Sudoku

Those who are fond of puzzles, know Sudoku, a logic-based placement 9x9 puzzle which is to be filled so that every column, every row, and every 3x3 box contains 1-9 digits (without repetition of digits).

To me, Sudoku, has another meaning. The digits, 1-9, are different in values in the world of mathematics, but when they come to form a Sudoku, they make things in a balancing way. There, a 9 is valued the same as a 1. No difference. And the result, is a 9x9 box, full of equalities.

Now, I'm thinking to the fact that, our life is a Sudoku, and we just need to put the things together so that we can live in a balanced way in every aspect.

And, I'm always thinking to those 9 elements...

Don't go away...

One of the differences between here and Japan is that, obviously, there is no strict timetable for the public transportation here. While in Japan there were annual timetables for trains, buses and other means of transport, here you just know the working hours. And in the case of tramvia network (for which you have a timetable in every station), the cars are not on-schedule being sometimes out of service or delayed due to a reason.

Then, the waiting time could be prolonged and boring, you know. Here, nothing can help except the digital world. The digital boards which are supposed to indicate the arrival time of next train, know how to do it: They just countdown in a non-stop way. I mean, while counting-down for the next train, and in the case of delay, they never reach zero. And before reaching zero, they change to a higher value and continue countdown.

So, you never know when the next train is here. But, at least, you don't loose your hope. The board says: Don't go away, it will come!

Tom and Katie

Yes. They got married on Saturday, 18th of November; with a clipped 7-month kid showing that it was a must: a wedding ceremony. Congrats to the couple and to all their supporters.

Bracciano, a small city in Italy, and a crowd of celebrities who got there to participate or just to expose themselves to media (did you see victoria Beckham by the way? She was like going to a funeral in that black dressing).

6000 white and red roses were used for decoration and they spent something about 2.5 million Euros according to a TV report.

And, the same day, another report: 11 million children (under 5) die every year worldwide. 100 million kids live in the streets (according to UNICEF).

Black or...

I was told that according to the docs, Romanian people have got the first place in ranking of immigrants to Spain, reaching to a record of 450,000 in recent years.

And last week, the media announced that in a one-day mission in a centric street of Barcelona (Raval), 110 people were arrested as they have been involed in prostitution. They also said that most of these people are coming from Romania and disturb the society with such activities making the city unsafe especially for those who live/work nearby.

I'm not sure if prostitution is banned here coz they held an international festival here in Barcelona (2 months ago). Also, they are freely moving in other areas of Barcelona publicizing their black-job.

Good or bad, banned or permitted, the point is that they get here easily perhaps without any problem. But if you are, for example, a well-educated one and want to do some scientific work here, then you have to follow a long procedure to get the work permit which is sometimes impossible.

Blonde hair

"Blonde hair, Blue Jeans, Best things I've ever seen"
Do you remember this? Yes, the song by Chris de Burgh in "This way up".

Actually, I'm not sure if these are the best things he has ever seen. But, the motivation for this post comes from the fact that here in Spain, people colorize their hair to look like those blondes. And back to those years of my life in Japan, Japanese and Koreans were also coloring their hair into a blonde or (sometimes) strange colors.

Now, the question is: Who said that the blonde is the best?

Don't tell me this is just kind of fashion or something. The fact is that people think this way. They make themselves blonde coz they want to be. You know, spanish people are european, so why do they need to prove it this way? Or is it exactly what they want to say? What about those east-asians?

I believe that the problem is somewhere else. But where?

Saint Albert

Yesterday, November 15, was the day of Saint Albert. They told me that he (Albert the Great) has been a patron, a pioneer in science (the biography is here).

And they celebrated the day. There was no course in some faculties including faculty of physics, to which I belong. Instead, the university was hosting the students with a big party providing foods and drinks.

Having a talk with the director of our department, Albert Cornet, he seemed really happy. You know, it was his day though he was complaining as he has to work even on his day.

Then, what is the meaning of your name, he asked.
And I said, I've got it from the Cyrus the Great, king of Persia.

Yes, that's great, we call him "Ciru" he said. And continued: But your king is old, mine is not that old, you know.

Right, but kings are kings, and Cyrus the Great has been a really great person, in many aspects.

You are definitely right, he said happily and left.

Congratulations to all Alberts worldwide!!!

Feel the time

I'm not sure if you are among those people who prefer normal (mechanical) watches to digital ones.

I, actually, like mechanical ones even though old or not so precise. But how come?

Trying to find an answer which can express my feelings about both systems, I reallized that those mechanical systems give a better sense of time perhaps because of their movement. I mean, when you see movements of the hands, or when you hear those tic-tacs, then then you undrestand it: The time goes by...

Immigrants

According to a survey, Spain needs about 4 millions of foreigners in order to keep all the projects running (1 million for catalunya, 3 millions for the rest of the country).

They also say that thousands of people try to get here illegaly, most of them from african teritories. A lot of latinos, chinese, Arabs are also coming...

And, if you would like to know why, just take a look at all those low-level jobs...