Sun Poisoning

A few years ago I went for a weekend to the beach far far away from where I lived. I wanted to get a tan (because I'm so frigging white!). All the good shade was taken when we arrived to the beach, so we had to settle to shade under a huge parasol and also brave the scorching sun. Someone said that Cabo Rojo is one of those beaches in which you can get burned easily. I didn't understand, was the beach closer to the sun? Or was there something in the water? So I just shrugged those comments off and laid on the sand with a towel over my face. I could feel the glorious heat caving into my skin, it actually felt good. I could feel tthe bright sun everywhere weighing down. I turned over and did my back too. I ignored random comments and/or advice: "you shouldn't bake for that long, Joel". And then, ten or fifteen minutes later of relaxed sunbaking (suntanning, whatever) I got up and went into the water. But then, afternoon came and the time to go back to the hostel. My skin started to tighten on the shoulders, arms, back and chest. By the time I went to take a shower to wash off the salt water I was blazing like a motherfucking bonfire. I couldn't move. The water from the shower was felt like a thousand fat needles. My skin was lobster red, and it was as hard as a lobster shell is. It smelled like roasted chicken, and if you touched it also felt like hardened roasted chicken skin. It was awful. Dreadful. Uber painful. The next day I started to get hugeamongous pustules which reminded me of when the Gremlims touched water. The pustules would break and bleed their puss and then burn because it was open skin. Waking up and getting up from bed was tedious, because the clothes gets stuck on these pustules and on the burnt skin in general... I had to peal it off, it felt as if I was grating myself. I went to the doctor and he prescribed: gatorade (for hydration), solarcaine and cold aloe vera... the rest was up to my skin and to my will to endure.... I swore not to let that happen again. That's why I'm still so frigging white!

Another sun poisoning story, didn't happen to me, but to one of my roommates in Orlando. It was the third or forth week there in the new appartment, when we realized that he had been gone for a couple of days. Until one night there is a knock on the door (maybe I'm fictionalizing this) and there he was, red-skinned and miserable. (Actually, we roommates got back from work and found him lying almost dead on the bed with his face all red, but the door scenes sounded more fascinating). So we found him on the bed, and he slowly took his covers off and we saw his chest, which was super white before, was like a lighted piece of coal. His legs were so burnt that he couldn't set his foot on the floor in the proper manner. It was painful to see. He could barely walk. And because he was so thin, he looked very very ill. We helped him though, we were good roommates. A week later he was almost back into his own skin and goofing around all over.

So, why am I telling these stories? Well, because I saw THIS Family guy episode:

You're haunting this house with your whiteness, Brian.

HER city. YOUR city. MY city.

HER city

Market Street, San Francisco

From the Greyhound

SF's nightsky

Golden Gate

***

YOUR city

The Mirage

The Venetian

The not-going-to-rain sunset of Las Vegas

Token Vegas Strip night shot

***

and MY city

El Morro, San Juan

Sunset from El Tren (woohoo)

Hotel El Convento

Land and Water

and Puerto Rico from the sky

*Thanks to the photographer for donating these amazing shots.

((You are very welcome))

Joel's Super Movie Review: Superbad (in english)

((Version en español aqui))

There are many movies in the theater that claim to be comedies, but in reality they are empty shells that try to keep you laughing with unwitty or silly jokes... for example: a character falling down a slope for an entire minute or two (that's from the movie Hot Rod) (not to mention that sometimes it is hard for foreigners (ergo: me) to understand these (silly) type of American comedies). A good comedy makes you laugh because the situations are so imcomprehensibly impossible that the characters have to do even more incredible things to get out of. Superbad is one of those movies, lets say: silly, or teen movies... it is one of those silly teen movies that achieves, not only in making us laugh, but also in seeing the heart of the story and the growth of the characters into real human beings.

Superbad is about two ultra-horny geeky friends who want to have sex (obviously) before graduating high school. So, as Paulo Coehlo would say: the world conspired in their favor when they get invited, by two girls, to a party to which they have to bring the alcohol for they have, supposedly, just gotten fake ID's (they're under 21). It happens that a third friend really just a fake ID, but he is even nerder than the other two and the name on his ID only says McLovin, without a last name, and well, it is pretty much impossible that will get the liquor.

The thing is that everything goes to hell with all the good sense of the expression.

And, by the way, McLovin steals the movie.

Superbad is offensive from the moment it begins. Vulgar language is present from the moment the characters first appear. But the acting is so convincing that you can find the charm in it (the foul dialog). Besides, said language is a part of the characters and part of their characterization as young guys without inhibitions whose hormones are raging out of control. But that's not all, it happens that the language brings undertones and subtext, for example: in one scene, the two friends insult each other in a rather foul manner, they try to hurt each other with unsaid truths, but the subtext of it is that the one friend resents the other because he is going to a better school and they are not going to hang out together anymore. Among other offensive moments, there is a flashback scene in which on character has an obsession for drawing erect penises, and yes, you'll see the drawings, they reminded me of the drawings on the walls of the bathrooms in elementary and high school.

One thing I found out of place was the characters of the cops. I found other reviews which pointed out that they were too over the top or cartoonish for this movie. But, really, I didn't mind them, because they were the "silly" part of the movie, and they made it run from point B to C.

Another thing that could be said comes in detriment of the movie is that it is a little too long than it should. I felt those extra minutes at mid movie, because the guys are deterred from getting to the party too many times and they reach the "emptyness" level I mentioned at the begining, especially because of the cops; but the rest of the movie is worth staying.

I cannot say much about the camera shots or the editing for two reasons: 1. because I wasn't paying attention to them shots... and 2. because, maybe, it was so well shot and edited that I didn't notice any mistake nor cinematic wonder. Although the movie does have the token slow-motion shot: when a bottle of liquor falls to the ground. Superbad is a movie taken by the hand by a nice script, by words and situations, instead of by image. And ME saying that a movie is good because of its anti-image qualities (and anti-image is not the right word, but it works for this parragraph) is a great feat to accomplish. It is like watching a great sitcom (That's 70's Show, anybody?). And it doesn't matter that the movie plants some details and then forgets about them, because they are not important, they are only used to move the story; to illustrate: the bottle that breaks, in the beginning it has much to do with what happens in the movie, but it is then forgotten.

The only moment that I noticed the use of "image" to bring a messege, was at the end of the movie, when the camera pans down on an escalator, in the most heartfelt scenes of the whole movie.

Talking about heart: even though the sex and booze prowls the whoooole movie, it does accomplish to keep our interest and to make us identify with the characters; and not only that, it also moved me: because the movie is about the hardships of the rites of passage, of leaving childhood behind, of maturing and growing up. And one of those hardships is to figure and find the love that surrounds us, or that love that was never expressed.

You have to see Superbad. I gets an A, for being funny at every other 30 seconds, for being vulgar and offensive at every other 20, and for not staying in the emptiness of comic, sexual and hormonal gratification, but for transcending the boundaries of laughter for the sake of sole laughs, and for showing a little of humanity at the precise moment: at the end, leaving us (me) with good humors.

Joel's Super Movie Review: Superbad (en español)

((English version here))

En el cine hay muchas peliculas que dicen ser comedias, pero que en realidad son caparazones vacios que tratan de mantenerte riendo con bromas bobas... como por ejemplo: un personaje cayendose por un barranco por un minuto entero o dos (y hablo de la pelicula Hot Rod) (sin mencionar que ese tipo de comedia americana (boba) es dificil de entender para los "foreigners", ergo: yo). Una buena comedia te hace reir porque las situaciones son tan incomprensiblemente imposibles que para salir de ellas tienen que actuar aun mas increiblemente. Superbad es una de esas peliculas, dire: bobas, o mejor: "teen movie"... es una de esas bobas "teen movies" que logra, no solamente hacernos reir, pero tambien ver el corazon de la historia y el crecimiento de los personajes a ser seres humanos reales.

Superbad trata de dos amigos nerds y ultra bellacos (for lack of a better word) que quieren (obviamente) tener sexo antes de graduarse de escuela superior; entonces, como diria Paulo Coelho (y vere represalias por citarlo): el mundo consipira para que ellos puedan lograrlo, cuando dos muchachas los invitan a una fiesta a la cual ellos tienen que llevar el alcohol porque supuestamente tienen identificaciones falsas (ellos son menores de 21). Resulta un tercer amigo acaba de conseguirse un ID falso, pero el es un todavia mas nerd que los otros dos, y el nombre en el ID solamente dice McLovin sin apellido, y bueno, es casi imposible que consiga las bebidas.

La cosa es que todo se va al diablo, con todo el buen sentido de la expresion.

Y, by the way, McLovin se roba la pelicula.

Superbad es ofensiva desde que empieza. El lenguaje vulgar y soez esta presente desde que aparecen los personajes por primera vez. Pero las actuaciones son tan convincentes, que se le puede encontrar el encanto (al dialogo). Ademas, dicho lenguaje es parte de los personajes y de su caracterizacion como jovenes sin inhibiciones cuyas hormonas andan descontroladas, burbujeando con fuerza. Pero eso no es todo, resulta que ese lenguaje trae historia por debajo, trae subtexto, por ejemplo: en una escena, los dos amigos pelean groseramente, y se dicen verdades con la intencion de herir, pero el subtexto es que uno de ellos resiente al otro porque el se va para una buena universidad y ya no van a janguear como antes. Entre otros momentos ofensivos, hay un flashback en el que una obsesion por dibujar penes erectos tiene repercusiones sobre uno de los personajes, y si, los dibujos se ven, y me recuerdaron los dibujos que habian en los banos de la escuela elemental, intermedia y superior.

Lo unico que encontre un poco fuera de sitio en cuanto historia y personajes, fue los personajes de los policias. Otros reviews dicen que estos personajes eran demasiado "over the top" o caricaturescos para esta pelicula. Pero, la verdad, no me importaron, porque ellos son la parte "boba" de la pelicula y hacen que corra desde el punto B al punto C.

Otra cosa que podria decirse que le viene en detrimento es que es un poquito mas larga de lo que debe ser. Senti los minutos de mas en el medio de la pelicula, porque las interrupciones para que los muchachos llegaran a la fiesta, son demasiados y tocan el "vacio" que mencione al principio, especialmente por los policias; pero el resto de la pelicula vale quedarse.

No puedo decir mucho sobre los tiros de camara o la edicion, por dos razones: 1. no estaba atento a ellos, y 2. porque, quiza, estuvo tan bien tirada y editada que no me di cuenta de ningun error o de ninguna maravilla de cinematografia. Aunque la pelicula si tiene el tiro obligado de camara lenta: cuando una botella se rompe en el suelo. Superbad es una pelicula llevada de la mano mas por guion, por palabra y situacion, que por imagen. Y que YO diga que una pelicula es buena por sus caracteristicas anti-imagen (lo de anti-imagen no es justo, pero es lo que funciona en este parrafo) es un gran logro. Es como ver un buen "sitcom" (That's 70's Show, anybody?). Y no importa que la pelicula plantea o planta algunos detalles y luego los olvida, los olvida, porque no son importantes, solamente se usan para mover el cuento: y para dar un ejemplo especifico, la botella que se rompe, al principio tiene mucho que ver, pero despues se olvida.

En donde unico note un uso de la imagen para llevar un mensaje, fue al final de la pelicula, cuando la camara baja con una escalera electrica, en lo que es la escena mas "heartfelt" de toda la pelicula.

Hablando de cosas con corazon: a pesar del tema de sexo y cerveza que ronda la pelicula en toooodo momento, la pelicula cumple con interesarnos y con hacer que nos identifiquemos con los personajes; y no solo eso, tambien me conmovio: porque la pelicula trata sobre los dilemas con los ritos de paso, sobre dejar la ninez atras, sobre madurar y crecer. Y uno de esos momentos o dilemas es encontrar y darse cuenta del carino que nos rodea, o de aquel carino que nunca fue expresado.

Tienen que ver Superbad. Se gana una A, por ser graciosa a cada 30 segundos de ella, por ser ofensiva y vulgar a cada 20, y por no quedarse en el vacio de la gratificacion comica, sexual y hormonal, sino por trascender los limites de la risa por el simple hecho de hacer reir, y por mostrar un poco de humanidad en el momento preciso: al final, y dejarnos (dejarme) llenos de buenos humores.

Una enorme luna del desierto Veganiano para Yolanda

La verdad es, Yolanda, que es un astro tan hermoso el que tenemos por las noches... Y aun cuando mi camara es una " wimpy", la luna estaba tan cerca que se veia clarita toda, sobre la Torre Eiffel de Paris, y aunque a veces pasa desapercibida siempre nos vigila y nos acompana (en nuestros viajes, y en nuestros momentos altos y bajos).

En Defensa del Anuncio del Banco Popular o Guayaba, Mampostiales, Tembleque y Mavi

Vean el anuncio y elaboren una opinion y luego lean lo siguiente:

No se quien rayos fue que me dijo por primera vez, en el cine, mientras viraba los ojos, que este anuncio "disgusts me". No se quien fue, fue una muchacha, pero no me acuerdo quien... Entonces cuando le dije: "pues yo creo que es uno de los mejores anuncios que hay ahora mismo en el cine, sino en la historia de la publicidad" (bueno, eso de "en la historia de la publicidad" me lo acabo de inventar, pero lo demas si se lo dije), y me miro de lado y dijo: "te gusta ese anuncio?", como si lo que estuviesen anunciando fuese sexo por todos los orificios imaginados. Y yo dije: "si".

Tambien, cada vez que vamos un grupo de amigos al cine, uno de ellos me mira de reojo y me dice lo mismo. Y yo inquiro: "pero que tiene?", sin entender que es tan problematico del anuncio. Entonces, dice que es una representacion fantastica o fantasiosa de lo que es Puerto Rico (o algo asi dijo, y algo asi tambien dijo la primera muchacha). Y yo contesto: "Y?"

Y? Y que pasa si ese no es el Puerto Rico real? Y que pasa si yo me lo quiero creer como esta en el anuncio? Y que importa si los de afuera lo ven y dicen: "uuuh que cool, vamos pa'lla". Y? No es mejor mostrar la mejor cara?

Entonces, despues de esa descarga, le digo: "tambien el anuncio esta bien hecho, tienes que ver los tiros de camara, los angulos, la poesia visual, el movimiento, las camaras lentas, tienes que ver mi shot favorito que es el del senor frente al faro bajo un cielo nublado en el atardecer (super shot)" (ya quisiera yo que las peliculas de Puerto Rico se vieran todas asi), tambien le digo: "y la musica? no te gusta? no crees que suena bien, no crees que el coro es catchy, los nenes no cantan bien? la lirica no rima no es chevere y pegagosa? Porque yo creo que si. (La verdad muchas de estas cosas no las dije, pero las pense; y no las dije porque estamos en el cine y hay que mantener cierto sentido del silencio; pero estas cosas estan implicitas en la aseveracion: "es un anuncio bien hecho").

Finalmente, (y ahora estaria poniendo palabras en la boca de mi amigo y de la muchacha) podrian decir que si no tuviera el infamous logo del Banco Popular al final pues seria mejor. Pero, quien no querria darse el credito de haber hecho un anuncio tan brutal? Si yo hubiese hecho ese anuncio y si mi nombre fuese una compania de mucha envergadura se lo hubiera puesto si. Malo seria que el anuncio fuese malisimo, faltos de imaginacion y mal ejecutados (como los Church's)....

Y bueno, despues de mucho tiempo de buscar en Youtube este anuncio y de haber fracasado, una amiga (una de las del grupo) lo encuentra y me lo envia al myspace... so thoughtful (y yo que me pongo a escribir este rant para defenderlo, aunque resulta (dados los comentarios en Youtube) que a mucha gente le encanta y lo comparan con el famoso anuncio de "Piiiiinta tu viiiida" de Harrys Paints. Y a mi me recuerda un anuncio super bueno de American Airlines en el que mucha gente llega al aeropuerto y la gente se abraza. Ya apareceran esos dos anuncios en el myspace en un dia inesperado.

Personalmente, me gusta mas la version corta de este anuncio del Banco Popular, es que es como un cuento bien contado, que lo podan para que se (lea) vea mejor e impacte. A mi me conmueve cada vez que veo el anuncio en el cine (y mas en este momento que estoy en Las Vegas). La version larga me deja apreciar todo lo que se hizo y escuchar la cancion en su entera magestuosidad (ni tanto, pero si esta chevere).

De nuevo, perdon por los acentos carcomidos.... Y vuelvan a ver el anuncio y a cantar la cancion. Yo se que se la saben.


ps.
((Y eso, que sentia que abandonaba el blog))

Star Wars, Senator Palpatine flips out with Darth Vader

This clip is from [Adultswim's] Robot Chicken, a stop-animated fifteen minute weekly series of spoofs and comic little scenes that are (most of the times) sÚper hilarious. This specific sketch is SO amazingly funny that EVERYTIME I see it, I laugh. Watch carefully at the the subtle movements of the animation AND listen to the amazing dialog and enjoy the spoof:

Suicide Prevention or Golden Gate Blues

On the last hours of my last day in San Francisco I arrived to the Golden Gate Bridge. I had already seen it during the day (on previous days) but from afar, and I wanted the upclose experience. But what happened? On that last day I decided to go to as many places as I could, being the bridge the farthest landmark from my starting point, I went there last. And so, I regreted it.

When I arrived it was already dark. It was 5:30 PM or maybe 6:00, I don't remember, but it was as dark as if it were midnight. I got off the bus. I walked through the freezing breeze of the ocean, happy that I was going to BE on the Golden Gate at last, under its fade lights and red structure, only to encounter a gate that closed the entrance of the sidewalk of the bridge, branding two signs:

One said: "No pedestrians after 6:30 PM", I'm pretty sure it wasn't even six. Dang it! But then, my night wasn't all lost, for I read the other sign, right under that one that said:

"The consequences of jumping from this bridge are fatal and tragic". Uuh, duh? It was so funny that there was a sign on the entrance of the bridge that stated the obvious, then again people ignore many signs on their ways... But this one was a first for me. Then it hit me that there must have been many people that jumped over the side of the bridge for the city to post this sign. And then I remember the fog that remained during my stay in SanFran, my friend told me that it was constant (although I also enjoyed pretty clear skies, but mostly it was cold, rainy and gray). It has to have a toll on people....

Still, I thought it funny. And in the end I enjoyed the saddened/nostalgic look of the bridge in the night and up close.

((I should have just jumped onto the street! There wasn't a sign for THAT!)).

Ensayo sobre la ceguera

No, no, no me voy a poner a criticar el Ensayo sobre la ceguera de Saramago, no, no, si ni lo he leído (leí el otro, el Ensayo sobre la lucidez y lo encontré bien... lúcido). Lo que les voy a enseñar es mi televisor a punto de sucumbir ante la miopía. El pobre ya ni puede abrir los ojos... Y pensar que su mayor ilusión era ser oftalmólogo. Siempre hablaba de ver los horizontes de Japón y las montañas del Tibet, pero, su vista se pierde a una rapidez espantosa y pierde, pierde oportunidades con cada momento.

¡Pobreciiiiitoo!

((ya mismo lo echo al zafacón))

"BONES" ((Huesitos)) or the sound of The Killers

I've been putting off a post on The Killers for a looong time. And I will put it off again, because I'm only going to show you my most recently-favorite song of all time:

BONES ((Huesitos))




Cooome with meeee
(tin TIN tin tin, tin TIN tin tin, tiTIN tin tin)

We took a back road.
We're gonna look at the stars,
We took a backroad in my car,
Down to the ocean,
it’s only water and sand
And in the ocean we'll hold hands.

But I don't really like you,
apologetically dressed in the best,
but on a heartbeat glides
Without an answer,
the thunder speaks for the sky,
and on the cold, wet dirt I cryyyyyy.
And on the cold, wet dirt I cry.

Don’t you wanna come with me?
Don’t you wanna feel my bones
on your bones?
It's only natural.

A cinematic vision ensued
like the holiest dream.
Is someone calling?
An angel whispers my name,
but the message relayed is the saaaame:
Wait till tomorrow, you'll be fine.

But it's gone to the dogs in my mind.
I always hear them
when the dead of night
comes calling to save me from this fight.
But they can never wrong this right.

Don't you wanna come with me?
Don't you wanna feel my bones
on your bones?
It's only natural.
Don’t you wanna swim with me?
Don’t you wanna feel my skin
on your skin?
It's only natural.

(Never had a lover)
I never had a lover
(Never had soul)
I never had soul
(Never had a good time)
And I never had a good time
(Never got gold)
I never got gold.

Don't you wanna come with me?
Don't you wanna feel my bones
on your bones?
It's only natural.
Don't you wanna swim with me?
Don't you wanna feel my skin
on your skin?
It's only natural.
Don't you wanna come with me?
Don't you wanna feel my bones
on your bones?
It’s only natural.
Come and take a swim with meeeee.
Don't you wanna feel my skin
on your skin?
It’s only naturaaaaaal

I must say that the video is nice, inventive and funny, but the song is a little deeper than the video depicts, still, I wouldn't have done it differently. I think the dark movie theme, black/white and the walking skeletons is just the right mix, and, of course, Tim Burton directed it, so DUH, it HAS to be interesting.

What I like though, is the song itself, the whole church chorus at the start and then the playfulness of that synthetizer tin TIN tin tin, tin TIN tin tin. And the song goes goes goes and doesn't stop, making it almost a desperate race. I also love the fact that there are trumpets (or some wind instrument) in a song like this, fascinating. And of course, all The Killers songs have this peculiar sound of being old 80's (with echos and choirs and synthetizers), but instead of sounding tacky, they sound nostalgic, which is often good. Even though all their songs have that nostalgic, ethereal sound, they always sound different; so, in their own world-spread of music, the rythms and sounds are always different.

So Joel, what is tacky 80's? Let's define tacky first: "tastelessly showy, flashy, cheap, almost vulgar". The Killers are vulgar, and flashy, but they have some taste, like it doesn't come off as über sticky, or kitsch; because they're doing it on purpose and you can see the art, and they have taken the best qualities of the "old stuff" (I want to stop saying 80's because I fear that I may be wrong with the "movements" or the "moments" of the era) which were over the top, but not TOO much. Then, there are those who took the tacky from the 80's, Maroon 5 for example (please click this link to see what I mean). Yes, the video and the song are catchy; yes, you can dance to it; yes it looks retro; but don't you think it looks to exagerated? I mean, exageration was one of the "things" of the 80's (I keep sinning saying 8o's), but that doesn't mean that it was "cool". The faded neon blues, oranges, and pinks are all there, the upbeat rythm... I just cringe at it, I don't know why, I'll probably have to listen to it a little more to see if I like this flashy, unclimaxing song (that's another thing, it is so flat throughout). I really doubt I'll like it. I liked Maroon 5's first CD, by the way, just so you know.

Back to The Killers:
The lyrics also have the same retro-soft feel, and nostalgia to them, just read the titles of past and present songs: "When you were young", "Mr. Brightside", "All these things that I've done", "Read my mind". And of course, "Bones" isn't far behind: there is a certain tenderness about "feeling bones". How much closer can you get to someone? But it makes a counterpoint because bones, bare bones are creepy, and that's where the genius lies. But, taking it even farther, if you touch someone elses bones with your bones, wouldn't it make an awesome conection? If you touch someone else's bones with your bones it would mean that you are not put out by the horrible things the other person has, that you are confident enough to show your bones, to let them be touched by the other, it would also mean that you are rooted with him/her in a very profound level. Then, the song soothes itself saying "don't you wanna SWIM with me" "and feel my skin on your skin": water and skin, (I might be just putting more meaning to this song that it actually has, but that's the purpose of analyzing [or overanalyzing] isn't it?), so water and skin makes for a deeper connection still: water is an universal conduct, and skin is too, they are the ways into the bones.

I'm in real love with this song and all songs from this band.

((so much for putting off the post again, huh, I just couldn't stop))

Bible Fight, and Adultswim's originality

I had to write something about this game.

Cartoon Network's Adultswim's Bible Fight is a spoof of figting games AND of the bible done right. A spoof is suposed to mock its original source, but a good spoof also emulates it and kind of makes an ode of it. So, in this sense Bible Fight is done right in many aspects.

The drawn characters are like glass-windows, many straight, thick lines, bright colors that really stand out. The design of the frames are all so gothic that you cannot do anything but love it. Now, some would say this game is sacrilegious, but I would say that, given all the work needed to do such a beatiful looking game like this, you could hardly feel offended by it. I mean just look at it, specially look at the backgrounds, look at how breathtaking they are (specially the Golgotha one), so, I would say that some amount of love and dedication was given to make this unusual game. Yes, it makes you laugh at the notion of seeing Mary fight her son Jesus, but thats the beauty of it (and the joke of it). I really like this game, for it takes all the stories from the bible (which, by the way, they are JUST stories) and juggle them all together. I'm in love with it (I can't wait to UNLOCK the character of God, he should have some awesome powers). Also the music is so ethereal and great that I just turn it on to hear it in the background while I write.

Now, for a comment on Cartoon Network. Lately the original programing of Cartoon Network's Adultswim has fallen into the mediocre side of things. I don't want to think that that is the popular demand of unitedstatetians (americans are all who live in america), or that many people like it, I mean, if Aqua Teen Hunger Force (which, to me, is the biggest waste of 30 minutes in tv) could actually be made into a movie, then yes, the weird (and often stupid) shows that they come up with have some audience. But sometimes Adultswim comes up with some great ideas which makes the look like the most original guys without looking overly eager. And that is what this game is: a well thought, a carefully made product that hightens not only art, but it also has something of some kind of meaning to say, aside from entertainment factor. Another example of this is Morel Orel, which is also a comment on fanatic religion, made in stop-animation (and it is really interesting, because the protagonist of the show, always makes little stop-animation movie at the end of the episode, so its the animation of the animation, which is really cool). Also, Robot Chicken is a very good show original from Adultswim. I my mind not many of the other original shows are that great (except Ed, Edd and Eddy, and Cow and Chicken, and Dexter's Laboratory, but those are part of "Cartoon network", not "Adultswim", so they're mainly for children, although Ed, Edd and Eddy is quite a sight for adults too). Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that Adultswim has the talend and the wit to make good shows. Proof of this wit are the banners that run in between commercials, which are hilarious.

Now, for some screen shots of Bible Fight!!
Character selection: Notice the arched windows in which they are displayed. And also watch the details on Eve's leaves, on Satan's chest and Mary carying baby Jesus.
Satan and Mary begin a fight. Notice the beautiful background, those birds actually circle around the crosses.Mary dodges Satan's trident.

Mary escapes Satan's "Cerberus Charge" by teleporting with her "Immaculate deception".

Mary jumps out of the pentagran drawn by Satan after he returns from his Cerberus form.Satan charges from the air with a tridentful of fire. Notice Mary's blood. Poor girl. But why oh why is she fighting with Jesus on her arms?
Here she is laying the smackdown with her high kick. Notice the Sacred Heart that works as the time keeper and as the end of your lives/energy. In the end Satan lies defeated on the ground and Mary gravitates heavenly like the saint she is. How's that for moral?!

Go to
www.adultswim.com
and look for the Bible Fight logo to play,
you'll love it.
(This was unpaid advertising)

The end of the Magic Hour

Reflejos / Reflections

Luna humilde para Yolanda

Y pues, como la luna estaba hermosa, pensé en Yolanda y recordé que había dicho que cargaría con mi cámara para no pederme la luna más, y aquí está: la luna de antesdeayer, celebrando que Yola es LA escritora puertorriqueña por excelencia del momento (y seguro que de la historia futura).Es un misterio la luna envuelta entre los párpados del cielo, es la luna la representación de la curiosidad entre las tinieblas de lo desconocido, por eso me fascina, nos fascina.

(ah, y es humilde pues la foto no es una cosa "wow, qué bruto, qué foto más buena" (así diría la Chilindrina o el Chavo), es que mi cámara tiene problemas psicolénticos y psicozoomísticos y en los cuales el lente está flojo afectando así el zoom digital, y pues ya no es lo que era...) (¡la intención es lo que cuenta!)

Los Silverhawks

!!!¿¿¿Naaaaaadie se acuerda de los Silverhawks???!!!

Es que le he preguntado a un chorro de gente y me suben los hombros sin saber de qué rayos hablo....
El otro día, estaba en el blog de Rpgdude, y recordé uno de mis muñequitos favoritos: Los Silverhawks; no me pregunten de qué rayos trataba, sólo sé que eran un grupo de aeronautas que eran de plata, con máscaras de halcones (o aves de rapiña) y alas de "acero". La cosa es que encontré el video del opening de la serie y se me pararon los pelos de la emoción (amo a youtube). ¡Qué cosa más ochentosa cará! La musiquita Megamaniana y los brillitos acordes de la época... nótenlos al final del video cuando sale el título Silverhawks, con el TOKEN SHOT de ellos así como en tribuna, como en Armagedon.

Para aquellos quiénes olvidaron a los Silverhawks, y para los que siempre los recuerdan vagamente, aquí va: Canten a coro por favor, y escuchen el chirrido del halcón de metal, es una cosa espectacular...
Ah, y comparen la versión en español, la cual es mucho más completa y, por lo tanto superior, que la que es en inglés.

En Español:

¡Allá Van!
Son de plata y de acero (silveeerhaaawks),
son humanos biónicos (magiiiicooos),
cruzan por el cielo,
para el cosmos conquistar,
Silverhawks una luz para triunfaaaaaar.
[ahora el viaje de la guitarra eléctrica por 20 segundos]
Las galaxias son su meta (silveeerhaaawks),
siempre buscan por la paz (la gueeerra)
Silveeeerhaaaawks

Ahora en inglés (*Joel pukes at the "uncoolness" of it*)

OMG, Stardust Hotel was dusted!!!

And what were we doing? I was writing about annoying roosters, and you were reading about them.

Yes, the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas was imploded last 13th of March. You don't know which hotel is that? Just watch the "classic" picture I took when I went to Vegas.

Joel, how did you get to know about these sad news? Well, Joel, I was randomly checking cities at the newly found website www.craigslist.org, and after perusing through New York, San Francisco and Puerto Rico, I went to Las Vegas, and suddenly found some ad in which someone was looking for a cameraman who could film the "implosion of the Stardust". And I was like this:

:-o

"Such a "historic" hotel is going to be imploded?", I said. And then I HAD to come here and write about it, and I also HAD to post one of the best pictures I took in Vegas: the picture of the Stardust Hotel sign.

I remember the night... I was walking up on the Strip (I say "up" because I was going "north" (I think)), it was super cold, I had my hands inside the long sleeves of my borrowed jacket, and those in turn, I had them burried in the pockets of my pants. I could see my breath when I breathed out, and suddenly I saw the sign with the many sparkled stars gleaming and twinkling. I reached it. And I looked up, there were no clouds in the dark sky of that night. And I saw the sign up close. I took my camera out of a pocket inside the jacket. I was shaking from the cold. And I shot a picture. I took three or four with different appertures and shutter speeds (because I'm a perfectionist like that), but I only kept one pic, because I was running out of memory in the memory card. So, of the 200 plus pictures I have from Vegas THIS/THAT pic is the ONLY one I have from the hotel.

Vegas is such an everchanging place, historic places are not preserved that much (except in museums), because the entertainment business is always renewing itself. So it depends on how you look at it, it is good because it keeps things fresh, but it also makes you forget of good times past.

Click HERE for day-by-day countdown.
or HERE to know what they're building in its place.
and watch the video below (it is always cool to watch something implode, specially when there are nice fireworks)

Maldito Gallo / Stupid Rooster

((english below))

En el patio de mi casa hay una gallina. La gallina se llama Cleopatra, porque al final mi madre es la que le pone nombre a todos los animales (el conejo se llamaba Lichón en un principio, y ella le puso Susana, y Susana se quedó) (ese también es otro post). Bueno, pues resulta que, aparentemente, Cleopatra la gallina estaba muy solita en su enorme mansión de jaula (créanme es una mansión), así a mi padre se le ocurrió la grandísima idea de traerle un gallo "para que ella no se quedara seca" (o algo así dijo). Pues, cool, el gallo está lindo y toda la cosa. Pero, llegó la noche y el gallo canta que canta y no me deja dormir a mi especialmente, porque mi ventana da justo para el patio de atrás. Y bueno, hasta el vecino se quejó, pero la verdad el vecino se queja hasta del agua que baja naturalmente por el frente de su casa en la cuneta (en serio se queja de eso).

Los gallos se contestan. ¿Qué quiero decir con esto? Que si un gallo escucha a otro gallo en la distancia, el primero le contestará al segundo y viceversa. Cool. Pues a lo lejos, bieeen lejos, en los confines del cementerio detrás del patio de mi casa, se escuchaba un gallo cantar. Y entonces el de aquí le cantaba pa trás. Pero hoy, antes de despertarme escuché el gallo de la lejanía más cerca. Claramente pensé que estaba soñando. Pero no. Sí estaba más cerca. Y ahora que estoy mirando por la ventana, hay OTRO condenao gallo cantando en mi patio, afuera de la jaula, acosando a la gallina Cleopatra; canta uno y luego el otro y me están volviendo loco. Que se los lleven a los dos. Que los cocinen en fricasé o algo, pero que dejen a la gallina sola, que aunque es arisca, es calladita.

UPDATE: Ahora puedo escuchar a un TERCER gallo cantando cerca. Si me encuentran tirao por algún barranco desangrándome es que finalmente perdí la razón.

_________________________
((english version))

In my yard there is a hen. Its/her name is Cleopatra, because in the end my mother is the one who names all the animals in this house (the rabbit was originally named: Lichón, but she named him/it/her Susana, and with that name him/it/her stayed) (but that is also for another post). Well, it so happens that, apparently, Cleopatra the hen was very lonely on her enourmous cage-mansion (believe me it is like a mansion), hence my father had the great idea of bringing her a rooster "so that she wouldn't stay dry" (or something thus he said). Cool, the rooster is pretty and all that... but, the night fell and the rooster sings all through it. I can't sleep! because my window faces the backyard. Even the neighbor complained, but the truth is that he complains about everything; he even complains about the water that naturally flows through the front of his house out on the gutters of the street (he seriously complains about that).

Roosters answer to each other. What do I mean by that? I mean that if a rooster hears another one singing in the distance, the first will answer to the second and viceversa. Cool. Well, on the distance, very very far into the distance, on the confines of the cemetery behind my backyard, I could hear a rooster sing. And the one in my yard would answer him. But today, before getting up from bed I heard the rooster from the distance singing ever closer. Clearly I thought I was dreaming. But nooo. It WAS closer. And now that I look through my window I see ANOTHER stupid rooster singing in my yard, outside of the cage-mansion, harassing Cleopatra the hen. The rooster sings, and then the one inside the cage sings back and they're making me crazy. I want them both out. I want them cooked, fried, sauteéd, whatever, I just want the hen alone which, even thought she is a bit gruff, she is very very silent.

UPDATE: Now I can hear a THIRD rooster singing close by. If anyone finds me bleeding and slung off of some precipice it is because I finally lost my mind.

300 (the movie) and Craigslist.org

The other day I was surfing around in the salty waters of the internet, and found two very interesting things:

First: www.craigslist.org, It is a very helpful directory of so many things posted by the internet-dwelling people themselves. And it has EVERYTHING, even in Puerto Rico! It also has things from other countries (but I haven't bothered to see that far), but it would/could be an interesting starting place for people looking for... let's say: housing in Las Vegas and/or San Francisco and/or New York *Joel looks at the ceiling as if playing dumb*. But, the interesting part is that EVERYONE I know seemed to have known about this website and NO ONE cared to share it with me *Joel grumbles*.

Second: I also found a longer and "unedited" (or, as the title say rated "R") trailer of the movie 300 in Youtube. It starts on the 15th of March in Puerto Rico, dang it; we just have to wait a little longer. But, in the meantime, enjoy:

El chango inválido

El otro día, mientras esperaba la guagua frente a Kmart en Plaza las Américas, vi un chango inválido. Sucede que en esa parada hay dos árboles a donde se pasa una bandada de changos malvados. (Para los que no sepan lo que es un chango, aquí una descripción: (los demás pueden saltar este paréntesis y el otro) (y los vagos pueden mirar la foto, que es la única que encontré y que había en internet (creo)) un chango es un pájaro completamente negro, tan negro que es imposible ser más negro, es un negro limpio y lustroso, de unas plumas finas, las patas son igualmente negras y flacas, y, sí negras, un negro carbón que brilla. El pico es recto y los ojos son un anillo dorado rodeando una pupila negra. Los changos se la pasan buscando comida que la gente tira por ahí, pero son mejor recibidos que las palomas, por alguna razón. Y hacen un ruido como de cuervo pero mucho más agudo, menos ruidoso, y menos ronco). Pues me encanta mirar los changos, porque son unos pájaros inteligentísimos. Si le tiras las sobras de un mantecado ellos llegan de la nada del aire, en picada y ojean la cosa, se acercan muy desconfiadamente y comen con rapidez. Además de que parecen ser malvados, se quitan la comida unos a otros como si fueran caníbales hambrientos, y ese parentesco con los cuervos (esos que sacan los ojos) no les ayuda. Pero me encanta verlos.

Resulta que había uno de estos pájaros que cuando lo miro con detenimiento, estaba caminando con la pata doblada hacia atrás. En otras palabras, imagínese que usted camina con sus manos, pero con la parte de atrás de las manos, así doblá para atrás. El chango no parecía importarle, cojeaba pero porque su pata era más corta comparada con la otra. Pero era interesante verlo caminar con sus deditos encorvados así... Un ejemplo de superación animal.

bytheway, si alguien sabe otro nombre para este pájaro, por favor dígamelo, aún si es en inglés o francés o español centro/sur americano o español de España o español caribeño...

bueno, me cansé de este post, me iré ver Family Guy.

y mañana (bueno, iré pasado mañana): El laberinto del Fauno!

El Laberinto del Fauno

La película: El laberinto del fauno, o en inglés: Pan's Labyrinth, sale el día ocho de febrero... de cabeza voy al cine a verla, a la primera tanda si es posible... (no había pensado hacer esto desde que salió la tercera parte de Lord of the Rings, que hasta el día libre pedí en mi trabajo, jajaja, qué cojones). Pero, es que miren ese trailer!!