Schachnovelle
(Hall de edifí­cio, Rua Emiliano Perneta, Curitiba-PR/Building lobby, Curitiba, Brasil)
Photo: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

Canários-da-Terra observam o fim de tarde, Umbará, Curitiba, Brasil.
Photo: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

Aqui. Hoje.
Jorge Luis Borges

Já somos o esquecimento que seremos.
A poeira elementar que nos ignora
e que foi o ruivo Adão e que é agora
todos os homens e que não veremos.
Já somos na tumba as duas datas
do princí­pio e do término, o esquife,
a obscena corrupção e a mortalha,
os ritos da morte e as elegias.
Não sou o insensato que se aferra
ao mágico sonido de teu nome:
penso com esperança naquele homem
que não saberá que fui sobre a Terra.
Embaixo do indiferente azul do céu
esta meditação é um consolo.

Praça Santos Andrade, Curitiba-PR. Vista das colunas da UFPR.
(Santos Andrade Square, Curitiba-Brasil. Taken from Paraná Federal University columns)
Photo: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

Os í­ndios paranaenses, coletores de alimentos, tinham o pinhão como um alimento por excelência e acabavam atuando como propagadores das florestas de pinheiros. Para a colheita, os í­ndios botucudos tinham flechas especialmente adaptadas para derrubar as pinhas ainda presas. A tal flecha chamava-se “virola”.

O inglês Thomas Bigg-Wither que, no século retrasado, passou pelos campos do Paraná, registrou: “0 pinhão fruta oblonga, de cerca de uma polegada e meia de comprimento, com um diâmetro de meia a três quartos de polegada na parte mais grossa, tem uma casca coriácea, como a da castanha espanhola. 0 paladar é, entretanto, superior ao desta última e, como produto alimentí­cio, basta dizer que os í­ndios muitas vezes só se alimentavam dele, durante muitas semanas. Pode ser comido cru, mas os í­ndios habitualmente os assam na brasa até partir, quando fica em condições. 0 sabor ainda melhora quando cozido, mas este é um sistema que os í­ndios não praticam. 0 estágio mais delicado do pinhão é quando ele começa a germinar, fazendo aparecer um pequenino grelo verde numa extremidade. Nada excede a guloseima desse fruto em tal estado. Os coroados costumam guardar esse fruto para comê-lo mais tarde: Isto eles fazem enchendo diversos cestos de pinhão, colocados dentro da água corrente durante quarenta e oito horas. No fim desse tempo os cestos são tirados fora e o conteúdo é espalhado para secar ao sol. Assim conservados, os frutos ficam secos e sem gosto, perdendo sem dúvida grande parte de suas propriedades nutritivas”.

Photo: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
by H. G. Wells

as performed by
Orson Welles & the Mercury Theatre on the Air
and broadcast on the Columbia Broadcasting System
on Sunday, October 30, 1938, from 8:00 to 9:00 P. M.

* * *

ANNOUNCER
The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations present Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air in “The War of the Worlds” by H. G. Wells.
(MUSIC: MERCURY THEATRE MUSICAL THEME)
ANNOUNCER
Ladies and gentlemen, the director of the Mercury Theatre and star of these broadcasts, Orson Welles.
ORSON WELLES
We know now that in the early years of the twentieth century this world was being watched closely by intelligences greater than man’s, and yet as mortal as his own. We know now that as human beings busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.
With infinite complacence people went to and fro over the earth about their little affairs, serene in the assurance of their dominion over this small, spinning fragment of solar driftwood which, by chance or design, man has inherited out of the dark mystery of Time and Space.
Yet across an immense ethereal gulf, minds that are to our minds as ours are to the beasts in the jungle, intellects vast, cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes and slowly and surely drew their plans against us.
In the thirty-ninth year of the twentieth century came the great disillusionment. It was near the end of October. Business was better. The war scare was over. More men were back at work. Sales were picking up. On this particular evening, October 30th, the Crosley service estimated that thirty-two million people were listening in on radios.
ANNOUNCER
(FADE IN) … for the next twenty-four hours not much change in temperature. A slight atmospheric disturbance of undetermined origin is reported over Nova Scotia, causing a low pressure area to move down rather rapidly over the northeastern states, bringing a forecast of rain, accompanied by winds of light gale force. Maximum temperature 66; minimum 48.
This weather report comes to you from the Government Weather Bureau.
We take you now to the Meridian Room in the Hotel Park Plaza in downtown New York, where you’ll be entertained by the music of Ramón Raquello and his orchestra.
(MUSIC: SPANISH THEME SONG [“NO MORE,” A TANGO]… FADES)
ANNOUNCER THREE
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. From the Meridian Room in the Park Plaza Hotel in New York City, we bring you the music of Ramón Raquello and his orchestra. With a touch of the Spanish, Ramón Raquello leads off with “La Cumparsita.”
(“LA CUMPARSITA” STARTS PLAYING, THEN QUICKLY FADES OUT)
ANNOUNCER TWO
Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our program of dance music to bring you a special bulletin from the Intercontinental Radio News.
At twenty minutes before eight, central time, Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory, Chicago, Illinois, reports observing several explosions of incandescent gas, occurring at regular intervals on the planet Mars. The spectroscope indicates the gas to be hydrogen and moving towards the earth with enormous velocity.
Professor Pierson of the Observatory at Princeton confirms Farrell’s observation, and describes the phenomenon as, quote, “like a jet of blue flame shot from a gun,” unquote.
We now return you to the music of Ramón Raquello, playing for you in the Meridian Room of the Park Plaza Hotel, situated in downtown New York.
(MUSIC PLAYS FOR A FEW MOMENTS UNTIL PIECE ENDS… SOUND OF APPLAUSE)
ANNOUNCER THREE
And now a tune that never loses favor, the ever-popular “Stardust.” Ramón Raquello and his orchestra…
(MUSIC: “STARDUST”)
ANNOUNCER TWO
Ladies and gentlemen, following on the news given in our bulletin a moment ago, the Government Meteorological Bureau has requested the large observatories of the country to keep an astronomical watch on any further disturbances occurring on the planet Mars.
Due to the unusual nature of this occurrence, we have arranged an interview with a noted astronomer, Professor Pierson, who will give us his views on this event. In a few moments we will take you to the Princeton Observatory at Princeton, New Jersey.
We return you until then to the music of Ramón Raquello and his orchestra.
(MUSIC: “STARDUST” PLAYS FOR A WHILE, THEN QUICKLY FADES OUT )
ANNOUNCER TWO
We are ready now to take you to the Princeton Observatory at Princeton where Carl Phillips, our commentator, will interview Professor Richard Pierson, famous astronomer. We take you now to Princeton, New Jersey.
(ECHO CHAMBER. SOUND OF TICKING CLOCK.)
CARL PHILLIPS
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is Carl Phillips, speaking to you from the observatory of Princeton. I am standing in a large semi-circular room, pitch black except for an oblong split in the ceiling. Through this opening I can see a sprinkling of stars that cast a kind of frosty glow over the intricate mechanism of the huge telescope. The ticking sound you hear is the vibration of the clockwork.
Professor Pierson stands directly above me on a small platform, peering through the giant lens. I ask you to be patient, ladies and gentlemen, during any delay that may arise during our interview. Besides his ceaseless watch of the heavens, Professor Pierson may be interrupted by telephone or other communications. During this period he is in constant touch with the astronomical centers of the world…
Professor, may I begin our questions?
PROF. PIERSON
At any time, Mr. Phillips.
CARL PHILLIPS
Professor, would you please tell our radio audience exactly what you see as you observe the planet Mars through your telescope?
PROF. PIERSON
Nothing unusual at the moment, Mr. Phillips. A red disk swimming in a blue sea. Transverse stripes across the disk. Quite distinct now because Mars happens to be the point nearest the earth… in opposition, as we call it.
CARL PHILLIPS
In your opinion, what do these transverse stripes signify, Professor Pierson?
PROF. PIERSON
Not canals, I can assure you, Mr. Phillips �
CARL PHILLIPS
(OFF-MIC) I see.
PROF. PIERSON
ââ?¬â? although that’s the popular conjecture of those who imagine Mars to be inhabited. From a scientific viewpoint the stripes are merely the result of atmospheric conditions peculiar to the planet.
CARL PHILLIPS
Then you’re quite convinced as a scientist that living intelligence as we know it does not exist on Mars?
PROF. PIERSON
I’d say the chances against it are a thousand to one.
CARL PHILLIPS
And yet, how do you account for these gas eruptions occurring on the surface of the planet at regular intervals?
PROF. PIERSON
Mr. Phillips, I cannot account for it.
CARL PHILLIPS
By the way, Professor, for the benefit of our listeners, how far is Mars from the earth?
PROF. PIERSON
Approximately forty million miles.
CARL PHILLIPS
Well, that seems a safe enough distance.
PROF. PIERSON
(OFF-MIC) Thank you.
CARL PHILLIPS
Just a moment, ladies and gentlemen, someone has just handed Professor Pierson a message. While he reads it, let me remind you that we are speaking to you from the observatory in Princeton, New Jersey, where we are interviewing the world-famous astronomer, Professor Pierson…
Oh, one moment, please. Professor Pierson has passed me a message which he has just received… Professor, may I read the message to the listening audience?
PROF. PIERSON
Certainly, Mr. Phillips
CARL PHILLIPS
Ladies and gentlemen, I shall read you a wire addressed to Professor Pierson from Dr. Gray of the National History Museum, New York.
Quote, “9:15 P. M. eastern standard time. Seismograph registered shock of almost earthquake intensity occurring within a radius of twenty miles of Princeton. Please investigate. Signed, Lloyd Gray, Chief of Astronomical Division,” unquote.
Professor Pierson, could this occurrence possibly have something to do with the disturbances observed on the planet Mars?
PROF. PIERSON
Hardly, Mr. Phillips. This is probably a meteorite of unusual size and its arrival at this particular time is merely a coincidence. However, we shall conduct a search, as soon as daylight permits.
CARL PHILLIPS
Thank you, Professor. Ladies and gentlemen, for the past ten minutes we’ve been speaking to you from the observatory at Princeton, bringing you a special interview with Professor Pierson, noted astronomer.
This is Carl Phillips speaking. We are returning you now to our New York studio.
(FADE IN PIANO PLAYING)
ANNOUNCER TWO
Ladies and gentlemen, here is the latest bulletin from the Intercontinental Radio News. Toronto, Canada: Professor Morse of McMillan University reports observing a total of three explosions on the planet Mars, between the hours of 7:45 P. M. and 9:20 P. M., eastern standard time. This confirms earlier reports received from American observatories.
Now, nearer home, comes a special bulletin from Trenton, New Jersey. It is reported that at 8:50 P. M. a huge, flaming object, believed to be a meteorite, fell on a farm in the neighborhood of Grovers Mill, New Jersey, twenty-two miles from Trenton.
The flash in the sky was visible within a radius of several hundred miles and the noise of the impact was heard as far north as Elizabeth.
We have dispatched a special mobile unit to the scene, and will have our commentator, Carl Phillips, give you a word picture of the scene as soon as he can reach there from Princeton.
In the meantime, we take you to the Hotel Martinet in Brooklyn, where Bobby Millette and his orchestra are offering a program of dance music.
(SWING BAND FOR TWENTY SECONDS… THEN CUT)
ANNOUNCER TWO
We take you now to Grovers Mill, New Jersey.
(PAUSE. THEN CROWD NOISES, POLICE SIRENS…)
CARL PHILLIPS
Ladies and gentlemen, this is Carl Phillips again, out of the Wilmuth farm, Grovers Mill, New Jersey. Professor Pierson and myself made the eleven miles from Princeton in ten minutes.
Well, I… hardly know where to begin, to paint for you a word picture of the strange scene before my eyes, like something out of a modern “Arabian Nights.”
Well, I just got here. I haven’t had a chance to look around yet. I guess that’s it. Yes, I guess that’s the thing, directly in front of me, half buried in a vast pit. Must have struck with terrific force. The ground is covered with splinters of a tree it must have struck on its way down.
What I can see of the object itself doesn’t look very much like a meteor, at least not the meteors I’ve seen. It looks more like a huge cylinder. It has a diameter of… what would you say, Professor Pierson?
PROF. PIERSON
(OFF-MIC) What’s that?
CARL PHILLIPS
What would you say… what is the diameter of this?
PROF. PIERSON
About thirty yards.
CARL PHILLIPS
About thirty yards… The metal on the sheath is… well, I’ve never seen anything like it. The color is sort of yellowish-white. Curious spectators now are pressing close to the object in spite of the efforts of the police to keep them back. They’re getting in front of my line of vision. Would you mind standing to one side, please?
POLICEMAN
One side, there, one side.
CARL PHILLIPS
While the policemen are pushing the crowd back, here’s Mr. Wilmuth, owner of the farm here. He may have some interesting facts to add.
Mr. Wilmuth, would you please tell the radio audience as much as you remember of this rather unusual visitor that dropped in your backyard? Step closer, please.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is Mr. Wilmuth.
MR. WILMUTH
Well, I was listenin’ to the radio.
CARL PHILLIPS
Closer and louder please.
MR. WILMUTH
Pardon me!
CARL PHILLIPS
Louder, please, and closer.
MR. WILMUTH
Yes, sir ââ?¬â? I was listening to the radio and kinda drowsin’, that Professor fellow was talkin’ about Mars, so I was half dozin’ and half…
CARL PHILLIPS
Yes, yes, Mr. Wilmuth. And er… then what happened?
MR. WILMUTH
Well, as I was sayin’, I was listenin’ to the radio kinda halfways…
CARL PHILLIPS
Yes, Mr. Wilmuth, and then you saw something?
MR. WILMUTH
Not first off. I heard something.
CARL PHILLIPS
And what did you hear?
MR. WILMUTH
A hissing sound. Like this: (HISSES)
Kinda like a fourth of July rocket.
CARL PHILLIPS
Yes, then what?
MR. WILMUTH
I turned my head out the window and would have swore I was to sleep and dreamin’.
CARL PHILLIPS
Yes?
MR. WILMUTH
I seen that kinda greenish streak and then zingo! Somethin’ smacked the ground. Knocked me clear out of my chair!
CARL PHILLIPS
Well, were you frightened, Mr. Wilmuth?
MR. WILMUTH
Well, I ââ?¬â? I ain’t quite sure. I reckon I ââ?¬â? I was kinda riled.
CARL PHILLIPS
Thank you, Mr. Wilmuth. Thank you very much.
MR. WILMUTH
Want me to tell you some more?
CARL PHILLIPS
No… That’s quite all right, that’s plenty.
Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve just heard Mr. Wilmuth, owner of the farm where this thing has fallen. I wish I could convey the atmosphere… the background of this… fantastic scene.
Hundreds of cars are parked in a field in back of us and the police are trying to rope off the roadway leading into the farm but it’s no use. They’re breaking right through. Cars’ headlights throw an enormous spotlight on the pit where the object’s half buried.
Now some of the more daring souls are now venturing near the edge. Their silhouettes stand out against the metal sheen.
(FAINT HUMMING SOUND)
CARL PHILLIPS
One man wants to touch the thing… he’s having an argument with a policeman. The policeman wins… Now, ladies and gentlemen, there’s something I haven’t mentioned in all this excitement, but now it’s becoming more distinct. Perhaps you’ve caught it already on your radio. Listen, please…
(FAINT SCRAPING NOISE)

CARL PHILLIPS
Do you hear it? It’s a curious humming sound that seems to come from inside the object. I’ll move the microphone nearer. Now…
(PAUSE)
CARL PHILLIPS
Now we’re not more than twenty-five feet away. Can you hear it now? Oh, Professor Pierson!
PROF. PIERSON
Yes, Mr. Phillips?
CARL PHILLIPS
Can you tell us the meaning of that scraping noise inside the thing?
PROF. PIERSON
Possibly the unequal cooling of its surface.
CARL PHILLIPS
I see, do you still think it’s a meteor, Professor?
PROF. PIERSON
I don’t know what to think. The metal casing is definitely extraterrestrial… not found on this earth. Friction with the earth’s atmosphere usually tears holes in a meteorite. This thing is smooth and, as you can see, of cylindrical shape.
CARL PHILLIPS
Just a minute! Something’s happening! Ladies and gentlemen, this is terrific! This end of the thing is beginning to flake off! The top is beginning to rotate like a screw and the thing must be hollow!
VOICES
She’s movin’! Look, the darn thing’s unscrewing! Stand back, there! Keep those men back, I tell you! Maybe there’s men in it trying to escape! It’s red hot, they’ll burn to a cinder! Keep back there. Keep those idiots back!
(SUDDENLY THE CLANKING SOUND OF A HUGE PIECE OF FALLING METAL)
VOICES
She’s off! The top’s loose! Look out there! Stand back!
CARL PHILLIPS
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the most terrifying thing I have ever witnessed… Wait a minute! Someone’s crawling out of the hollow top. Someone or… something. I can see peering out of that black hole two luminous disks . . are they eyes? It might be a face. It might be…
(SHOUT OF AWE FROM THE CROWD)
CARL PHILLIPS
Good heavens, something’s wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake. Now it’s another one, and another one, and another one! They look like tentacles to me. I can see the thing’s body now. It’s large, large as a bear and it glistens like wet leather. But that face, it… Ladies and gentlemen, it’s indescribable. I can hardly force myself to keep looking at it, so awful. The eyes are black and gleam like a serpent. The mouth is V-shaped with saliva dripping from its rimless lips that seem to quiver and pulsate. The monster or whatever it is can hardly move. It seems weighed down by… possibly gravity or something. The thing’s… rising up now, and the crowd falls back now. They’ve seen plenty. This is the most extraordinary experience, ladies and gentlemen. I can’t find words… I’ll pull this microphone with me as I talk. I’ll have to stop the description until I can take a new position. Hold on, will you please, I’ll be right back in a minute…
(FADE INTO PIANO)

ANNOUNCER
We are bringing you an eyewitness account of what’s happening on the Wilmuth farm, Grovers Mill, New Jersey.
(MORE PIANO)
ANNOUNCER
We now return you to Carl Phillips at Grovers Mill.
CARL PHILLIPS
Ladies and gent… Am I on? Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, here I am, back of a stone wall that adjoins Mr. Wilmuth’s garden. From here I get a sweep of the whole scene. I’ll give you every detail as long as I can talk and as long as I can see.
More state police have arrived They’re drawing up a cordon in front of the pit, about thirty of them. No need to push the crowd back now. They’re willing to keep their distance.
The captain is conferring with someone. We can’t quite see who. Oh yes, I believe it’s Professor Pierson. Yes, it is. Now they’ve parted and the Professor moves around one side, studying the object, while the captain and two policemen advance with something in their hands.
I can see it now. It’s a white handkerchief tied to a pole… a flag of truce. If those creatures know what that means… what ANYTHING means…
Wait a minute! Something’s happening…
(HISSING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A HUMMING THAT INCREASES IN INTENSITY)
CARL PHILLIPS
A humped shape is rising out of the pit. I can make out a small beam of light against a mirror. What’s that? There’s a jet of flame springing from that mirror, and it leaps right at the advancing men. It strikes them head on! Good Lord, they’re turning into flame!
(SCREAMS AND UNEARTHLY SHRIEKS)
CARL PHILLIPS
Now the whole field’s caught fire.
(EXPLOSION)
CARL PHILLIPS
The woods… the barns… the gas tanks of automobiles… it’s spreading everywhere. It’s coming this way. About twenty yards to my right…
(ABRUPT DEAD SILENCE)
ANNOUNCER
Ladies and gentlemen, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to continue the broadcast from Grovers Mill. Evidently there’s some difficulty with our field transmission. However, we will return to that point at the earliest opportunity.
In the meantime, we have a late bulletin from San Diego, California.
Professor Indellkoffer, speaking at a dinner of the California Astronomical Society, expressed the opinion that the explosions on Mars are undoubtedly nothing more than severe volcanic disturbances on the surface of the planet.
We continue now with our piano interlude.
(PIANO… THEN CUT)

ANNOUNCER TWO
Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been handed a message that came in from Grovers Mill by telephone. Just one moment please.
At least forty people, including six state troopers lie dead in a field east of the village of Grovers Mill, their bodies burned and distorted beyond all possible recognition.
The next voice you hear will be that of Brigadier General Montgomery Smith, commander of the state militia at Trenton, New Jersey.
GENERAL MONTGOMERY SMITH
I have been requested by the governor of New Jersey to place the counties of Mercer and Middlesex as far west as Princeton, and east to Jamesburg, under martial law. No one will be permitted to enter this area except by special pass issued by state or military authorities.
Four companies of state militia are proceeding from Trenton to Grovers Mill, and will aid in the evacuation of homes within the range of military operations.
Thank you.
ANNOUNCER TWO
You have just been listening to General Montgomery Smith commanding the state militia at Trenton.
In the meantime, further details of the catastrophe at Grovers Mill are coming in. The strange creatures, after unleashing their deadly assault, crawled back in their pit and made no attempt to prevent the efforts of the firemen to recover the bodies and extinguish the fire. The combined fire departments of Mercer County are fighting the flames which menace the entire countryside.
We have been unable to establish any contact with our mobile unit at Grovers Mill, but we hope to be able to return you there at the earliest possible moment. In the meantime we take you to… just one moment please!
(LONG PAUSE)
(WHISPER)
ANNOUNCER TWO
Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been informed that we have finally established communication with an eyewitness of the tragedy.
Professor Pierson has been located at a farmhouse near Grovers Mill where he has established an emergency observation post. As a scientist, he will give you his explanation of the calamity. The next voice you hear will be that of Professor Pierson, brought to you by direct wire.
Professor Pierson.
(FEEDBACK, THEN FILTERED VOICE)
PROF. PIERSON
Of the creatures in the rocket cylinder at Grovers Mill, I can give you no authoritative information � either to their nature, their origin, or their purposes here on earth. Of their destructive instrument I might venture some conjectural explanation.
For want of a better term, I shall refer to the mysterious weapon as a heat ray. It’s all too evident that these creatures have scientific knowledge far in advance of our own. It’s my guess that in some way they are able to generate an intense heat in a chamber of practically absolute no conductivity. This intense heat they project in a parallel beam against any object they choose, by means of a polished parabolic mirror of unknown composition, much as the mirror of a lighthouse projects a beam of light. That is my conjecture of the origin of the heat ray…
ANNOUNCER TWO
Thank you, Professor Pierson.
Ladies and gentlemen, here is a bulletin from Trenton. It is a brief statement informing us that the charred body of Carl Phillips has been identified in a Trenton hospital.
Now here’s another bulletin from Washington, D.C. The office of the director of the National Red Cross reports ten units of Red Cross emergency workers have been assigned to the headquarters of the state militia stationed outside Grovers Mill, New Jersey.
Here’s a bulletin from state police, Princeton Junction: The fires at Grovers Mill and vicinity are now under control. Scouts report all quiet in the pit, and there is no sign of life appearing from the mouth of the cylinder…
And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special statement from Mr. Harry McDonald, vice-president in charge of operations.
HARRY MC DONALD
We have received a request from the state militia at Trenton to place at their disposal our entire broadcasting facilities. In view of the gravity of the situation, and believing that radio has a responsibility to serve in the public interest at all times, we are turning over our facilities to the state militia at Trenton.
ANNOUNCER TWO
We take you now to the field headquarters of the state militia near Grovers Mill, New Jersey.
CAPTAIN LANSING
This is Captain Lansing of the signal corps, attached to the state militia, now engaged in military operations in the vicinity of Grovers Mill. Situation arising from the reported presence of certain individuals of unidentified nature is now under complete control.
The cylindrical object which lies in a pit directly below our position is surrounded on all sides by eight battalions of infantry. Without heavy field pieces, but adequately armed with rifles and machine guns. All cause for alarm, if such cause ever existed, is now entirely unjustified.
The things, whatever they are, do not even venture to poke their heads above the pit. I can see their hiding place plainly in the glare of the searchlights here. With all their reported resources, these creatures can scarcely stand up against heavy machine-gun fire.
Anyway, it’s an interesting outing for the troops. I can make out their khaki uniforms, crossing back and forth in front of the lights. It looks almost like a real war.
There appears to be some slight smoke in the woods bordering the Millstone River. Probably fire started by campers.
Well, we ought to see some action soon. One of the companies is deploying on the left flank. A quick thrust and it will all be over.
Now wait a minute! I see something on top of the cylinder. No, it’s nothing but a shadow. Now the troops are on the edge of the Wilmuth farm. Seven thousand armed men closing in on an old metal tube. A tub rather.
Wait, that wasn’t a shadow! It’s something moving… solid metal… kind of a shield like affair rising up out of the cylinder… It’s going higher and higher. Why, it’s standing on legs… actually rearing up on a sort of metal framework. Now it’s reaching above the trees and the searchlights are on it. Hold on!
ANNOUNCER
Ladies and gentlemen, I have a grave announcement to make.
Incredible as it may seem, both the observations of science and the evidence of our eyes lead to the inescapable assumption that those strange beings who landed in the Jersey farmlands tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from the planet Mars.
The battle which took place tonight at Grovers Mill has ended in one of the most startling defeats ever suffered by an army in modern times; seven thousand men armed with rifles and machine guns pitted against a single fighting machine of the invaders from Mars. One hundred and twenty known survivors. The rest strewn over the battle area from Grovers Mill to Plainsboro, crushed and trampled to death under the metal feet of the monster, or burned to cinders by its heat ray.
The monster is now in control of the middle section of New Jersey and has effectively cut the state through its center. Communication lines are down from Pennsylvania to the Atlantic Ocean.
Railroad tracks are torn and service from New York to Philadelphia discontinued except routing some of the trains through Allentown and Phoenixville.
Highways to the north, south, and west are clogged with frantic human traffic. Police and army reserves are unable to control the mad flight. By morning the fugitives will have swelled Philadelphia, Camden, and Trenton, it is estimated, to twice their normal population.
Martial law prevails throughout New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.
At this time we take you to Washington for a special broadcast on the National Emergency… the Secretary of the Interior…
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
Citizens of the nation: I shall not try to conceal the gravity of the situation that confronts the country, nor the concern of your government in protecting the lives and property of its people. However, I wish to impress upon you � private citizens and public officials, all of you � the urgent need of calm and resourceful action.
Fortunately, this formidable enemy is still confined to a comparatively small area, and we may place our faith in the military forces to keep them there.
In the meantime placing our faith in God we must continue the performance of our duties each and every one of us, so that we may confront this destructive adversary with a nation united, courageous, and consecrated to the preservation of human supremacy on this earth.
I thank you.
ANNOUNCER
You have just heard the secretary of the Interior speaking from Washington.
Bulletins too numerous to read are piling up in the studio here.
We are informed the central portion of New Jersey is blacked out from radio communication due to the effect of the heat ray upon power lines and electrical equipment.
Here is a special bulletin New York. Cables have been received from English, French, and German scientific bodies offering assistance.
Astronomers report continued gas outbursts at regular intervals on the planet Mars. The majority voice the opinion that the enemy will be reinforced by additional rocket machines.
There have been several attempts made to locate Professor Pierson of Princeton, who has observed Martians at close range. It is feared he was lost in the recent battle.
Langham Field, Virginia: Scouting planes report three Martian machines visible above treetops, moving north towards Somerville with population fleeing ahead of them. The heat ray is not in use; although advancing at express-train speed, invaders pick their way carefully. They seem to be making a conscious effort to avoid destruction of cities and countryside. However, they stop to uproot power lines, bridges, and railroad tracks. Their apparent objective is to crush resistance, paralyze communication, and disorganize human society.
Here is a bulletin from Basking Ridge, New Jersey: Coon hunters have stumbled on a second cylinder similar to the first embedded in the great swamp twenty miles south of Morristown.
Army fieldpieces are proceeding from Newark to blow up second invading unit before cylinder can be opened and the fighting machine rigged. They are taking up a position in the foothills of Watchung Mountains.
Another bulletin from Langham Field, Virginia: Scouting planes report enemy machines, now three in number, increasing speed northward kicking over houses and trees in their evident haste to form a conjunction with their allies south of Morristown.
Machines also sighted by telephone operator east of Middlesex within ten miles of Plainfield.
Here’s a bulletin from Winston Field, Long Island: A fleet of army bombers carrying heavy explosives flying north in pursuit of enemy. Scouting planes act as guides. They keep the speeding enemy in sight.
Just a moment please, ladies and gentlemen. We’ve er… We’ve run special wires to the artillery line in adjacent villages to give you direct reports in the zone of the advancing enemy. First we take you to the battery of the 22nd Field Artillery, located in the Watchtung Mountains.
OFFICER
Range, thirty-two meters.
GUNNER
Thirty-two meters.
OFFICER
Projection, thirty-nine degrees.
GUNNER
Thirty-nine degrees.
OFFICER
Fire!
(BOOM OF HEAVY GUN… PAUSE)
OBSERVER
One hundred and forty yards to the right, sir.
OFFICER
Shift range… thirty-one meters.
GUNNER
Thirty-one meters
OFFICER
Projection… thirty-seven degrees.
GUNNER
Thirty-seven degrees.
OFFICER
Fire!
(BOOM OF HEAVY GUN… PAUSE)
OBSERVER
A hit, sir! We got the tripod of one of them. They’ve stopped. The others are trying to repair it.
OFFICER
Quick, get the range! Shift thirty meters.
GUNNER
Thirty meters.
OFFICER
Projection… twenty-seven degrees.
GUNNER
Twenty-seven degrees.
OFFICER
Fire!
(BOOM OF HEAVY GUN… PAUSE)
OBSERVER
Can’t see the shell land, sir. They’re letting off a smoke.
OFFICER
What is it?
OBSERVER
A black smoke, sir. Moving this way. Lying close to the ground. It’s moving fast.
OFFICER
Put on gas masks.
(PAUSE. VOICES NOW MUFFLED)
OFFICER
Get ready to fire. Shift to twenty-four meters.
GUNNER
Twenty-four meters.
OFFICER
Projection, twenty-four degrees.
GUNNER
Twenty-four degrees.
OFFICER
Fire!
(BOOM)
OBSERVER
Still can’t see, sir. The smoke’s coming nearer.
OFFICER
Get the range. (COUGHS)
OBSERVER
Twenty-three meters. (COUGHS)
OFFICER
Twenty-three meters. (COUGHS)
GUNNER
Twenty-three meters (COUGHS)
OBSERVER
Projection, twenty-two degrees. (COUGHING)
OFFICER
Twenty-two degrees. (FADE-IN COUGHING)
(CUT TO SOUND OF AIRPLANE MOTOR)

COMMANDER
Army bombing plane, V-8-43, off Bayonne, New Jersey, Lieutenant Voght, commanding eight bombers. Reporting to Commander Fairfax, Langham Field… This is Voght, reporting to Commander Fairfax, Langham Field… Enemy tripod machines now in sight. Reinforced by three machines from the Morristown cylinder… Six altogether. One machine partially crippled. Believed hit by a shell from army gun in Watchung Mountains. Guns now appear silent.
A heavy black fog hanging close to the earth… of extreme density, nature unknown. No sign of heat ray. Enemy now turns east, crossing Passaic River into the Jersey marshes. Another straddles the Pulaski Skyway. Evident objective is New York City.
They’re pushing down a high tension power station. The machines are close together now, and we’re ready to attack.
Planes circling, ready to strike. A thousand yards and we’ll be over the first ââ?¬â? eight hundred yards… six hundred… four hundred… two hundred… There they go! The giant arm raised…
(SOUND OF HEAT RAY)
COMMANDER
Green flash! They’re spraying us with flame! Two thousand feet. Engines are giving out. No chance to release bombs. Only one thing left… drop on them, plane and all. We’re diving on the first one. Now the engine’s gone! Eight… (PLANE GOES DOWN)
OPERATOR ONE
This is Bayonne, New Jersey, calling Langham Field… This is Bayonne, New Jersey, calling Langham Field… Come in, please…
OPERATOR TWO
This is Langham Field… Go ahead…
OPERATOR ONE
Eight army bombers in engagement with enemy tripod machines over Jersey flats. Engines incapacitated by heat ray. All crashed. One enemy machine destroyed. Enemy now discharging heavy black smoke in direction of…
OPERATOR THREE
This is Newark, New Jersey… This is Newark, New Jersey… Warning! Poisonous black smoke pouring in from Jersey marshes. Reaches South Street. Gas masks useless. Urge population to move into open spaces… automobiles use Routes 7, 23, 24… Avoid congested areas. Smoke now spreading over Raymond Boulevard…
OPERATOR FOUR
2X2L… calling CQ… 2X2L… calling CQ… 2X2L… calling 8X3R… Come in, please…
OPERATOR FIVE
This is 8X3R… coming back at 2X2L.
OPERATOR FOUR
How’s reception? How’s reception? K, please (PAUSE)
Where are you, 8X3R? What’s the matter? Where are you?
(BELLS RINGING OVER CITY GRADUALLY DIMINISHING)
ANNOUNCER
I’m speaking from the roof of Broadcasting Building, New York City…
I’m speaking from the roof of Broadcasting Building, New York City. The bells you hear are ringing to warn the people to evacuate the city as the Martians approach. Estimated in last two hours three million people have moved out along the roads to the north…
Hutchison River Parkway still kept open for motor traffic. Avoid bridges to Long Island… hopelessly jammed. All communication with Jersey shore closed ten minutes ago.
No more defenses. Our army is… wiped out… artillery, air force, everything wiped out.
This may be the last broadcast. We’ll stay here to the end…
(VOICES SINGING HYMN)
ANNOUNCER
People are holding service here below us… in the cathedral.
(SOUND OF BOAT WHISTLES)
ANNOUNCER
Now I look down the harbor. All manner of boats, overloaded with fleeing population, pulling out from docks.
Streets are all jammed. Noise in crowds like New Year’s Eve in city. Wait a minute… The… the enemy is now in sight above the Palisades. Five ââ?¬â? five great machines. First one is crossing the river. I can see it from here, wading… wading the Hudson like a man wading through a brook…
A bulletin is handed me…
Martian cylinders are falling all over the country. One outside of Buffalo, one in Chicago… St. Louis… seem to be timed and spaced…
Now the first machine reaches the shore. He stands watching, looking over the city. His steel, cowlish head is even with the skyscrapers. He waits for the others. They rise like a line of new towers on the city’s west side…
Now they’re lifting their metal hands. This is the end now. Smoke comes out… black smoke, drifting over the city. People in the streets see it now. They’re running towards the East River… thousands of them, dropping in like rats.
Now the smoke’s spreading faster. It’s reached Times Square. People are trying to run away from it, but it’s no use. They’re falling like flies.
Now the smoke’s crossing Sixth Avenue… Fifth Avenue… a… a hundred yards away… it’s fifty feet…
(BODY FALLS)
(SOUNDS OF CITY IN TURMOIL, FOGHORNS, WHISTLES… )
OPERATOR FOUR
2X2L calling CQ… 2X2L calling CQ… 2X2L calling CQ… New York. Isn’t there anyone on the air? Isn’t there anyone on the air? Isn’t there anyone… 2X2L…
CBS ANNOUNCER (INTERRUPTS THE ACTUAL RADIO PLAY)
You are listening to a CBS presentation of Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air in an original dramatization of “The War of the Worlds” by H. G. Wells. The performance will continue after a brief intermission. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.
(MUSIC)
PROF. PIERSON
As I set down these notes on paper, I’m obsessed by the thought that I may be the last living man on Earth. I have been hiding in this empty house near Grovers Mill ââ?¬â? a small island of daylight cut off by the black smoke from the rest of the world.
All that happened before the arrival of these monstrous creatures in the world now seems part of another life… a life that has no continuity with the present, furtive existence of the lonely derelict who pencils these words on the back of some astronomical notes bearing the signature of Richard Pierson.
I look down at my blackened hands, my torn shoes, my tattered clothes, and I… try to connect them with a professor who lives at Princeton, and who on the night of October 30th, glimpsed through his telescope an orange splash of light on a distant planet.
My wife, my colleagues, my students, my books, my observatory, my… my world… where are they? Did they ever exist? Am I Richard Pierson? What day is it? Do days exist without calendars? Does time pass when there are no human hands left to wind the clocks?…
In writing down my daily life I tell myself I shall preserve human history between the dark covers of this little book that was meant to record the movements of the stars, but… to write I must live, and to live, I must eat… I find moldy bread in the kitchen, and an orange not too spoiled to swallow.
I keep watch at the window. From time to time I catch sight of a… Martian above the black smoke. The smoke still holds the house in its black coil, but… at length there is a hissing sound and suddenly I see a Martian mounted on his machine, spraying the air with a jet of steam, as if to dissipate the smoke. I watch in a corner as his huge metal legs nearly brush against the house. Exhausted by terror, I fall asleep… it’s morning…
(QUIETLY)
Morning! Sun streams in the window. The black cloud of gas has lifted, and the scorched meadows to the north look as though a black snowstorm has passed over them.
I venture from the house. I make my way to a road. No traffic. Here and there a wrecked car, baggage overturned, a blackened skeleton. I push on north.
For some reason I feel safer trailing these monsters than running away from them. And I keep a careful watch. I have seen the Martians… feed. Should one of their machines appear over the top of trees, I am ready to fling myself flat on the earth.
I come to a chestnut tree. October… chestnuts are ripe. I fill my pockets. I must keep alive.
Two days I wander in a vague northerly direction through a desolate world.
Finally I notice a living creature… a small red squirrel in a beech tree. I stare at him, and wonder. He stares back at me. I believe at that moment the animal and I shared the same emotion. . .the joy of finding another living being.
I push on north. I… find dead cows in a brackish field, and beyond the charred ruins of a dairy, the silo remains standing guard over the waste land like a lighthouse deserted by the sea. Astride the silo perches a weathercock. The arrow points north.
Next day I come to a city… a city vaguely familiar in its contours, yet its buildings strangely dwarfed and leveled off, as if a giant had sliced off its highest towers with a capricious sweep of his hand. I reached the outskirts. I found Newark, undemolished, but humbled by some whim of the advancing Martians.
Presently, with an odd feeling of being watched, I caught sight of something crouching in a doorway. I made a step towards it… it rose up and became a man! ââ?¬â? a man, armed with a large knife.
STRANGER
(OFF-MIC) Stop!
(CLOSER) Where do you come from?
PROF. PIERSON
I come from… from many places! A long time ago from Princeton.
STRANGER
Princeton, huh? That’s near Grovers Mill!
PROF. PIERSON
Yes.
STRANGER
Grovers Mill… (LAUGHS AS AT A GREAT JOKE, THEN SOUNDS ANGRY)
There’s no food here! This is my country… all this end of town down to the river. There’s only food for one…
Which way are you going?
PROF. PIERSON
I don’t know. I guess I’m looking for ââ?¬â? for people.
STRANGER
(NERVOUSLY) What was that? Did you hear something just then?
PROF. PIERSON
No… only a bird… (AMAZED) A live bird!
STRANGER
Yeah… You get to know that birds have shadows these days… Hey, we’re in the open here. Let’s crawl in this doorway here and talk.
PROF. PIERSON
Have you seen any… Martians?
STRANGER
Naah. They’ve gone over to New York. At night the sky is alive with their lights. Just as if people were still livin’ in it. By daylight you can’t see them. Five days ago a couple of them carried somethin’ big across the flats from the airport. I think they’re learning how to fly.
PROF. PIERSON
Fly?
STRANGER
Yeah, fly.
PROF. PIERSON
Then it’s all over with humanity.
Stranger, there’s still you and I. Two of us left.
STRANGER
Yeah… They got themselves in solid; they wrecked the greatest country in the world. Those green stars, they’re probably falling somewhere every night. They’ve only lost one machine. There isn’t anything to do. We’re done. We’re licked.
PROF. PIERSON
Where were you? You’re in a uniform.
STRANGER
Yeah, what’s left of it. I was in the militia ââ?¬â? National Guard?… Heh! That’s good! There wasn’t any war… any more than there’s war between men and ants!
PROF. PIERSON
Yes, but we’re… eatable ants! I found that out… What’ll they do with us?
STRANGER
I’ve thought it all out. Right now we’re caught as we’re wanted. The Martian only has to go a few miles to get a crowd on the run. But they won’t keep on doing that. They’ll begin catching us systematic-like ââ?¬â? keeping the best and storing us in cages and things. They haven’t begun on us yet!
PROF. PIERSON
Not begun?
STRANGER
Not begun! All that’s happened so far is because we don’t have sense enough to keep quiet… botherin’ them with guns and such stuff and losing our heads and rushing off in crowds. Now instead of our rushing around blind we’ve got to fix ourselves up ââ?¬â? fix ourselves up according to the way things are NOW. Cities, nations, civilization, progress… done.
PROF. PIERSON
Yes, but if that’s so… what is there to live for?
STRANGER
Well, there won’t be any more concerts for a million years or so, and no nice little dinners at restaurants. If it’s amusement you’re after, I guess the game’s up.
PROF. PIERSON
What is there left?
STRANGER
Life! That’s what! I want to live. Yeah, and so do you. We’re not going to be exterminated. And I don’t mean to be caught, either! Tamed, and fattened, and bred, like an ox!
PROF. PIERSON
What are you going to do?
STRANGER
I’m going on… right under their feet. I got a plan. We men as men are finished. We don’t know enough. We gotta learn plenty before we’ve got a chance. And we’ve got to live and keep free while we learn, see? I’ve thought it all out, see.
PROF. PIERSON
Tell me the rest.
STRANGER
Well, it isn’t all of us that are made for wild beasts, and that’s what it’s got to be! That’s why I watched you… watched YOU.
All these little office workers that used to live in these houses ââ?¬â? they’d be no good. They haven’t any stuff in ‘em.
They used to run… run off to work. I’ve seen hundreds of ‘em, running to catch their commuter’s train in the morning afraid they’d be canned if they didn’t; running back at night afraid they won’t be in time for dinner. Lives insured and a little invested in case of accidents.
Yeah, and on Sundays, worried about the hereafter. The Martians will be a godsend for those guys. Nice roomy cages, good food, careful breeding, no worries.
Yeah, after a week or so chasing about the fields on empty stomachs they’ll come and be glad to be caught.
PROF. PIERSON
You’ve thought it all out, haven’t you?
STRANGER
Sure… you bet I have! That isn’t all. These Martians, they’re going to make pets of some of ‘em, train ‘em to do tricks. Who knows? Get sentimental over the pet boy who grew up and had to be killed… Yeah… and some, maybe, they’ll train to hunt us!
PROF. PIERSON
No, that’s impossible. No human being…
STRANGER
Yes they will. There’s men who’ll do it gladly. If one of them ever comes after me, why…
PROF. PIERSON
In the meantime… you and I and others like us… where are we to live when the Martians own the earth?
STRANGER
I’ve got it all figured out.
We’ll live underground. I’ve been thinking about the sewers. Under New York there are miles and miles of ‘em. The main ones are big enough for anybody. And there’s cellars, vaults, underground storerooms, railway tunnels, subways…
You begin to see, eh? We’ll get a bunch of strong men together. No weak ones; that rubbish ââ?¬â? out!
PROF. PIERSON
As you meant me to go?
STRANGER
Well, I… gave you a chance, didn’t I?
PROF. PIERSON
We won’t quarrel about that. Go on.
STRANGER
Well… we’ve got to make safe places for us to stay in, see? Get all the books we can… science books. That’s where men like you come in, see? We’ll raid the museums, we’ll even spy on the Martians.
It may not be so much we have to learn before � listen, just imagine this
four or five of their own fighting machines suddenly start off ââ?¬â? heat rays right and left and not a Martian in ‘em. Not a Martian in ‘em, see? But MEN ââ?¬â? men who’ve learned the way how. It may even be in our time.
Gee! Imagine having one of them lovely things with a heat ray wide and free! We’d turn it on Martians, we’d turn it on men. We’d bring everybody down on their knees!
PROF. PIERSON
That’s your plan?
STRANGER
Yeah!
You, me, and a few more of us… we’d own the world!
PROF. PIERSON
I see…
STRANGER
(FADING OUT) Hey… hey, what’s the matter?… Where are you going?
PROF. PIERSON
Not to your world!
Bye, stranger…
(PAUSE)
PROF. PIERSON
Well, after parting with the artilleryman, I came at last to the Holland Tunnel. I entered that silent tube anxious to know the fate of the great city on the other side of the Hudson. Cautiously I came out of the tunnel and made my way up Canal Street.
I reached Fourteenth Street, and there again were black powder and several bodies, and an evil ominous smell from the gratings of the cellars of some of the houses.
I wandered up through the Thirties and Forties; I stood alone on Times Square. I caught sight of a lean dog running down Seventh Avenue with a piece of dark brown meat in his jaws, and a pack of starving mongrels at his heels. He made a wide circle around me, as though he feared I might prove a fresh competitor.
I walked up Broadway in the direction of that strange powder � past silent shop windows, displaying their mute wares to empty sidewalks � past the Capitol Theatre, silent, dark � past a shooting gallery, where a row of empty guns faced an arrested line of wooden ducks.
Near Columbus Circle I noticed models of 1939 motorcars in the showrooms facing empty streets. From over the top of the General Motors Building, I watched a flock of black birds circling in the sky. I hurried on.
Suddenly I caught sight of the hood of a Martian machine, standing somewhere in Central Park, gleaming in the late afternoon sun. An insane idea! I rushed recklessly across Columbus Circle and into the Park. I climbed a small hill above the pond at Sixtieth Street and from there I could see, standing in a silent row along the mall, nineteen of those great metal Titans, their cowls empty, their steel arms hanging listlessly by their sides. I looked in vain for the monsters that inhabit those machines.
Suddenly, my eyes were attracted to the immense flock of black birds that hovered directly below me. They circled to the ground, and there before my eyes, stark and silent, lay the Martians, with the hungry birds pecking and tearing brown shreds of flesh from their dead bodies.
Later when their bodies were examined in the laboratories, it was found that they were killed by the putrefactive and disease bacteria against which their systems were unprepared… slain, after all man’s defenses had failed, by the humblest thing that God in His wisdom has put upon this earth.
Before the cylinder fell there was a general persuasion that through all the deep of space no life existed beyond the petty surface of our minute sphere. Now we see further. Dim and wonderful is the vision I have conjured up in my mind of life spreading slowly from this little seedbed of the solar system throughout the inanimate vastnesses of sidereal space, but… that’s a remote dream. It may be that the destruction of the Martians is only a reprieve. To them, and not to us, is the future ordained perhaps.
Strange it now seems to sit in my peaceful study at Princeton writing down this last chapter of the record begun at a deserted farm in Grovers Mill. Strange to watch children… playing in the streets. Strange to see young people strolling on the green, where the new spring grass heals the last black scars of a bruised earth. Strange to watch the sightseers enter the museum where the dissembled parts of a Martian machine are kept on public view. Strange when I recall the time when I first saw it, bright and clean-cut, hard, and silent, under the dawn of that last great day…
(MUSIC SWELLS UP AND OUT)
ORSON WELLES
This is Orson Welles, ladies and gentlemen, out of character to assure you that “The War of The Worlds” has no further significance than as the holiday offering it was intended to be. The Mercury Theatre’s own radio version of dressing up in a sheet and jumping out of a bush and saying Boo!
Starting now, we couldn’t soap all your windows and steal all your garden gates by tomorrow night… so we did the best next thing. We annihilated the world before your very ears, and utterly destroyed the C. B. S. You will be relieved, I hope, to learn that we didn’t mean it, and that both institutions are still open for business.
So goodbye everybody, and remember please, for the next day or so, the terrible lesson you learned tonight. That grinning, glowing, globular invader of your living room is an inhabitant of the pumpkin patch, and if your doorbell rings and nobody’s there, that was no Martian… it’s Halloween.
(MERCURY THEATRE THEME UP FULL, THEN DOWN)
ANNOUNCER
Tonight the Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations coast-to-coast have brought you “The War of the Worlds,” by H. G. Wells, the seventeenth in its weekly series of dramatic broadcasts featuring Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air.
Next week we present a dramatization of three famous short stories.
This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.

Photo: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

* * *

Sky in a Box
(Imediações da Praça Carlos Gomes, Curitiba-PR)
Photos: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

A Guerra do Pente
(Da Wikipedia)

A Guerra do Pente foi um protesto que teve iní­cio em 8 de dezembro de 1959 na cidade de Curitiba. O então governador do Estado, Moysés Lupion, iniciou uma campanha para aumento da arrecadação tributária chamada de “Seu Talão Vale um Milhão”. A promoção consistia em juntar comprovantes fiscais de compra no valor de três mil cruzeiros e trocar por um cupom que daria o direito ao sorteio de um milhão de cruzeiros.

O Conflito

No dia 8 de dezembro o Subtenente António Tavares da Polí­cia Militar do Estado do Paraná comprou um pente pelo valor de quinze cruzeiros e exigiu o comprovante do comerciante libanês Harmed Najar. Houve uma discussão entre eles e o comerciante fraturou a perna do Subtenente. Estava iniciado o conflito.

Cento e vinte lojas de árabes, judeus, italianos e brasileiros mas todos conhecidos como “turcos” foram depedradas. Algumas delas totalmente destruí­das.

Todos os jornais, revistas, além da rádio registraram o acontecimento do primeiro dia e a espontaneidade com que tudo se iniciara. A revolta atingiu as lojas do centro da cidade, bares, bancas de revistas e carrinhos de pipoca, órgãos públicos como COAP (Comissão de Abastecimento e Preços); DFDG (Delegacias de Falsificações e Defraudação em Geral); Chefeatura de Polí­cia; Biblioteca Pública do Paraná; Edifí­cios do IPASE e a Agência do IAPC.

A Intervenção do Exército

A intervenção policial e de uma guarnição do Corpo de Bombeiros acirraram ainda mais os ânimos dos populares. Houve quebra-quebra generalizado por todo o centro curitibano. Com a intensificação da ação policial sobre o povo, aumentou-se a resposta em forma violenta, dispersando-a para outras ruas e praças. No segundo dia do levante, muitos dos “desordeiros” haviam sido presos. Porém, o movimento continuou com menor proporção. O Exército assumiu o comando de controle do tumulto, que parecia fugir das mãos da Polí­cia Civil e Militar, e teve um reordenamento de estratégia. Uma ação organizada de forte aparato bélico com pelotões de soldados armados de baionetas e metralhadoras esvaziou o centro da cidade, numa operação segurança comandada pelo Capitão José Olavo de Castro, da Polí­cia do Exército.

No terceiro e último dia do protesto, o Exército controlou a cidade. Pontos de ônibus foram alterados de local, realizou-se toque de recolher í s 20:00, medidas de um controle intenso do espaço público. O deslocamento ao centro da cidade já estavam normalizadas. O Exército, sob comando do General Oromar Osório, manteve patrulhas que circulavam pelas ruas na tentativa de evitar a desordem. Os bares foram obrigados a fechar suas portas í s vinte horas, por determinação da Delegacia de Segurança Pessoal. A ação do Exército, da Polí­cia Militar e Civil evitou maiores danos, que nas palavras de Pinheiro Jr, chefe de polí­cia da capital, “a polí­cia agiu com prudência segundo suas circunstância”. Além da violenta imposição da paz armada, houve pedidos por parte das autoridades militares e religiosas, o Arcebispo Metropolitano D. Manoel da Silva Delboeux fez um “apelo a juventude para não comprometer-se nesta tragédia triste de vandalismo”, “a interferência do Exército determinou o encerramento da baderna predatória”.

__________________________________________________________

20/4/1986
A Guerra do Pente em exibição no Cine Groff

A partir de amanhã, em 5 sessões, o cine Groff estará exibindo uma produção curitibana: “A Guerra do Pente – O Dia em que Curitiba Explodiu”, semi-documentário de Nivaldo Lopes (Palito).

Partindo de fatos reais – o quebra-quebra ocorrido em dezembro de 1959, no centro da cidade – Palito construiu um filme interessante, com linguagem não convencional e que ao lado do idealismo de sua realização serve também para denunciar um fato que inúmeras vezes aqui levantamos: a falta de documentação de nossa história contemporânea. Apesar da repercussão dos fatos de 27 anos passados – inclusive com cobertura de veí­culos internacionais – Palito não localizou um único fonograma do quebra-quebra. Claro que na época ainda inexistia a televisão em Curitiba (só em 1960, o sr. Nagib Chede inauguraria a TV Paranaense), mas, em compensação, havia atuantes cine-jornais, como a Flamma Filmes, além de cinegrafistas atentos, como o pioneiro Eugênio Felix ou o jovem Bob (ainda hoje em ação, na equipe do Palácio Iguaçu). Será que ninguém teve a idéia de documentar os protestos populares, os quebra-quebras das lojas de propriedades dos árabes – tudo provocado por uma prosaica briga entre um militar e um comerciante, que se recusou a fornecer uma nota fiscal?

Mesmo em cobertura fotográfica, Nivaldo Lopes só encontrou bom material nas páginas de O Estado do Paraná e Tribuna do Paraná, além de algumas manchetes da edição regional da “Última Hora”. Dentro da liberdade de criação, Palito montou outras cenas – inclusive feitas em redação – mas rodadas em jornal que na época não existia.

Não se pode, em absoluto, pretender de “A Guerra do Pente” um filme documental, preciso. Se assim quisesse, poderia ter realizado um curta de 10 ou 12 minutos, didático e explicativo – e que teria condições de comercialização bem mais facilitadas do que um filme de 70 minutos, como o seu (e que será apresentado tendo como complemento o curta “Janelas”, já elogiado num dos festivais de Brasí­lia).

Irreverente, partidário de uma linguagem fragmentada – o que demonstrou já em seus 7 curtas e médias metragens rodados em super-8 (dois dos quais baseado em contos do mineiro Roberto Drummond), Palito intercalou a sua própria participação na realização do filme – bate-papo com a equipe, conversas informais em bares da cidade e um longo depoimento auto-explicativo final – com a encenação de alguns episódios, inclusive da briga-pivô do conflito. De outro lado, há os depoimentos dos comerciantes libaneses que provocaram a confusão – Ahmad Nazar e Fuad Youssef Omairy – do general Iberê de Mattos, que era prefeito na época, do jornalista Walmor Mercelino, repórter policial do “Diário do Paraná” em 1959, e especialmente, do cineasta e pesquisador Valêncio Xavier, autor da reportagem “O Dia em que Curitiba Explodiu”, publicada na revista “Panorama” há 2 anos, e que motivou Palito a realizar o filme. Em sua linguagem descontraí­da, sem meias-verdades, Valêncio abre e encerra o filme – dando um toque de humor ao depoimento.

Atores e atrizes como Emí­lio Pita (gritando muito, no papel de delegado), Luí­s Mello, Rosa Maria Caviassin, Paulo Friebe, Ana Denruczuk, Marcelo Diepce e José Dyabat, entre outros, participaram das filmagens, todos trabalhando de graça, já que a produção foi das mais pobres – tendo um amigo de Palito, o empresário Dirceu Mendes de Brito, investido cerca de Cz$ 60 mil para custear as despesas de filme virgem e laboratório. A montagem de Pedro Merege Filho é interessante, aproveitando bem o material reunido.

Pode parecer estranho que, entre os depoimentos, apareça o do advogado Luí­s Felipe Mussi, secretário da Segurança Pública na época (1985) da rodagem do filme, mas que, por sua pouca idade, não teve qualquer relação com os fatos ocorridos em 1959. Acontece que Mussi foi uma das poucas autoridades a dar mão forte a Palito, enfrentando inclusive a irritação de alguns oficiais da Polí­cia Militar que, contrários í  realização do filme – e tentando exercer uma censura indireta – tudo fizeram para prejudicar as filmagens. Mussi, ao contrário, deu apoio logí­stico e cedeu, inclusive, uma sucata (um veí­culo da Polí­cia Civil), para ser incendiada e destruí­da numa das seqüências. Uma atitude simpática e bonita, que ajudou a realização de um semi-documentário que, realizado com toda dificuldade, se propõe a rediscutir a explosão da fúria popular, a mostrar o comportamento e a situação que, a qualquer momento pode se repetir. Haja vista a (justa) ira de quem flagra comerciantes adulterando preços após o congelamento. Se Curitiba explodiu nas vésperas do Natal de 1959, nada impede que possa explodir novamente.

Só que se isto acontecesse, seria ao menos mais documentada do que no quebra-quebra do final dos anos 50.

Texto de Aramis Millarch, publicado originalmente em:
Veí­culo: Jornal O Estado do Paraná
Caderno ou Suplemento: Almanaque
Coluna ou Seção: Seção de Cinema
Página: 5
Data: 20/4/1986

Photo: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

Testamento do Capitão Povoador Mateus Martins Leme. 2/6/1695. 9í° avô duas vezes e por dois diferentes 6í° avós :

Em nome da Santí­ssima Trindade Padre filho e Espí­rito Santo três pessoas e hum só Deus uerdadeiro. Saibam quantos este público Istromento uirem em como no ano do nascimento denosso Senhor Jesus Cristo demil e seis sentos e e nouenta e sinco anos aos dous dias domez de Junho do dito anno, eu Mateus Martis Leme estando em cama, faso este meu testamento da foram seguinte:

Primeiramente encomendo minha alma a Santí­ssima Trindade, que acriou e rogo ao padre eterno pellamorte e paicham do seu unigenito filho a queira reseber como resebeu a sua estando pera morer na aruore da uera Crus e a meo Senhor Jezus Cristo pesso por suas divinas chagas que va que nesta uida me fesmercê dar seu presioso sange emeresimento deseus traualhos me faxa também mercê nauida que esperamos dar o prêmio quilhe agloria e pexo e rogo a gloria Virgem Maria mãy de deus e ao anio de minha garda e atodos os santos de quem sou deuoto queira por mim emtreseder agora e quando minha alma deste corpo sair porque como uerdadeiro cristam protesto deuiver emorer em asanta fé católica e nesta fé espero saluar minha alma não pââ?¬â?¢ro meus meresimentos, mas pellos da paicham dââ?¬â?¢ungenito filho de deus;

Rogo a meu genro Antonio da Costa celozo e a Capptam. Mór agostinho de fiqueiredo, em Pernaguá Manoel velozo que per seruisso de deus queiram ser meu testamenteiro, feitores e procuradores de meus beis – meu corpo será sepultado nesta Igreia matris no Cruzero de Tailho do arco aonde está sepultado meo filho Miguel Martins – Declaro que não deuo diuidas nem huas somente duas colheres e hua tomoladera que possa ter quatro patacas de peso pouco mais ou menos;

declaro que estas duas colheres e a tomoladera deuo a manoel picam de dote;

declaro que sou casado com antonia de goes em fase da Igreia da qual tiue dous filhos machos a sauer – Antonio Martins yá defunto e Mateus Leme e a anna maria da silva e a maria Leme mulher de manoel picam;

declaro que caseia anna maria da silva com antonio da Costa uelozo lhe dev seu dot porem cheiro tudo q lhe prometti não lhe resto a deuer nada;

declaro que cazei a minha filha maria Leme com manoel Picam e lhe entregey todo dote que lhe prometi so lhe resto as duas colheres e atamoladera que asima digo;

declaro que o defunto meo filho Antú. Martins que deus aia quando se cazou com a filha de baltezal carrasco leuou sincoenta rezes emtre piquenas e grandes e hu rapagam de quinze ou uinte annos e tres espigardas e se quizer entrará com tudo isto a colasam;

declaro que tenho em casa de mateus Leme hu negro por por nome uicente e hua rapariga por nome maria e hum negreo seu melaton hu negro por nome manoel, o coal defunto ficará por sua conta;

declaro que tinha encarregado o meu filho mateus Leme o gado quer bacum e caualgaduras ouelhas e a feramentatodas machados, foises emchadas e feramenta de carpintaria toda;

declaro que tenho hu casal de pessas manoel com sua mulher marsela, hu filho por nome gaspar, hu neto por nome Inosensio;
Bernardo com sua mulher anna seu filho por nome faustino hu neto por nome siriaco, hua neta por nome maria que está em casa de Mateus Leme; Francisca com tres netos simoa Paulo e Juan – André e seu irmão pedro e sua Irmã Theodosia – Leam soltero e seu neto Lazaro – Felipe soltero faustina tapanhuma, soltera;

Declaro que grauuiel e palinario os deichou o defunto meu pay deus aia em Sam paullo forros com condisam que a grauiel com hua bastarda de minha obrigasaram a coal uruana deicho per forra e livre de oie pera sempre;

Declaro que tenho hum cazal de pessas hu í­ndio por nome Joseph e sua mulher Domingas com hua filha por nome merensia, a dita merensia com hua filha de peito e este cazal de pessas pelos bons seruissos que delle tenho resebido agazalhos e soccorros e boa companhia que só delles sou soccorrido e empar elo em todo os meus traualhos que me asistem com todo nesesario em todas as minhas nesesidades, assim que pesso a meus testamenros e erderos que com o dito cazal e sua filha e nete não entendam nem queiram sageitar por ser assim minha ultima uontade, mas antes socoram em sua nesesidades;

Declaro que tenho mais hua negra madanela com seu filho nicolau e nicolau com duas filhas por nome Lourença e outra por nome Domingas;

Declaro que tenho hu bastardo por nome Luis ao qual deicho por minha morte por esmola hu rapas do gentio da terra por nome Inosensio, a qual deicho por esmola que em hum erdero meu podera entender-se com elle – declaro que Liam e gaspar cada hu tem hua espingarda iram com suas espingardas a quem couber;

Declaro que Joseph fica com sua espingarda que nem hu erdero poderá entender com elle – Declaro que tenho hua tapanhuma por nome faustina a coal se venderá para satisfasam de meus legados entero acompanhamento e missas;

Declaro que me acompanhará o Pe. Vigro. Meo corpo com sua Crus e acrus das almas e denosa Senhora e porquanto esta he minha ultima uontade de modo que tenho dito peso a justisa de sua magestade fasam dar entero cumprimento e meus testamenteros nomeado lhe torno a pedir queiram ser meus testamenteros e de meus beis, tomem o mais bem posse delles e ou uendam pera meus legados he enteramente se nesesario forem vendelos e por esta hei por acauado este meu testamento que asinei em dito dia mês e annos atras.
Mateus miz Leme

Testemunhas: O P. Vigario Antonio de Aluarenga, Antonio A. Martins, Antonio Roiz Seixas, Luiz de Sequeira, Garcia Rodrigues Velho.

CODECILHO
Saibam quanto o este publico Istromento e sedula de condesilio uirem que no anno do nascimento denoso senhor Jezus Cristo de mil e seiscentos e nuoenta esete annos aos dezasete dias do mês deabril da dita era nesta uilla de nosa Senhora da Luz dos pinhaes de Curitiba aonde eu Mateus Martiz Leme sou morador uendo me doente e as portas da morte estando em meu perfeito Juizo e entendimento que Deus me deu e temendo a conta final que lhe eide dar dezeio por minha alma no caminho do salvasam não sabendo o que Deos nosso Senhor de mim quererá fazer por cuio respeito fiz yá meu testamento o qual retifico e porque depois de hauer feito pare seo ome declarar nesta sedula de codisilio alguas miudezas pera não deixar embaraços a meus erderos; primeiramente meu corpo sera sepultado na forma que ordeno emeu testamento em hu aBito doserafico Padre Sam Francisco que pera isso deixo yá prevenido pera a minha mortalha; declaro que de mais Beis que deixo pera entrar com os mais Beis ao monte hua serua do gentio da terra moça uinda do sertam que fica em poder de Antonio da Costa velozo meu genro, assim mais deixo pera entrar em partilha commeus erderos huas miudezas que sam hua espingarda e huas corentes coms seos colares e outras miudezas mais que tudo consta de hu Rol que deixo entregu a meu genro o Capptam. Antonio da Costa ueloso e com isto ei por acauado este meu codesilio por ser minha ultima uontade declarada em meo testamento com mais a miudeza em fe do que asinei e rogey ao tabaleam Joseph de Souto este assim me fizese em o dito dia e era asima em presença das testemunhas abaixo nomeadas e asinadas a saber Manoel Corea Lopes, Manoel picam Carualho, Miguel Domingues Vidigal, Saluador Nunes pesoas de mim tabaleam reconhesidas que comigo asinam Eu Joseph do Souto tabaleam o escreury.

As miudezas constantes do rol acima referido comprehendiam quantro legoas de terras no Taperussu, sitio do Rio Grande e meia legoa de terras junto a villa, etc.

Romario Martins, no livro “Curityba de Outrora e de Hoje”diz que Matheus Martins Leme foi capitão-povoador de 1691 a 1693; pensamos ser engano. Antes desta era já exercia o cargo de capitão-povoador e sesmeiro: a propria petição do povo de 24 de Março de 1693 demonstra que Mathes Leme, por duas vezes procurou os capitães-móres das capitanias do litoral para crearem justiça ao que allegavam não ser necessario por ter já havido justiça creada pelo defunto Capitão Gabriel de Lara. Ora, em todas as povoações dotadas de pelourinho havia um capitão povoador. No auto de erecção do pelourinho já Matheu Leme apparece como segundo signatário e o seu filho e escrivão de sesmaria Antonio Martins Leme, figura nesse documento como tabellião.
Tudo induz que Gabriel de Lara ao erigir o pelourinho nomeou capitão-povoador a Matheus Martins Leme.

O capitão-povoador teve, do seu consorcio, os seguintes filhos;

1ú Capitão Antonio Martins Leme, natural de S. Paulo, de onde veiu com seus paes para Curityba e ahi se casou com Margarida Fernandes Balthazar Carrasco dos reis (Vide). Serviu o cargo de tabellião e escrivão de sesmarias de Curityba sob as ordens do seu pae. (1668 a 1674);

2ú Capitão Matheus Leme da Silva, natural de S. Paulo, casado com Isabel do Prado Delgado – conhecida por Isabel Pedrosa. Falleceu cego com 110 anos em 1740, em extrema pobreza. Sonegou no inventário do pae, 500 cabeças de gado;
3ú Miguel Martins Leme, sertanista, falleceu solteiro antes de 1695;

4ú Antonia Maria da Silva, casada com o Capitão Antonio da Costa Velloso, natural de Setubal, vulto preponderante da villa de Curityba no inicio da vida municipal;

5ú Maria Leme, casada com o capitão de infantaria de ordenanças Manoel Picam de Carvalho (Vide); {Meus (RCO) 8í° avós}.
Filho legitimado:

6ú Cap. Salvador Martins Leme, casado com Isabel Fernandes de Sequeira.

Filho não legitimado:
7ú Miguel Leme.

Engana-se o ilustre historiographo Francisco Negrão quando diz que o capitão povoador falleceu em 1695, pois o codicilho que reproduzimos data de 1697, anno em que, de facto, morreu”.

Fonte : Diccionario Histórico e Geographico do Paraná. Volume III, Fascí­culo III, 1270-1274. Ermelino de Leão. Ano de 1926. Curitiba.

Na Genealogia Paulistana, Volume VII, 258 :

“Esta famí­lia teve começo em S. Paulo em Francisco Martins Bonilha, natural de Castela, cunhado do general Diogo Flores de Bardez (Valdez), em cuja armada veio a Santos com sua mulher Antonia Gonçalves, natural de Sevilha, que faleceu em 1616. Esta famí­lia tem a sua nobreza provada, como consta dos autos processados no cartório de órfãos de S. Paulo, em que Maria Martins, f.ê natural do capitão João Martins Bonilha ç 2.ú do Cap. 2.ú adiante, provou ser havida antes do casamento de seu pai e antes que ele gozasse da qualidade da nobreza, que datava de pouco tempo antes de 1658; pelo que requeria ser admitida í  herança de seu pai com os f.ús legí­timos, e sua pretensão foi julgada favoravelmente por sentença no dito ano de 1658. Teve Francisco Martins Bonilha os 5 f.ús seguintes:

Cap. 1.ú Thomé Martins Bonilha.

Cap. 2.ú André Martins Bonilha.

Cap. 3.ú Joanna de Castilho.

Cap. 4.ú Izabel Rodrigues.

Cap. 5.ú Maria Gonçalves Martins.

Cap. 1.ú

Thomé Martins Bonilha (1), natural de S. Paulo, foi casado como Leonor Leme, f.ê de Matheus Leme e de Antonia de Chaves; V. 2.ú pág. 311; foi também casado com Ignez Pedroso, viúva de João Leite Furtado, f.ú do capitão governador Pedro Alvares Cabral e de Suzanna Moreira, Tit. Garcias Velhos. Faleceu Thomé Martins em 1660 e teve da 1.ê mulher o f.ú único:

1-1 Capitão Matheus Martins Leme ç 1.ú

As fotografias que seguem foram capturadas com câmeras Holga.

Considerando-se apenas os padrões industriais vigentes, trata-se de um aparato fotográfico extremamente rudimentar e grosseiro, fabricado em plástico barato e que surgiu na China comunista dos anos 80 como uma opção pragmática para a fotografia de massas.

As máquinas Holga (e outras similares), que usam filme de 135 mm, logo se tornaram obsoletas e certamente teriam sido esquecidas, não tivessem sido recentemente revivificadas, em todo o mundo, por um séquito de cultistas, justamente pelo que costumava ser tido como uma série de defeitos objetivos (intensa distorção cromática, brilho intenso em certas partes do fotograma etc.).

A holgamania ou lomomania (nome derivado das máquinas soviéticas Lomo, quase idênticas) é hoje um fenômeno crescente. Comunidades na internet se dedicam a experimentos originalí­ssimos com as mesmas, testando seus limites tecnológicos e os próprios limites objetivos da fotografia convencional, o que é excelente em tempos de tantas traquitanas e engenhocas caras (e inúteis!).

As imagens que seguem são, nesse sentido, muito eloqüentes (a do í­cone de Jesus, por sinal, foi linkada a uma fotografia de Haroldo Viegas que já circulou em Hackeando Catatau, em razão da proximidade simbólica destas linguagens e tendo em vista o notório foco da obra de Viegas na pura mensagem pictórica-fotográfica, muito mais do que a forma fotográfica convencional).

HOLGA HISTORY
Holga�s history is the thing of myth and legend. Some say that the camera is
made by the same people who brought us the Diana (a popular all-plastic camera
manufactured in the early 1960�s.) Others say the Holga was designed
specifically to fill the gap left by the Diana�s departure.
The truth is something very different. Holga is not related to Diana, and the
Holga was not designed with the Diana in mind. In fact, the people who manufacture
the Holga were not even familiar with the Diana or its substantial following.
Designed and engineered in a factory in China, the Holga was initially introduced
to China in 1982 as an inexpensive camera using the most popular film
format in the country at that time, 120 size film. China was just beginning to
open its doors to the world and photography was skyrocketing in popularity.
Unfortunately for the Holga, no one could have predicted the quick and overwhelming
dominance that 35mm film would have on the Chinese market and
after only a few short years the Holga was overrun by its 35mm competitors.
But by then, word of a special, all-plastic camera called the Holga had spread
to the West and its popularity was growing. Since then, over a quarter of a million
cameras have been sold in 20 different countries with almost no change in
it�s original design. Then in 2000, the original Holga 120S was joined by the
120SF version which featured a built-in flash.
What�s in a name? Quite a lot it seems, because everyone is wondering where
the name “Holga” came from. The answer is related to the Holgaââ?¬â?¢s oriental heritage.
The name is derived from the Cantonese term ho gwong, which means
“very bright.” A nip and a tuck and a western twist and you get the European
name: “Holga.”

HOLGA SENSIBILITY
A Holga is a study in imperfection, and to use it is an exercise in breaking free
from dependence on technology, precision, and “uber-sharpness.” The slight
softness of images, uncontrollable vignetting and peculiar light leaks create a
partnership between you and the Holga. These “flaws” accompanied by your creative choices result in a quasi-serendipitous art.

A Holga stretches our visual perception. Using a Holga adds a facet to the way we see the world. We notice more things and thus we evaluate their status. A Holga is a rule breaker. To use a Holga is to utterly change the terms of reference most people use to interpret photography.

(From the Holga Manual)

(Clique na Foto)

CAMERAS LOMO !

?Corria o ano de 1982 e o mundo ainda estava em plena Guerra Fria. Na URSS, o general Igor Petrowitsch Kornitzky, do Ministério da Indústria e da Defesa Soviético, ordenou ao director da empresa LOMO, Michael Pantiloff, a produção maciça de máquinas fotográficas pequenas, robustas e fáceis de usar. O general amante da fotografia, Tinha-se deixado encantar por uma pequena máquina japonesa, muito resistente e cujas lentes eram de qualidade excepcional. A ideia era produzir Lomos baratas para que estas se tornassem verdadeiros instrumentos de propaganda, Com todas as famí­lias da URSS a documentarem amplamente, graças a elas, o estilo de vida soviético.
A Lomo Kompact Automat foi produzida em série e vendida não só na União Europeia, mas tembém em paí­ses como o Vietname, a Alemanha de Leste e Cuba.

A “Lomomania” propriamente dita começa em Praga em 1991, quando dois jovens vienenses, de férias na capital da República Checa, descobriram a máquina Lomo. Começaram então a fotografar tudo, muitas vezes sem sequer olhar através da objectiva. De regresso a casa, o fascí­nio dos dois fotógrafos pela cor, a luz e a qualidade das imagens ( focadas ou desfocadas) foi tão contagioso que rapidamente a moda das Lomo se espalhou entre os jovens da cidade.
Em 1995 nascia em Viena, na íustria, a Sociedade Lomográfica e a primeira LomoEmbaixada, com o objectivo de impedir o desaparecimento das pequenas máquinas fotográficas russas, uma vez que a fábrica de São Petersburgo tinha acabado com a produção. A Sociedade Lomográfica organizou uma série de vendas de Lomos no âmbito de diversos eventos culturais, que serviram para afirmar o valor artí­stico da Lomografia.

A arte de fotografar com uma Lomo consiste em fotografar ao acaso, de forma imprevisí­vel. A Lomografia não é uma fotografia encenada, produzida; é uma fotografia do quotidiano.

Um dos grandes projectos da Sociedade Lomográfica em colaboração com as várias embaixadas espalhadas por mais de 50 cidades em todo o mundo, É a constituição do LomoWordArchive, um registo visual, í  escala mundial, graças í s fotografias do lomógrafos de todo o mundo.

Desde o lançamento da Lomo em Lisboa a 11 de Dezembro de 2000 já foram organizadas várias exposições, festas, concursos lomográficos, workshops, publicações e website, perpetuando a imagem colorida e descontraí­da deste género fotográfico. Lomomania, Lomografia, Lomógrafo tornaram-se expressões correntes nesta nova forma de fotografar.?

Veja também: Interiores com câmera precária.

Photos: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

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Lôart et le numérique

Loin de se contrarier, lââ?¬â?¢art et la science informatique sââ?¬â?¢épousent parfaitement. Technique moderne de production, de présentation ou bien encore de création, lââ?¬â?¢art numérique a naturellement élargi ses frontií¨res : spectacles multimédias ou hypermédias, expositions en ligne, installations interactives ou génératives, tout un ensemble dââ?¬â?¢interventions extrêmement variées se produisent ici, maintenant, partout et í  chaque instant, attirant un nombre de plus en plus grand de créateurs comme de spectateurs. Pourtant, le manque de lieux fixes, musées ou centres dââ?¬â?¢art adaptés, empêche encore que lââ?¬â?¢on suive facilement tout ce qui se produit dans ce domaine. Cââ?¬â?¢est pourquoi, í  travers les articles de différents spécialistes, ce nouveau volume des Cahiers du numérique établit un panorama, sinon exhaustif du moins suffisamment complet, de tous les domaines concernés par lââ?¬â?¢art numérique, de leurs perspectives et de leurs enjeux.

Extrait en ligne ici/Trecho online aqui.

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Open source art

Two recent exhibitions provided an introduction to the videos and altered software projections of computer artist Cory Arcangel, who makes his work with various collaborators
Art in America, Sept, 2005 by Sarah Valdez

Most artists would consider opening two prominent gallery exhibitions in Manhattan within the same month–especially solo debuts–at least a little daunting. But not Cory Arcangel, the prolific, unassuming 27-year-old computer geek who, despite the fact that he never set out to make art at all, has been captivating audiences by showing off his witty hacks on the biennial circuit and elsewhere for the past couple of years. (He has accomplished such feats, for instance, as writing binary code to transform Nintendo’s once-popular gun game Hogan’s Alley into I Shot Andy Warhol, which gives gamers points for picking off a pixilated likeness of the famous artist, as opposed to the Pope or Colonel Sanders; for a live performance at the Whitney last year, Arcangel had pepperoni pizza from Domino’s delivered to the museum, using his Pizza Party software–anyone can download it for free.) His latest offerings included a slick installation involving a projection of a hacked Mario Bros. video game at Deitch Projects and a sloppily displayed but nonetheless very clever assortment of projects at Team.

Arcangel recieved his undergraduate degree from Oberlin, where he initially studied classical guitar and music composition, but switched to computer science at the last minute, figuring that was more likely to help him earn a living. While in school, he befriended the likeminded souls Paul B. Davis, Joe Bonn and Joe Beuckman; the four banded together to form the record label/programming ensemble Beige, which collaborated on both recent exhibitions–if not in actual deed, then at least as conspirators in developing and promoting a zany esthetic based on fondness for old-school technology (think DJ battles with cassette tapes). Also contributing resources for the Deitch exhibition was Paper Rad, the Providence, R.I., music/ programming/art collective consisting of Benjamin Jones, Jacob Ciocci and Jessica Ciocci. They made the “set” for the Deitch show and assisted in its programming. (Alexander Galloway, the essayist for a catalogue published for the Deitch show–which consists of 136 pages of microscopic, mostly numerical text that is the code for the Mario Bros. projection–compares programming to sculpture and describes the motivation for collaboration: “[Beige and Paper Rad] work in collectives for the same reason that punks play in bands: it’s funner [sic] that way, and it’s easier to make more noise.”)

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Portais chineses pedem fim da “indecência” na internet
da Efe, em Pequim

Os 14 principais portais de internet chineses pediram ao setor que eliminem os conteúdos indecentes da rede, especialmente a violência e o sexo, informou ontem a agência oficial “Xinhua”.

Em comunicado conjunto, os proprietários dos principais sites –entre eles Sina.com, Sohu.com, Baidu.com e a versão chinesa do Yahoo!– pediram o fim da “cultura indecente na internet”.

“Nós somos totalmente contra as mensagens indecentes, que vão contra as virtudes sociais, a cultura e a tradição chinesas”, afirma o documento “Não aos textos e fotografias indecentes, não aos sistemas de busca para estes conteúdos, não aos links a sites insanos, e não aos jogos on-line que contenham sexo e violência.”

O comunicado também cita mensagens de áudio “ilegais, obscenas ou de mau gosto”, assim como fóruns e blogs com este tipo de conteúdo.

A China tem o segundo maior número de internautas do mundo, 111 milhões de usuários, atrás apenas dos Estados Unidos, com 159 milhões.

Nos últimos quatro anos, o governo chinês lançou diversas campanhas para “limpar” o universo virtual. Segundo seus representantes, “em um constante esforço para fornecer í  juventude um conteúdo saudável”.

Mas esta também foi a desculpa usada para censurar informações, fóruns e blogs polí­ticos e sociais crí­ticos ao governo comunista.

Para controlar os conteúdos, o governo chinês contou com a tecnologia e a ajuda do Yahoo!, Google e Microsoft, entre outras empresas. O Yahoo! chegou a ajudar as autoridades a localizar um blogueiro, que foi detido.

Um editorial do “Diário do Povo”, porta-voz do Partido Comunista, elogiou ontem a iniciativa contra a “indecência na internet”. “Esta medida demonstra uma atitude saudável e positiva por parte dos portais chineses. Os sites são responsáveis, competentes e se uniram í  luta contra as mensagens indecentes na rede”.

Além disso, o editorial afirma que “os sites com conteúdo indecente têm um mercado potencial promissor e conseguem lucrar. No entanto, como estes endereços traem os interesses da maioria da população, eles não durarão muito”.

Segundo a organização Repórteres Sem Fronteiras, a China mantém 62 internautas presos por publicarem na web crí­ticas ao governo.

Holding the Line
(Praça Zacarias, Curitiba, Brasil)
Photo: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

Photos: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

Clique na imagem para ver o ví­deo de Ângela Guadagnin (PT-SP) comemorando a absolvição, pelo plenário da Câmara, de João Magno (PT-MG) das acusações de recebimento de mensalão.

dep.angelaguadagnin@camara.gov.br

ce n’est pas une photographie
Photo: Redskynight
Some rights reserved

Cabines
(Rua XV, Curitiba, Brasil)
Photo: Mathieu Bertrand Struck

Photo by caro…
Some rights reserved

“Para nadie es un secreto que China es un paí­s con “considerable” contaminación. Aún así­, es también un paí­s donde se recicla muuuuucho (yo no soy de términos estadisticos como podrán ver)…y todo ese reciclaje no lo hace la gente en sus casas, sino seí±ores como este, que van por la calle arrastrando una carreta, recogiendo botellas de plástico, cartones, bolsas y demás, que luego venden a las plantas de reciclaje. Para mi, este seí±or es un héroe.
_______________________

Itôs not a secret that China has got pollution problems. However, this is a country where a lot of recycling gets done. But unlike other countries, all that recycling is not done by the people at home, but by men like this one, that go around the cities, collecting plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, bags and anything the could sell to the Recycling Plants. In my opinion, this man is a hero“.