Intro Quotes

He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster . . . when you gaze long into the abyss the abyss also gazes into you

While Leo fussed over his helm controls, Hazel and Frank relayed the story of the fish-centaurs and their training camp. 'Incredible,' Jason said. 'These are really good brownies.' 'That's your only comment?' Piper demanded. He looked surprised. 'What? I heard the story. Fish-centaurs. Merpeople. Letter of intro to the Tiber River god. Got it. But these brownies--' 'I know,' Frank said, his mouth full. 'Try them with Ester's peach preserves.' 'That,' Hazel said, 'is incredibly disgusting.' 'Pass me the jar, man,' Jason said. Hazel and Piper exchanged a look of total exasperation. Boys.

Fiction is a lie that tells us true things, over and over.

As happens with people who love a thing too much, it destroys them. Oscar Wilde said, 'You destroy the thing that you love.' It's the other way around. What you love destroys you.

no two writers go about things in exactly the same way (intro)

Incredible,” Jason said. “These are really good brownies.” “That’s your only comment?” Piper demanded. He looked surprised. “What? I heard the story. Fish-centaurs. Merpeople. Letter of intro to the Tiber River god. Got it. But these brownies—” “I know,” Frank said, his mouth full. “Try them with Esther’s peach preserves.” “That,” Hazel said, “is incredibly disgusting.” “Pass me the jar, man,” Jason said. Hazel and Piper exchanged a look of total exasperation. Boys. Percy, for his part, wanted to hear every detail about the aquatic camp. He kept coming back to one point: “They didn’t want to meet me?” “It wasn’t that,” Hazel said. “Just…undersea politics, I guess. The merpeople are territorial. The good news is they’re taking care of that aquarium in Atlanta. And they’ll help protect the Argo II as we cross the Atlantic.” Percy nodded absently. “But they didn’t want to meet me?” Annabeth swatted his arm. “Come on, Seaweed Brain! We’ve got other things to worry about.

That's what I'd call him if he was my dog. Jacket-humper. Kinda had a ring to it. Although it seemed a little long for vet visits and intros to lady dogs.

Don't say that as a boy your grandmother used to read to you, unless at that stage of her life she really was a boy, in which case you have probably thrown away a better intro.

Avoid stock expressions (like the plague, as William Safire used to say) and repetitions. Don't say that as a boy your grandmother used to read to you, unless at that stage of her life she really was a boy, in which case you have probably thrown away a better intro. If something is worth hearing or listening to, it's very probably worth reading. So, this above all: Find your own voice.

Come, my handsome vampire. I have a few things I must do to prepare you. Then I’ll put you somewhere safe to await your bride. Oh—I know!” She clapped excitedly. “You can stay inside my piggy bank! And I’ll create a drama-tastic jungle intro to your lady! How about Romancing the Stone meets Apocalypto?

Sa fugi de tine o zi, doua, douazeci nu e usor, dar nici imposibil. Faci matematici sau marxism ca S.T.H., faci sionism ca Winkler, citesti carti ca mine, umbli dupa femei sau joci sah, sau te dai cu capul de pereti. Dar intr-o zi, intr-un minut de neatentie, te intalnesti cu tine insuti la un colt de suflet, cum te-ai intalni la un colt de strada cu un creditor de care te-ai ferit zadarnic. Dai ochii cu tine si atunci intelegi cat de inutile sunt toate evadarile din aceasta inchisoare fara ziduri, fara porti si fara gratii, din aceasta inchisoare care este insasi viata ta.

The 21st chapter gives the novel the quality of genuine fiction, an art founded on the principle that human beings change. ----- "A Clockwork Orange Resucked" intro to first full American version 1986

waiting in a life full of little stories for a death to come

intro I am the tall dark stranger those warnings prepared you for.

nobody ever wrote to me saying"you know ender's game was a pretty good book, but you know what it really needs a n introduction!".....so be assured the novel stands on its own, and if you skip this intro and go straight to the story, i not only won't stand in your way i'll even agree with you!

Sex without foreplay is like song's reff without intro.

The first rule of being a mercenary? Find out what the client wants, then convince him that, a) you can get it for him, and, b) you're the ONLY one who can get it for him. Second rule? Lie. Often. The truth rarely serves you well in this business -Cadeon Woede, mercenary, second in line to the throne of the rage demons, a.k.a. Cade the Kingmaker

The difficulty in the way of writing a children's play is that Barrie was born too soon. Many people must have felt the same about Shakespeare. We who came later have no chance. What fun to have been Adam, and to have had the whole world of plots and jokes and stories at one's disposal.

This book is a labor of love. It is dedicated to people who have cried themselves to sleep because they were 'different'. It is also a celebration of the 'inner outcast' in all of us, and a humble attempt to inspire tolerance, understanding, and acceptance." the intro from the author

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ From intro to movie: "Spinning Into Butter

Remember you are everything, or you are nothing. If you are everything, then your heart is so big it can hold all of humanity within itself, you have no jealousy or narrowness. You are in the heart of every creature and every creature is in your heart. There is only bliss. Intro to Part 2, Chapter 4. Credit given to Swami Purna.

Sufletul ei in atingere cu vitejia soartei se inasprise, se inchisese parca intr-o crusta proctectoare de piatra, din pricina careia nu mai putea tresari, nu se mai putea induiosa de suferinta altuia.

One of the major mistakes people make is that they think manners are only the expression of happy ideas. There’s a whole range of behavior that can be expressed in a mannerly way. That’s what civilization is all about — doing it in a mannerly and not an antagonistic way. One of the places we went wrong was the naturalistic, Rousseauean movement of the Sixties in which people said, ”Why can’t you just say what’s on your mind?” In civilization there have to be some restraints. If we followed every impulse, we’d be killing one another.

Se simtea despartita de oameni si de lume, izolata intr-o carapace unde sufletul ei se zvarcolea inutil.Constata pentru intaia oara ca, in realitate, omul ca si toate vietatile pamantului, a fost condamnat sa traiasca singur, fiindca existenta nu e posibila decat in singuratate individuala.

Remove the Curtain of your Heart and see the Beloved sitting inside yourself. Close your Ears to the Outside and hear the Cosmic Sound going on within you. Intro to Part 2, Chapter 1. Credit given to Mira, poet-saint of Rajastan.

Ideeea ca ne plac oamenii este o iluzie pe care trebuie s-o pastram in noi daca vrem sa traim in societate. Dar eu am expulzat-o de mult, cel putin cat traiesc aici. Tu vrei sa fii iubit? Eu ma multumesc pur si simplu sa "fiu", sa exist. Poate intr-o zi ai sa inteegi si tu ce inseamana asta. Si ai sa zambesti. Un zambet aprobator, un zambet sarcastic.

Se facea ca ma faceam ca traiesc, Intr-o vale adanca, de somn intretaiata. Trezindu-ma, doar atat imi amintesc. Ochiul continua sa mi se bata.

incredible," Jason said. "these r really good brownies." "That's your only comment?" piper demanded. he looked surprised. "what? I heard the story. fish- centaurs. merpeople. letter of intro to the tiber river god. got it. But these brownies-" "I know," Frank said, his mouth full. "try them w esther's peach preserves." "that," hazel said, "is incredibly disgusting." "pass me the jar, man," jason said. hazel and piper exchanged a look of total exasperation. BOYS.

The desperate piercing scream of horror echoed far above the sharpened tops of the trees wrapped in thin obsidian-transparent mist, and I startled jerkily, tripping again, and almost collapsed onto the cold moist ground.

They key to a great party is the music," Sam says, scrolling through his iPod as we tramp through the sand. Eddie - the guy having the party - put Sam in charge of the playlist. "If it's too intense, no one will be able to hang out and talk. But if it's too mellow, it will turn into a snoozefest. You also have to consider timing. There's a particular kind of music appropriate for each stage of the party - intro, warm-up, full swing, wind-down, and outro.

Mergeam incet, pe cerul compact si sticlos alergau niste nori destul de urati. Orasul zacea in covorul lui de praf. Ma simteam in afara oricarei legaturi favorabile cu norii aceia adunati sub ochii mei intr-o harababura menita parca sa-mi demonstreze cat de iluzorii ne pot fi uneori disponibilitatile..

Tattitude: Wow, Jeff, who's the babe? Dangerous_pie: Your mom. Tattitude: No, the one three feet away from you. Dangerous_pie: Oh, that's Lindsey Abraham. I had her flown in from California for my personal amusement. You can look at her if you want, though. Tattitude: Sweet. But have you talked to her yet? Dangerous_pie: Uh-huh. We're really close. Tattitude: Intro me? Dangerous_pie: After class. Tattitude: Duh. Just then, I noticed that a large shadow had fallen over my screen. I couldn't even bear to look up as Mr. Laurenzano said, "Thaddeus Ibsen, Lindsey Abraham. Lindsey, Thaddeus. There, you've been introduced. NOW can I teach some science?" Wow, it looked like this was going to be my year for unusual teachers.

The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. To allow them intro your world, to be present for them while they're there, and to allow them to love that experience in their own way.

Love is not possession.

Triunghiul Mortii: Traim, domnule, intr-o lume fara onoare si fara limite morale. Cum as putea fi fericit? Poate dumneavoastra, oamenii politici, s-o duceti altfel. Vorbiti de clasa noastra politica, ei bine, ea confirma ca am ajuns o tara plina de secaturi. O tara minora, cazuta rusinos la examenul de capacitate in fata europei. Aici ne-au adus politicienii ordinari! Hotii, improvizati astazi in moralisti. Ministrii ce s-au vandut o viata-ntreaga. Parlamentari contrabandisti. Boala o avem in suflet, exista o epidemie infricosatoare de meningita morala, iar tara trebuia sa ajunga aici tarata pe marginea prapastiei de unii conducatori care sunt hoti la drumul mare.

... daca iubirea a pus stapanire pe om, atunci el o transpune in tot: in munca, in viata, in relatiile cu alti oameni, intr-o carte, transmitand in toate o asemenea energie si bucurie, ca ea devine atat motorul unui singur om, cat si al intregii lumi care-l inconjoara.

...era happy end-ul si sensul, care acum cadeau si se spargeau intr-o mie de particule ascutite.

Grains are a starvation food – they provide cheap calories without the vital nutrients of meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Era naufragiata intr-o lume de clestar.

Curiosity might have killed some cats,but not this one. He's too tough. Blacksad. Intro by Steranko.

What? I heard the story. Fish-centaurs. Merpeople. Letter of intro to the Tiber River god. Got it. But these brownies—

Don’t say that as a boy your grandmother used to read to you, unless at that stage of her life she really was a boy, in which case you have probably thrown away a better intro.

Traim intr-o societate de porci spinosi surprinsa de iarna raului universal; vrem sa ne incalzim unii de altii, dar tepii de pe spatele fiecaruia nu ne lasa.

Byron, in “Don Juan”, face o satira amara la adresa femeilor care transforma dragostea intr-o “afacere de cap” uitind ca au “inima”. Capul vine dupa inima, caci nu el este centrul corpului, ci o dezvoltare a lui. Cind moare un erou i se imbalsameaza inima, in timp ce filozofii si poetii au parte, dupa moarte, de cercetarea amanuntita a craniului si creierului.

The only real Jesus is one who is larger tahn life, who escapes our categories, who eludes our attempts to reduce Him to manageable proportions so that we can claim him for our cause.

This volume is dedicated to time. It gives us memories, fine wine, and wrinkles. But the only thing worse than getting old is not getting old. So here's to time, dear reader, yours and mine. May you have many more wrinkles, a lot of fine wine, and memories to last two lifetimes.

Lumea ingerilor - mundus imaginalis - sta ca o oglinda intre lumea lui Dumnezeu si lumea oamenilor, aducindu-le pe amindoua intr-o nesperata contiguitate. Lumea ingerilor aduce in acelasi plan 'vazutele si nevazutele' (visibilia et invisibilia) distantele ireconciliabile, dihotomiile,

Who everywhere is free from all ties, who neither rejoices nor sorrows if fortune is good or ill, his is a serene wisdom. Intro to Part 3, Chapter 1. Credit was given to The Bhagavad Gita.

Good writing does not fail or succeed on the strength of its ability to persuade. Not the kind of writing that you'll find in this book, anyway. It succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you, to make you think, to give you a glimpse into someone else's head -- even if in the end you conclude someone else's head is not a place you'd really like to be. from intro to What The Dog Saw

Brian came in heavy at that moment on his guitar, the rapid, high-pitched squeal ranging back and forth as his fingers flew along the frets. As the intro's tempo grew more rapid, Bekka heard Derek's subtle bass line as it worked its way in. After another few seconds Will came in, slow at first, but racing along to match the others' pace. When their combined efforts seemed unable to get any heavier, David jumped into the mix. As the sound got nice and heavy, Bekka began to rock back-and-forth onstage. In front of her, hundreds of metal-lovers began to jump and gyrate to their music. She matched their movements for a moment, enjoying the connection that was being made, before stepping over to the keyboard that had been set up behind her. Sliding her microphone into an attached cradle, she assumed her position and got ready. Right on cue, all the others stopped playing, throwing the auditorium into an abrupt silence. Before the crowd could react, however, Bekka's fingers began to work the keys, issuing a rhythm that was much softer and slower than what had been built up. The audience's violent thrash-dance calmed at that moment and they began to sway in response. Bekka smiled to herself. This is what she lived for.

4 years earlier “This is truth: when you sacrifice your life, you must make fullest use of your weaponry. It is false not to do so, and to die with a weapon yet undrawn.” Miyamoto Musashi, A Book of Five Rings.

Asa, intr-o zi de vara valurile se aduna, se inalta, cumpanindu-se, si cad; se aduna si cad; si universul intreg pare sa spuna, sa spuna mereu, “asta e tot” mereu mai apasat, iar inima din trupul care sta intins la soare pe tarm spune si ea. Asta e tot. Nu te mai teme, spune inima. Nu te mai teme,spune inima, incredintandu-si povara vreunei mari care suspina obstesc pentru toate tristetile; si reia, incepe, aduna, lasa sa cada.

Oare ne putem imagina cat de importanta este o mica raza de speranta in bezna deznadejdii? Poate ca tu nu, pentru ca ai fruntea lipsita de griji, dar fata de la malul marii stie, si o poarta in inima in fiecare clipa. Venea ca de obicei in fiecare zi langa mare dar nu o mai privea cu atata fericire. Gandurile ei se indreptau spre el, cel care a fost langa ea si acum plecase undeva, departe. Si ea putea doar sa spere ca intr-o zi el se va intoarce. Nu, nu te intrista, povestea noastra are un final fericit. Dupa ce a pierdut destul timp cautand, el a inteles ca deja isi gasise sufletul pereche.Si a cautat-o la capatul tuturor marilor, a gasit-o si au trait fericiti pana la adanci batraneti. Vezi? Fericirea si iubirea nu se afla ascunse in scoici pe fundul marii ci in sufletul celui care ne iubeste. Speranta insa o putem gasi in locurile cele mai neasteptate.

Ochelarii negri aveau rame mari, rosii. Mustata neagra falsa apartinea unui flasnetar multicolor si maiorul Major le-a purtat pe amandoua la un meci de baschet intr-o zi, cand a simtit ca nu-si mai suporta singuratatea.

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster . . .” I said. “And when you look long into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you. Ahh . . . an educated man. Well, you’re not as stupid as you look. Don’t quote Nietzsche at me, kid. That German crackpot wouldn’t know a real monster if it bit him on the ass.” Actually I hated philosophy. I had memorized the quote from the intro of a video game.

do know this—this right here is just prelude. Dress rehearsal. The intro. One of these days each one of us is going to get called up and given the chance to join our voices in a song we’ve never heard, yet one we’ve known our whole lives.

Era ciudat: eu vedeam lumea in dinamica, ea o vedea statica precum in tablourile dintr-o expozitie. Construirea de ipoteze, cu judecati eliptice asupra esentei imuabile a lucrurilor, se risipea gradual in fata conceptiei Marei care dadea vibratie muzicala `tonurilor`. Percepeam lumea intr-o succesiune de planuri ce urmeaza traiectorii evolutive (nu lipsite de contradictii), cu valori si principii stratificate. Lumea, vazuta prin ochii Marei, parea statornicita in puritatea impresiei data de culorile juxtapuse, crea senzatia unor spatii deschise, aparent uniforme, in lumini cu reflexe acvatice.

The reason a person should love you is for you, not what you can do for them.

Patrunsera prin labirintul plin de flori, pe sub boltile incarcate princiar.Trandafirii se scuturau delicat intr-o ninsoare de petale cu iz afrodisiac. Cateva albine dadeau tarcoale cupelor florale. Mergeau agale, aproape amandoi in acelasi ritm. Se oprira cufundati intr-o stare de reverie, la umbra trandafirilor in floare. Simtira cum patrund prin trup, iradiant, unde telurice, vegetale. Isi puse degetele ca o bratara la incheietura mainii ei. Ii mangaie suav, cu dosul palmei, arcuirea discreta a gatului spre umeri. O saruta prelung pe buze. Primira binecuvantarea petalelor din matase fina ce le cadeau pe crestet. Atinse fructul impietrit al sanilor ei. Se retrase. Statu pe o banca cu privirile pierdute printre flori. Ea se aseza langa el tacuta.

So what? Let him talk, this Mitrich with the runny eyes. We must honor, I repeat, the dark reaches of another's soul. We must look intro them even if there's nothing there, even if there's only trash there. It's all one; look and honor it, look and don't spit on it.

If a disciple is old, a master should be mature. If a disciple is young, a master should be accessible. If a disciple is brave, a master should be fearless. If a disciple is shrewd, a master should be wise. If a disciple is strong, a master should be powerful. If a disciple is learned, a master should be enlightened. If a disciple is contented, a master should be joyful. If a disciple is faithful, a master should be devoted. If a disciple is tolerant, a master should be peaceful. If a disciple is intro inspective, a master should be self-aware. If a disciple is focused, a master should be determined. If a disciple is exceptional, a master should be perfect.

O, daca macar o singura voce m-ar imbarbata soptindu-mi ca am dreptate! Curajul si hotararea mea sunt neabatute, dar sperantele se clatina si sufletul imi sta adesea in cumpana. Sunt pe cale de a porni intr-o calatorie lunga si grea si voi avea nevoie de toata indrazneala si taria pentru a invinge restristile. Va trebui nu numai sa-i imbarbatez pe ceilalti cand vor sovai, ci uneori si pe mine insumi.

Da, as face o arta a neputintelor, o arta a impotentelor, a inapetentelor si, daca s-ar putea, o arta a starii pe loc. (...) Ma obsedeaza ideea de a gasi virtuti in situatiile nenorocite in care te aduc evenimentele. Nemaiavind puterea tineretii, acum te lafai in neputinta, te asezi intr-o pozitie de satisfactie si zici: "A, asta-i un cistig!" Esti neputincios fizic si poti vorbi sau poti ride de neputinta.

Am observat ca intr-o incapere prea stramta pana si gandurile ti le simti inghesuite. Iar mie, cand meditam la viitoarele mele romane, imi placea intotdeauna sa ma plimb prin odaie de la un capat la celalalt. Si, pentru ca veni vorba de scrierile mele, nu stiu de ce, dar mi-a fost mult mai drag sa le gandesc, inchipuindu-mi cum le voi scrie, decat sa le astern pe hartie; si nu din lene, va asigur. Atunci, de ce oare?

Daca pe lume nu exista bine absolut, nu exista nici rau absolut...Binele si raul nu sunt niste lucruri fixe si neclintite, ci isi schimba necontenit locul si pozitia. Un bine se poate transforma in clipa urmatoare intr-un rau si viceversa...Important este sa se mentina un echilibru intre cele doua. Daca balanta se inclina prea mult intr-o parte , e greu sa se mai poata pastra o moralitate. Echilibrul in sine e un lucru bun.

Mireasma fanului uscat si curgerea domoala a apei trezira in el dorinta de a se culca intr-o claie de fan proaspat, intr-un sopron singuratic, departe de autostrazile zgomotoase, in spatele vreunei ferme linistite, sub vreo moara veche de vant, care sa vuiasca lin, cu vuietul anilor ce trec. Ar sta treaz toata noaptea in sopronul acela, ascultand zvoana departata a jivinelor, ganganiilor si copacilor, freamatul si forfota lor marunta.

Sa traiesti intr-o cusca cu cinci etaje, unde se umbla si se bocane deasupra capului tau, iar radioul urla din toate partile - e considerat un lucru tare bun. Iar sa traiesti ca un lucrator harnic al pamantului, intr-o bojdeuca lipita cu lut, la marginea stepei - se considera o mare nesansa.

Organizing the books was a fun afternoon. We decided to put the thick hardback books, mostly intro. to philosophy textbooks and Norton literature anthologies, on the top shelves where they looked good but stayed out of reach since there's no reason for opening them ever again. Then we went by genre: mysteries, cozies, modernists, mountains, sci-fi, beloved childhood volumes, books we bought abroad, books required in school we couldn't sell back, books bought for us we'll read soon, books bought for us we have no intention of reading, books we want to read but are too long for a commitment with our current schedules...We're not really done with this organization, and I doubt we ever will be, but that's one great part about it.

Am avut intr-o noapte un vis ciudat. Purtam o rana adanca la umarul stang din care imi curgeau valuri de sange. Incet, din sangele coagulat s-au format larve ce-mi misunau pe trup haotic. Din larve au iesit fluturi... M-am trezit din somn scuturandu-mi trupul... Ceasul de pe noptiera nu arata decat ora doua. La ferestre se zareau umbrele noptii. Copacii isi despleteau trupurile cu bratele scheletice ale crengilor, in bataia vantului. Isi alungeau formele, in descompunere, pana la mine in camera, desenau pe pereti tablouri in miscare. Nu stiu cat timp am stat culcat cu fata in sus. Priveam umbrele copacilor in geometrii abstracte. Parca imi comunicau ceva printr-un limbaj bizar al miscarilor unduitoare. Spre dimineata am adormit rapus.

Intr-o lume a dezordinii, a dezastrelor si a coruptiei, frumusetea ramane cateodata singurul lucru in care te poti increde. Doar excelenta in arta e incoruptibila. Placerea nu poate fi inselata. Si uneori, o masa copioasa e singura moneda reala. Aprecierea placerii poate fi punctul de sprijin al umanitatii fiecaruia dintre noi.

9 years earlier “Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.” Isaiah 13:9

6 weeks since the Rapture “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” Corinthians 15:50

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Corinthians, 15:52

Convingerea mea este ca artistul nu are nevoie de liniste sufleteasca si de calm. Trebuie sa fie intr-un surd conflict sau intr-o permanenta stare de iritare. Ca umilit, ca ocolit, ca neluat in seama. Cind aud atitea indemnuri pe la televiziune si radio, "Sa gindesti pozitiv!", spun: "Sunteti niste prosti!". Ma enerveaza teribil aceste indemnuri. E nevoie de starea conflictuala, de neprevazut, care te duce, prin intimplare si printr-un mecanism pe care nu-l stapinesti, la realizari palpabile. Ce e aia, "Gindeste pozitiv si stai linistit!"? Trece viata pe linga tine...

Prayers For Rain' begins like practically every Cure song, with an introduction that's longer than most Bo Diddley singles. Never mind the omnipresent chill, why does Robert Smith write such interminable intros? I can put on 'Prayers For Rain,' then cook an omelette in the time it takes him to start singing. He seems to have a rule that the creepier the song, the longer the wait before it actually starts. I'm not sure if Smith spends the intro time applying eye-liner or manually reducing his serotonin level, but one must endure a lot of doom-filled guitar patterns, cathedral-reverb drums and modal string synth wanderings during the opening of 'Prayers for Rain.

If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.” Revelation 14:9,10

Experience itself, to our own great loss and bane, affords us sad proof that Satan seizes as many opportunities of deceiving and destroying mankind as there are different moods and affections natural to the human character.” Demonolatry, Nicholas Remy

And thus, the men won the Battle of the Sexes in Milesian times, so that from the Golden Age of Athens until the Golden Age of Rome, when all citizens were free to speak & vote at the State Assemblies, only women, barbarians & slaves were excluded.[INTRO]

To maximize what you get out of your college experience, I want your friends to look at your semester schedule and say “this is the weirdest schedule I’ve ever seen!” Trust me on this one. If you want to be an engineer, take Engineering 101, and a crash course in philosophical literature. then take Engineering 102, and art appreciation. then Engineering 103, and Intro to Women’s Rights. You will expand your knowledge and ways of looking at the world, and become a more powerful person for it. Because that way, when you encounter difficulties, you won’t only tackle the problem from the point of view of an engineer. Anybody can do that. You will be able to look at it as a scientist, a philosopher, an artist, and choose the best course of action from there.

Mercur stapineste al zecelea an. Cu planeta aceasta omul se misca repede si usor intr-o orbita restrinsa; orice fleac este cauza perturbatoare, dar invata mult si usor sub mina Domnului, sireteniei si elocintei. Cu al douazecilea an incepe stapinirea planetei Venus; dragostea si femeile il stapinesc. In al treizecilea an stapineste Marte; la virsta aceasta omul este violent, indraznet, orgolios si razboinic. La patruzeci de ani barbatul e stapinit de patru planete mici: cimpul vietii sale creste. Este frugi, adica practic, prin influenta lui Ceres; are un camin datorita Vestei; a devenit intelept si invatat datorita lui Palas si, asemenea Junonei, sotia sa domneste stapina in casa. In al cinzecilea an stapineste Jupiter: omul a supravietuit celei mai mari parti a contemporanilor sai, se simte superior generatiei actuale. Are multa forta, experienta si cunostinte. Este, in functie de personalitatea sa, autoritar cu cei ce-l inconjoara. Nu suporta sa i se porunceasca si vrea sa comande. Acum este mai apt sa devina conducator. In al saizecilea an vine Saturn si cu el greutatea, incetineala, tenacitatea plumbului. Multi batrini par ca si morti: sint palizi, greoi si inerti ca plumbul. Cu Uranus, ciclul se incheie. Este momentul, se zice, de a merge in cer. Nu pot sa-l prind in calcul pe Neptun, pentru ca nu-l pot numi cu adevaratul sau nume – Eros. Prin Eros inceputul se leaga de sfirsit. Eros este in conexiune misterioasa cu Moartea. Poate de aceea Horus sau Amentes al Egiptenilor este in acelasi timp “cel care ia” si “cel care da”.

To my writing classes I used later to open by saying that anybody who could talk could also write. Having cheered them up with this easy-to-grasp ladder, I then replaced it with a huge and loathsome snake: ‘How many people in this class, would you say, can talk? I mean really talk?’ That had its duly woeful effect. I told them to read every composition aloud, preferably to a trusted friend. The rules are much the same: Avoid stock expressions (like the plague, as William Safire used to say) and repetitions. Don’t say that as a boy your grandmother used to read to you, unless at that stage of her life she really was a boy, in which case you have probably thrown away a better intro. If something is worth hearing or listening to, it’s very probably worth reading. So, this above all: Find your own voice.

Orice poate fi discutabil pana la infinit, dar din mine nu a razbit decat negarea, fara niciun fel de generozitate si fara niciun fel de forta. Asadar, nici macar o negare adevarata n-am fost in stare sa intruchipez. Totul si intotdeauna n-a fost decat meschin si fara vlaga. Supragenerosul Kirillov n-a suportat ideea si s-a impuscat; dar eu imi dau seama ca a fost atat de generos pentru ca nu era in toate mintile. Eu nu sunt capabil sa-mi pierd ratiunea vreodata si nu sunt in stare sa cred vreodata intr-o idee, in masura in care a crezut el. Nici chiar sa ma preocupe o idee in aceeasi masura nu sunt in stare. Niciodata, niciodata nu voi fi capabil sa ma impusc. Imi dau seama ca ar trebui sa ma omor, sa ma inlatur de pe suprafata pamantului ca pe o ganganie respingatoare, dar ma tem de sinucidere, pentru ca mi-e frica sa arat marime sufleteasca. Stiu ca va fi inca o inselaciune, ultima inselaciune intr-un sir nesfarsit de inselaciuni. Ce folos sa te inseli pe tine insuti, numai pentru a face pe generosul? Nu sunt capabil de indignare sau rusine si, prin urmare, nici de disperare.

One year before the Rapture "...that proves how marvellous God's love is, even for the most miserable human beings, being that demons can never take a human figure in a perfect form, and so the most stupid people are able to discover them." Nicholas Remy, Daemonolatreiae libri tres, 1595.

Relly fired off the opening riff. Butt laid down the beat, old doom and new joy mixed together. "I wait till I, like fire, shall rise," Jerod sang. And then again, louder, wailing sure and true. I was the last one to join in. I had a bass line all wroked out, of course. I'd been waiting weeks for this momment. My fingers colosed on the strings, pressed them hard to the frets. Butt and Relly were locked in, repeating the four-bar intro. Louder and louder, fierce as a war cry. "Ok," I whispered into the pounding noise. I joined in, doubling Relly at first, then splitting off to coil our riffs together. It was great, it was huge, it was endless. The song rose, churning and sucking everything in like a cyclone. "The will my voice in great goodbyes," Jerod screamed from the speakers. "Join to the chorus of the skies." Silence was inside me, riding the Ghost Metal tornado. Right at the center, at the heart of the song. I didn't need a voice. I had a bass. I didn't need to hear myself talk or sing. Jerod could make the words for me. Or maybe it was Silence herself, pouring out through the PA system. Either way, any way, They were my words. And all the world would hear them.

Dragostea pe care o vor cauta si chiar primi o vor respinge, pentru ca stiu ca sinele lor profund este inacceptabil, cel putin in viziunea lor. Te vor face sa-i iubesti, iti vor semnala ca sunt acolo, dar prefera inconstient ca visele lor sa ramana de domeniul fanteziei. "Respinge-ma si te voi iubi, nu ma cauta si voi visa la tine, chinuie-ma si voi fi al tau" este mantra indragostitului care nu poate accepta sa fie iubit in ciuda sa. Si sunt multi astfel de oameni, si seducatori: tocmai pentru ca sunt intr-o perpetua cautare, stiu pe de rost jocul apropierii si mai ales, al departarii. Si te vor cauta in toti ceilalti pe care ii vor intalni. ..si te vor gasi doar cand se gasesc pe ei.

Isi cauta teama de moarte pe care o simtise inainte si n-o mai gasi. Unde e? Care moarte? Nu mai exista nicio teama, pentru ca nu mai exista moartea. In locul mortii era lumina. "Va sa zica, asta e!" exclama deodata cu glas tare, "Ce bucurie!". Toate acestea se petrecura pentru el intr-o clipa, si intelesul clipei ramase acelasi pana la sfarsit. Pentru cei din jurul lui insa, agonia mai dura doua ore. In piept ii clocotea ceva: trupul slabit tresarea. Pe urma, clocotul si horcaitul devenira tot mai tare. "S-a sfarsit", spuse cineva la capataiul lui. Auzi cuvintele si le repeta in gand. "S-a sfarsit cu moartea, isi spuse. Nu mai exista." Trase aer in piept, se opri la jumatatea unui suspin, trupul i se destinse si muri.

Daca ma gandesc bine, reprosul esential pe care il am de facut tarii si vremurilor este ca ma impiedica sa ma bucur de frumusetea vietii. Din cand in cand, imi dau seama ca traiesc intr-o lume fara cer, fara copaci si gradini, fara extaze bucolice, fara ape, pajisti si nori. Am uitat misterul adanc al noptii, radicalitatea amiezii, racorile cosmice ale amurgului. Nu mai vad pasarile, nu mai adulmec mirosul prafos si umed al furtunii, nu mai percep, asfixiat de emotie, miracolul ploii si al stelelor. Nu mai privesc in sus, nu mai am organ pentru parfumuri si adieri. Fosnetul frunzelor uscate, transluciditatea nocturna a lacurilor, sunetul indescifrabil al serii, iarba, padurea, vitele, orizontul tulbure al campiei, colina cordiala si muntele ascetic nu mai fac de mult parte din peisajul meu cotidian, din echilibrul igienic al vietii mele launtrice. Nu mai am timp pentru prietenie, pentru taclaua voioasa, pentru cheful asezat. Sunt ocupat. Sunt grabit. Sunt iritat, hartuit, coplesit de lehamite. Am o existenta de ghiseu: mi se cer servicii, mi se fac comenzi, mi se solicita interventii, sfaturi si complicitati. Am devenit mizantrop. Doua treimi din metabolismul meu mental se epuizeaza in nervi de conjunctura, agenda mea zilnica e un inventar de urgente minore. Gandesc pe sponci, stimulat de provocari meschine. Imi incep ziua apoplectic, injurand "situatiunea": gropile din drum, moravurile soferilor autohtoni, caldura (sau frigul), praful (sau noroiul), morala politicienilor, gramatica gazetarilor, modele ideologice, cacofoniile noii arhitecturi, demagogia, coruptia, bezmeticia tranzitiei. Abia daca mai inregistrez desenul ametitor al cate unei siluete feminine, inocenta vreunui suras, farmecul tacut al cate unui colt de strada. Colectionez antipatii si prilejuri de insatisfactie. Scriu despre mizerii si maruntisuri. Bomban toata ziua, mi-am pierdut increderea in virtutile natiei, in soarta tarii, in rostul lumii. Am un portret tot mai greu digerabil. Patriotii de parada m-au trecut la tradatori, neoliberalii la conservatori, postmodernistii la elitisti. Batranilor le apar frivol, tinerilor reactionar. Una peste alta, mi-am pierdut buna dispozitie, elanul, jubilatia. Nu mai am ragazuri fertile, reverii, autenticitati. Ma misc, de dimineata pana seara, intr-un univers artificial, agitat, infectat de trivialitate. Apetitul vital a devenit anemic, placerea de a fi si-a pierdut amplitudinea si suculenta. Respir crispat si pripit, ca intr-o etuva. Cand cineva trece printr-o asemenea criza de vina e, in primul rand, umoarea proprie. Te poti acuza ca ai consimtit in prea mare masura imediatului, ca nu stii sa-ti dozezi timpul si afectele, ca nu mai deosebesti intre esential si accesoriu, ca, in sfarsit, ai scos din calculul zilnic valorile zenitale. Dar nu se poate trece cu vederea nici ambianta toxica a momentului si a veacului. Suntem napaditi de probleme secunde. Avem preocupari de mana a doua, avem conducatori de mana a doua, traim sub presiunea multipla a necesitatii. Ni se ofera texte mediocre, show-uri de prost-gust, conditii de viata umilitoare. Am ajuns sa nu mai avem simturi, idei, imaginatie. Ne-am uratit, ne-am instrainat cu totul de simplitatea polifonica a lumii, de pasiunea vietii depline. Nu! mai avem puterea de a admira si de a lauda, cu o genuina evlavie, splendoarea Creatiei, vazduhul, marile, pamantul si oamenii. Suntem turmentati si sumbri. Abia daca ne mai putem suporta. Exista, pentru acest derapaj primejdios, o terapie plauzibila? Da, cu conditia sa ne dam seama de gravitatea primejdiei. Cu conditia sa impunem atentiei noastre zilnice alte prioritati si alte orizonturi.

To my writing classes I used later to open by saying that anybody who could talk could also write. Having cheered them up with this easy-to-grasp ladder, I then replaced it with a huge and loathsome snake: “How many people in this class, would you say, can talk? I mean really talk?” That had its duly woeful effect. I told them to read every composition aloud, preferably to a trusted friend. The rules are much the same: Avoid stock expressions (like the plague, as William Safire used to say) and repetitions. Don’t say that as a boy your grandmother used to read to you, unless at that stage of her life she really was a boy, in which case you have probably thrown away a better intro. If something is worth hearing or listening to, it’s very probably worth reading. So, this above all: Find your own voice.

Lirismul absolut As vrea sa izbucnesc intr-o explozie radicala cu tot ce am in mine cu toata energia si cu toate continuturile sa curg sa ma descompun si intr-o expresie nemijlocita distrugerea mea sa fie opera mea creatia inspiratia mea. Sa ma realizez in distrugere sa cresc in cea mai nebuna avantare pana dincolo de margini si moartea mea sa fie triumful meu. As vrea sas ma topesc in lume si lumea in mine sa nastem in nebunia noastra un vis apocaliptic straniu ca toate viziunile de sfarsit si magnific asemenea marilor crepuscule. Din tesatura visului nostru sa creasca splendori enigmatice si umbre cuceritoare forme ciudate si adancimi halucinante. Un joc de lumina si de intuneric sa imbrace sfarsitul intr-un decor fantastic si o transfigurare cosmica sa ridice totul pana dincolo de orice rezistenta cand avantul duce la nimic iar formele plesnesc intr-o exaltare de agonie si incantare. Un foc total sa inghita luea aceasta si flacarile lui mai insinuante decat zambetul de femeie si mai imateriale decat melancolia sa provoace voluptati crepusculare complicate ca moartea si fascinante ca neantul in clipele de tristete. Sunt necesare trairi nebune pentru ca lirismul sa atinga ultima lui expresie pentru ca incordarile lui sa treaca marginile subiectivismului normal.

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” Revelation 13: 16–18

The story is at once very easy and very hard to explain. I’ve never tried to do it in person, but I imagine if I did, I would end up vomiting on someone’s shoes. Explaining something online is as simple as pasting a link and saying, “Here, read this.” They click. Read the intro page. If they like it, they keep reading. If not, oh well, at least I didn’t have to talk. If I did have to explain the story without the very handy reference of the story itself, I imagine it would sound something like this: “On distant planet Orcus, a girl and boy fight on opposite sides of a long war between the natives and colonists from Earth. The girl and boy are hosts to parasitic energy creatures whose only weakness is each other. There’s lots of ocean, and there are monsters in that ocean. Stuff happens. Colors are pretty.” There’s a reason I’m an artist and not a writer.

Prima porunca: Sa astepti oricat. A doua porunca: Sa astepti orice. A treia porunca: Sa nu-ti amintesti, in schimb, orice. Nu sunt bune decat amintirile care te ajuta sa traiesti in prezent. A patra porunca: Sa nu numeri zilele. A cincea porunca: Sa nu uiti ca orice asteptare e provizorie, chiar daca dureaza toata viata. A sasea porunca: Repeta ca nu exista pustiu. Exista doar incapacitatea noastra de a umple golul in care traim. A saptea porunca: Nu pune in aceeasi oala si rugaciunea si pe Dumnezeu. Rugaciunea este uneori o forma de a spera a celui ce nu indrazneste sa spere singur. A opta porunca: Daca gandul asta te ajuta, nu evita sa recunosti ca speri neavand altceva mai bun de facut sau chiar pentru a te feri de urmarile faptului ca nu faci nimic. A noua porunca: Binecuvanteaza ocazia de a-ti apartine in intregime. Singuratatea e o tarfa care nu te invinuieste ca esti egoist. A zecea porunca: Aminteste-ti ca paradisul a fost, aproape sigur, intr-o grota.

As dori, de asemenea, sa tii seama de faptul ca astfel de intamplari nu au putut avea loc decat intr-o lume in care barbatul se considera superior femeii. In lumea pe care americanii o numesc a man's world - o lume a barbatilor. Adica o lume guvernata de forta brutala, de aroganta totalmente lipsita de umor, de gustul prestigiului iluzoriu si de prostia funciara. Continua, cu ochii atintiti pe ecran: Barbatilor le place razboiul pentru ca li se pare singurul mod de a fi luati in serios. Pentru ca isi imagineaza ca este singura ocazie cand femeile inceteaza sa-si mai bata joc de ei. Razboiul le permite sa reduca femeile la rand de obiecte. In aceasta consta marea deosebire dintre sexe. Barbatii vad obiebte acolo unde femeile vad relatiile dintre obiecte; relatiile generate de nevoia pe care obiectele o au unul de celalalt, de nevoia de dragoste si de dorinta de armonie. Este o dimensiune in domeniul sentimental care barbatilor le lipseste cu desavarsire. o dimensiune care face ca toate femeile adevarate sa nu vada in razboi decat o odioasa absurditate. Am sa-ti spun eu ce e raboiul. Razboiul e o psihoza creata de incapacitatea noastra de a percepe relatiile. Relatiile noastre cu cei din jur; relatiile cu situatia noastra economica si istorica. Si, mai ales, relatia noastra cu neamul. Cu moartea.

Adolf Hitler a ajuns cancelar al Germaniei in 1933, pe cand eu aveam de-abia un an. tata, care nu-l mai vazuse din 1914, i-a transmis cele mai calde felicitari si un cadou, pictura lui Hitler in acuarela, Biserica minorita din Viena. Hitler a fost incantat. avea amintiri placute despre tata, din cate spunea, si l-a invitat in Germania, ca oaspete personal, sa ia seama la noua ordine sociala pe care o construia, sperand ca aceasta va dura vreo mie de ani, daca nu mai mult. mama, tata si Felix, care avea noua ani pe-atunci, au plecat din Ohio in Germania, pentru 6 luni, in 1934. [..] si imediat ce s-au intors acasa, tata s-a apucat sa-si arboreze cadoul favorit de la Hitler, pe bratul orzontal al morii de vant. era un steag nazist, mare cat un cearceaf. era un lucru misterios, exuberant, si, din cate zicea mama, comunitatea era mandra si in acelasi timp invidioasa pe tata, pe ea si pe Felix. nimeni in Midland City nu intretinuse vreodata relatii de prietenie cu un sef de stat. pana si eu apar intr-o poza din ziar. una cu toata familia noasta, in strada, in fata atelierului, privind in sus catre steagul nazist. sunt in brate la Mary Hoobler, bucatareasa noastra, care, incetul cu incetul, m-a invatat tot ce stia ea despre mancaruri si prajituri. pe cand pozam toti in strada pt fotografia din ziar, tata avea 42 de ani. dupa cum spunea mama, in Germania trecuse printr-o profunda transfigurare spirituala. isi redefinise scopurile in viata. nu-i mai era de ajuns sa fie artist. avea de gand sa se faca profesor si activist politic. sa fie purtatorul de cuvant in America al noii ordini ce abia se nastea in Germania, dar care, cu timpul, urma sa devina salvarea lumii. asta a fost, evident, o greseala.

Iubeste pe aproapele tau ca pe tine insuti" e o vorba mai intortocheata decat pare, desi e citata frecvent, ca un subinteles elementar al moralei crestine. In genere, "ca pe tine insuti" e luat drept o forma de superlativ. Se porneste, cu alte cuvinte, de la presupozitia ca ne iubim enorm, si suntem invitati sa aplicam si "aproapelui" acelasi tratament. Dar ne iubim, intr-adevar, atat de mult? In realitate, cand suntem singuri cu noi insine, stim foarte bine cat ne poate pielea. Stim foarte bine ce pacate avem, cat cantarim, care ne sunt penumbrele. Singura diferenta dintre judecata de sine si cea purtata asupra altora e ca cea dintai e insotita, aproape intotdeauna, de o generoasa indulgenta. Ne stim defectele, dar stim, de asemenea, ca, in ciuda lor, suntem oameni de treaba. Viata noastra e plina de derapaje, de minciuni, micimi, vicii, ganduri inavuabile, turpitudini de toate calibrele. Dar cu toate astea, simtim ca dracul nu e chiar atat de negru, ca suntem recuperabili, ca, in adanc, adapostim un suflet bun si o inima curata... Intr-o prima instanta, "iubirea aproapelui" nu pretinde de la noi altceva decat sa privim defectele celuilalt cu aceeasi indulgenta, cu aceeasi intelegatoare complicitate cu care privim propriile noastre defecte. Sa credem in fondul lui bun, in dreptul lui la compasiune si iertare. Dar adagiul crestin se preteaza si la o interpretare simetrica, pornita din unghiul aproapelui: "Nu te iubi altfel decat iti iubesti aproapele!" Ia-ti oarecare distanta fata de eul tau, fii putin mai indiferent cu sufletelul tau, renunta la mila de sine si reflecteaza, din cand in cand, la tine insuti asa cum ai reflecta asupra altuia. Pe scurt: dupa ce ai facut efortul de a nu-ti iubi aproapele mai putin ingaduitor decat te iubesti pe tine, incearca, acum, sa nu te iubesti pe tine mai mult decat iti iubesti, indeobste, aproapele.

Only One [Intro] As I lay me down to sleep I hear her speak to me [Verse 1] Hello 'Mari, how ya doin'? I think the storm ran out of rain, the clouds are moving I know you're happy, cause I can see it So tell the voice inside ya' head to believe it I talked to God about you, he said he sent you an angel And look at all that he gave you You asked for one and you got two You know I never left you Cause every road that leads to heaven's right inside you So I can say [Hook 1] Hello my only one, just like the morning sun You'll keep on rising till the sky knows your name Hello my only one, remember who you are No you're not perfect but you're not your mistakes [Verse 2] Hey, hey, hey, hey Oh the good outweighs the bad even on your worst day Remember how I'd say Hey hey one day you'll be the man you always knew you could be And if you knew how proud I was You'd never shed a tear, have a fear, no you wouldn't do that And though I didn't pick the day to turn the page I know it's not the end every time I see her face, and I hear you say [Hook 2] Hello my only one, remember who you are You got the world cause you got love in your hands And you're still my chosen one So can you understand? One day you'll understand [Bridge] So hear me out, hear me out I won't go, I won't go No goodbyes, no goodbyes Just hello, just hello And when you cry, I will cry And when you smile, I will smile And next time when I look in your eyes We'll have wings and we'll fly [Hook 3] Hello my only one, just like the morning sun You'll keep on rising till the sky knows your name And you're still my chosen one, remember who you are No you're not perfect but you're not your mistakes [Outro] Hey, hey, hey, hey Tell Nori about me, tell Nori ab- I just want you to do me a favor Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me Tell Nori about me...

Un veac de siguratate, Gabriel Garcia Marquez "O singură clipă de împăcare este mai de preţ decât o viaţă întreagă de prietenie." "Nu intelegea de ce i-au trebuit atatea cuvinte pentru a-i explica ce simti in razboi, cand un singur cuvant putea sa fie de ajuns: frica. " "Timpul nu trece ci se invarteste in loc." "Lumea, zise el atunci, lumea se va intoarce cu dosu-n sus in ziua cand oamenii vor calatori in clasa intai iar literatura in furgonul cu bagaje." " [...] Pilar Ternera, cu ideea ei ingenioasa de a citi trecutul in carti,asa cum pe vremuri citea viitorul." "Tiganul venise in sat,hotarat sa ramana aici. Se dusese in lumea mortilor, intr-adevar, dar se intorsese deoarece nu putuse indura singuratatea." "Cat ma priveste pe mine, abia acum imi dau seama ca lupt din orgoliu. Insa, in orice caz, e mai bine decat sa nu stii pentru ce lupti." "Colonelul Aurelio Budenia abia daca intelese ca secretul unei imbatraniri frumoase nu este altceva decat incheierea unui pact onorabil cu singuratatea." "Apoi ceru Ursulei o oglinda si pentru prima oara dupa patruzeci de ani isi vazu chipul ravasit de varsta si de martiriul pe care-l indurase, si ramasese surprinsa constatand cat de mult semana cu imaginea mentala care si-o facuse despre sine." "Regretau toti acei ani pe care-i irosira pana sa descopere paradisul singuratatii impartasite." "Timpul putea si si el victima ciocnirilor si a accidentelor si ca deci putea sa se sparga, lasand intr-o odaie una din fractiunile sale eternizate." "Ea recunoscu de indata lacrimile cele mai vechi din istoria omenirii." "Caci un secol de carti si de experienta o invatase ca istoria familiei nu era decat un angrenaj de repetitii inevitabile, o roata turnanta care ar fi continuat sa se invarteasca in veci, daca n-ar fi fost uzura progresiva si iremediabila a osiei ei." "Primul din spita este legat de un copac si furnicile incep sa se infrupte din ultimul." "Trecutul nu e decât minciună, memoria nu are cale de întoarcere, orice primăvără trecută este irecuperabilă şi dragostea cea mai nebună şi mai statornică nu e decât un adevăr efemer.

Okay, so I shouldn't have fucked with her on the introduction thing. Writing nothing except, Saturday night. You and me. Driving lessons and hot sex ... in her notebook probably wasn't the smartest move. But I was itching to make Little Miss Perfecta stumble in her introduction of me. And stumbling she is. "Miss Ellis?" I watch in amusement as Perfection herself looks up at Peterson. Oh, she's good. This partner of mine knows how to hide her true emotions, something I recognize because I do it all the time. "Yes?" Brittany says, tilting her head and smiling like a beauty queen. I wonder if that smile has ever gotten her out of a speeding ticket. "It's your turn. Introduce Alex to the class." I lean an elbow on the lab table, waiting for an introduction she has to either make up or fess up she knows less than crap about me. She glances at my comfortable position and I can tell from her deer-in-the-headlights look I've stumped her. "This is Alejandro Fuentes," she starts, her voice hitching the slightest bit. My temper flares at the mention of my given name, but I keep a cool facade as she continues with a made-up introduction. "When he wasn't hanging out on street corners and harassing innocent people this summer, he toured the inside of jails around the city, if you know what I mean. And he has a secret desire nobody would ever guess." The room suddenly becomes quiet. Even Peterson straightens to attention. Hell, even I'm listening like the words coming out of Brittany's lying, pink-frosted lips are gospel. "His secret desire," she continues, "is to go to college and become a chemistry teacher, like you, Mrs. Peterson." Yeah, right. I look over at my friend Isa, who seems amused that a white girl isn't afraid of giving me smack in front of the entire class. Brittany flashes me a triumphant smile, thinking she's won this round. Guess again, gringa. I sit up in my chair while the class remains silent. "This is Brittany Ellis," I say, all eyes now focused on me. "This summer she went to the mall, bought new clothes so she could expand her wardrobe, and spent her daddy's money on plastic surgery to enhance her, ahem, assets." It might not be what she wrote, but it's probably close enough to the truth. Unlike her introduction of me. Chuckles come from mis cuates in the back of the class, and Brittany is as stiff as a board beside me, as if my words hurt her precious ego. Brittany Ellis is used to people fawning all over her and she could use a little wake-up call. I'm actually doing her a favor. Little does she know I'm not finished with her intro. "Her secret desire," I add, getting the same reaction as she did during her introduction, "is to date a Mexicano before she graduates." As expected, my words are met by comments and low whistles from the back of the room. "Way to go, Fuentes," my friend Lucky barks out. "I'll date you, mamacita, " another says. I give a high five to another Latino Blood named Marcus sitting behind me just as I catch Isa shaking her head as if I did something wrong. What? I'm just having a little fun with a rich girl from the north side. Brittany's gaze shifts from Colin to me. I take one look at Colin and with my eyes tell him game on. Colin's face instantly turns bright red, resembling a chile pepper. I have definitely invaded his territory.

Mi-a venit foarte greu sa ma afirm alaturi de gandurile mele. Era un demon in mine, iar in cele din urma prezenta lui a fost decisiva. Ma domina si mi-o lua inainte, iar cand se intampla sa nu mai tin seama de nimic, era fiindca el ma presa. Nu ma puteam opri niciodata la ceea ce obtinusem deja. Trebuia sa continui sa alerg, pentru a-mi ajunge din urma viziunea. Intrucat, dupa cum e lesne de inteles, contemporanii mei nu puteau percepe viziunea mea, vedeau in mine doar pe cineva care fuge aiurea. Am ofensat multi oameni; caci, indata ce observam ca nu ma intelegeau, pentru mine cazul era incheiat. Trebuia sa merg mai departe. Exceptie facand pacientii mei, n-aveam rabdare cu oamenii. Intotdeauna trebuia sa-mi urmez legea interioara care-mi era impusa si nu-mi lasa libertatea alegerii. Ce-i drept insa, n-o urmam de fiecare data. Cum am putea s-o scoatem la capat fara inconsecvente? Pentru unii oameni eram nemijlocit prezent, in masura in care se aflau in contact cu lumea launtrica; dar apoi se putea intampla ca, brusc, sa nu mai fiu acolo cu ei, dat fiind ca nu mai exista nimic care sa ma lege de ei. Am invatat anevoie ca oamenii continua sa fie prezenti, chiar si atunci cand nu mai au nimic a-mi spune. Multi trezeau in mine sentimentul unei umanitati vii, dar numai cand apareau in cercul magic al psihologiei, devenind vizibili; in clipa urmatoare, cand farul isi indrepta raza in alta directie, nu mai exista nimic. Unii oameni ma puteau interesa in modul cel mai intens, pentru ca, de indata ce ii "descifram", farmecul sa dispara. Mi-am facut multi dusmani astfel. Dar, ca om creator, esti la discretia demonului, nu esti liber, ci inlantuit si manat de el. "... o putere rusinos ne smulge / Inima. / Caci jertfa cere orice e ceresc. / Dar cand un zeu este lasat deoparte, / N-aduce nici un bine." (Holderlin, Imnuri si ode) Lipsa de libertate m-a umplut de tristete. Adesea aveam senzatia ca ma gasesc pe un camp de lupta. Acum ai cazut tu, bunul meu camarad, dar eu trebuie sa continui! Eu nu pot, nu, nu pot ramane! Caci "o putere rusinoasa ne smulge inima". Mi-esti drag, te iubesc chiar, dar nu pot ramane! Pe moment, este ceva sfasietor. Caci eu insumi sunt victima, nu pot, sa raman. Dar demonul aranjeaza lucrurile astfel incat s-o scoatem la capat, iar binecuvantata inconsecventa are grija ca, in contrast flagrant cu "infidelitatea" mea, sa pot ramane credincios intr-o masura nebanuita.

Ciuma-A.Camus "Puteai sa vezi in toiul noptii, de-a lungul cornisei,convoaie stranii de tramvaie fara calatori, hurducandu-se deasupra marii. Locuitorii au sfarsit prin a afla despre ce e vorba, si in ciuda patrulelor, grupuri de oameni reuseau destul de de sa se strecoare pe stancile care se inaltau deasupra marii si sa arunce flori la trecerea tramvaielor. Si se auzeau atunci vehicule zdranganind in noaptea de vara, cu incarcatura lor de flori si morti." "Exista in oameni mai multe lucruri de admirat decat de dispretuit." "Ciuma le rapise tuturor puterea iubirii si chiar a prieteniei. Caci iubirea cere putin viitor, iar pentru noi nu mai exsitau decat clipe." "Pentru intaia oara simteau cat de dificil e sa-ti imaginezi precis faptele si gesturile celui care lipseste. Deplangeau atunci faptul ca n-aveau habar despre felul cum isi petercea celalalt timpul; se invinuiau de usurinta cu care neglijasera sa se informeze despre aceasta si se prefacusera a crede ca,pentru o fiinta care iubeste, ocupatia celui iubit nu este izvorul tuturor bucuriilor.Le era usor, incepand cu aceasta clipa, sa se reintoarca la dragostea lor i sa-i cerceteze imperfectiunile" "Cu toti se intampla la fel: te insori,iubirea mai dureaza putin, muncesti. Muncesti atat de mult incat uiti sa mai iubesti." "Pentru a lupta impotriva abtractiei trebuie sa-i semeni putin." "Dar porcaria asta de boala!Chiar i cei care n-o au o poarta in inima." "Raul care este in lume vine aproape intotdeuna din ignoranta, si bunele intentii, daca nu sunt luminate de constiita, pot sa faca tot atatea stricaciuni ca si rautatea." "Nu mai existau atunci destine individuale, ci o istorie colectiva, care era ciuma, si sentimente unice, impartasite de toti. Cel mai dominant dintre ele era cel al despartirii si al exilului, cu tot ceea ce comporta el ca frica si revolta." "Persoanele intoarse din carantina, care, inebunite de doliu si nenorocire, isi dadeau foc caselor in iluzia ca faceau astfel sa arda ciuma din ele." "A fost nevoie de marele duet al lui Orfeu si al Euridicei din actul al treilea pentru ca o anume surpriza sa strabata sala.Cantaretul si-a ales un moment sa inainteze spre rampa intr-un fel grotesc, cu bratele si picioarele departate, in costumul sau antic, si sa se prabuseasca in mijlocul decorului pastoresc care nu incetase niciodata sa fie anacronic. Stateau in fata a ceea ce era viata lor de atunci: ciuma pe scena, sub infatisarea unui actor dezarticulat si, in sala tot luxul devenit inutil, sub forma de evantaie uitate si de dantele atarnand pe roul fotoliilor." "Chiar atunci cand vremea ciumei trecuse, ei continuau sa traiasca conform normelor ei." "O scanteie de viata si o imagine de moarte, aceasta era cunoasterea." "Mame, soti, indragostiti care pierduera orice bucurie odata cu fiinta acum ratacita intr-o groapa anonima sau topita intr-o gramada de cenusa, pentru toti acestia ciuma isi continua existenta.