The Barrcast
By Barrcast
A podcast in which we discuss things that interest me, your host, Nick Barr!
The BarrcastMay 06, 2019
00:00
01:01:36
#48 - Aphantasia w/ Matt
My mind's eye is blind! Matt's mind's eye has astigmatism! We're still not sure what aphantasia is but we talk about it a bunch in this ep.
May 06, 201901:01:36
#47 - Alien optimisms
Why doesn't the optimism of Steven Pinker and David Deutsch offer me any hope or relief? An initial investigation
Apr 21, 201931:36
#46 - How children fail
How children fail // a memory from 6th grade // Simpson’s Paradox
Mar 03, 201922:40
#45 — Persecution, prosecution
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Dec 17, 201834:36
#44 — The Parable of Prince Nicholas and the Golden Key
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Sep 11, 201814:33
#43 — Work Rituals
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Sep 03, 201809:51
#42 — Run rituals regularly, and other lessons learned with Gary
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Aug 21, 201859:28
#41 — Markets vs Morals
Mentioned in this Barrcast:
bostonreview.net/forum-sandel-markets-morals
www.overcomingbias.com/2018/04/two-types-of-envy.html
www.overcomingbias.com/2018/05/why-economics-is-and-should-be-creepy.html
~
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bostonreview.net/forum-sandel-markets-morals
www.overcomingbias.com/2018/04/two-types-of-envy.html
www.overcomingbias.com/2018/05/why-economics-is-and-should-be-creepy.html
~
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Aug 01, 201828:42
#40 — Talking education & technology with Annie Chen
Follow Annie @_annieechen!
Want to come on the Barrcast? You're invited! Sign up here:
goo.gl/PNgg2V
Want to come on the Barrcast? You're invited! Sign up here:
goo.gl/PNgg2V
May 22, 201840:53
#39 — Breakfast with Natalie
In this Barrcast we sit down with Natalie for breakfast and talk about productivity, diaries, and other things!
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Mar 13, 201854:53
#38 — Polonium, Piano, Pedagogy w/ Matt
#38 — Polonium, Piano, Pedagogy w/ Matt by Barrcast
Mar 10, 201824:17
#37 — Anti-discourse & dashing beliefs to pieces
In this Barrcast we take an anti-discursive position and imagine a world where people come together to destroy beliefs, not construct them.
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Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Jan 24, 201823:58
#36 — Marketing Buddhism: the 3 paths
In this Barrcast we discuss how Buddhism markets itself as hygiene, as truth, and as faith.
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Dec 11, 201731:58
#35 — Learning is neither synchronous nor asynchronous
#35 — Learning is neither synchronous nor asynchronous by Barrcast
Dec 01, 201736:49
#34 — Future Facts with Dave and Dan Carlin
We take a break from the Barrcast to showcase a new podcast, Future Facts, hosted by Dave Carlin (brother of Dan). This episode features a very special surprise guest, Dan Carlin!
Aug 15, 201733:42
#33 — Powerful metaphors
Images of Organization:
smile.amazon.com/Images-Organization-Gareth-Morgan/dp/1412939798
Do you have powerful metaphors in your life? I'd love it if you added them here:
docs.google.com/document/d/1fF1McSVLecRtQGRWw8xJb9oHp3FYfTvIGs0u409rXII/edit#heading=h.jh2t9yyml8hv
smile.amazon.com/Images-Organization-Gareth-Morgan/dp/1412939798
Do you have powerful metaphors in your life? I'd love it if you added them here:
docs.google.com/document/d/1fF1McSVLecRtQGRWw8xJb9oHp3FYfTvIGs0u409rXII/edit#heading=h.jh2t9yyml8hv
Aug 09, 201723:48
#32 — Reflecting on eyeo
The Barrcast returns from Minneapolis, where we attended the eyeo festival. Reflections on that and another Neruda poem to close out.
eyeo: eyeofestival.com
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eyeo: eyeofestival.com
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Jul 05, 201747:58
#31 — The Heights of Macchu Picchu, Pablo Neruda
May 13, 201706:36
#30 — Here is New York
Here is New York: http://www.travel-studies.com/sites/default/files/White,%20Here%20Is%20New%20York.pdf
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Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Apr 30, 201744:24
#29 — Orbiting thoughts with Gary
Orbital: orbital.nyc
Post-Industrial Design School: postindustrialdesign.school
Stock and Flow: snarkmarket.com/2010/4890
Words as Material: nicolefenton.com/words-as-material/
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Post-Industrial Design School: postindustrialdesign.school
Stock and Flow: snarkmarket.com/2010/4890
Words as Material: nicolefenton.com/words-as-material/
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Apr 24, 201744:57
#28 — Mutwille
Chapman: https://buddhism-for-vampires.com/we-are-all-monsters
Robert Bly: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VA1PJI/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Hamburglar Wiki: http://mcdonalds.wikia.com/wiki/Hamburglar
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Mar 26, 201722:20
#27 — It's raining Matt
Some of the things Matt & I talk about in this Barrcast:
- recording and annotating rap music
- listening to music
- giving and getting feedback
- efficient reasons for not obsessing over efficiency
- sunshowers and other regional expressions
Links to some of the things we discuss:
* Mobius Trio www.mobiustrio.org
* PRhyme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s51EoN7npuI
* Sunshower Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshower
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Mar 14, 201745:47
#26 — Dicks, boobs, poop: what Impro has to say about obscenity and creativity
We share some highlights from the book Impro (https://www.amazon.com/Impro-Improvisation-Theatre-Keith-Johnstone/dp/0878301178), and revisit some assumptions about policy and motivation in the context of therapy.
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Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Feb 27, 201728:33
#25 — Chatting with Edlyn Yuen about Prompt and Projects
In this free-flowing conversation, Edlyn and I chat about kava, her project Prompt, launch parties, Kickstarter, making a book, giving side projects a good death, creativity, icebreakers, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
Find Prompt here: helloprompt.com
And keep in touch with Edlyn via her site: edlynyuen.com/
No more forever projects: the-pastry-box-project.net/diana-kimball/2014-march-5
Your project deserves a good death: medium.com/chrysaora-weekly/your-project-deserves-a-good-death-f345026b6e77#.do70i74s6
Impro: www.amazon.com/Impro-Improvisation-Theatre-Keith-Johnstone/dp/0878301178
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Find Prompt here: helloprompt.com
And keep in touch with Edlyn via her site: edlynyuen.com/
No more forever projects: the-pastry-box-project.net/diana-kimball/2014-march-5
Your project deserves a good death: medium.com/chrysaora-weekly/your-project-deserves-a-good-death-f345026b6e77#.do70i74s6
Impro: www.amazon.com/Impro-Improvisation-Theatre-Keith-Johnstone/dp/0878301178
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Feb 16, 201753:55
#24 Fandom and obsession in ELLE
In this episode of the BARRCAST we discuss ELLE, the award-nominated film starring Isabelle Huppert directed by Paul Verhoeven.
Elle: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/elle_2016/
The Piano Teacher: www.imdb.com/title/tt0254686/
Craig x Tweek: southparkfanon.wikia.com/wiki/Creek
You are on your own when it comes to finding the shower scene from Starship Troopers.
Elle: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/elle_2016/
The Piano Teacher: www.imdb.com/title/tt0254686/
Craig x Tweek: southparkfanon.wikia.com/wiki/Creek
You are on your own when it comes to finding the shower scene from Starship Troopers.
Jan 24, 201724:56
#23 Nascer
In this Barrcast we read and translate the poem Nascer, by Carlos Drummond de Andrade.
Our translation:
Sprout
again and again
indefinitely
like the plant is ever sprouting
from the first seed;
to think the day good
to create clarity
and in it discover
the first syllable
of the first song
Our translation:
Sprout
again and again
indefinitely
like the plant is ever sprouting
from the first seed;
to think the day good
to create clarity
and in it discover
the first syllable
of the first song
Jan 06, 201706:54
#22 Rogue One
#22 Rogue One by Barrcast
Dec 23, 201612:45
#21 A little less conversation
We read (briefly) from chapter 36 of Hopscotch, and discuss the future of online communities and conversations in the context of the election.
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Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Dec 14, 201622:20
#20 Struttin' with some Cortázar
Here's a passage from Julio Cortázar's Hopscotch (Rayuela), chapter 18, set to the music of Struttin' with Some Barbecue, as performed by Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars.
Track: open.spotify.com/track/2Ekw6l7TfaNVpmjl5g2157
Book: www.amazon.com/Hopscotch-Novel-Pantheon-Modern-Writers/dp/0394752848
Chapter (Spanish): www.literaberinto.com/cortazar/rayuela18.htm
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Track: open.spotify.com/track/2Ekw6l7TfaNVpmjl5g2157
Book: www.amazon.com/Hopscotch-Novel-Pantheon-Modern-Writers/dp/0394752848
Chapter (Spanish): www.literaberinto.com/cortazar/rayuela18.htm
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Nov 20, 201605:59
#19 I Remember
What do you remember from your years at school? What is good and bad about nostalgia?
I Remember by Joe Brainard: sites.evergreen.edu/statements/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/09/I-Remember-Joe-Brainard-1.pdf
Member Berries: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndI9vkgw_1Y
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I Remember by Joe Brainard: sites.evergreen.edu/statements/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/09/I-Remember-Joe-Brainard-1.pdf
Member Berries: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndI9vkgw_1Y
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Nov 05, 201621:41
#18 Varsity Constraints
"Constraints breed creativity." Sure, but in this podcast we go a bit deeper into what else constraints do.
Charles Bernstein's Experimental Writing Syllabus: writing.upenn.edu/bernstein/syllabi/111-intro.html
James Thurber's The Wonderful O: www.amazon.com/Wonderful-York-Review-Childrens-Collection/dp/1590173090
Slash Keyboard: tapslash.com/
Language is a Virus: www.languageisavirus.com/cutupmachine.html
Orbital: orbital.nyc/
Quora Link: www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-constraint-and-restraint/answer/Douglas-Ivey-1
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Charles Bernstein's Experimental Writing Syllabus: writing.upenn.edu/bernstein/syllabi/111-intro.html
James Thurber's The Wonderful O: www.amazon.com/Wonderful-York-Review-Childrens-Collection/dp/1590173090
Slash Keyboard: tapslash.com/
Language is a Virus: www.languageisavirus.com/cutupmachine.html
Orbital: orbital.nyc/
Quora Link: www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-constraint-and-restraint/answer/Douglas-Ivey-1
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Nov 02, 201631:14
#17 Jet Lag
The Barrcast is back from Thailand and more than a little jet-lagged in this episode!
RIP Bhumibol Adulyadej
Dan Carlin's Common Sense: 310 – Or Else (http://www.dancarlin.com/common-sense-home-landing-page/)
Roosevelt to Reagan: A Reporter's Encounters With Nine Presidents (https://www.amazon.com/Roosevelt-Reagan-Reporters-Encounters-Presidents/dp/0060390670)
ZODIAC MOTHERFUCKER (https://twitter.com/ZODIAC_MF)
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RIP Bhumibol Adulyadej
Dan Carlin's Common Sense: 310 – Or Else (http://www.dancarlin.com/common-sense-home-landing-page/)
Roosevelt to Reagan: A Reporter's Encounters With Nine Presidents (https://www.amazon.com/Roosevelt-Reagan-Reporters-Encounters-Presidents/dp/0060390670)
ZODIAC MOTHERFUCKER (https://twitter.com/ZODIAC_MF)
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Oct 26, 201618:28
#16 Strong opinions, strongly held
In a rare departure for the Barrcast, we discuss the startup industry and the merits of a popular piece of jargon, "Strong opinions, weakly held."
Atwood: blog.codinghorror.com/strong-opinions-weakly-held/
Wilson: avc.com/2016/06/strong-views-weakly-held/
High Output Management: www.amazon.com/High-Output-Management-Andrew-Grove/dp/0679762884
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Atwood: blog.codinghorror.com/strong-opinions-weakly-held/
Wilson: avc.com/2016/06/strong-views-weakly-held/
High Output Management: www.amazon.com/High-Output-Management-Andrew-Grove/dp/0679762884
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Oct 02, 201619:07
#15 The Life-Changing Magic of Barrcasting
It's time for some fall-cleaning here at the Barrcast! In this episode we race through several topics that have been languishing in the queue. Specifically:
- Work / Life & Mind / Body balance
- Paralysis vs. Preservation
- Putting yourself in someone else's shoes is a mistake
- What got you here won't get you goin'
- Preparedness bifurcation
You can download l8r here: http://appstore.com/l8r. The Zidane film we mention is called Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait.
~
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Sep 20, 201620:55
#14 Gombrowicz & the role of the critic
In this episode we contemplate output, Gombrowicz, and the interplay between criticism and art.
~
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~
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Sep 13, 201627:05
#13 Are you lucky to be alive?
In this mini-episode we challenge Shelly Kagan's claim that we are lucky to be alive.
Full course: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEA18FAF1AD9047B0. Episode #23 is the one we're reacting to.
~
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Full course: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEA18FAF1AD9047B0. Episode #23 is the one we're reacting to.
~
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Aug 30, 201613:24
#12 Picasso & the Sensitive Artist
In this mini-episode we read from Gertrude Stein's portrait on Picasso.
Full text: www.rodoni.ch/PICASSO/Stein-on-Picasso.pdf
~
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Full text: www.rodoni.ch/PICASSO/Stein-on-Picasso.pdf
~
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Aug 18, 201615:48
#11 Nihilism
In this episode we talk about nihilism, or at least my conception of it. We explore the claim that rather than getting past nihilism, we should embrace it, incorporate it, and employ it from time to time as a tool.
We discuss two great texts:
The Parable of the Madman: www.historyguide.org/europe/madman.html
The Snow Man: www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/45235
~
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We discuss two great texts:
The Parable of the Madman: www.historyguide.org/europe/madman.html
The Snow Man: www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/45235
~
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Aug 10, 201626:48
#10 Rio Olympics & Mo' Meaningness
In episode 10 we're joined by our friend Bruno Valle(https://twitter.com/brunovalle) to discuss the narrative around the Olympics in Rio, where Bruno lives. Later (27:00), we talk more about Meaningness and Bruno makes the case for his Stage 5 status.
Further reading:
* meaningness.com/metablog/how-to-think
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_Inc
~
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Further reading:
* meaningness.com/metablog/how-to-think
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_Inc
~
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Aug 02, 201601:06:02
#9 Introduction to Meaningness
A podcast pivot! In this episode we discuss some of the themes coming out of work by David Chapman for the hypertext book Meaningness.
Posts that we mention:
meaningness.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/developing-ethical-social-and-cognitive-competence/
meaningness.com/metablog/stem-fluidity-bridge
~
Enjoying the Barrcast? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: www.stitcher.com/podcast/barrcast. And consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/nsbarr
Posts that we mention:
meaningness.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/developing-ethical-social-and-cognitive-competence/
meaningness.com/metablog/stem-fluidity-bridge
~
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Jul 28, 201623:45
#8 Tu Agonía
In episode 8 we read and translate Horacio Quiroga's poem "Tu Agonía."
Original: www.poesi.as/hq01078.htm
Translation:
the afternoon was dying and
your voice was a silk piano
and your wet hand felt
limp in mine.
your fingers anointed me
with something like
forgiveness and you spoke
and the gates closed behind us.
the summer gasped
and the daisies sighed
and the afternoon died,
bleeding out and into
your temples
and on those purple
lakes I saw two swans
heralding your agony.
Original: www.poesi.as/hq01078.htm
Translation:
the afternoon was dying and
your voice was a silk piano
and your wet hand felt
limp in mine.
your fingers anointed me
with something like
forgiveness and you spoke
and the gates closed behind us.
the summer gasped
and the daisies sighed
and the afternoon died,
bleeding out and into
your temples
and on those purple
lakes I saw two swans
heralding your agony.
Jun 23, 201504:25
#7 El Idioma Analítico de John Wilkins
In episode 7 we read Borges' essay "El Idioma Analítico de John Wilkins." Spanish and English versions here:
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/myl/ldc/wilkins.html
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=8930
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/myl/ldc/wilkins.html
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=8930
May 07, 201505:26
#6 Integra
In this episode 6 we visit the work of California-based Language poet Rae Armantrout. We read her poem "Integer" in English and Spanish, and then provide a translation of our own.
About Rae Armantrout: www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/rae-armantrout
JotDown interview: www.jotdown.es/2012/03/rae-armantrout-me-inquieta-tener-una-experiencia-que-no-se-puede-articular/
John Cage Mushroom Haiku: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNzVQ8wRCB0
INTEGRA
1
Un qué?
Un agarre?
No manos.
No colección
de estrellas. Algo oscuro
lo impregna.
2
Metáfora
es sacrificio ritual.
Mata el parecido.
No,
metáfora es homepatía.
Una célula sana
se exhibe inhibicion de contacto.
3
Estes créditos temporales
ya no estarán reflejados
en tu próximo período de facturación.
4
"Oscuro" significando
no reflejando,
no dispuesto
a sugerencia.
About Rae Armantrout: www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/rae-armantrout
JotDown interview: www.jotdown.es/2012/03/rae-armantrout-me-inquieta-tener-una-experiencia-que-no-se-puede-articular/
John Cage Mushroom Haiku: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNzVQ8wRCB0
INTEGRA
1
Un qué?
Un agarre?
No manos.
No colección
de estrellas. Algo oscuro
lo impregna.
2
Metáfora
es sacrificio ritual.
Mata el parecido.
No,
metáfora es homepatía.
Una célula sana
se exhibe inhibicion de contacto.
3
Estes créditos temporales
ya no estarán reflejados
en tu próximo período de facturación.
4
"Oscuro" significando
no reflejando,
no dispuesto
a sugerencia.
Apr 18, 201515:38
#5 Capitulo 68 de Rayuela
In this episode we read Chapter 68 of Julio Cortázar's Hopscotch. It's an erotic prose poem reminiscent of Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky. Here's the passage:
Apenas él le amalaba el noema, a ella se le agolpaba el clémiso y caían en hidromurias, en salvajes ambonios, en sustalos exasperantes. Cada vez que él procuraba relamar las incopelusas, se enredaba en un grimado quejumbroso y tenía que envulsionarse de cara al nóvalo, sintiendo cómo poco a poco las arnillas se espejunaban, se iban apeltronando, reduplimiendo, hasta quedar tendido como el trimalciato de ergomanina al que se le han dejado caer unas fílulas de cariaconcia. Y sin embargo era apenas el principio, porque en un momento dado ella se tordulaba los hurgalios, consintiendo en que él aproximara suavemente su orfelunios. Apenas se entreplumaban, algo como un ulucordio los encrestoriaba, los extrayuxtaba y paramovía, de pronto era el clinón, la esterfurosa convulcante de las mátricas, la jadehollante embocapluvia del orgumio, los esproemios del merpasmo en una sobrehumítica agopausa. ¡Evohé! ¡Evohé! Volposados en la cresta del murelio, se sentían balparamar, perlinos y márulos. Temblaba el troc, se vencían las marioplumas, y todo se resolviraba en un profundo pínice, en niolamas de argutendidas gasas, en carinias casi crueles que los ordopenaban hasta el límite de las gunfias.
You can find the English translation here:
https://books.google.com/books?id=8PcCBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT418&dq=novalisk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-SkgVYOsJ4GSNvOfgcAI&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Apr 04, 201516:06
#4 El poema que tomó el lugar de una montaña
This is a bizarro episode! Today we read a poem in English, and discuss it in Spanish.
Here's Stevens' original poem:
www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/248826
And here's our translation into Spanish:
El poema que tomó el lugar de una montaña
Ahí estaba, palabra por palabra,
el poema que tomó el lugar de una montaña.
Él respiraba su oxígeno,
Aun mientras el libro se acostaba en el polvo de la mesa.
Le recordaba como había necesitado
un lugar para ir en su propia dirección,
Como había recompuesto los pinos,
Desplazado las piedras y hecho su camino por las nubes,
Para la vista que sería correcta,
Donde estaría completo en una completud sin explicación:
La piedra exacta en donde su inexactitud
descubriría, por fin, la vista a donde había avanzado,
Donde podría acostarse y, contemplando el mar abajo,
reconocer su hogar, único y solitario.
Here's Stevens' original poem:
www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/248826
And here's our translation into Spanish:
El poema que tomó el lugar de una montaña
Ahí estaba, palabra por palabra,
el poema que tomó el lugar de una montaña.
Él respiraba su oxígeno,
Aun mientras el libro se acostaba en el polvo de la mesa.
Le recordaba como había necesitado
un lugar para ir en su propia dirección,
Como había recompuesto los pinos,
Desplazado las piedras y hecho su camino por las nubes,
Para la vista que sería correcta,
Donde estaría completo en una completud sin explicación:
La piedra exacta en donde su inexactitud
descubriría, por fin, la vista a donde había avanzado,
Donde podría acostarse y, contemplando el mar abajo,
reconocer su hogar, único y solitario.
Mar 27, 201508:06
#3 A mis obligaciones
In this episode, we read Neruda's "A mis obligaciones."
Original text: www.poemas-del-alma.com/pablo-neruda-a-mis-obligaciones.htm
Translation:
To my obligations
Doing my job
stone by stone, feather by feather,
winter ends and leaves
abandoned sites,
dead rooms:
I work and work,
I ought to replace
all this neglect,
fill the darkness with bread,
replant hope.
It's not for me but the dust,
the season's nasty rain,
I hold nothing back
but all of space
and there I work, and work,
manifesting spring.
I have to give everything to everyone
every week and every day,
a blue gift,
a cold leaf from the forest,
and come tomorrow I'm already alive
while the others immerse themselves
in sloth, in love,
I'm cleaning my bell,
my heart, my tools.
I've got dew for everyone.
==EPISODE NOTES==
"Tinieblas" derives from the Latin "tenebrae," which also means darkness. The root, "teme-," produces two almost-antonyms: "temeriario," which means acting rashly, audaciously, imprudently (see "temerity" in English), and "temeroso," which means scared. We can think of these as two possible human reactions to darkness.
After recording this episode, I found another English translation, which you can find here: poetrydispatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/02/pablo-neruda-two-poems/. While my translation has its moments, I find this one to be way better. My one bone to pick is the line "bearing witness to spring," which eradicates the narrator's agency that I consider so central to the poem.
Original text: www.poemas-del-alma.com/pablo-neruda-a-mis-obligaciones.htm
Translation:
To my obligations
Doing my job
stone by stone, feather by feather,
winter ends and leaves
abandoned sites,
dead rooms:
I work and work,
I ought to replace
all this neglect,
fill the darkness with bread,
replant hope.
It's not for me but the dust,
the season's nasty rain,
I hold nothing back
but all of space
and there I work, and work,
manifesting spring.
I have to give everything to everyone
every week and every day,
a blue gift,
a cold leaf from the forest,
and come tomorrow I'm already alive
while the others immerse themselves
in sloth, in love,
I'm cleaning my bell,
my heart, my tools.
I've got dew for everyone.
==EPISODE NOTES==
"Tinieblas" derives from the Latin "tenebrae," which also means darkness. The root, "teme-," produces two almost-antonyms: "temeriario," which means acting rashly, audaciously, imprudently (see "temerity" in English), and "temeroso," which means scared. We can think of these as two possible human reactions to darkness.
After recording this episode, I found another English translation, which you can find here: poetrydispatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/02/pablo-neruda-two-poems/. While my translation has its moments, I find this one to be way better. My one bone to pick is the line "bearing witness to spring," which eradicates the narrator's agency that I consider so central to the poem.
Mar 25, 201514:55
#2 La oveja negra
In Episode 2, we read the fable "La oveja negra" by Guatemalan writer Augusto Monterroso.
It's super short, so we also provide an English translation, reproduced below.
Original text: www.ciudadseva.com/textos/cuentos/esp/monte/la_oveja_negra.htm
Translation:
Long ago in a faraway land there was once a Black Sheep. He was shot and killed.
A century later, the repentant flock erected an equestrian statue that looked very nice in the park.
And so from then on, any time that black sheep showed up they were promptly executed, so that future generations of common, ordinary sheep would be able to practice sculpture as well.
==EPISODE NOTES==
In the episode I wrongly say that this story comes from the book "La oveja negra y otros cuentos" — I conflated 2 books of Monterroso's: "Obras completas y otros cuentos," and "La oveja negra y demás fábulas."
It's super short, so we also provide an English translation, reproduced below.
Original text: www.ciudadseva.com/textos/cuentos/esp/monte/la_oveja_negra.htm
Translation:
Long ago in a faraway land there was once a Black Sheep. He was shot and killed.
A century later, the repentant flock erected an equestrian statue that looked very nice in the park.
And so from then on, any time that black sheep showed up they were promptly executed, so that future generations of common, ordinary sheep would be able to practice sculpture as well.
==EPISODE NOTES==
In the episode I wrongly say that this story comes from the book "La oveja negra y otros cuentos" — I conflated 2 books of Monterroso's: "Obras completas y otros cuentos," and "La oveja negra y demás fábulas."
Mar 07, 201511:39
#1 García Márquez y la región encantada
Episode 1! This is where it all begins.
We stumble our way through a thorny passage early in Cien Años de Soledad, by Gabriel García Márquez.
If you'd like to read along at home, the passage beings at the bottom of page 6 on this site: www.quieroleer.com.ar/libros/soledad/6.html
==EPISODE NOTES==
In the episode we describe "lirio" as an iris, but after some digging it seems like "lily" is the better translation.
This confusion shows up in taxonomy; for example, the iris domestica is commonly called the leopard lily.
It's tempting to think the word "lirio" might be a common ancestor for the lily and the iris, but this isn't the case. "Lily" and "lirio" derive from the Latin "lilium," while "iris" is "iris" all the way back to Ancient Greek, where it was the name of the goddess of the rainbow.
The word for rainbow in Spanish is arco iris.
We stumble our way through a thorny passage early in Cien Años de Soledad, by Gabriel García Márquez.
If you'd like to read along at home, the passage beings at the bottom of page 6 on this site: www.quieroleer.com.ar/libros/soledad/6.html
==EPISODE NOTES==
In the episode we describe "lirio" as an iris, but after some digging it seems like "lily" is the better translation.
This confusion shows up in taxonomy; for example, the iris domestica is commonly called the leopard lily.
It's tempting to think the word "lirio" might be a common ancestor for the lily and the iris, but this isn't the case. "Lily" and "lirio" derive from the Latin "lilium," while "iris" is "iris" all the way back to Ancient Greek, where it was the name of the goddess of the rainbow.
The word for rainbow in Spanish is arco iris.
Mar 04, 201512:20