Twiteando

Twiteando
Originally uploaded by tjdee

Soy famoso entre las DOCENAS de personas que estaban mirando CNN en espanol durante la verdaderamente interesante conversacion que CNN Mexico manejo sobre el Mexico actual y el pais que los ciudadanos quieren que sea en 2020.

La persona que escogio mi tweet tuvo que editarlo para que quedara en la pantalla. Y le agradezco porque Jesus me noto que habia hecho un errorcito en el tweet original: "Es interesante que hablemos de acceso a tecnologia cuando todavia hay gente sin comida, educacion basico, etc."

Hombre, es educacion basica, por el amor de dios. Pues, hago un monton de errores cuando "twiteo" en ingles tambien, pero, por favor, estaba escribiendo para que los editores lo leyeran. Hiiiiiiiiijole.

Pues, nada. Lo mas importante es que me meti en la conversacion y aunque falle, participe. Eso es un triunfito, te lo digo, y es algo que tengo que empezar a hacer fuera del ciberespacio.

Si tienes ganas de participar en el dialogo sobre lo que pueda pasar en Mexico durante los proximos 10 anos, checa el nuevo sitio web de CNN Mexico y la pagina del programa especial, Mexico 2020.

Toward the end of 2008 my temporary lack of television coupled with my intensified focus on consuming as much Spanish-language media as possible turned me onto Spain's above-average archived TV programming. I quickly found Andaluces por el mundo, a pretty low-budget show on Television de Andalucía, that profiled a handful of andaluces currently living outside Spain. The national (and more developed) Television Española has its own version of the show, following Spaniards of all regional backgrounds as they head overseas. There's a great archive of all 50 episodes here. Check out the Españoles en San Francisco episode here.

Julieta Venegas led me to Bajofondo through a collaboration she did with the Gustavo Santaolalla-led rioplatense group. Bajofondo, via Pandora, led me to Electro Dub Tango, Otros Aires and (somewhat-forgotten) Gotan Project. Those four groups make of the base of my new go-to Pandora station. It's an especially good one for working or for just getting in an Argentine mood (I like this much more than the new flamenco fusion I was interested in for a minute last year). Also great when company is over, as it's great music that doesn't distract too much from conversation. Check it.

Que te cuento cuando no tengo nada que decir? Bueno, te digo que no se como hacer tildes en esta puta computadora de mierda. Por eso, me voy a parar. Pues, algo es algo, verdad?

I think I'm in the midst of my first approaching-30 mini-crisis: I'm feeling pushed to solidify my San Francisco roots even further and continue doing all that grown-up stuff I've been slowly doing the past few years (buying fancier, investment furniture, building community, etc.). For lack of a better word, I have an urge to settle. Yet, at the same time, I'm feeling just as strongly as ever a need to keep my life as location-independent as possible. There's a real urgency and desire to push off and see more more more. And this increasingly intense division comes just six weeks before I take an extended trip to Argentina. You'd think that would even me out a bit...

From the website's a la carta offerings to the iPhone app w/ live streaming video, I have been incredibly impressed by the online footprint created by Spain's RTVE (Radio y Televisión Española). But I'm trying to step away from the peninsular Spanish accent to which I've become (in J's eyes) bizarrely accustomed and move toward the (to me) exceedingly unclear Argentine/rioplatense accent in advance of my 5-week stay in Buenos Aires.

I haven't found an Argentine equivalent to the super convenient RTVE site, but this government-affiliated channel, Canal Encuentro, offers pretty interesting series focused on history, science and culture. Right now I'm digging the Geografías and Historias de un país programs. Also worth checking out is Buenos Entonces, a language-learning series of apps that mixes the usual grammar with the slang specific to Bs As and also throws in a fun and saucy narrative. I've only paid for a few of the "classes" but even the free stuff on the blog is interesting. Add the country's major newspaper, El Clarin, to the mix and you have a decent online immersion experience.

While not as long as last year's nine-week stay in Mexico City, I'm off to Buenos Aires for five weeks beginning just before my birthday. I'm thinking if I head to the southern hemisphere before the big day, time will go backwards and I can ward off 30 for a little longer. Yes?

If not, I can enjoy finally being able to check Argentina off the list. No plans to explore much of the interior (it's way too far to Patagonia) but I am going to take the high-speed ferry across the ocean-like Río de la Plata to Montevideo when J comes to visit. Who knew Uruguay had so much going on?

I'll be working remotely for most of my stay, from a studio apartment in Recoleta/Barrio Norte. It's walking distance to Subte, the famous cemetery, Parque Las Heras and, of course, the kinds of empanada, pizza and gelato places I'll be dreaming about from now until April. Anda anda anda.