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ou know me very well. You may wished, a lot of times, not to know
me but nowadays the surge of stimuli to come into my realm just
don't allow you to forget me. Although you do not think
about me so many times, you always desire something or
someone.
I am everything you ever wanted. Whoever you are. Whatever you are.
Everything!
Yes! I am Desire the third youngest of the Endless and twin of
Despair. You know her too... Because a good desire always come with
a good amount of despair.
Do you need to get what you want - or do you just need to stop
wanting it? We all, from time to time, become slaves to our
desires. We imagine we will feel fine when we achieve our
goals. But what if we have set our hearts on silly
objectives?
I am here to tell you the story of a man who had a wish and made it
turn into reality. A man who had in the family insignia an Emu, the
only bird in the world that can not walk backwards. And a
horseshoe, symbol of luck. |
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osé Ferreira Pinto Basto was determined to create a "porcelain, glass and chemical
processes" factory, influenced by the success of his glass
factory in Marinha Grande. He started, in 1815, by acquiring the
mansion Quinta da Ermida, a beautiful place near Ílhavo town and by
the Aveiro estuary.
In 1824, the patent authorising the operation of the Vista Alegre
Factory was granted by the king D. João VI benefiting of
"all graces, privileges and
exceptions enjoyed, or to be enjoyed in the future, by the National
Factories". Five years later, the Vista Alegre was granted
the title of Royal Factory, to honour its art and industrial
success.
From 1832 on, the Factory intensified its work and concentrated on
perfecting porcelain, reaching a golden period that culminated late
in the XIXth century. It took a lot of years to create a
really perfect porcelain but this man never gave up his desire. He
created a painting school, invited foreigner artist to teach the
factory painters and never ceased to search for perfection. |
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To date, besides
being the leader in the Portuguese market with one of the
state-of-the art and top quality porcelain plants in the whole
world, Vista Alegre porcelain continues developing and preserving
hand-made porcelain, hence honouring its tradition. Vista Alegre
porcelain is, without a doubt, an institution in Portugal and in
the world, a synonym of excellence and unmatched quality.
A fruit of a man's desire! A man that not only perceived perfection
in the quality of the porcelain but also in the management of the
factory, building houses for the workers, creating the first
private fire-fighters department in Portugal and planting olive
trees (a symbol of Peace, Unity and Healing) as a magnificent
entrance to his realms.
We shall see if his work will prevail... Since Vista Alegre was
recently bought by another company. But that is another story. |
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ou find yourself now at the main gate for the Vista Alegre factory.
Your desire now is to find the little gift I once gave José
Ferreira Pinto Basto.
At your side you will see one of the houses built for the workers,
as said in the tiles "Moradias Para o Pessoal". On the
walls of that house you will find two numbers (preceded by the
letters JJ). Use them now (a < b):
N 40o 35.(352 x a)'
W 008o 41.(104 / b)'
Go through the Olive Trees Avenue and as you reach the garden of
the museum, where you can see the artfacts of this story, you will
find the prove that José Ferreira Pinto Basto was a honoured man.
Take notice of the dates and use them (c < d):
N 40o 35.(d - (548 x (a + b)) +
2)'
W 008o 41.(c - (815 x b))'
And the all digit checksum (1) for a, b, c and d is equal
to 34
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You may find what you
desire now in a very beautiful and prestine place. Make sure you
leave it the same way you found it, as may others desire to find it
too. And, make sure you are very careful if you try to find the
fruit of your desire on the 13th.
Every month there is a fair in Vista Alegre, called "fair of
the thirteenth". This market has already 300 years of
existence and it is very popular.
Ah! Before you leave, I should warn you, getting what you want and
being happy are two quite different things!!! So, be careful about
what you desire...
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... And to make this quest more desirable do not forget to post
here some pictures with your log. And please leave it as you found
it... Don't forget to click close the lid!
But now go, while the song plays:
"Oh sugar I've been missing you.
And I've been wondering, where it is you're
hiding.
I've been a ball of fire in your arms
desire.
And I've been wondering, where it is you're
hiding.
What you get is what you seek.
Desire.
What you get is what you seek.
Desire."
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esire is a fictional character from the DC/Vertigo comic
book series Sandman, and it was created by Neil Gaiman
and Mike Dringenberg.
The images of Desire herewith were drawn by Mike
Dringenberg, Milo Manara, John Bolton, Howard Chaykin and Mark
Hempel for the books "The Sandman: Seasons of Mists",
"The Sandman: Endless Nights", "Vertigo: Winter Edge
#1", "The Endless Gallery" and "The Sandman: The
Kindly Ones".
The closing lyrics are from the song "Desire" by Gene
Loves Jezebel. |
(1) If the number X is
composed by three digits - X1X2X3
- and the number Y is composed by two digits -
Y1Y2 - the all digit checksum will be
X1 + X2 + X3 + Y1 +
Y2 |