29 de abril de 2013

Sonhos e Vertigens

Dreaming is not merely an act of communication (or coded communication, if you like); it is also an aesthetic activity, a game of the imagination, a game that is a value in itself. Our dreams prove that to imagine — to dream about things that have not happened — is among mankind's deepest needs. Herein lies the danger. If dreams were not beautiful, they would quickly be forgotten. [...] Anyone whose goal is something higher must expect some day to suffer vertigo. What is vertigo? Fear of falling? Then why do we feel it even when the observation tower comes equipped with a sturdy handrail? No, vertigo is something other than the fear of falling. It is the voice of the emptiness below us which tempts and lures us, it is the desire to fall, against which, terrified, we defend ourselves.


The Unbearable Lightness of Being – Milan Kundera

26 de abril de 2013

Conviver com Escritores

Encontrei isto e não pude deixar de rir a bandeiras despregadas. Os escritores são seres que poucos conseguem compreender. Este é um bom guia. E divertido!


25 de abril de 2013

E Depois da Revolução?


39 anos após a Revolução dos Cravos, ainda andamos à procura de uma identidade e de um sentido para a vida, traídos e abandonados pelos mesmos que juram proteger-nos, esses que dizem governar e servir a Pátria e o Povo...

Por onde andarão os Capitães?...

23 de abril de 2013

Dia Mundial do Livro

O Dia Mundial do Livro foi instituído pela UNESCO em 23 de Abril, pela convergência de autores cuja data de nascimento ou da morte calha neste dia, incluindo Cervantes e Shakespeare.


Feliz Dia Mundial do Livro!

Leiam: quer seja em placas de argila, em pergaminhos, em livros ou em tablets.

Ler faz bem à alma!



Retirei esta imagem do site GoneReading, que aconselho vivamente a todos os leitores.

20 de abril de 2013

Soulmates redefined!

...and when one of them meets the other half, the actual half of himself, whether he be a lover of youth or a lover of another sort, the pair are lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy and one will not be out of the other's sight, as I may say, even for a moment... 
 ― Plato – The Symposium





Plato was an amateur...



∞ Max and Liz — Soulmates. Redefined! 

WE WANTTO BELIEVE!

18 de abril de 2013

Love at first sight

Many people refuse to believe in it, even if many studies conclude that human beings take less than a minute to fall in love – that our 'reptilian brains' make the decision way before that knowledge is accessible to our conscious minds, and then a chemical storm follows.

It's no wonder that folk tales and fairy tales play on this trope so often.

One of the first examples I saw of this trope in full action was on The Little Mermaid. After the scientific evidence I got about Love, I saw it with brand new eyes, even though there's no evidence supporting the existence of mermaids... Yet!

I love the scene when Ariel first sees Eric, before she saves his life. I love everything about it. Max, too. I love that dog. It was the only animal who couldn't "speak human" for the entire film, but he was one of the most intelligent creatures in it. The moment when he meets Ariel is just hilarious. For Max, it was love at first sniff.

Disclaimer: Written for love, not for profit. "The Little Mermaid" does not legally belong to me. It belongs to: Walt Disney Productions and Silver Screen Partners IV who produced it and to Buena Vista Film Distribution Company, who aired it.

As she approached the ship, Ariel began to hear a cheerful melody and felt compelled to come closer. Next thing she knew, she was right next to the ship and started climbing it, until she got to a hole at the side of the vessel she could look through. She watched the deck from one end to another: some men were playing a happy song on instruments she had in her collection while others danced and clapped their hands, always smiling. Musicians!, she thought, that’s what they are! Humans play music and have fun just as merfolk do. Her heart jumped happily as she admired them dancing on their legs. It all seemed so simple and so pretty. Some of them danced so swiftly they seemed to levitate. Another creature pranced around on four legs, barking and wagging its tail. Max was having the time of his life. He couldn’t contain his excitement; he loved being there with his master and the happy music made him want to jump too. Suddenly the wind shifted and the night breeze brought a new scent that made the dog halt. Max sniffed the night air deeply... whatever that scent wasn’t on the ship... The English Sheepdog put his nose to the ground and followed his lead. Ariel saw the creature approaching her fast and hid, afraid he would hurt her or denounce her presence to the humans... She waited a few seconds and then peeked again, hoping the creature didn’t notice her after all, but there he was! They locked eyes for a second... The creature seemed to be smiling at her with a mouth full of sharp teeth... Max had never seen such a strange human before... She looked just like all the other two-legged humans he knew except for her... fish tail! She was warm-hearted too, unlike some two-legged, but she was scared of him, so Max comforted her the only way he could: he gave her a big kiss! 

First meeting

     Then, he heard his master whistling “Max, here boy.” And went to him. Ariel wiped her cheek, rather surprised at the creature’s behavior. She didn’t know what he was exactly, but he seemed friendly enough. Eric wondered what the dog was up to so far away from the rest of the party. “Hey, come on, mutt, whatcha doing, huh Max?” Ariel saw the furry creature leaping over one human and licking him on the cheek as well and she was open-mouthed. There he was... less than five meters away... the final piece of her puzzle. She heard the young man say: “Good boy, good boy!” and he stroked the furry creature. The infinite warmth of his action enveloped her heart completely and she surrendered unconditionally... A familiar voice startled her: “Hey there, sweetie! Quite a show, eh?” “Scuttle, be quiet! They'll hear you.”, Ariel whispered, turning her attention back to the young man. Thinking that it was all a game, Scuttle flew surreptitiously next to the little mermaid and hid in her hair, saying: “Oooh, I gotcha, I gotcha. We're being intrepidatious!” Ariel looked at him, wondering what he was going to do next, hoping that he would go away. To her horror, the seagull cried at the top of his lungs: “WE'RE OUT TO DISCOVER-” Quickly, she grabbed his beak annoyed by his loudness. “I've never seen a human this close before...” said Ariel. He was, in fact, just a few meters away from her, playing music for his furry four-legged friend. The interaction between the two was so enthralling, that the mermaid sighed enraptured: “Oh – he's very handsome, isn't he?” Scuttle didn’t understand what she could possibly see in that four-legged: “I dunno, he looks kinda hairy and slobbery to me.” Ariel chuckled at her friend’s comment: “Not that one! The one playing the snarfblat.” The celebrations ceased when Grimsby called everybody’s attention to the high point of that night: “Silence! Silence! It is now my honor and privilege to present our esteemed Prince Eric with a very special, very expensive, very large birthday present.” He bowed to his future king and pointed to a large object covered by a canvas and wrapped around with a red ribbon. “His name is Eric!” Ariel smiled to herself. The sailors cheered their future ruler, while the birthday boy felt kind of embarrassed for being the center of attention.  Grimsby’s formal speech didn’t make him feel any more at ease, so he responded by patting his old friend and advisor on the back: “Ah, Grimsby – y'old beanpole, you shouldn't have.” “I know. Happy birthday, Eric!” The drums rang as one sailor pulled off the canvas, revealing an enormous statue of the future king. The young man looked at the statue in disbelief: the noble pose was overblown, with the sword and shield with a big E in the center... The young prince did not recognize himself in that representation in marble. Reading his master’s thoughts, Max growled at the statue, apprehensive with this stone giant. Still, Eric thought, Grimsby had put so much effort into it... he couldn’t disappoint him. He cleared his throat, trying to think of something good to say about it. “Gee, Grim. It's, err, it's, err - it's really somethin'...” It was no use: the statue was twice his size and too pompous to ever resemble him, but still, Grimsby looked happy. “Yes, I commissioned it myself. Of course, I had hoped it would be a wedding present, but-” Eric chuckled nervously. He knew all too well where that comment was aiming at. “Come on, Grim, don't start!” He took the telescope from the hands of his adviser and Ariel hid when she saw that he was coming too close. Looking through the telescope, Eric said: “Look, you're not still sore because I didn't fall for the princess of Glauerhaven, are you?” Grimsby hated to bring that subject up, but the prince’s insistence in postponing his future really disturbed him. “Oh, Eric, it isn't me alone. The entire kingdom wants to see you happily settled down with the right girl.” Eric sat on the railing and looked at the dark horizon: “Well, she's out there somewhere. I just-” Ariel was startled to see the prince lower his head... but his eyes were closed. “I just haven't found her yet.” Eric murmured desolate. Ariel heard Grimsby’s reply: “Well, perhaps you haven't been looking hard enough.” and agreed. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he just opened his eyes, she thought. But he kept talking to his friend: “Believe me, Grim, when I find her I'll know - without a doubt. It'll just – bam! – hit me – like lightning.”

Ariel sees Eric

16 de abril de 2013

Clash between doctors

The thing about Gregory House is that he works alone. I mean, apart from his team, he doesn't trust anybody else. Of course, he second guesses his team all the time. It's part of his process!

As his boss, Lisa Cuddy has the most grueling job of overseeing House to make sure he doesn't break  the law, because the truth is she trust his medical instincts. She respects him, more than she leads on.

Throughout the show, there was an interesting balance between House (the mad scientist) and Cuddy (the mommy who wouldn't let him play). The clash between them was fascinating to watch.

House won, most of the times. As he would say, in the end, "he was almost always eventually right" about this theories and about the treatments. Lots of patients lived because of his crazed method!


Disclaimer: Written for love, not for profit. "House M.D." does not legally belong to me. It belongs to: David Shore who created it, Heel & Toe Films, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions, Moratim Produktions, NBC Universal Television, Universal Media Studios who produced it and to Fox Network, who aired it. 

Images taken from Google search.

House looking at Cuddy with his trademark "I'm right" smirk
     Later that day, Dr. Cuddy found House in an empty exam room in the Clinic. Reading “Spring's hottest people” Magazine. “I'm doing research. People are fascinating aren't they,” he asked, anticipating her soon to be unleashed fury. “Why are you giving Adler steroids?” “Because she's my patient. That's what you do with patients – you give them medicine.” “You don't prescribe medicine based on guesses. At least we don't since Tuskeegee and Mengele.” “You're comparing me to a Nazi? Nice!” “I'm stopping the treatment,” she said, turning away fro him. House couldn’t understand her fascination with his patient, but he couldn’t let her overrule him again. He bolted after her, trying to make his case. “She's my patient!” “It's my hospital!” She replied, not slowing her pace down. House tried harder. “I did not get her sick. She is not an experiment, I have a legitimate theory about what's wrong with her.” “With no proof.” “There's never any proof. Five different doctors come up with five different diagnoses based on the same evidence.” “You don't have any evidence.” Cuddy replied, pressing the elevator button. While she waited for the door to open, she continued her rant. “And nobody knows anything, huh? Then how is it that you always think you're right?” “I don't, I... just find it hard to operate on the opposite assumption. And why are you so afraid of making a mistake?” “Because I'm a doctor.” She said, turning to the stairs. If House wouldn’t stop the treatment, she would do it herself “Because when we make mistakes people die,” she said, flying up the stairs. House tried to follow her, but his leg would have none of it. He decided to wait for the elevator, hoping that Cuddy wasn’t serious about discontinuing the treatment.
     Dr. Lisa Cuddy entered Rebecca's room. The patient was smiling, her appetite was back. She seemed truly happy, asking her to thank Dr. House for everything. Cuddy read her chart and left her room, almost bumping into House, who was taking guard to his patient. “Should I discontinue the treatment, boss?” He teased. “You got lucky,” she said, leaving him to care for his patient. “Cool, huh?” House murmured, not surprised by her reaction.

13 de abril de 2013

"Pessoa em Nova Iorque"


Fernando Pessoa vai passear por Nova Iorque entre 13 e 17 de Abril.


A passagem do poeta lusitano pela Big Apple far-se-á sentir através de três momentos em particular:


– leitura de poemas de Pessoa na galeria Sonnabend

– exibição de Filme do Desassossego, de João Botelho, no Museu de Arte Moderna

– uma palestra dada por Richard Zenith na Poets House



Se puderem, apareçam... E desfrutem!

9 de abril de 2013

Um pedido à Google

Vou reproduzir o texto do blog da Casa Fernando Pessoa, juntando a minha voz para pedir à Google que se lembre do nosso poeta no seu 125º aniversário. 

"Queremos um doodle de Fernando Pessoa dia 13 de Junho de 2013, data do 125º aniversário do Poeta. Ajude-nos a reforçar a candidatura junto da Google juntando o seu pedido ao nosso. Mostre a universalidade do amor por Pessoa para:proposals@google.com 
A Casa Fernando Pessoa agradece.

On June 13th 2013, Portugal and the Portuguese language (spoken by more than 280 million people all over the world), will be celebrating the 125th birthday of Fernando Pessoa, our most universal writer and poet. Internationally revered by readers, Fernando Pessoa was the first writer ever known to have dispersed his creativity through tens of literary personas and the genius creation of the concept of three main heteronyms, whom he embodied but at the same time giving them a life, a biography and a style all of their own. Writing in Portuguese and English all his life, Fernando Pessoa, through himself and his own others, was the epitome of Portuguese literary innovation breakthrough, on the XX century. His legacy is now more alive than ever, having been translated and published in more than 40 languages. 
With all this in mind, we thank your doodle team, in advance, to take his upcoming 125th birthday under serious consideration.

"To be great, be whole;
Exclude nothing, exaggerate nothing that makes you.
Be whole in everything. Put all you are
Into the smallest thing you endeavour.""

Espalhem a mensagem!

8 de abril de 2013

O Dilema do Passado

"And so it is with our own past. It is a labour in vain to attempt to recapture it: all the efforts of our intellect must prove futile. The past is hidden somewhere outside the realm, beyond the reach of intellect, in some material object (in the sensation which that material object will give us) of which we have no inkling. And it depends on chance whether or not we come upon this object before we ourselves must die."


–– Marcel Proust - In Search of Lost Time

7 de abril de 2013

O caminho para as Corridas das Rosas e dos Lírios

Verrazano aguentou-se bem na última recta do Wood Memorial (G1), vencendo a corrida por menos de um comprimento, chegando à frente de Normandy Invasion e de Vyjack, que, apesar do esforço e a brilhante prestação durante a corrida, acabou em terceiro lugar. O vencedor mantém o seu record perfeito de quatro vitórias em quatro corridas e segue para o Kentucky Derby (G1).



Do outro lado do país, na pista de Santa Anita, Goldencents conquistou o Santa Anita Derby (G1) por 1 1/4 comprimentos, colocando o seu treinador Doug O'Neill novamente no trilho de Louisville. Esperemos que tenha mais sorte do que há um ano com I'll Have Another.

Encontrei este vídeo, mas cuidado, porque tem música que não pertence às corridas de cavalos.




Quanto às poldras que competem pelo manto de Lírios, Beholder venceu o Santa Anita Oaks (G1), sem quaisquer problemas, por 2 3/4 comprimentos. A poldra campeã de dois anos e vencedora da Breeder's Cup carimbou a sua viagem para Louisville. Podem ver a corrida aqui.



Ainda falta um mês para o "primeiro fim-de-semana de Maio", mas estas corridas de preparação tiveram exibições dignas do Desporto de Reis!



4 de abril de 2013

Pela Rama ou pela Raiz?

Aumentar as barreiras de protecção nas pontes de forma a evitar os suicídios é como cortar relva pela folha... Gostava de viver o suficiente neste país para ver medidas implantadas que, de facto, fossem ao fundo dos problemas que afectam a população e os resolvessem. Pela raiz, se faz favor!

3 de abril de 2013

Gelado saudável

Quem nunca sonhou em comer algo delicioso e saudável ao mesmo tempo?

A ciência pode conceder-nos esse desejo. Finalmente!

Segundo uma pesquisa realizada na Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz), da Universidade de São Paulo, é possível criar um gelado benéfico para a saúde dos seus consumidores. Este gelado especial contém mais cálcio, menos lactose, mais probióticos e menos gorduras do que qualquer outro.

O sabor do gelado será de polpa de mangaba, uma fruta nativa do Brasil, rica em vitamina C.

Marina Leopoldina Lamounier, desenvolveu esta ieia para a sua tese de mestrado. 


«Este dado é de grande importância, uma vez que a única fonte de cálcio disponível para o ser humano vem da dieta, sendo o nutriente importante para o completo crescimento e maturação dos ossos. Além disso, pode diminuir as taxas de perda óssea na vida adulta», informa ela.

«O interesse principal é fazer com que o gelado tenha múltiplas funções, pois o consumidor moderno deseja alimentos que satisfaçam e ao mesmo tempo sejam saudáveis», afirma Marina.

«A elaboração dos preparados em pó e dos gelados constitui-se como forte potencial à comercialização, já que são ricos do ponto de vista nutricional e contemplam a procura de todos os grupos biológicos desde crianças até idosos por serem atractivos e saudáveis», afirma a pesquisadora, que foi orientada pela professora Jocelem Mastrodi Salgado, do Departamento de Agroindústria, Alimentos e Nutrição da Esalq.


Já tenho água na boca!...