I saw you this morning.
You were moving so fast.
Can’t seem to loosen my grip
On the past.
And I miss you so much.
There’s no one in sight.
And we’re still making love
In My Secret Life.

I smile when I’m angry.
I cheat and I lie.
I do what I have to do
To get by.
But I know what is wrong,
And I know what is right.
And I’d die for the truth
In My Secret Life.

Hold on, hold on, my brother.
My sister, hold on tight.
I finally got my orders.
I’ll be marching through the morning,
Marching through the night,
Moving cross the borders
Of My Secret Life.

Looked through the paper.
Makes you want to cry.
Nobody cares if the people
Live or die.
And the dealer wants you thinking
That it’s either black or white.
Thank G-d it’s not that simple
In My Secret Life.

I bite my lip.
I buy what I’m told:
From the latest hit,
To the wisdom of old.
But I’m always alone.
And my heart is like ice.
And it’s crowded and cold
In My Secret Life.

Give me back my broken night
my mirrored room, my secret life
it’s lonely here,
there’s no one left to torture
Give me absolute control
over every living soul
And lie beside me, baby,
that’s an order!

Give me crack and anal sex
Take the only tree that’s left
stuff it up the hole
in your culture
Give me back the Berlin wall
give me Stalin and St Paul
I’ve seen the future, brother:
it is murder.

Things are going to slide, slide in all directions
Won’t be nothing
Nothing you can measure anymore
The blizzard, the blizzard of the world
has crossed the threshold
and it has overturned
the order of the soul
When they said REPENT REPENT
I wonder what they meant
When they said REPENT REPENT
I wonder what they meant
When they said REPENT REPENT
I wonder what they meant.

You don’t know me from the wind
you never will, you never did
I was the little jew
who wrote the Bible
I’ve seen the nations rise and fall
I’ve heard their stories, heard them all
but love’s the only engine of survival
Your servant here, he has been told
to say it clear, to say it cold:
It’s over, it ain’t going
any further
And now the wheels of heaven stop
you feel the devil’s RIDING crop
Get ready for the future:
it is murder.

Things are going to slide …

There’ll be the breaking of the ancient
western code
Your private life will suddenly explode
There’ll be phantoms
There’ll be fires on the road
and a white man dancing
You’ll see a woman
hanging upside down
her features covered by her fallen gown
and all the lousy little poets
coming round
tryin’ to sound like Charlie Manson
and the white man dancin’.

Give me back the Berlin wall
Give me Stalin and St Paul
Give me Christ
or give me Hiroshima
Destroy another fetus now
We don’t like children anyhow
I’ve seen the future, baby:
it is murder.

Things are going to slide …

When they said REPENT REPENT …

Ah we’re drinking and we’re dancing
and the band is really happening
and the Johnny Walker wisdom running high
And my very sweet companion
she’s the Angel of Compassion
she’s rubbing half the world against her thigh
And every drinker every dancer
lifts a happy face to thank her
the fiddler fiddles something so sublime
all the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it’s partner found, it’s partner lost
and it’s hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it’s CLOSING TIME
Yeah the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it’s partner found, it’s partner lost
and it’s hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it’s CLOSING TIME

Ah we’re lonely, we’re romantic
and the cider’s laced with acid
and the Holy Spirit’s crying, “Where’s the beef?”
And the moon is swimming naked
and the summer night is fragrant
with a mighty expectation of relief
So we struggle and we stagger
down the snakes and up the ladder
to the tower where the blessed hours chime
and I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
the Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can’t say much has happened since
but CLOSING TIME

I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
the Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can’t say much has happened since
CLOSING TIME

I loved you for your beauty
but that doesn’t make a fool of me:
you were in it for your beauty too
and I loved you for your body
there’s a voice that sounds like God to me
declaring, declaring, declaring that your body’s really you
And I loved you when our love was blessed
and I love you now there’s nothing left
but sorrow and a sense of overtime
and I missed you since the place got wrecked
And I just don’t care what happens next
looks like freedom but it feels like death
it’s something in between, I guess
it’s CLOSING TIME

Yeah I missed you since the place got wrecked
By the winds of change and the weeds of sex
looks like freedom but it feels like death
it’s something in between, I guess
it’s CLOSING TIME

Yeah we’re drinking and we’re dancing
but there’s nothing really happening
and the place is dead as Heaven on a Saturday night
And my very close companion
gets me fumbling gets me laughing
she’s a hundred but she’s wearing
something tight
and I lift my glass to the Awful Truth
which you can’t reveal to the Ears of Youth
except to say it isn’t worth a dime
And the whole damn place goes crazy twice
and it’s once for the devil and once for Christ
but the Boss don’t like these dizzy heights
we’re busted in the blinding lights,
busted in the blinding lights
of CLOSING TIME

The whole damn place goes crazy twice
and it’s once for the devil and once for Christ
but the Boss don’t like these dizzy heights
we’re busted in the blinding lights,
busted in the blinding lights
of CLOSING TIME

Oh the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
It’s CLOSING TIME
And it’s partner found, it’s partner lost
and it’s hell to pay when the fiddler stops
It’s CLOSING TIME
I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
It’s CLOSING TIME
The Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can’t say much has happened since
But CLOSING TIME
I loved you when our love was blessed
I love you now there’s nothing left
But CLOSING TIME
I miss you since the place got wrecked
By the winds of change and the weeds of sex.

Melodia, compusa de evreul roman Richard Stein, cu versuri de Liviu Deleanu a fost cantata pentru prima data de Maria Lataretu, fiind plagiata de un american. Dupa Edith Piaf, melodia a fost cantata si de Vaya con Dios.

Johnny, tu n’es pas un ange.
Ne crois pas que ça m’dérange.
Jour et nuit, je pense à toi.
Toi, te souviens-tu de moi
Qu’au moment où ça t’arrange ?
Et quand revient le matin,
Tu t’endors sur mon chagrin.
Johnny, tu n’es pas un ange !

Johnny ! Johnny !
Si tu étais plus galant,
Johnny ! Johnny !
Je t’aimerais toujours autant.

Johnny, tu n’es pas un ange.
Ne crois que pas que ça m’dérange.
Si tu me réveilles la nuit,
C’est pour dire que tu t’ennuies,
Que tu veux une vie de rechange
Mais, quand revient le matin,
Tu t’endors sur mon chagrin.
Johnny, tu n’es pas un ange !

Johnny ! Johnny !
Si tu étais plus galant,
Johnny ! Johnny !
Je t’aimerais tout autant.

Johnny, tu n’es pas un ange.
Entre nous, qu’est-ce que ça change ?
L’homme saura toujours trouver
Toutes les femmes du monde entier
Pour lui chanter ses louanges.
Dès qu’il en sera lassé,
Elles seront vite oubliées.
Vraiment, vous n’êtes pas des anges.

Johnny ! Johnny !
Depuis que le monde est né,
Johnny ! Johnny !
Il faut tout vous pardonner.

Allez, venez, Milord!
Vous asseoir à ma table;
Il fait si froid, dehors,
Ici c`est confortable.
Laissez-vous faire, Milord
Et prenez bien vos aises,
Vos peines sur mon coeur
Et vos pieds sur une chaise
Je vous connais, Milord,
Vous n`m`avez jamais vue
Je ne suis qu`une fille du port,
Qu`une ombre de la rue…
Pourtant j`vous ai frôlé
Quand vous passiez hier,
Vous n`étiez pas peu fier,
Dame! Le ciel vous comblait:
Votre foulard de soie
Flottant sur vos épaules,
Vous aviez le beau rôle,
On aurait dit le roi…
Vous marchiez en vainqueur
Au bras d`une demoiselle
Mon Dieu!… Qu`elle était belle…
J`en ai froid dans le coeur…


Allez, venez, Milord!
Vous asseoir à ma table;
Il fait si froid, dehors,
Ici c`est confortable.
Laissez-vous faire, Milord,
Et prenez bien vos aises,
Vos peines sur mon coeur
Et vos pieds sur une chaise
Je vous connais, Milord,
Vous n`m`avez jamais vue
Je ne suis qu`une fille du port
Qu`une ombre de la rue…

Dire qu`il suffit parfois
Qu`il y ait un navire
Pour que tout se déchire
Quand le navire s`en va…
Il emmenait avec lui
La douce aux yeux si tendres
Qui n`a pas su comprendre
Qu`elle brisait votre vie
L`amour, ça fait pleurer
Comme quoi l`existence
Ça vous donne toutes les chances
Pour les reprendre après…

Allez, venez, Milord!
Vous avez l`air d`un môme!
Laissez-vous faire, Milord,
Venez dans mon royaume:
Je soigne les remords,
Je chante la romance,
Je chante les milords
Qui n`ont pas eu de chance!
Regardez-moi, Milord,
Vous n`m`avez jamais vue…
…Mais… vous pleurez, Milord?
Ça… j`l`aurais jamais cru!…

Eh ben, voyons, Milord!
Souriez-moi, Milord!
…Mieux qu` ça! Un p`tit effort…
Voilà, c`est ça!
Allez, riez, Milord!
Allez, chantez, Milord!
La-la-la…

Cet air qui m`obsède jour et nuit
Cet air n`est pas né d`aujourd`hui
Il vient d`aussi loin que je viens
Traîné par cent mille musiciens
Un jour cet air me rendra folle
Cent fois j`ai voulu dire pourquoi
Mais il m`a coupé la parole
Il parel toujours avant moi
Et sa voix couvre ma voix
Padam…padam…padam…
Il arrive en courant derrière moi
Padam…padam…padam…
Il me fait le coup du souviens-toi
Padam…padam…padam…
C`est un air qui me montre du doigt
Et je traîne après moi comme un drôle d`erreur
Cet air qui sait tout par coeur

Il dit: “Rappelle-toi tes amours
Rappelle-toi puisque c`est ton tour
`y a pas d`raison pour qu`tu n`pleures pas
Avec tes souvenirs sur les bras…”
Et moi je revois ceux qui restent
Mes vingt ans font battre tambour
Je vois s`entrebattre des gestes
Toute la comédie des amours
Sur cet air qui va toujours


Padam…padam…padam…
Des “je t`aime” de quatorze-juillet
Padam…padam…padam…
Des “toujours” qu`on achète au rabais
Padam…padam…padam…
Des “veux-tu” en voilà par paquets
Et tout ça pour tomber juste au coin d`la rue
Sur l`air qui m`a reconnue

…
Écoutez le chahut qu`il me fait

…
Comme si tout mon passé défilait

…
Faut garder du chagrin pour après
J`en ai tout un solfège sur cet air qui bat…
Qui bat comme un coeur de bois…
Padam Padam

Des Yeux Qui Font Baisser Les Miens
Un Rire Qui Se Perd Sur Sa Bouche
Voila Le Portrait Sans Retouche
De L’homme Auguel J’appartiens
Quand Il Me Prend Dans Ses Bras,
Il Me Parle Tout Bas
Je Vois La Vie En Rose,
Il Me Dit Des Mots D’amour
Das Mots De Tous Les Jours,
Et Ca Me Fait Quelques Choses
Il Est Entre Dans Mon Coeur,
Une Part De Bonheur
Dont Je Connais La Cause, C’est Lui Pour
Moi, Moi Pour Lui Dans La Vie
Il Me L’a Dit, L’a Jure Pour La Vie,
Et Des Que Je L’apercois
Alors Je Sens En Moi, Mon Coeur Qui Bat…
Des Nuits D’amour A Plus Finir
Un Grand Bonheur Qui Prend Sa Place
Les Ennuis, Des Chagrins S’effacent
Heureux, Heureux A En Mourir

Cele doua modalitati complementare de transmitere a cunoasterii fac din spiritualitatea romaneasca de tranzitie un Ianus intors cu o fata catre transmiterea orala a informatiei si cu ochii celeilalte fete atintiti spre “al treilea val” tofflerian. Predictiile lui Alvin Toffler vorbeau deja in urma cu doua decenii de un alt fel de democratizare, prin largirea accesului la informatie pentru segmente de public care erau alta data prizonierele specialistilor care le prescriau ce sa cumpere si la cine sa apeleze, in virtutea monopolului informational pe care il detineau. Exemplul oferit de scriitorul american este relatia dintre medic si pacient, primul, dat in judecata pentru mal praxis de “profanul” abonat la canalul prin cablu care transmite operatii in direct.

Amenajarile interioare urmeaza, si la noi, un curs similar celui pomenit mai sus. Aproape fiecare post de televiziune are cate o emisiune dedicata casei si gradinii. Revistele de gen au si ele tiraje din ce in ce mai bune. Curentul este sustinut si de succesul materialelor si sculelor do it yourself, cu ajutorul carora aproape oricine se poate transforma intr-un mester al casei.

Pornirea, oricat de entuziasta, are si ea limitele ei, asa cum in exemplul medical de mai sus, achizitionarea unui tratat de anatomie si a unui bisturiu nu sunt suficiente pentru efectuarea unei operatii de catre pacientul insusi. Profesionistii sunt cei care pot fructifica cel mai bine deluviul informational modern, ba chiar sunt obligati sa tina pasul cu noul pentru a supravietui pe piata. Un inginer de la Baumit povestea cu mandrie cat de neincrezatori au fost zugravii la vederea stratului subtire de adeziv cu care se pot monta gresia si faianta, dar si cat de repede au uitat sa foloseasca materialele traditionale dupa asimilarea noii tehnologii.

Sursele de informare ultramoderne vor continua sa mearga in paralel cu vehicularea orala a zvonurilor, parerilor si cunostintelor imbunatatite de la un intermediar la altul. Chiar, uneori, Ianus isi dezlipeste cu greu fata de la trecut. Nu sunt putine firmele de consultanta, o activitate bazata exclusiv pe informatie, deci una post-industriala, balcanizate de relatii oculte si transformate in simple birouri de lobby pe langa autoritati sau in alibiuri ale functionarilor pentru incasarea de comisioane.

Trecand peste aceasta simbioza perversa a doua lumi atat de diferite, efectul cumulat al celor doua fluxuri este aparitia unui client mare consumator de informatie de inalta specializare, extrem de exigent in pretentiile pe care le are de la prestatorii de servicii. Cunostintelor dobandite din media li se adauga experientele nemijlocite ale romanilor, tot mai multi la numar, care au luat contact cu Occidentul si care se afla in curs de a-si forma si un nou gust in materie de amenajari si design. Acest nou tip de client care imbina propriile initiative cu exigente precise adresate furnizorului, rebalansand raporturile traditionale cu acesta, este o confirmare a dictonului “Cunoasterea este putere”, enuntat de Bacon cu patru secole in urma.

(editorial publicat in revista Constructii civile si industriale, august 2005)

Controversatul proiect al autostrazii ce va asigura o legatura rutiera intre Bucuresti si Europa Centrala si de Vest va fi relansat prin investitiile facute de stat in cumpararea de terenuri. Vor fi achizitionate peste 2900 de hectare de pamant de la diversi proprietari, la un pret mediu de 5 dolari pe metrul patrat. Potrivit estimarilor Companiei Nationale de Autostrazi si Drumuri Nationale, ar urma sa se cheltuiasca aproximativ 150 de milioane de dolari. Pentru moment, despagubirile au fost acordate numai pentru terenuri, urmand ca dupa definitivarea proiectelor tehnice ale autostrazii sa fie stabilit si numarul exact al despagubirilor care trebuie acordate pentru imobile, urmare a unor expertize intocmite de evaluatori.

Zvonurile legate de constructia autostrazii au facut sa explodeze preturile terenurilor si imobilelor din Cluj, Mures si Bihor, semnalandu-se si cresteri de pana la 400% pentru imobilele aflate pe traseul viitoarei autostrazi. In aceasta primavara, autostrada a facut obiectul unei controverse, mai multi membri ai Executivului pronuntandu-se pentru amanarea costisitorului proiect al precedentului cabinet, prilej pentru acuze mai mult sau mai putin voalate de coruptie.

Pentru beneficiile constructiei cat mai grabnice a autostrazii a pledat si ARACO (Asociatia Romana a Antreprenorilor de Constructii), organizatie patronala ce reuneste peste 1.200 de firme, cu peste 320.000 de angajati. Cu o medie de 25.000 de vehicule / 24 de ore, traseul este singurul care indeplineste conditia de trafic pentru autostrada. Proiectul poate aduce economii de 200 de milioane de euro pe an, fiind capabil sa obtina chiar in acest moment finantare bancara.

(articol publicat in revista Constructii civile si industriale, august 2005)

Betonul este un material benign din punctul de vedere al sanatatii, dar exista cateva probleme asociate cu el. E important sa stim mai intai din ce este facut. Principalele ingrediente sunt cimentul, agregatul si apa, dar poate contine si alte adaosuri. Efectele negative au fost asociate in general cu cimentul sau cu adaosurile, dar, recent, a fost implicat si agregatul. Agregatul folosit in beton poate fi pietris, piatra sparta sau roca vulcanica sparta, perlit, reziduuri industriale. Principala grija este ca agregatul ar putea elibera radon in atmosfera de pilda, in cazul locuintelor cu grinzi din beton. Radonul e un gaz inert obisnuit radioactiv emanat de sol si de roci. Radonul poate fi detectat oriunde, dar devine o problema abia cand atinge cantitati ridicate in spatii inchise. Persoanele care locuiesc in case cu un nivel ridicat al cantitatii de radon au un risc sporit de a suferi de cancer pulmonar.

Unele roci, printre care granitul si marna, pot contine radon. Au existat si cazuri rare de folosire a agregatului provenit din minele de fosfat sau de uraniu. Atingerea betonului ud poate sa afecteze pielea din cauza cimentului, conducand la uscarea si craparea epidermei prin absorbtia uleiurilor protective si prin astuparea porilor. In cazuri extreme, se pot produce arsuri ale pielii, intrucat cimentul contine hidroxid de calciu, o componenta caustica foarte corosiva, cu efecte deranjante. De pilda, unui muncitor care turna o fundatie i-a intrat beton ud in cizmele de cauciuc, cauzandu-i arsuri la nivelul gleznelor, dupa numai 45 de minute. Desi a folosit inclusiv o crema, dupa acest interval a trebuit sa se adreseze medicilor care au constatat, a doua zi, o arsura de gradul 3, adica o distrugere a tesuturilor profunde. Tratamentul muncitorului a necesitat o spitalizare de 13 zile.

Au fost inregistrate si cazuri de arsuri cu ciment care au necesitat pana la doua luni de spitalizare si grefe de piele. Din fericire, acestea sunt cazuri rare, dar care ne avertizeaza asupra necesitatii hainelor de protectie, cizmelor si manusilor. Agregatul se foloseste pentru a-i da betonului diferite proprietati, precum un timp mai lung sau mai scurt de punere in opera. Una dintre cele mai comune ingrediente este adaosul tensioactiv care antreneaza aerul, adaugat pentru a spori rezistenta la inghet-dezghet. Aceste materiale se adauga in cantitati extrem de mici si nu implica riscuri mari pentru sanatate. Au fost semnalate unele probleme minore, precum sesizarea unui miros deranjant al betonului proaspat, doar de catre persoanele cu hipersenzitivitate la substante chimice sintetice.

(articol publicat in revista Constructii civile si industriale, august 2005)