At last, change has arrived

Tonight something very special and close to my heart happened. After 3 decades of inefficient and, sometimes unethical (to say the least) exercise of power, people have spoken loud and clear for change. My town and my county and many other towns in my county shifted gears in their elected officials. For the 1st time since I was born I see people that really care in the seats of power. This work, initiated by my father and others has passed to my generation as a must do, regardless of how long it takes. It took 30 years. I remember all the work in the past but above all, I remember the hope in my father's eyes, the committment to his people.

Today was the beginning of a better sense of community. Thank you Toni. I wish daddy was here. :-)

Senator Kennedy, Glioblastoma, and us

Today I saw this article on glioblastoma, one of the deadliest types of brain cancer. It killed Sen Kennedy. With unknown etiology, it has a mean survival of 15 months.

Interesting how things are. Glioblastoma was the reason I came to the US, the reason I went to Buffalo, the reason why I do what I do. It took away, I believe, two pieces of my heart. 1998. 2008. I don't work with glioblastoma but that is not the point. Each life is a Life worth saving. One day. One day we will get there.

Wide Wild West: Zion, Grand Canyon, and Colorado River

Moments of inspiration

I saw Slumdog Millionaire tonight. Wow! Beautiful story, very inspirational, indeed! Besides, the main actress, Freida Pinto, is probably descendent of Portuguese, as you can easily deduct from such beauty, right? ;-) 
All that know me are aware that I am a big fan of Obama. That was before he had the extremely good taste of selecting "Bo", a Portuguese water dog, to be the Presidential puppy. Obama, now I really LOVE YOU!!!! :-)))

I don't know, Freida Pinto, Bo, Portuguese descents, all in the same week... I may start liking this. I mean, what is going on??! :-)))

Facebooking Generation

These days, social networks are a must do. Hi5, Facebook, and Twitter have millions of users that may not have seen their "friends" ever or for years but that for some brief moment do get comforted knowing that "Joe is having a beer". It's fun, addictive, futile at times, dangerous for many young teens, but "everybody does it". If you want to be "cool", you do it (lame excuse). Today, the New York Times had this very interesting article about Facebooking, a 21st century verb just added to the anglo-saxonic dictionary. :-)

Mariza

Tonight I went to GMU to see Mariza singing. Fado. I cried from the moment I started hearing the guitars to the very end. Very few things bring in me the full intensity of the meaning of "Saudade", the full flavor of my portuguese soul, my sense of identity, the essence of who I am. Mariza does it to perfection and it invariably brings me to tears. Good tears. Here's my favorite fado. Listen. Lyrics are here.

"O' gente da minha terra"

O' gente da minha terra
Agora e' que eu percebi
Esta tristeza que trago
Foi de vo's que recebi

E' meu e vosso este fado
Destino que nos amarra
Por mais que seja negado
A's cordas de uma guitarra

Sempre que se ouve um gemido
Duma guitarra a cantar
Fica-se logo perdido
Com vontade de chorar

E pareceria ternura
Se eu me deixasse embalar
Era maior a amargura
Menos triste o meu cantar

'Slumdog Millionaire' kid stars face uphill battle

Check out this story. It is so sad. It is mainly sad because it is a very good example of the twists and turns of what seems to be an authentic attempt to help children.