60 Seconds with The Hobbit Cast: The Battle of the Five Armies

Vintage Christmas Cartoons !!! - Classics.

Charles Baudelaire -L'Héautontimorouménos - ( The Self-Tormenter )

-Are you a Self-Tormenter ? 

Do you subject yourself to constant criticism? Do you pressure yourself all the time? Do you harass yourself about the things you didn't do or things you did wrong?

-Je Suis le poison? . Are you infected and you think you have no cure?

-Are you ready to end it all?

L'Héautontimorouménos

À  J.G.F.

Je te frapperai sans colère

Et sans haine, comme un boucher,

Comme Moïse le rocher

Et je ferai de ta paupière,

Pour abreuver mon Saharah

Jaillir les eaux de la souffrance.

Mon désir gonflé d'espérance

Sur tes pleurs salés nagera

Comme un vaisseau qui prend le large,

Et dans mon coeur qu'ils soûleront

Tes chers sanglots retentiront

Comme un tambour qui bat la charge!

Ne suis-je pas un faux accord

Dans la divine symphonie,

Grâce à la vorace Ironie

Qui me secoue et qui me mord

Elle est dans ma voix, la criarde!

C'est tout mon sang ce poison noir!

Je suis le sinistre miroir

Où la mégère se regarde.

Je suis la plaie et le couteau!

Je suis le soufflet et la joue!

Je suis les membres et la roue,

Et la victime et le bourreau!

❥Je suis de mon coeur le vampire,

— Un de ces grands abandonnés

Au rire éternel condamnés

Et qui ne peuvent plus sourire!

-{ Charles Baudelaire }

Como Cargar juegos de Ps2 desde USB o HDD Disco Duro

Hola!: Este es uno de los mejores vídeos que encontré sobre como
cargar juegos de Ps2 desde USB o HDD Disco Duro en Youtube. Este video esta explicado paso por paso y va directo al grano. 

Espero que lo encuentren muy útil!

Creado por bonedicoot

Acá les dejo algunas herramientas para cargar desde HDD IDE:

HDD OSD 28bit: http://goo.gl/y4s7hZ
HDD OSD 48bit: http://goo.gl/MsfgN3
Archivos HDD: http://goo.gl/3rr3md 

pero para las herramientas completas visita el canal de bonedicoot en youtube.

That strange thing called chivalry. Pt.1

To my readers: There is so much info and opinions about chivalry to be read. I wanted to writte something with my own definitions and hopefully people will take my opinion and share them with the world.

chiv·al·ry

: the system of values (such as loyalty and honor) that knights in the Middle Ages were expected to follow

: an honorable and polite way of behaving especially toward women

plural chiv·al·ries

Source: www.merriam-webster.com

-Men who are chivalrous nowadays are a rare breed 

There are clearly many women and men who do not know the real meaning of chivalry.

I believe that chivalry is being  good, honest, caring, just noble in general. Someone who possesses qualities that a healthy society should look up to and respect. In the digital era not only chivalry should be revived and be taught to the new generation but women also should be chivalrous.

Some women want chivalry to die, yes ...you read it. This delusional women thinks that chivalry equals to stepping on women's rights. 

There is a big difference between being female and being a feminist. Feminist (real ones) have fought and are still fighting for women, so we can have equal rights as men, NOT fighting against men. The first feminist women wanted to be heard and to have a voice, to take decisions in their homes and outside them like: equal employment opportunity, equal pay, the right to vote and to be involved in politics, etc. We are still fighting today for some of the same things.

-A woman can be chivalrous too

So, men are always complaining about the -equality- issue. They claim that if women are the same and can do everything that men can, why should they be treated differently?

I repeat, women want to have an equal treat as men have in society when it comes to earning as much as them, having the same job opportunities and the right to be heard and be taken seriously. 

The fact that I work, that I am independent, and that I can take care of myself doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be treated like a lady, which means with respect, kindness and courtesy. Please remember, this are two different concepts that shouldn't mix. Just because I think that we are as valuable as men are, does not mean I wan't to be treated like a guy... I mean don't treat me like I am your male friend or drinking buddy ...you get my point . 

This misunderstanding is generally used by many as an excuse for bad manners or lack of them. I am a feminist and a woman, I am a person that deserves to be treated with respect and who will appreciate a gentleman's kindness. The difference is that in the XXI century, the act of chivalry should be reciprocal between men and women.

You may be asking yourself, how can a woman be chivalrous ?

A chivalrous woman is polite, respectful, proper and kind; not only to her love interest but to everyone else. I don't picture a woman doing the same things a man would do on a date (picking us up before a date, opening the car door, helping us with our coat) but a chivalrous woman would pay attention to her date, she would be polite when asking for things, and she would be grateful for the thoughtfulness and care that her male companion put into a date.

In reality any decent and good human being would do all of these things regardless if it's a woman or a man. It can and it should go both ways. This is how you can differentiate a Gentleman or a Lady from common people.

To read more about gentlemen click here

-"Hooking up"

This is basically casual sexual encounters. But -casual encounters- equals to: no commitment, no tolerance to rejection, players, lack of balls, Etc. People saying yes to hookups plays a big part of why men stopped being chivalrous, they don't need it !!! There are women that lowered their standards and don't see chivalry as a must on the opposite sex. What do women expect from a guy who is not a GENTLEMAN?

The growth of this way of thinking is due to the fact that every day less and less women and men are taking chances to find a suitable partner or spouse. People are getting used to the informal chats and the ambiguity in men invitations. 

For example when a guy text me:  "Let's do something this week: and then he ends up his message with "I'll let you know soon" It's just a turn off. If you want to invite me it's because you have a date and something planned. Sorry but I'm not the kind of person who will wait for the follow up message to your -invitation-. It's a whole different thing when you get an actual phone call saying "Hey, Let’s do this____ this day__at this time___. See you then" That is an actual thoughtful plan, and makes one feel appreciated.

Not only men are the ones who fall into this mistake every time but women do too when they find short and uncertain text message as acceptable.

The way a guy ask me out or the way he even starts a conversation with me tells me a lot about his personality. So if the first words that comes out of a guy’s mouth is "Hey, do you want to hook up?" I just say no and turn around. I don't want to judge guys and girls who actually say -Yes- to such question ...but they don't realize they are going to a stranger's house and drinking the alcohol this stranger is giving them. There are horror movies that start like this for a reason. But it's your choice, you are a mature person.

Men have become so insecure that they don't want to risk their egos, so the fastest and painless option for them is asking girls to "hook up". Men and women should be able to get over from a negative answer and keep trying. This generation of teens and young people are getting used to avoid difficult situations and not dealing with feelings. This new generation wants to have 24/7 options on Tinder and other online dating apps because for some reason they feel they are missing out on something or someone. 

-What happened with finding someone you liked and asking her/him on a date? 

-What happened to guys opening doors, pushing chairs, picking you up for a date and taking us back home?

-What happened to polite guys who can talk to you without bringing up sex in a conversation?

-What happened to holding out your arm for us?

And finally: 

What's the worst thing that could happen on a date? The worst thing would be that you won't have a second date. That you spent money on a nice dinner with a girl you like. Had a good conversation and a good time. That's the worst.

Click to read: A fake gentleman's dissection (Pt. 2 of: That strange thing called chivalry.)

Part 2 of this: HERE

Obvious Child review: ¿Pro-Choice, Pro-Life or just reality ?

A movie about romance, comedy and abortion, yes-abortion-. I didn't know what to expect of it, how do you add those 2 genres together with abortion? In obvious Child you can. Directed by Gillian Robespierre in her directorial debut, the movie was premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2014.

Donna (Jenny Slate) is a young woman in her 20's , she works at a bookstore to pay the bills but her real dream job is making stand up comedy at a local club. Her boyfriend breaks up with her leaving her devastated. As many people dealing with a breakup, she decided to go out with friends and get drunk, just to forget this sour moment. That night she meets a guy and how it's expected, they end up having drunk sex.

Living the day by day but still having her own priorities and dreams,Donna knows she should be thinking on a "serious lifestyle". Behind the farts jokes, you can see that she is a mature young person. She wants and needs to have plans for her life but things don't go the way she wants. She soon realizes she is pregnant. Like many other unwed, not engaged and single women (soon to be jobless) she freaks out and try to keep the secret to herself but she can't do it. She ask for an advice to her friend and her mother but soon realizes she needs to be honest to herself: she can't have the baby and she doesn't know if she should tell Max (Jake Lacy), the father.

Basically the whole movie put us in Donna's point of view, we have to be in her shoes and actually ask ourselves: ¿What would I do?. Many Pro-life activists have crucified this movie (and other like this one) because they say this movie is propaganda from Pro-Choice...... or pro-abortion as they call us, advocacy groups,etc. They criticize Obvious Child saying that the story, the abortion itself is too sugar coated, impossible and fake. They think that Donna doesn't encounter challenges and the abortion was really easy and no harm was done to no one. It really blows my mind when Pro-Life people thinks the Choice is easy and painless, it never is. This Pro-life critics don't have any idea of what is going thru a women's life and mind.

I never  went through an abortion and none of my closest friends have got one, AS FAR AS I KNOW. The reality is that even if you are not surrounded by people who went through an abortion, it doesn't mean that it doesn't happens more often than you think to a specific demographic: Women. That's why I was very pleased to see a woman's name as the director of this film.

Taking a big risk, Donna finally tells Max about the baby and what she plans to do. Max's posture about it is, againg, Obvious; Nothing. As a young man who did not have any plans to have a baby he lets Donna take the choice for them. What is worth saying is that Max was decent enough to stay with Donna at a moment where neither of them dreamed to be in. He doesn't say much, but he supports her choice. He doesn't express an opinion about it because he is not ready. He respects Donna's choice because he knows he would have done the same if he were in the same situation.

Obvious Child is just honest, there are young women out there who take this hard decision sometimes alone and sometimes with support. Some of them will be depress, some will talk to a best friend, some will confess to their mothers, some will need the approval of a man to do it and 47,000 women will die each year. So... abortion is an easy and harmless choice? No. 

By taking this desperate choice, Donna closes her -childish- chapter. Without knowing, she has changed forever.

Victorian Mourning and Post-Mortem Photography Pt.2

As time passes, many traditions fade into history. I clearly remember when funeral ceremonies were held at the deceased's home. It was a final way for them to say goodbye to their own space. Today, most people avoid this, finding it "too morbid." As my mother once said, "It gives me the chills just to think about a funeral in the house." This shift in perspective highlights a massive change in how we handle grief compared to the Victorians of the British Empire, for whom mourning was a serious, ritual-filled endeavor.

  

Victorian Mourning and Post-Mortem Photography Pt. 1 HERE

Historically, many Celtic nations across Europe observed the custom of keeping a vigil over the deceased until burial—a practice known as a "wake." This tradition served as a watchful period to ensure the individual had truly passed, as medical understanding of comas and "apparent death" was limited at the time.

While modern funerals are often managed by professional funeral homes to ease the burden on the bereaved, traditional wakes were deeply personal, private affairs held within the family home.

The Domestic Ritual When a wake was held at home, the body was typically prepared in the kitchen. While this lacks the sanitary standards we expect today, it was a common domestic necessity for the era. Once the deceased was prepared, invitations were sent; in these communities, failing to attend was often viewed as a significant sign of disrespect to the grieving family.

The Duration of the Vigil A wake could last anywhere from four days to a full week, primarily for two practical reasons:

• Verification: The family remained by the bedside around the clock to ensure their loved one did not unexpectedly "awaken."

• Travel Logistics: Before modern transportation, relatives often traveled great distances to pay their respects, requiring the family to delay the burial.

Post-Mortem Photography The length of these vigils is also why some historical post-mortem photographs show early signs of natural decay. To create a lasting, peaceful memory, photographers sometimes employed creative techniques—such as painting eyes over the eyelids—to give the deceased a more lifelike appearance for their final portrait.

The Parlor: A Symbol of Status

The wake was traditionally held in the parlor—the most formal room in the house. As the "public face" of the home, the parlor reflected a family’s social standing and community image; consequently, these dedicated spaces were most common among the upper classes. Hosting a wake in this room was considered a final act of devotion, allowing the family to remain close to their loved one as a last token of affection and respect.

Practical and Ornate Traditions

Because these vigils often lasted for several days, families utilized abundance of candles and fragrant floral arrangements. While these served as beautiful tributes, they were also essential for maintaining a pleasant atmosphere within the home during the extended viewing period.

Mementos of the Deceased

While affluent families often possessed portraits painted during a relative's lifetime, post-mortem photography remained a vital cultural practice. These photographs served as a final, tangible connection to the departed.

The desire to keep a piece of a loved one close extended beyond photography:

• Mourning Jewelry: It was common to keep a lock of hair encased within a specialized pendant or brooch.

• Lachrymatories: Mourners sometimes used "tear catchers"—small glass vials designed to collect and preserve tears shed during the period of grief.

These items were more than just objects; they were profound symbols of a family's enduring bond and the era's unique approach to remembrance.

The High Cost of Remembrance

For many families, particularly those of more modest means, saving for funeral arrangements was a somber but necessary priority. During this era, high mortality rates meant that many children tragically did not live past their fifth birthday. For these families, a single post-mortem photograph was often the only visual memory they would ever have of their child.

The Art of the Final Portrait

Photographers employed various styles to capture these final images. Many portraits depicted the subject resting peacefully in bed, creating a serene, "saint-like" appearance. However, other families preferred to capture an "illusion of life," wanting to remember their loved one as they were in their most active years.

To achieve this, photographers utilized specialized equipment:

• Posing Stands: Subtle metal frames were often used to support the subject’s posture.

• Natural Settings: The deceased was frequently positioned on a familiar chair or sofa to create a more lifelike, domestic scene.

These photographs, while perhaps striking to modern eyes, were deeply cherished treasures for families who had very little else to remember their lost loved ones by.

Victorian Mourning Customs and Folklore

Mourning in the 19th century was governed by a strict set of symbolic rituals designed to honor the deceased and protect the living. Many of these customs were rooted in deep-seated folk beliefs:

• The Veiled Home: Mirrors and family portraits were often covered with cloth, stemming from the belief that a soul could become "trapped" within a reflection.

• Marking Time: Clocks were frequently stopped at the exact moment of death to commemorate the transition, while a black ribbon was hung on the front door to signal the household's grief to the community.

• The "Widow’s Weeds": The family wore strictly black attire. Women, in particular, bore the heaviest burden of these social expectations, often remaining in formal mourning for a year or longer.

The Funeral Procession

When the time came for the final farewell, the deceased was transported to the cemetery in an ornate funeral carriage. It was also common for affluent families to hire professional mourners. Known as "symbolic protectors," these individuals walked within the funeral procession or stood solemnly at the church doors to lend an air of gravity and prestige to the ceremony.

Protecting the Resting Place

During this era, a final and very practical concern remained: the threat of body snatchers. Because laws regarding the procurement of cadavers were inconsistent, "resurrectionists" would sometimes exhumed recently buried individuals to sell them to medical schools for anatomical dissection and lectures.

To prevent this, families utilized mortsafes—heavy iron cages or stone slabs placed over the grave. Only once the mortsafe was securely installed was the family’s duty to their loved one considered truly complete.

 

A Contrast in Mourning: Then and Now

Funeral arrangements in the Victorian era were conducted on an entirely different scale—far more complex and immersive than the streamlined processes we see today. In the modern world, the rise of the professional funeral home has allowed us to "outsource" the logistical and physical reality of death. For many, the goal today is to minimize contact with the deceased and the cemetery, often avoiding the topic of mortality altogether.

The Modern Disconnect Perhaps as a result of our fast-paced lives, there is a growing tendency to complete the burial process as quickly as possible. It seems that at some point in history, society developed a collective "allergy" to the presence of death. In a world where we prioritize speed and efficiency, we often seek to remain numb to the more difficult aspects of the human experience. However, death remains an inevitable reality, and no amount of efficiency can truly remove the inherent pain of loss.

A Shift in Perspective While we might look back and wonder if the Victorians were "obsessed" with death, their rituals provided a structured way to confront and process grief. Today, we have traded those long, intimate vigils for a more detached approach. Have we lost our ability to mourn, or have we simply found new ways to cope?

Whether the Victorian "Cult of Death" was a healthy expression of love or a macabre fixation is a fascinating question—and one we shall explore in another post.

Victorian Mourning and Post-Mortem Photography Pt. 1 HERE