Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke was one of the most inspiring authors of my youth, when I used to devour science-fiction books from my local public library. I suppose that I started with Islands in the Sky, a boys' story about life on a space station in orbit about the earth, before moving on to many other fiction and non-fiction books.
I particularly remember his non-fictional writing, such as theories on geo-stationary satellites, which he proposed in the 1950's, and his tales of life in Ceylon (A View from Serendip). A quick review of the small part of my book collection that has been brought slowly from the UK confirms his preponderance in my reading habits.
The great man passed away this month aged 90. May he rest in peace.

CD of the month (9)

Another iconic 80's album to show my age, Avalon by Roxy Music is classic pop with a soulful edge that many others tried to imitate.

While Brian Ferry's posing makes me cringe, his music is simply sublime, so here's the title track as my mp3 of the month...

Blackberry Obsessives

To have staff who are contactable 24/7, to give your company the cutting edge - any top manager's dream. Can't see it myself.

• With my phone (from Palm) I can pick up my email whenever I want, just like a Blackberry. If there's anything urgent coming up, I can set it to check my mail every 3 minutes. What's the difference between that and "push-mail"? Even if I push mail to my staff, I run the risk of them being too busy to deal with my latest missive. Getting up and wandering over to see what they are doing is far more effective.
• All Blackberry owners that I have know are far more stressed than they really need to be - that's not good for business.
• Blackberry keeps all your mail on its servers. Do you trust them and their government not to pry? No surprise that the French government has banned its staff from using the service.
• How secure is your Blackberry if you accidentally leave in on a train or restaurant table? Your mobile device must just be a backup for your fixed system. Once you've read the mail, delete it.

The FT sent me a free copy of Who Moved My Blackberry - gave me the willies. Not for me, thank you very much, and I'm much more prudent than the twit in the story...

Birth Rate Incentives

The Jornal de Negócios today stated that the Government has announced that single-parent families will get 20% more family allowance, as an incentive to increase the birth rate.

I was somewhat puzzled by this. Are they implying that women will have more children and then split up with the father in order to get more cash from the State? Doesn't that bring social problems that will weigh on the State budget? Or are they proposing Michael Jackson type surrogate mother arrangements to encourage single fathers?

Somebody's done their sums wrong, it would appear...

Subsidies for Fools

Even though the new Lisbon airport will now be built in Alcochete, the "Otários" (fools) are still fighting their corner. Last week they came up with the idea that the Ota region must now be considered disadvantaged and thus requires government investment to make up for the airport not being built there! Logically, this investment should be added to the cost of building the airport in Alcochete. Will that still be a better solution in this case?

Not surprisingly, the Government agreed to consider this request. Don't forget who are the major landowners in Ota, who would be expected to show their gratitude for receipt of such investment. And the poor little property speculators, taxi license sharks and City Council employees who stand to lose from not having an airport on their doorstep.

So let's subsidise them all. It's clearly an important area, more so than the deserted regions of the interior, for example. Or maybe the Government could take another difficult budgetary decision, and not throw public funds to speculators and sycophants.

Artistic Licence or Bad English

As one of the pedants who greatly enjoyed Eats, Shoots and Leaves, the ultimate English grammar book, I am often distressed by incorrect use of English in song lyrics, in particular when the correct words would have fitted perfectly well with the music and the rhyme.

Of course, even Queen abused the language when they felt like it, but the other day I came across a great, easy-listening song where virtually every line is incorrect. The song is "If I Was a River" by Tina Arena; its very title makes me cringe!

Let's see: a phrase expressing doubt requires the conditional tense, as far as I remember. So it should be "If I Were a River". How would that leave the song? Sounds OK to me. I tried it out on my 9 year-old son, translating it into Portuguese: "Se eu fui um rio". He corrected me immediately: "Se eu fosse"! So what is it with these people? I guess the options are:

1. English is not the songwriter or performer's first language;
2. The phrase is correct under "American English" grammar rules ("anything goes!")
3. Nobody gives a damn, as long as it sells!

So. Rant over. I'll just retreat to my Financial Times and G&T!