Shania Twain - Up!

Our CD collection is well over 200 discs now, but nowadaysrecent additions are usually bought by other family members. Recently I came across this one. Now it doesn't get a recommendation as "CD of the week/month", but it is worth a mention as an interesting academic exercise.

The double album contains the same tracks on both CD's, the first having an "electric/rock" mix and the second a "groove/rhythmic" feel. Apparently there are also country and western mixes on her website, but I'm not that curious. Of course there are tracks that work well in both mixes, some work well only with one mix, and others that could have been left out completely.

Anyway, I found the album an interesting exercise, as a music boffin (or snob, if you like). Even so, I'm not going to put a track on the blog, so if you want to hear one try launch.yahoo.com, or similar music sites.

Unfit to Govern?

The death of Boris Yeltsin was in most news round-ups yesterday morning: the man who forcibly took power in the USSR from Mikhael Gorbatchov, dissolved the Union, used the army against dissenters in parliament and put and end to the cold war.

His fondness for alcohol and inability to behave properly in public were referred to as major failings that marred his public image and were an embarrassment to the Russian Federation. That came to an end when he handed power over to Vladimir Putin in 1999.

The next piece on the bulletin I saw returned to domestic politics - Alberto João Jardim threatening to declare independence if the mainland continues to interfere in Madeiran affairs. Personally, if he doesn't want to be part of the country, I would cut off his funding and eliminate all subsidies for six months to see how he survives as resident dictator in an independent state. Anyway, that report was accompanied by film of Alberto João's recent public appearances, singing and dancing in an inebriated fashion at a public event, rather similar to the embarrassing footage of Yeltsin a few moment earlier.

Was the juxtaposition of these reports a coincidence - probably, as the Portuguese press is not known for its will to speak out against Alberto João. It did bring home that fact the fitness to govern is a very subjective matter.

Paulo Portas' Party

So PP has once again taken the reins of his party. When he wants time off to freelance on TV, he steps down. Some poor misguided fool will always come forward and imagine that the party can be run without PP. Then, when PP wants to get back into the saddle, he invents an excuse for leadership elections and gets re-elected. They should really add a letter to the name: PPP - Paulo Portas' Party (or Partido Pouco Popular).

The governing party must surely thank him too, for diverting media attention from other matters for a few weeks.

Who wouldn't like to have a job like that!

MoGo Bluetooth Mouse

For laptop users, this looks like an excellent gadget - a Bluetooth mouse so small that it fits into a PCMCIA slot for transport and charging. When you need to use it, remove it from the slot and it turns into a Bluetooth optical mouse.

Might be one for my toy collection.