Zero Hour ProjectZero Hour ProjectMexican Blog: to those who think another world is possible and necessary Articles
WHO KILLED PHILOSOPHY?
2011-03-09 04:36:00 Normal 0 21 false false false ES-MX X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; ... More About: Philosophy
HEY, GUESS WHO´S BACK YO!!
2008-06-06 20:11:00 Hey my friends! I´ll catch up with everyone of you asap!!!It feels so good to be back! More About: Guess Who , Back , Guess
WHERE THE HELL IS PAUL VAN DYK?
2008-03-15 05:05:00 YEAH! I´LL COME BACK SOON MY FRIENDS! More About: Paul , Hell , Paul Van Dyk
CEFILIBE GOES ONLINE!
2008-03-14 04:51:00 I have just learned that my buddy Cefilibe has finally decided to launch his personal weblog. That´s great news! This guy is really, really good. I wish him the best on this new project. More About: Online
CLIENT # 1
2008-03-13 02:15:00 This morning, as everybody knows, Eliot Spitzer announced his resignation as Governor of the State of New York for what the Times called the ?seamy sex drama.? I think what is really sleazy is the way the media (even the so-called progressive) have covered this and many other dull events while the country is falling apart. It´s troublesome! But at the same time, it is curious too. Basically because ultimately the media do as the media ratings go. Sometimes, as it is said, all it would take is one person to stand up and say ?fuck this!? And then, another one. It must be hard to be known as ?client #9? but, it would never be as hard as it is to be client #1 (sometimes even without realizing it) to a club (the media club) where intelligence has no place, to say the least.But tomorrow, it will be another day. Maybe a good time to cancel my unrequested registration. More About: Client
ALEX AND WOMEN
2008-03-09 06:38:00 I was told that Alex was born a normal beautiful baby but one day, at the age of five, he was involved in a terrible car accident that left him in a comma. As the months passed by, everybody became hopeless about the likelihood of his recovery. However, one year later, without any previous sign of improvement, all of a sudden, he got back. In spite of having suffered no visible major injuries in neither his body nor his head as a result of the accident, Alex had to re-learn how to do all basic stuff such as walk, talk and eat, for he did not remember how to do those things. In addition to that, in time he was detected a rare learning disability because he did not seem to understand basic explanations of almost anything when given to him, though he used to come back hours later with an outstanding sort of rationalization that most of the times left jaws on the floor. That habit, that in time became a kind of attitude, was one of the things that caught our eyes when we first met... More About: Women
THE ELECTION FRENCY
2008-03-06 01:03:00 After yesterday´s results in the Democratic race, I kept thinking of the almost unbridled frenzy that this election has generated in the people. Frenzy that has made voters all across the nation show up at primaries and caucuses in record numbers and the two remaining candidates fight till the very last moment. I think that is good. What is not good is that the reasons behind this massive turnout does not seem to be an object of consideration, especially by the media. To think about it would probably lead us to ask ourselves why this was not the case in the past?, or yet better, what should be done to avoid the new government, once elected, from failing its responsibilities to the people once again, to simply avoid having a 2-minute democracy ?-the time it takes to pull the lever down in the voting booth? Looks like somebody has already given a thought to it. More About: Election
NADER, A LOST READER?
2008-02-25 05:23:00 As everybody knows, Ralph Nader , 4-time presidential contender, announced a new bid for the White House as an independent candidate today. I regard Mr. Nader as among the most distinguish progressive political activists in the United States nowadays but, this time, I have to say I believe his decision is a mistake, basically for himself. Mr. Nader does not seem to be reading the same book (or at least the same page) the majority of the people of the U. S. is reading aloud: that which narrates the end of the Bush Regime and his wacky policies. It is idle to say that for that end, it is necessary to add up forces (not to subtract them in any way) there where there´s better chances to succeed. Obviuosly, it does not imply to give a blank check of support, it implies to understand history. Ralph Nader is a great guy, no doubt about it, his intentions are the best (to represent those who have no voice, to have a much broader debate, to push the Democratic candidates to take a mor... More About: Lost , Reader
OBAMA VA!
2008-02-23 05:17:00 After Wisconsin´s Democratic primary and the Democrats Abroad results, things seem to have come down to a point where the question is not whether Barack Obama will get the Democratic nomination for president in 2008 or not, but rather if Hillary would be a good VP running mate (hehehe? just kidding!) What I really want to say is that I share the enthusiasm of those who think that even when large states are still at stake (Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania) Obama really seems to be now virtually unstoppable. I say enthusiasm because that is clearly what this unique character has brought about to people: great excitement, motivation and hope. I myself experienced that sensation too the first time that I saw him talk on a video I stumbled across while writing my very first post for this blog (I even wrote about it here). What I wonder now is whether this excitement is all justified beyond the consideration of his personal traits and manifested intentions. I have to say that I am not sure a...
IF THE SKY FELL DOWN
2008-02-14 06:14:00 To Duilio, Happy Birthday Yo!While being at the sea, feeling so good as I was, I suddenly started thinking of that kind of wacky old notion of us being alive for only a limited period of time. What if ?I asked to myself- I were really going to die? someday? That question just froze me. ?Naaah!? I sighed out of relief, laid back on my chair and continued enjoying the view I had in front of me. ?But, hey! What if that were really the case?? I asked myself once more. ?Well ?I said, raising my head up-, if life were really only one time, its end were certainly unavoidable and came relatively soon or it could simply happen all of a sudden, I think that I would surely be scared as hell! Though, I think that, little by little, after giving some thought to it, I would start to look for a way to do the best out of it. Um, I don´t know, I would probably consider adopting a living-life-to-the-fullest or living-passionately-every-single-day kind of attitude. Yeah!? Then I thought: ?Though, n...
COMING BACK SOON!
2008-01-03 02:59:00 HAPPY NEW YEAR my friends!I will be back as soon as money allows!UPDATE: My best friend Lalique left me a message on my tagboard asking me if it was snowing in Mexico. That question just made my day basically because... that I would not know! As I am not in México right now but having the days of my life at the sea side! Yeah! More About: Back
THE LITTLE PICASSO
2007-12-13 01:27:00 When I was in 4th grade, I met this guy who was really cool. He was very popular in the school among the students and teachers, for he had a very especial drawing skill and also for he held the Guinness record for school detentions, basically because he used to spend most of his time exercising his skill, even in class? in fact, especially during the classes time. It was not that the teachers did not recognize his talent. On the contrary, he was used to being praised for his deeds by them all of the time. It was rather the school system that did not how to handle with this potential maestro because it didn´t consider him as such in the first place. That was the early 80´s, though I don´t think the situation would be any different if this young Picasso attended 4th grade today. Basically because despite the major paradigm shift in our understanding of intelligence, owed in part to Harvard professor Howard Gardner´s work and others, the traditional notion of intelligence (understoo... More About: Education
THE SYNDROME OF THE OPPRESSED
2007-12-10 21:55:00 I like Psychology very much, especially because it suggests explanations of certain phenomena in the field of human behavior that would be simply irrational otherwise. In watching the Republican presidential debate hosted by the Spanish language television network Univision yesterday afternoon, I kept on thinking about it. To watch members of the so called ?Hispanic community? booing Castro or Chavez´s references during the debate was something kind of expected, as the event was held in Miami (the Cuban element) but, to see them enthusiastically applauding the Republican notion of taking a harder line on illegal immigration or that of maintaining the troops in Iraq (or even escalating them), was something that definitely deserves an explanation more than a simple sensation of astonishment. I am not a psychologist nor feel I capable of producing such explanation but somehow I feel it has to do with that psychological response sometimes seen in victims of violence who end up showing... More About: Syndrome
THE COST OF WAR
2007-12-08 05:58:00 Some days ago, Bob Herbert wrote an article for his column in the Times where he reflected on the Iraq-war-cost for the Americans ("Now and Forever", Dec 4): really a good piece! Today, I stumbled over this video which touches the same topic and that is definitely worth watching too. More About: Cost
THE MUSIC´S BACK!
2007-11-26 22:02:00 Thank you for that magic moment full of music? The sweetest music I´ve ever heard! More About: Music , Back , The Music
GOBLE GOBLE!!
2007-11-23 06:13:00 This year´s Thanksgiving celebration has just made me recall the time when I went to study in the United States. Ahh, man! I was so young back then hehehe? really! It was my first trip abroad ever and I remember that when I got there I was so depressed, so homesick, that I could not stop myself from crying for a whole week or so. I remember it now because it was precisely on a day like today, at my first Thanksgiving dinner, when I finally pulled myself together.I think it is great The USA and Canada devote one day each year to getting together with family and friends and reflecting on the wonderful things that one has in life to be grateful for. It is always important to acknowledge it but I think that it is even more important to say it explicitly and share it with the ones we love. Needless to say that it unavoidably leads you to think of those who don´t have the basics and reflect on the reasons behind inequality and probably more? on the things we can do to change it, ev...
WORLD PHILOSOPHY DAY!!
2007-11-15 08:21:00 I am now in Monterrey. I came here because this year the main celebration of the World Philosophy Day in México will take place in this city: super! This is the sixth year in which this worldwide event will be held since it was first instituted by both the International Federation of Philosophical Societies and UNESCO on the day the founder of Western Philosophy Socrates was believed to have been born, nearly 25 centuries ago. Up to now, it´s been great! Basically because, through these events, Philosophy has got a far greater chance of getting to broader audiences showing its vitality, importance and meanings. That is why I think I could not be happier!
MAZATLAN: CONGRESS BALANCE
2007-11-13 08:06:00 I just got back home from Mazatlán where, I have to say it, I attended a great Congress of Philosophy. Academic gatherings of this sort, where literally hundred of presentations, symposia and round tables take place, always represent a great challenge, especially as far as logistics is concerned. I think the Organizing Committee did a very good job and they should be proud about it. As for the contents, I have to confess that I missed a more active presence of political philosophy, especially that one whose topics and reflections have to do with the nation´s most urgent issues, intimate related to the current world crisis: Globalization, its effects and consequences; Democracy and its degradation; Poverty! Just to name a few examples. Really, I did not understand those absences. I think that Philosophy as such, at least through its best forms, modes and ways, has got a great potential not just before the current crisis but also for the public life and its dimensions and f... More About: Balance
MEXICO: PHILOSOPHY NOW!
2007-11-05 18:58:00 I am in Mazatlán now. I came here for the National Congress of Philosophy . This Congress is the most important event for the Mexican philosophical community, largely because not only it congregates literally hundreds of its members but also counts with the participation of distinguished scholars of different disciplines from all over the country and overseas. In this edition, Jürgen Habermas is without any doubt the most noted guest. As usual, as it has been the case whenever I have got the opportunity to meet any of the big guys, my encounter with Habermas was a complete disaster but so irrelevant at the same time that I would rather not talk about it. What it did turn out to be completely anecdotal was the fact that his remarks at the inauguration of the event were totally unintelligible: he, the theorist of communicative action. Somebody said that this is what happens when you don´t know German. The thing is his speech was in English! Anyway, to be honest I am really happ... More About: Mexico
COLBERT PARA PRESIDENTE!
2007-10-28 22:50:00 As it is known, Comedy Central comedian Stephen Colbert recently made ?official? his candidacy for president of the USA. According to this dispatch, a new poll suggests that he could be a frontrunner within a month, were his attempt serious! I have to say that a year ago or so, after watching one of his program emissions where he interviewed Amy Goodman, one of my favorite journalists, I wrote here this guy was a complete disaster. Later on I came across his speech at the 2006 White House Correspondents´ Dinner given a few months earlier: I was not convinced yet. It was not till the beginning of December last year, after the celebration of an out-of-character interview with him held at Harvard (it can be found at google video), when I became as fond of him as everybody was. As far as the 2008 presidential race is concerned, Colbert´s popularity seems to be inversely proportional to popular confidence in traditional politics and politicians. It is like if people would be saying ... More About: Para
BACK HOME!
2007-10-16 19:13:00 Just got back home from the seaside: I guess business hours are over! Hehehe... More About: Home , Back
BUSINESS TIME!
2007-10-05 16:46:00 Elle dropped me a message yesterday echoing some of my friend´s recurrent complaints about my blog´s contents, namely: that they are not the happiest ones. Hehehehe: she is dead right! Sometimes it really seems to be essential to take short breaks, clean up our heads, make ourselves a cup of coffee and kick back a little bit and who knows? Maybe get busy, maybe it is business time!? Flight of The Conchords More About: Business , Time
BUSH: SUSPICIOUS STUMBLES
2007-10-04 21:27:00 From ?Childrens do learn? to ?Mandela is dead?, President Bush has involuntarily made our lives more livable in the last few weeks (or is he really trying to kill us all, making us laugh to death, as someone has suggested?). However, in all seriousness, after all these years I have ended up finding these mishaps to be entirely suspicious: otherwise it would simply be too much!
CUOMO: LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
2007-10-01 09:51:00 Before the Bush administration´s new threat to undertake a military intervention in Iran Mario Cuomo , former Governor of New York, went on Hardball last Friday and gave his take on the issue in what has constituted by far one of the most eloquent comments, made by an American politician, I have heard lately. Matthews is right: Mario Cuomo is so far ahead of the rest! Really worth watching: More About: Lessons , Learned
REREADING MYSELF
2007-09-30 07:33:00 I had never reread what I had written as it would represent to me looking backward instead of forward. It sill does, but this time, with the blog anniversary and all, I took a look at my blog archive and found this rare piece I wrote on Niezsche´s primus work Zarathustra. Here it is as it was written at first: As it is known, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is considered, along with Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud, one of the most important thinkers of modern western thought: one of its sharpest critics. It is also known that Thus Spoke Zarathustra is one his most important pieces of work: his ultimate achievement and also his most famous writing. Zarathustra gives an account of a young Persian man who faces an important task: to reveal or to make men recall the truth about themselves and their own possibilities. While carrying out his mission, this hero of thought experiences himself deep inner crises and changes of heart that make him become, in the end, the kind of man ...
THANK YOU MY FRIENDS!!!
2007-09-27 19:16:00 A year ago today I started this blog: Man! It seems like it was yesterday? I have to say that the best part about having a blog and stuff is YOU guys, there is no doubt about it! To have the occasion to get to know through your blogs new inner worlds, meanings and perspectives (that would be literally impossible to know otherwise), has been something super cool! Somebody told me yesterday that this kind of communication is utterly virtual, meaning that it was not real: Hehehe... I disagree. On the contrary, I see no more real dialogue with the other and ourselves than the one we establish while either reading or writing or simply sharing in our blogs. And that, at least in my case, has got profound effects. That is why, like my brother Teorias says (whose blog btw happens to celebrate its first anniversary too): today is a very HAPPY DAY!!! More About: Friends
SICK
2007-09-26 03:16:00 I have not been able to post here lately. The thing is that I went into surgery some days ago. A minor one, if I may say so, but a surgery anyway. I am ok now but I have to say that whenever I have experienced some sort of pain, I think a lot of sick people out there and especially those who are poor: that saddens me and makes mad. According to official data 50% of the Mexican population does not have health insurance. Mexico ranks well below the OECD average in terms of health spending (barely 6.2% of GDP) and well, anyone who has ever been attended in a hospital (public or private) here in Mexico knows of the awful PR they have there: the personal attention and quality service are a disgrace. It has been stated (I think it was in Michael Moore´s Sicko) that moral progress in a society can be partially measure by the way in which that society looks after the have-nots. Were that the case, we would have to accept that we are very unfortunate. Damn!
DEPECHE, DEPECHE, DEPECHE!
2007-09-15 00:45:00 Three things that I really enjoy doing in life are reading, talking to beautiful girls (or intelligent ones, or precisely beautiful because of their being intelligent) and listening to music. Most of the times what I like the best is listening to music, I have to admit it! Even when not frequent, having the three of them at the same time has been just a blast for me! My favorite band is definitely Depeche Mode. Below there is a rare video of one of its early-stage presentations in Germany, 24 years ago! As somebody commented, in the end, the host calls the band ?Everything counts? and the song ?Depeche Mode?? hehehe!
ALIVE IN MEXICO!
2007-09-13 00:14:00 I have been watching practically every single ALIVE IN BAGHDAD documentary clip since it began in November 2005. I like this project a lot, largely because it shows some aspects of the Iraqi reality that it would be impossible to get to know otherwise. One thing that has always amazed me is the numerous similarities I have found between both the Iraqi and the Mexican people despite our different cultural heritage. I talked it over with some friends and one of them told me that it was due to the Arab presence in our culture. Other one mentioned the phenomenon of multiculturalism. The last one argued that it was rather the human element, the basic human core we all share, not always visible because of the widely-spread media stereotypes. I agreed. I told my friends that it would be great to have more projects like ALIVE IN BAGHDAD, for instance in Mexico , to help defuse the conventional culture image some of us might have. They all started laughing. The project already ...
9/11: THE OTHER ANNIVERSARY
More articles from this author:2007-09-11 08:42:00 My friends: this is the promo for the zhp-politico second podcast. You can listen to it HERE. More About: Anniversary 1, 2, 3 |



