How migration really works

 https://youtu.be/89jS8FRkRCI

This is a good starting point for our debate on Wednesday Nov 6th 2024 at 6:30 p.m. on Belino's suggestion.

Recent News

Claudio Rodríguez Library

  
 The town library received a donation of books from The British Council library, more than they could handle, so we were allowed to enrich our collection. We brought back classics of English literature along with abridged versions for students of English. They have found a good home.

ASEDOW is very grateful to the library staff for thinking of us when disposing of this surplus book stock.

Every Picture Tells A Story

 Curiosities from around the world.

You are invited to share your picture and give a talk.

Be prepared!

 Salvador will take us to Thailand.

See you  Wednesday  9/10/24

Do you see the beauty in Brutalist Architecture?

 Bring back the Le Corbusier inspired buildings.

Built to house the multitudes of homeless after the Second World War, the concept of affordable housing is every bit as relevant t today as it was in the 1950s.

The housing shortage, especially for workers in the hospitality sector, workers in holiday resorts could be addressed.

We could have valuable and valiant initiatives, just like La Maison Radieuse.

Ethics over Aesthetics.

What do you think? Tell us.

Wednesday  October 2nd 18:30.

Rezé

September 25th 2024

 After a long and very hot summer here in Madrid, our association invites you to join us tomorrow from 18:30 to 20:00h at 18, Av Baunatal,  Floor 1, Room1.

There you can have a leisurely talk  and meet the members.

Any of us can inform you about what to expect when you come to our weekly get – togethers.

Alternatively, write to us for all the information.

asedow@gmail.com         

A picture paints a thousand words

¡Hasta la vista!

Yesterday we enjoyed an end of school year drink together, those of us who could make it. We will renew our activities the last week in September. Wishing everybody safe and happy holidays in the company of Nature, friends and family.

Una tertulia

The Spanish love a tertulia, a good conversation. At the same time they can be very passionate about their views on football and politics so to have a good conversation the silent rule is to avoid these topics which in this day and age is not easy. Well, in any day and age. Still we try. We hold the conversation in English, a good strategy to bring people together from different walks of life. Using the English language to express opinions helps harness a natural tendency to be over dogmatic. Each of us brings our own repertoire of travel tales and humorous anecdotes as well as interesting proposals for discussion. I have always shared Washington Irving's view that you will find the greatest nobility in the ordinary people of Spain. See this for yourself. Come and enjoy our 'tertulia' on Wednesday. asedow@gmail.com

There are two sides to every story

 Shi Huangdi. The name of the Chinese Emperor who ordered history books to be burnt. He wanted history to begin with himself.

‘El Infinito En Un Junco’ has many interesting facts. This book recommendation came up in our talks  yesterday.

Papyrus plant Egypt

We touch on many subjects.

Yesterday we began by talking about the terrible plight of the people in Palestine and ended up talking about Peruvian oral tradition.

We had the same oral tradition in Ireland. Academics have been responsible for rescuing languages that were in danger of extinction, places where they did not use the written word to pass down folk memory.

Lady Jane Wilde, the mother of Oscar, was a Gaelic speaker. She helped collect the memory of the Irish people in her written publications and this goodness of spirit on her part no doubt contributed to her son’s humanity, empathy and storytelling ability.

Our conversations weave in and out effortlessly, making connections.

To join us, write to asedow@gmail.com

The connection between morals and art

 https://www.vqronline.org/essay/moral-prerogative-oscar-wilde-look-fairy-tales

We love this essay, The Moral Perogative In Oscar Wilde: A Look At The Fairy Tales by John Allen Quintus, which was published in 1977 in Virginia Quarterly Review and we really appreciate the easy access to the wonderful Virginia University publication.

We hope you enjoy it too.

Wilde Flowers

 April showers bring May flowers.

En abril aguas mil.

The beauty and variety of the wild flowers in San Sebastián De Los Reyes and at this time of year in Spain together with the scent of the lovely hawthorn, all induce me to make the pun  (yet again!) while paying  tribute to Oscar  Wilde by calling them Wilde flowers. I am sure he would not mind.

We can publish your pics too!

Some shamrock for St Patrick's Day

 

Arts and Crafts

Tomorrow we have the opportunity to listen to Luis expound upon William Morris, a person he admires greatly.

In fact not long ago Luis was our guide in the wonderful exhibition on William Morris in Fundación Juan March here in Madrid.

Tomorrow in our talks he will tell us about the Art of book binding too.

Wednesday 13th March 2024

Universidad Popular

San Sebastián De Los Reyes

18:30h

See you there!

"If I were asked to say what is at once the most important production of Art and the thing most to be longed for; I should answer; A beautiful house; and if I were further asked to name the production next in importance to be longed for; I should answer; A beautiful book."

William Morris (1834 - 1896)

Morris is mentioned in this clever dialogue between Cyril and Vivian. 'Why even Morrris's poorest workman could make you a more comfortable seat than the whole of nature can.' The Decay of Lying By Oscar Wilde

 

Ver un Mundo en un Grano de Arena

y un Cielo en una Flor Silvestre;

tener el Infinito en la palma de tu mano

y la Eternidad en una hora.

Un Petirrojo en una Jaula

pone furioso a todo el Cielo

 

Augurios de Inocencia

https://web.seducoahuila.gob.mx/biblioweb/upload/AUGURIOS.pdf 

 William Blake 1757 – 1827 was a poet, a painter and a visionary. 

At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a master engraver.

At the age of twenty one he earned his living as an engraver.

Booksellers employed him to engrave illustrations for publications such as Don Quixote.

Don Quixote: ‘I fight against three giants: fear, injustice and ignorance.’

Blake used the written word to highlight beauty, humanity and life.

Cervantes in the seventeenth century, Blake in the eighteenth century, Oscar Wilde in the nineteenth century. A treasure trove of Literature.

Auguries of innocence by William Blake

 To see A World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour

A Robin Red breast in a Cage

Puts all Heaven in a Rage

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43650/auguries-of-innocence