"Fellowships"
lunes, 6 de mayo de 2024
viernes, 27 de diciembre de 2013
One year ago
By these days last year I started this blog, and it has been a very gratifying experience. Now I'm about to start a different project. It will have a book format and hopefully it will hit the libraries. Nevertheless I will keep posting entries in this blog, but not regularly.
Thank you for your support throughout 2013- Best wishes for 2014!
MB
"Life as a tree"
Washed pen and watercolor, 13 August 2008
Washed pen and watercolor, 13 August 2008
sábado, 14 de diciembre de 2013
Carthage
"Carthage's last sunset"
Watercolor on paper, 30 Aug. 2008
Carthage has been one the most interesting empires of all times. Founded by the Phoenicians in 814 BC., Carthage dominated the Mediterranean for more than six centuries until its demise in 146 BC. The Carthaginians were the best civil engineers, sailors and warriors of their time. Their home town was a wonder of modernities such as fresh water supply in the entire city, an efficient sewage system and a secure port able to harbor hundreds of ships.
Why Carthage did not become the builder of western civilization, as Rome was? It was certainly strong and rich, but it lacked a sound political organization, and had no values to transmit. Carthage had inherited an oriental-type dynasty system that could not prevail over the much stronger Rome's republican organization, its legal system and its democratic representation.
After being allies against Greece, Carthage defied Rome's rising power more for a hurt sense of pride and fear of losing its commercial hegemony than for real danger. After a long siege, the Romans finally broke into the city, tearing down every building and selling the survivors as slaves. Carthage would be from then on another province of the Roman Empire.
Carthage has been one the most interesting empires of all times. Founded by the Phoenicians in 814 BC., Carthage dominated the Mediterranean for more than six centuries until its demise in 146 BC. The Carthaginians were the best civil engineers, sailors and warriors of their time. Their home town was a wonder of modernities such as fresh water supply in the entire city, an efficient sewage system and a secure port able to harbor hundreds of ships.
Why Carthage did not become the builder of western civilization, as Rome was? It was certainly strong and rich, but it lacked a sound political organization, and had no values to transmit. Carthage had inherited an oriental-type dynasty system that could not prevail over the much stronger Rome's republican organization, its legal system and its democratic representation.
After being allies against Greece, Carthage defied Rome's rising power more for a hurt sense of pride and fear of losing its commercial hegemony than for real danger. After a long siege, the Romans finally broke into the city, tearing down every building and selling the survivors as slaves. Carthage would be from then on another province of the Roman Empire.
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martes, 10 de diciembre de 2013
Self choice
It's my intelligence really me, or is it just an instrument that I use?
Let's consider the two circles above: The one in the left contains eight bars, four stars and an small circle, randomly distributed. The one in the right contains the same objects in a geometric simetry. Please watch freely the two images until you feel that you really know everything about them.
............ ........... ....... .... .......... .........
Now that these two images are familiar to you, please answer these 3 questions (there is no right or wrong answers):
1) Which image represents me best?
2) What image I like the most?
3) What image is me?
There is two possible answer combinations:
1) You answered equally the same questions. In this case, if you answered three times "left figure", your self is centered more in biological aspects and emotions; Right-brain activities are most important. Intelligence is an instrument that I use.
If you chose three times the "right figure", you are more prone to left-brain activities, logical thinking is above any other consideration. I am my intelligence.
2) You answered 2-1, either two left and one right, or viceversa. In both cases you are close to a healthy balance between both brain hemispheres. You are prone to reconcile means and objectives, and therefore you have more probabilities to reach success in what you do.
Let's consider the two circles above: The one in the left contains eight bars, four stars and an small circle, randomly distributed. The one in the right contains the same objects in a geometric simetry. Please watch freely the two images until you feel that you really know everything about them.
............ ........... ....... .... .......... .........
Now that these two images are familiar to you, please answer these 3 questions (there is no right or wrong answers):
1) Which image represents me best?
2) What image I like the most?
3) What image is me?
There is two possible answer combinations:
1) You answered equally the same questions. In this case, if you answered three times "left figure", your self is centered more in biological aspects and emotions; Right-brain activities are most important. Intelligence is an instrument that I use.
If you chose three times the "right figure", you are more prone to left-brain activities, logical thinking is above any other consideration. I am my intelligence.
2) You answered 2-1, either two left and one right, or viceversa. In both cases you are close to a healthy balance between both brain hemispheres. You are prone to reconcile means and objectives, and therefore you have more probabilities to reach success in what you do.
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sábado, 30 de noviembre de 2013
Sketchy worlds
"Sketchy worlds: Sunset"
Watercolor on paper, 16 June 2006
Love comes to you and you follow
Lose one, on to the Heart of the Sunrise
SHARP-DISTANCE
How can the wind with its arms all around me
Lost on a wave and then after
Dream on, on to the Heart of the Sunrise...
"Sketchy worlds: Roundabout"
10 October 2005
Go closer hold the land feel party no more than grains of sand
We stand to lose all time a thousand answers by in our hand
Next to your deeper fears we stand surrounded by a million years
I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out
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sábado, 23 de noviembre de 2013
Homo homini lupus
"Wolf and sheep"
Watercolor on paper, 3 May 2004
In his work Asinaria greek writer Plauto (ca. 200 bc) described man as "a wolf for man". English philosopher Thomas Hobbes used this concept to illustrate the need for a "social contract" among men to get over the animal, natural tendency to survive that moves individuals to behave as wolves for their fellow beings, moved by their fear to fail to survive, or perhaps other real or unreal needs.
Among the many social classifications that we humans are fond to make, there is one that does not appear in the statistics: How many of us, how often and when do we behave as wolves and when as sheep. Not even each one of us could make that study for himself. Just keep in mind, though, before you act, what skin are you wearing. You will be surprised.
Among the many social classifications that we humans are fond to make, there is one that does not appear in the statistics: How many of us, how often and when do we behave as wolves and when as sheep. Not even each one of us could make that study for himself. Just keep in mind, though, before you act, what skin are you wearing. You will be surprised.
Untitled
Watercolor on paper, 24 June 2004
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sábado, 16 de noviembre de 2013
Acts of God
"The Flood"
Watercolor on paper, 27 Oct 2005
Watercolor on paper, 27 Oct 2005
There's four kinds of people who believe in God:
To the first belong those who thank God for the blessings they received, and pray that evil may not reach them.
The second kind groups those who blame God for not receiving the same blessings that others have received, and for all the evil that has reached them.
The third kind is formed by those who say they don't believe in God, to avoid any responsibility with themselves and with their fellow beings. Their blessings, they think, are the consequence of their own efforts, not so their evils.
In the fourth group are those who do not officially believe in God, but recognize the need of His existence to complete deep scientific theories, or just administrative work. Insurance companies, for instance, define natural disasters like tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, falling meteorites, etc., as "Acts of God". As mountains, rivers and lightning, those are the consequence of deterministic laws that cannot be changed, not even by God. They don't have a purpose or a meaning, except for those who belong to the second and third groups.
"Puerto Principe"
(After the earthquake that destroyed Haiti)
Watercolor on paper, 19 Jan. 2010
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