April 4th, 2002. I remember reading in the newspaper that Riquelme’s brother had been kidnapped. Riquelme is a football player, he is the leader midfilder of Boca Juniors and Argentina National Team. He is a star and idol for many people while a villain to others. He even resigned once to his position in Argentina National Team due to critics.

Carlos Bianchi was his coach while he was in Boca for several years, they won a few tournaments together. Carlos is a succesful coach, at least in Argentina is regarded as one, as he was able to be world champion a few times with different teams, as well as American and Argentinian champion. When talking about his personality he is rather reserved, at the extent of being considered arrogant, living in a bad mood and pedantic.

When Riquelme’s brother was kidnapped there was a TV news program here called “DH, Después de Hora” (also its presenter and owner of the show initials, Daniel Hadad). The program was known for having controversial people who got their information from “not official” sources. As Riquelme’s brother was being captive, his kidnappers negotiated with Riquelme’s family the reward for his release. Many of this communications were broadcasted in the show as Hadad “was able to get them”, nobody knows how (well we imagine). In one of this communications Bianchi called Riquelme, he was not coaching him anymore.

The conversation as I remember it (I wasn’t able to find it to post it, I hardly think it can be found as it is legal evidence) was very normal, of course Riquelme was nervous and anxious. Bianchi handled the conversation perfectly. He asked Riquelme how he was doing a few times, as any friend would ask in a daily conversation. Riquelme with the typical respect he said that everything was alright, thanks for calling me Carlos, among other things. Carlos told him that if he needed something he only should ask for it, that if any single thing was needed he should require it. That was all. He never mentioned something about his brother. He just offered his help unconditionally. Obviously my impression about Bianchi changed completely after that. I was even able to understand why he acted in that way many times and I wanted him to be the coach of Argentina National team.

A few days ago I chatted with a good friend who I can’t see so often now due to life. I asked him how was he doing. He replied with a not very good since my mother died (that was more than a month ago). I became petrified. He only lived with his mother, now he was all alone. I was very sorry to hear that, I told him that and offered my help and “ears” to him, for whatever and whenever he needs it.

We got together with some other friends as well. We tried to meet for the end of the year, as it is something usual between us here. We had a nice meeting. One of them didn’t know what happened, though she is another close one to the small group. A few days later she wrote me and told me to join again because she felt he was doing not very good, that he was sad and completely alone. The 3 of us gathered in the park. Talked about many things related to all of us and our families, about our destinies in holidays, happy and sad things. As we let him know we are there for him, he was able to unburden himself and find some relief, at least for a while.

As long as someone needs me or us I am sure all of us will be there. At least… I hope so.

Merry Christmas.
Feliz Navidad.

El Eternauta – 22.12.2008

PS: Dokieh and El Eternauta wish you all (?) Merry Christmas.

I’m one of those who day-by-day are watching TV less and less and are getting used to other media like, for example, Internet. The differences between these two are common knowledge, but there’s one of them which stands out from the others: the capability of choice.

That doesn’t mean that manipulation and control over people are excluded, but at least your information limits spread wide, compared to what television gives you.

In short, I’m sure that I could live without ‘tele’ for a week, or even more, just because I can find the same contents in other places and, as I said, no one guides you there or tries to convince you to watch what they want to sell you.

DoKiÈh – 14.10.08

Algunas imagenes muy duras, luego del afiche político hay imágenes de la belleza aborigen que tanto me gusta.

Some pictures that are hard to see, after the political banner there are some images of aborigin beauty that I love so much.

No hay mucho que decir. En realidad no pensaba escribir nada, ya que a veces una imagen da cátedra por sí misma. Tenemos un problema. Nuestras raíces están muriendo literalmente. Sin raíces ya nada podrá dar nuevos frutos. El estado no va a hacer nada, dándonos un perfecto ejemplo de inanición. Supongo que la esperanza reside en el ciudadano común y corriente -al menos quiero creer eso-, ya que en este último tiempo lo único que creo es que los indígenas sirven solamente para capturar votos. A muchos estados les molesta pagarle sus pensiones por habitantes originarios, que pocos en realidad reciben. Además, necesitan despojarlos de sus tierras para que empresas puedan “cultivar” o talar, vender agroquímicos, alquilar máquinas agrarias, contaminar la tierra y explotarlos, entre otras cosas.

Sé que la bitácora se escribiría en inglés. Dudé si traducirlo, ya que no creo que vayan de la mano aborígenes e inglés, pero creo que ayuda definitivamente a la difusión como ya lo expliqué en otros artículos.

There is not much to say. Actually,  I wasn’t thinking in writing anything about this, since a picture sometimes speaks for itself.

We have a problem. Literally, our roots are dying. Without them nothing will flourish. The government won’t do anything, giving us a perfect example of starvation. I guess the only hope remains in the average citizen (at least I want to believe so), due to the fact that in the last years I just believe that aborigines are only worth it to gain votes. Many governments hate to pay them a pension, that in fact only few receive. Moreover, they need to take them away from their lands so that companies can cultivate or cut down trees, sell agrochemicals, rent agrarian machines, pollute the soil and exploit them, among other things.

El Eternauta – 13.10.2008

As international politics is one of my favourites sections, I paid attention and listened carefully. However, there is a “problem” when I focus too much on something: I usually can’t avoid to relate the thing I am focusing on with another different thing. I guess it is how my brain works better, by making associations, specially implausible ones.

Unfortunately, it was not shown much about Obama’s speech. Then they briefly showed McCain’s short speech and the introduction of his vice president partner. After that some comments by the international politics analyzer on the news channel. That was enough. Enough to make that plausible relation. That relation that seemed to have been hiding there, growing in this grey field in solitude, finally become noticeable. Both speeches triggered memories from other speeches, but those memories didn’t seem to be real.

In that moment I was stuck in a sort of paradox. Surely one of the most passionate moments of having this kind of thinking. Thoughts were tangled up, definitely. I breathed deeply. Finally, in a blink of an eye, those “virtual thoughts” untangled and linked with the reality. I was in the presence of a Hollywood production. That is when all started to have sense.

I decided to wait a few days while I refined the ideas on my head. Days passed, I got ill. Tonight I read about McCain acceptance. I searched for it and watched. Not much to add to my conclusions. I know that my conclusions can be somehow disturbing, even annoying. Of course you must know that is just one interpretation based on something fictional, so it shouldn’t be taken seriously. Moreover, I don’t care to discuss the content of their speeches related to their proposals, so I won’t go deep there.

They need something “touching” to gain votes. One of the basis of my theory is that they can achieve that by applying a tested formula that has already proved to be efficient. The formula is simple, choose one speech from a Hollywood film that was successful, modify it according to the current circumstances, personalise and give it your touch.

When I saw Obama standing there speaking my mind heard Morpheus talking to Zion before the machine’s invasion. He certainly spoke very well, as an expert in oratory. He addressed clearly, covered the points he wanted, he transmitted confidence to the listeners, he did what all expert salesmen do: sold them perfectly what they wanted to buy. Some magic solutions like energy efficient use or new alternative energies; of course all of them produced in United States so they would end their dependency from the East (known as conquering). He promised to finish war in Irak. He was talking to a huge crowd, exactly as Morpheus to the people of Zion before their war against the machines. That people claimed to know what was happening, they were afraid. They knew that some army was being moved, that an evacuation was coming soon. So the counsel allowed him to speak, they knew that he was the best man in that situation. One that believes in prophecies, almost in miracles, that could save them. So he was in charge to transmit this people some hope, though they knew that only a miracle could make them win the war.

It is also funny to see how other conclusions can be taken from here. They are “humanity” fighting against the machines (in the beginning slaves). They have the chosen one in their rows. Also, they are relegated to live in the last corner of the planet, together with an interesting view of a polluted planet.

On the other hand, we have McCain’s speeches, the one where he introduced his vice president and the acceptance one. Both of them mixed to bring memories of Chancellor Palpatine (also known as Darth Sidious) when addressing to the senate, announcing the creation of the galactic empire. He talked from an invisible pedestal, in a tone of superiority, viewing everybody else with arrogance. He was proud to announce Sarah Palin as his partner for presidency. The woman who wants citizens to carry their weapons (who knows with what intention?), who is proud that his son is going to war and the average mom that takes her sons to a hockey game (a.k.a. “Vale-tudo fight ground”). So if this will be McCain’s right hand the natural analogy and place for her is to be Anakin in his most twisted moments. Like when he cleans up his master false promises to the trade federation commerce, by killing the ones that wanted peace. This doesn’t mean she is deep down a good person.

McCain has already fought a war. He is a veteran, an old soldier that knows how things work to create more evil. Unfortunately, he is trying to leave all his teachings (bad ones) to their pupils (apprentice). There is some funny thing, the name of his party, Republicans, doesn’t match at all with the Republic defended by the Jedi Order, instead he truly represents the “Empire”. As he said, he will fight against their enemies, he won’t give up, he will write history. It’s interesting to see how they create enemies, by conquering, to keep writing history… the darkest pages since humankind has appeared on Earth.

El Eternauta – 06.09.2008

Los motivos del cambio de idioma son varios, aunque podrían resumirse brevemente. Creemos necesario el uso del inglés para poder llegar a múltiples personas, no sólo las de habla nativa, ya que muchos tienen al inglés como su idioma secundario. De esta forma se podría conseguir una diversidad cultural más fluida, un intercambio cultural distinto para enriquecernos a todos y un entendimiento mutuo de las barreras que hoy nos separan. Además creemos que los contenidos de nuestros artículos tendrán, tal vez, más provecho estando en inglés ya que por lo general se hace una crítica a un sistema que tiene al inglés como voz innata. De esta forma esperamos que exista una retroalimentación, estimulada por un análisis de los contenidos, y no un repudio. Además, en un plano personal, este cambio presenta un desafío para las autores lo cual serviría de musa y estimulante.

Here we restart a project dear readers. In this very first lines, I will try to explain briefly the aim of this blog. We started this “trip” some time ago with a single purpose in mind: to release all our discomfort caused by a system we don’t approve, a society that has lost its values, an atmosphere we didn’t choose to live in. Originally, we began writing in Spanish, our native languages, but some time later our goals and points of view changed. Somehow, we feel the need of taking greater steps to achieve our inside purposes.

I am sure you will find something interesting among all our post, at least in one category. Nevertheless, if you don’t, at least I am sure you will find something interesting or catchy that will make you hesitate on the reality that has been sold to you or why are things the way they are.
That is what we pretend at least. I hope you can join us in our trip. I wish you hesitate yourself on the things we write, seek for yourself and let us know. My greatest wish is that we share this path and all of us can arrive somewhere together, at least a little bit more aware of the place we live in, of who we are surrounded by, understanding who is who, and why and where are we traveling.

Adiós, perdón y gracias.
Welcome to our crew.

¿Queda algo por inventar?

DoKiÈh – 02.08.08

El hombre que puede haber salvado a Internet del caos cibernético total es un informático de 29 años de Seattle llamado Dan Kaminsky. En febrero, por pura casualidad, se encontró con un error en el sistema de asignación de direcciones de Internet del que todavía no quiere revelar demasiados detalles. “Es pronto”, dice. “Primero quiero que el problema se haya solucionado a gran escala y luego descubriré los detalles”.

Lo que Kaminsky descubrió es un error de dimensiones titánicas, presente en la Red desde el mismo día de su nacimiento formal en los años ochenta, que permitiría a cualquier hacker, o pirata informático, secuestrar la libreta de direcciones web, conocida como Sistema de Nombres de Dominio, y redireccionar el tráfico de Internet a sitios falsos en los que se podrían hacer con datos valiosísimos, como números de cuentas bancarias, datos privados o contraseñas personales. Cuando lo descubrió, Kaminsky, director de Penetración de Pruebas de Seguridad en la consultora IOActive, decidió colaborar con dos frentes.

“Primero me puse en contacto con los grandes proveedores de Internet y luego con el Departamento de Seguridad Interior”, explica. “La respuesta de ambas partes fue magnífica”. El 31 de marzo se reunió con representantes de los 16 grandes de Internet de EE UU en el cuartel general de Microsoft en Redmond, en el Estado de Washington. “Les expuse la situación y decidieron que no había más opción que cooperar y trabajar conjuntamente en parches de seguridad idénticos, para evitar una catástrofe”.

Este investigador avisó también al Gobierno, a través del Equipo de Emergencia y Respuesta Informática del Departamento de Seguridad Interior. Colaborando con Kaminsky, estos agentes del Gobierno de EE UU revelaron la existencia de este fallo el pasado 8 de julio, advirtiendo que “el tráfico web, el correo electrónico y otros datos importantes de la Red pueden ser redireccionados bajo el control de los atacantes”.

En ese momento, Microsoft, Cisco y otras empresas proveedoras de Internet comenzaron a proporcionar sus parches de seguridad, como descargas y actualizaciones automáticas de los sistemas operativos. “Que el Gobierno haya tomado cartas en este asunto y que lo haya hecho de este modo revela la gravedad del asunto”, explica Kaminsky. “Además, es la primera vez que las grandes empresas de la Red se coordinan de esta manera y trabajan de forma conjunta y a marchas forzadas”.

Por supuesto, ésta no es la primera ocasión en que se descubre un fallo en la Red. “Pero hasta ahora, los hackers eran capaces de atacar los terminales. Podían secuestrar tu ordenador, podían hacerse con el control de una red”, añade. “Pero ahora, lo que hemos descubierto no es un fallo local, sino un gran envenenamiento de la Red a través del cual estas personas podrían secuestrar todas las páginas web, aprovechando un agujero en la libreta de direcciones de Internet, su banco de datos primordial”.

Muchos son los casos de ciberterrorismo que se viven a diario. A principios de julio los servidores de Icann, organización no lucrativa que administra las correspondencias entre nombres de páginas web y direcciones IP, fueron atacados por un grupo de hackers turcos autodenominados NetDevilz, o Diablos de la Red.

Kaminsky ha prometido revelar más detalles sobre su descubrimiento “cuando la resolución del problema esté más avanzada”. Lo hará el próximo día 24 en la conferencia sobre informática Black Hat, la mayor del mundo en materia de seguridad cibernética. Su testimonio se podrá seguir en directo a través de la dirección blackhat.com.

El masivo fallo descubierto, que todavía contamina a millones de ordenadores en todo el mundo, puede ser detectado por los usuarios. Kaminsky ha creado una página web en la que pueden comprobar si su computadora es vulnerable. En doxpara.com se accede a un botón denominado check my DNS. Si el internauta confirma que su nombre de servidor es susceptible de ser atacado dispone de una solución fácil de implementar.

La página web opendns.com ha creado una red entre EE UU y Europa en la que se proporciona un sistema de nombres de dominio blindado. Es, en otras palabras, un listín telefónico alternativo al que no afecta el fallo descubierto por Kaminsky. En esta dirección se ofrecen, de forma gratuita, dos direcciones de servidores de nombres de dominio seguras: 208.67.222.222 y 208.67.220.220. Ambas se pueden introducir en la correspondiente casilla en las Propiedades de Protocolo de Internet de cualquier computadora.

David Alandete – ELPAÍS.com – 20.07.08

Como en la maleta llevaré toda la ropa y demás objetos de primera necesidad, me centraré en lo que irá repartido entre la maleta del portatil y la mochila en sí.

1- El portatil y sus accesorios: pues eso, que, aunque hoy en días las maletas para los portátiles sean bien amplias, siguen sirviendo principalmente para lo mismo; para el laptop, su batería, cargador, etc.

2- Un libro: siempre necesario. En este caso, se trata de “La doctrina del shock”, de Naomi Klein.

3- MP4: un reproductor MP4, simple y llanamente. Para los que no son españoles, decirles que aquí llamamos “MP4s” a todos esos reproductores estilo iPod pero que no son de la marca Apple. Más o menos es eso.

4- Cargadores: para el móvil, para el mismo MP4. Lo que casi siempre se suele olvidar.

5- Mapa de carretera: me va a hacer falta. Nunca fuí a Lisboa conduciendo yo y, claro está, a uno no le apetece perderse por ahí.

6- Llaves: las de casa y las del coche. Con llaveros anticuados que recuerdan otros viajes.

7- Algo de ropa: la que no cabe en la maleta, principalmente de playa. Algún bañador o camiseta.

8- Toalla: para la playa.

9- Gorra y gafas de sol: soy un enamorado de las gorras, así que si no la tengo puesta, pues estará en la mochila.

10- DVD’s: música y películas principalmente. Ya que lleva uno el portatil, pues con algo habrá que entretenerse.

Pues bien, hasta aquí mi primer meme, un poco condicionado por mi próximo viaje. De todas formas, si se hubiera dado en invierno, se cambiarían toallas y bañadores por gorritos y guantes.

Y ahora es el turno de recomendar otros blogs para que sigan el meme. Estos son los míos:

Savitari

redDevil Zone

Tiempo de cambios

Quiet World

Pero, antes de esa citada vuelta, os dejo con este estupendo vídeo. De todas las gilipolleces que al cabo del día uno recibe por e-mail, MSN, o cualquier otro medio, esta es, sin duda alguna, la que más me ha gustado en los últimos meses. No sé a vosotros, pero a mí este vídeo -que parte de un concepto tan simple pero que a la vez resulta muy difícil de hacer- me dice muchas cosas.

Espero que lo disfruten.

DoKiÈh – 15.07.08

PD: antes de irme, un comentario para destrozar la armonía y fraternidad que reina en este vídeo.

¿Os habeis fijado en qué país de todos los que aparecen la gente salta más, disfruta más y lo flipa más?

Pues claro, ¿cuál va a ser?

“Me interesa el futuro porque es el sitio donde voy a pasar el resto de mi vida”.

Woody Allen.