Dear MR. Silva,
I am writing to give you an update on the disruptions Eurostar experienced last week. First of all, I would like to offer my most heartfelt apology to all of our customers who were inconvenienced as a result of events last week.
I fully appreciate that this situation, particularly for those travellers involved in Friday and Saturday's train failures, was very difficult and I would like to assure you that I will do everything in my power to ensure that this kind of incident will not happen again.
Thankfully we managed to get all passengers who needed to travel for Christmas to their destinations and our service has now returned to normal.
Although you may have seen many reports in the media about the problems we experienced I would like to explain exactly what happened in this unprecedented event.
As I am sure you have heard by now, this situation was caused primarily by the extremely cold weather in Northern France and the amount of snow and ice that our trains gathered running along the high speed line. Some of this snow penetrated into the power cars. Once in the tunnel, where the temperature is much warmer, this snow melted and the resulting water and condensation caused a number of electrical systems to fail.
We have of course experienced cold weather in previous years and have an extensive winterisation programme that was fully applied to our fleet again this year. This did not however prove sufficient to protect our trains on this occasion.
We have had isolated incidents in the tunnel before but it is unprecedented to have five trains full of passengers all breakdown at the same time, and it was this that caused the emergency recovery procedures to breakdown.
As you may have heard, our Board has launched an Independent Review into exactly what occurred, so that we can learn from the mistakes and ensure that we never subject our customers to this kind of disruption in the future. The panel leading this Review want to understand traveller experiences in detail and would like to invite any passengers involved to send their accounts to: mailto:independent.review@eurostar.com
As soon as we have the results from this review and the recommendations that are made, we will share them with you.
We have started with rigour our own internal inquiry and subsequent improvement plan to ensure that with immediate effect we are taking measures to ensure any future disruption is handled in the way that you would expect.
I wish you all the best over the festive period and look forward to welcoming you on board again in the New Year.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Público - Aplicar a nova ortografia em 2010 é uma precipitação?
Público - Aplicar a nova ortografia em 2010 é uma precipitação?
Para além dos argumentos apresentados por outros, uma enorme vantagem da grafia do Português Europeu/Africano é a semelhança com outras línguas como o Francês, Inglês ou Espanhol. O facto de mantermos a origem da palavra na grafia é fonte de riqueza linguística e cultural. Nós Portugueses facilmente nos adaptamos a outros línguas pela riqueza da nossa língua que contém a génese da palavra. Castrar a nossa língua é um crime contra a nossa cultura e sociedade. Parem com pedidos de referendos ridículos e façam um a esta questão! Ou será que sabem a resposta e por isso não perguntam?...
Para além dos argumentos apresentados por outros, uma enorme vantagem da grafia do Português Europeu/Africano é a semelhança com outras línguas como o Francês, Inglês ou Espanhol. O facto de mantermos a origem da palavra na grafia é fonte de riqueza linguística e cultural. Nós Portugueses facilmente nos adaptamos a outros línguas pela riqueza da nossa língua que contém a génese da palavra. Castrar a nossa língua é um crime contra a nossa cultura e sociedade. Parem com pedidos de referendos ridículos e façam um a esta questão! Ou será que sabem a resposta e por isso não perguntam?...
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Copenhagen...
Ou quando a montanha pariu um rato...
I first would like to show what the newspapers say:
PT: Diário de Notícias
FR: Le Figaro
UK: BBC
When this conference started I said it would end up close to nothing, people called me a pessimist. I answered saying I was being realistic. You know what? I was right...
I do not care if it is global warming, global freezing, or global stupidity. It is clear that we are living in a away that does not take into account that resources are not infinite. Warmer, colder... that's not the point: it is changing, and changing faster than ever.
It is wrong to try to demonstrate that is the CO2, or other pollution to cause it, it is a very difficult scientific task. Lets focus on what is clear, and what is clear is that we're consuming the planet without limits and without considering that resources are limited - I fail to understand how people do not see that we only have ONE planet. It is time to thing at this scale, because it is the scale we're consuming.
I'm not a radical.
I do not defend going back to the dark ages of diseases, starving, or dying for no reason. I'm in favour of being responsible. When I was a child I remember being on the local Carnaval dressed like a fish because my home-town river was dead (or almost). It is not yet solved, but now that we've started treating what we send to the river before, it is now cleaner and fish are enjoying themselves again. This is the level of things we can do.
Lets reduce, recycle and reuse - for serious! This is up to us, but governments have to make it easy! Not travelling for km before finding a centre, it needs to at our houses as they come for other type of residues.
Then, industrially speaking... This is where it is difficult for sure. Not that there are no technical solutions, because there are, but because there more expensive. And we've to be "competitive" apparently... Well, have we?! In terms of EU, we should have extremely high import taxes from polluting countries and/or industries. Problems to export because of retaliation? Well, that's where we'll need to be pragmatic and accept we should focus on our internal EU market (or "green-world" countries).
It is now time for this! Before it was military, political, economical unions; now we need the environment union! Those old borders no longer apply, the world changed. Our values need to endorse the green way of living, otherwise we're lost.
If we export less I recognise we'll have unemployment problems, I'm not stupid (or so I hope). However, I see on this an advantage... (don't shoot me! yet...) Usually, those that massively export are companies where the profits are not distributed anyway, and there is no actual benefit for those working. It is then possible to balance profit and employment, but I do not know how for now - I don't have time to solve all the world problems :)
I believe we may have to go back to a less globalised world, by splitting it again, but with different criteria - environmental friendly criteria.
How do we solve the poor and rich issues?... It is not because you're poor that you're rich, and vice-versa. Actually, the principles I defend, would allow for larger import from some poor countries, since they do not have the industry to pollute. So, I think it is the right way. Note that by consequence I also defend that we would have to apply taxes on EU products since they may come from polluting technologies.
Anyway, it is up to us! We've to decide on buying green, even when that may cost more. It is up to money at the end unfortunately, so we've a word to say...
Now, for the idiots in Copenhagen... I do not think we can achieve a global agreement, that is way I never believed in this conference.
Countries come from so many different contexts and goals that it is just not possible. That is why we need to think in a piecewise solution. For example, in our case, it would be an EU level. Than we could try to do it with the USA, and so on... This is the only way. And by giving the message that this huge economical blocks were only buying green, the poor countries would adapt themselves and produce green to survive. I probably defend that it may be a good idea to provide funding for the poor countries, but not in the way it was agreed, because that is just to buy pollution quotas. If a part of the taxes on "green import" were graven back to poor countries, that sounds like a proper solution.
Lets use the fact that the EU exists and make it stronger in the world with this kind of brave decisions. It is not by always hiding and not willing to take the lead that we'll get there. The USA are to unstable to make serious political agreements, their president may change everything after years, and that is reality. The EU has plenty of problems, but the way it is organised does allow for higher political stability in an international level. Lets use it and be brave, we've just been cowards so far!
And this is why we need a strong EU, and this is why the UK need to stop their ridiculous position where they do not face reality: they are part of Europe and the EU. The X century is gone for a while now...
Lets be brave please! Time is running out!
I first would like to show what the newspapers say:
PT: Diário de Notícias
FR: Le Figaro
UK: BBC
When this conference started I said it would end up close to nothing, people called me a pessimist. I answered saying I was being realistic. You know what? I was right...
I do not care if it is global warming, global freezing, or global stupidity. It is clear that we are living in a away that does not take into account that resources are not infinite. Warmer, colder... that's not the point: it is changing, and changing faster than ever.
It is wrong to try to demonstrate that is the CO2, or other pollution to cause it, it is a very difficult scientific task. Lets focus on what is clear, and what is clear is that we're consuming the planet without limits and without considering that resources are limited - I fail to understand how people do not see that we only have ONE planet. It is time to thing at this scale, because it is the scale we're consuming.
I'm not a radical.
I do not defend going back to the dark ages of diseases, starving, or dying for no reason. I'm in favour of being responsible. When I was a child I remember being on the local Carnaval dressed like a fish because my home-town river was dead (or almost). It is not yet solved, but now that we've started treating what we send to the river before, it is now cleaner and fish are enjoying themselves again. This is the level of things we can do.
Lets reduce, recycle and reuse - for serious! This is up to us, but governments have to make it easy! Not travelling for km before finding a centre, it needs to at our houses as they come for other type of residues.
Then, industrially speaking... This is where it is difficult for sure. Not that there are no technical solutions, because there are, but because there more expensive. And we've to be "competitive" apparently... Well, have we?! In terms of EU, we should have extremely high import taxes from polluting countries and/or industries. Problems to export because of retaliation? Well, that's where we'll need to be pragmatic and accept we should focus on our internal EU market (or "green-world" countries).
It is now time for this! Before it was military, political, economical unions; now we need the environment union! Those old borders no longer apply, the world changed. Our values need to endorse the green way of living, otherwise we're lost.
If we export less I recognise we'll have unemployment problems, I'm not stupid (or so I hope). However, I see on this an advantage... (don't shoot me! yet...) Usually, those that massively export are companies where the profits are not distributed anyway, and there is no actual benefit for those working. It is then possible to balance profit and employment, but I do not know how for now - I don't have time to solve all the world problems :)
I believe we may have to go back to a less globalised world, by splitting it again, but with different criteria - environmental friendly criteria.
How do we solve the poor and rich issues?... It is not because you're poor that you're rich, and vice-versa. Actually, the principles I defend, would allow for larger import from some poor countries, since they do not have the industry to pollute. So, I think it is the right way. Note that by consequence I also defend that we would have to apply taxes on EU products since they may come from polluting technologies.
Anyway, it is up to us! We've to decide on buying green, even when that may cost more. It is up to money at the end unfortunately, so we've a word to say...
Now, for the idiots in Copenhagen... I do not think we can achieve a global agreement, that is way I never believed in this conference.
Countries come from so many different contexts and goals that it is just not possible. That is why we need to think in a piecewise solution. For example, in our case, it would be an EU level. Than we could try to do it with the USA, and so on... This is the only way. And by giving the message that this huge economical blocks were only buying green, the poor countries would adapt themselves and produce green to survive. I probably defend that it may be a good idea to provide funding for the poor countries, but not in the way it was agreed, because that is just to buy pollution quotas. If a part of the taxes on "green import" were graven back to poor countries, that sounds like a proper solution.
Lets use the fact that the EU exists and make it stronger in the world with this kind of brave decisions. It is not by always hiding and not willing to take the lead that we'll get there. The USA are to unstable to make serious political agreements, their president may change everything after years, and that is reality. The EU has plenty of problems, but the way it is organised does allow for higher political stability in an international level. Lets use it and be brave, we've just been cowards so far!
And this is why we need a strong EU, and this is why the UK need to stop their ridiculous position where they do not face reality: they are part of Europe and the EU. The X century is gone for a while now...
Lets be brave please! Time is running out!
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Ministério da Educação não avança com acordo ortográfico no próximo ano - Educação - PUBLICO.PT
Estratégia 1: esquecer que este erro monumental e anedótico existe
Estratégia 2: assumir como são parvos e anular a parvoíce
Mais uns para fuzilar...
Ministério da Educação não avança com acordo ortográfico no próximo ano - Educação - PUBLICO.PT
Estratégia 2: assumir como são parvos e anular a parvoíce
Mais uns para fuzilar...
Ministério da Educação não avança com acordo ortográfico no próximo ano - Educação - PUBLICO.PT
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Red Bull Air Race: assinado acordo para realização da prova no rio Tejo - Local - PUBLICO.PT
R I D Í C U L O!
Só dão argumentos a radicais para dividir um país que sempre foi unido. Já não tenho paciência para estes parolos, por favor fuzilem estes parvos como parte da selecção natural.
Red Bull Air Race: assinado acordo para realização da prova no rio Tejo - Local - PUBLICO.PT
Só dão argumentos a radicais para dividir um país que sempre foi unido. Já não tenho paciência para estes parolos, por favor fuzilem estes parvos como parte da selecção natural.
Red Bull Air Race: assinado acordo para realização da prova no rio Tejo - Local - PUBLICO.PT
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Ryanair: catch it, kill it, bin it!
This is the latest Ryanair aberration: Pay by card
I won't go into the details of how much I hate this company. People will answer that it is less expensive... Is it? Not really! Just put everything together, and I'm not including the price of the respect you deserve as a person.
Do I fly with it? Yes. When the flight times are better or a significant price different exists (rare). Do I like it? I hate it so so so so so so much...
So, I'll put my criteria to chose Ryanair even higher - basically I'll try do avoid it as much as I can.
I hope they'll go bankrupt one day!
I won't go into the details of how much I hate this company. People will answer that it is less expensive... Is it? Not really! Just put everything together, and I'm not including the price of the respect you deserve as a person.
Do I fly with it? Yes. When the flight times are better or a significant price different exists (rare). Do I like it? I hate it so so so so so so much...
So, I'll put my criteria to chose Ryanair even higher - basically I'll try do avoid it as much as I can.
I hope they'll go bankrupt one day!
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Freddie Mercury - 18 years
Sorry, don't know how to insert this type of video:
http://www.tsf.pt/paginainicial/AudioeVideo.aspx?content_id=1430294
http://www.tsf.pt/paginainicial/AudioeVideo.aspx?content_id=1430294
Monday, 23 November 2009
Thursday, 12 November 2009
First world country?...
So, the UK...
Before coming here the "gentleman" culture was fascinating and seductive. All the charm associated with it is great. Watching the BBC and often thinking how well educated the English are and how interesting it would be living in such a civilised place.
Well, reality is something different.
There are a list of things - the ones that know me wont doubt I would write pages and pages. But, there is one in particular: crossing the road at a junction.
In Portugal the highway code says that, at a junction, the pedestrian has the priority. In Portugal, often considered to be 3rd world by some either arrogant foreigners, or by some frustrated and/or short minded Portuguese, the rule is actually mostly respected.
I'm outraged that people do not stop at a junction for pedestrians here: NEVER! I'm not forgetting any case, in two years it never happened.
Well, I tried to give myself an excuse by thinking that the highway code was different here. However, as a form of respect in society, giving the priority to the ones more fragile, is a basic form of education. I could not believe people would not understand that a pedestrian on the road, should be protected.
The most annoying example, it happened again this evening and it was at least the 2nd time in the week. It is raining, it is cold, the pedestrians (including me) have no umbrella, but at a crossing: "Ah Ah Ah!! You stupid guy standing there under the rain and the cold trying to cross in front of my 1 ton car, try to get in front of me!"
No exaggeration, they probably accelerate. Once, since I was already in the middle, they actually protested that I was crossing the road!!!
So, the deception was already indescribable, but... The highway code of this country actually says:
"8
At a junction. When crossing the road, look out for traffic turning into the road, especially from behind you. If you have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, you have priority and they should give way (see Rule 170)."
"
"170
Take extra care at junctions. You should
* watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, powered wheelchairs/mobility scooters and pedestrians as they are not always easy to see. Be aware that they may not have seen or heard you if you are approaching from behind
* watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way
* watch out for long vehicles which may be turning at a junction ahead; they may have to use the whole width of the road to make the turn (see Rule 221)
* watch out for horse riders who may take a different line on the road from that which you would expect
* not assume, when waiting at a junction, that a vehicle coming from the right and signalling left will actually turn. Wait and make sure
* look all around before emerging. Do not cross or join a road until there is a gap large enough for you to do so safely"
Welcome to the so called 1st world.
Before coming here the "gentleman" culture was fascinating and seductive. All the charm associated with it is great. Watching the BBC and often thinking how well educated the English are and how interesting it would be living in such a civilised place.
Well, reality is something different.
There are a list of things - the ones that know me wont doubt I would write pages and pages. But, there is one in particular: crossing the road at a junction.
In Portugal the highway code says that, at a junction, the pedestrian has the priority. In Portugal, often considered to be 3rd world by some either arrogant foreigners, or by some frustrated and/or short minded Portuguese, the rule is actually mostly respected.
I'm outraged that people do not stop at a junction for pedestrians here: NEVER! I'm not forgetting any case, in two years it never happened.
Well, I tried to give myself an excuse by thinking that the highway code was different here. However, as a form of respect in society, giving the priority to the ones more fragile, is a basic form of education. I could not believe people would not understand that a pedestrian on the road, should be protected.
The most annoying example, it happened again this evening and it was at least the 2nd time in the week. It is raining, it is cold, the pedestrians (including me) have no umbrella, but at a crossing: "Ah Ah Ah!! You stupid guy standing there under the rain and the cold trying to cross in front of my 1 ton car, try to get in front of me!"
No exaggeration, they probably accelerate. Once, since I was already in the middle, they actually protested that I was crossing the road!!!
So, the deception was already indescribable, but... The highway code of this country actually says:
"8
At a junction. When crossing the road, look out for traffic turning into the road, especially from behind you. If you have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, you have priority and they should give way (see Rule 170)."
"
"170
Take extra care at junctions. You should
* watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, powered wheelchairs/mobility scooters and pedestrians as they are not always easy to see. Be aware that they may not have seen or heard you if you are approaching from behind
* watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way
* watch out for long vehicles which may be turning at a junction ahead; they may have to use the whole width of the road to make the turn (see Rule 221)
* watch out for horse riders who may take a different line on the road from that which you would expect
* not assume, when waiting at a junction, that a vehicle coming from the right and signalling left will actually turn. Wait and make sure
* look all around before emerging. Do not cross or join a road until there is a gap large enough for you to do so safely"
Welcome to the so called 1st world.
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Governo, oposição, e as fachadas...
Porra!
Mas isto é sempre o mesmo e andam todos felizes assim? Alguém me diz para que servem os pseudo-debates no parlamento?
Eu admito que sou novo e tal, mas nunca vi um debate no parlamento! Vi muitos discursos de um lado para o outro, mas nunca vi ninguém (NINGUÉM!) entrar naquela sala como deputado de espírito aberto para um debate. Vai-se para lá para dizer como os outros são idiotas, como eu é que sou bom, como é que o mundo é injusto, mas sempre com a razão absoluta!
O programa do governo foi apenas mais um triste evento na longa série da nossa democracia - e estou a considerar democracia apenas devido à eleições justas que temos. O governo a armar-se em vítima quando ninguém os obriga a governar se eles não querem; a oposição a não abrir portas de entendimento, apenas a fazer os tais discursos.
Acho que da parte do governo/PS, deve ser algo muito estranho ir de uma maioria absoluta para uma maioria bem relativa. Apesar dos discursos de vitória, no fundo começam a perceber que já não podem ser arrogantes como sempre, e agora também têm que ouvir - pois, o mundo é injusto... Esquecem-se que se têm os deputados que têm é porque os Portugueses assim o quiseram! Aliás, convenientemente esquecem-se que há mais Portugueses em desacordo com eles que o contrário - eu sei, o mundo é injusto... Se não querem governar que não aceitem o convite do PR - rua!
A oposição... vazio de conteúdo! O que eu gostava de ter ouvido era as possíveis zonas onde cada partido poderia ter um diálogo construtivo com as "vítimas" do PS. Mas não, somos oposição, ainda somos maiores vítimas que o PS, e portanto os malandros que não votaram em nós agora vão perceber o que é a vingança! Pois, é uma palavra forte, mas é o que é!
Volto à minha antiga ideia: ponham um tipo por partido na assembleia, quando cada um levanta o braço representa o x% que o seu partido teve. Para quê pagar e ter de ouvir esses tipos todos quando os partidos deles não lhes dão o direito de pensar (se calhar nalguns casos até não será mau...)? Se aquilo é tudo para fazer uns discursos sem conteúdo e não para debater e chegar a acordos parem com o teatro.
Já não há paciência, ainda viro radical um dia destes!...
Mas isto é sempre o mesmo e andam todos felizes assim? Alguém me diz para que servem os pseudo-debates no parlamento?
Eu admito que sou novo e tal, mas nunca vi um debate no parlamento! Vi muitos discursos de um lado para o outro, mas nunca vi ninguém (NINGUÉM!) entrar naquela sala como deputado de espírito aberto para um debate. Vai-se para lá para dizer como os outros são idiotas, como eu é que sou bom, como é que o mundo é injusto, mas sempre com a razão absoluta!
O programa do governo foi apenas mais um triste evento na longa série da nossa democracia - e estou a considerar democracia apenas devido à eleições justas que temos. O governo a armar-se em vítima quando ninguém os obriga a governar se eles não querem; a oposição a não abrir portas de entendimento, apenas a fazer os tais discursos.
Acho que da parte do governo/PS, deve ser algo muito estranho ir de uma maioria absoluta para uma maioria bem relativa. Apesar dos discursos de vitória, no fundo começam a perceber que já não podem ser arrogantes como sempre, e agora também têm que ouvir - pois, o mundo é injusto... Esquecem-se que se têm os deputados que têm é porque os Portugueses assim o quiseram! Aliás, convenientemente esquecem-se que há mais Portugueses em desacordo com eles que o contrário - eu sei, o mundo é injusto... Se não querem governar que não aceitem o convite do PR - rua!
A oposição... vazio de conteúdo! O que eu gostava de ter ouvido era as possíveis zonas onde cada partido poderia ter um diálogo construtivo com as "vítimas" do PS. Mas não, somos oposição, ainda somos maiores vítimas que o PS, e portanto os malandros que não votaram em nós agora vão perceber o que é a vingança! Pois, é uma palavra forte, mas é o que é!
Volto à minha antiga ideia: ponham um tipo por partido na assembleia, quando cada um levanta o braço representa o x% que o seu partido teve. Para quê pagar e ter de ouvir esses tipos todos quando os partidos deles não lhes dão o direito de pensar (se calhar nalguns casos até não será mau...)? Se aquilo é tudo para fazer uns discursos sem conteúdo e não para debater e chegar a acordos parem com o teatro.
Já não há paciência, ainda viro radical um dia destes!...
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Democracy
Waiting for a bus I had the strangest thought:
I guess democracy is the equivalent of an iterative process. Dictatorship (e.g. traditional monarchy) is the analytical approach.
In a dictatorship one has a particular view of the problem and tries to solve it according to that idea. We even used to train/educate our rulers according to those principles and let him come up with a new idea, but the time dimension was a generation (like a new/better analytical method).
In democracy we alternate frequently between methods hoping to find a better one. The time dimension is much shorter.
I guess it is like the introduction of computers: we don't really know how to solve this problem, so lets try a solution, and another one, and another one,...
Ok, I probably need to sleep about this kind of strange thoughts...
I guess democracy is the equivalent of an iterative process. Dictatorship (e.g. traditional monarchy) is the analytical approach.
In a dictatorship one has a particular view of the problem and tries to solve it according to that idea. We even used to train/educate our rulers according to those principles and let him come up with a new idea, but the time dimension was a generation (like a new/better analytical method).
In democracy we alternate frequently between methods hoping to find a better one. The time dimension is much shorter.
I guess it is like the introduction of computers: we don't really know how to solve this problem, so lets try a solution, and another one, and another one,...
Ok, I probably need to sleep about this kind of strange thoughts...
European Union
http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/30/klaus-wins-lisbon-treaty-concession-for-czech-republic/
So, what is the fu***** purpose of signing a treaty for all UE members allowing an exception to the "Fundamental Rights Charter". I guess they're not so fundamental after all.
I believe in an united Europe, not in this "pretend to" group that lost the spirit of the union.
They forgot why they needed a treaty, they just care about signing a fu***** piece of paper now.
Shame on them!
So, what is the fu***** purpose of signing a treaty for all UE members allowing an exception to the "Fundamental Rights Charter". I guess they're not so fundamental after all.
I believe in an united Europe, not in this "pretend to" group that lost the spirit of the union.
They forgot why they needed a treaty, they just care about signing a fu***** piece of paper now.
Shame on them!
Monday, 4 May 2009
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