Twitter...Part 1

AOG, Madrid

What is the deal with Twitter? I have no idea. It does seem to be the next cool site right after Facebook.

Personally I haven’t bothered with it until today, when I read a newspiece which stated that Ellen DeGeneres had beaten CNN on it. Link here.

So, what did I do? In a moment of insanity, I thought I would sign up. Yes, it’s a slow afternoon here on financial news universe, Madrid sector.

Well, I should have known better. The site was down.



Now, of course, having regained my sanity momentarily, I am thinking about it twice. Thrice even.

Do I really want to be on Twitter? Well, I don’t know. I know very little about it, but these are the impressions I have of it so far:

You type in where you are and what you are doing.

Always.

And then again.

And once more.

Ad infinitum.

And then you die.

So, with this is mind, do I really want to “Twitt”? I don’t really see the point.

But I may change my mind.

This is how Twitter bills itself:

"Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch with people through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"

Still, I am not seduced. All I can say is that while I was ready to join (or at least have a wander) a while back, their technical hiccup has put me off.

Books, Madrid and Spring

AOG, Madrid

Spring has arrived in Madrid. Or so it would appear. After many weeks of cold weather, and sunny skies (a local specialty), the past couple of days have been warmer. Last night I walked home from work with my sweater on and arrived blistering hot. I leave the office around 10:30 at night.

I started walking home about two weeks ago. I need the exercise but the walk allows me to gather my thoughts before getting home and it also shows me a different face of Madrid.

I work in a very elegant neighbourhood and I enjoy looking at all the architectural styles the Salamanca quarter of Madrid has to offer. It was built in the XIX century and from the start it has been where rich Spanish and foreign citizens liked to dwell.

Often I look up and see the beautiful juxtaposition of Art Deco, pre Civil War buildings standing next to turn-of-the-century French style buildings, the odd church, private school or Palace -like the amazing Italian embassy, probably Madrid’s most beautiful embassy building, also known as the Amboage palace.

Last night, as had happened all throughout the day, I could see pollen wafting around the air. I did not notice this last year. I’ve read is plantain pollen. It is fluffy and rather big.

The other sign that Spring has arrived is the opening of Madrid’s Old Books Fair, on Castellana Boulevard.

About 30 stands display their wares and I cant help myself from being naturally drawn to them.

I like to walk around and peruse the remnants of Spain’s literary past. But not only Spain. Often you can find American, French and British novels, Franco-era guides and political documents, old Spanish Stocks and bonds, German art tomes, modern reproductions of XVI century maps of Madrid, as well as a myriad of worn, heavy and probably priceless leather bound books. For me, the covers alone make would be reason enough to buy them.

The first time I went, (last week), there was a gentleman who went from stand to stand asking if they had anything on the Philippines. As long as he hovered around me, nobody did. I wanted to ask him if he was a historian, or, at least, why the interest in that country.

The Philippines, although a one-time colony of Spain, does not really get a lot of airtime in Spain these days. It could be the fact that, unlike the other colonies, it lost the ability to speak Spanish after it was lost to the US in 1898.

Last Sunday I went there again. I saw a book on the Canadian Perception of the American Civil War, written in the 1970s. It looked very interesting and thought about purchasing it. But I didn’t.

Today I had 30 minutes to kill, and couldn’t wait for the stands to open- which they do at 11 am. The book was still there. Four Euros later, it was mine. I find it fascinating. One never reads much on US-Canadian relations.

I also bought a couple of old National Geographics…three for five Euros. One of them had an article on Mexico; the other on the Panama Canal; and the last one on Rio de Janeiro. There was another on Air Safety and West Germany, but I went with a Hispanic theme.

I also saw a beautiful book on Mexico, printed by Mexico’s Italian Institute back in

the 1930s. The photographs were something else. As was the 200 Euros price. But there were more.

I love cartography and maps. I saw two gigantic Atlases of Spain circa 1980s, the price of which I was too afraid to ask. I also spotted art book after luxurious art book on Madrid’s Prado museum. About one per decade since 1900. At one point I was Prado’d out. There are other museums in Spain, though, true, none as important, invaluable or famous.

I will be leaving my desk in a little while. I look forward to seeing something new tonight as I stroll home.

Miss California Vs. Gay Marriage

AOG, Madrid

This all started with Carrie Prejean, Miss California, giving her personal views to a question regarding gay marriage posed by Perez Hilton, one of the Miss America judges. Her reply meandered around political correctness for a bit before falling into religious convictions and prejudice.
-one of the

Her views were incipiently homophobic. Since then, many people, in many forums, have defended these views. Others have derided them. Others still have applauded her for "sticking to her views" and "being true to herself", regardless of the fact that they are prejudiced.


I have always been amazed at how we can applaud ignorance and bigotry just because the individual in question is being "true" to themselves and only following religious morals when being homophobic.

We somehow manage not to do the same when they are being racist, although the Bible was used not long ago as a source for justifying racism. I guess that, to many, it is still ok to hate gay people because the Bible says so.

As if that were not enough, this woman has decided to fully oppose gay marriage and protect "traditional" marriage.

The US has the highest divorce rate on Earth. I don"t think this is because of gay marriages. This is just another ploy to further repress gay people under the guise of respectability and tradition.

She and her advisors should be ashamed of themselves. Now more than ever I'm glad this homophobic beauty queen did not win Miss America. How long before she becomes yesterday"s news?

About Video
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Russian superstitions

AOG, Madrid

I always like to learn about the superstitions of different peoples. I don't mean just from other countries; I like to know what the superstitions of my peers are.

Or if not theirs, then their family's lore. Every family has a little superstition here and there, and I love to learn what these may be.

Never mind that I often, at least for a while, take on their superstition just to see if its true.

I have just come accross this little Russian ditty regarding an old Russian custom (I don't know if by "Russian" the author means all of Russia or just some areas), but I think it is fascinating.

It says that if you have a ticket (public transport or maybe just a cinema ticket), and the sum of the first half of the digits of the ticket's numbers (like serial numbers) match to the sum of the second half, then you are holding a happy ticket.

And what do you have to do to ensure luck is bestowed upon you....? Eat the thing.

I love it!

Except that I'm not all that cool with eating paper these days.

It is a bit like Fortune Cookies (an American invention by the way).

The post in question also mentions that Russia's Department of Transport has ordered cookies from Russian designers at artlebedev.ru in the shape a Russian bus ticket. The catch? All the cookie's numbers add up. so they are all lucky.

That is cheating if you ask me.

The Untold Susan Boyle Story

AOG, Madrid

I can't believe some of the comments on this, nor do I feel comfortable with the continuous use of the word "ugly" when referring to Susan Boyle.


She is not disfigured, nor missing any limbs, nor has she had any surgical accidents on her face. To me she looks like just another normal looking person.


I also don't understand what singing talent and physical looks have to do with each other. A lot of standard beautiful people cannot sing.


All I can see in the media's interest in this woman is the "freak-of-the-week" notoriety she provides and little else. Short lived as it is vacuous.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Bush Torture Memos Released By Obama: See The Complete Documents

AOG, Madrid

Why did this happen? Is this how a democracy should behave? After reading some of these documents I am no longer surprised, and in fact understand, why many people refer to the US as a terrorist state. To think that this went on under the guise of a democracy makes me sick.

I hope I never live to see the day when this happens again. This is no way to defend anything. It is obvious we lost the moral ground long ago. Longer than I had in fact anticipated, but for the reasons obvious to many outside America's border.

I trust that the people responsible for this are made accountable. Not out of any desire for revenge, but rather so that this does not set some sort of wicked precedent whereby it is ok to flaunt legality and human rights so long as you are defending your country following your own definition of defense.

I would like to say shame on them, but really, shame on us. This is what we voted into power. Twice. Shame on us indeed.

About Obama's First 100 Days
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The Story You Aren't Hearing About Israel

AOG, Barcelona

I have always supported the state of Israel. Despite everything else, it is the only democracy in the area.


However, it is also true that it is fighting a monster, and in so doing, has become a monster itself.


Mort Zuckerman writes:

"The response has been rocket fire, terrorism ...not to mention an ongoing historic campaign to defame, denounce, denigrate, and delegitimize Israel in every international forum."


All I can say is that, unfortunately, Israel does seem to be providing a lot of the ammunition its enemies use for free.


When referring to Hamas, he says it is: "a terrorist organization dedicated to killing Jews".


I think Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to killing people.


Please don"t anybody say only "Jews" die because of Hamas" actions.

Many Palestinians die because Hamas often hides its members amongst the civilian population.

If, as Mr. Zuckerman says, "we are much closer to the establishment of two Palestinian states" than to reaching a two-state solution then we only have the Palestinians and Israel to blame.

It would be a great mistake if this were to happen. The ensuing desire to unite both Palestinian states henceforth is a tragedy waiting to happen.


I don't envy Israel's present situation, but I cannot abide by many of its actions. Unfortunately, they are often as brutal as the actions of those who wish to destroy Israel.


I had a Sociology teacher in Texas who always said "You don"t cover dirt with mud".

About Israel
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Madoff Family Gets Consultant For How To Survive In Prison

I have very little sympathy for these people. One does wonder though, did they all know this relative was scamming everyone?



If they did, yes, they should serve in prison for obstructing the cause of justice. But if they didn't know, are they just guilty by virtue of their bloodline?



I abhor what he has done, but I certainly don't advocate punishing the whole family if they are innocent. The crimes of the father are not those of the son. There is no need to get Biblical.
About Bernard Madoff
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Why Designers Are Dissing Michelle

AOG, London

I strongly defend Michelle Obama's desire to favor American designers and to dress as she pleases.

This is America, not Europe. Somebody's background should not even be up for debate or used as any sort of excuse.

She is now the First Lady; her background is a moot point because from now on, until the day that she dies, she will have been the President's wife.

However, this is not to say she has not made a couple of fashion faux pas.


Going to Buckingham palace wearing a cardigan is not one of them. The first rule of fashion is that clothes should flatter the wearer. Protocol aside, she looked good.

The same cannot be said about her choice of outfit in Prague.

It is worth remembering what the Roman's said about Ceasar's wife: It is not enough that she is Ceasar's wife, she should also look the part.

Although I am not about to suggest she should only wear big name designers like De La Renta (American? He is from the Dominican Republic), it is true that they tend to produce the clothes that look best in certain occasions. But this is not to say that they are the only ones to produce such type of garments.

They are not.

Perhaps the question should be more "What is she wearing?" and less "Who is she wearing?".

I think we all need to give her a break. She has been at this for scarcely three months!

About Michelle Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Levi Johnston On CBS: Palins Treated Me Like An Outcast After Election

AOG, London

I think he should thank his lucky stars he did not marry Miss Palin. However, the Palins will be in his family for years to come, so long as his son lives with his mother.


There is no easy way to solve this, and no family is perfect, but it is becoming increasingly clear that America was spared a great mistake by not electing the Republican ticket.


Unfortunately the Palins assure us of this constantly.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost