How come you didn't go into work today? I'm taking a sabbatical because I won't kowtow to mediocre minds. So you got canned, huh? Theoretical physicists do not get canned... but yeah.
Porque não foi trabalhar hoje? - Estou de licença, porque não obedeço/reverenciar/submeter-se mentes medíocres. Foi chutado, não foi? Físicos teóricos não são chutados/demitidos... mas fui.
Kowtow, which is borrowed from kau tau in Cantonese (koutou in Mandarin Chinese), is the act of deep respect shown by prostration, that is, kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground.
canned - (ao pé da letra seria enlatado) fired; to lose your job - he got canned from his job for slacking off too much
