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."