In this podcast we discuss some impressions of my recent visit to Fortaleza. Then we do a few tweet readings from the G Manifesto.
Author: Quintus Curtius
Mundaú, Brazil
When a man is exposed to different modes of life, his sense of understanding and sympathy is correspondingly activated. Preconceptions and prejudices begin to recede into the mist, and steps are made, perhaps still hesitatingly, towards a feeling of human commonalities. And things that may once have seemed to be so important in our own lives take on a much more diminished aspect.
Cambuco, Brazil
The town of Cambuco is about 40 kilometers from Fortaleza, and I visited it today. A bus came and picked me up around 8:00 am, and we drove for about two hours. When you arrive at the destination, you immediately are made aware that it is a tourist destination. Vendors are aggressive, and the destination is designed as a small resort oasis with pools, restaurants, and “kite surfing” classes. Tourism is a major source of income for the local residents. I was surprised not to see a single foreign tourist, though: the visitors were all domestic Brazilian tourists, all coming from different states in the country.
Fortaleza’s Fish Market And Ecological Park
Today I visited Fortaleza’s fish market and a few other sights. Fish markets have always fascinated me; I remember making a point of seeing Tokyo’s the last time I was there in 2014. In Fortaleza, the selection revolves around different types of local fishes, lobster, octopus, and a few other things. The arrangement is very simple: buyers purchase what they want, then sit at the tables near the market. For a nominal fee, the food is cooked and served up to you on the spot.
From Fortaleza To Morro Branco And Canoa Quebrada
I have been in the city of Fortaleza for two days, and wanted to explore some of the surrounding sights. This is my first time in the northern part of Brazil, and I had heard for a long time how beautiful the beaches were here. They did not disappoint.
Moonlight Baboon Podcast: Courage And Recklessness. And Some Tweet Readings.
In this podcast, we discuss a reader’s email asking about the differences between courage and recklessness. What are the parameters? And how do we know when we have gone too far?
We then close with more G Manifesto tweet readings.
The State Of Common Life
In 1773 Samuel Johnson and his friend James Boswell made a journey through some of the more remote parts of Scotland. Each of them wrote his own account of the journey, and I am currently absorbed in reading Johnson’s impressions in his Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. As always, he stimulates and fascinates: his eye for detail is superb, and like the best of writers he combines wit, dry observation, and philosophic pronouncements.
The Moderation And Control Of Anger
Anger is an insidious thing. It can twine and wind its way around the soul, like ivy over some physical impediment, and slowly throttle our more beneficent instincts. This creeping control does not happen all at once; it happens gradually, imperceptibly, one gradus at a time. When speaking to someone on the phone, I often find my voice gradually rising with a surplus of emotion. You can barely notice it happening, but it happens still. Anger then finds a ready opportunity to intrude itself. Anger is also deceptive: it makes us believe we are taking action to solve some problem, when in fact we are doing nothing to solve the problem. Anger is a liar. He is a deceiver.
Jack London Learns To Surf In Hawaii (Podcast)
In 1906 Jack London visited Hawaii as part of his epic journey across the Pacific. There he encountered surfers for the first time, and learned the sport. His observations and impressions were recorded in a chapter of his book The Cruise of the Snark, and remain fascinating to this day. We read passages from this chapter, and discuss.
The Wisdom And Generosity Of Yahya Ibn Khalid
Yahya Ibn Khalid (يحيى بن خالد) was an influential figure during the tenure of Abbasid caliph Harun Al-Rashid. We do not know the precise date of his birth, but he was the son of Khalid Ibn Barmak, a member of the powerful Persian family known as the Barmakids. The third Abbasid caliph, Al-Mahdi, tasked Yahya Ibn Khalid around 778 A.D. with the education of his son Harun. Yahya must have perceived the seeds of greatness in the young Harun, for he tried to convince the fourth Abbasid caliph Al-Hadi to elevate Harun to a high position of leadership. This was a mistake. Al-Hadi had his own son in mind for the position, and so tossed Yahya into prison; but Fate would eventually smile on Yahya.
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