Gender: Female
Status: Single
Age: 33
Sign: Taurus
City: Espinho
Country: PT
Signup Date: 8/25/2007
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December 20, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood:  energetic
The custom of a Christmas tree, undecorated, is believed to have begun in Germany, in the first half of the 700s.
The earliest story relates how British monk and missionary St. Boniface was preaching a sermon on the Nativity to a tribe of Germanic Druids outside the town of Geismar. To convince the idolaters that the oak tree was not sacred and inviolable, the "Apostle of Germany" felled one on the spot. Toppling, it crushed every shrub in its path except for a small fir sapling. A chance event can lend itself to numerous interpretations, and legend has it that Boniface, attempting to win converts, interpreted the fir's survival as a miracle, concluding, "Let this be called the tree of the Christ Child." Subsequent Christmases in Germany were celebrated by planting fir saplings.
The history of the modern Christmas tree goes back to 16th century Germany. In Alsace (Elsass), dated 1561, states that "no burgher shall have for Christmas more than one bush of more than eight shoes' length." The decorations hung on a tree in that time, the earliest we have evidence of, were "roses cut of many-colored paper, apples, wafers, gilt, sugar." Around Strasbourg there was a widespread practice of bringing trees (evergreens, not necessarily a fir-tree) into houses for decoration during Christmastide.
The modern custom is also connected with the Paradise tree hung with apples, present in the medieval religious plays. The decorations could symbolize the Christian Hosts. Instead of trees, various wooden pyramidal structures were also used. In 17th century the Christmas tree spread through Germany and Scandinavia. Eventually the tree was extensively decorated, first with candles and candies, then with apples and confections, later with anything glittering mass-produced paraphernalia.
The success of Christmas tree in Protestant countries was enhanced by the legend which attributed the tradition to Martin Luther himself. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles. In England the tradition was made popular by the German Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. The German immigrants brought the Christmas tree to America in 17th century. Public outdoors Christmas trees with electric candles were introduced in Finland in 1906, and in USA (New York) in 1912. The claim of the Pennsylvania Germans to have initiated the Christmas tree custom in America is undisputed today. And it's in the diary of Matthew Zahm of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, under the date December 20, 1821, that the Christmas tree and its myriad decorations received their first mention in the New World.
It is no surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The Pilgrims' second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out "pagan mockery" of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event."
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December 20, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood:  amused
Next time it could be me on the scaffolding
in Homie the Clown, Episode 118, Season 6
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December 13, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood:  happy
The Dancing House is the nickname given to the Nationale-Nederlanden building in downtown Prague, Czech Republic.
It was designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in co-operation with Canadian architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot (where the previous building had been destroyed during the Bombing of Prague in 1945).
The building was designed in 1992 and completed in 1996.
The very non-traditional design was controversial at the time.
Czech president Václav Havel, who lived for decades next to the site, had supported it, hoping that the building would become a center of cultural activity.
Originally named Fred and Ginger (after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers - the house vaguely resembles a pair of dancers) the house stands out among the Neo-Baroque, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings for which Prague is famous.
Others have nicknamed it "Drunk House".
On the roof is a French restaurant with magnificent views of the city.
The building's other tenants include several multinational firms.
   
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December 13, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood: amused
Cursive writing does not mean what I think it does
in Bart's Comet, Episode 117, Season 6
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December 6, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood: happy
Named in honor of Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, the Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it.
Here's one of the most recent stories:
Sparkleberry Lane
2009 Darwin Award Nominee
(31 July 2009, South Carolina)
Two disguised men entered the Sprint store on Sparkleberry Lane, pulled out guns, and stole wallets, purses, and credit cards before ordering the employees into a bathroom.
Both men fled, but they could not flee from their own stupidity.
24-year-old James Thomas had disguised himself by spray-painting his own face.
Yes, in order to conceal his identity during the robbery, Thomas covered his skin with paint--a toxic substance with well muttknown inhalation risks.
He began having trouble breathing (surprise!) and died wheezing shortly after the robbery took place.
Witnesses were certain as to the identity of their assailant; had he lived, he would have been charged with armed robbery.
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December 6, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood: amused
"Bagman" is not a legitimate career choice
in And Maggie Makes Three, Episode 116, Season 6
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November 29, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood:  electric
*Por que é que as mulheres demoram tanto tempo quando vão à casa de banho?*
O grande segredo de todas as mulheres a respeito da casa de banho é que, quando eras pequenina, a tua mamã levava-te à casa de banho, ensinava-te a limpar o tampo da sanita com papel higiénico e depois punha tiras de papel cuidadosamente no perímetro da sanita.
Finalmente instruía-te: "nunca, nunca te sentes numa casa de banho pública!" E depois ensinava-te a "posição", que consiste em balançar-te sobre a sanita numa posição de sentar-se sem que o teu corpo tenha contacto com o tampo.
"A Posição" é uma das primeiras lições de vida de uma menina, importante e necessária, que nos acompanha para o resto da vida. Mas ainda hoje, nos nossos anos de maioridade, "a posição" é dolorosamente difícil de manter, sobretudo quando a tua bexiga está quase a rebentar.
Quando *TENS* de ir a uma casa de banho pública, encontras uma fila enorme de mulheres que até parece que o Brad Pitt está lá dentro. Por isso, resignas-te a esperar, sorrindo amavelmente para as outras mulheres que também cruzam as pernas e os braços, discretamente, na posição oficial de "tou aqui tou-me a mijar!".
Finalmente é a tua vez! E chega a típica "mãe com a menina que não aguenta mais" (a minha filhota já não aguenta mais, desculpe, vou passar à frente, que pena!). Então verificas por baixo de cada cubículo para ver se não há pernas. Estão todos ocupados.
Finalmente, abre-se um e lanças-te lá para dentro, quase derrubando a pessoa que ainda está a sair.
Entras e vês que a fechadura está estragada (está sempre!); não importa... Penduras a mala no gancho que há na porta... QUAAAAAL? Nunca há gancho!! Inspeccionas a zona, o chão está cheio de líquidos indefinidos e fétidos, e não te atreves a pousá-la lá, por isso penduras a mala no pescoço enquanto vês como balança debaixo de ti, sem contar que a alça te desarticula o pescoço, porque a mala está cheia de coisinhas que foste metendo lá para dentro, durante 5 meses seguidos, e a maioria das quais não usas, mas que tens no caso de...
Mas, voltando à porta... como não tinha fechadura, a única opção é segurá-la com uma mão, enquanto com a outra baixas as calças num instante e pões-te "na posição"...
AAAAHHHHHH... finalmente, que alívio... mas é aí que as tuas coxas começam a tremer... porque nisto tudo já estás suspensa no ar há dois minutos, com as pernas flexionadas, as cuecas a cortarem-te a circulação das coxas, um braço estendido a fazer força na porta e uma mala de 5 quilos a cortar-te o pescoço!
Gostarias de te sentar, mas não tiveste tempo para limpar a sanita nem a tapaste com papel; interiormente achas que não iria acontecer nada, mas a voz da tua mãe faz eco na tua cabeça *"nunca te sentes numa sanita pública"*, e então ficas na "posição de aguiazinha", com as pernas a tremer... e por uma falha no cálculo de distâncias, um finííííssimo fio do jacto salpica-te e molha-te até às meias!!
Com sorte não molhas os sapatos... é que adoptar "a posição" requer uma grande concentração e perícia.
Para distanciar a tua mente dessa desgraça, procuras o rolo de papel higiénico, maaaaaaaaaaas não hááááá!!! O suporte está vazio! Então rezas aos céus para que, entre os 5 quilos de bugigangas que tens na mala, pendurada ao pescoço, haja um miserável lenço de papel... mas para procurar na tua mala tens de soltar a porta... ???? Duvidas um momento, mas não tens outro remédio. E quando soltas a porta, alguém a empurra, dá-te uma trolitada na cabeça que te deixa meio desorientada mas rapidamente tens de travá-la com um movimento rápido e brusco enquanto gritas OCUPAAAAAADOOOOOOOOO!!
E assim toda a gente que está à espera ouve a tua mensagem e já podes soltar a porta sem medo, ninguém vai tentar abri-la de novo (nisso as mulheres têm muito respeito umas pelas outras).
Encontras o lenço de papel!! Está todo enrugado, tipo um rolinho, mas não importa, fazes tudo para esticá-lo; finalmente consegues e limpas-te. Mas o lenço está tão velho e usado que já não absorve e molhas a mão toda; ou seja, valeu-te de muito o esforço de desenrugar o maldito lenço só com uma mão. Ouves algures a voz de outra velha nas mesmas circunstâncias que tu "alguém tem um pedacinho de papel a mais?" Parva! Idiota!
Sem contar com o galo da marrada da porta, o linchamento da alça da mala, o suor que te corre pela testa, a mão a escorrer, a lembrança da tua mãe que estaria envergonhadíssima se te visse assim... porque ela nunca tocou numa sanita pública, porque, francamente, tu não sabes que doenças podes apanhar ali, que até podes ficar grávida (lembram-se??).... Estás exausta! Quando páras já não sentes as pernas, arranjas-te rapidíssimo e puxas o autoclismo a fazer malabarismos com um pé, muito importante!
Depois lá vais pró lavatório. Está tudo cheio de agua (ou xixi? lembras-te do lenço de papel...), então não podes soltar a mala nem durante um segundo, pendura-la no teu ombro; não sabes como é que funciona a torneira com os sensores automáticos, então tocas até te sair um jactozito de água fresca, e consegues sabão, lavas-te numa posição do corcunda de Notre Dame para a mala não resvalar e ficar debaixo da água.
Nem sequer usas o secador, é uma porcaria inútil, pelo que no fim secas as mãos nas tuas calças - porque não vais gastar um lenço de papel para isso - e sais...
Nesse momento vês o teu namorado, ou marido, que entrou e saiu da casa de banho dos homens e ainda teve tempo para ler um livro de Jorge Luís Borges enquanto te esperava.
"Mas por que é que demoraste tanto?" - pergunta-te o idiota.
"Havia uma fila enorme" - limitas-te a dizer.
E é esta a razão pela qual as mulheres vão em grupo à casa de banho, por solidariedade: uma segura-te na mala e no casaco, a outra na porta e a outra passa-te o lenço de papel debaixo da porta, e assim é muito mais fácil e rápido, pois só tens de te concentrar em manter "a posição" e *a dignidade*.
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November 29, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood: amused
Adding "Just Kidding" doesn't make it okay to insult the Principal
in Homer the Great, Episode 115, Season 6
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November 22, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood:  cynical
You might not have known this...but a lot of non-living objects are actually either male or female. Here are some examples:
FREEZER BAGS: They are male, because they hold everything in...but you can see right through them.
PHOTOCOPIERS: These are female, because once turned off...it takes a while to warm them up again.
They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed...but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong Buttons.
TYRES: Tyres are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated.
HOT AIR BALLOONS: Also a male object... because to get them to go anywhere.....you have to light a fire under their butt.
SPONGES: These are female...because they are soft.......squeezable and retain water.
WEB PAGES: Female...because they're constantly being looked at and frequently getting hit on.
TRAINS: Definitely male... because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.
EGG TIMERS: Egg timers are female because....over time...all the weight shifts to the bottom.
HAMMERS: Male... because in the last 5000 years.....they've hardly changed at all...and are occasionally handy to have around.
THE REMOTE CONTROL: Female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male...but consider this: It easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it...and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push...he just keeps trying.
 | Currently listening:
Out of Ashes
By Dead by Sunrise
Release date: 2009-10-12 |
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November 22, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood: amused
Ralph won't "morph" if you squeeze him hard enough
in Fear of Flying, Episode 114, Season 6
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