Nepenthe

  It’s sometimes called the “Tree of Life” for its supportive qualities and long lifespan stretching thousands of years —and it’s also known as the “Upside-Down Tree” for its root-like branches. But no matter the name, the baobab tree has long captivated the human imagination with its surreal shape and enduring presence. Eight living species of the baobab genus Adansonia exist worldwide: one in mainland Africa, six in Madagascar and one in northwestern Australia. Yet, the origins of these botanical behemoths have eluded scientists for years. Many researchers thought the trees began on the African mainland, then spread to the other locations, the New York Times ’ Rachel Nuwer reports. However, a study published last week in the journal Nature used the genomes of each baobab species to unravel the tree’s ancient origins, instead tracing its lineage to Madagascar 21 million years ago. Over the course of millions of years, the team reports, diverse baobab species em...

 

 Mark Parisi at Off the Mark   

Há 22 dois anos de permeio entre a minha primeira tradução de Robin Cook e a mais recente. A primeira, 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒒𝒖𝒆, para as Publicações Europa-América, que ainda se vende (!) (caríssima, uma relíquia 📜) e, publicada em abril pela Bertrand, 𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒂 𝑵𝒐𝒊𝒕𝒆.

 

 

There are 6,800 years between the age of the Sumarian civilization of 5,500 BC and the Aztec civilization of 1,300 AD.  

  Interpreting Shōgun Was More Than Just Translation From Vulture : Shōgun is a show about fate. About cross-cultural differences, statecraft, chaos, about war never changing, and about getting my ship the Erasmus back. But most importantly, it’s a show about communication . Court etiquette of the Sengoku era, as well as the gender politics of the time, mean a lot of things cannot be said explicitly. Even if you speak the same language as someone, you can never fully know them, and yet you all have to work together toward a common goal. The making of Shōgun mirrored these themes in many ways. As a cross-cultural production — shot in Canada, produced by Hollywood, filled with Japanese actors — interpretation was key. Enter Eriko Miyagawa. The producer worked closely with lead actor/producer Hiroyuki Sanada to ensure the show was accurate to period Edo yet still relatable to modern Tokyo. From consulting on translating English scripts for Japanese actors, to t...

The Boucheron Wave Diamond Tiara, constructed by the firm ca. 1910. The tiara was intended to echo the famous 1831 "Great Wave Off Kanagawa", a woodblock print by Japanese artist Hokusai.  

So says The New Yorker, where you can listen to it too, UNabridged: There are many reasons not to read a book. One, because you don’t want to. Two, because you started reading, crawled to page 17, and gave up. Three, because the idea of reading never crosses your mind. (If so, lucky you. That way contentment lies.) Four, because it’s Friday, which means that “W.W.E. SmackDown” is on Fox, which in turn means that Marilynne Robinson’s beatific new exegetical study of the Book of Genesis must, for now, be gently laid aside. Five, because reading a book is, you know, so lame . Only losers do it. And, six, because you simply don’t have the time.  But what if the need to read won’t go away? In a spasm of initiative and a sudden flush of guilt, you buy a Kindle and download “The House of the Seven Gables,” fully intending to complete, on the subway, what you left unfinished in college. Three weeks in, though, and you still haven’t got as far as Gable No. 1. You toy with jo...

  United Nations    

Katsushika Hokusai spent decades recreating and perfecting his ‘Great Wave’ painting, the last one being in 1831 which is its most iconic version, becoming one of the most notable artworks in history.  

Joana Gorjão Henriques para o Público : O Chafariz d’El Rey no século XVI (autor desconhecido) Portugal deve pagar indemnizações pela escravatura? É um tema que tem vindo a debate regularmente, mas de que pouco se fala em Portugal. Devem os países que participaram na escravatura pagar indemnizações? Quem o deve fazer, quem deve ser indemnizado? Em Maio, a organização Comunidade das Caraíbas (Caricom) reuniu-se na conferência da Comissão de Compensações/Reparações e incluiu Portugal na lista dos países europeus aos quais querem exigir indemnizações. Chegaram, na altura, a um programa de dez pontos que consideram essenciais para o processo de reparações: passa pelo pedido de desculpas formal, apoio ao repatriamento para África, criação de programas de desenvolvimento para indígenas, criação de instituições culturais, erradicação da iliteracia ou cancelamento das dívidas dos países africanos. Há três semanas, a Caricom voltou a reunir-se em Antígua e Barbuda numa segun...