Por: Manuel Madueño Ramos

Ante un nutrido auditorio de yauyinos residentes en Lima, el día viernes 6 de noviembre del presente año, la prof. Nélida Suyo Rivera, hizo la presentación de su libro titulado “La Pastoras de Huáñec”, en la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad Ricardo Palma, donde está como Rector nuestro compañero de estudios en la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Dr. Iván Rodríguez Chávez. Asistieron un selecto grupo de intelectuales amantes de la historia y del folclor de nuestra provincia. Estuvo presente la cantante vernacular, Olga Espíritu Javier la “Calandria Peruana”, un poco pasadita en años, pero fuerte como un roble, que no se amilana ante las adversidades del tiempo ni el clima. Apenas la vemos nos acordamos del himno de Yauyos: “Despedida Yauyina”

A este acontecimiento de gran importancia, no podía faltar de ninguna manera el Sr. Diomedes A. Dionisio Inga, alcalde de la provincia de Yauyos quien dejó sus múltiples quehaceres, hacer el viaje exclusivamente de la tierra de las calabazas y estar presente en este evento de singular trascendencia. Tampoco pasó inadvertida la presencia del Sr. Winston Reyes Ramos, uno de los alcaldes más distinguidos de la Zona Noroeste de Yauyos, distrito de Huáñec. De igual manera al locutor de Radio Inka, al pequeño pero que se alza como los grandes, de la voz fornida, Sr. Wilson García Guerra de los registros de la “Asociación Hijos de Víñac”, que se perfila a pasos agigantados como uno de los mejores de su género; y por último el Sr. Diógenes Madueño Guerra, Presidente del Comité Pro- Templo “Santiago de Víñac”, designado por el Obispo de la Prelatura de Yauyos.

La autora del libro, Nélida Suyo Rivera, natural del distrito de Huáñec. Hizo sus primeros estudios en su tierra natal y en el distrito de Quinches. La Educación Secundaria en la Gran Unidad Escolar “Mercedes Cabello de Carbonera” y la Superior en el Instituto Pedagógico Nacional. Ejerció la docencia en muchos colegios de la capital, una vez cesad por límite de tiempo de servicios, viajó a España y Austria donde siguió investigando la Historia de la antigua Nación de los Yauyos, pero más de su Huáñec. Y como prueba de amor por su tierra y la provincia, presenta este libro que sin duda es muy valioso aporte para las futuras generaciones y aumentará la Biblioteca de las Instituciones Educativas de los distritos de Yauyos.

Hizo la presentación la Dra. Olga Gamboa del Carpio, Presidenta de la Asociación de Doctores del Perú, manifestando que el libro tiene un gran valor histórico y cultural, donde se analiza el Árbol Genealógico de la familia Porras Isla. Esta danza se realizaba anualmente en homenaje a la adoración del Niño Jesús en casi todo el Hanan Yauyos, de un carácter festivo y conmemorativo. Luego hizo uso de la palabra el Dr. Teodoro Hampe Martínez, conocido por la publicación de sus variados libros de Historia, dijo que “todos estamos en la obligación de conocer nuestro Patrimonio cultural, porque está viva en cada uno de los pueblos andinos, pues la autora ha rescatado la antigua tradición de los Yauyos”. También dijo que la “danza tiene un origen más remoto y que lo recogió la señora Mercedes Porras Isla”.

Con respecto al inicio de las “Pastoras”, según el acucioso historiador el Prof. Winston Reyes Ramos, dice que esta danza no lo crea ni lo funda Mercedes Porras Isla en 1914, sino que ya se venían ejecutando desde épocas Pre-inka con el nombre de “Pastoras de Wañas o Huañas”; lo bailaban en homenaje a la llegada de las lluvias; las azucenas que llevan en la mano, por entonces eran flores naturales escogidas del campo. Durante el coloniaje el gobierno español, trató de cambiar las creencias y costumbres ancestrales, pero fue muy difícil suprimirlas, entonces se vieron obligados a cambiar para el 25 de diciembre, “La Navidad”, que los aborígenes lo aceptaron, porque consideraron la fecha como algo sagrada. Ellos seguían adorando la llegada de la lluvia, como signo de vitalidad y renovación de la vida.

Como corolario de este acontecimiento, la Prof. Nélida Suyo Rivera presentó a un conjunto que ella lo dirige “Las Pastoras de Huáñec”. Ingresaron primero al frente del auditorio un grupo de mujeres bellamente ataviadas con su cotón, anaco, baytilla, cuelleras de distintos colores y su sombrero de paja; con azucenas en la mano, se dieron tres vueltas frente al público, salir y volver con sus parejas, grupo de varones formando una ronda de hombres y mujeres, zapateando al son del arpa, violín, flauta y una quena. Finalmente, los invitados departieron alegremente con su vaso de gaseosas, especialmente el alcalde provincial de Yauyos con su potencial sucesor, el Sr. Winston Reyes Ramos, alcalde de Huáñec, la autora del libro y este su humilde servidor. yauyosaldia.com

Hubble provides new insight on 2 Pallas, the huge asteroid that never quite grew up into a full planet…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: india travel. For a different topic see here. The blog is also related to: asia travel.

Today I prayed and made an offering to Athena, in response to the omen I believe she sent me earlier this week, rebuking me for my impiety. At the conclusion of my devotion, I had the distinct impression that this was fine and good… for a start. So, I made a vow to continue to pray and make offerings to the Gray-Eyed Maiden goddess once a week for a year.

La imagen que abre esta entrada son las mejores imágenes disponibles del segundo cuerpo más grande del cinturón de asteroides entre Marte y Júpiter en el Sistema Solar, llamado Pallas. Dichas imágenes fueron obtenidas en 2007 por el telescopio espacial Hubble. Las siguientes son reconstrucciones por ordenador a partir de dichas imágenes. Todo bien hasta ahí. Sin embargo, me soprende el gran número de recreaciones artísticas de la superficie de Pallas que aparecen en los medios, muy alejadas de lo que realmente ha sido observado. El propio artículo técnico, publicado hoy en Science, presenta varias imágenes vistosas obtenidas por reconstrucción tridimensional y mucho Photoshop que maquillan las reconstrucciones 3D cual se maquilla la cara de una modelo de portada de revista. Me resulta increíble que los especialistas tengan que recurrir a dichas imágenes retocadas incluso en artículos técnicos como B. E. Schmidt et al. “The Shape and Surface Variation of 2 Pallas from the Hubble Space Telescope,” Science 326: 275-278, 9 October 2009.

La forma de Pallas es de un elipsoide con radios 291 (±9), 278 (±9), y 250 (±9) kilómetros, lo que implica una densidad de 2400 (±250) kilogramos por metro cúbico, es decir, un cuerpo formado por un material rico en agua. El único cráter que se observa realmente en las imágenes del Hubble es un crácter de impacto con un diámetro de  240 (±25) kilómetross. Sin embargo, el propio artículo técnico presenta la siguiente imagen (izquierda), con detalles de cráteres minúsculos, que verlos, verlos, no los ha visto nadie y son sólo parte de la imaginación del artista que ha utilizado Photoshop para maquillar su superficie.

¿Realmente un artículo científico técnico requiere dicho maquillaje de las imágenes? ¿Maquillar los resultados experimentales no es científicamente reprobable? Ahí os dejo estas preguntas para la reflexión.

If your tastebuds need a new temptation — something that veers off the well-traveled cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and chardonnay path — chart a course for Imagery Estate Winery in Glen Ellen where variety is the spice of life.

Imagery’s master of temptation is Joe Benziger, a member of the winemaking Benziger family that turned its hugely successful brand, Glen Ellen, into a gold mine by selling the business to a corporate suitor in 1993. The family still makes fine wine under the Benziger Family Winery label while Joe branched out with Imagery to produce small lots of boutique-style wines from a cornucopia of lesser known varietals.

Imagery's Joe Benziger

To enhance the uniqueness of the wines, each wine features an original work of art on its label.  The label-turned-canvas idea germinated from a chance meeting between Joe and Sonoma artist Bob Nugent, who now oversees the collection of artwork created by artists from around the world. The only requirement: artists must include an image of the Parthenon in their work.  More than 200 different labels have been created and dozens more are in development for use in future production. There is a rotating exhibit of the original artworks on display in the tasting room.

Lagrein, Cinsault and Mourvedre, Oh My!

Take Lagrein, for example. This northern Italian grape is quite rare in the U.S., but that didn’t stop Joe from forging ahead. He located a source (French Camp Vineyards near Paso Robles) and turned the grapes into a delicious red wine. Imagery’s 2005 bottling ($40) is worth trying for its uniqueness, but it’s worth going back for another glass due to its jammy good taste and a touch of sweetness from aging in French oak.

Cinsault is widely planted in France, but it is primarily used there and in other parts of the world as a blending grape. You rarely run across this hot weather-friendly grape bottled by itself in California, unless you’re in the lively and inviting tasting room at Imagery.

“The cinsault grapes are huge,” Joe told me on a recent visit to the winery, making a circle with his thumb and finger to show the size. “They were so big, I couldn’t put them through the de-stemmer (a special machine that separates grapes from their stems).”

The dark, rich wine was smooth, with just a hint of tannin to provide complexity.

“It feels like ‘furry’ tannins to me,” Joe said, trying to explain the delicate tingle on the tongue produced by the wine.

Mourvedre is another interesting grape, not as rare as Lagrein nor as widely planted as Cinsault but important as a blending grape in regions like France’s Rhone Valley, where it shines. Rhone-style wines made in California nearly always include some mourvedre, but at Imagery Joe puts the grape in the spotlight as a solo performer. The newly-released 2006 mourvedre ($42), grown in a high valley in Lake County, tasted of plums and purple fruit.

So Many Wines, So Little Time

Joe says he makes 18-22 kinds of wine each year. The exact number depends on supplies from growers and from the estate’s own vineyards. I really liked his current release of petit verdot, another French grape used primarily in Bordeaux for blending.

“It’s difficult to grow and hard to ripen,” he explained. “But if you get it right, it’s great.”

A barrel sample of the 2008 petite verdot displayed a lot of potential, and tannin.

“I think this may be one of the best I’ve made,” he said, eyes bright with excitement. “At least I hope so.”

Blending Outside the Box

Joe is proud of his lineup of more traditional varietals like cabernet sauvignon and merlot, which include “estate” wines produced from vines grown on the Imagery property just down Highway 12 from B.R. Cohn and right next door to Arrowood Vineyards and Winery.

Imagery’s reputation, however, has been bolstered through Joe’s careful blending of traditional mixes like cabernet/merlot and cabernet/sangiovese plus some really “outside the box” concoctions.

Examples of the latter include a chardonnay-based wine (they call it white burgundy, $29) blended with pinot menuier (which is traditionally a champagne grape) and pinot blanc (a French grape often found in Alsatian wines) and Code Blue ($36), a blend of syrah grapes co-fermented with California blueberries. The blueberries (about one ton) were harvested in June at the peak of maturity and kept frozen until the syrah grapes ripened and were harvested.

The Imagery tasting room is open daily (10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). It features a covered patio for outdoor sipping overlooking a bocce ball court plus a rear patio where there are about a dozen umbrella shaded tables.

Nearby is the Sunny Slope vineyard, home to estate grapes that go into the delicious Sunnyslope merlot (2004, $42) and Sunnyslope cabernet sauvignon ($45). The winery’s top-of-the-line wine is called Pallas, after the daughter of Zeus, the Greek god. The cabernet (with about 6 percent malbec) is $60 while a 60/40 cabernet-malbec blend carries the winery’s highest pricetag ($70).

Sibset Echo with any of the following Freya, Persephone, Cora & Juno.

Echo Rubina Alice

Echo Selene

Echo Zelda Jane

Echo Juliet Rosalind

Echo Aurelia Jane

Echo Cybelle

Echo Theodora

Echo Demeter

Echo Delphine

Echo Guinevere

Echo Helene

Echo Imogen Belle

Echo Lilith Pearl

Echo Lucretia

Echo Lula

Echo Meredith

Echo Nerissa

Echo Nympha

Echo Pallas

Echo Perele/Pellonia

Echo Theophania

Echo Minerva

Echo Myrrha

Echo Cordelia

Echo Calluna

Echo Nephele

Echo Neptunine

Echo Zipporah

Being in the United Kingdom when I say “I will be going for one days shooting of the Big Cats in the Garden”, I do get some funny responses, until I explain that the shooting is only with a camera and the garden is the English county of Kent which is know as the “Garden of England”, the Big Cats are also protected from harm.

I have attended a photography day at the Wildlife Heritage Foundations Big Cat Centre in Kent every year for the last three, this centre is not open to the general public and is not a zoo, the big cats are a mixture of cats that have been born in captivity, and have retired from public showing or been rescued from a zoo or a circus.

I like many others do feel uncomfortable with animals in captivity, but for these animals of which most have been in captivity all their lives, releasing them to the wild is not an option as they just would not survive, as the centre is not open to the general public the animals will only get about 200 visitors in a week, compare this to the life of an animal in a zoo or circus and it does not seem so bad.

The centre has a number of sponsors and different community focused groups that visit the animals, to help top-up funding the centre allows sponsors and a few organised photography groups to also attend the centre for the day, the centre gains funds and the sponsors and photographers have a good day, where they can take their time to observe the cats and capture images of the animals in their habitat, by getting closer than they ever could at a zoo.

The only noise that we hear on our day, is from the trains and planes, there is an airfield close by and we see the planes practicing stunts and dropping parachutist.

The centre itself is not signposted from the road and is situated at the back of a small industrial area, which is through a small Kent village called Headcorn, when we arrive the Lions are lazing on a raised platform and do not even stir or take any notice of the next set of visitors to the site, the fence that keep the animals away from the public has quite a large 6cm (2.5 inch) square mesh, this is enough for me to get my old Cannon 75-300mm lens through, I setup for AV with an almost fully opened aperture, as I prefer portrait shots with an out of focus background, it looks more natural to me.

We are greeted by Mark the centres resident Photographer, and we go through a safety briefing, we are told that some of the cats can get their paw through the fence by about a metre, when crouching down be prepared to jump back and never use the mesh as support if you would like your fingers to stay attached to your hand, the bigger cats will also eat your lens if you poke it through the mesh so be aware.

We start our tour with Mark as our guide with a bucket of raw meat to entice the cats, Mark will throw small pieces of the meat like treats you might throw for a domestic pet, the meat is thrown over the fence which the cats eat, when people have seen some of my Big Cat shots they have asked how do they get the cats to look up, well it is just the cats expectation of the meat coming over the fence that is the secret.

So we set off to see the new arrivals for this year which are the two Puma’s, When we arrive at their pen the puma’s come out to see us as they know there will be food treats.

The water is also no problem for this cat as it dips it’s head in the water to find a piece of meat that had sunken.

Our next stop is to see the Cheetahs, there are two in separate pens and they were not enticed on the day by the meat treats, and they just chilled and relaxed in the warm sunshine, soaking up the rays and paying no real attention to the visitors.

The Cheetah is not a lazy cat as many small animals like rabbits that make the mistake of running through the pen find out to their cost.

Then it was on to see the Sumatran tigers these are some of the larger cats and were very calm with one just brushing itself against the fence post, just like you may see a domestic cat do, the other jumping up on the fence to get a meat piece Mark had put there.

The Sumatran Tiger is the father of the cubs you will read about later.

The Amur tigers were next, they used to be called Siberian tigers but are now called Amur tigers simply because Amur is the region where they come from just like the Amur leopards you will meet next, the Amur region where these Big Cats can be found is now protected by law.

The area is well policed and to enter the Amur region where you find these cats in the wild, you will need a government permit, anyone including game hunters that do not respect the government and try to poach the animals for their fur will find that they are the hunted and not the hunters.   

There are five Amur leopards at the centre two of which are the cubs of the adults and were born at the centre they are now about a year old, although their young age they are already as big as their parents.

We then went on to meet four more Tigers, two male cubs with their mother and an adopted aunt who mothers them as well and keeps them all in check.

You can see here just how close we were able to get to some of the cats, with Mark commenting on just how close you could or could not get to each cat or species, with the smallest the Pallas cat being one of the cats to watch most as Mark knows only to well.

The Pallas cat above is one of my favourites, it looks just like a large domestic cat with a fatter face and those wonderful large eyes.

Next to the Pallas cats high on a platform was the Snow Leopard  also know as the Ocelot.

There was not much of a reaction and the cat just sat there posing for the photographers.

A new arrival last year was the Lynx or Bobcat, this was the first time I was able to photograph it and it obliged by coming out walking up and down and sitting on a platform a real catwalk super star.

Last on our tour was the Serval this very lively cat has to be thrown meat continual or it will just go and sulk away in the long grass.

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour, the favourite image I have taken in the three visits is this one from 2007 from my first visit, he looks so relaxed but just look at the paws and you realise just how powerful these cats are, if you want to know more about the cats and how they are related to each other, the links above will take you to web pages with names and more information.  

All images in the Blog Post are straight from the camera, two are cropped but all are  un-edited, they were taken by David Cox between 2007 – 2009 and are subject to the authors copyright, please contact me if you would like to use my images.                 

O paganismo cultua há anos o Mistério da Grande Mãe e seus muitos nomes que surgiu entre os homens quando estes ainda tentavam compreender a si mesmo…

Voltando no tempo e espaço, nos deparamos com uma civilização ainda por descobrir-se, não apenas no que se refere a si mesmo, como a tudo mais que existia a sua volta. Os povos primitivos não demoraram para identificar na Terra o aspecto feminino, já que é na mulher que se encontra um dos aspectos naturais da Terra: o poder de dar a vida.

Assim sendo, a Terra seria representada pelo “grande útero” – o lugar onde tudo é gerado. Não demorou-se para que a figura de uma mulher fosse reverenciada como a Grande Mãe de tudo e de todos – Gaia foi um dos muitos nomes que ela recebeu…

Com o passar dos tempos, diferentes tribos deram a figura mística feminina diversos nomes – outros simbolismos como a Lua para o qual eles atribuíam o fator da continuidade da vida. Sim, eles acreditavam que as mulheres engravidavam através do poder da Grande Deusa manifestada a partir do grande astro luminoso, que na Fase Cheia estava mais próxima da Terra, exercendo forte influência sobre os animais, plantas, mares e sobre o próprio ser humano.

O culto a Grande Deusa remonta a Era de Touro (4304 a 2154 a.C.) que é atribuída à antiga cultura egípcia, que tinha a vaca como Deusa da Fertilidade e a pecuária como principal cultura. Os astrólogos dizem que essa foi a era em que a cultura egípcia se desenvolveu e foi o centro da civilização.Com o final da Era de Touro, o domínio egípcio cessou e deu lugar a Carneiro, o signo que passou a dominar. Os astrólogos dizem que foi Israel que dominou essa era, devido ao sacrifício do cordeiro, o ritual mais marcante da religião de Israel, além da ovinocultura (criação de ovelhas), sua principal cultura. 

Foi na Era de Touro que o respeito ao feminino e o culto aos mistérios da procriação foram difundidos. Nas culturas primitivas a mulher era tida como a única fonte da vida, tanto que os lugares onde ocorriam os partos eram considerados sagrados e foram justamente nestes lugares que surgiram diversos templos de veneração à Deusa.

Com o avanço da agricultura, a importância do solo passou a ser primordial e a Grande Mãe Terra (a Deusa) se tornou o centro de culto das tribos primitivas. As mulheres eram consideradas responsáveis pela fartura das colheitas, pois eram elas que conheciam os mistérios da criação. Existem várias estatuetas femininas como as Vênus de Willendorf, de Menton e Lespugne, representando a sacralidade feminina e os poderes mágicos e religiosos atribuídos à Deusa na época do Paleolítico e Neolítico.
Ela esteve presente em todas as partes do mundo sob diversos nomes e aspectos: Kali na Índia, Ishtar na Mesopotâmia, Pallas na Grécia, Sekhmet no Egito, Bellona em Roma e assim sucessivamente. As Grandes Deusas da Antiguidade exerciam o domínio tanto sobre o amor como sobre a guerra.

O símbolo da Grande Deusa é o caldeirão, que representa o mundo que ela criou e carrega em seu ventre. Este objeto é associado à Deusa porque a criação se parece com o que se pode realizar no interior do mesmo. O mundo é uma maravilhosa obra alquímica que a Deusa criou e comanda através das manobras e poções realizadas em seu caldeirão, o lugar onde nasce a vida. Ela é considerada a energia Geradora do Universo, é associada aos poderes noturnos, a Lua, a intuição, ao lado inconsciente, à tudo aquilo que deve ser desvendado, daí o mito da eterna Isis com o véu que jamais deve ser desvelado. A Lua jamais morre, mas muda de fase de tempos em tempos. Ela representa os mistérios da eternidade e mutação. Por isso a Deusa é chamada de a “Deusa Tríplice” pois também muda de fase, assim como a Lua, e se mostra aos homens em três diferentes formas como: a Virgem, a Mãe, a Anciã.

O aspecto Jovem da Deusa recebe o nome de Rhianon – está associada à adivinhação, aos rios mágicos, à clarividência e aos encantamentos. Seus rituais e invocações são realizados na Lua Crescente. Sua cor é o branco e por isso recebe o título de Albedo (Senhora da Alvorada). Rhianon é a caçadora, segura em suas mãos a trompa de vaca ou touro em forma de meia lua. É a deusa da fartura e é ela a quem devemos reverenciar quando queremos garantir êxito no trabalho. Seus poderes são os da compaixão, sabedoria e compreensão. 

O aspecto de Mãe recebe o nome de Brigith, a antiga Deusa Celta do fogo. Ela esta associada a fertilidade, sexualidade e ao parto. Seus rituais e invocações são realizados na Lua Cheia. Sua cor é o vermelho e por isso recebe o título de Rubedo (Senhora do entardecer). Brigith é a mãe que o possui no ventre o poder de dar luz a uma nova vida. É a rainha da colheita, a mãe do milho e derrama sua abundância por toda a terra. Segura em suas mãos um recipiente com labaredas de fogo, o qual tem o poder de realizar os desejos daqueles que a cultuam. É a Deusa do amor e seus poderes são os da paixão, agilidade e rapidez. 

O aspecto de Anciã recebe o nome de Ceridwen, a Grande Deusa Mãe que conhece todos os segredos do Universo. Ela está relacionada ao renascimento e a ligação com os outros mundo. Seus rituais de invocação são realizados na Lua Minguante, que é o seu símbolo. Sua cor é o negro e por isso recebe o título de Nigredo (Senhora da noite). Ceridwen é a mãe que conserva todos os poderes da sabedoria e conhecimento. É ao mesmo tempo Deusa parteira e dos mortos, pois o poder que leva as almas para a morte e o mesmo que traz a vida. Do seu ventre parte toda a vida e da vida provém a morte. Segura em suas mãos um caldeirão e das misturas feitas em seu interior ela comanda a sincronicidade de todo o Universo e intervém nos assuntos humanos para auxiliar seus seguidores. Devido ao aspecto de velha é esta a personificação que representa o conhecimento de todos os mistérios que só a experiência pode proporcionar. É a Deusa da sabedoria do bem e do mal. Ela é a Deusa da paz e do caos. Da harmonia e da desarmonia. Ceridwen já passou pela jovialidade de Rhianon, pela maturidade e entusiasmo de Brigith.Acumulou toda a experiência, que só o tempo pode proporcionar, e distribui a sabedoria por todo o mundo.

Boa semana a todos
Lunna

Luna, Mahina, Cosima, Ciel, Cassiopeia,

Andromeda, Venus, Capella, Cordelia,

Ophelia, Rosalind, Bellatrix, Celeste,

Io, Nova, Soleil, Vega, Astrid, Stella,

Lyra, Electra, Leda, Nyx, Galatea,

Anahita, Lucina, Otthild, Orla, Zora,

Belinda, Calypso, Ceres, Elara, Juliet,

Pallas, Pandora, Persepone, Rhea,

Thebe, Titania, Vesta.

Athena has been an immensely inspiring figure to me for as long as I’ve known Her.
I have, quite unfortunately, forgotten about Her at certain times in my life. She is in my head to stay, now.

I have only recently managed to comprehend just how important a figure She truly is – and I very well realize She still holds many more wonderful secrets that I have yet to unveil.

The following entry is a dialogue, a sort of personal prayer to the Goddess Herself. It defines itself as a very humble and indirect attempt at presenting the purpose and importance of what Pallas stands for in the context of our modern times. I truly wanted this particular text not to take this trademark doctrinal tone of mine, as I believe it is not appropriate for the present subject.

O, Pallas, can you first tell me: have you, as I have, seen the way my fellow men and women depict You?
Dressed lightly, naked even, your honor tainted by these damned fools’ crooked fantasies. May they all face Teiresias’s own misfortune!

You, Pallas, were not born from Zeus’s head for the mere pleasure of men whose most animalistic instincts are triggered by the impressive presence of a warrior woman. You were indeed born a woman, but You are virgin – the beholder of a purity that is to be preserved and respected. It is my most sincere wish that my fellow human beings one day let their hearts be touched by the importance of chastity and sanctity, and that they start depicting you accordingly.

It requires so much courage not to get mad at my fellow human beings – and this is where Your spirit comes in again and inspires me to be a better person, O, Pallas. Over the years, You have pointed out to me that courage is all about the heart. One must develop the ability to truly love something in order to defend it with courage.

It’s not always easy to love what holds a very nebulous meaning to me, O, Pallas. It’s difficult to love what I do not truly know.
This is where Your wisdom guides me. You have shown me that wisdom not only enables the appropriation of knowledge without lowly personal bias, but it also enables one to develop a certain respect and humility towards what is left unknown.

I try hard to know and to love, dearest Pallas. It is all that this world needs – caring and understanding.
I have come to see that there are several ways to achieve this aim, but I have opted to follow Yours.

My humble existence has thus far been blessed with your watchful presence. I sincerely hope that you will continue to gently guide me towards the best of myself – for the sake of a better world, in what little difference I can make…

Forever Your humble devotee,

“När en blomma bryts av i sin vackraste blom då blir marken så trist och så fruktansvärt tom. Men kanske ändå att det någonstans finns en äng eller undangömd skreva där blommor som brutits för tidigt får komma och fortsätta andas och dofta och blomma och leva”.

Jag har bokat jycken nu. Det blir skoj. Vi ska gå förbi kyrkogården imorgon och morsa på Stefan.

Propaganda feita para a revista Bianchini e jornal Cruzeiro do Sul!

Foi uma ilustração legal de fazer, ela foi feita em vetor, foi um teste, mas ficou bem legal!

Ilustração: minha

Anúncio feito pelo Cesar Del Rio

It seems that there is something rather portentous going on… I have not one, not two, but at least eighteen significators pointing to a fantastic event in my life and the life of my fabulous astrologer and the date, very specifically, is July 21st 2010.

Allow me to elaborate, although first you will need a little background…

It is our fervent wish to have a baby to add to my already quite numerous and noisy brood. I have, from my previous marriage, four young sons aged between 2 and 9 years old. We would like one of our own to add to them and, given the ages of my youngest and, of course, myself (I am now 37 years old) time is of the essence. However, in astrological terms, we do not wish to find ourselves in a position where we have a baby with Saturn retrograde, which would undoubtedly furnish our littl’un with inferiority feelings thanks to a difficult or distant relationship with the father. Which father, given the opportunity of avoiding that, would choose not to? So, given that Saturn will not (taking into account the time-span of a pregnancy…) go direct again until June next year, we are looking at the end of August at the earliest before we even think about it.

Now, say for example it took a couple of months for a direct hit we would find ourselves looking at a July baby, wouldn’t we? And, if we take this particular date, I shall explain why it seems particularly spookily blessed:

• First, I should explain that the Mars/Jupiter midpoint appears to be the significator of a birth. To take Ebertin’s explanations for an example, if the Moon is configured then you have “a successful wife, bride, expectant mother, birth”, if Venus “procreation caused by love, birth”, if Saturn “the termination of a relationship, a difficult birth”. On 21st July 2010, my astrologer has MC = Mars / Jupiter: “the creative urge, procreative powers” and I myself have Ascendant = Mars / Jupiter (his MC and my Ascendant being on the same point) “engagement, marriage, birth”

• Second: On that day, Saturn (significator of the father) crosses my astrologer’s Ascendant

• Third: On that day we see the first kite – again to Saturn (go figure!) – of any signifcance between now and then. Coincidentally, my entire family have kites in their astrology.

• Fourth: This is the point, within a couple of weeks, that Saturn is no longer retrograde.

• Fifth: On this day, Mercury is peregrine in Leo. My astrologer has peregrine Mercury and mine is in Leo – “genetic” astrology?

• Sixth: On this day, Venus is in Virgo, just like the expectant father’s.

• Seventh: In the early hours, the Moon is in Scorpio – ditto.

• Eighth: Saturn is configured with Pluto, a configuration akin to at least three of the small-fry’s grandparents.

• Ninth: We have Moon configured with Neptune, which in its various forms is a configuration that features in all the astrologies of my sons and also of my dear astrologer.

• Tenth: Jupiter opposes Saturn, just as mine does.

• Eleventh: Sun trines Jupiter, which features in the astrologies of my astrologer’s children.

• Twelfth: Sun is in Cancer, like its dear Mama.

• Thirteenth: Just as Saturn crosses my lovely astrologer’s Ascendant, so Uranus is on his Descendant.

• Fourteenth: Sun and Saturn in sextile aspect (importance of the father) form the base of a Yod to Chiron conjunct Neptune: an aspect that encourages us to unconditionally love our wounds and issues and bring them into the light.

• Fifteenth: Neptune, that day, is on an astrologer’s degree – 28º Aquarius

• Sixteenth: Venus is also on an astrologer’s degree – 11º Virgo.

• Seventeenth: Venus trines Pluto, echoing more gently the “lovely” (not!) square in my own Nativity.

• Eighteenth: At the beginning of that month, I get my Hygeia return – a period of 6 years indicating a new cycle of lifestyle and experience.

Now, admittedly, any one of those on their own would perhaps have you saying “Uh-huh… And…?” but put them all together and you have a rather peculiar set of circumstances that point, I am rather excited to suspect, towards a rather exciting prospect…

But if we take a look at my mid-points for that date, we find I have:

Venus=Jupiter/Pluto – creativity, flair;
Mercury=Sun/Moon – male-female principles including marriage; plans for fulfillment;
Sun=Jupiter/Neptune – feeling the spirit, following a dream;
Sun=Neptune/Pluto – creative enterprise, possible drain on the system (!);
Mercury=Venus/Uranus – sudden emergence of thoughts of love;
Mercury=Jupiter/Uranus – success, confidence, a fortunate turn in occupation.

You may call it wishful thinking but then…

My astrologer began to gasp in surprise when he found himself looking at events for 14th October of this year in his own astrology. This would be pretty much exactly the date on which a 21st July 2010 baby were to be conceived. He discovered not one, but three different and very unusual phenomena:
First, Pallas (daughters) is conjunct his Juno (marriage partner). Wow… you mean… after all these years and all these boys… ?? Gulp.
Secondly, the dwarf planet Makemake (God of fertility and creator of humanity) is conjunct his Uranus (I need only mention how Uranian my astrologer is).
And finally, Quaoar (another deity of creation) is conjunct his Mars.
It all looks rather promising, doesn’t it?

So, naturally, he checked out 14th October 2009 for me, too. Makemake – that god of fertility – is crossing into my 5th House – children. Gulp… (Again). So now, brace yourself for another catalogue of mid-point synchronicities…

On 14th October 2009, I have:

Venus=Jupiter/Neptune – an optimistic attitude in love;
Venus=Neptune/Pluto – intense love fantasy, sensuality;
Mercury=Saturn/Uranus – rethinking, doing things a new way (!);
Sun=Venus/Uranus – ready-to-go, love adventures;
Mars=Neptune/Pluto – great personal magnetism to set things right;
Venus=Jupiter/Saturn – maturation of romantic needs and projections;
Venus=Moon/Mercury – lovely thoughts, the sense of beauty

Guess we’d better get the candles in?

So this morning I received an email from my beloved mother. It was by way of response to mine. The original email, from me, was sent yesterday, bemoaning the fact that she simply will not stick to any rules (she has Sun quincunx Pluto) and is happy to side-step me at all costs, in order to get to my children. This latest complaint of mine was that she had sent my son a birthday card at his school – am I the only one to see that as subversive?! Yes, dear reader, we are in the process of attempting to “work out” our relationship after I dared to make a decision about my life that she didn’t like. I, I hope understandably, have put everything on hold until it is sorted out, which means of course that she doesn’t see my children at the moment. After all, how does one carry on a relationship with one’s grandchildren if one will not speak to their mother? Simple logic, it seems to me.

As usual, I digress.

Where does astrology come into this?

Well, this morning, as I say, I received a pretty hideous email – anger, manipulation, threats of death (other people’s, but the implication was at my door)… that kind of stuff.

During the school-run it occurred to me that I might ask my astrologer to glance at what the sky was up to today. So, on our return, we took a look at today’s astrology:

Transits of 22nd May 2009

Here I found that Mars was squaring Pallas in Cancer, thus ruled by the Moon in Taurus in 8th. She, in turn, was squaring Pluto in Capricorn in 4th. (Coincidentally, this Moon in 8th – Pluto in 4th is a facsimile of my own natal Moon trine Pluto). What does it all mean? Well, Mars squaring Pallas in Cancer is clearly tension with the daughter, ruled by the Moon brings the mother into the equation and the Moon in trine aspect to Pluto creates an easy ability to amputate the emotions. Interesting for me, especially, since I told my mother goodbye. Oh, and I mentioned that today’s Moon and my own natal Moon are both in the 8th House of things we give up? And while I’m discussing aspects that already exist in our natal charts corresponding to today’s transits, might I point out the Sun quincunx Pluto that exists in dear Mama’s? And while I’m at it, the Moon trine Pluto alive and well in my own?

These observations led us to look a little more closely at what had been going on when I had sent my original email yesterday afternoon. This is what we found:

Transits of 21st May 2009 at 16:18

I sent my email expressing my anger at my mother at the exact moment that Mars and Moon were in partile conjunction (anger with the mother), both squaring Pallas (tension with the daughter).

Finally, on leaving the school this morning having dropped off three little boys, my friend collapsed on me in tears having just had a godawful morning with her daughter.

Good job I take on board my parents’ assertion that there’s nothing in this astrology lark, isn’t it?

Atraída pela propaganda de parcelamento de carros com zero de juros, a PRO TESTE Associação de Consumidores pesquisou os sites de nove montadoras para checar se a venda dos veículos em parcelas realmente não custava mais nada ao consumidor. Como era de se esperar, comprar um veículo a prazo não sai pelo mesmo valor que se desembolsaria à vista.

O que acontece é que as empresas não são claras na prestação de informações ao consumidor. E também não estão cumprindo a determinação de anunciar o Custo Efetivo Total (CET) dos financiamentos de forma clara e correta, como determina a lei em vigor há mais de um ano. Ao esconder o CET da transação, as empresas induzem o consumidor ao erro, fazendo-os acreditar que o financiamento não tem custo.

Por isso, ao comprar um veículo ou fazer qualquer outro financiamento, exija o valor do CET. Lembre-se que além de juros, são cobrados o IOF e, em geral, TAC. Verifique também se o contrato de financiamento é via leasing ou CDC (Crédito Direto ao Consumidor). Não se deixe enganar!

Veja o que encontramos ao confrontar as informações disponíveis no material publicitário ao que realmente é cobrado:

Montadoras pesquisadas:
Chevrolet, Citröen, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen.

Modelos encontrados com propaganda de “zero de juros”:
C4 Pallas Flex, Grand C4 Picasso, Xsara Picasso (Citröen) e Peugeot 207 (Peugeot).

Citröen erra no CET escondido
Em letras grandes o site da Citröen estampa apenas o “zero de juros”. Mas uma nota de rodapé diz que a oferta só se aplica para financiamentos via leasing. Ainda segundo esta nota de rodapé, o único modelo com financiamento via Crédito Direto ao Consumidor (CDC) sem juros é o C4 Pallas, cujo CET do financiamento seria de 9,3% ao ano. Para financiamento de 50% em 12 vezes de um carro com valor de R$ 62.370.

Porém, quando simulamos a compra financiada de um C4 Pallas Flex, constatamos que o CET correto para os dados que constavam na nota de rodapé era de 15,49% ao ano. Além dos valores divulgados, havia a cobrança de uma TAC de R$ 888,00.

Se não bastasse a propaganda do juro zero que induz ao erro e a não divulgação da cobrança da TAC, o vendedor da Citröen cometeu outra infração ao Código de Defesa do Consumidor: a venda casada. Ele tentou nos empurrar o emplacamento do veículo, que pode ser feito diretamente pelo consumidor no Detran pela metade do valor cobrado pela empresa. Segundo ele, “a taxa de juro zero só é válida se o emplacamento for feito na própria loja, a um custo de R$ 690”. Os valores também variam de cidade para cidade.

Sem juros da Peugeot custa 15,55% ao ano
O site da Peugeot não indica as condições para se ter zero de juros nem em notas de rodapé. A única mensagem que fica para o consumidor é de “zero de juros”. Porém, quando simulamos uma compra de um Peugeot 207, constatamos um CET de 15,55% ao ano, pois existe uma TAC de R$ 630,00.

O que fazer diante da propaganda enganosa?
Faça valer os direitos, mesmo que o consumidor tenha de acionar a Justiça. Se um produto, como é o caso do C4 Pallas, foi ofertado em São Paulo com o CET de 9,36%, este deve ser o real custo do financiamento. Para ajudar na negociação com a empresa para que a oferta seja cumprida, o consumidor deve guardar todas as propagandas que tiver e imprimir o que está no site das empresas.

Os abusos contra os consumidores apurados no estudo estão sendo denunciados pela PRO TESTE ao Banco Central para que fiscalize a Resolução que implantou a medida, e puna com multa as financeiras e lojas. O CET permite que se compare o custo do crédito antes de escolher onde contratar. Se o direito à informação previsto no Código de defesa do Consumidor fosse cumprido tal regulamentação seria desnecessária. A PRO TESTE espera que a luta de mais de cinco anos, pela instituição de uma taxa que gere mais transparência, não tenha sido em vão e que as autoridades obriguem às instituições a se adequarem e cumprir a regra.

Fonte: PRO TESTE