The taxpayer

Another recurrent rhetorical character is that one of the taxpayer. Among ‘international community’ labour forces we often look at him as source of inspiration and incentive.

We imagine the global taxpayer fastening his own belt in order to assist the international bureaucracy in its gigantic responsibility.

And we imagine his proudness when a well established mission renew its entire fleet of air-conditioned 4×4.

In these times of technological advance, it should be simply realizable our most genuine dream: to have in front of us in the office not the simple portrait of a wife and children, but a self-renewing frame presenting the faces of millions of tax payers, smiling to us with confidence.

It’s all an eating eating

The magazine Diario advertise itself telling that, if you (the reader) recently joined a dinner where someone pronounced the phrase giving the title to this blog, you really need to subscribe to that source of fresh and accurate information.

I like Diario very much, but lately I am quite keen in using myself that expression, as one of the key for interpretation of the global society.

Another one is obviously the idiom the cleanest has got scabies, adapted to describe the sector of public works as well as the political arena.

And the third one, much more optimistic and constructive is: who’ll kill us…..

It is surprising how many occasions you have to use one of these categories to represent events occurring here or in country.

And almost everyday you may also take advantage of them to describe your own deeds.

Domestic literature

The other day the internet was down, therefore, after working time, I had to find another occupation before going home for dinner.

That’s how I started rereading my stories and decided to put together a book.

The objective is to get immortality.

To win the natural coyness to get public and the risk to seems pretentious, I had to add a long introduction, where I explain this concept of domestic literature.

I developed this definition in the eighties, in order to describe all that written production (literature, why not?) that may not be worthy of universal attention, but it is important for a little group of people, an intimate circle.

Then, I assembled a Compendium of Domestic Literature. Again, I like it.

One year

From one year I am fighting with English by way of this blog.

I travelled in Haiti, Ivory Coast, many times in Bruxelles, different regions of Spain, probably Paris, Picerno.

I have bought a car, some orchids, wooden masks and produced a new collection of Cravates d’Afrique, multicoloured swimsuits, jewellery.

There was the evacuation from Abidjan, the Tsunami, the failure of Volare, too many kidnapping in Iraq and, last and actually least, Berlusconi’s new government.

I wonder if my English improved. For sure, my attitude towards this idiom has changed, I am more confident, the idea of having to start a note or a letter does not worry me excessively.

I have the impression I know when I am writing something wrong, but I don’t always have the capacity, time or patience to look for a better alternative.

In any case, it is a pleasant exercise. And it was not a bad year.

Risk on line

Since some weeks, I’ve found a new occupation to keep myself busy.

It started when I wrote to friends asking for digitalised gifts for my birthday.

Researching the net (by google, of course) and scanning several discussion groups, I eventually located the good site to play Risk (Risiko!!!) on line.

I’m getting used to play a game before dinner. Sometimes it is fast and silent, others it goes on for longer and the fighters exchange comments, suggestions, insults.

I like it. I like to play.

Riferimenti: Try it ……….

Bravo Mbeki

We were not really impressed by Mr. Mbeki’s mediation, that seemed to be based on a incomplete comprehension of the scenario and to have no impact on the situation.

Later on, there have been the letter that he sent to the Ivorian community, that touched some delicate issues and used a positive and constructive language.

And now the success (of course, under verification) of the meeting in Pretoria and yesterday’s settlement of the question of candidatures for next elections.

This last one is a good piece of diplomatic literature, paying attention to the different susceptibilities and anticipating the possible questions and objections.

We are not on the edge of the peace, but it is a good try. And the final responsibility remain on the Ivorian leaders.

Riferimenti: Find the text here

Pressure on Cuba

Fidel will distribute one pressure cooker to each Cuban family.

He has been quoted saying that these pots: could help the country and suggesting to cook at different times: at four o’ clock at Pinar del Rio, 5 o’ clock in Santiago, 6 o’ clock at La Habana in order to save electrical energy.

This is not surprising, in a country where every citizen is entitled to a cake on the day of their anniversary, by the cartilla. But, with all the due respect, that is really too much.

As Patricia de Lille said (see 14 April 2004 note) enough is enough.

March 20

 

Eating by hands

In my neighbourhood, the majority of people still eat by hands.

I tried once near Reo to have rice sauce with my fingers, and the experience was not unpleasant.

Of course, the psychological burden of childhood’s first commandment: do not eat by your hands converted this incident in a cultural shock.

Eating by hands could look as an uneducated behaviour, but is not. You have to wash carefully your hands before and after the meal and there are some more rules of etiquette, especially if you are sharing the bowl with others (that is the natural African complement to this way of eating).

If you enjoyed the chopsticks Chinese way, now try your fingers, you’ll not regret.

March 16