The Mellow Extended Weekend in the Algarve

The Atlantic sometimes makes all senseless things sensible; or it just washes them away, wave after wave, carved out again and again..

Poll | Dilemma?

What would arachists do if the movement suddenly started gaining a lot of political momentum, consequently becoming popular?

Legal Responses to New Psychoactive Substances in Europe (19/2/2009)

For anyone out there who might be curious on what it is that I've been spending my time since starting up with the EMCDDA last year in May, this is the report that has taken up most of my time & that just got published: Legal Responses to New Psychoactive Substances in Europe (19/2/2009).
If you happen to find the time to read it and consequently have any comments or questions or both, bring them on!

Yesterday's news at a different level | Lizzo Day 320

Counter Terrorism and Human Rights - Newsroom
16th February 2009

In one of the most extensive studies of counter-terrorism and human rights yet undertaken, an independent panel of eminent judges and lawyers today presents alarming findings about the impact of counter-terrorism policies worldwide and calls for remedial action. The Eminent Jurists Panel on Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights, established by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), has based its report "Assessing Damage, Urging Action" on sixteen hearings covering more than forty countries in all regions of the world.

as posted on the International Commission of Jurists' page, here.
Here's the full [213 pp.] report;
And Mary Robinson's statement

What's in a Name?

It's a few days since I finished reading Orhan Pamuk's My Name is Red and the review is still to come; still, here's a taste of the writer:

Retrospectively: Óbidos | Lizzo Day 310

[This long-overdue tale pertains to a trip undertaken back in a November Saturday, to a place known as Óbidos.]
As we were supposed to get the train to meet D.&T., the time to be spent at the station helped the useful purchase of a children's book on the topic; as it turned out, this included an audiobook, which very much speeded up the passage of time in the car, on the way to our destination:Unfortunately, I can't exactly upload the cd's contents, as this might oversimplify the tale's perspective; still, I can share some of the story behind:

Óbidos is known as the "Wedding City" and was the traditional bridal gift of the kings of Portugal to their queens, a custom started in 1282 by Don Dinis and Dona Isabel. It is a very small town, completely enclosed by lofty walls, and although much was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, Óbidos retains a medieval feel: cobbled alleys, withewashed houses framed with bright blue and yellow borders, and steep stairecaseswinding up to the exposed ramparts for distant views. 500 years ago, when Peniche was an island, the sea also reached the foot of the ridge on which Óbidos stands and boats were moored below its walls. However, by the 15th century the sea had retreated, leaving a fertile green plain and the distant Lagoa de Óbidos with its narrow, shallow entrance to the sea.

[as put by my Rough Guide to Portugal, p. 185]
Let me demonstrate:
Other than the royal tradition and the views, we've come to learn that this is a place famous for its chocolate Festivals and its ginjinha em copos de chocolate [chocolate-cups-cherry]:

...and such was a perfect late autumn's Saturday (:

P.S. Oh, and Here's the Castle, in case you were wondering about that lil' detail..

When "What's Your Type?" translates to "bura-hara"

In Japan, "What's your type?" is much more than small talk; it can be a paramount question in everything from matchmaking to getting a job.

By type, the Japanese mean blood type, and no amount of scientific debunking can kill a widely held notion that blood tells all. In the year just ended, four of Japan's top 10 best-sellers were about how blood type determines personality, according to Japan's largest book distributor, Tohan Co. The books' publisher, Bungeisha, says the series - one each for types B, O, A, and AB - has combined sales of well over 5 million copies.[...]

Even Prime Minister Taro Aso seems to consider it important enough to reveal in his official profile on the Web. He's an A. His rival, opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, is a B. [...]

Matchmaking agencies provide blood-type compatibility tests, and some companies make decisions about assignments based on employees' blood types. Children at some kindergartens are divided up by blood type, and the women's softball team that won gold at the Beijing Olympics used the theory to customize each player's training.

Not all see the craze as harmless fun, and the Japanese now have a term, "bura-hara," meaning blood-type harassment. And, despite repeated warnings, many employers continue to ask blood types at job interviews, said Junichi Wadayama, an official at the Health, Welfare and Labor Ministry.

More here, thanks to Physorg.com & AP.

Need more reasons to come & visit? | Lizzo Day 304

Top Hostels of 2008 Announced

The red carpet was rolled out in Dublin ... for one of the budget travel industry’s most anticipated events of the year as the HOSCARS (HOStelworld Customer Annual Ratings) took place to recognise the best hostels in the world.
The Portuguese city of Lisbon was the top location for hostels with Travellers House winning the coveted prize of number one hostel in the world while Rossio Hostel and Lisbon Lounge hostel giving the popular backpacking destination an impressive one, two, three. [...]
More than 20,000 properties from across the globe, all featured on Hostelworld.com, were eligible for the awards. The winners were voted for by over 800,000 customers worldwide who booked their accommodation online and rated and reviewed the hostel on six criteria – character, security, location, staff, fun and cleanliness.

If interested in seeing who else is on the lists, keep reading this feat on Hostelworld.com.