"De la Musique" Poema de Álvaro de Campos

Sábado chegou por isso aqui esta mais um poema de um grande poeta português, Fernando Pessoa sob o Pseudónimo Álvaro de Campos:

De la Musique

Ah, pouco a pouco, entre as árvores antigas,
A fugura dela emerge e eu deixo de pensar..  

Pouco a pouco, da angústia de mim vou eu mesmo emergindo...

As duas figuras encontram-se na clareira ao pé do lago...

...As duas figuras sonhadas,
Porque isto foi só um raio de luar e uma tristeza minha.
E uma suposição de outra coisa,
E o resultado de existir...

Verdadeiramente, ter-se-iam encontrado as figuras
Na clareira ao pé do lago?

                                      (...Mas se não existem?...)

...Na clareira ao pé do lago?...

"Foreigner Agents"

The Russian government has ordered searchs in International Human Rights organizations. These include solidarity groups, woman and ambiental organizations and even a french school based in Russia.
Putin's government calls them "foreigner agents"...
What the hell are they thinking?
That the poeple who works for these organizations are spies? (Talking about being paranoid...)
Or is it because they do not want anyone interfering with the way they rule?
Doesn't it seems like a dictatorship to you?
But then I've never thought of Russia as being a democracy...
What I've never thought they would do was putting it on plain sight for everyone to see.

Devemos comer todos os dias

O Centro Social e Paroquial de Azambuja decidiu, já há alguns anos, estabelecer um serviço de fornecimento de refeições para pessoas -geralmente na terceira idade- com carências tanto de saúde como económicas mediante um montante por mês que varia consoante os rendimentos dos utentes.
Este serviço seria de louvar, não fosse pelo facto de certos aspectos não terem sido levados em consideração.
Primeiro: Não desenvolveram até hoje um plano de nutrição adequado para utentes da terceira idade que leve em conta as suas reais necessidades uma vez que o metabolismo abranda conforme a idade avança, daí a dificuldade em digerir pratos fortes ao jantar.
Segundo: Não existe muita variedade nutricional e por vezes os pratos apresentam mais gordura do que a recomendada.
Terceiro:Sempre que o Centro Paroquial encerra -por exemplo fechou hoje da parte da tarde e permanecerá encerrado até Segunda-Feira visto ser Fim-de-Semana de Pascoa- os utentes ficam sem fornecimento do serviço.
Ora, todos nós devemos comer todos os dias, e não é porque alguns deles estão a pagar pouco pelo serviço que vamos agora "esquecer-nos" deles por três dias e meio, afinal cada um paga o que pode.
Há que relembrar que a maior parte dos nossos reformados vivem de reformas miseráveis que têm de cobrir todas as suas despesas.

Parents don't grow on trees

I was so surprised with what happened in France this week that I have decided to speak about it here.
A million people went to the streets of Paris to contest gay marriage!
I could not believe that a country as liberal as France would have so many poeple against something which shouldn't be contested at all.
Apparently most people who were there were against it because they do not agree that a gay couple should adopt a child.
I have a friend who is gay.
Do they mean that I am more capable to raise a child, because I'm straight, than her because she is gay?
Don't you think that shows an extreme prejudice?
What makes you think that I would be a better mother than her?
Are you going to say that a child will be influenced by his/her "parents" and grow up to be homosexual or not, depending if those parents are straight or gay?
I never thought sexual tendences could be learnt for I've always seen it as a part of who you are.
Life outside their house will teach them that there is a differnt reality from the one they live at home.
It is up to you to teach your children about tolerance and acceptance of these differences if a son/daughter of yours has a school colleague whose parents are gay.
But only if you change your mentality will you be able to change others.
If you think this is wrong, think about that child who could have been adopted and loved yet wasn't because you did not agree that two men or two women could raise him/her.
Don't you think love is better for that child than no love at all?
Unconditional love doesn't grow on trees.
Remember that, and all the children who never get to be adopted, because parents don't grow on trees either.

Lenda

Li esta biografia há já alguns anos (2001?), mas nunca é demais recordar o grande lider que o nosso primeiro rei foi.

De facto, -perdoam-me os que defendem o novo acordo ortografico, mas quando retiro o "C" da palavra parece que estou a escrever "fato" como o escrevemos na peça de vestuário- acho que os nossos estadistas atuais têm muito a aprender com este homem que demonstou uma tenecidade e resistência imprecionantes  num tempo de conflito para alcançar o seu sonho de governar um território independente.

Pena que o territorio que Afonso Henriques lutou tanto para conquistar esteja agora de joelhos perante os que em tempos foram considerados nossos iguais porque os lideres que vieram depois dele não conseguiram defender os seus pontos de vista com convicção escolhendo, em vez disso curvar-se diante  de outrem pois têm mentalidade de vassalos.

Afonso Henriques não se curvou perante ninguém, é por isso que hoje ele é lenda enquanto que os atuais lideres confundem-se e perdem-se nas brumas densas da  memória a ponto de não os conseguirmos destinguir por feito algum, a ponto de se tornarem em nada mais que nada...

  

Fight

There is no question that the rate of unemployment is extremely high in my country.
Are there people struggling to feed their families?
Yes, there are.
Some of them always were, now is just in a larger scale.
That is why actions like the one in Elvas -where the city hall decided to help those in need by creating a food bank which provides for these families- are so important.
Aid others not as fortunate as us will not only benifit them, but it will make us happy.
Yet, I cannot speak of the present situation without remembering what was commom thinking a few years ago, even before I went abroad.
There were a large quantity of people who preffered to be on an unemployment payment than working, either because the unemployment payment was similar to what they earned at work or because they could live of it without moving a muscle...
Obviously there are people in real trouble, if you are near or over fifty, it's more dificult to find a job (unemployment payment should be for these kind of people).
I'm only speaking of those who favour laziness, not an active life and than complain about it.
I, myself had friends telling me to go on an unemployment payment instead of trying my luck abroad, but I've always thought that is when we are young that we have the best chances to take hold of our future, of making our own history based on our decisions (I must tell you that despite all the struggle of my last 3 months in Scotland with my new boss cuttting my wagges, I don't reget my decision) for facing dificulties and surviving will only make you stronger.
What I cannot understand is why people my age doesn't try harder to change their situation.  Any kind of job is better than none at all, for your self-esteem will disappear the longer you stay unemployed and if you think you are not good enough, who will think otherwise?
It is time to change mentalities only then will countries move forward.
First change your own, choose to work and not spend a life of eternal hollidays. Don't be mistaken, doors will close on your face, what you must do is never give up. Hold your head high with every "no" until the "yes" comes.
Then change others perspective of you. If someone tells you you are not the right person, or even over qualified for a certain job, defend your point of view and in the end prove them wrong. After all human beings have an incredible ability to learn and adapt to new situations.
Remember, your life will only change if you take an action on that direction, just don't allow it to slip between your fingers. 

"Ser Poeta" de Florbela Espanca

Elegi a Sábado como o meu dia de poesia por isso aqui esta um poema bem conhecido de Florbela Espanca que adoro para quem quer relembrar ou até conhecer:

Ser poeta é ser mais alto, é ser maior
de que os homens! Morder  como quem beija!
É ser mendigo e dar como quem seja
Rei do reino de Aquém e de Além dôr!

É ter de mil desejos o explendor
É não saber sequer que se deseja!
É ter cá dentro um astro que flameja,
E ter garras e asas de condor!

É ter fome, é ter sede de infinito!
Por elmo, as manhão de oiro e de cetim
É comdensar o mundo num só grito!

E é amar-te, assim, perdidamente
É seres alma e sangue e vida em mim
E dizê-lo cantando a toda a gente!
 

Bom fim-de-semana!

Watch as counties fall

What happened in Cyprus was unimaginable two weeks ago, now is an awakening to all of us.
As I have said before, I do not believe in spending too long a time crying my sorrows, but in doing something about it.
Cyprus has a huge advantage to negociate with Europe, the unexploited natural gaz reserves of the country. Russia already offered to pay the 10 million euros Europe is demanding off them in return for the exploitation of those reserves.
Now, we all know that politicians usually keep something up their sleeve to use to their advantage, Putin is certainly not different.
Isn't Cyprus proximity to Siria another factor leading Putin to such generosity?
We all know Russia and Siria get along pretty well...
Can't Europe see this?
Actually Cyprus relationship with Siria, Iraq and Russia has been so different from Europe's that it's a wonder how it entered EU anyway... surely there is something Europe wants from Cyprus...
What I cannot grasp is why Europe is now making their life so miserable, they should have known that Cyprus is not a rich county (which obviously they did) and that most of their money comes from doubtful russian accounts, so what did Europe expect?
What happened to our leaders who seem to have no brain when they get to power?
Is Europe stepping forward to help a country which have loads of potencial, or will it put a sword on its throat which will make them take a rushed decision to save their neck, a decision they may regret later?
Is Europe just going to stand aside and watch as counties fall?

Informação util para quem vai ou emigrou para o UK

Vivi na Escócia durante 3 anos- até Abril do ano passado- e correu tudo bem até que em Dezembro de 2012 os meus patrões venderam o negócio.
Depois disto o meu salário nunca mais foi o mesmo, não importava se trabalhava muitas ou poucas horas. Por este motivo acabei por decidir voltar para Portugal, mas antes dei o més de pré-aviso a que era obrigada por lei e aproveitei para tirar as férias que me eram devidas.
No entanto quando recebi o meu ultimo ordenado verifiquei que me faltava bastante dinheiro. Ao averiguar a situação descobri que o meu patrão não só não me tinha cortado nas horas que trabalhei, mas tambem não me tinha pago as ferias na totalidade.
Isto fez com que procurasse apoio numa instituição gratuita que nos aconselha nestes casos e até nos apoia legalmente se for preciso.
O nome da instituição é "Citizen Advice Bureau"  ou CAB como é chamada correntemente.
Só vos digo que cerca de um mês depois de chegar a Portugal recebi um telefonema do CAB para me dizerem que tinham um cheque do meu patrão para mim...
Sei o quanto é importante termos apoio quando estamos sozinhos num país que não é o nosso, por isso aqui fica a dica.

Aria's illusions: 30STM new song is an addiction

Aria's illusions: 30STM new song is an addiction: Because 30 Seconds to Mars is my favourite band, I've decided to honour the "Up in the air" official release by comment it her...

30STM new song is an addiction

Because 30 Seconds to Mars is my favourite band, I've decided to honour the "Up in the air" official release by comment it here. I'm still getting used to the new beat now that they are evolving to a more electro style-normally not my style of music- yet and because, judging by the lyrics below, the words are as amazing as ever, I will give electro a go.
The beauty about music is that its interpretation depends of what you or those you love experienced and the mood you are in when you hear it (I had a nefew who was addicted to heroine. Fortunately he's been clean for over 5 years now, but one of my friends wasn't so lucky and ended up killing himself in front of his parents 'cause he wasn't able to quit) so I look at it on two different ways.
If you look at it on a darker angle it seems to speak about what any kind of addiction does to you and your life (remember that even dreaming and love can be addictions if you don't move to fulfill those dreams or if that love makes you forget who you are) "Fucked up our life.../...loves that I've sacrificed". It speaks about the love/hate relationship with that addiction  "I wrap my hands around your neck so tight with love, love" and about how you keep saying that you will quit or change your situation today "A thousand times that I have said today, today, today"
On another perspective it speaks about the ability we have to dream "up in the air chasing a dream so real" and change your life because of those dreams, choosing to live it accordingly to who you are and not what others want you to be "I wouldn't trade an eye for your lies, your lust for my life", the phrase "I wrap my hands around your neck so tight with love, love" becames a statemment telling you to hold on to what you want with conviction, last but not least, if you think about the chorus it can also be seen on a brighter light "a thousand times I've tempted fate" (how many times have you stepped the line?), "a thousand times I've played this game" (how many times have you insited to get what you want?),  "a thousand times that I have said today, today today" (how many times have you thought "today is the day I will get it?)
Once your perception of chorus change, the message changes also.
Awesome, isn't it?
Which one will you choose, the darker or the brighter side of the message?
Or do you have another interpretation?
I will choose it accordingly to my mood.
One thing is certain, I believe that you are only free if you don't have any kind of addiction so I try to be true to that, yet I must confess, I've been unsuccessful for I was unable to resist to 30 Seconds to Mars music...
Here's "UP in the air" lyrics so that you can form your our opinion.

I've been up in the air
Out of my head
Stuck in a moment of emotion I've destroyed.
Is this the end I feel?

Up in the air
Fucked up our life
All of the laws I've broken, loves that I've sacrificed
Is this the end? 

I wrap my hands around your neck so tight with love, love 

A thousand times I've tempted fate
A thousand times I've played this game
A thousand times that I have said
Today, today, today

 I've been up in the air
Lost in the night
I wouldn't trade an eye for your lies
Your lust for my life
Is this the end?

You were the love of my life
Darkness the light
This is a portrait of a tortured you and I
Is this the end?

I wrap my hands around your neck so tight with love, love, love

A thousand times I've tempted fate
A thousand times I've played this game
A thousand times that I have said
Today, today, today
A thousand times I've tempted fate
A thousand times I've played this game
A thousand times that I have said
Today, today, today

I've been up in the air
Is this the end I feel?
Up in the air
Chasing a dream so real
I've been up in the air
I wrap my hands around your neck
Is this the end I feel?
Chasing a dream, chasing a dream

Take no more
Take no more
Take no more
I'll take no more
A thousand times I've tempted fate (take no more)
A thousand times I've played this game ( take no more)
A thousand times that I have said today, today, today (take no more)

TODAY
I'll wrap my hands
TODAY
around your neck
TODAY
with love, love
TODAY
I'll wrap my hands
TODAY
around your neck
TODAY
with love, love
TODAY
I wrap my hands around your neck-neck-neck-neck
I'll wrap my hands around your neck so tight with love, love

Existe alguém com inteligencia suficiente?

Não consigo fazer um balanço positivo de Portugal na comunidade europeia. Quando em 86 Soares assinou os documentos eu era ainda uma criança, mas ao contrário dos meus pais, achei que aquele passo iria ser inportante para o desenvolvimento economico do país e consequentemente trazer melhorias às condições de vida das pessoas...
Infelizmente o tempo provou que estava errada pois os fundos que entraram no país, e que deveriam ter sido usados para financiar esse desenvolvimento, foram desperdiçados em autoestradas e construções imobiliárias que estão às moscas nos dias de hoje.
Esqueceram-se que para um país progredir e preciso investimentos que nos façam produzir, só assim poderemos criar condições para mais postos de trabalho que façam de fato diferença na economia do páís e na vida das pessoas.
Hoje penso que deveriamos ter investido muito mais nas nossas relações economicas com o Brasil em vez de nos termos virado para a Europa, felizmente acho que ainda vamos a tempo de retificar isto
No entanto não acredito em chorar sobre o leite derramado já que o passado não pode ser mudado.
O que devemos fazer é seguirmos em frente pensando em como atrair investidores que sejam inteligentes o suficiente para verem as riguezas que temos em Portugal, como por exemplo os recursos que a natureza nos deu -sol, vento e mar- visto não termos tido a mesma sorte do Chipre com as suas reservas não exploradas de gaz natural (E sim, sei que o governo de Socrates tentou investir nisso e falhou, a verdade é que nunca o deveria ter feito sozinho e sim em parceria com investidores privados oferecendo condições apelativas relativamente a pagamento de impostos etc)..
Existe por cá muito boa gente formada em energias renovaveis que estão a deixar o país por melhores oportunidades pois a oferta de trabalho por cá não é o que deveria ser quando todos nós deveriamos encarar esta industria como a industria do futuro, aquela que nos permitirá autonomia em relação às energias não renovaveis que para além de nos escravisarem perante os países que as produzem, destroem o nosso planeta.
Mas como a esperança é à última a morrer, fico a espera do milagre de vêr alguém com dinheiro e cerebro para finalmente arriscar num projeto assim.

Some people never learn

Can you believe that Cameron and Holland requesred that the EU took off Siria's weapon embargo?
Some poeple never learn. I don't believe they have forgotten what happened with the weapons which ended on the hands of the wrong people in Mali. Holland says he was assured by Siria's govermment that the weapons would not get to rebels hands. Is this a joke? Surely he's not that naíve. Some interest they must have on wanting to help Siria's govermment....
Fortunately they didn't get their way (most people in my country does not like Markel, because of her demands of our frail economy, but I must say the woman is tough defending her views and that's to be admired).
When will we learn not to stick our nose where we don't belong just because we hope to get some pofit sometime along the way?
Aren't ten years of war in Iraq enough to make us think?
Aren't 122 thousand civilian victims enough to show us we should allow these countries to make their own revolutions if they are not happy with what is happening in their country?
You may say we have the moral obligation to help those in need. You are right, but not when they did not ask for your help. Besides we have UN which was created exactly for these situations if need be.
So tell me are you able to think for yourself and learn with pass mistakes, or are you one of those who never learns?

Soneto de Camões

Como nunca é demais recordar grandes poetas aqui fica a poesia de Camões para lêr no fim-de semana:

Pede-me um desejo, Dama, que vos veja,

nao entende o que pede; está enganado.

É este amor tão fino e tão delgado,

que quem o tem não sabe o que deseja.

 

Não há cousa a qual natural seja

que não queira perpétuo seu estado;

não quer logo o desejo o desejado,

porque não falte nunca onde sobeja

 

Mas este puro afeito em mim se dana;

que, como a grave pedra tem por arte

o centro desejar da natureza,

 

assi o pensamento (pola parte

que vai tomar de mim, terrestre [e] humana)

foi, Senhora, pedir esta baixeza.



Only human

I don't know if you heard what happened to Ram Singh, the allegedly leader of 5 men who attacked a girl and her companion inside a bus in Deli on the 16 of December, apparently he hung himself in his cell. The thing is that he wasn't alone in that cell, however no one saw de deed...
Now, reason tells me it is wrong to kill someone with our own hands, after all we have a legal system for that and I believed he was still waiting to go to court.
Perhaps he felt guilty and killed himself...
Yet one way or the other, I find myself unable to feel sorry for the man, which actually irritates me, for I should be able to find him innocent 'till a court proves him otherwise and therefore feel sorry for his fate.
Nonetheless I can't forget the cases of domestic vilence and rape which are so common in my country while victims keep silence as a consequence of fear and shame.
Even public figures are involved in cases like this.
 Last year it was an ex- keeper from a major football team from my country who was acused of rapping his wife's daughters, this week another football payer was acused of beating and rapping his ex-wife, not only during marriage, but after it was over also.
It took years for any of these victims to come forward and finally tell what was going on, maybe that is why I find them guilt 'till proof otherwise instead of the other way around.
Should I apolagise for not being perfect?
Maybe, but I never wished to be perfect, only human.

"O LIvro dos Dias"

Existem livros que ficam connosco não importa há quanto tempo os lêmos. Foi o que me aconteceu com "O Livro dos Dias" de Stephen J. Rivelle, uma tradução do diário de um nobre cruzado françês que relata a sua experiencia aquando da primeira cruzada à Terra Santa. A cada virar de pagina apercebemo-nos das mudanças que esta aventura opera no protagonista, mudanças essas que nos fazem comprender totalmente as opções finais de um homem que viveu arduos dias numa experiencia enriquecedora. Deiso-vos aqui um momento engraçado da obra, embora o autor não tivesse achado graça nenhuma na altura.

 "Dia dois de Setembro
  Darei uma palavra acerca da higiene. Nunca vivi perto dos camponeses e, por isso, não avaliava verdadeiramente como era uma gente imunda até a este momento. Nunca tomam banho, nem sequer se preocupam com os dentes, das roupas nem mesmo com as dejecções. Urinam onde estão, sem perderem tempo a tirar as meias. E, quando defecam fazem-no durante a marcha, sem nenhuma consideração pelos companheiros e sem nenhum esforço por se limparem em seguida. O resultado é um odor que aumenta com o calor e se pode sentir a meia légua de distância. Sinto-me embaraçado em os levar para uma aldeia ou vila."

Nazis ahead?

Do you remember the History classes about WWII and the social essues which led to it? We all know that the world is struggling to survive the economic difficulties. On my country's case, probably because of bad politics who were unable to create incentives to bring investors to the country. Investors who could provide jobs and consequently a better way of life to the common people and wealth to the state in general.
Obviously we are all guilty of what is going on now. Aren't we the ones who vote? It doesn't matter if you belong to the minoraty who did not vote on the ones in power, and if you are going to tell me you do not vote, let me tell you that is even worse for you are allowing others to make that decision for you so that you can say, if things go wrong, that you had nothing to do with it.
It is natural to feel unhappy with our life when it's hard to feed our family. I too had to go abroad to be able to pay my house. Now I'm back, for I know I will be able to live with the €445 I earn.
What worries me are news like the one I read yesterday about a referendum in Austria which showed they miss Hitler...my God, they are missing a psychopah who killed millions of people! I'm shocked! Although they were German's allies at the time, and accordingly to the article, sharing the same ideals to the point of killing most of their jwes (only 2 thousand survived from the 195 thousand who lived in Austria at the time) I could never think most of a country's population could miss such dark period of the human history. Guess I was wrong. Now the question is how many countries share the same view on things? Could this mean there are nazis ahead? What a dreadful thought...

Os jornais hoje deram um grande destaque à eleição do Papa. Desculpem-me aqueles que seguem o evento de fio a pavio, mas eu não vejo motivo para tanta "fuss", assim como não vejo motivo para tanto barulho quando o papa abdicou, pois parece-me natural que um homem com a idade dele queira passar o resto da velhice sem tantas obrigações. De fato, eu que, admito, sou uma catolica muito peculiar pois não só não acredito em santos como não acho que Deus precise de um representante na terra já que cabe-nos a nós como individuos destinguir o bem do mal sem que para isso tenhamos que recorrer a um representante "divino" penso que a notícia deveria ser dada sim mas sem esta dimensão.