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:

Hola, Javi, y muchas gracias — Amity

Hola. :smile:

Yes, it's difficult to follow. However, I discovered that kennings are not only found in Old Nordic poetry.
Excellent information from: — Amity

Thanks, Amity. I really enjoy reading stuff like this. I wonder now if' stuff' is a bad word to express or refer to something. I am realising that I am using stuff' a lot while I interact with you, mates. I understand that it is not too important to express myself in a perfect manner, yet I guess that maybe I sound 'repetitive' in most of my posts and answers.

It is indeed fascinating. How do I say 'book-worm' in Spanish? :wink: — Amity

We don't refer to worms but to mice to refer to that noun. We say: ratón de biblioteca. :smile:

Has anything poetic inspired you recently to think and reflect on today's everyday? — Amity

Yes. I am currently reading Borges, and he dedicated a chapter for reviewing 'kennings'. A 'kenning' is an old poem that is characterised for including a large number of metaphors and ambiguity. Sadly, I am not very informed or acknowledged on Icelandic and Old Nordic poetry, so it is a bit difficult for me to follow some details and descriptions.
Anyway, thanks to the vast and wonderful work of translating by Borges, I started to read and flowing my imagination around. I'd like to feel free and open to interpretation while reading kennings.

If you don't mind, Amity, I'd like to share a kenning I read before:

The fishing goes according to our [my] wishes, in that we have tried to lure the poison-serpent of the sea out of the heather of the field of the cod. The caster of the bait-gallows let the one grasped by the hook hang; at all events, things have turned out well for me in catching the trout.

Reflecting on the ambiguity of the brief poem above, most experts on Scandinavian literature and poetry agreed that 'the heather of the field of the cod' means seaweed. Fascinating, isn't it? This kind of poetry is helping me to improve my imagination. :smile:

Further readings: Skaldic Poetry.

Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges.

I am enjoying Borges' works. I don't understand why it took me too long to start reading him. Maybe he just popped up in my life at the perfect time. Glad that my parents have books of him on their shelves.

Wait... Am I the only one who thinks this topic is sneakily becoming The Shoutbox 2.0?

I once was aggressively called "Guiri" by a drunken Spanishman. Ironically, he was the one who was being uncouth; I was a perfect gentleman. — Jamal

I obviously trust that you were behaving genuinely, Jamal.

When we are drunk, we tend to be dangerous and disruptive... the consequences of having such a big percentage of 'enthusiasm' in our DNA. Like Italians and Balkans folks.

:up:

Mahler! I couldn't have thought of a better option to welcome September!

Australian charming music. @Tom Storm @Banno @Wayfarer

Let's dance while we take a break from doing philosophy on 'certainty' and 'sense and sensibilia.'

thrifty Northern Europeans — BC

Are you sure it isn't Russians and Bulgarians who are the guiri? — BC

I make Mancunians responsible for the tomatina party, especially @Sir2u.
Are there Russians in the ceremony as well? Probably. You know they are all over the world spying folks!

One could use the pineapple emoji to efficiently welcome new members, for instance (pineapples were once a symbol of welcoming, so I have heard). Banana and banana peel emoji's would have several uses. Sour grapes, kiwis, nuts, cherries, peaches, apricots, eggplant, raspberries (the Bronx cheer) rotten tomatoes, etc. — BC

If I had to choose a fruit representing philosophy, I would go for a coconut. Why? Because although it is tough and rough in the bark, it has a juicy and delicious liquid when you get deep into it.

did you participate in the big Spanish tomato fight? — BC

No, mate. I don't participate in guiri things.

To clarify: if you don't join the Discord server you won't be left behind; the forum will always be at thephilosophyforum.com, — Jamal

:up:

But I guess only a few or even nobody is in that forum. The main point is to not leave behind our relationship and keep our data to the extent we could. I don't see the point of joining a random philosophy forum with moderators who are unknown to us, and we will not know how they would welcome us.

Although Discord is not the epitome of social media, it has fruit emojis (special attention to the banana emoji). Something that Plush Forums lacks of... 

Oh! What a minute. I am basically the only one who uses emojis. :snicker:

Spain, right? — jorndoe

Sí.

In a socialist world, there might have been more money invested in more cost effective ways rather than as a means to generate vast profits for shareholders etc. — Punshhh

I live in a socialist country, and the government is not investing in the most cost effective ways. It collects a lot of taxes, but a big percentage goes to reduce the big external debt with the European Union. When we were in the coronavirus pandemic, it was a total chaos by the public administration to provide sanitary products (such as masks or COVID tests, for instance). The central government had to sign agreements with pharmaceutical enterprises to reinforce the supply.

I personally don't get upset if a company and its shareholders get rich because sanitary products are providing them benefits. The same happens with Nordesk and Saxenda (Orzanpic) products. They put assets in a long-term project, and now they are experiencing good dividends.