23 September 2013

Riverside - We Got Used to Us



Riverside - We Got Used to Us

When I scroll back through our recent days
I try to understand
How we could forget
We made a promise to one another
That nothing would ever break what we had
Now we never talk when we fall apart
We never talk when we fall apart
We pretend were ok
Surrounding ourselves with one-way friendships
And so-called friends

I know we got used to new us
And I dont want to be there
I dont want to be there
Where we are
I know we got used to new life
And I dont want to be there
No, I dont want to be there
Where we are

Silence fallen between
All the doors are locked
All the words unsaid
And were still afraid of time
Started to keep ourselves
At a distance that we could control
Not too close
Not too far
Now we never talk when we fall apart
We just never talk when we fall apart
We pretend were ok
By filling up our inner space
With little hates
And so-called love

I know we got used to new us
And I dont want to be there
I dont want to be there
Where we are
I know we got used to new life
And I dont want to be there
No, I dont want to be there
Where we are

So walk away with me

18 September 2013

Sobre voto de los chilenos en el exterior

Yes in May to the Alternative Vote Ballot
Hoy se celebra un día importante en aras de la independencia de Chile (primera junta de gobierno [es|en]) del dominio de la corona española. Por estos días, también se está nuevamente hablando sobre el voto de chilenos en el extranjero.

Hay argumentos a favor y en contra al respecto, algunas bastante legítimas, otras bastante mezquinas y otras que no se nombran explícitamente. Pero la situación actual es bien particular y personalmente no la he visto nombrada. Esta situación, es endémica a la sociedad chilena y su notoria desigualdad.

Si bien no existe el voto en el exterior, la ley no prohíbe a nadie con ciudadanía chilena en votar si es que en el día de las elecciones se encuentra en su distrito/circunscripción de votación. Esto independiente de donde haya estado residiendo anterior de forma (semi)permanente. Esto implica, que si uno tiene los recursos para viajar a Chile por el día (o medio día), puede perfecta y legalmente ejercer su derecho a votar.

Probablemente, para aquellos que vivan, en Mendoza y voten en Los Andes, esto no necesariamente implica en una inversión de tiempo y recursos sustanciales. Pero esto rápidamente deja de ser así para quienes se encuentren a mayores distancias.

Entonces resulta, que para votar en Chile, no hay que vivir en el territorio nacional, ni pagar impuestos, ni tener un genuino interés (aunque si uno está dispuesto a hacer el viaje supongo que implica tener interés). Simplemente basta con tener los recursos. Al final, se reduce a un problema de dinero. Y eso no tiene mucha justificación moral.

Si existe derecho a voto para los chilenos en el extranjero, pero para ejercerlo hay que pagar por el.

11 September 2013

Book review: The Ringmaster's Gambit

As I said some time ago here, I was asked to write a review for an upcoming book. Since some weeks, it's posted on the Goodreads community and I'll copy it here. It is a short and simple review and without spoilers. Reading the other reviews, it seems that others share some of my opinions too.



I was in the lucky position to have read the first book in this series less than a month ago. Having said that, this book does not feel at all like a sequel but more like a completely new book in the same world. 

The book takes a more somber and serious tone, leaving aside almost all the fun and sarcasm of the storyteller. The story still has its fun moments, but as were the first book could be seen as a journey, this one is more like a big staging for something else.

It almost completely rescinds of the characters developed in the first part of the series. Thus a whole new set of characters are introduced comprised, mostly, by the magii and the forsaken races which were mentioned in the prequel. Unfortunately, I was not able to care about any of the new characters, but with the sporadic exception of the Ringmaster itself. 

Overall, it felt less confusing than the prequel, but it might be because I was more used. On the other hand it gets more complex as the factions playing the game are uncovered. It delivers a more intriguing plot, leaving the loose ends from the sequel almost untied and creating a whole bunch of new ones. That said, it also delivers an interesting account of some lore about the game and the players involved together with their intentions.

The whole saga is an ambitious project. I hope to be able to read the third part, sooner than later, and get closure on all the threads going on.