Is happiness really the path?

January 12th, 2010 by Miquel 2 comments »

How can we explain the depression in people who finally managed to live in the paradise? I was also surprised when I heard that for the first time but it makes sense when you think about it. The lack of goals – you’ve achieved yours – and the boredom can make you lose the purpose in life. So maybe that’s right, happiness is the path to pursuing something not the goal in itself. But then, does that mean that we are better off never reaching what we want?

sunset

Here’s a time-lapse video made from the pictures I took during a sunset in Costa Rica, which is the closest I’ve been to paradise and enjoying every second of it:

Even though I would keep setting goals for your life; otherwise what to live a life for?

Passing airport’s security faster

January 11th, 2010 by Miquel No comments »

I felt simpathy with Martin when reading his article about airport securityshoes off and all – althought I don’t really agree with the procedure he proposes. I don’t want to imagine how intrusive people would become following this method. I do understand that nobody would like to see their airplain blowing up in the middle of the air but there must be another way.

Just explain that I’ve taken 9 flights in the last month and I perfectly understand how tedious is the process of security crossing, very specially when going or passing by the States. But I just wanted to make your live easier by telling you how do I go through screening considerably faster than most of the passangers.

First of all carry with you a bag where you’ll have the books you want to read, cameras and whatever it is you carry and put all the coins, keys, pens and all these useless stuff. You can do that when approaching the security area. Do the same with watch, rings and glasses.

Second of all and very important. Two things you need to wear with you: one is a removable buckle belt – extremely practical – and secondly your Vibram Fivefingers. I’ll publish a more detailed review of them in the future but for now you need to know that they are comfortable in the airport’s floor and most important to the security personnel you are already barefoot!

4145876102_776304842e

Just to clarify that these are not mine ;) Mines are black, less showy.

So by the time you’ve reached the screening you just need to leave on the tray your belt’s buckle – of course without removing the belt, that’s the whole point – your passport and flight ticket. Put your bag in the X-Ray machine and walk through! You’ll even have great reactions. My favourite one in Atlanta’s international airtport – Those are funky!

Eat the cake or have it?

November 8th, 2009 by Miquel No comments »

I found this to be a really interesting design for a chocolate cake. I couldn’t resist to take a picture of it :)

cake

From the Patisserie Valerie for those interested

A weekend in Tossa de Mar

July 28th, 2009 by Miquel No comments »

This is going to be a very stupid post but I had to leave record for future generations.

If you’ve visited Spain and you’ve travelled along the Costa Brava you might have come across Tossa de Mar. A very small town situated at less than 40km from Girona. Although its population has been increasing and the tourism has become quite important in the area, the town still preserves its picturesque corners from its origins in the XII century. It is a beautiful, relaxing and interesting place to spend a weekend in although something is not quite right with the place.

3777027113_42e4389ace_o

3777831328_03b73fd7fb_o

What I didn’t know, and thanks to an English friend I discovered, is that Tossa in Catalan is pronounced the same way as tosser in English, which means wanker. So here we have a town that would translate as Wanker of the Sea. That’s why this town won’t ever be a very popular holiday destination amongst British.

Alpha male in office environment – beginner’s tutorial

July 22nd, 2009 by Miquel 1 comment »

Today in my acting class we were doing exercises relating objects and the concept of status. How an object could become or be perceived as more or less important, given its position in space, its height or position of the other objects in relation to it.

That concept has been dancing in my head for a while given its immediate use in the day to day life,  and eventually I’ve decided to put these set of rules on how to become the relevant subject in an office environment which is where I spend most of my day these days.

So you know – “The alpha is the individual in the community whom the others follow” – if you want to be him just practice these rules:

  • Have a witty comment prepared for each of your office colleagues just in case you bump into one of them in the elevator. For those whom you not say even hello when you come across them on the street too.
  • If there is a lively discussion within the office and everyone gives their opinion, do not participate. That will break the momentum and you will be perceived as a superior being who is above the rest.
  • When everyone is working and there is a quite environment in the office, drop an energetic comment loud enough to be heard by everyone. Something like: “Bruce, you are a star!!”.
  • Similarly, when talking on the phone show yourself confident, talk to your speaker as if you were close friends. Do it slightly loud as well so everyone can notice.
  • If senior subjects within the organisation empathize you, inmediately the rest of the collegues admire you. Stroll by the office as such.
  • Tell your anecdotes with passion, as if they were the best thing that has ever happened in your life. Even if it’s the boring baptism of your nephew. Sure somehow you can ridicule a relative.

***

If you follow all these rules you will be the object that stands out from the rest. Good luck with your motivations…

Testing a super car

July 10th, 2009 by Miquel No comments »

Why men in particular feel so attracted to super cars? Is it a hidden feeling of impotence that has to be compensated? Or is it the feeling of being in control of so much power? I don’t know. It could be both actually.

3704519593_64df2602e3_o

3705329802_38bd22c7c7_o

It’s not surprising then, that today I had an amazing day driving a Lamborghini Gallardo around the circuit – full throttle! Let me describe it into more detail.

The entire experience was like meeting, for the first time, a friend’s friend – that was the first time we saw each other so we kind of kept our distance because we didn’t know what we had in common. The typical initial-cautious mutual respect.

After the introduction and the first lap we started to like each other. We realized that maybe the date wasn’t going to be as uncomfortable as we thought…

Second lap and the laughter began. We both were having fun!

Third and fourth lap we trusted each other like you trust your own brother. That trust made us push the limits ;-)

From my experience here I put 5 basic steps you might decide to follow before driving a super car in a circuit:

3721972822_b43acf32b1_o

First of all, make sure you are familiarized with the circuit you’ll run in. Difficult corners, gaps, etc. In most cases you’ll complete a couple of laps with an instructor.

Normally there will be a person in charge of the security, so you might want to contact him in the first place and go through the procedure the drivers have to follow in case of an accident and so on.

300px-Racing_line.svg

Make sure you know the basic parts of a corner and how to deal with them. The entry point – do not accelerate passed this point just mantain speed, you don’t want to spin. Apex – the geometric center of the turn. Hitting the apex allows the vehicle to take the straightest line and maintain the highest speed through that specific corner. And exit point – when you can accelerate again.

Once you get into the car spot every single element you’ll need to use. For instance in my case the gearshift was placed just behind the steering wheel and I had one to increase and the other one to decrease gear.

Another aspect is the psychological side. I recommend you to be focused but not tense. Let it flow naturally, don’t be scared – the thing won’t blow up. Enjoy.

***

There is no doubt that these cars are designed to flaunt exclusivity and power.

Already on my way back to London and driving a standard car I arrived to the conclusion that in a society power makes you stand out. If everyone had the same power then nobody would stand out. If everyone had a Lamborghini in the garage then, perhaps, driving one wouldn’t be as exciting.

So I don’t know, maybe the answer to why we like these cars so much is close to that?

The crisis of credit

March 28th, 2009 by Miquel No comments »

Although it’s an already saturated topic, when in a few years time I fancy remembreing what happened in 2009 and what caused the crisis of credit I’ll want to see the following video:

Two years since then

March 1st, 2009 by Miquel No comments »

It’s been two years since I started my journey – since I left my land, my home – and adventured myself into unknown regions.

The cause? I have yet to ascertain. For some reason I had the intense feeling that I couldn’t stay all my life in the same place. I needed new challenges, expand my mind and test myself day after day.

To leave the comfort behind is never easy and even less when confusion and uncertainty’s shadow pursue you. But the feeling of departing was always greater.

After all this time though, what I found out is that everything is on track and going forward – that even if you pull up or feel confused, the world won’t stop spinning.

Today is a day of celebration. Celebrating the change, the nonconformity and the eager to discover. Because in the end that’s what makes you feel alive and not the opposite.

When the moon and the sun meet eachother

November 24th, 2007 by Miquel No comments »

If you are interested in photography, you’ll provably know what the golden hour or magic hour is. Well, in Oslo – and I suppose in most Nordic countries – the magic hour is a little bit confusing because you don’t know exactly when the day ends and the night begins simply because they overlap each other!

1807785275_c36e70237d_o

1807784523_f6c10bc49d_o

Oslo is mine

November 4th, 2007 by Miquel No comments »

1808733550_791913585a_o

Facts:

The origin of the name Oslo, initially spelled “Áslo” and later “Óslo”, is derived from Old Norse.

Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300.

Gradually, Old Norse splintered into the modern North Germanic languages: Icelandic, Faroese, Norwegian (nynorsk), Norwegian (bokmål), Danish and Swedish.