It was 17 August 1965...

...a very hot afternoon in Madison County, Iowa...

Francesca sits on the front porch with some iced tea, trying to cool herself off. It is a scorcher. She is barefoot, her blouse hanging out of her jeans, her hair fastened up by a tortoise shell comb.
Camera begins a slow move into close-up, as she sips her tea and lets her mind wander.

“I never got lost. For some reason, I'm more at home everywhere than at one place. So I decided I'll think of myself as some kind of world citizen. I belong everywhere and nowhere. I'm kin to everyone, and no one in particular. See, once you get into the habit of not needing anyone, it's kind of hard to break.
I think I need everyone! I love people. I want to meet them all! I just think there are too many out there saying "This is mine." or "She's mine." Too many lines have been drawn. World's breaking apart because of man's weakness for some testosterone conquests over territory and power and people. He wants control over what deep down he knows he has no control over whatsoever and it scares him silly.”
“We're not even two separate people anymore. Some people search their whole lives for it and wind up alone -- most people don't even think it exists”

"-- going over and over in my mind every detail, every moment of our time together and I ask myself, "What happened to me in Madison County?" I struggle to put it together in a way that allows me to continue knowing we're on separate roads. But then I look through the lens of my camera, and you're there. I start to write an article and I find myself writing it to you. It's clear to me now we have been moving towards each other, towards those four days, all our lives -–"

He begins walking towards her. She prepares herself. Her life will change -- it has to. There's not turning back.
But the closer Robert gets, the clearer he can see that she is crying. And he stops.
Without any words, he realizes what taking her with him would mean. With just a glance, he sacrifices her. With their eyes locked in the middle of Main Street -- in front of the whole town -- they smile and say goodbye.

“Do what you have to, to be happy in this life. There is so much beauty, don’t miss it!"

Extracts from the movie script "The Bridges of Madison County" .

Happy Birthday Dear Madonna...

Chinese Taipei = Taiwan - Beijing?

Chinese Taipei, the designation of Taiwan in the Olympic games, in my opinion misrepresents this island.
Taiwan does contain Taipei as well as people whose ethnic background is Chinese, however Taiwan is much more than just Taipei (a county and city part of Taiwan) and does have other ethnic groups (there are 12 different tribes of aboriginal people in Taiwan).
Not all the athletes representing Taiwan come from Taipei and not all are ethnically Chinese.
Calling Taiwan, Chinese Taipei, would be like designating Brazil as Portuguese Brazilia or USA as English Washington.
It would not be correct, right?
So why Chinese Taipei and not Taiwan or perhaps Formosa?


PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Team Taiwan waves to spectators while holding the Chinese Taipei National Olympic Committee flag during the opening ceremony in Athens on Friday, 13/08/04.

The Road Home - to discover, to feel and to lose love

This movie is so beautiful for its simplicity, for the facial and body expression of the actress and for the landscape, a combination of all this with very little words, transmits to the spectator how is to discover, feel and lose LOVE....



"The Road Home" - Director Yimou Zhang
Este filme e’ uma historia simples que celebra a alegria inocente da descoberta do amor e a dor da tristeza da perca da pessoa amada. Aborda tambem realidades sociais e culturais da China de Mao, pobre e oprimida mas muito humana.
A natureza tem neste filme um papel principal, as paisagens e as estacoes do ano acentuam a alegria, o drama e a tristeza dos personagens.
A arte de representar da actriz Ziyi Zhang , e’ de uma beleza extraordinaria.
Nao e’ propriamente os dialogos que dao beleza e charme ao personagem interpretado por Ziyi Zhang , mas sim as expressoes faciais e corporais da atcriz que transmitem ao espectador um charme e serenidade contagiantes. As emocoes sao nos tranmitidas atraves dos seus olhares, que expressam de uma forma extremante bem conseguida, o amor, a alegria, a perca, a tristeza e a dor.

Para um resumo da historia click aqui.

Beauty...

I have the impression that I know Ziyi Zhang for a long time!

The Day After...

PHOTO: CHANG CHUNG-YI, TAIPEI TIMES
Crews work amid debris from several demolished buildings above the Kaohsiung MRT's Orange Line yesterday.

"The head of Kaohsiung's MRT system offered to resign yesterday to take responsibility for subsidence on Monday that led to the evacuation and condemning of surrounding buildings in the fourth construction mishap to hit the project in three months."

That would be too easy for you, "Mr. Head of Kaohsiung's MRT System", the captain does not abandon the ship when it has been severely damaged. The captain stays aboard finds out what caused the damage; repairs it and introduces preventive measures to avoid reoccurrence.
If you don't know this, "Mr. Head of Kaohsiung's MRT System", you probably should not have been in this position to start with!
I personally thing "Mr. Head of Kaohsiung's MRT System", should take the responsibility but still stay in the position until he has a full and detailed report of what went wrong and improve their management system accordingly aiming that this kind of oooops, will never happen.
Leaders are paid to make sure that businesses operate in safe conditions, they are not paid just to sit there and use and abuse of their title.
I remind you "Mr. Head of Kaohsiung's MRT System", that you should know this and ensure that your entire organization knows it and practices it:

“In the process of undertaking work within a tight programme there never seems to be sufficient time or money to ensure that the results are correct. However, on discovery of a major error or fault the resources to put it right are limitless.”

Something was not planned...

The Construction Industry involves high risky activities and therefore the adequate planning and implementation of controls, from design to completed construction stages, is crucial to avoid non-foreseen accidents.
In this case, the construction of the subway system in the southern city of Taiwan Kaohsiung, something went wrong either at design and/or construction stages.
Often the approach to Quality Management dictates the success of a construction site.
Fortunately, no fatalities were caused by this incident, but there are certainly great lessons to learn from it.
It is always good to remember this basic principal, particularly in activities that have risks associated with them:

“In the process of undertaking work within a tight programme there never seems to be sufficient time or money to ensure that the results are correct. However, on discovery of a major error or fault the resources to put it right are limitless.”


PHOTO: CHANG CHUNG-YI, TAIPEI TIMES
Underground work on the Shitzuwan station of Kaohsiung's MRT line caused subsidence that affected nearby buildings yesterday, causing them to sink by as much as one story. About 20 people fled their stores and homes as five three-story buildings on Linhai 2nd Road began to sink around 1:20pm. No one was hurt in the incident.

2004 Asian Cup Soccer Tournament - The Final

It is unfortunate that people cannot move on and leave the past where it belongs. Nobody should be blamed for the mistakes that their ancestors committed long time ago. The Japanese of the XXI century have no responsibility for what some Japanese of the early XX century, did.
To forgive and respect is the only way to move on in peace and harmony.
Congratulations to Japan for its victory.
Sorry to China, but Portugal lived the same sad moments: loosing a final at home and their reaction was an admirable one.
Sports are about wining and also about knowing how to loose.
All the best for next time!

Keiji Tamada scored in injury time Saturday to seal a 3-1 Asian Cup final victory for defending champion Japan over host China in a tense match overshadowed by nationalistic passions among Chinese and anti-Japanese violence.
Following the match, crowds chanting anti-Japanese insults broke bottles and exchanged kicks and punches with police outside the stadium. At least three men were seen being taken away by officers, but it wasn't clear if anyone was injured.


PHOTO: AP
A young Chinese soccer fan walks past a line of riot police on his way to see the Asian Cup final between China and Japan at Workers' Stadium in Beijing, Saturday. After being tied 1-1 in the first half, Japan defeated China 3-1 to win the cup for the third time.


PHOTO: AP
Japanese captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto holds the Asian Cup as team members celebrate at Workers' Stadium in Beijing, Saturday.

Amar e' / To love is... part II

Life should not be a drama and people should not be martyrs and miuda did a good job in reminding me of that and complemented my thoughts about the concept of love:

"Entender o outro, é Amar!
É difícil... mas quando conseguido não pode, ou não deve, causar-nos dor!!!"
by miuda

"To understand the other one, is to love!
That's a difficult task... but when achieved it can't or it shouldn't cause pain!!!"
by miuda

2004 Asian Cup Soccer Tournament

After the Euro 2004, it seems that 2004 Asian Cup Soccer tournament does not have little media's interest.
But anyway, it is happening right now in China, as I poublish this post.
The final is tomorrow: China vs Japan and it promisses more than just a sport competition!!!

PHOTO: AFP
A Chinese paramilitary policeman watches whilst a fan enjoys herself at China's semifinal game against Iran during the 2004 Asian Cup Soccer tournament at the Workers Stadium in Beijing. Authorities said yesterday that they are taking no chances that the grudge Asian Cup final between China and Japan will turn nasty, drafting in more than 1,000 extra police to keep order.
From territorial claims, to war atrocities and outrage over sex orgies, tensions between China and Japan are never far from bubbling to the surface.
When China and Japan meet in the final of Asia's most prestigious football tournament in Beijing tomorrow, there will be more at stake than lifting the silverware -- national pride will be in play.

Amar e'... / To love is...

Amar e’ ficar contente com a felicidade da pessoa que se ama.
Mesmo que essa felicidade nos provoque dor!

To Love is to feel joy with the happiness of the loved one,
Even when that happiness causes us pain!

Taiwan's Aboriginals promote Tourism

PHOTO: CHANG TSUN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
Young people from a Tao Aboriginal dance group perform a traditional dance during a press conference in Taitung City (Taiwan) yesterday, called to promote tourism in their homeland, the island of Lanyu (Taiwan), southeast of Taitung City.

For those who don't know, there are 12 different tribes of aboriginal people in Taiwan. These tribes are the natives of this island.
Some 360,000 indigenous people, the original inhabitants of Taiwan, still live here; they can be distinguished into 12 different tribes, namely the Saisiyat, the Atayal, the Amis, the Bunun, the Puyuma, the Rukai, the Paiwan, the Tao, the Sao,the Taroko,the Kemalan and the Zou.
The mysterious customs and traditions of the aborigines, Taiwan's indigenous people, such as the Harvest Festival (Smatto), the Worship of Hunting (Mabuasu), spiritual rituals, totemism, and snake worship, give an extra dimension to Taiwan's culture. The aboriginal tribes of Taiwan form the most northern branch of the Austronesian language group, and ethnically belong to the Malay race.

Mini monks made in Japan

PHOTO: AP
Young children, their heads shaved, pose for a portrait just after they attended a ceremony to enter the Buddhist priesthood at Higashi Hongwanji temple in Kyoto, western Japan, yesterday. Seventy-one boys and girls, all aged 9, were issued black robes following the ceremony, conducted by head priest the Reverand Choken Otani.

Lost in Translation?

The other night I was browsing Tainan (a charming southern Taiwanese city), looking for a bar to cheer up my mood.
I bumped into this bar and wondered if it was the right place to go...


I wonder if this is another lost in translation case or if there are really people in this world that can associate fun with a cemetery.
Oh well, good to know that there is always something for everybody but this one is definitely not for me!

Dance not war

PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
A dance troupe from Brazil performs a traditional war dance called Capoeria that integrates dance, martial arts and traditional instruments at a press conference in Taipei last 28/07/04, to introduce the 2004 Olympia Earth Games. The games, which started on 30/07/04 and will run until Aug. 8 in Puhsin, Taoyuan County, are jointly organized by the National Cultural Association and other groups.

É tão curto o amor, tão longo o esquecimento.

Poema de Pablo Nerura, emprestado do Resistente Existencial:

Posso escrever os versos mais tristes esta noite.
Escrever, por exemplo: "A noite está estrelada,
e tiritam, azuis, os astros lá ao longe".
O vento da noite gira no céu e canta.

Posso escrever os versos mais tristes esta noite.
Eu amei-a e por vezes ela também me amou.
Em noites como esta tive-a em meus braços.
Beijei-a tantas vezes sob o céu infinito.

Ela amou-me, por vezes eu também a amava.
Como não ter amado os seus grandes olhos fixos.
Posso escrever os versos mais tristes esta noite.
Pensar que não a tenho. Sentir que já a perdi.

Ouvir a noite imensa, mais imensa sem ela.
E o verso cai na alma como no pasto o orvalho.
Importa lá que o meu amor não pudesse guardá-la.
A noite está estrelada e ela não está comigo.

Isso é tudo. Ao longe alguém canta. Ao longe.
A minha alma não se contenta com havê-la perdido.
Como para chegá-la a mim o meu olhar procura-a.
O meu coração procura-a, ela não está comigo.

A mesma noite que faz branquejar as mesmas árvores.
Nós dois, os de então, já não somos os mesmos.
Já não a amo, é verdade, mas tanto que a amei.
Esta voz buscava o vento para tocar-lhe o ouvido.

De outro. Será de outro. Como antes dos meus beijos.
A voz, o corpo claro. Os seus olhos infinitos.
Já não a amo, é verdade, mas talvez a ame ainda.
É tão curto o amor, tão longo o esquecimento.

Porque em noites como esta tive-a em meus braços,
a minha alma não se contenta por havê-la perdido.
Embora seja a última dor que ela me causa,
e estes sejam os últimos versos que lhe escrevo.

Pablo Neruda


free translation of Pablo Neruda's poem:

I can write the saddest poems tonight
Write, for example: “The night is bright with stars,
And far away, the blue asteroids twinkles”.
The night wind spins in the sky and sings.

I can write the saddest poems tonight,
I loved her and sometimes she also loved me.
In nights like this one, I had her in my arms.
I kissed her so many times under the infinite sky.

She loved me, sometimes I also loved her.
How could I not have loved her big motionless eyes.
I can write the saddest poems tonight,
Thinking that I don’t have her. Feeling that I already lost her.

Listening to the immense night, even more immense without her.
And the verse falls in the soul as the moist on the ground.
Who cares if my love couldn’t kept her,
The night is bright with stars and she is not with me.

That’s all. Far away somebody sings. Far away.
My soul doesn’t rest, how could I have lost her.
Like to reach for her, my sights seeks for her
My heart looks for her, she is not with me.

The same night whitenings the same trees,
Both of two, the ones from before, are no longer the same.
I no longer love her, it’s true, but I loved her immensely
This voice used the wind to call her attention.

Somebody else’s. It will be somebody else’s. The kisses as before they were mine.
The voice, the body of course. Her infinitive eyes.
I no longer love her, it’s true, but maybe I still love her.
Love is so short and forgetting it takes so long.

Because, in nights like this one, I had her in my arms,
My soul does not rest for loosing her.
Even if this is the last time she hurts me
And these are the last verses that I write her.

Sometimes...

... I feel lost…


... but I believe if I look around and pay attention to the signs, I will see the way and something will redirect me.

Is it the ducks that are showing me the way in a steady pace, trespassing the door to other side?


Or is it the red dragon that flies free in the sky?
Or perhaps, it's his shadow, down to earth, showing me the path ahead to turn into a new corner of this life's road?


I don't yet, but i will end up finding the answer!

Before and After with Adelaide Ferreira

Before:
Adelaide Ferreira - Dava Tudo

After:
Adelaide Ferreira - Papel Principal

"The Main Role" by Adelaide Ferreira
The night is over
The game is over
For me here
You will be out of my mind
When I wake up

The movie is over
The drama is over
The pain is gone
You have always been
A bad actor

You played the hero
In the main role
But you acted and lied so badly

The one who lost
Was you and only you, never me
At the end
Today the main role is mine and only mine


"Papel Principal" de Adelaide Ferreira
A noite acabou
O jogo acabou
Para mim aqui
Quando acordar
Já te esqueci

O filme acabou
O drama acabou
Acabou-se a dor
Tu sempre foste
Um mau actor

Fizeste de herói
No papel principal
Mas representaste e mentiste tão mal

Quem perdeu
Foste tu só tu e nunca eu
Afinal
Hoje o papel principal é meu e só meu

Quem perdeu
Foste tu só tu e nunca eu
Afinal
Hoje o papel principal é meu

Move on...

Who is controlling this space?

Got this test from puta de vida and was happy to know that I am controlling the Trip and not controlled by Tripping!

12.5 %

My weblog owns 12.5 % of me.
Does your weblog own you?