Friday, July 3
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death"
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free - if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending - if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained - we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable - and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace - but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Tuesday, June 30
Young singer-songwriter Amy McDonald, 21, was born in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, Scotland.
She taught herself how to play the guitar. When she was 15 she started doing shows down Glasgow.
Her first album, "This is the life" was released in 2007 and she has sold over 2.5 million records worlwide.
She will be live in Santander (Spain) in Sonorama Festival on 14th August, 2009.
Sunday, June 28
I've just seen "Slumdog Millionnaire" and I am greatly surprised.
Generally I feel disappointed with films which have won Oscars (maybe I expect too much from them) but this time this explosion of light, colour, magnificent images and the exciting story at the same time emotive and stimulating left me breathless.
Probably it should have shown India slum boys' problems more deeply and people could think that eight Oscars are too many. They may be right.
But this is a delicious film and we are overtaken by emotions as varied as joy, pity, happiness, anger, revulsion and surprise that together with the superb exhilarating final dances when the credit lines appear provoke unforgettable memories of this delightful film. 
"Slumdog Millionnaire" is the story of a Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown in flashbacks which explains why he knows the answers.
Jamal Malik,an 18 year old orphan is about to experience the biggest day of his life.
With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who 
Wants To Be A Millionnaire? But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him: how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to pove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions.
But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out.
Sunday, June 21
"Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's best known and much loved national song. It is recognized by every Australian, and has attained status as the nation's unofficial national anthem.
For over 100 years "Waltzing Matilda" has been passed on by word of mouth, in written forms, in sound recordings and other media. It has been represented in countless artistic works, through music, films, television, dance and literature. The song appears in multiple genres -parodies and painting, in travel stories, in children's books, at sporting events.
The words of "Waltzing Matilda" were written in 1895 by the famous Australian poet Andrew Barton Paterson. The music was written by Christina Macpherson (based on a folk Scottish tune).
"Waltzing Matilda" is the story about a tramp who camps by a creep and steals a sheep. Three policemen arrive and he escapes arrest - and certain hanging - committing suicide by leaping into the billabong, where his ghost may be heard by all who pass by.
Glossary of the Australian terms:
WALZING MATILDA: The act of carrying the "swag"
BILLABONG: Section of still water adjacent to a river
COOLIBAH: A species of gum or eucalyptus tree
SWAGMAN: An Australian tramp or itinerant farm hand, carrying his "swag" (his provisions and blankets)
BILLY: An open topped tin can, with a wire carrying handle, used as a kettle for boiling water into which tea is thrown
TUCKER BAG: A bag for "tucker" or food, part of the "swag"
JUMBUCK: A sheep
SQUATTER: A grazier or farmer owner. The meaning of this word has changed later in the twentieth century to mean a person who occupies a property illegally
TROOPERS: a cavalry soldier or a policeman on horseback.
The only one of these words that has basically died out of Australian English is "jumbuck". "troopers" is a bit dated, and "Waltzing Matilda" only survives because of this song.
Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me? the swagman asks, a century later. And a warm, dry wind from the gracelands of australia bears the burden of his sorrow to the world.
Sunday, June 14
Sunday, May 24
Hope you have a new vision of animals now.
It's so tender!
Sunday, May 10
Here is a "word cloud" for "Love and Time" my previous post. The cloud gives a greater prominence to words that apperar more frequently in the text. Love is the winner word so that it has a bigger size than the others which are decreasing according to their frequency in the post.
Sunday, May 3
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings and
human values lived: Happiness, Sadness, Richness, Knowledge,
Wisdom and all the others including Love.
One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink. So all of them built boats
and scaped from the island, except Love who stayed there. He wanted to hold out until the last
possible moment.
When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.
There was a boat passing by, it was Richness passing by on a big boat.
Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?
Richness answered, No, I am sorry I can't. There is too much gold and silver in my boat there is
no room for you. And Richness left.
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel.
Vanity, please help me! I can't help you Love. You are all wet and you might damage my boat.
Sadness was close by. So Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you"
Oh, Love I am so sad that I need to be by myself.
Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she
didn't even hear when Love called her.
Then suddenly there was a voice, a very stong voice.
"Come Love, I will take you". It was an elder.
So blessed and and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When
they arrived at dry land, the elder went his own way.
Love started asking to himself, realizing how much was owed to the elder. So Love asked
Knowlwdge, another elder, "Hey!, who helped me?" Oh, of course the elder said, you don't really
know who helped you?
It was Time, Knowledge answered.
Time? asked Love. "But why did Time help me? Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and
answered:
"Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is"
Thursday, April 23
Congratulations to my Community on 23rd April!
Celebrating the Community Day in "Villalar de los Comuneros"
Castile and Leon is a magical land of castles and impressive Gothic cathedrals, a land with a vast wealth of historic and cultural treasures. It is also blessed with a lovely scenery including dramatic mountain landscapes and protected nature reserves with woods of oaks and cork-oaks. It is crossed by the river Duero and has the "Lago de Sanabria", the largest lake of Spain and the only one of glacial origins.
Wednesday, April 22
Thanks to my dear friend a.c.g.a. who told me about this video by William Bouguereau.
Tuesday, April 21
AUTUMN MOOD 
STROLL IN AUTUMN PARK
TODAY I FORGOT MY UMBRELLA
RIVER WHARF
MISTY ALLEY
AFTER THE RAIN
HAPPY SEPTEMBER
FALLS PATH
NIGHT AMSTERDAM
DELIGHTFUL TANGO
TWO SISTERS
Beautiful! Amazing!
Afremov's works are addicting. Each piece tells a story and has incredible depth. They are fascinating and I find myself looking at these stunning colourful masterpieces over and over again.
I love them all, they are astounding.
I wish I could afford to buy some of them.
Saturday, February 14
A simple haiku
For you my dear friends
a gentle humble daisy
Because I love you.
Sunday, November 23
You know how it is when you get a song stuck in your head and it just won't quit? The past few days I'v been singing "Who wants to Live Forever?" by Queen and no matter what I do, the song won't leave me alone.
It´s not a complete mystery, however why I've been humming this tune. It's November, the aniversary of Freddie Mercury's death.
"Who wants to Live Forever?" is a powerful ballad. It's one of the tracks on the album "A Kind of Magic" released in 1986, and written by guitarist Brian May who sings the first verse before vocalist, Freddie Mercury, sings the rest of the song. It was for the sountrack of the film "Highlander".
I'd like this to be a beautiful remembrance of him.
Sunday, October 26
Tuesday, October 21
Forest in autumn invites you to take walks and breathe in the autumn breeze, feel the falling leaves on your shoulders and the crisp crackle of leaves under your feet, as the red and yellow, orange and brown colours of autumn warm your heart. 
Another reason I like autumn is because it is always a more productive time for me. Autumn with its falling leaves, serves to remind me that time is passing by, that another year is coming to an end. This spurs me to do something constructive with this time.
Let's finish with an autumn quotation and some autumn poems.
by Robert Frost
Spades take up leaves
I make a great noise
But the mountains I raise
I may load and unload
Next to nothing for weight,
Next to nothing for use.
FALL
