Alberto Olivo

On The Border...

2011-12-26T18:56:00.001-04:00

...Astrid playin' Scrabble...the computer has her on the border tooo

One never knows what could arrive to your inbox...

2008-12-24T09:53:00.002-04:00

Received this today in my inbox and wanted to share it...does who know me will get why I like it so much...Enjoy!

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

-unknown

Food for thought...

Music: Submersed

2008-11-12T14:00:00.000-04:00

Album: In Due Time

Found: Josvan sent me a youtube.com video of them.

Genre: Rock

Song: Hollow

Notes: iTunes Plus album link for your pleasure, :D Enjoy!

Music: Kelly Sweet

2008-10-14T16:39:00.000-04:00

Album: We Are One

Found: Listening to SmoothLounge.com

Genre: Pop / Easy Listening

Song: Dream On

Notes: iTunes Plus album link, :D. I wouldn't send you to the wolves den...

Music: Jesse Cook

2008-10-05T12:05:00.000-04:00

Album: Frontiers

Found: Listening SmoothLounge.com

Genre: World / Easy Listening

Song: Europe

Notes: iTunes Plus album link. Enjoy!

Music: Four80East

2008-10-05T12:04:00.000-04:00

Album: En Route

Found: Listening SmoothLounge.com

Genre: Jazz / Electronica

Song: Waterline

Notes: iTunes Plus album link. Enjoy!

Music: Tosca

2008-09-21T15:23:00.000-04:00

Album: Suzuki

Found: Watching video demostration of rumored new iTunes visualization

Genre: Electronica

Song: Suzuki

Notes: iTunes Plus (DRM-free) album link provided. Elimintate DRM!

Music: Chris Zippel

2008-09-14T15:11:00.000-04:00

Album: Genuine Horizon

Found: Listening SmoothLounge.com

Genre: Ambient / Electronica

Song: As Possible (feat. Baschin)

Notes: iTunes Plus link provided to keep you safe from DRM-hell. Enjoy!

Music: Jens Buchert

2008-09-07T14:02:00.004-04:00

Album: Asia Suite - Vol. 1 - Deep Relaxing Downbeats

Found: Suggested in iTunes related to Chris Zippel

Genre: Ambient / Electronica

Song: Heart of Asia

Notes: Link provided for iTunes Plus... DRM-Free for your pleasure and peace of mind. Enjoy!

4:13 in the morning...

2008-07-08T04:22:00.002-04:00

another nightmare... with a shark... had dinner after 9pm and short after that went to bed... should had seen a full-length movie instead of just 2 episodes of Firefly... my bad, :(

Querer estar

2008-05-12T09:03:00.003-04:00

Las claves para que cualquier tipo de relación, sea de familia, de amistad o sentimental, se fortalezcan son el tiempo compartido y la reciprocidad.

¿Y qué tiene que ver eso con el título de este post? Tienes que querer estar en la relación en primer lugar para que ambas se den. Por eso las relaciones fingidas no están hechas para durar...

Champaña

2008-05-12T09:01:00.000-04:00

Comenzar una relación es como recibir una copa de champaña acabada de servir... hay que dar tiempo a que baje la efervesencia para ver claramente cuánta champaña vino en la copa...

The Elephant

2008-03-12T17:28:00.002-04:00

Viendo (por n-esima vez) Ghost in the Shell y Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence volví a escuchar una frase que siempre me ha llamado la atención y es presentada 2 veces en GITS2:

"...Let a person walk alone with few wishes, committing no wrong, like an elephant in the forest..."

Intrigado por la frase decidí preguntarle a dios (Google) y a su profeta (Wikipedia) y resulta que es un verso de un poema del "Dhammapada" (Path of Truth). La sección del poema que más me gusta es:

"...This mind of mine used to wander
as it liked, as it desired, as it pleased.
I shall now control it thoroughly,
as the rider holding the hook controls the elephant in rut.

Do not be thoughtless; watch your thoughts.
Extricate yourself from the wrong path,
like an elephant sunk in the mud.

If you find an intelligent companion
who will walk with you,
who lives wisely, soberly, overcoming all dangers,
walk with that person in joy and thoughtfulness.

If you find no intelligent companion
who will walk with you,
who lives wisely and soberly,
walk alone like a king who has renounced a conquered kingdom
or like an elephant in the forest.

It is better to live alone;
there is no companionship with a fool.
Let a person walk alone with few wishes, committing no wrong,
like an elephant in the forest.

Companions are pleasant when an occasion arises;
sharing enjoyment is pleasant.
At the hour of death it is pleasant to have done good.
The giving up of all sorrow is pleasant..."

Ahora que he leído el poema completo más me gusta (y más sentido hace la estrofa que aparece en GITS2, :P) y por eso quise compartirlo. Aquí el link al poema completo: The Elephant

Enjoy!

¿Cinismo, sarcasmo o enajenación?

2008-03-12T09:34:00.003-04:00

Hablando con un amigo compartimos impresiones sobre como algunas personas parecen vivir desconectadas de la realidad o en sus propias realidades fabricadas para justificar sus acciones incluyendo las que deberían corregir. Varios ejemplos que compartimos incluyen las personas que bloquean las intersecciones en las carreteras, se cuelan en las filas y otras actitudes que de seguro no aceptarían ni tolerarían si se las hicieran a ellas, pero ellas las pueden hacer a los demás y más si es a personas desconocidas.

Pero durante la conversación traíamos un caso especial: las personas que hacen daño y luego se detienen a ver lo que han hecho como meros espectadores como si no fueran responsables o no hubieran hecho nada.

En este momento traigo 3 palabras con sus definiciones:

1. Cinismo: Desvergüenza o descaro en el mentir o en la defensa y práctica de actitudes reprochables.

2. Sarcasmo: Burla o ironía mordaz, hiriente y humillante.

3. Enajenación: Privación del juicio. Falta de atención.

Mi amigo y yo nos preguntamos de qué se trata cuando alguien hace daño y luego se detiene a preguntar '¿cómo estás?'. ¿Es cinismo, sarcasmo, viven enajenados de sus actos y sus consecuencias, o dicen las cosas como el papagayo sin sentirlas? Empezamos a traer analogías como la del torturador que le pregunta al torturado 'cómo se siente' o 'te duele' o la historia de la persona que le prende fuego a intencionalmente a otra y mientras la persona quemada está en el hospital recuperándose, la persona que la quemó se presenta al hospital con flores a ver cómo está o como sigue...

Si, se que son analogías drásticas, pero presentan 2 perspectivas: la 1ra puede ocurrir en el ambiente del cinismo o sarcasmo o donde la persona disfruta haciendo el daño, la 2da no puede ocurrir porque la persona que quemó debería estar arrestada o simplemente porque en el mundo real, alguien que hace daño y que está consciente de sus actos y consecuencias sabe su lugar.

Asi que llegamos a la conclusión de que puede ser cualquiera de las 3 palabras: cinismo o sarcasmo para la persona que disfruta haciendo daño y enajenado para la persona que para no admitir el daño hecho, sentirse bien consigo misma y justificar sus actos, vive en sabe Dios qué mundo o burbuja.

Los 3 casos son igual de peligrosos asi que vayan con los ojos bien abiertos para que no resulten torturados o quemados...

¿Qué piensan ustedes son las razones que mueven a estas personas que actúan sin medir consecuencias?

Letting go

2007-10-11T09:26:00.000-04:00

There's no doubt about you leaving...

I hoped I can tip the scale... give you one more reason to stay... not being the reason, but be another one... be that good enough... but again, there's no doubt about you leaving... is what you feel you have to do... it's hard to face it, but I know...

From time to time life makes me relive how hard it is to let go. It makes me think that life is just a succession of goodbyes. After so many times I would be tempted to think one gets used to it, but when it happens I know it's not that way.

Sometimes letting go is harder and can bring you to your knees as that which is going away makes you feel more complete... like it's part of your whole being... even if you can't explain why... you just feel it.

And again in this situation I'm face to face with the question: Should I lock myself inside in my place to hide and drown my feelings until I stop feeling anything, or should I make the most out of the experience and take the most nice pictures I can in and for my mind?

I'm also tempted to think I would already have the answer to this question, but I don't. I have tried both options in the past with mixed results. That doesn't help.

It's sad and painful that you, so good and so fine, won't be here soon to make me feel the way you do... this sensation of running out of time can sometimes be unbearable...

...yes, I miss you already...

Missing...

2007-09-08T12:40:00.000-04:00

She sends a text message: "I'll miss you tonight"

I reply: "I have been and will be missing you more than that"

Red-wine kiss

2007-09-07T10:18:00.000-04:00

I'm opening a new bottle as we talk and I keep reviewing what has been said in the back of my mind... so I didn't noticed her approaching, silent and smooth, until I turn around.

There she is... no more than three inches away.

Kisses me... bitter-sweet... bitter for what is not going to be, sweet for the moment and for what could have been...

Turns around and leaves. It's goodbye.

And I realize that the red wine I had from her lips would be the finest wine for some time to come...

Bumper Stickers...

2007-06-14T07:28:00.000-04:00

Son las 7:30am... muy temprano para salir a trabajar asi que voy a escribir (después de una larga pausa) sobre bumper stickers...

Además de ayudar a depreciar aceleradamente el valor de tu carro, algunos sirven para recordar la frase 'haz como digo y no como hago'. Llevo observando por el retrovisor a esta señora cambiando de carriles agresiva y constantemente y cuando finalmente me pasa por el lado izquierdo por el solo, pero no para virar sino para colarse más al frente, veo que tiene un bumper sticker que dice '¿Crees en Jesucristo? ¡Que se te note!'

...debe ser que la señora iba tarde para su crucifixión...

Autogermana Presents: MINI 2007 Launch Party

2007-03-10T15:48:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, March 8, Autogermana made a Launch Party to present the new MINI 2007. It was full of fellow motorers that had a great time knowing each other and enjoying the activity that consisted of DJ Music, presenting the first 4 'Webisodes' of Hammer and Coop, the music video of Hammer and Coop performing in a lookalike music video of 'The Heat of the Moment' by Asia. All that was followed then by the entrance to the dealer of the 2007 MINI Cooper. Later people had the chance to take a look up close and personal with it. The car keeps the same aura even thought it has been redesigned almost completely. I'm not going to write a full review again as there's a good one from the people at Motoring File. Go ahead and check it out. The 2007 MINI they presented was the Cooper and some people (including me) were left in cold water wanting to see the Cooper S with it's new engine that has a turbo instead of a supercharger, but didn't stopped any of us from taking a closer look and starting the car without a key and using the new Start/Stop button, playing with the 7 different ambient colors you can select inside the car or using the double-pane inclination sunroof.

The people at Autogermana MINI and Adworks excelled with the organization and the details. Besides the event, they gave out some nice T's and an invitation to test drive the 2007 MINI today all-day from 9am to 5pm at the dealer. You can get a glimpse of what happened at the web album.

2007-03-09 - MINI 2007 Presentation

Yajaira's 28th Birthday Party @ Logan's Irish Pub

2007-03-10T15:42:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos of Yajaira's Birthday party. Had a great time in there spending some quality time with friends and enjoying some good cover music from the band.

Happy Birthday Yari!

P.S.
Who's birthday is next?, ^_-

2007-03-07 - Yajaira's Birthday Party

Frustration

2007-03-03T10:25:00.000-04:00

Definition

When dealing with a feeling, I usually try to get its definition first as a way to try and understand and then work with it.

Yesterday at La Placita and later at the Great Taste oriental restaurant in the Condado area, Ángel and I were talking about this friend we have in common, John, that besides being a resident of Friend-zone town as Ángel is and even myself since I can remember, he's going through a stage of frustration that both of us had experienced in similar ways as his concerning liking someone so much, but you don't mean a thing to that someone.

According to John, she has come to him to seek advice, to let out what she's going through. He has been her crying shoulder, and besides the fact of liking her so much, he also worries about her and would like to see her not suffering anymore with a man that seems to treat her as an object to have and control than a person. So his frustration is in 2 ways: frustration because no matter what he had told her to wake up and break the cycle of a problematic relationship, she still insists in being there, and also the frustration of not having an opportunity of her having the same interest as he has of knowing each other better to see if what they've been looking for could be found in each other.

Ángel was telling me that he had told John that he has to sort a way to let that someone know the frustration he's feeling. To come to a closure with her, for good or bad, but at least be sincere and at least end with the satisfaction of not keeping those feelings for himself and the regret of what could have happened.

In my case, I told John to stay away. If she has not given any sign of interest, then he should stay away, not be rude, but not dedicate time and effort more than what he has already given. He has been a crying shoulder for her, has been interested in her well-being, given advice and had demonstrated interest to some extent, but he hasn't seen any sign of interest from her. To stay away and not dedicate time is a way to make weak that one-way bond his having to her right now. Relationships and bonds grow stronger with time spent together. Then the opposite applies. To stay away is a way to drown, suffocate or dilute that one-way bond that provokes in John those feeling of frustration and anger towards her and the situation as a whole.

After telling our points, Ángel told me that the advice I gave John was dangerous because it could provoke her to get scared of John and not develop interest in him. That maybe she has not seen John with interest or demonstrated it because she could be very engulfed in her actual problem. That John should continue to be by her side, but not giving too much.

That's really the point that concerns me about that approach. Frustration and anger can get bigger and out of control the more you feel you 'loose' in a situation. Time, advice, caring... the very things that you then feel wasted and lost when things don't turn out the way one would have liked (or have dreamed of as happens to us utopian-dreamers sagittarians)... the more you give of them in this kind of situation the more anger and frustration you develop when things don't start to go as one would have liked.

So maybe there could be a happy medium... giving without giving too much. That sounds like a lot of self control.

Or be clear as soon as you feel in a certain way with that someone so both can talk and know what you can expect.

Or if there are no early signs, keep your distance, drown the feeling until you feel nothing. Then you can see and treat her as a regular bystander.

Ángel's point of happy medium and being sincere and letting her know sound OK, but requires a lot of self control.

I've tried it in the past, but think that a little too late on the giving part and I have given too much... when decided to be sincere because I couldn't stand it anymore, I have always been treated with the 'I see you as a friend' treatment. I have ended up cutting the person off completely and sometimes even been slightly rude. I don't feel good about it, just the frustration and anger were out of control. I don't want that to happen to me anymore and that's why I gave that advice to John, so he doesn't end up with those feelings that take some much to go away and he can protect himself in advance if there are no early signs of interest as he has demonstrated to her.

Ángel's advice sounds more like a middle ground compared to the two opposite points I've been through... John, keep in mind my advice, but listen to Ángel and hope you get not what you like, but what's best for you in the end... as I have always told you, ^_^

La Placita for Sagittarians on a Full Moon

2007-03-03T09:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday after lunch my best friend GTalked to me and told me to meet up at La Placita de Santurce to talk about the week and steam off some of the stuff that can happen in a week (as what happened in my previous post). So, as I work closer to La Placita than him (and he had to answer beeper messages from Chú at his home), I got there like an hour before to get parking in the usual free spot. As I was walking to La Placita, a SUV stopped besides me, someone got his head out and called my name. I had to take a second look because it was an old friend of mine from high school that I haven't seen since my last class reunion and lives in the States. He told me he was going to meet up other high school friends in La Placita, so I got there and hanged around with them for a bit until my best friend arrived. It was good to meet old friends and talk about things we have gone though and our experiences and from things of our high school years.

Then Ángel, my best friend, arrived and I moved to the usual spot where the owners know us already to the point that we don't have to tell them what we want for drink. We went through the usual exercise of telling stories of the week, developing them around what we believe should be right and what not... things from work, personal, friends, politics, history... when an Ángel's friend from high school arrived to where we were... and then another, and another, and in half an hour Ángel was having his very own 'class reunion' as I had hours ago when I arrived to La Placita.

Then to make things more not-regular yesterday, Flor appeared, out of nowhere. She is really not a usual bystander at La Placita, though she told us yesterday that in years past she used to. So, she joined us in our conversations and had a good time.

So, Ángel and I had our little class reunion and meet up with people that we haven't seen in a long time or we didn't expected yesterday evening.

And you may still be asking what's the part in the 'Sagittarians on a Full Moon'... well, Ángel and I are Sagittarians and yesterday was full moon... let's see what happens today that there's an eclipse, besides me feeling in a writing mood...

DTOP

2007-03-03T08:54:00.000-04:00

It's been like a month since my last post, but thanks to the powers that be that woke me up so early this morning (the sun, the baseball-game sounds and the light from my ceiling fan) I feel like writing to anyone and no one at the same time. The first topic to be addressed is my last visit to the Department of Transportation and Public Works (Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas: DTOP). There are few things that make me angry, but 2 of them are being scold in front of other people and feel I was made to waste my time. Thank God the first one has no happened in a long time, but the second happened last Monday, Feb 26, when I walk up earlier than usual to get to DTOP to solve as fast as I could the issue of taking out of circulation the old Honda Civic I had sold a year go and that had a tragic death when the driver fall asleep while driving it (not me and nothing happened to her, thank God). After getting an attorney-certified document stating the demise of the car, making 2 queues, and then waiting in another area for my number to be called, I couldn't solve anything because there was, in the car records, a parking ticket that I already payed a year ago. A year ago. One whole year. That's how much technologically advanced is the government systems of this island. The problem is that it's just a reflection of how mature and developed is our government as a whole. Of course, I'm using a more subtle tone in expressing it than the one I used when talking to my friends that Monday, but almost a week has passed since that happened and things tend to loose weight as time goes by... well, except most married couples, but that's another thing, ^_^

Daphne's 26th Birthday @ Logan's Irish Pub

2007-01-28T09:52:00.000-04:00

Here some photos of what happened at Daphne's birthday party. Had a really good time with friends. Next day at work was kind of hard with just 3 hours of sleep, but it was worth it! It's not always that we find an opportunity or the time to get together, so the ones that appear we always enjoy the best in the good company that life has put in our way.

Happy B-Day Daph!

2007-01-26 - Daphne's 26th Birthday Party

Ángel's 30th Birthday @ Café de la Plaza

2006-12-22T13:47:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we celebrated Ángel's birthday at la Placita de Santurce. Had a great time with friends remembering all those things that keep us together and make us from time to time create a new excuse to get back together again. Here some photos from the party.

Happy Birthday Ángel!

2006-12-21 - Ángel's 30th Birthday Party

Nobox Christmas Party @ Bamboobei

2006-12-16T11:37:00.000-04:00

'The dudes' excel again with this years' Nobox Christmas party. Took place in Bamboobei, Piñones. Great place with a great view and an excelent environment to be relax and let the Nobox ecosystem recharge energies and spend some time together in non-work related activities. When not absorbed by the tranquility inspired by the ocean or having a good time with the Nobox Team, I took the time to take some photos (up to where my batteries lasted, T_T) so follow the link and enjoy, ^_^

2006-12-15 - Nobox Christmas Party

Thanksgiving Family Reunion

2006-11-24T17:02:00.000-04:00

This year's thanksgiving family reunion was at my mom's house in Carolina. My grandma, aunts and uncle were there to keep the tradition of keeping the family together during special days like this one. There was also my sister with her boyfriend (not in the photo), one of my cousins, Linda, with her boyfriend, and my brother. Usually the celebration is made at one of my aunts' house, but this year was at my mom's house so it make it special... so special that Linda got lost and another of my cousins, Omar, didn't arrived with his girlfriend because he didn't remember how to get there neither.

I want to take this opportunity to thank them for being the respectful, caring and supporting family they are. I guess all in the family could say that without this things and values that bound us together this learning journey called life would be much more difficult.

It's those same values, caring and respect that identify all the people that unconciously I keep around me and that in the same unconcious way have me by their side. Thanks to all of them for being a part of me, even if their not physically here with me anymore.

And to the Omnipotent One... thank you for all of them as part of the blessings he always manages to put in my journey.

Thank you!

MINI Cooper R50/R53 Construction Video

2006-11-14T23:12:00.000-04:00

For those of you interested in MINI Coopers... this video is a must to get a glimpse of what happens during that 3-month wait.

Enjoy!

MotoringFile » Archive » 2007 MINI USA Pricing and Options

2006-10-31T09:27:00.000-04:00

And talking about buying... the final prices for the new MINI in the USA. Add to these $6k-$8k to get a close shot at the prices in PR.

MotoringFile » Archive » 2007 MINI USA Pricing and Options

MotoringFile » Archive » Official MINI USA MTTS Video

2006-10-31T09:22:00.000-04:00

The spirit of having a MINI. If you don't feel about the car like this, don't buy one.

MotoringFile » Archive » Official MINI USA MTTS Video

Nobox Happy Hour @ Payá Restaurant

2006-10-21T11:44:00.000-04:00

Yesterday after a long day of work (even longer for some that arrived after the happy hour started), 'The dudes' gave the whole Nobox ecosystem the opportunity to have a couple of hours to enjoy ourselves in a different way far from work-related duties. Thanks for that opportunity that adds up value to Nobox in many different ways. Cheers!

2006-10-20 - Nobox Happy Hour

María Elena's Birthday Party

2006-10-21T11:21:00.000-04:00

Last saturday, October 14, was M.E.'s birthday party at her apartment. Besides the shameful situation in which I tried to scare Ián and ended up scaring M.E.'s mom, we had a great time there and wanted to share the photos I got from the party (and test this Picasa Web Albums feature integrated to Blogger, ^_^). Enjoy!

2006-10-14 - M.E. Birthday Party

2007 MINI Cooper TV Ads

2006-10-21T10:28:00.000-04:00

Enjoy!

WOOOHOOOO!!!!

Fifth Gear test drives the 2007 Mini Cooper S

2006-10-21T09:43:00.000-04:00

Great review from this great TV Show. Enjoy!

Newly redesigned MINI Cooper 2007

2006-09-24T13:09:00.000-04:00

These are link where you can get more info on the first generation change for the new MINI coming to U.S. Market in December 2006. So if you want to order a custom made current 2006 model, you should be getting to your MINI dealer like now. If you want to order one of these new 2007 models well, it could be a good Christmas present to order in December.

NEW MINI
MINI.com - Model Range - The New MINI Cooper S
MINI.com - Model Range - The New MINI Cooper

MINI Traveller | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

2006-09-24T12:55:00.000-04:00

MINI Traveller | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

For those of you who love the looks of the MINI, but have issues with small boot (trunk) space and with two-door caracteristics. Now you can start making your financial adjustments as this car is not going to production until 2008.

Winners of the 1st Autogermana MINI Scavenger Hunt

2006-09-24T01:35:00.000-04:00

Yes, this is the winning team of the first MINI Scavenger Hunt organized by Autogermana MINI in Puerto Rico on September 17, 2006. Our team name was 'Los MINImalistas', but were not minimal in the amount of points we gathered. A total of 197 pts, 22 more than the second place. It all started by meeting with Gino at our company's parking at 9:20am. Arrived at Autogermana MINI at 9:35am where we signed up our team and received two bottles of 'fountain of youth' water and a kit with tools to gather things during the hunt. At 10:20am the organizers of the event gave us further instructions on how to use the tools, rules of engagement and then took us to our cars to start the hunt. All of us aligned our cars in a queue in front of the dealer. While there, we received the list of items, trivia questions and clues to places where we had to take pictures of the car and one of the team members. Gino, my resourceful wingman, fell victim of anxiety and as soon as we were handed out our list he started to shout 'Go! Go! Go!'. I saw no cars moving so I told him that no cars were moving and he said 'the girl handed out the list and said good luck! This thing has just started! Go ahead before people start leaving!'. That made sense to me, so I decided to leave the queue. To my surprise and shame, as I left the queue, I started hearing some shouting and saw my Motoring Advisor, Andrés, waving a signal to turn around and fall back into place in the queue... Thanks Gino... After getting back in place, there were some video shooting, some photos and THEN they gave the signal to start the hunt.

First photo, 'The ruins of the home of the first governor of the island during Spanish occupation': Caparra.

Then headed to Old San Juan where Gino went to a store to get some items in the list, like a big towel that had printed 'Puerto Rico' and a small Coquí made in ceramic. While he was doing that, I was going around in circles through the streets of Old San Juan with other MINI's that had their co-pilots doing item hunting through the stores too.

From there, we headed to get some items in San Patricio and our company's office. Went to Hato Rey to La Milla de Oro to get a photo of the car with the big digital clock from Banco Popular Building showing the time to be 1:11pm. After that we decided to sacrifice our desire for the bonus photo of La Coca waterfall in El Yunque (10 pts) to go get more items at Gino's House, we got the photo with a pregnant woman in the car (thanks Nina and Matías!) and then headed to Piñones to get some items. In Piñones the traffic was so horrible that we ended up deciding to give up and get back to the dealer because it was almost 3pm, the arrival time to the dealer by the rules. We were like the second or third team to arrive. Handed out the items, showed the photos, gave the answers to the trivia questions, explained the idea behind our team name and Gino sang two impromptu verses related to MINI and the scavenger hunt.

As I was driving, I was not aware of the amount of points made/missing. Gino told me that we missed some stuff and we could not have more than 130 pts, so when they announced that third place made 170 pts I was not even remotely thinking in being second place, less winning! Before calling out the winners, the people of Autogermana MINI were doing a raffle of some items and some of the participants were joking about raffling off a set of black 18" John Cooper Works rims with Run-flat tires that were on display at the dealer. After the raffle was over and were going to announce the winners of third, second and first places, the people of Autogermana MINI changed the first place prize from $500 in Motoring Gear to the set of JCW rims!

As they say, the rest is history and here we are Gino and I receiving our first place medals! And just there beside me a little spot of the JCW rims! It was a really good experience for us, all the other participants and the people on the street that stop by to ask if we were on a competition because they had seen so many MINI's in their area. An aura of 'having fun' surrounded those in contact with the event, whether being part of the teams or being an outside observer. The people of Autogermana MINI and the organizers did great in their first event. Congratulations and thanks for making this event. Hope there are more to come... like... for christmas? And for the next scavenger hunt... we're defending champions!

Firefox's market share passes 15% in US - Download Squad

2006-07-11T22:06:00.000-04:00

Firefox's market share passes 15% in US - Download Squad

Little by little, people are acknowledging the benefits of Firefox and its innovative features and reliable security. Those features added to the great work and prompt response of the developers to security issues and the community's needs is sending a strong message that more and more people are listening and getting comfortable with.

If you haven't downloaded it and use Internet Explorer or Safari because 'you're used to' or 'its already there', it's not to late to get a new, fresh, safer and more reassuring experience on the web. Click here to go to Mozilla's site. Enjoy!

Audi Tracks hit the Audi Deutschland web site - Autoblog

2006-07-11T14:48:00.000-04:00

Audi Tracks hit the Audi Deutschland web site - Autoblog

Some good eclectic audio tracks for driving in case you wanted something fresh/new/different. My favorite tracks are the ones by Eardrum, but all of them are great. Good compilation by the people from Audi. Just wish BMW/MINI had something similar, :(

Class Reunion

2006-07-09T02:35:00.000-04:00

A couple of hours ago (yesterday, 7pm) was my 15th anniversary class reunion. I missed the previous one for the 10th annivesary, so I was like not sure of what to expect of this. Well, as soon as I get there I started to be greeted by a lot of familiar faces, some of them dear friends of mine from high school, that I haven't seem for quite some years. Some of them even flew from the U.S. to make it to the class reunion. It was a great experience to share some energy, time, and memories with those who, even though not having a regular contact with them, seem like they still are an integral part of who you are now. Strange as it might seem, I didn't brought the camera to the reunion, so now I'm counting on my friends who did brought theirs to send me the ones the shot so I can post some of them in here. If some of you classmates get to read this, let me tell you it was a great pleasure to see you again and hope to keep contact more often from now on.

Weekend...

2006-06-25T20:46:00.000-04:00

A rather unusual weekend that goes from having dinner yesterday with some friends, to today go and play tennis and loose both sneakers, to then have dinner with dad. In between talking different stuff like what to do to keep your employees if one would be manager, to the illusion that everything from Microsoft is 'easy and good', to why people block exits with their cars if they're not able to go on anyway until the next light change, to how there are people out there that are not independent and when asked what they want to do with their lives, their only answer is a blank face.

On a different note, I had the opportunity to be a good citizen and answered to the owner of the Laundry near home and my dad questions they had about the MINI Cooper's... :) Here a photo of 'Sonny' in Parque Central in one of those 'tennis days'...

Hobbies...

2006-05-10T15:26:00.000-04:00

Well, a couple of weeks since my last post. Sonny (yeah, the MCS has a name) got in May the 8th its two months with me and everything is alright and smooth with it.

Two weeks ago finally bought the cable to use the video iPod that Nobox gave us as a gift for our hard work and sounds great. Next step is a craddle for it in the car.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Came out on April 25. If you haven't got your copy you're kind of... late? Great movie that brings a lot of memories. Again Square excels again in what still american movie makers can't even dream of. Too much for disney and animation-children association these guys still hold on to. Haven't learn anything from movies like 'Akira' or 'Ghost in the Shell' and still are not going to learn after Final Fantasy VII.

Sting concert

2006-04-28T11:13:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, April 27, was the Sting concert on the 'Choliseo'. Me being there was actually more of a miracle because of two ex-coworkers and friends, Kelly and Jorge (Thank you, thank you, thank you sooo much!!!), that gave up two tickets they had to my girlfriend Yajaira for the concert. I have given up on the idea of going to the concert months ago, and then this happened!! The concert was great, except for the duration. I feel sorry for those people in arena that spent $126 for only hour and a half of concert. In my case, going there for free only left me with the feeling of wanting for more Sting. Sound and lights were good and the performance too. The concert started with 'Shape of my Heart' and finished with 'Every Breath You Take'. Even though the opening and closing songs were soft ones, the concert was energic in its mayority with songs like 'Synchronicity', 'Spirits in the Material World', 'If I Ever Lose my Faith in You' and 'Desert Rose'.

P.S. Yes... a week after receiving the iPod Video as a gift from Nobox and haven't yet used it or uploaded any song /video to it, ~_~.

My first blog entry...

2006-04-22T21:28:00.000-04:00

Well, as the title says... my first entry. Not much to say because of this migraine episode that I'm trying to control, but as you can start seeing computers are a strong hobby for me... even to withstand writing a couple of words before heading for a nap to see if this things goes under control... promise you more during the development of this blog...