Month's Report

Wow... that was a long absence... Ok, main reason: the deadline for the preliminary version of my monograph is getting closer. I still have to write many parts of it, and am thinking about improving it a little, what would mean more time in the lab. And probably I won't be able to post in a regular basis until mid-november, so be warned.

What happened since my last post? Not so much. And people usually forget things as time goes by, so I remember even less about those things now.

First, there was a Japanese Culture Festival last month (Sep 15th to 17th). But because of the rain I was able to check it only on the last day, when it was crowded (because many others had the same idea). Plus I had a farewell party (a friend who got a job in another town) that day and could arrive at the festival only by the end of the day. Add to that digital cameras suck to take pictures at night and with movement. Why movement? Because the main event was the "Matsuri Dance". Some kind of Bon-odori-like dance, but with "modern" music (for example, "Runner" (Kiroro) and "Rhapsody in Blue" (Da Pump)). I just dunno if that's something that started in Japan (like the Bon odori itself) or if it's something created by the Nikkei community in Brazil...

Back to the point... since I was there, I just had to dance, right? Especially after I've met some friends that were going to dance. So, I can't take pictures and dance at the same time. Sorry folks. But the festival's name is Londrina Matsuri, and some pictures can be seen at their website. Entirely in Portuguese, though. Well, for pics, look for the word "Fotos".

Now for the gastronomic part of the post. There was one thing that I was still missing since I've returned to Brazil. Soup. Weird? Maybe. But the soup from a restaurant here. And since we're supposed to eat (or drink??) that when it's cold... well... winter this year wasn't very cold. But one day, when it finally was cold... Yummy!! Chicken, cheese and can't remember the rest. All inside a big bread... For this one I have a pic to share.

Looking for new activities, I've joined a Parkour group by a friend's invitation. I'm still very bad at it (bruises and aches... not yet. I've been careful about what I try to do... perhaps too careful), but trying to make progress.

Also, I've been taking some audio lessons. You know, learn how you make that strange thing with lots of buttons and switches work properly... But there's a feature that I still have to improve a lot... Listening. I have ptoblems to distinguish when the sound is good or not, when some instruments that play in frequencies close to each other are both audible... Guess I'll have to train my ear.

What better way to do that than learn how to play a musical instrument? I was thinking about learning to play the violin for a while. Maybe I'll give it a shot...

Think that's the gist of what happened while I was away... not so much, wasn't it? Last, the clip below is Weird Al Yankovic's new music video, "White and Nerdy".



Now back to work...