ART GALLERY - Katsushika Hokusai

Hokusai, full name Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Japanese painter and wood engraver, born in Edo (now Tokyo). He is considered one of the outstanding figures of the Ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world" (everyday life), school of printmaking. This is the famous "In the Hollow of a Wave off the Coast at Kanagawa", often known in the West as "The Wave".

This is "Mount Fuji in Clear Weather". This often also known as "Red Fuji".

Until Islam reigns from "Spain to Iraq"

It is a Jihad for the sake of God and will last until (our) religion prevails ... from Spain to Iraq," al-Zawahiri said. "We will attack everywhere." Spain was controlled by Arab Muslims until they were driven from power at the turn of the 16th century".

I would like to make it clear to everybody that Portugal is not part of Spain (then Castile) since 1143, as can be confirmed here.

50th anniversary of The Tall Ships' Race

(click to enlarge)
Detail of Italian ship "Amerigo Vespucio".

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Detail of Danish ship "Georg Stage".

Ataque ao blogue Abrupto

Espero que o Blogger esteja a tomar medidas necessárias para acabar com este tipo de patifaria que afectou o blogue Abrupto, que certamente preocupa toda a comunidade bloguistica.

50th anniversary of The Tall Ships' Race

The year 2006 marks the 50th anniversary of The Tall Ships' Race. In celebration, the first leg recreated the original 1956 race, from Torquay to Lisbon and here the majestic sail boats arrive at the Portuguese capital. Tomorrow by 11:oo am they all will leave Lisbon with a nice exhibition in Tagus river passing by Belem tower, for the pleasure of hundreds of people watching them. Here are some photos I took this late afternoon.


Portuguese ships "Sagres" and "Creoula".

Italian ship "Amerigo Vespucci".

Some exercises in the Danish ship "Georg Stage".

Street Chess

Concentration in the park.

Computers find poker, a tougher challenge than chess

x"It may surprise you to learn that it's more difficult for a computer to play poker, perhaps the world's most popular card game, than chess, the pastime of deep thinkers.
Unlike chess, poker deals with tricky matters such as uncertainty, probability, guesswork and deception - human wiles that a chess-playing robot, such as the one that beat world champion Garry Kasparov in 1997, doesn't need to consider.
As a result, computer experts say, poker is more like real life - with all its subtleties and complications - than chess is, with its fixed rules and vast but finite possibilities." Read the complete article here.

The Most Entertaining Team

Portugal delight fans worldwide
They played, they scored and above all they entertained us. After enjoying the efforts of so many teams during the 64 matches of Germany 2006, take a look at how football fans across the world voted and find out where The Most Entertaining Team Award was won and lost. Watch the video and see the team overview on FIFA site.

À boleia do Mundial 2006

O Governo continua a aproveitar a boleia do Mundial 2006. O que é que estará na calha para legislar até quarta-feira ou até domingo? Em contraponto com as afirmações do professor Medina Carreira que acusa o governo de distrair os portugueses, não fazendo o que deve, desta vez é o governo que aproveita a distracção dos portugueses provocada pela euforia da futebolândia nacional, para fazer o que tem a fazer. Esta semana que entra será única, em condições de legislar sem grandes criticas e na pouca atenção dos média, focados no tema Mundial 2006.

Portugal 3 - England 1 (penalties)

As expected, England still can't get past Portugal or Luiz Felipe Scolari, even with this support and with Gelsenkirchen stadium as a sea of red and white for the quarter-finals, with only one small corner of Portuguese colour. It is a failure in World Cup terms, but there can be no recriminations about his performance. Qui sera l'équipe suivante? :) See all World Cup 2006 games on ESPN Sports, CCTV-5 Sports or other channel using this program.

Portugal - England

Looking back to the last Portugal - England matches it seems normal we can expect another victory, unless anything extraordinary happens ... within two hours from now.

Euro 2004
After penalty shoot-out: Portugal - England 6-5
BBC pool results after the game:


Euro 2000
Portugal - England 3-2

World Cup 1986
Portugal - England 1-0