Hi, my beloved readers... Here we go again! Long time since I last wrote in this blog of mine! Lack of inspiration maybe? Hm... Maybe! The thing is, I've checked the other blogs and it seems that a lot of people's not writing as much as they used to write, before! So, maybe it's not only me... who knows!
And I must say that I'm not really in a writing mood today either, but I felt the call of duty this morning, and that's why I'm here! Well... maybe there's something I want to talk about, now... Surely you've noticed in the streets already... In the shops, over your head... well: everywhere! You've noticed, so, that Christmas time's coming again! And this is the point of my today's post...
Origins, tradition... Old fashioned words, nowadays. Shops, sales, buy, buy, BUY! Yes... that's Christmas in these days, or at least it seems so! Christmas lights are set every year sooner and sooner... and maybe in the end people will celebrate Christmas wearing short sleeve T-shirts, in summertime... And if this early Christmas happens also in every single part of our Earth... maybe those who live in the Southern Hemisphere will end celebrating it in their winter... Curious thing, huh?
I'm not a family man, as you may know by now. So, I don't care about family meetings on Christmas day... I didn't do that in the past and I'm not doing it now... I don't celebrate Christmas either... I just watch and think about it... It's not about celebrating that Christ birth... I'm not Cristian either... But these are important days for a lot of actual cultures (Jews have their Hannukah) or ancient (Egiptians believed that, before new year's eve, there was a bad period... between the end of a cycle and the beginning of the next)...
So, no more spirituality? No values anymore? Streets are packed with people, shops are crowded, and it seems that crisis is conviniently hiding in a secret place, to let everyone buy more stuff without feeling guilty about it... What do you think? Actual Christmas was invented by Harrod's?
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A Violet from Mother's grave...
Hi again, my dear readers... Even if I look like a man in his mid-thirties I’m growing old and forgetful at the same time... Can you believe I forgot to post this last November 9th? Unbelievable!
It can be a normal day for you... Maybe’s the birthday of one of your friends or stuff like that... But not a special day for other reasons! Not a public holiday, not a long weekend... But, for good old Jack, 9th of November is a very special day... Indeed! Because, 120 years ago, my last victim passed away… Mmm… I can still remember how beautiful Mary Kelly looked wandering in Whitechapel streets… She was… fancy! Because Victorian whores were not like nowadays whores, vulgar and nasty! She was so much younger than my other “friends”, only 25… And prettier than the other, too: Blue eyes, red hair, nice smile… She even had all her teeth, which was quite unusual then… and sometimes even today!
It can be a normal day for you... Maybe’s the birthday of one of your friends or stuff like that... But not a special day for other reasons! Not a public holiday, not a long weekend... But, for good old Jack, 9th of November is a very special day... Indeed! Because, 120 years ago, my last victim passed away… Mmm… I can still remember how beautiful Mary Kelly looked wandering in Whitechapel streets… She was… fancy! Because Victorian whores were not like nowadays whores, vulgar and nasty! She was so much younger than my other “friends”, only 25… And prettier than the other, too: Blue eyes, red hair, nice smile… She even had all her teeth, which was quite unusual then… and sometimes even today!
So, since it was my farewell act, I did the best I could with her delicate body... And the nice thing was that I didn't have to do that in the streets, where's easy to get caught... Because I killed her in her own room... She was living with her husband in one of those rooms in Miller's Court... Number 13, If I remember correctly... And, luckily, one of the glasses of a window next to the door was broken, and I managed to enter by opening the door from the inside, through that hole... What happened next is History! You can just check that out in The Times website, where you can read any edition of The Times since it was created, in 1785! Here's the link to that 10th November edition of the newspaper.
But, just in case you fancy reading right now, just check Dr. Thomas Bond's notes taken in situ:
"The body was lying naked in the middle of the bed, the shoulders flat but the axis of the body inclined to the left side of the bed. The head was turned on the left cheek. The left arm was close to the body with the forearm flexed at a right angle and lying across the abdomen.
The right arm was slightly abducted from the body and rested on the mattress. The elbow was bent, the forearm supine with the fingers clenched. The legs were wide apart, the left thigh at right angles to the trunk and the right forming an obtuse angle with the pubes.
The whole of the surface of the abdomen and thighs was removed and the abdominal cavity emptied of its viscera. The breasts were cut off, the arms mutilated by several jagged wounds and the face hacked beyond recognition of the features. The tissues of the neck were severed all round down to the bone.
The viscera were found in various parts viz: the uterus and kidneys with one breast under the head, the other breast by the right foot, the liver between the feet, the intestines by the right side and the spleen by the left side of the body. The flaps removed from the abdomen and thighs were on a table.
The bed clothing at the right corner was saturated with blood, and on the floor beneath was a pool of blood covering about two feet square. The wall by the right side of the bed and in a line with the neck was marked by blood which had struck it in a number of separate splashes.
The face was gashed in all directions, the nose, cheeks, eyebrows, and ears being partly removed. The lips were blanched and cut by several incisions running obliquely down to the chin. There were also numerous cuts extending irregularly across all the features.
The right arm was slightly abducted from the body and rested on the mattress. The elbow was bent, the forearm supine with the fingers clenched. The legs were wide apart, the left thigh at right angles to the trunk and the right forming an obtuse angle with the pubes.
The whole of the surface of the abdomen and thighs was removed and the abdominal cavity emptied of its viscera. The breasts were cut off, the arms mutilated by several jagged wounds and the face hacked beyond recognition of the features. The tissues of the neck were severed all round down to the bone.
The viscera were found in various parts viz: the uterus and kidneys with one breast under the head, the other breast by the right foot, the liver between the feet, the intestines by the right side and the spleen by the left side of the body. The flaps removed from the abdomen and thighs were on a table.
The bed clothing at the right corner was saturated with blood, and on the floor beneath was a pool of blood covering about two feet square. The wall by the right side of the bed and in a line with the neck was marked by blood which had struck it in a number of separate splashes.
The face was gashed in all directions, the nose, cheeks, eyebrows, and ears being partly removed. The lips were blanched and cut by several incisions running obliquely down to the chin. There were also numerous cuts extending irregularly across all the features.
The neck was cut through the skin and other tissues right down to the vertebrae, the fifth and sixth being deeply notched. The skin cuts in the front of the neck showed distinct ecchymosis. The air passage was cut at the lower part of the larynx through the cricoid cartilage.
Both breasts were more or less removed by circular incisions, the muscle down to the ribs being attached to the breasts. The intercostals between the fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs were cut through and the contents of the thorax visible through the openings.
The skin and tissues of the abdomen from the costal arch to the pubes were removed in three large flaps. The right thigh was denuded in front to the bone, the flap of skin, including the external organs of generation, and part of the right buttock. The left thigh was stripped of skin fascia, and muscles as far as the knee.
The left calf showed a long gash through skin and tissues to the deep muscles and reaching from the knee to five inches above the ankle. Both arms and forearms had extensive jagged wounds.
The right thumb showed a small superficial incision about one inch long, with extravasation of blood in the skin, and there were several abrasions on the back of the hand moreover showing the same condition.
On opening the thorax it was found that the right lung was minimally adherent by old firm adhesions. The lower part of the lung was broken and torn away. The left lung was intact. It was adherent at the apex and there were a few adhesions over the side. In the substances of the lung there were several nodules of consolidation.
The pericardium was open below and the heart absent. In the abdominal cavity there was some partly digested food of fish and potatoes, and similar food was found in the remains of the stomach attached to the intestines."
Both breasts were more or less removed by circular incisions, the muscle down to the ribs being attached to the breasts. The intercostals between the fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs were cut through and the contents of the thorax visible through the openings.
The skin and tissues of the abdomen from the costal arch to the pubes were removed in three large flaps. The right thigh was denuded in front to the bone, the flap of skin, including the external organs of generation, and part of the right buttock. The left thigh was stripped of skin fascia, and muscles as far as the knee.
The left calf showed a long gash through skin and tissues to the deep muscles and reaching from the knee to five inches above the ankle. Both arms and forearms had extensive jagged wounds.
The right thumb showed a small superficial incision about one inch long, with extravasation of blood in the skin, and there were several abrasions on the back of the hand moreover showing the same condition.
On opening the thorax it was found that the right lung was minimally adherent by old firm adhesions. The lower part of the lung was broken and torn away. The left lung was intact. It was adherent at the apex and there were a few adhesions over the side. In the substances of the lung there were several nodules of consolidation.
The pericardium was open below and the heart absent. In the abdominal cavity there was some partly digested food of fish and potatoes, and similar food was found in the remains of the stomach attached to the intestines."
Yes... I took her heart! And if you want to take a look to her body after my visit, you just have to follow this link... I was raised in politeness, and I don't want to scare you with dead woman's pictures... unless you want to look at them... So, here's the link. And here's her Death Certificate:
And... when remembering that 9th of November another 9th of november came to my mind... One with acts I unfortunately witnessed... And I'm referring to that nazi Kristallnacht (or Night of Broken Glass), in which 92 german Jews were murdered and almost 30.000 were deported to concentration camps... That was the turning point of Nazi's actions against Jews and... Well, you know the rest!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Rest In Peace...
...Because breaking up is never easy! ;-)
The Vandals - My girlfriend's dead
I once had a girlfriend,
But then one day she dumped me and everywhere
I'd go people would ask me where she was.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all my girlfriend's dead.
I say it's leukemia or sometimes bulimia
Or a great big truck ran her over
And chopped off her head.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all she's dead.
I guess there's a part of me that likes the sympathy
Or the looks on their faces when I tell them how
She passed away.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all she's dead.
(My girlfriend's dead)
My girlfriend's dead you see,
It's a total lie, but it's easier on me
Than having to admit that she likes someone else.
(My girlfriend's dead)
My girlfriend's dead you know,
Please change the subject or I am going to go
Jump off a building and join her in heaven.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all she's dead.
I once had a girlfriend,
But then one day she dumped me and everywhere
I'd go people would ask me where she was.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all my girlfriend's dead.
[x2]
The Vandals - My girlfriend's dead
I once had a girlfriend,
But then one day she dumped me and everywhere
I'd go people would ask me where she was.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all my girlfriend's dead.
I say it's leukemia or sometimes bulimia
Or a great big truck ran her over
And chopped off her head.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all she's dead.
I guess there's a part of me that likes the sympathy
Or the looks on their faces when I tell them how
She passed away.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all she's dead.
(My girlfriend's dead)
My girlfriend's dead you see,
It's a total lie, but it's easier on me
Than having to admit that she likes someone else.
(My girlfriend's dead)
My girlfriend's dead you know,
Please change the subject or I am going to go
Jump off a building and join her in heaven.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all she's dead.
I once had a girlfriend,
But then one day she dumped me and everywhere
I'd go people would ask me where she was.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all my girlfriend's dead.
[x2]
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Vi Veni Veniversum Vivus Vici
The time has come to talk about that movie I was thinking about the other day while writing about "From Hell"... Because tomorrow, my dear readers, is a very special day indeed...
"Remember, remember, the 5th of November... Gunpowder Treason and plot... I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason should be forgot!".
In the night between the 4th and the 5th of November 1605 (403 years ago), some English Catholic revolutionaries tried to execute the Gunpowder Plot... Their idea was to blown up, literally, The Houses of Parliament, killing King James I and his family, besides some aristocrats too, because English Catholics weren't not much tolerated in that ages... So, long story short, Guy Fawkes, a.k.a. Guido Fawkes (because he fought as a mercenary in the Spanish Tercios in Netherlands) was caught when he was placing several gunpowder barrels in the basements of the House of Lords, in The Parliament... The King had been adviced before that, thanks to an anonymous letter he received, probably written by one of the conspirators who didn't want innocent people to get killed because of that "Boom stuff". So... Guy Fawkes was locked up in the Tower of London, tortured and killed...
"Remember, remember, the 5th of November... Gunpowder Treason and plot... I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason should be forgot!".
In the night between the 4th and the 5th of November 1605 (403 years ago), some English Catholic revolutionaries tried to execute the Gunpowder Plot... Their idea was to blown up, literally, The Houses of Parliament, killing King James I and his family, besides some aristocrats too, because English Catholics weren't not much tolerated in that ages... So, long story short, Guy Fawkes, a.k.a. Guido Fawkes (because he fought as a mercenary in the Spanish Tercios in Netherlands) was caught when he was placing several gunpowder barrels in the basements of the House of Lords, in The Parliament... The King had been adviced before that, thanks to an anonymous letter he received, probably written by one of the conspirators who didn't want innocent people to get killed because of that "Boom stuff". So... Guy Fawkes was locked up in the Tower of London, tortured and killed...
And since then, to remind the inhabitants of that Perfidious Albion how traitors are treated even in their own homeland, in the United Kingdom they celebrate the "Bonfire Night", very similar to that Spanish traditional St. Joan's night, in which they set bonfires in the streets and burn stuffed dummies representing G. Fawkes, denominated simply "guys"...
Ok, ok, let's stick to the plan! I'll talk about one movie I certainly like... I'm referring to "V for Vendetta". This movie's based on another graphic novel by Alan Moore, with the same name. And, even if there's some differences between the movie and the novel I like both of them...
In V for Vendetta, settled in a non-distant future, England's ruled by an authoritarian government, which tries to control what people hear, talk, and above all, think. Evey (Natalie Portman) is one of those who live in fear, trying to get the shackles off her feet in order to be free... One night she meets a strange man... A man dressed with a black cape and a black hat too, clutching several knives, who wears also a Guy Fawkes mask and refers to himself as, simply, "V" (Hugo Weaving). V's planning to tear down that awful goverment by blowing up The Houses of Parliament, just like Guy Fawkes tried to do in the past...So, as I don't want to spoil you the end of the film, if you like it... watch it!
About the film... It's not very similar to the great novel which inspired it. In fact, Alan Moore disinherited himself of the film before it was released... But it has some good points too! Nice soundtrack and cinematography (indeed!) and, above all, a perfect representation of the character of V! Wugo Weaving did a great interpretation of a character without face! How? With his voice and gesticulation... So, that's why is good to see this film in English!
I love the character of V... and, just like him, I enjoy listening to some classical music too... And there's a magnificent piece of Tchaikovsky, used also in the film, called "1812 Overture". The last movement of that Overture's used in the last scene of the film... And I'd like to show it to you... So, I'll tell you what:
OPTION I: I've seen the film already and I want to delight myself watching the end of the film again, including music...
OPTION II: I haven't seen the film, so don't screw its end! Upload something else in order I can see what the fuck are you talking about!
Enough for today, I guess... And don't forget: Freedom! Forever!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Nerds or Artists?
See what some folks can do with enough time, patience and 280.591 post-it sticky notes!!! Nice, isn't it?
Friday, October 31, 2008
This is... Halloween...
Once again, my dear readers, is Halloween time... In the States, kids are preparing their disguises for tonight... and, according to Hollywood, masked psycho-killers are about to take revenge for what they suffered when they were childs... And, just like in Carnival, everybody tries to be someone else... And everybody enjoys that, because sometimes it's nice to make people believe that you're somebody else...
May I talk you a little bit about me? No... I don't think so... I don't want to screw this disguising stuff... But there's something I can tell you... I have this yearly tradition of watching "The Nightmare before Christmas" of Tim Burton (even if it was not directed by him) every Halloween day/night...
I love Tim Burton's movies, but especially two of them: This one and Sleepy Hollow (which I also recommend to you). I also recommend you to read his poems book called "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy", also illustrated by him... If you follow this link you'll be able to read it online.
So, I'll leave you with one song of "Nightmare before Christmas", so enjoy it... and remember... Trick or Bleed?
This is Halloween
SHADOW
Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange?
SIAMESE SHADOW
Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween
PUMPKIN PATCH CHORUS
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night
GHOSTS
This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It's our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween
CREATURE UNDER BED
I am the one hiding under your bed
Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red
MAN UNDER THE STAIRS
I am the one hiding under your stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair
CORPSE CHORUS
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
VAMPIRES
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
MAYOR
In this town, don't we love it now?
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise
CORPSE CHORUS
Round that corner, man hiding in the trash can
Something's waiting now to pounce, and how you'll scream
HARLEQUIN DEMON, WEREWOLF, AND MELTING MAN
Scream! This is Halloween
Red 'n' black, slimy green
WEREWOLF
Aren't you scared?
WITCHES
Well, that's just fine
Say it once, say it twice
Take the chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
HANGING TREE
Everybody scream, everybody scream
HANGED MEN
In our town of Halloween
CLOWN
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace
SECOND GHOUL
I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"
I am the wind blowing through your hair
OOGIE BOOGIE SHADOW
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
CORPSE CHORUS
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!
CHILD CORPSE TRIO
Tender lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare
PARENT CORPSES
That's our job, but we're not mean
In our town of Halloween
CORPSE CHORUS
In this town
MAYOR
Don't we love it now?
MAYOR WITH CORPSE CHORUS
Everyone's waiting for the next surprise
CORPSE CHORUS
Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee
Make you jump out of your skin
This is Halloween, everyone scream
Won't ya please make way for a very special guy
Our man Jack is king of the pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King now
EVERYONE
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
CORPSE CHILD TRIO
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
EVERYONE
La la-la la, Halloween! Halloween! (etc.)
May I talk you a little bit about me? No... I don't think so... I don't want to screw this disguising stuff... But there's something I can tell you... I have this yearly tradition of watching "The Nightmare before Christmas" of Tim Burton (even if it was not directed by him) every Halloween day/night...
I love Tim Burton's movies, but especially two of them: This one and Sleepy Hollow (which I also recommend to you). I also recommend you to read his poems book called "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy", also illustrated by him... If you follow this link you'll be able to read it online.
So, I'll leave you with one song of "Nightmare before Christmas", so enjoy it... and remember... Trick or Bleed?
This is Halloween
SHADOW
Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange?
SIAMESE SHADOW
Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween
PUMPKIN PATCH CHORUS
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night
GHOSTS
This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It's our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween
CREATURE UNDER BED
I am the one hiding under your bed
Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red
MAN UNDER THE STAIRS
I am the one hiding under your stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair
CORPSE CHORUS
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
VAMPIRES
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
MAYOR
In this town, don't we love it now?
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise
CORPSE CHORUS
Round that corner, man hiding in the trash can
Something's waiting now to pounce, and how you'll scream
HARLEQUIN DEMON, WEREWOLF, AND MELTING MAN
Scream! This is Halloween
Red 'n' black, slimy green
WEREWOLF
Aren't you scared?
WITCHES
Well, that's just fine
Say it once, say it twice
Take the chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
HANGING TREE
Everybody scream, everybody scream
HANGED MEN
In our town of Halloween
CLOWN
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace
SECOND GHOUL
I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"
I am the wind blowing through your hair
OOGIE BOOGIE SHADOW
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
CORPSE CHORUS
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!
CHILD CORPSE TRIO
Tender lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare
PARENT CORPSES
That's our job, but we're not mean
In our town of Halloween
CORPSE CHORUS
In this town
MAYOR
Don't we love it now?
MAYOR WITH CORPSE CHORUS
Everyone's waiting for the next surprise
CORPSE CHORUS
Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee
Make you jump out of your skin
This is Halloween, everyone scream
Won't ya please make way for a very special guy
Our man Jack is king of the pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King now
EVERYONE
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
CORPSE CHILD TRIO
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
EVERYONE
La la-la la, Halloween! Halloween! (etc.)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Music...
Today, and because of not having class, I spent all the evening in my place... So, just like I always do, I listened to some music... And I just thought: "Ok, let's write and post again about a song!". But, somehow, I couldn't think of one single song... I mean, my head was filled with music, not songs... Maybe that's the reason of my smiling day, I don't know... So, I realized that my post shouldn't be about one single song, but about all of them... And how can I do that? Luckily, the answer revealed by itself... So here it is... One of my favourite songs, more for the lyrics (quite simple in fact) than for the song itself, even if I really love the chords: Music, by John Miles.
John Miles - Music
Music was my first love
And it will be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past
To live without my music
Would be impossible to do
In this world of troubles
My music pulls me through
Music was my first love
And it will be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past (3x)
Music was my first love
And it will be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past
To live without my music
Would be impossible to do
'Cuz in this world of troubles
My music pulls me through
And it will be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past
To live without my music
Would be impossible to do
In this world of troubles
My music pulls me through
Music was my first love
And it will be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past (3x)
Music was my first love
And it will be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past
To live without my music
Would be impossible to do
'Cuz in this world of troubles
My music pulls me through
Monday, October 27, 2008
Time goes by so... ¿slowly?
Hi there, beloved readers... You surely noticed how nice was the weather yesterday... Not a cloud, bright blue sky... And for me, a distinguished Londoner accostumed to rain and mist, was a perfect excuse for going outside, just for loitering about the streets... Don't misunderstand me... I like rain and mist... It's like feeling home... But this is quite good also...
So, while walking around I heard a noise, a particular musical noise I haven't heard for a long long time... I heard a Sharpener's whistle. You'll most probably know what I'm talking about! A Sharpener is a person who sharpens knives (not mines...) in the streets with a machine connected to his/her motorcycle axis... As I said, I haven't seen one of those for a long time... And I started thinking about it... People don't sharpen their knives of scissors anymore... They throw them and buy new ones... Easy stuff... Maybe some years ago, when people hadn't much money, they used to do that, but not anymore... And so, Sharpener's are disappearing... We can apply the same chain reasoning for another classical crafts, like Cobblers or some Watchmakers...
It's something related to our nowadays mentality... We think we can waste our money buying new stuff, not repairing old stuff... They don't remember how their grandparents lived... Luckily, I can... And RIP Van Winkle surely can, too... I remember watching an old man after the Spanish Civil War taking the rind off a potato... and I must say, he seemed to be "shaving" the potato, trying not to waste any comestible part of that tuber... So, things have changed since then...
But people don't notice changes... just like we don't notice how Earth rotates... Think about a vase in a corner of a table, being moved very slowly to another corner... It's difficult to notice the movement until you realize how far is the vase from its starting spot... No movement but different spots.
But if you stop thinking for a while you surely will notice how all has changed since you were a child... How some things you simply accepted as part of a static reality are becoming obsolete... "Video killed the radio star", singed the Buggles back in the 70's... But... wasn't video killed by DVD? And now... Bluray's sharpening his knives against dvd's...
So... Our world's built over the ashes of past worlds... Worlds that seemed to be quite static for those who lived in that ages... Ironic! Nothing lasts forever, my friends...
So, while walking around I heard a noise, a particular musical noise I haven't heard for a long long time... I heard a Sharpener's whistle. You'll most probably know what I'm talking about! A Sharpener is a person who sharpens knives (not mines...) in the streets with a machine connected to his/her motorcycle axis... As I said, I haven't seen one of those for a long time... And I started thinking about it... People don't sharpen their knives of scissors anymore... They throw them and buy new ones... Easy stuff... Maybe some years ago, when people hadn't much money, they used to do that, but not anymore... And so, Sharpener's are disappearing... We can apply the same chain reasoning for another classical crafts, like Cobblers or some Watchmakers...
It's something related to our nowadays mentality... We think we can waste our money buying new stuff, not repairing old stuff... They don't remember how their grandparents lived... Luckily, I can... And RIP Van Winkle surely can, too... I remember watching an old man after the Spanish Civil War taking the rind off a potato... and I must say, he seemed to be "shaving" the potato, trying not to waste any comestible part of that tuber... So, things have changed since then...
But people don't notice changes... just like we don't notice how Earth rotates... Think about a vase in a corner of a table, being moved very slowly to another corner... It's difficult to notice the movement until you realize how far is the vase from its starting spot... No movement but different spots.
But if you stop thinking for a while you surely will notice how all has changed since you were a child... How some things you simply accepted as part of a static reality are becoming obsolete... "Video killed the radio star", singed the Buggles back in the 70's... But... wasn't video killed by DVD? And now... Bluray's sharpening his knives against dvd's...
So... Our world's built over the ashes of past worlds... Worlds that seemed to be quite static for those who lived in that ages... Ironic! Nothing lasts forever, my friends...
Friday, October 24, 2008
Starman
Ok... I'm not in a writing mood by now, so... more music!
David Bowie - Starman
Didn't know what time it was and the lights were low
I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin' down some rock 'n' roll 'lotta soul, he said
Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That weren't no D.J. that was hazy cosmic jive.
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile.
He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
I had to phone someone so I picked on you
Hey, that's far out so you heard him too!
Switch on the TV we may pick him up on channel two.
Look out your window I can see his light
If we can sparkle he may land tonight
Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright.
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
Starman, waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie!
Lalalalala, lalalala... Damn! He's fucking good...
David Bowie - Starman
Didn't know what time it was and the lights were low
I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin' down some rock 'n' roll 'lotta soul, he said
Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That weren't no D.J. that was hazy cosmic jive.
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile.
He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
I had to phone someone so I picked on you
Hey, that's far out so you heard him too!
Switch on the TV we may pick him up on channel two.
Look out your window I can see his light
If we can sparkle he may land tonight
Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright.
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
Starman, waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie!
Lalalalala, lalalala... Damn! He's fucking good...
Monday, October 20, 2008
Don't stop me now...!
Today I need some music to work properly... So... Let's go!
Queen - Don't stop me now
Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive and the world turning inside out Yeah!
And floating around in ecstasy
So don't stop me now don't stop me
'Cause I'm having a good time having a good time
I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky
Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity
I'm a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go go go
There's no stopping me
I'm burning through the sky Yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'ling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man out of you
Don't stop me now I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time just give me a call
Don't stop me now ('cause I'm havin' a good time)
Don't stop me now (yes I'm havin' a good time)
I don't want to stop at all
I'm a rocket ship on my way to Mars
On a collision course
I am a satellite I'm out of control
I am a sex machine ready to reload
Like an atom bomb about to
Oh oh oh oh oh explode
I'm burning through the sky Yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'ling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic woman of you
Don't stop me don't stop me
Don't stop me hey hey hey!
Don't stop me don't stop me ooh ooh ooh (I like it)
Don't stop me don't stop me
Have a good time good time
Don't stop me don't stop me Ah
I'm burning through the sky Yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'ling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man out of you
Don't stop me now I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time just give me a call
Don't stop me now ('cause I'm havin' a good time)
Don't stop me now (yes I'm havin' a good time)
I don't want to stop at all!
Queen - Don't stop me now
Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive and the world turning inside out Yeah!
And floating around in ecstasy
So don't stop me now don't stop me
'Cause I'm having a good time having a good time
I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky
Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity
I'm a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go go go
There's no stopping me
I'm burning through the sky Yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'ling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man out of you
Don't stop me now I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time just give me a call
Don't stop me now ('cause I'm havin' a good time)
Don't stop me now (yes I'm havin' a good time)
I don't want to stop at all
I'm a rocket ship on my way to Mars
On a collision course
I am a satellite I'm out of control
I am a sex machine ready to reload
Like an atom bomb about to
Oh oh oh oh oh explode
I'm burning through the sky Yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'ling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic woman of you
Don't stop me don't stop me
Don't stop me hey hey hey!
Don't stop me don't stop me ooh ooh ooh (I like it)
Don't stop me don't stop me
Have a good time good time
Don't stop me don't stop me Ah
I'm burning through the sky Yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'ling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man out of you
Don't stop me now I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time just give me a call
Don't stop me now ('cause I'm havin' a good time)
Don't stop me now (yes I'm havin' a good time)
I don't want to stop at all!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Lights... Camera... Action!
Welcome back, my dear guests... Sunday afternoon again... A good day for watching a film, don't you think? So... as our teacher suggested us, let's talk about films!
I love cinema... I love it since I saw that first projection of those Lumière brothers in that Salon Indien du Grand Café, back in the 19th Century... And I realized instantly that it had a lot of possibilities... So I guess I was right! It's quite possible I'll talk again about films in the future... and now I'm thinking about a concrete one... but... no... Today's not the proper day to talk about that film!
So... I'll start with this modern film about... me! I'll start, of course, with FROM HELL. And... Wow! Very fortuit indeed! It was released just 7 years ago, that 19th October of 2001.
I love cinema... I love it since I saw that first projection of those Lumière brothers in that Salon Indien du Grand Café, back in the 19th Century... And I realized instantly that it had a lot of possibilities... So I guess I was right! It's quite possible I'll talk again about films in the future... and now I'm thinking about a concrete one... but... no... Today's not the proper day to talk about that film!
So... I'll start with this modern film about... me! I'll start, of course, with FROM HELL. And... Wow! Very fortuit indeed! It was released just 7 years ago, that 19th October of 2001.
From Hell (2001), 118 mins.
Directed by Albert Hughes & Allen Hughes.
Cast: Johnny Depp (F. Abberline), Heather Graham (M.J. Kelly), Ian Holm (Sir W. Gull), Robbie Coltrane (Sgt. P. Godley).
Produced by Jane Hansher & Don Murphy.
Written by Terry Hayes & Rafael Yglesias.
Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell.
...And quite a good graphic novel, I'd say! Alan Moore is considered one of the best comic writters of all history, and he did a good job with this "From Hell" indeed! Because it's not an ordinary mistery novel, where there's a smart police or detective who's chasing the criminal... No... Because here, we know who the killer is in the fourth chapter of the book... In fact, in quite a way, Jack's the main character of this novel... So, lucky me! Ok, no more talking about the book... But I recommend it to you, because it's great...
Ok... about the film... There'll be some spoilers in here, so you shouldn't go further unless you want to see the film and find out by yourselves who's the killer... Because, of course, just like other films of this genre, you have to discover who's the killer! Cluedo stuff... In spite of this difference between the novel and the film I should say that's quite interesting!
Mistery! Some prostitutes are found dead in the streets of Whitechapel... Nothing unusual except by the way they were killed... Accurate cuts, organ removals... now, that's not very usual! Inspector Fred Abberline (Depp) starts investigating this strange case with the help of his loyal Sgt. Godley (Coltrane), one "unfortunate woman" named Mary Kelly (Graham) and of his also unusual psychic abilities... What first seemed to be just another day in Whitechapel turns into a plan worked out by Queen Elizabeth II and the freemasons to cover a secret marriage between her son and a catholic ex-prostitute that may cause such a scandal that would end with the monarchy, because of the birth of their daughter, in fact heir to the crown of Great Britain... That's when Sir William Gull (Holm), former surgeon and current doctor of the Royal Family shows up, executing the plan by killing each one who witnessed that forbidden wedding...
Interesting theory! The doctor of the queen killing hookers in Whitechapel... because that syphilitic jerk of Edward Albert, Duke of Clarence enjoyed fucking whores... and even marrying them! There are other theories... some of them very funny! But I'll talk about that another day...
Focusing on the film... I think it's a good film! I mean... it's not the best film ever made, but it's quite enjoyable... Hictorically talking, it's quite accurate, relating some real facts... Just like the way they were killed, some characters (Abberline, for instance... with no psychic stuff, of course!) and, especially, the backdrop... Whitechapel looks exactly as it was! And that's quite difficult to do, because if you visit that lovely neighbourhood right now you'll be very surprised! Very close to the financial district of the city... there's not a trace of narrow streets and dark alleys... excepting maybe one thing! Ten Bells Pub, which the victims frequented and which is still there! You can have a pint there... And toast for me! By the way... The last time I visited London I went for a touristic walk across Whitechapel, following the path of the Ripper! Ironic, huh? The guide was Ronald Rumbelow, a former policeman and expert in Ripper murderer's... It was quite funny, attending that walk... But very interesting indeed... So, if you go to London you can try to follow my steps there, thanks to "London Walks".
So, interesting film, despite of that typical made in hollywood ending, with Mary Kelly escaping from her destiny and running away with that blue-blooded child... by letting Jack killing other poor girl instead of her... Hm... Machiavelli would be quite proud of her! Other curious thing: The prostitutes. They were not as pretty as the film ones... Most of them were quite old and awful... excepting Mary Kelly... I'll post some pictures another day...
More films another day! Enough by now... You'll find the trailer of the film just below... See you real soon, beloved readers...
Friday, October 17, 2008
Is nothing original nowadays?
I couldn't help sitting again front of my computer, just to write a few lines... Some thoughts are gathering in my mind and the only way of let the mout is by writing... So... Let's write!
Some time ago I saw a documentary in TV, talking about plagiarism in music world... Basically, it was all about bands suing other bands, argumentating that they've written a similar song before... So, they must be paid for that! And I'm not talking of secundary bands, trying to succeed by copying some famous songs... I'm talking about great bands, some of them considered the best bands of all time, like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, of which I'm really fond of... For example, there's a song of L.Zeppelin, "Whole Lotta Love", a very famous song indeed, which was accused of being based on a song of Small Faces, called "You need loving"... which was, in fact, based in an older song of Willie Dixon... And Dixon sued them! And he won... And since then, Dixon appears as a co-writer of that song, in every L.Zeppelin album...
But, we might ask... Because asking and wondering is what intelligent human beings do... So, we might wonder about which is the difference between copy and inspiration! It's separated by a thin line, surely! So... think about it... And watch this video if you want, about how some music can be present in our life, even when we're not listening to them specifically...
Bites and cuts...
By the way... I love Pachelbel's Canon in D with the passion!
Some time ago I saw a documentary in TV, talking about plagiarism in music world... Basically, it was all about bands suing other bands, argumentating that they've written a similar song before... So, they must be paid for that! And I'm not talking of secundary bands, trying to succeed by copying some famous songs... I'm talking about great bands, some of them considered the best bands of all time, like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, of which I'm really fond of... For example, there's a song of L.Zeppelin, "Whole Lotta Love", a very famous song indeed, which was accused of being based on a song of Small Faces, called "You need loving"... which was, in fact, based in an older song of Willie Dixon... And Dixon sued them! And he won... And since then, Dixon appears as a co-writer of that song, in every L.Zeppelin album...
But, we might ask... Because asking and wondering is what intelligent human beings do... So, we might wonder about which is the difference between copy and inspiration! It's separated by a thin line, surely! So... think about it... And watch this video if you want, about how some music can be present in our life, even when we're not listening to them specifically...
Bites and cuts...
By the way... I love Pachelbel's Canon in D with the passion!
Hehehe...
Funny stuff...
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by M. Haddon... Chapter 89, Page 67:
"But I said that it wasn't a proper book because it didn't have a proper ending because I never found out who killed Wellington so the murderer was still At Large.
And she said that was life like, and not all murders were solved and not all murderers were caught. Like Jack the Ripper."
And it's funny because I'm still named as an example for many things: unsolved crimes, madness, injustice... After 120 years! Very funny... and satisfying, indeed...
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by M. Haddon... Chapter 89, Page 67:
"But I said that it wasn't a proper book because it didn't have a proper ending because I never found out who killed Wellington so the murderer was still At Large.
And she said that was life like, and not all murders were solved and not all murderers were caught. Like Jack the Ripper."
And it's funny because I'm still named as an example for many things: unsolved crimes, madness, injustice... After 120 years! Very funny... and satisfying, indeed...
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Happy Birthday to... Me...
Well, in fact, happy birthday to my most famous letter! The letter that gives name to this blog... I'm referring, of course, to my FROM HELL letter, which I sent to George Lusk that 15th October of 1888... So, 120 years and a day have passed since I've sent the letter! 120 days and a day... Mm... It looks like a prison sentence!
Anyway... I can remember that day so clearly... The texture of that kidney... how I was smiling while packing it all... Ah... Memories! You know, sometimes our brain's a little capricious... We can remember some things so clearly, like we were still there, living that stuff... But maybe there's some other things we cannot remember until someone talks about it! Curious thing... So, this is one of the things I can remember so clearly even today, 120 years and a day after writing it... I can see myself laughing while writing with that awfull spelling mistakes, just to make them think that I was an illiterate...
So, here's the letter!
"From hell.
Mr Lusk,
Sor
I send you half the Kidne I took from one women prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer
signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk"
Very funny indeed...
Anyway... I can remember that day so clearly... The texture of that kidney... how I was smiling while packing it all... Ah... Memories! You know, sometimes our brain's a little capricious... We can remember some things so clearly, like we were still there, living that stuff... But maybe there's some other things we cannot remember until someone talks about it! Curious thing... So, this is one of the things I can remember so clearly even today, 120 years and a day after writing it... I can see myself laughing while writing with that awfull spelling mistakes, just to make them think that I was an illiterate...
So, here's the letter!
"From hell.Mr Lusk,
Sor
I send you half the Kidne I took from one women prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer
signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk"
Very funny indeed...
Monday, October 13, 2008
Poor Jacques de Molay...
Hi again, my followers... Should I talk again about History? I think History's the learning book of mankind... You surely know that sentence: Those who can't remember history are condemned to repeat it again... And believe me, there's a lot of things we don't want to experience again! Crusades, Black Death (Mmm... Maybe I'll talk someday about this nice plague), World Wars, etc. So, pay attention to that book!
But today... Ah! Today's a very special day indeed! Because 701 years ago, an overambitious French king decided to erradicate this very famous military order: The Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici, or simply, the Templar Knights. They have such name because of their first headquarters in Jerusalem, the Temple of Salomon. And, pay attention, Dan Brown fans! Some people think they found a treasure buried inside that Temple, which was the source of their economic power... But let's focus on their last days...
So, that 13th October, King Phillip IV of France in collaboration with the Pope Clement V (very close to French interests) gave the order to arrest every single Templar Knight in France, in order to judge them. They were accused of being sodomists, heretics, of spitting to the Cross, adoring Baphomet... But... Were they like that? Or, simply, Phillip IV didn't want to pay them back for all the money they've lent him? Because Templar Knights were very rich, maybe because of that treasure they had, which, by the way, was never found and vanished like tears in the rain (Mmm... I've seen "Blade Runner" this weekend)... so, money's behind all this thing... again.
Even if some Templars escaped this hunting (some of them went to Portugal), the great majority of them were burned at the stake. The last Templar Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burnt alive just in front of the gates of Notre Dame Cathedral, in Paris, on 18th March 1314, after spending 7 long years in jail... He, who had confessed under torture, retracted his statement at the very last moment, insisting on his innocence... He only asked for one thing: being tied in such a way he could face the Cathedral, and hold his hands in prayer. And, in a dramatic way, he called out from the flames that both Pope Clement and King Philip would soon meet him. Not a year had passed and both of them were dead. Coincidence?
So, Hail them! Templars, I mean... History has this beloved characters which may have been murderers in the past... But they have this "aura" that can make them look like saints! Just like Caravaggio... Maybe I'll look like that in the future... Because it seems people don't forget me... and that's nice... indeed!
But today... Ah! Today's a very special day indeed! Because 701 years ago, an overambitious French king decided to erradicate this very famous military order: The Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici, or simply, the Templar Knights. They have such name because of their first headquarters in Jerusalem, the Temple of Salomon. And, pay attention, Dan Brown fans! Some people think they found a treasure buried inside that Temple, which was the source of their economic power... But let's focus on their last days...
So, that 13th October, King Phillip IV of France in collaboration with the Pope Clement V (very close to French interests) gave the order to arrest every single Templar Knight in France, in order to judge them. They were accused of being sodomists, heretics, of spitting to the Cross, adoring Baphomet... But... Were they like that? Or, simply, Phillip IV didn't want to pay them back for all the money they've lent him? Because Templar Knights were very rich, maybe because of that treasure they had, which, by the way, was never found and vanished like tears in the rain (Mmm... I've seen "Blade Runner" this weekend)... so, money's behind all this thing... again.
Even if some Templars escaped this hunting (some of them went to Portugal), the great majority of them were burned at the stake. The last Templar Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burnt alive just in front of the gates of Notre Dame Cathedral, in Paris, on 18th March 1314, after spending 7 long years in jail... He, who had confessed under torture, retracted his statement at the very last moment, insisting on his innocence... He only asked for one thing: being tied in such a way he could face the Cathedral, and hold his hands in prayer. And, in a dramatic way, he called out from the flames that both Pope Clement and King Philip would soon meet him. Not a year had passed and both of them were dead. Coincidence?
So, Hail them! Templars, I mean... History has this beloved characters which may have been murderers in the past... But they have this "aura" that can make them look like saints! Just like Caravaggio... Maybe I'll look like that in the future... Because it seems people don't forget me... and that's nice... indeed!
This is the Templar Seal, showing two knights (perhaps Hugues de Payens and Godfrey de Saint-Omer, two of the nine founders of the Order) riding the same horse... Contemporary legend held that the symbol represented the initial poverty of the order; that they could afford only a single horse for every two men. But I guess this is not true, because you had to be kinda rich to join the Templar Order...
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