Have you already written to Santa Claus?

Hello!

Today I'd like to evoke one of the most important and inspiring figure in my life - Susan Sontag. For those of you who haven't heard of her yet (I hope everybody has!), she was an American writer, essayist, filmmaker and political activist. She was considered one of the most influential critics of her generation, a statement which I totally agree with.

I decided to talk about her because, first of all, I can't believe that I haven't done it yet, and secondly, my second half and I couldn't wait for Christmas (again) and we've already exchanged gifts a week ago and I got the first part of Sontag's diaries, which has made me happier than Cervantes' 'Exemplary Novels' that I had been expecting (believe me, that already means something!).

If you haven't done it yet, read Sontag because she combined everything that I admire in an intellectual - erudition, intelligence, sensitivity, charisma and a colorful personality. And she really did care about the world, which is very rare these days.

Here is the trailer to a great documentary about Susan Sontag by Nancy Kates (2014):

Hi! 

I'm in a very difficult moment of my life, facing a decision about adopting a cat. There are many pros but also many (or even more) cons, which make me very confused. I cannot make up my mind, so I've come up with an idea to make a list of all possible advantages and disadvantages of introducing a new family member and see if it helps. 

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1. Cats can be sweet as... hell.

2. There are lots of cats in animal shelters which need a nice, warm house and a loving family to spoil them. You cannot change the whole world, but you can change life of one being and that's already something.

3. Cats don't need to go out to complete their digestive process, so you don't have to have a huge garden to make them feel fully comfortable (I think that dogs are better even in a tiny apartment in a skyscraper than in any animal shelter, but they are far better in a house).

4. Cats live longer than many other pets.

5. Cats are warm and many of them tend to turn into a nice living heating devices.

6. Cats are extremely clean.

7. And also clever. 

8. Cats don't speak so you can tell them everything and they won't repeat it in the kindergarten and make you feel embarrassed because of some uncomfortable details of your personal life. 

9. Cats don't bark (I love dogs, but they can bark as crazy little monsters). 

10. Cats don't need so much attention so they don't look at you and make you feel like the cruelest person in the world when you have to leave for 10 minutes. 

But on the other hand...

1. They do need some attention so you cannot leave them for a whole day because they would be bored and sad.

2. Cats don't need to run 10 miles to feel happy but a 30-square meter apartment may be not enough for them.

3. Cats are not vegans. They love meat. Especially when you serve it with meat. And season it with some meat.

4. Cats, just as any other pets, get sick sometimes and need to go to a vet. And sometimes they need to have someone to take care of them at home, but there's no sick leave for a cat care. (I hope one day it will change.) 

5. Most of the cats have fur. And they like to get rid of it. You know what I mean, right? 

6. Even if you love your other half more than you always thought you'd be able to, you have to be aware that one day you might get an emotional divorce and you'll have to divide everything you've accumulated by that moment and decide who takes what ("Was it your fork? What about this book? NO, it wasn't a gift. I don't want this lamp, it was from your aunt and it's disgusting."), including animals. Well, that's serious. 

Well, as you can see, it seems that there are more pros, but the truth is that it's not enough to compare numbers. We mustn't forget that animals are living, sensitive and consciouss beings, not objects, toys or ornament of our houses. Some of my friends think that I take it too serious, but that's what I call responsibility. What are your opinions? 

Well, I'm glad I wrote this post, although it didn't help at all. Eventually, I will have to make up my mind, but meanwhile you can enjoy a nice Ted-Ed video about cats.

Hi!

Have you already listened to the last Leonard Cohen's CD? If not, I give you an opportunity to listen opening piece, "You Want It Darker", which is also the title of the whole disk. I've always liked Cohen's music and this song only strenghten my belief that I was right about it.

And now make note of a beautiful instrumentation of "Traveling Light", another song from this CD, in my opinion, the best one.

What do you think about it? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with me. And enjoy!

Hello!

Today I'd like to recommend you a book which is about to be released by Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM. It's titled 'Wieczna krucjata. Szkice o Don Kichocie' (ed. W. Charchalis & A. Żychliński) and it's a collection of essays which includes some very interesting studies on Cervantes and his legacy, studied and presented from different humanistic perspectives. It's an interesting monograph not only for the researchers interested in Cervantes, but for every hispanist and bibliophile as well. The opening article is about the reception of Don Quixote in Poland during the 18th and the 19th century and it's a result of 30 years of study of its author, a considered specialist of Cervantes's works. There's also a great study on the importance of Don Quixote in Russian intellectual debates from the mid-19th century until the 1930. (By the way, the interest in Cervantes' work was surprisingly high in Russia - the bibliography about his text has more than 1000 pages!) There are also sketches about the Unamuno's and Bolaño's reflections on Don Quixote, which are also highly recommendable, and there's an article about the possible influence of Cervantes on the future creator of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, which is actually my first publication :) 

Well, you've got me... Yes, I'm just advertising. But trust me, it's a great monograph, even though there is an essay of mine. And I'd love to learn you opinion about it! 

9/11

(by Sztuczne Fiołki)

Hello! 

Today I'd like to share with you some of my reflections after my very first (sic!) visit in Spain. At the moment, when I start to write this post, I'm in Warsaw, waiting for a train to Poznań, already after spending more than 13 hours on journey…

                                                                                              

I was extremely nervous before I set out my trip, mostly because I'm afraid of flying. On one hand, I'm fascinated by planes and when I'm on board I feel some kind of a deep excitement caused by a huge amount of incredible impressions that I experiment while looking at the world from 11 km above the sea level. Every time the plane takes off it fascinates me just as it did the first time. On the other hand, I’m terrified of the inevitability of death which constantly reminds its presence by exit signs, life vests and oxygen masks. I know that it may sound ridiculous, but I can’t help it! I know that plane crashes are really rare; actually, planes are still incomparably safer than any other mean of transport. I’m also aware that emergency situations happen and usually they aren’t not dangerous. I know that my fear is absurd, but what do I do?

Well, I don’t actually know what scares me more – the fact that planes are just machines and they can always fail, or that I have to entrust my life to a stranger. Does it bother you too or is it just me being insane?

Actually, it doesn’t matter now, because I finally arrived, with no troubles and just a little bit of dizziness due to my low blood pressure.

There was also another reason for the anxiety I felt before the journey. I went to Valencia to participate in an international congress about madness in the work of Shakespeare, Cervantes and Llull, which was, actually, the first congress outside my University which I participated in. I was hoping that maybe this time being a musician would help me to deal with stress while reading in public – but, just as last year in Poznań – it didn’t help at all. Before I started, my hands were shaking, my legs were heavy and weak and I felt like I was going to faint. But finally I didn’t, so there’s at least one thing to be proud of.

And Valencia is such a beautiful city! As I wanted to listen to the majority of lectures, I had no time to visit any monuments, but at least I took a few long walks through the centre and some nice districts. I post below a photo of one of my favourite places: Pont des les Flors (Bridge of the Flowers). I’ve never seen such a beautiful bridge!  

And some vegan advertising just to finish this long post – don’t hesitate to visit Nomït restaurant. They have really good food and a nice library in the neighbourhood.