Circo Vicioso

Bot things that can happen in our post-post-modernity.  

Editor's note: "Narva Oblast" is a text published first in the "Eesti Ekspress" weekly newspaper back in 2009 after Vladimir Putin invaded some regions of my beloved Eastern Iberia (Georgia). I decided to upload it here in the (English language) original version before translation into Estonian by my good Tallinn-born friend and ex-editor Askur Alas. Well, off it goes... Narva Oblast Everything happened too fast. Extremely fast. But History is picky: who could predict a month ago European Union's official recognition of Kosovo would happen the very same week as the Presidential election in Russia? “Rude mistake”, “Careless foreign policy”, “Big Bear underestimated”, “Bronze Soldier’s revenge”, “Second Act”, “Vladimir’s Grand Finale ”, etc. I can’t remember all the headlines printed those late days of February 2008. “Surprise”? To some extent. However, one can hardly say it was an “ab...

Jamais me esquecerei do meu primeiro vídeo publicado no meu canal YouTube, agora apelidado de "Circo Vicioso" para fazer pandã aqui com o bloguinho. Isto foi em Fevereiro de 2009 e, apesar do gesso, criei grande cumplicidade com aquelas duas amigas do hemisfério ocidental. Uma era francófona, a outra anglófona. Mélanie e Megan, respectivamente. Nevava lá fora, mas a alvura do meu gesso na perna esquerda cumpria a sua função existencial. Imaculada brancura nunca me faltou naquele funcional apartamento de Tallinn (Na Raua tänav, algo como "Rua do Ferro"). PS - O vídeo, pelo seu conteúdo erótico coxo, só está disponível no canal YouTube do "Circo Vicioso", o nosso novo apêndice que, desde já, vos convido a subscrever. Um dia seremos grandes.

This time we present you  a book without palm trees . It's snow or never. And many thanks to Taavi Paomets, the newest Estonian Usain Bolt.

The anthology of my Estonian chronicles in English language. At last: "Supermodels. Skype. The legacies of Soviet occupation. Sex terrorism. The gender gap. Spontaneity. Simplicity. Wife-carrying. Its never easy to write anthropological chronicles on a specific nation as an alien author. Weekly. For six years. In the countrys mainstream media. However, Estonian people belong to a unique breed. They not only gave space for this project to materialize but also decided to promote it worldwide. Indeed, throughout these compositions the reader will find plenty of criticism about Estonia and Estonians. Hand-in-hand with compliments. Hedonism. Gratitude. Pagan Estonia is a rather different species: not a coincidence that this fascinating republic ranks 3rd worldwide when it comes to press freedom. A kind of paradise in our time."

By João Lopes Marques ( Eesti keeles ) People need positive feedback. Yet there are professions where recognition plays a crucial role. It’s pivotal: fast retroaction can be the balm for one’s motivation. Brings relief and self-confidence. Makes us dare. Try harder. Go beyond borders. Can you imagine a performer, a journalist or a chef without daily feedback? Especially the latter: to cook for somebody is something very specific. It’s a unique experience that never repeats again. Yes, it’s the magic of the moment… “But do you think Estonians care?”, shares with me Peeter, who happens to be one of the greatest chefs I’ve ever met. “Not at all. I try always my best but customers just ask me how they can cook the same dish in their domestic oven. About the food I prepare, not a single word. Moreover, everytime I ask if they enjoyed the meal, the answer is ‘väga normaalne’… And that’s because I asked!” Truth be told, if I were Peeter I’d be extremely sad and frustrated. I’ve h...

By João Lopes Marques   ( Eesti keeles ) Unfortunately, Demographics is a discipline most people don’t take very seriously. Most of us just occasionally glance at population rankings and birth rates. And that’s all. It’s a pity: Demographics encloses notions of time and sociability that explain our daily life. Existence. Especially in countries like Estonia, where territorial dimension is crucial. Truth be told, the entire region suffers from a mild or severe land disorder: • Russia is not only the largest country in the world, and loves to collect territories it is barely able to populate (or administrate), it also ranks 218th in population density (i.e. one of the least densely populated countries in the world) in addition to the fact that its population shrinks by 700,000 individuals per year; • Finland is also one of the least populated countries on Earth (199th), which triggers an inbreeding and autistic problem that even Estonians mock them about; • Estonia ranks in t...

By João Lopes Marques ( Eesti keeles ) At first I didn’t understand: “Estonia’s International Friends Meeting.” If the emailed PDF letter hadn’t been signed by the President, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and businessman Margus Reinsalu I would have never believed it. It was the first time I was receiving a letter of protocol via Internet... “Why the hell are they inviting me to such an event?”, I questioned myself. Still suspicious of a hoax, I asked my colleagues in "Eesti Ekspress". "Do you know something about this?" Well, nobody knew, as if it were a well-kept secret. Publicity wasn't a priority. I understand such initiatives are not that popular in times of crisis. Tax-payers are suspicious of any potentially irresponsible spending of their money and this “Estonia’s International Friends Meeting” was anything but conventional. Yet it seemed to me that everyone shared the burden: private players invested, Estonian institutions contributed, and participants p...

by João Lopes Marques ( Eesti keeles ) For a Portuguese who is raised in a culture of improvisation, The Netherlands was quite a traumatic home. There is a small word Dutch people love: "agenda." Still nowadays when I am planning things with my good friends in Amsterdam I have to allow one or two weeks. The most common sentence I heard while living in Amsterdam was "Let me check my agenda..." On top it seems they make it on purpose: the pronunciation must be very guttural so that underlines the rational power of the etym. "Agenda" is the Dutch — and Germanic, and Scandinavian — symbol of organization. I am also extremely cautious every time I pass by Vienna, Berlin or Zurich: life must be thought in advance and never ever cancel a meeting just because you are in bad mood, bumped into a ex-girlfriend or forgot about that national team match on TV. You risk losing a friend. This is why Estonian spontaneousness was quite a big surprise for me. Four y...

João Lopes Marques* ( Eesti keeles ) "Blablabla..." This is an amazing word: "Blablabla..." It can also be a sentence if we decide to slow it down: "Bla, bla, bla..." As you probably know, this is one of the Estonian favourite ways to depict Southerners like the author of this column. This blablabla-caricature is particularly used by Estonian male patriots: aliens came here just to hook up local girls with their blablabla expertise... According to this mentality — let's call it angle, instead — Estonians are much more silent people. Observers they are. Though much-much more reliable. They speak by their acts; they act through their examples. And if the doubt prevails, an old local proverb explains everything: "Words are silver, but silence is gold." I may agree these are beautiful and poetic images. Just a pity they also help to hide one of Estonian biggest social problems: I am writing about the ubiquitous lack of communication. Interperson...

Poiss ja tüdruk.

Jah, siin on tasuta! Ja kui meeldib, osta siit .

Kalamajas on veel väga hall... Aga minu tsirkus algab praegu!

Just for the big fans of karaoke who usually read my Nikita texts in Estonian language . But I feel very sorry about the others. Really.

Não sei porquê, mas a sauna aqui do bairro deixa-me mesmo tranquilo. Kalmo.

Another smiley reason to love Estonia. My morning porridge was slightly different today. Thanks to "the kitchen".