Huomio!

It seems to me that this blog has been left to die by its creators. There are three reasons:

(1) Two of the creators are travelling around the world and have therefore, created their own blog to communicate about their travels.

(2) One creator is too busy with work that could not have time (not even when at home) to add anything to the blog. This is a terrible shame.

(3) I felt that it was becoming more my blog. Since this goes against the original idea, I decided to create my own blog where I could freely express my own things without taking over Electric Vihta.

Thus, I don't know on whether this mini-communiqué will reach any one of the contributors. Neither do i know if anyone else would write something afterwards.

I've tried almost my best to remind Nygard to write something, but it's too busy and stressed with work that forgets other nice things that come with life. This blog could only survive if someone hears my pledge.

Another Soft but Electrifying Whipping

The Obama effect has gone beyond the scepticism. Let's all have a share of joy at least for the next few days.

The Sconek-T

This is the video from that Mexican acoustic band that I introduced to this blog during September.

I found this great website: CatchYouTube: http://www.catchyoutube.com/Default.aspx. In case you haven't come across it (probably i'm the last person on the planet to learn about it)... it converts any YouTube videos into any format you may want to download to your pc or mobile device. Super handy.

Hope you can enjoy the video in this post. It is an excerpt from a tv show in Canal 40, and it includes an interview in Spanish in between two songs. The first song is a cover of 'Música Ligera' from the Argentenean band Soda Stereo. The second cover is from 'Pachuco' from the Mexican band Maldita Vecindad y Los Hijos del Quinto Patio. Both songs are from the 1980s Latin American rock era.

If interested this is the URL for the band's website: http://www.myspace.com/thesconektnsamble

Two News from Mexico in the British Media: the Wedding of the World's Fatest Man and the Capture of the Infamous Cartel's Capo

Right, to begin with, sorry for leaving that horrid image of the pierced brain for too long. I'm trying to keep on with my other blog, which i had to fix.

Well, this morning, as I usually do, i was flicking through the online editions of the newspapers, and basically on the front page of The Independent, they had the image of the Mexican man (supposedly the fatest in the world in 2007) on his wedding day, and then the news that one massive Capo was caught.

In the Mexican news, obviously, the most important thing has been the capture of Mr. Arellano Felix (the cartel boss). However, i'm very surprised that such news made it to the British media, considering that most important than that has been the sensationalistic image of the weding of that massively obese man. Maybe this was of some relevance to give continuity to a documentary that was shown a while ago either in Channel 4 or Channel Five about that guy. I did watch the documentary just because he was Mexican, not for other reason. I'm always curious to learn about the discourses of 'the other', especially when that other is Mexican.

In England, I've rather found the view of 'the other' as rather scary, and very defensive. I say this with full awareness that this is only a similar case to the majority of the countries in the world. Needless to say that in Mexico they do the same. For example, the representation of the indigenous people as 'the other' is way to denigrating.

Now, coming back the the subject of this post. The representation of the Mexican (as the other) and potential meanings. We know that Mexicans eat chilli, take siestas -probably on a cactus- which should mean that we are very tough people. Who could ever sleep on a cactus for goodness sake? Only super strong armoured backs could take it, unless the ponchos they wear are very very thick. Or course, cannot forget the ponchos and the sombreros, which are probably used to lie in the cactus. You see, there is much logic into this idea of the Mexican.

Unfortunately, the Mexican has work hard to acquire many more meanings in the past thirty years or so. Some examples include, becoming the worlds' fatest/obese people -challenging the Americans-, being drug dealers and traffikers of anything possible, and being inherently corrupt. These meanings haven't yet perpetrated the minds of the common people around the world (who don't know what goes on outside the little worlds). Nonetheless, it saddens me that these things take place with little inner recognition by the Mexican society (at large) and lack of acceptance that much needs to be changed from within.

To close this post. On a superficial and cynical note, and based on those two news headlines, I perceive the -other- Mexican as partaking in a circus of wedding extravaganzas, seasoned by corruption. How could I perceive them differently without further knowledge?

BRAIN PIERCING? Is this for real?

First i want to begin with the image, which on its own shocked me.









Ok, having shown this, whether you are a piercing enthusiast or not, you must wonder (maybe) about the safety of this procedure. I've heard that many piercing procedures are risky and entail any negative consequences should they go wrong. But this, this, is gone a bit far. Think about it, perforating your own skull? What the hell is that?

I know, some women get their clit pierced and some men get their pennis head pierced too. Should be used to that fact by now, but i'm not. It still shocks me.

This is the reason why that sole image will remain in my head for interminable nights, as a horror. Well, you see, I like imaginary horror, so maybe wasn't so bad to see it first thing in the morning.

Me, mental masoquist; others, physical masoquists. There is space for all of us.

A Brief on the Recent School Killing in Finland

I am deeply distrubed by the news about the recent event of a killing in a Finnish school. Things would not get any better, that's the message that i perceive from it. As if needed i reminder. Yes, I'm a pesimistic, but just on the surface...

For what it's worth. I could only send my thoughts to my friends who are obviously affected, as it is well known that 'these kind of things don't happen in Finland'. That's what we talked about over last Novermber's first killing. You see, people there don't kill each other in such an American way. Yet, it appears to me that some individuals intend to change that internal structure within the Finnish way of life.

The way i see it is based on my loss of hope and faith in Mexico and the Mexicans. As I have mentioned in this blog, things go only from bad to worse in Mexico. I, in my most natural and instinctive way of being, try to cling on the idea that there are places where people can still feel safe and be, in spite of financial turmoils. Observing the event of today from afar, I can only feel that despair expands through me, and that individual acts, while they are only that 'individual', can have a massive effect on the people that may share my point of view. Perhaps, I am quite wrong, and I may be only expressing my gutt feeling. I definitely don't intend to insult any one's intellect.

I could not begin to grasp the feelings of my Finnish friends. Earlier today, I spoke with one of them, and she told me that it was too early for her to know how she was feeling about it.

TheSconek-T, A Mexican version of Apocalyptica?

My brother told me about this band, which he recently found while strolling around Mexico City. I think they sound great, and hopefully they'll rock for long!

The song that they play here is a cover of 'Música Ligera', a song from the Argentenean band Soda Estereo.

After they play the first cover, they have a very brief interview in Spanish, where they explain their intellectual education in classical music. Furthermore, their motifs for playing rock music is because they are also children from the generation when Latin American rock fluorished from the early 1980s until late 1990s.

At the end of the interview they play a fragment cover of 'Pachuco', which was created by La Maldita Vecindad, on great Mexican band.

Sorry for the archaic facilities for video viewing, I'm working on it. In the meantime, you could copy-paste this url in your browser to see the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ldxEnYku7w

This video is great quality because the sound is proper from a TV studio. I hope you enjoy it.

What do you think?

The NARCOMANTA (Drug Cartel Banner) Phenomenon of Power

Just very briefly, don't want to let this go from my mind. It was until quite recently that the so called narcomanta phenomenon caught my attention. I think that it was only three months ago that I thougth that this was bizarre and did not want to think that it was important. However, seeing in the news that killings involving drug cartels, police and civilians are a daily bread in the Mexican news, have made me change my mind about this.

I am not sure on how people in Mexico feel about the narcomantas, but i see them as acts of terrorism, because they send messages to different social institutions: to the government, to the police and army, and to the rest of the society. As far as I am aware, the narcomantas are big banners that are displayed in diverse areas of cities (where they could be seen of course). The normal cities where they are displayed are where important drug cartels have power, and where corruption is wide spread across the police and government. Yes, I know this could mean almost anywhere in Mexico (sadly though). Well, let's leave it to Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Reynosa, and Veracruz. I hope I am not missing any place, but if i am, please make a comment.

So, yes, the narcomantas that I first saw said things like: 'we are recruiting current and ex-police forces to join our cartel. We provide these benefits' (salary, etc. obviously better than the one offered by the state). Nowadays, the much more complex and elaborate banners say something like: "the federal state has been making millions by hiding away the following drug cartel leaders: -and there is the list of very much sought for criminals-". And finally, on one side of the banner, the photo of the muppet that Mexicans have as president... I don't want to get started about that 'president' man.

As I see it, just under this very superficial comment and my impressions for the past few months, the narcomantas are a very ambitious project. They are a clear symbol of what Mexico has been pretending to cover for decades: corruption is endemic and is at large.

The narcomantas must be terrifying the whole of the society because more than ever before the killings happen on an scandalous daily basis, at many places, and are reaching more people. The banners may serve a purpose of confirming fear to the society. What it may have started as a war against the state, must be understood as a means to scare the people.

In Mexico it is more or less evident that very few are protected (who are these and by whom are they protected is what has been evidenced by the narcomantas), and therefore you cannot trust the state in all its shapes. At the end, the most painful thing to me is that this is cutting deep into the soul of the people.

Spellbound by Horror and Gore Watching

This past weekend was the last bank holiday of the year, and as for every year there is this fantastic Frightfest taking place in the West End. Last year was the first time i could go and got two day passes. I did love it and decided that this year i would get a whole weekend pass. However, as I was in Helvetijarvi national park (Suomi), i missed the opportunity for buying a weekend pass. Yes, i did not think that well about this whole thing. Even if i was waiting so eagerly for that film festival... Even the best hunter looses its pray.

Anyhow, once i came back from Suomi i tried getting a couple of day passes for the Frightfest, and i could get a ticket for one of the days that i wanted to attend. So i did, regretably only went to one day. This make me realise that next year i ought to really think clearly and plan this ticket buying much more seriously.

Right, so there i went, last Friday. The list of films for the day were: Cronocrímenes (Time Crimes); El Rey de la Montaña (The King of the Hill); Trailer Park of Terror; The Strangers; Freakdog; and, Bad Biology. Because i had to take the train to get back home, i had to skip Bad Biology. This was a shame as it seems to be quite sick and inappropritate, which would have make it worthwhile: taking the human sexuality and reproduction to some extremes cannot be as extreme as the actual reality... I had a nice warm up with Teeth some time in the early summer.

Enough with my kind of 'diary' sketch. I did enjoy Time Crimes and Mum & Dad the most. Time Crimes because it presented the time-travel paradox in a nerve breaking manner resolving it quite well at the end without remorse. The main character is trapped in time and sacrifices two of his selves leaving them trapped in two times. Mum & Dad, was a rather interesting exploration of English family dynamics, contemporary society and psychotic minds. You feel trapped and engaged with the well protrayed characters. Fascinatingly, three of the actors, the director and the producer came to the festival.

But, but, my favorite thing on that day was that Adam Green and Joe Lynch made a series of mini-shorts to pay homage to the Frightfest! The short that i watched was a make-over to one of my favorite 'The Twilight Zone' moments, which was the prologue to the '83 movie: 'Do you want to see something really scary?'

Yes, I did get my share of scare bites for the weekend. Such a great feeling!

Electric Vihta wasn't dead! Long live Electric Vihta!

visited 13 states (5.77%)
Create your own visited map of The World

Yeah, i wish that this map would actually show the visited cities to make it more thorough, otherwise it's a bit boring... but for the moment does the job. I'll try to search for another one that would be much more specific.

Recently visited the very beautiful beaches of Wells-next-the Sea and Holkham (Norfolk, England).





My next travelling projects: to visit Boston (USA) and Barcelona (Spain).

I've got to admit that those do not compare to the fantastic travelling mega project of jULES and Olavi Viimeinen who are going all around the world for over a year! Let's hope they post some crazy images from their trips.

I've obviously have more to say, but for the moment i needed to show that this bloggy blog is alive and kicking, just like us!

'ey op!

Been a while, again. Not that much has happened but out of self-respect I thought a few words might be in order. The new calendar year so far, for me, has been dominated by work unfortunately. Now, it's all about the upcoming holidays in March, cant wait really.

On another note, Xinola passed her viva on the 21st January which truly is a great achievement! Made me feel very proud. She's still got to do some revisions but it's just the warm down now, the finishing line has been crossed!

At work, I have a new boss. This has so far been bit of a mixed bag - some things have changed for better and some for worse. I guess would be fair to say that mostly for better. She's a bit of a loony but at least she knows it herself so makes things easier. I've also taken on an array of outsource partner relationships and now try to learn how to work those and how to keep improving them on an ongoing basis. At least it's something new for a change and I still have pretty much my own schedules which is nice.

So, as already mentioned above, our yearly holiday to Mexico is getting closer by the day and that's pretty much the only thing that keeps me getting through the days in the office. Less than three weeks to go... This time we have the privilege to visit the small, but precious island of Mujeres again. Snorkling and sun, beer and cochinita pibil - heaven!

Ok, that's it for now. I'll return with something more profound to say next time. Perhaps even an analysis of the current state of the society in the UK. Right.

Adios

The day after recovering

2008 came with a massive massive body ache. Too much bubbly, way too much.

It is strange how we have been, as humans, always expecting the new season, the new year, ever participating of the circular and the spiral.

This new year comes with body pain, and i wonder if it is showing bit of what is to come. I don't want to see that as a bad omen, no way, but it makes me wonder now that i think of that.

My expectations are almost of not great significance, just because i do not know what i want to do. Really, it would be marvellous to know that i want this or i want that, the specific is so important when asking for things to the heavens? the hells? to whoever we ask, ourselves? Anyhoo, i don't know what i want. The inevitably, and most important is to graduate in this summer. Besides of that, i think that as prospects for employment look as if they are in the shadows, i may be stuck in this shithole where i work. Crap for that. Although i rather have this job that having nothing else to do. However, it is the crucial need for money that keeps me here, otherwise, i would be doing absolutely nothing productive but solely hedonistic stuff, like reading, watching films, walking around, wondering about existence, and being for my self and my loved ones. Yes, i know this is basically what i do when i am not at work, but still, i waste precious time to do all that stuff when i am at work.

Ok, this is turning into a complete crappy post that reflects that i hate my job and i am past boredom and fatigue about it. I am at another level, just come to do the things i am expected to do.

Don't take me wrong, i do have hopes and good wishes, and these are not only for 2008, but for the things to come throughout. Periods of time might help us to alocate desires and hope into a measurable spectrum of lenghts in which we may achieve or gain what we wish for. I seem not to be good at the timing aspect of life, as everything that i have set within measured periods have expanded more into time. Finally, realistically speaking, one thing that i have learnt thanks to my little one, is that i have to be patient, and time does not always commiserates with me, i go to the extreme of things happen when they happen.

A bit rough

As usual, I welcome the new year with a banging head ache, upset stomach and a moral hangover. And I bet I'm not the only one, people around the world have for ages seen it appropriate to start the new year feeling a bit rough. i guess it's a human condition to crave for the caneval, organised chaos, and communally approved misbehaviour. Especially at times when a great change is expected to take place. And that's what new year is about; resolutions to be better, hope of becoming luckier, and fear of everything staying the same.

Anyway, year 2007 was by most accounts a very crap one indeed, with friends and loved ones not being very well. There were, of course, some better times too, and I try to hang on to those memories instead. In any case, I hope that this year will be better than the last. It would appear that just like the millions of other human beings on this planet, I too want to give the start of a new calendar year too much meaning... If only it was as easy to be a better person than it is to walk into a shop and buy a new calendar.