Portuguese American Post-graduate Society (PAPS), Los Angeles 18-19 Abril 2009

É uma notícia curta, apareceu no Jornal 2 no dia em que o Condestável foi santificado. Tratando-se de um vídeo pode demorar um bocadinho a fazer download.
Porquê que isto está aqui!? ... Ah, porque eu apareço lá no finalzinho :)

Como é habitual nestas coisas, também há uma fotografia de família. Cá está ela:

Congratulations to miss California, Carrie Prejean

My neighbor in La Jolla, she is the most recent runner-up in the latest miss USA contest. The reason is simple: when asked by one of the jurors, she said to be against same sex marriage.


Basically, she gave a true honest answer, instead of a political correct one like we're used to hear in this sort of events. Thus, many believe that she lost the possibility of becoming the next miss USA because of that particular answer. She might have lost a lot of stuff, but she certainly conquered my admiration. Congratulations kiddo!

Santa Monica Boulevard, outra vez famosa!

Mizé!! Maninha querida, foste a primeiríssima a dar-me os parabéns! Sempre atenta, nada te escapa!

Com o termómetro a bater nos 30 graus, o povo enchia as praias e avenidas oceânicas em Los Angeles, lá me passeava pela Sta. Monica Bl. à conversa com uma portuguesa da universidade de Austin no Texas, quando o meu telefone tocou ... era de Portugal e pouco passava das 4 da tarde.... "ah! ... pois é" exclamei eu; em Portugal já faço anos, mas aqui ainda tenho mais 8 horas até armar definitivamente o trinta-e-um (cá te espero Príncipe).

Foi interessante este fds em LA, deu para conciliar uma série de actividades. Praia, uma incursão nocturna por downtown LA, o fórum de estudantes portugueses nos EUA, e ainda fiz a minha primeira visita cultural com conteúdo significativo: o Getty Museum da autoria do arquitecto americano Richard Meier. Estava em exibição uma colecção de "velhos mestres", em parte cedida pelo museu de Dresden com quadros da época que se seguiu à geração dourada da renascença. Depois da morte de Rafael e Miguel Angelo todos temiam que a pintura entrasse em declínio acentuado...

upcoming birthday

That's right, you guessed it... my birthday is next Monday. Gifts, however, are already starting to arrive! Some nice chocolates and Easter almonds from Arcadia, a homemade chocolate cake to sweeten my mouth; and one very classy set, polo and pullover, to make me more fashion... not to mention my Easter rabbit and a nice postcard from Leça (onde o mundo começa...).


The bag of almonds must have opened during the long journey, and the cake is a bit crushed (very appropriately it now looks like a big donut), but all in all it's very tasty, and that's what matters. Mom, Dad: thank you very much!

Speaking of transportation... I was thinking about sending a couple of good California wine bottles to some friends and family who I know would appreciate it, but it turns out to be illegal to transport alcohol through postal service. The USPS simply don't do it. The private carriers don't really care about that and they even told me how to do it, simply fill in the customs form declaring it has being vinegar. If, however, they decided to open the package it would be seized, and probably a complaint would be filed against me... Oh well, if only mr. Capone was alive. I bet he could help me out!
Besides I went to on of those private carriers to ask for an estimate to send a six-bottle package of "vinegar" to Portugal and it would cost me around 250 USD. No budget for that! Sorry.
I guess this is one more reason for you to come and visit me!

Meanwhile, and to satisfy peoples curiosity concerning my car, I took my laptop (this is the only camera I have for the moment) outside to capture some images, and here it is. Nothing extraordinary... it's just to give you folks an insight.
Gas is a bit more cheap here; I've filled the tank with a little bit over 20 dollars. Not bad, ha?


Getting back to the subject, I'm not going to be upset if people don't call me in the 20th. Honestly. But because some folks have been asking for my number here it is: +1 858 220 4574. And please remember there is an eight hour time difference. So, PLEASE, DO NOT call me before 4pm (Portugal's time, this would be 8am California time). A suggestion I make for those that would like to say hello on my birthday is to simply leave a post here. I promise to read them all and reply thankfully.

Last but not least, this upcoming weekend I'm traveling to LA. There's a Portuguese American Post-graduate Society (PAPS) forum taking place there. I'll be staying at Jorge's place. Spanish nice chap that I met at Alcatel-Lucent who is now living in LA.
Jorge, if you're reading this: thanks again mate, for you kind offer!

a present for myself :-)

Things are a bit crazy in the past couple of days... Haven't had the time to sit down and write about my life. I'm (still) dealing with the federal tax return, my auto insurance (should be done by now), all together I now have my permanent spot at UCSD. Not that it matters too much to someone that doesn't know the facilities but it's in Engineering building I on the 5th floor. It's a nice sunny place with a good view over the campus.

Regarding my digital camera. This is the one I'm currently in love with (Canon IXUS 100 IS as it is known in Europe or Powershot SD 780 IS ELPH in North America):


What do you think? It's nothing fancy in what concerns features... but it's so small and handy. I really love it. If anyone has any insight on the subject that they would like to share, I would be more than grateful to hear an expert's opinion before committing. This will be my birthday present to myself. So the decision should be made soon.
It comes in gold, silver, black or red. Red or gold are more or less ruled out... I'm tending towards silver at the moment.

Oh ... the price? The cheapest I found so far was at the bookstore: 264 USD.

PS- actually this would be my second present, since the first one arrived yesterday with a fearless and exuberant display of football at old trafford. What ever the outcome of this heat might turnout... that was a hell of a game. Well done lads! FCP4ever