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Sunday 5 February 2017

Jorge Luis Borges: Diálogo sobre un diálogo (A Dialogue About a Dialogue) / Stirrings at Mar-a-Lago / Smoke without Fire

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Stirrings at Mar-a-Lago w @realDonaldTrump motorcade on the move to undetermined location. #WinterWhiteHouse: image via Stephen Crowley @Stcrow, 4 February 2017

Jorge Luis Borges: Diálogo sobre un diálogo

A - Distraídos en razonar la inmortalidad, habíamos dejado que anocheciera sin encender la lámpara. No nos veíamos las caras. Con una indiferencia y una dulzura más convincentes que el fervor, la voz de Macedonio Fernández repetía que el alma es inmortal. Me aseguraba que la muerte del cuerpo es del todo insignificante y que morirse tiene que ser el hecho más nulo que puede sucederle a un hombre. Yo jugaba con la navaja de Macedonio; la abría y la cerraba. Un acordeón vecino despachaba infinitamente la Cumparsita, esa pamplina consternada que les gusta a muchas personas, porque les mintieron que es vieja… Yo le propuse a Macedonio que nos suicidáramos, para discutir sin estorbo.

Z (burlón) - Pero sospecho que al final no se resolvieron

A (ya en plena mística) - Francamente no recuerdo si esa noche nos suicidamos.



A: Absorbed in our discussion of immortality, we had let night fall without lighting the lamp, and we couldn’t see each other’s faces. With an offhandedness or gentleness more convincing than passion would have been, Macedonio Fernandez’ voice said once more that the soul is immortal. He assured me that the death of the body is altogether insignificant, and that dying has to be the most unimportant thing that can happen to a man. I was playing with Macedonio’s pocketknife, opening and closing it. A nearby accordion was infinitely dispatching La Comparsita, that dismaying trifle that so many people like because it’s been misrepresented to them as being old. . . . I suggested to Macedonio that we kill ourselves, so we might have our discussion without all the racket.

Z: (mockingly) But I suspect that at the last moment you reconsidered.

A: (now deep in mysticism) Quite frankly, I don’t remember whether we committed suicide that night or not.

Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986): Diálogo sobre un diálogo (A Dialogue About a Dialogue), from El hacedor, 1960; English version by Andrew Hurley


AlternativeFacts. Meet #AlternativeBooks.: image via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 4 February 2017

 Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump 
The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned! 
Matthew Miller Retweeted Donald J. Trump
Matthew Miller added,
Hope this so-called judge lets this so-called president know what he thinks of his legitimacy being questioned.
tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017


Will check the record, but don't think this so-called judge was confirmed w/ help from the Russian govt and the Senate voting agnst him 54-46
: tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017

Surprised it's taking DOJ so long to appeal. Lot of people at DOJ agree with Sally Yates on this order - wonder if that's the hold up.
: tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017


Subtle @charlie_savage brag about getting his hands on this executive order anyway
.: image via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017


Pity the DOJ atty trying to figure out how to answer this q from a judge: so what did the president mean when he said "so-called judge?": tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017

With every tweet, he is just making it harder and harder for DOJ attorneys to win in court. So keep it up, I guess.
 tweet via Matthew Miller @matthewamiller, 4 February 2017
    The judge opens up our country to potential terrorists and others that do not have our best interests at heart. Bad people are very happy!
    Eric Geller Retweeted Donald J. Trump
    Eric Geller added,
    Notice that Trump deliberately and repeatedly pins any future harm on the Seattle judge. Goal seems clear.
I have never met a toddler that I could trust. They're malevolent. They know exactly what they are doing. #ToddlerBan: tweet via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 4 February 2017




Two White House statements, 15 minutes apart. Someone decided to pull "outrageous.": image via Edward-Isaac Dovere @IsaacDovere, 4 February 2017


Justice Department appeals judge's immigration order
: image via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 4 February 2017


BREAKING: Judge's block of Trump's travel ban harms the public by 'thwarting enforcement of executive order': Justice Dept. appeal filing: tweet via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 4 February 2017 


 MORE: Judge's ruling 'second guesses the president's national security judgment': Justice Dept: tweet via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 4 February 2017 

BREAKING: Appeals court denies Trump administration request to immediately reinstate ban on travelers and refugees: tweet via The Associated Press @AP, 5 February 2017


U.S. moves to resume admitting refugees, including Syrians: image via Reuters Top News @Reuters, 5 February 2017
 

Today's ponderable: How many holes does @realDonaldTrump have left to play? #golf #presidenttrump #whitehouse #presspool: image via Stephen Crowley @Stcrow, 4 February 2017


  Trump currently golfing at Trump International golf course about a 3 iron from Palm Beach airport: tweet via Steve Holland @steveholland1, 4 February 2017


Donald Trump's reasoning for rolling back Wall Street regulations is terrifying: image via The Independent @Independent, 4 February 2017 



Trump announces rollback of financial rules introduced after the 2008 crisis: image via Tom Gara @tomgara, 3 February 2017
 


Suggestive gesture as GOP runs the table. (That's #Sessions, btw, w Budget Chair Enzi.) #Bernie #higherpowers Photo Scott Mahaskey @Politico: image via @Politico
: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017



Meanwhile, anti-corruption protests picking up steam in Romania. #wow: image via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 4 February 2017



 Closed bodega during a Yemeni protest in Brooklyn: image via ian bremmer @ianbremmer, 3 February 2017


To extent @whitehouse target also American #Muslims, @LucasJackson photo is a bull’s-eye. #reuterspictures #Yemeniprotest #nyc: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017



Afghan tea vendor Imran, 15, prepares tea on a hillside during snowfall near Qargha Lake on the outskirts of Kabul. By @kohsar #AFP: image via AFP Photo @AFPphoto, 4 February 2017


Afghanistan - An Afghan shepherd herds sheep on a rainy day in Jalalabad. By Noorullah Shirzada #AFP: image via AFP Photo @AFPphoto, 4 February 2017


Not sure WH gets power of cultural backlash. Pluralism in #fashion @privatepolicy @newyorktimes #MenWearShows: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017



WH turmoil riling multiple runways. #Fashion flip side of banker romance. Photo @nowfashion @nytimes #MenWearShows: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017



 Indonesian protester during rally against Donald Trump's executive order on immigration in front of US embassy in Jakarta. @b4yismoyo #AFP: image via AFP Photo @AFPphoto, 4 February 2017


President Donald and First Lady Melania Trump arriving at the Red Cross Gala in the Mar-a-lago ballroom, Palm Beach, FL.: image via Stephen Crowley @Stcrow, 4 February 2017
 

Students learning at school in Afghanistan: image via Classic Pics @History_Pics, 4 February 2017



Women are from Venus, and men ... Photo @Barria_Reuters @ReutersPictures @ReutersPictures of the week: image via Reading The Pictures @ReadingThePix, 4 February 2017

Smoke without Fire

red reaction | by Yiannis Yiasaris

red reaction [Melbourne]: photo by Yiannis Yiasaris, 30 December 2016

red reaction | by Yiannis Yiasaris

red reaction [Melbourne]: photo by Yiannis Yiasaris, 30 December 2016

red reaction | by Yiannis Yiasaris

red reaction [Melbourne]: photo by Yiannis Yiasaris, 30 December 2016

#22  wrong is right | by Md. Imam Hasan

#22 wrong is right [Dhaka, Bangladesh]: photo by Muhammad Imam Hasan, 6 January 2017

star wars | by michele liberti

star wars [Napoli]: photo by michele liberti, 17 January 2017 

Untitled | by 20zool

[untitled]: photo by Sylvain Biard, 30 November 2016 

Untitled | by Md. Imam Hasan

[Untitled] [Dhaka, Bangladesh]: photo by Muhammad Imam Hasan, 14 October 2016 

Untitled | by Md. Imam Hasan

[Untitled] [Dhaka, Bangladesh]: photo by Muhammad Imam Hasan, 19 September 2016

Smoke without Fire | by Becky Frances

Smoke without Fire. Brick Lane, London: photo by Becky Frances, 22 January 2017

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Tom,
I enjoyed your recent comment about your walk across the street. It reminded me of the wonderful line in your poem this week, the notion of creatures "moving life forward." Those encounters that day were more shrinking from life in a kind dreadful expectation of what's undeserved but on its way nonetheless. That's awful but there it is. Borges is so fascinating. I appreciate you exposing we needful visitors to him. Lines like this one, "...we had let night fall without lighting the lamp, and we couldn’t see each other’s faces", they're like electo-probes to memory, twitching recollections from somewhere one's surely been. Maybe. But who knows? Catchers and pitchers ought to be heading to camp soon. Go Cubs!

TC said...

Tom,

Cubs history is deeply Borgesian, always shadowed by the past.

This year, temporary reprieve from the obscure inevitability of fate.

Young fellow up the street flew to Chicago, shopped on the spot, got a game ticket for $800 and considered himself exceptionally fortunate for that.

He's not from Chicago. I asked him what % of the bar crowds around the park were not natives.

100%, he said.

I worked in that park for two summers, must have been '56-'57.

(Providing security believe it or not.)

Winning was not part of the concept then, never having been.

Other values prevailed, necessarily.

Unknown said...

Yes. Yes, for sure. In the mid '60s I walked from our home in the southern hills of Pittsburgh to the east side, over the hills, across the bridge spanning the Monongahela River to reach Oakland and Forbes Field, intent on sneaking in to watch the Pirates. My dad told me stores of how he'd slip into Forbes via the street level widow hatches. I'd follow in his youthful footsteps and be in the dank bowels of Forbes Field in no time. And I was. No security there, I'll tell you. The workers were chattering, adjusting their dairy head dress and concessionaire harnesses, lining up for their fully iced cups of Coke & hot dogs & ice cream & peanuts. I was mesmerized in that dark place. In the distance, under the long string of pipes and bare light bulbs, a giant walked my way. The workers turned silent and parted in reverence to let him pass. Murmuring. I ran up. Offered my hand. He shook it. Champion of the world. Bruno Samartino! I understood then why Dad said no kid from Oakland never paid it get into Forbes Field. Paying customers just missed too much. Can't remember much of the game that day. But I didn't pay a nickel.

TC said...


Tom,

Always have loved the Pirates.

One ancient memory, working at the park one day, infield practise, Pirates taking ground balls, Dick Stuart ("Doctor Strangeglove"), booting about half the balls hit his way, and getting a laugh out of it. He was almost as famous for his terrible fielding as for his prodigious home runs. And prodigious strikeouts (211 in one season, if memory serves.)

He was not exactly an intellectual. But a pleasant and congenial fellow... and one day, indeed, having once again been recalled from the minors (where he had, I believe, hit 68 and 66 homeruns in successive seasons), he sidled over by the dugout where I was working (this, again, when he was meant to be taking ground balls), and beckoned to me. He had a question.

"Hey kid, where do you go to find the pussy in this town?"

Unknown said...

Yer killin' me! I remberber Dick Stuart and his goofball mullet! Just the opposite of Dick Groat's cue ball! So funny!