Idus Martii

Roma, Largo di Torre Argentina | ottobre, 2010

Dein pluribus hostiis caesis, cum litare non posset, introiit curiam spreta religione Spurinnamque irridens et ut falsum arguens, quod sine ulla sua noxa Idus Martiae adessent: quanquam is venisse quidem eas diceret, sed non praeterisse.

Dopo aver fatto quindi molti sacrifici, poiché non riusciva ad ottenere auspici favorevoli, entrò in curia incurante di ogni scrupolo religioso, deridendo Spurinna ed accusandolo di dire il falso, perché le Idi erano arrivate senza alcun danno per lui: Spurinna però gli rispose che erano arrivate, sì, ma non erano (ancora) passate.

Svetonio – De Vita Caesarum | Liber I – Divus Iulius | LXXXI, 81-89

source and more info: wikipedia

“l’ascensore di caproni”

Quando andrò in paradiso
non voglio che una campana
lunga sappia di tegola
all’alba – d’acqua piovana.

Quando mi sarò deciso
d’andarci, in paradiso
ci andrò con l’ascensore
di Castelletto, nelle ore notturne,
rubando un poco
di tempo al mio riposo.

Ci andrò rubando (forse
di bocca) dei pezzettini
di pane ai miei due bambini.
Ma là sentirò alitare
la luce nera del mare
fra le mie ciglia, e… forse
(forse) sul belvedere
dove si sta in vestaglia,
chissà che fra la ragazzaglia
aizzata (fra le leggiadre
giovani in libera uscita
con cipria e odor di vita
viva) non riconosca
sotto un fanale mia madre.

Con lei mi metterò a guardare
le candide luci sul mare.
Staremo alla ringhiera
di ferro – saremo soli
e fidanzati, come
mai in tanti anni siam stati.
E quando le si farà a puntini,
al brivido della ringhiera,
la pelle lungo le braccia,
allora con la sua diaccia
spalla se n’andrà lontana:
la voce le si farà di cera
nel buio che la assottiglia,
dicendo “Giorgio, oh mio Giorgio
caro: tu hai una famiglia.”

E io dovrò ridiscendere,
forse tornare a Roma.
Dovrò tornare a attendere
(forse) che una paloma
bIanca da una canzone per radio,
sulla mia stanca
spalla si posi. E alfine
(alfine) dovrò riporre
la penna, chiuder la càntera:
“É festa”, dire a Rina
e al maschio, e alla mia bambina.

E il cuore lo avrò di cenere
udendo quella campana,
udendo sapor di tegole,
l’inverno dell’acqua piovana.

Ma no! se mi sarò deciso
un giorno, pel paradiso
io prenderò l’ascensore
di Castelletto, nelle ore
notturne, rubando un poco
di tempo al mio riposo.

Ruberò anche una rosa
che poi, dolce mia sposa,
ti muterò in veleno
lasciandoti a pianterreno
mite per dirmi: “Ciao,
scrivimi qualche volta,”
mentre chiusa la porta
e allentatosi il freno
un brivido il vetro ha scosso.

E allora sarò commosso
fino a rompermi il cuore:
io sentirò crollare
sui tegoli le mie più amare
lacrime, e dirò “Chi suona,
chi suona questa campana
d’acqua che lava altr’acqua
piovana e non mi perdona?”

E mentre, stando a terreno,
mite tu dirai: “Ciao, scrivi,”
ancora scuotendo il freno
un poco i vetri, tra i vivi
viva col tuo fazzoletto
timida a sospirare
io ti vedrò restare
sola sopra la terra:

proprio come il giorno stesso
che ti lasciai per la guerra.

[Piergiorgio Caproni]

“eyelash curler”

Gaia | Milano, 2010

An eyelash curler is a hand-operated mechanical device for curling eyelashes for cosmetic purposes. Usually only the upper eyelashes are curled. Before using, the device can be shortly heated with hair dryer, but not to the extent to burn the delicate skin above the eyes. Battery-operated units are sold that heat themselves.
The first known patent for the eyelash curler states that it was filed by Charles Stickel and William McDonell from Rochester, New York. A further review of the 1931 Eyelash Curler patent shows that it was invented by William McDonell.

source and more info: wikipedia

“recycling”

Roma Termini | October 2010

Recycling involves processing used materials (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for “conventional” waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.
Recycling has been a common practice for most of human history, with recorded advocates as far back as Plato in 400 BC. During periods when resources were scarce, archaeological studies of ancient waste dumps show less household waste (such as ash, broken tools and pottery)—implying more waste was being recycled in the absence of new material.
A number of different systems have been implemented to collect recyclates from the general waste stream. These systems lie along the spectrum of trade-off between public convenience and government ease and expense.

source and more info: wikipedia

“audio guide”

Grado | October 2010

An audio tour or audio guide provides a recorded spoken commentary, normally through a handheld device, to a visitor attraction. They are also available for self-guided tours of outdoor locations, or as a part of an organised tour. It provides background, context, and information on the things being viewed. Audio guides are often in multilingual versions and can be made available in different ways. Some of the more elaborate tours available include original music and interviews, offering an experience more comparable to an audio documentary than to a traditional guided tour. Traditionally rented on the spot, some audio guides are free or included in the entrance fee, others have to be purchased separately.

source and more info: wikipedia

“circus”

Paris, diorama of circus | October 2010

First attested in English 14th century, the word circus derives form Latin “circus”, which is the romanization of the Greek “κίρκος” (kirkos), itself the anagram of the Homeric Greek “κρίκος” (krikos), meaning “circle” or “ring”.
In ancient Rome, the circus was a building for the exhibition of horse and chariot races, equestrian shows, staged battles, displays featuring trained animals, jugglers and acrobats.
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists. The word also describes the performance that they give, which is usually a series of acts that are choreographed to music and introduced by a “ringmaster”. The traditional circus is held in an oval or circular arena called a ring, which has tiered seating around its edge. In the case of traveling circuses, this location is often a large tent which is nicknamed the “big top”.
A traditional circus performance is often led by a ringmaster who has a role similar to a Master of Ceremonies. The ringmaster presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the show moving.

source and more info: wikipedia

“jubelpark”

Bruxelles, May 2010

Parc du Cinquantenaire or Jubelpark is a large public, urban park in the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium.
Most buildings of the u-shaped complex which dominate the park were commissioned by King Leopold II and built for the 1880 National Exhibition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian independence.
The centrepiece triumphal arch was erected in 1905. The structures were built in iron, glass and stone, symbolising the economic and industrial performance of Belgium. The surrounding 30 hectare park esplanade was full of picturesque gardens, ponds and waterfalls. It housed several trade fairs, exhibitions and festivals at the beginning of the century. This settled however in 1930 when it was decided that Cinquantenaire would become a leisure park.

source and more infos: wikipedia

“launderette”

Bruxelles, June 2010

A self-service laundry is a facility where clothes are washed and dried. They are known in the United Kingdom as launderettes, and in the United States, Canada, and Australia as laundromats (from the genericized trademark of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation) or washaterias.

Electric washing machines were advertised and discussed in newspapers as early as 1904. Louis Goldenberg of New Brunswick, New Jersey invented the electric washing machine around the late 19th century to early 20th century. He worked for the Ford Motor Company at that time, and all inventions he created while working for Ford under contract belonged to Ford. The patent would have been listed under Ford and or Louis Goldenberg. Alva J. Fisher has been incorrectly credited with the invention of the electric washer. The US patent office shows at least one patent issued before Mr. Fisher’s US patent number 966677 (e.g. Woodrow’s US patent number 921195).
US electric washing machine sales reached 913,000 units in 1928. However, high unemployment rates in the Depression years hit sales; by 1932 the number of units shipped was down to about 600,000.

source and more infos: wikipedia

“fanta”

Porto Alegre, september 2010

Fanta is a global brand of fruit-flavored carbonated soft drinks. There are over 90 flavors worldwide. The drink market debut was in 1941.
Fanta originated when ingredients for the production of Coca-Cola became difficult to obtain in the company’s Germany plant during the build up to World War II. As a result, Max Keith, the man in charge of Coca-Cola’s operations in Germany during the Second World War, decided to create a new product for the German market, using only ingredients available in Germany at the time, including whey and pomace – the “leftovers of leftovers”, as Keith later recalled. The name was the result of a brief brainstorming session, which started with Keith exhorting his team to “use their imagination” (“Fantasie” in German), to which one of his salesmen, Joe Knipp, immediately retorted “Fanta!”.

source and more infos: wikipedia

“la seine”

Paris, October 2010

The Seine (French: La Seine, pronounced: [la sɛn]) is a major river and commercial waterway within the regions of the Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie in France. The name “Seine” comes from the Latin Sequana, a Latinisation of the Gaulish (Celtic) Sicauna, which is argued to mean “sacred river”.
Legend has it that after Jeanne d’Arc was burned at the stake in 1431, her ashes were thrown into the Seine, though counter-claims persist to the present-day.
In Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables, Jean Valjean escapes from the sewers on the banks of the Seine. Waiting there is Inspector Javert, who regretfully allows him to escape. Javert, contemplating what he had just done, decides to throw himself to his death in the river.

source and more infos: wikipedia