La Casa del Mago / The Magician's House

“You live eighty years, and at best you get about six minutes of pure magic”
George Carlin
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Emptiness

The usefulness of a cup is in its emptiness.
Old Chinese Proverb.

music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

July 2009 Theme Day: Empty

Raindrops

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Honduras: Coup d’état

Graffiti.

Golpe de Estado en Honduras
Honduras: ¿está escrito?
José Steinsleger
En los comicios presidenciales de 2005, en pleno escrutinio, el candidato Porfirio Lobo (Partido Nacional, conservador, oficialista) visitó al embajador de Washington en Honduras y le propuso que vigilara el conteo de votos.

"Actúe con mesura. La tendencia demuestra que hay un ganador", comentó Charles Ford. Cabizbajo, el presidente del Congreso Nacional abandonó la legación diplomática, aceptando los hechos: el liberal Manuel Zelaya, ganadero y directivo de la banca privada, sería el nuevo gobernante del país más pobre del continente, después de Haití. Nacional, liberal, "políticos corruptos"… ¿qué más da?

Hitos del siglo veinte hondureño: en 1924, un milico de la United Fruit, Vicente Tosta, fue proclamado presidente provisional a bordo del buque de guerra estadunidense Milwaukee; en 1944, un tirano, Tiburcio Carías Andino, proclamó como "único candidato al ilustre patriota" Franklin D. Roosevelt (sic), y para hacerla corta, en el decenio de 1980, políticos y militares convirtieron a Honduras en una gran base de agresión militar contra los pueblos de El Salvador y Nicaragua sandinista.

Llegó el nuevo siglo, y las cosas siguieron tal cual. Aunque no tan igual: 80 por ciento de pobreza, "éxitos" del trabajo semiesclavo en maquiladoras estadunidenses, notables récords en asuntos de explotación sexual infantil, y ejecución a mansalva de niños y jóvenes criminalizados como "pandilleros". Tan sólo de 1998 a 2005, la institución Casa Alianza de Tegucigalpa contabilizó por lo menos 2 mil 720 asesinatos de adolescentes y jóvenes, entre 12 y 22 años.

Simultáneamente, el pueblo hondureño se iba organizando: marchas y concentraciones masivas contra el desempleo y los salarios de hambre, protestas de fiscales contra la corrupción institucional y combativa solidaridad de pueblos, aldeas y comunidades perdidas que cerraron filas con los médicos cubanos hostigados por los "colegios de profesionales".

Lobo, Zelaya. Hijos del mismo tronco. Para la contienda, Lobo contrató a Mark Klugmann (ex consejero del presidente republicano Ronald Reagan), y Zelaya se entendió con Ted Devine, estratega de la campaña del demócrata John Kerry. Los empresarios hondureños, tranquilos. Limándose las uñas, la "democracia" respiraba en paz: ¡qué buen tratado de libre comercio tenemos con Estados Unidos!

Y de súbito… el comandante mandó a…No, nada de comandantes. "Por arriba y desde la derecha", Zelaya empezó a tomar distancia de la gente linda. Y cometió el gran error de preguntarse por qué si en los folletos de turismo Honduras es comparada con Suiza, el ingreso per cápita de un hondureño asciende a 2 mil 793 dólares anuales, y el de un suizo a 53 mil 352 dólares.

Zelaya llegó a una conclusión obvia: siete millones de suizos, siete millones de hondureños. Está claro: Honduras no es Suiza. ¿Qué tal si hacemos una república socialmente integrada, y a tono con los grandes proyectos latinoamericanos de integración en marcha?

Luego, el presidente cometió varios actos de "alta traición": viajó a Cuba, se entrevistó con Fidel, y dijo: "vengo de la patria de Francisco de Morazán". Viajó a Venezuela, se entrevistó con Chávez, y dijo: "vengo del país cuna del constitucionalista bolivariano José Cecilio del Valle". Por enésima vez, un discurso que no encajaba con los manuales de izquierda: “soy liberal, pero socialista…”

La oligarquía y lumpeburguesía hondureña, olfatearon que tan sólo ese discurso preanunciaba un camino sin regreso. Zelaya apuró el paso: Honduras ingresó a la Alternativa Bolivariana para las Américas (Alba), firmó acuerdos petroleros con Venezuela, se enfrentó a toda la partidocracia, aumentó el salario mínimo y profundizó su alianza con los sectores populares. En suma, hizo todo aquello que odian Washington, Madrid, y las áureas firmas de Vargas Llosa & asociados.

Hace menos de un mes, en la histórica reunión de cancilleres de la OEA (San Pedro Sula), el presidente de Honduras dijo lo que ningún gobernante puede decir en las narices del imperio: "No podemos irnos de esta asamblea sin reparar la infamia contra un pueblo" (Cuba, “naturally”).

Principio del fin. En la noche del viernes 15 de junio, a las 6 de la tarde, en la colonia Satélite del anillo periférico de Tegucigalpa, un par de tiros perforaron el vidrio panorámico del coche que llevaba al gobernante. Y ayer, en la madrugada, Zelaya fue derrocado por un golpe de Estado.

Un día antes, el genio que conduce la OEA declaró al periódico Reforma de México: "a pesar de lo que se observa (sic), hoy en día hay instituciones. Y aunque en algunas partes son muy frágiles, no se pensaría en un retroceso de ningún tipo".
La Jornada.

Another point of view in English:
New York Times
In a Coup in Honduras, Ghosts of Past U.S. Policies
By HELENE COOPER and MARC LACEY

music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Cuernavaca Cathedral

The cathedral, began life as a Franciscan friary, founded by Hernán Cortés in 1529. Work started on the fortress-like complex in 1533. The side portal of the church has a fine colonial-Plateresque façade with, above the gable, the symbols of a crown, cross, skull and bones framed by an alfiz.

During restoration of the cathedral interior in the 1950s, some early murals were uncovered depicting the departure of 24 Mexican Franciscan friars, embarking at the start of their missionary journey to Japan, and their subsequent martyrdom on the cross in 1597. Among them was Mexico's only saint, San Felipe de Jesús.

The Chapel of the Third Order, at the rear of the monastery building, has a very typical Mexican Baroque façade, embellished with a small figure representing Hernán Cortés. Like the chapel's lovely carved wooden altar (1735), the façade shows strong Indian influence.

Adjoining the cathedral stands the spacious Open Chapel, its vaulting supported on three arches. Two buttresses reinforce the central columns. Remains of murals showing the lineage of the Franciscan order can be seen in the cloister.

Every Sunday a folk mass is celebrated in the cathedral to the accompaniment of mariachi music.

If you wish you can see another views of this magnificent building here and here.
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Xochicalco

Rodeo Lake

Temple of the Feathered Serpent

The Path

Xochicalco Eagle

The Xochicalco archaeological site which is located about 38 Kms. from Cuernavaca, by way of the Alpuyeca exit of the Mexico-Acapulco Highway 95.

Xochicalco was founded in about 650 AD by the Olmeca-Xicallanca, which are a Mayan group of traders from Campeche, giving them an excellent position along several of the major Mesoamerican trade routes. It was an important fortressed commercial and religious center in the period of time following the decline of the great Meso-American city states. Its name means "Place Of The Flowers."

The main part of Xochicalco is located 132 mts (430 ft) above the valley. Its' underground solar observatory is one of the main attractions for visitors to the site. When the sun passes through its zenith on May 14th and 15th and July 28th and 29th, a ray of sunlight passes through a narrow shaft in the ceiling of the observatory and projects itself upon the floor.

Another main attraction is the Quetzalcoatl pyramid, or Temple of the Feathered Serpent, which features friezes depicting the Plumed Serpent God coiling around the sides. This structure measures 21 by 19 meters at its base and 17 meters in height and is situated in what is known as Xochicalco's Main Acropolis.

Of special interest are sculptured reliefs on the sides of some buildings. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent has fine stylized depictions of that deity in a style which includes apparent influences of Teotihuacan and Maya art.
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

At the End of the Day

Michael Jackson
1958 - 2009
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

El Potrero

El Potrero, a little village near Mexico City, to have a lunch, picnic, ride bike or a horse, walk, jog, read or just sit and look the beauty of the place.
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Carbon

Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen. It is present in all known lifeforms, and in the human body carbon is the second most abundant element by mass (about 18.5%) after oxygen. This abundance, together with the unique diversity of organic compounds and their unusual polymer-forming ability at the temperatures commonly encountered on Earth, make this element the chemical basis of all known life.

Self-importance is our greatest enemy. Think about it--what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellow men. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone.
Every effort should be made to eradicate self-importance from our lives. Without self-importance we are invulnerable.
From: The Fire From Within by Carlos Castaneda.

Iran. Bad times for the Iranian people suffering the policies of these men of god, fundamentalist lovers of power and nothing more. Imagine one of you, beaten, offended, tortured, only because you love to show the truth and beauty of Life. Where’s Amir Sadeghi from Tehran24 Daily?
Take Action.
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Field of Flowers Church

Iglesia del Campo Florido al atardecer / Field of Flowers church at sunset.
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Out of Balance

music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Political Campaigns

Midterm elections of July 5th. The sign said: Abortion a woman's decision. Vote PSD.

Press notes about this theme:
This decision ensures Mexico is observing fundamental human rights law. Decriminalizing abortion saves women’s lives and respects their equality and autonomy. We applaud the court’s decision, and hope governments around Latin America take notice
José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.

"This decision is of transcendental importance, not only for human rights, but as a stand for the secular state against religious fundamentalism. It is a lesson for the future, not only for Mexico City, but for the entire country and for the whole region,"
Dr. Raffaela Schiavon, MD, is Country Director of Ipas Mexico.

(Paulina of Baja California state in Mexico became pregnant after being raped by a burglar when she was 13 years old. Despite obtaining legal authorization from the justice department, Paulina was denied an abortion at the public hospital. Instead, she found herself visited by anti-abortion activists and subjected to religious condemnation. By the time the hospital approved the abortion, it was too late, and Paulina was forced to carry her pregnancy to term.)

music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Coleccion Naturaleza / Nature collection

7Hojas

Natura Morte

Flor Pastel

The Last Jacaranda

Night Leaves

Midnight Flower

Red Flowers

Red Shadows

Jamaican 1

Spider

El Mago

The Golden Branch

The Watch

Synthesis

A collection of new and recent pics of nature (by request).
Have a great weekend
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Tree People

Wakening from the dreaming forest there, the hazel-sprig
sang under my tongue, its drifting fragrance
climbed up through my conscious mind
as if suddenly the roots I had left behind
cried out to me, the land I had lost with my childhood -
and I stopped, wounded by the wandering scent.
- Pablo Neruda -
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

The Look

“But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart...”

--A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.--

Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Builders

Honest Scrap
Joo from Urban Stories has awarded me the Honest Scrap Award. This is a great honor, for the Honest Scrap Award is bestowed upon a blogger whose blog content or design is, in the giver's opinion, brilliant. The Honest Scrap Award is for bloggers who post from their heart, who oftentimes put their heart on display as they write from the depths of their soul.

Blog de Ouro
I'm very honoured because received this award from Christopher's Photos.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate them!
Sorry I'm breaking the rules or chain, but I follow so many extraordinary blogs that I can't name just a few, so these awards go to all of you out there, because of your efforts to show your own individuality, your views and emotions about your people, about your hills, rivers, lakes, deserts, streets, towns or cities! Thank you all.
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Saturday Colors

Men and Machine

Rockit

15th Birthday

The Embrace

“Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.”
P.B. Shelley
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

The Art Lesson

Rio de Janeiro Park.

Have a Great Weekend!
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Natura Morte

Toni Morrison:
Birth, life, and death -- each took place on the hidden side of a leaf.

Ralph Waldo Emerson:
The charming landscape which I saw this morning is indubitably made up of some 20 or 30 farms. Miller owns this field, Locke that, and Manning the woodland beyond. But none of them owns the landscape. There is a property in the horizon which no man has but he whose eye can integrate all the parts, that is, the poet.
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

The Bikers

“You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'”
George Bernard Shaw
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

David and Goliath

music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Let's Fly

The Heart of Man by Erich Fromm
Review by William Timothy Lukeman.

More than 40 years later, this short but insightful volume remains one of the best in-depth discussions of the human psyche at its darkest. Erich Fromm brings all his decades of knowledge & experience to this descent into the roots of what he aptly calls "necrophilia," a literal love of death born from an overwhelming fear of life.

What's especially fascinating is that as he analyzes the psychology of the necrophiliac, we can immediately recognize so many of the people who run & ruin our world today, from the most personal level to the global. We've all met them, and all too often suffered because of them. Their obsessive fear & compulsive need to control that fear invariably affects the rest of us, precisely because we refuse to meekly submit to their murderous control.

But what exactly does Fromm mean by "necrophiliac," anyway?

To condense his rich book into a few lines is an impossible task, but here's the gist of it: the necrophiliac personality fears life because of its messiness, its randomness, its uncontrollability. And so he (it's so often "he," by the way) does his best to control it through brute force, fear, torture, and ultimately death.

And how do we recognize these necrophiliacs?

No matter what their political, religious, or ideological affiliations, they share the same basic traits & worldview. They worship strength, toughness, a lack of tender emotions; they glorify the mechanical & do their best to become machines themselves: they loathe yet are fascinated by decay, disease, filth. Hence they often have rigid ideas about sexuality (one of the most uncontrollable aspects of living things), and espouse strict, letter-of-the-law moral codes concerning it ... although their private lives are frequently an immersion in what they publically denounce as disgusting.

A familiar picture begins to take shape: the stern, self-righteous, excessively judgmental, often uniformed strong man, one who prides himself on being able to make "the tough decisions," untroubled by reflection or regret. The uniform can be military, or a business suit, or a minister's collar, or any clothing that embodies status -- because it's status, rank, and power that matters most to them. And they have no problem killing others in the name of some greater good, if anything seeing it as an outward emblem of their unyielding virtue.

The poet Lew Welch wrote about this sort of mentality in "The Basic Con" - "Those who can't find anything to live for, / always invent something to die for. / Then they want the rest of us to / die for it too." Whether it's for their god, their politics, their bank accounts, or their own desperate need to believe in their own superiority, they project their inner loathing & emptiness onto the rest of us, making us scapegoats for their own inability to face the uncertainty & wonder of life. They must have answers for everything, and can't tolerate questions, or doubts, or ambiguity.

This is a book that, all too sadly, will never be outdated. Each new generation faces the same necrophiliac mindset, dressed up in the latest fashions of the day, as recent history has taught us. All the more reason to keep this book in print -- most urgently recommended!
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Breakfeast in Bed

“I ran up the door, closed the stairs, said my pajamas and put on my prayers, turned off the bed and hopped in the light, all because you kissed me goodnight”
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Dreaming with Cubes

William Blake’s

• Exuberance is beauty.

• Art can never exist without naked beauty displayed.

• Eternity is in love with the productions of time.

• If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.

• In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.

• No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.

• One thought fills immensity.

• The man who never in his mind and thoughts travel'd to heaven is no artist.

• The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.

• The true method of knowledge is experiment.

• You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough.

• What is now proved was once only imagined.

• Those who restrain their desires, do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained.

• To generalize is to be an idiot.

• A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.

• To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.

• When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do.


Have a different and happy weekend!
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.

Authority and Innocence

The real leader has no need to lead -- he is content to point the way.
From The Wisdom of the Heart by H. Miller.
music+image

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, its most appreciated.