Poet of the Fortnight #5: Alex Penuelas (July 12 - July 26)

1.
A. Pay off any immediate debts that my family and I have, so that we don't have to be worried about any accrued fees.
B. Fund my branch that helps out the homeless, so that we can get bigger stuff for them, like tents and sleeping bags
C. Help out my close friends who need help (you know who you are if you're reading this).
D. Use it to travel the world yo meet all my family and friends.

2. A tardigrade. They are the organisms that can withstand anything, even the vacuum of space itself.

4. Most of the time yes. That is because I speak English outside of my home, but when I'm home I primarily speak Spanish.
5. It's very likely that there's life on other planets. I mean, there's literally billions of exoplanets, millions of them very well existing in the goldilocks zone of their star. So it's very likely.
Well. I dunno really. But humans tend to fear that they would eventually be mistreated like they mistreated the planet. I personally hope it would be a peaceful meeting.

6. See my answer above .

Again, I find myself nodding my head to your answers. I agree that there's likely life elsewhere in the universe. I wonder sometimes if this other life might be unfathomable to us. Maybe we've already come into contact. Anyway, I like your response. As for freedom of speech, I'm curious what you mean by there should be restrictions on obscenities -- do you mean in general, or in certain circumstances?

Question #7: Are intentions or outcomes more important when judging whether actions are moral?

What spanish food would you recommend for us to try?

I mean in certain circumstances. Like stuff that you know shouldn't be talked about in public. Like some uber taboo stuff that no one in their right mind should think about. I'm talking about deep web stuff.

7. A bit of both.
By that I mean, if you do actions that are morally good but for selfish reasons (i.e. you are only doing it because you wish to gain something out of it, like eternal bliss in the afterlife, or as a publicity stunt), then you're doing it for all the wrong reasons. You should commit moral actions because they are moral, and well, it's the right thing to do.

Well, if you have never tried Salvadoran food I would recommend eating Pupusas.

Papusas, yum.

Question #8: What’s your favorite season? Why?

Question #9: What is the silliest fear you have?

8. Winter. Because I can wear my winter jackets and go play in the snow and for the nice and cozy winter nights at home. Plus, my favorite holiday, Christmas, is during the winter!
9. I have a very irrational fear of keeping my windows open at night.

Oooh ooh I have a question for you!!!!! Do you think PnQ now views you as a nerd above all other nerds? :P

Pupusas: YES!
With the sauce & cabbage slaw that comes with them

I watched a vid about it on Youtube. Looks really yummy! :-)

Yeah. We call it "curtido" lol

Maybe...?
I know you do of course :p

Oh it most definitely is!

Alex, my final question!

Question #10: What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?

Try something that is outside of their comfort zone at least once.

Try something that you would never see yourself doing in a million years at least once in your life, just so that you can prove to yourself that it is indeed possible.

Try something that challenges you to the very limits of your capabilities, so that you can see how good you really are, and what you need to work on to make yourself better.

Try something that you can look back on and be glad that you have done.

Be willing to take risks!

Alex, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your responses to all the questions thrown at you. You are quite a remarkable young man who seems very centered and aware of his world around him. It gives me renewed hope for the future. Thank you for that.

Thank you! :)

On more for you
According to you, which is a bigger crime: The crime itself or the crime of convicting a wrong person for that very crime?

Thank you

Good question.

The latter is the worse crime. Because it absolutely sucks when someone is wrongfully convicted of a crime that they did not commit.

Thanks. I agree but I expected you be your usual methodical :) :)

What if they really, sincerely, made a mistake? I know they are to be blamed, but, is it as much blame as the original crime, something heinous for example, such as Child Molestation?

It depends heavily on the intent behind the prosecution.

If the person who wrongfully accused the person of the crime does so without knowing that they're lying is bad, but not at all unreasonable and can in the long run be forgivable.

However, if the person does this, knowing well in advance that they did not do the heinous crime, but they are prosecuting them anyways over some personal vendetta against them, THAT is where I have a big issue with them.

Agreed, I have big issue with that too. You must use that passion against injustice in your poetry. Believe me it is a powerful driving force.

For the first part, no matter how honestly, someone hasn't done his/her job well, and an innocent person is suffering a great deal as the result. I have a big issue with that also. ( in lesser magnitude though) . Do you know what happens to the soul of those who are wrongly accused of such a heinous crime? An immeasurable amount of torture!!
NOT ONLY THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDREN, THE INNOCENCE PERIOD, HAS TO BE PROTECTED!! Every innocence is from the same nature.

Alex -- I hope you enjoyed your time in the spotlight! Thank you for giving us so many thoughtful answers. It's been a pleasure getting to know you and I hope to see more of you around the site :)

The predators have always fangs
no matter how civilized their masks are painted,
no matter how masterfully
they hide their "Salieri"s
in the "Amadeos’s disguise,
how beautifully
they could tame their manners,
to ladies or gentlemen!

No matter what
they are out there to devour
for their sustenance
is innocence!!