Guida Fine Arts

Partilho duas imagens que ando a digerir.. (Two Pictures: one for each language group)

2012-01-24T09:58:00.011Z

Espero em breve cumprir a promessa de traduzir dois artigos aqui contidos neste blogue, entretanto aqui deixo duas imagens que falam por si.
Resta-me desejar-vos um bom dia.

Today I'm placeing here in my blog two pictures that I believe speak for themselves and that have caught my eye in the recent past... wishing all a good week. Take care

(retirado duma página numa rede social - the image and adjoining words come from a well known social network. For a better look I suggest you click on the photograph so as to zoom in)
I quote what comes with the picture:

" Strange how I was blocked from 'sharing' this... "
Catherine Savage

(the next image is regarding the current "attack" on The Portuguese Public Health Care System - I admit it embarrasses me to make visible to non-Portugues that are possibly unaware just how far European nations such as Portugal truly are down the path of losing their most basic of human rights, and the lack of dignity that is now given to human life. Olaf Palm's world is continually ruined and under constant "assassination". What has become of HUmanity and compassion?
Why such rampant inhumanity? If anyone is interested in what is quoted below in Portuguese I'll be happy to translate, embarrassed but glad to comply)

Cristina Paixão:
"Hoje uma amiga, doente oncológica, disse-me: faltei aos últimos exames e à última consulta porque não tinha dinheiro para pagar as taxas que agora nos exigem, mais as despesas de deslocação necessárias.

Que merda de país estão vocês dispostos a consentir?

A culpa será sempre e só dos que que em silêncio tudo consentem.

Estamos a tentar lutar. Vocês, meus amigos, naturalmente saudáveis, por enquanto, ou nos ajudam, ou serão cúmplices das actuais medidas criminosas. Ou nos ajudam ou estarão sozinhos quando precisarem. É tão simples quanto isso."

.................................. uma boa semana a todos desejo.

It's 2012 ?? Already??? Ooooooooh.. (Bom dia... está um pouco fresquinho, vou ver se aqueço)

2012-01-09T02:02:00.020Z

I start this Blog's year with two things, Rembrandt & Carter. I can't begin to explain why they move me as they do.. so I'll refrain from trying.

Crowning a list of all time favourites (I love many but even I must admit that amongst that mountain of those whom I deem as being "human artistic treasures", I have an apex level where few abide) is Lillie Mae Jones
(Betty Carter)

I'll always love her. I always have and always will.

There are times when few things sooth my spirit as she does.
(I miss, love and profoundly thank you Betty for the joy of hearing..)

- I further add an extra piece (I can't help myself.. It's so very special)

I hope all have a wonderful and caring remaining 51 weeks of 2012.
(Please take care)

oops, I'm sorry. Didn't I mention that I also wanted to place another playlist with two very short pieces by Vitor Macedo Pinto? Well there's an old Portuguese saying that I'll "loosely" translate.

"A second thing is always followed and joined by a third one."

So we thus start the year with:
- Rembrandt
- Carter
- MAcedo Pinto.

Para mim, há e haverá muito poucos assim.. Na música há poucas coisas que mexem comigo como esta senhora (Betty Carter). Saudades de imaginar poder ver esta grande estrela dar brilho.. Se há musicalmente uma grande inspiração que nos possa levar ao zénite, no meu caso ela é de facto uma delas.

A primeira música na primeira "playlist" ouvi dias depois de receber um dos dois mais belos e marcantes elogios da minha vida como artista, bom, não só como artista vendo bem.. e que me tocou profundamente.. Recebi-o precisamente após ter executado a mesma peça. É uma música que me atrai e desafia de forma inexplicável como executante, e da qual gosto muito.
Obviamente não me acho minimamente comparável, apenas refiro o incidente pelo facto de não só gostar muito da música, mas pelo delicioso que me é ouvir a interpretação desta deusa vocal, e também por tal mensagem, após ter interpretado isto ter sido proferido por quem com ela tocou..

(não imaginam o terror que senti antes dele falar comigo, pela expressão nos olhos.. que lançavam chamas.. uma alma e "aura" que nunca vou esquecer. É uma memória que nada nem ninguém me pode tirar.
Não imaginava o que o senhor ia dizer, e confesso que temia algum "tabefe" ihihihihih, mas não.. antes pelo contrário, derreteu-me completamente o coração)

Abro assim este ano este Blogue com a grande Betty Carter (por puro egoísmo meu, admito. Serve para eu poder voltar aqui, para o início deste ano, e dar bálsamo na minha alma sempre que quiser e que por vezes tanto o necessita)

Aliás, o blogue abre com ela na companhia de mais dois seres bem especiais, Rembrandt e o nosso Victor Macedo Pinto.

Embora nunca se sabe na verdade o dia de amanhã, não creio que virei escrever muito mais durante os próximos tempos. Virei no entanto traduzir uma ou duas coisas tal como prometi e me mentalizei a fazer.
Não sei se é importante o que escrevo, ou não, e nem é o que mais me motiva a escrever. Se pensasse nisso, nunca escreveria por achar (saber) que pouco ou nada importam os meus pensamentos sobre o que quer que seja. Estou apenas a precisar "ir" por uns tempos.. para carregar baterias.
- mas friso, em breve virei colocar as ditas traduções que referi.

Bem hajam
(bom 2012)

For a Public Audit in Portugal (follow up from the Dec 18 article) - Auditoria Cidadã à Divida (ai sim?)

2011-12-26T14:23:00.038Z

I feel an obligation to translate my last post in this blog on December 18th however, due to the amount of time I suspect for me to take to translate my own words I'll first write the "follow up article" (as promised) in both languages and later post a translation of my thoughts on the mentioned date.

- Sinto-me na obrigação de traduzir o que escrevi no último artigo contido neste Blogue, do dia 18 deste mês, no entanto, como sei que é uma tarefa que irá demorar um bocado a fazer, vou primeiro escrever o seguimento que na altura prometi fazer. Depois, e de seguida, traduzir-me-ei.
Peço desde já perdão por ainda não apresentar o anterior artigo, ou a quase totalidade deste, em Português. Espero muito em breve corrigir este mal.

(Margarida Costa)

- In Lisbon (S. Jorge Theatre) on the 16th and 17 of this month I attended an event that had been set up to give an initial boost in the implementing a Public Audit.

Among those speaking were: Maria Lúcia Fattorelli (two excellent articles regarding her work
LINK 1 and LINK 2 .. there are others),
Costas Lapavitsas (Link 1 and Link 2)
and Éric Toussaint (Link 1 .. Link 2 - and Link 3) , each bringing their experience, expertise and knowledge to the benefit of listeners achieving a richer and more focused outlook.

To understand the importance and scope of the matter I Leave a highly informative documentary (74 minutes, all very worthwhile) regarding what has happened to Public Debt and why. Some of the speakers that were in attendance in Lisbon can also be heard herein
(Costas Lapavitsas & Éric Toussaint)

Debtocracy : World - European - Greek

Debtocracy International Version

(an international version with the original spoken languages and subtitles thoughout in: French, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and German)

The first time I had seen the above documentary was in an excellent post written by a friend in the end of June, an act of civic duty and will to see the world more acceptable to her fellow man. She took it upon herself to fully transcribe into Portuguese what is said therein (useful as one can thus more freely access any topic within the sequel regardless it's precisely timed "minute & second"- a very helpful tool).
Alice Valente Alves - 29 June - A Democracia é uma DIVIDOCRACIA - Debtocracy - (Filme e Texto)
Other than the obvious worth of my friend's post I mention it also to exemplify that which I see on the part of individual citizens (some of which I know) trying their best to work for the greater "good", obtaining no "political" or economic dividends from said sense of duty, people who are truly worried with the abhorrent onset of dehumanization.. vile (mis)appropriation of public assets amd the transforming of all our collective monies into a safeguard of PRIVATE (corportate) institutions, the very same ones that had caused all this nonsense and crisis to begin with.

Their motivation is by no means a small one, I must add. It is the non-acceptance of the enslavement of others. We are all being treacherously "sold", the future of society, of our children's children's children and the "Welfare State" all taken like fatted calves

As is well known and documented, it was the private financial sector (in the IMF, Private Banking, Insurance.. etcetera..) that collapsed, crashed and burned in 2008.
Not a breath was held nor syllable spoken regarding "sovereign debt" until Lehman brothers and the likes took a dive.
How convenient it is, and has been since, for these bloodsucking culprits to transfer and transform "their" problem into a "public" (taxpayer's) problem.

There is nonetheless an inability to not be able to manipulate, mistaken, or confound all of the PEOPLE all of time.

I leave the LINK to the article I wrote a week ago, on the 18th

Enablers and the politics of Debt - The Death of (kratos, κράτος) to the Demos (Δῆμος) - Democracy

It is far beyond my linguistic capabilities to be able to fully describe the shock I had received by the end of Saturday's meeting at the mentioned theatre (the event's second day) upon realizing how truly "sick" and on its deathbed our democracy is. More than causing revolt, I was truly saddened to see at the very heart of those whom allegedly would have us believe they truly wish to help the nation and their fellow citizens actually show the very same symptoms of what they profess to wager war against!
I regret to say (to conclude, at least for the time being) that there is no seriousness whatsoever in their intentions.
I shall explain my reasons in saying so.

The first speaker, whom I had never had the pleasure to have seen or heard of before, on the first day made a lengthy discourse in which she seemed to be addressing herself to a half-witted, mentally handicapped audience.
I had to bear though the deal in order to listen to the other two guest speakers who were scheduled to partake in the opening night (Costas Lapavitsas & Éric Toussaint) who I must add weren't so quick to judge everyone in the audience as being dumber than a bucket of hammers.
As expected the two spoke well and were to the point.

******* (please see note at the bottom of this article)

Overall the first day was pleasing and made me feel the need to attend the whole of next day's events. I was eager to see how things would unfold and how serious the ones proposing such an audit in Portugal were in seeing things through.
On the following Saturday I was a bit put off by seeing people speak and having their discourse interrupted and shortened (the two previously mentioned gentlemen and some of our own), not giving them time to fully speak their points to a reasonable degree. Their information was vital not to mention the fact that their discourse was vibrant and alive. I can't begin to understand the reason for such happening nor any benefit whatsoever therefrom.
But on the whole I was pleased to see a large theatre packed to the brim full of people who are interested and willingly eager to participate for the "greater good" of their nation (some from diverse political factions, others belonging to none). It was heartwarming to see, rejuvenating and for moments gave one a sense of heading for a better future (so verily difficult to feel in this day and age). But the dream was completely shattered by an event occurring at the end of the day.

This man (it took me a while to come to write this follow up mostly on account of trying to find the identity of the man, a person whom I had also never seen before ). He seemed to unnerve some of the Portuguese moderators to an uncanny degree - António Brotas.

I could not account for the uneasiness and never for a moment had I, or anyone else for that matter, seen the person intervene in an "uncivilized or undemocratic" fashion throughout the day. Moreover, having enlisted himself to pose (as many others had) an addition or alteration to the proposed summary document for the conducting of said audit, he desperately tried before everyone's eyes to speak. He waited, and waited and waited... Personally most people I know, myself included, would've blown their top but he remained resilient, resolved and withstood whatever necessary unequal treatment so as to make a point he felt as being important come across. His civility was truly remarkable.
My friend left her seat. She was also unfamiliar with this man but she just couldn't stand the unequal treatment anymore and suspected as did I the reasons for fearing his words (as any thinking person should, sooner or later). I remained..
It was more than an undemocratic and unfair treatment of another. It was intended to be humiliating (this at least seemed to be the purpose)
- there in front of the entire theatre packed audience. I and any who wish to recall that ending note saw as plain as day the Portuguese moderator who wants us to believe that there there is civic duty, justice and true concern for her fellow citizens
manipulate things in hopes of gagging his words/thoughts.
Her fear was paramount and I'm led to conclude that her colleagues for the most part shared in the very same dire fear because it took quite a while for any to react or put a stop to what was becoming an "incident" of poor citizenship and democratic procedure.
Naturally, people had constantly interrupted before and not one was treated in such a manner. After a while as if it were an act of grand kindness another moderator said "Oh its true, his is listed for speaking and even if he weren't our posture is a democratic one. So let us let him speak"
(condescending and visibly uncomfortable in my opinion not only due to the amount of time taken to react, but because he most certainly felt the need to do so due to some of us speaking out inquiring a justification as to why we could not hear this particular man's words)

Finally the gentleman was permitted to speak and here are his words (I took it upon myself to record his actual words, having had so much anticipation due to said humiliating incident. Looking back, it wasn't he who was humiliated but rather the audience and those who conduct or perpetuate this type of discrimination)

«I propose that at point 6.1 of this document we add that we need to have a Public Audit of the National Budget at least since 1986. I'd rather it be since 1976 but understand that it may be too much to ask for now. I myself had been in office but I think that it is of vital important for the matter at hand to see how these Budgets were made and met, or failed and thus "altered" - and why»

It is obvious to anyone objectively listening that he meant since we started to receive monies from the European Union (at the time called CEE in Portugal, or EEC) so that we can have grounds for "renegotiating" or calling debts acquired due to manipulative Euro dismantling of our economy (in wrongful action and campaign from the EU, or on the part of whomsoever in Portugal's political leaders that succumbed to said wrongdoings or corruption even)
How on earth do these people expect to have a Public Audit prove and/or give reason for "renegotiating", or the existence of an "Odious Debt" (for instance) to save us as they so love to say they want.
It's as if they're only "in it" for placing the laurel leaves upon their heads (this is truly a travesty as they are playing with the poverty of a nation and destroying perhaps the only democratic tool that can be used to fix this "cruel, unjust crap" that has most likely been wrongfully imposed upon all of us)
It seems then that the only purpose behind this particular venture is the "climbing" of the ladder of power within this or that political party - simultaneously not willing to make liable any past colleagues and/or rulers, nor their "accepting" Opposition for their actions that have lead us to the present. Nor does there seem to be the will to actually reveal the necessary proof of our taxpaying money having been misused or wrongfully applied. After the man spoke the audience burst into an ovation, but the more intelligent moderator ( the one who let him speak) quickly intervened and responded with a purely manipulative "Oh, that's all very fine and dandy but it's much too much to audit unfortunately". Sooner or later anyone looking at what had been and is proposed as being the subject of the Audit can see how ridiculous the justification is, even though at the time (having seconds to respond) it was a brilliant manoeuvre as he wanted to get the matter quickly dismissed. The less intelligent moderator quickly jumped at the opportunity and after the relaying of the false notion of it being too much to audit, asked the audience to vote in the following manner

«Who here votes that the document not be altered as requested and thus wish to have things move along, not wishing excessively or needlessly burden said Audit with such time consuming things?»

- For some reason their is great fear that the public find out what indeed has been done to our taxpaying money. The fearful moderators belong to the Party known as PS but apparently so is the man whom they so fear.
Another moderator belonging to the BE (party) didn't add to the attack but she shrugged her shoulders and "washed her hands" of the matter.
Odd isn't it.
I shall not dwell any more on the subject but I do advert that he or she whomsoever reads this should bear in mind that any one or any group of citizens can propose a Public Audit (with or without so much "media circus-type horsing around") and that not all feel the need to receive political dividends or favour. Some people actually love and care for their fellow man.

I leave the proposed Documented Summary of the resolutions for the conducting of the Public Audir - where you can view the section 6.1 (if this link should for any reason disappear I have a copy of it's contents)

I also leave the document made prior to the proposed and accepted changes that where made by many in the audience with the obvious exception to the incident I mention above (for some mysterious and fashionably occult reason)
December 4th version of said document
If for any chance this link ceases to exist I have also taken the liberty of keeping a copy.

I highlight the fact of the only thing altered in section 6 being the omitting of
« 6.1 e) giving a full public account during and throughout the entire process of said Public Audit »

[in Protuguese: "assugurar a informação pública ao longo de todo o processo de auditoria" ]

and the omitting of section 6.2

«It is within our objectives that we, the IAC, support the initiatives taken "Locally" as well as those conducted by groups/sectors of citizens that wish to promote the study and transparency of the use of Public monies»

[in Portuguese: No quadro dos seus objectivos, a IAC apoiará a iniciativa local e sectorial dos cidadãos e cidadãs, orientada para o escrutínio e transparência das contas públicas ]

Amazing isn't it? Omitting these two points stikes me as being... well its much too obvious isn't it? The example I give, these two points I saw altered leads one to inevitably conclude a "boycott" to say the least.........

Let me ascertain that I hold not contempt of all that are present in our political parties, I do respect and admire a small lot from a variety of different factions. Nonetheless It sorrows me beyond words to see how some bring down the very things they say they love "Democracy" and the "caring for their fellow citizens"

Democracy to be true and meaningful in any sense of the word must come from "down" (the governed) - "up" (those who govern), and also
laterally as well as bilaterally.

WE MUST BE DEFENDED FROM THOSE WHO WILL US WRONG.., WHO CARE NOT FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR HEALTH NOR OUR EDUCATION.. WE MUST BE DEFENDED AND WE MUST NEVER SURRENDER ON ANY ACCOUNT!

I leave a quote attributed to many across the globe along the ages:

« You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time. »

Presently I must resentfully admit that there is no seriousness in this quest for making a PUBLIC AUDIT in Portugal.

I hope with all my heart to be proven wrong, but I'm 99.99¨9 % sure I'm not and this knowledge makes me unbearably sad.

I hope all had a safe and loving Christmas and that 2012 (despite what I say) brings the necessary and honest solidarity the world needs and a reason to smile.

"The Tree of Common Knowledge" © G. Almeida

Note: *******
(Added the day after first publishing this article. Today being already the 27th and not wishing to alter the original post, I place this here at the bottom. It is regarding the opening night)

I recall that at the time I was particularly impressed with C. Lapavitsas's words. He kept mentioning something that was never addressed by others (the word "default" seemed to not arouse curiosity that day or the next) as to what the true outcome would be, or how one deals with as he put it - the country's need to "default". He kept repeating this was a necessity and indeed inevitable for some of our European countries. Some of the questions that raced in my head had to do with this topic.. He had said that the "creditors" can but will not let us "default", and if they did it would truly mean disaster (If I recall correctly) ..
- that it should be done by the "debtor" (us in our case) and not the "lender"so as to be enable a fairer, more acceptable "renegotiation".. or if you will, to not be forced to pay "debt wrongfully acquired " and so forth..
(* I recalled at the time how Iceland had done something like this 3 years ago... )
I truly had "zillions" of questions regarding the subject.. but I didn't want to hog time and cut myself short so as to allow others to pose their questions.

Nevertheless, still regarding "default" or "renegotiation", it is in my opinion beneficial not only for those who were wronged and "force fed" debt in a wrongful (deceptive) manner but to those whom are amongst the creditors (one can only pay if one actually has money......... )
You can't force dead men to pay.
If one takes away another's livelihood, starving them and their children, what indeed is to be expected other than receiving bones and ashes of the dead and hungry?

At the end of this opening night and its three speeches we were allowed to enlist ourselves in order to ask 1 question each (so as to not take too much time). I was first and the myriad of questions I had on my mind FRANTICALLY I reduced to one.. To save time I even blurted it out in English directed and directly to
Costas Lapavitsas so as to further reduce time taken up by me.
What I asked and the response is in the last article I had written on the 18th of this month (link* Enablers and the politics of Debt - The Death of (kratos, κράτος) to the Demos (Δῆμος) - Democracy)

(extra note: now regarding Maria Lúcia Fattorelli - chief coordinator for the Brazilian Public Audit)

- I saw her speak on the second day of the event and although I was truly grateful of her insight and experience I wanted to hear more; much, much more.. It was truly nerve racking to see her race though her informative diagrams (having to skip a number of them). The highly valuable information she brought plus her natural capacity to communicate made me wonder, even before the "António Brotas" incident mentioned above, if there was truly a desire to inform and aid our comprehension of precisely what is at stake.

I leave you with a sample of her thoughts (video-clips in Portuguese)

(parte I - part one)

(parte II - part two)

.

Enablers and the politics of Debt - The Death of (kratos, κράτος) to the Demos (Δῆμος) - Democracy

2011-12-18T22:41:00.039Z

First of all I wish to say how glad I am to have heard Éric Toussaint, Maria Lúcia Fattorelli, and most of all Costas Lapavitsas.
There was a moment, one of the times I spoke to him ( after his having sat at my table for coffee during an intermission), when he asked me if Portugal's democracy has a problem. All I could utter was a "yes" with a heavy heart. I cut myself short so as to speak of other matters that a friend of mine also wanted to ask about. There were so many things on my mind to ask always........

I was (and am) also very interested in trying to understand a term he had at that moment coined "green growth"...
but back to the matter at hand.

I hope no one minds if I speak of the weekend's event in Lisbon later.. I have too much to say and am temporarily incapable of summing up my thoughts.

This will be written in two parts. Today's blog first goes to the recent past before addressing the above event.

For now I'll leave a video-clip from a couple of weeks ago with Costas Lapavitsas words concerning current affairs that I had just viewed today and after first having written down my thoughts below.

__________________________________

I give a rather clumsy sum of my thoughts regarding these present day foreign debt "crisis" that shrewdly took the fall for the real culprit of 2008's crash.. (private banking and other financial institutions), crisis that gives so much profit from stealing from so many and a very rough outline of only some of the steps I find important in the coming to this point from the 80s and on.

In these past months Europe has:
killed an already deathly ill Democracy,
what was left of sovereign will has been forsaken,
political parties in power as well their opposition in practically all instances are not only "enablers" they are the vehicles by which countries are bled to the marrow, by those who each day profit from mass public Debt (High Finance: Banks, Insurance.. IMF).

If you wish please view the GUIDA FINE ARTS link to a post written on
Thursday March 24th, (Quinta-feira, 24 de Março de 2011)-

ok - some ABCs about the IMF // FMI em miúdos, para quem por razões que só deus sabe, dúvidas ainda tenha..

Lets see if we get our facts straight. It was not due to sovereign debt but rather to Banks (Lehman Brothers and others) that in 2008, the proverbial Bubble was burst, as all surely recall.
It was due to the fraudulent actions on the part of High Finance (owners of "non-existent" monies).

So why the insistent "political" issue constantly brought to the table by ruling European political groups and opposing parties as if it were. White-washing history in such a way is not only the way of furthering political parties discredit, keeping all on the cheating undemocratic road to perpetuate the Neo-Liberal bleeding and hurting of their own peoples (to whom they thus show no respect for whatsoever), but reveal a human quality all of us share yet those of us who care for others keep under constant introspective supervision, the lust for power (a desire that is incompatible with democracy) - a will to oppress, or if you will - the "fascist in all" as Michel Foucault viewed in a preface he wrote for Gilles Deleuze 1972 book Anti-Oedipus

I no longer question that which so seemed to hurt other philosophers such as 18th Century's visionary Spinoza, among so many others
or rather: the desire of self repression, (*see Spinoza's views on "The Rise of Liberalism") where the victim not only blindly concedes in agreement to his or her oppressor but actually (out of a form of Stockholm Syndrome, that has existed way before said affectation) helps in his/her own "self- annihilation". It is my belief that this goes beyond the "Judeo-Christian" tradition of self-hating , auto-punishing, ethic and the politics of self-pity...........

We are all lead to such by the greedy hand of those who "run" practically all but 7 countries in the world, through High Finance (owners of corporate media etcetera). I'm far to hurt by our present political party system and their falsities, that kill democracy right from the "ground" up (the only way a democracy should be practiced, unless you do not believe in "the people" and fear them.. Then you must call what you want something else)

Greece, the nation that gave us Democracy is ironically the first place such a form of rule has been attacked and had their sovereignty handed to Non-elected officials, the rest of Europe either follows or is soon to do so, a fact that is more than obvious.

Even if we wish to re-negotiate, review our Euro-presence (I recall the recent intolerable the German blackmailing and bullying Greeks out of a national referendum - how more undemocratic can you get??????????????!!!)

- Then an all sorts of politicians and political commentators publicly come stating on corporate media how this was not only tolerable or normal but worse even, speaking with an unacceptable "superiority complex" professing the above victimizing, looting of peoples to be acceptable all the while letting out here and there an "Oh, don't confuse us for the Greeks, we're not like them" ... blah blah blah as if it were unacceptable to be.. where has this intolerable arrogance come from???!! Personally I'd be proud to be from a nation that can be compared to another where even though High Finance is literally killing and starving their children, they fight for their rights... THEY ARE NOT BROKEN, they fight like no others in the streets to regain sovereignty that has been stolen from them.

By the way, I add that this was one question I asked Mr. Lapavitsas (mentioned above) the first time I saw him speak. I asked - even if a public audit is made, how can one implement the wishes of "the people" in an undemocratic Europe (giving him the recent example I just spoke of above)...... I'll now return to what I was saying

Germans....??? It is easily proven that their economic growth is not fruit of "PRODUCTIVITY" but rather due to at least a decade of frozen worker's wages.. it has been at the sake of promoting with Maastricht & LIsbon Treaties in the EU (thus over decades) a fall in other country's exports ruining the future of their economies while easily protecting their own exports... this is not Productivity dear friends but exploitation of the common man (the so called working class). We're all familiar with the rise of Chinese economy and how it has come about, aren't we???

These people (in their said political parties + commentating "experts") only want power and see not that they will never be granted such a thing by High Finance... they are but vehicles to the annihilation/domination exploitation of their own people.

There are few exceptions to what I just stated, and respect, true respect & desire for democracy never seems to come from any party whatsoever, only specific people.
I even recall a president, from the recent past of my country (Portugal) feeling bad about the political strata not being capable of convincing people (tired of false promises and incoherence) to vote, he is an exception.
(the only politician I have heard to date that even though winning an election, his second mandate, was sad that more hadn't voted........ from no other have I heard anything of the sort.)
He was for example the face of our nation at the UN back just before the birth in 2002 of East Timor (this is an example of a citizen's respect for the job he was given as a political "institution", as well as one of the rare moments I see politicians truly caring for one's fellow man) I believe there are more, but they are oh so very scarce.
I can't say the same for the present occupier of the role, nor the political party in charge or its opposition.

The three parties that have governed Portugal since the late 70s have not only served Neo-Liberal wishes and dismantled what gave us economic health (especially from the 80s on) They served the purpose of making German economy grow at the expense of the other European nations. They are the cause, as are their counter parts - whether from larger economies or smaller ones, of the demise of the European dream. The "European Social State" we've all payed taxes for is ripe to bleed of its money and hand over to those which collectively bully all, stealing the future of our children, our children's children, our children's children's children.

This weekend I was so pleased to see a theatre packed with citizens in Lisbon, all of them interested in discussing the necessity of a Public Audit, but there is a horrifying underlying truth.......... it almost paralyzes any belief that such things as regaining sovereignty, democracy and such would ever be possible....

I'm far to hurt by it to presently denounce it, but I tell you this, ruling political parties and there alternating opposition manipulate and spoil Democracy.. they tolerate it not...

Back to the subject of the Neo-Liberal, the Postmodern perspective (A trend that came to full Adulthood in the 80s and 90s, Reaganomics/THatcheronomics..., and that as with any other trend comes gradually from before and gradually gives way to others afterward)

LINK to another past article in this blog written in October of 2007
em breve / coming soon - Reality

At the time many were the voices that said - Oh my!! Now they're going to stick it to the people.... let others be punished for said fraudulent actions - some said we would start to witness that which has happened.

Plus we were all familiar with the fact that at least since the 70's entities such as the Federal Reserve in the US
were told that if there's not enough cash around, "make more", all going down as the fight between both sides of the Warsaw Pact (Cold War) reached for the heavens LITERALLY speaking.
(This is just to name one institution in one country, and especially from the time of Pres. Ronald Reagan during the 80s and on, + Maggie Thatcher, + the construction of a Europe meant to have all other nations thereof import German items thus strengthening German growth at the cost of others...... 1986 and on.. although it truly seems to come from the beginning of the decade - ie. in Portugal the dismantling of "Lisnave" by Prime Minister Balsemão in 1982 for instance............)
( the absolutely incompetent economic policies that were employed by the nation from 1986 and on as we "sailed using the EU flag - selling and privatizing banks, depleting fishing & agricultural industries and so forth - as enabling and even promoting EU turning us into a gigantic beach resort...

Oddly this weekend's event made all too evident that there is no political will on the part of any, thus showing either a lack of courage and a will to perpetuate the certainty people have that those in public office shall never to be held accountable..

Parties that have ruled alternately, PS/PSD & CDS since then, all seem to be suspiciously frightened to promote an audit of government budgets from 1986 and on. It seems to me of utmost importance if we are to prove the existence of "bad debt" Especially since nobody asked its citizens wanted things that would crucially affect their livelihood and future since Maastricht and on... ) I will speak of this in a latter article. For now I'm too angered by the attempt to control such things as the will to have a public audit on the part of political parties. They only prove beyond a shadow of a doubt just how undemocratic they are. I repeat I shall speak of it later, as I shall mention two other things I found odd........

Here is an article (in POrtuguese this time - at a time the country under the current opposition's rule first began to contact the IMF... and Presidential Elections were held 23 de Janeiro - Estamos quase a celebrar mais um dia de todos os santos.. pois Coitadinha dela, da democracia, que 'jaz morta e arrefece'..
Tivemos de Abril 1974 a Nov. de 1975 um cheiro dela, mas foi alvejada.. e mortalmente ferida. E sobre a presidência..

- where I explain some of the main reasons that Democracy in my opinion has been agonizing in the West.
In this case it is regarding one of our prime enablers (written in Portuguese)
He is however not alone....... he is one in a long line of enablers from over the past 3 decades.

All have enabled a

"laundering" of toxic assets (from private sectors) into public debt
A prime sample is Banks that brought to the world recession are not only being pardoned but they are given even more of OUR assets, and helped to profit with the deal.......
This is truly insane and ever more present and the latest fad (royally screwing thus their taxpayers - in Portugal BPN for instance, a major fraud ridden hole from a Bank, and a small bank compared to others present in the country),
- Through this enabling all creating an exponentially growing public debt at the sake of such policy -
They continually put "healthy" tax-paid monies into TOXIC assets (bad debt)
weather they are mandated by their people to do so or not.

In Portugal public sectors are being sold, privatized at an astonishing rate, such as Public Health, Transportation, Water, Electricity (all being sensitive and strategic to the nation, as it is with any other country)

Governments keep purchasing (injecting) our money into private sectors, purposely sold at a minimum after rating agencies days prior lowering so their clients can buy, then those who took our money in the first place

(coincidentally? out of incompetence? corruption? ..many or some of all these reasons are perhaps at work.)

Said public sectors are sold for beans I repeat (and always ironically after some rating agency lowering stock value so as serve their clients well, the same clients that around the planet profit from said crisis they created, the same ones that taxpayers constantly bail out everywhere..

it is so fiendish + wrong a deed and in so many ways so, that I'm rendered
speachless....... !)

This is truly vivid in Portugal for instance, and I'm very sad to admit proof being far too easily found at hand for any one with half a mind to do so..........

Ok I'll just bring one, a prime example out of mo many we hear every day, from the end of this past October ( LINK ). The state sold a public hospital for 11 million (to private owners) who inturn on the very SAME DAY sold it for more than double the profit .. for 21 million to be more specific.

I wish to come back to speak of "default" and the democratic tool put to us "Public Audit" at a later date.

I thought I would not come back to this blog for a lengthy period, and such shall most likely occur after I post a follow up of this article as I have mentioned.

The reason is that more than not believing my opinion to matter or have any importance whatsoever to anyone, this I admit to feel most of the time and can cope with, it is because I sincerely doubt anything I say has impact on anything.

I care for people and believe I always shall, it is part of my genome, thus the reason I write, but I feel I must go back to other forms of using my energy to aid my fellow Man.

I also wish to make clear that I maintain what I say at the beginning of this article.

THank you for reading.

Sincerely
Margarida Costa

I give you my name so as to make myself accountable for what I say and do
(I would thus never fit in a political party..........)
in an age that all prudence would have me mask myself.

December 8 - Holiday / Dia da Conceição

2011-12-08T11:49:00.034Z

É o dia da São!!! :)

Today being a holiday and also the birthady of a very dear friend,
São Correia, I leave a picture of her and that of two musicians:
Bird & Gillespie - these two came to Lisbon days ago and posed just for me : )
whereas the picture of my friend I confess having had to resort to "theft" (after attaining a "licence to steal")

Yes it's her birthday and believe you me when I say it puts a smile on the faces of many.

Among her many activities, she teaches and exerts a truly strong & profound influence upon student and community alike. Everytime I see people complain about youths being this or that, (teachers, coaches, and many others)
regarding their acting like ruthless cut-throats, bullies or such, I think of her.
She not only doesn't complain, or give up on kids, she truly makes a difference, probably not realizing the impact she has on so many.
It's a wonderous thing to see this kind of human being at work, and to call her a friend, well, that's a blessing.

I now go to the picture below.. Gillespie & Parker

Back in the 70s I met these two at school, they were responsible for the bulk of the first years of my music education. I've always wanted the chance to boast this truth - In the school's Music Department the teachers were in fact
Gillespie and Parker :)
They really were :)

(D Gillespie & W Parker)
- the first being the Department Head and my teacher for most classes over a four year period and the latter completely possessed/overwhelmed by J S Bach I must add - and thank goodness!

The Atlantic is a "playground" (so it seems), my soul forever floating to and fro from one side to another in an endless multifaceted journey irridiating the shadows that mirror my inner being.
(a perfectly normal thing to feel for anyone, I know and probably the reason such sentiment seems vivid and alive)

On another note, yet still on the subject of "soul",
It has also been 7o years last September since the birth of a man I had not yet celebrated. This seems quite absurd since his music is one of my "mainstays". It is also fitting for the day, as is mentioned above, is the birthday of a truly lovely soul and her cherished life partner is a master of the genre (musical genre also Hehehe..).
So I'll leave a little Otis to warm things up a little.

Desejo a todos um bom feriado.

Rui Vasquez - Artwork ( + Trio: Sharrock / Puschard / Godard )

2011-12-05T20:40:00.011Z

Decades ago I had the pleasure of becoming a fan of his work, a sentiment that remains to this day.

Rui Vasquez

Author: Rui Miguel Pinto Vasquez:
- "Untitled"
- 65 cm
- Terracota engobe

Obra de: Rui Miguel Pinto Vasquez:
Titulo: Sem titulo, Tamanho: 65cm,
Técnica: Terra-cota engobada

I also leave you with other images of some of his work in addition to three musical video clips I enjoy.

On an entirely different note, and having absolutely nothing to do with the artist or musicians at hand I leave a quote that has been on my mind since the "official busting of the proverbial Bubble" in 2008, and relative to that which has in my opinion come to be from the 1980s on....
- I leave said quote because the foundations of that which so many had fought & died for is laid waste in my opinion.

"We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." - Churchill

Contrary to the work above (music & art) the present is not a pretty picture at all in Europe and one must not forget one's past, lest their be the cruel repetition of unholy deeds.
Recent law and action in this continent unfortunately proves what I say.

News in Portuguese from December 1 - Hungria passa lei que pune os Sem-Abrigo - LINK

- In English - Hungary bans the Homeless - LINK (BBC)

I also saw a bulletin from the above artist's wife's FB wall and leave you with it
(in Portuguese - 11 mitos sobre a FOME - LINK
- in English - UNESCO - on Hunger - LINK - regarding the subject of world hunger. One should bear and in mind that 1 in every 7 humans is starving and that the famished are spread across the globe. In the USA alone there is an estimated 50 million.. )

Many are the manoeuvres in today's world that not only ruin economies they cast intolerable suffering upon others, upon fellow Men.. This must be stopped.

In keeping with the month at hand - I also leave continued blessings and wish all a safe December.

Desta vez, como escolha musical deixo algo que me parece ligar bem com os trabalhos deste escultor, algo que me foi enviado como presente por uma pessoa amiga, que sabe que gosto bastante, entre outras musicas e linguagens, deste tipo de coisa.

Para o Natal, neste que é possivelmente o nosso último Dia da Restauração / The first of December - my Christmas post (This is perhaps the last time the nation of Portugal is allowed to celebrate Independance Day, or if you will "The Restoration of the Portuguese Sovereign Crown")

2011-12-01T23:57:00.004Z

.

(Brief note in English)

This post contains a short story in Portuguese written by a friend. For the time being it shall remain in the original tongue but as soon as I get a chance I shall write it out in English.
For now it stays thus and accompanying it here on today's post is a heartwarming piece of music. Please enjoy!
I shall also place links for places where one can give aid and help ease the burdens of the homeless or more fragile members of our society. PLease take a look and see if it gives you any ideas on how to help. Believe me, even one hour serving soup to whom ever needs it is more than rewarding.

Have a safe December.
Love G.

(Português)
Trago-vos algo escrito há muitos anos por um amigo. Confesso que tive de fazer uma grande birra para poder trazer isto aqui. Felizmente consegui.. Depois de lerem acho que me entenderão.
Aproveito para também deixar mais umas coisas enquanto vos desejo uma época natalícia mas digna, fraterna, e repleta de calor humano.
Segue o conto de José Pires F e por cima do mesmo, outra obra de natureza diferente e de beleza impar, (como sempre, acho que não sabe compor se não "preciosidades") para lhe fazer digna companhia, do nosso Eurico Carrapatoso.

Demos de caras no virar da esquina e assustei-me sem saber se havia motivo. Era alto, magro e envelhecido pela pobreza visível nas mãos inchadas das frieiras e nos lábios gretados pelo cieiro. Olhou-me. Primeiro com cara de poucos amigos, mas ao ver-me assustado depressa mostrou um sorriso tranquilizador. Compreendi que a carantonha inicial com que me tinha brindado se destinava a afastar possíveis e inesperados inimigos. Reparei, olhando-o agora mais calmo, que nos braços e na cara as impigens abriam feridas, eram as feridas da pobreza que o marcavam e marcam muitos sem-abrigo nos Invernos rigorosos.

Perguntei-lhe sem grande convicção se precisava de ajuda. Ele tirando a boina suja e safada do muito uso, abanou a cabeça num movimento concordante. Arrependi-me de imediato ao ver-lhe grandes peladas na cabeça e a visão da dentadura negra e desfalcada com que me brindou.Ele avançou um passo e eu recuei um outro, ele então recuou mas eu não avancei, estava bem assim. Naquela confortável distância lancei-lhe algo contrariado a pergunta: - E precisas do quê? Ele olhou-me de novo sem falar e com a mão que antes tinha no bolso do casaco fez um gesto que entendi como um vai-te lixar.

Compreendi que o meu recuo anterior, embora instintivo e talvez por isso, lhe tinha transmitido a mensagem errada do que eu era. Eu simplesmente não esperava aquela situação, não estava preparado, tinha sido apanhado de surpresa. Quem se julgava aquele esfarrapado sujo e doente para me julgar a mim? Recuou nos passos mas um pouco de recuo nos gestos não lhe faria mal algum.
Dispus-me a sair dali e ataquei a intenção em passo rápido quando, ele num sinal de dedos me pediu um cigarro. Naquele momento e pela primeira vez tive pena de não ser fumador, não era, em consequência não tinha cigarros. Ele com novo gesto de mão despachou-me como se dissesse que não era ali desejado.

No dia seguinte voltei. Vinha preparado com um maço de Marlboro no bolso e estava desejoso de ver a cara dele quando lho mostrasse. Agora que já lhe podia dar alguma coisa queria ver se me mandava lixar.
Procurei-o sem resultado, vi nas ruas por perto se lhe encontrava sinal mas nada, devia andar por outros sítios, pensei. Convenci-me que voltaria por ali e nos três dias seguintes voltei com o maço de cigarros no bolso, mas tinha desaparecido.

Finalmente, ao quarto dia, avistei-o ainda ao longe. Estuguei o passo sempre com o olhar a vigiá-lo não fosse ele desaparecer mais uma vez e aproximei-me. Quando se virou vi que não era o mesmo, este era mais novo e sem os sinais de doença do outro, era também mais forte e mais agradável. Olhou-me e sorriu de imediato dando as boas-noites. Aproximei-me ensaiando um sorriso e sempre preocupado em não demonstrar receio. Então, quando estávamos à distância de um braço, cumprimentei-o e estendi-lhe a mão com os cigarros. Ele com o gesto de os aceitar, agarrou-me o braço e desferiu-me um violento soco bem no meio da cara.

A pancada foi tal que fiquei um bom bocado atordoado, devia ter-me partido o nariz, pensei meio zonzo e com dores enquanto o agressor aproveitava para me aliviar da carteira e outros pertences. Felizmente um grupo de Skin Heads que descia do Bairro Alto, ao verem o que se passava, puseram o agressor em fuga seguindo-o em grande correria na direcção do Cais do Sodré. Após os ver desaparecer e ter recuperado a serenidade necessária, desloquei-me com alguma dificuldade à esquadra da zona com o propósito de receber os primeiros socorros e, principalmente, para apresentar queixa devido aos documentos que o agressor levara consigo. Um dos agentes quis vir comigo ao local e apercebi-me que se passava mais alguma coisa quando me pediu para no dia seguinte me apresentar na Judiciária.

Depois de uma longa conversa com o agente destacado para o caso, fiquei a saber que o larápio agressor do dia anterior era suspeito de ter morto um sem abrigo. Os indícios apontavam para a possibilidade de ser o mesmo que procurei.
Ao ver que a informação me abalara disse-me que os familiares do homem vinham a caminho para a identificação, mas era necessária também a minha confirmação de que era aquele homem que eu procurara e que tinha visto naquela noite. Movido pela curiosidade acedi deslocar-me com um agente à morgue para a necessária identificação.

Acabados de chegar fomos informados que o irmão do sem abrigo já o tinha identificado. Dirigimo-nos à sala onde estava o cadáver e ao transpor a porta dou de caras com o meu pai que, lavado em lágrimas, me olhou surpreendido.Atónito, instantes depois e pela sua boca, fiquei a saber que aquele sem abrigo era seu irmão, portanto meu tio. O tio mudo desaparecido e de quem eu ouvia falar desde que me lembrava.

Fazia dezoito anos que nunca mais soubéramos dele, agora, devido a um papel encontrado no bolso do casaco onde alguém tinha escrito que ele era o José Emanuel Laranjeira e que procurava o irmão António Leonardo Laranjeira tinha sido identificado.

Quando interiorizei a informação, já sabia que era essa a ajuda que ele queria. Ao avançar para mim preparava-se para me mostrar o papel, e eu, seu sobrinho, tinha recuado com medo. Instantes depois compreendi finalmente que não era medo. Era algo pior, mais profundo e enraizado, era um mal de alma. (José Pires F)

photograph by G. Almeida - November - 2011

Boas Acções - campanha (alimentos não perecíveis, cobertores individuais, produtos de higiene pessoal)

The Daily Food Bank

The Greater Chicago Food Depository

Food Bank For New York City

UK - The Food Bank

Liszt & Kagel in two performaces musically linked in both composition and interpretative quality

2011-12-01T16:16:00.015Z

I've posted at least one of them before (Liszt) and the other (the Kagel piece) I performed in front of (for) a beloved teacher 20 years ago.
This is my way of trying to keep my mind on a pleasant note on this "Independance Day" (December 1st), apparently the last to be celebrated (so say the rulers of this land).

I'll make another post after this with something also to commemorate the holiday. For now I just want to bathe my ears and heart in this...

I'll also leave here in this post a picture I took with a representaion of one who's lifetime was cut short 75 years ago, yesterday on the 30th of November, at the age of 47.

- the man of many faces
- the man who was multitudenous and plural.

Fernando Pessoa June 13, 1888 - November 30, 1935
photo by G. Almeida

Na Casa da Música, de 25 a 27 de Novembro - ENIM - 'Encontro Nacional de Investigação em Música 2011' promovido pela 'SPIM - Sociedade Portuguesa da Investigação em Música'.

2011-11-24T15:55:00.003Z

Fui alertada, através da DiFundArte , e de um amigo
Carlos Araújo Alves, autor do Ideias Soltas (na página dele da rede social Facebook) de um evento que irá decorrer na Casa da Música, de 25 a 27 deste mês, no Porto. Pela qualidade de os intervenientes assim como a relevância no que diz respeito à investigação e o ensino de música no país, os três dias do evento prometem ser excelentes.

Como já não me recordava deste "encontro", agradeço a informação e divulgo a mesma.

Para saber mais, está aqui o LINK que me foi fornecido com o calendário do que se irá passar durante os três dias. Para o visionar basta aumentar o 'zoom' ao carregar no "Ctrl" e simultâneamente no "+" as vezes necessárias.

O evento é promovido pela - SPIM - Sociedade Portuguesa de Investigação em Música.

XVII Galeria Aberta - 2011 (Beja)

2011-11-12T02:57:00.015Z

XVII Galeria Aberta - Beja.

Esta bienal inaugura Hoje, Sábado, dia 12 de Novembro às 15.30h, na "Escudeiros - Galeria Municipal", Rua dos Escudeiros, nº 30, em Beja.

A exposição irá estar patente até 30 de Dezembro e estará repartida entre três locais: o Castelo - Casa do Governador, a Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Beja, e a já referida galeria municipal - "Escudeiros".

O texto que se segue chegou a mim via e-mail, e cito:

« O Município de Beja convida para Inauguração no próximo sábado, dia 12 de Novembro, de mais uma edição da Galeria Aberta que estará patente até 30 de Dezembro. Promover um encontro de artes e artistas das mais diversas áreas como a Pintura, Escultura, Desenho, Gravura, Serigrafia e Fotografia é o principal objectivo deste certame que vai já na sua 17ª edição, e reúne este ano mais de três centenas de participantes. »

Tel. 284 311 856

www.cm-beja.pt

Sobre o evento, a informação aqui abaixo foi retirada do "site" da Câmara Municipal de Beja.

« .. pretende estimular e promover a actividade artística local e o desenvolvimento de novas formas expressivas, contribuindo para o enriquecimento cultural do concelho e da região. A organização é da responsabilidade do Município, através dos Escudeiros, Galeria Municipal de Beja.

(...)

O Júri é constituído por um representante do Município de Beja, um artista convidado, um representante da Faculdade de Belas Artes de Lisboa, um representante da Galeria Municipal dos Escudeiros e o artista vencedor da XVI Galeria Aberta.

De edição em edição, o número de trabalhos.. têm sempre vindo a aumentar. Na última edição, realizada há dois anos, o número de trabalhos apresentados a concurso ascendeu a mais de 400, através da participação de mais de 288 artistas dos mais variados pontos do país e até do estrangeiro. »

*****************

Resta-me dizer que pelos vistos, e mais uma vez, este ano o número a participar aumentou.

Felicito todos os autores das obras a expor e os organizadores assim como o público que irá dar vida ao evento, pois a ARTE, ou melhor, uma obra sem público não existe. Na verdade também se pode dizer isto, de certa forma, em relação a um povo.
Há que lutar contra um constante, e sistemático, apagamento daquilo que somos.

E digo mais, as artes para além de fazer acontecer aquilo que sabemos, de nos identificar e fazer com que nos sintamos identificados pelas mais diversas razões, fá-lo connosco individualmente e e em grupo. Elas confrontam-nos com tudo que temos e com tudo o que somos, e é tão natural como o acto de acordar, dormir ou nadar. Aliás quando não o é assemelha-se mais a este último, pois a natação já o fazemos antes de nascer para o mundo, e por habito tem de ser "re-ensinado". Embora este Re-ensinar (a nadar, ou as expressões artísticas dos Homens) me pareça estranho, ensinar o que se sabe.. enfim.

Nem sei como chamar este fazer com que se readquira, ou se explore, as capacidades que obviamente todos temos, e onde, no caso das expressões artísticas, sendo elas divergentes em conteúdo e aspecto, tal como as almas que as criam ou outras que as contemplam (mesmo que esses sejam o próprio autor após a obra estar completa) quando aparentemente tal "conhecimento" já cá está? É estranho isto.

Mesmo que supostamente não se tenha uma "aprendizagem formal" nada impede quem contempla "saber", ou seja, identificar-se e, ou, se espelhar numa obra, seja qual ela for, e da natureza que for (música, artes plásticas, literatura, cinema..).
Estranho seria se víssemos um bebé a não reagir ao canto de sua mãe ou pai ao embalá-lo.. para dar um exemplo.

A mente Humana, e a vida (de todos os seres) é uma maravilha e um mistério dum tamanho que não só parece não ter fim em dimensão
(através das artes a dimensão TEMPO, por exemplo, é estática, assim como segue em várias direcções com as suas "intemporalidades", e a do volume isso já se sabe, depende da ALMA)
- ou em capacidade de surpreender (tamanho sem fim) pela beleza ou a aberração, pelo gesto do horrível e, ou, do Belo.

Sei bem que não é num 'post' assim, ou em meia dúzia de parágrafos, que conseguiria falar o que penso (minimamente), ou conseguir perguntar o que gostava saber, de outros, sobre o que sentem em relação a tais assuntos.

Já estou a divagar, e o que me trouxe aqui foi o querer anunciar a bienal acima mencionada, por isso vou deixar isto por aqui.

Desejo-vos um excelente fim de semana, e espero que quem tenha a possibilidade de ir a esta Galeria Aberta, de 2011, tenha uma experiência memorável.

Isabel Mendes Ferreira

2011-10-21T17:09:00.011Z

fotografia de - Guida Almeida

... embora duvide conseguir fazê-lo, hei-de cá voltar para tentar pôr isto em Inglês..

(As soon as possible, I'll put this in English... I'll be back)

não me morras. nunca. não me deixes. nunca. nunca me devores esta transgressão de te ser a mais doce garra que te agarra a penumbra e te desfila até ao corredor da vida sem morte sem espinhos sem pálidos noivados distorcidos. não me clones outro sonho que este é mais forte que todos os abandonos. vive no fundo das lágrimas sem código de barras nem consumo fácil. sou o tempo oblíquo construtivo de uma teia sem estranhamentos nem compromissos inclinados. não me adoeças o lado mais avesso da realidade onde o destino parece tântrico e não passa de um manto. em círculo. em renda. sem fases de lua. sempre crescente. não me arranhes não me estranhes não me desalimentes esta fome de humanos e de plantas que como as rosas são asas e toalhas estendidas para te receber em linho em estanho em fulgor em crença. nunca te atrevas a morrer-me que me crivas de cristais criminosos e corrosivos. perfurantes e mendigos. sou a tua melhor célula o teu sangue o teu olhar o teu silêncio o teu apelo o meu peito no teu cravejado de montanhas. as mesmas que nunca ouvimos chorar mas que sabemos serem sete estátuas a moldarem-te o sobressalto. nunca me morras que eu tenho de ir à tua frente. amusgar-te o caminho.ser-te o ninho de todas as flores. coroa zodiacal em permanente guarda. casa. de diversos modos te fiz chave. aguardo.te com esta pele intocável. pulsão de todas as metamorfoses. lá fora o enigma é triangular. que importa. crucifico-me de rosas errantes. e deixo-te a última refeição de raios e de rumores alvos e nunca predadores.________________só as bestas morrem deitadas de lado.abocanhadas de lodo.mas tu és o prado. lázaro.

(em nome de todas as rosas te agradeço a rosa)

escrito por
Isabel Mendes Ferreira

fotografia de Guida Almeida

.

.

Number - and The Common Factor(s)

2011-10-14T22:20:00.025Z

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

(ON NON-VIOLENT ECONOMICS)
"Economic equality is the master key to non-violent independence...A non-violent system of government is impossible as long as the wide gulf between the rich and the hungry millions persists....A violent and bloody revolution is a certainty one day unless there is a voluntary abdication of riches and the power riches give and a sharing of them for the public good....All
have not the same capacity...I would not cramp talent...I want to bring about an equalization of status.... "

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

"o Protesto" (Laocoön -The Protest) - by Guida Almeida, 2001
(photographed by Sandra Ramos)

Laocoön and his sons pacing the streets of Ilium, warning...

(text in English & Português)

as I dip into the river of time
wading back and forth, swaying
watching Multidude speak
telling me of the ever present cry of 'the end of ages'
- but I ask you, what is the end of ages?
Each day is quantumly an end of ages,
each eternal picosecond placed on a slide can be disected,
so what of it?
How many tides must there be before
understanding that the harbingers of death and destruction
are but demons in the minds and hearts of Men?
More than a pair of Third World Wars lay Ilium to rest
yet still came Rome to share at least an other pair
Punic and Servile.

How many treaties of Todesillas,
Reforms, Counter or any other kind?
What of the end of the early bankers in
their white mantles and red crosses?
Did it mean the seas could no longer be crossed?
How many eclipses did it take to see the the affair, the trinity of spheres?
How many tides before husbandry?

We have been having world struggles since before Promethius passed his blessing.
The world has ended so many times I've lost count.

Predictions? Almost as many.

So what if that world whence the first Stock exchage appeared in
(exactly four centuries past)
comes to a halt.

We've revolted and ended worlds since the dawn of Man's existence.

Hello my name is number.

( Maria MFA Costa )

____________________________________________

Artigo 21.º
Direito de resistência
Todos têm o direito de resistir a qualquer ordem que ofenda os seus direitos, liberdades e garantias e de repelir pela força qualquer agressão, quando não seja possível recorrer à autoridade pública.
~ in Constituição da República Portuguesa

___________________________________________

The Red and White are the same,
such as the cells in the blood of Man
The Blue, the colour of our Planet, mixes with the
Yellow sun
- changes it's hue..
with each revolution..
"Eppur si muove"
(full and/or hemi)Spheres next to spheres

If we're not to be torn assunder
we should learn to swim
together
in a fraternal sea of justice.

(- the question is, can we? )

So many flags, so many painted: Red, Green, Yellow, White, Blue.. so many..
so many..
So many labels, brands, excuses..
How many...
(?)

( Maria MFA Costa )

image in "public domain" - presently unaware of author, published in books prior to 1923

Death of Spartacus (III Servile War)

(XV & CVI century, Portuguese, Caravel Ships )

The symbol of the first bankers on the sails of ships - Red Templar Crosses

De Beurs by Hendrik de Keyser

opening of 1st Stock Exchange - 4oo years ago - in 1611

ab Ovo - IV by Guida Almeida - 2002
(photographed by Sandra Ramos)

painted in early 2002..
(too much to say, to say in words)
For diverse reasons this painting has never been displayed, and its first published image on the web ocurred many years later.

October 5, the founding of a Repubic and what has become of her.. (pela Republica, um Requiem, 5 de Outrubro)

2011-10-05T12:57:00.011Z

"During the economic crisis, in 1836, in which I was forced to make budget cuts of all kinds I raised as far as I could the funding for Public Education." (translated words of Passos Manuel in Parliament, May 21st - 1856)

"Em momento de crise, em 1836, em que fiz todas as economias, eu aumentei quando pude a despeza da instrucção pública" - Discurso de Passos Manuel, Sessão da Câmara dos Deputados, 21 de Maio de 1856.

(Passos Manuel or Manuel Passos - b. 1801 | d. 1862)

Today being a national holiday in Portugal commemorating the founding of the Republic and the end of monarchy in the land, I leave you with an exquisite Requiem written to pay homage to statesman Passos Manuel - a celebrated 19th century 'Minister for the Kingdom' and noted 'Constitutionalist' Liberal (Left-Wing).
Please bear in mind that the century before the onset of the Republic was one of Civil Wars in the country, and despite being a monarchist, this brilliant politician nevertheless embraced Left ideals.

I quote the man bilingually once again:

The Queen rules the entire country and before my being leftist I already was 'for the country'. My country is my 'political party'.

"A Rainha é o chefe da nação toda. E antes de eu ser de esquerda já era da Pátria. A Pátria é a minha política."

I now leave a Requiem masterfully written in 2004 by a talented Eurico Carrapatoso.
The first public hearing of the piece was two years afterward and by 2008 finally a recording was made. In my opinion 2008 being a turning point in the world crisis, the "bursting of the bubble" so to speak, I find it rather ironic that this requiem in a "cd" format finally reach daylight.

(I also re-post a painting placed in this blog at the beginning of the
year - link to ORIGINAL POST)
© de Guida Almeida (fotografia de Sandra Ramos)

Happy October 5.

Steve Swallow - 71 today (playlist)

2011-10-04T15:45:00.007Z

Benjamin Chee Chee - Swallows

Today is thus a day for Strings, Swallows and nephews (also among those born today)..

Miles - 20 years...

2011-09-28T20:54:00.018Z

20 years ago today he left. He also left a tremendous legacy..
Thank you Miles.

I originally wanted to select 5 recordings, but but I'm afraid I was incapable of choosing less than 14.

I place here in separate the recording that I personally feel to reflect his inner persona from his own perspective.
Jack Johnson as is well documented was an inspiration and someone with whom he highly identified with. For this reason if I had to choose but one (impossible when dealing with certain musicians) this would probably best serve to my mind's eye in trying to "define and reflect" his inner being, though I'm certain it only reflects a fractional portion.

In truth for any one working in the arts all their ouvre reflects their being, emotions and thought along with people and things surrounding them. Therefore my list is in effect useless to reflect the man. In truth I place 14 here.. fully knowing their should be more.

(video of the first track in the album - Jack Johnson)
Musicians in this track were:
Miles Davis – Trumpet
Steve Grossman – Soprano saxophone
John McLaughlin – Electric guitar
Herbie Hancock – Organ
Michael Henderson – Electric bass
Billy Cobham – drums

The following are some of my favourite Miles Davis recordings, besides the afore mentioned recording above, some of which were turning points in the history of Jazz in my humble opinion.

One of his many facets was the challenge he put upon others to work at his side whether it be in performance or composing. He was truly what one could call a Music "Medium" or channel if you will. He had that rare uncanny sense that few have for percieving talent in others in such a way as to instantly capture, captivate and entice into action at the highest degree of one's capabilities.

I thus begin the list, which is in no way in any specific order but rather randomly put forth as I run through my memory, with "Aura".

Aura
- although Miles was a prolific composer, either recording and/or performing various pieces written by his friends and colleagues or music of his own along with the habitual list of jazz standards, in this case he went to Palle Mikkelborg to author the tracks on this album.

"Intro" – 4:48
"White" – 6:07
"Yellow" – 6:55
"Orange" – 8:41
"Red" – 6:05
"Green" – 8:13
"Blue" – 6:36
"Electric Red" – 4:19
"Indigo" – 6:06
"Violet" – 9:04

(Musicians)

Trumpet: Miles Davis
lso on trumpet plus flugelhorn: Palle Mikkelborg
other trumpets and flugelhorns: Benny Rosenfeld, Idrees Sulieman, Jens Winther, Palle Bolvig, Perry Knudsen
Trombones: Jens Engel, Ture Larsen, Vincent Nilsson
Bass trombones: Ole Kurt Jensen, Axel Windfel
Tuba: Axel Windfel
Reeds, flute: Jesper Thilo, Per Carsten, Uffe Karskov, Bent Jædig, Flemming Madsen
Saxophones and woodwinds: Bent Jædig, Flemming Madsen, Jesper Thilo, Per Carsten, Uffe Karskov
Keyboards: Kenneth Knudsen, Ole Kock Hansen, Thomas Clausen
Guitars: Bjarne Roupé, John McLaughlin
Bass: Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
Fender bass and fretless bass: Bo Stief
Drums: Vincent Wilburn jr., Lennart Gruvstedt
Electronic drums: Vince Wilburn
Percussion: Ethan Weisgaard, Marilyn Mazur
Harp: Lillian Thornquist
Oboe and English horn: Niels Eje
Vocals: Eva Hess-Thaysen

In A Silent Way

Musicians:

Miles Davis – trumpet
Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
Chick Corea – electric piano
Herbie Hancock – electric piano
Joe Zawinul – organ
Dave Holland – double bass
Tony Williams – drums

Side one
"Shhh/Peaceful" (Miles Davis) – 18:16
"Shhh" – 6:14
"Peaceful" – 5:42
"Shhh" – 6:20

Side two

"In a Silent Way/It's About That Time" (Joe Zawinul, Miles Davis) – 19:52
"In a Silent Way" (Joe Zawinul) – 4:11
"It's About That Time" (Miles Davis & Joe Zawinul) – 11:27
"In a Silent Way" (Joe Zawinul) – 4:14

Live Evil

(first sessions at Cellar Door)
Miles Davis: electric trumpet with wah-wah
Gary Bartz: soprano sax, alto sax
John McLaughlin: electric guitar
Keith Jarrett: Fender Rhodes electric piano, Fender electric organ
Michael Henderson: electric bass
Jack DeJohnette: drums
Airto Moreira: percussion
Ron Carter: acoustic bass
Steve Grossman: soprano sax
Chick Corea: electric piano
Herbie Hancock: electric piano
Hermeto Pascoal: drums, vocals
Wayne Shorter: soprano sax
Joe Zawinul: electric piano
Dave Holland: acoustic bass
Khalil Balakrishna: electric sitar
Billy Cobham: drums

On The Corner

Musicians:

Miles Davis – electric trumpet with Wah Wah
Dave Liebman – soprano saxophone
Carlos Garnett – soprano and tenor saxophone
Chick Corea – electric piano
Herbie Hancock – electric piano, synthesizer
Harold I. Williams – organ, synthesizer
Lonnie Liston Smith – organ
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
David Creamer – electric guitar
Michael Henderson – electric bass with Wah Wah
Khalil Balakrishna - electric sitar
Bennie Maupin – bass clarinet
Collin Walcott – electric sitar
Badal Roy – tabla
Jack DeJohnette – drums
Al Foster - drums
Jabali Billy Hart – drums, bongos
Don Alias – percussion
James "Mtume" Foreman – percussion
Paul Buckmaster – cello

Water Babies

Tracks:
01. Water Babies (Wayne Shorter) – 5:05
02. Capricorn (Wayne Shorter) – 8:26
03. Sweet Pea (Wayne Shorter) – 7:58
04. Two Faced (Wayne Shorter) – 18:00
05. Dual Mr. Anthony Tillmon Williams Process (Miles Davis) – 13:20
Bonus:
06. Splash (Miles Davis) – 10:03

Musicians:
- Miles Davis - trumpet
- Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone
- Herbie Hancock - piano
- Chick Corea - electric piano (04-06)
- Ron Carter - bass (01-03)
- Dave Holland - bass (04-06)
- Tony Williams - drums

Live at The Fillmore East

Miles Davis: trumpet
Steve Grossman: tenor and soprano sax
Chick Corea: Fender Rhodes electric piano
Keith Jarrett: electronic organ
Dave Holland: acoustic and electric bass
Jack DeJohnette: drums
Airto Moreira: percussion, cuica

Ascenseur pour l'échafaud

Musicians:

Miles Davis – trumpet
Barney Wilen – tenor saxophone
René Urtreger – piano
Pierre Michelot – bass
Kenny Clarke – drums

The Complete Birth of the Cool

Musicians:

Miles Davis – trumpet (all)
Kai Winding – trombone (January 1949)
J. J. Johnson – trombone (April 1949, March 1950)
Junior Collins – French horn (January 1949)
Sandy Siegelstein – French horn (April 1949)
Gunther Schuller – French horn (March 1950)
Bill Barber – tuba (all)
Lee Konitz – alto saxophone (all)
Gerry Mulligan – baritone saxophone (all)
Al Haig – piano (January 1949)
John Lewis – piano (April 1949, March 1950)
Joe Shulman – bass (January 1949)
Nelson Boyd – bass (April 1949)
Al McKibbon – bass (March 1950)
Max Roach – drums (January 1949, March 1950)
Kenny Clarke – drums (April 1949)
Kenny Hagood – vocal ("Darn That Dream" only)

The Complete Birth Of The Cool (The Live Sessions)

Miles Davis – trumpet
Mike Zwerin – trombone
Junior Collins – French horn
Bill Barber – tuba
Lee Konitz – alto saxophone
Gerry Mulligan – baritone saxophone
John Lewis – piano
Al McKibbon – bass
Max Roach – drums
Kenny Hagood – vocal (on - Why Do I Love You and Darn That Dream)

Sketches of Spain

The following list shows the total number of musicians during the various sessions from late 1959 and early 1960. The actual number of players on the piece was 19)

Danny Bank — bass clarinet
Bill Barber — tuba
John Barrows — French horn
Albert Block — flute
James Buffington — French horn
Eddie Caine — flute, flugelhorn
Paul Chambers — bass
Earl Chapin — French horn
Jimmy Cobb — drums
Johnny Coles — trumpet
Miles Davis — trumpet, flugelhorn
Gil Evans — arranger, conductor
Harold Feldman — clarinet, flute, oboe
Bernie Glow — trumpet
Dick Hixon — trombone
Elvin Jones — percussion
Taft Jordan — trumpet
Jack Knitzer — bassoon
Jose Mangual — percussion
Jimmy McAllister — tuba
Tony Miranda — French horn
Louis Mucci — trumpet
Romeo Penque — oboe
Janet Putnam — harp
Frank Rehak — trombone
Ernie Royal — trumpet
Joe Singer — French horn

Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet

Musicians:

Miles Davis – trumpet
Paul Chambers – double bass
John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
Red Garland – piano
Philly Joe Jones – drums

Bitches Brew

Musicians:

"Bitches Brew"
"John McLaughlin"
"Sanctuary" (Shorter)

Recorded Columbia Studio B, New York City August 19, 1969

Miles Davis – trumpet
Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
Bennie Maupin – bass clarinet
Joe Zawinul – electric piano – Left (Sterio recording - therefore in the left speaker)
Chick Corea – electric piano – Right (Right speaker)
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
Dave Holland – bass
Harvey Brooks – electric bass
Lenny White – drum set – Left
Jack DeJohnette – drum set – Right
Don Alias – congas
Juma Santos (credited under the name Jim Riley) – shaker, congas

On - « John McLaughlin » without Brooks, Shorter and Davis
On - « Sanctuary » without Maupin, Brooks and White

"Miles Runs the Voodoo Down"

Recorded Columbia Studio B, New York City August 20, 1969

Miles Davis – trumpet
Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
Bennie Maupin – bass clarinet
Joe Zawinul – electric piano – Left (speaker)
Chick Corea – electric piano – Right (speaker)
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
Dave Holland – electric bass
Harvey Brooks – electric bass
Don Alias – drum set – Left
Jack DeJohnette – drum set – Right
Juma Santos (credited under the name "Jim Riley") – congas

"Spanish Key"
"Pharaoh's Dance" (Joe Zawinul)

Recorded Columbia Studio B, New York City August 21, 1969

Miles Davis – trumpet
Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
Bennie Maupin – bass clarinet
Joe Zawinul – electric piano – Left
Larry Young – electric piano – Center
Chick Corea – electric piano – Right
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
Dave Holland – bass
Harvey Brooks – electric bass
Lenny White – drum set – Left
Jack DeJohnette – drum set – Right
Don Alias – Congas
Juma Santos (credited under the name "Jim Riley") – Shaker

"Feio" (Shorter)

Recorded Columbia Studio B, New York City January 28, 1970

Miles Davis – trumpet
Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
Bennie Maupin – bass clarinet
Joe Zawinul – electric piano – Left (speaker)
Chick Corea – electric piano – Right (speaker)
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
Dave Holland – electric bass
Billy Cobham – drum set – Left (speaker)
Jack DeJohnette – drum set – Right (speaker)
Airto Moreira – percussion and cuica

Kind of Blue

Musicians:

Miles Davis – trumpet
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley – alto saxophone, except on "Blue in Green"
Paul Chambers – double bass
Jimmy Cobb – drums
John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
Bill Evans – piano (except on Freddie Freeloader)
Wynton Kelly – piano on "Freddie Freeloader"

Tutu

Upon request of Miles Davis (who wished to pay homage to Archbishop Desmond Tutu)
all music on this album was written by a very young and talented Marcus Miller.

Musicians:

Miles Davis - trumpet
Marcus Miller - bass guitars, guitar, synthesizers, drum machine programming, bass clarinet, soprano sax, other instruments.
Jason Miles - synthesizer programming
Paulinho da Costa - percussion on "Tutu", "Portia", "Splatch", Backyard Ritual"
Adam Holzman - synthesizer solo on "Splatch"
Steve Reid - additional percussion on "Splatch"
George Duke - all except percussion, bass guitar, and trumpet on "Backyard Ritual"
Omar Hakim - drums and percussion on "Tomaas"
Bernard Wright - additional synthesizers on "Tomaas" and "Don't Lose Your Mind"
Michał Urbaniak - electric violin on "Don't Lose Your Mind"
Jabali Billy Hart - drums, bongos

Celebrating September 23

2011-09-22T18:25:00.011Z

Ray Charles - born in Albany - New York, September 23 - 1930.
- the exact same day as the man holding a bird in the photo below, born in Sintra (Portugal).

The next two things are also much to his (my father's) taste, and mine since I was tiny..

Mahler, Symphony No. 5 - Adagietto - Vienna S. Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein

and the voice of a friend.. (Teresa de Noronha - Fado das Horas)

Júlio Resende

2011-09-21T12:48:00.026Z

"Homem a Cavalo" 1950 - oil painting by Júlio Resende
part of the art collection on display at the
Modern Art Centre of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

By clicking HERE you will access the artist's foundation

A Lifetime of Art - Júlio Resende - his gift to the world

The man has left us with a vast and remarkable ouvre, a generous gift of which we are thankful for.

"É Talvez o Último Dia da Minha Vida

É talvez o último dia da minha vida.
Saudei o sol, levantando a mão direita,
Mas não o saudei, dizendo-lhe adeus,
Fiz sinal de gostar de o ver antes: mais nada. "
- Alberto Caeiro

"And flights of angels take thee to thy rest "
(as said by Horatio, Act V scene ii.. )

Júlio Resende

October 23rd, 1917 - September 22, 2011

PART TWO of two, "Freedom and it's expression" [or if you will] 'Freedom - an expression: a request to free 6 times Nobel nominee Leonard Peltier

2011-09-13T12:23:00.006Z

Today I bring you a man that has (to save time I'll quote a page on the myspace network)

«” And yet Leonard Peltier has remained a prisoner for more than 33 years. Fifty five United States Senators and Congressional Representatives (including Democrats and Republicans) have filed an appeal brief demanding that Peltier receive a new trial. Amnesty International has repeatedly called for Peltier’s immediate release from prison, governments from all over the world have passed resolutions insisting that Peltier be released, and a large contingent of distinguished human rights advocates have been very outspoken in their strong support for Peltier - including six people who have already received the Nobel Peace Prize: Nelson Mandela (1993), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (1992), Mikhail Gorbachev (1990), the 14th Dalai Lama (1989), Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1984), and Mother Teresa (1979). Despite his well known status as a political prisoner, however, the basis for Peltier’s Nobel nominations has been his remarkable success in furthering the causes of peace and human rights.»

The first part of this message written July 3rd looked to the east as was in respect to:

Aung San Suu Kyi / Liu Xiaobo

Now I look to the west.

For more on Leonard Peltier here are two links one with a quick review regarging the case

Leonard Peltier Case

and this other - Official website for Leonard Peltier

Here is the petition, please sign. They need approximately 4000 more signatures by the end of October (approximately) to take it to President Obama.
This 1976 imprisonment is nonsense.

ONLINE - PETITION (Free Leonard Peltier)

US Prisoner #89637-132

Silence, they say, is the voice of complicity.
But silence is impossible.
Silence screams.
Silence is a message,
just as doing nothing is an act.
Let who you are ring out & resonate
in every word (and) every deed.
Yes, become who you are.
There's no sidestepping your own being
or your own responsibility.
What you do is who you are.
You are your own comeuppance.
You become your own message.
You are the message.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse

(Leonard Peltier)

Being Portuguese
(and Canadian, but today it is my Portuguese 'persona' that cries)
- the subject of political prisoners, repression and oppressive rule makes my heart bleed.

It is easy to cast an outraged eye to the orient regarding Human Rights (and rightfully so), but in the West there is no less outrage, it's just painted differently.. I bring you a man who has been wrongfully in jail for the past 35 years and is mortally ill. A man who should be at home for the little time he has left to enjoy the laughter of grandchildren..
Moreover in the West there are american states (not all) who take it upon themselves to be above God and decide for themselves the right to live or die.
This is quite ironic since those same states within the United States are the ones that not only have the highest cime rate (violent), but actually increase in violence despite said punishment. I also know it is easy to point to the US when speaking of ill behaviour.
In Europe illegally and/or immorally war mongers bring money to nations such as France, Germany, England, Portugal, Italy.. while they promote profit from Human carnage. I wonder..
In the South Australia cannot leave East Timor alone.. (too much black gold)
and the way they defend their countryman is absurd (Julian Assange) who's crime it appears was to show things such as war crimes.

What is wrong with people..?

What is it that they believe they take with them to the grave, money? Power (over what)?
This inhumanity and other vile atrocities (children in Darfur.. ) is in the North, South, East and West.

Why?

The Hudson School of painters and a nostalgic, misty, New York City fotographed by Alice Valente Alves - for this 10th anniversary of September 11

2011-09-11T12:21:00.143Z

Fotografia de Alice Valente Alves - photographer

Fotografia de ALICE VALENTE ALVES - photographer

This stunning image is a full colour fotograph taken by Alice Valente Alves of a misty grey NYC dawn.

Thomas Cole - 1836 "The Oxbow"

Romantic Landscape with Ruined Tower - by Thomas Cole (1832/36)

Thomas Cole - 1836 "The Oxbow"

A Gorge In The Mountains - by Gifford Sanford Robinson (b.1823 - d. 1888)

Ten years after a cruel day dawning that beyond heartache and suffering to many brought about a terrifying "Police - State" type of world. The globe has become dystopic as consequence but as with everything this evil shall pass, contrary to the recollection of a day in September and the just homage one should bear to victims of intolerance, greed and mindless slaughtering. This blog renders its respects with one thing further, two versions of a piece by Charlie Haden for the people of each fallen tower and a planet that has since then.. therefrom suffered.

Jack Layton ***** 1950 - 2011

2011-08-26T08:52:00.016Z

A State funeral shall be held Saturday, August 27

LINK

Monday, Aug. 22nd, he left us prematurley. This blog grieves his passing

Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.



(William Shakespeare - Hamlet - Horatio, in Act 5, Scene 2 )

O Contrabaixo e um Pedido "Música Solidária" // The Double bass and a request for aid. Please help spread the word

2011-08-20T05:29:00.017Z

Português & English

"Gostaria de vender o meu contrabaixo muito bom, ideal para a solo e jazz ou música clássica. Eu era o professor de contrabaixo e estou aposentado. Gostaria de vender apenas a um músico. Por favor ajude-me, sou um músico doente." contrabass63@gmail.com

(Acima está escrito, tal como vi, no anuncio na página f-book de

...................................................

- Muito obrigada por lerem.
E agora deixo-vos com algumas músicas, de ou com alguns contrabaixistas que gosto muito.

..................................................

It has come to my attention that a colleague of mine needs to sell his double bass.
Unfortunately due to illness the owner who had taught the instrument for many a year has retired and wishes to sell..
- to pass it on to another musician's hands.
I know it is an excellent instrument and perfect for palying solo, jazz or "classical" music.
It is in marvellous condition and is truly a worthwhile cause.
Please spread the word and help a friend in need. If you are interested yourself, or know of anyone who would like to purchace this bass please reach him at
contrabass63@gmail.com

I thank for your support.
and in appreciation I leave you with some pieces featuring (or by) double bass players I take joy in hearing.

Gary Peacock
[with Keith Jarrett (p), Jack DeJohnette (dr)]

George Mraz
[with Richie Beirach (p), Billy Hart (dr) ]

Dave Holland
[with Anthony Braxton (woodwinds), Barry Altschul (percussions) and the wonderful Sam Rivers (woodwinds).]

Charles Mingus
[with John Handy (alto sax), Booker Ervin (tenor sax), Shafi Hadi (tenor sax), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Horace Parlan (piano), Dannie Richmond (drums)]

Scott LaFaro
[with Bill Evans (p), Paul Motian (dr)]

Buster Williams
[with Bobby McFerrin (vocals), Herbie Hancock (pinao), Tony Williams (drums)]

Eddie Gomez
[with Bill Evans (piano)]

Palle Danielsson
[with Albert Mangelsdorff (trombone), Elvin Jones (drums)]

Carlos Barretto

Charlie Haden
[Nick Cave (vocals), Toots Thielemans (hamonica), David Sanborn (soprano sax), Hiram Bullock (guitar), Don Alias (percussions)]

A wonderful project fathered by Steve Swell

2011-08-12T14:49:00.000Z

To quote the man behind the "Nation of We"

« Just 15 days to be part of this great project!! Please check out the site. Thank you!! (...) less than $200 to reach our goal! Please help these great musicians get a decent payday.» Steve Swell

It is definitely a worthy cause, and I wish it the utmost success.

Extremism - food for thought

2011-08-06T20:06:00.002Z

(English & Português)

Although I find he does not necessarily contemplate transnational forces, actors of extreme power in my opinion such as those that move through organizations one of wich is the IMF, and the impact of half of the "HUMAN" planet (China & India ... Actually all the BRICS, as they are about to change the IMF itself in the year to com),
Maajid Nawaz's lecture is not only a powerful and healthy critique regarding Western thought/democracy, but an interesting (helpful) perspective when one begins to think of the day's age with all the organizations he mentions (and rightly so) spreading so efficiently. It is refreshing and quite pertinent to the clash and change that is occurring upon "civilization(s)" as we know it.

- He does speak of the assassinated Benazir Bhutto when mentioning a face of ''democratic leaders in Pakistan when he speaks of the few faces of democracy in that part of the globe. What he says regarding the supplying a demand/desire for democracy from the ground up, as opposed to only being concerned with leaders, rulers and their class and neglecting the ruled larger masses, or rather - The People if you will, is particularily poignant and apropos.

I do feel we are and have been for a while (the world is..) at a crossroads in terms of civilization(s).. , and that action as always by far supasses cognition in terms of speed.
The ball is rolling yet it has but begun its tradgectory.

I have much on my mind regarding this but it would take far too long for me to write or you to read.. and my particular thoughts in the matter are not important in my opinion.

I now leave you with the Video - clip where he speaks of
«Ideals + Narratives + Symbols + Leaders = Social Movement»
(Right below the Portuguese text that follows, written in blue)

Embora ele, Maajid Nawaz, não me parece estar a contemplar algumas forças
'trans-nacionais', agentes detentores de enorme poder e cuja força manipuladora para além de grande é na maior parte das vezes velada aos nossos olhos, agentes tais como o FMI, e o impacto que têm sobre todos quem manda em metade da população terrestre (China e Índia), alias na verdade todos os BRICS (pois a força de todos estes inclusive irá alterar o próprio FMI no ano que vem. ) sinto que a conferência que se segue em vídeo é não só uma saudável critica ao/à "Democracia e Pensamento" ocidental, mas uma visão útil e bem vinda em relação às organizações que ele menciona, e a eficiente propagação que tem havido das mesmas, mas sobre o que se tem passado nos últimos tempos na Europa e não só, assim como os movimentos tais como o que ocorreu no Egipto, entre outros, uns mais antigos outros simultâneos.
Ele refere ainda, entre outras coisas (e bem, parece-me) sobre a ausência de "caras" no que respeita a líderes naquela parte do globo, embora ele refira a assassinada Benazir Bhutto.

O que diz sobre o induzir vontade e "necessidade", ou seja a apetência por ter Democracia dever ser 'de baixo para cima', e não o que se tem feito de cima (classe governante) para baixo (os governados/o povo) parece-me de facto muito aproposito e oportuno dizer-se.Sinto também que estamos numa encruzilhada, não politica/económica, mas civilizacional e que a "acção" ultrapassa de longe, e como sempre, a apreensão do que passa (do que "é", como/quando/porquê etc)Estaria aqui a escrever, e o leitor a ler, tempo a mais se fosse escrever tudo o que penso na verdade sobre tais assuntos (caso fosse capaz de o fazer, isto é). E os meus pensamentos sobre esta matéria pouco interessa na minha opinião.

Deixo-vos então com o vídeo onde ele fala sobre « Movimento Social = Ideais + Narrativas/Slogans + Símbolos + Líderes »

In contrast I also leave something that causes me to wonder greatly at how FILTER BUBBLES hinder or help propagate said Social movement in the recent past and present.

Em contraponto ao vídeo anterior deixo agora, também, um que me faz questionar muito sobre como é favorecido, ou não, a propagação de tais movimentos sociais num mundo onde somos regidos no que respeita ao acesso e ao emanar de informação.. no passado recente e presentemente através de

Filtros.. (provindos de algoritmos... )

Originally I was going to write about how we are harmed by that which is allegedly meant to help us through the existence of algorithms that seem to shape all access to information among other things. I'll leave it to a later date.

Ia escrever originalmente sobre como me parece ser nocivo algo que foi supostamente concebido (irónicamente) para nos dar conforto.. ou seja menos trabalho no que diz respeito a procurar coisas que nos interessam na net.
São frutos, parece-me, deste mundo "neo-liberal"que assim apodrece e nos apodrece (..sem querer?? Talvez sim, quiçá).

Fica o assunto para outra altura..

Full Concert (and a personal note) - Shadows and Light

2011-07-26T22:41:00.015Z

The Barn's Memory - G. Almeida, (circa) 1976

Within Light's Shadow

Bathed in darkness one finds doors to freedom

No clutter, no noise caused by Light's distractions.

Myriads of shadows befalling each step whilst pacing trails of Pain's inner depths .

Pain? A necessary remedy for rising to one's fortitude?

Without it one is but an empty sheet tossing in the night's wind.

No weight to one's loss, no frailty.

Without frailties,

to become non-human, monsterous, lacking shadows or scars inflicted through the pain of Light,

rendered unconscious to one's mortal forms,

to be suprahuman?

( No )

I give thanks to Flaw and am returnéd..

Uplifted only upon descent.

Past the visible world.

Past pain, oblivion and vulnerability.

Light thriving,

born from all darkened moments.

In the bosom of Light's Shadow to be soothed, annointed, rubbed.

Thenceforth "becoming" from whence one was not,

or perhaps even was within an unconscious yet visible future self.

We are all constant shadows of our own distant light.

Cast almost randomly upon the streets of Time,

full puzzles revealed fragmentally in an order only known to the grand master who is blind to fractions and only sees

[both, each, either or between] - the "whole/hole"

... within Light's Shadow.

(poem by: Maria MFA Costa - aka: Guida Almeida, Margarida.. )

full concert (video - 1hr 14min.)

[concerto] - Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Don Alias - Shadows And Light from Giorgi Begishvili on Vimeo.

Full concert - 1979

Amy ...

2011-07-24T00:27:00.007Z

Amy Winehouse

I'm sorry. I seem to be at a loss for words,

I'm just so sad to see you go...
You'll always grace our ears with your talented spirit through the gift of your music.

Goodnight sweet princess.

G. Almeida

Moshe Safdie: born July 14, 1938

2011-07-14T16:38:00.002Z

Habitat 67

Celebrating the birthday of the man who had made Habitat 67, and remembering North Ontario..
some Neil Young.
(For Mark, and for Ann.. for our families, and our friends on both sides of the Atlantic)

TRIO by G. Almeida - 2003

My mind has travelled back
to some dear old (ok - they're still pretty young) friends, and one in particular who has recently gone through some recent hardship..

With Love, M.

(for Ann)

Lopes Graça and Arvo Pärt - masterfully rendered by Miguel Henriques

2011-07-11T21:07:00.001Z

Musical creation depends of course on the score's author but it is by the graceful and skillful hand of he (or she) whom *translates* said score that one receives the gift of a musical "presence".
It is the performer who provides me (us) - the recipient of the piece
(weather such a recipient be the author, anyone of us, or even him/herself)
with the "Work of Art", in this case a piece of music.

A performer can indeed :

"make or brake" a work of musical Art (so to speak)
unveil hidden forms of "reading" a work through his/her rendition, or hide and mask its intrinsic beauty.
give a comprehensive *translation* of the author's work, or turn it to gibberish.

I thus leave two magnificent musical works of art performed by Miguel Henriques.

Fernando Lopes Graça "Elegy"

Arvo Pärt "Für Alina"

Jorge Lima Barreto -

2011-07-09T16:50:00.004Z

Music in Portugal mourns the loss of one of her champions:

Jorge Lima Barreto

(Pt) Para evitar que este blogue se pareça apenas um obituário, e no que me parece ser mais no espirito de quem, traído por uma pneumonia, nos deixou hoje.
Segue música..

« TELECTU & CHRIS CUTLER ao vivo no São Luís » - Lisboa 1991, cerca de 4 min.)

Concerto no Maxime, Lisboa, 2007 | duração: 7' 39''

«TELECTU (VÍTOR RUA & JORGE LIMA BARRETO) & GERRY HEMINGWAY LIVE AT TEATRO SÃO JOÃO, 2004» duração: cerca de 1 hora

Concerto em Matosinhos - duração: cerca de uma hora

piano solo de Vítor Rua
- no piano: john tilbury

Betty Ford -

2011-07-09T13:45:00.000Z

Garden Rose - photograph by Guida Almeida, 2011

A woman who's life shows us what dignity can mean. She shall always "Be".
I say no more.

PART ONE of two, "Freedom and it's expression" [or if you will] 'Freedom - an expression' : Aung San Suu Kyi / Liu Xiaobo

2011-07-03T19:51:00.004Z

( Part I - From the East )

The great Mohandas Gandhi once said - «A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.»

Freedom for some, danger for others or deemed treasonous is to express oneself freely in this world.

For some to fight on my behalf, to defend my fellow Man and I means to become either incarcerated, tortured and mutilated, or heinously killed..

Facts are to easily obscured on either sides of Prime Meridian when a little time is involved, manipulation of access to information (whether by distortion, omission or "tayloring" said information),
and greedy hands of those who crave POWER ( usually at any cost) cyclically come and go...

As we all well know this happens for instance (and among other things) by taking full advantage of "their" mass media and ignoring the existance of some - not too distant - historic facts and figures.

Just to refresh our memories, I post twice on the matter. First a pair from the East, and next (Part TWO) shall be from the WEST:

Unfortunately the number in both Hemispheres is staggering and thus it is not an easy task to choose. This time I bring two.

For Potuguese readers - with LINK

AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Clique aqui para apoiar Aung San Suu Kyi
https://secure.avaaz.org/po/stand_with_aung_san_suu_kyi/?r=act

A pressão internacional ajudou a libertar a ganhadora do Prêmio Nobel Aung San Suu Kyi, mas milhares de outros ativistas continuam presos. Vamos mostrar nosso apoio a Suu Kyi e ao povo de Mianmar. Assine a petição!

English Readers

_LINK from that wich was Posted: 1 July 2011 The future of Aung San Suu Kyi and her amazing movement for democracy in Burma is hanging in the balance this week, and we could make the difference. Suu Kyi has bravely called on the military regime to free the thousands of monks and peaceful activists still held in horrific prisons, some in cramped dog cages. Unprecedentedly, thousands of Burmese have risked their own safety to join her call for freedom through an online petition! Yesterday, the regime issued an ominous warning to Suu Kyi – and the Generals may be deciding right now between dialogue or another brutal crackdown. This could come down to us. Activists in Burma have appealed to the world for help, saying that pressure from the international community is crucial to preventing violence and freeing political prisoners. Let's stand with Suu Kyi and the brave Burmese, sign on to their petition, and send it to the EU, India and other key governments who can press the regime.

________________________________________________

Liu Xiaobo: Greed’s Prisoner

Translated by Jeffrey Yang

Greed's Prisoner

for the dispossessed wife

a prisoner

presses into the crowd of your life

so cruel and full of greed

won’t even let you

buy a bouquet of flowers for yourself

a piece of chocolate, a pretty dress

he doesn’t give you

time, not a single minute

does he give you

the smoke in your cupped palm

he breathes in, breathes in, completely

even the ashes don’t belong to you, his body

in the prison of the Communist Party

so that the spirit-cell you built

without a door without a window

without a thread of a crack

locks you in solitude

to rot

he forces you to endure each night

in the carcass of denunciation

he controls your pen

makes you write endless letters

makes you desperate to find hope

your suffering’s been trampled upon

his boredom’s one pleasure

that bird of yours

is lost in the torturous palm-

lines of his hand

where each path

has betrayed you

this emptied-eyed all-ignorant dictatorship

has plundered your corpse

in one night white hair covers your crown

completing his legend, his myth

the moment he sees himself brimming with righteous deeds

you already possess nothing

but this prisoner

has deathly-seized the white space of your future

another sun comes

once more he issues an order

once more you must walk the road alone

without body without memory

using this hollowed life

to carry his heavy book-load

on the road to him

he is very good at exploiting

each chance to dispossess you

of your possibilities

beloved

my wife

in this dust-weary world of

so much depravity

why do you

choose me alone to endure

July 23, 1999

LIU XIAOBO - (the following text has been taken from HERE )

         China: Liu Xiaobo Professional Background

Liu Xiaobo is a renowned literary critic, writer, and political activist based in Beijing. He served as President of the Independent Chinese PEN Center from    2003 to 2007 and currently holds a seat on its board. Liu Xiaobo was a professor at Beijing Normal University and has worked as a visiting scholar at several universities outside of China, including the University of Oslo, the University of Hawaii, and Columbia University in New York City.

Current Status
On December 10, 2010, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Liu was poignantly represented by an empty chair at the ceremony in Oslo. When told of the announcement after October 8, he wept and told his wife, Liu Xia, that it was dedicated to the martyrs of Tiananmen.
Liu Xia has been under house arrest since the award announcement and is incommunicado.

Liu Xiaobo was formally moved to Jinzhou Prison in Liaoning, his home province, on May 24, 2010. He reportedly now has access to books published in China and is permitted rare visits from his wife, though she has not been allowed to see him since October 10.

Liu Xiaobo was tried by the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court on December 23, 2009, and pleaded not guilty to the charge of "inciting subversion of state power." The trial lasted less than three hours, and the defense was not permitted to present evidence. Two days later, on December 25, Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison and two years' deprivation of political rights. The Beijing High Court rejected his appeal on February 11, 2010.

Liu Xiaobo was formally arrested by the Beijing Public Security Bureau on June 23, 2009 and charged with “inciting subversion of state power” for co-authoring Charter 08, a declaration calling for political reform, greater human rights, and an end to one-party rule in China that has been signed by hundreds of individuals from all walks of life throughout the country. His case was officially moved to the prosecutor's office on December 8, 2009. He had been detained a year earlier, on December 8, 2008, and held for six months and two weeks under “residential surveillance” while police gathered evidence on his case. Liu Xia, Liu Xiaobo’s wife, has only been permitted to visit him twice, he did not have access to a lawyer and he was denied writing materials while detained at an undisclosed location in Beijing. He was held at the No. 1 Detention Center of Beijing City, where he has finally had access to his lawyers, from the date of his formal arrest in 2009 until May 24, 2010.

Case History
In the spring of 1989, Liu Xiaobo left his post at Columbia University and returned to Beijing to play a crucial role in the spreading pro-democracy movement, staging a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square in support of the students and leading calls for a truly broad-based, sustainable democratic movement. He was instrumental in preventing even further bloodshed in the Square by supporting and advancing a call for non-violence on the part of the students. He spent two years in prison for his role, and another three years of “reeducation through labor” in 1996 for publicly questioning the role of the single-party system and calling for dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama of Tibet.

In 2004, Liu’s phone lines and Internet connection were cut after the release of his essay criticizing the use of “subversion” charges used to silence journalists and activists, and he has been the target of regular police surveillance and harassment in the years since.

Just after 9:00 p.m. on December 8, 2008, before the formal release of Charter 08, police arrived at the Beijing homes of Liu and fellow activist Zhang Zuhua. At 11:00 p.m., they took both men away and searched their homes, confiscating computers and other materials. His arrest occurred during a period of several sensitive anniversaries, including the 100-year anniversary of the promulgation of China’s first constitution, the 60-year anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the 30-year anniversary of Beijing’s “Democracy Wall” movement.

While Zhang Zuhua was released the following morning, Liu Xiaobo remained in detention. He was held incommunicado until December 31, when he was finally permitted a visit from his wife.

Since Liu Xiaobo’s arrest, nearly all of the 300 original signatories of Charter 08 have been interrogated in a push to gather evidence against him and crack down on free expression in China.

His wife, Liu Xia, is under house arrest in Beijing. That I know of there are no accounts of her being seen since detention.

(link below is from the "The Irish Times")

LINK

Dominion Day - July 1

2011-07-01T14:49:00.013Z

Today's post shall have the two tongues of Upper and Lower Canada.. but before that, inspired by a recent discussion with some regarding Shakespeare, Pessoa and Tolstoi, I bring a piece I greatly enjoy, by Paolo Conte - " L'orchestrina " .

Aujourd'hui, j'ecrirai dans les deux langues du Haut et du Bas-Canada .. mais avant cela, inspirée par une récente discussion avec certains au sujet de Shakespeare, Pessoa et Tolstoï, j'apporte un morceau que j'aime beaucoup, de Paolo Conte - "L'orchestrina".

Lake and Mountains by Lawren Harris, 1928

Backdropp Addresses Cowboy

Starspangled cowboy
sauntering out of the almost-
silly West, on your face
a porcelain grin,
tugging a papier-mache cactus
on wheels behind you with a string,

you are innocent as a bathtub
full of bullets.

Your righteous eyes, your laconic
trigger-fingers
people the streets with villains:
as you move, the air in front of you
blossoms with targets

and you leave behind you a heroic
trail of desolation:
beer bottles
slaughtered by the side
of the road, bird-
skulls bleaching in the sunset.

I ought to be watching
from behind a cliff or a cardboard storefront
when the shooting starts, hands clasped
in admiration,

but I am elsewhere.
Then what about me

what about the I
confronting you on that border
you are always trying to cross?

I am the horizon
you ride towards, the thing you can never lasso

I am also what surrounds you:
my brain
scattered with your
tincans, bones, empty shells,
the litter of your invasions.

I am the space you desecrate
as you pass through.

Margaret Atwood

(author's LINK)

Algoma Hill - Lawren Harris,1920

a landscape from an area north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
117-by 137-centimetres oil on canvas and board.
Harris was a founding member of the Group of Seven.

un paysage d'une région au nord de Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
117-137-centimètres par huile sur toile et bois.
Harris a été membre fondateur du Groupe des Sept.

All the World's a Stage

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

William Shakespeare

(an author who had inspired another, one of my all time favourites - Fernando Pessoa - Un auteur qui a inspiré d'autres, dont l'un est un de mes favoris de tous les temps - Fernando Pessoa)

Crown me with roses

Crown me with roses,
Crown me really
                        With roses-
Roses which burn out
On a forehead burning
                        So soon out !
Crown me with roses
And with fleeting leafage.
                         That will do.

Ricardo Reis

Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) had at least 70 heteronyms.
The heteronyms: Alberto Caeiro, Ricardo Reis
and Álvaro de Campos are among those most common.
- the above poem and some of the others that were
originally written in English can be found here - This Link

Swallows - Benjamin Chee Chee, 1974

And last but definitely not least...

The wonderful Emile NELLIGAN (1879-1941)

Et enfin, il pourrait bien être le début, en effet... La merveilleuse Emile NELLIGAN

Chopin

Fais, au blanc frisson de tes doigts,
Gémir encore, ô ma maîtresse !
Cette marche dont la caresse
Jadis extasia les rois.

Sous les lustres aux prismes froids,
Donne à ce coeur sa morne ivresse,
Aux soirs de funèbre paresse
Coulés dans ton boudoir hongrois.

Que ton piano vibre et pleure,
Et que j'oublie avec toi l'heure
Dans un Eden, on ne sait où...

Oh ! fais un peu que je comprenne
Cette âme aux sons noirs qui m'entraîne
Et m'a rendu malade et fou !

. . . . .

This is a long POST, I know, but it's been quite a while since last I visited

either of my Canadas: Upper, Lower, or any other for that matter...

A Happy day to everyone, Canadian and Non-Canadian alike.

Solstice - The longest day of the year - a celebration of 3 friends

2011-06-21T12:15:00.003Z

Today is truly a solar day..

Three close freinds -

It marks the birth of a very dear friend, the Summer.

It is also the day another arrives by plane and yet another was born.

.. I thus post a portrait of three hitting the dunes.

I'm almost certain there had to be a reason for the day's sunny length in this hemisphere.

So I leave you with the above music, an ink drawing and a wish for a happy summer to all.

In virtue of this every changing world I also bring unto you the animal that is truly symbolic of the hemesphere and the day's age..

The creature is not only magnificent it is truly a sight to see (at a safe distance of course)

(taken from a National Geographic article / link below)

« From childhood we create a picture of our physical world: The sky is blue, the Arctic is white. But before this century ends—and perhaps much sooner—most of the Arctic is predicted to be blue water every summer.
Can a blue Arctic support polar bears? Only in the short run, Amstrup and Stirling say.
Currents still cram drifting sea ice against the Canadian Arctic Islands and northern Greenland in summer, creating pockets that may retain enough ice to support polar bears through this century. If we can reduce the warming of the atmosphere, Amstrup says, it will not be too late for polar bears, but "if the world keeps warming, ultimately even those last refuges will fail to sustain the icon of the Arctic." »

LINK - Polar Bear

..... despite the day's celebration and still on the topic of natural habitat, in recollection of a bear's evermore painful duty to swim beyond its means
and I quote from the above link:

« (...) In 2008 a radio-collared bear with a yearling cub swam an astounding 427 miles to reach the ice off the northern Alaska coast. The cub didn't make it. Researchers counting bowhead whales in September 2004 spotted four dead polar bears afloat after a storm in the Beaufort Sea. Scientists estimated that as many as 27 bears may have drowned in that one storm.
(...) »

State Of The Ocean: 'Shocking' Report Warns Of Mass Extinction From Current Rate Of Marine Distress

share this story - Link
containing the original article.

If the current actions contributing to a multifaceted degradation of the world's oceans aren't curbed, a mass extinction unlike anything human history has ever seen is coming, an expert panel of scientists warns in an alarming new report.

The preliminary report from the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) is the result of the first-ever interdisciplinary international workshop examining the combined impact of all of the stressors currently affecting the oceans, including pollution, warming, acidification, overfishing and hypoxia.

“The findings are shocking," Dr. Alex Rogers, IPSO's scientific director, said in a statement released by the group. "This is a very serious situation demanding unequivocal action at every level. We are looking at consequences for humankind that will impact in our lifetime, and worse, our children's and generations beyond that."

The scientific panel concluded that degeneration in the oceans is happening much faster than has been predicted, and that the combination of factors currently distressing the marine environment is contributing to the precise conditions that have been associated with all major extinctions in the Earth's history.

According to the report, three major factors have been present in the handful of mass extinctions that have occurred in the past: an increase of both hypoxia (low oxygen) and anoxia (lack of oxygen that creates "dead zones") in the oceans, warming and acidification. The panel warns that the combination of these factors will inevitably cause a mass marine extinction if swift action isn't taken to improve conditions.

The report is the latest of several published in recent months examining the dire conditions of the oceans. A recent World Resources Institute report suggests that all coral reefs could be gone by 2050 if no action is taken to protect them, while a study published earlier this year in BioScience declares oysters as "functionally extinct", their populations decimated by over-harvesting and disease. Just last week scientists forecasted that this year's Gulf "dead zone" will be the largest in history due to increased runoff from the Mississippi River dragging in high levels of nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers.

A recent study in the journal Nature, meanwhile, suggests that not only will the next mass extinction be man-made, but that it could already be underway. Unless humans make significant changes to their behavior, that is.
Advertisement

The IPSO report calls for such changes, recommending actions in key areas: immediate reduction of CO2 emissions, coordinated efforts to restore marine ecosystems, and universal implementation of the precautionary principle so "activities proceed only if they are shown not to harm the ocean singly or in combination with other activities." The panel also calls for the UN to swiftly introduce an "effective governance of the High Seas."

"The challenges for the future of the ocean are vast, but unlike previous generations we know what now needs to happen," Dan Laffoley of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and co-author of the report said in a press release for the new report. "The time to protect the blue heart of our planet is now, today and urgent."

_____________________________

   Today being a day of jubilation and being thankful - I'll leave the subject for 48hrs .

An entire season and friend was born upon this day, and another's arrival pushes me towards celebration..
Tommorrow I'll bring you a sunnny beach..

    Once again - Happy Summer

One year ago yesterday was the day the world bade him a physical goodbye

2011-06-19T18:46:00.004Z

José Saramago (November 16, 1922 - June 18, 2010)

... in remembrance.

________________________________
(Quoted text from - EL PAÍS)

Saramago regresa a Lisboa
En el primer aniversario de la muerte del escritor, Pilar del Río, su compañera durante los últimos 24 años, deposita la urna con sus cenizas bajo un olivo cerca de la Casa dos Bicos

Las cenizas de José Saramago, premio Nobel de Literatura 1998, reposan desde hoy en Lisboa. Al cumplirse el primer aniversario de la muerte del escritor, Pilar del Río, su compañera durante los últimos 24 años, ha depositado la urna bajo un olivo trasplantado de Azinhaga, pueblo natal del novelista, frente a la que será sede de la Fundación José Saramago, en la emblemática Casa dos Bicos, junto al río Tajo. Ha sido un acto sencillo, emotivo y simbólico, en el que Violante, la hija del escritor, ha colocado junto a las cenizas un ejemplar del libro Palabras para José Saramago, editado para la ocasión, y que el alcalde de la ciudad, António Costa, ha cubierto con tierra de Lanzarote, donde Saramago vivió desde 1993. Gabriela Canavilhas, ministra de Cultura del Gobierno saliente, intelectuales, familiares y amigos han estado en la última despedida. Y también, varios líderes del Partido Comunista, al que Saramago estuvo afiliado hasta su muerte.

Una novela sobre la humanidad
¿Los ateos reflejan mejor la idea de Dios?
Saramago cuestiona la democracia y el Dios de la Biblia en dos polémicas novelas
'El viaje del elefante' y 'El hombre duplicado' de Saramago, con EL PAÍS
Fin de semana de luto nacional en Portugal

José Saramago
A FONDO
Nacimiento:
1922
Lugar:
Azinhaga

La noticia en otros webs
webs en español
en otros idiomas

El profesor y barítono Jorge Vaz de Carvalho ha leído algunos fragmentos deliciosos de Palabras para una ciudad, como el que afirma que "Basta que Lisboa sea lo que tiene que ser: culta, moderna, limpia, organizada, sin perder nada de su alma. Y si todas estas bondades acabaran por hacer de ella una reina, pues que así sea. En la república que somos siempre serán bienvenidas reinas así".
La escritora Lídia Jorge ha recordado "las miles de páginas" que Saramago escribió "sobre la utopía", y ha pedido que el rincón con el olivo y un banco con vista al río, sea un lugar de parada de aquellos que tienen prisa. Como soñó el escritor, que no pudo ver inaugurado su despacho en la Casa dos Bicos. El alcalde de Lisboa, ha destacado la combinación del olivo de Azinhaga, donde nació, y la tierra de Lanzarote, "donde pensó y escribió".
A un año de su muerte, Saramago es recordado estos días en numerosos rincones del mundo. Lisboa, Madrid, México, Italia. Mañana, el Centro Cultural de Belem, en la capital portuguesa, presentará el espectáculo Las siete últimas palabras de Cristo, con música de Joseph Haydn, interpretada por la Orquesta Sinfónica Portuguesa, y textos del escritor. "Ha sido un año sin José, pero ha sido un año con Saramago", ha dicho Pilar del Río, al recordar los numerosos actos, conferencias y recuerdos sobre el gran escritor portugués, que ha vuelto para siempre a su tierra.

Pilar del Río, viuda del escritor portugués José Saramago, deposita las cenizas del Premio Nobel de Literatura al pie de un olivo de su tierra natal, junto a la sede de su Fundación en Lisboa.- FRANCISCO SECO

(end of quote)

For this reason today I bring

three things:
a picture, a piece and a quote (Saramago)

1 piece of music remarkably performed by very young students yesterday in concert. Here it is presented in a video clip performed by others.
1 scented rose

A human being is a being who is constantly 'under construction,' but also, in a parallel fashion, always in a state of constant destruction. - José Saramago

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

It has never made any sense to me that an author be evaluated though political or religious views and/or standing. Where would George Orwell, Steinbeck, Franz Kafka, ...Dali, ...Charlie Haden, and numerous others be if their country treated them thusly..

It took 76 years for the ban on Galileos's writings to be lifted.
Despite the wishes and intentions of grand duke of Tuscany - Ferdinando II de' Medici, to have this man burried in the main body of the Basilica of Santa Croce, in Florence... funeral rites as planned by the ruler were protested and postponed on account and his having been condemned by the Catholic Church for "vehement suspicion of heresy". It took 95 years after Galileo's death to the Grand Duke's wishes to be granted.

Although Church and State were formally separated in Portugal after the fall of the Monarchy.. and the onset of the country's First Republic ( a separation that was reiterated in the 1976 constitution ), this country's leadership (The President being the highest ranking Leader..)
upon the death of Saramago was on holidays and pretended the man hadn't existed.
They took no note, no official act was held, no homage, nothing whatsoever.
This is the same person who's government had barred 20 years ago the man's work... as can be read below.

You can read directly from this LINK
the following:

Portuguese novelist Jose Saramago, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1998, has died at the age of 87, his publisher has announced.
Saramago, a communist and atheist, only began to become recognised for his work in his fifties.
One of his best-known novels is Blindness, written in 1995, which tells the story of a country whose entire population lose their sight.
He had been due to appear at Edinburgh's book festival in August.
Saramago moved to Lanzarote in the early 1990s after opposition from Portugal's right-wing government to his controversial work The Gospel According to Jesus Christ.
The administration barred his work from being entered in the European Literary Prize on the grounds that it was offensive to Catholics.

(BBC article made 1 year ago, yesterday)

Yesterday, one year later, during a symbolic ceremony his ashes were placed next an olive tree that had also been planted in front of the Foundation bearing his name.
His wife and daughter, along with the city's mayor, some of the author's closest friends, the head of one of the oppositional parties, and a vast number of anonymous people (public in general, tourists...) attended this moment laden with symbolism.

The foundation is located in one of the capital city's most significant edifices, The House of Spikes.
It's façade faces the ancient river entrance into Europe - The Tagus.

The Head of State (soon to be forgotten.. contrary to Saramago), once more was no where to be found..
Not even any of his workers were seen hobbling about..
I wonder, aren't they public service workers?

If they're paid by us, why do they find it in their right to miss a day's work without justification
Or if it be the case instead, why should they be permitted incompetence??

Unemployment keeps climbing so why doesn't it affect these people?

Truly a happy day, the day he was born...June13 (one of the world's literary treasures, Fernando Pessoa, would be 123 years old today.

2011-06-14T01:13:00.015Z

The man who was a myriad of men.

- Nasceu há 123 anos, estamos de parabéns.. !!!

"[...] Somos estrangeiros
Onde quer que moremos. [...]

(Ricardo Reis, Poesia, 127, p. 125)"

______________________________

«
Oh, the savagery of this savagery! To hell
with every life like ours, this is not
what life is about!
Here I am, an engineer, forced to be practical,
sensitive to everything,
Here I am, motionless, in relation to you,
even when I walk;
Even when I act, I am inert;
when I’m in command, I am weak;
Immutable, broken, a dissenter, a coward before
your Glory,
Before your great dynamics,
strident, hot and soaked in blood!»

Although some of his heteronyms were Anglophone, (and Francophone... )
I chose this poem translated from one of his Portuguese personae, it came came from - LINK

_______________________________

Poema do Menino Jesus  

Num meio-dia de fim de Primavera
Tive um sonho como uma fotografia.
Vi Jesus Cristo descer à terra.
Veio pela encosta de um monte
Tornado outra vez menino,
A correr e a rolar-se pela erva
E a arrancar flores para as deitar fora
E a rir de modo a ouvir-se de longe.

Tinha fugido do céu.
Era nosso demais para fingir
De segunda pessoa da Trindade.
No céu tudo era falso, tudo em desacordo
Com flores e árvores e pedras.
No céu tinha que estar sempre sério
E de vez em quando de se tornar outra vez homem
E subir para a cruz, e estar sempre a morrer
Com uma coroa toda à roda de espinhos
E os pés espetados por um prego com cabeça,
E até com um trapo à roda da cintura
Como os pretos nas ilustrações.
Nem sequer o deixavam ter pai e mãe
Como as outras crianças.
O seu pai era duas pessoas
- Um velho chamado José, que era carpinteiro,
E que não era pai dele;
E o outro pai era uma pomba estúpida,
A única pomba feia do mundo
Porque nem era do mundo nem era pomba.
E a sua mãe não tinha amado antes de o ter.
Não era mulher: era uma mala
Em que ele tinha vindo do céu.
E queriam que ele, que só nascera da mãe,
E que nunca tivera pai para amar com respeito,
Pregasse a bondade e a justiça!
Um dia que Deus estava a dormir
E o Espírito Santo andava a voar,
Ele foi à caixa dos milagres e roubou três.
Com o primeiro fez que ninguém soubesse que ele tinha fugido.
Com o segundo criou-se eternamente humano e menino.
Com o terceiro criou um Cristo eternamente na cruz
E deixou-o pregado na cruz que há no céu
E serve de modelo às outras.

Depois fugiu para o Sol
E desceu no primeiro raio que apanhou.
Hoje vive na minha aldeia comigo.
É uma criança bonita de riso e natural.
Limpa o nariz ao braço direito,
Chapinha nas poças de água,
Colhe as flores e gosta delas e esquece-as.
Atira pedras aos burros,
Rouba a fruta dos pomares
E foge a chorar e a gritar dos cães.
E, porque sabe que elas não gostam
E que toda a gente acha graça,
Corre atrás das raparigas
Que vão em ranchos pelas estradas
Com as bilhas às cabeças
E levanta-lhes as saias.
A mim ensinou-me tudo.

Ensinou-me a olhar para as coisas.
Aponta-me todas as coisas que há nas flores.
Mostra-me como as pedras são engraçadas
Quando a gente as tem na mão
E olha devagar para elas.
Diz-me muito mal de Deus.
Diz que ele é um velho estúpido e doente,
Sempre a escarrar para o chão
E a dizer indecências.
A Virgem Maria leva as tardes da eternidade a fazer meia.
E o Espírito Santo coça-se com o bico
E empoleira-se nas cadeiras e suja-as.
Tudo no céu é estúpido como a Igreja Católica.
Diz-me que Deus não percebe nada
Das coisas que criou
- "Se é que ele as criou, do que duvido."
- "Ele diz por exemplo, que os seres cantam a sua glória,
Mas os seres não cantam nada.
Se cantassem seriam cantores.

Os seres existem e mais nada,
E por isso se chamam seres."
E depois, cansado de dizer mal de Deus,
O Menino Jesus adormece nos meus braços
E eu levo-o ao colo para casa.
Ele mora comigo na minha casa a meio do outeiro.
Ele é a Eterna Criança, o deus que faltava.
Ele é o humano que é natural.
Ele é o divino que sorri e que brinca.
E por isso é que eu sei com toda a certeza
Que ele é o Menino Jesus verdadeiro.
E a criança tão humana que é divina
É esta minha quotidiana vida de poeta,
E é por que ele anda sempre comigo que eu sou poeta sempre.
E que o meu mínimo olhar
Me enche de sensação,
E o mais pequeno som, seja do que for,
Parece falar comigo.

A Criança Nova que habita onde vivo
Dá-me uma mão a mim E outra a tudo que existe
E assim vamos os três pelo caminho que houver,
Saltando e cantando e rindo
E gozando o nosso segredo comum
Que é saber por toda a parte
Que não há mistério no mundo E que tudo vale a pena.

A Criança Eterna acompanha-me sempre.
A direcção do meu olhar é o seu dedo apontado.
O meu ouvido atento alegremente a todos os sons
São as cócegas que ele me faz, brincando, nas orelhas.
Damo-nos tão bem um com o outro
Na companhia de tudo Que nunca pensamos um no outro,
Mas vivemos juntos e dois Com um acordo íntimo
Como a mão direita e a esquerda.
Ao anoitecer brincamos as cinco pedrinhas
No degrau da porta de casa,
Graves como convém a um deus e a um poeta,
E como se cada pedra
Fosse todo o universo
E fosse por isso um grande perigo para ela
Deixá-la cair no chão.

Depois eu conto-lhe histórias das coisas só dos homens
E ele sorri porque tudo é incrível.
Ri dos reis e dos que não são reis,
E tem pena de ouvir falar das guerras,
E dos comércios, e dos navios
Que ficam fumo no ar dos altos mares.
Porque ele sabe que tudo isso falta àquela verdade
Que uma flor tem ao florescer
E que anda com a luz do Sol
A variar os montes e os vales
E a fazer doer aos olhos dos muros caiados.
Depois ele adormece e eu deito-o.
Levo-o ao colo para dentro de casa
E deito-o, despindo-o lentamente
E como seguindo um ritual muito limpo
E todo materno até ele estar nu.
Ele dorme dentro da minha alma
E às vezes acorda de noite
E brinca com os meus sonhos.
Vira uns de pernas para o ar,
Põe uns em cima dos outros
E bate palmas sozinho Sorrindo para o meu sono.


Quando eu morrer, filhinho,
Seja eu a criança, o mais pequeno.
Pega-me tu ao colo
E leva-me para dentro da tua casa.
Despe o meu ser cansado e humano
E deita-me na tua cama.
E conta-me histórias, caso eu acorde,
Para eu tornar a adormecer.
E dá-me sonhos teus para eu brincar
Até que nasça qualquer dia Que tu sabes qual é.


Esta é a história do meu Menino Jesus.
Por que razão que se perceba
Não há-de ser ela mais verdadeira
Que tudo quanto os filósofos pensam
E tudo quanto as religiões ensinam ?                      


Alberto Caeiro

List of images (lista de imagéns):

Fernando Pessoa encontra D. Sebastião num caixão sobre um burro ajaezado à andaluza - Júlio Pomar, 1985

Edgar Poe, Fernando Pessoa e o Corvo - Júlio Pomar, 1983
Fernando Pessoa (J. Pomar - Estação Alto dos Moinhos do Metropolitano de Lisboa, (1983-84)
Fernando Pessoa - Artur Bual, 1987
Photograph - 1914
Fernando Pessoa - Almada Negreiros, 1954

Eduardo Souto de Moura - 2011 Architectural Nobel.. (Pritzker Prize)

2011-06-04T11:55:00.000Z

The prize bestowed upon Souto de Moura by one whom being fom Chicago, a city I have always held dear, truly knows what great great architecture is all about.

We thus honour and pay tribute to the world class architect, rejoice in his prize and offer sincere congratulations.

Museum in Venice - Italy

London (Pavillion)

OPORTO, Portugal (Conservatory of Music)

- White House ceremony

- a short documentary regarding the architect

- Part TWO - SPAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 27 / Maio - 2011 (the buck stops here.. )

2011-05-27T20:23:00.002Z

a dear friend has brought to my attention the following two video clips

They are definitely worth watching, the first with numbening horror,
(remember.. this is SPAIN.. )

VIDEO 1
Duras cargas policiales en Barcelona - Vídeo Duras cargas policiales en Barcelona - 20minutos.tv

(TO view the first video clip - use this link )

the other (the second) with deep pride in those who can overcome..
OLÉ!!!

The Second Video Clip -

To fight back, to take back the streets.. to re-conquer
to not be broken
OLÉ!!!

Here's to the Spaniards!!!
I leave you with..

SPAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 27 / Maio - 2011 (the buck stops here.. )

2011-05-27T17:46:00.013Z

Currently the face of a broken European Union, Spain reflects that which no one is willing to see, being blinded by either stupidity & pig headedness, or lack of "honesty".

Said people being: the authorities, the law (unjust as they are),
Heads of State, politicians in general and there make believe different poiltical parties,
political comentators & opinion makers,
plus the majority of today's so called users of "free expression" (make me laugh) allegedly heard
through the media & mass media.
As is well known they had for the most part been bought out decades ago (let's say at least by - mid eighties)
to the highest bidder regardless of ideology/theology etc.

- or rather, bought out by power hungry thieves that stop at no end to help themselves to what's not their's by right.

Europe in the past weeks has begun an upheaval and this weekend the temperature has risen to the boiling point.
The winds of havoc and revolt are in the air as authorities damage and hurt their own people in order to keep democracy at bay and away from the slightest chance of people becoming civically responsible for their own lives.

I speak of people who desperately cling to a chance of not allowing their fellow man to starve or be diminished.

This is truly a struggle for Humanity and human dignity..
Outrage is in the streets of Europe and no one wants to talk about it.

Heaven help us all

Time is not only of essence but crucial, and whomsoever thinks change is not here could not be more mentally blind.

He or she has either been bought out, and thus victimizes their own,
or is truly bereft of any form of judgement.

...

...

...

(The above photographs were not taken by me nor anyone I personally know. Even if I did, I would on no account whatsoever reveal their name)

SPAIN - Chick Corea + Hiromi Uehara

2º Encontro de Música improvisada - MIA (este fim de semana - 28 e 29 de Maio)

2011-05-27T08:36:00.001Z

(texto e imagens retirados directamente de MIA (Paulo Chagas)

Programa (actualizado)
Sábado, 28 de Maio

15:00 – Relentless - Artur Vidal (saxofone alto) e Sébastien Branche (saxofone tenor)

15:30 – Kalendar - Stephen Shiell (guitarra) e Paul Ibram (moog)

16:30 – grupos aleatórios

18:30 – Ensemble MIA

21:30 – Debate sobre as estéticas contemporâneas experimentais

22:30 – PREC - Paulo Ramos (voz), Paulo Chagas (flauta), Fernando Simões (trombone), Paulo Duarte (guitarra), João Pedro Viegas (clarinetes) e Miguel Falcão (contrabaixo)

23:00 - ZNGR ElectroAcoustic Ensemble - Carlos Zíngaro (violino/electrónica), Emidio Buchinho (guitarra/ microfone/electrónica) e Carlos Santos (microfones/electrónica)

Domingo, 29 de Maio

9:30 – Workshop com Reiner Hess

15:00 – grupos aleatórios

17:30 – Shagara Olaeia - Chrop (concertina, violino) e Bruna Serralva Olaeia (flauta, voz, castanholas, darbuka, electrónica)

18:00 – Abdul Moimême (guitarras eléctricas preparadas) e Ricardo Guerreiro (electrónica)

18:30 – Luís Vicente (trompete, fliscorne) e Jari Marjamaki (electrónica)

21:30 – Ernesto Rodrigues (viola), Gianna de Toni (contrabaixo) e Guilherme Rodrigues (violoncelo)

22:00 - Ensemble MIA dirigido por Vasco Pearce de Azevedo

Participantes nos grupos aleatórios:

Carola Ortiz Rodó, Umut Caglar, Paulo Curado, Fernando Guiomar, Daniel del Rio, Liam Slevin, Ricardo A. Freitas, Nuno Morão, Hyaena Fierling Reich, Ricardo Jacinto, João Parrinha, Manuel Guimarães, Jorge Lampreia, Paulo Galão, Monsieur Trinité, Nuno Lima, Pedro Maia e Silva, Eduardo Chagas, Pedro Portugal, Eduardo Cunha, Daniel Neto, Jorge Vicario (entre outros)

Celebrating Joe Cocker.. born May 20th

2011-05-21T00:47:00.006Z

With A Little Help From My Friends
***

There are times when silence and bewildered contemplation are the closest of friends
and moments within the hideout of a crowd where we find shattering inexistence or the cool hand that delivers a cold escape into a sea doubt
Engulfed in protective purpose to keep those loved from our mystery,
our burden, our sorrow we forget
that paying attention to others is still the only true form of overcoming ourselves, or succeeding in said protective will.

At bleak hours those we love unaware of themselves enter and surround the pain with heaven's sweet laughter..

To all, regardless, sex, age, creed, physical features or tribe - I truly wish a happy and enlightened Easter

2011-04-22T16:22:00.000Z

Eurico Carrapatoso - "Ó vos omnes"

Artur Bual

Cristo (1998)
Tipo: Desenho
Dimensions: 41 cm x 30 cm
Techniques: Carvão sobre papel

Paixão - Passion

2011-04-22T12:02:00.059Z

Não sei se o contrário de morrer é nascer, ou sequer re-nascer, embora este último implica o estar em estado de memórias actualizadas...
Mas como não sei se serão, ou não, o que digo..., se serão apenas nós numa gigantesca arvore de existência, ou não; só sei não saber, contudo sei que estão ligados de forma umbilical.
.. Behold the Lamb of God

This playlist contains the entire passion (aqui neste 'leitor' pode ouvir a obra na integra)

Bach.. his passion..
Directly -with each note, each intense silent beat.. each whispered breath, we are thus taken to he whom had died on the cross... to His passion.

this playlist contains the entire passion (aqui neste "leitor" pode ouvir a obra na integra)

.
.

Cuts are not the cure - Austerity, and also a great thinker's words on politics and politicians

2011-04-19T01:20:00.018Z

A voice from the not too distant past that is ever so present seems too timlessly echo and haunt as a linguering backdrop that seemingly, and unfortunately for us remains in a blind spot where the key players on stage blunder perilously unaware of their own vices and actions. Bereft of common sence they are deaf to this voice.

I leave his words, the words of a man of profound and fecund thought.. (LINK - short ENGLISH BIO.)

the following is in Portuguese:(although the video and a link to a PDF file regarding austerity by others below are in English)

Autor: Silva , Agostinho

Podes, e deves, ter ideias políticas, mas, por favor, as «tuas» ideias políticas, não as ideias do teu partido; o «teu» comportamento, não o comportamento dos teus líderes; os interesses de «toda» a Humanidade, não os interesses de uma «parte» dela. E lembra-te de que «parte» é a etimologia de «partido».

Fonte: "Os Três Dragões"

Autor: Silva , Agostinho

Politicos

Os políticos, em lugar de se ajudarem entre si e uns aos outros nesta tarefa difícil que é administrarem um país, em que se tem ao mesmo tempo que olhar o presente com todo o cuidado objectivo, e ter a maior confiança no que se pode concretizar de futuro, em lugar de os políticos se ajudarem uns aos outros, se auxiliarem, a realmente levar essa tarefa por diante, tantas vezes se entretêm, em todos os países, a lutar uns com os outros, a desacreditarem-se uns aos outros, como se isso pudesse fazer avançar seja o que for.

Fonte: "Entrevista"

Autor: Silva , Agostinho

LINK

(onde encontrei estas citações)

Tão pertinente aos nossos dias quão genial. Este dom da intemporalidade, aliás estes dons, os da intemporalidade e da sabedoria são raríssimos... Assim como o bem senso na maioria da nossa classe politica

(não digo toda, porque não acredito em profissões/vocações em que todos são uns anjinhos ou uns diabinhos)

Este "Post" que originalmente datava de 27 de Março, foi publicado hoje para assim incluir as citações de Agostinho da Silva

Passos Coelho, chumbou PEC 4, por achar que não é duro que chegue.. etc - no JN

The Watson Institute presents Mark Blyth on Austerity

Cuts Are Not The Cure

Cuts are not the Cure - PDF

..
.

Não dizer mentiras.. (aos três partidos que têm des-governado Portugal, sem excepção, e o actual Presidente)

2011-04-18T17:36:00.005Z

Dedico esta imagem e o vídeo que se segue aos nossos queridos partidos que se preparam para ir a eleições sabendo dante mão que estas serão ainda mais caricatas que o costume, ao estar acordado que quem nos irá governar a partir de Junho, independentemente quem ganhar, é o FMI mais o BCE.

Alguém é capaz de explicar como vão nos encarar para estas próximas eleições...

E perdoe-me os que só culpabilizam o Sr. Sócrates.. Essa... só se for para para rir.. Não é menos responsável quem está na oposição, de modo algum. Aliás, ouço muitos desses (Principalmente o Sr. Coelho) a desejarem publicamente tal coisa.. e afirmar que o pacote de austeridade que era proposto precisamente pelo BCE / FMI etc .. não era suficiente..


fotografia tirada por mim com um telemóvel, por esse motivo lê-se mal o que está escrito. transcrevo: * NOVIDADE FRANGO DE 4 PERNAS VENHA PROVAR *

Segue assim o seguinte video, para todos eles.. do CDS pelo menos até ao PS, e claro, para o excelentíssimo Sr. Presidente da República.

"Não dizer mentiras"

Este video encontrei na página FB de uma amiga.. e
lembrei-me logo dos dias que temos pela frente..

Chegou o nosso dono!!! (Como diz, e bem o jornal "Este é o novo administrador de Portugal")

2011-04-12T09:34:00.010Z

Oh - toda eu sou um repuxo de felicidade!!!

ai........

Tem graça este senhor ..

a ver se me lembre do nome... hmmmmm...

(é um animalzeco qual quer .

.. hei-de me lembrar)

Tem graça que ao fazer das suas brincadeirinhas politiqueiras e chumbar o PEC IV, que ele queira reinar (ou renar..) o que dantes era Portugal e que agora é a

"FMI-ó-Lândia"...

E agora??

Não foi ele que causou o tal chumbar das ideias de Fevereiro passado (PEC IV ... dizendo que era... mal feito.. fruto de imcompetência.. etc),

quando cá esteve o homem (o nosso querido administrador..) e que foram pensadas por este seu amo e senhor com tanto carinho...??

Que vai ele dizer agora ao seu dono??

Ai! O homem acaba de chegar... e este bichito (PPC) deve lá estar todo feliz.. de rabo a abanar e aos pulos.
- ui ui!!

Teve o dono aqui em Fevereiro para elaborar o tal PEC.. que ele tão felíz e inocente chumbou.. e dá ao rabo furiosamente só por imaginar o cheirinho do seu dono, não hesitou em morder o PEC não sabendo que era de seu dono.. tadinho

Estou tão preocupada com ele, é que estou fartinha de o ouvir a dizer que quer (perdão: "não se importa")
GOVERNAR o país ao lado de seu dono... ah, já sei!! Como o dono é altruísta e perdoa tudo, vai só punir ... os.. ahpoisestáclaro!!!

Por falar de altruismo, pelos vistos consta-se que sejamos muito.., muito mesmo..
(ver uma das notícias aqui citada mais abaixo.. sobre: "OCDE: portugueses trabalham muito... e muito de borla")

Já sei

o nome que não me ocorria... acho que é o Bugs Bunny

(ou algo assim..) pois

... e foi há 50 anos que este

first man in space - April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin

foi passear no espaço, também quero ir...

e hoje ...
um dia em que parece que só quero citar terceiros
- desta vez da "IOL - Agencia Financeira"

OCDE: portugueses trabalham muito... e muito de borla

Só México e Japão estão à nossa frente na soma entre as horas pagas e não pagas

2011-04-12 11:55

Só os mexicanos e os japoneses estão à nossa frente. Portugal é a terceira nação onde mais se trabalha no conjunto dos países da Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Económico, se tivermos em conta as funções pagas e não pagas. É o que mostra a última edição do «Society at Glance», que apresenta uma visão geral das tendências sociais e desenvolvimentos políticos nos países da OCDE.

Trabalhamos, em média, 8,8 horas por dia. Quase quatro de borla. É uma realidade aparentemente paradoxal. É que os economistas alertam para a falta de competitividade do país e o próprio FMI chega a Portugal querendo medidas que façam o país crescer.

Se o valor do trabalho não remunerado equivale a cerca de um terço do Produto Interno Bruto no conjunto dos países da OCDE, em Portugal dispara para 53%. Ou seja, mais de metade da riqueza criada.

Notícia que se segue - aqui

Na notícia que se segue fiquei deslumbrada sobretudo com esta parte aqui:

Cavaco Silva reuniu-se presencialmente com os líderes de todos os partidos (desde quarta-feira). O i sabe que o Presidente mantêm a insistência numa "solução interina" de apoio a Portugal até às eleições antecipadas de 5 de Junho. Uma ideia que Bruxelas já rejeitou, pela voz do finlandês Olli Rehn, o comissário europeu para os Assuntos Económicos. Mas Cavaco Silva terá esperança de que, passado o período eleitoral na Finlândia (que tem tido reservas sobre o resgate português), possa existir um desbloqueio de outras opções, em Bruxelas, para resolver o caso português.

- é mesmo lindo isto, não é??

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(notícia)

FMI em Portugal. Este é o novo administrador de Portugal

por Ana Suspiro e Rita Tavares, Publicado em 12 de Abril de 2011 | Actualizado há 10 horas

Avaliação essencial já foi feita em Fevereiro. Falta garantir o compromisso político. Belém já falou com todos os partidos e insiste na solução interina

Audio

Hoje é

o primeiro dia da nova austeridade que vai entrar peloHoje é o primeiro dia da nova austeridade que vai entrar pelo país para ficar pelo menos três anos. Os técnicos do FMI chegam hoje a Lisboa, conforme divulgou ontem o gabinete de comunicação da instituição. A troika - especialistas do Banco Central Europeu, Comissão Europeia e FMI - vai avaliar as necessidades do país e alinhavar um programa de ajustamento com as autoridades portuguesas. Mas o essencial da lição já vem bem estudado.

As autoridades europeias, em particular o BCE, já tem muita informação sobre a economia portuguesa e já terão feito o diagnóstico das reformas que vão ter de avançar mais rapidamente. A equipa que esteve em Portugal na elaboração do PEC IV, em Fevereiro, teve inúmeras reuniões sectoriais com técnicos de vários ministérios, mas também com os reguladores, como a Autoridade da Concorrência e a ERSE (Energia), por exemplo, soube o i. Estas reuniões técnicas decorreram em paralelo com encontros entre os coordenadores do grupo e responsáveis já de nível político liderados pelas Finanças.

Nessas reuniões, os técnicos do BCE e da Comissão Europeia queriam sobretudo saber porque é que algumas reformas ainda não estavam no terreno - lei das rendas, reforma laboral, plano de privatizações e saneamento das empresas de transportes, foram os casos referidos ao i - e perguntaram ao governo o que estava a fazer para as implementar rapidamente. Boa parte destas indicações surgiu reflectida no PEC IV, programa que o Executivo já assumiu que será a base das negociações com a troika.

Na altura, os técnicos questionaram ainda o nível de concorrência em alguns sectores e a própria eficácia do modelo português nesta área e as medidas para fazer baixar o preço da energia. Fonte governamental admitiu ainda ao i que nesta fase se comece já a quantificar as medidas que serão necessárias para atingir os objectivos de consolidação orçamental até 2013 - medidas de austeridade adicional com impacto a curto prazo no orçamento e no défice.

Álvaro Almeida, economista que trabalhou no FMI entre 1997 e 2000 (integrou as equipas que estiveram no México, Venezuela e Arménia), confirma: a primeira etapa da troika "deverá ser muito rápida, uma vez que a situação portuguesa já estava a ser acompanhada de perto", diz o economista.

Cavaco insiste A 18 de Abril começa a fase mais difícil: a negociação política com um governo em gestão e uma oposição disponível, mas não para compromissos de longo prazo.

José Sócrates já disse que o governo vai liderar as reuniões, mas ainda não se conhecem os moldes. Os ministérios - pelos quais o i fez uma ronda para saber que informações concretas tinham sido solicitadas pelas Finanças - estão em silêncio absoluto e remetem qualquer resposta para o gabinete de Teixeira dos Santos, onde tudo estará concentrado. Mas do gabinete do responsável pelas Finanças, o que dizem é que estes encontros da troika "são reuniões técnicas fechadas à comunicação social" e nada mais.

De São Bento o mote também é de silêncio absoluto sobre como vai Sócrates passar à acção na promessa que fez de liderar o processo negocial, garantido o "acompanhamento por todos os órgãos de soberania e por parte dos partidos políticos". O gabinete de Sócrates esteve incontactável toda a tarde de ontem.

O Presidente da República já cumpriu com as diligências que lhe foram pedidas pelo governo. Cavaco Silva reuniu-se presencialmente com os líderes de todos os partidos (desde quarta-feira). O i sabe que o Presidente mantêm a insistência numa "solução interina" de apoio a Portugal até às eleições antecipadas de 5 de Junho. Uma ideia que Bruxelas já rejeitou, pela voz do finlandês Olli Rehn, o comissário europeu para os Assuntos Económicos. Mas Cavaco Silva terá esperança de que, passado o período eleitoral na Finlândia (que tem tido reservas sobre o resgate português), possa existir um desbloqueio de outras opções, em Bruxelas, para resolver o caso português.

Nos últimos dias, o Presidente insistiu publicamente que Portugal já deu as garantias necessárias para um apoio imediato e mais ágil por parte de Bruxelas, uma vez que as três principais forças políticas (PS, PSD e CDS) estão de acordo sobre a necessidade de um governo maioritário. E os mesmos firmaram também o compromisso sobre as metas de consolidação orçamental até 2013. Com C. F. M e F. P. C.