Thinly-veiled stream of consciousness

How to Blog:

14. remember: nobody cares which N*Sync member you are, what State you are, which Party of Five kid you are, or which Weezer song you are. the second you put one of those things on your blog you need to delete your blog and try out for the marching band. similarilly, nobody gives a shit what the weather is like in your town, nobody wants you to change their cursor into a butterfly, nobody wants to vote on whether your blog is hot or not, and nobody gives a rat ass what song youre listening to. write something Real for you, about you, every day.

Well, we’re here but there’s going to be some form filling/ cheque writing/ queueing fun before the week’s out. They were not happy at LAX last night. and 1:30 am is not the time to be dealing with petty-minded bureaucrats who want to take your green card off you. Luckily Sally and Martin were waiting for us at the airport with their calming influence and Atticus was extremely excited to see us again after his bath earlier that day… Guadalajara airport is a modern affair, a bit like Bristol airport, with friendly staff, expensive but nice locales, ample parking. The taxi driver was great, he recognised us from a previous trip and we talked about politics, universities and sci-fi films. Even though I’d dressed up smart and smiled tons at the check in, no upgrade to 1st class for us. Looks like Sita has to travel alone for that kind of treatment… anyway Mexicana was a nice airline, good food, free full bar, minimal voiceovers about safety etc. and I listened to a goodly few podcasts on the way. Anyway then we arrive in LAX and you can actually feel the karma levels dropping to sub-zero levels around you as you head for the control checks… Whereupon Sita nearly went postal extremely pissed off as they wouldn’t let her talk to the git in control who was examining my case. Eeh well, shall chill out a bit today and take the week as it comes. M & S have done a fine job on the house, I’m not sure there’s much more left to do to be honest. Very impressive all round. Shall have to go and check on the bunnies and see if they’re as happy as Atticus was. Cheers

Next time we get to L.A. we have to pass by The Bunny Museum… Apparently Martin had a crash-course in rabbit feeding before Sally came over here. One day he reported they hadn’t eaten their food. On closer investigation Sally discovered two highly non-plussed lagomorphs staring at a food bowl full of ultra-absorbant litter tray pellets. Hopefully they’re ok…

Apparently it’s hot in Puerto Vallarta. Who’d’ve thunk it? And Sita’s been on the sweinesmaltz (spelling? It’s some bizarre teutonic lard product) at the German restaurant there again.

Erm, the car’s back in action. And I got a “Special Rate” so I come back again. Hopefully I won’t be back any time soon. I watched my subtitles on the film I translated yesterday. Thrilling it was. There were a few typos. desings, not designs for example… but overall it’s a great feeling watching your electronic endeavours going out into the world. I’m going to get a copy too.

And the Lucha Libre is really happening through the miracle of blog-mail. Whereupon you blog who you want to ring you and they call you. Cheers, Carlos, See you in the Fuente. Mine’s a Campo Viejo…

EDIT: and here’s something I cooked up today between watching short Uruguayan films, website overhauls for nutritionists and translating. It’s a Flash intro for a friend’s site who moonlights as a DJ. I didn’t have any of the original files for the graphics so they’re a little low-budget and ripped from teh intarwebs but the fly sounds are from an open source audio site and I mashed them together all on my own. I’ll never get my head around actionscript though. Stop (); It’s all practice…

It’s bean a weird couple of days in the office. Like a bad episode of Terry and June whereupon we have to hide certain clients from other clients, because they’re in different political parties. Making sure the computer doesn’t show one party’s logo when someone from the other party comes bursting through the door. Talking in code and making wild gesticulations, still it’s all part of the fun of the 2006 elections. Anyroad, suffice to say blogging’s going to be a bit sparse these next few days.

For the rest of the Zacatecas/ Aguascalientes trip it’s going to be a stream of consciousness: Tour, town center, La Bufa, Teleferico, Mines!, dinner at a french place, power nap, bullring-cum-hotel, aqueduct, cantina II, new drunks, scale model of how mines work produced at the bar, v. rare meat, hotel… then next day: quick recce, breakfast, Rene’s here too!, Aguascalientes, Posada museum, murals, Tonala, glasses, home.

Personal highlight: the friendly locals with their scale models.

So I had one of the easiest flight and immigration experiences yet and am back settled in Guadalajara querida y linda. The only upset being my fault, as I somehow only packed one trainer, so it’s sandals for me for the next 6 wks… Yesterday was Jose’s birthday and he invited me out with his family for his cumpleanos meal to the Argentine restaurant El Tango in Chapalita which had great food. It was grand to be able to hang out with friends on my first day back, a lovely welcome. I nipped over to Cinescopio today to catch up and all seems well over yonder. I’ll be giving my site (agaveweb) an overhaul today and designing some new business cards and suchlike. I’ve taken over Sita’s office but I’ve been warned not to get too comfortable… I am though. Anyroad, vaguely jetlagged but nothing serious and plenty to be getting on with.

This arrived in my inbox t’other day, and since I’ve no photos to post with this entry, have this vaguely-photo-related “Integrity Test” in its stead.

This test only has one question, but it’s a very important one. Please don’t answer it without giving it some serious thought. By giving an honest answer you will be able to test where you stand morally.

The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation, where you will have to make a decision one way or the other. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous.

Please scroll down slowly and consider each line – this is important for the test to work accurately.

You’re in Florida… In Miami, to be exact… There is great chaos going on around you, caused by a hurricane and severe floods… There are huge masses of water all over you… You are a CNN photographer and you are in the middle of this great disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless.

You’re trying to shoot very impressive photos. There are houses and people floating around you, disappearing into the water. Nature is showing all its destroying power and is ripping everything away with it.

Suddenly you see a man in the water, he is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken away by the masses of water and mud. You move closer. Somehow the man looks familiar.

Suddenly you know who it is – it’s George W. Bush!

At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him away… forever. You have two options. You can save him or you can take the best photo of your life. So you can save the life of George W. Bush, or you can shoot a Pulitzer prize winning photo. A unique photo displaying the death of one of the world’s most powerful men.

And here’s the question (please give an honest answer)

Would you select colour film, or go with the simplicity of classic black and white?

And, especially for Matt, try and get past level 27 on this here Flash game… Consider yourself served…