Jeg var inde og se den fantastiske effektfulde film: 2012. Wow.

Så fik jeg ideen lige at lave en liste over fede katastrofe film. Der er naturligvis film som jeg har vurderet ikke hører til katastrofe film eller hvor katastrofen ikke er stor nok til at kvalificere sig til listen. Film beskrivelsen er hentet fra bloggen: Om livet i al almindelighed – the jules rules og fra Scope.

2012.

2012

Forskere opdager at jorden snart vil gå under, og klodens ledere lægger i al hemmelighed planer for at redde sig selv og så mange andre som muligt. Jackson er på ferie med sine to børn, da han tilfældigvis opdager sandheden om den forestående undergang, og inden han får set sig om, er den hyggelige ferie ændret til en kamp mod elementerne og egoistiske samfundsspidser.

Titanic

Titanic

James Camerons romantiske storfilm – der vandt 11 Oscars – om det unge par Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) og Rose (Kate Winslet), der trods forskellige baggrunde forelsker sig få dage inden Titanic synker.

Outbreak

Outbreak

Indbyggerne i den lille californske by, Ceder Creek, bliver syge unden varsel. Ramt af en virus, som er mere smitsom og dødelig end pest. I et hæsblæsende kapløb med tiden – og hans overordnede i militæret – kæmper Dr. Sam Daniels for at finde smittebæren – og modgiften. Med bl.a. Morgan Freeman, Dustin Hoffman og Rene Russo.

Armageddon

Armageddon

En tidlig morgen forsvinder rumfartøjet Atlantis fra NASA´s skærme, og nogle få timer senere falder en meteorregn over jorden. Men det er desværre kun begyndelsen. Med en hastighed på 35.000 km/t er en gigantisk asteroide på størrelse med Texas på vej mod jorden. Rammer den, vil det betyde jordens undergang. Med bl.a. Bruce Willis, Liv Tyler, ben Affleck og Billy Bob Thornton.

Deep Impact

Deep Impact

Hvad vil du gøre, hvis du vidste, at en gigantisk komet om få dage vil ramme jorden og hele menneskeheden blive udslettet?? Nedtællingen til dommedag er i gang i dette altødelæggende overraskende brag af en filmoplevelse. Mimi Leder intruerer en række stjerneskuespillere som Robert Duvall, Tea Leoni, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, Maximilian Schell og Morgan Freeman.

Kina Syndromet

The China Syndrome (1979) – (Kinasyndromet)

Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda og Michael Douglas medvirkerii Kina Syndromet en uforglemmelig advarende thrilleriom faren ved atom spaltning og TV nyhedernes enorme magtfaktor.

The Day After Tomorrow

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Klimatologen Jack Hall´s research peger på, at den globale opvarmning kan udløse en pludselig og katastrofal ændring af Jordens klima. De iskerner, som han har boret ud af Antarktis beviser, at det er sket før, for ti tusinde år siden. Og nu advarer han myndighederne om, at det kan ske igen, hvis de ikke griber hurtigt ind. Men hans advarsel kommer for sent. (naturligvis, ellers var der jo ikke nogen film…) Dernæst følger en række stadigt alvorligere vejrkatastrofer rundt omkring på kloden: hagl på størrelse med grapefrugter hamrer ned over Tokyo; orkaner af hidtil usete vindstyrker hærger Hawaii; der falder sne i New Delhi, og så pisker en række alt ødelæggende tornadoer igennem Los Angeles. Snefri fra skole? Det tror jeg nok!

Independence Day

Independence Day

Den engelske forfatter H.G. Wells har ikke levet forgæves. Hans over 100 år gamle sci-fi roman Klodernes Kamp har tydeligvis dannet forbillede for denne opdaterede filmudgave, instrueret af Roland Emmerich. Verden står over for en trussel fra det ydre rum i form af en hær af gigantiske rumskibe fyldt med væmmelige, gopleagtige aliens, der bestemt ikke har gode hensigter. Will Smith og Jeff Goldblum er to barske gutter, der står klar til at tage den ulige kamp op. Og det gør de godt, hvis du spørger mig.

Dante's Peak

Dante’s Peak

I den fredsomlige by Dante´s Peak frygter ingen af indbyggerne at den store vulkan, som ligger tæt på byen, skal gå i udbrud. Videnskabsmanden Harry Dalton, som er på besøg i den smukke by, kan dog mærke, at noget er galt. Helt galt. Kommunekontoret nægter at hjælpe – en redningsaktion er for omkostningsfuld, siger de. Ingen lytter dog mere til Harry Dalton end den kvindelige borgmester, men snart får de dog meget andet at lytte efter – lyden af eksploderende lava! I rollen som manden der kæmper mod naturen og de forstokkede kommunalpolitikere, ses Pierce Brosnan. Den kvindelige borgmester, Rachel Wando, spilles af Linda Hamilton.

Twister

Twister

Huse bliver flået i tusinde stykker. En brølende ko kommer flyvende gennem luften. Traktorer falder som regndråber. En 8 tons tankvogn bliver en flyvende bombe. En kilometer bred og 300 km i timen hurtigløbende naturkraft af total og fuldstændig ødelæggelse kommer imod dig.Twister er på vej til dit hjem. Helen Hunt og Bill Paxton spiller to videnskabsfolk, der forfølger den mest destruktive naturkraft, der har hærget gennem Amerikas Midvesten i 50 år. Ved at udsætte en beholder fuld af små sensorer umiddelbart foran skypumperne, håber tonadojægerne at de bliver suget op, så man kan kortlægge skypumpernes anatomi. Men for at få placeret beholderen rigtigt, bliver de to tornadojægere nødt til at komme helt tæt på, så tæt at de næsten kan røre ved deres gigantiske og lumske modstandere.

Volcano

Volcano

Los Angeles. Hjemsted for de rige og berømte. Hele verdens underholdnings-hovedstad. Englenes by. Men underneden rumler et skoldhedt helvede – nu er det klar til at bryde ud. En sprække i jordens skorpe åbner for en altødelæggende kraft. En endeløs strøm af hvidglødende lava bliver til en flod af uundgåelig død, der nu begynder at strømme gennem verdens tættest trafikerede gader mens ildkuglerne regner ned fra oven. For byens katastrofechef er det hans værste mareridt, der er blevet til virkelighed. Han har ikke set det værste endnu! Med bl.a. Anne Heche, Tommy Lee Jones og John Corbett.

Poseidon

Poseidon

Nytårsaften bliver den gigantiske luksusliner Poseidon ramt af en flodbølge af de store og vender bunden i vejret. En lille gruppe overlevende bliver fanger dybt inde i skibet og må arbejde sammen for at slippe ud af skibsvraget, der langsomt fyldes med vand. Opgaven gøres ikke lettere af, at alt er smadret og vendt på hovedet.

war of the worlds

War of the Worlds

Filmen er endnu en moderne fortolkning af H.G. Wells’ klassiske science fiction-roman, der omhandler en fantastisk kamp for selve menneskehedens overlevelse, set gennem en ganske almindelig families optik. Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) må flygte for at redde sig selv og sin familie fra en skræmmende hær af trebenede rumvæsener, der udsletter alt på deres vej. War of the Worlds er et actionspækket eventyr, der nærmest eksploderer med spektakulære specialeffekter! Men for mig bliver filmen noget ødelagt af ret dårligt skuespil og en meget irriterende hysterisk pige, der skriger hele filmen igennem. Ja, du er nok kun 10 år, men hold dog kæft, så de der rumvæsener ikke kan finde dig!!

The Towering Inferno

The Towering Inferno (1974) (Det tårnhøje helvede)

For at fejre opførelsen af verdens højeste skyskraper, holder holdet bag en fest på øverste etage. Desværre har elektrikeren brugt dårlige materialer for at spare penge. En kortslutning sætter ild til 85. etage og pludselig er festdeltagerne på 135. etage fanget. Brandmajor O’Hallorhan og arkitekt Roberts forsøger sammen at redde gæster fra ilden.

World Trade Center.

World Trade Center

Politimændene John McLoughlin og William Jimeno er på arbejde en stille dag i New York i september, da terrorister flyver to fly ind i Word Trade Center. Sammen med andre redningsfolk kommer betjentene de indespærrede til undsætning, men ender med selv at blive fanget under murbrokkerne. Chancerne for at overleve er ikke store, men John og William nægter at give op.

The Core.

The Core

Golden Gate broen styrter sammen. Pacemakeripatienter falder døde om, ingen ved hvorfor. Fuglene mister deres stedsans. Årsagen skal findes i jordens indre – kernen er holdt op med at rotere! Det har den skræmmende konsekvens, at det magnetiske felt, som jorden er omgivet af, er ved at gå i opløsning. Et hemmeligt sted i Utah arbejder en gruppe videnskabsfolk med tiden som deres værste fjende. De får kun 3 måneder til at bygge et fartøj, der skal kunne rejse ind til jordens kerne med en atombombe, som skal genstarte kernens rotation. Som astronauter- nu terranauter- er det den kvindelige Major Beck Childs (Hilary Swank), der skal styre besætningen sikkert ind til jordens kerne og tilbage igen.

Hard Rain

Hard Rain

Byen Huntingburg trues af en oversvømmelse. Sheriffen evakuerer befolkningen samtidig med at en havareret pengetransport bliver overfaldet af en røverbande. Men transportens chauffør, Tom, stikker af med pengene, forfulgt af banden og politiet, der ikke er så retskafne som de burde være. Undervejs får Tom uventet hjælp af Karen, der prøver at holde vandmasserne ude fra den kirke, hun er ved at restaurere. Men langsomt strammes nettet om de to unge…

Daylight.

Daylight

Den underjordiske tunnel mellem Manhattan og New Jersey styrter sammen. Nogle få overlevende finder sammen i tunnelens midtersektion, der endnu holdes oppe. Men hvordan skal de komme ud? Heldigvis er der en modig taxa-chauffør (Sylvester Stallone), der ved lidt om tunnelkatastrofer og ikke står tilbage for at tage på en redningsekspedition under jorden!

Cloverfield

Cloverfield

En hyggelig fest for at fejre Robs afrejse til et fedt job i Japan afbrydes pludseligt, da jorden i New York begynder at ryste. Forvirrede og bange styrter folk op på taget af bygningen, hvor de ser en ildkugle fare gennem luften. Så rystes bygningen igen, strømmen går, panikken bryder ud. Hud har fået til opgave at lave en videooptagelse som en farvelgave til Rob, og han lægger ikke kameraet. På den måde får vi et øjebliksbillede af, hvordan panikken breder sig, når husene rystes og gaderne fyldes af støvskyer, når skyskrabere synker i grus. Hud følger en lille gruppe på flugten, men da Rob over mobilen får fat i sin elskede Beth og hører, at hun ligger fastklemt i et af de sammenstyrtede huse, ændrer han retning. Mod bedre vidende går han mod centrum af Manhattan, hvor noget stort og dødbringende er på spil. Og mod al sund fornuft går Hud og et par af vennerne samme vej. Uhh!

Supernova

Supanova

En astrofysiker har opdaget, at verdens undergang er nært forestående. Solen vil snart eksplodere og Jorden vil gå under. Mens et hold af forskere kæmper mod tiden for at forhindre, at hans dommedagsprofeti skal gå i opfyldelse, forvandles verden til et sandt inferno. Med bl.a. Luke Perry og Tia Carrere.

Sunshine.

Sunshine

Solen er ved at dø og sker det, vil det selvsagt få katastrofale konsekvenser for jorden og menneskeheden. Det største rumskib der nogensinde er blevet bygget, ICARUS II, bliver derfor sendt ud i rummet med en enorm atom nyttelast ombord, hvis formål er at gendanne de dele af solen, der allerede er gået ud. Ombord på rumskibet er en besætning bestående af otte astronauter. De kommer alle til at stå ansigt til ansigt med deres værste frygt.Sandsynligheden for at missionen lykkes synes mere og mere usandsynlig som de langsomt nærmer sig den frygtindgydende og overvældende kraft fra universets største og mest imponerende enkelte objekt – solen!

El psiquiatra no me escribe. El de la inmobiliaria no me llama. Por qué me hacen esto???

Nessa última quarta a tarde fui assistir 2012.

Local: Norte Shopping. Eu sei, péssima escolha geográfica. Mas entendam, quando estamos acompanhados, qualquer lugar pode ficar interessante… #ficadica =p

Pois bem, tirando o fato de que eu comecei a cultivar um pequeno rancor pelo Banco Real e que eu não tinha dinheiro nem pra pegar o metrô, entramos no cinema com aquela coisa horrível que o Mc Donald’s continua vendendo com o nome de “comida” e esperamos por aquele que deveria ser o filmão do momento (afinal de contas todo dia eu encontro um idiota que diz “ué, de que adianta isso se o mundo vai acabar em 2012?”). Decepção TOTAL. Listo os motivos.

1 – Se você for ao cinema querendo ver mistérios arqueológicos no estilo Indiana Jones de fazer filmes, melhor nem sair de casa pra não matar um na saída do cinema. Eles falam dos Maias UMA VEZ durante as 3 HORAS de filme. Pois é, a coisa toda é baseada na profecia maia e eles cagaram solenimente pra esse fato. Imagina COMO EU FIQUEI quando percebi isso…

2 – Os efeitos são divertidos. Tem que se dar algum crédito, já que aparentemente todos os recursos foram investidos nisso. Mas não se engane, não é nada que bons estudantes de computação gráfica com bom financiamento e uma boa equipe não consigam fazer. Hollywood não é mais a mesma… Aliás, o elenco é PÉSSIMO! Pra vocês terem uma idéia, o ator mais bonito do filme aparece em umas 3 cenas e morre. Um filme desses está fadado ao fracasso.

3 – O filme é… longo. Muito longo. 3 horas e alguns quebrados se não me engano, e não passa rápido não. Referências à tudo: desde a Biblia até Titanic, passando por Independence Day e um toque das piadas fora de contexto de Jurassic Park. Em um dado momento eu achei que estava vendo “O dia depois de amanhã” só que com atores diferentes, pra vocês verem o nível da cópia. Sem contar que, apesar de ser um filme, eu como bom geógrafo que pretendo ser não consegui engolir essa história de que “a crosta terrestre derreteu por emissões estranhas do sol ocasionadas pelo alinhamento de uns planetas”! Ah, me poupe, arrumem uma desculpa melhor… Até alienigenas ficaram mais interessantes no Indiana Jones, peçam ajuda ao George Lucas que ele sabe como fazer.

4 – Algo que nos interessa muito: a cena do Rio de Janeiro. Em tempos de escolha do Rio tanto pra sede das olimpíadas quanto a melhor cidade gay do mundo, o mínimo que poderiam ter feito eram cenas de verdade com a cidade. Nem isso. O que aparece mesmo é o Cristo se despedaçando e só. E digo mais: a personagem vê isso PELA TELEVISÂO! O filme todo se passa nos EUA (pra variar) e o final é na China (sério, deu uma vontade absurda de escrever um artigo sobre geopolítica e cinema só por essa escrotice). Eu lá, todo esperançoso de ver a minha cidade ser destruída pelo mar e o que aparece é o aquele monte de concreto se desmoronando pela televisão, aí não dá, tive que rir.

5 – Por fim, se você está pensando que o filme pelo menos tem uma história, pensou errado. NADA de história. Nada mesmo, é uma família que tem que sobreviver no meio desse samba do criolo doido que eles inventaram de eventos cósmicos e cismicos e oceânicos e blá. Pra não dizer que a coisa não tem diretriz NENHUMA, eu digo que eles seguiram a bíblia, a parte que fala da Arca de Noé. É isso mesmo, eu não estou brincando.

O ponto positivo disso tudo? Bom, tirando o fato de ver o filme com uma pessoa agradável ao meu lado, teve um único ponto realmente interessante que o filme conseguiu abordar assim, de leve: Como seria o arranjo político entre os países caso o mundo realmente estivesse acabando? Será que eles esqueceriam as guerras, o dinheiro, o poder, e se concentrariam em salvar o maior número de pessoas possível? A humanidade realmente merece viver caso não consiga pensar no próximo mesmo nesses momentos? É algo que fica pra pensar… e também é a ÚNICA COISA que fica pra pensar, já que nem dos Maias eles falaram né…

Vejam o filme e comentem, porque eu ODIEI. Coisa realmente pipoca, desnecessária e longa. Muito longa.

Resulta que hace un tiempo que me quiero mudar. Quiero irme de la casa de los viejos de una vez por todas y, evidentemente, no va a ser de la forma en la que ellos lo soñaron: de la mano de un hombre afortunado, mi flamante esposo.

No papis, la nena salió fallada, tiene 30 y está sola como un perro, pero de todos modos cumlió un ciclo más que largo en esta casa. Me voy por mi bien mental… y el suyo también.

En fin, esto venía a que me costó mucho adentrarme en el mundo inmobiliario, entonces un dia junté coraje y llamé por telefono a dos o tres inmobiliarias. Una me dijo que tenía un hermoso departamento a estrenar, con casi todos lo requisitos que yo pretendía pero con el pequeño detalle de que quedaba nada más y nada menos que al lado del edificio de mi ex. Descartado inmediatamente. La segunda inmobiliaria me pasó en medio minuto los datos de 5 departamentos distintos en un tono monocorde y con la mínima intención de que yo tomara nota de algo. Andá a cagar. En la tercera y última un flaco me dijo que tenían solo uno, me dijo la ubicación, me cerró y le dije que al otro dia pasaría.

Asi hice, me escapé de la oficina (porque es a dos cuadras del depto en cuestión) con mi compañera y amiga Pam, nos encontramos con el señor Nestor y subimos al 9º piso. Me encantó, me obsesioné, no se, pero decidí que quería vivir ahi. Volvi a la ofcin, llamé a mi hermana que es como mi costado racional y volvimos al lugar. A ella tambien le gustó asi que listo, es ahi.

Despues de ir y venir con el tema de la garantía, porque el nabo de la inmobiliaria primero me dijo que no servía, finalemente ayer sabado llevé todo y deje la seña.

Ahora solo me resta esperar a que me llame este pibe y me diga qué onda, porque tengo el inconveniente de que el contrato empezaría el 1º de diciembre y mi garante está de viaje hasta el 20. Hay que ver si la dueña me v a querer bancar hasta entonces.

“Vas el año viviendo en otro lugar” me dijo Mati de la inmoiliaria. “ay si, no me lo digas así que me muer acá”.

En fn… fingers crossed para que salga, no acepto vivir en otro lado!

I sit here on my whitened plywood throne, surveying the passing throngs

I’ve lived on this world four score and seven, minus years four score and zero

My beard is fake, my hat has left, my blackened coat has turned itself to white

I move along, the people cheer a small and sitting boy

Independence Day [Award Series]

One of the biggest box office hits of all time delivers the ultimate encounter when mysterious and powerful aliens launch an all-out invasion against the human race. The spectacle begins when massive spaceships appear in Earth’s skies. But wonder turns to terror as the ships blast destructive beams of fire down on cities all over the planet. Now the world’s only hope lies with a determinded band of survivors, uniting for one last strike against the invaders – before it’s the end of all mankind.

Reviews from Customers

“An Outstanding DVD Package!”
Studios are finally getting the whole DVD thing! This is a truly worth-your-money deal with lots of extras including two versions of the film; the first version is the original theatrical release and the second version is a directors cut featuring about 9 minutes of added footage not released in theatres. What’s really great about this is they list what new scenes have been included and some of them are really funny and some of them make the story a lot more heartfelt. Also included is a second disc that includes a really cool mockumentary called “The ID4 Invasion” which is truly a priceless gem in this great collection. Also, there is commentary, lots of interviews with cast and crew, a special effects documentary on the making of the film and the original biplane ending which unfortunately looks really hokey and what I felt after watching it was-THANK GOD THEY DIDN’T GO WITH THAT ENDING-THAT ENDING WOULD’VE MADE THIS MOVIE A “REAL” DISASTER! For a product like this under $30 it is totally worth your money. For those who appreciated this movie as a special effects funfest, this DVD is not one to be passed up. For those of you boring types who felt this movie needed a “serious acting edge” buy Out of Africa and leave science fiction alone! Cheers!

“Independence Day”
This is one of my most favorite movies!! It is hard to pick which is better the cast, special effects or writing. The special effects go without saying – superb. The timing on some of the events like the synchronized takedown of the different cities could not have been done better. I can’t say enough nice things about the cast. Will Smith was funny at times and yet still the tragic hero. Randy Quaid was priceless! Jeff Goldblum was more likeable in this movie than I have ever seen him in the past. I also thought Robert Loggia and Bill Pullman were well chosen. While the script was similar to movies done in the past, there was a new spin on it. I particularly liked the scene when Bill Pullman gave his speech prior to fighting the enemy. Some borrowed history from a Dylan Thomas’ poem was genius.

“A movie that ENTERTAINS from start to finish!”
I am not one who usually writes online reviews, but after reading several that have trashed this movie for being something more that what it is, I feel compelled to defend this entertaining and funny work.
I will be the first to admit that although there are several unrealistic, gaping plot holes and the dialogue is corny at times, anyone who looked for REALITY in this film is taking themselves too seriously. The very nature of the story’s premise would suggest to anyone who has an IQ above that of an amoeba that this film is FICTION. I saw this film in 1996 in the theater, and have watched it several times at home on my 27 inch screen. Regardless of the setting, it is still fun to watch because (take note you 2004 social activists)…IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY! Yes, you too can enjoy the comedy, cheesy banter, and bombastic explosions this 2-hour film has to offer if you check your critical ego with the “power” button of your surround-sound home theater system. Anyone who would even TRY to somehow draw a parallel between this film (which, I repeat, was made in 1996!) and events happening in the world in 2004 need to relax. There was a reason why “Independence Day” broke box-office records when it came out, and it was because we were looking to be entertained for a few hours; we were NOT looking for a documentary on realistic intergalactic relations. So although I would normally rate this movie with 3 or 4 stars, I am going to give it 5 because for the first time I now realize how entertaining (and totally unrealistic) this movie really is. Wasn’t that the purpose?

See all detials of Independence Day [Award Series]

As part of the November independence festivities, the Santeño communities organized colorful oxcarts parades in several towns and cities of the country.  I attended one at Juan Díaz.  I’m glad I did, because the scenes were awesome, in search of a better word.

As usual, I took some pictures to share with you today.  I included some of them in yesterday’s post too.  In order to appreciate the photos better, I encourage you to click on the images to enlarge them.

Having said that, now let’s take a look at the pictures.  Here we go.

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

This will be the end of the Independence series which meant so much to me.  It’s time to move on to another subject.  As I mentioned yesterday, I’ll focus on the Panama Canal, specifically at the Miraflores Locks and its immediate surroundings.  I’ll meet you there.  Good Day.

Many folklore experts agree that the Panama Gala Pollera is the most beautiful national dress in the world.  After all these years, it continues to dazzle audiences everywhere it’s proudly displayed by Panamanian women.

The Pollera is the most beautiful and admired national costume of the Americas and the world.  There are many tales related about its origin, but the popular opinion is that it was adapted from a gypsy dress worn in Spain at the time of the conquest of Peru—XVI Century—and brought to Panama by the servants of the colonial families.  It normally consists of a blouse or shirt and a two-tiered full skirt.

The lavish satins and brocades that made up the dress of society at that time were not suited to the tropical climate and the servants’ garb was appropriated by the mistress and enhanced with lace and embroidery.  It was not worn outside of the home, but gradually the ladies added more lace and ribbons, ornaments for the hair (tembleques) and jewelry for the neck and eventually it made its way into the public eye.

Polleras are made of wool or cotton and are very colorful. The large gathered skirt is generally white with two or three ruffles which have a floral design or embroidery. The top has several ruffles as well on the shoulders and has inlaid yarn. There is a large pompom matching the yarn in the front and back of the top. The yarn also matches several large ribbons at the waist and the slippers that go with the outfit.

The clothing includes a headdress called a tembleque (or tembeleque) which is made of beads attached to a spring so that they tremble when the wearer dances.

In Panama and Colombia, hand-made polleras evolved during time to a very elaborate piece of clothing. Currently it is the National Costume of Panama. Girls and women would generally own two polleras during their life: one before age 16 and one at adulthood.

A single pollera can cost from several hundred to several thousands of dollars and take up to a year to create. The gold and pearl mosquetas and tembleques that accompany a pollera are generally passed down as heirlooms through generations.

During the November 10th. parade  at Juan Diaz, the Santeño community selected a bouquet of attractive young women exquisitely dressed in polleras to participate in the event.  The singular part of the parade were oxen-driven floats decorated with Santeño’s motives; and of course, the national dress of Panama—the pollera.  It was the icing on the cake of this traditional parade.  I recall having seen similar oxcarts parades in the town of Escazú in Costa Rica while I was living there.

Enjoy a Santeño independence parade at Juan Díaz in Panama City, Panama on November 10, 2009.  Here we go.

Preamble of an oxcart parade in Panama. Notice the typical dresses worn by the Santeño children. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

An attractive young lady proudly displays a gala pollera in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of oxcart participating in the Independence Day parade on November 10, 2009. Notice the bright tropical red flowers. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of a colorful float donated by a local member of the Panama Congress. (Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of a float with two huge toucan birds participating in the Independence Parade of November 10, 2009 held in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of an oxcart with a beautiful young Santeño woman proudly wearing a pollera and tembleques. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of an oxcart with a young woman wearing a splendid gala pollera. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of Alejandro, the oxcart driver, participating in the Independence Day parade at Juan Díaz. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of one of the oxcarts that participated in the Independence Day parade of November 10, 2009. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

A spectacular float carrying a beautiful specimen of the Santeño woman wearing an awesome pollera. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

This was the tail of the parade.  It was reserved to be the final big surprise of the event which was heavily applauded by the bystanders, including my wife and myself.  A tropical cloudburst was forming, so we hurried back home before St. Peter opened the faucets.

This post will end the coverage of the patriotic events which took place during November in Panama.  As stated previously, I plan to travel to the Miraflores Locks in the Panama Canal,  to shoot pictures of that historic landmark, only surpassed by the great pyramids of Egypt.  Good Day.

The Movie Overdose attempts to contain the apocalypse with a review of Roland Emmerich’s 2012. We chat about how we would change Eddie Murphy for the better, what kind of sequel we want for Star Trek and whether we are glad to see Sean Connery coming back, if only in voice form. Tom slightly dampens the praise given to An Education and Sam revels in the madness of Running Scared and the flawed ambition of Dogma. The conclusion involves a discussion of actors that, no matter what, we always look forward to seeing on screen.

Download The Movie Overdose Episode 42

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En mi blog siempre tengo en énfasis en El Salvador. Pero ahora tengo las ganas de disfrutar de todos mis paisanos de todo latín América.

I usually focus on El Salvador on my blog, but today I really wanted to basque in the glory and fun of my latino countrymen.

La sangre latina es fuerte, somos inventivos, imaginativos, creativos, bailadores, amamos las fiestas, nuestros carnavales, las cosas bellas que les pertenecen a cada uno de nuestros países, sea nuestras danzas, poesías, música y presentaciones teátricas.

Our latino blood is strong, inventive, imaginative, creative, we are dancers, we love our festivals, celebrations and carnavales, que love the beauty that is true to our own countrie be it our unique folklore dances, poetry, music and other theatrical shows.

Para mi no importa si eres mejicano, guatemalteco, hondureño, salvadoreño, beliceño, costa rícense, panameño, brasileño, colombiano, chileno, peruano.. o lo que sea. Somos latinos y eso es lo que quiero celebrar.

I really dont care if you are Mexican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Salvadoreno, Belice, Costa Rican, Panama, Brazilian, Colombian, Chilean, Peruvian or whatever you are. We are all latinos and this is what I want to celebrate today.

Aquí disfruten de la colección de clips de todos nuestros países. Si tu vives afuera de tu país de nacimiento o naciste afuera de tu país ven y descubras que lindo es tu cultura, que linda es tu gene y tu historia.

Enjoy discovering all the cultures through the collection of clips below. If you are an expat or you were born outside of your motherland, or you are half latino half something else I encourage you to discover how beautiful your culture, your people and your history is. I did and fell in love.

 Latinos sean orgullosos de donde somos – no nos discriminemos unos a otros!

Latinos we need to be proud of who we are and where we came from – lets not bring each other down!

Here is a collection of typical festivities that you will see in the towns, cities of all the countries. Enjoy the off-the-beaten-track vibe. Its what I love the most!

MEXICO

2007 Chilmalhuacan  Mexico, San Pedro

Guelaguetza 2008 Los Tejorones its a dance that came from a mixture of the Spanish, black slave and Aztecan history. Tejones means Men dressed badly.

November 09 Chilmalhuacan Mexico

Guaymas, Mexico 07

GUATEMALA

San Martin a small country town in Guatemala. Fiesta Nov 08. Demonstrating a typical festival in central american towns. Usually a religious based festival that combines traditional dancing, processions, food and rides etc

Festival of a small town called Cunen, El Quiche Guatemala.

kids festival is Chiantla feb 08

BELIZE

in English – intro into the country, its people and culture.

(In English) Carnaval Belize – Independence Day parade

Belize Carnaval

HONDURAS

ok so this one isn’t necessarily showing a grand festival, but it demonstrates why I love off the beaten track travelling. This video was taken in remote villages of the Honduran mountains. Just the mere simplicity, the honesty, the daily life that is so far from my own is beautiful to me. Its demonstrating a typical church celebration day in this remote village.

Fiesta is Oalancho – Honduras, typical village/town get together.

schools performing in street parades for the independence day 15 September celebrations.

parade, Yoro Honduras Nov 07

EL SALVADOR!!!

Los Viejos San Salvador Hidalgo

Independence Day March by the Inframen school. April 06.

festival celebrating the day of the Cross

religious parade, Sonsonate

Alfombras or carpets made of fine sawdust, salt and chalk. People produce religious Alfombras during Semana Santa – Easter week and are displayed on the streets in the towns and cities. You will have an opportunity to see what we call, “perror callejeros” walking across an Alfombra, haha typical bloody dogs!

I’m not sure exactly how many films I’ve seen in my lifetime.

It is probably over a thousand, the list below barely scratches the surface of all the films I’ve seen and it was surprisingly easy to come up with. Rather than systematically list films by era or genre I got my brother’s girlfriend Dawn to call out any films she could think of.

I thought of this idea about five minutes before I began typing and Dawn rattled off films as they came to her while I typed out brief verdicts for each one. I initially intended to create a system for rating but found it too restrictive so I just wrote a brief instinctual verdict for each one.

I have included a link to Rotten Tomatoes and the score of each film, I haven’t seen some of these movies in a very long time…

NOTE: The percentages at the end are not my scores but the percentage of positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

1. Men in Black (1997) – meh (91% – seriously?!)
2. Fight Club (1999) – brilliant (80%)
3. Unforgiven (1992) – immense (96%)
4. Shaun of the Dead (2004) – decent (gets worse every time I watch it)
5. Memento (2001) – pretty good (93%)
6. The Departed (2006) – good (92%)
7. Aliens (1986) – the best sequel ever made (100%)
8. Reservoir Dogs (1992) – great characters and dialogue (95%)
9. American Beauty (1999) – uplifting, brilliant (the stupid bag scene apart) (89%)
10. Goodfellas (1990) – excellent (96%)
11. Predator (1987) – one of Arnie’s best (76%)
12. 12 Angry Men (1957) – captivating (100%)
13. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – meh (78%)
14. Shawshank Redemption (1994) – really, really good (88%)
15. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) – better than I expected (90%)
16. Sin City (2005) – flashy trash (78%)
17. Toy Story 2 (1999) – yep, it’s good (100%)
18. Bambi (1942) – I remember it being good (much to the amusement of Dawn and Sean, many gay jokes followed) (89%)
19. Final Destination (2000) -guff (30%)
20. Edward Scissorhands (1990) – pretentious crap (90%)
21. Stranger than Fiction (2006) – Surprisingly good (72%)
22. Shallow Grave (1995) – okay (71%)
23. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1996) – facepalm (49%)
24. Man on Fire (2004) – underwhelming (39%)
25. Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – meh (81%)
26. 28 Days Later (2003) – meh (88%)
27. Casino Royale (2006) – surprisingly really good (94%)
28. Psycho (1960) – I was expecting it to be better (98%)
29. The Flintstones (1994) – Jesus wept (18%)
30. Aladdin (1992) – good (92%)
31. Jackass: The Movie (2002) – hard to class as a film really, hit and miss(48%)
32. E.T (1982) – good (98%)
33. Independence Day (1996) – a glorified B movie (61%)
34. Titanic (1997)  – Good (81%)
35. Ring (2002) – fairly decent (71%)
36. Pulp Fiction (1994) – Tarantino’s best film by a long way (97%)
37. Hot Fuzz (2007) – fun (90%)
38. Monty Python: Holy Grail (1975) – classic (94%)
39. Good Will Hunting (1997) – good (97%)
40. Heat (1995) – pretty good, not great (89%)
41. Zodiac (2007) – boring (87%)
42. Little Mermaid (1989) – decent (90%)
43. Ghost (1987) – crap (80%)
44. Dirty Dancing (1987) – utter shit – that women like this film makes me wonder if they actually deserve equal rights (67%)
45. The Terminator (1984) – the best Terminator (100%)
46. Bean (1998) – a test of mental endurance, awful (41%)
47. The Mask (1994) – rubbish (76%)
48. Frailty (2002) – ridiculous (74%)
49. The Day After Tomorrow (2004) – shite
50. Donnie Darko (2001) – overrated pish (84%)
51. Apollo 13 (1995)– crap (96%)
52. Deep Impact (1998)– more crap (46%)
53. Volcano (1997) – even more crap (40%)
54. I know what you did last summer (1997)– yet more crap (36%)
55. The Matrix (1999) – first half decent rest shite (86%)
56. Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002)– boring (96%)
57. Addams Family Values (1994) – some good moments (74%)
58. Nightmare before Christmas (1993) – overrated, largely guff (97%)
59. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) – (see earlier blog) (75%)
60. Three Men and a Baby (1987) – sickening  (78%)
61. Transformers: The Movie (1986) – decent (haven’t seen it in 10 years) (50%)
62. Cruel Intentions (1999) – trash (47%)
63. Lock Stock and Two Smoking barrels (1998) – good if a little overrated (71%)
64. Clerks II (2006) – absolutely fucking diabolical (62%, seriously what the fuck?)
65. Baby’s Day Out (1994) – horrific (23%)
66. Home Alone 2 (1992) – decent (17% – that seems harsh!)
67. Liar Liar (1997) – pretty bad (84%)
68. Babe (1995) – Jesus wept (98%)
69. The Simpsons Movie (2007) – unfunny crap from a show that is a pale shadow of what it used to be (90%)
70. Mr Nanny (1993) – a holocaust of a film (7%)
71. The Thing (1980) – really tense, really good (80%)
72. Blair Witch Project (1999) – doing something different doesn’t make it good (85%)
73. Run Lola Run (1999) – see above (92%)
74. The Santa Clause (1994) – crap (Dawn: “What’s the film with Tim Allen dressed as Santa Claus?”) (79%)
75. Silence of the Lambs (1990) – they really should have just stopped at this one, a fine film (96%)
76. Matilda (1996) – another crap Dahl adaptation (89%)
77. A Bridge too Far (1977) – the quintessential war movie (67%)
78. Rocky V (1990) – laughable (21%)
79. The Sting (1973) – really good (91%)
80. The Sword in the Stone (1963) – good (73%)
81. The Witches (1990) – crap (100%, what the fuck?)
82. Starship Troopers (1997) – entertaining trash (60%)
83. Love Actually(2003)  – hated it (63%)
84. White men can’t jump (1992) – I liked it despite itself (78%)
85. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1999)– a pointless sequel (48%)
86. A Bug’s Life (1998) – meh (91%)
87. Hollow man (2000)– hollow is an appropriate adjective (but I like Bacon’s character) (27%)
88. Jaws (1975) – good but overrated (100%)
89. Jerry Maguire (1996)– oh Christ (84%)
90. Dawn of the Dead (1978)– awesome (95%)
91. Drop Dead Fred (1991)– mindless crap (still haunted by my little sister’s repeat viewing of this monstrosity) (9%)
92. Braveheart (1995) – good (it’s a movie, not a history lesson) (76%)
93. Saw II (2005) – crap (35%)
94. Mouse Hunt (1997)– hated it (really wanted the mouse to die) (44%)
95. The Mummy (1999)– didn’t like it (54%)
96. George of the Jungle (1997)– crap (53%)
97. Leon (1994) – ludicrous garbage (74%)
98. Death becomes her (1993)– had its moments (56%)
99. Meet Joe Black (1998) – meh (49%)
100. Dog Soldiers (2002) – entertaining (79%)
101. Cool Hand Luke (1967) – the best film ever (100%)

I’ve just recently sat through director Roland Emmerich’s latest opus, 2012, and thought I’d review it on here. I’d like to say that I was amazed and overawed by the spectacle of it all, but sadly that’s not the case. At the end of the film I felt similar to when I’d sat through ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ in Newcastle in 2004. Both films were big on action and had so many special effects crammed into them they were virtually just one big special effect. However, both left a rather unsatisfied feeling and that’s how I felt as the credits to 2012 rolled. For anyone who hasn’t yet seen it, the plot is, divorced dad and limo driver to wealthy Russian oligarch John Cusack finds out that the world, as we know it, is about to end. Dragging his ex wife and kids along, plus her new husband, they set out to make sure they survive this new planetary catastrophe. Which, unsurprisingly, they do. The problem I have is, in addition to having to suspend your disbelief 350,000 feet above the floor, the story just isn’t there. The idea that the Mayans predicted the world will end in 2012 (and that could be a whole other post in itself) is, in my opinion, interesting enough to sustain a better plot than the one that is unravelled in 2012, which ends in a much similar way to The Day after Tomorrow and Independence Day, with humanity living to fight another day and blah, blah, blah. Aside from the plot having more cheesy scenes than a block of wensleydale, it’s a film straight out of a tired old Hollywood that’s relying more and more on CGI and special effects to bring it box office returns rather than plot and story. But don’t get me wrong, it has its good points. In addition to Cusack, Woody Harrelson and Danny Glover also star in it and all turn in good, decent, performances. Also, it’s over 2 and a half hours long but this does fly by. Go see it if you like your films big on effects and like the actors starring in it. It is entertaining, it’s just not that spectacular. Thanks for reading.

You’ve never seen destruction like this. Roland Emmerich apparently decided in reading about the Mayan calendar doomsday conspiracies that his previous armageddon films, Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, were far too subtle. This is the type of film where the scope of the effects work and the imagination behind the mayhem glue you to your seat. The beauty behind 2012 is that it takes disaster movie elements and cranks them up to the nth degree. Seen tsunamis bury skyscrapers? Here they bury mountain ranges. Seen volcanoes rain lava and ash on our heroes? Here a super-volcano sends off an atom bomb of lava and makes ash rain thousands of miles away. Seen buildings destroyed? Here you have entire continents destroyed. Emmerich gives us perhaps the most impressive effects sequence of the year… and then tops it… and then tops it again. This is the daddy of all disaster films, and easily the pinnacle of Emmerich’s career to date.

In 2009, massive solar flares alert a select number of scientists, including Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), that the Earth’s core is rapidly heating up as a result. Dr. Helmsley reports this to Chief of Staff Carl Anheuser (Oliver Platt), who sets in motion a plan to save humanity– we see the Mona Lisa replaced by a forgery, so the original can be carefully stored, and we see plans for a secretive dam being built in China that we suspect is not a dam at all. Flash forward to 2012, where one-time author/current limo driver Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) is late picking up his kids (Morgan Lily and Liam James) for a camping trip to Yellowstone. His ex-wife Kate (Amanda Peet) and her new boyfriend Gordon (Tom McCarthy) eye him with scorn before they depart. While in Yellowstone, Curtis sees dried-up lakes and new government testing facilities. He also meets a conspiracy-filled radio host, Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson), who tell Curtis the end of the world is coming due to the Earth’s crust being displaced, which will set off massive earthquakes, tsunamis, and super-volcanoes. He also claims to have a map to the place where the government is building ships to save those rich enough to buy a ticket for survival.

Now don’t get me wrong– this is not a “good” movie. The characters are all very familiar, the speeches we’ve heard a hundred times, and the Russians are the fat bulbous detestable cliches that we’ve seen since the Cold War. I don’t mean for this review to convert those who know that they hate disaster movies. I’m not saying this is the disaster movies that will sway you on the ability of disaster movies to entertain. However, if you find enjoyment in the specific entertainment value that disaster movies provide (which I do), then get ready for two and a half hours of bliss. The special effects are among the best of the year– unlike Michael Bay, Emmerich gets off on the long shot, where instead of editing an action sequence to pieces, he lets the shot be packed with special effects without cutting, totally absorbing you into the suspense. The limo racing away from the splitting crust as the freeway crumbles, raining cars into the family’s path, is as intense and joyous a silly action sequence as I’ve seen since Live Free or Die Hard– in fact, it’s better than that. This is the moment where you either buy the movie in its entirety or check out early.

Emmerich also picked some terrific character actors to lead the way. Cusack brings his particular brand of barely likable schmo charm to Jackson– he’s believable as both a jaded writer and impatient limo driver. Chiwetel Ojiefor is one of the best young actors in Hollywood, and while he doesn’t have anything in terms of character (he’s the noble government worker who believes in humanity over the power of the almighty dollar), he delivers his speeches passionately and earnestly. Oliver Platt is a national treasure when it comes to playing smarmy villains; he fully embraces everything ugly about his chief of staff, yet manages to give him shades of dimension in between the dialogue. Danny Glover mostly sits and looks grim, but his mere presence provides some dignity to the proceedings. Amanda Peet is fairly worthless as Cusack’s ex-wife– far better is Tom McCarthy, as the nice guy boyfriend who Jackson’s kids like but who we know from past film experiences will be very very lucky if he survives. He manages to toe the line between the obnoxious new love interest stereotype and the harmless better-option new love interest stereotype… unlike in other films, where you can’t wait for that character to die, I rooted for his survival. Finally, there’s Woody Harrelson as the conspiratorial radio host, who joyously chews the scenery. Every disaster movie needs a shameless ham, and Harrelson not only embraces the ham, he bathes in it.

Why was this movie not released in IMAX? It’s easily the “biggest” movie in recent memory. Shockingly, it’s all based on a real theory– when Harrelson spouts off about Hapgood’s crust displacement theory, and that Einstein believed it was true, he’s not lying. Now, the movie loses steam in the last half-hour… the chaos has mostly ended, and the action moves inside the ships, and the sheer epic nature of the film hits a roadbump. However, when they look outside, and see an ocean covering the Himalayas, where only Mount Everest and K2 are large enough to peek out as islands, we get the full vision of how BIG a scale Emmerich wanted to operate on. This isn’t a film where you feel the effort to entertain– this is a labor of love for Emmerich, filling every corner of the film with every disaster movie cliche that he truly and earnestly loves. I love them too, and even with its flaws, I loved this movie. And yes, just as in every other Emmerich film, the cute little dog survives.

One of the most picturesque cultural icons of the Santeño’s tradition,  are the Diablos de los Espejos (Mirror Devils).  They are most commonly found in the Provinces of Los Santos and Herrera in the Peninsula of Azuero.

According to a book edited  by Dale A. Olson and Daniel E. Sheehy dubbed, “The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music – Second Edition”, the Mirror Devils were used to instruct the uneducated population about religious matters.  This is what they  wrote about this iconic Panamanian folkloric character:

“During the colonial period, liturgical dramas in spoken verse were common in Latin America.  They instructed the illiterate population in the wonders and mysteries of biblical narratives.

In Panama, the Mirror Devils (Diablos de los Espejos) and Big Devils (Gran Diablo) respectively from Garachiné and Chorrera, portray variants of the Christian theme of the eternal battle between good and evil.  Musicians accompany the Mirror Devils as they enact the defeat of the devil by the Holy Spirit.”

The devil dances have their origin in European masquerades. Especially after the plague, the macabre and the devil were themes for many celebrations. In the case of the devil dances in Panama, they all serve a religious purpose: the evangelization of the devil. So these diabolic creatures came to be a vivid image of the battle between good and evil that promoted conversion. Most of the devil dances are usually practiced for the religious feast of  Corpus Christi, that celebrates the presence of Jesus in the host. These practices are colonial, but there are no dates that we can specify as to when or where they started. Most probably very early in the 16th. century.

In this dance, there is a variation in which the demons carry mirrors that according to local superstitions, are to reflect or to ward off the evil eye (mal de ojo). This is also a carnival dance that mocks the King of the festivities. los Diablos de los Espejos is a dance that was rescued and reintegrated once again into the carnival celebrations.

The Diablos de los  Espejos from the Peninsula of Azuero are dressed with bright-colored clothes with hanging mirrors from the garments. The origin of the dance is European but has definitely acquired African elements. The black population that practices this is not the typical Caribbean West Indian, but is  what has been called Afro-colonial which defines the black population that came under the Spanish colonial system as slaves, many years before the West Indians came to build the Panama Canal. They practice their picturesque dances during carnivals and the dance includes an interesting episode where the devil is baptized.

During the Santeño’s parade at Juan Díaz I was able to photograph several of these traditional icons of the Panamanian folklore.   It was the first time I was able to get very close to them.  I even had the opportunity to exchange a few words with one of them who was extremely well-mannered and courteous.  I was fascinated with their exotic costumes and their graceful movements of feet and hips which evoked the Spanish and African cultural mixture, as well as the aspects of the masks resembling ugliness and fear.

This is what I saw on November 10th at Juan Díaz.  Here we go.  (Please click on the images to enlarge them and appreciate them better.)

Photograh of the courteous Mirror Demon who was very kind to pose for the camera. His dress-up is spectacular. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

This part of the parade was the most spectacular and full of movements and colors.  I would say it was the most awe-inspiring section of the parade.  But there is still another surprise which will knock your socks off.  If you want to know more, please stay tuned to tomorrow’s post.  You will be glad you did.  As the day progressed, the event got better and better.  Good Day.

Independence Jim    (July 4th, 2008)

My uncle Jim keeps fireworks under his mattress.
“This is the last one of these,” he says every time we light one off,
“I used to have a hundred of these.”

We float above his flashbang grief trying to understand and he
lights an anise cigar over a bag of explosives and we
are cautiously celebratory and far away.

Bottle rockets from pop cans
flares from plug-your-ears guns
bombs from the board and high flyers from fingertips
and whistlers.

He asks me about my sister
the serious and unanswerable questions
keeps cutting me off
he is hurt and I am trying to make up for things.

A bat almost hits
winging circles around neighbors’ burl
oaks
eating hot firework
ashes.

We grace a bridge over train tracks
watch the fireworks a hundred trees away.
Trains are brighter but we yelled
and the conductor turned out his light for us.
Awash in swoosh-sound of cars passing under
the force of it shock wave hair blown back like the M-150 we lit.

At home we watch the History Channel they are doing head transplants on monkeys.
Jim offers me a bowl of ice cream and together we watch blood froth out
the doctor wipes it up calmly
and continues.
When our ice cream starts to taste like iron we say goodnight.

(photo by festivalphoto.net @ Qstock 2009) As promised Lauri have been visiting today the studio of Voice TV, the morning show called Heräämö. With 10 minutes late he have arrived to the studio and went ahead to inform the fans about what he can and answer the questions of the presentators. Voice have published 3 articles and 3 videos with the interview from today and you can find them below, and the translation too of the articles by me, so please if you repost the information link us.
Articles: 1 2 3 ; Videos: 1 2 3

Translation of article nr.1
For The Rasmus’ Lauri existed fans count
The Rasmus’ frontman Lauri Ylönen visited today Voice’s Heräämö to talk among others about what kind of fans the band has today, crazy fans can be found in South America.
The Rasmus’ Lauri Ylönen today at the Heräämö told to Voice that there are a lot of fans in South America, that sometimes even look like him.
-A while ago I painted my hair blonde, and a Mexican boy who imitates everything I do, also dyed his hair. Of course he had very dark hair and had to dye it like 20 times, Ylönen laughed at Heräämö.
Singer claimed the South American fans to be very brave and also open. Foreign fans come to him to talk more easily, even if the language could be a problem. Ylönen admits that sometimes meeting fans can excite him much more than the fans itself are.
-In many cases it’s a very exciting situation for both sides. I lie if I say I do not know them, but there are types that imagine that they know me somehow…

Translation of article nr.2:
The Rasmus’ Lauri will be at the party in Linna
Among others, to this year’s Linna Independence Day celebrations could find invitation in their email also PMMP’s Paula Vesala. The woman involved, will take to the celebration also her partner, Lauri Ylönen, who will now give out some details of the party.
The Rasmus’s Lauri Ylönen visited this morning Voice’ Heräämö and talked also about the upcoming party at Linna. He told that he would wear a fairly traditional dress.
-I could maybe put up some fun shoes, because I’m kind of freaked because of the shoes. Maybe some old man style shoes, the singer laughed at Heräämö.
Invitations to the Linna festivities are already familiar to Ylönen, so he no longer needs to be around the president. The singer recalled the tormenting and agonizing hand-shaking moments at the opening.
-At the hallways you were sweating and someone was organizing people as they would be in a cattle. It is somehow far from being glamorous, Ylönen described.

Translation of article nr.3:
The Rasmus stopped touring, compilation album to come
The Rasmus will publish a compilation album next week. The band plans to celebrate with an unusual gig at the Suutarila High School.
The band’s vocalist, Lauri Ylönen revealed to Voice how it went the discussion with the principle of Suutarila High School.
-My hand was shaking when I was dialing the number. The principal have not initially thought that it was me as Lauri Ylönen, so I had to explain him what’s the matter, Lauri laughs.
The high school gig at Suutarila is organized for current pupils of the school, but also for formers mates of the band members who were their friends.
-I hope the teachers will be at the gig too.
Unfortunately for those who can’t make it to the school gig The Rasmus has only the collection album to offer. According to Lauri new gig dates will be fixed in the first part of the next year, quite many of them.
-We wanted to have a particular era for this collection album. We didn’t wanted gigs and again the riding on the old success, Lauri points out the reason of the gig-break.
The Rasmus compilation album contains familiar hits and also the duet with Nightwish’ vocalist Anette Olzon.

During the videos he is talking about the same issues since the articles and the videos are connected. During the interview he was given small green socks with some print on it, from someone named Kirsi who made them for Lauri’s son, Julius.

Yo tenía mis dudas sobre si 2012 de Roland Emmerich iba a ser un éxito en taquilla, pero lo ha sido a nivel mundial, más de 200 millones en todo el mundo en su primer fin de semana, haciendo sólo en Estados Unidos más de 65 millones. Así que no podemos negar el éxito de la película que retrata el fin del mundo, y que yo me muero de ganas por ver, y que todavía no he podido. De todas formas, está claro que la próxima semana estas cifras se igualarán o se aumentarán (esta última opción la más factible) por la saga Crepúsculo: Luna Nueva, que se estrena hoy en España, y el viernes en el resto del mundo.

Dejando las recaudaciones, es hora de hablar de dos 4 partes en marcha. Una muy clara y la otra aunque se lleva diciendo desde hace tiempo, hasta que no la vea no me lo creo. Estaba claro de la existencia de Spiderman 4. Hay muchos rumores sobre los villanos a los que se enfrentará el héroe. El rumor que ha saltado últimamente es que habrán varios malos, y uno podría ser La gata negra, personaje al que opta Rachel McAdams (El Diario de Noa, Vuelo Nocturno). Y la otra es, atención, Scream 4. Mi saga de terror favorita vuelve a la carga, no con una 4 película, sino que con una trilogía entera (o sea, 4, 5 y 6) si sigue teniendo éxito. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox y David Arquette repiten.

No puedo seguir sin decir esta curiosidad, habrá un cameo en la película del Equipo A de uno de los miembros de la banda de la popular serie. El actor Dwight Schultz (Murdock), aparecerá en la película haciendo un cameo. Recordar que la película, está protagonizada por Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel y Sharlto Copely (que interpreta a Murdock).

Antes de que se estrene su nueva cinta (Invictus), Clint Eastwood ya está rodando la siguiente, se trata de Hereafter, que se ha descrito como una película con elementos sobrenaturales, y estará protagonizada (al igual que Invictus) por Matt Damon.

El nuevo proyecto de Andy García como director es un biopic sobre Hemingway al que Anthony Hopkins, le dará vida. El propio García y Annette Bening le acompañan en la cinta que se llamará “Hemingway and Fuentes”.

El spin off se Shrek ya tiene fecha de estreno. En noviembre de 2011, El gato con botas verá la luz. La cinta protagonizada por el personaje salido de Shrek contará con la voz original de la saga, Antonio Banderas, al que le acompañará Salma Hayek.

Y por último, si empezamos con Roland Emmerich, vamos acabar con él, y con una noticia sorprendente. Anuncia que quiere hacer no una segunda parte, sino una tercera también de Independence Day. ¿Cómo os quedáis?

Pues si, “Independence Day”, la pelicula mas exitosa de Roland Emerich y que recaudó 80 millones de dolares en 1996 tendrá secuela y no una, sino dos.

Asi lo ha declarado su director, responsable de la reciente 2012, y que precisamente planea el estreno de la primera para ese año.

Segun Emerich, las peliculas se rodarán como una sola pero se estrenarán en dos partes. Algo asi como hizo Peter Jackson con la trilogia de “El señor de los anillos”.

Dean Devlin, guionista de la primera entrega, parece estar trabajando ya en el guión de estas dos secuelas que narrarán los hechos que transcurren después de lo acaecido en el primer film. ID4-ever part I y II, titulo preliminar (y espero que no definitvo) de las secuelas no echarán a rodar sin su actor principal, Will Smith, aun no confirmado pero del que Emerich no tienen ninguna duda de que se sumará al proyecto. Unos cuantos dolares seguramente arreglen cualquier posible problema de agenda.

Why? Why do they always attempt to ruin a good thing?

its not they actually but Director Roland Emmerich who is to blame and as he seems to think all films should be themed around the end of the world (2012 and The Day After Tomorrow), it, we guess, shouldnt be a surprise that he wants to breathe new life into his immensely successful film, Independence Day.

He wants to make two more movies based on the flick and wants to provide a bigger arc for the storyline.

But he will only make the movies if he can secure Will Smith and Bill Pullman.

Pullman says,

“Somebody has been sending me links to conversations Roland’s been having about it and what ideas they have for it. I haven’t talked to him about it but it’s a complicated legal thing getting involved with creative control and it’s an expensive movie.

“I don’t know if it’s a role I’ll revisit, because, in term limits, I think we’ve gone beyond 12 years – but maybe there’s some side of it that he’s angling. He works with writers and they try to find the best idea and I’ve heard a couple of scenarios that would include me and some that wouldn’t so I can’t control it so I don’t think about it.”

Who CARES? Its a film about aliens. For all we know it could be an alternate universe where 12 years hasnt passed or maybe you can be the Prez forever.

Go Bill GO Go Bill go. Its not like you’re busy or anything

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND EUROPE – A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP      

“Europe is praising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan”(Professor Anton Caragea ,president of EUCIR in discussion with H.E. Ambassador of United Arab Emirates-Yacoub Yousef Hassan Al-Hosani )

United Arab Emirates are celebrating on 2 of December the 38 anniversary of the Independence Day, a day of special significance not only for the Emirates but for the entire area of Arabic Gulf and Middle East. In these 38 years of independence the progresses registered by the United Arab Emirates under the visionary leadership of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan and after 2004 under the His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan where outstanding. United Arab Emirates build in the region a climate of peace, equilibrium and economic and political cooperation and obtained achievements praised internationally. For Europe the connection with United Arab Emirates is one of the most important in the area, Europe appreciates the United Arab Emirates commitment in helping nations worldwide to achieve development, also Europe is praising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in constructing a leadership role in a new stage of development for the UAE that will witness the empowerment of his nation and its emergence on the global scene as a major world player.

Also His Highness expressed the Government’s commitment to strengthen the private sector, encourage investment projects, and expand in industry, tourism, construction while protecting the environment.  For all this reasons Europe considers United Arab Emirates a privileged partner in the Gulf Area and a country that will lead into XXI century. As a sign of respect for the splendid achievements of United Arab Emirates in this 38 years from independence, practically Europe will celebrate for all month of November 2009 the National Anniversary of United Arab Emirates, a day that many Europe are seeing as a day of a friendly country that is leading the way of development into XXI century and is considered in Europe as a long term strategic partner

Today is November 17, 2009.  We are still in the middle of the patriotic fever that permeates Panama during the month of November.  That’s why we call it, “el mes de la Patria”—month of the Motherland.

November 10th is another important day in Panama’s calendar. On November 10, 1821, the Grito de La Villa de Los Santos occurred. The Grito was an event that shook the isthmus to the core.  Rufina Alfaro, a young woman from the Province of Los Santos then shouted, “Viva La Libertad”.   In the company of a few improvised soldiers, with sticks and stones,  she took the Spanish military barrack in the small town of La Villa de los Santos. Not a single drop of blood was shed.  It was the beginning of our Independence from Spain.  Ever since, Panama celebrates this event with colorful parades in the Province of Los Santos and other major cities of the country.

My wife and I attended the November 10th parade in the small town of Juan Díaz, located approximately three or four miles away from our house.  The parade started at 09:00 a.m. sharp and ended at 2:15 p.m.  For a change, the organizers stuck to the time and schedule of the event.  There was no such thing as “hora Panameña”–Panamanian hour (being late).

The morning was bright, so bright it was difficult to take shots aimed upwards where the camera had difficulty filtering the excessive light emanating from the bright sun above.  You’ll notice several dark pictures, even though I tried unsuccessfully to retouch them with PhotoFlex, a digital processing software.  I apologize for those low-quality pictures; however, overall they portray adequately the event at Juan Díaz during said date.

Below are some bits and pieces of the November 10th Parade at Juan Díaz, celebrating Panama’s Independence from Spain in 1821–188 years ago.  Here we go.

The young generation of Panamanians gets ready for the parade with their typical dresses. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

A young lady proudly displays a pollera with the national colors of the Panamanian flag---red, white, and blue. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of the symbol of the Panama Tourist Authority (Ipatcito), participant of the Juan Díaz parade. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

After an exhausting march, a student takes off her shoes and shows off an original pair of socks. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Two young girls prepare for their turn to participate in the Juan Diaz parade on November 10th. I liked their neatly pressed light brown uniforms and white boots. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Picture of three bystanders of the parade on attractive horses, specially the golden palomino which reminded me of Roy Rogers and Trigger. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

A group of musicians (murga) accompany a marching delegation with typical music from the Province of Los Santos. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

As you can see, there is a more relaxed atmosphere on this parade, compared with the formal one we showed you on previous posts—I mean the one held on November 3rd.  I plan to include three more posts on this event with pictures I’m sure you will find interesting.  I feel this is an adequate way to introduce you to my country—Panama.  This is how we honor our country.  Good Day.

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Ce-am învăţat din filmu’ ăsta:

1. Abia în 2012 or să ajungă americanii să aibă drumuri ca ale noastre. Consider totuşi că au cam exagerat metafora cu gropile din asfalt.
2. John Cusack seamănă cu Meme Stoica când îi ud fleşcă. Cusack ud fleaşcă. Meme tre’ să fie doar… Meme.
3. Barrack Obama îmbătrâneşte foarte mult în 2 ani.
4. V8-urile sună demenţial! Acoperă chiar sunetul unor coşmelii de 40 de etaje ce se dărâmă.
5. John F. Kennedy se întoarce la Casa Albă. Ofcors, în 2012. Stay tuned.
6. Leonardo di Caprio ştie să se “ducă la fund” mai dramatic decât Blu Mankuma.

Concluzia: 2012 o luat The day after tomorrow-ul, Independence Day-ul, Deep Impact-ul şi Titanic-ul şi le-o băgat în buzunarul din spate de la blugi, după care o băgat blugii la spălat. Ce să mai? Douămiidoişpe e “Chuck Norris”-ul filmelor cu dezastre. Parol.

Concluzia concluziei: Pfai, cât mi-o plăcut!