Infortunios

El mundo atribuye sus infortunios a las conspiraciones y maquinaciones de grandes malvados. Entiendo que se subestima la estupidez.

Breve diccionario del argentino exquisito, Adolfo Bioy Casares.

Capacity to spit.

This must register on an emotional level...
First, distract target...
Then block his blind jab...
Counter with cross to left cheek...
Discombobulate...
Dazed, will attempt wild haymaker. Weaken right jaw...
Now fracture...
Break cracked ribs...
Heel kick to diaphragm...
In summary: ears ringing, jaw fractured, three ribs cracked, four broken, diaphragm haemmorraging. Physical recovery: six weeks. Full psychological recovery: six months. Capacity to spit at back of head: neutralized.

Sherlock Holmes (2009), Guy Ritchie.

A sickly moment of dark surprise.

It's a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will end up underneath some sheet, never to wake up. And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things.

Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid, Lemony Snicket.

The wonder of the world.

To all our listeners, this is what I have to say - God bless you all. And as for you bastards in charge, don't dream it's over. Years will come, years will go, and politicians will do fuck all to make the world a better place. But all over the world, young men and young women will always dream dreams and put those dreams into song. Nothing important dies tonight, just a few ugly guys on a crappy ship. The only sadness tonight is that, in future years, there'll be so many fantastic songs that it will not be our privilege to play. But, believe you me, they will still be written, they will still be sung and they will be the wonder of the world.

The Boat That Rocked (2009), Richard Curtis.