Thanks for the reply and references.

Well, I’m not a specialist in Japanese folklore and I don’t speak Japanese, but, according to Wikipedia’s article on Shinigami (which seems to be very well researched), the idea of a death god was a concept already in existence prior to the XIX century. Demons - in general - have been part of the Japanese culture for…

Not quite sure about the Live TV, but Hulu’s new interface for Fire TV sucks big time! I haven’t watched Hulu today, so I don’t know how the new offer will affect the computer interface (it seems the interface is still the same).

1) Ryuk is a Japanese god of death. Shinigamis are not part of the American supernatural folklore. Unless they show up on the next season of American Gods (Shinigamis don’t seem to be present in the book as far as I can remember), they have nothing to do with American culture.

I couldn’t give two shits about coffee. Tell me aboute tea, man! Will tea still be available?

You’re welcome! Because it’s an old song, it has been recorded by loads of different singers. It’s from the point-of-view of a woman, but there’s a long-standing tradition of male composers in Brazil writing from a woman’s perspective. Chico Buarque - one of Brazil’s greatest composers of all time - is also known by…

In Brazil (which is in Latin America), “thumbs up” are pretty usual and fine to use. People use it all the time and it has a positive meaning. It’s a shorthand for “everything is fine.” It’s not offensive at all.

I believe this was on purpose, but only works the first time you hear it. Then, you get hooked and it’s too late... This is one of the songs almost every Brazilian adult has heard hundreds of times.

But then these are completely different types of music. And, obviously, without knowing the lyrics it’s really hard to appreciate a song. Basically, it tells the story of a woman who makes the rounds (hence “Ronda”) around bars looking for her loved one. She fails to find him and goes back home disappointed. She gets…

Curiously, Paulo Vanzolini, the zoologist after whom the saki monkey was named, in addition to being a renowned Brazilian scientist was one of the country’s greatest composers.

Let’s get rid of Sonsa (that’s how I call her in PT, it means Fool). She’s so unreliable. She clearly doesn’t seem to have learned anything at all and is wrapped around Littlefinger’s tiny little fingers. Why would she look for counsel with a character that she clearly knows is a treacherous bastard? Why wouldn’t she…

I cried my heart out watching this one. It’s so fucking sad.

“Astronomers from the Interplanetary Institute at Gergwallat University on Tau Ceti e have just announced they discovered what it seems to be one inhabited planet circulating around Sol. Located just 12 light years away, Taucetianese scientists are speculating on the nature of life at that planet (Sol c). Will there…

“L’État, c’est moi.”

Here’s the short answer:

Here’s the short answer:

I’m completely lost for words at the mere idea of making tea using a microwave oven.

I’m completely lost for words at the mere idea of making tea using a microwave oven.

My sister experienced something like that in Mexico a few years ago. For some reason (wheather?), they had to land somewhere in Mexico (apparently, it wasn’t part of the plan) and had to go to Mexico City by bus to catch another plane and fly back home (don’t know how far and how long, but it wasn’t anything close to…

I also remember watching The Day After at home with my folks and siblings. As far as I can tell, it was a major occasion. Not a single comment during the show. Not even at the commercial breaks. But then, in 1985, I came across a book that nearly fucked me up: “In a Dark Time”, published by faber & faber in 1984. We…

I don’t know if you didn’t get it or you’re just asking for the sake of it, but my guess is that the red snooker balls are a direct reference to the cherries in the cherry pie. But then they may also be a refence to the beautiful red of the coffee fruit.

Stupidity never ceases to amaze.