Tic

It's not just because she's my sister that I loved her voice. Text by Rodrigo Vianna.

updates

• I moved from Redmond to Seattle. Commute is worse, but every other aspect of my life is better. I wasn't born to live in the country; I need skyscrapers, people on the sidewalks and night life.
  
  
• Snowboarding is fun, but painful.
  
  
• Babel, Iñárritu's latest movie, deserves all the attention it's getting at the Golden Globe. Two words: intense and intelligent.

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

Dreamfall can hardly be called a game: it's an interactive story. I spent more time watching the cutscenes than actually taking any actions. That said, the story is truly amazing. It talks of a beautiful girl who can move between two worlds (a somewhat futuristic Earth and a fantasy world, Arcadia) through dreams. The art and the soundtrack are also quite impressive.

The game is the first part of a duology. I can't wait for the second part.

And what do you think of the climate around here?

Yay for rain records.

Update: Oh, and for those who think we're still far from that 15-inch absolute record... We're taking care of that.

Windows Vista viral campaign

This is the best Microsoft ad I've ever seen.

quickies

Ha, probably I need a better translation for the Portuguese "rápidas".

Full Metal Alchemist - After a long time away from the Japanese Animes, I found out a quite amazing one. The 51 episodes are addictive and the final movie is a wonderful piece of fantasy. Thumbs up.

The Name of the Rose - Either my expectations were too high or the English translation wasn't that good. It's an "ok" book. Raquel (who loves that book) now can kill me.

iWoz - Steve Wozniak's (first PC's engineer and Apple's co-founder) autobiography. It's interesting to see how he struggles to explain "what it takes to change the world" and fails at that. In the end I felt it's all about talent (genes, education?), timing (sheer luck?) and passion ("The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing"). I liked the book, though. Wozniak seems to be a happy dude.

I want to be extraordinary.

The Dresden Dolls

Yesterday I randomly ended up in their concert here in Seattle. Randomness is my friend.

They are original.

Qui-Gon Jinn

It will be a hard life. One without remorse, without regret, without reward. A path will be placed before you - the choice is yours alone. Do what you think you cannot do. It will be a hard life, but you will find out who you are.

The Departed

This movie is excellent. IMHO, the best of 2006 so far.

I had a weird dream

If I believed in dreams, I would think someone is trying to tell me something here.

I was walking on the sidewalks of my old university after having dropped a friend somewhere in the campus. It was a sunny day. I was heading towards my office and there was a steep hill on my way. I went for it with great energy and after three or four steps couldn't go any further. I took a deep breath and tried to continue walking. I fell. I tried to stand up and fell again. I couldn't figure out what was going on, and sat there on the ground, puzzled. An old car came by, and as it approached I recognized three Microsoft coworkers in it. They asked me:

- Where are you going?
- To the office.
- But that's not the right direction. You should go the opposite way.
- Ahn... Oh yeah, you're right. I was just going back the way I came, I wasn't thinking.
- We can give you a ride.
- That's very convenient, thanks.
Then a Chinese girl in the car asked me what I was doing there.
- I don't know, I just fell there.
- Oh, I thought you were enjoying the sun, taking the right kind of light for your skin.
- Huh?
- You know, the one that matches your bathroom color. Or the color of your sword.
- The color of my sword? I don't even have a sword!

And then I woke up.

If I believed in dreams, I would probably buy a sword.

parallel blog

http://vistaonamacbook.spaces.live.com/blog/

Sugestão de filme

Uma sugestão de filme bacana, a meu ver sem grandes pretensões: Valentín. Meio drama, quase comédia, de tão simpático me lembrou um pouco O Fabuloso Destino de Amélie Poulain -- este, um dos meus filmes favoritos. Vale a pena. :c)

Don't panic.

Dream on.

Weird Al- White and Nerdy

Weird Al- White and Nerdy music video

I never understood the afternoons.

I am a leaf on the wind - watch how I soar.

So long, Pluto

I just came to know that Pluto has been demoted of its planet status.

Personally I think 8 is much better than 9. If we can't have a prime number of planets in our Solar System, at least we got a power of two.

Fake Palindromes

I got addicted to that Andrew Bird's song. I'm not sure if the lyrics mean anything, but I love the melody.

not quite there yet

a bit of passion wanted to come out:

Dream

I want to write a poem that will make you cry
and then smile
And then cry again

I want your tears combined with mine
I want my words to reach you
Because I myself cannot

I want to remember while the memory is fresh
like blood still flowing
like a familiar smell

I want to mark in stone that there was a path
That led from real life to dream
And in the dream there was you

In the dream I saw you in dark cafés
and sunny saturday afternoons
by my side

In the dream we talked of life and love
and crazyness and nothing
and we danced
and we flew

In the dream we shared a bed
Asleep and awake
And you rested your head on my chest
and I felt complete

In the dream I dreamt
and now I refuse to believe I was alone

I want to tell the world I was there with you
and once your eyes were only mine
and all you wanted was me

I claim that time and those memories
I declare them true
And ours

And not being able to be only love
I embrace my selfishness
And share my curse:

You shall remember our dream
and sadly smile
silently crying.

peace

It is time to find my peace of mind again. Passion has caused me enough trouble.

Below, free translation of one of my favorite poems, "O Rio", by Manuel Bandeira.

The River

To be like the river that flows
Silent into the night.
Not to fear the darkness of the night.
If there are stars in the sky, reflect them
And if the skies are covered by clouds
As the river the clouds are water,
Reflect them too without sorrow
In the tranquil profoundnesses.

And then he decided to let it go, and so to fade away.

So he kept on laughing and hid the tears in his eyes.

Because this time he was told to hide his love away.

And he wished he was a sailor with someone who waited for him.

endings

And then he woke up in a cold morning to realize the summer was over and two people had left his life.

recent readings

The Great Gatsby - Short story, totally worth the few hours you'll spend on it. Fitzgerald reminds me strongly of Hemingway, which can't be a bad thing.

The Left Hand of Darkness - Interesting story by Ursula K. Le Guin, whom (I came to know recently) is regarded as one of the best modern science ficton and fantasy authors. She talks about a world where all humans are androgynes and explores the consequences of such environment.

As Intermitências da Morte - Não faz sentido escrever em inglês sobre esse, já que ainda nem ganhou tradução. É o último livro do Saramago, gostei bastante. No melhor estilo Kafkiano, ele começa: "No dia seguinte ninguém morreu". E segue assim, rápido e contagiante, contando sua história sobre as peripécias da morte. Muito bom.

define:fool

1.1 a person who lacks good judgment

1.2 a person who behaves in a silly way without thinking

Classic

Whenever I smell asphalt, I think of Maureen. That's the last sensation I had before I blacked out; that thick smell of asphalt. She said she'd fix my bike. Free. No strings attached. I shoulda've known then that things were never that simple. Yeah, when I think of Maureen, I think of two things: Asphalt, and trouble.

unfinished

Ah, the irony of it all. This post was waiting for words I didn't have to describe her. It has been waiting here for two months.

"She makes life interesting."

Still true, lacking only the correct tense:

"She made life interesting."

Past tense. I said goodbye and touched the lips which kissed me for the last time.
Last time. I couldn't do more.
No more...

Paris - 2

5) The public transportation system is very good, the best I've ever seen. There are metro stations and bus stops everywhere. No fear of getting lost.
6) The city architecture is awesome. The old buildings are still here, people actually live in them. I'm about to say it beats Praha, and that's something.
7) In general, the French are polite. Apparently what gives the city the bad fame are the exceptions. Today my friend (who speaks French) asked an omelette for me, no drinks. Then the lady refused to sell the food, saying (or yelling, I should say) it was an expensive plate and I had to drink something. I ended up buying a sandwich while she complained I didn't speak French.
8) At the reasonably priced restaurants (under 20$ per meal), the food is ok. I still have to go to a fancy one to see what they have to offer.

Paris - 1

First thoughts:

1) We think they are slow, they think we are impatient. Makes sense. But they are slow. Really.
2) The city is truly romantic - there's romance in the air. Makes you want to walk hand in hand.
3) They often know English, but always rather speak French. They will always try to speak in French to you, even if you are a Japanese carrying a camera.
4) The streets are less clean than you would expect.

Paris - 0

Everything is ready, tomorrow I'll be in the so called "City of Light". Pictures and first impressions in a few days. :)

Lucky Number Slevin

Involving plot, great art direction. Don't miss it.

"Can you squeeze my bottom again? It helps me to think."

V for Vendetta

I still like the comics better, but the movie was pretty good. Go watch it.

Remember, remember the fifth of November
The gunpowder treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Surrender

under the storm
she waits, he runs
a battle is lost
ah, the sweetest defeat
Love.

Draw a pig

Desenhe um porco você também e de preferência mande o link pra cá. :) Acho que seria mais engraçado se fosse um pato, mas um porco já está de bom tamanho. Eis o meu, pra quem quiser ver, mas é melhor deixar pra ver depois de ter desenhado.

A análise psicológica associada pode ser bobagem, mas quem se importa?

Glimpse

Four glasses of champagne
and blues
and lights
Half a dream to let go
Two drops of my blood on her knife
And a loose verse:

Watching the fire as we grow

Head On

And there's something going on inside
Makes you wanna feel
Makes you wanna try
Makes you wanna blow the stars from the sky
And I can't stand up
I can't cool down
I can't get my head off the ground

Yeah!

-- Pixies

go on

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm alive. It doesn't really matter whether you're religious or not: either given by a greater God or by simple chance, life is a precious gift.

the best blonde joke ever!

Old, but still amazing.

For the Science

If the man says so...

Oops! Scratch it all, Raquel pointed out it's only for cybersoc.com members.



I'm posting this only for the sake of the experiment, you know. The free Flickr account is only a welcome side effect

Deus Caritas Est

Acabei de ler a última e primeira encíclica do atual Papa: Deus Caritas Est (em português: Deus é amor). Fiquei positivamente surpreso ao saber do tema escolhido, já que a primeira carta apostólica é, dizem, a que o pontífice usa para dizer ao mundo a que veio.

A primeira parte é basicamente um sucinto tratado sobre o amor. Nela me causou muita impressão o resgate dado à noção do eros, que seria o caráter possessivo do amor, que se confronta com o agape (o amor-doação) não em oposição, mas como complemento mútuo. O próprio amor de Deus pela humanidade teria um quê de eros, já que os homens são por Ele desejados.

Na segunda parte, mais objetiva, ele fala que o papel fundamental da Igreja é difundir a Caridade (ressaltando que a justiça cabe ao Estado; é em conseqüência de seu amor ao próximo que os cristãos devem lutar pela última), indicando como fazê-lo. Ele apresenta também uma crítica ao marxismo, a qual me fez finalmente entender a razão da dura oposição à Teologia da Libertação que o Ratzinger dedicava quando, antes de seu papado, ainda presidia a Congregação para a Doutrina da Fé.

A qualquer um que queira entender com sinceridade como pensa a Igreja Católica recomendo fortemente a leitura dessa encíclica.

Reminiscence

When I was 5, I had a Ziggy poster where he's sitting, watching the sunset. The poster said:

"Let's enjoy the here while we're here, because there's no here there."

Harry Potter

I've just finished the 6th book and now I have that somewhat familiar feeling that no matter what the author invents, there is no salvation for the plot. Hopefully Rowling will surprise me, but I wouldn't bet on that.

Update: they say she has everything planned. I still have my doubts.

Diálogo

- Ouvi dizer que vai fazer sol...
- Quando?!?

Welcome to Seattle.

Moral

Great Expectations

On Sunday did not rain in Seatac, where the rain measurement is actually made. That ended a streak of 27 consecutive days of rain, which was the Seattle's 2nd longest rain streak.

That is actually a shame; most of the Seattleites were hoping to break the 1955 record of 33 days.

Now we can only hope to win on Sunday and get to the Superbowl.

side note

Andre's post reminded me it's been a while since I last listened to "Los Hermanos." Did that today, and I must admit: I felt like crying. Few artists can make me feel that way.

Almost-random seed words to future posts: "untold stories", "one step at a time", "life."

The Search

Acabei de ler e recomendo o livro The Search (do John Battelle, editor co-fundador da Wired), que fala da importância da busca na internet e vai muito além. Embora muito do que ele aborda pareça óbvio mesmo para quem nunca pensou bastante a respeito do assunto, ele traz também vários insights interessantes sobre o negócio da busca, sua relevância para uma rede de informação como a web e, em última instância, para seu papel na influência da tecnologia no mundo.

A existência de uma rede de dados do porte da internet não seria a revolução que é, se não houvesse uma maneira fácil de encontrar aquilo que realmente interessa. Cada vez mais a busca vem evoluindo no sentido de disponibilizar o relevante ao usuário, da rudimentar busca de arquivos em computadores conectados entre si, até as tags do Flickr, passando pelo revolucionário PageRank do Google. Surge um sem número de abordagens para o problema, as quais podem ser combinadas ou inspirar outras novas. É fascinante vislumbrar o que está por vir nesse mar de mudanças tão vertiginosas e, não menos, especular as possibilidades num futuro mais distante...

XING

I was really puzzled by that word that I saw in many streets here in Redmond: XING. Sounds Chinese, but why would Americans use that? Didn't make any sense to me. Then today I had a moment of enlightenment: X stands for cross. Therefore "xing" means "crossing." Brilliant, am I not?

Marcelo Camelo

Não conheço muito de sua obra... Além de Anna Júlia (música bacaninha), escutei apenas algumas poucas músicas de Los Hermanos, as quais me pareceram interessantes e inovadoras. Também ouvi alguns elogios a respeito da banda, mas nada suficiente para me animar muito a querer conhecê-la melhor.

Hoje isso mudou! Aconteceu que vi levantada pela segunda vez uma comparação surreal: seria Marcelo Camelo melhor compositor do que Chico Buarque? Francamente, nem vou responder a pergunta!

Quando pela primeira vez me deparei com tal dilema, apenas o bizarro me chamou a atenção. Agora me parecia não se tratar de um desses absurdos aleatórios. Não se vê por aí recorrentes comparações entre Chico e Renato Russo, Humberto Gessinger ou Herbert Vianna, por exemplo... Pelo que pesquisei rapidamente na internet, vi que o Camelo tem, visível e admitidamente, fortes influências buarquianas, o que, além de pesar favoravelmente para sua obra, já explica a existência da comparação...

Embora ele não seja, convenhamos, o maior compositor brasileiro de todos os tempos, talvez seja brilhante, quem sabe até genial. Sim, preciso conhecer Los Hermanos e aceito recomendações de músicas que me possam facilitar a empreitada!

reminder

This is to publicly remind me to write something else here. Hopefully on the weekend.

"We apologize for the inconvenience."