deja escapar emocionado un: “Tátara tata tataritata“.
Admira el trabajo de grandes directores y actores, quienes opina tienen que hacer méritos con su ética y mística para que se ganen el título de hijos adoptivos: “tengo algunos y algunas”. Refiere a Román Chalbaud entre ellos, igualmente menciona a las últimas producciones en donde participará “Patas Arriba” de Alejandro Biderman, co producción de Colombia, Venezuela y Brasil que será estrenada en diciembre de este año y una película que se titula “El Manzano Azul” de Olegario Barrera, que empezará a rodar en el estado Mérida, en los Páramos, en el mes de junio.

Caracas, Venezuela: Simon Rodriguez "El Eterno Caminante"

2010-12-27T20:57:00.000-08:00

Photo and article published by UNEARTE.

SIMÓN RODRÍGUEZ “EL ETERNO CAMINANTE”
PRENSA/UNEARTE
Caracas, mayo.- La Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes, Plaza Morelos, presenta el 17 y 18 de mayo la propuesta teatral “Simón Rodríguez, El eterno caminante”, basado en textos de Juan Calzadilla Arreaza, Luis Manuel Peñalver y Adolfo Romero Luengo, con adaptación y puesta en escena del maestro Gonzalo J. Camacho, la cita es en la Sala de Conciertos a las 4:00 pm. Entrada libre.
El maestro Camacho manifestó que este trabajo es un diálogo audiovisual que está basado en la vida de Simón Rodríguez, “del ilustre venezolano, maestro de maestros, ejemplo para todos los docentes que nacen y mueren enseñando. Un trabajo dedicado para todos los niños y jóvenes por su alto contenido didáctico. Es una entrevista que no pretende ser una obra de teatro, sino un diálogo”, acotó.
Al arribar a los 50 años de docencia teatral, este hombre de las tablas venezolanas, tuvo la iniciativa de hacerle un homenaje a este personaje de la historia venezolana, Simón Rodríguez, el eterno caminante, trabajo con el que espera captar la atención de un público muy joven que está ávido de información y buenos relatos. Un montaje enmarcado en sus lineamientos teatrales, que no es otro que ofrecer “espectáculos didácticos y de arte”, en esta oportunidad junto a una novel y talentosa actriz Rona Olivares.
Por su parte, Olivares expresó: “El eterno caminante es una obra que dejará mucho en niños y jóvenes sobre la enseñanza de conocer la vida y obra de grandes próceres y personalidades de nuestra historia. Como lo fuera el gran maestro Simón Rodríguez, que será interpretado por el también maestro y primer actor Gonzalo J. Camacho, con la ayuda de mi persona, la estudiante que representa a todos los estudiantes de la historia”.

Caracas, Venezuela: Gonzalo J. Camacho bautizando su libro junto a sus hijas.

2010-12-27T20:53:00.000-08:00

Article published by UNEARTE

abril 12th, 2010 by admin
Gonzalo J. Camacho bautizando su libro junto a sus hijas.
PRENSA/UNEARTE
Caracas, abril.- En un acto muy emotivo, el maestro de las tablas, Gonzalo J. Camacho, celebró por todo lo alto sus 50 años de labor ininterrumpida en la formación de grandes valores de la actuación latinoamericana, en especial Venezuela, donde está radicado desde 1969; además el festejo fue doble, porque al medio siglo que tiene dedicado a la docencia, el actor cumplió – ese mismo día – 70 años de vida.
El encuentro se llevó a cabo en la Sala de Conciertos de la Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes, Plaza Morelos, el miércoles 7 de abril, a las 11:00 am. Las primeras palabras fueron de Luis Silva, quien elogió al pequeño, pero imponente hombre de los escenarios venezolanos. Luego le tocó el turno al consagrado dramaturgo, y también profesor venezolano, José Gabriel Núñez, quien con sus palabras hizo reír y rememorar actuaciones inolvidables del inquieto actor, nacido en Bolivia en 1940.
“Inolvidable amigo Gonzalo J. Camacho, todo los que te conocemos sabemos quién eres, y el incansable trabajador que has sido en el teatro; es difícil para nosotros hablar de la profundidad de todas tus facetas (…) una persona indispensable en la docencia teatral venezolana. Este es un homenaje de gratitud y reconocimiento por tu trayectoria”, fueron algunas de las palabras que ofreció Núñez, quien antes de retirarse le dio las gracias por ser su amigo, “es una gran emoción y agradecimiento a tu persona”, agregó.
El tercero en tomar la palabra fue uno de sus discípulos, ahora uno de sus grandes amigos, Mauricio Bravo, quien recordó el Teatro Experimental de La Salle, “para mi es un orgullo hablar de esa época, eso fue por el año 71, cuando llegó con un teatro experimental ante un grupo de jóvenes que estaban ansiosos de actuar, de poder ser otra persona”, y aunque no pudo actuar en ese momento, sino siente años después, enfatizó que fue aprendiendo de él su disciplina y obediencia.
Camacho aprovechó el momento para decir al público “De aquí pa´ lante, hasta que la mente y el cuerpo se achaten”, expresó el hombre de las tablas antes de bautizar el libro conmemorativo “Al Maestro con Cariño”, momento donde los pétalos de rosas cubrieron el texto para resaltar el insigne trabajo de este personaje del teatro venezolano, quien con orgullo estuvo acompañado por sus dos hijas Blanca y Claudia Camacho.

Foto de Mayling Peña

Freddie Mercury, Montserrat Caballe, Bruce Dickinson - Overture Piccante, Bohemian Rhapsody

2010-03-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

Montserrat Caballe & Bruce Dickinson -Bohemian Rhapsody

Dave Clark's Time The Musical

2010-03-25T00:17:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia: Derived from the 1970s musical The Time Lord by Soames and Daniels, it focuses on contemporary rock musician Chris Wilder, who has been transported with his backup singers and band from a concert to the High Court of the Universe in the Andromeda Galaxy. In light of mankind's strides in space exploration, The Time Lord Melchisedic (loosely based on the title character in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who) has decided the time has come to examine Earth's people to determine what role they will play in the quest for universal peace, and Wilder and his band are called upon to defend their planet.

Freddie Mercury Video of "Time" filmed on stage using Time set.

Freddie Mercury - Time (Extended Version)

Time waits for nobody
Time waits for nobody
We all must plan our hopes together
Or we'll have no more future at all
Time waits for nobody

We might as well be deaf and dumb and blind
I know that sounds unkind
But it seems to me we've not listened to
Or spoken about it at all
The fact that time is running out
For us all

Time waits for nobody
Time waits for nobody
We all must plan our hopes together
Or we'll have no more future at all
Time waits for nobody

You don't need me to tell you what's gone wrong
You know what's going on
But it seems to me we've not cared enough
Or confided in each other at all
It seems that we've all got our backs
Against the wall

Time waits for nobody
Time waits for nobody
We all must plan our hopes together
Or we'll have no more future at all
Time waits for nobody

Time,time waits for nobody
Waits for nobody
Time, Time, Time, Time...
Waits for nobody at all
Time waits for nobody
Time don't wait for no one
Let us free this world forever
And build a brand new future for us all
Time
Waits for nobody, nobody, nobody
For no one

Freddie Mercury - In My Defence

Art from web, Artist Unknown

2010-03-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

November 1, 2009 La Paz, Bolivia 1942 (US Office of War Information)

2009-11-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

October 9, 2009 For "Peace"

2009-10-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

A man shouting for peace at the funeral of Italian soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

A man is subdued as he shouts Peace now in the St Pauls Outside the Walls Basilica in Rome Monday Sept 21 2009 during the state funerals of six soldiers.

Nick Vujicic: No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!

2009-08-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

Nick Vujicic at the Well Done Awards: Part I

Nick Vujicic at the Well Done Awards: Part II

Fraces

2009-06-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

If you can dream it, you can do it.
You can go anywhere from nowhere starting with nothing.
Beginning is half done.
There is no substitute for excellence and no excuse for tolerating mediocrity.
Total failure is impossible and total success is never realized.
Every body has a leader. How is your leader.

May 31, 2009 Different childhood on the same planet

2009-05-31T08:10:00.001-07:00

June 1st is the International Children's Day. A quote from Wikipedia:

The International Children's Day had its origin in Turkey in 1920 (April 23, 1920) and later in the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in Geneva, Switzerland in 1925. It is not clear as to why June 1 was chosen as the International Children's Day: one theory has it that the Chinese consul-general in San Francisco (USA) gathered a number of Chinese orphans to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in 1925, which happened to be on June 1 that year, and also coincided with the conference in Geneva.

Following photos and excerpts are from China Review article Different Childhood on The Same Planet. Access the links to see additional photos.

Children perform during an activity to mark the International Children's Day in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, May 31, 2009. (Xinhua/Qiao Jihong)

Some Mexican children play games at a park in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, May 30, 2009. The International Children's Day falls on June 1. (Xinhua/Bao Feifei)

Some girls prepare to release paper boats decorated with dolls in Tokyo, capital of Japan, March 2, 2008. According to the Japanese tradition, Japan has its Boys' Festival and Girls' Festival, which falls on May 5 and March 3 each year respectively. During the Boys' Festival, parents will display carp streamers in front of their houses and decorate samurai dolls with the earnest wish that their boys may grow up to be healthy and robust. And during the Girls' Festival, parents will release paper boats in the river, which means to take away illness and to bring their girls happiness and health. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)

Photo taken on May 18, 2009 shows a Palestinian boy walking by armed Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Hebron. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

An Iraqi girl enters the Zawara Park with her parents in central Baghdad, capital of Iraq, May 30, 2009, prior to the International Children's Day, which falls on June 1. (Xinhua/Gao Shan)

May 25, 2009 Texas Moratorium Network (Death Penalty)

2009-05-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

Following photo and text found at Wikipedia. The image makes a very strong statement.

Postcard created for Texas Moratorium Network for the Death Penalty Art Show May 6-22, 2006. own work.

CARACAS, miércoles 20 de mayo, 2009 Las tres Venezuelas de Miguel Otero Silva

2009-05-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

Article published by El Universal.

Las tres Venezuelas de Miguel Otero Silva

Rajatabla estrena, el viernes en el Ateneo, "Cuando quiero llorar no lloro"

Gabriel Agüero, al centro, es Victorino Perdomo, el representante de una clase media mermada (Nicola Rocco)

Miguel Otero Silva (1908-1985) alertó hace casi 40 años: la pobreza no depende del estrato social; si no se atienden las necesidades de los más desposeídos, la descomposición será general; la clase media tiende a desaparecer; la izquierda debe replantearse si quiere llegar a ocupar espacios dignos en la sociedad... Cuando quiero llorar no lloro (1970) constituye un documento vital para comprender el presente venezolano.

La pieza es llevada a escena por Rajatabla, agrupación que completa una cuatrilogía del autor: La primera fue Fiebre (1973), luego Casas Muertas (1987) y finalmente, Oficina Número 1 (1992), todas dirigidas por el inigualable Carlos Giménez.

En esta ocasión, José "Pepe" Domínguez corrió con la responsabilidad de adaptar y dirigir una producción que contempla más de 70 personas en escena.

Como en el libro, la obra inicia con el "Prólogo cristiano con abominables interrupciones de un emperador romano", que narra las historias de cuatro hermanos cristianos en el siglo IV y que culmina con auténticas noticias de la prensa de 1948. Entre el 8 de noviembre de aquel año y el mismo día de 1966 transcurren las vidas de tres personajes que tienen el mismo nombre, Victorino, y el mismo destino, pero que representan a tres Venezuelas: la de la marginalidad, la de la clase media y la de la llamada high.

Abilio Torres es Victorino Pérez; Gabriel Agüero es Victorino Perdomo; y Elvis Chaveinte, Victorino Peralta. Los jóvenes actores están acompañados por veteranos como Francisco Alfaro, Pedro Pineda, Gerardo Luongo, Gonzalo J. Camacho y Simona Chirinos, entre otros, así como por estudiantes del Taller Nacional de Teatro.

Domínguez dispone sobre el escenario de la Anna Julia Rojas del Ateneo de Caracas tres dispositivos móviles que se van adaptando a cada una de las tres historias y situaciones. Al fondo, tres cicloramas que aprovecha para crear planos y nutrir las historias a través de la proyección de siluetas.

La música en vivo sirve para acompañar los bailes y canciones que se planteó Domínguez, así como para crear atmósferas sonoras.

El director admite que la puesta no es fácil, y la cataloga como "arriesgada y dura". "Pero la función de Rajatabla no es ser gratificante, sino que llegue con un mensaje".

A juzgar por el ensayo general, la idea es buena, ambiciosa, mas no por ello bien acabada. El nivel de las actuaciones en general resulta regular; los bailes en colectivo no están sincronizados, al igual que los cantos. El tiempo atenta contra la puesta, con dos actos, uno de casi dos horas, y el final de 30 minutos.

No obstante, vale la pena pasearse por alguna de las funciones porque el texto bien vale la pena retomarlo; se trata de uno de los grupos más importantes de Venezuela y del cierre de una etapa del Ateneo de Caracas. De miércoles a sábados, a las 7:30 pm; domingos, 6:00 pm. arg

Caracas Viernes 20 de febrero de 2009 El violinista volvera el tejado de Aula Magna de la UCV

2009-05-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

Articulo publicado por la Cadena Global.

El violinista volverá al tejado del Aula Magna de la UCV
Viernes 20 de febrero de 2009

Con el aval de haber sido vista por más de 25 mil personas, el próximo 28 de febrero regresará a las tablas del Aula Magna de la UCV el montaje musical El violinista sobre el tejado.

El elenco de esta puesta en escena de Producciones Palo de Agua cuenta con Armando Cabrera, Beatriz Valdés, Tania Sarabia, Cayito Aponte, Luigi Sciamanna, Rolando Padilla, Jean Paul Leroux, Gerardo Soto, Nathalia Martínez, Mariaca Semprún, Violeta Alemán, Victoria Nogueroles y Gonzalo J. Camacho.

El violinista sobre el tejado fue estrenada en Broadway, Nueva York, en 1964, basada en los cuentos de Shalom Alejem.

Obtuvo nueve premios Tony.

El precio de las entradas está fijado en BsF 65. Pueden ser adquiridas en las tiendas Esperanto de Tolón, San Ignacio, El Recreo, las taquillas del Aula Magna y a través de www.tuticket.com.

And a second article published by El Universal.

"El violinista sobre el tejado" arriba a su tercera semana de presentaciones

El elenco de la obra está conformado por grandes figuras de la radio y televisión (Cortesía)

09:16 AM Caracas.- Cerca de 10.000 personas, han visto la nueva temporada de "El violinista sobre el tejado", el público reconoce la actuación de los artistas y con aplausos reciben a los 30 integrantes que conforman la orquesta.

Bajo la dirección de Michel Hausmann y la producción general a cargo de Yair Rosemberg, este fin de semana continúa el exitoso musical protagonizado por Armando Cabrera en el papel de Tevie, el lechero, junto a Beatriz Valdés como su esposa Golda, Tania Sarabia en el papel de Yente, la casamentera y Cayito Aponte como el carnicero Lazar Wolf y las actuaciones estelares de Luigi Sciamanna, Rolando Padilla, Jean Paúl Leroux, Gerardo Soto, Nathalia Martínez, Mariaca Semprún, Violeta Alemán, Victoria Nogueroles, y Gonzalo J. Camacho, como el Rabino, acompañados por más de 40 artistas en escena.

El espectáculo además cuenta con la dirección musical y de orquesta de Salomón Lerner, con el vestuario de Evelyn Villegas, ganadora del Premio Municipal de Teatro por este trabajo, las coreografías de Luz Urdaneta, la escenografía de Edwin Erminy y la iluminación de Carolina Puig, reseñó una nota de prensa.

La obra se presenta los sábados a las 6:00 pm y los domingos a las 11:00am y 6:00 pm., las entradas tienen un costo a partir de BsF. 65 y pueden ser adquiridas en las tiendas Esperanto de los centros comerciales Tolón, San Ignacio, El Recreo, las taquillas del Aula Magna, y en Tuticket.com.

Caracas, jueves 22 de febrero, 2007 Entrevista Gonzalo J. Camacho Actor

2009-05-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Articulo publicado por El Universal.

entrevista gonzalo j. camacho, actor
"Jamás he recibido un solo centavo del Estado"

El actor boliviano llegó a Venezuela en 1969 y recuerda a Caracas "tan linda", segura y democrática. Oswer Díaz

Más de medio siglo sobre las tablas y aún hay personajes por hacer. Gonzalo J. Camacho ha hecho de todo en el escenario durante 55 años pero aguardan por él, Polonio de Hamlet y Shylock de El mercader de Venecia, sin contar los innumerables personajes que habitan en la dramaturgia venezolana, a la que se ha dedicado muy poco.

"Polonio me lo ofreció Horacio Peterson, luego Carlos Giménez y recientemente Orlando Arocha y no lo he podido hacer. Polonio me persigue", comenta el actor de 66 años.

"Yo siempre me he enamorado de mis personajes", dice quien ya se acerca a los 40 montajes profesionales en Venezuela, al tiempo que recuerda sin modestia que ha trabajado con los mejores directores y actores del país.

En efecto, Camacho ha sido dirigido por grandes nombres del teatro venezolano como Horacio Peterson, Ugo Ulive, Carlos Giménez, Gilberto Pinto, Armando Gota y Antonio Constante, entre otros.

A Peterson lo recuerda como un director "muy estricto" al que llegó por referencias de Paul Antillano, con quien hizo su primer montaje profesional en Venezuela (El oso y La petición de mano de Chéjov).

Pero Camacho habla más de Ulive, con el que trabajó en nueve oportunidades. "Me gustó mucho trabajar con él porque te hacía vivir el momento político social de la obra, el autor... La última que me dirigió fue La Dorotea, con María Cristina Lozada como protagonista, y yo viví la España del Siglo de Oro, la España de Lope, de Calderón...".

Para el actor nacido en Bolivia no hay ritual antes de entrar en escena, para componer sus personajes se vale a veces de las naturalezas de ciertos animales, pero sea cual sea la metodología el resultado es un ser humano que se entrega sobre las tablas convertido en otro. "Pequeño o grande es el actor, no el personaje", asegura.

Tras recibir un homenaje de la Casa del Artista el pasado 30 de enero, el actor planea celebrar por todo lo alto sus 55 años sobre los escenarios. "Ahora festejaré poniéndome el traje de arlequín, en la obra Arlequín, servidor de dos patrones. Estoy haciendo unipersonales desde 2002: comencé con el Cyrano en cinco movimientos (adaptación y dirección de Luigi Sciamanna), dos años después adapté El cornudo apaleado y contento (cuento 67 de Bocaccio, adaptado por Casona); en 2005 adapté Don Miguel, Don Quijote y Sancho Panza y ahora he adaptado Arlequín, de Goldoni", relató el artista.

Creador independiente

Escribirlo es apenas dos números, pero hacer teatro durante 55 años como lo ha hecho Gonzalo J. Camacho no es nada fácil. "Mucho sacrificio, mucha penalidad, el teatro no es fácil, no se puede vivir del teatro", comenta el actor, quien asegura que ha sido siempre independiente. "Jamás he recibido un solo centavo del Estado ni lo voy a recibir".

Camacho está en contra de la idea de "Estado paternalista". "Eso hace que la gente no defienda la taquilla porque al levantar el telón ya lo tienen todo pago, entonces descuidan su taquilla. Así que financiamiento del Estado, sí, pero que también sepa la gente cuidar sus reales y los sepa acrecentar".

Parafraseando al cineasta Vittorio Gassman, Camacho dice sin remordimientos de conciencia: "Lo que gano en mis clases (de voz y dicción), lo pierdo en el teatro, casi siempre salgo con las tablas en la cabeza pero me doy ese gusto".

May 16, 2009 Photographer: Hugh Van Es | 1941-2009

2009-05-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Photos and excerpts from LA Times.

Hugh Van Es, a Dutch photojournalist who covered the Vietnam War and recorded the most famous image of the fall of Saigon in 1975 -- a group of people scaling a stairway to a CIA helicopter on a rooftop -- died Friday morning in Hong Kong, his wife said. He was 67.

April 22, 2009 Houston KPFT 90.1 FM - Connect the Dots Crew Question of the Week

2009-04-22T23:01:00.000-07:00

Connect the Dots Crew Question of the Week

President Obama has not ruled out prosecuting Bush Administration officials for war crimes, namely torture. What's your opinion?

Tune in to Connect the Dots Radio Show KPFT 90.1 FM 10-11:00AM CST Guests: Music legend Hugh Masekela, Journalist Napoleon Johnson, Businesswoman Jennifer Dean and great music of course!

Camacho's answer:

us vs. them. and while we try to find guilty parties we still finance our imperial wars to the tune of over $10 billion per month.

sure, i say put all the senators and congresspeople who voted for the imperial wars in jail.

we continue to kill women, children and innocent men. not only in foreign countries but here in america and houston among all places.

some stats that you probably know about...

200 thousand students in HISD. over 50% fail to graduate. about 50% are latinos and 30% blacks. somebody told me 80% of people in prison have not graduated from school.

i take part in various candidate forums and people are demanding crime control, more police to imprison the criminals. was wondering who are these criminals? latinos and blacks. the fathers, sons, etc of somebody. instead of improving our education we want to imprison our new generations... a disgrace.

about 25% of first time offenders going to prison in harris county are veterans.

in comparison how significant it is talking about prison term for those who committed torture during our imperial wars?

we can continue to deal with adults but i think we need to get on our knees and look into the eyes of the future generations. if we can do that with clear conscience then we must be doing something right... :)

my two cents

Houston 11, 2009 Easter Weekend

2009-04-11T17:04:00.000-07:00

Visiting Holy Name Catholic Church...

A little resident in the Lindale area...

Lorenzon de Zavala Lodge during rest...

March 7, 2009 Houston, all in one day

2009-03-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

Catch the WAVE

Instead of the WOW Parade this time around the Washington folks bring up the WAVE, an eco-fair. One of them unique days that bring pleasant surprises...

Early start waiting for the set up crew to arrive. A normal park user taking a walk...
Some folks like to do some pet training early in the AM.
Volunteers hard at work, Jimmy with his dedicated will to survive helping others.
If it was not for Maria Maryann would stay at home working. So nice to see you catching the Wave.
Cyclists, they are all over the place. We tried to buy their bikes from under them but no chance.
Father and daughter team. They were having a blast. What is life but a family day at the park.
Mater of ceremonies looking at Pat "the grand marshal" giving a talk on, hum... I don't remember.
Surprise surprise. Kim! where have you been all these years? Still think you should be the designated Studee planner...
Children, the future of our world. Hopefully we can preserved and protect their future.
Lovely kids...
Should have remembered the Rice conference. Memory is not my best skill.
MECA at its bests. So much talent that offer our new generations.
Dancing on the dance floor or any other place.
It was the virus from the charros that made people so happy contagious.
Are we having fun yet?
Something about adopting children. I hear people were not talkative with her but took lovely pics.
Babies...
The most superb and happy duet of friends.
And two generations of Houstonians looking after family traditions, Olivewood Cemetery.
Somebody left the gate open and bugs came out for a walk.

Lorenzo de Zavala Lodge 1397

Had to take a quick trip to the lodge for some pics of Brother's Jesse's group, Freemasons Riding Club.
I was told they are harmless... pleasure to meet you Brother "Ruger"
There is a smile behind that mustasche
A Mickey Mouse bike? Lovely, check it out yourself...
This is what is what life has to offer after sailing the seven seas... "Captain Randy"
Brother Jesse's son prior to being raised a mason and early preparation to join the armed forces of our great country...
Brothers of LDZ enjoying the moment.
Brother sailor, motorcyclist, and camera man (fixing it)...
Life has its ways to offer us long time friendships and knowledge...
Brother David was there when I knocked the LDZ door for the first time back in 2003. Oh, no need to knock the door, he was hanging out with Brother Bill and WM John Barrientes.

Houston Heights, 19th Street

At the end of the day we got to revisit 19th Street and First Saturday. The surprise under the sign..
Mother and daughter who happen to attend church at Independence Heights.
Happy people. The world should be full of happy people...
Art car in progress or just a car in progress?
If it was not for the instruments these folks could be odd fellows.
Smile for the show. I will tell Mitch you got a lovely baby...
Alan Gerson at work. Love it and love the colors.

Here we go, the Gerson's...
and not sure what this cyclist had in mind but I missed the chance to take some authentic photos...
Now this is a surprise about to happen. Beans Barton - Now Beans how was I to know that you were there as the artists of the paintings beautifying 19th Street? Great to find out that you painted Venus' cat car. Superb work.
What do I say... you still have that look of a teen looking to get in trouble.
and had to put a pic of Venus art work on wheels. Beans might not be there but surely his work brings lots of smiles to people.
I have not seen these cat fellows but hear them from time to time in the middle of the night.
lady cats?...
Surprise surprise. How fantastic to learn that Beans is the creator of this corner in the Heights, my favorite...
... of course, the big surprise on my return is to meet Beans the music man. Which brings the lyrics of an old song to mind..."unforgettable that is what you are..." Thank you Beans, you and your talents helped made my day.
But before we call the day off had to stop by H Gallery and met Billy J. Hunter the artist. Very profound and purposeful work he does and got to thank him for taking the time to explain to me about his talent and message.
We normally don't know when we are called from work to rest. Billy's work will outlast us.

February 2, 2009 In memory - Shekhar Govind

2009-02-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

Shekhar Govind

Shekhar Govind On January 13, 2009, Shekhar Govind unexpectedly passed away, cutting short what had already been an extraordinary life which touched many. Shekhar was preceded in death by his father and his mother, Shri Kant and Yashodhara Govind. Those closest to Shekhar, his sister, Rashmi Govind and her husband Pankaj Kumar, and the love of his life for 24 years, Diane Christopherson, will feel his loss most deeply. Shekhar was born June 19, 1957, in Dhanbad, Bihar, India, and came to the USA after graduating from IIT Delhi. He returned to India often to visit family friends, and the country he loved. Together with his family he established a charitable trust in India focused on providing quality treatment and care for eye and vision related diseases. Shekhar earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. During his career, he taught at both Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, and the University of Texas at Arlington and acted as a consultant in transportation engineering to a number of entities. Though he described himself as a "systems analyst", Shekhar was the ultimate Renaissance man whose passions ran from Aristotle to Zen, and included plenty of analytical and creative thinking in between. In recent years he pursued his passion for theater, working tirelessly with his friends and colleagues at the Vortex Repertory Company. Shekhar loved learning every aspect of the stage from set construction to acting, and was proud of his recent performances at the Vortex. In collaboration with his sister, he had recently completed writing an adaptation of Chaucer's "Wife of Bath" which he hoped to produce. Shekhar was comfortable in the company of young and old, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, and all were welcome at his dinner table. He was an excellent cook and introduced all of us to the wonderful world of Indian cuisine. Those who knew him will always cherish Shekhar's wisdom, kindness, clever wit, and untiring zest for life. A viewing will be Monday, January 19, 2009, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at Austin-Peel and Son Funeral Home, 607 E. Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas 78752. A private family service will be held on Tuesday. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Those wishing to show support for Shekhar's love of the theater and connect with his soul may send a donation to the Vortex Repertory Company, 2307 Manor Rd., Austin TX 78722 in lieu of flowers.

January 28, 2009 A quote from Ernest

2009-01-28T05:18:00.000-08:00

- begin quote -

I spoke at UT before the black faculty and staff for MLK birthday celebration, 1/15. The hardest task for me was to try and salute, honor and uplift the role of the individual while trying to downplay the Obama factor. The biggest danger I see is for people to fall asleep at the wheel, to give him the Moses/Messiah role…I’m not worried about the “dream factor” on our youth, as for inspiring their own self confidences more than ever. Barak is the chief executive of an empire, one with over 700 military bases world wide, spending over a trillion dollars a year on weaponry (more than all the other nations of the world combined!), handing out 1 billion dollars a day to Israel alone, and engaged in two wars at once. We need a people’s movement here more now than ever, but I’m afraid we’ll be watching it on our tv’s rather than out in the streets making it happen. Someone said that for LBJ (in 1964) had his MLK and the people’s movement to pressure him and force him to do the right things; now (post election) it’s just Barak and an audience. In Ghana (1966?) the cia paid a few generals a few million dollars to overthrow the democratically elected Nkrumah (the first independent sub Saharan Black republic in modern history!) The people boarded their homes, hid under their beds while only the 300 palace guards resisted. WE do need all hands on deck.
I’m turning in for now….

- end quote -

January 20, 2009: Houston Marathon

2009-01-20T19:29:00.000-08:00

Picture and text from the Houston Chronicle.

Johnny Hanson: Chronicle

Gonzalo Camacho (lower left) and Kathy Hardy (lower right) watch as runners make their way down White Oak.

January 20, 2009 USA/World: The New America - Obama's Inauguration

2009-01-20T10:32:00.000-08:00

A historic day in the history of this great nation and the world. Lets hope the hurdles that the nation has overcome as attested by today to be an example to follow and not an exception to remember. Lets hope Obama and his administration are blessed and given the courage to stop the building of the American empire and stop our foreign wars. Lets build an American country for the future focused in peace and brotherly love.

Pictures and text from BBC.

Barack Obama has been sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America, at a historic ceremony in Washington DC.

Mr Obama swore his oath of allegiance on the same bible used by Abraham Lincoln at his inauguration in 1861, held by the new First Lady Michelle Obama.

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and co-operation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

Serious challenges

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

Nation of 'risk-takers'

We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labour, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and travelled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and ploughed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

'Remaking America'

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Restoring trust

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - that a nation cannot prosper long when it favours only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

'Ready to lead'

As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defence, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

'Era of peace'

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

'Duties'

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honour them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

'Gift of freedom'

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have travelled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

January 19, 2009 Around the world: Slovakian horses

2009-01-19T04:27:00.000-08:00

A winter activity in the country of Slovakia. First, second and third champions.

January 13, 2009 Afghanistan: Snow falls in Kabul

2009-01-13T04:06:00.000-08:00

The wonderful happy and not so happy moments that people experience in the world. Following pictures and text are from China View news.

A burqa-clad woman walks on a road as snow falls in Kabul Jan. 13, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A girl smiles as she walks on a road as snow falls in Kabul Jan. 13, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Women beg on a road as snow falls in Kabul Jan. 13, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A man selling coal warms himself as snow falls in Kabul Jan. 13, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

La Guerra del Pacífico 1879 (Perú, Bolivia y Chile)

2009-01-09T04:32:00.001-08:00

La Guerra del Pacífico 1879 (Perú, Bolivia y Chile)

Blog dedicado al tema de la Guerra del Pacifico 1879, que enfrentó a tres países sudamericanos (Chile, Perú y Bolivia) Donde se pretende dar a conocer algunos hechos, presentar documentos, biografías, articulos relacionados sobre este tema. Cualquier aporte al email: JOENSARE@HOTMAIL.COM

Eliodoro Camacho
Militar y político nacido en Inquisivi, en 1831.

Combatió en el Alto de la Alianza, última batalla donde fue herido y llevado prisionero a Chile por dos años

Del libro de Francisco Machuca, tomo II
“Apenas el coronel Camacho recibe el nombramiento de comandante en jefe discernido por las tropas acantonadas en Tacna, a raíz de la deposición del general Daza, comunica la nueva situación al almirante Montero, que esperaba ansioso el resultado del movimiento, del cual tenía conocimiento anticipado, prestándole su apoyo moral. Camacho, se pone a sus órdenes para cumplir su deber en defensa de la Alianza.
Igual comunicación hace a S. E. el Dictador del Perú, afirmando su adhesión y la del ejército boliviano a la Alianza, y su firme propósito de continuar la lucha hasta vencer al enemigo.
El pronunciamiento no acarreó cambio alguno en la constitución interna del ejército, que continuó normalmente sus ejercicios y distribuciones diarias de campaña.
Los tres generales que se encontraban en las filas, señores Casto Arquedas, Luciano Alcoreza y Pedro Villamil, firman un manifiesto que fue leído a las tropas, en EL CUAL RECONOCEN AL CORONEL CAMACHO COMO GENERAL EN JEFE. Este les confía respectivamente honrosas comisiones en su patria, que se apresuran a desempeñar.
A las 8 P. M. del día 27 11 80, se reúnen en consejo, el coronel don Julián López, los jefes de la Guardia Nacional, y de las fuerzas de línea de guarnición en la plaza, para acordar la manera más expedita de destituir al general Daza, y nombrar un gobierno que diera garantías al país. Acuerdan convocar a un comicio popular, para el día siguiente 28.
Esta asamblea destituye a don Hilarión Daza del puesto de Presidente de la República y del comando en jefe del ejército.
Se procede a designarle sucesor, y recae el nombramiento en el jefe de la 5ª División, general don Narciso Campero. La Asamblea ratifica y sostiene la Alianza perú boliviana, para continuar la campaña contra Chile.
Los jefes del movimiento, en Tacna y la Paz, obraron separadamente.
EL CORONEL CAMACHO y su secretario don Belisario Salinas, dan cuenta a la Junta de los acontecimientos de Tacna, y solicitan el pronto reemplazo por funcionarios de su elección.
La junta confirma en su puesto al coronel Camacho, hasta que el general Campero, ingrese al ejército de Tacna, como jefe del ejército boliviano en campaña”
**********************
Foto del archivo Courret, Camacho (sentado) junto al sr Fernando Guachalla e hijo 1884
Saludos,
Jonatan Saona

Biography of General Eliodoro Camacho

2009-01-09T04:23:00.000-08:00

Biografía del General Eliodoro Camacho By Joaquín de Lemoine

67 Aceptación del mando en Gefe del Ejercito Bolivano por el Coronel Eliodoro Camacho
Estado Mayor General del Ejercito de Bolivia Cuartel General en Tacna a 27 de Diciembre de 1879

El Coronel Eliodoro Camacho nombrado en esta ciudad Comandante en Gefe del Ejército por el voto espontáneo y unánime de todos los señores Generales, Gefes Oficiales y tropa de los cuerpos bolivianos tiene el honor de aceptar esta delicada comisión y de manifestar su reconocimiento por distinción tan inmerida saludando y felicitando á sus compañeros de armas por el patriotismo y circunspección con que han operado en este dia un cambio en la dirección del Ejército de acuerdo con el pronunciado sentimiento nacional y en armonía con las exigencias de la Santa Alianza Perú Boliviana. Art 1 Todos los señores Generales Gefes y Oficíales del Ejercito continuarán en el ejercicio de sus funciones como hasta el dia de hoy. Art 2 El distinguido General don Casto Arguedas que ha sido llamado á nombre de la Patria á desempeñar el cargo de Gefe del Estado Mayor del Ejército seguirá prestando sus importantes servicios en dicho puesto. Comuníquese en la Orden General del Dia para conocimiento del Ejercito El Coronel Gefe de Estado Mayor General Miguel Aguirre.

December 8, 2009 Sallani, Bolivia

2009-01-09T03:50:00.000-08:00

As shown the location above, among the Andes mountains in Bolivia, in a valley dominated by a temperamental river is located the old family hacienda Sallani. Following are few recent pictures of what is there.
Uncle Lolo, his family and friends standing by his summer house.

Lolo and Alfonso

Enjoying the day in the shade.

At the base of the mountains

Rainy season brings lots of melted water to the river bed

View of the old a portion of the old house on the right which was built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Newer structure is Uncle Reno's summer place

Typical views of the mountain area in the old Sallani

A couple interesting pages found on Bolivian wine, Eliodoro Camacho, and Caracato.

Nick Vujicic: No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!

2009-01-07T14:01:00.000-08:00

Part 1

Part2

Part 3

December 19, 2009 Japanese Christmas Da Pump - Christmas Night

2008-12-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

Not sure if it is Mexican but sounds Japanese (smile)...

or something a little more traditional like Bing Crosby singing White Christmas...

or something more contemporary like Trans Siberian Orchestra playing Christmas Canon Rock...

2009 Merry Christmas & Feliz Navidad

2008-12-19T06:39:00.000-08:00

As a child growing up in Bolivia we celebrated Christmas with the Nativity. We may have not had a Christmas tree but we had to have the Nativity because in Christmas day we would place baby Jesus in the manger.
Below are some scriptures to reminds us why we celebrate this most wonderful holiday...

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

Luke 1:39-45

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Luke 2:1-14

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

1 Timothy 1:15-17

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Laura Pausini - Inolvidable & Quiero Decirte Que Te Amo

2008-10-09T01:43:00.000-07:00

Un par de canciones que requieren ser dedicadas a una persona inolvidable.

Part I

Inolvidable

A veces me pregunto si
yo viviria igual sin ti
no se si yo sabria olvidarte.
Y en un instante puedo ver
que tu eres cuanto yo sone,
inolvidable para mi.

Me parecio otra historia que
el tiempo se lleva con el,
tu no me dejes mas,
nunca me dejes.
Y mientras mas te anoro, mas
profundo dentro de mi estas,
tu no me dejes mas,
entrate que ya
jamas te olvidar.

Oigo tu voz y tu alegria,
siguen en mi, son todavia
como un tatuaje de mi piel.

Te veo y se que tu no estas,
te busco y se que no vendras,
sobre mis labios siento
tu forma de besar.

Eres intensamente mio,
lo mas que tengo y que he tenido,
tu no me dejes mas,
nunca me dejes.
Y mientras mas te miro, mas
de ti me puedo enamorar,
tu no me dejes mas,
nunca me dejes,
no lo hagas mas porque...

Si miro al cielo
yo siento que seras
inolvidable para mi,
oh no, no, no,
tu no me dejes mas,
nunca me dejes.

Inolvidable nada mas
ni nada menos tu seras,
tu no me dejes mas,
nunca me dejes.
No,...
Nunca me dejes,
nunca me dejes.
No, no.....

Tu no me dejes mas
Que sola ya sin ti,
ahora y siempre te ver
en mi mirada,
inolvidable.

Part II

Quiero Decirte Que Te Amo

Desde el ruido del mundo
Desde el giro de un carrusel
De la piel a lo mas ondo, desde el fondo de mi ser
De este inutil orgullo, y del silencio que hay en mi
Desde estas ganas mias de vivir

Quiero decirte que Te Amo
Quiero decirte que eres mio
Que no te cambio por ninguno
Que por tenerte desvario
Quiero decirte que Te Amo
Porque eres tan igual a mi
Cuando por nada discutimos
Y luego te cierras en ti
De el peor de mis fallos
De un error por el que page
De un telefono del centro
De mis ganas de vencer
De la dicha que siento
Y de esta fiebre mia por ti
Desde que me enseaste a sonreir

Quiero decirte que Te Amo
Quiero decirte que estoy aqui
Aunque me aleje de tu lado
Tras la ventana de un taxi
Debo decirte que Te Amo
Porque es mi unica verdad
Tu no me sueltes de la mano
Aunque podamos terminar

Desde el blanco de la pagina
Desde mi fragilidad
Desde mi carta te cuento de mi sinceridad

Quiero decirte que Te Amo
Quiero decirte que eres mio
Que no te cambio por ninguno
Que por tenerte desvario

Quiero decirte que Te Amo
Quiero decirte estoy aqui
Aunque me aleje de tu lado
Tras la ventana de un taxi
...y quiero decirte que ..que no te cambio por ninguno
porque eres TODO, yo porque....

Quiero decirte que Te Amo
TE AMO.........

July 2, 2008 Military Death Toll Rises in Afghanistan

2008-07-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Below, photo and text from a New York Times article. At first I thought the photo was of a mountain range among clouds, where the soldier is a rock/mountain formation. But no, it is a photo of America's military power.

David Guttenfelder/Associated Press: American marines fired at insurgents near Garmser in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan in May. About 32,000 American troops are in Afghanistan.

May 15, 2008 Ordination To The Diaconate

2008-06-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

Ministry is standing with (the church)

Believe what you read
Teach what you believe
Practice what you teach

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran on Pain

2008-05-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

AND a woman spoke, saying, Tell us of Pain.

And he said:

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain
would not seem less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted
the seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.

Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility:

For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay
which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.

- excerpt from The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran

Fito Paez & Mercedes Sosa - Yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón

2008-05-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

YO VENGO A OFRECER MI CORAZÓN
Fito Paez (Argentina)

Quien dijo que todo esta perdido
Who said all is lost

yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón
I come to offer you my heart

tanta sangre que se llevo el río
so much blood was taken by the river

yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón
I come to offer you my heart

no será tan fácil, ya se que pasa
it will not be so easy, because it happens

no será tan simple como pensaba
it will not be as simple as I thought

como abrir el pecho y sacar el alma
like opening our chest and taking out our soul

una cuchillada del amor
a stabbing of love

luna de los pobres siempre abierta
moon of the poor always open

yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón
I come to offer you my heart

como un documento inalterable
like an unchangable document

yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón
I come to offer you my heart

y uniré las puntas de un mismo lazo
and will join the end of the same lasso

y me iré tranquilo, me iré despacio
and I will leave tranquile, I will leave slow

y te daré todo, y me darás algo
and I will give you everything, and you will give me something

algo que me alivie un poco mas
something that will aliviate my pain

cuando no haya nadie, cerca o lejos
when there isn't anybody, near or afar

yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón
I come to offer you my heart

cuando los satélites no alcancen
when the satelites don't reach

yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón
I come to offer you my heart

y hablo de países y de esperanza
and I speak of countries and of hopes

hablo por la vida, hablo por la nada
I speak of life, and of nothing

hablo de cambiar esta nuestra casa
I speak of changing this our home

de cambiarla por cambiar nomás
of changing just for changing

quien dijo que todo esta perdido
who said all is lost

yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón
I come to offer you my heart

May 26, 2008 Jimmy Carter - Israel 'has 150 nuclear weapons'

2008-05-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

Photo and excerpt below from a BBC article. Considering today's technologies and number of resources available to the world I can only rationalize that there is no will to solve the ills of people so let children in places like Lebanon and others die of hunger.

During the press briefing, Mr Carter expressed his support for Israel as a country, but criticised its domestic and foreign policy.
"One of the greatest human rights crimes on earth is the starvation and imprisonment of 1.6m Palestinians," he said.
The former US president cited statistics which he said showed the nutritional intake of some Palestinian children to be below that of children in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as describing the European position on Israel could be best described as "supine", festival organisers said.

May 14, 2008 In pictures: On the Amazon frontier

2008-05-14T06:24:00.001-07:00

Photos and text below were published by the BBC. I am often amazed how quickly the world judges on those who do deforestation like they do not have the right to work and survive. On the other hand we have countries like the US, China and Russia who pollute the planet as they wish. Not only that, if we compare how much per capita consumption of resources and energy between people living in the US and Brazil we could understand the idiotic argument we have in trying to control the actions of people living in the jungles of Brazil. The fun part of the photos and description is the comment from the native American chief. Perhaps prove that we don't need a PhD to understand nature.
A patch of freshly opened forest. It could have been the work of a farmer, a rancher, a settler or a land invader. Whoever was responsible, it is yet more forest gone. Photos: Fernando Cavalcanti.
For local Indian chief Sipasse the dams equal disaster. "You mess with the rivers, you mess with the forest, so you mess with the rain. If you have no rain, you will have no hydro-electric power."

Pilar Ovalle

2008-05-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

A morning distraction with Pilar Ovalle, a Chilean sculpture. Have posted related info here. She has a page on facebook.
Have seen her work in Chile and found it to be fab. Following are a couple photos and descriptions of her work found at SculptureSite Gallery.
Barca
Arbol Magico

Fatima Bhutto, Whispers of The Desert

2008-05-11T05:50:00.000-07:00

Following poems were written by Fatima Bhutto and published in her book titled Whispers of The Desert (Oxford University Press, 1998). Should be noted that she was born in 1982 so most of these poems were written when she was 14 or 15 years of age.

“To my darling Papa,
with all the love in
the world…
this is our story.”

You are, page 3

You are
a solitary
star
in a dark,
empty sky.
You
light up the evening
and never
do you
die.
You are a dazzling
sapphire
that shines
only
in my eyes.
For you are
my star
and I
am but your sky.
(end 1995)

I feel your tender lips, page 12

I feel your tender lips
against mine. Could this
be magic?
Could this be true?

How many nights
have I dreamt of this?
Come
into my arms once more.
Let me feel you are here.

So much time
has passed since
I last held you this close.

Tell me you love me.
Let me hear those sweet words
whispered in my ears.

I cannot believe
you’re here with me.
I’ve counted the seconds
for this moment to come.

But now
that you’re finally here,
tell me
when will
you disappear?
(mid 1996)

I have lost the love, page 27

I have lost the love of my life
but she is not gone
she is still with me.
I have seen her
smile in my sleep. I have felt
her breath on my shoulder as I lie
resting.

I have heard her laughter floating
in the air
and I can still feel her heart beating
next to mine.
(mid 1996)

I lie in the darkness, page 31

I lie in the darkness
unaware of where I stand.
I cannot see you
but feel you standing by me.
I know I am alone
yet I sense your presence.
I feel protected
by your shield,
your armour of love.
The day that armour
breaks
is the day
I shall be truly alone
without you.
(mid 1995)

Will you be near me, page 33

Will you be near me when evening falls?
Protect me from the cold wind,
hold me in your arms?
When the moon lights up the land,
will I have you with me?
When the stars
glitter in the darkness, will you kiss me?
Keep me until the night lifts and daylight gleams
upon us?
Or will the clouds descend on you and sweep you
far away?
(late 1995)

He walks away, page 36

He walks away
with promises of return.
I fear that won’t happen.
But what do I know?
I am but a woman.

He comes back wounded.
He will never heal.
What do I know?
I am but a woman.

He falls,
will not rise.
What do I know?
I am but a woman.
(early 1995)

She sits, page 38

She sits on a throne,
surrounded by others
who grovel at her feet.
She seats them next to her
and dismisses the ones who stand.
She co-operates with those sitting next to her and
forgets the ones who stood
She searches for those who know nothing better
than to worship her every more.
But during all this,
she neglects those who stood there waiting,
waiting for less than power,
waiting for basic needs to be met.
Yet she does nothing but smile at them
and make promises she knows she cannot keep.
Not because of hate.
Not because of greed.
Because power blinds those who are
ignorant.
(early 1995)

He looks on, page 39

He looks on
with caring eyes
sees people from within
ignores exteriors
welcomes them in shares their pain
listens
understands
not like others he feels
not judges
could one this strong
you wonder
have feelings this deep?
Yes yes indeed for compassion
is born only
by those strong within
(early 1995)

Up in the mountains, page 45

Up in the mountains,
I am free, calm,
High, near the heavens,
where the air is clearer,
I am myself at last.
I cry without an audience. I smile
without guilt.
I change for no one.
I am loved
as I am.
(end 1994)

May 8, 2008 Iraq, A Peaceful War

2008-05-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

Photos and text published by the BBC. Amazing how victorious and powerful the sniper looks whilst the reality of these "peace" wars have a much different face(s). How strong and powerful we feel when killing children and their future. Aren't we so great?
An Australian army sniper shows off his weapon during a training exercise north of Melbourne.
Lebanese children run past a militia gunman in Beirut as Hezbollah-led opposition supporters stage a second day of anti-government protests, as a political crisis escalates.
An Iraqi family look from the wreckage of their home in eastern Baghdad hit by an airstrike during clashes between Shia militiamen and Iraqi and US forces.

April 27, 2008 Through Weegee’s Lens

2008-05-04T03:56:00.000-07:00

The world of the internet, the window to the world at our finger tips. Looking through some photographs related to a New York Times article titled Through Weegee’s Lens got distracted in learning about Jill Freedman. Some of her work can be seen here and here. A couple thoughtful quotes:
"There are days I walk down the street feeling its ugliness on my skin like a sunburn," Ms. Freedman wrote of those times in an unpublished manuscript, "other days when I can hardly catch my breath for the beauty of it."
and
In 1988, Ms. Freedman was found to have breast cancer and had no medical insurance or a regular income. She was successfully treated and then moved to Miami Beach in 1991. "I found that I lost my passion," she said. "I thought, I've got to get away from this place because if I lose this, then I've lost it all."
Below are photos by Jill Freedman. Show her range of interest or her interest to urban activities. For sure, her photography reflects her interest in admiring the reality of her world. The quality of her photography, composition, color, texture, mood, light, is superb. Source of the photos jillfreedman.com.

Coursing

Shorty Sees Giraffes

Might vs Right

Fucking Legs

Jumping Rope

Dancing Dogs

Macdougal Stoop

The article presents a recent photo of Jill Freedman and her view returning to New York as presented below.
Photo: Michael Falco for The New York Times - Five years ago, Ms. Freedman returned to the city, homesick for what she described as "the smart talking and corned beef." She barely recognized the place. "When I saw that they had turned 42nd Street into Disneyland," she said, "I just stood there and wept." Presumably much more is out there to be captured by her Leica. "I'd like to find what's left," Ms. Freedman said.

Tristan and Isolde

2008-04-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

Tristan and Isolde is about a medieval romance legend dating back to the 12th century.

"The Good-Morrow" by John Donne

I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I
Did, till we lov'd? Were we not wean'd till then?
But suck'd on countrey pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seaven sleepers den?
T'was so; But this, all pleasures fancies bee.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir'd, and got, 'twas but a dreame of thee.

And now good morrow to our waking soules,
Which watch not one another out of feare;
For love, all love of other sights controules,
And makes one little roome, an every where.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let Maps to other, worlds on worlds have showne,
Let us possesse one world; each hath one, and is one.

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appeares,
And true plaine hearts doe in the faces rest,
Where can we finde two better hemispheares
Without sharpe North, without declining West?
What ever dyes, was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike, that none doe slacken, none can die.

Ildefonso Cerda

2008-04-29T21:52:00.001-07:00

Here we go. Ildefonso Cerda a Catalan urban planner known for his work of urban Ensanche. Photo and bio located in Wikipedia.

April 26, 2008 Houston weekend

2008-04-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

A very unexpected weekend. Saturday morning had to attend the program the the Houston Library has at their Heights branch on the history of the Houston Heights and Woodland Heights "Houston Heights Lecture Series. A nice research put together by staff of the library and presented by the author of A Tale of Two Heights Margaret Culbertson, Connie Rose from the public library who spoke on "Houston Heights: The Way We Were" and Leta Fae Arnold who at 79 years old gave a lively talk on what was life growing up in the Heights.

Not intending I ended up visiting a good friend Jay Hamburger at the Winter Street Studios. It was a fab number of studios open to the public, a show case of art and also had an exhibit on China from Fotofest. Had the chance to see some fun art work, in particular Jay's, Richard, Becky's.

And all lead to visit a gallery with a good friend so he can pick up a new art work he purchased from Sue Burke Harrington. Below is the art that my friend purchased:

After that was Da Camera to listen to some jazz, some unique jazz by Vijay Iyer and his quartet. The last couple compositions were superb.

As usual Sunday started with a walk around Memorial Park with friends and the topic of politics. The surprise was to find a group of people practicing samba at the local park. Good idea to check with their activities because they named me their official photographer at the Houston International Festival and had the pleasure to spend the afternoon exploring an energetic and cross cultural festival. Starting with my samba friends. Candice the smiley girl on the right was the quick thinker and asked me to take their photos. They were the life of the festival. So glad they get to practice close to my place every week. I am looking forwards to spending time sharing their happy dancing.

Interesting surprise to experience the art of The Renegades and Their Collection of Carnies. There very creative and talented belly dancer. Doing the belly dancing thing at the tunes of Edith Piaf?
And here is Luna. I think she was born to be on stage doing theater. Very talented.
Luna and Jessie. Now Jessie is a pleasant surprise. Of the stage she is shy and coy. On stage she is another Jessie. Luna is the more expressive one, she is a reflection of what she sees and feels. Nice photo of the two, more together than separate.
Have not see the sensuality that the three express before. They have an inner balance with their art, sensuality and with each other. YET on the photo below expresses more of her inner self than externalities. She indicated that she is also a painter.
One of my favorite photos. I find Jessie the most intriguing and the one with the most kind heart. She does not open to the world but creates a bond between her self, her performance and her dancing mates. A very gentle and sensual spirit. Looking forwards to seeing more of their art.

A very interesting gentleman whose name I cannot remember. Originated in Louisiana and a promoter of African culture/history. Glad had the chance to visit with him and I am enjoying the licorice root he game me.

Irving Penn

2008-04-26T00:35:00.000-07:00

The work of Irving Penn is superb. It is timeless.

"A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective" by Irving Penn.

Source of photograph yourpaperboats blog.

Kate Moss

2008-04-25T23:34:00.001-07:00

One of them evening conversations at the local cafe with a smart and beautiful Chinese woman who is passionate about modeling. Thus the question arise whether the height of a person is critical to her/his success in the world of modeling. She mentioned the name of Kate Moss as an example of a not tall model. Kate Moss is about 5'5". So, what does it make a model a great model? Perhaps not so much what are the standards that make for a professional model but the ability of a model to promote him/herself to success. Following are photos published by LUMQ.com of Kate Moss.
Beautiful she might not be but she is attractive. Should we admire her for her external beauty or should we admire the quality of the photographer. Following are photos I may consider for their artistic value more than the model but maybe not.
Here her portrait. Perhaps after a day in the sun, the object is in her eyes where the photographer focuses the photo allowing the edges to fade away. Nice photo, it depicts a part of the model. Is her 5.5 frame significant? Not in this situation since the texture and expression is most striking.
© Chuck Close, 2003

A softer side of Kate Moss, a more beautiful composition. Beautiful and full lips with very attractive face and hair. Nice physical shape/composition, more natural than sexy. Among all qualities of her beauty her feet and hands stand out. Perhaps because of the photo and how they line up but her feet and hands look elongated, a vivid contrast to her face.
© Albert Watson, Vogue, 1993

Almost the same look as the photo above, serious, expressionless. Her undulating hair is now without life. Beautiful composition, light, and form. The roundness of her breast, arms and back contrast to the over extending foot with toes down and out of the photo. Then the more detailed hand, supporting with rigidity. Perhaps her pose shows proportionality of her physique, petite torso and legs when compared to her face. A very nice photo, in particular the light and texture.
© Irving Penn, 1996

Very interesting contrast to observe only her torso. The fluidity of form and pose replaced with a rigid stand and closed arms in distinct act of contrition or rejection. Not a particular proportionate body. Broad shoulders, high waste line, elongated torso, and unassuming buttocks. Her arms and hands a bit overpowering contrasting to the roundness of her breast. Her hair bringing some balance. Two very unique and creative shots.
© Chuck Close, 2003

And a contrasting photo with color, shape, form, unassuming looks and a self-assured pose. She appears petite balanced with a strong personality. Too bad the photographer was not listed although it appears it was taken by Corrine Day.
© Vogue, 1993

April 23, 2008 Madrilena

2008-04-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

What is life but to be able to love as much as you can and to give as much as you can without any expectations or returns.

What is life but living every moment of our days, loving the memories of the past, while dreaming the surprises that the future will bring with every sunrise.

Be full of joy because you have loved and continue to love. But don't forget to love yourself first because by loving oneself we learn to measure the love of others.

As the day goes by and past memories torment your soul, be happy. You have loved as much as you were able to love but not enough as you will love.

Smile and dream of that moment when you will wake up to a warm and sunny day; a day you will share with a greater love. A love that will return your smiles, embrace you, and never let you go (until the end of times).

April 20, 2008 Fatima Bhutto

2008-04-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

Photo and biography of Fatima Bhutto are published by Wikipedia A lovely name Fatima for a very unique and admirable woman. Fatima Bhutto is the daughter of Murtaza Bhutto a Pakistani politician who was assassinated when she was 14 years old. Fatima was born in Afghanistan (May 29, 1982) and resides in Pakistan. Her first literary publication was a collection of poems written between 1995 and 1997 titled Whispers of The Desert. Second published book is 8:50 Am October 8, 2005, Stories of Hope and Courage from the Earthquake in Pakistan.

Clip about Fatima's father

Following is a clip of Fatima reading from the 8:50 AM October 8 book.

Couple other photos of Fatima Bhutto

April 20, 2008 New York, The Pope Blessed Ground Zero

2008-04-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

Following three pictures and related text were published by the New York Times. It is a significant gesture of recognition for the Pope to bless the site where 2,600 people were murdered. It also makes me wonder if this is the only site where that many number of people have recently been murdered. The photo of the people standing on the tables is superb, an unexpected motion in "making a stand."
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image. The clouds hung low at ground zero before Pope Benedict XVI would bless the site where more than 2,600 people were killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center more than six years ago.
Photo: Tyler Hicks/The New York Times. People paused to catch a glimpse of the pope's visit to Ground Zero.

Perhaps it is not about the number of people murdered at the World Trade Center but what it represents. Following is a list of massacres that occurred since 1980s as listed by this site. In it the following statement can be found, in reference to the last quarter of the 20th century:
Average: During this period, throughout the world, wars, genocide and oppression killed approximately 3,300 out of every 1,000,000 people. (0.3% of the world.)
El Salvador 1980-92 / 60,000 people
Nicaragua 1980s / 30,000 people
Liberia 1989-93 / 150,000 people
Congo 1998 / 2,000,000 people
Angola 1975-95 / 600,000 people
Burundi 1993-96 / 150,000 people
Mozambique 1975-92 / 1,000,000 people
Rwanda 1994 since / 1,000,000 people
Uganda 1982-85 / 300,000 people
Somalia 1980s / 300,000 people
Ethiopia 1962-91 / 1,500,000 people
Sudan 1983 since / 2,000,000 people
Gulf War 1991 / 10,000 people
Lebanon 1975-90 / 150,000 people
Bosnia 1992-95 / 150,000 people
Kurds 1980-92 / 300,000 people
Iran-Iraq 1980-1992 / 1,000,000 people
Afghanistan 1980-1989 / 1,500,000 people
Perhaps the significance of the World Trade bombing is that it is the first massacre in North America in a very long time.

Quotes by Mark Twain

2008-04-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

Following are quote attributed to Mark Twain:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.

Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.

If you have nothing to say, say nothing.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear -- not absence of fear.

The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.

I am different from [George] Washington; I have a higher, grander standard of principle. Washington could not lie. I can lie, but I won't.

Classic -- a book which people praise and don't read.

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

April 14, 2008 Iraq war, Sadr City

2008-04-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

Photo and text published by the New York Times. Could not help but wonder if water in Iraq is like soil because them buckets of water look more like buckets of sand.
Photo: Joao Silva for The New York Times
Iraqis tried to put out the fire that raged through an outdoor market Monday. A crowd of Iraqis came streaming to the site with buckets of water to try to prevent the conflagration from spreading. A lone Sadr City fire truck arrived after the fire was out, its journey apparently delayed by the need to circumvent a bomb-filled stretch of road.

2008 March weekend in Houston

2008-03-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Friday night with visiting Jones Hall for a performance of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company in Chapel/Chapter. Modern dance. A very intense presentation with fantastic choreography. The light show was superb along with visual art shown in the backdrop and floor. Music was out of this world. Live performance of instruments along with voice/chanting of exquisite sound. The script was a bit strong. Can see their work at

Saturday day participating in the Senatorial District Republican Convention. An honor to participate in the political process and experience first hand how it works. Interesting to observe the work done by all and evolution of the convention to its final outcome. Surprised that many people are not familiar with Roberts Rules of Order and about the convention process (goals, objectives). Also intrigued about few points of view. One from a Hispanic individual who is anti-immigration. Another defending the US right to defend its sovereignty to the expenses of other countries sovereignty - does it make sense? We want others to respect our right to exist but we do not respect their right to exist? And why would building a wall along the borders would be a good idea?

A quick evening break for the arts at the local coffee shop Antidote. A very pleasant coffee shop. The event "Portraits of Home" - an exhibit of two young artists, Jessica Ninci and Jasmina Jasarevic. Their work is very distinct and talented. The program was put together by Robin from The Arts Initiative.

And a quick turn around to the Wortham Theater Center for a jazz performance of McCoy Tyner Trio. Simply superb. From the subtle sound of the instruments to energetic chords. A great performance. Can hear McCoy playing at

So leaves Sunday morning for a political and religious discussion with a local political consultant while walking Memorial Park. A pleasant intellectual discussion among people exercising and nature with the obtrusive sound of cars going by. But noting the beauty of wild flowers blooming all over the park with beautiful reds and blues.

March 24, 2008 Something & Wonderful Tonight

2008-03-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the same woman George Harrison and Eric Clapton composed "Something" and "Wonderful Tonight" a decade apart.

Something in the way she moves
Attracts me like no other lover
Something in the way she woos me

I don't want to leave her now
You know I believe her now

Somewhere in her smile she knows
That I don't need no other lover
Something in her style that shows me

Don't want to leave her now
You know I believe her now

You're asking me will my love grow
I don't know, I don't know
You stick around now it may show
I don't know, I don't know

Something in the way she knows
And all I have to do is think of her
Something in the things she shows me

Don't want to leave her now
You know I believe her now

Its late in the evening
Shes wondering what clothes to wear
She puts on her make up
And brushes her long blond hair
And then she asks me
Do I look alright
And I say yes, you look wonderful tonight

We go a party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That's walking around with me
And then she asks me
Do you feel alright
And I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight

I feel wonderful
Because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize
How much I love you

Its time to go home now
And Ive got an aching head
So I give her the car keys
She helps me to bed
And then I tell her
As I turn out the light
I say my darling, you were wonderful tonight
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight

March 24, 2008 Easter at the Schindlers

2008-03-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

Gathering of the three amigos. OK, it was more than three but they look like amigos. As an introduction, a legendary song performed by a legendary lady, Mercedes Sosa, titled Los Mareados (in Carolina's tango style).

For those of us with limited language abilities, here are some truncated lyrics:

Esta noche: amiga mia
el alcohol nos ha embriagado,
que me importa que se rian,
que nos llamen los mareados;
cada cual tiene sus penas y
nosotros las tenemos,
esta noche viviremos...

First is Mr. Easter Bunny perched in his favorite basket.

Then is Miss Bunny, oops, sorry, Mrs. Schindler after a couple drinks. Oops again, just having a good time. (Confession, she always wanted to be a bunny, Playboy bunny that is.)

Got to honorably mention Mrs. Bunny's floral talents...

And at the other end of the table, Mr. "King" Rabbit. (Confession and quote "When I married Mrs. Bunny I was looking forwards to the many parties she would have but it was not until we moved to the Schindler's First Ward studio to have them." HINT: Mrs. Bunny, it is OK to have more than one Easter party per year.

Comments not needed else might find me-self on the chopping blocks.

Yep, never seat close to the camera.

Mr. Kiwi in person enjoying the company.

Oh. Sorry Mrs. Bunny. We just have to share some expressions for "friendship's" sake.

That was the after shot. Here is the before.

For additional drinks try the livingstreets link.
Happy Easter. It was a memorable outdoor dinner party at the Schindlers.

Geneviève Van der Wielen

2008-03-18T16:22:00.001-07:00

Geneviève Van der Wielen a French painter with a very unique style, good mastery of her media and compositions perhaps a bit disturbing. Can read more about her and see more of her work at Geneviève's site.

Before "remember El Alamo" was Mexico

2008-03-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

Prior to Spain conquering Texas, Texas was inhabited by natives. In the 1520s Spain begins its incursion of Texas. Álvarez de Pineda was followed by Pánfilo de Narváez in exploring Florida and Texas. Eventually only four Spanish explorers survive,Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Andrés Dorantes de Carranza, Estevanico, and Alonso Castillo Maldonadoqqv, reaching Mexico City in 1536. Cabeza de Vaca was the first to write about native Texans such as the Mariames, Avavares, and Yguaces. In the 1540s Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, Hernando De Soto, and Luis de Moscoso Alvarado added to the exploration of Texas and surrounding areas.
As the Spanish crown begins to exploit New Spain it begins to conquer natives through presidios and the establishment of Catholic missions (Franciscan order). Colonization of the new territories is continued by private enterprises. In 1595 Juan de Oñate receives the first contract to occupy New Mexico beginning a series of private incursions. In 1680 the Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico forced relocation of settlements to Texas territories.
In the 1680 a navigation error by René Robert Cavelier (Sieur de La Salle) brings the attention of Spain over French colonists but La Salle's colony failed due to harsh conditions found in Texas. In 1690 San Francisco de los Tejas was the first mission established in East Texas. Later in 1710s Father Francisco Hidalgo requests the assistance of the French colonies located in Louisiana to extend his mission work in east Texas. Louis Juchereau de St. Denis was assigned the incursion of France into Texas which eventually forced Spain to permanently occupy the Texas territory.
In 1721 Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo, a wealthy gentleman and experience soldier, is sent to re-establish missions in East Texas bringing with him large number of herds thus beginning ranching in Texas and the end of French claims of Texas and eventual session of Louisiana to Spain in 1762. Then King of Spain Charles III ordered Marqués de Rubí to assess Texas leading to declaring San Antonio as the capital of Texas. Over time Spain continues to struggle establishing control over Texas opting for populating the area with Spaniards against the establishment of English men, Americans and native Texans. In 1811 José Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara and Augustus W. Magee declare the independence of the state of Texas starting a conflict between Spain and Texans. However, the Mexican War of Independence of 1821 makes Texas part of the new nation of Mexico.
José Antonio Navarro, a prominent Mexican, represented Coahuila and Texas to the Mexican congress and in 1835 supported Texas statehood and eventual indipendence. Navarro, his uncle José Francisco Ruiz, and Lorenzo de Zavala were the only three Mexicans included in signing the Texas Declaration of Independence. Navarro was an advocate of Tejano rights against the contempt of Anglo-Texans. He also advocated the annexation of Texas to the United Stated and was the only Hispanic delegate to the 1845 Convention in which Texas was accepted into the Union.
Navarro and Stephen F. Austin developed a close friendship finding mutual support in their desire to colonize Texas.

In 1823 Stephen F. Austin receives a grant from the Mexican government to colonize the Brazos River. Texas used to be part of Spain and then gained its independence as part of Mexico. Parallel to the history of the US and England, Texas people "Tejanos" were happy being part of Mexico but liked their independence. Then there is a gentleman by the name of Jose Antonio Navarro who was a prominent Tejano. Then was S.F. Austin who discovered the goodness of Texas and invited many Anglos to relocated to Texas. So the many Anglos that relocated to Texas became naturalized Mexicans. Bot Navarro and Austin formed a gret friendship and both were pro Mexicans.
Before David Crockett and El Alamo were the Tejanos who revealed against the control of Santa Anna.
Often
It might also be noted that there may have been a Masonic influence to the adoption of a five-pointed star for Texas. George K. Teulon in Freemasons’ Monthly Magazine in 1844 noted, "Texas is emphatically a Masonic Country; all of our Presidents and Vice-President, and four-fifths of our State Officers were and are Masons: by Freemasonry to illustrate the moral virtues--it is a Five Pointed Star...May it ever bind us in the holy Bond of Fraternal Union and govern our social, Masonic, and Political intercourse."

March 11, 2008 New York, Spitzer given two days to resign

2008-03-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

Photo and excerpts from The Guardian Unlimited. Amazing that a person in office thinks that he is above the law or public moral standards. At what point in time do public officials realize that they have to be role models? And to all due respect to the ladies who "stand by their men" - does it make it better for the wife to stand behind the man who disregarded their relationship? What are they thinking?
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer addresses the media with his wife Silda Wall Spitzer at his side. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
The consequences...
"New York governor Eliot Spitzer was given two days to resign or face calls for his impeachment by New York Republicans yesterday, after federal investigators linked the corruption-fighting politician to a high-price prostitution ring."
As a result of...
"Spitzer was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet a prostitute from a call-girl business, according to law enforcement officials."
His reasoning?
"'I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my - or any - sense of right and wrong," he said. "I apologise to the public, whom I promised better.'"
Interesting to know the expectation that elected him to governorship...
"Spitzer was elected with a historic margin of victory, and took office January 1 2007, vowing to stamp out corruption in New York government in the same way that he took on Wall Street executives while state attorney general."

March 9, 2008 Houston Heights, All Saints Catholic Church

2008-03-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

The celebration of God's creation through the eyes of a world known iconographer Father Robert Lentz and the fortune that the Houston Heights community has in having the passion and inspiration of his iconographic work THE ICON OF THE HOLY TRINITY. It is a testament of God's beautiful work.
Below, Brother Brother Lentz engaged in conversation prior to his talk on "Creating a legacy of art and beauty for All Saints Catholic Church." Father Adam was the instigator in bringing art to All Saints.To experience Brother Lentz is to find passion in his work and the person. As he speaks, he expresses his feelings trough gestures, smiles and tears.
The life work of a person dedicated to his God and his art. Brother Lentz next to The Icon of The Holy Trinity.

Some related links:
Trinity Store sells prints of Brother Lentz work
Brief description of one of Brother Lentz exhibition

Imagine Peace Tower

2008-02-29T05:45:00.001-08:00

To view the world through the eyes of its creator and to admire what was created. Like to view a child through the eyes of his/her progenitors. The world is beautiful and can be full of peace if we want it that way. Following is from Yoko Ono's web page Imagine Peace Tower.
The IMAGINE PEACE TOWER is a work of art conceived by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon.

It is dedicated to peace and bears the inscription 'IMAGINE PEACE' in 24 languages.

Its construction and installation is a collaboration between Yoko Ono, the City of Reykjavik, Reykjavik Art Museum and Reykjavik Energy.

Mimi Farina and Joan Baez

2008-02-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

Nice insight into the life of Mimi Farina, sister of Joan Baez. Reading Mimi's biography is inspirational and very humane.

And a lovely song by Joan Baez.

February 19, 2008 Cuba, Mensaje del Comandante en Jefe

2008-02-19T06:57:00.000-08:00

Letter published by Cuba's Gramma. The English version can be found here.

Mensaje del Comandante en Jefe

Queridos compatriotas:

Les prometí el pasado viernes 15 de febrero que en la próxima reflexión abordaría un tema de interés para muchos compatriotas. La misma adquiere esta vez forma de mensaje.

Ha llegado el momento de postular y elegir al Consejo de Estado, su Presidente, Vicepresidentes y Secretario.

Desempeñé el honroso cargo de Presidente a lo largo de muchos años. El 15 de febrero de 1976 se aprobó la Constitución Socialista por voto libre, directo y secreto de más del 95% de los ciudadanos con derecho a votar. La primera Asamblea Nacional se constituyó el 2 de diciembre de ese año y eligió el Consejo de Estado y su Presidencia. Antes había ejercido el cargo de Primer Ministro durante casi 18 años. Siempre dispuse de las prerrogativas necesarias para llevar adelante la obra revolucionaria con el apoyo de la inmensa mayoría del pueblo.

Conociendo mi estado crítico de salud, muchos en el exterior pensaban que la renuncia provisional al cargo de Presidente del Consejo de Estado el 31 de julio de 2006, que dejé en manos del Primer Vicepresidente, Raúl Castro Ruz, era definitiva. El propio Raúl, quien adicionalmente ocupa el cargo de Ministro de las F.A.R. por méritos personales, y los demás compañeros de la dirección del Partido y el Estado, fueron renuentes a considerarme apartado de mis cargos a pesar de mi estado precario de salud.

Era incómoda mi posición frente a un adversario que hizo todo lo imaginable por deshacerse de mí y en nada me agradaba complacerlo.

Más adelante pude alcanzar de nuevo el dominio total de mi mente, la posibilidad de leer y meditar mucho, obligado por el reposo. Me acompañaban las fuerzas físicas suficientes para escribir largas horas, las que compartía con la rehabilitación y los programas pertinentes de recuperación. Un elemental sentido común me indicaba que esa actividad estaba a mi alcance. Por otro lado me preocupó siempre, al hablar de mi salud, evitar ilusiones que en el caso de un desenlace adverso, traerían noticias traumáticas a nuestro pueblo en medio de la batalla. Prepararlo para mi ausencia, sicológica y políticamente, era mi primera obligación después de tantos años de lucha. Nunca dejé de señalar que se trataba de una recuperación "no exenta de riesgos".

Mi deseo fue siempre cumplir el deber hasta el último aliento. Es lo que puedo ofrecer.

A mis entrañables compatriotas, que me hicieron el inmenso honor de elegirme en días recientes como miembro del Parlamento, en cuyo seno se deben adoptar acuerdos importantes para el destino de nuestra Revolución, les comunico que no aspiraré ni aceptaré - repito- no aspiraré ni aceptaré, el cargo de Presidente del Consejo de Estado y Comandante en Jefe.

En breves cartas dirigidas a Randy Alonso, Director del programa Mesa Redonda de la Televisión Nacional, que a solicitud mía fueron divulgadas, se incluían discretamente elementos de este mensaje que hoy escribo, y ni siquiera el destinatario de las misivas conocía mi propósito. Tenía confianza en Randy porque lo conocí bien cuando era estudiante universitario de Periodismo, y me reunía casi todas las semanas con los representantes principales de los estudiantes universitarios, de lo que ya era conocido como el interior del país, en la biblioteca de la amplia casa de Kohly, donde se albergaban. Hoy todo el país es una inmensa Universidad.

Párrafos seleccionados de la carta enviada a Randy el 17 de diciembre de 2007:

"Mi más profunda convicción es que las respuestas a los problemas actuales de la sociedad cubana, que posee un promedio educacional cercano a 12 grados, casi un millón de graduados universitarios y la posibilidad real de estudio para sus ciudadanos sin discriminación alguna, requieren más variantes de respuesta para cada problema concreto que las contenidas en un tablero de ajedrez. Ni un solo detalle se puede ignorar, y no se trata de un camino fácil, si es que la inteligencia del ser humano en una sociedad revolucionaria ha de prevalecer sobre sus instintos.

"Mi deber elemental no es aferrarme a cargos, ni mucho menos obstruir el paso a personas más jóvenes, sino aportar experiencias e ideas cuyo modesto valor proviene de la época excepcional que me tocó vivir.

"Pienso como Niemeyer que hay que ser consecuente hasta el final."

Carta del 8 de enero de 2008:

"...Soy decidido partidario del voto unido (un principio que preserva el mérito ignorado). Fue lo que nos permitió evitar las tendencias a copiar lo que venía de los países del antiguo campo socialista, entre ellas el retrato de un candidato único, tan solitario como a la vez tan solidario con Cuba. Respeto mucho aquel primer intento de construir el socialismo, gracias al cual pudimos continuar el camino escogido."

"Tenía muy presente que toda la gloria del mundo cabe en un grano de maíz", reiteraba en aquella carta.

Traicionaría por tanto mi conciencia ocupar una responsabilidad que requiere movilidad y entrega total que no estoy en condiciones físicas de ofrecer. Lo explico sin dramatismo.

Afortunadamente nuestro proceso cuenta todavía con cuadros de la vieja guardia, junto a otros que eran muy jóvenes cuando se inició la primera etapa de la Revolución. Algunos casi niños se incorporaron a los combatientes de las montañas y después, con su heroísmo y sus misiones internacionalistas, llenaron de gloria al país. Cuentan con la autoridad y la experiencia para garantizar el reemplazo. Dispone igualmente nuestro proceso de la generación intermedia que aprendió junto a nosotros los elementos del complejo y casi inaccesible arte de organizar y dirigir una revolución.

El camino siempre será difícil y requerirá el esfuerzo inteligente de todos. Desconfío de las sendas aparentemente fáciles de la apologética, o la autoflagelación como antítesis. Prepararse siempre para la peor de las variantes. Ser tan prudentes en el éxito como firmes en la adversidad es un principio que no puede olvidarse. El adversario a derrotar es sumamente fuerte, pero lo hemos mantenido a raya durante medio siglo.

No me despido de ustedes. Deseo solo combatir como un soldado de las ideas. Seguiré escribiendo bajo el título "Reflexiones del compañero Fidel" . Será un arma más del arsenal con la cual se podrá contar. Tal vez mi voz se escuche. Seré cuidadoso.

Gracias

Fidel Castro Ruz
18 de febrero de 2008
5 y 30 p.m.

Friend of Valentine

2008-02-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

Two very unique and memorable messages that awaken my curiosity and admiration.

May you relish in mutual love with Life!

Merry Christmas and best wishes to you.

Ron Paul and his message

2008-02-07T05:04:00.000-08:00

There is a point in time when an immigrant decides to accept a new country as his/her new country. Immigrants throughout history have progressed because the alternative to turn back is not a choice. We, immmigrants, have to succeed and we are willing to work hard to achieve it. When we contiously select to become US citizens we accept the basic values that the US was founded upon. Our experiences in our birth countries allow us to appreciate the principles of freedom because we raise our right hand and sware to uphold them:

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundations on such Principles and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to Them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

As American citizens we have the most important right, which is the right to exercise our vote with independence of thought. We expect others to respect us as individuals as we must respect others, even when our opinions my be different. But we must be critical and cast our votes in particular when personal liberties are infringed.

One person, one vote. This is more powerful than any weapon. Some people disregard their vote while others cast it. Why would a nation pay so little attention to our precious "right to vote" and not defend it? We all must defend the right that all citizens have, the right to vote, no matter for what side they vote. (See video below)

The US is a great nation because of its people; because in time of need and in critical times people rise up to the call of duty and stand together and strong on the principles which it was founded. This is why a candidate like Dr. Ron Paul stands strong and unites. While others disregard personal freedoms and the rights of others, even those of other countries and citizens of those countries, Dr. Paul questions our current state of affairs and reminds us that America was founded on "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" for all, not just American citizens but for all citizens of the world.

While some people choose to mock and laugh at Dr. Paul, it is encouraging that Dr. Paul stands proud and confident in face of that mockery because he knows he stands on the principles of America and he knows Americans stand with him. (See video below)

As we grow individually and as a nation perhaps we should considere the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller:

"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."

When people come after others, like the media mocks Dr. Paul or citizens are prevented from voting, we must speak up because they are comming after us and our alienable rights.

Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights

2008-02-06T05:38:00.001-08:00

Source: Wikipedia
El Jardín de las Delicias es la obra cumbre del pintor holandés El Bosco que forma parte de los fondos de exposición permanente del Museo del Prado de Madrid. Es un tríptico, cuyas medidas son de 206 x 386 cm, compuesto por una tabla central y dos laterales pintadas a ambos lados en óleo sobre tabla, que se pueden cerrar. En la historia del arte es considerada como una de las obras más fascinantes, misteriosas y atrayentes.
Se trata de una obra de gran simbolismo, que todavía no ha sido completamente descifrada; como el Carro del Heno y el Juicio Final, el Jardín de las Delicias se sustrae a cualquier clasificación iconográfica tradicional. Sin embargo, se acepta que la obra tuviera una intención moralizante comprensible por la gente de la época, ya que, por ejemplo, Felipe II, alguien poco sospechoso de herejía, estuvo interesado en el cuadro y lo adquirió.

January 30, 2008 US 2008 GOP Presidential Debate

2008-01-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

As published by the New York Times, "before and now." While the media ignores Ron Paul, Dr. Paul continues to move along the process.
Full House: All the Republican on stage at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library before the first G.O.P. debate in May. (Photo: Monica Almeida/The New York Times)
A More Intimate Gathering: Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, John McCain and Mitt Romney (Photo: Monica Almeida/The New York Times)

January 28, 2008 (Bolivia) Juan Carlos Calderón, 50 años de arquitecto

2008-01-28T08:18:00.000-08:00

Article and photo below were published by La Prensa. I can remember as a child admiring his paintings, photos, and architecture - an early and significant influence in my life for selecting engineering as a career and my love for creativity and urbanism. It was always a pleasant moment to encounter Juan Carlos visiting Lucila "la madrina" when I was living at "el castillo." He was always nicely dressed with a predominantly brown color, a pleasant smile, and kind tone of voice.
So glad to hear about him and the success he has had in doing what he loves.

Juan Carlos Calderón, 50 años de arquitecto
“La Paz es una ciudad estancada arquitectónicamente”

En un mercado de pulgas de México halló hace ya mucho tiempo una imagen plana de plástico de Frank Lloyd Wright, en un tapete de cachivaches en el suelo. De inmediato su mente lo devolvió a la década de 1940, cuando a sus ocho años su padre le había mostrado un artículo de la revista Readers Digest sobre el gran arquitecto estadounidense. “Siempre supe que sería arquitecto, hago diseños, trazos y dibujos desde que tengo memoria”. La nota estaba acompañada por la misma imagen de Wright, risueño y gesticulante de aquel mercado, tal como se lo ve ahora, casi 70 años después, en un anaquel de su biblioteca.

Desde su estudio en el séptimo piso de un edificio de Sopocachi, zona céntrica y tradicional en la que Juan Carlos Calderón vivió gran parte de su vida, se ven en perspectiva decenas de edificios y casas que forman ese “collage arquitectónico” que es la sede del Gobierno, ciudad que tanto ama, que tanto lo conmueve y a la que ve “trancada” en el siglo XIX debido a un extremo conservadurismo en sus edificaciones.

Considerado el mejor arquitecto boliviano de las últimas décadas, recién cumplidos sus 75 años, Calderón se mantiene en constante actividad y en su escritorio se aprecia una media docena de planos con trazos y ejercicios. “Un buen profesional de la arquitectura nunca olvida el lápiz, más allá de las facilidades de la tecnología”.

Apasionado al hablar de su arte, y con una especial emoción por la conjunción de fechas —este 2008 celebra 50 años de carrera y 35 de su retorno al país— el responsable de monumentales construcciones, como el Palacio de Comunicaciones, los edificios de la Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF), Hansa, Alianza Francesa y Entel, entre tantos otros, hace un recuento de medio siglo de labor, lamenta algunos “crímenes contra el sentido común”, que según él se cometieron al diseñar algunas obras urbanísticas en el centro paceño, y comenta los secretos y evoluciones del oficio que Leonardo Da Vinci llamó la madre de todas las artes.

—Su próxima exposición artística se llamará “35, 50, 70”, por una afortunada coincidencia de números redondos.

—Así es, pero antes tendré otra muestra pequeña que se inaugurará este miércoles 30 en la galería de la CAF, allí mostraremos láminas y planos sobre el proceso de diseño de este edificio que lo trabajamos entre 2004 y 2007.

La otra muestra, que se inaugura el 12 de febrero en la Alianza Francesa, es una retrospectiva que se basa en el hecho de que hace poco cumplí 75 años de vida, estoy cumpliendo 50 años de ejercer la arquitectura y 35 desde que regresé a Bolivia. Vine desde Estados Unidos en 1972, para terminar la casa de unos parientes y me quedé porque me salieron dos proyectos, los edificios de Entel de La Paz y Oruro.

Habrá además mesas redondas y charlas con varios colegas, y se mostrarán maquetas, fotografías, láminas y planos de tantos años de trabajo.

— Mirando hacia atrás, ¿cuáles son sus sensaciones, después de tantos años de labor?

—Antes que nada, siento que la vida pasa muy rápido (ríe), pero además estoy satisfecho por haber logrado algo y, sobre todo, por haberlo hecho en Bolivia, porque acá los arquitectos ganamos muy poco si es que no ponemos una empresa constructora.

Si me quedaba en EEUU, seguro tendría cuatro o cinco casas, pero sería un hombre frustrado. Si regresé a Bolivia —y de ello no me arrepiento— es porque en este país todavía hay humanismo en todas las áreas, algo difícil de hallar en el primer mundo, donde todo, hasta los hombres, está robotizado.

—¿Hay algún proyecto en especial que no haya podido realizar?

—Siempre me quedaría la espina por no haber podido terminar el Museo de las Artes Populares en Laikakota. Por falta de financiamiento y de condiciones, sólo se hizo el Kusillo, que es la quinta parte del plano original. Creo que hubiese sido un hito para La Paz.

—¿Y los planes para el futuro? Porque aún se le nota mucha energía.

—Por ahora estoy diseñando dos casas particulares, pero lo que más me entusiasma es un nuevo edificio prefectural en Tarija, que creo que puede ser algo muy especial.

—¿Cómo concibe a la arquitectura?

—Es el arte de organizar el espacio, es la expresión mayor de cada cultura y civilización. Te voy a contar mi filosofía sobre la arquitectura, que no varió en todos estos 50 años: un buen profesional debe organizar los espacios físico (funcionalidad), psicológico (que el edificio te haga sentir bien) y espiritual (que trascienda).

— ¿Cómo cambió este arte en estas últimas cinco décadas?

—Se incluyó en varias filosofías del pensamiento moderno. Desde el funcionalismo hasta el high tech, o alta tecnología, que se basa en las posibilidades de la computadora, pasando por el organicismo planteado por Frank Lloyd Wrigth, que es mi mayor referente; el estilo internacional, y luego una serie de ismos que son modas pasajeras y poco consistentes.

Indudablemente, el desarrollo de la tecnología y la ingeniería son importantes, pero no esenciales, porque la arquitectura debe ser atemporal, más allá de lo que pueda reflejarse por las posibilidades que dan las computadoras. El tiempo es el mejor juez de la arquitectura. Si una obra sigue vigente 30, 40 o 50 años después, es porque realmente vale.

—A propósito, ¿cómo se imagina a La Paz en el futuro?

—Depende del criterio de nuestros próximos alcaldes. Ojalá no se repitan algunos desaciertos, como la destrucción de San Francisco, que para mí es uno de los grandes crímenes de los últimos tiempos. El corazón de La Paz no pudo haber sido afectado de peor manera que con esa enorme pasarela, y el mercado Lanza, que se comerá media plaza de los Héroes.

La Paz tiene todo para ser una urbe hermosa, pero siempre y cuando se respete su naturaleza, su columna vertebral que empieza precisamente en San Francisco y continúa por el Obelisco, los monumentos a Bolívar, Colón y Sucre. La plaza Isabel la Católica, la estatua de Confucio en San Jorge, la Loba de Obrajes, Artigas en la Ballivián y, al final, la gasolinera donde acaba esta avenida en la zona Sur.

Si no se sigue esta secuencia lógica, la ciudad seguirá siendo un collage de construcciones caóticas. Y ojo que la arquitectura en La Paz está estancada en el siglo XIX, debido a la inseguridad de la gente que no se anima a modernizarse, que prefiere estilos barrocos o republicanos que en teoría dan estatus.

—Volviendo nuevamente a su arte, ¿cómo trabaja en un proyecto arquitectónico, desde su concepción?

—Generalmente, primero me hacen un requerimiento, y cuando ya sé a qué apuntar, empiezo a organizar los espacios, como ya conté antes. Luego empieza la etapa de los dibujos a escala, y siempre en base a rectángulos, pues así es como esbozo los diseños.

Una vez que digiero visualmente el proyecto, lo asumo mentalmente y luego de pulir los detalles en relación con tamaños, orientaciones y todo lo ligado al terreno, entonces viene la imaginación.

—¿Cuáles de sus trabajos le son más entrañables?

—Humm… Eso es como preguntar “¿cuál es tu hijo preferido?” (Ríe.) Estoy muy satisfecho con el edificio Hansa y con el Palacio de las Comunicaciones. El primero porque está en una inmejorable ubicación, es esbelto, lúcido y expresa muy bien mi filosofía arquitectónica; el otro porque creo que fue un gran acierto en no haber hecho la mole de tantos pisos a la altura de la acera, pues habría opacado al Obelisco.

—¿Cuáles son sus referentes en el oficio?

—Nadie más que Wright. Pero hablando de los grandes arquitectos, en Bolivia hay y hubo varios: Antonio Camponovo, quien salvó la Catedral de La Paz cuando a principios del siglo XX un cura jesuita quería volverla en estilo neogótico; la gran estrella de las primeras décadas del siglo pasado fue Emilio Villanueva, y debo mencionar además a Adán Sánchez, quien hizo el Palacio de Justicia, y Luis Perrín, quien hizo la Facultad de Medicina.

—¿Cómo es Juan Carlos Calderón hombre?

—Soy tremendamente solitario. Tengo una muy buena vida interior y no me aburro conmigo mismo, y creo que ése es uno de los grandes secretos de la vida. Estoy convencido de que todo se debe a que amo lo que hago, porque, para vivir bien, la profesión y el hobby deben ser la misma cosa.

Perfil

Nació en La Paz en 1932. Estudió arquitectura en Estados Unidos, en la Universidad de Oklahoma. Allí trabajó de 1958 a 1972 con varios asociados, entre ellos Jack Nusbaum & Associates. Entre sus obras se destacan el edificio Hansa, el Palacio de Comunicaciones, el hotel Plaza, los edificios Illimani I y II, el edificio de USAID, Entel Oruro y La Paz, Soboce, Gisbert, el Museo de Niños Kusillo, la Alianza Francesa en La Paz, El Puente en Tarija y el edificio de la Corporación Andina de Fomento.

Ha enseñado en universidades de Estados Unidos y Bolivia. Ha escrito ampliamente sobre el tema urbano y su obra ha sido publicada en varios países. Obtuvo varios premios, como Catedrático del Año en la Facultad de Arquitectura de La Florida A&M University en Tallahassee, Florida (1986-1988); la Gran Orden de la Educación Boliviana (1990); Mención Especial por toda la Obra, con el Premio Gabriela Mistral de la OEA (1991); Medalla de Oro del Colegio de Arquitectos de Bolivia (1995) y en 2005 recibió el Premio Nacional de Cultura.

Billy Joel's Honesty and Ron Paul

2008-01-27T06:48:00.000-08:00

In the current world of politics, where politicians are dishonest with the voters and support criminal policies that aim to personal gain at the expense of the hearth and its people, here comes Ron Paul whose honesty and sincerity sets him apart from the common political leaders. Thus the song by Billy Joel, Honesty appeals so much to those of us who find his honesty inspiring and energising.

Max Webster - Astonish Me

2008-01-18T06:02:00.000-08:00

could you explain to a simple man / why you always have to back away
when something in your eyes / is asking me to make you stay
let's say we're lost in a sudden storm / and settle down into the night
we're still a universe away / but it's alright
when we connect with a lightning look / it's frightening strong
i can almost feel us falling
love is awake and it says / we're circling far too long
get off that air of mystery / reach down into your silence
and astonish me / astonish me
get off that forlorn majesty / come down into this current
and astonish me / astonish me

Yamakasi, fantastic...

2008-01-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

Melissa Theuriau

2008-01-09T10:17:00.000-08:00

Not only her beautiful look but her performance and tonality in announcing the news.

Can also visit Istanbul with her below. Bon voyage.

Couple other nice links can be found at maioush.com and funtasticus.com.

December 31, 2007 My 70 Year Old Husband Who Has Never Voted Wants Me To Post This

2007-12-31T19:48:00.000-08:00

How sweet, as sweet as the taste of victory. Published by dailypaul.com. A fantastic way to start the year. Ron Paul is truly invigorating and brings hope to this great country.

My 70 Year Old Husband Who Has Never Voted Wants Me To Post This:
Posted December 31st, 2007 by dgn4paul

My husband is nearly 70 years old and has never registered to vote (until now - he just sent in his paperwork for voting registration). These are his words (with spelling & grammar corrected):

I'm seventy years old and never voted, I can't say I'm proud of it, but our politics are so corrupt and no President ever does what they say. I finally saw some hope with Ron Paul. But I guess Iowa, New Hampshire and all the news people are going to make sure he doesn't have a chance. It looks like to me that all candidates should have the same time in the debates, not the one the big corporations, New Hampshire and Iowa want. I am a veteran and I feel sorry for the soldiers coming from Iraq. I dare any high politician, congressman, or the President or the media to go unannounced with me to the VA. There would be some change if they did. It is time to take this country over and stop these rich politicians from running our lives.

(Please excuse my English and the way I worded things. I'm not very educated. I had to work all my life (since I was about 9 years old) and didn't get to finish school. My wife put this on the internet for me.)

Sincerely,
Stephen A. Nevil
Seagoville, TX

November 11, 2006 Manhattan Madonna & 9/11

2007-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

Picture and excerpt from article published by Media with Conscience. A later related article can also be found here. The Manhattan Madonna is a very interesting art work and pleasant at first view.

Manhattan Madonna & 9/11

MANHATTAN MADONNA is a huge painting that I have recently completed as part of a series of Madonna and Child paintings based on major cities. The Manhattan Madonna has a fundamental message that the most profound beauty and truth in our world is that of Mother and Child and that this beauty and truth transcends the greatest works of Man.

This truism for decent people must be endlessly re-stated because it is so blatantly ignored in our present globalized, Bush-ite-led Spaceship Earth in which 10.6 million under-5 year old infants die every year, 29,000 daily and about 90% avoidably due to man-made deprivation and First World greed.

The 9/11 tragedy took the lives of 3,000 ordinary people like ourselves. Unlike other homicide events, in this case the culprits (Muslim-origin terrorists, Americans, Israelis?) have not yet been apprehended, tried and punished. Instead the world has been treated to years of hysterical propaganda, anti-Arab anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and horrendous war and suffering imposed on the Middle East and Central Asia. However the Bush War on Terror that followed 9/11 has been associated with a total of 3.0 million post-invasion excess deaths (avoidable deaths, deaths that did not have to happen) in the Occupied Iraqi and Afghan Territories, 0.9 million excess deaths in Occupied Iraq and 2.1 million excess deaths in Occupied Afghanistan (see MWC News).

Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

2007-12-27T10:08:00.000-08:00

First read this quote attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller while visiting the Holocaust Museum in Boston, actually walking through the New England Holocaust Memorial, photo above. It has been in my mind ever since.

In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."

December 28, 2007 Bhutto Assassinated in Attack on Rally

2007-12-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

Early morning news for the US, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. A bit amazing to learn about her with a history of "events." Just wonder what is the right that makes people like Mrs. Bhutto risk the lives of others? Does her message warrants the lives of others?
On a more positive note is the work of her niece Fatima Bhutto, additional info about her here. A very nice article by her is These are Strange Times where links to four other of her articles are found. Here is a lovely paragraph from her article titled Welcome to Tehran.

A man on the road held out two pomegranates in his palms, one was sliced open. He shouted out the price for a piece of fruit. Cars slowed down to bargain with the pomegranate seller and I looked at my taxi driver, trying to find a common language in which to ask why this man was selling only what he could hold in his hand. The taxi driver nodded his head and pointed a few feet ahead of the pomegranate man - there were families sitting by the road, on the hoods of their cars, eating pomegranate and drinking tea. There was a truck full of the fruit parked by the picnickers. The taxi driver nodded again towards the truck, "For you?" he asked. I put my hand to my heart and shook my head, touched, "no thank you."

Another very human paragraph is found in her article titled Welcome to Tehran.

After a pleasant Iran Air flight I landed at Mehrabad International Airport. A sign greeted me: Welcome to Tehran, Fati. I am not a nervous flier, but I am a nervous traveler. As I walked towards the departure gate at Karachi's Jinnah airport, my mother kissed me and sensing my apprehension at the journey ahead held my face and said, "You're going to your country, safe travels". She was not wrong. As I sat in the taxi and drove off towards North Tehran, I felt wholly at home. The foothills of the Alborz mountains were laced with snow, but there was a warmth in Tehran I could not have imagined.

And to add to the repertoire of Fatima Bhutto, the articles include a couple photos that are most telling:
Fatima (left) with interpreter Samira (right) posing with Shah's boots at Sa'ad Abad Palace in Tehran.
Girl selling flowers on the way to Behesht Zahra (photo 2002, Ali Moayedian).
And a different photo of her from Nasi Khan blog. Her facial features more serious offer a contrast to her smile in the first photo.

Tomomi

2007-11-30T14:41:00.000-08:00

A very gentle, happy and lovely Japanese lady living in Hong Kong and loves to work with dragons in the sky.

loving you not

2007-11-30T13:21:00.000-08:00

turning a new page...

reality
love you not

memory focused on you
time brings enjoyable you
traitor thoughts dwell in you

even
perfect moments become you

but you, you
because there is no other you

else
memory would be no more
time would be now

even
thoughts would touch

you
love you not
you are not

you never existed
but in the mind

Novermber 24, 2007 Houston Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo

2007-11-25T11:48:00.000-08:00

Related article and photos from the Houston Chronicle. I have been blessed with the friendship of Father Adam McClosky and it is a joy to see his pictures while in Rome celebrating the raising of Archbishop DiNardo to the Cardinal College.
Smiley N. Pool: Chronicle / Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese celebrates Mass at the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Smiley N. Pool: Chronicle / Mary Louise Hancock and her husband Edgar, left, greet Father Adam McClosky, pastor of All Saints Catholic Community in the Heights, as they arrive at the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran for a welcome Mass.

November 18, 2007 God son Alex at the park

2007-11-19T22:55:00.000-08:00

Some photos I took of Alex while walking at Herman Park. Few others can be found here.
This is a funny one. "Please, get me out of here." Funny because he walked into the bushes and needed some help getting out of them.And this is one is so much like Alex. Clever and sneaky but with a big and happy heart.My favorite photo is this one. Sort of a kid in life heading along the road of life.

November 18, 2007 Stuck in time

2007-11-17T21:43:00.001-08:00

Stuck in time
With every click of the clock
Time stretches
With one hand in the past
Both feet in the present
And the other hand in the future
Both handS grasping
Grasping what it was or could have been
Reaching for what it will be or might be

Stop the clicking
Tick tack tick tack
What a common undetected tick
Or was it a tack
Tick tack tick tack
Might be the clock on the mantel
Or the passage of time
Who is to say?
It was a moment past

November 7, 2007 Man kills eight at Finnish school

2007-11-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

Following is a picture published by the BBC related to the article of an 18 year old shooting students at a Finnish school. If a society dresses its policemen like the one shown, makes me wonder who are instigating violence in society.

Photos

2007-10-27T23:23:00.001-07:00

A private conversation leaving a contrast between the hand and the face.

Sun light though the clouds in Poltava, Ukrain.

Seven Pillars of the Community by Mel Chin. Houston, Texas.

Public art in Kiev.

Religious reflection in Frank something Ukrain.

Che Guevara

2007-10-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

Che Guevara an icon for the revolutionary mind. Couple pictures published by Aljazeera.

A sign, showing the distance to the location where Guevara's corpse was found 10 years ago, is seen in Vallegrande. The country's current president Evo Morales is an admirer of Guevara and ceremonies honouring his death were being held across the country [Reuters]

The Bolivian artist Tupa stands next to his six-metre-high statue of Guevara in his workshop in La Paz, Bolivia. The statue made out of scrap metal weighs between six and seven tonnes and will be erected next month in Independence Square in nearby El Alto [EPA]

September 14, 2007 Girl, 14, fled abuse, 'mind control' of polygamy

2007-09-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

There is a thin line between god's word and people's interpretation of god's word. Recent news coverage bring to attention abuses of men over others in particular children. CNN has an article about Sara Hammon with the highlights: Sara Hammon says women were told marriage was their ticket to heaven, Hammon says she was sexually abused by her father and brothers, She describes her father's 19 wives as second-class citizens in the household, and
Hammon left the community when she was 14 years old.
The following photo and article link is from theHOPEorg.org.

Damon Winter / LAT - Sara Hammon, 30, escaped her polygamous family in Colorado City, Ariz., when she was a teenager. She was the 63rd of 75 children of her father and his many wives. Hammon said she was physically and sexually abused as a child by her father and brothers. (Article can be found at theHOPEorg.org).

Dylan Ratigan

2007-09-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

Pleasant surprise. During one of my trips to London I had the opportunity to share a friend's flat with Dylan Ratigan for a couple nights. That was when he was after a good looking anchor woman residing in London.
Can read the article by the New York Times where this photo was published.

Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times - HOT TIP CNBC’s Dylan Ratigan looks to appeal to a younger, affluent audience.

July 27, 2007 Jorvan Vieira: Iraq's coach and an ambassador of peace

2007-07-30T16:17:00.001-07:00

Following article was posted by soccerblog.com

Brazilian coaches rank a distant second to their players, the number one export to the soccer world. From Washington in the J-League, Zinha in the Mexican Primera, to Edgar Barretto in the Indian NFL, Brazilian players don't just make up the ranks but are their league leaders. The amount of financial transactions and business that involve Brazilian soccer players must be equivalent to the GDP of a small country.

There have been a handful of Brazilian big name coaches, Big Phil Scolari, Carlos Alberto Parriera, and Zico who shared the spotlight in the 2006 World Cup but none went the distance. Since then, Parriera has moved to South Africa, Big Phil has been retained as Portugal's coach, and Zico resigned following Japan's dismal showing.

The perception so far is that Brazilian players make their coaches look good. And since attack is the best form of defense, both defenders and coaches in Brazil are often overlooked and derided. That maybe one reason why when you peruse Globoesporte or any other sport periodical there is hardly a mention of Jorvan Vieira, the present coach of the Iraqi team. He is a former coach of Vasco da Gama and Botafogo, and since those days has gone onto coach 26 club teams and five national squads.

A nomad who has coached numerous small clubs and countries under the radar. In the high flying world of Brazilian soccer he is small potatoes. He is a legend in Morocco where he converted to Islam and assisted Jose Faria in leading the country to the 1986 World Cup, the first African country to do so. Vieira looks more like an ascetic and carries a professorial air, he in fact holds a doctorate in sports sciences from France and speaks 7 languages, including Arabic. He is a very well respected club coach in the Middle East and has also coached the Oman and Kuwait U20 squad in a career spanning 15 years.

The Iraqi coaching job came to him as three other candidates rejected the offer as they were issued death threats. In Brazil, coaches are unceremoniously removed. In Iraq, you don't have that luxury. Vieira's predecessor Akram Ahmed Salman tried to quit after he and his family received death threats, but Iraq's soccer chiefs rejected his resignation. Vieira's assistant can't return to Iraq because the last time he was in Baghdad, gunmen threatened to kidnap his son. In fact, this is the story of many soccer players in the team who have lost family members in the civil war sweeping the country. The dislocation caused by the war is so severe that the makeshift Iraqi FA headquarters is a hotel lobby in Amman.

For someone who came only five weeks before the Asian Cup, Vieira shows a remarkable grasp and understanding of his players and the effect the war has had on them.

"Some of them, if they go to Iraq, they are going to be killed," Vieira said of his squad. "When you don't know where your home is, where your things are, you are lost in space. It's the same when you have no organisation in your house. You don't know where you put your socks or your trousers. It's the same here. They are lost people because of the war."

Very few gave him a chance to succeed. But Vieira understood his job did not entail just coaching a team but acting as a healer.

"They've been through so much. The players are so strong, but sometimes too strong. They have so much pain that I have to be not only a coach, but a psychologist, a father, and a friend to them.They are a very good example of unity to the Iraqi people."

He has been clear on one thing. He and his team are here not just to participate but to play well and challenge for the Asian Cup despite the almost insurmountable problems and the abbreviated training period.

"I have to be confident about winning. I can't talk about my problems, and say we'll do nothing, because I am not a loser. I've lost very few times in my life."

But Vieira has been modest about his own achievements with this overachieving Iraqi team.

"The congratulations should not go to me. It should go to my players, my staff who are working behind me," a humble Vieira told a press conference after his side's stunning 3-1 victory over the Socceroos. "Because without these people I can not do anything. I'm not a magician."

His influence in unifying this team has been nothing short of miraculous, proving many naysayers wrong. He again mentioned that he was not a magician. Humility seems to be a defining trait. He mentions how everyone was at loggerheads in the beginning and his first initiative was to get them all together, bringing players from the various sects, Shia, Sunnis, and the Iraqi Kurds, together.

"I tried to unify them. Now they are together, they kiss each other, they shake each others' hands. They are not fighting or talking politics. They accepted my way. I am not a magician, but I know football can change people."

Vieira may claim not to be a magician but he seems to have a strong sense of destiny. He knows this is no ordinary coaching job.

"When I see everyone working together, it touches my heart, I cannot explain this feeling," he said. "But if the results don't come, maybe the problem will come back. I hope I can make a difference."

So far it is working out fantastically. Iraq are through to the finals to meet Saudi Arabia, a country where Nashat Akram, one of Iraq's heroes plays his club football. The Iraqis have surpassed Vieira's own expectations.

"I want to be in the last four," he said. "If I had more time, I would tell you I'm going to make the final but now that's not possible. If we got to the final then, as the Arabs say, 'it is with God'."

The Iraqi soccer team, the power of football, God, and Jorvan Vieira. The Iraqis love him and want him to remain. As for Brazilians, some should be getting warm fuzzies that it is one of them that is shaping the Iraqis historical run. And it is not a player.

July 29, 2007 A victory for the Iraqi people

2007-07-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Iraq on their 1-0 victory to claim the Asian Cup.

Following article was published by the New York Times. Enjoy the music.

July 29, 2007, 8:20 am
A Pre-Match Music Video

By The New York Times

Here are the lyrics to the song in this video, El Youm Yomak Ya Iraqi, or “This Is Your Day, Iraqi,” by Hussam al Rassam:

This is your day O Iraqi
You are the man with a sense of honor
Play, play and make your opponent in constant bewilderment
Your father, mother, brothers are all waiting for your victory
Your sweetheart will boast among the beautiful girls of your neighborhood
All Iraqis eyes are watching you; the flag is waving in your hand
Victory is always for us, and we won’t accept anything else

The singer, Hussam Mahmood Hashim, was born in 1978 in Hilla, with seven brothers and two sisters. He graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts (painting department) in 1996, and that is why he is nicknamed ‘al-Rassam’, which means the painter. He then studied the lute in the same institute and graduated in 2003.

Al-Rassam left Iraq, with many other artists (he happens to be a Shiite), because of the poor security situation and particularly because Islamic extremists carried out a wave of killing actors, singers, and artists. He took part in a youth song festival in Algiers in 2001 and won his first award. Al-Rassam is well known for his folkloric and national-themed songs.

July 28, 2007 Pasadena, Texas - Police brutality free to harm people

2007-07-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

Following article was published by the Houston Chronicle. Amazing that we live in a very violent society where enforcers are judge and executioners.

July 28, 2007, 12:53PM
Man struck by police saw freedom for 1 hour
New specifics from Pasadena PD emerge on the day of his funeral
By ROBERT CROWE

On the day of Pedro Gonzales Jr.'s funeral, community activists Friday called for a federal inquiry into the Pasadena man's death as new details emerged, further complicating a case in which the actions of two officers have come under scrutiny.

Grieving family members learned Friday that the man had been released from the Pasadena Jail about one hour before officers Jason Buckaloo and Christopher Jones re-arrested him on suspicion of public intoxication. Police said Gonzales — spotted sitting in the bed of a pickup less than a mile from the jail — resisted arrest and force was needed to restrain him on July 21. A few hours later, Gonzales was found dead in a jail cell. He had injuries to his head, arm and ribs.

"There's no way he would have been able to buy alcohol because he only had 64 cents in his pocket when he left the jail," Rick Dovalina, spokesman of the League of United Latin American Citizens Council, said Friday.

As the Harris County District Attorney's Office and the Internal Affairs Division of the Pasadena Police Department conduct investigations into Gonzales' death, Dovalina and other activists said an independent investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice is necessary.

Dovalina met with Gonzales' family Friday to discuss all that he had learned about the incident after a meeting this week with Pasadena Police Chief Mike Massey, Capt. Bud Corbett and other officials.

Witness wasn't mentioned

Dovalina reported that officials told him Gonzales was released about 1 a.m. the morning before he was re-arrested. During that meeting, Dovalina said, police officials never mentioned to him that a witness had told police that Gonzales was motionless when the officers hit him.

They also never mentioned that witness Evelyn Moreno had called 911 to report that she had seen the officers beating Gonzales for two minutes.

A recording of the the emergency call Moreno made at 2:09 a.m. reveals the concern in her voice. The 20-year-old woman said she was driving home when she noticed the officers hitting Gonzales outside a business in the 1300 block of East Harris.

On the recording it is difficult to hear Moreno, who called from a pay phone, because she initially wanted to remain anonymous. The female dispatcher's responses seem to indicate that she understood that Moreno was reporting police brutality.

The dispatcher gave Moreno a non-emergency phone number to call, but Moreno declined to call, saying she did not think anyone would take her seriously because the dispatcher did not seem too concerned.

Pasadena officials said an ambulance or police unit was not dispatched to the scene after Moreno called because the incident happened in a matter of two minutes. Paramedics treated Gonzales at the jail after he complained of injuries, but he refused further treatment and was placed in a cell before he died, said Capt. Corbett.

About 7:30 a.m., Gonzales was found dead in a holding cell. Preliminary autopsy reports show Gonzales died from a punctured lung related to a fractured rib. Police said the injuries were the result of force they were required to use because he resisted arrest for public intoxication.

Although autopsy results are incomplete, Dovalina said he doesn't believe Gonzales was drunk or on drugs before his death. The man would not have had time to go to a store to purchase alcohol because Texas businesses must stop selling beer or alcohol after 1 a.m. And there are no bars near the jail because it is a dry portion of Pasadena, family members said.

"It's not right what happened to my husband," said his wife, Diana Gonzales. "He had a 13-year-old daughter and two sons who loved him." Gonzales' family buried him after a simple funeral Friday. To pay for the service, one relative sold an old van. Others chipped in what little they could.

Activists are calling for a federal review of local investigations because, they said, Pasadena police have changed their stories multiple times and held back key information before the Chronicle began inquiring into Gonzales' death.

Pasadena police officials stated Monday that Gonzales was possibly injured about 2 a.m. when he tripped and fell in a parking lot as police officers escorted him to a patrol car while arresting him for public intoxication.

After the Chronicle asked police on Tuesday to explain how he could have suffered multiple injuries by tripping, Corbett said Gonzales sustained some injuries during a struggle with Jones and Buckaloo.

Gonzales' family is especially troubled that Buckaloo had previously been indicted on charges of using excessive force on a 15-year-old South Houston High School student in 2001. A jury found him not guilty in a 2002 trial of official oppression.

Jones, who began working for Pasadena PD this year, had previously worked for the Grandview Police Department in Missouri from April 2002 to July 2006.

A city of Grandview human resources director said he voluntarily left the department. There were no complaints in his personnel file, she said.

robert.crowe@chron.com

July 10, 2007 As War Enters Classrooms, Fear Grips Afghans

2007-07-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

Photos and excerpts from article published by The New Work Times.

QALAI SAYEDAN, Afghanistan, July 9 — With their teacher absent, 10 students were allowed to leave school early. These were the girls the gunmen saw first, 10 easy targets walking hand-in-hand through the blue metal gate and on to the winding dirt road.

The staccato of machine-gun fire pelted through the stillness. A 13-year-old named Shukria was hit in the arm and the back, and then teetered into the soft brown of an adjacent wheat field. Zarmina, her 12-year-old sister, ran to her side, listening to the wounded girl’s precious breath and trying to help her stand. But Shukria was too heavy to lift, and the two gunmen, sitting astride a single motorbike, sped closer.

As Zarmina scurried away, the men took a more studied aim at those they already had shot, killing Shukria with bullets to her stomach and heart. Then the attackers seemed to succumb to the frenzy they had begun, forsaking the motorbike and fleeing on foot in a panic, two bobbing heads — one tucked into a helmet, the other swaddled by a handkerchief — vanishing amid the earthen color of the wheat.

Six students were shot here on the afternoon of June 12, two of them fatally. The Qalai Sayedan School — considered among the very best in the central Afghan province of Logar — reopened only last weekend, but even with Kalashnikov-toting guards at the gate, only a quarter of the 1,600 students have dared to return.

Joao Silva for The New York Times: Afghan girls and boys waited to enter their classrooms at the Martyred Saadia School in the town of Qalai Sayedan, 40 miles south of Kabul. The school was recently renamed to honor one of two female students gunned down on June 12 on their way home from school and just reopened last weekend.

Joao Silva for The New York Times: The school in Qalai Sayedan, built four years ago by the German government, enrolls boys through grade 6 and girls through grade 12. Two years ago it was named the top school in the province. Perhaps because it is considered a model for a different kind of future, it has been attacked repeatedly.

Joao Silva for The New York Times: Zarmina, 12, who witnessed the murder of her sister Shukria last month, did not return to the school in Qalai Sayedan when it reopened last weekend. Only 25 percent of the school's students have come back so far.

Andean women playing soccer (/football)

2007-06-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

Photo from the Guardian Unlimited.
Callao, Peru: One of the players in the National Andean communities soccer championship takes a shot.
Photograph: Martin Mejia/AP

August 7, 2001 Bolivian footballers reach new high

2007-05-31T01:28:00.000-07:00

Following article was published by the BBC.

The highest match in the world gets under way
By Andrew Enever in La Paz

Two of the players who were to take part in the highest football match in the world did not even make it to the pitch - struck down by altitude sickness as they climbed their way to the 6542m (21,424 ft) summit.

But armed with four orange footballs and two goalposts painted black to aid visibility in the snow, the 15 remaining players set about laying out the pitch for their historic fixture on Mount Sajama, South America's second highest mountain.

At 1030 last Thursday, the referee blew his whistle.

Mario Perez Mamani knocked the ball to Primo Quispe Luna who laid it back to Juan Caballero Churata. The match was under way, and for once those starring in the arena of a world footballing event were all Bolivian.

The plan had been hatched some time before, in the offices of the Club Andino Boliviano and the High Altitude Pathology Institute (Ippa) back in the world's highest capital city, La Paz. Three doctors at Ippa, experts on the effects of altitude, were convinced that sporting activities could take place at very high altitudes.

And with a flat, snow covered crater at its summit, Sajama, an extinct Andean volcano lying close to the Bolivia-Chile border, offered the perfect environment to test the theory.

Initial attempt
Ippa and Club Andino announced at the end of June that an attempt would be made to stage a match on 7 July. On the day, a team of 35 began their ascent, but logistical problems and terrible weather conditions thwarted the attempt.

"We have demonstrated that with good physical and mental health one can take part in any sport at any altitude" Bolivian doctor

"We were not well enough prepared," said Dr Gustavo Zubieta Snr. "Many set off to reach the summit but very few actually got there." Following the failure, a number of organisations that had backed the first attempt withdrew their interest. But undeterred by the lack of support, Ippa and Club Andino began preparations for a second attempt.

Race to the top
This time there was a sense of urgency, as the failure had opened a window for groups from other parts of the world to achieve the record first. In particular, the Japanese Government had expressed an interest in leading an expedition.

But the preparations moved quickly and less than a month after the first attempt, with a smaller more cohesive group, and perfect conditions, the match went ahead successfully.

The two teams, one made up of villagers from Sajama, and the other from members of the La Paz Mountain and Trekking Guides Association, played for 20 minutes each way on the 35m by 50m pitch.

Top of the world
"Those who took part are extraordinary men," said Dr Zubieta. "They climbed to 6542m and after using up a large part of their energy still played a football match. "They could beat any team in the world at this altitude."

Ippa, who had funded the record breaking expedition, carried out tests on all the players following the match and none of them showed problems in reaction to their high altitude exertions.

"We have demonstrated that with good physical and mental health one can take part in any sport at any altitude," claimed Dr Zubieta.

"The Bolivian people are happy to see us winning in football because we have always lost in the major championships.

"This was the best championship of all because no players had ever played at this altitude. This group of Bolivians did and they won," he said.