Remember Global Warming

Dear reader,

I hope this epistle finds you in good spirits.

When you hear about “global warming” what is your immediate thought? The environment, I assume.

Today, however, I challenge you to go beyond that notion and dare, along with me, to behold other forms under which the globe is getting warmer.

Remember, the temperature is getting higher in the Muslim World, causing successive tempests that surely will lead to a dramatic political-climate change.

This is the case in countries like Libya, Yemen, Jordan, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Syria (although still latently) and...Insha’Allah...the future state of Palestine; where people are set to fight for Democracy (that is, free speech, the right to information, the right to assemble, multi-partisanship, free elections, access to the same opportunities for everyone, market liberalisation etc). Although hopeful about these changes, I cannot hide my concern about Libya: when Tsunami-Gadhafi is out of control, bad weather may come from Algeria encouraging, thus, the storm of radicalism to sweep the nation. Disturbing picture. 

Remember that things are getting warmer and warmer around the globe: anti-Semitism is on the rise again.

First we had a drunk Mel Gibson spitting slurs against Jews; now we have an inebriate John Galliano vomiting anti-Semite verbiage against a Jewish couple, in Paris. I could mention  other public figures that take pleasure in uttering unsympathetic words against the Jewish People, however they are not worth my time. I know some voices, in Portugal, miss Salazar, however it is quite disappointing to see that many around the world miss Hitler. 

Speaking of the Chosen People, I tried to avoid addressing a hot issue concerning a prominent European Jewish family, but I’m afraid their behaviour begs a quick comment (one, that only the Portuguese Minister of Culture dared to think but was shy to speak of):

Commendatore Joe Berardo (a Portuguese business man, known for being associated to the fore mentioned Jewish family) announced that “he” is going to build a cultural centre in Funchal (Madeira) intended to not only honour the Jewish culture but also to exhibit a Holocaust collection. So far, so good. But then, the commendatore goes on to disclose the location of the future centre honouring Judaism and the holocaust victims: a former Slaughter House. 

This insensitive and tacky idea leads me into thinking that perhaps the commedatore (thus, the respectable Jewish clan) is trying to design a tasteless syllogism of some sort...

Yes, remember: global topics are heating up and 2011 will be a fiery blogging year!

Respectfully,

Max Coutinho

For a different perspective on this theme, please visit LS' Domain: Here.

Comment: The Portrait of a Macho

Portrait of a Man by Vilmos Aba-Novák

Macho: denoting or exhibiting pride in characteristics believed to be typically masculine, such as physical strength, sexual appetite, virility, domination of women and aggression.

The above definition does not make justice to the word macho (in fact, it describes machos as being misogynists and sadistic). 

The portrait of a macho is much more complex than this, and therefore, I would like to share my opinion on the issue. 

What is a Macho? A true macho is:

• A man who knows his place in society. Yes, he is physically stronger than women, since he was originally created to toil (providing, thus, financial security), to fight (ensuring, therefore, physical security), to muscle (granting, for instance, sexual security) and to endure (supplying, for example, emotional security). Having said this, a man’s place in society is to offer security, period.
• A male who comprehends that sex is a consensual act intended not only to perpetuate our species but also to make the body exult. A true male uses not sex to humiliate or torture women. 
• A male who knows that virility does not have to mean brutality. 
• A Homo Sapiens who respects women; who fears them not. He has not the need to belittle and humiliate them; to mistreat and abuse them or even mutilate them; for he understands that women were built to complement him and not to be his punching bag. A true man walks beside his woman, not in front of her. 
• A Homo Sapiens who realises that he is not an animal (hence the genus Homo Sapiens: modern species of humans) and therefore aggression is below him. A modern human makes use of Reason, of Intellect, of all the things that make him truly sexy.

A real macho thinks. He balances the inherent Apollonian and Dionysian natures (refinement, sobriety; emphasis on superficial appearance and detachment from undifferentiated immediacy of nature Vs immersion in the wholeness of nature, intoxication, non-rationality and inhumanity – in “The Birth of Tragedy” by Nietzsche) since he apprehends notions like mental elasticity – 100% good is as bad as 100% evil. 

The Portrait of a Macho can be so gorgeous, so exquisite…divine.

Also read: The Portrait of a Woman

The Language of the Chefs

Asparagus Soup from Ementa do Dia

Have you ever noticed how chefs and gourmets describe everything they ingest? 

For them, savouring food is an orgasmic event; and throughout the process they speak a different language. 

You and a chef taste a delicious Soup of Asparagus.

You: This soup is quite delicious. I can taste the pepper at the end of it.

Chef: Mmmm, the asparagus is really intense! The salt is just enough to bring out its flavour; it was a good idea to add the black pepper because it stressed the nature of the vegetable and it works rather well with the olive oil. Mmmm, can you get the taste of the potato in the background? The onions give a nice ring to it. And the cream is so smooth that I swear my tongue is enveloped in a satin sheet. 

Shrimp Moqueca from Panelinha da Mila 

You and a gourmet savour a Shrimp Moqueca.

You: breath taking! The fish is fresh and I can really taste the coconut milk in this. Superb!

Gourmet: oh my God!!! Absolutely de-li-ci-ous! The cilantro and the parsley form a wonderful team of flavours; the pepper and the chilli bomb the palate down; the relationship between the shrimp and the coconut milk is sexy and let me tell you: this explosion of flavours, all together, make the taste buds blossom!

Tournedos Rossini from Fernanda Vida Personal Chef

You, a chef and a gourmet delight in Tournedos Rossini.

You: exquisite. I love the mix between the meat and the foie gras...and these truffles are quite delicious as well...very well accomplished indeed.

Chef: my epiglottis has totally surrendered to this dish! The meat is super tender and the juxtaposition to the foie gras is a delight to the taste buds; the sauce is “au point” (can you feel the Madeira wine in there?)...I am getting excited here. 

Gourmet: I get where you two are coming from, however I must give emphasis to the copula between the Madeira wine and the chicken stock (a-m-a-z-i-n-g)! And how about the way the pepper whips the flavours around the tongue? Arousing...absolutely arousing. 

Forêt Noir from Here

You and the two food lovers explore a magnificent dessert: Forêt Noir. 

You: Divine. I love the way the chocolate, the Chantilly and the cherries taste together. 

Chef: I would say that the chocolate, the Chantilly and the cherries wrestle in the arena to see whose flavour will prevail...

Gourmet:..rather, which of the flavours will dominate and subdue...yes...

Chef: Can any of you taste the kirsch? Although it was not used lavishly in this recipe, I’d say that it was used in a fair amount rendering the cake a fabulous texture of....

Gourmet: Yes, I can taste it and I’d like to add that this dessert substitutes sex any time...wouldn’t you say so?

You: No, not really...no.

At the end of the meal; you get something in between your teeth and either the chef or the gourmet will say:

I’m afraid you have a bit of meat ornamenting your teeth. 

Apartheid and Not

Apartheid Image borrowed from Google Images

A division between two people: Sample A and Sample B.

Sample A is considered to be superior over Sample B.

Sample B can not urinate, or defecate, in the same loos as sample A. 

Bs must ride in the back of the bus, separate from As. Bs and As can not enjoy nature together (the beach and the park are divided in two) and they must not copulate (As are not to be B-lovers). Restaurants do not serve Sample B. Sample A enters through the front door, whereas Sample B enters through the back door. Sample A and B women give birth in separate wards. There are schools for As and schools for Bs. If Sample B owns a good car, house and lifestyle the police (belonging to Sample A) will ask whom did it steal from; the cops will beat B up, humiliate it; arrest it; torture it (if female B, they will even rape her) and if things worsen: fascist law enforcement agents will murder it. 

This is apartheid. 

A division between two people: two children of Abraham.

In the West (despite all the niceties and appreciation for their economic power), both of them are practically considered worthless: the older child tried to take over Europe and was expelled; the younger one was persecuted and executed like cattle. 

The second child of Abraham owned a Land. Then, he was forced into exile, while nourishing the hope of returning to his home one day. The first child seizes his brother’s territory believing, and wishing, that his sibling would never be back again. However, to his disappointment the second child did return to take back what belonged to him.

Tension rises between the two siblings. They fight for the same asset. Their godfather partitions the property and grants each of his godsons their share. The older boy rejects it; the younger one humbly accepts the partition of what had been his all along. Tension proceeds; however, the two brothers live together: the younger one provides jobs to the older one. Together, they multiply the asset (one administrates, the other executes); they each attend their house of worship; they ride the same buses (despite the occasional terrorist attacks perpetrated by the older sibling); they eat at the same restaurants if they wish to do so; their derivatives copulate with each other (if so they wish); their children attend the same schools; they freely enjoy nature together; they receive care at the same hospitals; they give birth side by side; they are both represented at the parliament and experience democracy (with all its flaws).

This is not apartheid.