This is a Republican / Eis um Republicano

Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary.
Jesus ama-te e partilha o teu ódio aos homossexuais e a Hillary Clinton.

Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.
Saddam era um bom tipo quando Reagan o armou, um bandido quando o papá Bush lhe fez guerra, um bom tipo quando Cheney fez negócios com ele e um bandido quando Bush precisou de uma diversão para "não conseguimos achar o Bin Laden".

Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
O comércio com Cuba está mal porque o país é comunista, mas o comércio com a China e o Vietname é vital para um espírito de harmonia internacional.

The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.
Os Estados Unidos deveriam abandonar as Nações Unidas, e a nossa maior prioridade nacional é promover as resoluções da ONU contra o Iraque.

A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.
Não se pode confiar a uma mulher que decida sobre o seu próprio corpo, mas as multinacionais podem tomar decisões que afectam toda a humanidade sem regulamentação.

The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
A melhor forma de elevar o moral militar é elogiar as tropas em discursos, enquanto se cortam os benefícios dos veteranos e o soldo dos combatentes.

If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
Se os preservativos forem mantidos fora das escolas, os adolescentes não terão relações sexuais.

A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.
Uma boa forma de combater o terrorismo é apoucar os nossos aliados de sempre e depois pedir‑lhes cooperação e dinheiro.

Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health to all Americans is socialism. HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.
Fornecer cuidados de saúde a todos os iraquianos é uma política sólida, mas assegurar a saúde a todos os americanos é socialismo. As organizações de seguros de saúde e as companhias de seguros levam a peito os melhores interesses do público.

Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
O aquecimento global e o nexo entre o tabaco e o cancro são ciência da treta, mas o criacionismo deveria ser ensinado nas escolas.

A president lying about an extra-marital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands (more than half a million by some estimates) die is solid defense policy.
A mentira de um presidente sobre uma relação extra-matrimonial é crime condenável, mas a mentira de um presidente para angariar apoio a uma guerra em que milhares (mais de meio milhão, segundo algumas estimativas) morrem é sólida política de defesa.

Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.
O governo deveria limitar-se aos poderes consignados na Constituição, que incluem banir casamentos homossexuais e censurar a Internet.

The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.
O público tem o direito de saber dos negócios de gado de Hillary Clinton, mas o recorde de condução de Bush não nos diz respeito.

Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.
Ser‑se toxicodependente é uma falha moral e um crime, a menos que se seja um radialista conservador. Neste caso, é uma doença, e as nossas orações são necessárias à sua recuperação.

What Bill Clinton did in the 60's is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the 80's is irrelevant.
O que Bill Clinton fez nos anos 60 é de vital interesse nacional, mas o que Bush fez nos anos 80 é irrelevante.

If you don't send it to at least 10 other people, we're likely to be stuck with more Republicans in '06 and '08. Remember; friends don't let friends vote Republican.
Se não enviares a pelo menos mais 10 pessoas, o mais provável é levarmos com mais Republicanos em 2006 e 2008. Lembra-te: os amigos não deixam os amigos votar Republicano.

This world in our eyes...

Bushs All-Macht-Doktrin
(Auszüge)
Von/By Markus Becker
Bush's Space Power Doctrine
(Excerpts)

«Das amerikanische Militär hat bereits Milliarden von Dollar für die Entwicklung von Waffen ausgegeben, die im Weltraum stationiert werden sollen – darunter Technologie für Attacken auf irdische Ziele und feindliche Satelliten.
"Die Handlungsfreiheit im Weltraum ist für die Vereinigten Staaten genauso wichtig wie die Macht in der Luft und zur See", heißt es in der "National Space Policy". Man werde "andere davon abbringen oder abschrecken", die Ausübung der amerikanischen Rechte im Weltraum zu stören oder auch nur Technologien zu diesem Zweck zu entwickeln.
Man werde "auf Eingriffe antworten" und "falls nötig Gegnern die Benutzung von Weltraumtechnologie untersagen, die US-Interessen feindlich ist".
Mit anderen Worten: Sollte eine andere Nation auch nur den Versuch unternehmen, mit den USA im Weltraum zu konkurrieren, bekommt sie es mit der US-Regierung zu tun.
Bush erteilt in dem Dokument Verteidigungsminister Donald Rumsfeld den Auftrag, Militär- und Spionagetechnologie für den Weltraum nicht nur zu entwickeln, sondern auch einzusetzen.»

The American military already spent billions of dollars on the development of weapons, which are to be stationed in space – among them technology for attacks on terrestrial goals and hostile satellites.
"The freedom of action in space is just as important to the USA as power in air and at sea", stands in the "National Space Policy". "Others will be diverted or deterred from" disturbing the practice of American rights in space or also only from developing technologies for this purpose. One "will answer to interferences" and "if necessary will forbid opponents the use of space technology, which is hostile to the interests of the USA".
In other words, even if another nation should undertake only the attempt to compete with the USA in space, it will have to seriously deal with the USA government.
In the document Bush orders the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld not only to develop military and espionage technology for space but also to implement it.


… And as all these millions of dollars are being obscenely spent in space jokes, here is what's happening to human lives. Right here on Earth. Right now. According to the Blacksmith Institute these are the "World's 10 Worst-polluted Places":

Chernobyl, Ukraine
Dzerzhinsk, Russia
Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic
Kabwe, Zambia
La Oroya, Peru
Linfen, China
Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan
Norilsk, Russia
Ranipet, India
Dalnegorsk and Rudnaya Pristan, Russia

«"Es gibt Städte, in denen die Lebenserwartung mittelalterliches Niveau erreicht, wo Geburtsdefekte der Normfall sind", steht in einer begleitenden Studie, die auch im Internet abrufbar ist. Erst kürzlich hatte die OVN berichtet, dass die Umweltverschmutzung 13 Millionen Menschen im Jahr tötet.»

"There are cities where life expectancy is at medieval level, where birth malformations are the normal case", stands in an accompanying study that can also be looked up in the internet. Only recently the UNO had reported that the environmental pollution kills 13 million humans every year.




... And if we keep in mind that 1/6 of the world population lives in absolute poverty (with less than € 0.80 per day), we won't have such a bright day even if the sun's shining...

Travelling about in Lisbon...

Dear blogger friends (and all visitors are welcome too), let's go for another tour in Lisbon!

As you're my guests we'll set off from my neighbourhood, Belém. From the top of Belém Tower you're watching that same coastline I saw for the very first time in my life. Different neighbourhoods, all rather close to each other: Belém, Restelo, Pedrouços, Algés, Dafundo… Places I know as well and for as long as I know myself.

… Now from the top of Discoveries Monument: offer yourselves a moment of pure contemplation: cast your eyes westwards, and you'll be watching that very coastline the brave navigators left 500 years ago. So History is contemplating you as well…

We're downtown now. The 19.th century Santa Justa elevator will take us uptown in a short while, right after sunset. But meanwhile let's…

… Have a nice cup of coffee in the "Nicola" on the Rossio Square, a Café most celebrated by bohemian poets ever since the 18.th century. Yes, History is all around us… So I believe it's time now to go uptown and…

Enjoy a wonderful performance at the São Carlos National Opera House. Maria Callas had a huge success here in 1958… You choose your own program for this evening! It's your privilege for being a guest. I'm sure the cast will perform your favourite opera just perfectly…

Just let your mind fly away and… Watch Lisbon from the air as you're arriving or departing, depending only on your journey's arrangements.

I hope you had a magnificent time and look forward to seeing you all again!

ClustrMaps™ & NeoCounters…

No, this is no business company I might be trying to advertise. I would never be good at such a job… It's just a point of departure I've found for some reflections of a different kind on being a worldwide blogger.

It's quite a unique feeling knowing that you're connected to the whole world.
Honest it is. It may seem tacky to say it this way, and perhaps it is indeed, but as a common human being you only realise the true meaning of such an abstraction when you get evidence of the phenomenon. You don't believe it until you see it. As old as mankind…

So a map and a counter have been giving me enough to think about. Looking at the map I see dots almost everywhere. What can this possibly mean?
First of all, the connection is an obvious reality, regardless of any doubts I might still have. Millions cross the cyberspace at any hour, day or night, searching for each other, hoping perhaps to find a consoling word, an instant of amusement, a soul mate, or a reason of any kind to go on believing in themselves, in others, in life. (Often it's much less serious, I know…)

Taking a closer look I see dots where I never thought I would see any. Not for a reason in particular, no. I suddenly realise I'm still depending on last century's thinking categories, all of them relating to time and space. "If one doesn't travel so often or so easily to such remote places, how come they show up on the map?!" Quite silly, isn't it? Well, I'm not thinking exactly this way, but I guess I'm not that far from it either…

Asia and Oceania would still be a certain kind of mythical places – some Shangri-La or El Dorado: New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand…

I can't help wondering what those visitors expect to find here, what they think about the blog, about me, what makes them come back and – last but not least – why they come and go so silently. Some are occasional visitors, definitely, people who come across the blog just to find out it's not their cup of tea at all. But I mean those who keep coming, over and over again. Always silently… Not a word…

Central and South America may be a slightly different case. People may just want to take a look out of pure curiosity, I'd say. Brazil is dotted all over, but my contacts are, as far as I know, in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. As to all others I haven't a single clue…

Africa is a whole mystery in a certain sense; in another, however, there's no mystery about it at all. A few countries apart, Africa has still a long way to run before taking its due place in the cyberspace. So much is still such top priority that just the thought of being connected to the rest of the world may seem a futile exercise… I wonder whether it truly is.

North America and Europe are the best saved for last. Here too, however, my reflections follow the same path as before: many of those dots are silent places, either in the USA, Canada or Europe. Flags have been being displayed day after day, but their true meaning in this context can only be one and one alone: people just come and go. Well, I guess that's exactly what mankind has always been about anyway, cyberspace or no cyberspace.

One last note: it's quite possible, or almost certain, that most people don't like what they see or read. That's okay with me as well. I've never claimed I was here to please both Greeks and Trojans, have I?

Taking the Politics Test...

You are a Social Liberal (78% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (10% permissive) You are best described as a: Socialist Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

... No doubts about it. For a long time now...

II. Para uma tradução mais pertinente

É assunto até certo ponto bizantino ou de lana-caprina, se quiserem. Uma das minhas chinesices. Ainda assim, relevante a ponto de me fazer discorrer sobre o facilitismo – e, quantas vezes, a impertinência – de certas traduções que não passam, afinal, de negligentes transposições. Fácil e cómodo.

Com algumas até nem sinto grandes pruridos em concordar, admito. Não sou purista, logo não considero que tudo o que é palavra/conceito alienígena tenha forçosamente de ser transposto para o vernáculo, sob pena e insano perigo de se descaracterizar o luso idioma. Mas… devagar com o andor que o santo é de barro…

Há extremos que dificilmente compreendo, como por exemplo a transposição para Latim, no dicionário actualizado da mesma língua editado e publicado pelo Vaticano, da excelsa lexia "hambúrguer"… Já esta versão lusa consegue dar‑me volta ao estômago, quanto mais ter de imaginar um Horácio ou um Virgílio a discorrerem sobre carne picada… Pelo egrégio panteão olímpico!

Eis‑me chegado ao busílis da questão: traduzir para Português a lexia anglo‑americana "post" no sentido restrito que assume neste preciso contexto em que nos encontramos – num weblog:

i) Post (posting, posted) - transitive verb: to publish, announce, or advertise by or as if by use of a placard; to affix to a usual place (as a wall) for public notices.

ii) Postar (verbo intransitivo): publicar.

Se o verbo inglês selecciona um objecto directo, já o português – pelo que me tem sido dado observar – é usado intransitivamente, seguido da preposição "sobre" ou locução prepositiva equivalente (por exemplo, "acerca de").

É, porém, em relação ao substantivo cognato que se levantam questões menos pacíficas. A partir de "postar" obteríamos por derivação regressiva três possíveis formas, a saber, "posto", "posta" e "poste" – as únicas possíveis. Não será necessária grande pesquisa para concluir que todas elas são formas vivas do Português europeu, que pelo menos uma é polissémica e que não só não se afigura pertinente criar mais um homónimo, como não (me) soa nada bem designar uma realidade eminentemente textual/visual através de um substantivo com uma carga semântica histórica tão concreta/material.

Já o campo semântico de "editar" me parece mais adequado e disponível para albergar um novo elemento. Estaríamos assim perante um neologismo.

iii) Edital: algo que se afixa em lugares públicos ou se publica na imprensa para conhecimento de todos.

iv) Édito: ordem judicial publicada por anúncios ou editais.

Enquanto "edital" me parece remeter ainda em demasia para categorias concretas/materiais, já "édito" é, quanto a mim, uma séria possibilidade: é um vocábulo da ordem jurídica que pode perfeitamente adquirir um homónimo sem contaminações semânticas para nenhum de ambos.

É, pois, a proposta que vos deixo e que eu próprio, aliás, já adoptei, como poderão constatar pela amostra à direita. E apenas por razões de coerência decidi também traduzir "posted by" por "editado por". Mas nada obsta a que o tivesse feito por "postado por".

[This post deals with the difficulty the translation into Portuguese of the English noun "post" in a weblog context arises. My proposal is that the Latin etymon "edit" should be preferred. Care to comment?]

I. Nordic news...

… confirming Mediterranean old ideas

Oslo, Norway – «The exhibit called "Against Nature" at the internationally acclaimed Natural History Museum in the Norwegian capital documents homosexuality among penguins, parrots, giraffes, whales and other mammals and also insects.
A translation from Norwegian into English of a statement at the exhibit says "We may have opinions on a lot of things, but one thing is clear: homosexuality is found throughout the animal kingdom; it is not against nature."
The exhibit opened Thursday features a photograph that attracted considerable attention of two sexually aroused whales rubbing together. Another shows two male giraffe's engaged in sex.
"The sexual urge is strong in all animals. It's a part of life, it is fun to have sex," exhibit organizer Geir Soeli told the Reuters news agency.
One radical Christian said organizers of the exhibition – partly funded by the Norwegian government – should "burn in hell," Soeli said.
Laws describing homosexuality as a "crime against nature" are still on the statutes in some countries.
Greek philosopher Aristotle noted apparent homosexual behaviour among hyenas 2,300 years ago but evidence of animal homosexuality has often been ignored by researchers, perhaps because of distaste, lack of interest or fear of ridicule.
Bonobos, a type of chimpanzee, are among extremes in having sex with either males or females, apparently as part of social bonding. "Bonobos are bisexuals, all of them," Soeli said.
Still, it is unclear why homosexuality survives since it seems a genetic dead-end.
Among theories, males can sometimes win greater acceptance in a pack by having homosexual contact. That in turn can help their chances of later mating with females, he said.
And a study of homosexual men in Italy suggested that their mothers and sisters had more offspring. "The same genes that give homosexuality in men could give higher fertility among women," Soeli said.»

… After all, not even corrupt scientific research will ever silence the truth, will it?

Friends or lovers?

Recently, as I was reading through the blog of a fellow contributor to a collective blog, I came across a post that caught my attention.
After reading the first two lines, the first words that strangely came immediately to my mind were: "Strumming my pain with his fingers / Singing my life with his words"…
And R. went on describing his relationship with T.: how T. was, his personality, his way of dealing with everyone, his group of friends, his constant awareness of others, his fabulous generosity…
I just couldn't believe. That was definitely my story too. With all due changes here are some parts of what I read.

«37 years ago today, my best friend T. was born.
15 years ago this past January, he died. […]
T. and I were friends… best friends. We cared for each other the same way that people in relationships treat their mates... but we weren't in a relationship… or at least, we didn't think we were. […]
He was the star quarterback of his high school, but he had arthritis of the ankles, so he was often on crutches in college. He was in amazing shape, but he was also hemophiliac… He was the most loving and amazing guy, but his father left his mother before he was even born. He was a man of contradictions, but he was the easiest person to get along with.
Everyone wanted to be his friend… and I mean everyone. Whenever someone had a party, T. was the first one anyone called. When someone wanted to go out to a bar, T. was the immediately invited. When someone needed help, they instantly went to T.. And luckily, when anyone had anything to do with T., I was always right there… by his side. […]
I often find myself wondering what would have happened if T. had lived. Would I still be living in B.? Would he and I have taken that step to be "more than friends"? […]»

And this is approximately what I posted on this very blog only a couple of months ago:

«I've met my soul mate when I was about seven years old.
We soon became best friends first and – odd enough – we turned into brothers when we were young teenagers and found out we were both gay.
Our friendship would have lasted all our lives long, hadn't he been taken away by aids in 1993.
I shall never get over such a tremendous loss. Ever.
He was my daily spiritual, intellectual best companion.I still miss him every single day of my life.
I won't ever forget you, ZL. You will live forever in my heart.»

Is it friendship what there was between us for all those years, or is it some kind of love I never got to realise?
I believe he certainly knew what I felt for him. We've never needed words to know what the other was thinking or what step the other would take next. Looking in each other's eyes was quite enough. In some situations and under certain circumstances, we would even avoid that "procedure" in order to let things happen as normally as possible. When we were teenagers, I remember quite well his mother saying (without realising the reach of her words): "You two seem like a couple: the one's always covering up for the other!"
Is love more valuable than a lifetime friendship?
Do people really become "more than friends" when they "fall in love", when they "enamour of each other"?
Does sex play a part in dividing up the waters?
What kind of part is that?
What if it doesn't?

Oh ZL, I miss you more than ever…

Happily entering the third month

Happy birthday to… ME!

I've been a blogger for ninety days and 148 posts now. Just a baby yet.
The average per month is quite astonishing, I'd say: 49.3 posts…
I wouldn't have ever imagined it could be such an amazing experience!
Thinking now that I was so reluctant about creating a blog just reminds me once again of a rather strong characteristic of mine that won't ever disappear no matter how desperately I fight it: I do not embrace changes so easily…
Oh how I wish I'd be just a little bit more loosen‑up…!
All the new things I've been learning, all the new subjects that catch my attention everyday, all the marvellous blogger friends I've been making, all the chats we've had by e‑mail – some so deliciously light and amusing, others so rewardingly deep and serious –, all the different places of this now so small world of ours that I'm daily in touch with, as if I were visiting and being visited by each and every one of you, my dear blogger friends…
I hadn't the faintest idea… That's it.
I want to thank you all from the heart for all these incredible adventures I've been going through, especially to those I've been calling «The Happy Few Club» for some time now.
I can only hope our friendship will get stronger and stronger, and each and every one of us will get richer and richer everyday. You may understand this financially as well, it's okay with me!
I wish you all success and happiness. Lots and lots!

Carpe diem – noctemque…

II. … And the Prize went to…

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you…

The Nobel Prize Winner in Literature 2006

Orhan Pamuk

"Who in the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures."

Karolinska Institutet

A few biographical notes

Orhan Pamuk was born in Istanbul on June 7, 1952.
He spent all his life in Istanbul, except three years in New York.
After attending the architecture program in Istanbul Technical University for three years, he finished the Institute of Journalism at the Istanbul University.
He started writing regularly in 1974. His first novel, «Cevdet Bey ve Ogullari», was awarded the first prize in the 1979 Novel Contest of the Milliyet Press. This book, published in 1982, also won the Orhan Kemal Novel Prize in 1983. He received the 1984 Madarali Novel Prize with his second novel «Sessiz Ev», published in 1983, and the 1991 Prix de la Découverte Européenne with the French translation of the novel.
His historical novel «Beyaz Kale», published in 1985, extended his reputation abroad. «The New York Times Book Review» wrote: "A new star has risen in the east – Orhan Pamuk, a Turkish writer."
His 1990 landmark novel «Kara Kitap» has become one of the most controversial and popular readings in Turkish literature, due to its complexity and richness. In 1992, he wrote the script of the film «Gizli Yuz» (adapted from «Kara Kitap»), directed by a prominent Turkish director, Omer Kavur.
His latest novel, «Yeni Hayat», has been a best-seller in Turkey in 1995.
His books have been translated to thirteen foreign languages so far.

Another universe to get in touch with...

I. «BOOK CELL» - Installation

MATEJ KRÉN

De 19/07 a 31/12/2006
Das 10:00 às 18:00
Hall de entrada
Centro de Arte Moderna J. Azeredo Perdigão

Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

«O Projecto Book Cell, que será instalado no hall do CAMJAP e aí permanecerá durante seis meses, repete o procedimento recorrente no trabalho deste artista de empilhar milhares de livros, na criação duma estrutura arquitectónica em que somos convidados a entrar.

Book Cell reunirá edições da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian ao longo dos seus 50 anos, reforçando a natureza site specific do trabalho com a incorporação de um dos mais preciosos filões da história da intervenção cultural desta instituição.

A memória e o saber acumulados nos livros reunidos, fechados e inacessíveis, diversos e preciosos, serão potencialmente recuperados no final, quando todos puderem regressar à sua função de ser lidos, mas terão sido entretanto trabalhados como matéria escultórica e como espírito do lugar em que o artista se propõe reter‑nos: um recinto hexagonal com uma passagem definida por espelhos que asseguram a vertigem da queda, a desmultiplicação ad infinitum, o pânico da desorientação espacial próprios de um infinito virtual.

Designer de formação e projectado publicamente junto do público francês em 1990, na área da arte contemporânea, Matej Krén, nascido em Trencin, na Eslováquia, em 1958, desenvolveu a partir dessa data uma carreira artística internacional ampla e reconhecida. Depois de estudar Belas‑Artes em Bratislava e Praga entre 1977 e 1985, fixou residência em Bratislava até 1997, ano em que se muda para Praga, onde reside actualmente.

Trabalhos seus como Gravity Mixer, Omfalos e Idiom foram já distinguidos com prémios importantes. Refiram-se, por exemplo, nomeações como o Prémio Especial UNESCO 1995 para a Promoção das Artes e o Prémio TatraBanka em 2004, na Eslováquia.»

The origins' origin

Why do we all say "CARDIologist"?

Regardless of the language we speak, we all have a word for ♥ and another for the medical specialist that takes good care of it, whenever love is no longer the only solution to a problem.

It all goes back some thousands of years – about eight – when the Indo‑Europeans moved from the Hindustani peninsula across south-western Asia to Europe. Grammarians and linguists have been busy with that people's language since the 18.th century, and their studies allowed them to postulate a common origin for western languages (with few exceptions) as we know them today.

The common origin for ♥ is the Indo‑European root *KERD- that went on evolving in different ways according to the ethnic subgroups that were formed as time passed and people spread throughout the Old Continent and settled on diverse regions. Let's follow their trail.

– Latin COR, CORDIS:

Portuguese CORAÇÃO
Spanish CORAZÓN
Italian CUORE
French CŒUR

– Germanic *HERT-ON

English HEART
Dutch HAART
Swedish HJÄRTA
Danish, Norwegian HJERTE
German HERZ

– Classical Greek ΚΑΡΔΙΑ [kar'dia]
Modern Greek ΚΑΡΔΙΑ [kar'dja]

So now we have all these different words to say ♥, but when we mention the specialist doctor we all make use of a word built upon Classical Greek elements.

In different ways, there is unity in diversity.



(The forms preceded by * are reconstructed, which means they are not attested by any written document.)

II. On homophile literature (2)

Alan Hollinghurst

was born in Stroud in Gloucestershire, England in 1954 and was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was on the staff of the "Times Literary Supplement" from 1982 to 1995.

«His acclaimed first novel, The Swimming-Pool Library (1988), gives a vivid account of London gay life in the early 80's through the story of a young aristocrat, William Beckwith, and his involvement with the elderly Lord Nantwich, whose life he saves. It was followed by The Folding Star in 1994, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize (for fiction). The narrator, Edward Manners, develops an obsessive passion for his pupil, a 17-year-old Flemish boy, in a story that was compared by many critics to Thomas Mann's novella Death in Venice.

Spell (1998), a gay comedy of manners which interweaves the complex relationships between 40-something architect Robin Woodfield, his alcoholic lover Justin, and Justin's ex, timid civil servant Alex, who falls in love with Robin's son Danny. The action moves between the English countryside and London where Danny introduces Alex to ecstasy and the club scene.

Alan Hollinghurst's translation of Racine's play Bajazet was first performed in 1990. His most recent novel, The Line of Beauty (2004), traces a decade of change and tragedy and won the 2004 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.
It has been adapted for BBC Television by Andrew Davies.»

… Is he grand or what?!

I. "Ex armario nunc!" – clamant Reginæ…

Preparemo‑nos para o Dia Internacional "Ex Armario"!
A saída definitiva do armário por parte daqueles que têm consciência da sua situação, querem sair, assumir a sua condição perante si próprios e o seu mundo, mas que, por uma razão ou por outra, não conseguiram ainda deitar as portas abaixo e libertar‑se.

Desde 1987, os EUA contam com o "National Coming Out Day", celebrado a 11 de Outubro a nível nacional, naturalmente com mais empenho e visibilidade nuns Estados que noutros. O dia comemora a marcha sobre Washington de meio milhão de pessoas em prol da igualdade para os homossexuais (gays e lésbicas).


«National Coming Out Day is observed on October 11 by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities and their allies.
The day commemorates October 11, 1987, when 500,000 people marched on Washington, USA, for gay and lesbian equality. National Coming Out Day events are aimed at raising awareness of the LGBT community among the general populace in an effort to give a familiar face to the LGBT rights movement.
In the United States, the Human Rights Campaign manages the event under the National Coming Out Project offering resources to LGBT couples, parents and their children as well as straight friends and relatives to promote awareness of LGBT families living honest and open lives.»

We shall overcome!

II. On homophile literature (1)

Michael Cunningham

was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1952 and grew up in Pasadena, California.
He received his B.A. in English literature from Stanford University and his M.F.A. from the University of Iowa.
His novel A Home at the End of the World was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1990 to wide acclaim.
Flesh and Blood, another novel, followed in 1995.
His work has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Redbook, Esquire, The Paris Review, The New Yorker, Vogue, and Metropolitan Home.
His story "White Angel" was chosen for Best American Short Stories 1989.
The author lives in NYC.

A Home at the End of the World

«This celebrated novel is the story of two boyhood friends: Jonathan, lonely, introspective, and unsure of himself; and Bobby, hip, dark, and inarticulate. In New York after college, Bobby moves in with Jonathan and his roommate, Clare, a veteran of the city's erotic wars. Bobby and Clare fall in love, scuttling the plans of Jonathan, who is gay, to father Clare's child. Then, when Clare and Bobby have a baby, the three move to a small house in upstate New York to raise "their" child together and, with an old friend, Alice, create a new kind of family.
A Home at the End of the World masterfully depicts the charged, fragile relationships of urban life today.»

Uma Casa no Fim do Mundo, Gradiva, 2001.

I. Elis Regina in Memoriam

«Fascinação»
(versão de Armando Louzada, 1976)

Os sonhos mais lindos sonhei,
De quimeras mil um castelo ergui.
E no teu olhar, tonto de emoção,
Com sofreguidão mil aventuras previ.

O teu corpo é luz, sedução,
Poema divino cheio de esplendor.
Teu sorriso prende, inebria, entontece
És fascinação, amor…

… E quem se recordar de «O Casarão» jamais esquecerá…

Muito particularmente dedicado a todos os amigos brasileiros!

Some more of my favourite books...

Going through the archives, I could hardly believe I haven't actually posted about books during the whole month of September.
Many things happened, as a matter of fact. I gained new blogger friends, other subjects became priorities, and I tried to post more like a journalist, I'd say, though I don't really feel that thrilled about it, if I don't forget my blog has just been flagged. Why? Well, all I did was cite a government's statement from a press conference and comment on it, of course.
But let's begin the week without polemic issues instead.
Bigots and hypocrites usually don't care much for Literature (or any arts, for what it matters), but they're wrong, oh so wrong… That's precisely where their future lies or, depending only on the perspective, their end begins.
The truth is I did neglect something I cherish so much in life: books. And I had promised you, dear members of «The Happy Few Club», I would carry on with my list of the 50 best novels of the 20.th century. So here they are, the penultimate ten:

André MALRAUX, La Condition Humaine (France)
Roger MARTIN DU GARD, Les Thibault (France)
W. Sommerset MAUGHAM, Of Human Boundage (United States of America)
Veijo MERI, Peiliin piirretty nainen / Woman Drawn on a Mirror (Finland)
Yukio MISHIMA, The Golden Temple (Japan)
Harry MULISCH, De Ontdekking van de Hemel (The Netherlands)
Robert MUSIL, Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften (Austria)
Michael ONDAATJE, The English Patient (Canada)
George ORWELL, 1984 (United Kingdom)
Boris PASTERNAK, Doktor Jivago (Russia)

Autumn evenings are getting longer. On the northern hemisphere, of course.
You guys from down south can start right now settling on your summer readings list…
After blogging there's still some time left for some pages, I'm sure. Enjoy it.

III. Sem mobilização...

«Governo desmente possibilidade de adopção por casais do mesmo sexo»

«O ministro da Presidência, Silva Pereira, garantiu que o Governo não tem qualquer iniciativa planeada, relacionada com a adopção de crianças por casais homossexuais. O semanário «Sol» noticiou que vários deputados do PS se mostraram favoráveis à adopção de crianças por casais homossexuais e acreditam que a questão será colocada depois do referendo do aborto. “O Governo não tem inscrita no seu programa qualquer referência ao assunto e não está a pensar em nenhuma iniciativa sobre esta matéria”, afirmou Silva Pereira, no final do Conselho de Ministros. Os deputados ouvidos pelo «Sol» consideram que uma alteração da legislação sobre a adopção deverá ser feita depois do referendo ao aborto e na sequência da discussão do casamento de homossexuais. De acordo com o semanário, os deputados argumentam que os casais que querem adoptar uma criança têm de ser “sólidos” e “bons educadores” e que isso não tem necessariamente a ver com a sua orientação sexual.»

A pobreza nacional é, de facto, ultrafranciscana.
Nem os interessados se mobilizam, nem o socialismo português consegue ser tão socialista quanto o espanhol...
Porquê?!
Fiquemos, pois, à espera que os políticos nos entreguem, em salvas de prata e de mão beijada, o que desejamos.
Não nos mobilizemos que não é preciso...
Choraminguemos mais um bocadinho, que é o que está a dar. Sempre esteve, aliás.
E mais uma vez, em mais um assunto, Portugal fica cantando e rindo, qual bobo mentecapto, na cauda da Europa.
E, já agora, qual é a novidade?

"A minoria pode ter razão; a maioria está sempre errada."
Henrik Ibsen (dramaturgo norueguês do século XIX)

II. Raivazinhas na blogosfera...

Dez anomalias que me chateiam – à brava! – na blogosfera:

1. Gente que quer apenas deitar a minha história abaixo, por a acharem abaixo de cão; ou então gente que dramatiza até dizer chega, quando apenas postei uma historieta ligeira.

2. Visitantes regulares que nunca deixam um comentariozinho que seja – mas que religiosamente fazem visitas.

3. Gente que pretende ser aquilo que não é, como o gajo que ridiculamente acha que é capaz de escrever como uma mulher (e que, graças a uma cachola prodigiosa, se estampa na primeira concordância…rsrsrs!).

4. Comentadores anónimos – os «anonymous» mesmo –, sobretudo quando os seus comentários são dignos de resposta.

5. Gente que comenta (ao lado…) apenas para deixar o isco («link») do seu blog – outra forma de publicidade! – com uma frasezeca ou outra terminando sempre com «dá uma vista de olhos lá pelo meu blog».

6. Bloguistas com o disco partido: faço-lhes hoje uma visita, e a história que contam é negra como a noite; volto lá oito ou quinze dias depois, e a p… da história ainda não morreu.

7. Bloguistas da infidelidade: têm uma relação séria, dizem, mas estão mais que prontos para a facadinha – ou para a machadada. E muita intimidade da treta…

8. Bloguistas odientos: nutrem um ódio de estimação pelo mundo e pelo universo; tudo quanto escrevem ou comentam escorre ressabiamento por todo o lado.

9. Comentadores ultra‑opiniosos sem blog próprio ou, quando o têm, está configurado em modo privado.

10. Os lamurientos e os choramingas.

Digam lá se isto não chateia mesmo à brava!!!

Lido, reflectido, traduzido e livremente adaptado de «Bitching about Blogging» em bitch blog.

I. Kingdomality Personal Preference Profile...

Your distinct personality – The White Knight – might be found in most of the thriving kingdoms of the Middle Ages.
Don Quixote de la Mancha was a White Knight as was Joan of Arc, the Lone Ranger and Crusader Rabbit.
As a White Knight you expect nothing in return for your good deeds. You are one of the true «Givers» of the world. You are the anonymous philanthropist who shares your wealth, your time and your life with others. To give is its own reward, and as a White Knight you seek no other.
On the positive side you are merciful, sympathetic, helpful, giving and heroic.
On the negative side you may be impulsively decisive, sentimental and misdirected. Interestingly, your preference is just as applicable in today's corporate kingdoms.

(From «Green Acres» by Sam)

Is it now? Really? I wonder… Or better said: I do doubt entirely about that...

The Fifty Things Meme to bore you with...

1. How tall are you barefoot? I'm 1.74 m.
2. Have you ever been cheated on? Quite often…
3. Do you own a gun? No, I do not! Ever!
4. If you had a mental disorder, what would it be? Bipolar disorder; I have a cyclothymic personality.
5. How many letters are in your crushes' name? Six.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Neither confirming nor refuting…
7. What's your favourite Christmas song? «Stille Nacht».
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Hot, black coffee!
9. Do you do push-ups? Never!
10. Have you ever done ecstasy? Never.
11. Do you have a boyfriend? No.
12. Do you like the rain? I do like watching it fall, but I detest to get wet…
13. Do you own a knife? I've got many, in a kitchen drawer…
14. What do you smell like? Some kind of a sweet fruit far too ripe…
15. Do you have A.D.D.? No, never. I can focus quite easily on any matter.
16. Full initials? JRSMdM. Who cares about this?
17. Name three thoughts at this exact moment: I'm enjoying answering to this meme, listening to baroque music at the same time, and I sense a beautiful day outside.
18. Name the last three things you have bought today. Not a single one.
19. Name five drinks you regularly drink. Mineral water, coffee, apple juice, beer, and scotch.
20. What time did you wake up today? Late, rather late…
21. Can you spell? – Do humans walk on their feet?…
22. Current worry? I need to earn more money…
23. Current hate? None whatsoever.
24. Favourite place to be? Sitting at an outside café's table facing the Tagus.
25. Least favourite place to be? Inside an office, typing imbecile texts.
26. Where would you want to go? Rangiroa, French Polynesia…
27. Do you own slippers? Yes, I do, and I love them. They're quite chic.
28. Where do you think you'll be in ten years? I haven't the faintest idea…
29. Do you burn or tan? First I burn a little, but then I tan beautifully…
30. Yellow or Blue? Blue, one of my favourite colours.
31. Would you give up your current life to be a pirate? No way!
32. Last time your cell rang? Some hours ago, thanks God…
33. What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever sounds inspiring.
34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? Something absolutely black with huge, round, white eyes…
35. What do you have in your pocket right now? Nothing at all.
36. Last thing that made you laugh? A blogger friend's comment.
37. Favourite bed sheets as a child? The very ones my mother could afford to buy.
38. Worst injury you've ever had? Some broken teeth after a serious fall.
39. What is your G.P.A.? If I needed it now, it would be between B+ and A-, so about 3.8 (in our grading system, 17.4).
40. How many TV sets do you have in your house? Two. Quite enough…
41. Who is your loudest friend? Mané is.
42. Who is your most silent friend? None of them is really silent.
43. Does someone have a crush on you? Not that I know of…
44. Do you wish on stars? No.
45. Do you believe in magic? No, I do not.
46. What song represents how you feel at the moment? «My funny Valentine», Ella Fitzgerald.
47. What song did you last hear? «I get a kick out of you», Ella Fitzgerald.
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Mozart's «Requiem» as a kind of revenge of those staying behind…
49. What were you doing at midnight last night? Blogging away…
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Oh my God! It's so damned late already!

From «Green Acres» by Sam

Lisbon Monumental Squares (just for you...)

Today I'm taking you, dear blogger friends of «The Happy Few Club», on a spinning tour around Lisbon monumental squares.
This time I'll give you only their names, it seems quite enough to me. And you will comment on the photos, okay?
I hope you'll enjoy it, and wish you all a pleasant journey! Let's go...

Praça D. João I, also known by its former name, Praça da Figueira

Rossio, the traditional name of Praça D. Pedro IV

Praça dos Restauradores

Praça Marquês de Pombal

Praça Duque de Saldanha

For a Greek friend in Athens:
Για έναν ελληνικό φίλο στην Αθήνα:
Η Λισσαβώνα και η Πορτογαλία της καρδιάς μου!

Gore Vidal about George W. Bush

In my opinion, the following text is another excellent example of Gore Vidal's commitment to American politics as he has been doing as a responsible citizen for many years now.

«(…)
What then did our very own Romulus Augustulus do during the rest of September 11th? He read some more of "The Pet Goat", knowing that his puppet-meister, vice‑president Cheney, was safely embedded in some secret spot. Then the little emperor was hustled away in Air Force One for a tour of our most luxurious bunkers where he might avoid the attentions of new attackers, should they come.
(…)
I think it was Vico who noted that busy republics tend to turn themselves into empires. Certainly, the French intellectual godfather to the American republic, Montesquieu, warned that republics which took the empire route would cease to be republics altogether while Vico, in his cyclic view of human societies, saw imperial republics evolving into dictatorships, chaos, barbarism. In the last five years American behaviour in the Middle East has been barbarous and will not soon be forgiven. Meanwhile, the gas-oil junta has hijacked the old American republic through the artful use of great quantities of corporate and church cash in order to falsify the electoral tallies of easily hacked electronic voting machinery; means now exist to nullify or alter any election returns as happened in Florida 2000; in Ohio 2004.

There is a good deal of grim comedy in the words if not the current deeds of the little president. Although he and his co-conspirators relish the use of the big lie (e. g. turning the dull but genuine war hero John Kerry into a cowardly fraud while ignoring the slackerdom of Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld who proudly fought in none of our many wars). Now in an attempt to avoid blame for the Iraq war and further confuse the world about why Iran and Syria must be destroyed Old Rumsfeld and Old Cheney are trotting out dim garbled images of Hitler and appeasement as they pretend that the anti-war American majority favours Islamic fascism. They pretend terrorism is a demonic person. And if we don’t stop him in Tehran we’ll have to stop him here. This is ludicrous; unfortunately the junta is as ignorant of history and geography as they believe the public to be. Meanwhile, the little president worries about his "legacy" in the history books. But should he get World War Three going there might not be any more history books, a relief to a non-reader like himself, though, lately, he tells us that he is reading Camus and "three Shakespeares". No doubt tragedies. As we know, he lies with zest yet he was actually revealed reading "The Pet Goat" on television and the Greek word for goat is the same as the word for tragedy. If this is code, I am beginning to suspect him of irony, a fatal flaw in Freedom’s home. After all, on his first trip to New Orleans, he promised to restore the drowned city. But, as usual, nothing was done. Then this August 29 he was back in town to reassure high school students: "I’ve come back to New Orleans to tell you the words that I spoke on Jackson Square are just as true today as they were then." And so, of course, they were! Meanwhile, one hopes that some noble humanitarian will finally shut the doors of the temple of Janus which have not been shut since December of 1941 when we went from one war to another and another without a pause – or thought.»

September 28, 2006

Gore Vidal

From «Bread and Circuses» by Adrian Murdoch

Feriado Nacional: Implantação da República (1910)

… E, ingloriamente, uma Monarquia com quase oitocentos anos – uma das mais antigas da Europa! – esfuma‑se na e pela sua ignóbil indigência…

Eis os hodiernos símbolos nacionais, dos quais muito me orgulho, conquanto não seja nem patrioteiro de café nem republicano convicto.

Por vicissitudes da História que todos conhecemos, devo citar o Poeta quanto ao que melhor o terá definido enquanto Português. Professo a mesma verdade.

«A minha Pátria é a Língua Portuguesa.»

1. A bandeira verde e rubra.

2. «A Portuguesa».

Heróis do mar, nobre Povo,
Nação valente, imortal,
Levantai hoje de novo
O esplendor de Portugal!

Entre as brumas da memória,
Ó Pátria, sente-se a voz
Dos teus egrégios avós,
Que há-de guiar-te à vitória!

Às armas, às armas!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
Às armas, às armas!
Pela Pátria lutar
Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!

Saudai o Sol que desponta
Sobre um ridente porvir;
Seja o eco de uma afronta
O sinal de ressurgir.

Raios dessa aurora forte
São como beijos de mãe,
Que nos guardam, nos sustêm,
Contra as injúrias da sorte.

Às armas, às armas!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
Às armas, às armas!
Pela Pátria lutar.

A todos os bloguistas amigos, republicanos ou monárquicos, desejo um excelente feriado!

«A Taça de Chá»

O luar desmaiava mais ainda uma máscara caída nas esteiras bordadas. E os bambus ao vento e os crisântemos nos jardins e as garças no tanque, gemiam com ele a adivinharem-lhe o fim. Em roda tombavam-se adormecidos os ídolos coloridos e os dragões alados. E a gueixa, porcelana transparente como a casca de um ovo da Íbis, enrodilhou-se num labirinto que nem os dragões dos deuses em dias de lágrimas. E os seus olhos rasgados, pérolas de Nanguim a desmaiar-se em água, confundiam-se cintilantes no luzidio das porcelanas.

Ele, num gesto último, fechou-lhe os lábios co'as pontas dos dedos, e disse a finar-se: – Chorar não é remédio; só te peço que não me atraiçoes enquanto o meu corpo for quente. Deixou a cabeça nas esteiras e ficou. E Ela, num grito de garça, ergueu alto os braços a pedir o Céu para Ele, e a saltitar foi pelos jardins a sacudir as mãos, que todos os que passavam olharam para Ela.

Pela manhã vinham os vizinhos em bicos dos pés espreitar por entre os bambus, e todos viram acocorada a gueixa abanando o morto com um leque de marfim.

A estampa do pires é igual.

José de Almada Negreiros

Sexto texto de «Frisos», publicado em Orpheu 1, 1915

II. All the threes...

Desperate!...

I've been tagged by a delightful bitch…
(«I'm so furious I could vomit!»)
Here are some things about me
that must come in threes…

3 smells I love:
Pine
Myrrh
Lavender

3 smells I hate:
Gasoline
Paint
Rotten eggs…

3 jobs that I have had in my life:
Copydesk
Teacher
Translator

3 movies that I could watch over and over:
Out of Africa
Sunset Boulevard
Westside Story

3 days of fond memories:
Landing in Frankfurt after my first flight ever (July 21.st 1976)
Arriving in New York City (August 1995)
Entering my own apartment for the very first time (August 1.st 1985)

3 jobs I would (have) love(d) to have:
Librarian
Pianist
Airline steward

3 places that I could live (since I've always lived in Lisbon):
Holland
Coimbra
Évora

3 things I like to do:
Blog
Listen to classical music
Write/read

3 of my favourite foods:
Marmalade
Roasted beef
Grilled sardines

3 places I would like to be right now:
Rangiroa (French Polynesia)
Amsterdam
Paris

3 websites that I visit daily:
Blogger
Minge
Spiegel online

3 things that move me to tears:
Unfair destinies
Death
Truthfulness

3 friends that I am tagging:

I'm not! I promised I wouldn't and I won't!
Any volunteers though, guys?... Please!...

I. On homophobia and other issues...

This is how a student from Cyprus decided to protest. At first it seems paradoxical, contradictory, even shocking, I'd say...
But then again, what a fabulous idea!


From Bruce @ «Not so different»


i) "Throughout western and central Europe, without a politically active and potent Church to turn homophobia into doctrine and then into law, the way is open for reason to prevail and for gay people to be able to claim their rights."

It's happening already, slowly but steadily, in Spain and, in a lesser extent, in Portugal. The Penal Code is about to be revised, and more severe penalties have been added in cases of sexual hatred, homophobia, etc. I can only hope this new Code will be approved by National Assembly without the usual tricks from right‑wing hypocrites. And more I won't say for glass roofs are all over…

ii) "Even if a European gay man manages to move away [from his home town] to a different city, he is still expected to, and almost always does maintain very close contact with his family, even if they are inveterate homophobes. This situation is most extreme in Italy, where a man’s ties to his mother are legendary, but it is even true in the northern countries. It is, therefore, very difficult for a European gay man to separate emotionally from a family that refuses to accept his sexual orientation."

I believe this situation is gradually changing, though very, very slowly indeed. The Mamma character is overwhelming in Southern Europe. And this seems still to be undisputable…

iii) "Contributing to this problem is the general physical immobility of European society. Most Europeans grow up, are educated, work, and die in or very near the city where they were born. Also, unlike more recent American society, changing jobs too often is seen, in Europe as a sign of unreliability, disloyalty, and general instability."

This is perhaps the problem's touchstone as I see it. I am a «good» example of both geographical immobility and unchanged job (though I've recently tried to reverse the situation, but it's not easy at all.) There are still far too many hindrances along the way.

iv) "If personal blog sites do exist among gay Europeans (…), I would assume that they would be used primarily by very young people."

This is my opinion as well. Most of Portuguese overtly gay bloggers (as far as I could assess myself the situation up till now) are young people indeed attending University.

v) "All these factors considered, therefore, I would say that it is probably easier to be gay in the US, especially in a city, than it is in Europe. Despite much firmer legal status and protection, and despite more or less the same degree of acceptance by the straight community, European gay men have a somewhat more difficult time integrating their sexual identity into their everyday lives than their American brothers do."

… As I would have most certainly not said it better, here is the quote of Bruce's latest article (not post!) on these candent matters. Please, do read it at «Not so different»! (Click here or at my blogroll on Bruce.)

… And don't forget it, dear blogger friends! Your opinions do matter! And I would like very much to hear them!

Three Italian masterpieces

Many of you were infants, some still in diapers, and a few not even born yet…
I can hardly believe two of these movies are exactly thirty years old, and the other one is thirty three…
I watched them for the first time around the end of the 70's, and during the 80's I watched them all again and again.

Just a few months ago I had the opportunity of re‑watching «Brutti, Sporchi e Cattivi», which made me want to go through the other two once again.
There is nothing I could say that would add anything whatsoever to these monuments. They belong to mankind now, as La Gioconda or the Coliseum do.
«Amarcord» is a delicious comedy in the great tradition of the Italian cinema from after WW2 that conquered Europe and the world, I believe.
«Novecento» is a History book in the shape of a long, superb film: a cast you won't ever forget, a magnificent photography, a soundtrack that compels you to learn all those marvellous songs by heart in Italian, French, whatever…

Dear blogger friends, if you happened not to have watched any of these «crown jewels» of the Seventh Art, I do urge you to do so as soon as possible.

If «European Union» is somehow bound to mean something, then I believe each and every one of us has a clear path to follow: as we visit each other's blogs in the tranquillity of our living rooms or studies, we should visit each other's cultures as often as we can. And by doing so we would become so much richer…

II. Ovos eruditos...

Primeiro estranhei… Que raio, postar sobre ovos?! Uma vez, duas, três… Perdi‑lhes a conta. Em todos os posts, porém, facilmente se detecta um denominador comum: as referências à quantidade de informação que se vai acumulando na casca. Um dia destes, será difícil adivinhar a cor original dos ovos, tantos serão os sucessivos carimbos que a ocultarão, consequência de directivas comunitárias e legislações nacionais.
Quem se munir com a respectiva chave de descodificação terá acesso a preciosos dados biográficos da galinha poedeira, do seu domicílio, dos seus hábitos alimentares, da sua nacionalidade, claro está, quiçá do seu endereço electrónico, do seu telemóvel, da sua página pessoal na internet ou mesmo do seu blog…


São ovos eruditos os que chegam hoje ao nosso prato.
Em breve será recomendável (mais tarde será mesmo necessário) um doutoramento – já obtido de acordo com o processo de Bolonha, convirá – para nos abastecermos na mercearia da esquina.
Como?! Ah pois… Dizem‑me aqui que já não há mercearias, mas apenas minimercados, mesmo que de facto sejam ainda mercearias… Enfim…
Caro consumidor, proteja‑se! Aposte na sua formação contínua e torne‑se um consumidor consciente das suas escolhas. Consulte todas as páginas www pertinentes, onde bibliografias seleccionadas prometem preencher‑lhe os dias vindouros de edificantes leituras. Mais uma forma de fazer cultura.
Indubitavelmente.

I. «La Solitudine»

Laura Pausini

Marco se n'è andato e non ritorna più
e il treno delle sete trenta senza lui
è un cuore di metallo senza l'anima
nel freddo del mattino grigio di città
a scuola il banco è vuoto, Marco è dentro me
è dolce il suo respiro fra i pensieri miei
distanze enormi sembrano dividerci
ma il cuore batte forte dentro me.

Chissà se tu mi penserai
se con i tuoi non parli mai
se ti nascondi come me
sfuggi gli sguardi e te ne stai
rinchiuso in camera e non vuoi mangiare
stringi forte a te il cuscino e
piangi e non lo sai quanto altro male ti farà la solitudine.

Marco, nel mio diario ho una fotografia
hai gli occhi di bambino un poco timido
la stringo forte al cuore e sento che ci sei
fra i compiti d'inglese e matematica
tuo padre e i suoi consigli, che monotonia
lui con il suo lavoro ti ha portato via
di certo il tuo parere non l'ha chiesto mai
ha detto "un giorno tu mi capirai".

Chissà se tu mi penserai
se con gli amici parlerai
per non soffrire più per me
ma non è facile lo sai.

A scuola non ne posso più
e i pomeriggi senza te
studiare è inutile, tutte le idee si affollano su te.

Non è possibile dividere la vita di noi due
ti prego, aspettami amore mio... ma illuderti non so!

La solitudine fra noi
questo silenzio dentro me
è l'inquietudine di vivere la vita senza te
ti prego, aspettami perché
non posso stare senza te
non è possibile dividere la storia di noi due.

(A solidão entre nós,
Este silêncio dentro de mim,
É a inquietação de viver a vida sem ti.
Peço‑te, espera‑me porque
Não posso estar sem ti.
Não é possível dividir a história de nós dois.)

(Se não gostarem, que hei‑de fazer?… Pode ser cafona, brega, foleira, fatela… Mas sem que me tivesse apercebido, este Marco tornou‑se um marco. E os marcos ficam… Mesmo que nenhum Marco tenha resistido ao tempo.)

(If you won't like it, what shall I do? It may be tacky, even trashy… Against my will though, it became hostage of another time when there was a Marco. The hostage stayed, Marco left… Some tears remind me of it.)