It is fabulous when you see old friends again!

Meet old friends, sounds a myth, it could be, but it makes you feel good. That is the point! Your heart vibrates, you can feel it, you get excited. A hug, a smile...it makes you feel High.
I know there is so much work to do! but I can't start right now, I need these days to unwind my self.

The expression of today is: "You're putting me on the spot!" and it means: you are pressuring me, I need some time to think about that.

Now, I would like to dedicate some lines to Ángel González, a spanish Poet that died yesterday.
"Quise"

Quise mirar el mundo con tus ojos
ilusionados, nuevos,
verdes en su fondo
como la primavera.
Entré en tu cuerpo lleno de esperanza
para admirar tanto prodigio desde
el claro mirador de tus pupilas.
Y fuiste tú la que acabaste viendo
el fracaso del mundo con las mías.
Angel González (1925-2008)

The power of the Dollar

Sb told me 2 days ago that the power of the Dollar is on the existance of the 1 Dollar note. It Could be true or false but here we have it:

8:30 de la mañana.

8:30 de la mañana, ruidillo en la cocina, hace un rato que doy vueltas en la cama (7 horas parece ya una eternidad para dormir), olorcillo a café, abro los ojos: Catherine preparando un maravilloso café! "GOOD MORNING". Primer pensamiento del día: No! segundo: cafeeeee! Despues de días sin tomarlo, uff! quiero uno!
Cath:" do you want a coffee?, Me: Of course I do!
Tercer pensamiento: No!, Cuarto: Lucía's recommendation: Have a shower! Here we go, a tomar una ducha, sentir el agua caliente por la espalda, tener una dosis (lista ajena hecha mia, pero me funciona). Heii, me falta la radio! voy por ella, donde están la musica, todas las stations hablando, que coñazo!!! Música please!.
Some cherrys, coffeeeeeeee and a crappppy internet conection fan lo demás. Mensajes de ánimo, fotos en facebook, gente que en la distancia anima y manda palabras, te sientes bien, te empujan hacia arriba, Meredith!
www.elpais.com
fotografía ganadora: Mendigo invisible:


Significativo de nuestra sociedad. Muy poco terrenal para analizarlo hoy (egoista pero con sentido de la supervivencia).

Voy para la Uni.

In austin again!!

De nuevo en Austin, con mucho atrás y espero que mucho por delante. Queda molt per fer... por lo pronto durante 30 min. he sido el de hace un año, gran avance teniendo en cuenta mis ultimas semanas.

Remi ha ido a recogerme al aeropuerto, que maco y me ha traido a casa. Es el nuevo apartamento de Allison y Catherine, en el mismo complejo del año pasado, pero dos plantas más arriba. Tengo mi camita en el salón y ya pensaremos como poner las cortinas como la otra vez (aun he de ir a pedirlas a Ziad). Allie está la pobre en Houston pq tiene la espalda fatal (hernia discal), pero afortunadamente vuelve mañana a la tarde, estoy deseando verla!
Que maca la Catherine, me ha preparado unos huevos fritos más güenos!! y una manzana cortadita en medias lunas.
Hemos incluso estado tomando una blue moon (mi cerveza preferida, hefelweiser) en la mesa del complejo donde nos las tomábamos el año pasado, que recuerdos!
Tengo lo material, tengo a mis amigos de aquí, solo me falta tenerme a mi.
night-night.

Y además es imposible...

I liked it very much. Thanks for the song.

No soy Supermán, I am not a hero.

"Cuando experimentamos un sufrimiento, lo que más daño nos hace no es tanto éste como su rechazo, porque entonces al propio dolor la añadimos otro tormento: el de nuestrea oposición, nuestra rebelión, nuestro resentimiento y la inquietud que provoca en nosotros"
"Desde el momento en que me he mostrado dispuesto a afrontarlas, las pruebas siempre se han transformado en belleza... los peores sufrimientos del hombre son los que se temen. El sufrimiento malo no es el vivido, sino el representado, ese que se apodera de la imaginación y nos coloca en situaciones falsas".
Santiago Alvarez de Mon, "No soy superman" Luces y sombras de una conversación interior. Prentice Hall, 2007.

knowing how is a person only by the date of birth! Can you imagine??

It could seem kind of strange, kind of crazy, kind of weird, but some people has this ability. It is real that sometimes you relate a person to a sign and take out some conclusions but, can be these conclussions extrapolated to other people?? Do we have carachteristics in common with the people with our same sign?? Why not?
In any case, it is an interesting thought.

Una altre fráse que m'agradat (another sentence I like)

"Cal que neixen flors a cada instant".
Els flors ens donen la vida, el frescor, incluso molécules. Cal que neixen flors a cada instant i en qualsevol lloc, deixem-les creixer, donem-li ajuda, gaudexem i visquem amb les flors.
"It is necessary the blossoom of flowers everytime".
Flowers give us live, freshness, even molecules. They are necessary everytime and everywhere, lets them grow, lets give them some help, lets enjoy and lets enjoy them.

Ara us recomanu aquestá cançó. Now I recommend you this song.

Fe no és esperar,
fe no és somniar.
Fe és penosa lluita per l'avui i pel demà.
Fe és un cop de falç,
fe és donar la mà.
La fe no és viure d'un record passat.

No esperem el blat
sense haver sembrat,
no esperem que l'arbre doni fruits sense podar-lo;
l'hem de treballar,
l'hem d'anar a regar,
encara que l'ossada ens faci mal.

No somnien passats
que el vent s'ha emportat.
Una flor d'avui es marceix just a l'endemà.
Cal que neixin flors a cada instant.

Fe no és esperar...

Enterrem la nit,
enterrem la por.
Apartem els núvols que ens amaguen la claror.
Hem de veure-hi clar,
el camí és llarg
i ja no tenim temps d'equivocar-nos.

Cal anar endavant
sense perdre el pas.
Cal regar la terra amb la suor del dur treball.
Cal que neixin flors a cada instant.

Lluis Llach.

Some therapy... Just want you don't want, you may really need.

"Lo que se necesita, sin embargo, es sólo esto: soledad, gran soledad interior. Entrar en sí y no encontrarse con nadie durante horas y horas, eso es lo que se debe poder alcanzar. Estar solo, como se estaba solo de niños cuando los mayores andaban por ahí, enredados con cosas que parecían importantes y grandes, porque los mayores parecían tan ocupados y porque no se entendía nada de lo que hacían.

[…] Y su duda puede llegar a ser una buena cualidad si usted la educa. Debe llegar a ser sabedora, debe llegar a ser crítica. Pregúntele, en cuanto la duda quiera corromper algo, por qué algo es feo; exíjale pruebas y la encontrará quizá perpleja y cortada, quizá incluso irritada. Pero usted no ceda, exija argumentos y trátela así cada vez, atenta y consecuentemente, y llegará el día en que, de ser destructora, pasará a convertirse en su mejor trabajadora; quizá la más sensata de todas las cosas que trabajen en su vida."

Rainer Maria Rilke: Cartas a un joven poeta (Alianza Editorial)

Condoleeza Rice: "las toallitas, limpian el ojete pero te lo dejan fresco"

"El mundo se merece un par de hostias bien dás"


I recommend you to watch it, I bet even you dont understand all, it is worthy.

Sentence to write down....

M.A. said few hours ago: "si vives la vida con frescor...". It is good, isn't it???
Freshness may means different things, such as:



Choose whatever you want, or even add meanings, but it is what it is. Sosasín!

New year's eve!

After NYE, hangover is the word to use. Who invented the hangover??? why this fenomena occurs?? Here, I attach some info that may be interesting for you too.

According to Wikipedia:
A hangover (veisalgia) describes the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption of drugs and liquor, particularly alcoholic beverages. The most commonly reported characteristics of a hangover include headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy, dysphoria and thirst.

Hypoglycemia, dehydration, Acetaldehyde intoxication, and vitamin B12 deficiency are all theorized causes of hangover symptoms. Hangovers usually last 1 to 4 hours,[1] although some have been reported to last two or three days after alcohol was last consumed.[2]

* 1 Symptoms
* 2 Causes
* 3 Possible remedies
o 3.1 Potentially beneficial remedies
o 3.2 Possibly ineffective remedies
* 4 Etymology
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 7 External links

Symptoms

An alcohol hangover is associated with a variety of symptoms that may include dehydration, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, elevated body temperature, hypersalivation, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, irritability, sensitivity to light and noise, erratic motor functions, and trouble sleeping. Many people will also be repulsed by the thought or taste of alcohol during a hangover. The symptoms vary from person to person, and occasion to occasion, usually beginning several hours after drinking. It is not clear whether hangovers affect cognitive abilities.

Causes

Hangovers are multi-causal. Ethanol has a dehydrating effect by causing increased urine production (such substances are known as diuretics), which causes headaches, dry mouth, and lethargy. Dehydration causes the brain to shrink away from the skull slightly.[3] This can be mitigated by drinking water or an oral electrolyte solution after consumption of alcohol. Alcohol's effect on the stomach lining can account for nausea. Because of the increased NADH production during metabolism of ethanol by the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, excess NADH can build up and slow down gluconeogenesis in the liver, thus causing hypoglycemia.

Another factor contributing to a hangover are the products from the breakdown of ethanol via liver enzymes. Ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, and then from acetaldehyde to acetic acid by the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. Acetaldehyde (ethanal) is mildly toxic, contributing to hangover. These two reactions also require the conversion of NAD+ to NADH. With an excess of NADH, the lactate dehydrogenase reaction is driven to produce lactate from pyruvate (the end product of glycolysis) in order to regenerate NAD+ and sustain life. This diverts pyruvate from other pathways such as gluconeogenesis, thereby impairing the ability of the liver to supply glucose to tissues, especially the brain. Because glucose is the primary energy source of the brain, this lack of glucose contributes to hangover symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, mood disturbances, and decreased attention and concentration.

There are various nervous system effects: the removal of the depressive effects of alcohol in the brain probably account for the light and noise sensitivity.

In addition, it is thought that the presence of other alcohols (such as fusel oils), by-products of the alcoholic fermentation also called congeners, exaggerate many of the symptoms (cogeners may also be zinc or other metals added primarily to sweet liqueurs to enhance their flavor); this probably accounts for the mitigation of the effects when distilled alcohol, particularly vodka, is consumed instead.

The amount of congeners in the drink may also have an effect. Red wines have more congeners than white wines, and some people note less of a hangover with white wine. Some individuals have a strong negative reaction to red wine called red wine headache that can affect them within 15 minutes after drinking a single glass of red wine. The headache is usually accompanied by nausea and flushing.

In alcohol metabolism, one molecule of ethanol (the primary active ingredient in alcoholic beverages) produces 2 molecules of NADH, utilizing Vitamin B12 as a coenzyme. Over-consumption of ethanol may cause vitamin B12 deficiency as well.

Possible remedies

There is debate about whether a hangover might be prevented or at least mitigated. There is currently no known proven mechanism for making oneself sober short of waiting for the body to metabolize ingested alcohol, which occurs via oxidation through the liver before alcohol leaves the body.

A four page literature review in British Medical Journal on hangover cures by Max Pittler of the Peninsula Medical School at Exeter University and colleagues concludes: "No compelling evidence exists to suggest that any conventional or complementary intervention is effective for preventing or treating alcohol hangover. The most effective way to avoid the symptoms of alcohol induced hangover is to practise moderation, other than that the only known treatment for a hangover is hair of the dog."[4]

Potentially beneficial remedies

* RU-21(Antipokhmelin): Dietary Supplement available in most countries.

* Rehydration: "Effective interventions include rehydration, prostaglandin inhibitors, and vitamin B6".[5]

* Narcotics: Codeine, dihydrocodeine, tilidine and other such medication directly work against many of the effects of alcohol hangover. It is believed that analgesic preperations containing acetaminophen (paracetamol/Tylenol)may predispose people to the risk of potentially fatal hepatotoxicity. However, this is unproven and would potentially only occur if the maximal dose of acetaminophen was exceded[6]. Therefore, acetaminophen is a suitable agent at combating the sympotmatic effects of a hangover. Consumption of narcotics along with alcohol or shortly after consumption thereof is potentially dangerous in itself because of added depressant effects on the central nervous system.

* Magnesium: It is well studied that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a magnesium deficiency, or reduce levels of magnesium, as well as depleting zinc and other minerals. Individuals with lower magnesium levels may experience more severe hangovers. A healthy diet that contains an adequate intake of magnesium and other minerals may help in the long term to reduce the effects of hangovers. The hangover symptoms of headache, and light and sound sensitivity, are very similar to those of migraine. A common treatment for chronic migraine headaches is magnesium. Some scientists hypothesize that a hangover may be exhibiting at least some symptoms of an acute magnesium deficiency.

* Opuntia ficus indica: A 2004 clinical study suggests that taking an extract of a prickly pear cactus fruit (Opuntia ficus indica) five hours before drinking had a statistically significant effect on three hangover symptoms. "Three of the 9 symptoms – nausea, dry mouth, and anorexia – were significantly reduced by OFI." (Anorexia in this context simply means loss of appetite, not to be confused with anorexia nervosa.)[7][8] The authors conclude, "The symptoms of the alcohol hangover are largely due to the activation of inflammation. An extract of the OFI plant has a moderate effect on reducing hangover symptoms, apparently by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators."

* Tolfenamic acid (TA): A study concludes, "TA was found significantly better than placebo in the subjective evaluation of drug efficacy (p<0.001) and in reducing the reported hangover symptoms in general (p < 0.01). In the TA group, significantly lower symptom scores were obtained for headache (p<0.01), and for nausea, vomiting, irritation, tremor, thirst, and dryness of mouth (all p < 0.05)."[9]

* Vitamin B6 (pyritinol): Some studies have found that Vitamin B6 reduces hangovers.[5][10]

* Chlormethiazole: "Chlormethiazole was found to lower blood pressure and adrenaline output and, furthermore, to relieve unpleasant physical symptoms, but did not affect fatigue and drowsiness. The cognitive test results were only slightly influenced by this agent, while psychomotor performance was significantly impaired. Subjects with severe subjective hangover seemed to benefit more from the chlormethiazole treatment than subjects with a mild hangover."[11] "However, all 8 subjects had unpleasant nasal symptoms following chlormethiazole, and it is therefore not an ideal hypnotic for this age group."[12]

* Rosiglitazone: [Study in rats] "Rosiglitazone alleviated the symptoms of ethanol-induced hangover by inducing ALD2 expression…"[13]

* Acetylcysteine: There are claims that N-acetylcysteine can relieve or prevent symptoms of hangover through scavenging of acetylaldehyde.

* "Artichoke and Sarsaparilla extract": A November 2004 issued U.S. Patent No. 6,824,798 states that the method described in the patent "results in complete elimination of veisalgia (hangover) in more than 80% of individuals". These plant extracts, when administered separately, do not seem to have a similar effect. The patent further states that the right combination of the extracts of both of these plants are required and that they then contain a complex of polyphenols, flavonoids, and phytosterols that are effective.

* Food and Water: Simple consumption of food and water may be enough to replenish lost moisture and at least rehydrate the body, making a hangover shorter.

* paracetamol or Aspirin: Taking this with a glass of water prior to sleeping will reduce(if not eleminate) the hangover.

Possibly ineffective remedies

* Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) extract: "Our results suggest that artichoke extract is not effective in preventing the signs and symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover."[14]

* Propranolol: "We conclude that propranolol does not prevent the symptoms of hangover."[15][16]

* Fructose and glucose: "The results indicate that both fructose and glucose effectively inhibit the metabolic disturbances induced by ethanol but they do not affect the symptoms or signs of alcohol intoxication and hangover."[17]

* Kudzu (Pueraria lobata): With respect to preventing hangovers, "The evidence regarding kudzu's effectiveness is mixed" and "There are no studies to demonstrate that kudzu can serve as a morning-after potion for eliminating hangovers as used in traditional Chinese practice."[18]


The term hangover was originally a 19th century expression describing unfinished business – something left over from a meeting – or ‘survival.’ In 1904, the meaning "after-effect of drinking too much" first surfaced.[19][20]

Something to read...

Few days ago, sb recommended me this pôeme. Now I would like to share it with y'all.


Celebración

Pongámonos los zapatos, la camisa listada,
el traje azul aunque ya brillen los codos,
pongámonos los fuegos de bengala y de
artificio,
pongámonos vino y cerveza entre el cuello
y los pies,
porque debidamente debemos celebrar
este número inmenso que costó tanto
tiempo,
tantos años y días en paquetes,
tantas horas, tantos millones de minutos,
vamos a celebrar esta inauguración.

Desembotellemos todas las alegrías
resguardadas
y busquemos alguna novia perdida
que acepte una festiva dentellada.
Hoy es. Hoy ha llegado. Pisamos el tapiz
del interrogativo milenio. El corazón, la
almendra
de la época creciente, la uva definitiva
irá depositándose en nosotros,
y será la verdad tan esperada.

Mientras tanto una hoja del follaje
acrecienta el comienzo de la edad:
rama por rama se cruzará el ramaje,
hoja por hoja subirán los días
y fruto a fruto llegará la paz:
el árbol de la dicha se prepara
desde la encarnizada raíz que sobrevive
buscando el agua, la verdad, la vida.

Hoy es hoy. Ha llegado este mañana
preparado por mucha oscuridad:
no sabemos si es claro todavía
este mundo recién inaugurado:
lo aclararemos, lo oscureceremos
hasta que sea dorado y quemado
como los granos duros del maíz:
a cada uno, a los recién nacidos,
a los sobrevivientes, a los ciegos,
a los mudos, a mancos y cojos,
para que vean y para que hablen,
para que sobrevivan y recorran,
para que agarren la futura fruta
del reino actual que dejamos abierto
tanto al explorador como a la reina,
tanto al interrogante cosmonauta
como al agricultor tradicional,
a las abejas que llegan ahora
para participar en la colmena
y sobre todo a los pueblos recientes,
a los pueblos crecientes desde ahora
con las nuevas banderas que nacieron
en cada gota de sangre o sudor.

Hoy es hoy y ayer se fue, no hay duda.

Hoy es también mañana, y yo me fui
con algún año frío que se fue,
se fue conmigo y me llevó aquel año.

De esto no cabe duda. Mi osamenta
consistió, a veces, en palabras duras
como huesos al aire y a la lluvia,
y pude celebrar lo que sucede
dejando en vez de canto o testimonio
un porfiado esqueleto de palabras.


Pablo Neruda

It is time to catch up with y'all guys...

Hey, I woke up today and decided that it is time to catch up with you guys. As the majority of you know, I have been really busy this last months (except for the vacations :B).
By the way, I went on vacations to Majorca, Berlin and finally Paris. It may sounds like a month vacations, but it was only for 15 days. Every trip was different but all of them AWESOME dudes! thanks to Rafa and Ana and Remi & Allison.
here I attache some pictures!
Somewhere in my tummy there is a chevre cheese hidden so I wanna wash my face with Don Perignon.

somewhere in Spain...

Somewhere in Spain there is a treasure hidden.
Hi people,
life continues here (as you can imagine). Two weeks ago I went with some friends to Pica d'estats (the higher mountain in Catalonia). there was still snow, enough snow to not allow us to hike to the summit. It was a pity. In spite of that, We could go to the frozen lakes, just below the Pica. It was really impressive, so much nature, snow, and these beautiful views. I missed camping! last time I went camping was there,in Austin, to ENCHANTED ROCK, with Tony, Cindy and Leo: Awesome dudes.
I add some pictures. I hope all y'all enjoy them.