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Jebus Master Apprentice and Proud Supporter of an Orwellian Society
Jul. 19th, 2009
Jul. 18th, 2009
Jul. 12th, 2009
10:22 pm - US DOJ+IRS v UBS
UBS is back in the news. They refuse to divulge the names of 52,000 Americans that have deposits with them. It's an interesting conundrum for the Swiss bankers - comply with American law or Swiss law:
The dispute between UBS and the United States has escalated into a diplomatic drama and has threatened to pierce the veil of Swiss financial secrecy. UBS and the Swiss government have said they will not disclose client names, even if ordered by a judge, because doing so would violate Swiss laws governing financial secrecy and subject UBS executives to prosecution in Switzerland.
This is a classic case of "some are more equal than others": the Joes and Janes that can't afford a Swiss bank account have to pay taxes till they bleed, while a few can evade taxes by simply parking it off-shore out of IRS's and DOJ's reach. Although, IRS did manage to ferret 250 names out of the Swiss back in the winter, watch closely as the DOJ and IRS file their teeth on this one...
Jun. 28th, 2009
Jun. 27th, 2009
06:42 pm - Wild Turkeys and Panera in Canada
Cornelia Dean wrote in the NY Times, about beavers and other wildlife:
Wild turkeys, once extirpated, now go one-on-one with suburban pedestrians in what biologists call misguided efforts to establish their dominance in a pecking order.
Today, we stumbled upon a Panera Bread franchise at Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill. So, Panera is finally expanding into Canada : three stores so far, all in GTA opened since October 2008: one at Square One, and the other two in York, RH being the first Panera in Canada. I think that only Artisano can really compete with Panera in their target demographic. It turns out that the RH location used to be a Krispy Kreme location which partially explains the cheap ceiling and wall tiles.
Jun. 4th, 2009
06:24 am - Port Isabel
While USA keeps fighting terrorists and drug lords around the world, many serious human rights violations occur within its borders. One that I learned of recently is the treatment of people at Port Isabel. There are over 1,000 of detainees there and, weirdly enough, Amnesty International considers it more important to mention Gitmo with its 250 detainees, but not Port Isabel in its 2009 annual report. That's doubly weird, since I learned about it from an email Amnesty sent out to their mailing list. Port Isabel is not on their Human Rights in USA page either.
Deporting foreign nationals that have lived in the US since they were kids (15 months or 10 years) is unbecoming of a country that was built from the ground up by immigrants. ICE detainees are not getting humane treatment if they have to resort to hunger strike for more than 5 days since April 22.
The last time, The New York Times covered extensively Port Isabel was in August 2001 when the facility had just about 600 detainees. According to a search on their website, The Washington Post never covered Port Isabel although they seem to have covered the Raymondville detention facility. Just as dire is the coverage in the LA Times and The New Yorker.
The Port Isabel wikipedia entry fails to even mention the detention center even though it's probably the town's major employer.
Shame!
Apr. 22nd, 2009
02:59 am - Lowell-Nashua Rail Transit and NH RTA
When we lived in Southern NH, there was an ongoing discussion, bubbling up into the public spotlight from time to time, about extending the Lowell-Boston commuter rail into Nashua. That extension has been in the public eye since Reagan canceled the Nashua rail pilot in 1981. There are commissions, committees, politicians and a lot of wind and no rain. The latest news of which I only learned recently is that a new NH Rail Transit Authority got established in spring 2007 by law. The authority has even managed to adopt its own by-laws earlier this year (I think?) and hired a law firm to split hairs for a few years, pulp some trees in the process and generate more hot air.
First, this authority has no funding, but it can beg for it and it can even print bonds which I am sure plenty of scripophiles will buy. Maybe if they get Goldmand Sachs or Credit Suisse to wrap the bonds a few times into some sort of CDS-like securities and get AIG to insure them for peanuts, the Feds will chip in and buy them at parity without strings attached? Hmmm...
The lack of funding should be enough to qualify it as DOA, but maybe, there will be rain from the Feds since Obama and the Demos are doling out money with a fire hose (see Feb minutes).
Second, its membership is just another cop out to the unbalanced representation in the NH legislature. For example, the mayor of Nashua has one out of 25 representatives on its board having as much power as the representative from Berlin. So, the 85,000+ people of Nashua have as much direct representation as 8,000 people from Coos County^. And since NH can't even get funding for adding 11 miles of rail service, the Berlin rep basically cancels out the Nashua rep. That's democracy at its finest for you.
I was wondering whether it would make sense if Nashua City Hall or Nashua Transit in conjunction with LRTA could run express buses to the Lowell train station? Nah, the Feds will get it going until the GOP comes back to power and pulls the plug again.
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Note: ^ - Nashua citizenry does get some indirect representation through the planning commission reps and other appointees.
Mar. 24th, 2009
03:42 am - BSG Finale
First, the whole buildup to Hera the savior was a bit of a letdown in the end or was it an intentional anti-savior statement? Didn't it seem that Kara, the imperfect hero, saved the day and/or that the whole Hera obsession unnecessarily took the colonists to the brink of extinction?
Interesting it was how Kara disappeared. Or was she an angel-like character? IMO, the batteries that powered her holographic projection just ran out of juice or Sackhoff left the live set for a drink and neither the cameraman nor the backroom editors realized that during the take or when they spliced together the scene of Adam yaking Eve away.
Kara's leading the colonists to a perfect idyllic copy of Earth (mulligan or Eden?) was unexpected, if not a luddite happy ending Hollywood-like cop-out to an otherwise perfectly dark series (ignoring the other cop-outs: Ty/Hellen or Helo/Athena/Hera). I'm collecting some flint and sharp sticks now and storing a few extra cans of pinto beans and some cereal in our pantry anyway, 'cause one never knows what tomorrow brings.
Letting the Centurions fly away on the last Star Base seemed more like a hook for a sequel, a confirmation of the "all will happen again" prophecy and/or a kumbaya moment than a lucid Adama/Roslin decision. Maybe it was the happy mushrooms they just found, or Roslin's morphine, or maybe it was Admiral Hoshi that made that call during his puppet regime? Maybe the emancipation of the Centurions was a nod to America's struggles with slavery/civil rights and/or a purely unintended nod to the struggles with native rights, to revenge through casinos and/or to animal rights?
As to the Baltar and Sex body doubles, what can I say, it makes human parthenogenesis believable. Semi-seriously tough, Baltar is the man! It gives nerds around the world hope that a sweet job with enough clearance could get them that nookie everyone keeps talking about, even if it's through Mata Hari-like vamp lucid dreams.
The flying of the dying fleet into the Sun by a comatose paraplegic was a bit of a stretch for pushing disabled affirmative hero action, though you could also interpret that subplot as a subconscious final solution for the disabled, kinda like kamikaze without a cause.
Boy, oh boy, I can't wait for the Craprica direct to DVD release next month!
Final grade: 5375A7107A1
Mar. 21st, 2009
06:17 am - Bailout bonuses, the deepening rabbit hole and Swiss banking exposed
I just found out why AIG needed $450M bonuses for lawyers. AIG is trying to keep the brightest of them while suing the US Govt (their majority holder!?) for $300M in tax refunds (and probably more in the near future) for business they did through off-shore shell companies, business that was overtaxed by IRS according to them.
Congress is gonna fix the bonus mess up by simply taxing the big bonuses at 90%! Вашингтон в огне! Не воровать из пролетариата! 敌人的人将受到惩罚。Workers of the world, unite! Or as old Marx used to say: From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.
Oh yeah, and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae execs are getting their bonuses too, although they seem to be a lot less greedy than AIG: FNMA employees are receiving a total of $105M in bonuses over the next 18 mths, while FHLMC employeess receive only $76M in bonuses over the same period according to AP, although they only requested $15B and $45B respectively in bailout `pizza coupons`.
And here is the list of largest payees of AIG's bailout:
Goldman Sachs ($12.9 billion), Merrill Lynch ($6.8 billion), Bank of America ($5.2 billion), Citigroup ($2.3 billion) and Wachovia ($1.5 billion).
Big foreign banks [...] Société Générale of France and Deutsche Bank of Germany, which each received nearly $12 billion; Barclays of Britain ($8.5 billion); and UBS of Switzerland ($5 billion).
I wonder if the UBS payout had something to do with their unprecedented move to kill the famous Swiss bank privacy rule about one month ago by divulging the names of about 250 USian account holders. The court disclosures are juicy:
The 2004 memorandum, [...] described how UBS created hundreds of “dummy” offshore corporations where its clients could hide money from the I.R.S. An e-mail message sent that year captured some of the coded language used by UBS bankers. In their world, “one nut” meant $250,000, while “one swan” meant $1 million. Colors were used to designate certain currencies. Orange, for example, represented the euro; blue, the British pound.
The coded language has certain common characteristics with the language used by another famous group of `businessmen`. Che bellezza!
Mar. 15th, 2009
11:23 pm - Fracked up!
It seems that the folks at AIG decided that it's OK to siphon off $165M in bonuses from the $170B bailout honeypot, to "retain the best and the brightest talent" in the industry. WTF!? AIG also has a $450 million bonus pool to outside lawyers. You gotta be fracking kidding me!!? So, the US fed govt owns 80% of AIG, and you're telling me that they can't renegotiate those bonuses even though they're double-reaming the auto unions at the same time!??
Where are the details and supposed strings attached to the AIG bailout money? Why aren't we informed about the details of these bailouts? Or is this bailout no better than Dubya's billions of dollars of cash which his minions doled out in Iraq like pizza coupons?
Cum nu vii tu, Ţepeş doamne, ca punând mâna pe ei,
Să-i împarţi în două cete: în smintiţi şi în mişei,
Şi în două temniţi large cu de-a sila să-i aduni,
Să dai foc la puşcărie şi la casa de nebuni!
It seems that Mr Obama is asleep at the wheel, or worse, as he just allowed on March 1st another $30B for AIG. What ever happened to Div B/Title VII of the legislation he just signed on Feb 13? I know that lawyers are scratching each others' backs and usually hold TP for the rich or bail and wipe goodfellas asses, but they do not have to screw over Joe Shmoe at the same time, do they? Basta pompini politici! Grow a sack and a conscience already!
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pissed offFeb. 15th, 2009
11:50 pm - Luceafărul
A fost odată ca-n poveşti, A fost ca niciodată, Din rude mari împărăteşti, O prea frumoasă fată. Şi era una la părinţi Şi mândră-n toate cele, Cum e Fecioara între sfinţi Şi luna între stele. Din umbra falnicelor bolţi Ea pasul şi-l îndreaptă Lângă fereastră, unde-n colţ Luceafărul aşteaptă. Privea în zare cum pe mări Răsare şi străluce, Pe mişcătoarele cărări Corăbii negre duce. Îl vede azi, îl vede mâni, Astfel dorinţa-i gata; El iar, privind de săptămâni, Îi cade dragă fata. Cum ea pe coate-şi răzima Visând ale ei tâmple De dorul lui şi inima Şi sufletu-i se împle. Şi cât de viu s-aprinde el În orişicare sară, Spre umbra negrului castel Când ea o să-i apară. * Şi pas cu pas pe urma ei Alunecă-n odaie, Ţesând cu recile-i scântei O mreajă de văpaie. Şi când în pat se-ntinde drept Copila să se culce, I-atinge mâinile pe piept, I-nchide geana dulce; Şi din oglindă luminiş Pe trupu-i se revarsă, Pe ochii mari, bătând închişi Pe faţa ei întoarsă. Ea îl privea cu un surâs, El tremura-n oglindă, Căci o urma adânc în vis De suflet să se prindă. Iar ea vorbind cu el în somn, Oftând din greu suspină - "O, dulce-al nopţii mele domn, De ce nu vii tu? Vină! Cobori în jos, luceafăr blând, Alunecând pe-o rază, Pătrunde-n casă şi în gând Şi viaţa-mi luminează!" El asculta tremurător, Se aprindea mai tare Şi s-arunca fulgerător, Se cufunda în mare; Şi apa unde-au fost căzut În cercuri se roteşte, Şi din adânc necunoscut Un mândru tânăr creşte. Uşor el trece ca pe prag Pe marginea ferestei Şi ţine-n mână un toiag Încununat cu trestii. Părea un tânăr voevod Cu păr de aur moale, Un vânăt giulgi se-ncheie nod Pe umerele goale. Iar umbra feţei străvezii E albă ca de ceară - Un mort frumos cu ochii vii Ce scânteie-n afară. - "Din sfera mea venii cu greu Ca să-ţi urmez chemarea, Iar cerul este tatăl meu Şi mumă-mea e marea. Ca în cămara ta să vin, Să te privesc de-aproape, Am coborât cu-al meu senin Şi m-am născut din ape. O, vin'! odorul meu nespus, Şi lumea ta o lasă; Eu sunt luceafărul de sus, Iar tu să-mi fii mireasă. Colo-n palate de mărgean Te-oi duce veacuri multe, Şi toată lumea-n ocean De tine o s-asculte." - "O, eşti frumos, cum numa-n vis Un înger se arată, Dară pe calea ce-ai deschis N-oi merge niciodată; Străin la vorbă şi la port, Luceşti fără de viaţă, Căci eu sunt vie, tu eşti mort, Şi ochiul tău mă-ngheaţă." * Trecu o zi, trecură trei Şi iarăşi, noaptea, vine Luceafărul deasupra ei Cu razele-i senine. Ea trebui de el în somn Aminte să-şi aducă Şi dor de-al valurilor domn De inim-o apucă - "Cobori în jos, luceafăr blând, Alunecând pe-o rază, Pătrunde-n casă şi în gând Şi viaţa-mi luminează!" Cum el din cer o auzi, Se stinse cu durere, Iar ceru-ncepe a roti În locul unde piere; În aer rumene văpăi Se-ntind pe lumea-ntreagă, Şi din a chaosului văi Un mândru chip se-ncheagă; Pe negre viţele-i de păr Coroana-i arde pare, Venea plutind în adevăr Scăldat în foc de soare. Din negru giulgi se desfăşor Marmoreele braţe, El vine trist şi gânditor Şi palid e la faţă; Dar ochii mari şi minunaţi Lucesc adânc himeric, Ca două patimi fără saţ Şi pline de-ntuneric. - "Din sfera mea venii cu greu Ca să te-ascult ş-acuma, Şi soarele e tatăl meu, Iar noaptea-mi este muma; O, vin', odorul meu nespus, Şi lumea ta o lasă; Eu sunt luceafărul de sus, Iar tu să-mi fii mireasă. O, vin', în părul tău bălai S-anin cununi de stele, Pe-a mele ceruri să răsai Mai mândră decât ele." - "O, eşti frumos cum numa-n vis Un demon se arată, Dară pe calea ce-ai deschis N-oi merge niciodată! Mă dor de crudul tău amor A pieptului meu coarde, Şi ochii mari şi grei mă dor, Privirea ta mă arde." - "Dar cum ai vrea să mă cobor? Au nu-nţelegi tu oare, Cum că eu sunt nemuritor, Şi tu eşti muritoare?" - "Nu caut vorbe pe ales, Nici ştiu cum aş începe - Deşi vorbeşti pe înţeles, Eu nu te pot pricepe; Dar dacă vrei cu crezământ Să te-ndrăgesc pe tine, Tu te coboară pe pământ, Fii muritor ca mine." - "Tu-mi cei chiar nemurirea mea În schimb pe-o sărutare, Dar voi să ştii asemenea Cât te iubesc de tare; Da, mă voi naşte din păcat, Primind o altă lege; Cu vecinicia sunt legat, Ci voi să mă dezlege." Şi se tot duce... S-a tot dus. De dragu-unei copile, S-a rupt din locul lui de sus, Pierind mai multe zile. * În vremea asta Cătălin, Viclean copil de casă, Ce împle cupele cu vin Mesenilor la masă, Un paj ce poartă pas cu pas A-mpărătesii rochii, Băiat din flori şi de pripas, Dar îndrăzneţ cu ochii, Cu obrăjei ca doi bujori De rumeni, bată-i vina, Se furişează pânditor Privind la Cătălina. Dar ce frumoasă se făcu Şi mândră, arz-o focul; Ei Cătălin, acu-i acu Ca să-ţi încerci norocul. Şi-n treacăt o cuprinse lin Într-un ungher degrabă. - "Da' ce vrei, mări Cătălin? Ia du-t' de-ţi vezi de treabă." - "Ce voi? Aş vrea să nu mai stai Pe gânduri totdeuna, Să râzi mai bine şi să-mi dai O gură, numai una." - "Dar nici nu ştiu măcar ce-mi ceri, Dă-mi pace, fugi departe - O, de luceafărul din cer M-a prins un dor de moarte." - "Dacă nu ştii, ţi-aş arăta Din bob în bob amorul, Ci numai nu te mânia, Ci stai cu binişorul. Cum vânătoru-ntinde-n crâng La păsărele laţul, Când ţi-oi întinde braţul stâng Să mă cuprinzi cu braţul; Şi ochii tăi nemişcători Sub ochii mei rămâie... De te înalţ de subţiori Te-nalţă din călcâie; Când faţa mea se pleacă-n jos, În sus rămâi cu faţa, Să ne privim nesăţios Şi dulce toată viaţa; Şi ca să-ţi fie pe deplin Iubirea cunoscută, Când sărutându-te mă-nclin, Tu iarăşi mă sărută." Ea-l asculta pe copilaş Uimită şi distrasă, Şi ruşinos şi drăgălaş, Mai nu vrea, mai se lasă. Şi-i zise-ncet: - "Încă de mic Te cunoşteam pe tine, Şi guraliv şi de nimic, Te-ai potrivi cu mine... Dar un luceafăr, răsărit Din liniştea uitării, Dă orizon nemărginit Singurătăţii mării; Şi tainic genele le plec, Căci mi le împle plânsul Când ale apei valuri trec Călătorind spre dânsul; Luceşte c-un amor nespus Durerea să-mi alunge, Dar se înalţă tot mai sus, Ca să nu-l pot ajunge. Pătrunde trist cu raze reci Din lumea ce-l desparte... În veci îl voi iubi şi-n veci Va rămânea departe... De-aceea zilele îmi sunt Pustii ca nişte stepe, Dar nopţile-s de-un farmec sfânt Ce-l nu mai pot pricepe." - "Tu eşti copilă, asta e... Hai ş-om fugi în lume, Doar ni s-or pierde urmele Şi nu ne-or şti de nume, Căci amândoi vom fi cuminţi, Vom fi voioşi şi teferi, Vei pierde dorul de părinţi Şi visul de luceferi." * Porni luceafărul. Creşteau În cer a lui aripe, Şi căi de mii de ani treceau În tot atâtea clipe. Un cer de stele dedesubt, Deasupra-i cer de stele - Părea un fulger nentrerupt Rătăcitor prin ele. Şi din a chaosului văi, Jur împrejur de sine, Vedea, ca-n ziua cea de-ntâi, Cum izvorau lumine; Cum izvorând îl înconjor Ca nişte mări, de-a-notul... El zboară, gând purtat de dor, Pân' piere totul, totul; Căci unde-ajunge nu-i hotar, Nici ochi spre a cunoaşte, Şi vremea-ncearcă în zadar Din goluri a se naşte. Nu e nimic şi totuşi e O sete care-l soarbe, E un adânc asemene Uitării celei oarbe. - "De greul negrei vecinicii, Părinte, mă dezleagă Şi lăudat pe veci să fii Pe-a lumii scară-ntreagă; O, cere-mi, Doamne, orice preţ, Dar dă-mi o altă soarte, Căci tu izvor eşti de vieţi Şi dătător de moarte; Reia-mi al nemuririi nimb Şi focul din privire, Şi pentru toate dă-mi în schimb O oră de iubire... Din chaos, Doamne,-am apărut Şi m-aş întoarce-n chaos... Şi din repaos m-am născut. Mi-e sete de repaos." - "Hyperion, ce din genuni Răsai c-o-ntreagă lume, Nu cere semne şi minuni Care n-au chip şi nume; Tu vrei un om să te socoţi, Cu ei să te asameni? Dar piară oamenii cu toţi, S-ar naşte iarăşi oameni. Ei numai doar durează-n vânt Deşerte idealuri - Când valuri află un mormânt, Răsar în urmă valuri; Ei doar au stele cu noroc Şi prigoniri de soarte, Noi nu avem nici timp, nici loc, Şi nu cunoaştem moarte. Din sânul vecinicului ieri Trăieşte azi ce moare, Un soare de s-ar stinge-n cer S-aprinde iarăşi soare; Părând pe veci a răsări, Din urmă moartea-l paşte, Căci toţi se nasc spre a muri Şi mor spre a se naşte. Iar tu, Hyperion, rămâi Oriunde ai apune... Cere-mi cuvântul meu de-ntâi - Să-ţi dau înţelepciune? Vrei să dau glas acelei guri, Ca dup-a ei cântare Să se ia munţii cu păduri Şi insulele-n mare? Vrei poate-n faptă să arăţi Dreptate şi tărie? Ţi-aş da pământul în bucăţi Să-l faci împărăţie. Îţi dau catarg lângă catarg, Oştiri spre a străbate Pământu-n lung şi marea-n larg, Dar moartea nu se poate... Şi pentru cine vrei să mori? Întoarce-te, te-ndreaptă Spre-acel pământ rătăcitor Şi vezi ce te aşteaptă." * În locul lui menit din cer Hyperion se-ntoarse Şi, ca şi-n ziua cea de ieri, Lumina şi-o revarsă. Căci este sara-n asfinţit Şi noaptea o să-nceapă; Răsare luna liniştit Şi tremurând din apă. Şi împle cu-ale ei scântei Cărările din crânguri. Sub şirul lung de mândri tei Şedeau doi tineri singuri - "O, lasă-mi capul meu pe sân, Iubito, să se culce Sub raza ochiului senin Şi negrăit de dulce; Cu farmecul luminii reci Gândirile străbate-mi, Revarsă linişte de veci Pe noaptea mea de patimi. Şi de asupra mea rămâi Durerea mea de-o curmă, Căci eşti iubirea mea de-ntâi Şi visul meu din urmă." Hyperion vedea de sus Uimirea-n a lor faţă; Abia un braţ pe gât i-a pus Şi ea l-a prins în braţe... Miroase florile-argintii Şi cad, o dulce ploaie, Pe creştetele-a doi copii Cu plete lungi, bălaie. Ea, îmbătată de amor, Ridică ochii. Vede Luceafărul. Şi-ncetişor Dorinţele-i încrede - "Cobori în jos, luceafăr blând, Alunecând pe-o rază, Pătrunde-n codru şi în gând, Norocu-mi luminează!" El tremură ca alte dăţi În codri şi pe dealuri, Călăuzind singurătăţi De mişcătoare valuri; Dar nu mai cade ca-n trecut În mări din tot înaltul - "Ce-ţi pasă ţie, chip de lut, Dac-oi fi eu sau altul? Trăind în cercul vostru strâmt Norocul vă petrece, Ci eu în lumea mea mă simt Nemuritor şi rece." -- Source: Wikisource.org |
There was, as in the fairy tales, As ne'er in the time's raid, There was, of famous royal blood A most beautiful maid. She was her parents' only child, Bright like the sun at noon, Like the Virgin midst the saints And among stars the moon. From the deep shadow of the vaults Her step now she directs Toward a window; at its nook Bright Evening-star expects. She looks as in the distant seas He rises, darts his rays And leads the blackish, loaded ships On the wet, moving, ways. To look at him every night Her soul her instincts spur; And as he looks at her for weeks He falls in love with her. And as on her elbows she leans Her temple and her whim She feels in her heart and soul that She falls in love with him. And ev'ry night his stormy flames More stormily renew When in the shadow of the castle She shows to his bright view. * And to her room with her slow steps He bears his steps and aims Weaving out of his sparkles cold A toil of shaking flames. And when she throws upon her bed Her tired limbs and reposes, He glides his light along her hands And her sweet eyelash closes. And from the mirror on her shape A beam has spread and burns, On her big eyes that beat though closed And on her face that turns. Her smiles view him; the mirror shows Him trembling in the nook For he is plunging in her dream So that their souls may hook. She speaks with him in sleep and sighs While her heart's swelled veins drum: -"O sweet Lord of my fairy nights, Why comest thou not? Come! Descend to me, mild Evening-star Thou canst glide on a beam, Enter my dwelling and my mind And over my life gleam!" And he listens and trembles and Still more for her love craves And as quick as the lightning he Plunges into the waves. The water in that very spot Moves rolling many rings And out of the unknown, dark, depth A superb young man springs. As on a threshold o'er the sill His hasty steps he leads, Holds in his hand a staff with, at Its top, a crown of reeds! A young Voivode he seems to be With soft and golden hair; A blue shroud binds in a knot on His naked shoulder fair. The shade of his face is of wax And thou canst see throughout - A handsome dead man with live eyes That throw their sparkles out. -"From my sphere hardly I come to Follow thy call and thee, The heaven is my father and My mother is the sea. So that I could come to thy room And look at thee from near With my light reborn from waves my Fate toward thee I steer. O come, my treasure wonderful And thy world leave aside; For I am Evening-star up from And thou wouldst be my bride. In my palace of coral I'll Take thee for evermore And the entire world of the sea Will kneel before thy door." -"O thou art beautiful as but In dreams an angel shows, The way though thou hast oped for me For me's for ever close. Thy port and mien and speech are strange Life thy gleams don't impart, For I'm alive and thou art dead And thy eyes chill my heart." * Days have past since: but Evening-star Comes up again and stays Just as before, spreading o'er her His clear, translucent rays. In sleep she would remember him And, as before, her whole Wish for the Master of the waves Is clinching now her soul. -"Descend to me, mild Evening-star Thou canst glide on a beam, Enter my dwelling and my mind And over my life gleam!" He hears: and from the dire despair Of such an woeful weird He dies, and the heavens revolve Where he has disappeared. Soon in the air flames ruddy spread, The world in their grip hold; A superb form the spasms of the Chaotic valleys mold. On his locks of black hair he bears His crown a fierce fire frames; He floats as he really comes Swimming in the sun's flames. His black shroud lets develop out His arms marbly and hale; He pensively and sadly brings His face awfully pale. But his big wonderful eyes' gleam, Chimerically deep, Shows two unsatiated spasms That but into dark peep. -"From my sphere hardly I come to Follow thy voice, thy sight; The bright sun is my father and My mother is the night. O come, my treasure wonderful And thy world leave aside For I am Evening-star from up And thou wouldst be my bride. O come, and upon thy blond hair Crowns of stars I shall crowd, And more that all of them, up there, Thou wild look fair and proud." -"O thou art beautiful as but In dreams a demon shows, The way though hast oped for me For me's for ever close. The depths of my breast ache from the Desire of thy fierce love My heavy, big eyes also ache When into them thine shove". -"But how wouldst thou that I come down? Know this - for, do I lie? -: I am immortal, while thou art One of those that must die!" -"I hate big words, nor do I know How to begin my plea; And although thy discourse is clear I don't understand thee. But if thou wantest my flamed love And that would not be sham, Come down on this temporal earth, Be mortal as I am!" -"I'd lose my immortality For but one kiss of thine! Well, I will show thee how much too For thy fierce love I pine! Yes, I shall be reborn from sin, Receive another creed: From that endlessness to which I Am tied, I shall be freed!" And out he went, he went, went out, Loving a human fay, He plucked himself off from the sky, Went for many a day. * Meanwhile, the house-boy, Catalin, Sly, and who often jests When he's filling with wine the cups Of the banqueting guests; A page that carries step by step The trail of the Queen's gown, A wandering bastard, but bold Like no one in the town; His little cheek - a peony That under the sun stews; Watchful, just like a thief, he sneaks In Catalina's views. -"How beautiful she grew" - thinks he - "A flower just to pluck! Now, Catalin, but now it is Thy chance to try thy luck!" And by the way, hurriedly, he Corners that human fay: -"What's with thee, Catalin? Let me Alone and go thy way!" -"No! I want thee to stay away From thoughts that have no fun . I want to see thee only laugh, Give me a kiss, just one!" -"I don't know what it is about And, believe me, retire! But for one Evening-star up from I've kept my strong desire!" -"If thou dost not know I could show Thee all about love's balm! Only, don't give way to thy ire And listen and be calm. So as the hunter throws the net That many birds would harm, When I'll stretch my left arm to thee, Enlace me with thy arm. Under my eyes keep thine and don't Let them move on their wheels And if I lift thee by the waist Thou must lift on thy heels. When I bend down my face, to hold Thine up must be thy strife; So, to each other we could throw Sweet, eager, looks for life. And so that thou have about love A knowledge true and plain, When I stoop to kiss thee, thou must Kiss me too and again." With much bewilderment her mind The little boy's word fills, And shyly and nicely now she Wills not, and now she wills. And slowly she tells him:- "Since thy Childhood I've known thy wit, And as thou art and glib and small My temper thou wouldst fit. But Evening-star sprung from the calm Of the oblivion, Though, gives horizon limitless To the sea lone and dun. And secretly, I close my eyes For my eyelash tears dim When the waves of the sea go on Travelling toward him. He shines with love unspeakable So that my pains he'd leach, But higher and higher soars, so That his hand I'd ne'er reach. Sadly thrusts from the worlds which from My soul his cold ray bar... I shall love him for ever and For ever he'll rove far. Like the unmeasured steppes my days Are deaf and wild, therefore, But my nights spread a holy charm I understand no more!" -"Thou art a child! Let's go! Through new Lands our own fate let's frame! Soon they shall have lost our trace and Forgot even our name! We shall be both wise, glad and whole As my judgement infers And thou wouldst not long for thy kin Nor yearn for Evening-stars!" * Then Evening-star went out. His wings Grow, into heavens dash, And on his way millenniums Flee in less than a flash. Below, a depth of stars; above, The heaven stars begem, - He seems an endless lightning that Is wandering through them. And from the Chaos' vales he sees How in an immense ring Round him, as in the World's first day, Lights from their sources spring; How, springing, they hem him like an Ocean that swimming nears... He flees carried by his desire Until he disappears. For that region is boundless and Searching regards avoids And Time strive vainly there to come To life from the dark voids. 'Tis nought. 'Tis, though, thirst that sips him And which he cannot shun, 'Tis depth unknown, comparable To blind oblivion. -"From that dark, choking, endlessness Into which I am furled, Father, undo me, and for e'er Be praised in the whole world! Ask anything for this new fate For with mine I am through: O hear my prayer, O my Lord, for Thou gives life and death too. Take back my endlessness, the fires That my being devour And in return give me a chance To love but for an hour! I've come from Chaos; I'd return To that my former nest... And as I have been brought to life From rest, I crave for rest!" -"Hyperion, that comest from The depths with the world's swarm, Do not ask signs and miracles That have no name nor form. Thou wantest to count among men, Take their resemblance vain; But would now the whole mankind die Men will be born again. But they are building on the wind Ideals void and blind; When human waves run into graves New waves spring from behind. Fate's persecutions, lucky stars, They only are to own; Here we know neither time nor space, Death we have never known. From the eternal yesterday Drinks what to-day will drain And if a sun dies on the sky A sun quickens again. Risen as for ever, death though Follows them like a thorn For all are born only to die And die to be reborn. But thou remainest wheresoe'er Thou wouldst set down or flee. Thou art of the prime form and an Eternal prodigy. Thou wilt now hear the wondrous voice At whose bewitched singing Mounts woody get skipping to skies Into sea Island sinking! Perhaps thou wilt more: show in deeds Thy sense of justice, might, Out of the earth's lumps make an empire And settle on its height! I can give thee millions of vessels And hosts; thou, bear thy breath O'er all the lands, o'er all the oceans: I cannot give thee death. For whom thou wantest then to die? Just go and see what's worth All that is waiting there for thee On that wandering earth!" * His first dominion on the sky Hyperion restores And like in his first day, his light All o'er again he pours. For it is evening and the night Her duty never waives. Now the moon rises quietly And shaking from the waves, And upon the paths of the groves Her sparkles again drone... Under the row of linden-trees Two youths sit all alone. -"O darling, let my blessed ear feel How thy heart's pulses beat, Under the ray of thy eyes clear And unspeakably sweet. With the charms of their cold light pierce My thought's faery glades, Pour an eternal quietness On my passion's dark shades. And there, above, remain to stop Thy woe's violet stream, For thou art my first source of love And also my last dream!" Hyperion beholds how love Their eyes equally charms: Scarcely his arm touches her neck, She takes him in her arms. The silvery blooms spread their smells And their soft cascade strokes The tops of the heads of both youths With long and golden locks. And all bewitched by love, she lifts Her eyes toward the fires Of the witnessing Evening-star And trusts him her desires: -"Descend to me, mild Evening-star Thou canst glide on a beam, Enter my forest and my mind And o'er my good luck gleam!" As he did it once, into woods, On hills, his rays he urges, Guiding throughout so many wilds The gleaming, moving, surges. But he falls not as he did once From his height into swells: -"What matters thee, clod of dust, if 'Tis me or some one else? You live in your sphere's narrowness And luck rules over you - But in my steady world I feel Eternal, cold and true!" --- Source: WorldRecordsAcademy.org |
Jan. 29th, 2009
10:48 pm - Anca
Six years ago, we went to a double bill concert: Ducu Bertzi & Anca Parghel. Anca was radiant and entertaining despite the meager settings. That sunny quality of her I almost forgot (thank you, diary). She sang Schubert's Ave Maria (one of the most beautiful cantatas IMO) amongst her eclectic repertoire: jazz, classical, Romanian folk (Lataretu, Tanase), original compositions (e.g. her vocal imitation of toaca). Her duet with Stefan Banica is a befitting adieu. Despedida bonita cantora...
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/sad.gif){kind=small}
sadJan. 25th, 2009
Jan. 22nd, 2009
10:30 am - 43 vs 44
43:
Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.
44:
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. [...] Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.
Jan. 9th, 2009
Jan. 7th, 2009
06:59 am - Immortality, shmortality
Apparently, Turritopsis nutricula (a species of jellyfish) can go back in time through the process of transdifferentiation, thus rendering it effectively immortal, theoretically - that is unless it encounters Banner Fish, Sun Fish, Spade Fish, Loggerhead turtles, Arrow Crabs or it drifts near East Asian costal areas.
Jan. 6th, 2009
Jan. 3rd, 2009
Dec. 28th, 2008
07:15 pm - Slumdog Millionaire
Yesterday, we saw Slumdog Millionaire (which won a People's Choice Award at TIFF 2008 and other prizes). The movie was impressive in its blending of slum life with the lives of average Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?-watching crowd. It blended a very glossy Hollywood cinematographic style with a Bollywood cast, setting and storyline. Without getting into details, the ending was again a Holly-Bolly blend.
The film was based on a novel, Q & A by Vikas Swarup. The book reviews are a mix, but they strongly imply that the movie rewrote a lot of the book starting with the main character. In the book, he was raised by a priest who named him Ram Mohammad Thomas (meaning Supreme Praiseworthy Twin, a name that has deeply religious undertones in three major religions), a lot more interesting name than Jamal Malik (meaning Beautiful King, an ordinary name by comparison). The Chamb Battle of 1971 is not mentioned in the movie. Another major change is that Jamal is an angel compared to a flawed cruder Ram. Here is an excerpt chapter from the publisher. So, the producers massaged the religious hints, cleaned up the local contentious historical references and the main character. That's probably par for the course in Hollywood. Up and at 'em, boys!
10:00 am - Marketing
American marketing/culture has simultaneously reached its apogee and, from the vantage point of the far-penetrating American BK/MickeyD h'ot cuisine, the most virgin people of Earth: Greenland indigens, Thailand villagers and Budeşti villagers from Romania. The BK-sponsored missionaries were led by a 40-year marketing veteran, a former Z-boy. The climax was a native giving a fitting offering to the traveling troupe, a sheepskin coat, even though they probably deserved nine or twelve coats.
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