A Jovian boxing match

This coming Tuesday, July 4^th, the two biggest storms swirling around Jupiter are gonna pass each other by, and no one really knows what the outcome will be.

The most interesting aspect to me is the sheer size of these huge storms:

Astronomers on Earth will have ringside seats to a face-off between two of the biggest storms in the solar system.

In one corner will be Jupiter's Great Red Spot, a behemoth of a tempest that is twice as large as Earth and whose 350 miles per hour winds have been whirling for hundreds of years.

Its contender will be Oval BA, also known as "Red Jr.," a young six-year storm that is only half Great Red's size but whose winds are just as fierce.

Isn't that mind boggling? A storm twice as large as Earth? Wow. And its winds are more than twice as fierce as those of the strongest hurricanes we get here on Earth.

Just amazing.

"For the survival of the species"

World-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking:

"It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," Hawking said. "Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of."

So sad that the last two known causes (and probably the unknown too) would be man-made.

Man really is the only animal that kills his own.

The Da Vinci Code

And naturally, Ray and I went to see the movie right after reading the book.

What can I say. We both liked it, but we both realize that if you hadn't read the book ahead of time, you'd be very confused and probably extremely frustrated.

The movie actually felt like a speeding train, like a swirling tornado hurtling an endless stream of information, symbols, mysteries and revelations at the viewer.

Having read the book, we both knew what was coming next and we could make sense of every bit of information presented, but if you hadn't, boy oh boy, you were in for quite a roller coaster ride.

As for the movie itself, I have to admit that, as adaptations go, and given the incredible amount of information comprised in those 400 or so pages, this one was pretty good.

No major plotline was butchered or drastically altered and all the major occurrences of the book were more or less included. That's also the reason the movie was so rushed. With all that data to present, explain, decode and digest, no one had the luxury to lie around much.

The biggest flaw of the movie is probably the lack of character development, caused, once again, by the lack of time to actually develop them. Also, because of the movie's speed, all the astonishing discoveries and revelations offered gradually and to great effect in the book were just barfed out by whatever character whose turn it was to be on camera.

Too bad, since the story is brilliant. Also, some character's predispositions didn't match those in the book, most glaring of all, Langdon's attempts at debunking or watering down all of Teabing's explanations and theories during one of the most important scenes, when Sophie is told the many truths that are at the center of the story.

That's the kind of change that rubs the reader the wrong way, because it just doesn't ring true to what he knows, since in the book Langdon supports everything Teabing says. And Langdon is the main character, so a drastic change in his belief system can make you do a double-take (and make you go, Wait a second, that's just wrong, Langdon would never say that!!)

Other changes, like in the characters of Fache, Bishop Aringarosa and Saunière, or the Vatican's role were less troubling and more justified by the need to adapt the story to a different medium.

Anyway, my whole attitude, going in, was to gain some visual knowledge of the many places described in the book that I had only seen with my mind's eye, and on that respect I was pleased.

Technically, the movie wasn't bad. I can't really say much about the soundtrack (the sound in that theater was horrible, and it even went out at one point), but the acting was good and the art direction/set decoration excellent.

Overall, Ron Howard did an ok job, he just had to much to squeeze into a single movie. Maybe he could have made two, Ã -la Kill Bill. A good cliffhanger at the end of the first part would have ensured the crowd would have flown back in theaters to see the end.

Grade: 6.5

X-Men: The Last Stand

I finally saw this movie and I thought it was ok. It certainly felt like the most commercial of the three made so far, and you could definitely see the different touch applied by Brett Ratner, the new director, but it wasn't a disappointment as many have felt.

I thought Dr. Xavier and Magneto were exceptional as usual, Storm finally had more to do than just look up -and look stupid in the process-, Jean Grey was still cool, and Wolverine was smoldering hot as usual.

I liked the new mutants, virtually all of them, although I felt like Ben Foster's Angel was a total waste, while Kelsey Grammer's Dr. McCoy was good and didn't disappoint (who would have thought that Frasier could be a cool mutant?)

Similarly wasted were appearances (they were nothing more) by Anna Paquin's Rogue, James Marsden's Cyclops and Rebecca Romijn's Mystique.

These last character's under-utilization brings up the sorest point about this chapter of the X-Men saga: too many characters were underdeveloped, barely introduced, forced upon us, or left with nothing to do but hang out.

Other things were forced, like the Phoenix's arrival on the scene. Now, I never read the X-Men comics, so maybe there too the Phoenix just appears out of the blue at some point, but in the movie it looked weird.

I liked the shockers (and there were quite a few) although a friend's comment afterwards made me realize how the ending of the movie (and also the after-the-credits-added-scene) were nothing but ways to leave the door open for a possible fourth installment, thereby watering down the powerful effect of the earlier scenes. That's the kind of thing that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.

Anyway, overall I liked the movie and will surely check out both the Wolverine's and the younger-Magneto's spin-offs that have apparently either already been greenlighted or about to be.

And like I said, although the X-Men had been devised as a trilogy, I'm sure the success of the latest, and supposedly last, chapter all but ensured another one will follow.

Grade: 7.5

The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown

Well, I finished reading the book and I can now say it was one of the best books I ever read. I also just found out that it's now become the most read book in the world, after, ironically, the Bible itself, but considering that the Bible is a religious text, The Da Vinci Code clearly is the most read book in the world (over 60.5 million copies sold in 48 translations). Now that's impressive.

One thing I was astonished by is the fact that the book and the audio book do not match, at times quite glaringly I'd say. The thing didn't seem to bother Ray too much, but I just can't imagine how certain errors can pass by. For example, the first time Robert Langdon sees the keystone, it is described as having 6 cylinders, while 5 minutes later it turns out it only has 5. That's a pretty big mistake if you ask me. But I digress.

The story Dan Brown came up with is breathtakingly involving, the characters are deeply developed and very interesting, and there's no shortage of shockers.

He clearly did a ton of research for this book, and it shows. His theories are just so well presented and arguably indisputable (especially from a non-believer point of view) his book has already become my new Bible.

It will be interesting to see if all the debates currently going on worldwide about Brown's theories and revelations will eventually bring about some much needed change in the way the Church works and above all in the overwhelming power it can still muster whenever it feels threatened or disobeyed.

After reading this book, I'd love to visit all the locales I saw in my mind, Westminster Abbey, Rosslyn Chapel, the Museum of the Louvre and its surroundings among others.

And let's not forget one of the coolest aspects of the book is the wealth of contour information that is not gratuitous and not only adds to the story itself, but is so interesting it makes you long for more and more.

All and all, this book was great. A must read. Absolutely.

Grade: 9.5

I guess I'll have to try to be more flexible

I'm quite firm with my kids, but reading this article made me realize that maybe, sometimes, I should be more flexible. For their own good:

Strict mothers were nearly five times more likely to raise tubby first-graders than mothers who treated their children with flexibility and respect while also setting clear rules.

But while the children of flexible rule-setting moms avoided obesity, the children of neglectful mothers and permissive mothers were twice as likely to get fat.
...
Rhee speculated that parents who show respect and warmth within a framework of rules may help their children learn to make good decisions about food and exercise. Or it could be that strict parents create a stressful household where overeating becomes a comfort and escape, she said.

Other studies have shown the flexible parenting style, also called authoritative, has other good results for children such as higher achievement in school and lower incidence of depression, said John Lavigne, chief psychologist at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
...
In homes where parents are firm but flexible, "the rules can be bent a little or modified a little to accommodate the situation. But ultimately there are rules," Rhee said.

After reading this article, I can proudly say that I've tried to be more flexible already.

The Sleeper Effect

This CNN article tells us that even trying just one cigarette can lead to smoking later in life, because of the "sleeper effect" that the cigarette's myriad of chemical substances have on the chemistry of our brains and bodies:

Trying just one cigarette may not be so harmless for non-smokers after all.

Scientists have discovered that a single cigarette has a "sleeper effect" that can increase a person's vulnerability for three years or more to becoming a regular smoker.

"We know that progression from experimenting with one cigarette to being a smoker can take several years," said Jennifer Fidler of University College London.

"But for the first time we've shown that there may be a period of dormancy between trying cigarettes and becoming a regular smoker -- a 'sleeper effect' or vulnerability to nicotine addition," she added.
...
"The results also indicate that prior experimentation is a strong predictor of taking up smoking later," said Fidler, who reported the findings in the journal Tobacco Control on Thursday.

The scientists are not sure why a single cigarette has such an impact but they said the exposure to nicotine could change pathways in the brain which could make children more vulnerable to stress or depression, which can make them more likely to try it again.

The first cigarette could also remove fears about getting caught or how to smoke, which would have prevented them from taking up the habit.

Quite scary if you ask me.

Kids, be safe. Don't try. Not even once. It's for your own good.

Work, work, work

Americans apparently don't really care for taking vacations, at least a whopping third do not:

When it comes to taking vacation days, a third of U.S. workers apparently aren't members of the clean-plate club.
...
The average number of days workers forfeit: four, up from three in last year's survey.

I only get 10 days a year. I can't even imagine letting four go by unused, but then again, one of my colleagues NEVER takes his vacation time. Never.

Now, you might think, most Americans maybe have so many days they end up losing a few here and there. I don't think so:

And it's not as if the United States leads the world in vacation days granted. The average is 14 days in 2006, according to the survey, which is far below that of many other industrialized countries such as Great Britain (24 days) or France (39 days).
...
A study released last year by the Family and Work Institute (FWI) also found that about a third of workers (36 percent) did not plan to use all their vacation days. And 37 percent said they never taken more than a week off at a time.

There are a host of reasons working adults offer for why they may give up vacation time or take their time only in short spurts:

• They prefer the money if their employers agree to pay them for the days they forfeit.
• They experience increased stress at work both in the run-up to vacation and immediately upon their return.
• They're just too busy to leave.
• They're afraid their boss will hold it against them.

Too bad. The article specifically talks about the health benefits that come from taking a break from work.

Speaking of which, I think I need a vacation...

"Homosexuals are not terrorists"

The following comment, by Oscar Wilde's grandson Merlin Holland, should be thrown in the face of any righteous prick who considers gays a danger to society:

"Homosexuals are not terrorists; they are not murderers; they are not fanatics who take hostages to achieve their goals. They are simply human beings who are asking that their rights to normal lives be recognized. It is nothing of which to be ashamed; it is not decadent and depraved; it is a part of human nature and has been since the dawn of civilization... My grandfather was imprisoned in 1895 simply for being a homosexual and our family was almost destroyed as a result."

Great news from France

A contender to run in the 2007 French Presidential election has pledged support for same sex marriage.

Segolene Royal, the favourite to stand as the Socialist Party nomination, told a gay magazine that she would introduce a gay marriage law if she was voted in.

Ms Royal told Tetu magazine, "It is essential that everybody has equal rights and dignities and the chance to express themselves freely."

She also expressed support for gay adoption.

Current President Jacques Chirac is reported to oppose gay marriage and was hesitant to introduce civil union laws in 1999, which apply to all couples in France.

But what are her chances of actually winning...?

"Homosexuality is not a sin"

A wonderful quote from the newly elected U.S. Episcopal church leader Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman ever to hold the post:

"I don't believe so. I believe that God creates us with different gifts. Each one of us comes into this world with a different collection of things that challenge us and things that give us joy and allow us to bless the world around us. Some people come into this world with affections ordered toward other people of the same gender and some people come into this world with affections directed at people of the other gender."

And:

Asked how she reconciled her position on homosexuality with specific passages in the Bible declaring sexual relations between men an abomination, Jefferts Schori said the Bible was written in a very different historical context by people asking different questions.

"The Bible has a great deal to teach us about how to live as human beings. The Bible does not have so much to teach us about what sorts of food to eat, what sorts of clothes to wear -- there are rules in the Bible about those that we don't observe today," she said.

"The Bible tells us about how to treat other human beings, and that's certainly the great message of Jesus -- to include the unincluded."

Finally, someone is starting to make some sense on the religious front as well.

Finally, I'm back.

After a grueling 5 days out west in Ohio, I came back last Friday feeling totally beat. I was sure I hadn't passed the final exam for the class (and I was right) and I was sicker than I had been in years.

On Saturday and Sunday I tried to rest as much as possible, but it wasn't until this morning that I finally started feeling better. This was one ugly virus, that's for sure.

Anyway, so I failed the test, which doesn't surprise me, given it was so hard nobody finished early and it was set up in such a way that it looked like they wanted you to fail.

My boss wasn't upset with me, fortunately, but with the other company. Apparently a woman who does freelancing jobs for us and has worked with OnBase for 4 or 5 years didn't pass the test either, and the horrible stories I reported didn't help my boss feeling any better.

Hopefully, I won't have to go back to take this class or any other, since it looks like we'll be moving away from that software and towards Microsoft's brand new SharePoint. I really am not looking forward to going through a week like last any time soon.

Ray welcomed me back on Friday but I only saw the kids on Saturday morning, when they both had big smiles from ear to ear, apparently very happy to see me back.

Nicole had a hard time in school last week, which was probably related to my absence. She's been through abandonment and change so many times before, she probably feared it happening again. Things seem to be going back to normal now.

Finally.

Ohio - Day Three

So, how is it going? Well, the class is just plain hard. So much information is thrown at us it's incredible. And our teacher tries to go into specifics and details that sometimes aren't necessary, so he ends up wasting time that forces him to rush through other material that he must cover for Friday's test no matter what.

So his solution is to just skip all that was taught in the intro class, whether we've had experience with it or not, and we don't even get to really play with it a little before Friday, although all that will be on the test.

Furthermore, the test was changed to make it more challenging but without allowing for any more time, so I'm really worried I won't be able to finish it all in time, and a lot of money rides on this class, and therefore on my head.

Anyway, last night the company took us out to dinner and to a comedy club show, which was hysterical. I had so much fun and laughed so much my mouth hurt by the end of the night.

But now back to reality. I have to study and practice a ton of material for tomorrow, the last class and the last chance we have to get our questions answered, and mostly for Friday.

Friday... can't wait for 3.00 pm, regardless of the end results.

Back in Ohio - Day One

I got here last night for my second class at Hyland Software, the Installer Certification one. I'm here for another week and won't be back home until Friday night.

Needless to say, I can't wait. Yes, it's nice to change one's surroundings every once in a while, but I like my routine, and being here among total strangers for a week of full-immersion studying isn't really my idea of a sought-after change.

At this place they also have daycare, and every kid I saw today reminded me of my two beautiful kids, Nicole and Daniel. I miss them so much.

When I got back to the hotel I also saw someone walking her dogs, and I longed for Diablo and Mina's sweet eyes and wagging tails.

But most of all, I miss Ray, my sweet love, whose touch and love I can't be without.

It will be a long week, also because this class is much harder than the previous one (the introductory one) and the test on Friday will be particularly challenging. Especially for someone like me who takes his dear time to read each and every word, and wants to make sure he understands what needs to be done, excellent qualities when taking exams, but time consuming too.

Goodnight family. I'll see you all soon.