This is so incredibly beautiful, that I had to post this in my blog.
Really cool!
On Saturday, April 24th, 2010, over thirty members of the Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus and principal cast members from the upcoming production of La Traviata converged on the Reading Terminal Market Italian Festival. Wearing street clothes and blending in with the crowd, the artists swung into action as the first orchestral strains of the famed were piped through the market, giving a rousing, surprise performance for hundreds of delighted onlookers who were there to enjoy the Italian delicacies and the everyday treats that the Reading Terminal Market has to offer. The four-minute piece drew an overwhelming crowd, and won a thunderous ovation that included both laughter and tears from the audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zmwRitYO3w
sábado, 5 de junio de 2010
jueves, 3 de junio de 2010
Automation
Sometimes automation makes me wonder. In a time in history when we are facing serious economic problems, we are entering the era of automation as a mean to save money and avoid human error. But sometimes I think, this could go to extremes; like the story I heard today in the news about the sophistication that the Japanese are reaching in making robots. They look sooo real, that they are freaking frightening. But there are other modernizations that are supposed to make life easier but that end up being more of a nuisance. I had mentioned before, the annoyance that one has to go through when calling to make a claim to a certain company and you are answered by a complicated machine that "thinks that knows your problem" , but really makes it more difficult to solve it.
The other day, for example (I shouldn't be talking about this so openly, but it lets me explain my point) I went to a public bathroom and never felt so helpless! I placed a sterilized paper lid cover to the bowl and tried to sit , but the sensor caught me off guard and before I was able to do it, the toilet flushed automatically. I had to literally try 3 times before I could achieve my goal. When I wanted to wash my hands, I had to hold the faucett open, because the the water spout was programmed to be opened for 3 seconds...how can you pour soap and wash your hands so fast? Then you want to dry them, and you put your hands over a lite on top of the paper dispenser. It makes a wooshing sound and dispenses such a little amount, that it gets wet before you dry your hands...like you are going to save the forest if they dispense less paper!
Another time, I stopped at a convenience store by a gas station at a service area along a highway. Some of these stores usually have food and hot showers for the tired truck drivers who transit through the main roads transporting all sort of merchandise. Well...I am not a truck driver, but I certainly welcome a good cup of coffee to boost some self energizing caffeine into my body. These stores have the coolest items which you could buy as last minute presents for your family or friends; but they also have the yummiest offers like.. two hot dogs for .99 cents or one extra donut if you buy 9 of them. I was marveled by the new technique to make milkshakes: You take a cup which contains flavored (you choose your flavor) powdered milk . Place it under a machine with a stirrer. Some ice cream is released into your cup, and automatically your shake is made. Very practical and also frightening!!! A hairy hand could have emerged from some dark corner! But it tasted simply deliiiiicious!
Cars are also getting more sophisticated. Those hybrid cars that are so popular nowadays, come with unexpected gadgets, which can have you parked in a parking lot or in front of your house for longer than you expect. They are not powered like the ordinary ones. You have to press a button, like you are turning on an electric appliance and then draw your automatic lever to the drive mode...but how does this work? How do you engage it? You could spend good 10 minutes or more, trying to figure it out and when you finally do, you should be worried , because upon arrival, parking it is another business...If you want to get familiar with you"appliance", you have to study and "digest" a manual with 100 pages and complicated divisions. Sometimes I wonder how difficult they make it to let you protect your environment, save money and start using the new technology which is being offered to us. A funny example of extreme automation can be found in a blog I posted not so long ago called Automatic Confession. Boy!!! You wish you were in those old times when you didn't have to worry about computer glitches or about life going on without having to use electricity, gas or tv. Maybe our kids wouldn't be watching so much violence; our husbands wouldn't get stationed in front of this monster screen taking all their meals while they watch a baseball, basketball or football game; we would think instead of having a gadget that thinks for us. Maybe, with time, we will turn into slaves of our machines and the human race's mind will shrink as it goes through adaptation to their new environment. The machines will make us their robots! Scary!!!
The other day, for example (I shouldn't be talking about this so openly, but it lets me explain my point) I went to a public bathroom and never felt so helpless! I placed a sterilized paper lid cover to the bowl and tried to sit , but the sensor caught me off guard and before I was able to do it, the toilet flushed automatically. I had to literally try 3 times before I could achieve my goal. When I wanted to wash my hands, I had to hold the faucett open, because the the water spout was programmed to be opened for 3 seconds...how can you pour soap and wash your hands so fast? Then you want to dry them, and you put your hands over a lite on top of the paper dispenser. It makes a wooshing sound and dispenses such a little amount, that it gets wet before you dry your hands...like you are going to save the forest if they dispense less paper!
Another time, I stopped at a convenience store by a gas station at a service area along a highway. Some of these stores usually have food and hot showers for the tired truck drivers who transit through the main roads transporting all sort of merchandise. Well...I am not a truck driver, but I certainly welcome a good cup of coffee to boost some self energizing caffeine into my body. These stores have the coolest items which you could buy as last minute presents for your family or friends; but they also have the yummiest offers like.. two hot dogs for .99 cents or one extra donut if you buy 9 of them. I was marveled by the new technique to make milkshakes: You take a cup which contains flavored (you choose your flavor) powdered milk . Place it under a machine with a stirrer. Some ice cream is released into your cup, and automatically your shake is made. Very practical and also frightening!!! A hairy hand could have emerged from some dark corner! But it tasted simply deliiiiicious!
Cars are also getting more sophisticated. Those hybrid cars that are so popular nowadays, come with unexpected gadgets, which can have you parked in a parking lot or in front of your house for longer than you expect. They are not powered like the ordinary ones. You have to press a button, like you are turning on an electric appliance and then draw your automatic lever to the drive mode...but how does this work? How do you engage it? You could spend good 10 minutes or more, trying to figure it out and when you finally do, you should be worried , because upon arrival, parking it is another business...If you want to get familiar with you"appliance", you have to study and "digest" a manual with 100 pages and complicated divisions. Sometimes I wonder how difficult they make it to let you protect your environment, save money and start using the new technology which is being offered to us. A funny example of extreme automation can be found in a blog I posted not so long ago called Automatic Confession. Boy!!! You wish you were in those old times when you didn't have to worry about computer glitches or about life going on without having to use electricity, gas or tv. Maybe our kids wouldn't be watching so much violence; our husbands wouldn't get stationed in front of this monster screen taking all their meals while they watch a baseball, basketball or football game; we would think instead of having a gadget that thinks for us. Maybe, with time, we will turn into slaves of our machines and the human race's mind will shrink as it goes through adaptation to their new environment. The machines will make us their robots! Scary!!!
Nun Grading Papers
This came from a real religion exam in a Catholic School.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE NUN SITTING AT HER DESK GRADING THESE PAPERS, ALL THE WHILE TRYING TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE AND MAINTAIN HER COMPOSURE! PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.
1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.
>
> 2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
>
> 3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
>
> 4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.
>
> 5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
>
> 6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
>
> 7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD, WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.
>
> 8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMANDMENTS.
>
> 9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
>
> 10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
>
> 11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.
>
> 12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.
>
> 13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
>
> 14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.
>
> 15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA
>
> 16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.
>
> 17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.
>
> 18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.
>
> 19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.
>
> 20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.
>
> 21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.
>
> 22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.
>
> 23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.
>
> 24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY, WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.
>
> 25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE NUN SITTING AT HER DESK GRADING THESE PAPERS, ALL THE WHILE TRYING TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE AND MAINTAIN HER COMPOSURE! PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.
1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.
>
> 2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
>
> 3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
>
> 4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.
>
> 5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
>
> 6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
>
> 7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD, WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.
>
> 8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMANDMENTS.
>
> 9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
>
> 10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
>
> 11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.
>
> 12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.
>
> 13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
>
> 14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.
>
> 15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA
>
> 16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.
>
> 17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.
>
> 18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.
>
> 19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.
>
> 20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.
>
> 21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.
>
> 22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.
>
> 23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.
>
> 24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY, WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.
>
> 25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY
martes, 25 de mayo de 2010
EL PERRO CALATO
En el Perú tenemos a un perro al cual se le ha calificado como “La Única Raza Canina Oriunda del Perú”: El Perro Peruano sin Pelo.
En el año 2001, esta especie fue declarada como Patrimonio de la Nación, por Ley 27573, recibiendo pensión por parte del Estado. Asimismo, con el afán de conservarlos, el Instituto Nacional de Cultura, ha establecido que en todos los museos de sitio y zonas arqueológicas, se críen estos perros.
Para aquellos que creen que los primeros perros llegaron con los conquistadores españoles, desengáñense. El perro peruano tiene ya aproximadamente más de 2000 años de antigüedad. Existen algunas teorías de que vinieron de África con los grupos nómadas que llegaron a América, o que quizás vinieron con los emigrantes asiáticos que cruzaron el estrecho de Bering y poblaron América. Otros estudiosos atribuyen su venida a la época en que se produjo la inmigración china; después que Don Ramón Castilla declarara la abolición de la esclavitud de la raza negra. Pero la prueba más fehaciente de que ya existía este animal durante la época preincaica, se ha dado a través del descubrimiento de vestigios arqueológicos que lo representan en ceramios, textiles y representaciones pictóricas de las diversas culturas pre-incaicas como los Mochica, Chimú y Chancay, que datan desde 300 años AC, hasta los 1470 DC.
En la tumba del Señor de Sipán, descubierta en Huaca Rajada, Sipán, en 1987, se encontró al medio de las cajas mortuorias de sus dos concubinas, el esqueleto del Perro Peruano sin Pelo (nombre oficial de este animal)/
En el Museo de Sipán en Lambayeque, existe una curiosa representación mecánica de la corte del Señor de Sipán, rodeado de sus principales integrantes; incluyendo a un gracioso perro moviendo su cola.
En las leyendas transmitidas por los antiguos peruanos, son los perros de color negro, los que acompañan a las almas al mundo de los muertos. Don Pedro Weiss, fundador de la Universidad Cayetano Heredia, nos dice que “éste tenia que ser un perro sin pelo, porque solo así podría nadar a través de cierto lago con su amo, y llegar a la morada de los dioses”.
Los cronistas, como el Padre Arriaga, decían que “los muertos van a la tierra del silencio pasando por un puente de palo, y son conducidos por un perro negro”.
A través de los restos arqueológicos se ha podido deducir que los perros eran utilizados, tanto para fines domésticos, como para fines curativos, y en los banquetes ceremoniales.
En los huacos Mochica, famosos por sus representaciones de las diferentes actividades culturales, así como de las diferentes expresiones humanas y de animales, aparecen bellos huacos de canes en sus diversos estadios de desarrollo. Algunos huacos encontrados en Sicán (900-1100DC) representan a perros con collares; lo cual indica que eran criados como mascotas queridas. En los huacos posteriores de la cultura Chimú (1100 a 1470 DC), se encuentran también, representaciones de estos animales envueltos en las tareas domesticas y agrícolas (espantando roedores y bichos). En la cultura Chancay, también se encuentran este tipo de utensilios. En muchos casos, el perro sin pelo suplanta a las representaciones del puma, serpiente o halcón, y se han encontrado varias joyas con su imagen. Según la investigadora Maria Reiche, este perro estaría representado en una de los dibujos de las líneas de Nazca.
Durante la época de los Incas, con la reubicación de los “mitimaes” o inmigrantes en los nuevos territorios conquistados, los perros se trasladaron con sus dueños, difundiéndose así, por todo el territorio Inca, que hoy esta dividido en varios países de Sur América.
Cuentan los cronistas, que al venir los españoles trajeron consigo enormes perros que asustaron a los perros nativos; y con el afán de extirpar las idolatrías de los indios, quitaron la costumbre de sacrificar y comerse los perros durante las ceremonias religiosas incaicas. Y así, el perro peruano fue siendo relegado.
El perro peruano, llamado también Viringo, significa “desnudo” en Muchik y “avisador” en quechua. También tiene muchas acepciones como “perro calato”, “perro Chino” (deviene de chono), “perro de Sechura” o “perro orquídea” (algunos poseen innumerables manchas rosadas). Es un perro sin pelo, y tiene la piel dura y tersa. Tiene algunos pelos en la cabeza y patas y en la punta de la cola, y rara vez en el dorso. El color de su piel varía en tonalidades que van desde el negro pizarrón, negro elefante o negro azulado, hasta el gris, y diferentes intensidades de marrón. El color de su escaso pelo varía desde rubio, hasta negro, gris y tonos de marrón. Tiene la cola larga, y las orejas en punta. Su tamaño varía entre los 25 cms. de largo y 4 kilos de peso, hasta los 65 cms. de largo y 25 kilos de peso.
Puede desarrollar velocidades de hasta 60 kms. por hora, y puede saltar dos metros de altura.
En México (xoloitzcuintles), Argentina (“pila”), y en Paraguay (“yagua”), existen parientes un poco más gruesos que los peruanos. En el mundo hay perros sin pelo en países como Turquía y Ceilán, pero no poseen las mismas características. No se le debe de confundir con el “Perro Crestado Chino”, que también carece de pelo en el cuerpo, pero que tiene una gran cantidad de ellos en las patas y en la cabeza.
Por su falta de pelo, y de una glándula de olor bajo la cola, los Perros Peruanos sin Pelo no huelen, ni tienen pulgas, ni producen alergias.
Son muy sensibles al calor y hay que protegerlos de la insolación.
Según el Dr. Pedro Weiss, fundador de la escuela de patología más importante del país, el Perro Peruano sin Pelo, presenta el síndrome de hipoplasia ectodérmica, que se caracteriza por una sensibilidad extrema en la piel; la cual llega a tener temperaturas entre los 39° y 42° c. Asimismo, no posee premolares (lo cual le dificulta el corte del cordón umbilical en el momento del parto), y tiene fragilidad en sus uñas.
Según el Dr. Hermilio Valdizán, en su libro “Medicina Popular”, este perro posee cualidades curativas al entrar en contacto con la piel humana, debido al calor corporal que emite; equivalente a los actuales baños de hipertermia. Fue por estas propiedades mencionadas que su crianza se perpetuó a pesar de la llegada de los otros canes con los españoles.
Según la doctora Alfonsina Barrionuevo, este perro fue precursor de la bolsa de agua caliente, al dormir a los pies de su dueño. En Lima, en épocas antiguas, se le degollaba y se daba de beber su sangre caliente para curar a los enfermos de asma. Se decía que su lamedura cicatrizaba heridas, y que su orina borraba las pecas. También se utilizaban diferentes órganos de su cuerpo para curar diferentes males.
Este animal, posee además, grandes dotes cazadoras, es un magnifico vigilante, y un excelente perro de compañía.
Actualmente, debido a la iniciativa de varios especialistas, esta raza se ha salvado de extinción, y se está convirtiendo en una mascota de lujo, que puede llegar a costar una buena cantidad de dinero.
En Junio del año 2007, el Perro Peruano sin Pelo ha cumplido 22 años de haber sido registrado ante la Federación Cinológica Internacional, con sede en Thuin, Bélgica.
Este perro constituye una reliquia viviente que tiene más de 2,000 años de antigüedad y constituye parte de nuestra identidad cultural, por lo que se debe propugnar su protección
lunes, 24 de mayo de 2010
Exposición de Mario Testino en el MALI
EXPOSICION EN EL MUSEO DE ARTE DE LIMA
(MALI)
MARIO TESTINO, CAMILO BLAS, DE CUPISNIQUE A LOS INCAS:3,000 AÑOS DE ARTE EN EL VALLE DE JEQUETEPEQUE, MONUMENTOS VANDALIZABLES III DE JOSE CARLOS MARTINAT
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