Some funnies

Thought of leaving you in this period with wishes of a Prosperous, Healthy and Lovely Year in general for you guys, may 2007 bring all your desires to your front door!

Thought also of leaving you with some comic strips to put a smile on your face whilst I'm gone.

Holidays/Vacaciones/Férias

I'm going on holidays tomorrow, the blog will be closed for inventory!

Me voy de vacaciones mañana, el blog estara cerrado para inventario!

Vou de férias amanhã, o blog vai estar fechado para inventário!

What a JOY! ¡Qué PASADA! Que BOM!

Countries

create your own visited country map

These are the countries I've visited and lived so far...
African and South America are future targets :)

Lebanon

Before the year ends, I just wanted to remember about the war in Lebanon that got us all shocked and feeling helpless whilst watching children die on tv, like in any other stupid war.

I've been to Lebanon once and was impressed by how beautiful it is, not only Beirut, but its surroundings, like Tyr, Byblos, Tripoli and of course, the great Baalbek with its amazing Roman temples still standing.

The kindness of the people was also a very nice surprise, as everyone was happy to help and curious to speak with us.

The food was also very good, with a few vegetable dishes toping my list of favourites (falafel, goat cheese pastries) and not even mentioning the sweets, which follow the Arab tradition and are as rich as the Emirs and Princes of the region... They are baked with so much honey and butter it's impossible you don't like them, as they melt in your mouth.

The wine, yes, the wine is also very good. We only basically know Chateau Kefraya but apparentely it's one of the best of the country.

Having said so, I quote The Observer which analyses the pivotal moments of 2006, from which I took this.

14 August

Israel takes aim at Lebanon, but ends up exposing its vulnerability as Hizbollah goes from strength to strength

Thirty-four days of war, 1,400 dead - the majority in Lebanon, and almost $4bn in damage to Lebanon's infrastructure alone by the Israeli bombing. There have been arguments about the causes of the conflict of Lebanon's Summer War, and whether a raid by Hizbollah to capture Israeli soldiers to trade for prisoners on 12 July should be seen as the start point. What is certain now is how far reaching the consequences have been since the ceasefire.

Both the raid and Israel's massive military response were characterised by huge strategic misjudgments, a fact that Hizbollah was quicker to recognise than Israel. The war was pointlessly shocking, as both sides blindly bombed and rocketed civilian centres. It is the aftermath of the war, however, that has changed the political and military landscape.

For the month of war has punctured two abiding myths in the Middle East that have attached themselves to Israel's strength of arms. The first is that a country with massive military and technological superiority will win a conventional war. The second is that of the invulnerability of Israeli arms. The ability of Hizbollah's lightly armed fighters to destroy the heavily armed Israeli Merkava tanks has become a potent symbol across the region.

That myth of invulnerability was always one of Israel's most powerful deterrents. Suddenly the Israeli Defence Forces look vulnerable. To Islamists it seems Israeli soldiers, in contrast to Hizbollah, are interlopers who lack the stomach to die for what they believe. Having declared its victory over the Israelis, Hizbollah is now threatening to lead Lebanon into a new civil war, as it tries to bring down the country's government and take a more powerful role in its affairs.

But the consequences are likely to be more widely felt than solely in Israel and Lebanon. Hizbollah's most powerful sponsor, Iran, saw its greatest international foe sink in Iraq. Now it has seen Israel falter. It marks another important step in Iran's rise as a regional power. For the Lebanese war represents a check for Israel that makes it less likely that Israel would risk an attack on Iran's nuclear sites, with Hizbollah still intact on its northern border and still, in relative terms, lightly policed by the beefed-up UNIFIL peace mission.

Christmas is over...

Christmas is over, with a few leftovers for next days' meals, some nice presents unwrapped and some more grams (not to say Kilos) to live with.

Although I'm sounding very nostalgic, I enjoyed Xmas this year here in Madrid. We had all the typical food and appetite as before, so what changed was the view out of the window and the un-illuminated tree...

Because we are such a small family (this year without any boyfriend attached), it goes very smoothly and quick.

I'm glad we can be together, no matter where :)

Some Christmas questions answered...part 2

How does a teaspoon inserted into an opened bottle of champagne ensure it keeps its fizz overnight?

It doesn't. This is an urban myth perpetuated by uncontrolled experimentation. People leave spoons in their bottles and find that the wine is still fizzy the next day, so they presume the teaspoon was the reason. However, if you leave an opened bottle of champagne overnight with no teaspoon in the neck it will be just as fizzy. The truth is that champagne takes a long time to lose its fizz. It's not uncommon to attach significance to apparently linked events, which is why science always uses controls to separate real data from presumed data. This experiment works just as well with cava, and as two bottles are needed, it's significantly cheaper that way.

Go on and try it out, buy Champagne and Cava... leave some overnight and drink the rest next day... Put the spoon in and the other let it sit there. Drink it. Taste it. Enjoy it.
All for the cause of Science!

Some Christmas questions answered...part 1

Why do people always feel sleepy after eating Christmas lunch?

After a meal, the levels of glucose in the blood are obviously high, and high blood glucose levels can switch off the brain cells that normally keep us awake and alert. Orexin neurons in the brain produce proteins, called orexins, which play a pivotal role in wakefulness. Glucose inhibits orexin neurons, making us feel more sleepy.
Sleepiness is the body's way of telling us to relax and conserve energy once we have found and eaten our food, and probably developed as an evolutionary response to being seated after a meal. By the same token, when we are hungry, the neurons are not inhibited, and we are alert enough to go in search of food - a sensible evolutionary precaution.

Did it explain your latent doubts or didn't I go into enough detail?
Hungry anyone?...

Bears aren't hibernating anymore....

Global warming is changing habits in animal behaviour, as the winters are getting milder and it's energetically worthwile to stay awake to hunt for food instead of sleeping...

This article I took from The Independent and it really is amazing how the weather is gradually in fact, changing so many aspects of our world.

"Bears have stopped hibernating in the mountains of northern Spain, scientists revealed yesterday, in what may be one of the strongest signals yet of how much climate change is affecting the natural world.
In a December in which bumblebees, butterflies and even swallows have been on the wing in Britain, European brown bears have been lumbering through the forests of Spain's Cantabrian mountains, when normally they would already be in their long, annual sleep.
Bears are supposed to slumber throughout the winter, slowing their body rhythms to a minimum and drawing on stored resources, because frozen weather makes food too scarce to find. The barely breathing creatures can lose up to 40 per cent of their body weight before warmer springtime weather rouses them back to life.
But many of the 130 bears in Spain's northern cordillera - which have a slightly different genetic identity from bear populations elsewhere in the world - have remained active throughout recent winters, naturalists from Spain's Brown Bear Foundation (La Fundación Oso Pardo - FOP) said yesterday."

Impressive, han?

Spirit

Christmas is coming! I'm starting to feel a bit of the spirit (I smell it nearby...) Maybe if I go to the city centre and see all those nice illuminations and thousands of people busily shopping, then I'll get it. So far, not so much - need to get out more!

Phobias

I was reading an interesting article on the free mag that I got on my bus to work the other day.

They say the 2 most common phobias are claustrophobia, where one is afraid of small places and its opposite, agoraphobia, phobia of open spaces.

Nonetheless there are thousands of registered phobias which aren't as usual and which seem strange, to say the least.

For example:

• triskaidekaphobia - fear of the number 13;
• soceraphobia - fear of parents-in-law (aren't we all afraid of them? :) )
• chromotephobia - fear of money (Apparentely, it's not the universal fear of loosing it, but HAVING it!!!)
• hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - panic of long words!

The list goes on, but I leave you with these ones only, for you not to become fearful of reading this blog, for it's too boring! Blogphobia!

Gucci

This is going to be my Xmas gift to myself...

Do you like it?

Xmas party

Our Xmas party was yesterday.

We left the office on a bus direccion the karting circuit where we were going to race 100 laps in teams.

We had a light lunch at the kartdome, and after some drinks, fresher's singing Xmas carrols and distribution of symbolic presents (yes, that's what they must be called, I don't think a freebie from my company, namely a fleece sweater, is a proper Xmas gift! But that's gamble, our names were ruffled and that's what I got anyway!). Today we had the proper official present which is a wine kit box (our customers presents are better!).

Anyway, we were then set to train a bit and the adrenalin was high as we dressed up our red racing suits and helmets! We looked very professional, except for the shoes (it was a surprise party, therefore nobody knew what would be the appropriated clothes to wear. I had high heels on, which made me look weird, all sporty and helmeted on black stilletos, hihihihi).

Yes, it's me under that black hell of a helmet! Ali looks all professional, no? Like Ayrton!

I run 50 laps, tried my best, was hit several times on the laps, hit a few times on the laps (that was fun, coming from behind our boss and slam him against the rails!!!), did really good times on each lap (the best of my team!!!!) and had a great time in general. Loved the races.
We didn't end well, as one of my team had a bit of an accident and that delayed everything! I tried my best to compensate, but it was too late, it was a loner's last effort :)
Here's the big boss who ended up first (of course, he's the boss!), Ali's team ended up second and the macho boys third.

We then had a bit of a dance and more drinks and ended up the night singing flamenco songs on the bus home....oh Dear!

Today, we have a few missing, allegedly sick, and the ones here at the office are rather hurt (the karts kill, our arms and legs and back are hurting, it feels the karts run us over!!!). We got other presents coming in today and more Xmas cards, so the day isn't as bad as it might have looked in the morning, while dragging our ached bones out of the bed!

I have 4 bottles of Champagne, 3 boxes of chocolates, a wine set and 15 kg of oranges to take home. All in the public transportation... I think I will miss the gym for a few days, my ached body can't take any more tumbles!

Work and other things

Sorry for not updatind this Candy Room recently, but between Xmas and personal shopping, resting, watching TV and working like a madwoman, I haven't had that quality little time I need to write here. I may have had time, but I must be on the mood :)

Also, went to the eye doctor who persuaded me to go to surgery for this little thing on my eyelid :( Do I need to say that I didn't get that excited? Like I usually say: Pooohhhh!!!

Superwoman

I always have plenty to wear. For any occasion, really. I'm quite organized and tend to predict all sorts of situations for which I will need different gear. Thus, I own a ski suit, a safari shirt, a polar jacket, trekking boots, windbreakers, jogging pants, black dresses... I have an assorted wardrobe and I'm proud of it. That way I can adapt to any eventuality in a blink of an eye...Just like Superwoman :)

Dr House

Who doesn't love watching Dr House? It's a Tuesday night classic, a must see, a delicious 2 episode night. We get our munchies, our tea, our sofa blanket and get comfortable. No interruptions are expected.

Another tresour is Las Vegas, another TV show on our Saturday nights (for us who don't have any interesting social life!). Danny McCoy is a hunk!!! Whoa!

Estado do Mundo

A minha mãezinha enviou-me este email há uns tempos e tem a sua piada. Ora leiam:

RELATÓRIO DO ESTADO DO MUNDO

Se a população da Terra fosse reduzida à dimensão de uma pequena cidade de 100 pessoas, poderia observar-se a seguinte distribuição:

57 Asiáticos
21 Europeus
14 Americanos (norte e sul)
8 Africanos

52 mulheres
48 homens

70 pessoas de côr
30 caucasianos

89 hetero***uais
11 homo***uais

6 pessoas seriam donas de 59% de toda a riqueza e todos eles seriam dos Estados Unidos da América

80 pessoas viveriam em más condições

70 não teriam recebido qualquer instrução escolar

50 passariam fome

1 morreria

2 nasceriam

1 teria um computador

1 (apenas um) teria instrução escolar superior

Quando olhas para o mundo nesta perspectiva, consegues perceber a real necessidade de solidariedade, compreensão e educação?
Pensa também no seguinte:

Esta manhã, se acordaste de saúde, então és mais feliz do que 1 milhão de pessoas que não vão sobreviver até ao final da próxima semana.

Se nunca sofreste os efeitos da guerra ,
a solidão de uma cela, a agonia da tortura,

ou fome,

então és mais feliz do que outras 500 milhões de pessoas do mundo.

Se podes entrar numa igreja (ou mesquita) sem medo de ser preso ou morto, és mais feliz do que outras 3 milhões de pessoas do mundo.


Se tens comida no frigorífico,
tens sapatos e roupa,

tens uma cama e tecto,

és mais rico do que 75% das outras pessoas do mundo.

Se tens uma conta bancária, dinheiro na carteira e algumas moedas num mealheiro,
pertences ao pequeno grupo de 8% de pessoas do mundo que estão bem na vida.

Se estás a ler esta mensagem, és triplamente abençoado, pois:

1. Alguém acabou de lembrar-se de ti.
2. Não fazes parte do grupo de 200 milhões de pessoas que não sabe ler.

3 . e... tens um computador!

Tal como alguém uma vez disse:

- " trabalha como se não precisasses do dinheiro ,
- ama como se nunca tivesses sido magoado,

- dança como se niguém estivesse a ver-te,

- canta como se ninguém te estivesse a ouvir,

- vive como se a terra fosse o Paraíso ."

Weather and bla bla

The weather is still showing us what Winter is like, with rain (plenty of it) and wind.

Already got some Xmas presents (hooray) and hopefully this week some more, that way I avoid the huge queues in the shops and still have my patience intact!

We never know what to give to our closest, it's always easier for the people we have not so much intimacy but enough to buy them presents. A candle, a photo frame, a book... For parents and siblings, the thing gets tough and we always despair and then, at the last minute, we end up buying something on pressure and not so original or perfect as we intended at the first place.

This week here in Spain is a 'puente' from Wednesday on, as it's got two holidays, the 6th and the 8th. Many people took vacations or are taking advantage and start shopping. Me and Ali have to come and work on Wednesday in a deserted office of around 300 m2. It's sad.

In the meantime, I'm also looking for a new job. One year at this company is enough...I've seen it all already :)

Lista de Natal

Poeminha de Natal by A pipoca mais doce

Um Manolo, um Jimmy Choo,

Uma Prada, um Jacobzinho,

Um Dolce & um Gabbana

Tudo no meu sapatinho

Chega de Zaras e Bershkas

De agendas e de velas

Molduras, essas, nem vê-las

Neste Natal coisas belas

Nada de panos da loiça

Garfo, faca ou colher

Pijamas, colchas, lençóis

Quero ver tudo a arder

Uns livros, uns dvd,

Venham eles, que alegria

Mas merdas pró enxoval

Diz que dão grande alergia

Tias, avós, gente chata

Nunca sabem o que dar

Problema resolvido

Quero um carro e um andar

Nesta quadra tão bonita

Que comove o mundo inteiro

Deixem todos de ser sonsos

Que o que dá jeito é dinheiro

Que haja sopinha para todos

Ah, e tal queremos é paz

Quanto a mim quero é sapatos

E um homem que seja capaz

Summary

1 - Thursday night went to see the Borat film. I don't even know where to start. This is very far from Ali G's racists comments. This crosses even more moral lines. I was defending the guy before, but after I watched this film, I'm actually a bit shocked, as it's humour with an edge. A dangerous edge where you don't know whether it's even appropriated to laugh. You know what I mean? It's pushing the envelope a bit too far, in my opinion.
It is funny, there are moments you just crack up, because you are either grossed out (like the naked scene) or because you are a bit ashamed (like in the scene with the Jews). Some scenes were indeed funny, but you are shocked the whole film through. I must say Sasha is really good and deserves what he got (being it the popularity or the spells). He makes fun out of certain groups and, although we know it's only a joke, it's still not political correct to say certain things in certain contexts.
I suggest you watch it just to know what is it and make up your own mind. My final verdict is that this film isn't funny, it's shocking most of all.

2 - The party. Well, I didn't win anything out of those 40 prizes they were giving away by lottery. Also, I was let down by my closest colleagues who didn't go and ended up with the 'other' colleagues, the ones I don't hang out with usually (I reconfirmed my opinion and I still won't hang out with them in the future, I just don't click). So, all in all, we stayed till 2 am and then I found an excuse not to join them afterwards - that would be that inch too much confratenization...

And today it's saturday, gotta start - finally - with Xmas shopping. Lately the bank account has been going through a very steep way down, I must rescue it before it totally crashes! Hopefully, after the 1st of January things will look better...financially. As for other things, they are good already! ;)