Quote

"Do not consider it proof just because it is written in books."
Maimonides (~1135–1204) Spanish rabbi and philosopher

Quote

"If you keep thinking about what you want to do or what you hope will happen, you don't do it, and it won't happen."

Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536), Dutch Humanist

How to post images to wikipedia

Hi all,

If you are having problems posting images to wikipedia, go to class B's blog:

http://eprojectrocks-eproject.blogspot.com

A student from this class has posted a «how-to»

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Painting

I thought about the Da Vinci’s quote,

"Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen."

and I don’t agree with it. I believe we can also feel what we paint or see. We may feel calm, thoughtful, excited, confused, amazed... and so on.

For all this, I want to share with you my new blog, where I post some paintings, photos, etc, of mine.
Feel free to comment. (:

Paloma

* by bz

Wiki-Dances

Hello.

Please click the link and see my contribution to Wikipédia.

I wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Uff, it's done!

Please, click above the picture of David Fonseca, so you can enter on my Wikipedia page.

P.S- It was so boring to post the pictures on wikipedia, but I think it turned out pretty fine! Hope you'll feel the same way after you've seen it! Tell me what you think.

Short story to read

Please go to this site and read the short story:

http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/

Hanukkah

ISRAEL—A family prepares for Hanukkah in a kibbutz, 1950.
© ROBERT CAPA © 2001 By Cornell Capa / Magnum Photos

Wiki-Painting

Greetin's.

I've just uploaded my contribution to the wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal#Culture (Painting)

And since there are two quotes already, I'll leave you with this thought:

"Appetitus Rationi Pareat" (Let your desires be ruled by reason) - Cicero

David

Quote

"Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen."
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian artist.

Wikipedia

Hello.

My Wikipedia entry about currency is online. You can check it out here.

Farewell

Quote

"Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust."
Jesse Owens (1913-1980), US athlete

Nice article

Check this New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/arts/design/14graf.html?ex=157680000&en=6194706aa794f763&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Hi just to say that i have uploaded a part of my Wikipedia Entry.
I did the bit on History of Fado, also the Hip Hop and Political Songs articles were written by me. I have another article about Portuguese Folk or Traditional Music but since it has a lot of images and music files I'll post it tomorrow, now i have to hit the sack.
Cya



Oh, here is the link, hehe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Portugal#Music

Photo Essay

Foreign Cuisine in Lisbon

Humans cannot live without food but nowadays cooking is also considered an art. Almost every nation has its unique way of cooking and since one thing I love to do is eat I’m going to take you in a little tour around the foreign restaurants in Lisbon.

Assuka in S.Sebastião (Japanese Cuisine)

If asked to name a typical Japanese food, most people would say either "Sushi" or " Tempura." Yes, those are typical Japanese dishes however, there are many traditional Japanese dishes besides sushi and tempura that can be traced back to just a few hundred years ago.

Another popular dish is Ramen. Ramen noodles originated in China, where all noodles seem to have come from, and are called "Lo-Mein" in Chinese, which means boiled noodles. It is served with many toppings such as, leek, pork, seaweed and negi (a kind of green onion). Japanese food uses a variety of fish and vegetables making it a really healthy food.

In Assuka you can try all sorts of Sushi, but you also can try Tonkatsu (fried pork), Sujyaki (a kind of beef hot pot) and the popular Ramen noodles.

Everest in Rossio (Nepalese Food)

On first appearances Nepalese food looks distinctly dull, however this tends to be a very western perspective as we are used to a huge range of food stuffs.
In fact, Nepalese food is extremely delicious, each family with their own variation of a dish which is given the same name everywhere, Dhal Bhat Tarkari. Dhal translates as lentil soup, Bhat as rice, and Tarkari as curry. Another particularly tasty food is the Momo. Momo is a dumpling usually filled with buffalo or yak meat and steamed, and traditionally eaten with a sauce made from ginger, chilies and tomatoes, but unfortunately you will not get buffalo or yak meat on Everest even tough the Momos are great.

King Du in Saldanha(Chinese Food)

Right now it’s really easy to have access to Chinese food in our country, we just need to go around a corner and we will find a Chinese restaurant. Chinese food is one of the healthiest foods in the world dude to the fact that Chinese chefs (well, the real ones at least) tend to use the philosophy of yin-yang in which everything must be balanced, this makes the food healthy with just the right amounts of meat and vegetables. The most known dishes are the Chow-mein the Chop-Suey and of course the Egg rolls but please note that these were not originally Chinese.

Indian House Tandoori in Saldanha (Indian Food)

Indian food has evolved over centuries and has flourished under the many rulers that India had. Chefs vied with one another to create exotic delicacies for their rajah's. The result is centuries of patronage to the art of cooking and a large repertoire of delicious recipes. We want to share the history and nuances of Indian cuisine so the world may be more intimate with our cuisine. Not all the Indian food is spicy like people think and a big part of it is vegetarian, so if you want to try some great Indian dishes like tandoori, naan or a variety of curry dishes this is a good place to go.

Valentino in Rossio (Italian Food)

Italian cooking is full of marvelous single pasta dishes made with all types of vegetables and pulses. These are also the prime ingredients for many local specialties though countless types of meat dishes abound, as well as fine fish from the plentiful seas around the peninsula, fragrant cheeses and exceptional desserts. But the undisputed star of Italian dining is the famous “first course”, in all its many varieties, including pasta “dry” or in broth, soups, many kinds of noodle soups and minestrones, risottos and timbales. In Valentino you can try all kinds of pasta, from spaghetti to ravioli, passing trough the manicotti and tortellini and we can’t forget of course the lasagna and pizza, the food here is simply delicious.

Skateboarding in the neighbourhoods

As you know, I am a big fan of skateboarding; it is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of photos. No one loves it more than me, especially when it comes to taking pictures of friends or being photographed. During this photo essay I will explain the tricks I like the most with the help of the photos I took with my friends during a super fun skating day.

This one is called “Indy Grab”, and you can see why it is called grab…because the skater is grabbing the skate. This is the basic grab trick, although it requires a lot of jumping skills and also a great arm flexibility to reach out for the board.This framed picture shows you how to do a 360 flip. This trick is considered, among skaters, to be the most difficult street trick that was invented by man. It is a beautiful move when executed perfectly…which is not the case.

Again this framed photograph allows you to see a well done “Ollie jump” over a five stair cased set. The most important thing in this trick is to control the jump in the air, as you can see in the 10th frame, where the skate remains totally parallel to the ground. It is not a hard move, but it is certainly a technical one. The frames help you accompany the movement of the skater.


This one is probably where skateboarding must have started: the mythical “Ollie” on the ground. This is the trick that you jump, and sort of magically, the skate hangs tight to your feet as if they were glued to the board. Every skater must know how to “Ollie”, it is the first trick that I learned and also the one that takes more time to practice.

So far I have taught you how the basic tricks are done on the ground. There are some tricks that are neither basic nor part of the “skater's reportoire” but that’s when my personal preferencescome in. This trick is called Hardflip. As you can tell by its name, it is a very hard flip…anyway; this trick consists in having your legs opened up in the air and the skate between your legs vertically. I’ll tell you why it’s so hard, because if you fail it, you (and by “you” I refer Men) will lose great part of their manhood…if you know what I mean. Have a look.

The Pop Shove-it represents the easiest trick in skateboarding. It was invented way back, when surf ruled the world. The surfers invented the shove-it, and the skaters (always contradicting the surfers) called it and adapted it Pop Shove-it. The trick is mainly described as spinning you board 180 degrees to your front. It is a very gorgeous trick and easily executed by even a non-skater.

The Kickflip. The kickflip is not even supposed to be called like this. Rodney Mullen invented it and first called it “Ollie Flip” but then, certain skaters of other countries,Portugal included, adopted the name kickflip because of its movement. The trick is basically to kick your board down so that it spins by it self under your feet. I have been learning it since I was 12…I’m now 18 and I still can’t do it. For me it is the hardest, and at the same time, the most beautiful trick in the History of Skateboarding.

Tea with The Birds

Tea With the Birds

A (Sur)real Story

The sun was shining over the Tagus, making Lisbon look like it was more gracefully-bluer and yellower than ever. The city was awaking and another bright, but somewhat, tough day was peeking through the corners of Time.
Cipriano was sitting at the café, writing. He was a tall, slim man in his thirties. Before another hard, uncertain day of work, perhaps within an uncertain job, he would always sit at the second table of the most classy coffee shop downtown. Then, day after day, month after month, he would ask for the same type of tea. "Tea for two, please."
This man was, in fact, two people.
He used to call the other self "The Key Holder", for he felt stuck in his own mind, lacking freedom, and only a key would set him free. This was all of Cipriano's imagination immersing into his own daily life.
He would drink his tea and then wait for The Key Holder to finish his, which never happened. A filled up cup of tea would be left on the table, every single day.
One day, however, something happened.
While going through his daily routine at the coffee shop, he saw an old man feeding some birds. These birds had several colors and several shapes, and every single bird sang a different, sweet melody, a true ode to freedom and diversity.
"Excuse me, kind man, can't you see you are disturbing these streets by luring those birds down here?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but I disagree. It depends on the point of view. What is more natural; a human being feeding some beautiful birds or a clean, gray, concrete street?"
"Those birds... they are useless...useless, I say!"
The old man sat in the same table as Cipriano and started drinking from The Key Holder's cup.
"Don't!" - said Cipriano.
"Why not? After all, this is my cup of tea. I've been watching you year after year and, upon my word, you have disappointed me throughout Time..."
"That can't be. You are the reason why I am what I am. There's always something pulling me backwards. My personal choices, my job, my daily life... You are The Key Holder."
"I am no reason of whatever you say. Come. Come with me, let's have a taste of some nature; let's feed the birds!"
The Key Holder grabbed Cipriano's hand and the two started flying over the city side by side with the birds. He was experiencing things that he never thought he would. They saw the river, the sea, the tiny people down there, living their ordinary lives. He has truly overcome himself.
"Are you still afraid?!" - Yelled The Key Holder.
"No... This is incredible. There's nothing here to be afraid of. How did you..." - Suddenly, the old man disappeared amidst a white cloud of smoke.
******
In that sunny morning, whoever would pass by the coffee shop could see Cipriano sleeping while his tea got colder on the table. The waiter decides to wake him up.
"Oh..." - he placed his fingers upon his eyelids- "It seems that I fell asleep... This new job tires me so much..."
"Sir, I'm afraid you dropped something in the tea cup."
Cipriano just smiled when he saw a beautiful golden key inside an empty cup of tea. He got out of the coffee shop and started feeding the birds, while whistling a beautiful melody, a true ode to Freedom.

Tea with the Birds

Tea with the Birds


Once upon a time there was a bird
Don't know exactly what kind
Who wasn't very smart
And just wasted his time
He used to look for crumbs
Under the tables in the gardens
Until a pigeon appeared and said
"Hey bird that's garbage!"
The bird was intrigued but too lazy to care
But he was hungry and well that's too much to bear
So the pigeon insisted
"Hey thats trash I know this amazing place
it has all the food you can imagine
and tea that which humans say its magic!"
After all the nagging the bird caved in
The pigeon flew and the bird followed him
Bu wonder why did the pigeon chose him
The finally arrived and the bird was beat
But as soon as he opened his eyes
There was the feast the pigeon had promised
Magnificent food spread on a table
Inside the kitchen of a small cottage
The bird couldn't believe
It was breathtaking
An all you can eat buffet
All for the taking
But still the bird was somewhat suspicious
So the pigeon tried to calm him
"Hey drink this tea you will feel much better
It will even help you eat much faster"
The bird filled with hunger and also some greed
Plunged right into the pot and filled his beak
Soon he felt sleepy, somewhat dazed
Soon he blacked out
Later he woke up inside a cage
Turns out the bird was of a rare kind
Extremely rare very hard to find
Turns out the pigeon was sent as a lure
By his owner just to get some more seeds for sure
So this story ends and no theres no moral inside
Just some friendly words and cautious advice
Don't run off with strangers
Don't pay attention to greed
For in danger you will get
And the cost may be dear

Tea with Birds

Tired of the fuss in the big city I moved to the country side, to a village called Smallville. There aren’t any big buildings, and the houses are all made out of wood. The church with her huge bell is the tallest place in the village. Every afternoon, after work, I like to go to an esplanade in Saint James Park, to savour a cup of tea, to read and to enjoy the fresh air. I love the quietness, the singing of the birds and the races between the ducks in the lake. Children and their grandparents come here to play and to walk by the lake.
It’s a great sensation to be in a place like this. It’s a feeling of peace that runs through you, a feeling of serenity. This contact with nature is a great healer after a day’s work. All the stress and tiring seems to disappear.
In the big city I didn’t have any time for this. I was always running, either to catch the subway or the bus. I had to keep track on time at every moment. It was becoming too stressed In Smallville I found inner peace, found the possibility to enjoy life at a different pace. In a way, I have learned to reconfigure the rhythm of my life, and to enjoy time after work. The park with the birds and the lake with the ducks tells us exactly that life is like nature; everything has it own rhythm, its own balance, you’ve just have to discover yours.
When I talk to my friends of the big city, and explain them how my life is nowadays, they all become very jealous. It’s all about making choices. Of course in the big city you have lots of entertainment, but you don’t have to wave to the people you see across the street and the hello to the shop owners. In Smallville everybody knows each other. In the big city it’s difficult to have these kinds of relations. People are self-centred. That’s why I love Smallville. Moving here was the best choice in life that I could have made.

Natural Grammar (December)

This is the December grammar sheet. On the 14th we will be having a mini test covering the 3 sheets( Oct., Nov. and December)

Reviews III ("Voyage" by Tom Stoppard)

Follow the link and listen to a review on Tom Stoppard's play " Voyage" ( it's part of a trilogy called "The Coast of Utopia): http://www.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/podcasts/theaterupdate.xml

Reviews on his play can be found here:http://www.interactivereviews.com/large/0802140041ws.com/large/0802140041

Going to the theater

As I mentioned in our last class I was thinking we could all go to the theater to see Shakespeare's " Winter's Tale" : I suggest the 14th or the 15 th. Please let me know as soon as possible to book the tickets. It's by THE LISBON PLAYERS, you can check who they are here : http://www.lisbonplayers.com.pt/


The price of the tickets is € 7,20.
ESTRELA HALL is here:





You can find more about the play here:
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/winterstale/

Reviews II (Tennessee Willlam's "Suddenly Last Summer")

Follow the link and listen to the review on Tennessee Wiliams's play: "Suddenly Last Summer" http://podcasts.nytimes.com/podcasts/2006/11/22/27theaterupdate.mp3
Decide whether the review is positive or negative and explain why using expressions from the audio.
Link on Tennessee Williams:
http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc9.htm

Link to Suddenly Last Summer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suddenly,_Last_Summer

Tea with the Birds

It was a cold, yet pleasant autumnal evening. The morning dew had already dried by the time he returned home. It had been an exhausting day of work, just like many others, and suddenly he stumbled – his first thought was to grasp the banister before he fell. He then sat on one of the steps, and clung to old memories, as he tried to fight back the dizziness.

Inside the house, a melodic voice could be heard. "This is odd, to say the least" – he thought. He hadn’t heard the canary sing since last summer. “Seldom do these birds sing in the middle of autumn”. Turning the knob, he opened the door and his dog was the first to enter the house – “Yeah, I know, dogs first” – he whispered, smiling. As the years passed by, he grew used to the animal's antics. When the door closed behind him, he called his four-legged friend. He didn’t come, though. He started looking for him. After he entered the kitchen, there he was, staring at the singing bird. Strangely enough, the yellow creature didn't stop singing, as if he didn’t mind the dog. In fact, his voice echoed louder and louder. “Well, I guess I have no other choice. Sing away, my friend.” He bribed the dog with a cookie in order to take him back to the garden. Delightful as its voice was, he wouldn't have minded to continue listening to the bird, but when he poured some tea into a cup, he stopped; and that second felt like a glass shattering. Then the little one began chirping, perhaps trying to ask for something. “Do you want tea?” Now that was weird, after all those years taking care of his pets, he’d never thought he would one day feed one of the birds on tea. He approached the white cage carefully trying not to scare the canaries, and filled one of the water containers with tea. “There you have it.” Much to his surprise, both birds started to drink it. “That’s what you can call, having Tea with the Birds”.

Model: one of my birds.
Photo: taken and edited by me - PSP X (Yeah, kind of small, but the cage wasn't the subject so I had to remove it.)
See you soon!

David Ildefonso

Reviews I ("Doll's House" Ibsen)

Please follow this link and read a theater review on Ibsen's play "Doll's House"-by NY Times critic Charles Isherwood.

http://theater2.nytimes.com/2004/11/11/theater/reviews/11nora.html?ex=1165899600&en=a3e34ba3cc57d9a4&ei=5087

Link to "A Doll's House":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Doll%27s_House

A Tribute to Freddie Mercury

My profile

Hello! I finally understood how the blog works, and now I can enjoy it by posting my little text about myself. My full name is Luis Francisco Eustaquio Pires, allthough I prefer being treated as "Eustaquio". I'm 18 years old and I'm now a student of the translation course. I came to FCSH because it was my second option, but I like it here, I met new people and also saw faces I'd never thought I would. I don't know how much I can say about myself...of course I like the usual: going out, being with my friends, listening to my music (and playing it). I play the drums, guitar, bass and I try to give away some notes on the piano (not that I try real hard). I love cinema and music...my whole life is based on that...and Superman :P when I grow up, I want to be a Mr. Clark Kent.

P.S.: Punk rock music and Superman rule!

November grammar sheet

Hi all,

This is the grammar sheet for November.

I don't know if you noticed, but on the blog you can now see the link to the Gutenberg Project site, where you can download books for free.

Miguel's Profile

Hi there, I'm the guy who fell into your class at the middle of the semester.
My name is Miguel Silva, I'm 22 years old and I was born and raised in Barreiro. This is my second attempt at studying in a University, at first I was studying biology in FCUL but, unfortunately, it had a lot of mathematics and I'm not very good at mathematics (alright I admit it, I'm really lousy at mathematics).
Well, about my hobbies, I love music, I go a lot to live concerts, just last week I went to a Tool concert, it was really really good, it's an amazing audiovisual experience. I also love Iron Maiden, Disturbed, Soil, Cradle of Filth, I could spend the whole day naming bands I like but we don't have the time or the space for it, do we?! Anyway, continuing with my hobbies, I also love to watch anime (Japanese animation) and I read a lot, especially fantasy novels. Right now I'm also taking a Japanese language and culture class at FSCH, I'm currently in my third year , so now I can actually say coherent phrases and not just gibberish that I would catch in the movies or in the anime.
Since I arrived later in the semester I practically don't know anyone in the class, I just hope we can all be friends :)

So to all of you I say "Yoroshiku onegai shimasu" (Pleasure to meet you)

P.S. Yeah, that's me on the photo, I just didn't have long hair and the goatee

Nature

When dealing with such a sweeping issue such as “Nature" we can not possibly forget the water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we put on the table. Everyone should be aware of the fact that preserving our natural habitat is a matter of the utmost concern.
It seems that modern man’s actions resulted in lots of side effects that put our nature in jeopardy. The excessive number of automobiles, deforestations, the rests from factories led to pollution. Consequently, pollution generated another negative effect that endangers our life: the greenhouse effect and acid rains. Thus, everyone should bear in mind that our life is at stake if we do not protect environment.
I for one consider that the power of nature is all around us. Nature influences our emotions and actions and brings us closer to God. Although there is a vast difference between the mountains, the ocean, the desert and the jungle, all of them are here to teach us more about the spirit of God.
Putting these ideas together, I should say that the notion of nature is undoubtedly relate

d to beauty, happiness and spirituality that is why, each and every individual worldwide is under obligation to contribute to its prosperity.

Gardens of Lisbon

Gardens of Lisbon

This work will try to introduce some of the gardens in Lisbon. There are plenty more to discover such as: Estufa (Fria e Quente), Jardim Botânico ( The Botanical Gardens), Jardim da Estrela, Tapada da Ajuda, Eduardo VII, Campo Grande and so many more.
Enjoy them!!


Serafina Park
Also known as Parque dos Indios, it’s on the top of Serra de Monsanto.
It’s a recent park, which is known by lots of parents who take their children to play there. The children have a place to learn how to drive and learn the traffic signals as well.
On the end of the park, you have a great view over Lisbon.

Gulbenkian Garden

Green, green and more green.
You can read a book listening to the birds.
You can walk all over the garden, see different plants and flowers, and feel nature without leaving the city. The Centre of Modern Art is located in this garden.

Jerónimos Garden

A place by the river where you can play football, walk with the children or lie down and do nothing on a sunny day.Children can ride a bike or skate. It’s a family garden.
These gardens are placed, as the name says, close to Jerónimos Monument, which is one of Portuguese greatest constructions, built by order of the Portuguese king D. Manuel.
Best of all it’s close to Pasteis de Belém, which are delicious.

Jardins Tropical do Inst. Investigação Cientifica e Tropical
Close to Jerónimos you have to pay to visit this garden because it’s open to the public ,but it’s not a public garden. It has, as the name says, tropical plants which are important both economically and botanically.

By Teresa Nunes

«Fichas»

For those of you who have not given me a «ficha», please do so URGENTLY. The «ficha» should have a photo.

Thanks.

Tips 4 U - Arts in Books

I was thinking in a way I could turn this assignment’s presentation into a more creative and elaborated idea. So, I came to the conclusion that I should divide it in many parts, and each part would have a different theme in which I would give you three connected suggestions. But that wasn’t enough. Then, I tried to imagine a way to make this more attractive and accessible. Finally, I figured out that maybe if I posted a picture of the “product”, a definition or a review of it and a link, for you to search by yourself more about it, the work’s goal would be more easily accomplished. Here you have my first topic and its three related tips:

Arts in Books

Haring
Alexandra Kolossa
Taschen, 2005

This book is part of a great and well known collection from Taschen. I chose, specifically, this one, not because it’s the best of them all but because I wanted to present to you this important painter of the 20th century.
Keith Haring wasn’t only an original artist but also a man aware of his time. His life was an example of how to make a change by small steps that don’t cost us much. He draw to children (published and offered children books with his “simple” art for them to paint), he painted to fight Aids (imagined and passed messages related to this century disease, HIV, through advertising); he used new materials (spray, aerosols) and new means to show his art work: street walls, houses’ walls, subway walls, etc.
The virus was deadly for him but its art keeps showing up everyday, in music videos, movies, live concerts, fabric patterns, etc.

Klimt
Gottfried Fliedl
Taschen, 2006

To celebrate Taschen’s 25th anniversary, they thought of publishing cheap editions of some of their important books. And we couldn’t be happier about it. Taschen started as a comic books store and turned into one of the most important art books publisher in the world’s market with its eclectic collection of books having different editions so all “pockets” can afford it: an artist, an aspiring student or even a curious (like me).
I recommend everybody to watch out this and other celebrating editions such as: Picasso, Matisse, Hopper, Bauhaus, Symbolism, etc.

Good Faeries Bad Faeries
Brian Froud
Pavilion Books, 1988

Faeries have always been a part of children’s imaginary but Brian Froud caught adults’ attention with his amazing drawings and its descriptions or surprising additional texts.
Once in a while, especially in the winter (don’t ask me why!), I open up this book and let my imagination fly away with the pages to this magical world just by admiring these artistic and unique faeries drawings.
I know it’s a bit expensive but it’s worth it thanks to its originality and actually, it’s one book made out of two books; two sides of it, as the title correctly suggests.
It’s a pity that his books are not translated to Portuguese yet, because its vocabulary it’s not very accessible.

Tea with the Birds

November 12th

It’s a cold Sunday morning here by the riverside, where I live since my mother’s passing away.
I’ve always loved these winter days. We can feel the fresh breeze that makes us want to grab the blanket we have in our cosy bed to keep ourselves warm, so it feels like we’d never left it.
I brushed my hair and washed my face. Then, I went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for two. For me, I put two small croissants in the oven and a kettle full with half a litre of water in the cooker.
By the time I was filling the croissants with strawberry jam, the water started to boil, the steam went by my face and Twinkles, my black cat with bright light eyes (two tiny shining stars), jumped from the fridge to the ancient kitchen table made out of Portuguese oak tree wood, and from there to the floor; it went to the balcony’s closed door and tried to open it. I smiled and said, “What a great idea Mr. Twinkles! Just because it’s cold it doesn’t mean we can’t have our royal breakfast outdoors”, I opened the door, “Go on, and take your seat. I’ll sit next to you in a minute. Let me just prepare your tuna fish.”
And so, I took Twinkles’ tuna fish, my croissants, the kettle and a dark pink mug outside and put them above our green metal table. The grass and flowers’ smell caught my attention as I walked to pick some herbs for my tea. I collected them in the palm of my hand and tried to preserve its fine aroma in my nose so it would get in my mind, and it worked! I began to feel incredibly calm while I was listening to the birds singing, as I hadn’t felt for such a long time. I was living that moment and I wasn’t alone. As the river that runs near my white house, that has fish and sea creatures in it, I had in me various feelings and thoughts that contacted peacefully with the surrounding nature.
Now I see why my mother used to call these sweet, but yet powerful, moments “Tea with the birds”.

Engrish!

I felt free to post a hilarious website, www.engrish.com . This website has an interesting list of English mistakes and humorous translations made mainly in Japan and China. Enjoy!





Photo courtesy of Sophie Lockner.
Signage found in China.

Joana's profile

Hi!
My name is Joana, as you all know by now. I was born back in 1950 (a very good year!) in a place called Roslyn Heights, Long Island, New York.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roslyn_Heights,_New_York I grew up in a village on Long Island called Great Neck ( you can check it here http://greatneckvillage.org/ and here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Neck%2C_New_York) My dad was a diplomat working at the UN headquarters in New York, so after his mission in New York he was given a post in Rio de Janeiro, so off we went on our new adventure: new school, new classmates). I've had my share of traveling and moving around! This is an old picture of me taken with my classmates of the British School of Rio back in 1959. Guess where I am! This other poto was als taken in 1959 (at the end of the school year we'd always have a play)








My hobbies include : reading, going to the movies, singing (which I do once a week-I sing in a choir) and I also love dancing . I'm learning flamenco but it's very hard). I also enjoy cooking!

I live with my son, Daniel ( sorry no photo he won't allow me to post it) and my 3 pets: 2 dogs-mini schnauzers Bart and Chucky and a Persian cat, Blue (yes, the survivor!).

Music: Life's Inspiration (Daniel & Hugo)

Life without music is an error - Nietzsche

Music. What is music? It's everything.It's everywhere.Since the dawn of time humans have been trying to communicate with each other but more than that we as human beings have been trying to elevate our spirits beyond the confines of our shells, to surpass boundaries, to become more than just human. Music does just that, it grabs you from within and feeds your soul.You can clearly remember specific moments because of music, you can associate different songs to different periods of time.A beautiful and happy song for your first kiss, a sad and tragic melody for you first loss.A mellow and at the same time relentless rhythm that carries you through the day.
It make us cry, smile, feel good, feel angry, depressed, comfortable, and so on.
Throughout time, music has been created and reinvented; some styles died, others have influenced the creation of new ones. Today, there is an unbelievable variety of genres and sub-genres, some so bizarre that would make Mozart turn in his grave. Nowadays, what was once considered noise, can now be considered joyful music the harshest and most violent sounds, which is the case in Death Metal, can be fully enjoyed; one single note can last for the whole fifteen minutes of the most deep Drone Metal song you can imagine.
Music will always prevail. It is simply put a force of nature, ethereal and invisible existing only in our minds and ears.Nietzsche summed it up better than I can ever put in words so I will leave with this fitting tribute to music and end this text the same way it started.With the melody of words.

“God gave us music so that we, first and foremost, will be guided upward by it. All qualities are united in music: it can lift us up, it can be capricious, it can cheer us up and delight us, nay, with its soft, melancholy tunes, it can even break the resistance of the toughest character. Its main purpose, however, is to lead our thoughts upward, so that it elevates us, even deeply moves us. ... Music also provides pleasant entertainment and saves everyone who is interested in it from boredom. All humans who despise it should be considered mindless, animal-like creatures. Ever be this most glorious gift of God my companion on my life's journey, and I can consider myself fortunate to have come to love it. Let us sing out in eternal praise to God who is offering us this beautiful enjoyment “

Nietzsche 1858"Über Musik" [On Music] (in: "Aus meinem Leben" [From my Life]