YES

24 aprilie 2009

Ieri a fost o zi lenoasa. Am zacut in pat aproape toata ziua si nu am facut aproape nimic folositor societatsii, iar unicul lucru pe care l-am dus pina la capat a fost respins de catre destinatar. Fusese un proces lung de creatie, insa din pacate, fiind mereu atit de ocupata, am lasat sa se asheze praf pe capacitatsile mele creative si deci scirtsie mult orice incercare de a face ceva original. Am promis ca mai incerc o data, insa ca de obicei, dupa un eshec rasunator imi e greu sa ma ridic si sa o iau de la capat... Scuze sunt multe si oricine le poate invoca, datoria mea este insa sa trec peste sentimentul de neputintsa si sa imi dovedesc inca o data ca da, POT.
Ieri am privit un film care mi-a fost recomandat cu multa caldura - "Yes Man", cu Jim Carrey. Imi amintesc ca intr-o perioada ma apucase pasiunea pentru filmele cu Jim Carrey in roluri serioase. Multsi sunt de parerea ca nu ii sta bine cind nu face mutre si nu spune glume, caci anume acest tip de personaj l-a adus in topul actorilor de film. Eu insa consider ca un talent adevarat poate face fatsa unor provocari si poate sa exceleze si intr-un altfel de rol. Desi sunt de acord ca acest rol ( din Yes Man) ar fi putut fi jucat si de orice alt actor cu acelasi succes, pe cind rolurile tipice Jim Carrey sunt inimitabile. Oricum, fara a ne abate de la tema, as vrea sa imi pun si eu intrebarea fireasca ce survine dupa acest film : Oare ce s-ar intimpla daca am zice DA la orice oportunitate care ni se ofera? Makar pentru o zi.... Eu stiu ce as face eu de ar fi asa. As sta mai putsin pe net pentru ca n-ash fi acasa. As cunoaste mai multa lume pentru ca as accepta invitatii la cafea, la bere, la film, as accepta prietenii pe care mintea mea nu le accepta in mod normal. As face mai multe nebunii pentru ca iarasi nu as putea sa mi le refuz. Probabil, daca as spune DA, mi-ash incalca anumite principii, pentru ca as fi nevoita sa accept propuneri si idei, sa fac anumite kestii ce altsii le fac insa eu nu am dorintsa / puterea / curajul sa le fac - oare m-am limitat eu prea mult? Oare prea multe "legi" nescrise ma conduc?
Si totusi primul meu impuls e sa spun NU. Incerc sa ma schimb. Recent, cind am spus DA chiar daca mintea imi zicea NU am ajuns sa gust berea de capshuni. :) Pina si pe strazi, in Dublin, peste tot sunt postere ce spun " SAY YES". Sunt in legatura cu tratatul de la Lisabona, insa fiecare om ar trebui sa le vada pentru sine...


Calin Turcanu, nepotul autoarei :), 8 ani : " Nu spune Aha, spune DA ! "

Prostie omeneasca

ION CREANGĂ
Prostia omenească (varianta completa aici)

A fost odată, când a fost, că, dacă n-ar fi fost, nu s-ar povesti.

Noi nu suntem de pe când poveştile, ci suntem mai dincoace cu vro două-trei zile, de pe când se potcovea purecele cu nouăzeci şi nouă de ocă de fer la un picior şi tot i se părea că-i uşor.

Cică era odată un om însurat, şi omul acela trăia la un loc cu soacră-sa. Nevasta lui, care avea copil de ţâţă, era cam proastă; dar şi soacră-sa nu era tocmai hâtră.

Întru una din zile, omul nostru iese de-acasă după trebi, ca fiecare om. Nevasta lui, după ce-şi scăldă copilul, îl înfăşă şi-i dete ţâţă, îl puse în albie lângă sobă, căci era iarnă; apoi îl legănă şi-l dezmerdă, până ce-l adormi. După ce-l adormi, stătu ea puţin pe gânduri ş-apoi începu a se boci cât îi lua gura: "Aulio! copilaşul meu, copilaşul meu!"

Mama ei, care torcea după horn, cuprinsă de spaimă, zvârli fusul din mână şi furca din brâu cât colo şi, sărind fără sine, o întrebă cu spaimă:

- Ce ai, draga mamei, ce-ţi este?!
- Mamă, mamă! Copilul meu are să moară!
- Când şi cum?
- Iată cum. Vezi drobul cel de sare pe horn?
- Îl văd. Şi?
- De s-a sui mâţa, are să-l trântească drept în capul copilului şi să mi-l omoare!
— Vai de mine şi de mine, că bine zici, fata mea; se vede că i s-au sfârşit mititelului zilele!

Şi, cu ochii pironiţi în drobul de sare de pe horn şi cu mânile încleştate, de parcă le legase cineva, începură a-l boci amândouă, ca nişte smintite, de clocotea casa. Pe când se sluţeau ele, cum vă spun, numai iaca şi tatăl copilului intră pe uşă, flămând şi năcăjit ca vai de el.

— Ce este ? Ce v-au găsit, nebunelor?

Atunci ele, viindu-şi puţin în sine, începură a-şi şterge lacrămile şi a-i povesti cu mare jale despre întâmplarea neîntâmplată.

...

Ion Creanga mereu încăleca pe-o şa, şi spunea povestea aşa. Mereu încăleca pe-o roată, şi o spunea toată. Apoi încăleca pe-o căpşună, şi recunostea ca spunea o mare minciună!! O mare minciuna adevarata.

De cite ori ni s-a intimplat si noua sa ne intristam din cauza unei intimplari neintimplate? Unica diferentsa este ca acum zicem ca suntem pesimisti sau realisti cind privim in viitor si in loc sa mutam din loc copilul sau drobul de sare ( am auzit chiar si varianta de mâţ-ucidere)firea omeneasca se tinguieste si isi maninca zilele din cauza unor evenimente incerte din viitor.
De citeva zile incoace aud aceasta poveste de la persoane diferite. Sa imi fac oare griji, sa imi fac niste concluzii?


O varianta moderna a prostiei omenesti aici.

Oac oac

Fiindca aveam ieri un status plin de jale, au sarit prietenii sa ma ajute in cautarea mea de ghicitori despre broasca. Si, printre cele de pe google, am avut si rezultate creative. Deschide internetu ca sa citesti ceva ce poate gasi oricine.... sau concentreza-te si vei avea ceva original si inedit.




Un baietsel tare bravo, scrie :

"Are limba tare lunga
Sta in stuf si se ascunde
Cum de vede un tintar
Sare iute si l-a papat !"

Ghici ce e? Dada, broasca :)


Este mica si isteata
Sta mereu cu burta-n apa
Cind incepe ea sa strige
Noaptea-ntreaga se-aude !


Multsumesc celor ce sar la nevoie :) Ce bine e ce bine, ce minunaaaaat... Oac oac :)
* hugs.

Cinel Cinel

Seara de astazi a fost dedicata unei activitatsi benefice pentru apropiatsii mei, in special pentru sora mea si nepotselul meu din clasa 1. Date fiind anumite probleme tehnice ale setarilor de internet pe care eu, cu ajutorul prietenilor mei din messenger nu am putut sa le rezolv, sora mea mi-a oferit placerea de a petrece o seara intreaga cautind pe google, nici mai mult nici mai putsin, ghicitori pentru copii despre...... broaste.
Intre timp, desigur, am descoperit atitea si atitea chestii....

- Ce este sexul? Dupa medici este o boala, pentru ca ajungi tot timpul la pat. Dupa avocati, este o injustitie, pentru ca întotdeauna este unul deasupra, altul dedesubt. Dupa politicieni este democratie perfecta, pentru ca se bucura atât cel de deasupra, cât si cel de dedesubt. Dupa economisti este o investitie proasta, pentru ca e mai mult ceea ce intra, decât ceea ce iese. Dupa matematicieni, este ecuatia perfecta, pentru ca femeia ridica membrul la maxima putere, îl închide între paranteze, îi extrage factorul comun si-l reduce apoi la expresia minima.

- M-am sculat cu stingul. Mi-am imbracat camasa, s-a rupt nasturele, am luat servieta, i s-a rupt toarta, deja mi-e frica sa ies sa fac pipi.

- Sa cuceresti o femeie si sa nu povestesti la prieteni, e ca si cum ai trece
Pacificul inot, in secret.


-Cum intra 4 elefanti intr-un trabant?
-Doi in fata si doi in spate.

-Cum iti dai seama daca patru elefanti dorm intr-un hotel?
-Vezi daca e parcat trabantul in fata.


Gigel vine acasa zgariat tot pe fata, pe gat, pe maini.
- Doamne sfinte, ce s-a intamplat ??
- Am facut hora in jurul bradului.
- Pai, si de ce esti zgariat in halul asta?
- Eram putini!

Tot navigind si trecind ca un fluturash de la site la site, am gasit categorii Animale Domestice, Animale salbatice, Insecte... Da iata amfibii nu am gasit. Oare unde sa caut broasca?
De la link la link, am descoperit ca ghicitorile au deja si optiunea " trimite raspunsul pe messenger". Am incercat, din curiozitate, sa vad ce iese. Si da, iti trimite link cu raspunsul. Deci daca esti copil si citesti ghicitori, potsi sa o faci in paralel cu alt copil care sta si el in fatsa calculatorului, in messenger. Nici intr-un caz sa nu iasa nimeni din casa, sa faca miscare sau sa socializeze.

In sfirsit, Cinel Cinel. Cine oare nu tsine minte culegerea de ghicitori cu care ne mindream in clasele primare?

In foc s-a nascut
De foc a fugit
De foc despartit
Iute a murit

(Fumul)


Am un calusel
Mic si sprintenel
Negru ca corbul
Iute ca focul
Unde sare, urma nare
Unde paste, se cunoaste..

(Puricele)


Sunt doua scaunele
Pe scaunele, un polobocel
pe polobocel, un bostanel
Pe bostanel, padure
Prin padure... umbla lupii :)

(Omul)

Ce-i mai dulce, si totodata mai amar pe lume?
(Limba )

Am un ciocanas de piele, cu doua gaurele

(Nasul)


Furculitsa cu cinci dintsi
Capatata din parintsi
(Mina)


Am doi calusei
sprinteni, sprintenei,
Numai sa m-arunc pe ei.

(Picioarele)

Daca-i dulce, mult aduce
daca-i rea, fug toti de ea.

(Vorba)

Ce e dulce, si mai dulce
Il alungi, da nu se duce?

(Somnul)

Merge-alene pe carare
Patru miini, patru picioare
Patruzeci de unghioare!

(Femeia insarcinata)


Am aflat si ca Batrachophobia este frica de amfibieni. De asemenea, stiu deja ce este Haiku - un tip de poezie japoneza ce contsine 17 on ( adica silabe) impartsite in 3 fraze metrice - 7, 5 si 3. Si da, cel mai cunoscut Haiku japonez este despre broasca :))
In traducere fidela :

"Balta cea veche
O broască sărind în ea
Sunetul apei."

+ unele umoristice :

Fizicianul:
Balta cea veche are o temperatura de 19 grade
În timpul verii, o broască poate sări la o distanţă de un metru cu o viteză de 10 km/h
Sunetul apei se poate auzi până la 50 de metri.

Matematicianul:
Analizând corespondenţa bijectivă
Din funcţia transformării topologice broască-lac
Se poate demonstra că broasca este un caz particular al lacului.

Medicul:
Datorită impactului violent cu apa din baltă
Broasca poate suferi leziuni microscopice la nivelul tegumentului
Care, netratate, pot duce în timp la apariţia diferitor boli de piele.

Regizorul de film:
Motor! Cadru balta veche
Broasca sare cu avânt in apă, privirea spre celalalt mal
Cadru zona plonjării, plescăitul apei, stop!

Comentatorul de fotbal:
Broasca se apropie de balta careului de 16 metri
Dribling, îşi potriveşte balonul, şut
Şi gooool, salt pe deplin reuşit, unu la zero!

Cântăreţul de muzică populară:
Foaie verde baltă veche
Dormea broasca pe-o ureche
Şi-o sărit in apa rece.

Nu am inteles insa pina la urma care este valoarea haiku. Nu am cred ca suflet de artist :)

Gata. Cele cautate au fost gasite, iar eu inkid motorul de cautare, fiind linistita ca in aceasta seara am constituit macar 1.1E-100 parte din traficul inregistrat.

Dan Gilbert - Exploring the frontiers of happiness

It is not in the same order of ideas as the previous post- this talk explains the errors in human thinking while we try to make decisions that will influence the course of our lives. And it does not matter that we decide for ourselves not to think the way we are doing it now, coz according to the speaker, we are designed to have limited minds, as the world has gone beyond our capacity of understanding it.
In short, psychology is at the bottom of many industries, and mass manipulations are based exactly on these basic errors that each and every one of us makes in day to day life. If we are not too busy or if we are the least interested in knowing how things work, and more importantly, how our mind works, we should ask ourselves several questions. How do we find value? What is happiness and satisfaction? What can i do to maximize my state of general welfare? And how come my brain- which is more or less a piece of flesh, how come it generates all these thoughts in the first place?





Yes, comparison makes value distorted. And yes, most of the times, we compare the present and the past. And to some extent, i compare the two because the latter has brought me where i am now, so i cannot make an abstraction of it and make a decision based only on the present factors.
So most of the times, i blame it on the circumstances. That it is not the right time. I do that fully aware of the fact that there is no better time than today.

Fear. It makes us do crazy things.

Happiness

It is 7 a.m. As my alarm goes off, i get up knowing that half way to the tea boiler i will already be awake. I put some coffee, i open my computer, move the macroeconomics book a little to my left and open Ted.Com. I stumble upon a talk that asks the question whether Happiness has a price tag. It sounds intriguing, and i start watching it while enjoying my almost tasteless coffee. I already know the answer to the question, but i am interested in a point of view that is probably more informed than i am, from a person that actually dedicated some time to the issue before making the verdict. So i watch. And as a lot of many interesting facts come out of the presentation, i start thinking about how this world is organized, about the values that we each have and the principles that we kinda set for ourselves.

We often look for perfection. If not absolute, than at least a close fit to it. And most of the times, we declare ourselves satisfied just because we cannot dedicate any more resources looking for that certain thing. And this is a type of happiness as well - when you, in an informal manner, decide for yourself that from this moment on you will be happy with the choice that you have made and will not glance to what other people own / do / have. There are times when we succeed. But there still are moment of doubt when we stop and ask ourselves the devastating "what if".....


Happiness is acceptance. Accept the things you cannot change, influence the ones you have power over and may you have serenity to know the difference. This thought came as a revelation some time ago when i was performing the most automatic operation of that period, but i still stopped in order to get this idea into my head and i realized that yes, every moment counts. Every second of your being makes you the person that you are, every event, good or bad, makes you one step closer to where you want to be - and here the secret is to want to be where you are. Because happiness is within oneself. Satisfaction of the present makes room for satisfaction in the future, optimism now makes ambition tomorrow - because yes, the more man has, the more man wants. And you cannot have something unless you are fully aware you are in possession. If you are in a state of "i know nothing, i want nothing", guess what you will get? Probably...... nothing. And even if you get something, are you fully capable of enjoying it?
Don't think so.


Happiness is acknowledgement. Happiness is within ourselves. And we decide whether we are happy or not. Involuntarily. Psychologically. And we identify this function of the brain with an external phenomenon, like eating chocholate or spending time with your loved one. ( These are the only two true happiness moments that come to my mind and this early hour on Saturday morning). And yes, a lot of times, telling yourself to stop and enjoy the moment of happiness helps.

Just watch the video. It will not make you ask yourself any question - this was just my reaction to all the happenings in the last days - but at least it is fun.

Mucca e pollo

Cow and Chicken in varianta italiana. Eu am ris. Mult.
Cine urmarea Cartoon Network intelege.

Under pressure - Queen

Love is eternal while it lasts

L'Amore è eterno finché dura . The reviews say that it is not good, but not bad. That it lacks color and expression. That the actors lack direction and that they are not believable. I say that it is a review by an American, thus by definition by a person who is not capable to understand the depth of the movie. It does not have any special effects, it does not have the most stunning cast, it does not show exquisite locations and does not present out-of-this-world events. So for the average American, used to empty plot lines and memorable explosions, to beautiful curves and at least one sex scene, this movie seemed boring. Yes, it was simple. Yes, the actors did look lost, but it was because they were in character. And there was a very clear message to the movie that was beautifully sent to the audience - me and Hugo Bob, of course.
It is all about what happens after the typical American movie ends. It is all about after the first date, wedding day, honeymoon, birth of child, appearance of all the possible relatives and discovery of all possible dirty secrets and skeletons from the closet. After all that, when the daughter is grown up and no, she does not have any drug problems. No, he is not George Clooney who ages so nicely.He is the average 50 year old man, with a typical mentality. No, he does not emphasize family values and tends to be attracted by personal freedom. No, he does not sacrifice himself in the name of the vows, and neither for the sake of their child. She is a grown up, she knows things are not working between mom and dad. So why make all of the involved miserable? He finds that at 50 he has the same young soul and only his body has aged, he finds that he has the same dreams and the same illusions, he finds that he can fall in love and he can actually make love as a teenager. And no, he does not make drama scenes, nor does he tolerate them. He'd rather call things by their names. Yes, he still feels affection for his wife, but no, there no longer was a marriage to save.
She is also the typical middle aged woman. Deeply depressed about menopause and into a drastic diet that makes her devour all the ice-cream in the kitchen when left loose. Neglected by her husband, she turns to the so comfortable tennis instructor that is only in it for the fun, and who, of course, dumps her when she is on the verge of divorce. She, at 50, found that in search for happiness and for a better life, she threw away the life that she had, and in the end, she ended up with nothing. She was a marital councellor, and ironically, she overlooked her own problems.
Typical marriage. Routine. When after the attraction is gone, there is nothing to talk about. Sad, but that is how it is. A real estate agent would know best - while selling houses to couples of all ages, the discussions are all bout that extra-room where one could run away from the other. All about the guest room, where no guests are expected. All about the space, all about the mystery that vanishes after 20 years of marriage. That is the solution to the love killing institution called marriage. Space. Time alone. Privacy. The possibility to listen to the kind of music that you love yet your life partner never learnt to accept. The freedom to watch your favourite soap opera... or even the freedom to sleep alone. Why does marriage have to be an obligatory institution with all kinds of restrictive rules? What is the best way to handle it?
What makes a relationship work? And even more, what makes a relationship last? The movie tried to answer the eternal dilemma... So the two people, from two different relationships, got together as both needed the air and the novelty. They decided that there was no need to live together. That there was no need to get married. That perfect is to be with one another when both want it. The rest of the time... one needs space. The rest of the time, one need to think in terms of "I" and not "We". But it does not work that way, does it?

Love and hearts

Love works in mysterious ways.
SHE is beautiful and smart, and yet, for some reason, she settles for less. Because that is what love is. One that is willing to sacrifice himself for the happiness of the other. Or is it? Is it possible that it was just an obsession, a need to feel useful, needed, even indispensable, a taken to the extreme mother instinct? When one accepts the happiness of the other as its own, when one denies personal needs in order to satisfy the other's - i think it is no longer love, it is sacrifice. Love is supposed to be the happiness of the couple. And nobody should settle for less.
The message of "27 dresses" was a lot simpler. She is in love with him but he barely notices she is there - but that is ok, because she takes joy in organizing his life and taking care of every single detail concerning his day to day activity. She feels that without her he would be lost, as she is his compass and his guiding light through the mysteries of the world. She has no needs of her own. All she wants is to please him. Deep inside, she still hopes and dreams of him, she still thinks there might be a chance for him to wake up and realize that the woman he'd been looking for so bad was right there under his nose. But chances are slim, so she goes on loving him in silence. And that is who she is. She helps the people around her be happy as she herself is too afraid to pursue happiness herself. So she settles for less. Of course, in the end, she meets the perfect man to make her reconsider. There were lots of events that make her realize that things have changed drastically over a short period of time. Of course, when the moment is just right, and when she rushes away to see him and tell him how she feels, she makes it just in time to jump on the ferry and manages not to fall into the water. Of course, all the other people on the ferry were very interested in their love story and so when she got on stage and talked to him with a microphone, everyone was "Aaawh-ing". Of course, there was a a spotlight on him and he did not feel the least uncomfortable with the whole situation. And, of course, he felt the same and thus kissed her with the passion that every girl dreams of. Unfortunately, i could not sit through the typical teary-happy- end-American movie without sarcastic remarks. It's not that I don't believe in happy endings. It's just that i no longer believe in perfection.

Cinema Paradiso

A fost odata un imparat care avea o fiica incintatoare. La picioarele ei a cazut un biet ostas din garda: " Te iubesc!" Printsesa l-a privit indelung si s-a lasat induiosata de sentimentele soldatului si i-a zimbit subtil: "Daca asteptsi sub balconul meu 100 zile si 100 noptsi, eu voi fi a ta. " Trece o zi, trec doua... trec zece, douazeci. El asteapta si viseaza. Ea iesea la balcon in fiecare seara, El nu se misca de acolo. Sub ploaie si ninsoare, in vint si furtuna. Dupa 90 zile devenise palid si uscat, lacrimi ii curgeau pe obraji si nu le putea opri. Si in tot acest timp, Ea il urmarea. Iar cind era deja a 99-a noapte, El se ridica si pleaca. De ce nu a asteptat?
Ieri, urmarind filmul, aveam un raspuns... daca printsesa l-a urmarit atita timp si nu i-a pasat de suferintsa lui, inseamna ca nu merita sa o mai astepte, caci in noaptea 100 ea ar fi fost a lui doar din obligatsie, caci promisese, si nu din cauza ca si-ar fi dorit-o.
Astazi insa, gindesc altfel, caci pina la urma, a fost un test, pe care el trebuia sa il treaca - nimic in viatsa nu se obtsine fara efort. De astepta inca o noapte, ea ar fi fost al lui. Rareori insa obiectul dorit corespunde intensitatsii visului. Poate avea frica sa nu fie dezamagit, caci cele mai intense iubiri sunt cele ce nu sunt traite.
In film se ofera o alta explicatsie.. Cum ca el ar fi avut frica de eventuala respingere in noaptea 100, si deci a preferat sa plece si sa nu stie niciodata sigur daca ea ar fi fost sau nu a lui, ci sa creada ca el a fost cel ce a ales sa nu fie cu ea.
Cinema Paradiso. Un Titanic al anilor 80. Despre ambitsie si dragoste. Si anume, despre succes. Despre alegerea ce trebuie facuta intre cariera si familie. Despre genialitate si talent. Despre sacrificii. Despre ratsiunea ce vine in contradictsie cu sentimentul. Despre menire si sens.
Era oare mai simplu sa iubesti in trecut? Era oare mai simpla viatsa? Oare cu atitea lipsuri oamenii erau mai fericitsi? Pe de o parte consider ca da, caci niciciodata lucrurile materiale nu au adus linistea, bucuria si fericirea. Erau razboaie, boli.... Acestea erau marile tragedii. Acum insa, cind tehnologia progreseaza, omul ishi gaseste alte nefericiri. Nesemnificative, calitativ. Insa le simte cu aceeashi intensitate ca pe cele din trecut.
Cariera si familie... de cind lumea exista aceasta dilema, si fericitsi sunt cei ce gasesc un mijloc de aur. Intrebarea eterna este daca aduc lucrurile materiale fericirea? Daca se poate inchiria iubirea? Daca potsi fi fericit avind respect si putere? Raspunsul este da. Pina si El, chiar daca niciodata nu a iubit pe nimeni in afara de Ea, chiar daca i-a marturisit intr-un final ca in toate femeile o cauta doar pe Ea, chiar daca sustsinea ca mereu ceva ii lipsea, pina si El, in scena finala, cind ishi vede un vis din copilarie implinit, ishi umple ochii de lacrimi si ishi da seama care este totushi unica sa pasiune si iubire. Alesese corect, deshi alegerea o facuse nu el, ci mentorul sau. Acesta, mai intelept, vazuse din start ca o minte geniala trebuie sa se dedice muncii, un talent extraordinar nu trebuie sa se piarda - iar dragostea impaienjeneste mintea, obstructsioneaza gindirea, distorsioneaza realitatsile si duce la extreme simtsurile.
Unii oameni sunt ai societatsii. Unele persoane au o o menire. Unii oameni trebuie sa ishi urmeze visul pentru a hrani si visele altora. Unii oameni nu pot fi doar a cuiva. Ei trebuie sa fie a tuturor.
Cinema Paradiso. Lung. Vechi. Calitativ. Impresionant.

La vita e bella

Italian Movie Week continues as i have decided to fill my evenings with a mixture of The Useful and The Pleasant - useful as i get to practice my listening and comprehension in Italian and i become a little bit more informed when it comes to Italian culture so i would no longer hear comments like "You would't understand, it is typically ITALIAN". It is also pleasant as i get to lay around in my bed and squeeze all the fluffiness out of Hugo Bob.
Roberto Benigni is one of the best known Italian actors, in Italia and abroad. But still he does not have the same recognition as Mel Gibson, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, or, my personal favorite, Jude Law. -->
And it is only because he is not as good looking as the ones i have mentioned above. No, he is the typical Italian - curly, not too tall, skinny and light skinned. But his talent... let's just say that i am a fan.
"La vita e bella" - "Life is beautiful"- had a lot of surprises. Shame on me, i have heard so many good things about the movie, yet i never tried to find out more about the plot and the actors. So yes, i had no idea what the movie was about, but at least now i can say that i watched the original version and i can insist that a lot of things get lost in translation so that is why i had postponed watching it.
The first thing that struck me was the typically Italian settings. No wonder, the action takes place in Tuscany. The narrow streets, steep landscape and lack of trees, original renaissance architecture, small shops, wide squares, horrible parking and small romantic cafeterias with many tables for 2.
The movie is very light and easy to watch, even if one has to keep his eyes on the subtitles.
The humor, the energy, the joyfulness, the will of life and the perspicacity of the main character make him conquer the heart of his "Princess", as he calls her throughout the whole movie. Also, his imagination, his incredible strength and optimism makes him overcome the difficulties that come his way, thus the movie's title "Life is beautiful" does not reflect the positive aspects of life itself, but the fact that one's life is as he wants it to be, as he wants to see it. One may choose to wear pink glasses and that does not interfere with being responsible, ambitious and successful. One can go through life being an optimist, and thus enjoy every second of sun and rain, never give up hope and overcome disappointments by smiling and thinking ahead, wishing for better times that will surely not hesitate to arrive. Even if the attitude of the main character can be seen somewhat as an avoidance of reality and deep denial - only in one scene of the movie was it clear that Guido realized the true proportion of the happenings around him - i think that a positive view towards the things might not change any of them, but they sure make one more capable of thinking clearly as optimists always sleep better.
It is a tragicomedy - but i remained with a pleasant feeling. We all know that in life, when one cannot change the things around him, he must change his attitude. We all know that if we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, we are looking the wrong way. We also know that a smile is more powerful than 1000 frowns - yet so few of us practice this sport regularly. Why is that?

Ca-n telenovele...

El- puternic si hotarit, stie ce vrea, si face orice pentru a-l obtsine. Curajos, nu are frica de nimic si lupta pina la ultima picatura pentru ideile si principiile sale. Romantic, caci in clipele de singuratate cu aleasa, gaseste cele mai dulci cuvinte si cele mai frumoase fraze pentru a-si exprima sentimentele. Este cel mai puternic cind vine vorba de o disputa, de o lupta, si cel mai sensibil cind este cu iubita. Este indeajuns de posesiv ca sa o vrea numai pentru el, nu o imparte cu nimeni, si nici ea nu vrea sa fie a altcuiva. Ea, naiva si inocenta, cea care crede tot ce i se spune, insa nu poate sa se indoiasca de iubitul sau, ea, cea care face compromisuri si nu ii spune nimic pentru ca sa nu il raneasca. Ea, care pentru iubirea lui, sacrifica totul. El, ce apreciaza acest lucru.
Intr-un final, dupa multe greutatsi, dupa intrigi si dupa evenimente ce fac imposibila iubirea lor, dupa scurte momente in care se daruiesc clandestin unul altuia, intr-un final, toate personajele "rele" dispar din peisaj, fie ca innebunesc, mor sau sunt inchise. Deci fiecaruia ceea ce i se cuvine. Personajele ce de-a lungul multelor episoade au suferit alaturi de protagonisti li se ofera o soarta mai buna, rezolvarea tuturor problemelor, si mai ca nu se zice ca traiesc fericitsi pina la adinci batrinetsi.
In nici o telenovela personajul cu cel mai mult tupeu, cel mai obraznic, cel mai ambitsios, cel mai insistent, cel materialist, cel fara scrupule nu obtsine ceea ce vrea.
In nici o telenovela personajele nu se despart din cauza unor neintelegeri, caci timp de citeva sute de episoade, adevarul iese oricum la iveala si deci acestia se regasesc unul in bratsele celuilalt.
In nici o telenovela nu se asculta mintea ci inima, in nici o telenovela nu se renuntsa la sentimente, cit de tare si sus nu ar striga mintea ca acea iubire nu se poate. Caci macar pentru citeva episoade sunt fericitsi. Orice iubire merita traita, orice moment savurat, orice dorintsa implinita, orice vis vazut aievea. Oricum in final se ajunge intr-o locatsie romantica unde luminile si decorul creaza acel vis al oricarei fetitse de 12 ani cind el ii spune ca nu poate trai fara ea, ca fara ea viatsa nu are sens si tot felul de chestii siropoase.
In nici o telenovela nimeni nu are frica de nimic - chiar daca timp de citeva saptamini spectatorii sunt tsinutsi cu sufletul la gura caci Alberto nu are curaj sa ii marturiseasca Juanitei ca o iubeste inca din prima zi cind ea i-a zimbit misterios - pina la urma, ajutat de scenaristi, de suflori si de muzica de fundal, acesta ishi gaseste curajul sa ii fure un sarut. Risca, si da, este pocnit peste obraz de catre aleasa, lucru care face audientsa sa scoata un "Ah!"... Alberto nu stie ca in realitate Juanita l-a pocnit peste obraz din cauza ca mama ei a amenintsat-o ca daca nu se casatoreste cu Fernando care este de vitsa mai nobila atunci il va trimite pe Braulio sa il inchida pe Alberto in temnitsa caci acesta ar fi violato pe Mariela care in realitate este sora demult pierduta a Juanitei. Alberto nu stie toate astea, si totusi, fiidca este mai presus de puterile sale, nu renuntsa la fericirea sa, care este doar alaturi de Juanita.... Si astfel telenovela continua.
In telenovele se gaseste mereu timp pentru discutsii si este mereu atmosfera potrivita. Mereu se spune ceea ce trebuie spus la momentul dat, nu exista frustrari, nu exista retsineri, nu se tsine cont de reguli, nu se gindeste ci se simte. Nu exista teama, nu exista incertitudine. Pentru ca exista scenariu. Pentru ca daca se face o gresheala, regizorul striga "Stop!" si scena se reia. In telenovele intotdeauna exista a 2-a shansa.

Toti avem nevoie sa credem intr-un final fericit.

Me and italian movie #1

Yesterday i had planned the start of Italian Movie Week. I started it on a Friday, because so i have all the weekend ahead. I am already bored with typically American movies, the plot and the ending of which is more or less predictable. I wanted something new and innovative for a change. Plus to that, YES I CAN watch movies in italian now, even if it is with subtitles, but given the accent of the characters, it is acceptable. So, with Hugo Bob in position, with my snack next to me ( i couldn't help it), with the downloaded subtitles and the "miau"-ing Italians outside my door (don't ask), I engaged in a 1:47 h journey through the typical italian. As if i had not had enough of that these months.
My search over the internet for italian movies was mostly in Mininova, as the rest of the torrent sites are flooded with the usual "jack meets kate" type of american movies. Without knowing which movies are the recommended ones, i went with my intuition and my logic - i chose the movies that give most results when they are Google-d, the movies that have the best comments - although it is a shame that IMDB has such a poor description of the non-american movies (how egocentristic can the US be??) and, of course, the movies with the most seeders/leechers.
"Non ci resta che piangere" - "There is nothing else to do but cry". Sounds promising? It is. And no, it is not about love and broken hearts. It is a movie directed by the two main actors Roberto Benigni and Massimo Troisi, the first is is an Academy Award-winning Italian film and television actor, writer and director who has more awards than i could count scrolling down his biography. The second is the same, excluding the Television part and substituting the writer part with poet. So 2 great personalities create a basically 2 actor movie, with a simple plot, simple decor, fancy clothes and genuine lines. The movie was a success at the "botteghino", i mean at the box-office, back in 85.
It is a comedy, and it really felt like one. Have i mentioned the simplicity? I have? Well, let me say that again, it is a comedy that seems so modest and that is why it is funny, as it does not try to be overly amusing. It also displays element of black humor, and oh, i love that:)
The watcher can identify with the persons in the film, as they are not super heroes or super intelligent human beings that end-up saving the world Bruce Willis like. No, these are simple people that find themselves in a tough situation but who deal with it as any one of us would, first with fear and disbelief, then with courage and humor, as when there is nothing else to do but cry, a little laughter does not hurt anyone.
The main questions of the movie are what would you do if you were to meet a great personality of the past, let's say, Leonardo DaVinci? Would you try to explain him the basics about a currents, semaphores, capitalism, locomotives and Oedipus complex? Would you try and teach him how to play cards? What about Cristofor Columbus? If you were to be in the 14'th century - 1492, but almost 1500 as it is stated various times in the movie, would you tell him that there was no way he could get straight to India by crossing the Atlantic and that he would stumble upon America? Would you try to stop him, as the 2 characters in the movie tried? They kept asking themselves what good did the US bring to the world in these years... "The electric chair?" - says Troisi. "Is that a good thing???"- replies Benigni. "The Beatles!" tries Troisi again. "They were English." - cuts him off Benigni.
Also, if you were in the 15 century, what would you try to invent? You at the moment have a lot of knowledge about how things should be, and for example if you find yourself in the past (a purely hypothetical situation) you would surely know what things are missing from the picture. But are you really able to invent them? Actually make them?? The characters went through a list of things they could "invent" and thus make some money and gain some authority and recognition. But starting with the lamp, after deciding they had to invent electricity first, they went over to the to the WC, but that did not work either, as inventing the utility was easy, while constructing the sewering system was a little bit more tricky. Not even songs could they "invent" - Yesterday sounded something like " YesterdaY... bambambaambabababababababam.... tralalalalala ... far away.... oh yesterday.... bambam baba.....".
Well, most of us would do slightly better in the 15th century than the 2 characters.... on the singing part. I say watch the movie. I liked it. It's a thumbs up:)

A beautiful mind

I have watched this movie when everyone was fussing about it and discussing the plot line and the memorable moments, like for example the pens scene. And since January, the downloaded file has been patiently waiting for the moment when i would be in the mood for some thinking instead of the usual "i wanna make time pass" movies that i find myself watching lately. I know that is one of the most horrible ways to relax, but it has so far worked for me. So finally, today, i decided to take some snacks out of the fridge, hug Hugo Bob, bring the laptop closer to the bed and finally watch the movie and remember why people kept saying it is such a great movie. Now i know why. Because it is.
I remembered the moment with the pens i mentioned before perfectly. And the scene with the Prize. And the speech. But yes, i shed a tear. Because it is so simple and beautiful, because it is so full of meaning, because it is about miracles and faith, the two things that i need right now.
Also, the quotes from the movie are simply brilliant....

Alicia: How big is the universe?
Nash: Infinite.
Alicia: How do you know?
Nash: I know because all the data indicates it's infinite.
Alicia: But it hasn't been proven yet.
Nash: No.
Alicia: You haven't seen it.
Nash: No.
Alicia: How do you know for sure?
Nash I don't, I just believe it.
Alicia: It's the same with love I guess.

I have been asking myself for quite a while now, how important is it to believe? If we want something so bad that we can almost touch it, will it come true if we really believe that it is possible? Or will we fall into the deepest pit of disappointment if it doesn't happen?
Most of the times, if you really believe in something, especially in miracles - they happen. Yet my attention has always been distracted by the pit of disappointment i mentioned, so i cannot have that much faith in anything. I would like to say that i am skeptical, but no, it is pure pathetic fear.

"I still see things that are not here. I just choose not to acknowledge them. Like a diet of the mind, I just choose not to indulge certain appetites; like my appetite for patterns; perhaps my appetite to imagine and to dream."

"I think that's what it's like with all our dreams and our nightmares, Martin, we've got to keep feeding them for them to stay alive. "


Nope, no more food for them.
There is a saying, " i can resist anything but temptation"... At the moment i am not sure if what i am is called responsible or coward. If i had had the guts to do all that i have wanted to do up till now, i would not be here. I do not know whether that " somewhere else" is a better place, but i guess i will never know that now, huh? So i call them dreams and i let them stay that way, trying to keep them as pure and as innocent as i can. But they will never be anything more. Just dreams. Dreams that i sometimes do not even acknowledge are there.

"It's called "life," John. Activities available; just add meaning."

Simple recipe, yet so many fail to follow it. Funny, isn't it?

"Find a truly original idea. It is the only way I will ever distinguish myself. It is the only way I will ever matter. "

Some people never find that original idea, that something that makes them stick out of the crowd. Yet i think it is worth the search.

Slight misandry

1968. Patty Pravo. Don't ask. Listen. It does strike a little bit close to home, but i think that every estrogen secreting human being has experienced this kind of emotion at least once in her life... Why at least once? Because those who have been through it once make sure they never find themselves in the same situation again. But still, there are some specimens that still don't know that men aren't supposed to be loved. They must be accepted. I will not specify what characteristix have made me write this post. I will just say that men and women use different parts of the brain, it has been scientifically proven. So yes, men are from mars and women are from venus. So choose the least worst martian from a bunch of bad, and then live with it... oh, i'm sorry, i meant to say "live with him". And most importantly, keep your distance and your calm where everyone can see it. Do not even think of getting involved. Do not even think of affection. And if you do start to feel the butterflies, make sure he does not know it, coz it might go to his head.

Tu mi fai girar, tu mi fai girar - You spin me around, you spin me around
come fossi una bambola - as if I were a doll
e poi mi butti giu', poi mi butti giu' - then you toss me away
come fossi una bambola - like a doll
Non ti accorgi quando piango - You don't realize when I'm crying
quando sono triste e stanca, tu - when I'm sad and tired
pensi solo per te. - you only think of you
No ragazzo no, No ragazzo no, - No boy
del mio amore non ridere - don't laugh at my love
non ci gioco piu' - I don't play with it any more
quando giochi tu - when you play
sai far male da piangere - you can hurt till I cry
Da stasera la mia vita - From tonight my life
nele mani di un ragazzo, no - in the hands of a boy
non la mettero' piu' - I won't place it any more
No ragazzo no, - No boy
tu non mi metterai - you won't put me
tra le dieci bambole - among the ten dolls
che non ti piacciono piu' - that you don't like any more
Oh no, oh no..no ragazzo no.

P.S. Misandry - hatred of men. But do not worry, it will pass, it is just a phaze.

Florin Chilian- Chiar daca

Blogging (2)

Vorbeam cu un prieten ( da da, the friend) si el mi-a oferit citeva sfaturi in ceea ce priveste calitatea, cantitatea si continutul post-urilor mele. Am promis ca voi tsine cont de parerea sa si ca ma voi stradui sa creez mai multa valoare.

1. Scurt, clar si cuprinzator - da, m-am cam prins si eu de mai multe ori ca fac prea multa discutsie pentru un simplu gind sau eveniment. Cum zice un blog pe care il mai citesc citeodata," un cuvint la patru ginduri", tehnica pe care ar trebui s-o adopt si eu.
2. Filtrare si sortare - ginduri multe, amestecate - daca nici eu uneori nu imi dau seama pina la urma ce am vrut sa zic, darmite cel ce se incumeta sa citeasca? Ar trebui sa aranjez mai intii toate cele ce vreau sa le spun, sa le clasific si apoi sa dezvolt. Cum mi-a mai zis cineva, ar trebui sa scriu un summary la inceput ca sa se stie daca merita citit tot postul sau nu :)) Mai ales ca uneori ajungi la final si tot nu se intelege ce s-a vrut zis.
3. Consecventsa, coerentsa, structurare - sa am o directsie bine stabilita, sa imi mentsin viziunea, elementele sa fie in conexiune unul cu celalalt si sa am o oarecare structura, deci nici un fel de haos. Aici as fi tentata sa decid pina la urma care este scopul pe care l-am urmarit cind am clickat " add blogger account". Sunt mai multe motive, in primul rind insa cred ca imi place sa am acel mic "proiect" pe care il creez, asupra caruia sa lucrez. Da, mai am inca terci de mincat, si mult drum de strabatut, insa cred ca merg spre acel scop major pe care il am si pe care il voi atinge cu sigurantsa.
4. Simplicitate - fara cuvinte pompoase, fara metafore extravagante, fara intorsaturi dramatice, fara intelesuri ascunse si fara implicatsii profunde. Desi asta ar insemna sa editez exact ceea ce deosebeste persoana mea de celelalte, dar asta e.....

5. Utilitate - nu in ultimul rind, desigur. Cit de interesante nu ar fi experientsele mele personale, nu cred in valoarea si in utilitatea acestor informatsii pentru lumea exterioara- se spune ca biografia unui om nu se scrie in timpul vietsii sale :) Deci trebuie sa includ alte subiecte....
6. Sa fie memorabil - trebuie sa adaog elemente atractive si care ramin in memorie. Asta chiar nu stiu cum sa o fac, insa cit traim invatsam.
Dupa cum au observat cei ce ma viziteaza cit de cit regulat, s-a skimbat formatul paginii si acum arata cu totul altfel decit arata initsial. Prima incercare era un vis, cu elemente romantice, cu inocentsa si naivitate de invidiat. Se spune ca orice om cind recunoaste azi ca a gresit ieri arata ca este mai destept decit in ziua precedenta - acelashi lucru si aici, prin recunoasterea acestor lucruri vreau sa subliniez faptul ca nu mai sunt asa si deci am optat pentru culori mai inchise, mesaje mai sarcastice si tind sa elimin in totalitate toate postarile cu caracter de "jaluiala". Am schimbat si denumirea blog-ului, de la "Lacul oglindeste stelele pentru ca vrea sa fie cer" la ceea ce este acum - totul cu intentsia de a arata ca totushi scopul acestui blog este de a-mi imbogatsi vocabularul, de a-mi imbunatatsi exprimarea, de a medita si de a structura, de a afla informatsii noi si de a le impartashi si de a oferi totusi ceva utilitate. A, si, desigur, este o metoda de comunicare, astfel tsin la curent mai multe persoane cu ce ma ocup ziulica intreaga.

Blogging ( 1)

Bloguri. Sunt acele mici nishe unde se ascund ginduri, opinii, pareri, vise si dureri. Este acel ceva pe care nu potsi sa il spui insa care trebuie impartashit. Este acel locushor al tau unde esti stapin si unde nu faci parte din societate totushi fiind parte din ea. Este acel ceva ce te face sa te calmezi si sa reflectezi mai mult sau mai putsin adinc asupra realitatsilor de zi cu zi, unde postezi tot ce itsi vine in cap si nu te intereseaza daca te citeste sau nu cineva - si nici nu ai de unde sa stii, nu ai counter si dezactivezi comments-urile. Anonimitatea ishi are avantajele sale - potsi sa ai tupeu fara a-l avea - da, faci afirmatsii dure, insa prin a nu-tsi da numele esti "protejat". Blogurile-retsea creeaza dependentsa: " ai citit blogul meu?" , " da, am lasat comment" - este o activitate ushoara, placuta, aduce satisfactsii de moment, faciliteaza trecerea timpului, creeaza un sentiment de utilitate si de apartenentsa unui anumit grup. Majoritatea paginilor personale sunt file de jurnal - cu notitse zilnice, informatsii de rutina, intimplari amuzante, pareri, opinii, discutsii. Pina la urma, este pagina PERSONALA, deci o scrii pentru tine, insa nu o faci in Microsoft Word, sau, mai nou, in Google Docs. O faci in Blogger, pentru ca mai nou a aparut necesitatea de a te simtsi util acestei WWW. Vazind ca daca dai in Google Search numele tau, si apare ceva, te simtsi implinit. De asemenea, se poarta altruismul, si itsi spui ca poate ajutsi si tu pe cineva cu un sfat, cu o lectura interesanta - de ce sa nu impartsi cu lumea intreaga ce ai de zis? Pina la urma, nu fortsezi pe nimeni sa citeasca ce ai scris, insa te bucuri cind cineva o face:) In realitate insa, este necesitatea de a te simtsi util.... Caci in multe zile, post-ul de pe blog este unicul lucru util si palpabil pe care l-a facut autorul pentru societate. Trist? Poate. Insa adevarat.
Paginile variaza foarte mult in contsinut - de la fotografii, video amuzante pina la discutsii politice samd. Dai peste ele oriunde - bloguri sunt cita frunza si iarba. Sau daca vorbim de www, sunt cite 0 si 1 in codurile binare. Citesc si paginile unor persoane pe care nu le cunosc, daca ca m-a intrigat ceva din pagina lor le vizitez din cind in cind. Da, imi ia ceva timp, insa, paradoxal, nu pare timp pierdut pentru ca afli lucruri noi si faci comparatsie intre realitatea ta si cea expusa de altsii - pina la urma, este un mod de comunicare. Pacat insa ca se inventeaza tot mai multe metode de comunicare virtuala, si intre timp se uita de cea traditsionala, discutsia fatsa in fatsa. Insa aceasta este alta discutsie, alt post:)
Tema unei pagini pe care o vizitez cam o data in saptamina este Sunday's Secret Posts, care este doar o veriga in tot lantsul de resurse de internet ce se ocupa cu receptsia si publicarea acelor secrete ce nu pot fi spuse niciodata, insa care trebuie sa vada lumina zilei. Citesc, ma cutremur si ma intreb incotro merge lumea, societatea?
De asemenea, sunt vizitatoare fidela a LifeDev, LifeHacker, JohnFields, etc - adresele se afla undeva in meniul din dreapta. Util, interesant, educativ. De aici ma intreb, care sunt elementele ce fac un blog de calitate?

Let's keep smiling

What made me smile this morning :




Oh yes, and it's sunny :)