The 200th...

So, I had 200 visitors to this really bad blog. What were these people doing?, Why do they come here? Can't they waste their time with higher accomplishments? Surely your life must be miserable to come and see such a lousy thing.

Nevertheless, my last activities:

Finished reading "Junky" from William S. Burroughs. Great book, it really gets you on reading and reading. I understand his later books are quite strange and though to read, but this is very linear and you can almost feel that environment where he lived.

Almost finishing the "The Nuremberg Interviews". At least I've finished the defendants and passed to the witnesses. It's though. I think some who would read this, would think they are nice guys thrown into the madness by their leaders, and they have no responsibility (yeah right!). Others would point that they almost look like nice guys, but are liars, henchman's and surely guilty. I tend to the 3rd hypothesis: they are nice guys, and then it becomes even more frightening how nice guys can indeed become butchers and conduct genocide. Indeed, evil can arise from the hearts of the most common people. There are no devils or angels, only normal people doing good and bad deeds.
To those who are interested but not in the mood or patience to read, there was a documentary on google video some time ago, but it looks like it was removed. Perhaps you can find it by alternative ways.

In the middle of Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness". For those who do not recognize right away, it's the book that gave origin to the movie Apocalypse Now, and while that one is set on the vietnam war, this is set on the 19th century Congo.

Finished all the episodes of Jericho, so I'm anxious to this season premature finale (25 march I think). In my opinion I liked the series a lot and I'm sorry to see it's cancellation. I must say I was not quite fascinated from the start. But maybe it's good for it to finish now. In this way it had no time to decline, and perhaps it will be well remembered when people watch it later on.
Even so, I would like a good surprise in the end...

The Unit: it's too bad how this great series was 'put in the bubble' by CBS without mercy (lol, Jericho is a CBS show also...). If the last episode was it's end, then it's a really lousy end, since it was not supposed to be that! The story goes: the show was airing, the writer's strike put it and a lot of series 'in the bubble', the writer's strike ends, most of the series return, The Unit is still 'in the bubble'. Such a great show.

Dune

Finally, I've finished reading Dune. All the 6 books that compose the original series. Though, especially when the formula is near the same: the first 4/3 are composed by lot's of dialogs, almost all taken at one or two main locations (depending on how much groups of people are), and the last 1/4 is ruled by a critical period (war, coup d'etat, an assassination), where the action takes place.
With these words it looks I'm diminishing the quality of the books, but the truth is far from that. Yes, there are boring parts, and or you have an excellent dialog, or a boring one. But the excellent ones far outstand the poor. Dune books are more of an political-philosophical treaties than sci-fi (at least for me). Albeit there are strange ideas, often involving some kind of human supernatural power or abilities (not paranormal, the characters supposedly acquire these capabilities with, well evolution in learning methods), the only true sci-fi thing is the Holtzman theory that is applied to almost anything.
I think there are things that were added later, that may be a bit incongruent with the first book and the others, like the powers of the Bene Gesserit (and even Paul), which in the first book aren't all explained/declared.
Cutting the cheap talk, here are sentences of the first book that I liked allot:

A process cannot be understood by stopping it. Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it.

Most educated people know that the worst potential competition for any young organism can come from its own kind.

There is no escape - we pay for the violence of our ancestors.

"He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it," Paul said. "We can destroy the spice."

The second book, 'Dune Messiah':

Power tends to isolate those who hold too much of it. Eventually, they lose touch with reality... and fall.

'God Emperor of Dune' :

Enemies strengthen you. Allies weaken.

'Heretics of Dune':

Bureaucracy destroys initiative. There is little that bureaucrats hate more than innovation, especially innovation that produces better results than the old routines.

When strangers meet, great allowances should be made for differences of custom and training.

'Chapter House Dune':

Religion (emulation of adults by the child) encysts past mythologies: guesses, hidden assumptions of trust in the universe, pronouncements people made in search of personal power, all mingled with shreds of enlightenment. And always an unspoken commandment: Thou shall not question!

"Humans can balance on strange surfaces," Odrade said. "Even on unpredictable ones. It's called 'getting in tune'."

Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.

Ultimately, all things are known because you want to believe you know.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Towel

Just about the most massively useful thing any interstellar Hitchhiker can carry. For one thing it has great practical value:

1. You can wrap it around you for warmth on the cold moons of Jaglan Beta;
   
2. sunbathe on it on the marble beaches of Santraginus Five;
3. huddle beneath it for protection from the Arcturan Megagnats as you sleep beneath the stars of Kakrafoon;
4. use it to sail a mini raft down the slow heavy river Moth;
5. wet it for use in hand to hand combat;
6. wrap it round your head to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal, which is such a mind bogglingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see him, he can't see you;
7. and even dry yourself off with it if it still seems clean enough.

An essay on love, gratitude and hate

Woman, thou that have gained eternal gratitude towards this man, for it were his hands that have stole thy son's life, from certain death. Indeed this man came out of pure intentions, and he himself could have been injured beyond repair. Nevertheless, thy natural feelings towards him, that undoubtedly you have, are few besides gratitude. No better deed he could have done, to acquire your highest regard, but it is just that, regard. If not so, tell me woman: do you love this man? Besides your gratitude, there lies nothing more.

I wonder, what would happen if this man, this same man who has saved thy son's life, who was delayed his ultimate fate, and thus, gained the right to that life, would kill him, finishing death's deed. Would thy new feelings towards him be of mere ingratitude. I believe no, and these feelings would be of extreme prejudice, of pure hatred. Indeed they would be much more lasting than thy previous, and albeit these were solely based on gratitude (always below love), these last would rank the highest on the scale of disgust.

Can you see the point?

One image for a thousand words... and for music, how much?

Have you ever compared, and perhaps realized, the power of audio-visual information with just audio? Which of these, in your perspective, win? What would you prefer to choose, if you would have to opt by one?

Visual information is obviously extremely important, but I'm not writing about the ability to see the world around us, but of the visual information that is stored in some way, like a movie or TV, preferably one that has an audio component...
You see one TV series, and will you see it again? Or a movie? Well, I like a lot of films, and some I will see more times in the future, but it would be difficult to watch a movie twice in the same day. I mean, is it not a story, that loses a bit of its fun after knowing its closure? Of course, there are brilliant exceptions, like David Lynch films, or the excellent photograph in Kubrick's films... but the bottom point is: to see films twice... difficult (and even more with TV series!!!).

Now, with music, well? Isn't that a whole different matter?... How many times a day can you repeat hearing the same music? How many times you sing in your thoughts a song, and in the first moment that you can spare, you go an hear it? For myself, I can sing a music in my thought, and even decompose it sometimes (if I know it well). But to hear it, is it not a pleasure? It has nothing to do with movies. It is a completely different power, this of these sequences of notes, flying through the air in tiny pressure waves. Is this not worthy of a thousand images? Is it not amazing the time you can give of yourselves, just listening to music? Well, I can and I'm glad.

...

The sleeper has awaken.

Alone... such a great writting for such a lack of feelings

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were - I have not seen
As others saw - I could not bring
My passions from a common spring -
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow - I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone -
And all I lov'd - I lov'd alone -
Then - in my childhood - in the dawn
Of a most stormy life - was drawn
From ev'ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still -
From the torrent, or the fountain -
From the red cliff of the mountain -
From the sun that 'round me roll'd
In its autumn tint of gold -
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass'd me flying by -
From the thunder, and the storm -
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view -

March 17th 1829, by Mr. E. A. Poe.

...

I have everywhere sought,
and nowhere found,
So I lift the bleedin' bodkin,
And trust the grief deepest in.

The gleaming bodies of the infinite skies,
Have for my spirit, the cold charm,
Of death's welcoming eyes
In secret to my soul, they are ideals of old.

Ad Astra by Arcturus

Shit happens!

It really does, not kidding...

The Thirteenth Floor

Sabiam que existem muitos edifícios que não têm um 13º andar, existindo 14 andares ou mais? Bem, eu também não sabia, mas saindo das merdas supersticiosas, vi o que posso descrever como um dos melhores filmes dos últimos tempos. Fiquei a saber que foi nomeado para o Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film, tendo no final sido escolhido o Matrix...



Bem, depois de o ver, preferia que tivesse sido este. Porquê? É ficção científica sim senhor, logo não é real... mas ao menos nao vemos poderes sobre humanos. E entra num tópico muito interessante, envolvendo o mundo em que nós vivemos, a capacidade de criar consciência artificial (ou neste caso, múltiplas consciências), e também um aspecto filosófico de como a nossa vida pode tornar-se desinteressante face a um conhecimento de que esta não é nada mais do que apenas isso. Obviamente que o cluster deles parece um tanto ao quanto pequeno para sequer conseguir uma milésima da simulação que pretendiam fazer... mas, lol.

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Do you know there are lot's of buildings with no 13th floor, but with more than 14th floors? Well, me neither, but cutting all the supersticious bullshit, I've saw what I can describe as one of the best movies I've lately seen. It was nominated for an Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film, losing to The Matrix in the end.

Well, after seing it, I would prefer that it would have been this one. Why? It's sci-fi, there fore it's not realistic, but at least you don't get super human powers! And it enters in a very interesting topic, envolving our world, the capacity to create artificial consciensness (in this case multiple), and also a filosofical concept on how our life can become unninteresting if it's known that is nothing more than that. Obviously, the cluster that appears in the movie it's kind of small to achieve even a 1/1000 of the simulation they pretended to do, but... lol.

Phil Anselmo on 'The Blairing Out Show'

Cá está, o vocalista dos agora extintos Pantera (e do grande mestre Diamond Darrel, RIP), agora nos Super Joint Ritual. Vejam isto, não percam esta pérola. Não sei o que este gajo fumou mas, it work's dudes!!! Como está bem explicito "It's the only incarnated evil" lol. No entanto, não pensem que a imagem que eu tenho dele foi denegrida. Pelo contrário, por mais ridiculo que ele pareça, este gajo é do caralho, verdadeiro headbanger!

Online Videos by Veoh.com

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Here it is, the vocal of the extint Pantera (and also from great master Diamond Darrel, RIP), now working on Super Joint Ritual. Watch this, for it is hilarious! I don't know what this guy smoked, but it really works!!! Has you will find it no the video, "It's the only incarnated evil" lol. Nevertheless don't think my image on him has fallen. By the contrary, even if he looks ridiculous, this guy is a true mutherfuckin' headbanger!

Dexter

Comecei a ver esta série, e aconselho, especialmente para quem já frequentou a escola dos primeiros filmes de Peter Jackson, Sam Riami, George Romero, combinados com o estilo Hannibal Lecter. Não é gore (como é óbvio), mas tem a sua parte gruesome... Gostei particularmente da forma como ele ve os resultados dos crimes, como um artista a ver as obras de outros artistas, lol. Vejam por voces próprios o que quero dizer...



Got the point;)

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I've started to follow this TV series, which I advise, especially for those who've went trough the school of Peter Jackson's and Sam Riami fist movies, George Romero, combined with the Hannibal Lecter's style. By no means this is gore (obviously), but it has it's gruesome side into it... Liked particularly how he sees the crimes, like an artist watching other artist work. You can see this by yourselves in the clip... Got the point;)

Guitar stuff (très geeck...)

Ok, isto é só para quem conhece um tal de John Petrucci, um tal de Yngwie Malmsteen, e ja agora um Michael Angelo Batio... Lol, para rir como é obvio!!!


Bem, já agora, também algo para toda a malta: a musica do super mario, tocada por estes marmanjos:


That's all folks!

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Ok, this is for those who have heard about John Petrucci, Malmsteen and Michael Angelo Batio... LOL, it's a hoax of course, but very funny!
The second video is about the Super Mario Bros theme with this bunch of talented guys. Very nice also.

1973 - Barbarians vs. NZ

Um dos melhores jogos de rugby de todos os tempos! Cá está o famoso ensaio, mas este jogo foi muito mais, excelente de ambas as partes!!!

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This is one of the best rugby matches of all time! Here it is, the famous try, but this is a match which has so much more, such an amazing playing from both sides!!!

Surpreendente! Santana para presidente!!!

Independentemente da pessoa que todos sabemos que o Santana Lopes é, esteve muito bem!...

E outro facto preocupante sobre a situação do país: já não basta o futebol ser o mais importante, para este gajo (depois da sua brilhante actuação como primeiro ministro!!!) finalmente dizer algo de jeito, quer dizer que o país está mesmo mal...

No entanto, à que dizer que aqui, nesta situação, ele foi um gajo do caralho!!!

NOT AGAIN!!!

"There'll be times,
When my crimes,
Will seem almost unforgivable,
I give in to sin,
Because you have to make this life liveable,
But when you think I've had enough,
From your sea of love,
I'll take more than another riverfull,
And I'll make it all worthwhile,
I'll make your heart smile"

Strangelove
by
Depeche Mode

P.S.: This is what happens when you have a report to finish and Amarok givin' you the lyrics of what you're hearing.

Trying to finish a report: aka Strange behaviors while on periods of stress...

"My dear, don't leave me now,
Close at the edge of my end,
All this time you have been my friend,
Don’t go, stay for a while,

My dear, you're losing me now,
This will be my last hour,
Hear my voice, see my face,
See how sick I am,
How I long for your embrace."

Sand and mercury
by
The gathering

One more fuckin' work by these masters.
P.S.: Ah, and don't forget Anneke... beautiful!
P.S. 2: Don't confuse the lyrics with my reality. I'm not that bad, lol!

World Fuckin' Coming Down

"Yeah I know,
That my world is coming down,
Yeah I know,
I know,
I'm the one who brought it down,
Brought it down,
Bring it on down"

World Coming Down
by
Type O-

TED: amazing talk!!!

As conversas no site da TED são excelentes, mas esta é mesmo muito boa!!! Para quem está com vontade de ver uma apresentação excelente, no minimo para aprender como se faz uma boa apresentação, vá aqui:
Hans Rosling: Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen...

Muito bom!!!

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Hans Rosling amazing presentation

The talks in the TED site are very good, but this one is amazing!!! For the ones who are in the mood to see a very good presentation, at least to learn how to do one, go here:
Hans Rosling: Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen...

Absolutely amazing!!!

Mestre Alves, o medium...

Vou repetir tal e qual como o jornalista do Porto Canal disse:
"Lançamos búzios, deitamos as cartas, até espreitamos na bola de cristal... e nada! Não resultou. Por isso pedimos a quem sabe, Mestre Alves!"



Não perca a continuação em:
Mestre Alves explica previsões parte 2
Mestre Alves explica previsões parte 3


P.S.: Para quem não conhece o personagem ver primeiro:
Mestre Alves, Previsões 2007