The brain and the drawer.

I was telling a friend the other day a story. I told him that if someone asks you to search for, let's say, a spoon, in a kitchen, but one of the drawers is closed, you start a frantic search and there's no spoon around. You search every drawer and space in the kitchen and nothing. However, there's this drawer that is sealed. You come back and say that there's no spoon in the kitchen. My question is, is it possible to really guarantee that there is no spoon in that kitchen in spite of that sealed drawer? What if the spoon is in that drawer? That's what I think about the brain. 

How can we really guarantee there are no psychic abilities or, that they really are factual? How can we really guarantee certain phenomena we don't understand and pretend to attribute them to other sources or unexplainable ones? And the most sensible of all the facts everyone doubts: how can we guarantee that God exists? Because of the miracles He's done throughout the millennia? Because of our comfort when we pray or the fact that we feel accompanied when we're with "Him"? How can we guarantee such things and engage in war based in arguably "Sacred texts" and murder millions of people in "His" name? Among other things we don't have a logical explanation and we create dozen of explanations in order to satisfy our intellectual curiosity, which is good, but in the moment they become the motto for murder or other extremist behavior, then the problem shows up. What if the explanations of all those things are hidden in that sealed drawer? Which, very likely, is the brain.

Let's get things straight; I'm not pretending to explain the whole truth, how could I. That is our own responsibility. What I'm trying to state is that we have to be more open and accept things that happen around us in a more critical way and see them from a different perspective.

To me is very significant the fact that the brain is still unknown in many aspects. The science has been able to walk on the moon and send satellites to planets that our bare eyes can't see. However, we can't fully understand our own brain; roughly 1,500 grams of neurons encapsulated in our skulls.

We have to remember that 500 years ago, nobody knew why we jumped and fall again. It was a mystery. Now, who argues about the Law of Gravity? I can foresee that 500 years from now, a lot of our "current mysteries" would be solved and not only that, they would be part of our systems, as the Law of Gravity is now for us.

People, let's accept other points of views as they come, let's be skeptical about things, let's analyze and think,; and above all, don't hurt people based on our beliefs or based in facts we really don't understand.

Remember, there is still a sealed drawer and maybe, the spoon is in there.

Love.

It isn't over.

Perfect. Barack Hussein Obama won the presidential race. It is a big accomplishment for a country where around 40 years ago, black people couldn't share buses, classrooms and bathrooms. However, the fact that our elect president is black doesn't mean that racism isn't still operative as a very dangerous and idiotic virus, still living in our midst.

The way I see it is that everything was aligned in order to grant that victory (Thank God, Allah, Buda, Krsna or whatever deity you want to attach the feat), meaning, John McCain was totally suicidal with his campaign, he's 72 and his health is not at its top, on top of that he chose the worst partner he could find. It was more than obvious he would lose. On the contrary, Barack Obama is a young, extremely intelligent, articulated and educated man, with an efficient campaign, among other virtues…hello? However, we can't forget that 49 million people voted for John McCain, that's scary. That means that half of the adult voting population of this country don't know what MaCain/Palin meant, are profoundly racist or a little of both (Unfortunately, I think the last option is the one). Is very intriguing to me the fact that many people I know is still doubting of what would come. To be honest, I also have my doubts, but not for Obama, not for his team, but for the "Man behind the curtain", for the complex net interwoven around a figure as the president of United States and the fact that if you don't follow certain "rules", you become disposable and are going to be, very likely, push out of the game; if you believe that thought too far-fetched, ask JFK.

Let's see what's going to happen; only time will tell. But what's for sure, neither racism nor ignorance is near to be over, unfortunately.

Let's keep observing, analyzing and thinking. Please, let's think.

Ungrateful mediocre.

"After 45 years, former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr posted a video clip on his website telling fans that any mail sent to him after Oct. 20 will not be read or answered. "It's going to be tossed," he says. "I'm warning you with peace and love, I have too much to do. So no more fan mail, Thank you. And no objects to be signed. Nothing".

This is the ultimate statement of one of the most mediocre musicians ever.

I've never been a Ringo fan; I think he's a mediocre drummer with a lot of luck and timing (not necessarily musical timing, by the way). He's only merit was being part of The Beatles, that's it. Actually, during he's work as The Beatles drummer; "ghost drummers" recorded a lot of tracks in their records and besides that, to be honest, I don't think he's made any contribution to the modern drumming. However, that's my personal opinion, I'm entitled to it and it's material for another blog. But the fact of the matter is that the audience, the crowds all over the world, the general public, the fans, are the ones which placed Ringo Starr where he is now, including his millions, that's an undeniable fact. But, at this time, he takes the luxury to deny all that and the simplest task of an artist, which is at least respond mails or sign objects, he's now tired of it. 

Ringo, let me remind you something: because of those fans you're now rejecting, you are where you shouldn't be now, if we really conclude our positions thanks to our talents and values per se. You can't be that ungrateful with life and worse of all, lose your memory in such a way. It's sad, very sad.

I used to say, when a lot of my friends (if not all of them) got angry because of my aversion against Ringo, that even though he's such a mediocre musician, maybe he was a nice person. I was totally wrong.

You're such a loser, buddy; in spite of your millions and your arguably place in music history.

Queen and the awards.

I've just found out a piece of data that really shocked me. But first of all, let me start off with the recognition of a very professional and honest people inside The Recording Academy and other stuff, some of them my personal friends, by the way. However, I have to make a point in spite of that.

Do you know, dear musicians and readers in general, how many Grammy nominations had the super band Queen? Yes, the same Queen of "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen", "Bicycle Race" and dozens of other mega hits. 10 times? 20 times? ...Let me inform you, that Queen has been nominated to the Grammy just one, only one time in 1980, thanks to "Another one bites the dust", not one of the material which the band is known for (by the way), and you know what happened? They lost to Bob Seger's "Against the wind" (Have no idea what song is that, by the way). Can someone explain me what in the world is happening, that an icon of modern music, a symbol of Rock, a band which was a defining element of entertainment; basically, a hub of music, artistry and inspiration, a group of musicians that have spent 27 years continuously in the UK charts, more times than The Beatles and Elvis Presley, a band that has sold so far more than 300 millions copies worldwide, the only band in which every member has composed more than one chart-topping single, the same band that was voted in 1999 the 2nd greatest band in music history. How is it possible that those guys were nominated for the arguably most important music award of the entire world only one time? I know, it happened also with Jorge Luis Borges and the Nobel Prize and a lot of actors and actresses with the Oscar or The Guild.

My point is, the value of an artist, whatever field it happens to be, is the value itself of his/her effort and career, whatever it may be, as long as it is a clean and somehow a "spiritual productive" career (I know personally a lot of that kind of artists), and not because of a particular acknowledgment; and for some reason, people are transforming, tweaking the chain of facts and putting the acknowledgments before the artistry and unfortunately or fortunately, it is the other way around, meaning that any award you may have is not what defines you. I know, we all need, as artists, recognition, acknowledgement, that's part of the deal when we become artists or entertainers, we actually need it in order to continue our journey, we need motivation, I know that and I agree, but what we must not become is a bunch a award-looking freaks that are looking for the award per-se instead of the actual accomplishments of any given artist.

People, let's see and appreciate the real things, the real virtues, the art itself and let's try not to be blinded by any little golden statue that at the end of the day, doesn't necessarily mean how much any creative artist has given to the audiences, even in a small rotten bar in the suburbs or in large arenas, because at that very moment, when an artist is performing, that subtle trance we get involve with, is what really defines the outcome of a real artist.

So, next time you meet with an artist, try to find out his/her really artistry and not how many Grammys, Oscars, Nobels, or whatever award he/she may have hidden in their pockets.

Remember, at the end of the day, the goal is just have fun.

The Palin effect.

If any of you have read one or two of my blogs, it’s very likely that you know already my point of view about women. However, that doesn’t stop me to interpret some things concerning a particular woman that really disturb me. Sarah Palin, the Palin effect, as the mass media is calling it.

   Let’s start out with the lady’s background. First of all, a little less than two years as governor of Alaska…As far as I remember, McCain blasted Obama because of his allegedly lack of experience; so, what about his female partner? By the way, Alaska’s population is a lot less than Miami-Dade County (for you guys living in the Greater Miami), just to put in perspective her real “government experience”. Then, intellectually handicapped, although she studied journalism. Anyway, that’s how I call a person, unfortunately in this case a woman, that doesn’t know the Bush Doctrine (you know, the right of USA to invade a supposedly terrorist state and all that crap. Google it for more info). I know, a very large percentage of the common population doesn’t know about it, but the candidate for VP of the United States? Please! Charlie Gibson asked her about the Bush Doctrine and she didn’t have a clue. Really an embarrassing moment for her. What about her experience in the death or impossibility of McCain as a president, is she competent to lead this country? Remember that’s one of her responsibilities given the case. Well, her known experience apparently is as a Beauty contest winner or contestant and the fact that she’s fertile as hell (5 kids under her belt with 44 years of age).

   Politically speaking, it’s more than evident that McCain wants to oppose the breakthrough of a black candidate and the history he’s making with that. He wants to counterpart with a woman VP. However, if Obama would’ve taken Hillary as VP partner, would be the same scenario with McCain and Palin? And what about her interest in oil drilling? Very convenient for the republican candidate and their insatiable hunger for oil and the money and power that comes with it.

   The game is so obvious that it makes me laugh and cry at the same time, because I know the level of analysis of women and these politicians are trying to confuse everybody with a beautiful face and somehow a charismatic presence.

   I hope that women, as I know they can, will think, analyze and understand the stupid and in a way naïve move that the republican party did with the nomination of that beautiful lady that is totally useless and that is being used for the best interest of that particular party.

   I really feel offended because they’re trying to confuse all the women from this country, but you know what? I deeply feel they won’t succeed.

Olympic incoherence.

   Ladies and gentlemen, dear readers from all over the world (I wish!). After a short hiatus forced by the sudden death of my computer, I’m back with all the cavalry, so get ready.

   As a matter of fact, at this point I’m not interested in dissect a particular topic (the current events are boiling, by the way). Instead, I’m going to touch, just touch, one of the events that caught my eye in this past month.

   Oh, The Olympic games! What a great party with so much countries sharing and billions of people watching all over the world. I really enjoy the Olympics since ever, I consider myself a fan, even though is every four years that I become a real “Sport expert”.

   But this time, it really made a difference and I’m not referring to Michael Phelps and his eight gold medals or the supremacy of the China teams, I’m talking here of the fact that last time I checked China was a communist country, Am I wrong?

   Apparently, that’s not a big deal, at least for the majority of mortals living in this planet. However, what about the president of the United States having fun in the stadiums? Cheering his fellow girls of the Beach Volleyball team? I can imagine the nights in Beijing with all his court, having fun with his daughters and drinking a lot (Apparently he’s used to that) and partying like a Party Animal.

   Weird ah? Isn’t the Communism the evil of all evils? The ultimate enemy of freedom and civil rights? So, why was the president of the arguably the most powerful country in the world, sharing his “sacred” presence in that communist country? The president of the country commonly referred to as the “World police”? Of course, the same country which is in war with two (2) sovereign countries. Is that for the USA the most important issue in a government would be the money? Or the capacity of handle “Capitalism” even though it may be disguised in another political form? Is that the only thing that matters? That the country doesn’t pose a real financial o military threat to the USA? And what’s more disturbing, if the government is just a puppet government of the USA, even better?

   The only thing that comes up to my mind is…Double standard?

Now I see!

Finally, it hit me. An oil-man from Texas, which happens to be the not-elected president of the Nation and the no less obscure figure, a high-paid energy executive, as his right hand (or the brain, if you will) named Dick Cheney, both are doing nothing to put a stop to the soaring gas prices, meaning and average of $4.00 a gallon, so far. Now I see the whole picture. They're not doing anything because among their plans are forcing to lift up a ban of oil drillin in our own shores. That seems logic (for them, of course) given that they don't give a damn about conservation and environment, as they thouroughly have proven with their laws and bans. So the point would be, keeping the gas prices that high, just to pressure, can you believe that? Pressure us and therefore, press the law-makers to lift up the ban (established by his own father, George Bush Sr., by the way) and become even richer.
The war? According to "our president", nothing to do with the gas prices. Yeah, right, 2.5 trillion dollars a year is just a dent in the national budget. The horrendous economic policies, nothing to do with it also; among all the disasters in the Government lead by this idiot from Texas (Sorry, my smart friends from Texas).
Now, what are we going to do with that filthy policy? The one that's hurting us all that much? Is it possible to be used in that dirty way? Is that what we're here for? To make them richer and richer by the minute and us, suffering the consequences in all possible ways? The question is: Are that measure of lifting the ban and start drilling our own shores really effective? Given the fact that according to the experts it would give results within 7 to 10 years, hello? Because of that, are we going to have a 2 dollars something the gas gallon again? If not, are that measure going to reverse the gas dilemma? Are they going to find alternate solutions to that immense problem if the lifting doesn't work? Unfortunately, don't think so.
27 years of ban, preservating our own sea from terrible polution. All that is soon to be over (hopefully not) and even worse, we're going to keep paying fortunes in order to fill our tanks and even more apocalyptic, things are going to get worse and worse, unless something changes dramatically.
You may say I'm a dreamer, as Lennon said, but I still hope that something of that caliber will occur, eventually.
Don't lose hope, 'cause it's the only thing we still have.