New deviances

Some recovered old pics, some more recent, slightly treated or very treated. In essence, pieces of what I see

Sorry for not publishing... My new responsibilities are, as you all know, taking a toll in both time and energy, though the rewards are great.

Let's find out!

let's find out

That's a sentence that has become a war cry every time I draw my iPhone in the company of others. When I bought the gadget, I didn't imagine all the useful things that could be accomplished with it. I bought it out of a whim. I liked the concept and I could afford it.

But it has surprised me the usefullness I've been able to get from it.

Appart from being able to continue chats once I've left the office, level hanging pictures (yes, seriously), reply to important (or not) emails, here are other examples:

Resolve an argument about the Earth's circumference (where the "let's find out" cry was officially born) or the exact speed of light (Wikipedia).

What do the initials TT exactly stand for in the Audi model? (Tourist Trophy)

Look up the tube map well away from any tube stop and without the paper map.

Find out what's on at the cinema in the middle of a meal to plan ahead.

Photograph your gal's favourite car or a similar jewel.

Send forward examples for a DIY project in order to clarify what is needed.

To be able to show your bike to people who don't know about bikes but want to know which bike you have.

Report traffic violations (thought not legally binding) even commited by real car jewels.

Stay in touch with what your people are doing at all times.

Make phone calls overseas for free (yes, yes, this is Skype through 3G).

All this plus the usual suspects (ever more necessary to my new life), of course: datebook, calendar, tasks, notes, calculator, measure unit converter, music, videos, games and other gadgetry.

And still other examples: sending Xing invitations to potential collaborators you meet in parties. Give directions to people who ask for a street you're not quite sure where it is. And the list keeps on growing! What? Let's find out!

New blog

Starting this new phase of my life, I have decided to share my experiences from a more serious point of view than this, my corner of expresion. I have opened a [NEW BLOG] to expose my experiences and explore another facet of my interests, the one on professional growth, coaching and other terms associated with these concepts.

I won't linger on this entry since it is now a little latem, the day has been long and I need my rest. There is still a long way to go on my projects, both professional and literary. The latter, as you will see, is still in dipers, since I have not spent a single minute on the graphic side.

I give you my [Diary on growth]

As usual, all critique is welcome.

New pieces

In a continuing effort of creativity that burdens me, I present to you today two new musical pieces which, again, are half-way through production. I've decided I will be publishing them as I go along and I will let you know when they are finished (which will substitute the present ones).

All critique is welcome. Be aware, though, that except when otherwise mentioned, these are unfinished works. They are also published in diminished sound quality for reasons of space and versatility. If anyone wants a full-quality version, you only have to ask and I will gladly send it to you.

This said, I proceed.

The first piece, "Tame" (pronounced "tameh") tells a lovestory. It is a piece in 5 parts (see if you can differenciate them). It starts with the noise that fills it all, strange and uncomfortable, and a weak voice trying to be heard. The call for help is surrounded by a melancholic halo, still strange, but is suddently heard in an unsuspected new change. Two voices (still absent in this version, since I removed "the experiment" some of you have heard, untill I have it sorted out) start talking to each other, initially separatedly, then together, sometimes dissonant, sometimes harmonious, finally concordant... untill a third voice breaks the harmony and the melancholy returns, the sadness. But the sadness doesn't last long and turns to romanticism and returning, renewed love. This turns much more sober, mature and solid, in a promise of endurance that the music will continue.

The second piece, "Drawings" speaks of that moment when we stop and, distractedly start doodling, lost in the melancholy of the moment. But we realise where that line of thought will lead and we change it to something happier, experimental, attempting, testing, flowing with it. The contrast of staccattos with a finer melody combines the drawing of thicker lines with finer details. Where will this moment of divagation take us?

To listen to the pieces you only have to select them in the player, in the selection list. Be patient, as the pieces are "big" and will take some time to download depending on your connection, but it does work with any browser that has flash installed. Guaranteed! You can watch the download progress once you've selected a track.

By the way, this is the very same player you can find at the top of the menu on the right of these entries.

Enjoy and thank you for your time and thoughts.

Only with great ideas can you accomplish great things

Not long ago, in a local station, TeleMadrid (know to be right-winged, but you have to read both sides to understand a story) I was watching a program called "Crisis Office". They usually interview important personalities, such as (the reason why I was watching), Mrs.María Garaña, responsible for Microsoft Iberica. The interview came about due to Microsoft's anouncement to cut 5000 positions as a world-wide measure.

I will not dwelve too much on the interview, in which the interviewer was attempting to get Mrs. Garaña to confess that Microsoft was in such dire situation as to have to sack people. This was frustrated by Mrs. Garaña when she explained, in all possible ways, that Microsoft was going to attempt by all means necessary not to have to fire anybody. This fact has been demonstrated.

Following the program's main subject, the host quoted, completely out of context, a piece by Albert Einstein by only mentioning the line "Incompetence is the the true crisis." In spanish, this could be interpreted as a clear criticism to the government and their "blame" in all this.

I will now reproduce the full text, so this sentence can be propertly contextualized and have its meaning restored and just to prove that a mis-contextualized quote can actually go against he who pronounces it. As Natalie Imbruglia once put it: "Second hand opinions don't make you look any smarter".

"Let's not pretend that things will change if we keep doing the same things.A crisis can be a real blessing to any person, to any nation.For all crises bring progress.Creativity is born from anguish.Just like the day is born form the dark night.It's in crisis that inventive is born, as well as discoveries, and big strategies.He who overcomes crisis, overcomes himself, without getting overcome.

He who blames his failure to a crisis neglects his own talent,and is more respectful to problems than to solutions.Incompetence is the the true crisis.The greatest inconvenience of people and nations is the laziness with which they attempt to find the solutions to their problems. There's no challenge without a crisis.Without challenges, life becomes a routine, a slow agony.There's no merits without crisis. It's in the crisis where we can show the very best in us.Without a crisis, any wind becomes a tender touch. To speak about a crisis is to promote it. Not to speak about it is to exalt conformism. Let us work hard instead. Let us stop, once and for all, the menacing crisis that represents the tragedy of not being willing to overcome it."

- Albert Einstein

Therefore, it is the actual incompetence which is in crisis. Those who are not incompetent will see, in this crisis, the oportunity they needed.