Thank you subscribers of A Portuguese Love blog!

This is a very short post. I usually do not check my Feed so I was so surprised, today when I did. I found that lots of people subscribed to A Portuguese Love already! It made me really happy. As you might have noticed I do not get a lot of comments so I don’t know if people are enjoying the blog or not. 

This is mostly a promotional blog for my little business at Zazzle but I am trying, very hard, not to be a bore. I really want this blog to have good content, to be useful, or funny at times and to please my readers. ( I accept suggestions!) As you might also imagine it’s very hard for me to write in English. As I wrote in many places I have learned it in high school and I am so very grateful to my English teacher- I had the opportunity to tell her this, years later, and she was pleased. John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Elizabeth Taylor, Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, and many others helped me too! The English language opened many little worlds for me. But I suck at it. 

I am continuously searching for mistakes in my posts…and I find it! LOL! As I am very proficient in the use of Portuguese I always feel a poor English user. But these numbers are quite an incentive to keep posting. And to keep learning better English. Thank you all!

New Zealand one month after earthquake and Harold's hedgehog book!

Harold's book!

My nephew reading Harold's book!

The mail package image!

Article from Herald on Sunday-NZ

One month ago New Zealand suffered one of its worst natural disasters when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck second-biggest city called Christchurch on 22th February. Maybe you have already forgotten about it. 17 days after Earth rocked again, in Japan. Horrendous consequences are known from all of us. News from Japan engulfed all media as much as the tsunami has made for the shaken land. I am saddened for both countries. Today I am again writing about New Zealand for different reasons. After Mardi-Gras-Fat Tuesday – I got mail, real mail in my postal box, not in my email box. That is quite a happening by itself! I got a parcel from New Zealand, another one form UK and another one from Taiwan, via Oporto. Today I will show you what the postman brought me from New Zealand: a beautiful book about Harold, one of two hedgehogs that Ross gave shelter. I met Ross through Zazzle. When he asked for my address to send me a book I never imagine such a gorgeous book. Nice paper, big photos. It’s marvelous that he had done this book to celebrate Harold’s passage through his life. The little animal returned to visit him after the first hibernation on the wild. How wonderful is that? Don’t forget that Ross’s has T-shirts to help to raise money for Christchurch Relief Fund. You can find it here. Find two examples below.

The mail package had a cute drawing in it and I scanned it to post here because it’s a Kaitiaki illustration by Ngataiharuru Taepa. That’s the word in Maori for protector or guardian. That design represents Tiaki (care) and New Zealand’s Post’s role in watching over mail as it travels from one destination to another. Very nice graphic detail.

Ross also sent me Herald on Sunday, 100 hours – A tribute to courage. I took some notes out of it: “There is a gentle groundswell for the Cathedral to be rebuilt – not just as a symbol of restoring the brick-and-mortar heart of the city, but as a symbol of restoring the human soul of the community.”

It’s strange but I can understand this perfectly. I’m not a religious person but when I saw the damaged cathedral I was moved. It has stood for 100 years and it's a beautiful building. I really would like to see it rebuilt and I'm at least 30 hours flight from there!I'm sure they will do it.

This news supplement has stories of rescuers, survivors, photos and columns with words from prominent personalities, like the Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker: “It was like a freight train coming through the front door. No warning, no rumble, no chance of escape.” Zara Potts wrote: “It’s like a disaster movie set. It doesn’t feel real.” Mary Ann Jackson: “I ran for my life. I had seconds. I thought it was the end of the world. I could feel the building breaking up. It was seconds and the building was flattened.” Her colleagues died inside the building. One thing I tried while reading and looking at Herald’s photos was to put myself on the shoes of survivors with their uninhabitable homes, without a working place maybe for months and dealing with the loss of family members, co-workers or friends on top of it. “It takes a huge toll on the human spirit to see your home in ruins. You can’t complain because you’re one of the lucky ones.” – Kerry Woodham.

Roger Waters - The Wall Live

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?id=652502467&aid=387589 

The photo was taken by Pedro Timóteo, March 22, Lisbon concert

Roger Waters - The Wall Live

"30 Years ago when I wrote The Wall I was a frightened young man. Well not that young, I was 36 years old. It took me a long time to get over my fears. Anyway, in the intervening years it has occurred to me that maybe the story of my fear and loss with its concomitant inevitable residue of ridicule, shame, and punishment, provides an allegory for broader concerns.: Nationalism, racism, sexism, religion, Whatever! All these issues and ‘isms are driven by the same fears that drove my young life.

This new production of The Wall is an attempt to draw some comparisons, to illuminate our current predicament, and is dedicated to all the innocent lost in the intervening years.

In some quarters, among the chattering classes, there exists a cynical view that human beings as a collective are incapable of developing more ‘humane’ ie, kinder, more generous, more cooperative, more empathetic relationships with one another."


I disagree. In my view it is too early in our story to leap to such a conclusion, we are after all a very young species. I believe we have at least a chance to aspire to something better than the dog eats dog ritual slaughter that is our current response to our institutionalized fear of each other."


Roger Waters

Roger Waters is performing tonight and tomorrow night at Lisbon! Yeahhh!!

Should my nephew be an illustrator when he grows up?

When my nephew comes to stay with me he keeps asking for drawings to fill with color. Gormitis, he asks. This time I said yes, but with a special request: he should create an original Gormiti. And he did! Gabriel is 8 years old and I don't have a clue on what he wants to be when he grows up. I think it's too soon to guess and too soon to ask...! In the meantime, Gormitis rule, yeah!

Portuguese Music Research and Information Centre: rebranded site!

From the MIC site:" With a brand new design, direct links to the most popular sections as well as easier and more attractive navigation the Portuguese Music Research & Information Centre hopes to contribute even more to the international visibility of Portuguese music. The renovated mic.pt website has new areas: the monthly "in focus" section as well as a direct connection with the "New Music Review Lounge", among others. Explore all the innovations."

Olhares sobre o Porto - Guarda sul Porto - Regards sur Porto - Views on Oporto

My Oporto  Facebook photo album

Just a few things I like at Oporto - River Douro - Gustave Eiffel's Dona Maria Bridge - Rem Koolhaas' Casa da Música - Port wine and wine cellars at Gaia - Lello’s bookshop - Riverfront at either side of the Douro river - São Bento Train Station's tiled walls - Charismatic old quarters - Soares dos Reis’s Art Museum - The gigantic shovel by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen at Serralves - Shopping on the street stores and not at shopping centres – Festival of Saint John's Day - The bronze cube surrounded by coffee tables at Ribeira - Bolhão market - Café Majestic - Sweets from Arcádia - Siza Vieira's Serralves Museum and its exhibitions that have included "Andy Warhol: A Factory," "Francis Bacon: Caged - Uncaged," and "Paula Rego." - The way people talk...my Oporto friends.

Songlines Music Awards Nominees 2011: ANA MOURA for Best Artist!

Ana Moura is the celebrated Portuguese Fado singer that sang No expectations with Mick Jagger at Alavalade XXI Stadium, in Lisbon. She also performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall and that will go down in history as the first Portuguese act held there. Now she has been nominated Best Artist by Songlines, the magazine that looks at the world through its music. The winners, to be selected by the Songlines editorial team, will be published in the June issue (#76), on sale April 29. Songlines Music Awards aim to recognize and celebrate the wealth of outstanding musical talent from across the world that has been reviewed in Songlines. Deolinda's, a Portuguese band, were 2010's Newcomer artist nominee. Explore 50th sold out issue of Songlines here. Watch and listen to Ana Moura's here.

BEST ARTIST

•Ana Moura (for the album Leva-me Aos Fados on World Village)
•Cheikh Lô (for the album Jamm on World Circuit)
•Femi Kuti (for the album Africa for Africa on Wrasse)
•Youssou N'Dour (for the album Dakar-Kingston on Universal)
BEST GROUP
•Bellowhead (for the album Hedonism on Navigator)

•Hanggai (for the album He Who Travels Far on World Connection)
•Lepistö & Lehti (for the album Helsinki on Aito Records)
•Terrakota (for the album World Massala on Ojo Musica)
CROSS-CULTURAL COLLABORATION
•AfroCubism (for the album AfroCubism on World Circuit)
•Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal (for the album Chamber Music on No Format)
•Kronos Quartet with Alim & Fargana Qasimov and Homayun Sakhi
(for the album Rainbow - Music of Central Asia Vol 8 on Smithsonian Folkways)
•Vishwa Mohan Bhatt & Matt Malley (for the album Sleepless Nights on World Village)
NEWCOMER
•The Creole Choir of Cuba (for the album Tande-la on Real World)
•Raghu Dixit (for the album Raghu Dixit on Vishal & Shekhar Music)
•Syriana (for the album Road to Damascus on Real World)
•Tamikrest (for the album Adagh on Glitterhouse Records)

Japan: my Facebook profile with PicBadge

I have created a PicBadge for Facebook Profile. Let's turn Facebook red and white for Japan. Go to PicBadge and adopt my badge, pick another one or create a new one. If you like my badge, you can use the widget on your right to get one. My badge has the word HOPE written in several languages, the date of the disaster and an origami swallow. I picked a swallow because it's a bird that announces Spring. Japan will be reborn and from misfortune will come a new Spring. That our thoughts be with Japanese in this grim hour of their History.

Portuguese youth last Saturday demonstrations

Photos were taken by Isabel Camarinha, a friend, at Oporto,
where at least 80.000 people gathered to protest.

Called onto the streets by a social media Facebook campaign a total of 300.000 thousand people marched in a dozen Portuguese cities last Saturday to vent its frustration at grim career prospects. This was one of the biggest demonstrations ever held in Portugal. After a decade of feeble economic growth Portuguese are now facing hard austerity measures with reflections on every life sectors from education to health. Demonstrators were mostly on their 20s -30s but their middle-aged parents were present too and even older people in their 60s already. On Facebook´s Manifesto, young organizers stated that this demonstration would be from unemployed and other poorly paid slaves disguised as workers and its aim was to trigger a qualitative change in Portugal. The organizers aspire to a decent future with stability and security. The generation with the highest level of training the country's history, they have stated, has no means to use their potential but believes to have the resources and tools to create a better future for Portugal. Right now the jobless rate stands at a record 11.2 percent. Half the unemployed are under 35. With no jobs prospects or very badly paid jobs they can’t afford to leave parents home and postpone starting a family even if they have a college education. A song called "Que parva que eu sou/ What a fool I am" by Portuguese band Deolinda has become kind of a hymn for this generation that has entitled herself “ Geração à rasca” meaning desperate generation. Deolinda’s recorded performance in Oporto’s Coliseu was uploaded on Youtube and become viral:

"I'm from the generation without pay

and this condition does not bother me.

What a fool I am!

Because it’s bad and will go on,

I’m already lucky if I could get an internship.

What a fool I am!

And I'm thinking,

what a silly world this is

where to be a slave one must study."

It gave origin to a large debate by Portuguese society, common citizens, opinion makers, politician analysts and politicians about young people condition. This debate will go on now as Facebook's Manifesto results were better than organizers expected. Demonstration numbers also made clear that internet and social networks are a powerful tool. In my opinion, the causes of this grim situation are complex. The economic crisis does not explain it all. It was bad already before the economic crisis, now it is worse. Lack of Government vision and Education planning led many youngsters to invest their time in superior education courses that can’t match the society needs. My course is a good example. I went to Law School back in the 80s. Back then Coimbra’s University admitted 400 new Law students every year. I don’t know how many Law Schools we have in Portugal, too many, I’m afraid. A high percentage of those qualified boys and girls can’t find a job in their expertise area. I also believe that Portuguese is not trained in entrepreneurship and still rely very much on getting a job instead of searching for opportunities to create a job. My parents’ generation was obsessed with the idea of getting higher education for their kids as they saw that an automatic passport to a better life. Not anymore. Things have changed. I also feel that this is a sign of the death of capitalism. The system is dead. What will come next?

JAPAN Earthquake Relief Fund: wanna help? Buy a T-shirt!

It's unbelievable that within one month I have designed two t-shirts to help countries that have suffered earthquakes, one for New Zealand and now again for Japan. New Zealand´s t-shirt idea was not mine. I had just begun to make contact with a person from this country and when I visited his Zazzle Store I saw he had created T-shirts to raise funds. So I decided to offer him a drawing he could use, I thought it made more sense than creating a product for this purpose in my shop. Now I begin to think that I should have created a line of products entitled Causes. The initiative for Japan's T-shirt came from Zazzle. The Zazzle team created a T-shirt and suggested the Zazzle community to donate drawings. So check the Japan Relief Store and look for Community Donated drawings. Many Zazzlers are donating drawings.

I am very sad about what happened to both countries. I did not expect to see images of destruction similar to the ones of 2004 again in my lifetime. I spent a reasonable amount of time on Youtube on 11th March watching Japan misfortune. Finally, I gave up because seeing the degree of devastation is unbearable. On the other way is now admirable to watch the calm and restraint the population deals with adversity. Today I just read that danger of a nuclear explosion in central Fukushima is still real. I hope this does not materialize because Japanese people have had enough suffering already. Visit the Zazzle Store where you can find many T-shirts. Acquire one if you can. Zazzle offers $ 10 to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund for everyone that's purchased. And this is my design:

Japan Earthquake Relief by aportugueselove

International Women Day: Ferreirinha, a notorious Portuguese woman

Video

8th March is International Women Day. I wanted to post about Portuguese notorious women. I know by heart the names of pioneer women who fought for women rights in Portugal. I also admire some Portuguese women painters and poetry writers. But I thought it all would be tedious in the end for my readers. So I decided to pick just one: Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, Portuguese vineyard manager. She was born in 1811 into a wealthy family in the North. She’s an example of entrepreneurship. She was passionate, she had a vision, she searched perfection and she treated workers with respect. She’s an example for both, men and women. She dedicated her life to the cultivation of Port wine and introduced notable innovations. Her first husband was not interested in wine cultivation. After his death, she changed into a complete and insightful businesswoman. She was affectionately known as “Ferreirinha”. Besides being into the business she cared about workers and their families. She helped poor families from the Douro region and many called her Mother of the Poor. She re-married and her second husband helped her in her vineyard business. But he also died. She was 33 years old and had two children. At the time the Government did not support wine cultivation and prefer to buy wine from other countries. She went to England to learn more about wines and better ways to fight the vines disease, the phylloxera. There she acknowledged that some American vines roots are immune to attack by phylloxera. Those vines were immune to the disease. Therefore, to achieve success in planting vineyards, the European varieties must be grafted onto American roots. And she did it. Quinta do Vesúvio was the name of her most famous rural property. The winery exported mostly to the UK. Once she almost died when a boat sunk in Douro's river. It seems she managed to float due to the big rounded skirts and thus was saved. She died in 1896 and left considerable fortune and cultivated land in the Douro Region. Casa Ferreirinha is still a reference in Portuguese wines. The video belongs to a TV series depicting Ferreirinha's life.

Eurovision Song Contest 2011 - The fight is joy, Portuguese say

Read more about it here.

Homens da luta is a Portuguese comedy and musical street show group. Vasco Duarte (Falâncio) and Jel (Neto) are the creative teams. Their songs are a parody of the songs sung during and after the 1974 Revolução dos Cravos (Carnation Revolution) democratic revolution. The characters played are caricatures of the revolutionary singers and Portuguese people of that time. Homens da Luta can translate to The fighting men. They won the 47th edition of the Festival da Canção that took place at the Teatro Camões in Lisbon. After the shared votes by an expert-regional jury and people phone voting on a 50/50 basis, Homens da Luta will represent Portugal at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Dusseldorf.

The endless debate started all over the internet after Homens da Luta victory. Some Portuguese just feel ashamed and find it pretty disgusting. Other say they are proud to be represented by A Luta é alegria. Some say that this song is not a winning song but is one aimed to stir consciences. Some say it expresses the true feeling of the people. Some say that are tired of commercial songs and that this one is fresh. Some say that Anglo-Saxons do pop song better and that we should explore other ways. Some say that Eurovision Song Festival is not about good songs at all. Some say that no matter what kind of song Portugal gets to Eurovision it always ends last. I do not like the song. I am not sure how to qualify it if a satire or a joke. I do like folk and popular music. Eurovision Song Contest is not an intervention Festival. Even if it was I still find the music very weak. In fact, I did not like any of the songs presented to competition this year. Maybe I'm just too demanding?

In the past, this song contest was a prestigious television event but Portuguese viewers got disinterested year after year. At least Homens da Luta song has put everybody talking about it, there’s a lot of controversial buzz going on. On stage, you get a parody of the Portuguese revolutionary period from 37 years ago. As nowadays Portugal is undergoing a period of disputes the song pleased easily. Unemployment is rising, young qualified people can’t get jobs, dismissed people can’t re-enter the labor market. Justice has become inoperative; corruption took over many sectors of Portuguese society. Going abroad again in search of better living conditions has become a solution for many Portuguese. People feel disenchanted all the way. Social rights are being cut off due to severe measures to keep up with European boat. For older people this was not what they expected from the Carnation Revolution; for younger people, this was not what they expected from joining the dream of Europe. We all blame it on Government misguidance and wrong politics that seems to have favored the capital and ruined middle-class. Some say that this song got votes only due to the current national (and European) context. All over people are standing up against Government policies. But what are Homens da Luta singing about? The lyrics and video next:


The fight is the joy

Sometimes you find yourself discouraged
Sometimes you find yourself distrusting
Sometimes you find yourself startled
Sometimes you find yourself despaired

Night or day
The fight is the joy
And people’s progress is on the street screaming!

It is pointless to tight the belt
It is pointless to whine around
It is pointless to be always frown
It is pointless to have anger as your helper

Night or day
The fight is the joy
And people’s progress is on the street screaming!

Bring the bread, get the cheese, bring the wine
Come on old man, come on young man, come on boy

Come celebrate this situation
And we will sing against reaction!

Bring the bread, get the cheese, bring the wine
Come on old man, come on young man, come on boy

Many warn you to go carefully
Many wishes to tell you to shut up
Many leave you distrustful
Many will sell you the very own air

Night or day
The fight is the joy
And people’s progress is on the street screaming!

Bring the bread, get the cheese, bring the wine
Come on old man, come on young man, come on boy

Come celebrate this situation
And we will sing against reaction!

Bring the bread, get the cheese, bring the wine
Come on old man, come, young man, come on boy

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day!

Saint Patrick is my Homeboy by magarmor

Create custom tshirts using zazzle

Hello good people!

When I was a child I enjoyed searching for rare four leaf shamrocks. My grandmother always told me that if I could found one it would give me good luck! Sometimes I find one inside my children books very dry and yelowish! She also told me that each leaf has a different meaning: faith, happiness, love and hope. When she was young she worked in agriculture and she knew lots of stories about plants. I don't think she ever heard about tradition in Ireland. She never spoke me about Ireland! Back then I did not know that shamrocks are a symbol for Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day.

Irish people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps on this day. There’s an Irish legend that stipulates that St. Patrick used the three leaves shamrock to illustrate the concept of the Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) when trying to convert pagans to Christianity. She never spoke me about leprechauns neither! Little unpleasant and lonely old man dressed as a shoe maker with a hat?! Nahh! They work for Fairies and gather golden coins in a pot! They are also a symbol for Irish. In addition to all this there’s the color green. Green is the color of Nature in spring and shamrocks. Ireland is also called an Emerald because green is a constant presence in the country. Several revolutionary groups adopted this color for flags and today it appears on the official tri-color (plus white and orange) Irish flag.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. In Dublin and Limerick there are huge celebrations. But in USA parades are also a big tradition. The first one was held there when Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York. The sound of bagpipes and drums become popular. Irish immigrants were not very well accepted in America when they travelled there to escape poverty in the mid 19th century. St. Patrick’s Day parades were a moment to unite and show their power.

Today St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in USA, Australia and Canada. More than 100 St. Patrick's Day parades are held across the United States. New York City and Boston host the biggest celebrations. In Chicago the river is dyed green for some hours! Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick's Day dish. I suppose Irish drink beer to go along with it. Although Portugal is a traditional wine producer I do appreciate beer too! We don’t celebrate the occasion in Portugal. But I have some Irish records in my collection: The Pogues, The Dubliners and Luke Kelly. I guess I can cook some corned beef…and get a black Guiness to drink! And get a few shamrocks from the garden! What’s missing, a green t-shirt maybe?! Can you help me pick the right St.Patrick's Day T-shirt for me?

Go to this link to get a taste of St. Patrick’s celebration in Ireland. The Festival featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks shows is really something big!

Irish Beer Girl by HolidayObsessions
Browse other t-shirt designs made on zazzle.co.uk

St. Patrick's Day Celebration T-Shirt by jamiecreates1
Browse St patrick's day T-Shirts

Out Of This World Shamrock by SocialiteDesigns
Browse Shamrock T-Shirts

Pot of Gold t-shirt by holiday_tshirts
Shop for a different t-shirt design

Leprechaun Beer St. Patrick's Day Shirt by ChiaPetRescue
Browse St patricks T-Shirts

Happy Saint Patricks Day by Shamrockz
More Saint patricks day T-Shirts

St Patrick's Day Dublin by cimmerrian
Browse other tees made on zazzle

Funny Unique Ladies St. Patrick's Day Tee Shirt by Swisstoons
View more Funny T-Shirts

St Patricks Day Shamrock Shirt by ChiaPetRescue
Browse zazzle for a different shirtzazzle

Irish Princess by Shamrockz by Shamrockz
Make custom tee shirts at zazzle.co.uk

St Patricks Day Shamrock Shirt by ChiaPetRescue
Browse St patricks day T-Shirts

Shirt - St. Patrick's Day Clover by pawtraitart
Make cheap custom t-shirts at zazzle.co.uk

St. Patty's Day (Green on Black) by thebluebirdequation
Browse other Bluebird T-Shirts

Happy St. Patrick's Day! by BambiW
View more Irish T-Shirts

Made In Ireland St. Patrick's Day T shirt by greenbaby
View other St patricks day T-Shirts

Pretty and Feminine St. Patrick's Day by greenbaby
Browse Zazzle for another teezazzle.co.uk

St Patrick's day: Green HIPPO by adellaandmella
More St T-Shirts

Shamrocks in a Shamrock by Shamrockz
View more St patrick's day T-Shirts

Irish Hat and Shamrocks Shirts by Lotacats
Browse St T-Shirts

Luck of the Irish T-Shirt by HellaGorgeous
Design your shirt at zazzle

Irish Teddybear - Green by Spice
More Irish T-Shirts

Earthquake relief fund in New Zealand: wanna help?

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND

http://www.zazzle.com/rossheywood/gifts?cg=196306623959773530?rf=238721890077113262


UPDATE! I heard on the radio this morning (March 2nd) that it could take 15 years to rebuild Christchurch and the bill could be over $10 Billion. My account has $3.81 in it now from sales. I thank those people. Every bit counts. Ross

All earnings from this Ross Heywood's Zazzle Store section will be donated to the Earthquake Relief Fund in New Zealand.

New Zealand suffered one of its worst natural disasters when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck second-biggest city called Christchurch on 22th February. A 7.1 magnitude shake also struck Christchurch September 4, 2010, causing damage but were no deaths. This time the shallow quake, just two miles below the surface, caused several office blocks to collapse as well as destroying a 110-year-old Anglican cathedral.


I know a little about New Zealand. I saw An angel at my table, The Piano and Whale Rider. So, that is my New Zealand. I know the islands were once a Britain colony. I know about the indigenous Maori population and the traditional crafts of carving and weaving. And I also know that James Cook was one of the first Europeans to set foot on the islands. And that's it! I imagine huge mountains and tall trees and the winds blowing from the sea and I seem to forget about its populated cities until one it's on the news for the worst reason.


A few weeks ago I found Ross’s store. He gave shelter to a couple of hedgehogs and displayed their photo on some products. It caught my attention. I adore those cute animals! He lives in New Zealand. He started the fundraising for Christchurch and I decided to help. I feel deeply sorry for all who have to go through this kind of tragedy. I experienced only very small earth shakes but I get really scared when it happens. Last time was 2009. To watch earthquakes devastation images – Japan, Turkey, Italy, Haiti- is almost as bad as watching war devastation images. Earthquakes come without warning, we still can’t predict it. We’re powerless to defend ourselves. I gave Ross a hand. Now, it's your turn to give Christchurch a hand too.