19
Dec 07

So Long and Thanks for All the Fish – reprise

Path: mv.asterisco.pt!mvalente
From: mvale…@ruido-visual.pt (Mario Valente)
Newsgroups: mv
Subject: So Long and Thanks for All the Fish (reprise)
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 07 00:15:21 GMT

I cant remember the actual date but it was either last
weekend or this weekend that 10 years ago I left Esoterica
(I remember that it was either during the 1st of December
or the 8th of December holiday long weekend).

http://mv.asterisco.pt/1997/cat.cgi?So%20Long%20And%20Thanks%20for%20All%20the%20Fish

Like I said before, its funny the way your life keeps
cycling through the same “seasons”…

http://mv.asterisco.pt/2007/Jun/cat.cgi?Seasons%20in%20Life

— MV


17
Dec 07

Hallo Spaceboy

Path: mv.asterisco.pt!mvalente
From: mvale…@ruido-visual.pt (Mario Valente)
Newsgroups: mv
Subject: Hallo Spaceboy
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 07 22:09:21 GMT

I’ve never been too much of a fan of David Bowie’s. I mean,
I actually admired the guy as an artist but I never was a
fan of his music. At least the usual recordings that I got
to hear…

But lately, after seeing his show in 2000 at the BBC on TV, this
song doesnt get out of my mind:

David Bowie – Hallo Spaceboy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZVGeUBrimA

I mean… goddam powerful!!! I hope I get to be 55 years
old and have his style.

The rest of the show is also available on YouTube. Unfortunately
its not available as a commercial DVD (but I’m sure that if you
search around you’ll be able to find a recording of the broadcast)

Together with “Ashes to Ashes” (also played at the show) and
“Space Oddity”, this sort-of “Major Tom” trilogy appeals to me
in a way I cant really explain. The feeling of alienation perhaps..

David Bowie – Space Oddity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhSYbRiYwTY

David Bowie – Ashes to Ashes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q3r6fkZTpk

Great versions of “Hallo Spaceboy” are also available with Bowie
singing with Foo Fighters, NIN or (my favourite) Pet Shop Boys

David Bowie & Pet Shop Boys – Hallo Spaceboy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwdssHTfPJQ

— MV


16
Dec 07

Salario Minimo e Produtividade

Path: mv.asterisco.pt!mvalente
From: mvale…@ruido-visual.pt (Mario Valente)
Newsgroups: mv
Subject: Salario Minimo e Produtividade
Date: Sun, 16 Dec 07 20:59:21 GMT

O salario minimo (como o imposto sobre as empresas) e
uma daquelas coisas que devia ser abolida de imediato.
E uma ingerencia inadmissivel na liberdade das empresas
e dos individuos.

Ao impor o salario minimo o Estado esta nao so a tornar
os empresarios em escravos da sociedade mas tambem a negar
oportunidades de empregos aqueles que, por esta ou aquela
razao, tem uma menor produtividade e estariam dispostos a
trabalhar por um valor que lhe fosse correspondente.

Os portugueses, alias, tem de aprender a lidar com a
sua historica inveja do proximo. Se outros paises tem
salarios (minimos ou medios) mais altos e porque primeiro
atingiram um nivel de produtividade que lhes permite depois
redistribuir a riqueza produzida. Nao e, como alguns querem
fazer pensar, o salario alto que implica um aumento de
produtividade, mas sim o contrario.

Ou, como ouvi dizer no outro dia: nao e preciso estar
motivado para agir; e preciso agir para estar motivado.

— MV


16
Dec 07

Serialz

Portuguese R 1337 hax0rz!!!

http://www.google.com/trends?q=vista+serial%2C+xp+serial&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

— MV


16
Dec 07

Wishes

Once again, after the usual discussion with Cristina about
places to go on New Years Eve, we’re off to our usual haunt
where we’ve married and where we’ve been going for the last
9 or 10 years:

http://www.penhalonga.com/
http://www.penhalonga.com/photo_tour.html

Thoughts of Portuguese highway traffic and drivers,
planes and tourists, etc. always put us off of more
exotic options. Plus the best Japanese restaurant in
Portugal, of course :-)

http://www.penhalonga.com/dining_midori_e.html
http://www.penhalonga.net/p_t_dining.html

Time off for some reflections on life, the universe and
everything. Next year some changes are in due for me, least
of which is finally becoming an (40 year old) adult :-)

I wish everyone a great 2008. And, regarding wishes and
new years resolutions, the habitual music/lyrics quotes:

“Don’t push too far
Your Dreams are china in your hand
Don’t wish too hard
Because they may come true
And you can’t help them
You don’t know what you might
Have set upon yourself
China in your hand”

T’Pau – Bridge of Spies, China in Your Hand

“Have you ever made a wish
And held your breath for days
And when you get that wish
You just can’t seem to wish it away
Well chances are, it might come true
Have you ever found yourself
In a place you don’t belong
And someone says, “Please Wait”
And you wanna say, “How Long?”
Chances are, it just might come true”

Saga – Generation 13, Chances Are #1

— MV