Last week a goat was held in police custody as a suspect of armed robbery. This happened in Nigeria, where apparently it is common for people to believe in witchcraft and the power to change shapes.
So the goat spent a few days in jail, and since the police cannot prove the charges against it (before becoming a goat it was a man allegedly trying to steal a car – a Mazda to be exact), then the animal will be released.
One million thoughts went through my head as I heard this news on the radio; but the one that keeps me wondering the most is not about police ignorance or animal cruelty or even animal theft (I mean, the goat must belong to someone!). What I truly do not understand is why if anyone has the power to transform himself into another being would he choose to become a goat out of all things?!
Why not a pussy cat and ensure a life of lazy comfort?
Why not an eagle and enjoy the freedom of flying?
Or, why did he not turn himself into a George Clooney lookalike and enjoy … well, do I really have to go into it?
Cuando mi hija tenía unos 4 años le compre un CD de Tatiana en una de nuestras visitas a México. Entonces yo recordaba a Tatiana solamente vestida onda Jane de Tarzán en “Kuman”, una obra musical de hace chorromil siglos que estuvo en los Televiteatros - sí, los que se cayeron en el terremoto del ’85.
A mi hija siempre le gusto Tatiana, tanto que hace un par de años cuando tuvo que hacer un proyecto de clase de música, lo hizo de ella. A la maestra le debe de haber parecido muy folklórica una treintona vestida como niña de 7 años, pues ¡escogió el proyecto para publicarlo en el anuario de la escuela!
En fin, que hace unos días el CD apareció en el coche y nos pusimos a oírlo. Mas bien, yo por primera vez en mi vida me puse a ESCUCHARLO, ¡y que divertida me puse!
Lo que concluí después de 45 minutos es que el vocabulario de canciones infantiles mexicanas es más avanzado que el mío. A ver, mi juego favorito cuando era chica era “Doña Blanca” (por razones obvias), pero “¿quien es ese jicotillo que anda en pos de Doña Blanca?” digo, en serio, ¿qué carambas en un jicotillo?
Buscando en Google me encontré con que parece ser que un jicotillo es un gran avispón. ¿Un gran avispón? ¡No, no es posible! Yo cada vez que pienso en un gran avispón me acuerdo de Pistachón ZigZag, y ese, según yo, andaba en pos de Mafafa Musguito (¿o era ese Patas Verdes?) En mi cabeza infantil (y ahora cuarentona) un jicotillo tiene cara de lobo-perro. Lo siento, de esa no me saca nadie.
Otra: ¿qué significa "Sololoy"? Esa fue pregunta de mi hija. Ya sabes la casita a donde te vas cuando toca la marcha y tu pecho llora. Según yo era una casita soleada, ó lo que pasaba es que el cantante era tartamudo. Alguien dice que es sololoy una especie de plástico … ¿será?
¿Y que tal que al niño de “a la rorro” que llora por que perdió una manzana no le darás una, sino dos, pero tiene que ir por ellas a San Juan de Dios? Según yo las buenas manzanas son de Zacatlán, pero claro que mi mamá es Poblana y debo estar un poco influenciada.
Y para concluir este rollo los dejo con un mega-cursi homenaje al Tío Gamboín presentado nada más y nada menos que por ¡Tatiana!
Yesterday I joined the millions of people around the world who watched Obama’s inauguration as 44th president of the USA. I have to say that this is the very first time in my life that I felt any interest at all to watch such an event; and I had so many thoughts while doing so that now I have plenty of material in my head for at least a couple of dozen blog posts!
One of my main thoughts was around the concept of ‘power’. I think that someone who becomes the ‘leader of the free world’ must certainly be stimulated by it, and, hence, could easily be blinded by it. If someone has the drive and ambition to climb so high, what is the REAL motivation? Doing the greater good - only? To serve your country - only? Or does becoming the most ‘powerful’ man on Earth is probably one of the key incentives?
I’ve seen men blinded by the power of being ‘The CEO’ of a teeny company. Someone who starts a business with 10-15 employees, and just because he is the boss he feels that he has the right to manipulate things, situations and people as he pleases.
So, isn’t it the same, or even worse, with politicians? Isn’t this exactly what we saw happening with Bush? So, why will Obama be different?
I am not saying that Obama will NOT be different. But, what is it exactly that sets him apart? That makes him more in touch with reality - if that is really the case? That makes him immune to the effect of power: lots and lots of power?
I don’t know. I have many ideas, but I truly don’t know.
At this point, I can only hope that Obama will not suffer from the teeny-CEO achievement syndrome ... which, I think, is very similar to the Pharaohs' definition of achievement:
Eighty days after starting a debate with myself - and my friends - on the positives (and not) of turning 40, the day finally arrived yesterday. D-day came and left ... and now I am stuck being a forty-something for the next ten years.
Now I am anxiously looking forward to that life that started not even 24 hours ago. You know, that 'life starts at 40' thingy!
And while I settle into my new midage woman personality, here is something that a male friend sent and that really made me laugh ... one of those 'I-know-exactly-what-you-are-talking-about' sort of laughs.
The question is: "WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN SOMEONE SAYS LET'S GO FOR A DRINK??"
Forty-something or not, this is one answer where most women fit in. Or not?
This video is about the other side of being over forty ... the one that was bothering me so much on the first place and made me start the 'forty-something' website idea to convince myself otherwise.
The song is by Lisa Koch, the pictures and cartoons are hilarious, and I don't know who put together the video ... but who cares really... according to the song even if I knew I probably wouldn't remember anyway!
Still excited and full of ideas to bring www.forty-something.com to the next level, I put together a very simple video highlighting the reasons why being over 40 is ... ahem ... so great. I will be using it as a PR tool moving forward.
With only 6 days to go until my own 40th birthday, I have to confess that I am finally starting to believe it!
The song I used is "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera.
A couple of hours ago I found out that it is the Award Winner in the 'personal category' from more than 1,000 entries from around the world ... and I am totally thrilled with the news.
There were two categories in the competition - Business and Personal - and the top 5 finalists in each category were selected by a panel of expert judges who evaluated each site for focused purpose, visual appeal and innovative use of widgets. The winners in each category were voted on and selected by friends and users of SynthaSite.
You can read the press release issued by SynthaSite here.
Thank you very much for your support --- this one is dedicated to all my forty-something friends!!
Certified Protection Officer, a certification for security guards from the International Foundation of Protection Officers
Chief Petty Officer, a military rank
Chief Privacy Officer, an executive responsible for managing issues of privacy laws and policies
Chief Process Officer, an executive responsible for defining processes rules and guidelines for an organization to follow
Chief Procurement Officer, an executive responsible for supply management
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Capital Punishment Organization, a 1990s rap duo from California
China Philharmonic Orchestra, in Beijing, China
Classic Production Osnabrück, a German classical music record label
According to Barack Obama, CPO refers to the newly created position of “Chief Performance Officer”. At first sight, I thought this should be the title of the president himself, but no, it is someone who is appointed to work on the federal budget and to reform government, while reporting directly to Obama.
I always thought the first part of the role was that of the Secretary of the Treasury, but actually it seems his department only works on “managing the finances effectively, promoting economic growth and stability, and ensuring the safety, soundness, and security of the U.S. and international financial systems.” Something that, obviously, has not been done that well as of late.
Reforming government is crucial, but should not be that difficult once W and his gang hit the door.
The new CPO will be a woman, Nancy Killefer. She looks young on her pictures, so I tried to find out her age to see if she is a forty-something. I looked everywhere I could think of without success. Her date of birth is nowhere to be found!
So, at least we know that the woman in charge of budget and cleaning up W’s mess is very good at keeping important secrets hidden from the world!
So just when I was sure I had not much more to say about being an almost-forty-something, I get an email from a friend with a list of 'perks of being over 40'. Quite funny, especially coming from someone who is about to hit 50!
Here you go:
Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
People call at 9 PM and ask, "Did I wake you?"
People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.
You sing along with elevator music.
You argue with the TV and you always win.
You won't be able to remember this list - and you won't care.
I cannot remember what was #10 on the list - and I don't care.
My thoughts and views are varied. My ideas come and go in a few languages; and much of my inspiration comes from the decade of excesses, bright colours and big hair.
Nostalgia is what is driving this blog, so at the end of the day it is nothing more than a mirror of my daily state of mind.
