My Mazamet

Life at № 42 by E.M. Coutinho

I don’t know how many souls I have

It’s profoundly problematic that every time I’m confronted with the notion that I’m not immortal, I desperately want to die. Who was that Victorian author who said Germans were incapable … Continue reading

February 17, 2017 · 22 Comments

Reading books is good. Dressed of sea.

because we’re forced to inhabit the perspective of another human being. We should do that all the time. Dedicate a part of the day to that. I’ve never understood lack … Continue reading

February 12, 2017 · 59 Comments

The fire that burns unseen – Luís Vaz de Camões

16th century poetry and also some wonderful music. Amor é um fogo que arde sem se ver, é ferida que doi, e não se sente; é um contentamento descontente, é … Continue reading

January 28, 2017 · 16 Comments

Clickbait title: Is rape imaginary?

…“The dissociation of labor and disintegration of society, which liberty and free competition occasion, is especially injurious to the poorer class; for besides the labor necessary to support the family, … Continue reading

January 20, 2017 · 40 Comments

Words. So many words. Rosemonde Gérard.

Lorsque tu seras vieux et que je serai vieille, Lorsque mes cheveux blonds seront des cheveux blancs, Au mois de mai, dans le jardin qui s’ensoleille, Nous irons réchauffer nos … Continue reading

January 8, 2017 · 8 Comments

Julia Engelmann (Poem) with English Subtitles (and good ham!)

I was going to continue writing about existentialism today- but in an effort not to depress anyone before the Reveillon, I’ll give you something rather beautiful instead. You might already … Continue reading

December 30, 2016 · Leave a comment

Stupid and sometimes not

I’ve been jumping rope for two weeks now to lose weight. It’s ridiculous- but somehow less ridiculous than jogging or doing any other sort of public exercise. My waist is … Continue reading

December 28, 2016 · 58 Comments

Christopher Biggins and the fall of civilisation

“Suppose you’d invited me round to dinner to celebrate my engagement to your daughter, which do you think would be more offensive? If a) I got violently drunk, threatened all … Continue reading

August 19, 2016 · 5 Comments

Umberto Eco on Political Correctness (Translated and Revisited)

Eco died a few days ago. He’s best known as the author of The Name of the Rose, but he was also an exceptional social commentator and philosopher. Among his … Continue reading

February 22, 2016 · 21 Comments

A Tildeb Moment: The dangers of interpretation bias

As I said a few days ago, this blogging thing is fascinating. Yesterday Tildeb was pointing out in one of his comments the dangers of interpretation bias. That is, when an … Continue reading

December 28, 2015 · 32 Comments