From a book I want to read 01

From the book A Calendar of Wisdom, where we find "Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul", Leo Tolstoy quotes from Confucius: 

"Cowardice is knowing what you should do and then not doing it. Confucius"

A Calendar of Wisdom - Leo Tolstoy

Does that mean, then, that we are all - most of us? - , in one way or another, cowards?

YouTube - Experimental Typography - SunDial style

YouTube -  Experimental Typography - SunDial style

This is what I call an excellent idea. Simplicity and ingeniousness together can create beauties like this one.

Also, the chosen poem could not be more appropriate!

It does not take forever.

Check it out when you have a spare minute. 

First days of January

It's been a very long time since I last published something here. I decided to restart posting from time to time, and I expect it to be more often.

As a Christmas gift I received a desk calendar from a friend at work and I find that there are some curious things in it so Ill be posting some of the ones I find more interesting here. Ah, the calendar is a Page-A-Day Schott's Miscellany 2009.

At January 1st, the calendar talks about the word January:

The Latin month Ianuarius derives from iannua ("door"), since it was the opening of the year. It was also associated with Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doors and openings who guarded the gates of heaven. Janus could simultaneously face the year past and the year to come.

I have never heard about this Roman god named Janus, but good old Wikipedia has a small description of him, and also a photo of his statue.

Since we are talking about "somebody" who watches over twice as much as we do, I'd also like to put here two sayings. One is from January 3, the other from January 4:

Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought;
Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.
Samuel Johnson (1709-84)

If we had no faults of our own,
We would not take so much pleasure
In noticing those of others.
Duc de la Rochefoucauld (1613-80)

May everyone have a bright 2009.

Brazil in Family

Mackenzie, Maxymme, Hendrick, and Jacob.
Melo and Brazilians.
Natal/RN/Brazil - December 29, 2005

After eight years without joining every member of our family together, last year during Holidays season, we could manage do to that. What a great way to cheer the arrival of the new year.

Without any previous consent or agreement on clothes, we all went to the party at our dad's home with shirts resembling the colors of the Brazilian flag (click to see it). We only noticed that when we stood together for the "official" photos.

Green, Yellow, Blue, and White. There we are, in a handsome photo (not because of the men, although some think we are :D), but because of the joy and happiness we all felt this day.

A huge kiss from Brazil.

Mutts

I always loved Comics. Since I was a kid (am I not still one?) , I used to read all sorts of comic books. Gladly enough, my parents were always very supportive and I read from Superman to Spider-man, ranging to Disney's, Monica (an excellent Brazilian comic - click the link for the english website), some Asterix and the list goes on and on.


When I first saw Garfield and 'his' comic strips, I fell in love immediately. I laughed my heart out with his stories and his humor, sometimes a bit dark, but always very good. The other day, I was browsing one of the Building 19 stores when I saw the comics section. That's when I first saw Mutts.


I still don't know specifically why it caught my attention; maybe only because I love comics. Well, anyways, I know that I took the book and started looking at it. I couldn't help but laugh by its comicalness filled with a sort of philosophic meaning in some of them.


Naturally (?), I bought both books I found about 'him'. Today I decided to post some of the comic strips I found on the internet that show a little bit of why I think this comic is a great one that brings us not only fun but some thought on our responsibility while here on Earth.

If you can't read the strips here, simply click on them and you'll be able to see a bigger version.

To know more
Mutts Official Web Site

Cat saves baby's life

Cat saves baby's life | Reuters.com

This photo is not from the actual news article, but I think it has its own meaning related to what I just read.

I don't like cats. At least in the sense of having one. If I were to choose between a cat and a dog, I would definitely have a dog. I would fight like a lion in order to not having a cat.

This fact, though, doesn't mean that they are useless or that they don't have their own grace and beauty. They are indeed very elegant and kitties are usually very cute. Here I also include all the felidae class, that means tigers, lions, panthers, etc.

In this news that I just read, a cat in Berlin found a baby in the doorstep of a house and then started to meow very loud until someone woke up and found the baby.

Nobody knows by know the identity of the mother, but the baby is fine and the article doesn't mention what will happen to him. I hope they can find a better home for the baby.

Here comes my old question again: "Are humans really rational animals?"

This question, though, is not made for us to answer thinking about other people's actions. This question is suited, perfectly suited actually, for us to question ourselves. Are we really being rational when we choose our decisions in life?

Sometimes I think that for some of us, me included, it would somehow be better if we were irrational animals. At least we would have the excuse of "really" being irrational...

I hope the cat story can help us think about ourselves and our own decisions.

A feline hug in erverybody.

Family

I don't remember posting any photo of my brothers and sisters around here, so I decided to do so now. Even more when I promissed a dear frind of mine that I would post it for her to know them. :)

Here are the photos Connie, as promissed. A little late, but they finally came... :)

Christmas Celebration - 12/29/2005 - Natal RN, Brazil
From left to right:
Allena (sister), Evelïssa (sister), Mackenzie (me), Kahdynn (sister), Jacob (dad), Maxymme (brother) and Hendrick (brother).

New Years Eve Celebration - 12/31/2005 - Natal RN, Brazil
From left to right:
Mackenzie (me) , Kahdynn (sister), Hendrick (brother), Adilene (mother), Allena (sister), Evelïssa (sister) and Maxymme (brother).

There we were, all six brothers and sisters reunited (after almost eight years wihtout being all of us at the same place and at the same time together) having a very pleasant Holiday celebration.

Sara Wheeler

Sara Wheeler at Bunker Hill Community College

Last week, while in school, I had the chance to listen to this great singer. Sometimes BHCC provides its students with cultural presentations and invites some artists to show their talent.

And what a talent we saw last thursday. Her name was Sara Wheeler. These photos I took while watching her.

With only her divine voice and guitar in an intimate acoustic presentation, she captivated the audience of a few, but highly interested, students that were passing through the hall.

With good lyrics and an awesome musicality - her songs (yes, all songs are her compositions) she provided us with a great acoustic guitar player performance. I was even more surprised when she used her guitar to play one song in a non conventional way. Istead of playing with its strings, she turned it backwards and used it as a percussion instrument. Awesome.

Sara Wheeler at Bunker Hill Community College

We also had a snack provided my the school and I had the chance to buy one of her cds that she was selling at the time. Moonlight Dancers. Very good CD. If you like songs with lyrics in a kind of celtic mood, sung by a very good voice, I don't know what you are waiting for.

If you want to have a taste of her musicality, you can check her official website to listen do some of her songs and also to check a little bit of her career and other information about her life and projects.

http://www.sarawheeler.com

This is my musical suggestion of the week. I hope you enjoy it as I sure did and still do.

A musical kiss to everybody.