The Laughing Heart

My favourite poem, by Charles Bukowski:

Laughing
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your life is your life
don't let it be clubbed into dank submission
be on the watch
there are ways out
there is a light somewhere
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness
be on the watch
the gods will offer you chances
know them
take them
you can't beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes
and the more often you learn to do it
the more light there will be
your life is your life
know it while you have it
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you


Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

The dawn of Portuguese cinema

[For you that's reading this and saying "why is she writing about Portuguese cinema in english?"...don't even. ]

For many years I have been resisting Portuguese cinema.

I feel almost embarrassed to say it but every time I watched a Portuguese movie with Portuguese actors was either about a great novel about other times where we were a greater country (this was ages ago, kids, nobody gives a damn about us, now, but we used to rule every corner of this world) or it was about our country. Don't get me wrong my country is full of untold stories I'm sure ...still, they kinda felt all the same...boring.

This week though, I witness something great.

I went to the movies twice in one week and the films that I choose were all 100% made in Portugal. 

Day one : A movie about a novel (what else?). That was really what was in my head going in the theater "I just hope I don't fall asleep and snore, please, oh please don't let me snore!" 

Then I literally ate this words syllable by syllable. 

A doomed love in Os Maias, João Botelho
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Os Maias de João Botelho was much more than a movie, it combined, brilliantly, characteristics of a live play and it work. Every bit of it worked. João Botelho took a novel that was told, untold and then told again, a novel that has been giving high scholars nightmares and he transformed it into something "almost" cool. He got it, the actors got it and they made magic happen in a way that for me was truly new for the Portuguese cinema.

Day two:  Ok, by then I was like "Can I be amazed twice? No, of course not" So me and my high horse entered the movie theater haunted by a previous good-so-they-cant-duplicate-it feeling. Then...there was the opening scene from Os Gatos Não Têm Vertigens de João Pedro Vasconcelos: five minutes into the movie and I was already sobbing like a little girl. 

No! Something like this can't happen, not with a Portuguese movie! They are supposed to be boring.

Oh yes it can and with the same intensity it also made me laugh. Above all, there was something about this moments, they were comedic but they also were full of magic and love and that "sugar-spice-and-everything-nice" factor that I love about going to the cinema. 

"Arsenic!" in Os gatos não êm vertigens, João Pedro Vasconcelos
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I expected nothing, I was given everything, I laughed and cried, I was concerned and wanted to punch somebody, by the end I felt completely exhausted like I've been to war (jezz! exaggerate much?) but it also  lifts you up so when you leave the cinema there is a smile stuck to the corner of your mouth ( Oh god women! Control your cheesiness!). 

João Pedro Vasconcelo's movie washes away all the stupid and petty shit from your day, can you ask for more? Totally worth it.

Keep that quality coming, guys.

Make us proud.

Your TopCrusher,

Alex

This world is too damn small

What goes around...
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Everyone knows this world is gigantic. I wish I had the opportunity to know it all, travel all countries, and meet all kinds of people. I know I won’t do it, at least, as much as I would love to, but that would be an adventure for my life.

Nevertheless, my point today is exactly the opposite. This world is tiny. Lately I’ve been feeling that we are all living in a fish thank, and eventually, we are all connected. Today you’re my teacher, tomorrow you are my student. Today you’re my employer, tomorrow you are my boss. Today you’re on my side, tomorrow you are my enemies’ best friend.

This is why I believe in karma. I truly and deeply believe that all good will come to us later in life, as all the bad things we do will, somehow, get us too. Everyone has to believe in something, right? So be good, do good, and the rest will follow.

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

The Normal Heart

The Normal Heart
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Have you watched The Normal Heart yet? After watching the trailer I thought it should be an interesting movie to see and now I can tell you it's absolutely worth your time. This is a movie about a group of gay activists attempting to raise HIV/AIDS awareness during the early 1980s.

The thing you realize as the movie goes on is how lost they were and how clueless everyone was when people started dying from AIDS. Doctors where calling this disease "Gay Cancer" and no one really understood what it was and how they were getting it.

According to the Vulture's review, the movie's political agenda is clear: to carve out a "Never Forget" space in the national psyche. It wants the official governmental non-response to AIDS in the early '80s to be placed on a list of the most contemptible acts of calculated neglect in the nation's history.

When you watch the movie you understand why this has to be remembered. The cast is great, from  Matt Bomer to Joe Mantello. I believe that they all did a wonderful job, although I have to say I am a fan of Mark Ruffalo from now on. His character, Ned Weeks, is so disruptive, constantly fighting, always frustrated with everything that was happening. He stands up for him and for his cause, against all odds, and demands the world to accept him exactly as he his. It's a powerful message.

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela

Professional emails for dummies

 Focus
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Did you ever had one of those days at work that you received so many emails you just feel like throwing yourself out of the nearest window? I know I had. This is the daily struggle of bosses and employees. Our inbox will define how we start the day, and how late we will get home for dinner. 

Here's my question: since emails are such a great part of our way of communicating with each other professionally, shouldn't we know how to do it right? Nonetheless, everyday I read emails from clients and partners that give me chills... Here are some tips on how to write an email properly, according to my experience:

1. Get off on the right foot: Starting an email without some kind of greeting is just rude and what you should say will depend on who you are addressing. Keep it simple and adjust the formality of the message to the person you are trying to reach. For example, sometimes a simple "Hi" is OK, but in other situations you have to go with "Dear Sir/ Madam".

2. Focus: Go straight to the point. Professional emails are supposed to be simple and efficient. If I wanted to know what you did last weekend, I would friend you on Facebook. Of course there is always time for a friendly tip here and there, just don't stretch it. 

3. To/ cc/ bcc fields: If you don't know the difference by now, you should Google it asap. This is really important if you are working with different companies, or applying to different jobs, or the information is confidential, etc. This tool allows you to communicate in a better and faster way, so don't forget to use it. 

4. Punctuation: It's not like you didn't learn to use it when you were eight years old! Why are you doing it wrong? These are my personal favorites:

• CAPS LOCK
• Huge number of a particular punctuation mark (???? / !!!!)
• Not using punctuation at all
• All of the above

I'm not saying that every email has to be perfect. When we are trying to get everything done and people are calling, and everything is happening at the same time, I'm sure some mistakes will happen! In my opinion, some are acceptable, others are just lack of professionalism. 

5. Saying goodbye: "Xoxo" is not an option, ok? Unless you are Gossip Girl, that is not a possibility. I personally like to write something like "kind regards" because it sounds nice and polite. If you don't like this one, there are other options: best regards, many thanks, yours faithfully, etc. It's up to you!

Hopefully these tips will stop you from making some common mistakes.
Keep up the good work! :)

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

City Crush: London baby!

God save the queen
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So... Last week I was in London for the first time. It's one of those places where you can see pretty much everything, the old and the new, the classic and the modern, the Eastern and the Western, you name it, it's there! It's an atmosphere for the open minded, for the adventurous, for the wanderlusters!

I didn't have time to see and visit all the places that I wanted to, but I saw enough to fall in love with the city. It's now on my top 3, next to Paris and Barcelona. The thing you get once you arrive: it moves, and they go fast in there. Everyone is running around and stumbling on each other, night and day, just because that's how quick life is for Londoners.  

The people there are generally very nice and polite, I guess they are already used to people from all over the world so no muss, no fuss! My personal advice: if you decide to visit London, make sure you have a good shopping allowance! 

There are so many great shops, so many great outfits, accessories and all the stuff you can imagine... It's a girls' dream! I loved it, and I definitely want to go back there with more time to explore!

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

Keira, the Queen of Boho

Keira : topcrush of the day
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Keira Knightley is the kind a girl you need in your life. She can either be the girl of your dreams or your best friend for life. Keira is the type of girl that doesn't try to hard but there she is always made you wondering why didn't you think of that.

When Keira is boho chic it's an absolute feast for any fashionista eyes. She was born to wear boho clothes and se is just pure inspiration.

Boho is still strong this fall so take a few tips away from Keira style and be gone: go out into the world and learn french and just be like "le me being trés awesome". 

Check out the Vogue's selection of style evolution of this gorgeous english babe.

Your TopCrusher,
Alex

Hang on, it's almost friday!

I went back to my gallery at weheartit.com for the first time in ages.

It made me laugh so hard and realise that...maybe...I need medication for these people allergies I get sometimes! Argh. 

Enjoy Crushers,

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Your (not allergic to all of you) Top Crusher

Alex

My love affair with Marlon Brando

Yeah, that's right.
Since, I watched The Godfather for the first time, I have been in love.
Madly, truly, deeply too.

10 reasons that make Marlon Brando the bad boy you MUST love.

1. He loved cats.

2. He knew when he had to put his clothes on...

3...and when to take everything off.

4. He loved his grandma.

5. Just because this gif exists.

And this.

OH MY GOD. This too.

6. He totally made you feel the luckiest girl in the room.

7. The way he looked in an uniform. 

8. He had that concentration that successful people do and that's hot.

9. That stare, the white shirt and the smirk.

 The whole reason why white shirts were invented was Marlon Brando, really it was.

*Syncope*

10. A guy guy's with those arms around you.

 *SWOON*

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Pinterest

Making your Mondays a lit bit easier!

Your Top Crusher ,

Alex