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PIOUS FRAUD
Family was visiting and I became an unofficial tourist guide at Faro Old Town. We alighted at Faro’s Cathedral, or Church of Saint Mary. The last time I visited it had been free, and I felt like a nabob crossing under the old gothic arches of the bell tower and the front door. This time… Continue reading
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Zombies Of Chocolates Past and Present
When Montezuma, Emperor of the Aztecs, threw a bash to impress conquistador Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century, he served not only a dazzling amount of food, but also their special cacahuatl (cacao) drink. Author Bernal Díaz del Castillo observed that “Montezuma ate frugally, but drank chocolate throughout the meal… which they [the Aztecs]… Continue reading
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The Fate of Piggy!man
“Piggy!” he called an accredited White House journalist. He meant it as an insult, but calling someone “Piggy!” is proof of envy. From time immemorial, Piggy! has meant abundance, fertility, and prosperity. Piggy! also implies knowledge, intelligence, dedication. Piggy!man represents none of that. Piggy! deserves our kindness. Piggy!man doesn’t. It’s understandable for the media to… Continue reading
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Head Over Heels
The email sender, a famous astrologer I had never heard of, tries to instruct me on how to prepare for Valentine’s Day. Famous Astrologer states they have the ideal menu for me to prepare for my beloved, according to my beloved’s zodiac sign. Famous Astrologer wants to ensure my Valentine’s prolonged fun and enjoyment, and… Continue reading
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Rub It In: Love, Sex, And Money Luck
Who hasn’t believed in the supernatural power of a black cat as bringer of bad luck or a rabbit’s foot as saviour from unfortunate events? These beliefs hark to when the supernatural could not be explained, when a person fought one myth with another. With galloping developments in the sciences, and computer access, I’d expect… Continue reading
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The Antimatter Wedding Anniversary
In reality, it’s called the Golden Anniversary, and I can’t imagine why. Half a century together deserves to be likened, if at all, to a substance more valuable than gold or merely golden. But do bring out gold coloured tat: balloon arches, ribbons and giant bows, dainty plastic forks and spoons, sparkly cakes, streamers, sequin… Continue reading
American Gothic, Antimatter, Antimatter Anniversary, Can Can, CERN, Durian, Elon, Golden Wedding Anniversary, Granite Anniversary, Jakarta, Jogjakarta, Longest Marriage, Matter, Northeast Brazil, Oak Anniversary, Pearl Anniversary, Porcelain Anniversary, Ruby Anniversary, Shortest Marriage, The Kiss, Tin Anniversary, Upstate New York, Wedding Anniversary, Zermatt -
The Golden Phallus of Football: A Tale of Trophies, Triumphs, and Turmoil
He was full-blown on the telly: gloriously orange face and splendid platinum blonde hair that lent him a smidgen of gravitas for a fraction of a second. The Thingy (henceforth TT) sat at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, facing the camera that he so adores. I did a double take while TT spewed… Continue reading
Brazil Football Champion, Canada, Chinese Football, Estadio Centenário, Fake World Cup Trophy, FIFA, FIFA Founding, FIFA World Cup, Football, Golden Phallus, Jules Rimet, Jules Rimet Trophy, Maracanã Stadium, Meso-America Football, Mexico, O Sole Mio, Pickles, Replica World Cup Trophy, Stolen World Cup, The World Cup, Three Tenors, USA, Winners of the World Cup, World Cup 1930, World Cup 2026, World Cup Audience -
Not for the Squeamish: Mummy Treats
Before Carter discovered King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, and mummies took Manhattan in 2017, mummy-mania had attacked many a society. Before we screamed and hid behind the sofa when mummies scared us with their curses in literature and films, mummies were used for surprisingly beneficial and happy endings. Well, most of the times. Since the… Continue reading
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Pedro II, the Magnanimous
You may remember D. Pedro I, the fickle-hearted emperor. Now we have D. Pedro II, who was Pedro I’s only surviving male son born in wedlock, who became the second emperor of Brazil. They say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but how did Pedro II fare? Pedro II, whose mother died… Continue reading
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Welcome to Regina’s Rants
Welcome to Regina’s Rants, where I write about whatever tickles my fancy, for I have to keep up my reputation of being irascible. The idea of Regina’s Rants started as new things usually do: I had the flooring of my home changed and in the process of removing items from one room to another, akin… Continue reading
Regina's Rants 