Brazzil

Doubtful the additional amount would be that low !
Assuming 20 millions children (could be much more) it would represent only Us$ 173.- per student and per year !
And that would be for a bad schooling, better classes/teachers costing again much more !

$3.46 Billion dollars buys a lot of Educational infrstructure, ie schools, in Brazil. Educational facilities. First the buildings the rest, will follow.

It's not just buildings that are needed, but higher salaries to attract more educated people to the profession of teaching. Brazil, as of now actually, spends quite a bit on educating the elite in public universities, perhaps if the wealthy had to pay some of the share of public university education this money could be used to fund better primary and secondary education. In addition, if the elite had to directly bear some costs of this University education they may not be so lackadaisical about all the inefficiency and stealing that goes on by people on the university payrolls. Maybe UFRJ could even fix the windows in its hospital, so we wouldn't have to be embarrassed when picking people up from the airport and then having to explain that that is one of the better Brazilian Public Universities.

An enormous percentage of taxes are payed by a minority of Americans:
The Top 1% of taxpayers pay 29% of all taxes.
The Top 5% of taxpayers pay 50% of all taxes.

At least put the windows in for the Pan American Games. Can't have Rio looking bad. Act as if Brazil is the intelligent prosperous equitable country that it is becoming. I am afraid that the Favelas will be perceived as less than charming. In fact they are beyond cultural
comprehension, for Westerners. Get them to Ipanema or Copacabana as quickly as possible. It would probably be better to have visiting international flights land in Santos Dumont as the drive is more picturesque and the smell of industrial pollution less. Perhaps they could be all scheduled to land at night.

Perhaps they could be all scheduled to land at night.

I liked this idea better.Another humble suggestion from my part.First blindfold the foreigners and and then put them in Cascavel and Urutu tanks and take them directly to Copacabana and Ipanema.Imprison them in their hotels for their own safety and escort them every day to the Pan American games in those armoured vehicles.Also provide them with bullet proof vests.

I am afraid that the Favelas will be perceived as less than charming. In fact they are beyond cultural
comprehension, for Westerners.

I beg to differ from you, AES.The foreigners may end up appreciating the architectural beauty of the favelas and the culture prevalent there and taking the positve aspects of these places to their home countries.To enable them to do so,their blindfolds will be removed for two hours during the night time to go on fact finding missions into the favelas.

Sorry,AES, however much I like you ,I aint planning to visit your city any time soon.

I beg to differ from you, AES.The foreigners may end up appreciating the architectural beauty of the favelas and the culture prevalent there and taking the positve aspects of these places to their home countries.

In fact they are beyond cultural
comprehension, for Westerners.

Actually from my point of view, I first found the Favelas " beyond MY cultural
comprehension. Seeing a Favela on a mountain side (Prime Real Estate) by California standards was incredible the architecture was a monument to human
resourcefulness, surpassing the arquiteture I witnessed in Jamaica.
This is the point where you put down the National Geographic and begin to experience reality for yourself.
My greatest experience was dancing in a ceremony with naked Indians in the Amazon after finishing a nice Jacaré main course!

Even dodging stray bullets in Rio was an adventure!

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman where the Self Help section was. She said if she told me it would defeat the purpose.
Dennis Miller

Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations discusses, at length, the importance of an educated populace. Studies show comparisons of the cost of one year of school to the cost of one year of prison demonstrating that prison is far more costly. Though the links between education and prisons are debatable, evidence suggests a strong correlation between lack of education and likelihood of committing a crime and being incarcerated. States with low-dropout rates have a lower rate of incarceration.

If those that can do not attend those that need. Then those that have will become the Bol of the Ferra dol Bol

" A government is not supposed to provide wealth to the citizens.
A government must provide a positive environment for entrepreneurs, whoever they are.
And those who succeed, must pay something back to the government and society , through taxes "

Parental planning is the only solution. Poor families with 4 & 5 kids ...Single parent families led by a girl aged 14-17 in a favela.No future

I totally agree kids from different backgrounds should be mixed together but rich white families in Rio are so racist they'd pay any kind of money for any private school to avoid that.

I don't think it would be beneficial to get into the race versus class argument again on this website, but there are varying opinions as to why Brazilian society is structured the way it is. Yes Parental planning is a good thing, but there are many people in the favelas who only have a few children, yet these children are denied opportunity anyways. Even with one or two children your average favelado can't afford to send them to anything but the s**tty public school. The worse part is the money is there, already,Brazil has a tax collection rate higher than many industrialized countries and on par with parts of socialist Europe. The problem is this money when it is not stolen is funneled into high pensions for lazy, non productive government workers who got their jobs in the first place by passing civil service exams that only the educated elite could pass. So it is a cycle, have enough money from their government job to pay for education and then pass civil service exams which entitles them to enough money to pay to educate their own kids so they can enter good universities and pass civil service exams and collect a large government paycheck/pension. It's welfare for a few who are the least needy. And everybody else has to pay.

João da Silva
cant you get him to make up his mind !!!
or is all his spending for his own pocket
all you have to do to cut some of the kids is by having the pope say condom use them


Some problems are not solved in isolation. One example of this is the violence, inequality, and corruption triangle in Brazil. These elements feed off each other, demanding a joint solution.

As long as national politics are contaminated by corruption, the bad example set by the politicians will serve as an incentive to criminality. When he sees that a politician has hidden money in his undershorts, an unemployed young man will ask himself if he too could not obtain money illicitly. Above all when he perceives that the money was diverted from social programs that could have met his needs.

Building a peaceful society will demand a revolution that confronts the three problems. Education is the principal vector to combat them simultaneously.

But it is an illusion to believe that schooling alone will solve the problems. Education reduces inequality, violence and corruption, but this takes years.

At the present time, the violence and corruption must be quelled. The use of a fountain pen instead of a revolver does not diminish the gravity of the crime, and it increases the amount stolen.

Jail for the criminals and corrupt of today, and school today to prevent the crimes and corruption of tomorrow.

There is a known solution to the educational problem: the federal government - and not simply the states and the municipalities - must make it a concern. It is necessary to define minimum standards for the public schools; to establish full-day sessions in all of them; to guarantee well-educated, well-paid and dedicated teachers and well-constructed, well-equipped buildings.

This takes time to accomplish and demands federal resources. But it will do little in the fight against the criminality in the streets today.

To confront the current violence, we must first understand that this is no longer a crisis; it is a tragedy of enormous proportions. Second, that it is a war promoted by an organized, heavily armed, parallel power. Third, that the problem is national and not local and must be the responsibility of all elected officials.

The federal government needs to confront the matter and appoint someone to be responsible for it. The Ministry of Justice has already shown that it is incapable of confronting the crime.

With so many duties of its own, it is leaving the combat against violence to the states, just as the Ministry of Education is leaving K-12 education to the municipalities. Besides a Ministry of Justice responsible for guaranteeing Brazilians their rights, Brazil needs a ministry that would guarantee its citizens their security.

Ten of the current ministries should be closed and one created that is dedicated exclusively to security, as was proposed by the team elaborating President Lula's program. The team heard him affirm that he would not make this a pet project.

It is fundamental to declare war upon the crime that has acquired the characteristics of terrorism. In that war, it will be necessary to establish national coordination of state policies and police, to define standards of preparation, to eliminate the brutal salary inequalities existing among police forces of different states and between the troops and their commanders.

To permit the deployment of the police troops among states; to remove all the penitentiary directors until triage separates the corrupt from those with integrity; to replace the large prisons with small ones; and to separate the prisoners by type of crime and criminality.

To assure more resources for security and prohibit the government from making contingency use of these funds; to set up an efficient anti-crime intelligence system; to incorporate a million young people into six months of civilian-military service.

Above all, it is necessary to make the judiciary system more efficient and moral and incorporate it into the war against violence.

This is possible and it formed part of the program of the government elected in 2002. But President Lula refused to assume his responsibility.

Perhaps this may be the greatest of the problems in winning the war against violence: to have a president who takes the problem as his or her own and confronts the cursed triangle of violence, corruption and inequality.

Jail to combat the violence and corruption of today. And school to guarantee equal opportunities and to reduce the inequality.

Cristovam Buarque has a Ph.D. in economics. He is the candidate of the PDT to the presidency of Brazil in the October 2006 elections. Buarque is also a senator for the Federal District and was Governor of the Federal District (1995-9 and Minister of Education (2003-04). You can visit his homepage - www.cristovam.com.br - and write to him at cristovam@senador.gov.brThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Hi Forrest,

Since you specifically asked my opinion, you deserve my answer.Your comments reflect the line of thoughts of many Brazilians.Since you have lived here and married to a Brazilian lady, you obviously have observed a lot and it is interesting to read your analysis of the current situation.In fact, you have given some alternative solutions too.

However, to take action on all fronts,it requires intelligent and strong leadership. But I don´t think a populist government elected with the promise of continuing government hand outs is capable of exercising such leadership.Our elected officials are interested in enriching themselves and remaining in power for EVER.

Re Cristovam Buarque, I dont think he is a bad person. In fact, he is a well meaning one and I have heard some nice comments about him from people who have worked with him.However, a large majority of the Brazilians was not willing to vote for a Ph.D for the President.BTW, I know a couple of Brazilians who have got Ph.Ds from U.S. and Canadian Universities and are in teaching positions in the Federal Universities. You should know that the Presidents (Rectors) of these universities are elected by the teaching as well as supportive staff and the Students. My friends have no chance of being elected as Rectors!!.

I dont know if Cristovam Buarque reads the comments in this forum.It would be interesting to invite him to participate.

I forgot to add that even an elected leader has to make hard calls sometimes and make unpopular decisions. I dont think ours are willing to do for obvious reasons.

To confront the current violence, we must first understand that this is no longer a crisis; it is a tragedy of enormous proportions. Second, that it is a war promoted by an organized, heavily armed, parallel power. Third, that the problem is national and not local and must be the responsibility of all elected officials.

You know , a few years ago, I read somewhere that ancient Poland was governed by about 500 land barons.Unless ALL the barons decided on consensual basis, no law was implemented, including the the ones that guaranteed the defense of the country. Since these landed gentry did not agree upon anything, the Germans,Russians, etc invaded it without any problem. I do not know how far this was true. All I can say is that parallel powers take over (especially the heavily armed ones),if the elected officials fail to decide.

Talking about Poland, I wonder how Poland is after Leh Waleska left.

All I can say is that parallel powers take over (especially the heavily armed ones),if the elected officials fail to decide.

As global economies continue to form, global communities begin to depend more on one another. Brazil might be forced into certain actions to improve it self whether it has the immediate capacity/capability or not.
In the event of radical global climate changes, future wars, catastrophes, global governmental destabilizing etc.

Brazil could become a prime target for take over to guarantee a reliable food Basket.
Worst case scenario could include some form slavery.

race or class? Parental Planning
written by nesnej, 2007-04-17 12:14:08

I have some questions, asked in honest curiosity, because I'm not sure what to make out of Brazil when it comes to certain issues that revolve around her strong classed based society and populations living in the favelas. Actually I have questions and some perceptions already formed or in formation. Now, this does not mean my perception are correct or even half-way accurate.

I read something about a sociologist from the U.S. who traveled throughout South America and wrote about what I believe he called a culture of poverty. But his proposition was different than what many might think. He basically asserted that many if not most of the poor in Latin America remain poor (and from one generation to the next) because they themselves have a culture of blame and dependence.

For all the negative talk on Brazil regarding Brazil's greater feudalistic structure, wherein the rich reap so much rewards, little is ever noted to the benefit all feudal systems had. They were inherently "welfare" before the emergence of the "welfare state." Feudal lords had a responsibility, built into the customs and culture, toward their subjects. The problem with Democracy (citizen in contrast to subject) and the concept of equality of men, is that it is presupposed that all men are responsible for themselves and their future regardless of their station in life.

I hardly ever hear of any self responsibility of a favela person on these boards. It is automatically assumed, that they lack essential equality (subjects) with the wealthy (nobility), and consequently the wealthy (nobility) should be responsible for those in the favelas (subjects). Now don't get me wrong, I'm more a "welfare state" kind of guy than I am one of these people that are far right-wing. At the same time, in a democracy, if one wants to rise from out of poverty, they must have more a method of thought as a citizen rather than a subject. I'm not approving of Brazil's greatly unequal society either. But I have read on some of the educational levels of some of the Brazilian well-to-do and quite honestly I was more than a little bit impressed. I mean there are some Brazilian well-to-do families where everyone in the family speak about 5 different languages - there educational level is such they would be considered "hard-chargers" in the U.S. Our President in the United States right now, comes from out of a very, very, wealthy family. To my knowledge he only speaks English - and he has made it known on tv that he does not and has never cared much for books (reading).

My impression of Brazil, and I could be very wrong, is that it is a much more culturally feudalistic society than say... the United States. If that is the case it may have its benefits and it may have its downfalls.

Also, in the case of a place like Rio or Salvador, could it be the culture is just more leisure and relaxed moving then certain other parts of Brazil such as Sao Paulo? It is this way in the United States. In general a worker from Wisconsin is considered par excellent in productivity in a place like Tennessee. And let me tell you, I am not the only one from the U.S. Midwest to notice the incredible slow pace at which southern folks in Tennessee move. I remember stopping in at a restaurant in Tennessee to be flabbergasted at the waitresses slowness. Our average speed of movement in work, in the Midwest, is considered super-fast to many if not most people in Tennessee.

The first big thing Brazil needs to work on relating to labor, in my humble opinion, is to increase wages of the average worker. That should be emphasized over creation of masses of low paying jobs or putting favela kids in schools with the rich and etc cetera. Increase the wages, which means more taxable income, if local public schooling is financed by tax dollars or property taxes, then more money can be created for the improvements of local public schooling by the citizens and not the subjects (or nobility).

Brazil could become a prime target for take over to guarantee a reliable food Basket.

Not only food. Add natural resources,skilled labor and professionals of high calibre in diversified fields,huge land mass, water resources,long coastal line,etc;

When I made my comment about parallel power, I didn´t mean external power.But your reply includes this scenario also and it is worth analysing. I wonder if our policy makers take this possibility into consideration,while chartering the future course for Brazil.

Geo political history is played in decades. The curtain is lifted like a great chess move from time to time and the movement of the end game is made obvious. It is with a kind of metaphoric irony that Karpov (world chess champion) was arrested over the weekend for 'gathering'. It is no random event that Putin is in Venezuala, and dancing with Cuba. It is also no random event that the U.S. is having lunch with our nine fingered leader of one of the greatest/potential countries on the planet. But their events as Sherlock Holmes used to say 'the game is afoot' my dear Joao.
Now the failure of any system that does not reward the individual, uniqueness, effort is failure, it may take 40 years ie Russian Socialism, or Chinese Marxism, but if the individual is not recognized he becomes depressed, and the Society seeks its lowest common denomenator. Or else it becomes divided between those that have power and those that dont. Nepatism, feudalism, patronage.
In pure capitalism it is helpful to be born rich, and the country of Brazil has been born rich. But it reminds me of the Indians selling the island of Manhattan for a string of beads (classic U.S. mythology) or trading gold for a mirror or a knife. It is the nature of capitalism to ruthlessness, but it is not a despotism, there is always choice. If you dont like it try Alaska. The money is good up their but it is cold as hell, but in capitalism, it takes money to make money. It is also in the capitalists interest to have an intelligent society, a society of individuation, as opposed to a totaitarian society of obedient, serfish cogs. I have been behind the iron curtain when it was, it was as if the life had gone out of everyone, the color was, cruel, and grey. It was a land without color, save black and white.
And yes I used to conjectue that the reason the South lost the Civil War was because they talked to slow, by the time they had communicated a military decision the war was lost.
Hawaii is like that. They move at a pace you have never seen before, if they have nothing else, they have their lives, their time, their pride, and their honor. It drives New Yorkers mad. It amuses the Hawaiians, the pace of civilization. They are not particularly interested in Civilization. They are more interested in being 'pow hanna' (done with work) hit the beach 'brudda', smoke some 'da kine' and dig the sunset and the surf breaking over Makaha. In Hawaii it is about 'ohana' family. They are/were a loving generous people. There was a time a few hundred years ago when they were neolithic feudalistic ruthless. To look upon royalty was death. But now they watch, fish, barbecue, family, amuse themselves with stories of the insane 'haoli' (foreigners). The word for smart in Hawaiian is 'akamai'. And there are many kinds of smart. Knowing what is of value and what is not. How to fish, grow food, and open a coco nut with a sharp stick, also how to use a machette. I learned a lot when I lived in Hawaii, mostly what I didn't know.

Sorry prof.My earlier message was addressed to you (re Global probablities).Inadvertantly titled to "AES". I am sure you and AES would not mind . I expect him to express his opinion about our theory.

Apologize for my muck up

You dont believe in taking prisoners either, eh, my dear AES

It is also no random event that the U.S. is having lunch with our nine fingered leader of one of the greatest/potential countries on the planet

I know who that 9 fingered leader (I am reasonably educated) of one of the potentially greatest countries.

Putin,Chavez and Uncle Fidel are all getting close to each other trying to f**k Brazil. There is another big thing called "The Chinese Connection". This is what that bothers me.

You better pay attention to the Chinese factor.

BTW, the international chess game is becoming more and more interesting. With or without Karpov.

Yes, it´s China. Forget the minor players.

When I made my comment about parallel power, I didn´t mean external power.

My thoughts went a little past what you mentioned as a future possibility.
The reason being we must also take in to account other possibilities as well.
The world population is over 6.5 billion and we are sure to add another billion in the next seven years.
Brazil has numerous valuable resources, the world depends on Brazil for its resources and is becoming more dependant. As the years pass this dependency should increase proportionately.
To who much is given much is required!

Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared, "man would have only four years of life left".
http://news.nationalgeographic...-bees.html

Uncertain times in an uncertain world could cause the unimaginable.

Revelation 6:5-6
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny (a day's wages), and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

written by Ric, 2007-04-17 21:12:08

Yes, it´s China. Forget the minor players.

Who are the minor players,Ric ? Be more specific. I know what your answer is! Prof and AES (I, unwittingly) come out with some interesting theories.

Look, right now, the Chinese are in a big way in Pará and other states , where there are plenty of natural resources. They are also incentivating the Brazilians to plant,plant and plant (Soya). If the Brazilians sugar cane cutters are unwilling to accept the wages stipulated by the labor laws, sure, the Chinese can bring in their own people. Remember how the Pacific railway was built in your country?

My thoughts went a little past what you mentioned as a future possibility.
The reason being we must also take in to account other possibilities as well.
The world population is over 6.5 billion and we are sure to add another billion in the next seven years.
Brazil has numerous valuable resources, the world depends on Brazil for its resources and is becoming more dependant. As the years pass this dependency should increase proportionately.
To who much is given much is required!

Probably, you were in Sandhurst, while I was in Chatham House!. You made another bloody good point.BTW, I liked what Ric said about minor players.

It is also in the capitalists interest to have an intelligent society, a society of individuation, as opposed to a totaitarian society of obedient, serfish cogs.

Good point! Capitalism for the most part is the glue holding the machine together. If the machine comes apart it might be necessary to replace the cogs with Serfs.
Also you can have a Capitalist society who gives the Surfs a sense of individualism and keeps them obedient. However, once and awhile a Surf realizes his true identity and in his disparity eliminates his perceived oppressors. (I refer to the University incident as a possible example).

It is spelled serf not "surf" anyway :-)

It is spelled serf not "surf" anyway :-)

Surf is the name of a laundry detergent, most commonly known by said name in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The product is also known by the names All and Omo.

Thus: All omo's...ha!

"It's a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word!" -- Andrew Jackson

I was phonetically correct! Blasted spell checkers!

I have a spelling checker
It came with my PC
It plainly marks for my revue
Mistakes I cannot sea
I've run this poem threw it
I'm sure your please to no,
It's letter perfect in it's weigh
My checker tolled me sew
-- anonymous

F*cking Brazilians!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/portugues...l_ir.shtml

PHD
piled higher and deeper


just go to the west coast of panama
you hade better speak chinese
here in belize and down into houndras and into cost rica china is becoming a big factor in land and business .
they also have the military and goverment that will go out of its way to protect there intrest in other countries .

soon the cry will come not to save brazil from itself, but from someone else

Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared, "man would have only four years of life left".
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070223-bees.html.

Thanks for the link sent. The article on CCD really connects with our line of thoughts.

they also have the military and goverment that will go out of its way to protect there intrest in other countries .

soon the cry will come not to save brazil from itself, but from someone else

Thank YOU for sharing your thoughts. Nothing better than hearing the opinion of an old sea farer that has sailed across various oceans and observed the realities of distant lands to enhance one´s knowledge.

The Middle Kingdom is running out of natural resources and over populous and "they also have the military and goverment that will go out of its way to protect there intrest in other countries". Put 2 and 2 together!

and we have to watch less of our Novelas and pay a little more attention to Geopolitics!

"It's a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word!" -- Andrew Jackson

Labor=Labour; Harbor=Harbour; Arbor=Arbour; Neighbor=Neighbour..........

Should I go on and on to prove that I have a rich mind

written by João da Silva, 2007-04-18 13:13:06

"It's a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word!" -- Andrew Jackson

Labor=Labour; Harbor=Harbour; Arbor=Arbour; Neighbor=Neighbour..........
Should I go on and on to prove that I have a rich mind

As the Texans would say, you are a Fart Smeller, I mean Smart Feller!

The Chinese are an historically globally enterprising people. They have the sense to see opportunity and necessity. I dont really think they have any continued military aspirations. As the military ages, a twenty year old no longer has the interest of a 40 year old, there are matters of comfortability and 'normal' human evolution, family, children, education. A Sunday drive in the family sedan. But they are most assuredly interested in trans oceanic commerce, and that is done with Korean Hyundi and Joon's, genius, but all of this floats above the water, it is under the water that the business of policing global events in trans oceanic trade ultimately takes place. It is not the Chinese that are to be feared militarily, they believe in economic hegemony, economic chess. You better watch every dollar you spend in China because it represents a piece of property. We tend to sell the U.S. because the televisions are affordable, and gee dad the tennis shoes and clothes are a real bargain But China needs Brazil for at least food, and natural resources, ie iron. ore. Brazil can afford not to sell the Chinese, but the Chinese cannot afford to buy from Brazil. Brazil is in the 'cat bird seat'. It just needs to realize it. The Bovespa will break 50,000 because the world knows a deal when it sees one, even if the owner doesn't. Maybe that is the definition of a deal. Brazil is undervalued by itself.

cannot not afford . . .and with gold and silver so high it is time to revisit some of the old abandoned mines, and do a bit of looking around. At $275 gold may not be worth mining, but at $675 it is kind of like oil, $18 a barrel is one thing, but $70 a barrel their are other more expensive technologies, that make the enterprise, highly viable. Price being the mother of invention.

Brazil is in the 'cat bird seat

AES, now you got me.Could you please explain this expression?

catbird seat
n.
A position of power or prominence
"The catbird seat" is an idiomatic phrase used to describe an enviable position, often one of great advantage.

The catbird is an Australian bird of the family Ptilonorhynchidae, known for the extraordinary lengths that the males will go to in order to build a bower to attract a mate. Some birds will assemble several hundred colored rocks or shells, arranging them in a remarkable and artistic display, in order to build the "seat" atop which his mate will eventually be enthroned.

"In the catbird seat" was among the numerous, folksy expressions with which the legendary baseball broadcaster Red Barber delighted listeners. Some say he invented the expression; others say that he dug it up from his Southern origins. However, it may in fact have originated elsewhere. In a 1942 humorous short story titled "The Catbird Seat," James Thurber[1] featured a character, Mrs. Barrows, who liked to use the phrase. Another character, Joey Hart, explained that Mrs. Barrows must have picked up the expression from Red Barber. To Red, according to Joey, "sitting in the catbird seat" meant "'sitting pretty,' like a batter with three balls and no strikes on him." According to Barber's daughter, however, it was only after Barber read Thurber's story that he started using the phrase "in the catbird seat" himself.

They have the sense to see opportunity and necessity. I dont really think they have any continued military aspirations.

I agree in part with what you said, but ask yourself this; why did China recently shoot down an orbiting Satellite from space?

Yeh pretty amazing. The U.S. has an anti ballistic laser weapon operated from a 747 that it makes ballistic missiles almost irrelevent. Besides I think China is more interested in building its economy through strategic economics, than military fear mongering.
The weapon of most concern are magnetic weaponry that eliminate all cyber infrastructure errasing all data with a massive magnetic discharge. Imagine if all of a countries computer systems were to go down, along with all electrical transmission, radio and television, simultaneously.
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik in October 1957. Although that beeping metal basketball enchanted the world, it alarmed the Pentagon. What would the Soviets do next — place weapons in space?

Generals and think-tank warriors urged President Dwight D. Eisenhower to beat the Russians to the punch by launching a space-weapons program. Eisenhower refused; he would not extend the arms race into space.

From then on, both the United States and the Soviet Union proclaimed that space should be dedicated to peaceful purposes. Nonetheless, both launched ever greater numbers of satellites useful to Earth-bound military analysts and combat commanders.

But neither nation ever deployed actual space weapons. Although space was thoroughly militarized, it remained a weapons-free sanctuary. That sanctuary notion was eventually embodied in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which the United States pushed for. Article I says, in part:

“The exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind.”

Although the exact meaning of those generous words has been debated for more than 30 years in international forums, space has remained a weapons-free sanctuary. But the very notion of space sanctuary is now in jeopardy.

Here is a link I forgot to include about the Chinese missile shooting down the satellite.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/s...topstories
I get the feeling China has not forgotten about Taiwan.
It would be of utmost strategic importance to diminish, if not eliminate low orbiting satellites
if a conflict was to occur. If one does not anticipate a conflict, then one need not need worry about shooting them down.
When shooting Satellites in space, the debris remains and becomes hazardous to other space vehicles. It is in the interest of all countries (not do this sh*t).

At this time there is no U.S. weapon sys. that can shield from these types of attacks.

More info here:

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003183.html

AT PRESENT there are so many GPS satellites some one would respond if they started going down

now a large ship off the watters of Tawian with a EMP cannon could stop all sorts of nastys comming at ships from china

I agree in part with what you said, but ask yourself this; why did China recently shoot down an orbiting Satellite from space?

Additional facts questioning the Chinese being peaceful folks:

1) They invaded an unarmed Tibet which did not nor has natural resources in 1959. 2) They entered into armed conflicts with India and U.S.S.R in the early 1960s 3) They were involved in proxy wars in Africa in the 60s.

At $275 gold may not be worth mining, but at $675 it is kind of like oil, $18 a barrel is one thing, but $70 a barrel

.

Ch.C wouldnt believe that oil was priced at $18 a barrel a long time ago!!

I get the feeling China has not forgotten about Taiwan.
It would be of utmost strategic importance to diminish, if not eliminate low orbiting satellites
if a conflict was to occur. If one does not anticipate a conflict, then one need not need worry about shooting them down.
When shooting Satellites in space, the debris remains and becomes hazardous to other space vehicles. It is in the interest of all countries (not do this sh*t).

I have heard some Americans from S.W, using the phrase "A good Red is a de.d Red. But I still think that they have reasons. Why would the Chinese shoot a Satellite in space,unless they expect a conflict or initiate one?. BTW, they have not forgotten Taiwan.

KERU IR NA ISKOLA. KERU FALÁ FEITU GENTI...NUM KURTO SÊ POBRI I IGUINORANTI

Tawain reminds me of Hong Kong. The Tawainese have invested billions in mainland Chinas economy. If the criteria is communism vs capitalism, then China is rapidly approaching parity if not superiority to Tawain. It may be that the time to move from the Straits of Taiwan has come, for all intents and purposes. Taiwan is of little military strategic value in this day of age to the U.S. and we should perhaps set it free, as the British did with Hong Kong. The Chinese are economically savy and would have no intention of desimating the economic engine of Taiwan. Nor did they in anyway affect the wealth of Hong Kong, though their was a mass exodus to Vancouver. I suspect the same thing would happen with Taiwan. I personally think it a waste of military resources, to defend that which no longer needs defense. What would Taiwan lose if it were to return to its motherland, what did Hong Kong lose? Well I suppose there is still Tienamin Square, but that is nearly twenty years ago and the Chinese are not going to sacrifice
economic prosperity for the vanity of military hegemony, since the purpose of military hegemony is economic prosperity.

BTW Prof: thanks for the heads up on the links.

BTW Prof: thanks for the heads up on the links.

For an Arizonan, he is not a bad bloke. It must be due to his hard days in the inhospitable desert of Arizona,when he was a child.

Try Harrow.

For an Arizonan, he is not a bad bloke. It must be due to his hard days in the inhospitable desert of Arizona, when he was a child.

In Arizona when we had visitors from the East Coast and it was their first time in the hot Arizonan sun we would tell them to be on the look out for the rare Stick-Lizards who quickly run on the hot dessert ground to a place cool and with shade.
Explaining further we told them that the reason they are called stick lizards is because the ground in so damn hot they carry a stick with them and at intervals, stop and put the stick in the ground, then climb up the stick to cool their burning feet.
Normally after this story is told the person has a look of disbelief and amazement, but if the person telling the story stays serious the person ends up excepting this rare phenomena.

After staying under the hot Arizonan sun one begins to see things others have only imagined!

In Arizona when we had visitors from the East Coast

Ah,ah Prof. Another yarn from ya. Did you give correct directions to your East Coast visitors to get to Larry Do?

Did you give correct directions to your East Coast visitors to get to Larry Do?

Sh*t fire and save matches! Larry do? Now you got me stumped! What the hell is that?

Really I might know what you are talking about, but because every time I learn one new thing
I forget two old things, Dagnabbit!

[quoteI personally think it a waste of military resources, to defend that which no longer needs defense.]
The support of Democracy in Taiwan is worth defending, if you are going to defend Democracy.

"the potential for confrontation with the United States over Taiwan ensures that America remains an enemy (at least from the perspective of the military). "
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=3360

"China is uneasy about Taiwan's democracy, Lee said, simply because such democratic achievements serve as an example for the Chinese people and even the entire Asia-Pacific region. Such achievements represent the hopes and future of democratization in the region, he added."

"He said that Taiwan is fighting for peace and stability in the face of China's military threat. For the continuance of Taiwan's democracy, the US has to stand up in East Asia in order to uphold human rights and democracy, he said."
http://www.taipeitimes.com/New...2003275880

I guess when it comes down to it Taiwan can remain as it is, however its democracy does not reflect China itself, the b*astard child is embarrassing the father under the protection of the step-father (U.S.A.). This embarrassment can be tolerated for the good of China, however the Chinese military "2.3 million People's Liberation Army officers, civilian personnel, soldiers and army retirees" do not agree.

Indicators indicate that the Military has been better preparing for a war that could happen in 2007/2008, since they were ill prepared in 2005.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/specialreport/20050626-122138-1088r_page2.htm


There seems to be no end to current news on this subject, is it paranoia or reality?
Current links:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/f...18.article
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sect...d=10434881
http://www.thedailyobserver.ca...&classif=


http://www.resourceinvestor.co...elid=30990

Taiwan cares less about what you call it rather than the profit margin that exists and promises to exist in the future. To have two counteries austensibly on the verge of war with the U.S. pledged to this defense of non sense, or profit and loss engaged in profound economic exchanges is at best curious and and worst manipulative of the good graces of the United States.
Why should the U.S. defend the economic development of Taiwan merely as a question of semantics. Taiwan will still be Taiwan no matter what you call it, if it were truly fearful of mainland China it would not be investing billions of dollars that benefit its austensive enemy. It is rubbish and the U.S. is being played the fool, what do we gain by this game, hegemony. Hell if the U.S. put tarrifs on everything made in China it would implode the country. Certainly the middle class of China, the up and coming governing class, do not wish to jeopardize their economic futures on the definition of Taiwan. Nor does Taiwan fear China else a priori it would not be investing billions of dollars in its enemy.

The Bureau of Foreign Trade reported that from January to August 2006, bilateral trade between Taiwan and China reached US$56.42 billion, accounting for 20.2% of Taiwan’s total foreign trade, a 16.3% growth compared with the same period last year. Of this, Taiwan’s exports to China increased 13.9% to reach US$40.49 billion, comprising 27.9% of its total exports, while Taiwan’s imports from China rose 22.9% to US$15.94 billion, accounting for 11.9% of its total imports. The above contributed to a trade surplus of US$24.55 billion, an increase of 8.7% over the same period last year. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s exports and imports reached US$5.51 and US$2.31 billion respectively in August 2006

Now you got me stumped!

You must have played Cricket, while living in England.

According to my late Texan friend, New Yorkers visitng Texas used to pronounce Laredo as "Larry Do". Of course, he was a great story teller too!

You must have played Cricket, while living in England.

According to my late Texan friend, New Yorkers visitng Texas used to pronounce Laredo as "Larry Do". Of course, he was a great story teller too!

Pa always said, son do not play with your Cricket you will go blind! So I wear glasses now!
I missed the Larry do one, never been to Larry Do too! But the story does ring a bell!
I am of Irish decent, however from my Maw's side I descended from them damn Texans!

Two Irishmen, Patrick & Michael, were adrift in a lifeboat
following a
dramatic escape from a burning freighter. While rummaging through
the
boat's' provisions, Patrick stumbled across an old lamp. Secretly
hoping
that a genie would appear, he rubbed the lamp vigorously. To the
amazement
of Patrick, a genie came forth. This particular genie, however,
stated that
he could only deliver one wish, not the standard three. Without
giving much
thought to the matter, Patrick blurted out,

"Make the entire ocean into Guinness Beer!"

The genie clapped his hands with a deafening crash and immediately
the
entire sea turned into the finest brew ever sampled by mortals.
Simultaneously, the genie vanished. Only the gentle lapping of
Guinness on
the hull broke the stillness as the two men considered their
circumstances.

Michael looked disgustedly at Patrick whose wish had been granted.
After a
long, tension-filled moment, he spoke: "Nice going Patrick! Now
we're going
to have to piss in the boat."

FOMI ZERU
SEKISU MEIA NOVI

To have two counteries austensibly on the verge of war with the U.S. pledged to this defense of non sense, or profit and loss engaged in profound economic exchanges is at best curious and and worst manipulative of the good graces of the United States.

I did not quite understand what you meant by two countries? It is China vs. the U.S. over Taiwan or are you suggesting China and Taiwan, which if was the case, then the U.S. would have little vested interest.
I understand your point of view and if it was the only point of view there would be no discussion. Meanwhile back at the ranch, China and the U.S. have not resolved their differences over Taiwan, nor have I seen Taiwan wanting to wholly embrace Chinese rule. So if they are all of the same mind why is there a conflict?
Now if China has become subservient to the almighty Yuan then perhaps all the parties in question will become of one mind. However, China being one the oldest continuous civilizations on this planet has a lot more patience in the doing. Actions speak louder than words, so the shooting down of a Satellite without collaborating and sharing proper intent with the Western world does not send the message that China is solely interested in the commercial aspect of destroying orbiting satellites.

MEIA NOVI

É KOSTOZO

Yeh the first question was if Taiwan was so threatened by Mainland China why would it be investing billions of dollars to help the economy of its 'enemy'? That seemed incongruous. China are cheats and pirates, they believe in stealing whatever they can. Shooting down the satellite seemed to be of consumate stupidity as the space debree threatens a multitude of others satellites. Arnt they part of space station program? Its like s**tting in the pool to make a point, that I can do this and you cant stop me. Secondly all of the 1960 aggressive examples, Tibet, Africa, etc. seemed to have abated to an economic assault. BTY they actually wanted to buy the port of Long Beach, or San Diego, or something like that, someone woke up and said what the hell are we out of our f**king minds, so the deal was killed. I personally think that we should consolodate power, get out of South Korea, they are armed enough to defend themselves, arm Japan and arm f**king Germany. I was in Ider Oberstein Germany one day on business and heard this rumbling noise and from over a hill came a panzer division, it was f**king 1944 again and they looked efficient as f**king hell, it seems we are waisting good money preparing to fight a 'black powder' war. I like the new anti balistic missile system moving ever eastward. That was the first thing Regan did was put short range balistic missles in Germany and England and the Russians walked away from the peace talks. The left was outraged they blokaded the gate, laid down in front of the gate. . .the Russians returned the following year, and that was the begining of the end. The world only understands force. You can talk to a bear or a tiger all you want but unless you stick it it doesnt believe you need to be listened to. Peace through force. I think Taiwan is a red herring. If Taiwan thought it were threatened by mainland China it would not invest billions of dollars in China, with the possibility of losing the investment. Ergo, they do not feel threatened by mainland China, I think they just opened regular air service. Taiwan is China and unfortunately the U.S. gave its 'word' to protect the 'fledgling democracy' and unfortunately the U.S. keeps its word, its word being its bond, but history is not static. Mao's China is not the Shanghai of today, with automobiles, and skyscrapers greater in number than New York. The shooting down of the satellite reminds me of the N. Korean nuclear test. It seems about ego rather than ratinality. I watched Tienneman Square as the guy stood in front of the tank as they built a model of the Statue of Liberty as there was joy and cheeiring in the streets, Liberty. Now these people are thirty and forty and the old guard is dying, these rebels transformed and are transforming Chinese society in the past ten years the insect as molted and now the worm has turned, turned into a butterfly, it seems more of a bee than a wasp. A bee makes honey a wasp is a predator. The Chinese are rank pirating economic opportunists, they die their jade, they under Karat their gold and they care only about their own economic well being. How do they serve us? What do they buy from us? What do they contribute to the U.S. society? They do graduate work at our universities and pirate our technology. Hmmm lots of problems.

I live in Arizona for almost 5 years now. I am Brazilian and there's pretty much nothing here but desert and cactus lol

Try the Tucson Gem Show, you might get some ideas. Head for the hills, head for Taos.

very little gun fire to keep you up

try the history of the place and then take a flight over the canyon , and the the big hole .

vegas is close and a bunch of brazilians there , go to the wynnand ask for tunna in the water show
le reve

I live in Arizona for almost 5 years now. I am Brazilian and there's pretty much nothing here but desert and cactus lol

Looks like like there is a pretty Brazilian girl there now also. So it is a desert paradise!

If you go up north to Flagstaff and just a bit further there is this enormous hole in the ground, not the meteor crater, I am talking about the "Cânion Grande". You can go there and pay $25.00
to go on the glass sky-walk that extends over the Cânion, look down the big hole and say Jeez that is one big damn hole!
If it is in the Winter you can return to Flagstaff and and play in the snow, make snowballs and throw at the drunk Nappyhoes, I mean Navajos!

P.S. Have you seen any Stick-Lizards yet?

The desert gets pretty boring after a while. At first I did a lot of stuff... went to desert to take pictures, the lakes. Ever been to Canyon Lake? But the scenery gets depressing after the first year lol, Been to Vegas but can't live there or I will party everyday. I go to LA a lot but I expect more from California. The beaches are just nasty, all that white foam, birds(I call them rat birds lol since they eat garbage and the water and sand was brown). I was socked and never went to the beach again. Also it is very cold not the Sunny California they try to advertise.
Arizona is pretty boring when comes to nightlife. Either go to the bingo with the old folks or hang out with college kids in Tempe. I am 23 years old but I hate immature college kids.
Any suggestions of good family fun? I have a 5 year old also. For now I spend most of my time at the movie theather or the book store

The Chinese are rank pirating economic opportunists, they die their jade, they under Karat their gold and they care only about their own economic well being. How do they serve us? What do they buy from us? What do they contribute to the U.S. society? They do graduate work at our universities and pirate our technology. Hmmm lots of problems.

I think all of us including Ric and Forrest started an interesting debate and the analysis of both of you is fantastic. Brazil may be in a cat bird seat,but we can be unseated easily if we dont play our cards correctly.They do Run Deep, Run Silent. What do they contribute the Brazilian society? Unemployment in the manufacturing industries.Last year I read in the news that some important official of theirs said that China was not ready to sell cars to Europe and U.S.,because the quality is not up to the standards demanded by the buyers in those continents. Then a couple of months later I came to know that they are going to set up an assembly plant in Uruguay to distribute their cars in Mercosul countries, including and especially in Brazil. That shows that they think that we are idiots.

I really wish some more Brazilians (especially the youngsters) will participate in this debate.

wynnand ask for tunna in the water show
le reve

Wow Forrest you speak French!

Any suggestions of good family fun? I have a 5 year old also. For now I spend most of my time at the movie theather or the book store

Why dont you try to get some government grant and grow sugar cane in the Arizona desert. When Israel produces grapes out of desert, you will be able to help the desert to turn green. Remember, sugar cane is a cash crop that has multiple uses. Ethanol out of sugar cane is a big thing here.

Wow Forrest you speak French!

I keep on saying that Forrest has many hidden talents he is unwilling to reveal. Nobody listens to me anymore

In 1995 I took part in a focus group to map North and South American strategies. I read the economic data report forecast for up-to 2005, then from 2005 and beyond. I was amazed
that the forecasts showed the Asian market would surpass the U.S. market.

I remember thinking at the time, that there would be a high possibility that N. America would have to join with S. America to be more competitive. However, looks like that has not happened. Looks like China might get its chopsticks into S. America first!

The Chinese are rank pirating economic opportunists

I found this out first hand! I went to store on Ave. Paulista called the Stand Center where
you can by electronics and paraphernalia at Black Market prices, which is a store full of enclosed stands mainly operated by Koreans who barely speak Portuguese. I bought about $R100.00 in Sony Rechargeable batteries, when I got home I noticed on the Sony package a word misspelled in English. I thought DAMN I have been "Shanghaied" any way I began to use the batteries in my digital camera and they lasted 50% less than my originals. I went on the net to research this situation and found that they were a false product from China! I then realized real Sony batteries would have cost me around $R200.00, so I paid 50% less for 50% less of a battery.
It was a false Sony (ni-mh) wrapper on a cheap Ni-cad battery!
Three years later, I bought a new camera, went online did some research , the false batteries still exist! Needing a memory card I researched that also and found Damn false Memory cards too and even being sold on E-bay in the U.S.
I went to Stand Center and found that 90% of the batteries were false, 10 % were not, but now there was no price difference between the two! (Intelligent B*stards!) 100% of the memory cards were false and 50% below Sony's price, there were some real cards but at lower capacity, anyway I had to go to a legitimate retailer to buy my card. Nowadays it is almost impossible to spot the real from the fake, the Chinese have improved!

As time marches on China's/Asian Economy will get bigger and bigger, when their Military machine starts getting bigger and bigger perhaps they will be on a equal playing field with the U.S. or surpass the U.S. all together militarily at some point. If things go awry there will be a pretty fireworks display to watch on CNN!

This is what João means:

[urlhttp://www.imagensdokibe.blogger.com.br/Lula-Bush-etanol.jpg]

Why dont you try to get some government grant and grow sugar cane in the Arizona desert. When Israel produces grapes out of desert, you will be able to help the desert to turn green. Remember, sugar cane is a cash crop that has multiple uses. Ethanol out of sugar cane is a big thing here.

[url= http://www.imagensdokibe.blogg...etanol.jpg

LOL Eta- Nois. Just love it...

Lets see.. Since your son is 5 years old take him on a picnic to hyde park(in the U.S. you won't be considered a farofeiro) they also have a cool playground there where he can play with lots of kids, that is worth a few trips per year!
If he was a year or two older I would not hesitate to take him Tubing down the Salt River, this would give you a chance to drink cold beer in the hot Arizona Sun while floating down the river!
A trip to Sedona "Red Rock" country is magical, not far from Sedona towards Flagstaff is Slide Rock, a nice place to play in the water and slide down the rock!
You can go to Papago park have another picnic let him run around, better to go with friend who have kids thou..
There is an Amphitheater in Tempe take him to a rock concert and introduce him to Rock-n-Roll.

I meant Encanto park, not hyde park!

LOL Eta- Nois. Just love it...

Ana, I am not as articulate as the Professor is nor do I search deeply into the archives.Since you spend so much time at the book store,you should be able to go deep into this "assunto" and come out with some project that will turn the arid desert of Arizona into an Oasis. With Sugar Cane of course.The good Lord hs given you the Brains. Use it wisely.

I meant Encanto park, not hyde park!

Ana, Professor made two mistakes.First he called the park Hyde park.Not so. It is spelt " Hide Park". Hide Park is not located in Arizona,but yes in Dublin.When you vbisit Dublin next time,make sure that you dont miss visiting this famous place.

Oh, btw,drink some "Coors" in our honor,will ya?

Some time ago maybe '89 I observed while in Hawaii, since there was naught to do but watch cspan and pbs that with Europe uniting that the U.S. would unite with a united North American and soon Nafta, and then I thought with the natural resources of South America and the engineering of the U.S. that a united North and South America would be an eventuality, the world will morph from nations to blocks of economic entities, and truly North and South America could not be competed with. Things take time, maybe a half century or so, there is an event when Castro dies that will begin to form the model of this United Americas. The first problem was central America in '80 with Ortega and Nicaragua and Regan and Panema, for all intents and purposes that has been addressed. Now we are engaged in a united South America. I remember the Faulkland Island War, that too was a begining of this United Americas, there are problems per se with the U.S. as to the inequality of lifestyles between the two continents but global economics is like an agava plant flowering every hundred years. As Brazil goes, so goes South America. The rest of S.A. will eventually a hundred years or less become part of the Western Hemisphere Alliance out of necessity. There will be China, India Europe, Russia, and a United North and South American economic sphere of influence. Africa may end up in China's camp, to Europe's loss, but Brazil is showing enormous inroads to North Africa and the Mid East. So this flower unfolds, the wealthier the Chinese become the more force will be applied economically and politically to them. The Yuan is under preasure to increase its undervalue, to begin to compete evenly with other manufacturers. The richer the populace of China becomes, the more it is in their interest to acquiesce to international modalities of behavior ie respect for copyrght law, fraud, threat of arms. It will not serve China to behave militarily, it may serve Russia as they are a nation of gangsters and tyrants. Putin ex head of KGB still behaves as though his rusting armaments are still a viable threat to the world. He is economically dependent on the West, there is talk of a revolution as of last week out of London. Putin declared the perpitrator as a criinal and will, though a billionaire probably get a dose of polonium. All said and done, The continents are in a state of Pangeic Economic Movement, North and South America are sitting in 'the catbird seat'. There are just too many people in China not to cooperate globally, ultimately. They will in ten years not want to give up their cars or their T.V. or condo just for the sake of militarism. Militarism is an anachronism, as assured mutual destruction or pre emptive destruction is an inevitible consequence. Cooperate or lose, there are no alternatives. The technology and weaponry is so advanced that there will be no winner to the technology of neo military hardware. China is many things, opportunists, pirates, but they are not fools, not after five thousand years, they may at times be foolish, but they are not fools. To spend a thousand to win a hundred is not intelligent and as Confucius once said, it is better not to lose than to be right.

I'm just glad to hear that every singles american is able to go to any College of his or her choice Parents don't have to sell their houses

get into big debits and maybe have so send their kids to poor men college, aka city joke.


LOLLLLLLLLL

just a big joke

there is an event when Castro dies that will begin to form the model of this United Americas

If Chavez has his way Castro will never die! I am surprised Chavez has not tried to form a
alliance to help perpetuate the Castro legacy in Cuba.

Professor made two mistakes

Life isn't like a box of chocolates. Its more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

Spelling

I do not agree, correct spelling is necessary for languages to survive otherwise in 200 years British and American English won't be recipocally intellegible and spelling is also the evidence that someone has read a good number of books in his/her life, too important an aspect to mock for someone who calls himself a professor

You don't learn spelling by tying yourself up to a grammar but by reading lots of books.

yet I unserstand lies in the appaling state of education in US "high" schools....




Why is that Americans can never get it right

"it's" is not "its"
"one's"

Missing word
yet I unserstand *the problem* lies in the appaling state of education in US "high" schools....

I do not agree, correct spelling is necessary for languages to survive otherwise in 200 years British and American English won't be recipocally intellegible and spelling is also the evidence that someone has read a good number of books in his/her life, too important an aspect to mock for someone who calls himself a professor

I mean what you understand!

In 200 years years the Gromphadorhina portentosa will have eliminated all his enemies also!

Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Well read Chaucer in its multiple printings and multiple spellings. The concept of longevity is supported by the genius contained rather than (then) the perfunctory spelling of words, which were prior to the 17th century randomly and phonetically spelled.
Yet in spite of the myriad forms a word may take the meaning does not change by the spelling only the opinion of the writer by the churllishness of the pontificating proof reader. You can hire someone to check your spelling, but it is the authors genius, or lack, that defines the work as transcending time or not. A latin grammarian is of little use now and though you may spell with the best of Ovid the genius of Latin though a dead language still survives. I think also that the medium of typing is slower than thinking, and unless you are using spell check or edit your work, it will be fraught with punctuation and spelling errors. It is not the spelling but the content that is the meaning of writing. And it is the practice of writing, like rote memory that leads to 'better' spelling, providing in general that the work is proofed at some point and you are made aware of the 'errors of your literary ways'. These are for the most part are works of thought, streams of consciousness, and certainly some are clearer than others, but to write, you must write, we are a visual culture and language for the most part is spoken not written. The language may transcend time as a visual recording rather then a thing written in stone, ie the Mosaic tablets, though the Torah is without error, and if you go to Jerusalem to the Museum and see the Dead Sea Scrolls, they are exactly, jot for jot exactly as any Torah in any synegog anywhere on Earth, I thnk the oldest is 1300B.C., but nothing of course was added since it was the 'last word', so to speak, until the re use of Hebrew in the 20th century, now of course it is like any language, replete with spelling snobs, that equate spelling with writing.

Ma-Luca
written by Professor, 2007-04-20 09:42:50

Luca from Rome lacks sense of humour (humor). Obviously he did not read our comments on how to spell differently!

Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and Andrew Jackson were notoriously poor spellers. Thorstein Veblen, noted economist said, English spelling is archaic, cumbrous, and ineffective!
They are a small example of the whole. The reality is many noted writers have problems with spelling in English.
While the laymen abuse each other over spelling, the professionals hire proofreaders.
All books that are published are proof read many times before the first print. You can spot a careless publication by the amount of mistakes it has, however this is not the writers responsability but the publishers.

The lady comes into the butcher shop, butcher says, "can I help you?" "Yes," she says, "give me a pound of kiddleys." He says, "what?" she says "kiddlies, give me a pound of kiddleys." He says, "Lady, we have no kiddleys." She says "yes you do, right there" and points. He says, "Oh! You mean KIDneys!" She says, "Well, I said kiddleys, diddle I?"

Its more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

Chitos and jalapenos covered with chedder cheese. Put this combination in a glass tray and bake it for 10 seconds in the micro wave owen. It is delicious. Tomorrow is another day.

Sorry, I meant to say Dorito.

Luca from Rome lacks sense of humour (humor). Obviously he did not read our comments on how to spell differently!

Nero syndrome, I indubitably say!

Nachos, in their simplest form, are usually tortilla chips covered in melted cheese. First created in 1943 by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya, Anaya's original nachos consisted of fried tortilla chips covered with melted cheese and jalapeño peppers.

GOD bless him!!!

TODA KRIANSSA NA ISKOLA

Trabalha mais, come menos!

though the Torah is without error

Written and copied without error! Try doing that while standing on your head!

Now I am perplexed! How can one stand on his own head?

Perhaps we might be building water pipelines instead of oil pipelines in the near future?

http://www.countercurrents.org/marks210407.htm

I hardly ever hear of any self responsibility of a favela person on these boards. It is automatically assumed, that they lack essential equality (subjects) with the wealthy (nobility), and consequently the wealthy (nobility) should be responsible for those in the favelas (subjects)

I think you are right. The idea of responsibility in Brazil is not that popular in general. I am not saying that all favela dwellers are like that, some people improve due to their own efforts, but most are accommodated with their situation that they would rather criticize the government for not giving them a new house than actually study in order to be employable, and then buy a new house.

For a politician to succeed in Brazil he must do what Cristovam does, put the blame on the "rich and selfish" people that do not share. The "do not share" phrase is very common, people do believe that if you have the money to have a car then you should "share" the money with others instead of living your life. They really blame you because you have a car.

The government sometimes build houses (or apartments) for the poor, and then they give it away. There are stories of people that sell them (sic). I have met a person that sold three houses built by the government and went to live in the favela, and then he enqueued once again as a "needy" person for the next time the government distributes houses.

It is interesting to note that Yeminite Jews read the Torah upside down. Surrounding it in a circle reading from every direction.
verb
Inflected Form(s): stood /'stud/; stand·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English standan; akin to Old High German stantan, stAn to stand, Latin stare, Greek histanai to cause to stand, set, histasthai to stand, be standing
intransitive verb
1 a : to support oneself on the feet in an erect position b : to be a specified height when fully erect c : to rise to an erect position
2 a : to take up or maintain a specified position or posture b : to maintain one's position
3 : to be in a particular state or situation
4 : to hold a course at sea
5 obsolete : HESITATE
6 a : to have or maintain a relative position in or as if in a graded scale b : to be in a position to gain or lose because of an action taken or a commitment made
7 chiefly British : to be a candidate : RUN
8 a : to rest or remain upright on a base or lower end b : to occupy a place or location
9 a : to remain stationary or inactive b : to gather slowly and remain
10 : AGREE, ACCORD -- used chiefly in the expression it stands to reason
11 a : to exist in a definite written or printed form b : to remain valid or efficacious
12 of a male animal : to be available as a sire -- used especially of horses
13 : to refuse additional cards (as in blackjack)
transitive verb
1 a : to endure or undergo successfully b : to tolerate without flinching : bear courageously c : to endure the presence or personality of d : to derive benefit or enjoyment from
2 : to remain firm in the face of
3 : to submit to
4 a : to perform the duty of b : to participate in (a military formation)
5 : to pay the cost of (a treat) : pay for
6 : to cause to stand : set upright
7 : to make available for breeding
synonym see BEAR
- stand·er noun
- stand a chance : to have a chance
- stand for
1 : to be a symbol for : REPRESENT
2 : to put up with : PERMIT
- stand on
1 : to depend on
2 : to insist on
- stand one's ground : to maintain one's position
- stand on one's own feet : to think or act independently
- stand tall : to exhibit courage, strength, or calm especially in the face of adversity
- stand treat

Just because your poor doesnt mean your not a thief or morally bankrupt.

Profesorre - maybe you are short sighted a little bit when you look down. "Now I am perplexed! How can one stand on his own head?" Simple answer - it is impossible when using the alternative definition - IS STANDING ERECT - therefore you can't.

'Standing on one's head' is an idiom that means to go out of your way, to do everything possible to make something possible, or happen. In gymnastics we do 'head stands', 'hand stands'. They are difficult tricks, 'standing on your head' is a difficult trick to do, much easier than just standing or 'standing around' another idiom meaning to do nothing.

I just saw the most horrific documentary on viruses. A segment was somewhere in Brazil, maybe Amazonia or someplace 'jungly', but with one river, used as suage and no running water except the river. The consequence was some horrific intestinal virus that was epidemic, especially with children. Why the f**k, excuse the parlence, has the government not provided water and sewage to every citizen. It is the bare minimum, else what are they doing to define themselves as a government. They will not be happy until a virus like eboli or hmeragic fever emerges and along with cholera begins to create massive infection and epidemic. It looked like f**king Africa, or Bangladesh. It is a tragedy, fresh water is easy to supply for a government, it is simply a matter of a pipe. First water then sewage, then education.

written by aes, 2007-04-21 16:13:16

I just saw the most horrific documentary on viruses. A segment was somewhere in Brazil, maybe Amazonia or someplace 'jungly', but with one river, used as suage and no running water except the river. The consequence was some horrific intestinal virus that was epidemic, especially with children. Why the f**k, excuse the parlence, has the government not provided water and sewage to every citizen. It is the bare minimum, else what are they doing to define themselves as a government. They will not be happy until a virus like eboli or hmeragic fever emerges and along with cholera begins to create massive infection and epidemic. It looked like f**king Africa, or Bangladesh. It is a tragedy, fresh water is easy to supply for a government, it is simply a matter of a pipe. First water then sewage, then education.

aes, the vast majority of cities and capitols of states throughout brazil do not have basic sanitation, sewerage systems and running water. Even the parts that do have "saneamento basico" you cannot drink the water unless you want to risk getting worms or intestinal infections. I have a friend that just got transferred to Brasilia to work with the project "transposição do rio são francisco" which would provide running water to millions upon millions of brazilians from Minas Gerais all the way up to Ceara and Pernambuco. If you can believe it there is actually a well represented group that is against this project, I see numerous cars with "anti transposição" bumper stickers daily. They don't want to kill the fish. Naturally these protestors aren't the ones suffering without saneamento basico. You need to save the people first, then work on saving the fish, don't ya think?

I live in a city that was voted by a national organization as having "the best quality of life in northeast brazil" and 60% of the metro area does NOT have saneamento basico!

They will not be happy until a virus like eboli or hmeragic fever emerges and along with cholera begins to create massive infection and epidemic.

In a war don't they call this acceptable casualties?
Some here (in Brazil) laugh when I tell them that in the U.S. each state is divided into counties.
They do not understand the concept of representation. Those living in many areas have little to no representation here.
Here the threat of an epidemic is only a threat unless it affects cities such as São Paulo.
In the land of no hurricanes and Earthquakes who would imagine an epidemic could happen?

Some need to learn from Michael: "Nice going Patrick! Now
we're going to have to piss in the boat."

I think you are right. The idea of responsibility in Brazil is not that popular in general. I am not saying that all favela dwellers are like that, some people improve due to their own efforts, but most are accommodated with their situation that they would rather criticize the government for not giving them a new house than actually study in order to be employable, and then buy a new house.

For a politician to succeed in Brazil he must do what Cristovam does, put the blame on the "rich and selfish" people that do not share. The "do not share" phrase is very common, people do believe that if you have the money to have a car then you should "share" the money with others instead of living your life. They really blame you because you have a car.

The government sometimes build houses (or apartments) for the poor, and then they give it away. There are stories of people that sell them (sic). I have met a person that sold three houses built by the government and went to live in the favela, and then he enqueued once again as a "needy" person for the next time the government distributes houses.

I told ya all that A Brazilian must be from our state.I agree with him totally. I am a little bit more sarcastic,though.

BTW, my wife and I decided to take a nice week end off in the rural area of the state.We left on Friday at Noon and returned a few hours ago.The drive was beautiful through the mountains. Small communities with no fences,but full of flowers in their front yards. The roads are not all that bad,but for the drivers from Sampa, who didnt give a s**t about the traffic signs and were trying to overtake me on the curves.I kept a respectable distance behind their vehicles, to avoid any "colateral damages",in case they were hit by trucks from the oncoming traffic.

On Saturday night, we dined in an elegant restaurant, where a Brazilian Musician was singing songs in both Portuguese and English (with a British accent). I asked him to sing the song "Feelings.....", by Morris Albert (A Brazilian singer who now lives in Canada). The singer with a Pony Tail at the restaurant sang it beautifully.

I am sure that A Brazilian knows this song and the original singer who btw is famous in the east.

Also, during my trip, I noticed that there was no "Farra do Boi".So ya all stop complaining about our state

Ségolène Royal is in the second round

Did the French wake up? Go Zizou!

Style Council Right to go

If we dont move - the moves our last
We deprive ourselves of our only chance
Now once and for all, the right must go
Now all for one - register to vote
Its a chance to show, that you cant be bought
Whatever you think - whatever you thought
Youve got the choice, for what its worth
You know a third terms gonna cut the earth
Disregard the cost is the party line
A nation filled with apathy, suits fine
To be unemployed and stay alive
No torys gonna tell you one in five
One in five or one in three
The difference is they dont lose no sleep
Now once and for all the right must go
Now all for one - register to vote

The power that you need is in your hands
Or a one party state is how well stand
Every vote wasted, is our hopes lost
Make it your decision and your cross
X marks the spot, that could change your lives
Every vote cast for a better time
Now once and for all the right must go
Now one for all - register to vote

Navegation starts in Pirapora MG, my cousin used to live there, know it pretty well, to someone used to flying in the Amazon the São Francisco though MG and Bahia looks very feeble indeed, but so does the Mississippi, once in an Embraer small plane we turned left and flew low for about 100 miles down the river south of Natchez, not much water there in comparison to the Amazon/Solimões.

And Sobradinho changed the river considerably in that area, and sometimes there´s not enough water to keep the lake at a normal level and you can drive or sail out to the old towns usually under water.

The idea of feeding the Jaguaribe from the S.F. is a really old one. But the idea behind Sobradinho dam goes back a hundred years or more and it was only completed in the 1970´s, I think. It might happen, but is there enough water available?

The title of the article at the top is a really stupid statement with no supporting data to back it up.

E harmony
written by A brazilian, 2007-04-20 14:23:40

I hardly ever hear of any self responsibility of a favela person on these boards. It is automatically assumed, that they lack essential equality (subjects) with the wealthy (nobility), and consequently the wealthy (nobility) should be responsible for those in the favelas (subjects)



I think you are right. The idea of responsibility in Brazil is not that popular in general. I am not saying that all favela dwellers are like that, some people improve due to their own efforts, but most are accommodated with their situation that they would rather criticize the government for not giving them a new house than actually study in order to be employable, and then buy a new house.

For a politician to succeed in Brazil he must do what Cristovam does, put the blame on the "rich and selfish" people that do not share. The "do not share" phrase is very common, people do believe that if you have the money to have a car then you should "share" the money with others instead of living your life. They really blame you because you have a car.

The government sometimes build houses (or apartments) for the poor, and then they give it away. There are stories of people that sell them (sic). I have met a person that sold three houses built by the government and went to live in the favela, and then he enqueued once again as a "needy" person for the next time the government distributes houses.

@ bold: Are you telling me in Brazil the government has actually given houses or apartments away, in that it has required zero down?

@ bold: Are you telling me in Brazil the government has actually given houses or apartments away, in that it has required zero down?

The information given by "A Brazilian" is absolutely correct.Also another big business is run by a Landless Peasants' entity called MST. MST pressures the government to donate un cultvated lands to its memebers who in turn sell them!

To:E harmony
written by João da Silva, 2007-04-24 10:36:28

@ bold: Are you telling me in Brazil the government has actually given houses or apartments away, in that it has required zero down?



The information given by "A Brazilian" is absolutely correct.Also another big business is run by a Landless Peasants' entity called MST. MST pressures the government to donate un cultvated lands to its memebers who in turn sell them!

Interesting. Culturally different than the U.S.

aes, the vast majority of cities and capitols of states throughout brazil do not have basic sanitation, sewerage systems and running water. Even the parts that do have "saneamento basico" you cannot drink the water unless you want to risk getting worms or intestinal infections.

That's not true. Where I used to live 99% of the houses had basic sanitation and the water was clean, i.e., treated. There was no such thing as "worms". And even so we used a filter for the water. You probably must live in some God forsaken s**thole in order to say that.

The situation described by AES must be one of those that sell documentaries, i.e., a bunch of people living in the middle of nowhere. Definetely not the rule.

That's not true. Where I used to live 99% of the houses had basic sanitation and the water was clean, i.e., treated. There was no such thing as "worms". And even so we used a filter for the water. You probably must live in some God forsaken s**thole in order to say that.

You are absolutely right.Here where I live, there is no problem either.

the situation described by AES must be one of those that sell documentaries, i.e., a bunch of people living in the middle of nowhere. Definetely not the rule.

I dont think AES was the author of the comment. Better check it out.AES doesnt make such comments.

aes, the vast majority of cities and capitols of states throughout brazil do not have basic sanitation, sewerage systems and running water. Even the parts that do have "saneamento basico" you cannot drink the water unless you want to risk getting worms or intestinal infections.

I mean, someone addressed to AES and made this comment.I am trying to remember who was the one who did it.

To:A Brazilian
written by João da Silva, 2007-04-24 22:03:56

aes, the vast majority of cities and capitols of states throughout brazil do not have basic sanitation, sewerage systems and running water. Even the parts that do have "saneamento basico" you cannot drink the water unless you want to risk getting worms or intestinal infections.



I mean, someone addressed to AES and made this comment.I am trying to remember who was the one who did it.

It was bo at: written by bo, 2007-04-22 06:25:16

Standing on ones head to try to make a difference in some unrelated strangers life is one thing few have or will ever do. Even all of my notorious random acts of kindness over the years combined together does not elevate me much towards where all are needed to go.

To break it down into two simple perspectives (which isn't possible as everyone is different beyond compare but humor me and decide for yourself that you are in one category or the other) here's what the division in people works out to be:
1) You are standing up right and looking down; you either see the head of your own d'ck and stand on it or you see those below you and piss on them, (either one is difficult or impossible to do if you constantly have an arousal over this that or the other thing) or
2) You are standing on your head (in which case you are looking up); what you see is the heavens above you and if you have not been blinded by the small and petty corruptions life has pushed into your mind body and soul (which all will tend to deny) you will see clearly what is right and what it is you were made to do in this life.

Whichever the case - JUST DO IT!

It was bo at: written by bo, 2007-04-22 06:25:16

Right and thanks. Bo lives in the North Eastern part of the country and I live in th South. I have been to that part of Brazil a long time ago, though not to the city where he lives. My stays were short and the hotels where I stayed were clean and nice. But the moment I came out of the hotel , the conditions were appalling. I do have some friends who travel to that part and they say the same as Bo.They also add that the political will is lacking to better the quality of life of the population, as still the "Coronelism" prevails in the North east.However, the common folks there are very hospitable and nice.

From what I observe, "A Brazilian" must have lived or still is living in the South.In the states of PR,SC and RG, what he says is true. Even in small cities, you can find "saneamento basico",good water supply system ,hotels with hot shower,clean restaurants,etc; We went for a drive last week end to the interior of the state where we live. We stayed in a clean hotel and ate in good restaurants for half the price we pay in the capital.

You have to remember that Brazil is a Continental sized country.Unless one has lived in various parts, she or he can not generalize the conditions.

Well, when one generalizes he is speaking about the "majority". I fully realize and have spent significant time in the state of Sao Paulo, the capitol as well as small cities in the interior. Spent a week once in a nice little city named Limeira in the interior of Sao Paulo, 500 manufacturers of costume jewelry there. I fully realize the south is better developed than the north/northeast of brazil. However if one wants to make a comparison, this certainly can be said, Brazil as a country still today has significant problems in respect to saneamento basico throughout the north and northeast brazil, which is a massive part of the country.

I have a brazilian friend who is around 60 years old who was born and raised here in Aracaju, then spent 25 years in Brasilia working for the federal gov't., then the last two years had been here in Aracaju. He was the president of the technological park here. Just a month or so ago he quit his job, which was a very good one (he was making around 14K reais per month), to return to Brasilia where he will be working on the project of "transposição do rio são francisco". We are very close friends and I hated to see him leave as he is a very intelligent person and I always enjoyed our conversations. The last couple of months that he was here and we spoke of him returning to Brasilia he would tell me, "Bo, I just can't live in a city that doesn't even have saneamento basico".

Now, don't get me wrong, saneamento basico exists in Aracaju, but approximately 60% of "grande aracaju" does not have it. There was an article in the local newspaper here about a month ago talking about the problems in Aracaju and was titled, "É eles cantam melhor qualidade de vida no nordeste". It spoke of the murder rate, which proportionally is worse than Salvador. It spoke of people dying in automobile accidents, which proportionally is worse than sao paulo, it mentioned people being killed by being ran over by cars which in 2006 122 people were ran over and killed by automobiles in Aracaju Sergipe!! That's absurd. It mentioned that 60% of "grande aracaju" does not have saneamento basico. This is not some place in the middle of nowhere, it's the capitol of a state with a population of 500,000 that was voted last year by a national organization to have the "best quality of life in northeast brazil". It mentioned that many people from the interior of the state move to Aracaju because they do not have services, such as saneamento basico, in search of them. Then when they arrive, they find the conditions to be as bad and in many cases worse than where they came from.

I know the northeast of brazil well, have been in every state, every capitol, and througout the interiors of those states. Alagoas, Pernambuco, Ceara, Bahia, Tocatins, Pará, Piaui, etc. And the situation in relation to saneamento basico in those states is exactly the same as it is in Sergipe.

Time after time A brazilian makes statements that show he's never left his nest in Sao Paulo. He certainly doesn't know his country well, not the north and/or the northeast of brazil. He wishes it would all just go away. Just close your eyes and say it three times slowly, "Sao Paulo is brasil, Sao Paulo is brasil, Sao Paulo is brasil."

one more thing in relation to drinking the water straight from the tap. A few years ago I was in Sao Paulo and the principal reason was to get a thorough physical. Unfortunately I think the doctors in my city have killed many more people than they've saved. I was at a gastrointestinal doctor, and he told me, quote, "Never drink water from the tap, you must even make certain that when you wash your dishes you dry them completely and thoroughly as if any tap water is left on them one can get worms this way." And he said it is like this all throughout brazil. I have yet to be told that it is safe to drink the tap water in any part of brazil, latin america for that matter.

There are millions of Brazilian families who have small back yards, the unscientifically designed septic tank within a few feet of their well, which may be either the large hole in the ground style or an artesian style. Evidently their organisms learn to come to terms with bacteria, and giardia lamblia and other parasites. Just filtering water won´t fix the problem.

I would like to suggest an introduction of the warrior culture,skilled trades.police,fire, Army,Navy and Air Force into the education system in the state of Salvadore. The goal is to prepair a sub set of youth for jobs in the warrior culture. In the United States the veteran group known as Tuskegee Airmen have been doing this preperation of youth since I was a youth. They tought me to fly when I was fifteen years old. I did not continue in avation but was able to earn a degree in Business and have a career in management. My effort to continue the efforts of the Tuskegee Airmen in my home city of Detroit Michigan has been helped by the U.S Air Force Academy. The Academy donated three training aircraft to us. We use the aircraft to teach flying and introduction to the warrior culture. I hope someone in the military and educational areas read this and contact me.I will be in Salvadore in June of this year . My quarters will be at the Blue Tree Hotel in Salvadore. In May of this year the original Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congrssional Gold Medal for their contributions to the nation.