My Christmas Gift

Hi Guys!
Merry Christmas everybody! Be Happy, fill your soul with love and care and never forget to tell others how much you love them, how important they are for you, but do it TODAY, 'cuz tomorrow may be to late.

By the way, this is a view over the Medellin River at night and another night view of the city. This is one of the places I love the most on the whole world... It's very special to me, so I thought I'd share this with you guys.
I hope you enjoy this...

Love
Alen

Air Supply Video Download

Hola de nuevo!

Sí, Sí ya lo sé... parecía que había abandonado este blog y que esta página web se había convertido en una página cementerio más. Pes se equivocaron. Aquí estoy para escribir sobre algunas novedades que me parecen interesantes y algunos otros asuntos no tan nuevos pero importantes.

Por ahora, disfruten mi traducción de este artículo sobre el concierto de Air Supply en la Ciudad de Pachuca en México.

Hello again!

OK , OK I know... It just seemed that I had abandoned this blog and it was turned into a graveyard web page. You were wrong. Here I am to publish some new stuff and to talk about some old but important stuff.
Enjoy this article - interview about Air Supply's concert it Pachuca (Mexico)

Energy and romanticism with Air Supply. By Linda Avalos unomásuno-Hidalgo - Translation by Alen Klaad

More than to provide air, the famous Briton-Australian duo Air Supply came to create a cyclone in the Drop of Silver, by offering a concert that captivated the hidalguense audience with their great charisma and humility. In one close relation with their followers, and in an intimate atmosphere they sang themes like "All Out Of Love" and "Every Woman In The World", which made arise feelings of nostalgia in the memory of the then adolescents of the 80's. Compositions that find in love their reason to be and that built a style that has given the duo the fidelity of the fans. Air Supply, "the air provision", is more than ignited with new ideas, energy, talent and with extremely talented musicians that made the audience vibrate with the sweetest ballads.

It was really surprising when in a moment of the concert they descended of the scene to be embraced, kissed and even pinched by members of the feminine audience, who did not allow their return to the scene. It was madness, people turned towards them with cellphones and cameras in hand to take a memorable picture. Between nerves and a tear or two because of having them so close, the audience finally allowed them to return to the stage. When seeing such an answer from the audience, Graham invited the people at the farthest places to approach to the stage and sing along with them the tune that took them to success, "Lost In Love". People asked for more, and they, with the energy of teenagers sang and danced until they pleased the audience who met to be part of the most applauded concert to this day in the city of Pachuca. Some VIP personalities attended the show such as the governor's wife, Laura Vargas, who enjoyed the event to the utmost, in spite of the fatigue of a long journey at work, as well as the secretary of Tourism, Gerald Spínola, who was accompanied by his sweet wife singed along each one of the songs of the group.

FOTO/LUIS SORIANO/FRE/ACE/

In exclusive interview for Unomásuno-Hidalgo, Air Supply commented that soon will be
launched their new recording material with the title of "Zed", there will be themes like
"This Time", "Our love", "Save the world", "It's Over Now" among others, although they did
not specify which will be first single of this production.

- UNOMASUNOHIDALGO: What genre is going to be included in this new album, are you going to continue making ballads?

- Graham: It is going to be totally different from which you are used to hear from us, it's
going to be a mixed album.

- U: How do you renew yourselves in the taste of the new generation that hears new
musical tendencies?

- Rusell: We listen everything, we use those new musical technologies to be up-to-date and tried to go with the present to please the fans.

- U: Are you going to be on tour the rest of this season?

- Graham: As matter of fact we've been in different parts of the world and closed the season in Mexico, and sincerely we are in love with this country, since you have treated us always very well. We leave at the end of the year to spend time with our families this Christmas.

- U: Any member of the family in the playing in the band?

- Graham: No, we are just friends, we don't have family in the band. They are just
musicians (Smiles).

- U: Which was the reason why in your first visit to this city cancelled the
concert?

- Graham: It wasn't really in us, but the people who contracted the sound equipment, or rather the power generator, since it was connected at a mistaken voltage, on the other hand
it was too dangerous to play, we could have been electric shocked.

- U: Why did you took so much time in returning to Pachuca after the problem
you had in this city?

- Graham: What happens is that we cannot change the dates so fast, since They are programmed with 2 years of anticipation and is difficult to change them, really.

- U: Would you like to send some message in this Christmas season?

- Russell: I'd only wish that, in this season, they reflect and unite and forgive each
other.

- Graham: A greeting to all the people of Pachuca, and may this Christmas fulfill their
wishes.

From Star Trek to real life: Transparent Aluminium is here!

Yes Sci-Fi Fans and "Trekkie's" all over the world: another Star Trek invention comes to life when scientist from DuPont using nanotechnology found out how to make transparent aluminium, creating aluminium particles that can be molded in a crystalline structure.
That kind of "glass" is more resistant than normal glass and is still at development stage at DuPont labs, there's room for improvement yet.



The first time I ever heard of such a thing was in 1986 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Enterprise engineer Mr Scott (or Scotty) needed to build a tank that could contain 2 adult humpback whales and the necessary water for them without adding unnecessary mass to the old Klingon "Bird of Prey". The answer was to teach that technology to someone interested in it in the 20th century as he did, no matter future repercussions. "Who said he didn't discovered transparent aluminium, huh? asked Scotty to "Bones" McCoy... Dude, I just loved that movie!

Anyway, after just 11 years, the "prophecy" has been fulfilled.

Now I just wish they made a damn tricorder as good as they have in Star Trek for Christmas... beats an iPod, don't you think?

Apotheotic concert: Air Supply in Cuba!

Suministro de aire y amor. El popular dúo australiano-británico en La Habana - "A Supply of Air and Love. The popular briton-australian duo in La Habana"

by Sahily Tabares cultura@bohemia.co.cu

Pics by Gilberto Rabassamailto:Rabassafoto@bohemia.co.cu

Translation to english by Alen Klaad, Jedi Knight, at your service :)

In the first years of the 80's decade - I don't remember the exact date - arrived the first recordings by Air Supply at Radio City of Havana. Some of the programs directors had listened to the Briton-australian duo; other had not. But when they began to play "Here I Am", "Lost in Love", "Just as I am", an empathy got stablished immediately with those voices and their soothing soft rock. Up to that moment Graham and Russell were only Air Supply. Soon the confidence and the gesture of complicity grew : the names of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock became so familiar that they moved in to stay in the closeness of our homes and the enthusiasm of birthday parties and other celebrations between friends. The news of the arrival of this "old friends" to La Habana was an encounter with music, the teenage of many and love, perhaps from the handle of nostalgia, but mainly from an exquisitely melodic message that never gets out of trend. The remarkable cultural, artistic and social event caused that dozens of people called to editing rooms of the press organs, to the homes of the reporters, in different days and hours, to inquire when they would arrive, where they would act, and to obtain tickets for the concert. It has happened before with other foreign musicians, but the interest for Air Supply broke records. The news that they would perform in the Antimperialista Tribune Jose Martí was stimulating, it made think that Air Supply would be for everybody, live on thursday night at the Malecón de La Habana (Seawall). Many longed for enjoying that night and another in the Karl Marx theatre where they announced a second concert. It was the oportunity to live with intensity the long caressed dream.

Although the imminence of the Dennis hurricane frustrated a second chance, the first was great. Thousands of spectators of different generations defying the possibility of rain didn't hesitate to seize the moment to celebrate with Air Supply their 30th birthday. We would see (Hear) the same hits they walked by Central America, South America and the USA.
We would have 'em close, a few steps from us, to join them singing and dancing, why not?

There are so many things to tell.

The expectations of the audience were shared by the journalists. Would they be the same Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock that met in april 1975 during a rehersal for the teatrical representation of the Rock Opera Jesus Christ Super Star? How were they going to evoke those beginnings, when Graham began to give loose rein to his imagination in hundreds of the most beautiful compositions? How the two famous would express that had managed to sell four million copies with their recordings of Greatests Hits this time?
In short, so many questions we colleagues shared, the only thing that prevailed was to wait that the protagonists of the sonorous and artistic event appeared, enriched during a whole career followed with interest by critics and fans. There were highs and lows of popularity and the acceptance by the critics at some point. However, at the present time, the fresh air of the duo continues blowing. There were Russell and Graham ready to demonstrate it. More than 100 thousand Cubans of different generations applauded the duo.
In little less than one hour of press conference in the National Hotel, the confessions rained. "We have come because you invited us. It is a pleasure to be in La Habana ", said Russell while his partner agreed. They recognized to feel fascinated by the visit to the Superior Institute of Art, where they interacted with professors and young interpreters. "We want to see and to listen to Cuban musicians. Although we have very little time because we're still on tour, is necessary to take advantage of every minute ", commented Graham after saing how lucky he feels, "I write songs every day. Soon a DVD will get to the market, and another album (CD) in 2006".

For them, music is a crucible in which many sounds are amalgamated. "To transmit messages of peace, love and new emotions to the people, that is our aspiration. To that we have come ", added Russell.
There was emotion in both faces when they spoke of the greater influence they have received: The Beatles. Immediately they added: "We grew up With them".Somehow it seemed to me that the four more famous children of Liverpool began to travel mysteriously towards us. There was Ernesto Juan Castellanos, translator and researcher of pop music and rock that compiled the volumes "The Beatles in Cuba", "The Sgt Pepper came to Cuba in a yellow submarine" and "John Lennon in Havana". Is this "travel" possible? I asked him. "Unfortunately, The Beatles never were in Cuba". As I have written, they became a sensitive justification for nostalgia and an excellent bridge to make friends. It's significant the fact that during almost four decades they have stayed stable like one of the most impressive phenomena of pop music history.

Air Supply is not the first band to recognize their influence. In the melodic work, in the harmonies of the voices, there are the tracks of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, wich was in Santiago of Cuba once.

Russell, voice that never ages.

"Air Supply does not get old. With them I learned English, just like my students and my children of eight and 12 y.o. We waited for this occasion, it will be very pleasing to share it in an ample space as the Antimperialist Tribune. In times of turmoil and violence and neoliberal globalization, it will be an excellent supply of air and love." He wasn't wrong. Well-known and new themes vibrated in the voices of the emblematic duo that added three musicians to the band this year. The piano, bass guitar and the percussion have been part of Air Supply at different moments of their history. But it's always them the two who always shine, Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock, managers of a phenomenon that has captivated audiences around the world.
Although they celebrate their three decades with the the CD "Definitive Collection", what we listened in the 80's still today cheers the soul, it approaches understandings, but mainly it bonds us by means of an irreplaceable chant of love amplified by their scenic dominion and talent of unquestionable teachers to whom the time and the creation renewed. More than 175 thousand Cubans echoed "Every woman in the world"; "Lost in Love" grew in adolescents and adults, in spite of rain and the delay to begin the concert. The laughter and the applause were multiplied. There it was, promising to return, Air Supply.
(July 22nd 2005)

Cartagena - Colombia

Este es uno de los sitios que más me gusta de mi país: se trata de un sector de la ciudad de Cartagena de Indias conocido como la ciudad amurallada. La zona que resistió el embate de las fuerzas españolas durante la época de la reconquista. La ciudad como tal estaba sitiada, pero no había forma de entrar en ella. Ahora ha sido restaurada su antiguo espendor y es uno de los sitios turísticos más apetecidos por los turistas nacionales y extranjeros tanto por su belleza arquitectónica y natural como por la amabilidad de los cartageneros.

Cuando puedan, vengan. No se van a arrepentir.
Para los interesados:
La foto fue tomada con la cámara de un teléfono Motorola V600 a las 3:15pm.

Star Wars Fan Films

Este sitio es de lo mejor que se ve por ahí para matar el tiempo - como casi todo en Internet - claro. Se trata de una colección bastante interesante de films hechos por los fans de Star Wars y bastante divertidos.

Al ver estos filmes cortos se nota qué tanto ha evolucionado la tecnología de las computadoras: ninguno de estos cineastas contaba con grandes presupuestos ni con el andamiaje que tiene a su disposición el Sr. Lucas cuando quiere hacer realidad alguna de sus geniales ideas y, sin embargo, son de gran calidad y reproducen muy bien los efectos de los sables de luz, algo de lo que deben estar muy orgullosos. Atención al Star Wars Gasta' Rap: Special Edition!http://www.atomfilms.com/af/spotlight/collections/starwars/

Air Supply

He encontrado dos sitios maravillosos en internet para aquellos que aman la música de Air Supply. Son ellos http://www.airsupplyheartandsoul.net/ y http://www.airsupplynowandforever.com/
Este último tiene un foro excelente, donde uno de veras se siente como en casa, como en una comunidad real, con personas de verdad y no en un sitio vacio, virtual, donde las caras de las personas no existen. Aquí te puedes sentir parte de algo. Entra así sea para divertirte o leer datos curiosos sobre uno de los grandes grupos de soft rock de la historia.
Ah! Se me olvidaba mencionar que ambos sitios son manejados por personas fanáticas del grupo, lo que le añade a estos dos esfuerzos autenticidad y originalidad. Algunos usuarios tienen estrecho contacto con los miembros de la banda y viajan por todas partes para no perderse las giras de este fantastico grupo. No se ustedes, pero yo amo a Air Supply!

Noticias científicas

Hace unos días leí de afán en una sección del New York Times un artículo sobre un descubrimiento de físicos norteamericanos que haría posibles y un hecho científico más que ciencia ficción, los viajes a través de "wormholes" para desplazarnos a otro lugar espacio-tiempo.
De lujo si aprendiéramos a manejar con seguridad y eficiencia las enormes cantidades de energía requerídas para tal fin. Cuando me acuerde de los nombres vuelvo sobre este post y les cuento.


Cosas como esa me hacen creer en el género humano... parece que aún hay esperanzas. Ojalá que todos estuvieramos empujando en la misma dirección, porque esta casa nuestra, que es la tierra, no durará para siempre... tenemos que pensar YA! en cómo diablos vamos a salir de aquí a algún lugar tan siquiera habitable, aunque no tan lujoso... sería buno uno igual, no? pero eso sería pedir el paraiso.

Recién operado

Acabo de ser operado para corregir algunos problemas de carrocería... nada del otro mundo, pero importante.
Dolor casi cero, me ha ido bien con esto aunque esperaba todo lo contrario.
No podré salir de la casa por unos 8 días pero vale la pena.