Sunday, June 29, 2008

And the is... Spain.

Well the old rivalry between my country and "nostros hermanos" (our brothers in spanish) seems long gone, Spain is European champion and they have my congratulations and had my support. This is quite interesting considering Portugal only act against Spain, this talking in historical terms. But that shows the power of Europe, the idea of the European Union, we are different, but not that different, and all the bullshit of the past is in the past. Obviously my country is my country, but Europe gives us the perspective to see beyond, and these tornaments show how one can feel for their country and be brothers with all others. So congratulations to Spain, enjoy your time in the spotlight, next our turn ;P Go PORTUGAL.:P

Enjoy the silence

Today a late late post, better late than never :P.
Anyway not going to write much since I have shit to do, regardless a nice song for all intents and purposes, one of those that suits all and nothing... Enjoy...

Saturday, June 28, 2008

The big bang theory

No, I am not going to tell you about the physics theory ;P, if you are curious about it just google it. This is a funny TV series I found, and it is awesome, at least if you have any geek bones in you. It is about the life of these guys, doctors, real doctors ;P, thus they have their PhD, in this case in physics. Here is a sample...

Monday, June 23, 2008

"I belive his name is Mr. Crato, but I am not sure."

Actually I sure, Nuno Crato is his full name. The title is to relate to his entitled best start of a text, since after reading it one necessarily wonders what comes next. I don't want to make a big post about just one person after having a long weekend that provides me with a lot of material for posts.
So before talking about the things said by Mr. Crato that made me view things from another perspective on the issue of education, I want to share what I did over the weekend.
I went to Oxford for the Luso 2008, which was the annual meeting of Portuguese Students and Researchers in the United Kingdom. For those who haven't been to Oxford, well it is one of those must see places, thus I highly recommend a visit, but this was not a tourist visit and as such I will say no more than this.
The meeting was very good, some talk with a lot of interesting people (as always some more interesting than others :P), diverse topics, high socialization, which for me was the whole point of the meeting. Create a network of people with different views, but common interests, or even without them, actually I think it was a meeting of awareness over Portugal. How strange it is that we have so many brilliant people around that we don't quite hear about, but this would take this post in a direction not intended for today.
The last of the talks was done by Mr. Crato and he talk, among other things, about Education and more specificity the modern pedagogy novelists. The funny and well written speech was an eye opener for me, not that I agree with all he said, but that was partly the point, the following of seemingly consensual ideas, that are generic enough for all to agree but also too generic to have any practical use. This was one of the ideas, the need for the real understanding of what people mean with concepts in education, and NOT the mere description of abstract concepts that have little practicality, namely because due to the encrypted nature of the describe concepts. I could go on, but I think this is enough for some to read more about this (I will provide some links). Nevertheless I do want to describe one of the things said.
The student that reaches the answer by himself, doesn't exist, or better yet rarely exists. The concept that teaching is providing help to the student to find things out by himself, because he is somehow as brilliant as the best minds that developed these concepts after years of education (this is a mathematics example :P). The thing is, he is not, the understanding of concepts is not exclusive of those who reach it by themselves, or even for those who are guided there, if are provided the complete knowledge of it and it is assimilated, well the concept would be mastered. The evolution of knowledge over thousands of years, worked, people mastered knowledge, and produced new knowledge, thus it is somewhat strange that this is disregarded over this pedagogy umbrella. Some thoughts, practising, memorising, are key aspects in our lives, and in the way we learn, they are tools that speed up learning and reasoning... Anyway hope I didn't bore you too much with this view of mine influenced by this nice talk...
Now one of the links, if you want more google it ;P...

http://pascal.iseg.utl.pt/~ncrato/Recortes/EduquesNuncaExistiu.htm

Well I'll leave you with a taste of Oxford and its grand colleges...

Friday, June 20, 2008

Twenty Years (Placebo for those who don't know :P)

There are twenty years to go
And twenty ways to know
Who'll wear, who'll wear the hat

There are twenty years to go
The best of all I hope
Enjoy the ride
The medicine show

Thems the breaks
For we designer fakes
We need to concentrate on more than meets the eye

There are twenty years to go
The faithful and the low
The best of starts, the broken heart, the stone

There are twenty years to go
The punch drunk and the blow
The worst of starts, the mercy part, the phone

And thems the breaks
For we designer fakes
We need to concentrate on more than meets the eye

Thems the breaks
For we designer fakes
But it's you I take, cause you're the truth, not I

There are twenty years to go
A golden age I know
But all will pass will end too fast you know

There are twenty years to go
And many friends I hope
Though some may hold the rose
Some hold the rope

That's the end - and that's the start of it
That's the whole - and that's the part of it
That's the hide - and that's the heart of it
That's the long - and that's the short of it
That's the best - and that's the test in it
That's the doubt - the doubt, the trust in it
That's the sight - and that's the sound of it
That's the gift - and that's the trick in it

You're the truth, not I, you're the truth, not I
You're the truth, not I, you're the truth, not I

You're the truth, not I, you're the truth, not I
You're the truth, not I, You're the truth, not I.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Portugal... My heart carries you Always...



At times like this my Portuguese pride comes racing out, at the worst times, there you feel your strength of a nation, of a vision, of a simple reality of being...
The simplicity of being Portuguese, the people of "brandos costumes", as someone translated "gentle ways", and I add the people who feel too much and can't let it show. We win together, and lose together, one nation, different people but one vision, one understanding of the human soul...
We suffer, thus we know that we feel, in our hearts, in our flesh, in our bones, this belonging to something greater than ourselves...
It sounds so... I know, yet it is how it is, I feel the sorrow of a nation in soul, this makes saddens me, but I do feel my nation in a way like no other, maybe this is a cliché of any nation, yet for me when I see our symbols I am filled with pride, not for what we've been, but for what I know we can be... On days like these, the Portuguese soul is released, and its grandeur is felt, my heart is with my football team, we lost a game, but I never felt more Portuguese, and for that you have my eternal gratitude...
Portugal is not just a place, it is a way of being, remember this, and the "fado" of a game matters not for those who truly love their country for what is... A place for souls that are meant to feel more...

Feeling better...

... not enough to write anything useful :P...

Monday, June 16, 2008

Morality quote...

"Morality is just a compass you don't have to follow it."
One of mine, isn't it great :D, I get really proud when these come out of me... Normally i am already proud, but that is beside the point.
The thing is morality varies from people to people, thus you can bend it to suite your needs, and if it doesn't, well you have no obligation to follow it, except moral obligation but that is quite redundant.
We have to live with ourselves, as such it is a tricky combination of bending the compass while being able to justify to ourselves that it is the right thing.
The right thing, isn't that one a great cliche, here is a secret that everybody knows, THERE IS NO RIGHT THING, or at least no SINGLE right thing, there are perspectives for what is right from different points of view. So people who hide behind the so called "right thing", please get out of your moral high horses, the rest of us do see through your bullshit, we just don't care enough to anything about it...
The power of words is the ability to bend things into more suitable perspectives, yet they don't change things, or at least shouldn't (I know their power), arguments should not contradict who we are, if they do, well clearly they are wrong... ;P

Look what i found...



OK for those who know this song by nada surf, I mean fuck, the past has the right songs, but the wrong sounds :P.
It is not that bad the the other is so much better...
What do you think?



I should have put a OC video but I didn't want to influence people :P

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Walking in my shoes (song)... It's no good... (song)

Well today I decided to add an extra to the title for better understanding, I have already a nice post record and this complicates the tracking of what's been said, and mostly what's been shared :P.
So I was going to post something else but I stumble upon this sound, two melodies that jump from time and memory. Poetry can inspire you, advise you, guide you, and mislead you ;P... It is always a risk, yet this words provide a good inside to my shoes...



I would tell you about the things
They put me through
The pain I've been subjected to
But the Lord himself would blush
The countless feasts laid at my feet
Forbidden fruits for me to eat
But I think your pulse would start to rush

Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes

Morality would frown upon
Decency look down upon
The scapegoat fate's made of me
But I promise now, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn't have been purer
My case is easy to see

I'm not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I've been through
And before we talk of any repentance
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes


Now try to combine these words with this...



Im going to take my time
I have all the time in the world
To make you mine
It is written in the stars above
The gods decree
Youll be right here by my side
Right next to me
You can run but you cannot hide

Dont say you want me
Dont say you need me
Dont say you love me
Its understood
Dont say youre happy
Out there without me
I know you cant be
cause its no good

Ill be fine
Ill be waiting patiently
Till you see the signs
And come running to my open arms
When will you realize
Do we have to wait till our worlds collide
Open up your eyes
You cant turn back the tide

Dont say you want me
Dont say you need me
Dont say you love me
Its understood
Dont say youre happy
Out there without me
I know you cant be
cause its no good

Im going to take my time
I have all the time in the world
To make you mine
It is written in the stars above

Dont say you want me
Dont say you need me
Dont say you love me
Its understood
Dont say youre happy
Out there without me
I know you cant be
cause its no good


Couldn't? Well I never said it would be easy ;P

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Pushing me Away

A latte post with no excuses, funny today could actually not write a thing because of computer problems, yet I will, more than most might get...
The song had a perfect lyric, and now the perfect sound, not that the other wasn't perfect, simply different. Today I share the symbioses of my thoughts with LP poetry...


The missing parts of the lyric, should be in your mind while you listen...

Everything falls apart
Even the people who never frown
Eventually break down

Everything has to end
You'll soon find we're out of time left
To watch it all unwind

And at the finish

We're all out of time
This is how we find how it all unwinds

How cool is this? How perfectly can share your thoughts? This is awesome for the purpose of talking without talking, but also because it fits in a perfect moment in time...

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Paris

Well, I am a bit tired, but I wanted to drop a few words about Paris.
It is a very nice city, strangely enough, at least for me, I was expecting much less, but it is quite impressive and I will definitely return to explorer its wonders...

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Bahhh....

So little time so much to do, honestly not even going to write stuff, sorry...

Monday, June 9, 2008

The week starts... (Things Will Never Be The Same)

... tomorrow :P, yes indeed being home is always hectic, lots to do, even the simple enjoyment of my coach seems like a luxury I can't enjoy for more than a few minutes...
Yet time is of the essence and tomorrow I will do some things to at least limit the damage of holidays home. But I must say it is being a very good trip, the realization type, and some more days to go ;)...
Well I go to bed I leave you with a classic, for some anyway :P ...

Sunday, June 8, 2008

A post over a cup of tea

A post over a cup of tea... I have a slight head ache which kind of prevents me from saying all I would like to say... Let's see how much I will say...
The act of speaking without words, the simplicity of understanding things and accepting them, the overview of the big picture...
Anyway, just like to mark the day as a day ahead, a day where things leave the thought cycle of "if" and go out of cycle to somewhere, regardless of where, it is good just to move, even though I might need to leave something behind it is just life... Have fun living it, and the rest, well likethey say here "se não tem remedio, remediado está." roughly "Things that you can't remedy(fix), are fixed to how they are"...

Saturday, June 7, 2008

An absent day...

Thus an absent post... :P
Not that bad, but yet I missed out on awesome, but like the saying goes, some bad things come for good reason,. I am still sick and honestly it is starting to piss me off... What can you do, really don't want to complain, it is as it is...
Here a taste of awesome...

Friday, June 6, 2008

Really nothing (plus walk alone)

Hey what's up, so today I write with nothing in mind, no heading, just some words that might or might not make much sense.
I am back in Portugal, back driving which is awesome, me and the road... Now some cough, a sip of tea and I am back on the post, green day on the TV, "I walk alone" is definitly me :P
I went for my usual drive through Cascais, all my places, all my memories, but today it was quite different, my pace was fast, like I was fast forwarding through it, maybe because I am ill, maybe because I wanted speed, the fact is all was passing fast by me, and I didn't want to slow down, speed on the overview of what I always have present, my memories... Fast forward is cool, but I feel sick...
I would talk about airports but honestly I want to vegetate a bit in my couch ;P you understand... I leave you with...

This girl is awesome ;D

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Between the lines (Trigger to some thoughts)

Today I start quoting myself in a comment to a song...
"Some things are read between the lines, some are simply read, silence says more than simple words, but only if you are listening... The trick is how do you know for sure? People seek certainty, yet wish for the metaphor e of silence to interpreter as they see fit..."

This is a song to share, and I will, but first my thoughts...

The perfection of the unsaid, the perfect illusion in reality, the knowledge and certainty of something true, the truth of life, of acceptance, of completeness... The understanding of this can break or make you, it defines how you accept yourself in the world, the wild wonderer in disillusion, the perfect demon of temptation, the mutation of the undefined, the pragmatic tormented by its knowledge and understanding.
The reading between the lines is tricky because who speaks between the lines has leverage for mutating what was said, the perfection of a song can be destroyed by a good argument... It is so sad, I mean like someone else said "I don't believe in anything that you can't break...", and the fragility of things gives them beauty, the will to care for something beyond one self, the protection of what you know is too perfect to exist and yet there it is, for you, in a moment, in an instant you see it, you cherish it, you feel it, it is yours, but just between the lines...
Life has this irony, and I know I am being too sceptic, for those who do know me between the lines know what this scepticism means... The use of a concept to prove itself is always an art, you just need to personalise it slightly...
"Time to tell me the truth", how it starts, to communicate is to transmit in an understandable form a message, the thing is why is it so hard to understand people's real communications? I know I am an expert on this, but why is it so hard to be able to train oneself to this... This lack of being, this absense of magic... An engineer that dreams of a magic world, when you think about it, it is not that odd, the better understanding of the physical world pushes us towards the fantasy and potential of our imaginations...

Too much? Well I am sick, so I better hit the bed, the packing is done, tomorrow Portugal, and i didn't forget the Cascais photo ;)...

Here is the song, I am sure you will enjoy...

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Please forgive me... Still ill...

... tomorrow I promise to write something even if I am not better, yet I'll leave you with the song of the day, this is life soundtrack song, hope you like it.



Please forgive me
If I act alittle strange
For I know not what I do.
Feels like lightning running through my veins
Everytime I look at you
Everytime I look at you

Help me out here
All my words are falling short
And theres so much I want to say
Want to tell you just how good it feels
When you look at me that way
When you look at me that way

Throw a stone and watch the ripples flow
Moving out across the bay
Like a stone I fall into your eyes
Deep into some mystery
Deep into that mystery

I got half a mind to scream out loud
I got half a mind to die
So I wont ever have to lose you girl
Wont ever have to say goodbye
I wont ever have to lie
Wont ever have to say goodbye

Yeah na na na na
Yeah na na na na

Please forgive me
If I act alittle strange
For I know not what I do
Its like my head is filled with lightning girl
Everytime I look at you
Everytime I look at you
Everytime I look at you
Everytime I look at you

Sunday, June 1, 2008

PhD post

Today I decided to talk about my PhD, I am leaving the topics from yesterday for a more inspired day :P.
So today I went to the office, as I need to catch up on my work :P the comics that I am adding explains it all :P. Anyway, I discussed with a colleague the subject of doing a PhD.
The PhD is the art of doing work and talking about it, reselling it for more than it is worth. Sometimes just talking about it is ok :P. The thing is you don't have to be a genius, but you do need to be methodical, here is where I struggle, I like doing things, I don't mind explaining them, but justifying everything on every aspect that you can think of, is very hard for me.
A doctor, a real doctor (thus a PhD ;P), doesn't find answers, he finds questions, and possibilities, the validity is not important since he defines the scope and reach of the answers. Questions that lead to questions, answers that are just questions in disguise, playing with concepts and words. This is the part I like, the putting them down in paper is a bit trickier.
Just some thoughts of a day doing a report, so obviously this is not the whole picture, but it is a part of it all ;P...
Enjoy the comic...

Observation

Today I thought about two great topics for a post, which am wrote down for another day.
Anyway today I want to talk about a type or kind of music, in Portugal I would say "musica dos pastilhados", roughly "music of the people that take happy pills". This music, or this at times music, produces the strangest human behaviour while having the potential of producing the worst sound for a club ever. Sounds weird this last part, I mean this sort of music is made just for clubbing, yet since it is done by the DJ mix in the club, well lets just say not all DJ have a good feel of a room or the beat, I would say most don't.
Not going into the people that take the happy pills, and that go there with a bottle of water, I would like to talk about the others, the ones that keep the same dance pace regardless of the beat. I wouldn't say I know how to dance, nevertheless these guys are just happy that they can dance to something where the beat doesn't really matter. You can clearly see this when the DJ is bad, and thus makes a lot of stupid mixes that don't allow for dance moves, you look around and PEOPLE ARE MOVING, and funny enough to the beat of each other, the sound is completely unimportant. The question is why, oh god, why? I know about group dynamics, thus I understand the why moving at the same beat, but why go to a place (with the exception of good DJ) where this is the dynamics? Do you realise where you are? And mostly men go to these places, what are you thinking? I mean the interaction is limited and the market is reduced, on the upside the ones there shouldn't be the brightest of the gene pool.
Yes I did go to a place that had a dance floor like this, and honestly, I remember the conclusion I had the first time I went to one when I was 17, even though the DJ was relatively good after a while I realised, fuck this is always the same, the patterns, the moves, the sounds, why is this fun again? Well lets say I did a big analysis on this, and honestly everyone should do what they find fun, yet my brain needs to say this, WHY? :P