From Where I Sit

This is in response to an email I got today. Another one of those emails that people just casually broadcast to everyone in their address books, subjecting all to these random and unsolicited "insights." There are always two sides to every coin; two points of view. Nobody has the privilege of possessing absolute truth. Of one thing I'm sure: no matter who is "up there" running the place, we, the underlings down below have a moral duty to become informed and reach our OWN conclusions regarding all the important issues. We must not allow others (e.g., the moneyed, the consultants, the ad buyers, and the power brokers) do the thinking for us. We must NOT become useful fools, or clay in the hands of ruthless, unprincipled anti-patriots who find fertile ground among those who let themselves be swayed by the foaming-at-the-mouth, anti-government, pro-corporate mouthpieces who are moved solely by their own selfish interests. Instead of whining about the sad state of ...

Since we're on the subject of legends, here is another one that has been around in Chile for ages. It is the legend of a phantom ship that haunts the coast of Chiloe in the South of Chile. The Caleuche is a large phantom ship sailing the seas around Chiloé at night. It appears on foggy nights as a beautiful and bright sailing ship, always full of lights and with the sounds of a party onboard, but quickly disappears again. The myths claim it is crewed by the drowned, who are brought to the ship by three mythological figures from Chiloe: two sisters: the "sirena chilota" (mermaid from Chiloe), "la Pincoya" (a mythical sea creature shaped like a beautiful woman) and her brother, "Pincoy," a male water spirit. It is said that the ship possesses the power to transform unfortunates into animals or inert objects. What other folk tales do you know?

We just planted a fig tree in our backyard. I've been wanting a fruit tree for a long time, but we couldn't find JUST the right one, until now. I wonder if my fig tree will be magical too, and live up to the legends that I grew up hearing back in "the old country." There is a lot of lore in South America surrounding the fig tree, particularly tied to the feast of St. John on June 23. For instance, if one comes out on this particular night, and looks up at the moon at the stroke of midnight, and then looks at the fig tree, the tree will blossom right before your eyes. Whoever owns the flower of a fig tree will be blessed with good fortune. If one gets under a fig tree during the night of June 23, they will instantaneously be to  able to play the guitar. It is also said that it blossoms during the eve of Good Friday with only one flower that is supposed to be very lucky. But some say that not only will this one flower blossom on this night, but that also the Devil will ...

someone dear to me finally met someone special. Not just special for a night at Eyedrum and a 6-pack of PBR (so to speak) but special in that way that she tells me she DREAMED him into existence, someone who so fits your every corner that you finally UNDRESTAND, in a sense, what 'all the fuss is about'. THis was after a long awful dry spell in the realm of Eros, some of which contained its share of tortured dead-ends and weird portents. When S. finally showed up, I was so glad... I even told another single friend who so long has also been single this story of triumph, as a sign of hope. Not good enough hope. I don't know what happened. She won't even talk to me, or really anybody. Not even sure when and how it happened, the split from this person. I'm sure I'll find out eventually and have to figure out how to measure out the proper doses of shock, dismay, and outrage - if warranted. But underlying that for me is the anguish of this worst sort of loss - this sol...

If there is anything that makes me feel lucky to be living during these times, it's the astounding evolution of communications. I remember way back in 1990 during the 1st Iraq War (Desert Storm), when we were all vacationing down in the South of Chile when the war started. We had carried a tiny portable TV set--not much bigger than a Blackberry of today--and we were able to tune in to CNN and watch the action, live, in our modest little hotel, where there was no TV. We thought we were so very cool and so "with it!" Actually, we were. Today, minutes--seconds--after the Chilean earthquake, we were all tuned in, watching news online, live, twittering with each other, sending text messages, etc., and staying updated to the second. There are no boundaries now. No matter how far we may be from each other, we can always communicate. We are now at arms length, literally. When Arturo was in China the second time around--and that was still a few years ago--we were already bein...

...I've learned from my kids. My son Arturo has taught me to be brave and daring by introducing me to the Wonderful World of Linux. It's a whole new world out there! I'm liberated from the Windows grip! I've left the Establishment! Thanks Arturo! His love of and virtuosity in music are a pleasure to watch and to share. He has taught me how to be more organized and responsible financially, and his methodical approach to life is a constant source of inspiration. Daughter Alicia teaches me something wonderful every day. How to look inside myself; how to be creative; a healthier way to live; to NOT follow the herd; to be authentic and original; to be socially conscious. Etcetera, etcetera... Alicia, you are my muse! In addition to that, their spouses are also endless fountains of inspiration. Jennifer inspires me to be a better person, to nurture my faith in God, to take pleasure in the simple things in life; Jim inspires me to be outspoken about my ideas, to meet disse...

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