28 fevereiro, 2013

Parece que estou a ouvir #150

University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

Hey Eugene
Pink Martini

Hey Eugene! Do you remember me?
I'm that chick you danced with two times
Through the Rufus album, Friday night, at that party
On Avenue A

Where your skinhead friend passed out
For several hours on the bathroom floor
And you told me, you weren't that drunk
And that I was your favorite Salsa dancer
You had ever come across in New York City

Eugene, Eugene, Eugene
I said, "Hello Eugene, are you there, Eugene?"

Hey Eugene, then we kissed
Once we lugged your friend into the elevator
And went to write my number on a soggy paper towel
And the car went down

And when we were finished making out
We noticed that your skinhead friend was gone, long gone
And you looked into my bloodshot eyes
And said, "Is it too soon if I call you Sunday?"

Eugene, Eugene, Eugene
I said, "Hello Eugene, are you there, Eugene?"

I said, "Hello Eugene, Eugene, Eugene"
I said, "Hello Eugene, are you there, Eugene?"
I said, "Hello Eugene, Eugene, Eugene
I said, "Hello Eugene, does any of this ring a bell, Eugene?"

27 fevereiro, 2013

Coisas que não mudam #211

Fiscal debates marking American politics for two years now:

Mar. 2011: the extension of the debt ceiling, that is, the maximum amount of debt that the government is allowed to incur. A dollar above the limit and the federal government would shut down for weeks immediately affecting federal employees such as airport security personnel or postal workers, for example. A budget deal was reached postponing the deadline to solve the issue.

Dec. 2012: the fiscal cliff, meaning automatic tax hikes of 2% for all workers (highly regressive) and deep cuts in the heaviest government expenditure programs such as Medicare and the Defense budget. All starting in 2013. A deal was reached 3 hours before midnight on the last day of the year and postponing the issue once more.

Feb. 2013: sequestration, referring to the program that will automatically cut the federal budget across all departments (e.g. education) and government agencies (e.g. the CIA) starting March 1. 

Will an agreement be reached now? Will there be measures to deal with the debt problem for good? We will soon see. The clock is ticking...
________________

Debates fiscais que marcaram a política americana dos últimos dois anos:

Mar 2011: a extensão do tecto da dívida, ou o valor máximo de dívida em que o governo pode incorrer. Um dólar acima do valor estipulado e o governo federal fechava a porta por semanas, afectando de imediato serviços federais, como por exemplo a segurança aeroportuária ou os correios. Chegou-se a um acordo orçamental  que adiou o problema para mais tarde.

Dez. 2012: o abismo fiscal, que se refere ao aumento automático de impostos para todos os trabalhadores no valor de 2% (altamente regressivo), para além de severos cortes orçamentais nos programas de despesa governamental mais pesados como o Medicare --um sistema saúde para idosos sem meios para adquirir seguro e também para individuos mais jovens, mas deficientes-- e o orçamento da defesa. Tudo a partir de 2013. Chegou-se a um acordo 3 horas antes da meia noite do último dia do ano que adiou mais uma vez o assunto.

Fev. 2013: o sequestro, que se refere ao programa uqe irá cortar automaticamente o orçamento em todos os ministérios (ex: educação) e agências governamentais (ex: CIA) a partir de 1 de Março.

Será que se chega a um acordo desta vez? Será que se tomam medidas que tentem resolver o problema da dívida? Em breve veremos. O tempo não pára...

26 fevereiro, 2013

Coisas que não mudam #210

Embarrassing statements.
______________

I wanted to have written

"If you are not currently enrolled in autopay and would like additional information about the program, please return the attached card,"

but in fact I wrote

"If you are not currently enrolled in autopsy and would like additional information about the program, please return the attached card."

My friend took it lightly and said

"I don't need autopay... or autopsy, as you say hahaha"

I laughed and replied

"
I hate the ipad autocorrector..."

Pormenores #89

 Shy magnolias on a rainy morning... starting to come around!

Ditto #234


It appears to me that they who in proof of anything rely simply on the weight of authority, without adducing any argument in support of it, act very absurdly.

--Vincenzo Galilei (father of Galileo), in Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music (1581)

25 fevereiro, 2013

Retirado do contexto #150

Já foram. Melhor companhia no ano passado. Mas contente com o Argo. Fora o Amour, o Django, ou o Zero Dark 30 e gritaria INJUSTIÇA! 

22 fevereiro, 2013

Espantos #351

O logos comemorativos do google, também conhecidos como doodles, estão para lavar e durar: ao quinquagésimo terceiro dia do ano, já lá vão cinquenta nos mais diversos países!

21 fevereiro, 2013

Ditto #233


Natura inest in mentibus nostris insatiabilis quaedam cupiditas veri videndi
Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth

--Cicero, Tusculum Disputations, I, ii, 44

20 fevereiro, 2013

Palavras lidas #215


The Starry Night, Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

An apocryphal Sherlock Holmes joke...
____________

Holmes and Watson are on a camping trip. In the middle of the night Holmes wakes up and gives Dr. Watson a nudge. "Watson," he says, "look up at the sky and tell me what you see."
"I see millions of stars, Holmes," says Watson.
"And what do you conclude from that, Watson?"
Watson thinks for a moment. "Well," he says, "astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Meteorologically, I expect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I see that God is all-powerful, and that we are small and insignificant. Uh, what does it tell you, Holmes?"
"Watson, you idiot! Someone has stolen our tent!"

19 fevereiro, 2013

Foi neste dia #196 (1473)

Nicolau Copérnico, nasceu há 540 anos no norte da Polónia. A teoria que viria a pôr em causa o conhecimento do mundo da altura viria mais tarde.

16 fevereiro, 2013

Caprichos #236

At the Met's new production of Rigoletto's the duke of Mantua is a 1960s pop star in Las Vegas. The same tragic story develops in the flashiest of sets with blinking neons and semi naked women. Quite the effort!

The quartet --alluded to in the movie by the same name-- in the third act is still remarkable.
____________

Bella Figlia Dell'amore


DUCA: Bella figlia dell'amore, schiavo son de'vezzi tuoi; con un detto, un detto sol tu puoi le mie pene, le mie pene consolar. Vieni e senti del mio core il frequente palpitar, con un detto, un detto sol tu puoi le mie pene, le mie pene consolar. MADDALENA: Ah! ah! rido ben di core, chè tai baie costan poco; GILDA: Ah! così parlar d'amore MADDALENA: Quanto valga il vostro gioco, mel credete, sò apprezzar. GILDA: A me pur l'infame ho udito! RIGOLETTO: Taci, il piangere non vale; GILDA: Infelice cor tradito, MADDALENA: Son avvezza, bel signore, DUCA: Con un detto RIGOLETTO: Taci, taci il piangere non vale, no, non, val, GILDA: Per angoscia non scoppiar, MADDALENA: Ad un simile scherzare, DUCA: Sol tu puoi RIGOLETTO: no, no, non, val. GILDA: no, no non, scoppiar. MADDALENA: mio bel signor! DUCA: le mie pene consolar. Bella figlia dell'amore, RIGOLETTO: Ch'ei mentiva, GILDA: In felice MADDALENA: Ah! ah! rido ben di core, chè tai baie costan poco, DUCA: schiavo son de'vezzi tuoi; RIGOLETTO: Ch'ei mentiva, GILDA: cor tradito, MADDALENA: Quanto valga il vostro gioco, mel credete, sò apprezzar. DUCA: Con un detto, un detto sol tu puoi RIGOLETTO: sei sicura GILDA: Ah! No, non scoppiar. MADDALENA: Sono avvezza, bel signore, ad un simile scherzare. DUCA: le mie pene, le mie pene consolar. RIGOLETTO: Taci, e mia sarà la cura GILDA: In felice core, cor tradito, MADDALENA: Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Rido di cor, DUCA: Ah! Con un detto RIGOLETTO: La vendetta d'affrettar, GILDA: Per angoscia non scoppiare, MADDALENA: Ah! Ah! Rido di cor, DUCA: sol tu puoi RIGOLETTO: Taci, e mia sarà la cura GILDA: In felice cor tradito, MADDALENA: Ah, Ah, Rido di cor, DUCA: Le mie pene, RIGOLETTO: La vendetta d'affrettar. GILDA: Per angoscia non scoppiare, MADDALENA: Ah! Ah! Rido, DUCA: consolar; RIGOLETTO: Si, pronta fia, GILDA: In felice cor tradito, MADDALENA: Ah, Ah! Rido ben di core, chè tai baie costan poco, DUCA: Vieni e senti del mio core RIGOLETTO: sarà fatale, GILDA: Per angoscia non scoppiar, no, no, no, no, no, MADDALENA: Quanto valga il vostro gioco, mel credete, so apprezzar,sì, sì DUCA: il frequente palpitar, ah, sì, RIGOLETTO: Io saprollo fulminar, io saprollo fulminar; GILDA: No, no, non scoppiare, MADDALENA: Sono avvezza, bel signore, ad un simile scherzar, DUCA: Vieni; RIGOLETTO: Taci, e mia sarà la cura GILDA: In felice cor tradito, MADDALENA: Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Rido di cor, DUCA: Ah! Con un detto RIGOLETTO: La vendetta d'affrettar, GILDA: Per angoscia non scoppiare, MADDALENA: Ah! Ah! Rido di cor, DUCA: sol tu puoi RIGOLETTO: Taci, e mia sarà la cura GILDA: In felice cor tradito, MADDALENA: Ah, Ah, Rido di cor, DUCA: Le mie pene, RIGOLETTO: La vendetta d'affrettar; GILDA: Per angoscia non scoppiare, MADDALENA: Ah! Ah! Rido, DUCA: consolar; RIGOLETTO: Si, pronta fia, GILDA: In felice cor tradito, MADDALENA: Ah, Ah! Rido ben di core, chè tai baie costan poco; DUCA: Vieni e senti del mio core RIGOLETTO: sarà fatale, GILDA: Per angoscia non scoppiar, no, no, no, no, no, MADDALENA: Quanto valga il vostro gioco, mel credete, so apprezzar,sì, sì DUCA: il frequente palpitar, ah, sì, RIGOLETTO: Io saprollo fulminar, io saprollo fulminar, GILDA: No, no, non scoppiar, MADDALENA: Sono avvezza, bel signore, ad un simile scherzar, DUCA: Vieni. RIGOLLETTO:Taci, e mia sarà la cura la vendetta d'affrettar. GILDA: In felice cor tradito, Per angoscia non scoppiar, MADDALENA: il vostro gioco sò apprezzar, DUCA: Senti del core il palpitar, RIGOLLETTO:Taci, e mia sarà la cura la vendetta d'affrettar, GILDA: In felice cor tradito, per angoscia non scoppiar, MADDALENA: il vostro gioco sò apprezzar, DUCA: Senti del core il palpitar, MADDELENA: Il vostro gioco, DUCA: Vieni, GILDA: No, non, RIGOLETTO: Taci, MADDELENA: Sò apprezzar, DUCA: Vieni, GILDA: Scoppiar, RIGOLETTO: Taci, MADDELENA: il vostro gioco sò apprezzare, DUCA: Vieni, GILDA: Non scoppiar, RIGOLETTO: Taci, DUCA: Vieni GILDA: Ah! No! MADDELENA: Ah sì! RIGOLETTO: Taci!

Numa sala perto de mim #219

Amour (2012) a super realistic story of old age and dementia ending with the worst imaginable outcome. The title is misleading, since the story has very little to do with love and very much with misjudged decisions that cannot be labeled as such. The movie is worth watching because it shows (in real time) the often told but little witnessed crude process of personal decadence, which no one deserves to bear or see. Emmanuelle Riva's performance deserves every possible award beyond the BAFTA already earned. The nomination for best movie of the year is, however, uncalled-for.

14 fevereiro, 2013

Pormenores #88

It smells good in the office...
indeed! Happy Chocolate Tasting day!

Caprichos #235

Feeling spoiled...

13 fevereiro, 2013

Numa sala perto de mim #218

Amreeka (2009) tells the story of Palestinian migrants to the US that escape an oppressive environment only to face difficult integration and prejudice. Homesickness and cultural barriers never really go away, but one learns to live with them.

12 fevereiro, 2013

Palavras lidas #214

It became clear to me that everything which is corrupted is good. For they wouldn't be able to be corrupted if they were not good, or if they were the highest good [being which is reality itself]. If they were the highest goods, they would be incorruptible; and if they weren't at all good, they wouldn't contain anything which could be corrupted. So either corruption harms nothing (which can’t be the case), or –what is most obvious all things that are corrupted are deprived of a good. Now, if they are deprived of every good, they will in no way exist at all…Therefore, whatsoever things exist are goods; and that evil whose origin and being I was seeking was not a substance…. Now, in parts of it there are certain things reckoned as evil because they are not fit for certain other things. Yet these very same things fit other things and are good for them and for themselves.

Saint Augustine, ConfessionsVII 18-19 

11 fevereiro, 2013

All the world must die...

Ophelia, John Everett Millais, 1852

Or I shall live your epitaph to make,
Or you survive when I in earth am rotten;
From hence your memory death cannot take,
Although in me each part will be forgotten.
Your name from hence immortal life shall have,
Though I, once gone, to all the world must die:
The earth can yield me but a common grave,
When you entombed in men's eyes shall lie.
Your monument shall be my gentle verse,
Which eyes not yet created shall o'er-read,
And tongues to be your being shall rehearse
When all the breathers of this world are dead;
You still shall live--such virtue hath my pen--
Where breath most breathes, even in the mouths of men.

William Shakespeare, Sonnet LXXXI

09 fevereiro, 2013

08 fevereiro, 2013

Coisas que não mudam #208

The storm currently pounding the northeast looks dreadful... and I'm so glad I'm out of there!
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A tempestade que agora se abate sobre o nordeste é medonha... que contentamento não estar lá!

Coisas que não mudam #207

Em tempo de carnaval, no Brasil não se canta e dança só o samba. Os Pernambucanos sabem bem!

Quero sentir a embriaguez do frevo
Que entra na cabeça

Depois toma o corpo
E acaba no pé...

07 fevereiro, 2013

Ficava tão bem lá em casa #42

Jeanne Hébuterne (de chapéu) de Amadeo Modigliani, foi vendido ontem em Londres na Christie's por €31m.
_______________

Jeanne Hébuterne (with hat) by Amadeo Modigliani, was sold yesterday at Christie's in London for $42m.

Caprichos #234

Catching the encore transmissions of the Met (after missing the live ones) at the local movie theatre. This time, Donizetti's Maria Stuarda, closing a very busy day.

06 fevereiro, 2013

Ditto #232

Let no man ignorant of geometry enter.

--legendary sign affixed to gate of Plato's academy