Mum was so excited about her first grandchild coming.  Eugene and I were, too.  We would like a large family – I’ve been brought up with a large family and I want to carry on the tradition.  Eugene is an only child and he would have loved brothers and sisters.

Mum was understandably anxious when I went into labour.  She’d had difficult labours and had known several people suffer very serious complications during birth.  Thankfully now we have a hospital here my labour was comparably smooth.  I won’t deny that it was painful and frightening, but I had my husband and mother there, I had doctors beside me.  I know how privileged I am compared to those of my mother’s generation.

Our first child, Ilari, was born healthy.  She is a delight to everyone in the family, and I hope in time she will be joined by brothers and sisters.

Ilari is so calm, so young, so innocent, so peaceful.  It’s a blessing that she hasn’t been aware of the things that have been going on around her – for as this family was celebrating its newest member, so it was also devastated.

She had to grow up into the next stage of her life with just her father.  The rest of us had another responsibility.

At 91, my uncle Davros passed away.  Everyone was devastated.  He was the youngest of my mum’s siblings, yet he was the first to go.  My cousin Hirogen is just a teenager, same as my brother was when our father died.  My father’s loss devastated all of us, but it hit Gaius particularly badly and I can only hope Hirogen comes through this without too much of a burden on her young shoulders.  She idolised Davros – we all did.  He was such a lovely, warm, generous man.  He gave so much to our family, so much to this town.

Gloria was utterly heartbroken.  She and Davros had been close since they were at school and they adored each other.  To lose her sweetheart and see her daughter bereft was a burden she could hardly bear.  Mum, Castrovalva and Byzanitum were equally cut up, and felt it unjust that their little brother was taken before them, but they had to be strong for Gloria and Hirogen.

I had been planning to ask Gloria to leave soon.  I didn’t want a thief living under my roof, and now Hirogen was a teenager, I’d been thinking she could cope with the upheaval of a move.  But now Davros is dead, it changes everything.  How can I throw my aunt and cousin out to fend for themselves when they are so vulnerable?  We all need each other at a time like this.  There is so much that has happened to us lately that has wounded us… so much that I can barely bring myself to write.

My dear sweet baby, my little Ilari.  She is growing up to be a gorgeous little girl, with no idea of the pain that is all around her.  We are trying to be strong for her – and she gives us reason to look ahead, reason not to let grief overwhelm us.

Mum found great comfort in spending time with her granddaughter.  She doted on Ilari and was always the first to change her nappy or give her a bottle.

Hirogen, too, is very protective of Ilari.  Being able to help out with the smallest member of the family has helped her to have a focus in her sorrow.  She is a good girl, Hirogen.  She works hard at school, she helps around the house and she dreams of being a writer of some kind.  I only hope there is opportunity enough in this town to enable her to fulfil her dream.

But Davros’s death was not the worst of it.  The following day, we received word that both Castrovalva and Byzantium had also passed on.  They too, were good people.  Both of them were great painters, and Byzantium really established great things at the school, even setting up a small library.  Cas was one of the most dedicated members of the artists’ colony, and had helped younger artists and creative people thrive, encouraging them to nurture their talents despite the threat of the Altos.  They were so special to us all.

We buried them in the family graveyard.  It was too unfair that we had to go there so soon after Davros’s passing.  It was too much for all of us.  Hirogen couldn’t cope and stayed at home while we made the journey to the place we didn’t want to go.

It was as if there was nothing left for mum.  That night, she went to join them.

My mother, Chaotica Lazarus, was a strong woman.  She was a legendary athlete who helped our town discover the pleasures of exercise and activity.  She raised four of us, ran our household and did our grandfather, Alf Lazarus proud.  She was 96.

Mum’s death, so soon after the deaths of Davros, Cas and Byzantium, has driven us all to the brink.  Gloria is terrified.  She is the only member of our family left from her generation and she feels as though her time is up, too.  Though she is a number of years younger than the others were, she keeps saying she doesn’t feel strong enough to keep fighting the Altos.  Her drive and determination seem to have gone, her fire seems to have burned out.  I don’t know how to encourage her for the best – I don’t want her to be a thief, but nor do I want her to lose a sense of purpose in life.

Echo has been pouring her soul into her music.  She composed a beautiful but heartbreaking piece in honour of our fallen family.  We were in pieces when she played it to us.  Our cousins, Shana and Ramon have been grieving just as much as us.  They keep talking about how we need to mark the achievements of our parents’ generation.  I hope we can come up with a memorial that does them justice.

Ezri is devastated, but she is trying to pour her grief into her work.  She is exercising fervently and is more determined than ever to bring down the Altos because it’s what mum and the others would have wanted.  Whilst I know that’s true, I also know they would want her to find some space to grieve and recover.  I am so afraid she won’t give herself time.

Gaius has been hit incredibly hard.  Dad’s death turned him into an angry young man, and in recent times it’s only really been Mum who’d been able to connect with him.  He was the apple of her eye and she encouraged him to follow his heart.  Even when I’ve doubted him, when I’ve been suspicious of his activities or motives, Mum has always been there for him.  She has always been his most fervent supporter.  I genuinely think he feels lost right now, as if he has no direction, no way, no compass.

And here am I.  I am the head of a household full of grief.  I am the mother of a small child who needs me.  I am a police officer with a demanding task to protect my town.  And I feel so alone, so small, so vulnerable.

My mother, my aunts and uncle were good people, bold people.  They always knew the right thing to do, and they were all successful at whatever they set their minds to.  They have set a high standard.  I only hope they have somehow instilled something of themselves in me so that I can honour their memory.

Because of them, our town is a healthier, stronger place than it ever was.  They will never be forgotten.

This post has been written for NaNoWriMo 2009. It has not been re-read, beta’d or proofed for typos.

While I know that NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, my mind is still so fickle about things that I know I would start up on a story, get bored and leave it behind only to start again some week later, so my ‘WriMo works are selected titles in a large list that I write upon.

My personal daily goal: 1,800 word per entry.

Under this cut, one of many files. Some may contain non-heterosexual relationship but none of the works will touch the sexual aspect of things. All works, I’m hoping, will be PG-13.

Please enjoy your read.

Miles upon miles of sand, beautiful waters and a sky so clear that one could forget there was a war going on. At least, that’s what he told himself as he sat quietly on the white sand beach, eyes on the clear sky. Everything was going to hell. It’s the only thing that went through his mind when it was not on how warm the sand felt between his fingers. I offered them a place to stay at, a place where we would be safe from the world as a whole until we figure out what the hell we’re supposed to do to get this war done and over with and what do I get? A ‘shut up and get out’? I know she’s stressed out and all but it was uncalled for.

I know I’m just the flyer, the guy that gets in the driver’s seat and gets folks left and right when I’m not in the midst of the shooting but at least you would’ve figured that maybe she’d have offered something, a vague ‘thank you’ or somewhat. What was I expecting? Fingers dig into the soft sand and he stretches his legs, letting the warm water lap at him lightly. It was so clear, so everything he had ever wanted. He couldn’t really remember why he had enrolled in the army, hadn’t it been his parents’ decision? Still, he never would have met his lover had he not been there so there was something to be thankful for.

“He’s currently so busy that I barely see him. Then again, I’ve been keeping my distance, I won’t do him any good with this mind set.” Mumbled softly, gaze moving back in the slight distance towards the main part of the island as if it called to him. He had taken one of the small row-boats his family had owned to get away from the main island, to settle on one if the islet just a short distance away. He could still see both ships anchored just there. He knew people would see him if they looked his way and he didn’t care. They could fetch him if they wanted to, though he doubted they would.

I’ll go back eventually, I’ll take my time, when I don’t feel like ripping her stupid face off. I can understand why everyone is stressed out but it was uncalled for! I could have just let the whole stupid ship keep on drifting aimlessly. That’s not like me though, is it? No of course not. Too frigging helpful me. Stupid moron. Should have kept my mouth shut. “ARGH!” Groaned with a heavy sigh as he dropped back to the sand on his back, closing his eyes and settling his arms behind his head. “They don’t even need me at the moment so what’s the point? Ramon’s too busy taking care of the sick folks like he always does, I don’t need the daily therapy anymore because I can walk just fine. Being there would make me a bother I’d be in everyone’s way.”

Huffing softly, feeling like a child in time out for having done a naughty thing, he squeezed his eyes tightly shut and rolled to his side. His mind refused to let go, it was turning in on itself, going over the conversation over and over again. I was just trying to be helpful. Telling how the basic information about the place and she just snubbed me. High and mighty looking down on worse than commoner! It would drive him inside and he knew it. There had to be something else to focus on.

We won’t even be staying here long, just enough to try and formulate a plan before we head off again. It’s not like this island has enough supplies to last us forever. We’ll have to get them from elsewhere. Sighing again, he rolled to his back and tried to will himself to relax, to get his mind to release every single thought that was haunting him, keeping him so taut, so damned stressed out. I wonder how Fee’s doing. Couldn’t look for her when they told me she was still here. How could my parents just abandon her like that? Then again, I’m not really surprised but still, I wouldn’t have left her here if I’d still been around when this war broke out.

She looked so broken when I left all those years ago. We’d been raised together, I don’t think I ever could forget that day though I tried a few times over. Lifting his hand way above his head, arm stretched out, he stares at his fingers, the sun glowing brightly between the honey-colored digits. Maybe she wouldn’t recognize me. He had grown in those years, more than most had expected him to. He had been little more than a runt when his father had enrolled him. Short, slow and easily winded. Not anymore, he had grown beautifully, or so Ramon kept on telling him, times and times again.

They had met not long after his transfer into the military school. So brief that meeting. It had taken a few years more before they had met up again and from there things had progressed rather well. At least he told himself that much. He could see the love in those eyes when he gazed at them and hoped his devotion was as clear. He didn’t want anyone else in his life. Then again, the captain of the rebel ship had been rather easy on the eyes when he hadn’t been quite so pissed at his predicament. That’s nothing but lust though. I hadn’t had any in a while and I was horny. He’s good looking but nothing would ever come of it. Not that I’d want it to.

A stifled yawn and his eyes were closed again, his arm settling across his chest. He needed more sleep than he was getting. Perhaps because he spent so much time worrying about petty things. Perhaps because he simply was restless as he had not been in the air for quite some time. The air was his passion, had been his first love and while he loved Ramon with all he had, the need for flight, the desire to be off ground at times was almost stronger than that very love. It was disquieting on some days but he knew his lover understood him.

Murmuring softly in quiet contentment when he finally settled, when he finally allowed the rays of the sun to find him, the warm water to lap at his ankle, he relaxed and let his mind drift off, away and elsewhere. He didn’t need to focus on all the trouble of the words, barely needed to focus on his own issues at the moment. All that was important was relaxing, forgetting about everything for a few hours and then he would go back.

He’d find it in himself to apologize to his lover for disappearing without a single warning and that would be it. He owed apologies or warning to no one else. While on the island, he answered to no one but himself. He did understand and keep in mind that there still were those who ranked higher than him but they had no need for a flyer while they were grounded on the island for some much needed rest and some discussion on how they would pull their grand coup. If they figured anything out at all.

There were only so many of them with both ships combined. Going against everything either warring side was foolish and suicidal at best. He doubted any of them would survive if they decided on some foolish course of action such as trying to stop the alliances bodily from going anywhere. Then again, it wasn’t his place to think about those things, all he had to do was fly. Fly and save folks or try to not get himself killed. That’s all he did. He was no tactician, he was no computer wiz, no brute force. He was just their little bird.

Of course, more than once had Ramon reminded him that he was more than a simple little bird. He had saved lives while others never would have managed, he had flown into dangerous areas that everyone else had avoided to get to wounded soldiers that would have died if he hadn’t done it. He loved the air, he loved flying and the adrenaline from flight where so many dangers awaited him only made him stronger. It made him focus on the task at hand. He wasn’t scared.

“When my time comes, it’ll come. That’s just that.” Yawned again as he sat back up, eyes on the water between himself and the island, between his small little islet and the main land where everyone else was settling in for the little while they would be staying. Squinting lightly, he spotted a small figure not far from the shore, simply sitting there and doing little else. From this distance he could barely tell who it was though he knew it was one of their own, the uniform was a dead give away. It was the one thing most, if not all of them, could not get out of. He knew that most of the crew from the medical ship only had their uniforms with them, their army colors. It was easy to tell who was on which side.

Shrugging, he moved back to his feet and stretched slowly, wincing as something popped along his back. Though he no longer needed therapy for his leg, there were days when it was still painful enough to keep himself off his feet. Today was such a day but he had come this far, he would get back just fine. Using a cane in this place would be stupid anyway, with all this sand it would sink and it would be no help. Didn’t help overmuch that he hated having to use the cane, it made him feel useless.

Quietly he made his way back to the boat, wincing every time he had to put weight on his leg. He couldn’t remember who had shot him, couldn’t even remember if he had ever actually known who had done it, other than one of their own. Someone unhappy about his return is what he had guessed, but why? What was the point of shooting at one of your own? Snorting at his own thoughts, he dropped back into the boat and gently eased it back to deeper water before slowly making his way back to the main island.

So much for the walk I wanted to take around to see how much it had changed. I wouldn’t get anywhere. A soft mournful sigh before he started on his way back. Perhaps in the following few days his leg would stop hurting and he could trek around the island the way he had used to. As he went, his water trailed on the water, so clear, so beautiful. His lips curled into the ghost of a smile and he shook his head. He would make the better of the short while they spent on the island, even if it meant sleeping outside.

Wouldn’t be much different than when I was a child. ‘Xcept that Fee used to sleep out with me then. With so many inside she has to be busy as hell though. A soft, thoughtful chuckle and he let it go. One day at the time.

The Revolution Pack revision starts on January.

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My sister Echo has been playing music for most of her life.  She’s part of a growing arts scene in Riverview, one that is beginning to thrive despite the Alto threat.  So popular are the performances they put on at the makeshift arts centre that the mob have been powerless to stop them.  The artists from the artists’ colony have helped provide drapes, costumes, posters and make-up for the concerts the local musicians put on.  It has kept some of them out of the Altos’ firing line: they are simply too popular with the people.  The Altos know there is increasing unrest about their activities and were they to cause enough unrest, it’s possible people could overthrow their regime.

Echo always loved our grandad’s stories about music and arts in the before times.  He talked about things called theatre and films, where people would tell stories and they’d act and move and dress up, and people would pay to watch and be entertained… it sounds rather fantastical, but Echo loved it.  She and some of her friends have dreams of creating their own shows one day, and Echo has started composing the music already.

They are planning a small show to open in a few months.  I couldn’t be prouder of my big sister, yet also sad – it is time for her to move on and spend time with others who share her dream.

Seeing Echo achieve her heart’s desire has enabled me to make some big decisions.  I love Eugene, and I asked him to marry me.  I was thrilled when he accepted.  We had a long, frank discussion about my aunt Gloria and Eugene and I came to an agreement about what we would ask her to do.

Eugene also decided to leave the police force.  Echo has inspired him, too.  He has always dreamed of playing music and the arts centre are starting to employ a small number of musicians.  My sister recommended him and so he’s started working there.  He is so excited by the possibilities it opens up to him.

I am so fortunate to have someone to share my life with; to share this responsibility with.  Sometimes I wonder if running this household and carrying on the good work my grandfather began is too big a task for me.  I want so much to honour him and my mother, to honour all those who have gone before us, but I have never known if I was up to it.  Now I know that I will be OK – I have a partner by my side who I trust completely, and who trusts my judgement.  He has given me the confidence in myself to make decisions about our future.

Eugene is also a great cook, which comes as a relief.  Dad used to do all the cooking and since he died, we have been existing on burnt hot dogs much of the time – Eugene makes them just right every time.  I miss dad so much, but Eugene cooks hot dogs almost as well as he did, and tasting them helps me remember him, and smile.

I had a long talk to Gloria when I discovered she was thieving.  She and I both want the same thing: to see the reign of the Alto mob come to an end, but I can’t condone her actions.  As a police officer, it would compromise me too much.  However, I can’t throw her out whilst Hirogen is so young.  It would be unfair to expect Gloria and Davros to start afresh when my cousin is still so young and vulnerable.  We decided she would stay here until Hirogen was a little older, and she wouldn’t talk about her activities with the rest of the family.  I can’t pretend I am happy to have a thief under my roof, and I know if work found out about it, it could cost me my job – and could possibly cost my sister Ezri hers, too.  I just hope Gloria is careful.

I have been concerned about my little brother Gaius for a while, but it is so hard to talk to him.  He keeps shutting down and becomng surly if I ask him anything about his activities.  This can’t go on – this is my home and he needs to treat it, to treat this family, with respect.

Yet mum dotes on him.  He is her youngest, her baby.  She is so proud of the rest of us, and I know that if she was to discover Gaius was keeping secrets, potentially dangerous secrets, she would be heartbroken.

Whilst there is trouble here, there is also great celebration.  Ezri is working undercover and enjoying it a great deal.  I feel nervous every time I know she is on an assignment.  With her skin tone she stands out, only a small percentage of the population here have the same affliction, and the Altos have spies everywhere.  Like our aunt Cas, though, she seems to live a charmed life; dodging danger when others in the same position have encountered assault, beatings or worse.

Since Echo and her friends began performing at the arts centre, a real mood has shifted here in Riverview.  People are making things for each other, indulging creativity in ways we hadn’t known before, or hadn’t dared try.  Several of Echo’s friends make an income from making clothing – this is a new indulgence; we have always had to make do with hand-me-downs from the survivors; but they have found ways to convert old fabrics into something new and beautiful.  There are even a few people who cut and style hair.  Apparently one of the survivors was something called a ‘hairdresser’ in the before time and had shared the skill with her descendants, and now people are feeling braver, the skill is spreading.

Another thing that has changed is that people want to celebrate more.  One of Cas’s friends has taken up baking cakes and the Altos have given up trying to monitor people’s gatherings at home, so we decided to hold our very first party to celebrate Hirogen’s birthday.

We invited the whole family, and it was so wonderful to have everyone together.  Mum seemed so overwhelmed that we were all here and were all safe.

I looked at them all and realised how fortunate I am to have been brought up in this family.  So many families here have been torn apart by sickness, by fire, by people being beaten by the Altos, or by people joining the Alto mob.  There is a lot here that could damage a person’s soul, could render them hard or damaged for life.  I know my own father was scarred deeply by the things he went through here, and there are people hurt far worse than he was.  My family are strong people, good people and we have stayed united.  That’s so rare in this town, and I hold it so dearly.

Hirogen decided that what she wanted for her birthday was a haircut and some new clothes, so we asked some favours of the people in town who could help…

She was so pleased with her new look: she is such a beautiful girl.  Davros and Gloria both had tears in their eyes when they saw their little girl all grown up and becoming so confident in herself.

There is also another cause for celebration.  Eugene and I are expecting our first child.

The first person we told was Echo.  I wanted her to be able to celebrate with us as we have been celebrating with her.  My sister has brought so much life and joy to Riverview – I am confident that the things she and her friends have done for this place will change it for ever.

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De acterende familie Estévez bestaat uit vader Ramón en kinderen Carlos, Emilio, Ramón en Renée. Ramón is de zoon van een Ierse moeder en een Spaanse vader, beiden Amerikaanse immigranten. De acterende Ramón besloot zijn familienaam achter zich te laten en een artiestennaam te zoeken. Hij was erg gelovig en vond de naam bij Fulton J. Sheen, een katholieke bisschop en theoloog. Het werd uiteindelijk Martin Sheen. Klinkt niet slecht. Maar klinkt het zo veel beter dan Ramón Estévez? Dat heeft ook wel iets. Iets exotisch. Sheen bouwde een stevige carrière uit met als hoogtepunt de rol van Captain Willard in de oorlogsfilm Apocalypse Now van Francis Ford Coppola. Geniale film, geniaal geacteerd. Hij bleek ook naast zijn filmcarrière erg productief en kreeg vier kinderen: Carlos, Emilio, Renée en Ramón. Estévez dus, niet Sheen. De vier kinderen stapten zoals dat hoort in de voetsporen van hun vader en gingen acteren. Emilio, Renée en Ramón behielden hun vaders geboortenaam, Carlos nam de artiestennaam van zijn vader over. Emilio Estévez heeft als ‘grootste’ acteerprestatie de rol van Gordon Bombay in The Mighty Ducks neergezet. Renée en Ramón moesten het met heel wat mindere B-films doen. Het grootste succes in de familie was uiteindelijk weggelegd voor zoon Carlos, die zichzelf omdoopte tot Charlie Sheen. Iedereen kent zijn naam, zijn gezicht, maar eigenlijk heeft hij een belabberde filmografie. Of vindt u Major League, Scary Movie 3 & 4, Hot Shots en de tv-serie Two and a Half Men om mee uit
te pakken ?

From 2009

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Executivo do futebol cruzmaltino, Rodrigo Caetano, abre as portas para o meio-campo: ‘Se um dia ele quiser vai fazer contato’.

Em busca de reforços para a temporada 2010, a diretoria do Vasco
fez um contato com o meia Juninho Pernambucano, atualmente
no Al-Gharrafa. Ídolo da torcida cruzmaltina, o jogador é o
sonho de consumo de dez entre dez vascaínos para a disputa do
Campeonato Carioca, da Copa do Brasil e da Séria A no ano que
vem.

O executivo do futebol do Vasco, Rodrigo Caetano,
admitiu o contato, mas deu a entender que o jogador só retornará
ao clube quando mostrar interesse. Segundo o dirigente, o
jogador tem toda a liberdade para procurar a diretoria quando se
sentir à vontade para retornar ao Rio de Janeiro.

http://www.editorialmoll.es/images/LLI1045.jpg

Comença la setmana d’El crepuscle encén estels · IB3 Ràdio, 21:00 · amb el programa 443, en el qual Pere Estelrich entrevistarà JOSEP RAMON FEMENIAS, amb motiu de la publicació de Crònica d’una infàmia. El procés contra Emili Darder, Alexandre Jaume, Antoni Mateu i Antoni Maria Ques, de Josep Moll Marquès, que va ser presentat a Palma el passat 3 de novembre. Una tema, el de la Memòria Històrica, i uns personatges que ens han interessat aquí des de sempre. Com ja recordàrem en un altre Crepuscle, va ser el 20 del Juliol del ‘36 quan el batle Emili Darder passà a l’hospital en qualitat de detingut, d’on fou traslladat al Castell de Bellver. Són uns primers moments de l’Alzamiento, descrits en un document clandestí tramès des de Palma al Comitè de Milicíes de Catalunya, i que trobareu al llibre de Josep Massot i Muntaner (1987) El desembarcament de Bayo a Mallorca, en la seva pàgina …443  

…443, ja ho val, com Crepuscles comptam fins el dia d’avui.

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http://streaming01.ib3radio.com:8000/ib3radio.mp3

Apesar de nenhuma das partes admitir que as conversações já começaram, Vasco e Inter se armam para a negociação iminente. O time cruzmaltino quer manter Ramon, Titi e Adriano, que pertencem ao Internacional e estão emprestados até o fim deste ano. E para convencer a diretoria gaúcha, o Vasco pretende usar Alan Kardec, já que o empréstimo do atacante com o Internacional termina em maio.

- Nós queremos manter os três jogadores e tenho certeza de que o Inter quer ficar com o Alan durante todo o ano. Vamos conversar. Espero que eles se sensibilizem – declarou o diretor executivo do Vasco.

El ‘Picture Book Festival’, organizado por CJ Culture Foundation, ha seleccionado, entre sus finalistas, ‘Ramón’, de Jesús Cisneros, editado por Libros del Zorro Rojo; ’Un secreto del bosque’, de Elena Odriozola y Javier Sobrino, en OQO; y ‘Un cuento de cigüeñas’, que Leticia Ruifernández y Antonio Ventura han publicado recienemente con Tàndem Edicions. ¡Enhorabuena!

‘Ramón’, de Jesús Cisneros (Libros del Zorro Rojo).

‘Un secreto del bosque’, de Elena Odriozola y Javier Sobrino (OQO).

‘Un cuento de cigüeñas’, de Leticia Ruifernández y Antonio Ventura (Tàndem).

O jogador Ramon convocou os torcedores para o jogo desta terça-feira, em Campina Grande. Para o jogador, os vascaínos estão felizes com o acesso e vão ajudar o time a conseguir conquistar o título antecipado da Série B.

- Se pedirmos, eles vão atender e comparecer ao estádio. Espero que o torcedor apóie mais uma vez. Espero que eles possam mais uma vez ajudar o nosso time – convocou o atleta vascaíno.

O lateral-esquerdo Ramon foi o jogador que mais vezes vestiu a camisa do Vasco em 2009: 52 vezes.

Bon dia, bueno como parece que está siendo una mañana de esas “tontas”, pues nos hemos descargado la última aplicación para iPhone/iTouch de nuestro amigo y genio Robert Hodgin. La podéis encontrar aquí.

Os dejamos unas perlitas que hemos grabado de Roger y Aimée (cortesía de Ramón)

http://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Bonner

Comença la setmana d’El crepuscle encén estels · IB3 Ràdio, 21:00 · amb el programa 439, en el qual Pere Estelrich entrevistarà ANTHONY BONNER, un humanista mallorquí nat a Nova York. Així, gaudirem de la presència d’un gran lul·lista, traductor, i científic que participà en la fundació del GOB. Entre les seves publicacions destaquen les Obres Selectes de Ramon Llull (1232-1316) a càrrec de l’Editorial Moll (1989) i les Selected Works of Ramon Llull. En aquesta edició de Princeton (1985) hi ha una petita explicació de Llull sobre com “les cadenes dels compartiments” necessiten dirigir-se cap al primer compartiment a través de la concordança o la confrontació; això ho trobareu al primer volum d’aquesta edició en anglès, a la seva pàgina …439  

El Ramon Llull d'Andreu Orell a La Real

…439, ja ho val, com Crepuscles comptam fins el dia d’avui.

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O diretor executivo de futebol do Internacional, Newton Drummond, confirmou, nesta segunda-feira, que os jogadores emprestados ao Vasco ( Ramon, Titi e Adriano) têm grandes chances de permanecerem no clube para a próxima temporada. Segundo ele, a prioridade é do time carioca e acha que tudo será negociado de uma forma tranquila.

- Esses jogadores estão no Vasco e o clube tem a prioridade. Existe a possibilidade de a negociação ser definitiva, de prorrogar o empréstimo, enfim, existe a possibilidade deles permanecerem no Vasco. No momento não temos nada. Houve contatos, não diários, mas seguidos com Rodrigo Caetano. Mas não se iniciou ainda uma negociação concreta para termos parâmetros de como serão as coisas. E é quando se inicia a negociação que pode criar contratempos. Hoje podemos dizer que o Vasco tem a prioridade. Agora, temos que considerar que há a valorização dos atletas. Eles podem fazer uma pedida que não está no planejamento do Vasco. Mas acho que todas as variáveis vão se ajustar – declarou em entrevista.

Time is moving by so quickly.  I am no longer a young woman, and I know my time will soon be over.  I am constantly reminded of growing old – last week we saw the final survivor of the accident put to rest.  It was a sombre time for all of us, and it reminded me so much of those I have lost: mum, dad, Lulu, Oscar.

Dad used to tell me, warn me, I guess, that when mum died he lost something of himself, and although he was renewed through becoming a grandad, although I know he was grateful for every single day of his life, something in him profoundly changed when he lost her.  I know that feeling now.  My heart aches without Oscar.  There’s an emptiness I can’t fill.

I can’t deny that there is much joy to be had – especially with Gloria and Davros becoming parents – but there is so much loss, so much sorrow.  Everything has changed – not only are there no survivors, we, their children, are becoming old.  We didn’t see everything we hoped to see, didn’t accomplish everything we hoped to accomplish – and soon we won’t be able to make much of a change.  I know I have little time left to do what I can for this town.  I know soon it will be in the hands of my children, nieces and nephews.  I just hope they will be committed to the cause.

Davros and Gloria make wonderful parents.  Little Hirogen had a smooth delivery and was able to be the first Lazarus born in our new hospital.  Davros was overwhelmed that he had been part of building that hospital in which he could now see his own child born.  Before the hospital some people died giving birth and some infants didn’t survive.  As a mother myself, who has struggled with giving birth in harsh conditions, my heart broke at each and every story of loss or sickness these parents and children went through.  I believe the hospital is a sign of real change here, and a real sign of hope for the next generation.

Hirogen is a beautiful, healthy child.  It’s so nice to have a baby in the home again and I’m so pleased Davros and Gloria got to be parents at last.

But raising a child will be difficult for them.  None of us are getting any younger.

My older sister, Byzantium, has had her share of tragedy lately.  Her husband, Shavran – her childhood sweetheart – recently passed away.  She is putting on a brave face, but I know she feels slightly lost.

Her eldest son, Ramon, has taken it badly.  He is so scared something will happen to his mother, and as much as we want to reassure him that it won’t, we just can’t.  Nothing is certain here.

Their daughter, Shana, is so serious, too.  She was utterly devastated by Shavran’s death.  She is so young.  All of our children have suffered loss at a young age, as did we.  It’s likely poor Hirogen will also experience the loss of one or both parents when she is still a teenager.  It all seems so unfair; we get so little time to be families, so little time to enjoy each other’s company.

Since Oscar died, my own children have been under a lot of strain.

Echo just pours herself into her music, whether studying it or playing it, to the extent that she seems lost in it, almost out of reach.

Ezri and Firefly work so hard in their jobs in the police.  Too hard, maybe.  I worry they are trying to deflect their emotions into exercising obsessively and working hard.

And Gaius, my youngest, he has gone so sullen since Oscar died.  I know it might just be his age, and his hormones, but he seems angry at life.

Castrovalva has continued to thrive in the artists’ colony.  She has managed to hide from the Alto mob’s raids, but I worry that the strain of all the undercover living has affected her health.  She seems so drawn, so tired.

Davros continues to work in medicine, continues to be a real inspiration and a great father, but his baby face, his innocence is long gone.  We are all so old.  We have to make the most of what we have left, and the deaths of Oscar and Shavran have reminded us that we might not have too long.

I have had a very difficult decision weighing on my mind for some time now.

I have now reached the pinnacle of my career.  People call me a ‘legend’ because of my achievements in the athletic field.  I find the praise humbling, flattering and scary.  I am pleased that I have managed to encourage so many people in this town to discover sport.  I am ecstatic we have formed teams and clubs and that we have had a lot of fun doing it.  I see people becoming fitter, stronger and healthier each day.  I know my work and that of my colleagues has contributed to the work of my father, brother and their colleagues in improving the health of people here.  Yet I also feel embarrassed by the attention.  I’m not the kind of person who would make a traditional sports superstar in the way sports stars were before the accident, in the way they maybe still are for you.

But now I have achieved this, I am ready to hand over the reigns of running this family – my father was right, it is too hard doing it alone, and without Oscar, Byzantium or Cas, without mum or dad, I feel I’m too old and tired to be the one who leads us forward.  Davros and Gloria have their hands full with a baby.  It’s time for one of my own children to take on the mantle.

The decision of who it should be has been eating me up for several months.  Who would be responsible enough, and who would gladly welcome that responsibility?  Echo doesn’t seem to want to do anything but play music.  I think she will leave home soon; like Cas and Byzantium, she wants her freedom and I can’t deny her that.  But it was so hard to know which of the others I could ask.

Then last week, when I was at work, Davros was cooking hot dogs and the grill caught fire.  It was such a mercy I wasn’t there, I am still troubled by nightmares of Lulu’s death from time to time and knowing the same fate could befall any of my beautiful family would have been too much to take.

Davros told me how Firefly rushed in with the government issue extinguisher with no thought for her own life – all she wanted to do was protect the family.  She remembered her father’s warnings about fire, about how it had scarred him; but like him she was brave and determined that she would beat it.

I finally knew then.  She would be the best person to lead this family forward.  She has courage, determination and strength, and she will be a fine asset to Riverview.

I cannot write to you any longer.  I have nothing more to say.  I hope Firefly will continue to update you on our progress here; I am confident that there will be greater progress to come, and that one day Riverview will be renewed.  Remember us.

—END TRANSMISSION—

Tengo que compensar. Y el miércoles me salté la norma no escrita y autoimpuesta de hablar de las noticias de actualidad sociopolítica sólo los sábados. Así que hoy voy a dedicar las Noticias del sábado a otro tipo de noticias.

Cuando comencé con esto de las Noticias del sábado, todos los sábados comentaba la viñeta de Ramón en ElPaís.com con sus entrañables hipopótamos, Hipo, Popo, Pota y Tamo. Después dejé de mencionarlos. Pero sigo ahí. Sigo visitándolos todos los días, y no sólo los sábados, para que me ayuden a mantener mi conciencia sobre los problemas ambientales del planeta, pero, eso sí, con una sonrisa en la boca.

Pero es que hoy sábado, además del ¡Salvad el clima! de Ramón, el resto de las viñetas han estado particularmente inspiradas. Mencionaré dos especialmente. La siempre desasosegante viñeta del Roto nos muestra una calavérica imagen sentenciando:

La pandemia ha sido un fracaso.

Suponiendo, y creo que supongo bien, que se refiere a la difusión del virus de la gripe A (H1N1) de nueva aparición, es muy atinada, dada la baja gravedad de los casos de gripe que está produciendo, las más que moderadas incidencias, y todo ello pese al especial interés de los medios de comunicación de hablar más de muertos que de otra cosa en este ámbito. Vamos, que lo mismo que una alegoría de la muerte, podría aparecer en la viñeta con la misma frase el redactor en jefe de cualquier medio escrito o no escrito que os queráis imaginar.

Por otro lado, Forges ácidamente critica ciertas tendencias del arte conceptual, que probablemente no entiende ni sus propios autores. En desagravio por el no siempre justificado dominio de estas formas artísticas sobre otras más comprensibles, pero probablemente más honestas, mañana hablaré de Gervasio Sánchez como Premio Nacional de Fotografía.

Pero entre las cosas de la prensa, me he encontrado con una de esas entradas con las que nos obsequia The Boston Globe de vez en cuando en su galería de imágenes The Big Picture, en este caso dedicada a los paisajes marcianos. Impresionante, tanto por la belleza como por el detalle con el que se nos muestran las tierras que configuran la superficie del planeta Marte. No os lo perdáis. Como las imágenes son de la NASA y están a libre disposición del público, pongo una de las formas generadas por la erosión cerca del polo sur marciano.

Formaciones erosivas en el polo sur de Marte (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Finalmente, esta mañana cuando me he levantado he leído con interés, casi diría con avidez, uno de los excelentes artículos de Mikelnai sobre naves espaciales propulsadas por agujeros negros. Pero lo que más me ha gustado es que me ha llevado a otro del mismo blog sobre las naves espaciales de un g. Este artículo no lo conocía por haber sido publicado con antelación a mi conocimiento del blog, pero me ha encantado especialmente por su cuantificación del tiempo en los viajes a velocidades relativistas. Vamos, que sólo costaría llegar 60 años en tiempo de la nave en llegar a la Galaxia Andrómeda, situada a 2.480.000 años-luz. Lástima que sería de poca utilidad para los que nos quedásemos en el planeta Tierra. Porque mientras que en la nave sólo pasarían los mencionados 60 años, en la Tierra habrían pasado… 5.000.000 años… y aun quedaría el viaje de vuelta. Ufff…

Una pena que de momento nos tengamos que conformar los mortales comunes con el lento arrastrarse de los aviones comerciales.

Un reactor sobrevuela el parque Pignatelli de Zaragoza - Panasonic Lumix LX3