Functional piece of art / Obra de arte funcional

(English below)

Lo acaban de decir en uno de esos comerciales de ventas por televisión. No sólo es una “obra de arte funcional”, sino que además te mandan cuatro igualitas por una módica cantidad. Igualitas entre ellas, e igualitas a las miles que otros comprarán. Así que es una obra de arte funcional producida en serie. Habrase visto semejante oxímoron.

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They just said it in one of those telemarketing ads. Not only is it functional, but for a small price they send you four of them that look exactly the same. And they look exactly the same as the thousands that other customers will get. So, it is a functional-and-mass-produced piece of art. If there was ever an oxymoron.

“I want to be a dog in the Berkshires” said Olesya. You can tell:

I want to be a dog in the Berkshires, too. Actually, sometimes I want to be a dog, period. Dogs don’t seem to worry or to think much about issues. They aren’t concerned about their careers, their finances, or their accomplishments. All they seem to need is food, shelter, and someone who loves them. I want to be like that, I don’t want to think over and over about “important” things, and worry. I do have food (sometimes lots of it) and shelter, and there are people around me who love me. Especially Olesya, who even takes me for a walk or a run in the evenings. I guess that should do it.

Be a dog: The clean solution to thought pollution.

No one denies Michael Phelps’ record is impressive, and that he truly is a great athlete. But calling him “the greatest ever” is overly simplistic and, I would say, even insulting to dozens of athletes that compete (or have competed) at the same or higher levels in other sports.

At last, a note along these lines in the press:

Michael Phelps great—but not the greatest

Dice ser el candidato más apto, vamos, el candidato natural, para las próximas erecciones. Perdón, elecciones.

We should have guessed it! We all know gas prices are seasonal, and at their lowest during the winter. How come we didn’t realize that’s why we usually gain weight in the winter.

Will High Gas Prices Curb Obesity? Just Ask an Economist

Good thing gas prices are usually high in the summer, “swimming suit” season.