Ordinary People

NBPTS Portfolio Done!!!

City Lights

Sunset Blvd.

Dialogue des Carmélites, Poulenc

How to Live a Happy and Satisfied Life

In each day that passes by, we stand by and witness how our lives are being lived without the full happiness and satisfaction we crave and need. Most people spend their time stressed out, worried and on a constant panic about what needs to be done for their futures, raising their children, wired up over work, school, along with everything else. Does this sound familiar? Well if it does, it is because so many people live with this style and pattern. When you can start living that fully happy and satisfied life?

The only way you can live a happy and satisfied life, is when you start doing things that make you happy and satisfied. Sure, it sounds easy, and can be easy if you just remember to make yourself one of your top priorities. Too many people neglect themselves, feeling that it would be selfish if they took any time out to focus on their own being. While it is good to take care of others and other important things going on in your life, it is mandatory that you never forget about yourself. Discover who you really are and what matters most to you. Living a great life does not just happen. It requires, planning and following those plans to a life that reflects who you truly are.

Most people avoid planning goals and dreams in their lives because they may have a fear of committing to it or failing. They feel that by officially writing it down, they would actually have to go through with pursuing it. This is where you need to rate the importance of your life missions. What is most important to you? Is it losing a certain amount of weight? Getting your degree? Spending more time with your spouse or children? Whatever the reason or reasons may be, just write all of them down. You may feel that making a mental note of your goals and dreams is enough, but you could very well be setting yourself up for disappointment and failure. By writing it down, you will become a visual witness of those goals. Try writing them in an organizer, with a little reminder written in each day.

Setting deadlines for these goals would be a great way to assure they will be accomplished. Avoid disappointment by setting realistic deadlines. For example, if you wanted to lose 10 pounds, do not give yourself a week to do so. You will only torture yourself and become depressed when the week is over and see that you did not come even close to losing the 10 pounds. In fact, you may give up losing weight altogether because of the failure you experienced, simply because your deadline was unrealistic. Take some time everyday to look over your goals and remind yourself of how important they really are to you. Ask yourself why they are important to you too. Knowing that something is important is not enough. You must know the reasons behind the importance of the dreams and goals you have, so that your mind can see it more clearly and understand exactly why it is so necessary to go through with your missions.

Excuses are demons you must learn to fight off if you wish to start living a happy and satisfied life. Most people claim to have many dreams, but say they just do not have the time to approach them. Stop making excuses! You are the only one who holds the power to make a real difference in your life. Sure, we all have busy lives with our careers and families, but nothing takes up 24 hours of your day. So if something is truly important to you, you will be sure to make the time to work on it. You can do this by replacing it with something less important. For example, if you claim you do not have the time to work on the other important goals in your life, perhaps it is time for you to start making close observations on the way you spend your time. If you spend several hours of the day working, studying, and then several hours taking care of house chores and family, what else are you doing with the rest of your day? If you spend a good portion watching television, then you need to cut back on that and use that time to begin and follow an exercise plan you have been thinking to focus on for a long time (or whatever goal it is you have).

Making yourself one of your first priorities is not selfish. It actually is obligatory to do so in order to succeed in the other subjects of your life. Without a happy and satisfied you, there will be no happy and satisfied life, because you will be stressed out and unhappy. You might be consciously ignoring your needs and desires, but your subconscious mind has not forgotten about you and will constantly remind you through stress, anger, sadness, insecurity and feelings of failure.

Start listening to yourself and becoming the best friend and supporter you need. No one is going to work on your happiness for you, so find the power and motivation stored up inside you, and use it to direct yourself into the path of true happiness and satisfaction. You can do anything you set your mind to, and once you have stopped and gotten in touch with yourself, you will learn and realize just how wonderful and capable you really are, and how you always have been. You will not only realize these things, but also begin loving who are more and more, which will not only lead you to achieving the things that make you most happy, but will guide you into a world of many new dreams come true.

Chariots of Fire

Barça -3- Madrid -3-

La lista de Acebes

"La lista de Acebes, por Miguel Ángel Aguilar
El Pais

Vimos emocionados La lista de Schindler, esa película dirigida por Steven Spielberg con Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes y Ben Kingsley basada en el libro de Thomas Keneally que relata la historia de un hombre de negocios alemán. Trata de cómo salvó la vida a más de un millar de judíos polacos durante el Holocausto contratándoles en su fábrica para evitar que fueran enviados a los campos de exterminio nazis. Sabemos de otras listas de judíos salvados, como por ejemplo cuenta Diego Carcedo en su biografía del diplomático español Ángel Sanz Briz cuando era encargado de negocios de la Embajada en Budapest. La lista de Acebes que aquí va a figurar también suscitará emociones. Está formada por los nombres de los condenados etarras que fueron excarcelados con aplicación de amplios beneficios penitenciarios por ministros del Interior del Gobierno de José María Aznar. A continuación de cada nombre figuran los años de condena impuesta que por acumulación quedaron en 30 y las fechas de su ingreso y de su salida de prisión:

- José Ramón Artola Santiesteban, 327 años (02/09/86-04/08/02), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Enrique Letona Viteri, 311 años (09/10/80-14/05/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Juan José Larrinaga Echevarría, 211 años (28/11/80-14/05/03), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- Jaime Rementería Beotegui, 220 años (11/08/83-08/01/04), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Francisco Esquisabel Echevarría, 180 años (1310/80-17/08/02), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Jon J. Ugarte Zincunegui, 174 años (19/06/87-03/0703), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Juan Carlos Echeandea Zorroza, 172 años (26/05/83-06/07/01), excarcelado por Rajoy;
- Luis María Oteagui Arezabala, 162 años (28/04/87-20/06/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Fidel González García, 160 años (1905/81-05/09/ 00), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- Ernesto Alberdi Olano, 136 años (28/11/80-15/09/01), excarcelado por Rajoy;
- Félix Begoa Unzurrunzaga, 134 años (14/11/80-21/10/99), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- José Ángel Aguirre Aguirre, 133 años (28/10/85-26/05/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Fermín Ancizar Tellechea, 126 años (19/05/81-23/07/01), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Francisco Cabello Pérez, 120 años (05/11/86-12/02/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Carlos Recio Gutiérrez, 114 años (25/02/82-06/03/00), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- Juan Nazabal Auzmendi, 106 años (03/10/79-20/04/98), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- Itziar Galardi Sagardía, 101 años (01/03/82-21/02/02), excarcelada por Rajoy;
- Juan María Anza Ortúñez, 101 años (20/02/82-18/10/02), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Fidel Largacha Arce, 99 años (25/02/82-12/06/99), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- Fernado Iraculis Albizu, 99 años (30/03/82-27/11/02), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Eugenio Irastorza Fernández, 96 años (28/02/80-09/09/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- José Antonio Echevarri Ayesta, 94 años (09/07/80-18/01/02), excarcelado por Rajoy;
- Jesús Jiménez Zurbano, 94 años (22/11/88-31/05/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Ángel Zabaleta Mendía, 94 años (13/06/89-08/03/04), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Jesús María Ormaechea Antepara, 88 años (08/05/84-24/01/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Agustín Muiños Díaz, 88 años (16/05/84-25/02/02), excarcelado por Rajoy;
- Manuel Estolaza Alcocer, 85 años (05/02/81-07/07/99), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- José A. Pagola Cortajarena, 78 años (27/06/84-17/10/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Ricardo Garciandia Solano, 73 años (29/10/81-23/11/99), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- Pedro Juan Guridi Arocena, 68 años (14/11/80-11/04/01), excarcelado por Rajoy;
- Miguel Alberdi Zubizarreta, 68 años 06/12/84-14/11/ 01), excarcelado por Rajoy;
- Salvador Areizaga Arozamena, 67 años (17/11/81-12/12/02), excarcelado por Acebes;
- José R. Zabaleta Garmendia, 66 años (12/12/84-07/02/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Gloria María Recarte Gutiérrez, 65 años (29/10/81-24/11/00), excarcelada por Mayor Oreja;
- Sebastián Gonzalo Pajares Arana, 65 años (25/02/82-19/11/99) excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- Jon I. Jaio Bustinduy, 64 años (09/06/85-11/09/03), excarcelado por Acebes;
- Juan Manuel González Merino, 63 años (20/06/84-04/03/00), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;
- José Luis Merino Quijano, 57 años (28/03/84-27/09/01), excarcelado por Rajoy;
- Coro Eguibar Michelena, 53 años (20/02/82-05/08/00), excarcelada por Mayor Oreja;
- Iñaki Bilbao Goicoechea, 52 años (06/07/83-28/09/00), excarcelado por Mayor Oreja;

y así sucesivamente hasta sumar 62 excarcelados que tenían penas acumuladas de 30 años y cumplieron bastantes menos de 20.”

Dream Theater: Regression

Tommy

This is the worst movie I've ever seen, and I have seen a lot! I bought this movie because it is listed in the book 1000 Best Movies on DVD by Peter Travers. Also, the movie is in the superbit collection, which is supposed to have superb sound and image quality. Well, the sound quality is not that good. And the movie does not deserve to be among those 1000. I rate this movie 0 over 10, or 0 stars. The only thing I liked is the Elton John number; and it's not that good either. This may be a good movie to The Who fans. But even them complain because they change the plot of the original story for this movie. The acting is awful, the music sucks, the story is lame, and everything else is a waste of money and time (I lost 110 minutes of my precious time with this, when I could have been reading a good book, watching a good movie, or listening to a good CD). I would not even pay one cent for this movie. I even hate the band The Who. They always make it to those Best Albums, etc. but to me they are a bunch of loosers. If you like classic rock, and conceptual albums or "Rock operas" specifically, try Pink Floyd and watch The Wall. That is a mastepiece. This is a wannabe that deserves no attention.

Hemispheres, Rush

The Gold Rush