Hey Jafar, nice to see you posting again, mate. I recommend you to jump on threads in which you feel interested; don't be afraid. For example, last summer I had some exchanges with folks in 'infinity' and 'perception' threads. My background is not very good in mathematics or metaphysics, but I wanted to learn, so I started to post some questions, and then I tried to debate with the rest.
I appreciate the patience and respect from the people because they could ignore me, but they decided to get me among them instead. This is the general attitude in TPF. I barely had negative experiences in philosophical threads. My only advice would be to stay away from political discussions. It is a pain in the neck!

But hey, it will probably be a last minute decision. Not holding my breath! — Amity

Yes, I feel you. It gives me anxiety to wait until the last minute when the decision is taken. I start to sweat, have nightmares while sleeping, and I endlessly walk here and there in my small corridor. I dislike when this happens, but it is fascinating to experience such a level of adrenaline. 

AND...that of others...@Baden Jamal @fdrake et al.
The Literary Activity 2024. Is it happening? — Amity

I talked with @Baden about this like two months ago in The Shoutbox. He said it was better to do the literary activity once a year, and I couldn't agree more with that. If I am not mistaken, I think we did the last literary activity around late December of last year. So, the literary activity may be open next December if my forecasts don't go wrong. :smile:

Renga! Wow it has been a while since the last time I read renga poems. I remember that in my community of haiku we tried to write some renga, but the result was not good enough. I personally believe that haiku is something individualistic, an expression of an amazement for perceiving the nature around us.

Autumn is my favourite season by far, and I enjoy seeing the fallen leaves in the streets. If I write a haiku about it, I have to expect that the other part would like autumn as much as I do.
Even liking or feeling it with the same intensity, it could have some misinterpretation because maybe a poet is more melancholic regarding 'fallen leaves' but others are more realistic, etc.

I ended up in the conclusion that renga is for real masters of haiku. I am not part of them.

There is another interesting feature: 'haikono'...
A person posts a picture of landscape or places and the rest write a haiku of that photo. This is very nice to do.

"Deconstructing the American Presidential Election with Reference to the Concepts of Lego Bricks and Marmalade." — Baden

I think we will not find a more detailed analysis than yours, honestly. I always knew—and told myself talking to the pillow—that 'el trompas' and Kámala are the same thing, but I didn't want to share this thesis because I was hesitating on whether I dreamt it or not. It is clear that the compulsive hysteria of Trump and emotional fear of Kámala would join together and transform into a new subject. He, she, or 'it' will be the next President of the United States of America.

Is this the end of the US? Will people be able to register to go vote in time? What would happen if they did not mould together finally? There are a lot of answers that only time could answer. Just wait, sitting next to me, son, drinking coffee, and see what happens. People will embrace together, and poppies will flourish again. Time is a circle, not a scary line with no way of turning back.

The Lego brick will be moulded on the mermalade. Never a thick material was that manageable before. The best we could do? Stay away from both of them, rent a red Volkswagen van, and drive in the dawn until we meet the tan-coloured sun. Free as the wind. :sparkle:

Well, at least you don't deny Jesus' existence, and that's enough for me. You can be against religion or what Christianity represents. But I think we all should accept that Jesus of Nazareth was a normal existing person, and this statement is sadly banned by the Church. 

Kazantzakis (as @Tom Storm pointed out) wrote clever paragraphs regarding this, and what could happen in real life rather in the story written in the Gospels.

The film directed by Scorsese is pretty good too. There are a bit of differences with the novel, but this scene blew my mind: Jesus is seeing himself on the cross but randomly disappears, and the cross is there empty, but the crowd is still yelling. A little girl takes the hand of Jesus and says: Leave them alone in their dream. Don't worry. Now, I will show you what really happened with your life...

Jesus is, by some accounts, his son. — Tom Storm

Why does most deity want to be the father of Jesus? I think this is key. Instead of asking, "If you were God, what would you do?" I think it would be more reasonable to ask: "If you were Jesus, what would you do?"

I never heard from Yahweh. I am very unaware of the deities of polytheistic religions. I basically know that Ancient Greece, Egypt, or Rome were polytheistic, and each God was the representation of X or Y.

I may be influenced by Abrahamic monotheistic religion, where the Trinity and God are creators, not destroyers. For this reason, it was a big surprise for me to meet deities that are destructive, although I understand that creation and destruction can be tied to each other.

1.05 — Banno

Wow. So, you were mentioned more than 25K times in TPF. That's crazy.

Mine is 0.8. 4.7K mentions. You mates typed "Javi" 280 times.

Having relatively recently managed to free itself from fascism, political engagement and thinking in the Spanish population is both higher and more mature than the complacency seen in most other countries. — Benkei

If only that would be helpful to reduce the unemployment ratio and increase our salaries...

But I get it, one thing is not tied to another. It is fine to support Gaza in everything we could do, but it is important to understand and be aware of our limitations. I just don't want Pedro to promise Abás (and Palestinian people) things and future scenarios that Spain will not probably be able to fulfill.

Basically, Pedro Sánchez said he promises the full recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state, and he also said that is enough of bloody massacres and this disaster. It is time to have a dialogue between Israel and Palestine with respect and trust between them.

Yes, I know, zero fucks given in the world about what Pedro said today. Abás, you are welcome to my country, but you are knocking on the wrong door, mate. We are not relevant in the Western world. You should ask the UK, Germany, and USA to stop the genocide of Israel in Gaza and the West Bank.

I am angry because Pedro was talking as if he were the President of the United States or something. Mate, we even owe money to NATO because we are not reaching the minimum percentage of military inversion in our budget. I think Abás came here to lose his time, sadly.

https://www.youtube.com/live/-4xHBR8U6Bc?feature=shared

Yeah, Shiva is called The Destroyer. But if I am not wrong, Shiva is one of the main principal deities of Hinduism, and she creates the universe. The nickname seems to be contradictory with the real goodness nature of Shiva. But I don't want to jump into this rabbit hole because my knowledge of Hinduism is very basic. I don't want to post bollocks. :sweat:

I agree. Translations could be a handicap, often. The small written note that I referred to previously also contains a brief suggestion to other Casares' works. It says that The Snow's Perjury is short but beautiful and great. I wish you could find a good translation in English.

The Invention of Morel is on the shelf of my parents house, but I decided to pick The Dream of Heroes instead! Nice to know you liked it. I will put it on my list of future readings. :smile:

A destructive God? Interesting, because most deities are basically otherwise. People believe in God because it creates life and things.

The Dream of Heroes by Adolfo Bioy Casares.

Casares was a good friend of Borges, and I discovered him thanks to the latter. My book has a cute little note written in 1988 by Casares explaining the psychology of his characters. What a gentleman, it is hard to find that connection between the writer and readers nowadays. Two years later, in 1990, Casares won the Miguel de Cervantes Prize.

Do you know who Dr. Phil is? He's pure evil. — T Clark

Yes, when I was in university, Dr. Phil was a main subject of memes and jokes. Well, the American students introduced us to him on campus. Wasn't he the one with the red-haired teen girl, screaming cash me outside or something like that?

No. You're thinking of Franco. — T Clark

We started talking about God and suddenly Franco showed up. Why does this happen all the time in Spain?

¡Ah! Ya te entiendo, ahora he pillado tu ejemplo mejor. :sweat:
Lo peor de todo es que la pregunta en el examen no había contexto ni nada. En fin, a veces estas rarezas ocurren...

Estoy de acuerdo en que un sinónimo puede otorgar un significado diferente a la frase. Pero el problema aquí estribaba en sí era posible encontrar alguno al menos. :rofl:

You know what? I'm definitely going to send Dr. Phil to Spain. — T Clark

Dr. Phil is definitely welcome here; at least he exists, unlike deities like God. I hope Dr. Phil had a fantastic time in Mallorca or Almería. I'll let you know whether he does "guiri" things or not.

I'll try to keep him safe from anti-tourist riots, by the way.

Careful, don't piss God off. Maybe I'll send them to Spain instead. — T Clark

God abandoned us a long time ago...

I'd send anyone who intentionally killed, tortured, seriously hurt, or abused a child to North Korea permanently. — T Clark

Hmm... Perhaps that anyone sees North Korea as an opportunity rather than a punishment. Regarding killers and abusers, we can't really never know.

If you were God, what would you do?

@Benj96

Probably nothing. It is the only way I could keep living in the hopes and desires of believers. Their needed belief that X could happen anytime is what myself – as God – would make me alive.

I hypothesize that the "flaw" in proving God is not necessarily to be focused on God, but rather on the proving, and the idea that our flaws in proving "X" somehow seal the fate of "X". — ENOAH

I agree. Good points and argumentation, ENOAH. :up:

Where outside of the heads of its believers is anything affirmed? — ENOAH

Again, (as I asked yesterday) is that even doable or possible at all?

Entonces ¿fue la ausencia del profesor o desapareció el examen? — Sir2u

No, no, prometo que de verdad fue una pregunta de examen de selectividad. Ésta es la clase de examen que hacemos antes de entrar a la universidad. Por casualidad me enteré de la pregunta en la radio. Después de ello, no volví a saber el criterio de corrección utilizado por el profesor. Lo que es cierto es que es muy quisquilloso tratar de encontrar un sinónimo de desaparecido.

True, I agree. It's interesting to imagine that those people ("believers") believe that "God exists" is also a fact in our minds since they can't accept that God exists in some minds but not in others.

Good point. I always thought proving the existence of God was a waste of time because atheists will always deny it and believers will always give God's existence as granted.

Hasta hoy note que tiene esta seccion, Hay que buscar temas interesantes para que puedo invitar unos amigos. — Sir2u

¡Qué bien! Serían totalmente bienvenidos. De hecho, me alegro que hayas encontrado esta sección y podamos hablar español por aquí.

Desaparecido i ausente — Sir2u

Cuidado, no va i latina sino y griega: desaparecido y ausente.

De acuerdo con tu comentario. No volví a saber de la prueba y por tanto no sé lo que puntuó el profesor. Pero sigo teniendo claro que ni Dios dice "exangüe" cuándo alguien no está presente. :lol:

China is lacking democratic (transparency/rights/freedom) standards. There's a case to be made. — jorndoe

We have ended up in a world where it's difficult to look to one country as a role model for human rights, transparency, and corruption prevention. Yes, China is not a country that can demonstrate its ability to govern over people, but the alternative is equally bad: the United States is not a true democracy.
For years, the American government imprisoned innocent people in Guantanamo Bay, and police departments clearly have unfavourable attitudes towards African and Hispanic people.

It seems like we are forced to allow American products because, how can we dare to try to ban you?

Take a look at this 1995 campaign in Finland against McDonald's garbage goods. Perhaps @ssu recalls that :razz: . Despite the opposite of the people, McDonald's is still accessible in Helsinki and the surrounding areas because if the Finnish government attempted to ban an American product, they would have immediately found themselves added to the list of communist and unfriendly nations, right? 1995 Finland

Yes, poor labour conditions and pollution are basically nonexistent in the Western world. These issues only exist in China... :roll:

Most of the clothes were made in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, China, Philippines, even some made here in Honduras. — Sir2u

I forgot to mention it, but thank you mate for bringing it to the table. Basically, the majority of the clothing comes from East Asia!

I understand. The eternal rivalry between the two superpowers of the world. When you live in a normal/non-important country like mine, it is important to be friends with both countries. American products such as Microsoft, Ford, Apple, Google, etc. are very important, but I think Chinese products deserve some respect as well. My previous phone was a hauwei, and it was probably the best cell phone I ever had. I can't remember about another whose battery lasted so long.
 
But, my perspective comes from a place that depends on both of you a lot. We only produce jamón serrano and tourism. We can't get rid of China as a partner because it will have a negative impact on our economy (as well as the United States).
 
So, yeah, I will still purchase Chinese products.

Would you buy a Chinese made car ? — Fooloso4

Yes, I would buy a Chinese car and other products such as mobile phones or other devices. What is the big issue regarding Chinese products? I just don't understand the obsession with the Western world of banning them. It is true that their products were of poor quality some decades ago, but they are well manufactured now.

Have you ever read a Spanish book and also the English translation? — T Clark

Yes, Gloria Fuertes' poems. She is my favourite poet. She mainly wrote children's poetry, but some poems were more deep and 'for adults'. I also read some of Fuertes' works in English because it was a big surprise for me that she was an important subject of study for American hispanists and other experts in Spanish literature.

Like the poet of my childhood being studied by experts in Hardvard or Yale! Wow!

If so, what was the experience like? Did the translation get the original right? — T Clark

The experience was actually pretty good. The translators made a good effort to understand madrileño vocabulary. The Spanish poets under the Franco regime—Generation of '50—were awesome but sadly underrated!

Generation of '50

Well, I guess I can only answer you properly if I approach the topic of translation on different scales: reading in my native language is always better because everything flows in the perfect rhythm. 

But, reading literature directly written in English—like James Joyce, John Cheever, Dickens, Shaw, etc.—is a great and fruitful experience. It is hard for me to keep a good 'flow' along the book, but it is not a great handicap. It is obvious that it is better to read Joyce directly in English than in Spanish, because the translators usually 'disrupt' the real sense.

There is a big controversy regarding the accurate translation of One Thousand and One Nights, for example.

Cello has an indescribable tone. That short but intense piece proves it. Thanks for sharing it with us. I enjoyed listening to it while on my way to the subway.

Welcome to TPF.

Red Cavalry by Isaac Babel.

@Baden

Éamon de Valera’s long but fruitless search for his mysterious Spanish father.

I wish we could help to locate some evidence. It is wonderful how our countries collaborated in such a lovely case. :heart:

Great book. I had some difficulty with it in the beginning: — Jamal

I had some difficulties reading Borges as well. It is remarkable his vast knowledge on almost everything. However, I feel he expressed himself in a manner that can only be fully comprehended by him. The eternal handicap of gifted! 

And then of course there are the things that are subjective, which you cannot find an objective answer. Like what is beautiful, what is morally right or wrong etc. — ssu

Good point, ssu.

Honestly, when I have exchanges on aesthetics here in TPF, I don't really expect an answer with facts but to read different perspectives on the same topic. Poetry is probably one of the main subjective-notion-like topics. I did an experiment a few weeks ago with my thread about Kundera and how this author used the adjective 'unbearable', attaching it to other words. I precisely referred to nostalgia. So, how do we understand nostalgia when it is unbearable? It is impossible to articulate and explain 'unbearable' and 'nostalgia' using facts, yet that is how I feel after reading poems.

It is better to trust more our emotions than reason sometimes. :smile:

Have you considered writing a kenning poem? — Amity

I tend to write poetry every day, but my poems are short and ambiguous, very similar to haiku. I'm even still writing haiku. I try to express melancholy, nostalgia, and memories through poetry because I am very sensitive regarding the past and 'old days'. It is the only way I can express how I feel. I think it would be impossible for me to describe how a sunset* feels otherwise. I only write in Spanish, but I dream that I will be able to write in English in the future. It is hard to switch emotions into another language. 

By the way, now that we are talking about sunsets, kennings and nostalgia, I have been reading beautiful poems by Harry Martinson. A wonderful Swedish poet! I wish I could understand him in his native language, but I fully appreciate the big job by translators. :smile: