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Julian Assange in New York
Nobody likes to show their true colors and even less so if they have global implications. Since July 2007 the world learned about some of the most important secrets of various governments as well as relevant information about their communications, with the creation of the website Wikileaks, founded in 2006 by Australian Julian Assange. Assange’s idea was to provide citizens with relevant information that ultimately affects their lives and should have a public character. The way is through the publication of classified documents reach the hands of the non-profit organization in a totally anonymous, thanks to its “electronic box”. After collecting this information we proceed to an analysis to verify authenticity. The network is fully shielded to achieve its, in theory, noble purposes, but this has not prevented Assange to be currently pursued. Julian Assange is the face of WikiLeaks, an organization whose workforce is difficult to identify. The data we have about him regarding more personal biography come to us through other people. What we know is that when he was young he and participated in a group of hackers and activists who later turned to the open source programming. The most impact leaks Wikileaks site has shown, was reveled in 2010. One of those is a 2007 video in which a U.S. military helicopter deliberately attacked and killed two reporters from the company Reuters and nine other people in Baghdad. Also came to light some documents concerning the conflict with Afghanistan through newspapers whose source was the famous Wikileaks, which gave them the information for free. The information unveiled spoke of attacks to civilians, friendly fire from...
David Garrett in Berlin
Berlin is without any doubt, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe. In this city, you can easily find people from all over the world, of all colors, all sexual preferences and all styles. The German capital has the power to be very dynamic in its structure; you can scroll to the underground, S Bahn, buses, taxis, bicycles and walking without any problem. A tour of the various faces of Berlin is always entertaining and lively, and can be done at your own pace. The city continues to change, with new buildings and public spaces for its citizens and visitors. The significant influence of immigrants, students and tourists, make Berlin one of the most preferred places to spend spring and summer in Europe. If it comes to entertainment and nightlife, there are endless options. The wide variety of clubs and bars with live music in Berlin is quite long and has all the contrasts you´d expect from a big city. From electronic, rock, classical, jazz, experimental, all music is in its main streets and districts. Berlin has also been part of the “gentrifrication” affecting big cities, and clothing chains, boutiques, restaurants and well-known cafes have invaded many of its most popular venues. However this does not stop you to get to know this important city. The costs of food, lodging and entertainment, are still much lower in comparison to other European cities. A trip to Berlin can take your best seven days. And there are so many options to go for. A weekend won’t be enough. Your journey can start at the national museums; with a single three-day...
Queensday in Amsterdam
The 30th of April is Queensday in Amsterdam, the birthday of the Queen Mother. Despite that it´s special in Amsterdam, this festival is celebrated throughout the Netherlands with open-air parties and covering everything in orange. The first celebration of Queensday was on the 31st of August 1885, with the birth of Queen Wilhelmina. In 1949, sixty-four years later, they began to celebrate the birthday of Queen Juliana, April 30th, as a tribute of her coronation. Today, Queen Beatrix still celebrates this party, keeping the tradition in her mother´s honour. The party begins around 7pm and the city goes onto the streets, with everyone walking around Niuewmarkt and the Jordaan, open spaces that start the party on the street. There are plenty of parties, street salesmen, activities for children, DJs for young people and adults and classical music concerts. To summarise, there are activities for all ages. One of the most curious activities of this day is that you can buy all sorts of second hand objects because everyone has the right to go on the street and sell whatever they want, transforming the city into one big flea market. For that, many people set up stalls in the parks, on the sidewalks and even on the roads, and sell sweets, books and various interesting objects, because nobody pays tax on this day. The canals are full of boats of all shapes and sizes, where people celebrate Queensday (Koninginnedag in Dutch) with music, dancing and drinks. However, if there´s something that makes it special is the distinctive use of the colour orange. You can see people in orange wigs, t-shirts...
Health and travelling to Amsterdam
When we prepare a trip abroad in advance, there´s plenty of daydreaming involved. The expectancies are ever present and that´s because the human being lives in the future a lot. Planning the places we´ll go to, the great time we´ll have and, to summarise, the thrill of the moments before the trip are pretty much all the occupies our mind. However, on a trip, like in any other time in our lives, setbacks are never far away. Losing a suitcase, an airline strike or falling ill are pretty common things and being prepared for them is the key to not frustrate ourselves and be well prepared for it. For example, if we´re enjoying a few wonderful weeks in Amsterdam and we catch the flu due to the difference in temperature, it´s important to have a doctor´s contact phone at hand to make an appointment, know the hospital addresses and also where the different pharmacies are. The webpage of the Dutch Health Office can be very useful, so writing down all of this information can be of great help. www.government.nl/ministries/vws#ref-minvws Another good piece of advice for travellers is that if they have a more or less serious and prolonged illness and are also receiving treatment for it, it´s important to have all the paperwork on our state regarding the illness and our medical records given by our doctor, because in case something happens, it´s important that the doctors can have direct and fast access to everything regarding our health. Bear in mind that you might not be able to explain yourself correctly, so you need to add this paperwork to your...
Route 66 from New York
Route 66, which is also known as the Main Street of America, Will Rogers Highway and the Mother Road, is one of those intrepid routes full of myths and legends on which everything is possible. It was originally part of the U.S. Highway System. Created in 1927, it originally ran from Chicago through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, ending in Los Angeles after a total distance of 3,923 kilometers. In the 30s it was the main route of emigrants on their way out west. In the 50s it was a popular vacation route for travelers to Los Angeles, passing through the Arizona desert, whose crater was one of the most popular stops. With this boom in tourism, all kinds of attractions began to pop up along the road, from motels shaped like tepees to shops specialized in reptile breeding or souvenirs made by Native Americans. In 1985, Route 66 was officially decommissioned from the U.S. Highway System and replaced by the Interstate Highway System. The entire stretch through Arizona, where the legendary Historic Route sign is repeated every mile, was declared of artistic heritage. It is the section of the road most visited by fans of the historic route who wish to relive their epic journeys of the past with help of a Mustang, Chevy, or Harley, sometimes as a group, a couple or even solo. Route 66 is more than just miles of road, however, it is a historical route and one that is full of myths, legends, hope, progress and freedom as well as literature and music. Steinbeck, who was from California, is...
Michael Fassbender in New York
Film is a business that never ends. Each year, there’s always something more – new movies, sexy actors and actresses. Despite the marketing efforts of Hollywood, when it comes to our favorite actors, very few actually leave a strong impression from their performance or are remembered for a very long time. What really makes a male actor a good one? Character, attitude and intensity. It is difficult to define some of these at a time when the genre of cinema and our approach to what is deemed “masculine” is changing. Maybe the psychological burden of interpretation, beyond gender, is what really survives. There are, however, three actors who forged the way over the past forty years when it comes to interpretation, attitude and image: Marlon Brando, Robert de Niro and Al Pacino. These three, perhaps the most emblematic and rebellious in Hollywood, have managed to conquer the hearts of all true lovers of cinema. What makes them so charismatic? It is the intensity with which they perform and the arduous process they use to immerse themselves in their roles and construct their characters. Few actors have the ability to reach their high level. One of them, though, is Michael Fassbender, who continues his ascent from the production line of the very commercial Hollywood. From his performance as Stelios, the young Spartan soldier in the unforgettable movie “300”, Fassbender has managed to bring a degree of realism to his characters. For example, his hard work in preparing for the role of Bobby Sands in the film “Hunger” by Steve McQueen in 2008 is worth noting. For this important film, Fassbender had to...
Rufus Wainwright in Amsterdam
The American-Canadian singer Rufus Wainwright and his band will perform a concert on the 27th of April at the Melkweg in Amsterdam. This presentation is part of the launch of his new album that will take place during April. Rufus Wainwright was born in Rhinebeck, New York, in 1973. He lived in an artistic environment, since his parents Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrige were folk singers. When he was 6, he began playing piano and started touring at age 13 with his family. Rufus was able to develop an eclectic musical style far from the currents of fashion, since it covers trends ranging from lyrical to the strains of the Parisian chanson of the 50’s and with a strong reminiscent of the genre. In different interviews he has repeatedly said that when he began his career, he believed that success meant being different, but eventually realized that it was actually the opposite and that he should concentrate in a single musical category. The truth is that his method has worked and as a result he has built a solid career. His work on soundtracks for several films has been highly praised, performing the music for the Martin Scorsese´s Aviator, Moulin Rouge, Shrek, Brakeback Mountain, among others. He has also performed songs for product announcements, such as the first men´s fragrance Antidote by designers Voktor and Rolf. Breaking all the schemes, in 2007 he performed a recital reinterpreting Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall in New York, filling and receiving public acclaim. Subsequently recorded an album on this presentation. The following year he announced that he would start a tour to...
Fantasies and Sensuality in Istanbul
Eroticism is a human condition we all share. The stimuli we receive in everyday life can, of course, excite our senses and therefore be sexual, leading us to fantasies, desires, new experiences. When it comes to traveling, our sense of the erotic is intensified. Once apart from the hustle of daily life, we can recover some time and space to enjoy ourselves and seek pleasure. When it comes to exploring exotic cities, Istanbul is one of the cities where you can find many stimuli to ignite your sensuality and that of your partner. If on the one hand Istanbul is part of a significant Muslim tradition, its status as a bridge between Europe and Asia has allowed it some versatility in its cultural development and at the same time to be permeable to change. The older side of town boasts exotic mosques and ancient bazaars that will open your eyes with their diversity of forms and colors. A dinner by candlelight in the city center can be the start of a night of interesting adventures. After dinner you could take a walk along the Bosphorus, the strait that runs through Istanbul, where you can enjoy new views of the big city and discover lightly illuminated places, landscapes which appear to be imagined or from some unknown place. The lights on both sides of the strait are really beautiful after sunset. If you are looking for a place to dance and meet new people, including lots of sensuality and movement, the Cuba bar is for you. This bar celebrates the best of Cuban culture, with lots of salsa and tropical music and exquisite Latin drinks. With concerts and lots...
Marilyn Monroe, the eternal Hollywood diva.
Generally, one doesn´t begin reviewing the life of someone with their death, but when it´s the 50th anniversary of the death of someone, we want to do it like this. Marilyn Monroe died on the 5th of August 1962. There´s no doubt about the fact that she was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, an icon that became a legend, one of the figures that has created the most merchandising. However, behind this figure there´s a person of whom little is known about, eclipsed behind her role as a star. After a difficult childhood, from family to family, with various sexual abuses before she turned 12, the future wasn´t smiling at Norma Jeane Mortensen (later Baker after her mother´s surname). She got married for the first time at the age of 16 and began to work occasionally as a model at the age of 19. At that time, Norma decided to dye her hair blonde. After her first divorce, she began to participate in auditions for films and TV series, finally being hired by 20th Century Fox. It was Ben Lyon, one of the cast executives, who suggested she changed her name: Marilyn as a tribute to the actress Marilyn Miller and Monroe because it was her mother´s maiden name. In the 1950s Marilyn was already a big star, America´s blonde bride. In 1954 she married what was perhaps her only true love but also the most brief one, the baseball player Joe DiMaggio, a marriage that lasted only a few months. In 1956 she married the playwright Arthur Miller, who also wrote scripts for...
