“Simplicity is the last step of art and the beginning of nature. Be firm yet not hard, soft yet not yielding.”
– Bruce Lee
Monthly Archives: April 2006
Nuruddin Farah: Discover Somalia and more
A few years ago, I discovered Nuruddin Farah. He is a Somalian novelist that writes in English. My favorite work of his is Secrets, part of a triology which also includes Maps and Gifts. Secrets is about Somalia, but it is also about so many other things as well: East Africa, Family, Love, Nostalgia, Self Actualization, and Growing Up. I also recommend his more recent work, Links, about the war-torn Somalia. I am not from Somalia, and yet I relate. In rememberance of my dear Somalian friend Mohamed who would have turned 35 this May 15th, here are a few of my favorite quotes from Secrets . . .
Filed under Essays, Friends / Family, Literature
Rose Superstar ¡Renueva ya!
El lector estará preguntando ¿por dónde andará Rose Superstar? No nos hemos olvidado de nuestra crack Superstar. Se acabó la temporada en la primera ronda de los playoffs contra el Barça, pero Rose sigue siendo Superstar. Ahora lo importante es que Rose se renueve ya para que la temporada que viene podamos seguir disfrutando de su juego y sobre todo de su presencia en Madrid un año más. Rose ¡quédate! ¡No te vayas!
Filed under Rose Superstar
Algunos quieren WiFi Everywhere, pero a otros les basta un jamón
Me acaba de ocurrir algo surreal. En estos tiempos de tecnología y de globalización en que vivimos, acabo de tener una experiencia totalmente castiza en un taxi. Me meto en un taxi para acercarme a casa en Madrid. El taxista está hablando por el móvil y está encargando un chorizo y un salchichón. Después escucha un rato y cambia de idea. Pues, no, prefiere un jamón, de pata negra. Dice que tiene que colgar porque tiene un cliente (ése soy yo). Cuelga el teléfono y me explica que su familia se ha bajado a Extremadura y por eso les ha encargado un jamón. En realidad, él prefiere el chorizo al jamón pero como se presenta en casa con un jamón de pata negra, su novia . . .
Filed under FON, Friends / Family, Living la vida española
Ghosts and Eschatology
I have serious issues when it comes to ghosts and to eschatology (not to be confused with scatology). In general, I do not buy the whole ghost thing. I think they are pulling my leg. In terms of life after death, I get the feeling that no one has really thought the whole thing out. My guess is that it is a lot of hype and probably not worth it. Let me explain . . .
Filed under Digressions
Premio al Mejor Companero de la Semana . . .
The Afternoon Sun
For my 24th birthday, a Greek friend of mine (Alexandra) gave me a book of poetry by Constantine P. Cavafy. I just remembered this one as I was eating breakfast and running late for work. Continue reading
Filed under Digressions
How long is a day in the dark?
My father’s favorite line from the English Patient is, “I’m not missing you yet.” I prefer the very end. I love the imagery of writing in the dark. Curiously, it is a line written for the movie only and not the novel. There are a couple of motifs in the movie that do not appear as clearly as in the book. These have to do with the idea of ownership, the absurdity of national boundries and identity, and love in general. When one writes in the dark, one is unable to write in a straight line for there are no boundries. Here it is . . .
Filed under Digressions
My Bro: Keeping it real
My brother is an attorney with MFY Legal Services in New York. Check out this article describing some of the work he is doing. This type of legal representation shows the power and importance of attorneys in our society. He’s keeping it real!
Filed under Essays
Writer’s block
It has been a few days since I have published anything new in Grave Error. I have a bunch of ideas for posts, but for some reason (or actually for a few in particular), I can’t get myself to complete a thought and put it into digestible terms. Let me explain . . .
Filed under Digressions, Friends / Family
Grave Error 