The day Pop music lost it's king

It is with great sorrow that I accept the passing of a very personal icon. While the death of Michael Jackson does not compare with the death of a family member, it no less ceases to imprint on my thoughts throughout the day.

A whole day has passed since I heard the news...I hear his songs all day...I see his photos on every webpage...I even sing "Music and me" to myself.

I will no doubt go back and forth forgetting that he's gone. His music lives on and I would like nothing more than to pay tribute someday by including his genius in my videogames (as I originally intended to). Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson...each begetting the next.

When I was only a year old, my uncle natal would joke about getting me a Michael Jackson thriller doll - he was so popular back then that I never forgot his name. Much later I made "Beat it" my favorite song even before I became an M.C. Hammer fan. Rap was kind of the in thing in the early nineties. Michael Jackson came back in force with his "Dangerous" Album and set a new standard for the rest of the decade.
I moved to Mexico in mid 1993 - of the few things that got me out of the depression of moving to another country was MJ's music. I bought all of his music and even rebought the albums. I got a copy, one way or the other, of all his movies and his greatest moments. I know the story of the Jackson 5 by heart (almost) and I've seen the MJ ScareCrow (The Wiz I think it was called) a couple of times.

Funny as my spotlight moments (got graduated and got a job) are marked by the death of Kwai Chang Caine, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Live and let die. I guess it means that it's my turn now to provide a light to those who, like me 16 years ago, are just coming to this world and need a hand.

Thanks Michael, God bless you.

-Juan Pablo Reyes Altamirano

The start of a long road and the end of the previous thousand miles

From the 15th to the 19th of June 2009 was a week that could only be remembered in this blog as a Golden Week. Not particularly happy or sad but the events that occurred in it were life-changing.

Monday - I practice my dissertation and get a sharp perspective on my impromptu talk -I fail. That same night I receive a mail welcoming me to Sabarasa, an argentine vg company that had just opened a studio in Mexico. They ask me for my desired salary range and so I have my pride lifted.

Tuesday - We have 5 successful runs of our dissertation and end the day satisfactorily

Wednesday - Professional Exam. After a brilliant dissertation with faculty friends, members of PROTECO, DGSCA, the Reyes Family and the Altamirano Family (plus Mauricio's family) we bask in our glory and are hailed as newly received engineers. I have dinner with most of my remaining friends and family and end the day with a heartfelt family reunion at my aunt Tere's house. The day ends with Sabarasa offering my initial salary (somewhat less than I expected) at the odd hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday - Last day at DGSCA. I have a long talk with my boss and former thesis director, Rodrigo Tintor, where he encourages me to try the job at Sabarasa for at least a couple of months. Everyone else is supportive and defends the view that while the salary might not be as expected, it is a golden opportunity to learn about the videogame industry. I have my Reyes family celebration at Brasileirisimo's, then at Rolando's house and finally at Miguel Angel's house. It ends with my father accompanying me to welcome back Eric. I work on thesis dedications until 2 in the morning.

Friday - At five o' clock I wake up to go to my first day of work and Sabarasa Mexico's kickoff (opening). All well and interesting I meet Andro for the first time and my soon to be team mates: Carlos, Gerardo, Juan and Gonzalo. We have an interesting first lunch and then go our separate ways. I have my crowning celebration that evening and tell everyone about my first day, the thesis, etc. etc.

David Carridine would've been proud...so would my grandmother. But I see my future full of doubt and uncertainty, typical of any adventure...but I guess that means everything is as it should be - right back to a normal JP life.