December 09

31st December:

Morning guys!

Well, it's the last day of the year and time to kind of review it, isn't it?

In 2009 Barack Obama became President, the world's economy entered a deep recession, there was an outbreak of swine flu (or was there?), King of Pop Michael Jackson passed away and the Copenhagen climate summit ended in recriminations and a disappointing deal.

As for our country, a historic change took place in the Basque country, a controversial abortion law was passed in Parliament, Spanish fishermen were kidnapped by Somali pirates, we even witnessed a Royal divorce and, as usual, the good news came from the world of sports: our national basketball team won, at long last, the European Championship, Gasol became the Lord of the (NBA) Ring, Contador defeated Armstrong in the Tour of France and, yes, Barca took a few trophies here and there (how I hate to say this, ha ha!).

Obviously, there are many more events I could have mentioned on this entry, as the list is endless. So what were for you guys the highlights of 2009, both on the plus and the minus side, nationwide as well as across the globe? Hey, I'd love to read your views down below, so why don't you send in your comments?

You see, I have been trying to find a videoclip that puts into images what 2009 has been like and this is the best stuff I've come across, Yahoo's '09 Rewind. Very much from the American perspective, but at least they, yet briefly, acknowledge Gasol's achievement!

I don't know why, but while I was writing all this a song came up to me. I guess I was thinking that this world of ours is all about the quest for money and power, and Everybody wants to rule the world, a classic 1985 hit by Tears for Fears is more or less about that. I'm positive you've heard it sometime but if you haven't this is the goear.com audio-clip with the lyrics down below:

To tell you the truth, the music and the title are more inspiring to me than the actual lyrics, and anyway the song is very reminiscent of the 1980s. Mind you, not my favourite epoch musically, but arguably the most significant decade in defining who I am as a person, you know, when I graduated at university, got my job and married my wife. Actually the song brings memories of one my favourite films of those years, Peter's Friends, whose opening (set, if my memory doesn't fail me, in New Year's Eve) includes Tears for Fears's music as you can see in this clip if you watch the entire 5-minute piece. There's Maggie Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Gorbachev and so many influential political figures who actually RULED THE WORLD then. Those were the days!

OK, folks, time to close the last entry of our blog (as far as I'm concerned, of course) this year. Just one more thing for me to say, loud and clear:

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE AND I WISH YOU ALL A GLORIOUS 2010!

28 December

Happy Fool's Day! Though, as you may know, in the Anglo-saxon world it's celebrated on April 1st, here in Spain is right today. My dear fools!

But listen guys, I really appreciate your good intentions to "save" this blog from the claws of the SGAE. It tells me how much it means to you too, ha ha!

By the way, has anyone ever played a practical joke on you? Or have you read any news in the papers today or heard something in the media that you positively know is an "inocentada". Then why don't you share it with us all on this blog? For example, I read something on today's online paper, Salamanca24horas.com, which I guess must be an "inocentada". Or is it?

Whatever, I hope you enjoyed the well-meant prank and had a good hearty laugh, like the guy below, the foolest politician that ever was on the face of the earth, whose name I refuse to pronounce ... Thank God he's history now!

To compensate you for such "naughty" behaviour, I'd like to embed a classic Xmas carol by the one and only Frank Sinatra. I love not just the music but the funny slide presentation, which, in case you don't fully understand the lyrics, is very self-explanatory. Mind you, I always say it's quite impossible not to make out what The Voice sings!

December 24th

Hi there! Well, I guess I have to say Merry Xmas first of all, and surely FELIZ NOCHEBUENA. How are you enjoying your well-deserved holidays? Are you ready for the forthcoming blowouts? Mind your Xmas diet, guys, or you won't be able to cross the classroom door when you go back to school, ha ha!

As for me, I'm hosting tonight's dinner as usual with my wife and kids, so we're getting ready for the feast. Not a big one, the guests just consist of my mum, my wife's dad and my younger bro-in-law's family. But I'll try to snap out of my "grinch-like" mood and get more into the festive spirit.

Anyway, I was wondering what I could embed on today's entry, and as I was watching the latest DVD I've bought, a lovely song came up. It's not actually a Christmas one, bit it contains kind of related lyrics: "Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I heard was a song outside my window, the traffic wrote the words. It came reeling up like Christmas bells, rapping up like pipes and drums".

I don't know why but my mood these days is somewhat bluesy and melancholic, not because of Xmas but for some bad news I've had of late, and Joni Mitchell's music reflects that mood. So I wanted to dedicate you all "Chelsea morning", by the famed Canadian singer-songwriter, whose amazing voice really moves me. But if you don't mind, I'd like to specially dedicate the song to a couple of students, a married couple, who are having a tough time these days of, supposedly, merry and joy. My heart and my thoughts are with them ...

Then Ana has sent this review of a lovely tear-jerking film, The Bucket List, starring two screen giants, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman:

Have you ever wondered what you would do if only had one year left? Would you wait for your end sat in your couch? Or would you do all those things that you have always dreamed of and you have never dared to do? That is the question that emerges from this movie.
Having said that, this sounds a little banal, trivial perhaps but it is not at all: it is a story that hooks you from the beginning. Its plot is absolutely touching and makes you think about the fragility of life, but at the same time it powerfully induces to live with intensity through the present.
Carter and Edward (Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson respectively) meet by chance in a shared room in a hospital owned by the latter. Edward’s enormous extravagance and Carter’s deeply human formation and good sense melt surprisingly, in a strangely natural way.
In order not to tell you the end, I will just say that one of the quotes that had a profound impact on me was: “I know that when he died his eyes were closed and his heart was open”. In my opinion it is the best thing you can say about somebody after their death, when this person is not alone and you can remember him with affection.
In a certain way this movie is like antibiotics: you must watch it whenever you forget the importance of living the present moment. I am sure that it will change your way of facing up to life.

Surely some of you will want to borrow the film when you get back to school, won't ya? To wetten your appetite, this is the official trailer.

OK folks, time to close now. Thanks a million Ana for your umpteenth contribution, this is really your blog as much as anybody's. Merry Xmas everyone!

December 2nd

Hello guys! At long last someone dares write in a new entry, because this blog was sort of dying, wasn't it?
Anyway, Ana says:

IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS (comedy, USA, 2008)

On New Year’s Eve in L. A. everybody looks desperately for a really special night: nobody can be alone.
Wilson - the protagonist- is the new kid in town. He lives in L. A. with Jacob and his girlfriend, Min. All of them seem to have an agreeable coexistence, not exempt from strange yet hilarious situations. The same day, Wilson, advised by Jacob, decides to put an advertisement on the Internet under the pseudonym of Misanthrope to find a girl to spend the night with. Vivian, an extremely nervous and weird girl, answers the ad and they arrange a date.
The plot is incredible, somewhat surrealistic, but not more than the life is.
I strongly recommend this comedy: it’s so tender that you can’t watch it impassibly.

Thank you so very much, dear Ana, you're the "sunshine of our blog". If I may add something, I really relished the black-and-white cinematography and the delightful music score of ISOAMK. Personally, I'd say the film oozes an honesty that is immediately appealing. As the movie progressed I found it easy to relate to the characters and their mix of cynicism and hope. Such engaging dialogues!
Well, many of you have taken the flick home in your USBs, so I'd love to hear your comments too. For the moment, I can embed the YouTube HD trailer so as to encourage you all to see one of the best independent, low-budget films I've seen in years. Bring your pintxos, won't you? I just hope the SGAE is not reading this!