"Barry White on helium"

That's how Michael J. Fox describes, on his autobiography, what he sounds like when he croons "oh baby, I love it when the drugs kick in" every time his Parkinson's medication takes effect.

Genius.

Yet another post about the US Elections

But not about the Presidential this time. Well, kind of. As I was watching CNN on November 4th, well into the night (in Europe) and with Obama's victory looking inevitable, the commentators were discussing the future of the Republican Party.

I was going to refer to what they said from memory, but I googled the keywords and came across the CNN Transcripts - which are amazing - so here goes the exact quote:

Gloria Borger: It's a different country and the danger, and Bill Bennett will - I'm sure will want to talk about this, for the Republican Party is becoming the monochromatic party, the party of older voters and the party of small America.

(...)

Bill Bennett: Let's resist the temptation to talk about Republican Party as just old white confederate man. It isn't. It's more than that. Indeed, the Republican Party has a lot of work to do. And let's resist talking about blacks and Hispanics, as if they're all progressive liberals, because they're not. But there are - yes, there are cultural divides in our society.

About the Republican Party being the party of old, white men and small America, all I can say is that's the idea we get on this side of the Atlantic. Whether or not it's true, I don't know. But I think Bennett is absolutely right on his other statement: blacks and Hispanics are not all progressive liberals. In fact, people who vote democrat, be they African-American, Hispanic, Caucasian, Asian, native Americans or whatever, are not necessarily progressive liberals - especially in this particular election. The Bush administration was so awful that many people ended up voting democrat because they didn't want to risk four more years of that. Others voted democrat because they felt inspired by Barack Obama, or charmed by the possibility of having a president who comes from an ethnic minority - thus proving that "in America anything is possible if you work hard for it". There are many reasons why people choose a party and/or a candidate over another. Bennett, biased as he may be, is right to say that many people who voted democrat are not politically liberal.

His words came to my mind as soon as I saw the result of that shameful proposition 8 in California, a state where Obama won in a landslide. And the same goes for Florida, where Obama had more than 4 million votes, but only 2.9 million people voted against the ban on gay marriage. Why is that? Obama's victory showed the world that America was taking a huge step towards making discrimination a thing of the past, and yet, millions of Americans across several states voted for propositions whose sole purpose was to make life harder for a group of people, with nothing in it for themselves. Again: why? "It’s almost like we’re the last group you can be openly bigoted about" - said Jeanne Rizzo, the C.E.O. of the Breast Cancer Fund, quoted by Judith Warner. Looks like she's right. Until when?

It's a new dawn, it's a new day

Something that really caught my attention on election night was McCain's concession speech. He was very gracious, showing no resentment, miles away from the arrogant, bitter old man who campaigned. The most significant part of his speech for me, even more so than the one about how important and historic it is that the president will now be an African-American, was this one:

That he managed to do so [win the election] by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.

I agree. This is the most admirable thing about Obama and the reason why so much is expected from him now: the fact that he inspires people. He made people feel like he was talking directly to them, about their own problems, personally asking for their support so that he could help them solve those problems. He made people believe that they mattered, and that if they all worked together they could achieve great things. And they already did: Obama's election was the first great thing they achieved. This truly was the people's election, the people's choice, and Obama is the people's president.

And although he's not my president, because I'm not an American, I'm happy he was elected and I think he will do good for America and the world. Expectations are huge, and thus almost impossible to meet, but he seems honest and intelligent, which frankly is more than we can say about most politicians, and he has this way of motivating people, so I'm pretty confident.

And I feel privileged to be witnessing this moment. For the first time in modern history the most powerful person in the world is not of caucasian ethnicity. That has got to make everyone who has a sense of justice proud.

So now good luck Mr. Obama. The world will be watching (very, very literally). And good call on deciding to get your girls' puppy from a shelter. :)

Ok

I'm finally off to bed. And I know that tomorrow is going to be a better day!

O-ba-ma! O-ba-ma!

So here I am, still awake at stupid o'clock, first to know who will be the next US president, and then to hear his victory speech. I genuinely feel I'm witnessing a historic moment.

The speech is starting.

We're all living in Amerika

I have been following the American elections quite closely - probably more so than many Americans - for two main reasons. The first is that the President of America is like the boss of the world, so even if I can't vote I want to be informed about the ideas and goals of the guy who is going to rule the free world for the next four years. The second reason is that the whole thing is very entertaining - which, to be honest, I'm not sure is a good thing to say about an electoral process, but anyway.

As I watch the debates, the speeches, the interviews and read the analysis and comments online I feel like I'm sitting through a lesson on America. I think people's attitude and behaviour towards a major democratic process can be perceived as a kind of mirror of a nation, especially in America, where campaigns are so long and intense. And the USA are a special country. I won't waste time listing all the things I think are good or bad about it - suffice to say that when I was a kid I was marvelled at it, when I was a teenager I hated it and as I got older and (hopefully) more mature I ended up finding some sort of balance between the two. But love it or hate it (or a little bit of both!), there is no arguing it is a country unlike any other. America is different, and a presidential campaign makes some of the differences especially evident. Here are a few examples:

1) The religion issue. Jon Stewart mentioned it a few weeks ago when he interviewed Tony Blair on The Daily Show: in America a presidential candidate must talk to god on a daily basis in order to even stand a chance. Americans may never have elected a woman or an African-American, but it seems even less likely that an atheist or someone who just isn't religious is going to move into the White House in the near future. What are people afraid of?

2) The candidate's family. In Western Europe (my reference) people couldn't care less if the candidate is single, married, divorced, widowed. It just doesn't matter. In America, according to what I've just checked, the only unmarried president was a guy called James Buchanon, who was in office between 1957 and 1961. There seems to be this strange logic, something like "someone who can't have a successful marriage obviously won't be able to successfully run a country". The candidates must have the perfect family and the perfect dog, and that doesn't really make a lot of sense to me. That said, and since the candidates' family members are so exposed we get to form an opinion on them too, let me just say that I think Michelle Obama is great - intelligent, eloquent, successful, but still humble. I love her.

3) The mutual and constant slamming. Each candidate even runs tv ads with images and quotes of the other candidate (usually distorted, misinterpreted or just plain false) in order to insult and discredit him. In the campaigns I'm used to, if a candidate did such a thing it would be seen as a low trick intended to disguise his own lack of ideas and would ultimately end up hurting his own campaign. Of course there is a bit of slamming here too, but only in speeches and such, and never as misleading or as insulting as in America. Not even close.

4) The rhetoric. A candidate must massage the voters' ego with stuff like "America is the greatest country on earth" all the time, or he will be criticised for not doing it. I even heard a commentator criticise Obama the other day for "not doing it enough"! Not that it isn't true, but why the need to mention it every five minutes? What does it bring to the campaign? What does it say about the candidates' stand on important issues?

These things are probably what make presidential campaigns in the US so interesting from an entertainment point of view, but they also make the whole thing a bit shallow and ultimately unfair. I'm sure many people care about the issues and the candidates' views and projects, but apparently many other people will base their decision on the candidates' religious beliefs and habits, their families and personal lives, the lies each one of them spreads about his opponent and the number of times they say "we are the greatest nation in the world". For "the greatest nation in the world" (which they really are, in so many respects), it is a bit disappointing to think this kind of stuff can have a big impact in such an important decision.

On a positive note, and also one of the differences that make America so special: it's amazing to see people's enthusiasm and faith. To see people so deeply committed to their candidate, volunteering for him, campaigning for him, following him around the country. To see people actually taking part in the campaign because they believe (for whatever reason) their candidate is going to be best for the country. Here what happens is that the only people who actually campaign are the ones who are directly connected to the elections, like registered members of the parties. Practically everyone else just sits back at home and waits for election day. That enthusiasm, that willingness to be involved and to make an effort is actually one of the things I admire the most in the American people.

And finally, the endorsement: of course I'm rooting for Obama. Damn, the guy is inspiring. When I hear him speak I feel like getting my ass up and turning my life around! I'm just sorry he's not running in my country! And despite his little experience, throughout the debates he actually seemed better prepared, especially when it came to economics, than McCain. His answers and his speeches are much more clear and specific, while McCain usually resorts to generalities and commonplaces. His health care project is intelligent and just. His tax plan is fairer. He wants to end that insane and unjustified war in Iraq. To be honest, Obama's view on practically every issue is closer to mine than McCain's. And last but not least, he didn't choose a vice-president whose IQ is lower than room temperature (© Alex P. Keaton, who despite being a staunch republican would surely be smart enough to vote Obama).

I know there is a "Obamessiah" thing going on, and the anti-Obama are trying to use it against him, but I kind of agree with it: Barack Obama does seem to be one of those leaders who only come along once every few decades and are able to rally millions of people in order to accomplish great things. I'd hate to see America (and the world) miss out on that chance. But even if he's not all that, I'm sure he'll do better than another republican. So go on Americans, do the right thing. We would if we could.

Please don't leave me wanting more (too late for that)

Last Saturday at 11.30 pm I was about to go to bed. I was sleepy, I didn't have anything special to do and Yew was out in a colleague get together. I just went to check my email one last time, then Google Reader, then there was probably an interesting link I ended up clicking on, which probably reminded me of something else I wanted to look up, and it was 1:57 am when I got a text from Yew: "Are you asleep?". As I answered him, he called me:

- I'm at a club. Guess who's here?
- If you're calling it must be someone important.
- Yep.
- British?
- Yes.
- Badly Drawn Boy?

So one of my favourite artists just shows up totally unanounced and unexpected in a club in my town. I checked his website, his Myspace (although I do that practically every week), the club's website, and nothing. There was no sign anywhere about he playing there.

Should I go there just to see him? Because I would probably not even talk to him... It's a delicate matter for me. Like most people, I would, in theory, like to meet the people I admire, but it has often happened that, when presented with the opportunity, I have managed to build up the courage - or the chickiness - to go up and talk to them only to realise I have absolutely nothing relevant to say to them.

And there I was in this 'now what' situation when I got another phone call: "he's playing tonight". After uselessly asking several bartenders and a coat checker, Yew finally got the confirmation from the sound guy.

So I went there to see him play and it was amazing. It was a very intimate thing, a few dozen people mostly sitting on the floor, Damon and his guitar. He wasn't supposed to be playing, but apparently he was friends with the band who was and decided to play a few songs as well. He played Cause A Rockslide, Everybody's Talking, Degrees of Separation, Once Around The Block and two unreleased songs, one of which was called Don't Go Far and was dedicated to a friend of his who passed away. And after people called for one more he played Time of Times. As predicted, I didn't go and talk to him. But it didn't matter. It was fantastic.

And that's how my erratic internet surfing habits finally worked in my favour. Just to think that if I had gone to bed at 11.30 I would have missed that magical half an hour makes me never want to sleep again.


A terrible picture of a wonderful moment

The Return of the King

My life on the cloud

Cloud computing. Anyone that uses the internet on a daily basis will relate to this. Life without the internet? How was that? What did people do when they needed to access any kind of information and content? Wait for tonight's TV news? Wait for tomorrow's newspaper? What about that interesting show about [insert subject of your interest]? Missed yesterday's episode, now what? I want to know/see/hear that now!! We are really spoiled and blessed for living during such a rich information age.

People's lives on the web have changed a lot since it's humble beginnings, from having an e-mail, to using ICQ and mIRC, to having a really primitive and ugly personal page on some forgotten GeoCity, to using Napster and, finally, to the whole social networking explosion with blogs and profiles and what-have-you that we are still witnessing. I must be honest, I've always been a little bit sceptic as to the real advantage of exposing one's life on the internet, to say your name, where you're from, what you do, show your photos and your videos to complete strangers! I don't get it but I'm OK with it, if you enjoy doing that just go ahead and have fun while you're at it!

While I don't find that way of socializing that much interesting, I fancy the concept of working/living inside the cloud and using solutions like the ones provided by Google Documents. Recently, with the prices of web space going down and with the speed and bandwidth of DSL and cable going up, a new sort of service has been gaining acceptance. Online storage. During the last year some major players (Microsoft and AOL) and a lot of minor ones have been offering free (or payable) storage online. For free you can get something that can range from 5GB to 50 GB; some services are really simple, others are packed with really interesting features. Two of the services that I currently use are the ones I found to be more interesting - ADrive and Humyo. All other providers were of no use to me because of one (or all) of several reasons: weren't free, offered very little space (for my needs at least), limited the size of uploaded files absurdly (my main concern), didn't seem to be trustworthy...

During the last month I threw out a lot of CDs and DVDs with music, videos and movies and also deleted others from my computer. While I was organizing my data, one of my external drives (the one where I've temporarily stored my private documents and photos) died. Every data recovery software I used gave me nothing, I guess it must be a severe hardware failure - never happened to me before. It was bad but not that much as I was able to recover a lot of data from other sources. I don't know about you but I don't really like burning backups to DVDs, it seems to me stupid to keep piles and piles of redundant copies. Also, from my personal experience, CDs and DVDs aren't reliable for the storage of important data. Factory pressed copies seem more reliable but the ones you burn at home may fail to read a few years later. That's why I usually keep backups on hard drives, but if one drive fails you end up losing a huge amount of data at once. So when I came across the online storage solution it sounded as a great idea. Storing data on web servers, on computers and systems that are built from the ground up to store data in the most efficient and secure way IS, obviously, more reliable than the hard drive you bought on the local computer shop.

Long story short - I started using ADrive and Humyo. ADrive is a really basic, somewhat ugly, but efficient service that offers 50 GB. Humyo is amazing, it offers 30 GB (25 GB must be photo, music or video) and the possibility to stream your photos as slideshows and your albums and videos as playlists. Really great. The only thing that really bugs me about Humyo is the fact that you can't download more than one file at once (they claim that their service is so great you will never need to take all your files down, but you can do it if you buy the premium account). Why do I keep both services? I use ADrive as a backup for Humyo because, you never know, one of the companies may shutdown without warning. Going for the major players you know that, no matter what, your data will be safe - usually.

I highly recommend trying out these free services, they are great and - until today - have proven reliable.

Have you ever seen the rain

A couple of days ago, at the women's Olympic 20km walk, almost every athlete would burst into tears after crossing the finish line. We're talking about professional athletes who have finished dozens of walks before, including at the Olympics.


It got me thinking about the cultural, if not somewhat mystical, significance of rain. Anyone who's ever been to a good concert under heavy rain understands it. Just like that, it becomes a great concert. Like Senna's unforgettable victories under rain. Or like a good football match under rain - especially if the stands aren't roofed. Rain gives a mystical aura to things. Makes them (more) special, (more) memorable.

People need rain for agriculture and pastures, so in some countries and regions it is invoked and celebrated. In urban areas, however, rain is generally looked upon as something bad and sad, as opposed to the lovely and pleasant sunshine. Rain makes your clothes wet, ruins your hair and makes the floor slippery. The funny thing is, despite all that, it is still romanticised and glorified. How many big screen couples have shared incredibly romantic kisses in the rain? Or an equally romantic fight? A piercing look? Ask John Cusack how many lovers have suffered and cried in the rain... Pop culture is clearly not oblivious to the mystical qualities of rain. Be it purple rain, cold november rain or even chocolate rain. But don't worry, you can stand under my umbrella.

Just a box of rain
Wind and water
Believe it if you need it
If you don't just pass it on