It's difficult to believe this song dates back to the late sixties! Joni Mitchell looks at love and life and clouds from both sides and, in the end, finds she doesn't know any of them at all. I suppose,when all is said and done, we all reach the same conclusion. But how many of us can say it in such a beautiful fashion? Emma Thomson's performance during this song in "Love actually" is absolutely spellbounding. Here are the words - pure poetry. The video is further down, courtesy of http://www.youtube.com/ and CritiquesMaster. Thank you both
Bows and flows of angel hair/And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere/I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun/They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done/But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now/From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall/I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels/The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real/I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show/You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know/Don't give yourself away.
I've looked at love from both sides now/From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall/I really don't know love at all.
Tears and fears and feeling proud/ To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds/I've looked at life that way.
Oh but now old friends are acting strange/They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost but something's gained/In living every day.
I've looked at life from both sides now/From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall/I really don't know life at all.
I've looked at life from both sides now/From up and down and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall/I really don't know life at all.
08/12/2011
15/11/2011
SAMURAI
Last night I saw a film, a most unusual japanese film called "Twilight Samurai". Spanish readers can find it under the title of "El ocaso del Samurai". The video that follows is the song featured at the end of the fim; a gentle, touching and yet simple melody sung beautifully by Yosui Inoue.
The Samurai code of honour is something which has fascinated me for as long as I can remember: duty above all, something that is somewhat rare these days when most seek personal gain and satisfaction.
Courtesy of www.youtube.com & The Holy Liberator - Thank you both
15/09/2011
SLAVES IN BRITAIN
At first, when I read this in a tiny little section of a Spanish newspaper I thought it was an exagerated report of an isolated incident involving one or two domestic-service situations. After all, slavery was abolished in Great Britain in 1807.
However, I looked it up anyway and found to my horror that it involved twenty-four slaves, all men, and most of them British!
The gruesome details have been published
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/09/12/2-dozen-slaves-freed-in-England/UPI-70191315803850/#ixzz1XyYAslqEhttp://es.yahoo.com/?p=us
and can be seen even on youtube.com,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KmqJ9xuj2U
so there is no real need for me to reproduce them here.
What really worries me though is this:
Are British people so stupid as to become trapped into this sort of situation and become slaves against their will?
What about the neighbours?
This took place, allegedly, in Leighton Buzzard - Bedfordshire County - on a caravan site, with hundreds of other people living within earshot! 200 police were needed to arrest just five of the people responsible for this outrage on humanity.
I mean, if this was not so serious we'd laugh about it.
FOR CHRIST SAKE - WHAT KIND OF A COUNTRY IS THIS TURNING INTO? What kind of people are WE turning into that we can allow such practices to develop in our society?
FIFTEEN YEARS - that's right - 15 years! That's how long some of these men were kept as slaves!
However, I looked it up anyway and found to my horror that it involved twenty-four slaves, all men, and most of them British!
The gruesome details have been published
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/09/12/2-dozen-slaves-freed-in-England/UPI-70191315803850/#ixzz1XyYAslqEhttp://es.yahoo.com/?p=us
and can be seen even on youtube.com,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KmqJ9xuj2U
so there is no real need for me to reproduce them here.
What really worries me though is this:
Are British people so stupid as to become trapped into this sort of situation and become slaves against their will?
What about the neighbours?
This took place, allegedly, in Leighton Buzzard - Bedfordshire County - on a caravan site, with hundreds of other people living within earshot! 200 police were needed to arrest just five of the people responsible for this outrage on humanity.
I mean, if this was not so serious we'd laugh about it.
FOR CHRIST SAKE - WHAT KIND OF A COUNTRY IS THIS TURNING INTO? What kind of people are WE turning into that we can allow such practices to develop in our society?
FIFTEEN YEARS - that's right - 15 years! That's how long some of these men were kept as slaves!
09/08/2011
LONDON'S BURNING
IS IT REALLY ANY WONDER?
Thousands of people out of work.
Speculators aggravating the economy.
Politicians more interested in votes than in social justice.
Big businesses striving for bigger profits than would seem just.
Our planet is fast going to pieces and no clear future appears on the horizon.
There's a clear lack of leadership in Europe.
There's a clear lack of leadership in the UK.
There's a clear lack of leadership in the world.
Is it really any wonder that thousands of people of all ages, of all races, of all political and religious beliefs come out onto the streets to protest against a rotten system that's destroying rather than building our social fabric. The death of
Mark Duggan, RIP, a father of four, at the hand of British Police,can only worsen the situation. British bobbies used to go unarmed in the past. Why this radical change of policy that puts guns in the hands of some, not all, trigger-happy individuals?
This is not an isolated national incident and must be seen in a global world context. We've seen it in Egypt, in Lybia, in Siria and we passed it off as only a protest by liberty seekers in under-developed countries. But then Spanish non-violent protesters took to the streets and marched onto the capital. A non-violent protest probably due to that countrry's tradition of violent suppression by its forces; a reminder of Franco's regime. And in Greece, too, we've seen massive protests. These are not backwards countries, but modern, democratic European states. Now London, at the heart of democracy. AND IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP THERE. I expect we'll see more protests in other European countries before the summer's out. Indeed it's going to be a hot, hot summer and I do hope a better and fairer society will rise out of the ashes of the fires that are burning in the hearts of our cities... and of our people.
Thousands of people out of work.
Speculators aggravating the economy.
Politicians more interested in votes than in social justice.
Big businesses striving for bigger profits than would seem just.
Our planet is fast going to pieces and no clear future appears on the horizon.
There's a clear lack of leadership in Europe.
There's a clear lack of leadership in the UK.
There's a clear lack of leadership in the world.
Is it really any wonder that thousands of people of all ages, of all races, of all political and religious beliefs come out onto the streets to protest against a rotten system that's destroying rather than building our social fabric. The death of
Mark Duggan, RIP, a father of four, at the hand of British Police,can only worsen the situation. British bobbies used to go unarmed in the past. Why this radical change of policy that puts guns in the hands of some, not all, trigger-happy individuals?
This is not an isolated national incident and must be seen in a global world context. We've seen it in Egypt, in Lybia, in Siria and we passed it off as only a protest by liberty seekers in under-developed countries. But then Spanish non-violent protesters took to the streets and marched onto the capital. A non-violent protest probably due to that countrry's tradition of violent suppression by its forces; a reminder of Franco's regime. And in Greece, too, we've seen massive protests. These are not backwards countries, but modern, democratic European states. Now London, at the heart of democracy. AND IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP THERE. I expect we'll see more protests in other European countries before the summer's out. Indeed it's going to be a hot, hot summer and I do hope a better and fairer society will rise out of the ashes of the fires that are burning in the hearts of our cities... and of our people.
10/07/2011
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
When will the powerful minority stop exploiting the weak majority? 11th July - A SAD DAY in SREBRENICA! Back in the early 16th century, over 200 people were executed by order of King Henry VIII as a result of what became known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. Just like that! (Impressive picture taken fron the series "The Tudors") Among them were prominent members of the community, such as Robert Aske and a dozen peers of the realm, 50 odd monks and priests and over a hundred ordinary people, including women and children. An isolated incident? OF COURSE NOT.
History is plagued with thousands, nay, hundreds of thousands of similar crimes against humanity, perpetrated by emperors, kings and rulers, dictators and generals; The last one, probably in Srebrenica, in 1995, when over 8,000 Bosnian males were slaughtered by the Serbian VRS army (Republika Srpska) under the command of General Ratko Mladić, currently being judged for his war crimes at the International Court in The Hague. Here’s what he said on TV at the time: "Today, the 11th of July 1995, is a great day for Serbia. We are in the town of Srebrenica. We offer this town to the Serbian nation in memory of the rising against the Turks. The time for revenge against the Moslems has arrived.”
Now, of course, Kings and Emperors do not have that kind of power anymore; at least not most of them, though they continue to posess great wealth and influence. And so do Large Multinationals, Newspaper, Arms and Oil Magnates, Presidents of Powerful Countries and Organisations, Military Generals, not to mention Drug Barons and White Slave and Prostitution Merchants, many, if not most, of whom have accumulated impressive fortunes on their way to, and especially at, the top of their profession. Many of them, if not most, have not been exactly scrupulous in their dealings and decisions. Just look at Murdoch and his “News of the World”. It is not enough to say sorry for something he knew was going on and which has caused so much distress. Nor does closing down the newspaper make the evil doing go away. Or look at Bush, Blair and Aznar. How many civilian deaths do they have on their conscience? AND THEY JUSTIFY IT!
And what is the common factor? What breeds such violence and disregard for human lives and human rights? Once upon a time, you could have said it was religion. But, NO, that’s just a smokescreen. As the song goes: “Money is the root of all evils”. Yes, the oldest of all reasons: MONEY, WEALTH.
King Henry VIII, through his faithful, and equally corrupt, Prime Minister, had no qualms about dissolving Catholic Monasteries. The revenues from the sales of the confiscated lands went to engross both Cromwell’s and the King’s pockets, as well as the treasury. Did the King sleep at night? Cromwell, of course, was eventually betrayed by his king and lost his head!
Murdoch’s permissive attitude led to more sales and revenues. I doubt that closing the newspaper will even dent his financial armour. Does he sleep at night?
Iraq and Afghanistan would never have suffered the beastly and (at least in the case if Iraq) illegal onslaught of the thousands of bombs and missiles they were subjected to had they not had huge reserves of oil and gas. I really don’t know where the arms engineers get their ideas from in order to design the thousand and one different weapons that enable such wicked and destructive power to be unleashed against helpless civilians. Do the three leaders, and the engineers, and the pilots, and the generals, and the remote control operators, and the spotters, and the arms manufactures get any sleep at night?
As for Mladić, I’m sure he slept reasonably well, in spite of the blood he shed, protected as he was by the highest authorities in his country, until it became politically and financially suicidal not to hand him over. How else could they join the European Union and reap the benefits? From the way he faced his victims’ relatives in court, it seems obvious he has no regrets; though I’m convinced he too finds it difficult to sleep at night in jail.
We, the workers, have slowly, very slowly, gained our rights and recovered our dignity only through repeated revolts and the willingness to suffer and, if necessary, die for our just cause. Whether we continue to allow others to exploit us or respect us is entirely in our hands.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO NOT BUY MR MURDOCH’S PRODUCTS.
WE CAN BRING DOWN GOVERNMENTS THAT FAIL TO OBEY US.
WE CAN WITHDRAW OUR SAVINGS FROM UNSCRUPULOUS BANKS.
WE CAN DECIDE NOT TO INVEST IN ARMS MANUFACTURERS.
WE CAN INSIST ON A JUST COMPENSATION BEING PAID TO ALL VICTIMS.
ABOVE ALL, WE CAN DEMAND THAT ALL THOSE THAT BREAK THE LAW, HOWEVER HIGH THEIR POSITION IN SOCIETY, ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE AND ARE MADE TO PAY FULLY FOR THEIR CRIMES.
I wonder if the descendents of those murdered during King Henry XIII’s “Pilgrimage of Grace” repression could now claim compensation. If they could, who would pay up, his descendents….or we, the workers, through our government?
15/05/2011
CHAMPIONS AGAIN
Incredible as it may seem for a chess player of my modest level, my team won for the second time in three years the Catalan National league Championship - Second category - in Catalonia, Spain.
To do this we had to compete in a block of a hundred teams of eight players each, divided into 10 groups. First we came top in our group, and then, came through the various play-offs winning the finals 5-3.
Not bad for a team with three 60+ players, four 50-60 players, and only one player under 30!
Here's a photo of our team, taken just after the final game.
You can read the whole story by selecting and pasting the following link . It's in Catalan, I'm afraid, but I'm sure you can get Google to give you a reasonably accurate translation.
http://ajedreznd.com/2011/cerdanyola.html
To do this we had to compete in a block of a hundred teams of eight players each, divided into 10 groups. First we came top in our group, and then, came through the various play-offs winning the finals 5-3.
Not bad for a team with three 60+ players, four 50-60 players, and only one player under 30!
Here's a photo of our team, taken just after the final game.
You can read the whole story by selecting and pasting the following link . It's in Catalan, I'm afraid, but I'm sure you can get Google to give you a reasonably accurate translation.
25/03/2011
BRITISH HOSPITALS
I'M ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6034988/Death-toll-from-hospital-bugs-hits-new-high.html
The following is the opening paragraph of the article refered to above, in the link.
Death toll from hospital bugs hits new high
More than 30,000 people have died after contracting the hospital infections MRSA and Clostridium difficile in just five years, official figures will show this week.
30,000 people! A full-scale war!
My sister had a heart attack, followed by a stent implant. She was sent home within a couple of days! My uncle had a similar experience a couple of months ago and suffered a massive heart attack the day after he was sent home! Both of them live in the South of England.
I live in Spain. I was admitted into hospital about a year ago with respiratory difficulties related to my heart problems. They replacd a stent within a couple of days and I felt like new. But, they kept me in hospital for nearly two weeks, most of the time under observation! I asked to be allowed to go home to play the final round of a chess tournament and they wouldn't hear of it!
What's happening back home? Have conditions really deteriorated so much since I last lived there? Can it be that the Spanish National Health Service is better than the British NHS? I'm approaching retirement and am having serious doubts about going back home....and not only because of the weather! For heaven's sake, is noone doing anything about this? We have the power to change governments and to reverse policies. Let's make full use of it. Bring back effective social policies. Reform and improve the NHS. Full, comprehensive social cover is perfectly compatible with some capitalist concepts. It is a right many have fought and died to secure and protect
Let's not retreat, but move forward in our traditional leading role of providers of what used to be refered to as the world's best welfare state.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6034988/Death-toll-from-hospital-bugs-hits-new-high.html
The following is the opening paragraph of the article refered to above, in the link.
Death toll from hospital bugs hits new high
More than 30,000 people have died after contracting the hospital infections MRSA and Clostridium difficile in just five years, official figures will show this week.
30,000 people! A full-scale war!
My sister had a heart attack, followed by a stent implant. She was sent home within a couple of days! My uncle had a similar experience a couple of months ago and suffered a massive heart attack the day after he was sent home! Both of them live in the South of England.
I live in Spain. I was admitted into hospital about a year ago with respiratory difficulties related to my heart problems. They replacd a stent within a couple of days and I felt like new. But, they kept me in hospital for nearly two weeks, most of the time under observation! I asked to be allowed to go home to play the final round of a chess tournament and they wouldn't hear of it!
What's happening back home? Have conditions really deteriorated so much since I last lived there? Can it be that the Spanish National Health Service is better than the British NHS? I'm approaching retirement and am having serious doubts about going back home....and not only because of the weather! For heaven's sake, is noone doing anything about this? We have the power to change governments and to reverse policies. Let's make full use of it. Bring back effective social policies. Reform and improve the NHS. Full, comprehensive social cover is perfectly compatible with some capitalist concepts. It is a right many have fought and died to secure and protect
Let's not retreat, but move forward in our traditional leading role of providers of what used to be refered to as the world's best welfare state.
04/01/2011
A VOICE TO DIE FOR
Ever since I discovered her I have been an ardent fan of hers, even though I'm not a follower of that type of music. She has a unique way of combining two styles to produce the kind of music angels must surely play in heaven.
Do listen right through. Notice the unusual drum beat, the musical range of her extraordinary voice, the contrast produced by the rich, deep voices of the backing choir. Do listen... and then listen again. I'm sure you'll find it a very rewarding experience.
Here's the youtube link and, below it, the lyrics..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71rO7ezB5Qg
Quel cuor perdesti - per un miraggio.
Quel cuor tradisti - odiar di piu, non puo!
La mia voce senti - il suo dolor... o no ?
La tua spari, e io, pazza, t'aspetto!
Dimenticar... O non piu vivere
Ormai salvo... La notte... la notte... la notte...
Ah !...
Spente le stelle - Col pallido raggio di luna
Piange l'amore - Che si lancia come l'onda poi se ne va
Vuota, la notte - E la sua speranza breve
Ora sgorga l'amaro pianto - Un cuor ferito, disperato passa qua.
Dunque fuggisti - i sogni vuoti
Dunque perdersi - i brevi vortici
Dimenticar... etc.
Spente le stelle... etc.
Ah !...
Do listen right through. Notice the unusual drum beat, the musical range of her extraordinary voice, the contrast produced by the rich, deep voices of the backing choir. Do listen... and then listen again. I'm sure you'll find it a very rewarding experience.
Here's the youtube link and, below it, the lyrics..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71rO7ezB5Qg
Quel cuor perdesti - per un miraggio.
Quel cuor tradisti - odiar di piu, non puo!
La mia voce senti - il suo dolor... o no ?
La tua spari, e io, pazza, t'aspetto!
Dimenticar... O non piu vivere
Ormai salvo... La notte... la notte... la notte...
Ah !...
Spente le stelle - Col pallido raggio di luna
Piange l'amore - Che si lancia come l'onda poi se ne va
Vuota, la notte - E la sua speranza breve
Ora sgorga l'amaro pianto - Un cuor ferito, disperato passa qua.
Dunque fuggisti - i sogni vuoti
Dunque perdersi - i brevi vortici
Dimenticar... etc.
Spente le stelle... etc.
Ah !...
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