At the request of many families, and since a total solar eclipse is visible in Portugal today, here’s a special post!
This song questions whether God exists on Earth, and according to the lyrics, that possibility points to any one of us! And I ask you: do you think you could be that person—God?
I ask you: do you think that your actions—which make up the sum total of your life—lead to a mathematical result that is sacred? Yes, because the great Mathematician of the Universe is God! Do you think your life is lived in accordance with what God has shown us? If your answer is no—that is, if your actions aren’t carried out with the good of others and the common good in mind—then here’s another question, which is also the question Joan Osborne asks: if you were standing before an ordinary person and that person were God, what would you ask Him/Her? And remember, you can only ask one question!
Think about it for a moment: God is so wonderful and good, according to Joan, that He is capable of transforming Himself into a woman in distress or an old man in need of help, just to test our character. But assuming God were one of us, what would He be like? How do you imagine Him? As a man or a woman? What a controversial question! For me, God isn’t quite that wonderful and good, in the sense that we call Him Father—because in my life I haven’t felt that yet; I’ve only felt that He was more of a stepfather or even a tormentor! I’m not saying this lightly; I’m actually choosing my words very carefully. In the lessons He teaches me, I feel Him more like a teacher from the time of our dictatorship. You learn through violence; it’s the body that pays the price! That’s why I consider myself in God’s debt—let’s just say we have some accounts to settle!
Na minha opinião, não se nasce Deus, é preciso fazer um caminho, um caminho duro, que nos pode conduzir muitas vezes ao limite das nossas capacidades, à loucura, pois o "acordar" não é para todos, exige uma transformação que só o sofrimento permite, uma robustez de carácter e uma defesa das nossas convicções que vai muito para além das nossas forças. Somos testados e tentados das mais diversas formas, cruéis até, suportamos humilhações que mais ninguém suportaria. E para haver esse "acordar" a nossa vida, o que nos acontece, é sempre de uma forma muito mais intensa que no comum dos mortais, para que dessa forma - muitas vezes injusta e cruel - possamos aprender a ler o mundo, a compreender porque se morre e como se morre, porque se tem certas doenças e não outras. É isso, aprende-se a LER a vida. Eu diria que é um tesouro que nos coloca nas mãos, mas ao mesmo tempo uma maldição que nos leva ao isolamento e solidão! E, são anos e anos disto, não são 40 dias! Quanto à sua fisionomia, na minha opinião, acho que ele tem um traço fisinómico distinto, mas não vou dizer qual, estudassem! De resto seria uma pessoa normal que não se destacaria das demais pessoas. Seria talvez a menos provável!
In my opinion, one is not born a god; one must forge a path—a difficult path—that can often push us to the limits of our abilities, even to the brink of madness, for “awakening” is not for everyone. It demands a transformation that only suffering can bring about, a strength of character, and a defense of our convictions that goes far beyond our own strength. We are tested and tempted in the most diverse ways, even cruel ones; we endure humiliations that no one else could bear. And for this “awakening” to occur, our lives—what happens to us—are always far more intense than those of ordinary mortals, so that through this—often unjust and cruel—process we may learn to read the world, to understand why people die and how they die, why they suffer from certain illnesses and not others. That’s it—you learn to READ life. I’d say it’s a treasure placed in our hands, but at the same time a curse that leads us to isolation and loneliness! And it’s years and years of this—not just 40 days! As for his appearance, in my opinion, I think he has a distinctive physical feature, but I won’t say which one—you’ll have to study! Otherwise, he would be a normal person who wouldn’t stand out from the crowd. He would perhaps be the least likely!
One thing is certain: I am not God, and even if I had that opportunity, I would never accept it! Why? The world is so ungovernable—filled with so much evil, hatred, and barbarism—that I would never wish such a thing upon myself! Perhaps that is why so many cruel wars and extreme weather events are happening—perhaps God is calling us to our senses, urging us to stop and think about what kind of world we want to leave for future generations! A just and compassionate world, or a world of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! As long as selfishness persists, we will be battered by more storms! And I'm not just talking about the weather!
Eu vou ser o mais sincera possível, eu não acho que Deus seja tão maravilhoso e bom como a Joan canta e como já o disse. Eu estou em "guerra" com Ele há muitos anos, porque ele tem uma missão para mim que eu não aceito, portanto tenho sofrido muito, mas lá está, estou a defender as minhas convicções até ao limite das minhas forças e nada me fará mudar de ideias. Talvez esteja a ser tentada, que estou, mas a minha convicção é forte e estou disposta a morrer para a defender. Podem achar que estou louca, mas não, sei muito bem o que Ele quer de mim e eu sei muito bem o que não quero para mim. Estou em guerra com dois mundos, o terreno e o divino, mas ninguém compreende o que digo, pois racionalmente esta conversa não faz sentido, eu sei, também já pensei assim, até Deus me ter provado a sua existência com inúmeras situações impossíveis - ditas milagres - de acontecer. Voltando ao ínicio, Deus tem sido injusto comigo e duro. Muito duro. Não Lhe invejo a sua posição, mas nunca a desejaria, pois governar este mundo é governar uma nogeira que me dá vómitos, não sei como Ele aguenta! Talvez se queira reformar!
I’m going to be as honest as possible: I don’t think God is as wonderful and good as Joan sings about and as I’ve said before. I’ve been at “war” with Him for many years, because He has a mission for me that I don’t accept, so I’ve suffered a lot, but there you have it—I’m defending my convictions to the very limits of my strength, and nothing will make me change my mind. Maybe I’m being tempted—and I am—but my conviction is strong, and I’m willing to die to defend it. You might think I’m crazy, but no, I know very well what He wants from me, and I know very well what I don’t want for myself. I am at war with two worlds, the earthly and the divine, but no one understands what I say, for rationally this conversation makes no sense; I know, I used to think that way too, until God proved His existence to me through countless situations that were impossible—so-called miracles—to happen. Going back to the beginning, God has been unfair to me and harsh. Very harsh. I don’t envy His position, but I would never want it, because ruling this world is like ruling a world that makes me want to vomit—I don’t know how He puts up with it! Maybe He wants to retire!
I’m not expecting any phone calls either, much less one from the Pope—I wouldn’t even answer his call. I have my reasons, and they’re very strong! I will never forget, much less forgive, what they did to me. No promise can erase what I’ve lived through and suffered. None. And besides, I have God’s promises—so why would I care about earthly promises! It would even make me laugh if it weren’t so tragic! But if I could ask God that question, I’d ask Him this:
- Who am I, after all?
And, feeling calm, I continue my journey by bus or on foot until I finally arrive home...
Tradução: DeepL.com (free version)
I’ll start by telling you about human cryopreservation—“What?” you ask! That’s exactly it: freezing the human body so that, in the future, medicine might advance to the point where it’s possible to revive that body and bring it back to life—let’s say through some kind of resurrection technique—in the future!
Mais uma vez, o Homem quer substituir-se no papel de Deus! Mas sabem para que serve esta técnica da criogénese? Para nada! Deus deve estar a rir às gargalhadas do Homem! Isto não é mais que uma Parábola, isto de congelar o corpo humano para mais tarde o ressuscitar. Parábola, figura de estilo que significa: "uma história curta com personagens que usa analogias e situações do quotidiano para transmitir uma lição moral, espiritual ou filosófica!"- E, qual é a moral desta história? O Homem por mais que tente nunca terá o poder de Deus. Deus é o criador e o Homem a criatura.Once again, Man wants to take God’s place! But do you know what this cryogenics technique is good for? Nothing! God must be laughing his head off at Man! This is nothing more than a parable—this business of freezing the human body only to resurrect it later. A parable, a figure of speech that means: “a short story with characters that uses analogies and everyday situations to convey a moral, spiritual, or philosophical lesson!”—And what is the moral of this story? No matter how hard Man tries, he will never have the power of God. God is the Creator, and Man is the creature.
Eu consigo perceber esta parábola, que coloca o congelamento como uma técnica para alcançar a vida eterna, foram muitos anos de sofrimento, mas fui iluminada por Deus, com a Sua sabedoria e, posso afirmar com toda a certeza que não se trata do congelamento do corpo, mas também não terão o prazer de saber do que se trata, através do que me foi ensinado! Como se diz em Portugal: Estudassem!
I can understand this parable, which presents cryonics as a means of achieving eternal life. It took many years of suffering, but God enlightened me with His wisdom, and I can say with absolute certainty that it is not about freezing the body—though you won’t have the pleasure of knowing what it really is, based on what I’ve been taught! As they say in Portugal: You should study!
Posso acrescentar somente que Jesus Cristo disse: "Eu sou o caminho, a Verdade e a Vida. Ninguém vem ao Pai, senão por mim!" Pensem no caminho, que foi a Vida de Jesus, as humilhações que sofreu, a solidão, os ataques, a inveja, as traições, o sofrimento físico e mental, a rejeição, as mais preversas tentações! Todos querem chegar ao Pai, mas quem quer fazer este caminho? Porque a frase "senão por mim" o que acham que é? É fazer o mesmo caminho de Jesus! Voluntários para o fazer? Nenhum, não é! É mais fácil congelar! Deixem-me sorrir da vossa "ingenuidade/maldade", mas o congelamento é outro! O Homem sempre à procura do caminho mais fácil! Deus glorifica aqueles que fazem o caminho mais sinuoso! O deserto de Jesus não foram 40 dias, foram anos e anos!
I can only add that Jesus Christ said: “I am the way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me!” Think about the path—which was Jesus’ life—the humiliations he endured, the loneliness, the attacks, the envy, the betrayals, the physical and mental suffering, the rejection, the most wicked temptations! Everyone wants to reach the Father, but who wants to walk this path? Because what do you think the phrase “except through me” means? It means walking the same path as Jesus! Any volunteers to do it? None, right? It’s easier to freeze! Let me smile at your “naivety/wickedness,” but freezing is something else entirely! Man is always looking for the easiest path! God glorifies those who take the most tortuous path! Jesus’ desert wasn’t 40 days—it was years and years!
Algumas fotos editadas pela IA / Some photos edited by AI
The soundtrack for this post is Muse’s latest song: “Cryogen.” The song is about a romantic relationship being put on cold storage, drawing a parallel with human cryopreservation. The girl in the song is compared by her ex-boyfriend to nitrogen, but believe me, I’m Absolute Zero, ha ha ha!!!
Há um crime sem castigo e uma criminosa impune!
Tradução: DeepL.com (free version)
.jpg)
COMEMORAÇÃO DO DIA DO PAI
Olá! Bem-vindos! Esta semana, mais precisamente na 5ª feira, celebra-se em Portugal, o Dia do Pai. Então, resolvi escrever uma short-story sobre uma conversa entre dois pais. Para entenderem o contexto desta short-story tenho de fazer uma viagem no tempo, pois esta história foi escrita há já alguns anos. Trata-se de uma crítica social e política muito divertida!
FATHER'S DAY CELEBRATION
Hello! Welcome! This week, on Thursday to be precise, Portugal celebrates Father's Day. So, I decided to write a short story about a conversation between two fathers. To understand the context of this short story, I have to take a trip back in time, as this story was written a few years ago. It is a very entertaining social and political critique!
A few years ago, I applied for a job at a local council through a public competition. In Portugal, these types of competitions are a complete joke, because what they really want is to employ friends and family members of local councillors.
The mayor's daughter also applied for this competition, and of course she was the one who was selected! Later, I also learned that the vice-mayor's daughter was also selected in a tailor-made competition, which was fraudulent! In fact, the daughters were exempted from doing an internship and were immediately hired as permanent staff.
So, this short story is about a conversation between the Mayor and his Vice Mayor. In this conversation, they decide on the details of hiring their daughters. It is, of course, a satirical conversation, in which I ridicule local politicians.
EU É QUE SOU O PRESIDENTE
I AM THE PRESIDENT
THE END
That's how those in positions of power in Portugal decide! I hope you enjoyed this Father's Day short story about how they do everything to spoil their children! This story was written to be published in a newspaper on Father's Day, but it never saw the light of day, until today!
👤👤👤👤👤👤👤
Como banda sonora para este post, escolhi a canção da banda Depeche Mode: "Everything Counts", (Vale Tudo) que acho que não precisa de grandes explicações, basta ouvi-la, escolhi um video traduzido para português!
As the soundtrack for this post, I chose the song by Depeche Mode: ‘Everything Counts’, which I think needs no explanation, just listen to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wX5--_bLG4&list=RD-wX5--_bLG4&start_radio=1
Tradução: DeepL.com (free version)
Hoje, dia 9 de Março de 2026, o nosso Presidente da Republica, Prof. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, cessa as suas funções presidenciais, seguindo-lhe o novo Presidente eleito democraticamente, António José Seguro. Quando um Presidente cessa funções é encomendado um retrato oficial do Presidente para ser exposto na galeria dos retratos no Museu da Presidência. Cada Presidente escolhe o artista plástico para realizar essa obra.
Today, March 9, 2026, our President of the Republic, Prof. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, steps down from his presidential duties, followed by the newly democratically elected President, António José Seguro. When a President leaves office, an official portrait of the President is commissioned to be displayed in the portrait gallery at the Museum of the Presidency. Each President chooses the artist to create this work.
President Marcelo chose a painter who comes from the streets, an urban artist who started out doing graffiti and now has street art works all over the world. Initially, this artist refused the commission, I think because he felt that his urban and protest art did not fit in with this type of work. He ended up accepting without charging a penny, only that the value of the portrait be spent on works by emerging artists. This urban artist is called Vhils!
On this day of farewell, I would like to publicly praise your two terms in office, won by significant margins – the President of affection, as you became known – but I cannot do so! A President who swears to uphold and enforce the Portuguese Constitution, and who breaks that oath every day for 10 years, cannot leave with his head held high and slam the door without a serious problem of conscience. I don't know if you suffer from occasional insomnia, but there is an excellent medicine for that on TV, but it is my wish that it has no effect!
What I would really like, President Marcelo, is to have a sword, one of those from the movie Star Wars, a lightsaber, and cut you in half and then hang you upside down on the door of your law school with the inscription: OPAAC (The President Assassinated the Constitution). For a professor of law, I think in my innocence that I would never have to remind such a person of the chapter on the rights, freedoms, and guarantees of citizens, you know, Marcelo, those rules that you violated every day while you were president! You know that place? That's the one!
Como banda sonora deste post escolhi a canção dos Muse "Ruled by Secrecy". Presidente Marcelo, limpe o sangue das suas mãos porque eu nunca entenderei qualquer que seja a explicação. Qualquer. Nunca!
As the soundtrack for this post, I chose Muse's song “Ruled by Secrecy.” President Marcelo, wash the blood from your hands, because I will never understand any explanation. Any. Never!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhNDpbpyIRo&list=RDVhNDpbpyIRo&start_radio=1
Tradução: DeepL.com (free version)