WAR OF THE WORLDS

WAR OF THE WORLDS

What time is the end of the world?
No, let’s start from the beginning: The War of the Worlds is a novel written by H. G. Wells, one of the forerunners of the science fiction genre, originally published in installments in 1897 on the Pearson’s Magazine in London.
First curious anecdote: HG Wells took in part inspiration from Giovanni Schiaparelli’s theories about Mars (and if you always read me remember our save the date 🙂 )
The astronomer and director of the Brera Astronomical Observatory in Milan observed some lines on the surface of the red planet, and hypothesized that they could be natural channels for the transport of water as they changed from one observation to another.
At this point there is another beautiful smile because what is one of the painful keys for all of us Italians? Knowledge of English!
Why do I say this? Because its natural channels were translated with the wrong term that distorted the theory by transforming them into artificial canals. Hence the assumption that they had been excavated by … Martians, precisely.
These famous “Martians” who populated the fantasies of many, embodying the most varied forms and descriptions, before being replaced by the most universal aliens.
These famous “Martians” who inspired Wells first and then Welles, Orson Welles.
Curious also this coincidence, one e above all and a patented invention separates them, another curious fact, always in 1897, always in London, and always by an Italian: Guglielmo Marconi.
Why do I switch to radio? Because in the meantime we arrive in 1938, and the radio is still the fledgling mass media and, exactly as it works today for the internet, it is seen as a form of potentially dangerous communication. It is seen as a vehicle of social mutation, for the rapid diffusion to the easy reach of a large number of people, and above all harmful to the publishing giants, worried about losing their income.
And precisely at CBS Orson Welles conducts The Mercury Theater on the Air: a program consisting of the narration of the great classics of literature, for the truth poorly paid and not much followed.
But Orson, at that time a Shakespearean actor, expresses his genius by using the program also to deal a blow to the system, deciding to cut the news in real time, and in view of the imminent Halloween, structures the Martian invasion described in the book like a real-time radio commentary.
It is in fact on October 30, 1938 when the reading of the opening words of The War of the Worlds is on air, interspersed with musical broadcasts, as usual, until an announcement interrupts the music and transposes the text setting it in the United States. With the help of screenwriter Howard Koch, completed with mock interviews with experts, imitations of press releases from the authorities, and sound effects to which Orson Welles pays special attention.
At the beginning and during the transmission it is clearly stated that it is the transposition of the novel, but many tune in at different times and the illusion effect created artfully succeeds perfectly.
It is said that a man called the New York Times to ask “what time is the end of the world?” to which the famous song written by Michael stipe of R.E.M. is inspired.
There is a chorus that supports the exaggeration of the estimates that count people running in the street, panic scenes, or hysteria, and I honestly don’t intend to dwell on the numbers, since, especially in this period, we everyday hear tragic counts.
In fact, in Grover’s Mills, New Jersey, there is a commemorative plaque with the following inscription:
On the evening of October 30, 1938 Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre presented a dramatization of H.G. Wells The war of the worlds as adapted by Howard Koch. This was to become a landmark in broadcast history, provoking continuing thought about media responsibility, social psychology and civil defense. For a brief time as many as one million people throughout the country believed that Martians had invaded the earth, beginning with Grover’s Mill, New Jersey.
The important thing that Orson Welles has more or less voluntarily shown us is that people are led to believe rather unconditionally what is communicated to them by the mainstream mass media.
How many times have we heard “TV said it?”
How many care to check the news?
This time I went beyond coffee time, but today we can also indulge in chocolate, what do you say?
Now I conclude with the last strange coincidence: in The War of the Worlds the Martians are defeated by a virus.

“COMPETITION IS A PAINFUL THING, BUT IT PRODUCES GREAT RESULTS”

“COMPETITION IS A PAINFUL THING, BUT IT PRODUCES GREAT RESULTS”

Today the hint for coffee is not my doing.
I didn’t know Jerry Flint, I never stop learning in fact, and I’m very grateful to Renaldo Monios who wrote this sentence in the comments.
I liked it immediately as a starting point to stay on the right side of the climb, to remember that everything must be conquered, that even painful moments can produce “results” if only in terms of growth.
Personally, I admit that my standard tendency would be to avoid the idea of ​​competing, but it remains a fact that competition, if healthy, can turn into an important boost.
Although at times it may seem tiring, annoying or even demeaning, even if recognizing a defeat always has a bitter aftertaste, if we can see who is better than us a clear example of how we can always improve, we will have on our great power of errors: the greatest masters in many ways.
From my little corner, however, I immediately thought of something comical and the image of Jack Sparrow’s telescope immediately appeared to me.
Unlikely, lopsided, imperfect and improvised.
A bit like me.
But, apart from the flaws, I like the idea of ​​trying to look as far as possible, even with the inadequate tools we have available.
So thank you Renaldo for your quote, I will keep it in mind to build an extension that takes gaze beyond.

COFFEE AT TIFFANY’S

COFFEE AT TIFFANY’S

I had other things in mind for today’s coffee, but honestly now I feel a strong need for lightness.
So who more than Audrey can represent the personification of lightness without ever being superficial and without taking anything away from the seriousness of the challenges life poses?
I am not talking about only to her characters: her personal journey is also a great example of strength, balance, and tenacity in all the stages she has gone through, in all the decisions she has made, while maintaining and defending her privacy.
Her style is to subtract, she taught us the value of the essential.
In these days, everything is screamed, every declaration amplified by the big chests of the desire to arrive first. It no longer matter whether true or false, no matter what it will entail or what reactions it will provoke, it is published everywhere, and then the consensus starts.
The damages are not taken into consideration anymore.
Why cannot we do it in civil conduct?
Elegance is not only image, elegance is also a way of being, behavior, as well as bearing.
And for me, today, elegance is also civic sense, and respect.
Among the many anecdotes about Audrey Hepburn, I would particularly like to mention the one related to the wedding dress donated. In 1952, the marriage to Lord James Hanson was canceled few days before the established date. The dress for Audrey made by the Fontana sisters is ready and of course, it is gorgeous. Such a pity. Audrey then orders that it be donated “to the most beautiful, poorest, Italian girl whom the Fontana sisters will be able to find“.
Beyond the fact that it sounds like a fairy tale, the concept is: if I cannot have or cannot do something anymore, it does not mean that I should also preclude it from others.
Here it is the thought I would like to leave today.
And then:
remember, if you need a hand you’ll find it at the end of your arm. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. “
Audrey Hepburn

COFFEE AND MOVIES

COFFEE AND MOVIES

Do you recognize the mug in the picture?
I had high expectations for this movie.
Because movies of this genre no longer come out.
Because we go into the field of sacred monsters of writing, and in general of iconic characters I have always admired.
Because I love when a movie stimulates reasoning, I like when I find myself watching with the utmost attention and I know that maybe a detail could make a difference.
You will therefore imagine my supersonic wow right at the beginning when the shot focuses on this mug.
#myhouse
#myrules
#mycoffee !!
Obviously, I took it as a sign.
If you have already seen the movie, we can start talking about the moment when the mug appears again, just like a silent leading actor.
If you haven’t watched the movie yet, I’ll keep your coffee warm because I’m sure that when you will watch it we will have a nice chat.
In the meantime, we can talk about your favorite movie. A simple question, which is sometimes difficult since finding one movie above all is a difficult task. Although there is an inflation of remakes and sequels that very often produce the only result of making us regret the original, there are still different reasons why a movie earn respect. How do you choose? By genre, by director or actors, by chance?
As opposed to coffee, I shy away from bitter films, and when I watch them, then I take them with me, mulling over later, if they are well done.
Favorite genre? For me musical. What kind of coffee could a musical be? Maybe a mocaccino?
The movie in the picture is a coffee of those that leave a good toasting aftertaste, but maybe I should give you some more clue …

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