Brazzil

And the point of this article is ... ?

Sorry for bursting your bubble but science & technology (the "genius", as you call it) in Brazil is so weak that it could be compared to scientific achievements of, for example, Botswana or Zimbabwe. For example, in a huge country of 180 million people, not one Brazilian ever won a Nobel. (In Europe, there are countries of 5 million people that have several Nobel laureates.) Or any other significant award, for that matter.

Yes Petrobras is OK, and some other state agencies (e.g. EMBRAPA) but the rest of the Brazilien education and R&D system is bad, very bad.

Now it is difficult to export Brazilian ethanol to the US. The American government subsidizes farmers despite the fact that ethanol in the US (made from corn) is more expensive to produce than Brazilian ethanol from sugar cane. In addition the US charges taxes on the importation of Brazilian ethanol.

Wonder why that is Einstein??? Have you been to the sugar cane fields in Alagoas??? I have, numerous times. You should see the people they have working those fields, it's a tragedy.

This article is a joke, right?

I am sorry but the author needs to study a little more the way Brazil works.

And regarding the comment on Pope Benedict you are wrong. I think you did not read what he said. You are using just stupid lefty European argument, please check your sources and do not use this kind of bad argument. As a reader we deserve something better. By the way, I was born in Brazil and I can tell you that you are completely wrong on your arguments. Brazil is facing a major cultural change and it is for the worse.

By the way Dante, I was also born in Brazil.
About the Pope's comments:

In a world where tension, between countries, cultures and religions is heightened, the comments are provocative and grossly inappropriate. What Pope Benedict was thinking when he quoted 14th century emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, suggesting that Prophet Mohammed had only brought evil into the world, God only knows. Was he actually thinking? What about the Crusades led by the Catholic church and Popes in the Middle ages. What about the Inquisition? By the way Dante, I was raised as a Roman Catholic. But the luxury and material splendor of the Church has nothing to do with Jesus Christ, the humble son of a carpenter who was crucified because he preached peace and love, exactly the opposite of what Pope Benedict said in his speech.

The Vatican has since offered public apologies, including a personal apology from the pontiff, saying his quote did not reflect his personal thoughts. The quote is incredibly inflammatory and its inclusion in his speech displays a blatant lack of sensitivity. Furthermore, it undermines legitimate points made in the speech.

"Stupid lefty arguments," you wrote. I come down hard on the Soviet Union in my article. My parents fled a Soviet satellite country at the end of World War ll and that is why I was born in Brazil.
Peace and love to you Dante.

Peter

For example, in a huge country of 180 million people, not one Brazilian ever won a Nobel. (In Europe, there are countries of 5 million people that have several Nobel laureates.) Or any other significant award, for that matter.

OMG, and how does it relate to the ability of a country to generate wealth? The article use a more pragmatic view, we need results, and I agree with that. We definetely don't need bigger egos.

Brazil is pretty capable in the scientific area, the main problem in education is in the basic level of the public sector, not in colleges or higher education. You should get your facts straight.

how does it relate to the ability of a country to generate wealth?

Well Nobel is a pretty good indicator of achievement, don't you think... Let me see... DNA, transistor, laser... All Nobel prizes. All inventions that changed the world.

Which brings us back to Brazil, and its lack of Nobels... No wonder the situation here is at it is.

What are your real interests in talking about Brazil?

Dante,

For 20 years Pope Benedict XVl was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly known as the Holy Office, the historical Inquisition.

Well Nobel is a pretty good indicator of achievement, don't you think...

Personal achievement, nothing more. The situation is much more complex than one or a hundred "revolucionary" inventions could ever solve.

Which brings us back to Brazil, and its lack of Nobels... No wonder the situation here is at it is.

No relationship of cause and effect whatsoever.

I ask you João Carlos. Who are you? Name and surname? What do you do for a living? My full name is on the Brazzil magazine article and I am a journalist. More importantly this is a free forum where I believe all human beings can respectfully express their opinions.

Peter

IF TO POPE CARED FOR THE PEOPLE AS HE SHOULD HE WOULD SAY USE COMDOMS , STOP SEX BEFORE MARRIGE , HAVE FEWER CHILDREN ,
IF THE GOVERMENT CARED FOR THE PEOPLE THEY WOULD , PASS THE MINIUM WAGE , STOP STEALING ALL THE MONEY FROM THE SCHOOLS , HEALTH CARE , OLD AGE BENFITS

IF THE PEOPLE CARED THEY WOULD NOT RELECT THE ONES IN CHARGE , AND DEMAND A GOVERMENT THAT WORKS FOR THEM NOT FOR THEM SELVES

ALL THIS COVERS THE U.S.A. AND BRAZIL

SHOULD THE PEOPLE GROW SOME BALLS AND LIVE WITH IT .

OR SHOULD WE GRAB THE GOVERMENT AND BIG BUSINESS BY THE BALLS AND MAKE THEM LIVE WITH IT

Well, João Carlos you forgot the till on top of the a in your name...Who are you?

I don't know where you are. Perhaps we are in different time zones because I am in Brazil and perhaps you didn't have time to respond. As a Brazilian (as your name indicates) you know the old saying in Portuguese: "Toda unanimidade é burra." This is an open forum and anyone who wishes can express his or her opinion. No one, not even best seller multi millionaire writer Paulo Coelho pleases every one with his comments. Can you imagine a world where every one had the same opinions? It would be very boring indeed. Attila the Hun; Alexander the Great. Roman Emperor Nero, Hitler and Stalin. just to name a few who tried to create societies where every one thought alike. They and many other dictators failed. And until the day that human beings are sucessfully cloned and there are still people with a mind of their own there will be diverging opinions, within common sense and reason of course.

Peter

Well said Peter Howard Wertheim..!

Except,... for the title of your opinion piece... the first world ignores Brazil because ," it lacks genius"... as far as stating ," at its own peril"... I don,t think so !!!...

...who says Brazil will produce ethanol at the rate of 1,2 billion barrel PER DAY !!!!!!!!
Especially knowing the world oil production is around 85 millions bpd !!!!!!!!

REALLY LAUGHABLE !!!!!!!

As to subsidizes and tariffs : doesnt Brazil subsidizes COFFEE when price is low ? What about
2005 and 2006 subsidizes for GRAINS ? Just re-read your own news !!!!!!

And what about your 100 % or more import taxes on foreign made cars ??????
And what about your 100 % or so import taxes on PCs ???????

Doesnt Brazil OBLIGE foreign tractor manufacturers to set up a plant in Brazil to benefit
reduced import taxes provided that 60 % of the part are built in Brazil ????? YESSSSSS YOU DO !!!!!


But sadly it is true that tens of millions Brazilians are under nourrished, millions are in hunger. This doesnt stop you to export agricultural products, meaning food, to the tune of
US$ 50 billion annually ??????? Yesssss you do ! Shame to these practices instead of feeding your own society....FIRST !!!!!!

Finally where is the Brazilian Genius ?
- In cars manufacturaing ? Sorry ALL manufacturers are foreigners !!!!
- Flex fuel engine ? Sorry this was VW !
- Chips or semiconductors inventions ? Laugh !
- High education ? Sorry 10,5 % of students have a university degree, but 86,5 % in South Korea !
- Biotechnology ? You will invest (eventually) US$ 2 billion per year ! A DROP IN THE OCEAN compared to what is invested by each of the EU/USA/Japan !
- R&D ? please compare numbers and join my laugh !

Yessssss....my question is where is the Brazilian Genius ??????? Ethanol ? You are the largest producer because you have the land and the climate for sugarcane ! No need to be a genius !!!!!! Ethanol was already used by the first Ford T model around 100 years ago !!!!!

Lets conclude with your Famous Ethanol Exports. The rosiest number estimates your exports at less than 10 billions LITERS (not gallons) annually in 5-7 years.
Knowing that your production costs is US 0,25 per liter (before your own taxes) plus lets say some profit margin of 10 cents...will make all your ethano exports WORTH FAR LESS THAN US$ 5 BILLION !!!!!!
Will Brazil solve ALL its problems with an additional US$ 5 billion in export in an actual total overall exports of US$ 150 billion or so ??????? Doubtful ! laugh....laugh...laugh !!!!

And do you expect that the importing countries should put a ZERO impor tax so that the Brazilian government can put a HIGH export tax ?????? It will not work that way....in my view ! Guess who....will disagree !!!!

And no doubt that you voluntary hide the fact that sugarcane create millions of slaves alike knowing that 40 % of your actual sugarcane production of 400 millions tons IS HARVESTED.....MANUALLY !!!!!!
And No doubt that you will oblige again forteign manufacturers to set up plants in Brazil otherwise you will charge a very high import tax on Mechanical Sugarcane Harvesters....just like for the tractors mentioned above !!!!!!!

In one way....you want it all ! Not very fair....in my view !

While the article is over the top, I don't think it is fair to discount the achievements in Brazil. First, I think that Lula and Bush will do a trade deal on Ethanol, for economic and security reasons the more ethanol we import from Brazil, the less oil we need from Chavez. Our current ethanol efforts here are with corn, which has increased the price of food staples, and the poor Mexicans? Tortillas are triple the price. The US is a long way from renewable energy, a low priced source of ethanol makes sense so this deal will happen. Don't bet the farm on the "new" renewable energy or Biodiesel stocks in the US, we will drill Anwar before they are viable, and Brazil will provide us with our ethanol, a good deal for all.

The Brazilian auto industry was first to mass produce the flex vehicles and Embraer has kicked ass in the regional jet market. Don't forget the Taurus, the throw way handgun of choice for those ever frugal drug dealers. The medical research done at the University in Sao Paulo, while with no Nobel winners is noteworthy, the first drug coated heart stents were inserted succesfuly in human patients here and multi-national pharma conducts many of there Phase 3 Clinical Trials here. Brazil is king of reverse, engineering, even better than China, patents mean nothing in Brazil and they have created a generic drug market that keeps the CEO's of big pharma on Prozac themselves.

Brazil leads in Biotechnology and research for agriculture with cutting edge work being done at the university of Ribero Preto. While there has not been a Bill Gates or Paul Allen there, you must give Brazil the nod for intellectual achievement and achievemnt in the region.

While there has not been a Bill Gates or Paul Allen there, you must give Brazil the nod for intellectual achievement and achievemnt in the region.

The behavior from the sub-human ch.c is expected to be this inflammatory and utterly stupid.

Peter,

You are a clear example of why Brazil does not work. I will not discuss religion and I think that you should not use religion in this kind of article; it is unprofessional to tell you the truth. Please study more before you say such things, it just sounds bad. Another thing Brazil does not have enough area to plant all this sugarcane, unless the country brings to a collapse its environment. Please read this article it will show you some problems regarding the business side of your idea. (http://www.businessweek.com/pr...493909.htm)
The truth is that Ethanol is just propaganda from Mr. Lula da Silva government. Brazil and some very unreasonable people in Europe and North America buy this solution. I know that scientists do not since it would bring the collapse of the Amazon system. I do know that the morons in the Brazilian government would approve plantations of sugarcane in the Amazon but the results would be catastrophic for Brazil. Read this National Geographic article (http://news.nationalgeographic...hanol.html) it will help you understand the real problem.
To resume, your idea or should I say PT's idea does not work since Americans and Europeans would not buy the idea. By the way, do you know that American companies are introducing electric motors that are highly efficient, for example the Chevrolet Volt?

Good luck for you, I hope you change your mind. Wake up! Please we need reasonable people in the sea of ignorance that prevails in Brazil.

As far as I understand Ethanol is not a complete solution to the problem of oil dependence, but something that can alleviate it. I am not aware of the current usage of Brazil soil for this purpose and didn't see anybody suggesting, either in this article or in others, to use the Amazon for it, but the author of the article doesn't propose it as a "miracle solution" for all problems of the world, just as an example of brazilian capability.

But, despite of not being the Holy Grail of fuels, It is indeed something Brazil can be credited for. We pioneered the use of it by the masses.

Dante, are you brazilian?

BTW, the link you gave yourself only provides especulation about "the destruction of the Amazon", not sure why you use it in such a "undeniable evidence" way.

Ethanol?? ...The u.s. is perfectly capable of oil and gas exploration and refinemint for its domestic needs... it has the means and the properties, and is allready being implemented...

besides your dismal rep**ation on wall street for not delivering sugar commodities,and questionable accounting of inventories is a problem....

I have a toothache i think i,ll cut back on candy !

I think it´s naive to imply that the Pope mispoke himself. When he pontificates, he knows exactly what he is doing. Nothing By Chance.

Based on a 42 gallon oil barrel and 3.78 liters to the gallon, I came up with the numbers that U.S. oil consumption is 7,592,730,000 barrels per year and Brazil´s total ethanol production 94,482,237 barrels per year, in other words, Brazil´s total ethanol yearly production is a little over one and one half percent of the U.S. total oil consumption. To be sure, there are other factors involved here as well. But once again, the USA could put all their land into corn for alcohol and still produce only a fraction of the needed fuel.

In the states I don´t buy Shell because they mix in ethanol and the cars are not made for it. In Iowa other stations mix it in as well.

Brazilians are very ingenious and in the shop can do very creative things with machinery and systems in ways that the manufacurers never envisioned. The first and so far as I know the only certified production airplane that uses ethanol for fuel is the Embraer Ipanema.

At the risk of being politicaly incorrect...the Pope spoke the truth about Islam. I agree with RIC that ethanol is currently just a politicaly correct "fad" in the US right now, US energy independence requires a real committment that includes exploration, drilling and refining, as wel as a "Manhattan Project" type effort to develop REAL solutions to the consumption problem. All new cars being produced in the US now have flex capabilites but run like s**t on ethanol. Try going up a steep hill in your H3 on ethanol.

I didn't know Embraer planes can fly on ethanol, that is remarkable.

Only one, an agplane, with a six-cylinder Lycoming engine.

Look at that little monkey go!!!

Good link with more information regarding ethanol. http://www.slate.com/id/2122961/

A brazilian,

If by brazilian you imply somebody born in Brazil, yes I am. But I prefer to say I was born in Sao Paulo. I am Italian and I was educated in the United States. I do not share the Brazilian culture and I believe that everything decent that Brazil had died out when Sao Paulo lost its course for independence from this vicious country in 1932.

There are innumerous Academic studies regarding the impact of ethanol production, you can find them all over just do some research.

Keep your sugar for your cakes !!... my cadillac gets toothaches, headaches, attracts ants, diabetes,etc...

You just dodged the whole discussion. First you come in here make some big strawman arguments about the author and what he said, more especifically of the Ethanol being a Holy Grail of fuels and that it would solve all oil dependence problems of the world, and then use some speculative article of people claiming that eventually one day the Amazon might suffer because of it, even if in the same article some authorities give a more accurate description that contradicts the "apolyptical" predictions of some NGOs.

Nobody said that Ethanol is a miracle, but that it is something Brazil can be credited for (the genius theme the author brought up) and it can help to alleviate the problem of oil dependence.

Nobody said to replace the Amazon with sugar cane plantation, but to use this capability Brazil already has in order to make some business internationally.

About your comments on Brazil and Sao Paulo, well, you are a bigot. Not because of the independence talk but because of your "vicious country" description. There are many problems inside Sao Paulo and outside of it, but someone with a open mind would think of making this big country to work as a symphony. How? Correcting its problems, creating. Isn't it a challenge? Really worth people would see it as such, i.e., not bigots like you.

I would rather say that paulistas need to colonize the rest of the country.

I chose not answer such unwise comments. Personal attacks, nice, you are just like Peter. The effects on the Amazon will be indirect, not direct; it will not be sugarcane but the other things that used the sugarcane land. I think you read articles and you can not interpret them, it is ok, the majority of brazilians are like that, this is called functional Illiteracy. The truth is that many people in Brazil are not used to Academic discussion. I will not waste my time with this. I expressed my opinion already. Good luck colonizing Brazil, maybe you will even find the so called Eldorado.

Funny that you cited personal attacks on you and used of them in all your posts, like for example:

I think you read articles and you can not interpret them, it is ok, the majority of brazilians are like that, this is called functional Illiteracy.

If you want to participate in a conversation of adults, better to behave like an adult. You have only one article in here related to it, and the data in there were no more than speculation.

I do know that the morons in the Brazilian government would approve plantations of sugarcane in the Amazon but the results would be catastrophic for Brazil. Read this National Geographic article ...

Here you use the "replace the Amazon with sugar cane" argument, and provides an article that has no concrete data whatsoever, just speculation.

To resume, your idea or should I say PT's idea does not work since Americans and Europeans would not buy the idea.

Here you demonstrated you don't have the facts right. This kind of fuel was first introduced decades ago, way before Lula became president. It's logically impossible that it is some "plan to fool people" from them.

Besides the plans for fuel autonomy were set decades ago, and it doesn't comprise only ethanol. This was widely publicized as an achievement from the Lula's government, although he was the one that started it, right before Bolivia decided to nationalize brazilian companies in Bolivia.

This is to demonstrate how you are either purposefully spreading misinformation or blissfully dwelling in ignorance.

There´s more mention of the straw man in this blog than in The Wizard of Oz. Funny A Brazilian uses it so much and yet seems to never taken a course in college Logic.

As info, from what I understand 20% of ethanol is produced in the NE, 70% in the State of São Paulo, and 10% Other.

I am sorry if I offended anybody. I used harsh language when I said 'vicious', the truth is that I want things to work for Brazil, and for this to happen people need to see the problems that this country has. I read some of the articles written by Mr Mark Wells and I was impressed by his lack of knowledge regarding Brazil, what a shame, this racial talk does not build any good for Brazil, and it is actually very frustrating to see him posing behind such bad sources. Mr. Wells did you know that Brazil lacks historical documentation that maintain your points of argument. This is the reality. Gilberto Freyre used mostly lousy arguments when he wrote his book 'Masters and Slaves' he did not have historical documentation to back his claims. Most of it was destroyed by the Brazilian government in the past, look at what Rui Barbosa did with brazilian records of slavary after the end of the Empire. Study more, as I understand you are getting a master now. I would recommend you use primary sources to do your research. Thank you Dante

About your comments on Brazil and Sao Paulo, well, you are a bigot. Not because of the independence talk but because of your "vicious country" description. There are many problems inside Sao Paulo and outside of it, but someone with a open mind would think of making this big country to work as a symphony. How? Correcting its problems, creating. Isn't it a challenge? Really worth people would see it as such, i.e., not bigots like you.

I would rather say that paulistas need to colonize the rest of the country.

LOL....when you point your finger at someone or something, you have 3 pointing back at you! Let's see, how many people have YOU called a bigot???

Could it be that YOU are the bigot.......naw!!

...
written by Dante, 2007-02-13 13:13:34

A brazilian,

If by brazilian you imply somebody born in Brazil, yes I am. But I prefer to say I was born in Sao Paulo. I am Italian and I was educated in the United States. I do not share the Brazilian culture....

that's a shame. You're missing out on a lot of good "ass-shaking" on Faustão on Sunday afternoons.

Private Investors invested $71 billion in 2006 on alternative energy!

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/business/stories/2007/01/23/0124bizethanol.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=6

In this string you called posters idiots, bigots and racists just because the have a different take or opinion...what happened in your childhood to make you so angry?

Bo
written by GTY, 2007-02-15 09:02:58

In this string you called posters idiots, bigots and racists just because the have a different take or opinion...what happened in your childhood to make you so angry?

Idiot?? Yeah, I use that a lot. bigot?? You have me confused with A brazilian, he's the one that's always crying bigot. Now, if I used that word, it was pointing out the fact that he always calls others that. It would kind of be like me saying, "hey gty, in this thread you called people idiots". Because you just mentioned the word in reference to my posts.

Did you get my cell number??? I'm waiting for your call.

Like Canada, do not underestimate Brazil. It is rich in natural resources and an infinity of land. The oil and gas reserves in the Amazon, the mineral wealth, the agricultural ingenuity, technical ingenuity, Brazil is an important global player in the next twenty years.

Canada and Brazil are two different realities. The comment seems very naïve.

Republicans Abroad in Brazil
This is a group of Republicans that meet 3-4 times a year to exchange ideas, "get out the vote" drives for U.S. elections and organize events with U.S. Republican political figures visiting Brazil.
For more information contact Felicia Allard Smith at 3846-4133
felicia32870@hotmail.com

Depends on your point of view.

Regarding the I.R.I. post, why would reporters have boarders anyway? Wouldn´t that tie them down? Are you really from Ripon or the same I.R.I. poster that previously posted all that canned, non-Republican sounding rhetoric from some special interest source? One can´t be too careful.....

A totally ridiculous article ...

...
written by Ric, 2007-02-15 23:47:26

Regarding the I.R.I. post, why would reporters have boarders anyway?

hear that Ric, I knew a guy once that was part of that group, "reporters without lunch", you wanna talk about a group of drunkards?!!

As to Canada and Brazil. They are both undervalued currencies. They both possess enormous areas of undeveloped land. They are large agronomic producers. They both posses large oil and gas reserves. They both possess large mineral wealth. These are a few of the similarities. There are a multitude of differences as well. . .It is naive to think they lack similitude, because of differences.

American Society
Understand Brazilian culture, and why an American is called a gringo, and enjoy the American expatriate community while living in São Paulo by joining the American Society of São Paulo, an English-speaking club for expats.

Website: www.americansociety.com.br

Republicans Abroad in Brazil
This is a group of Republicans that meet 3-4 times a year to exchange ideas, "get out the vote" drives for U.S. elections and organize events with U.S. Republican political figures visiting Brazil.
For more information contact Felicia Allard Smith at 3846-4133
felicia32870@hotmail.com

http://www.gringoes.com/subcat...tegoria=96

First, it is a pleasure to talk to you. Aesaac, Brazil does not have oil reserves like Canada, in fact Brazilian oil reserves are minimum and irrelevant compared to Canada. Most of this oil is not under the Amazon, the oil that Brazil has is in the deep ocean. Very expensive to explore. Second, Brazilian currency is not undervalued. The exports of Brazil are dropping extremely because the Real is overvalued. Third, Brazil does have mineral wealth, but it is very hard to explore if you follow Brazilian laws and do not want to be corrupt. Canada has better reserves than Brazil.

Canada is an amazing country, that do indeed have problems but I do not think you should compare this problems and qualities to Brazil, I still believe that the realities are different. Thank you Dante

There are vast differences between Canada and Brazil, but they are both sleeping giants. Canada is an infintely wealthy country, measured by natural resources, diamonds, ores, petroleum, agriculture, timber, and hardly anybody lives in Canada. The Canadian dollar at $.78 is desperately undervalued compared to the $1.05 or so that it reached. Western Canada hates the East. The wealth is in the west and it is spent in the East. The French hate the non French, the Saskatchuans hate the Indians. and Vancouver is now 'Hongcouver'. . .Canada is without style and does most of its shopping (metaphorically) at J.C. Pennys.

Brazil R$ now $2.10 was $3.00 almost a third some 18 months ago. Its currency is also backed by natural resources, Amazonian natural gas potential, ethanol real and potential, general agriculture, Petrobras is performing without limit. Brazil's problems of income disparity, graft, self interest, infra structure, are its limiting factors, among myriad others, but there is a forward progression, like a kind of great steam locomotion that moves exponentially. Brazil has greater art than Canada (excluding, maybe Montreal and Vancouver), but it is an artistic force, of global proportion.

Both countries are vastly underestimated. Though Canada is probably the safer bet, the prices in Brazil are infinitely less expensive, especially for land and labor.

Anyway Carnival is coming and the world will converge in the lazy summer heat on Rio. And the winter freeze of global warming will wrap Canada in its warm embrace for another couple of months. Ciao

You insist in making strawman arguments for "winning" the agument. Who compared Brazil and Canada mineral wealth? Who said Brazil has more minerals and that those are easier to retrieve than Canada? Don't think I am assuming what you said to be correct, because you provided no data, but I am just pointing out the ridiculous situation you have put yourself in.

If you hate Brazil then stay where you are, be happy and forget about us. Don't come to this site. Do whatever you feel like, but stop posting misinformation.

You really are on the old Yellow Brick Road, aren´t you, Abe Razillion? Just say "housewares" ten times and two hail Marys and maybe the Wizard will forgive you for trying to exclude people from the site located just off the Arroyo Seco Parkway....

written by Ric, 2007-02-17 01:11:32


Just say "housewares" ten times...

If you hate Brazil then stay where you are, be happy and forget about us. Don't come to this site. Do whatever you feel like, but stop posting misinformation.

A brazilian dude, you are just like Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Evo Morales and Lula. I already see you sending people to the "paredon". Everybody that disagree is stupid? :-

If you hate Brazil then stay where you are, be happy and forget about us. Don't come to this site. Do whatever you feel like, but stop posting misinformation.

A brazilian dude, you are just like Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Evo Morales and Lula. I already see you sending people to the "paredon". Everybody that disagree is stupid? :-

One difference between A Brazilian Dude and the aforementioned four leaders is that they are rich and famous. In the case of President Lula, he also knows how to run machinery. As a legally inactive member of Teamsters 315, I can tell you that one of the main problems in Brazil today is that few who consider themselves educated can actually do anything. They won´t clean toilets and they don´t know how to weld or run a turret lathe or build a house or plant crops. Left to themselves they would starve.

If your intentions are of spreading misinformation. Just take a look at the quantity of incorrect or biased information in here, it serves no purpose except that of a few US bigots who have too much spare time.

Funny that you ignore the whole Dante's mistake and just focus in this part of the text. I will take this as an agreement with everything else I have written in the previous comment.

By Dante. Now if he could just do the same for this present Paradise Lost. Abe, take anything you want. With total impunity.

I admire Brasil for requiring flex-fuel engines in cars, whoever came up with idea was a visionary genius!!!
I would like to visit Brasil, but too many of my friends got mugged travelling there.
I think investors are scared of investing anywhere in South America because of Chavez, who brings down one government after another. Bolivia and uruguay turn leftist, who is next? Only country that is really successful is Chile, but even they will probably turn leftist. Argentina elects corrupt governments that just steal money, it is crazy they aren't more successful.

Isn't this author crazy for talking about the pope in an article about brasilian economy?
I am not even Roman Catholic and even I know he spoke the truth about atrocity loving muslims.

Paradise Regained
written by Ric, 2007-02-20 23:32:00

By Dante. Now if he could just do the same for this present Paradise Lost. Abe, take anything you want. With total impunity.

The brazilian way!

Investing in Brasil
written by Susan, 2007-02-21 03:49:56

Susan, think long and hard about that one my dear, trust me.

I would like to visit Brasil, but too many of my friends got mugged travelling there.

Let me guess, have they been to Rio? Walking on the streets with some digital cameras and dollars visible?

I think investors are scared of investing anywhere in South America because of Chavez, who brings down one government after another.

People have absolutely no idea of dimensions, South America is huge. Hugo Chavez is an idiot thousands of kilometers away from Brazil. His influence is nil, except a few "donations" he made to some samba school and Petrobras and the other venezuelan company working together on a few projects.

It's not a surprise these geography impaired gringos think we all talk spanish. In all my life I have never heard a single word of spanish in Brazil. I have seen and heard more spanish in the US than in Brazil.

...
written by A brazilian, 2007-02-21 11:44:38

I would like to visit Brasil, but too many of my friends got mugged travelling there.



Let me guess, have they been to Rio? Walking on the streets with some digital cameras and dollars visible?

LMAO!!! LMAO!!! LMAO!!! LMAO!!!


So, in other words, you are saying, YOU CAN NOT GO TO RIO DE JANEIRO AND HAVE THE BEHAVIOR OF A "NORMAL" HUMAN BEING!

Caracas is 700 kilometers from Brazilian soil. Chavez owns a chain of gasoline staions in Brazil. I agree that he is too smart to invade Brazil but he has some influence. One can take a bus from Manaus to Caracas. The Venezuela-Brazil border is over 1250 kilometers long.

As If the northern border were the center of power of Brazil.

thousands of kilometers away from Brazil = thousands of kilometers away from Brasilia and the southeast.

So, you would be willing to give up a few thousand square kilometers to the Venezuelans? Makes no difference to you? That southern Brazil "We are the people and with us all knowledge shall cease" attitude has found its finest expression in your attitudes.

..
written by A brazilian, 2007-02-22 13:35:49

As If the northern border were the center of power of Brazil.

thousands of kilometers away from Brazil = thousands of kilometers away from Brasilia and the southeast.

WTF kind of statement is that?? You make statements like "we are all brazilians", then in the same breath talk about the north and the northeast of brazil like the bastard son.

Baghdad Bob, you seriously do have some issues. You're all confused.

WTF kind of statement is that?? You make statements like "we are all brazilians", then in the same breath talk about the north and the northeast of brazil like the bastard son.

Don't make things up. Brasilia is the capital of the country, where the political power is, and the southeast id the financial center of the country. Where most of the companies are, and most of the population also. Who cares if Hugo Chavez is a few kilometers from the northern border, it's a different world there.

So, you would be willing to give up a few thousand square kilometers to the Venezuelans?

Where did I say that? If they actually tried this then it would be a problem for the army to solve, what does it have to do with what was said?

That southern Brazil "We are the people and with us all knowledge shall cease" attitude has found its finest expression in your attitudes.

Well, we carry this country on our backs, don't we?

...
written by A brazilian, 2007-02-23 10:01:00

WTF kind of statement is that?? You make statements like "we are all brazilians", then in the same breath talk about the north and the northeast of brazil like the bastard son.



Don't make things up. Brasilia is the capital of the country, where the political power is, and the southeast id the financial center of the country. Where most of the companies are, and most of the population also. Who cares if Hugo Chavez is a few kilometers from the northern border, it's a different world there.

You ignorant ass, someone stated that there is a HUGE brazilian border shared with Argentina, they are one of brazil's neighbors. But because its a long way from brasilia is that supposed to mean something?

I mean, Mexico is a helluva long way from washington dc, but it's adjoins texas, so should we just ignore things there? Have an attitude like, "hey, its a long way from new york and wash dc and the northeast of the country, so WTF.

You never continue to impress me with your blatent stupidity.

You never cease to impress me...

But because its a long way from brasilia is that supposed to mean something?

Bo, maybe we are going too fast for you to keep up. What Susan said is that Chavez was a worry for investors, and I said his influence is nearly none and South America is huge.

This was the context, and in this context the fact that we don't see, hear or think about Venezuela matters.

This was the context, and in this context the fact that we don't see, hear or think about Venezuela matters.

YOU may not "think, hear, or see" Venezeula, but you can bet your ass your gov't. does, as well as investors, not only in brazil, but around the world, which is even more important.

WHISKY TANKGO FOXTROT: Invidious f**ks, sarcastic f**ktards (f**king regards). You are a hateful bunch. More interested in dumping s**t than any form of intellection. This is more of a Synanon Game than an intellectual symposium. You are a miserable bunch of lonely, bitter people. Who the f**k do you people think you are. Go f**k yourselves, you impotent c**cksuckers.

Chavez has already attacked Brazil through Brazilia, Brazil is surrounded by Mousalini, marching up Central America, Nicaragua, Mexico. . .Is Brazil going to allow itself to be f**ked in the ass by Chavez? Brazil is afraid of a strong military, it is afraid of justice, and law. Law equals dictatorship. . .more realistically law equals the disintegration of corruption. And so crime and corruption runs ramant in Brazil. It is Brazil that should be busting Chavez!s balls. It is Brazil that should be taking the lead over South America. . .but it is not conderned. . .it is an international and domestic policy of appesement. Apppeasement to corruption, crime, international intimidation. It seems the philosophy of Brazil is bend over and pass the soap.

Put the military on every corner, rout the favella, give the deed to the residents of the favella's. Honor, service country. Implement a Civil Conservation Core, invest in people and infrastructure. You can't take a train anywhere in this f**cking country. By now you should be able to drive to Minaus, regardless of the engineering challenges. . .f**k the English built a tunnel under the English Channel, America has gone to the Moon. . .Build a f**king road to Manaus, put in a Monorail, expand this f**king, chickensh**t backwater country and make it the Center of Poer of South America that it is.

You can't take a train anywhere in this f**cking country. By now you should be able to drive to Minaus, regardless of the engineering challenges. . .f**k the English built a tunnel under the English Channel, America has gone to the Moon. . .Build a f**king road to Manaus, put in a Monorail, expand this f**king, chickensh**t backwater country and make it the Center of Poer of South America that it is.

LOL.....Bra-ZIL-ZIL-ZIL!

Truly is the country of the future...and always will be.

Synanon, I´d forgotten all about them, using a non-profit as a front for crime and subversion, I got a creepy feeling just driving by their camp up in back of Orange Cove, I think or Dunlap, east of Fresno. Didn´t know about their games, though, maybe 12 Steps to Ignominy. Thank God and Greyhound, You´re Gone.

You dumb f**k the Synanon Game is the foundation for all drug rehabilitation facilities from Phoenix House, to Betty Ford Clinic, all group encounter is based upon the Synanon Game. You are f**king clueless. Why don't you Google The Synanon Game and learn somethng beyond the stupidity of the wealth of knowledge that you now possess. The Synanon Game is a therapeutic device, designed to separate the bulls**t of your life and its shallow, loveless meaninglessness and return you to yourself before you achieved your f**ckedupedness. . . your intellectual vanity is the arrogance of your ignorance. . .

What you wrote makes little sense at all. What a train to "Minaus" (I don't know where that is, if you mind telling us that would be good) has to do with anything? Is it evidence of development? Brazil has no extensive railroads simply because our government see no need for it. Many rails that used to be used as people's transportation in the recent past were closed. It's not expanding, it has been shrinking, but this is hardly evidence of anything.

Besides, people don't have the notion of space, especially Europeans. All of Europe would fit in Brazil due to the size, "Minaus" might not be right at the corner as it happens in Europe, where you walk a little and it's in another country. And Brazil has only 190 million people, with its size it could have many times that, it certainly has the space for it.

About engineering challenges, there are several examples of things English cannot do in Brazil (Petrobras extracting oil from deep sea?), I don't think you have a clue of what you are talking about. The rest is just name calling with a very flawed, illogical and ignorant text.

Are you competing with Bo?

I used "Europe" above because you were referring to infrastructure of transportation, and I think they beat the US in that matter. So, I assumed you were using them as "an example".

YOU may not "think, hear, or see" Venezeula, but you can bet your ass your gov't. does, as well as investors, not only in brazil, but around the world, which is even more important.

Not me, but international specialists. They haven't been advising against Brazil. They understand that Mexico and Brazil are one reality, and Venezuela is another.

The situation in Venezuela is much more complex than you make it appear. Chavez may be a lunatic, but the people there love him for a reason. You should try to understand what happened there (especially the attempt of certain taking over the power undemocratically, with US support) before making judgements.

Manaus, the point is not the spelling of the irrelevent northern capital of a country that would fit into the United States. It was Eisenhower that developed the interstate network as a military solution, its consequence was the vast economic expansion of the U.S. and by consequence the destruction of the Americain railroad. Brazilians thnk small because they have no choice, unless they have money to fly. It is ironically a way of isolating and controlling the populice. Thee is no movement of people or ideas in Brazil except by 10%. There is no choice for the 'every man'. . .he is stuck to the same socio pathic inbreeding that produces favellas, and rank social indifference that produces bio toxic indifference in northern Rio.

The tirade of Anglo Saxon was a mirror to the sarcasm, vulgarity, and intellectual sophistry that posts here. Sententious, invidious bombast masquerading as thought.

Language is merely a tool and sarcasm is its lowest form of wit

I think what you are referring to is that puns are the lowest form of wit, not sarcasm. Sarcasm is not really a form of wit, although it can be funny.

Synanon put rattlesnakes in a guy´s mailbox, got in trouble with the feds, and was shut down. I remember it because I was in the states at the time. Someone cares, check Synanon on Wikpedia. They had armed guards at the ranch, assault weapons and cameras way back in the late 70´s. I remember right where their HQ was in Santa Monica. Nice place. Turned into a cult. Hope the veneration of ch.c doesn´t end up the same way.

wit 1 (wt)
n.
1. The natural ability to perceive and understand; intelligence.
2.
a. Keenness and quickness of perception or discernment; ingenuity. Often used in the plural: living by one's wits.
b. wits Sound mental faculties; sanity: scared out of my wits.
3.
a. The ability to perceive and express in an ingeniously humorous manner the relationship between seemingly incongruous or disparate things.
b. One noted for this ability, especially one skilled in repartee.
c. A person of exceptional intelligence.
Idioms:
at (one's) wits' end
At the limit of one's mental resources; utterly at a loss.
have/keep (one's) wits about (one)
To remain alert or calm, especially in a crisis.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Middle English, from Old English; see weid- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: wit1, humor, repartee, sarcasm, irony
These nouns denote forms of expression that elicit amusement or laughter. Wit implies intellectual keenness and the ability to perceive and express in a diverting way analogies between dissimilar things: "Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words" Dorothy Parker.
Humor suggests the faculty of recognizing what is amusing, comical, incongruous, or absurd: "Man's sense of humor seems to be in inverse proportion to the gravity of his profession" Mary Roberts Rinehart.
Repartee implies a facility for answering swiftly and cleverly: "framing comments ... that would be sure to sting and yet leave no opening for repartee" H.G. Wells.
Sarcasm is a form of caustic wit intended to wound or ridicule another: "[His] tone seemed as if meant to be kind and soothing, but yet had a bitterness of sarcasm in it" Nathaniel Hawthorne.

To see you quote Mary Roberts Rinehart.

I appreciate the data. Thank you very much.

I find it very difficult to deal with sarcastic, cynical people who use hyperbole or irony. But that´s just me.

Philosophical musings


Wisdom is knowing what you do not know.

Just because I'm wrong doesn't make you right.

Spare me your insanity.

Wisdom has no sex.

Listen to what is being said, not how it is said.

If you are talking you are not listening.

Vanity is the arrogance of ignorance

Create meaning, do good.

Truth is not a matter of opinion.

There is a difference between listening and hearing.

If you expect nothing to happen, it probably will.

Feelings are not always valid.

If you practice failure you will probably become good at it.

The trouble with moderation is recognizing

Read the A brazilian and Ana P. comments is better than watch comedy central... hahaha, morons!!

Thee is no movement of people or ideas in Brazil except by 10%.

This is strange, for example, in this forum we all live in different parts of Brazil or the world, how could an idea be contained? Besides, those that aren't on the internet can still go to other places through bus, plane, pau-de-arara, jangada (like some cearenses did in the 50s, hehe). Or even see or read news and ideas through TV or newspaper.

Again, how an idea could be contained?

You mean "fit into the US" by counting Alaska, a separate and underpopulated piece of the american territory? Without Alaska, that is, where most of the US is, Brazil is bigger.

And, finally, not sure what your point with transportation infrastructure is, since you give no real example or a context for it. Is it just saying "the US is better", simple chest beating? Please develop this idea better so we can understand what you mean. If all you are referring to is people going around, then there are roads for this purpose.

Have you found a site full of wisdom?

He´s a keeper. His posts are unlike anything seen before. An American Original."Thee is no movement of people or ideas in Brazil except by 10%." That could be the First Commandment in the new Religion of C.HC.

Right, aesaac. And Thou ain´t so hot, neither.

Brazil is ruled by the 10% that can afford a ticket to fly to Paris. The poor drive cars in the U.S. and flying to Europe is as common as black beans and rice.

An idea is made manifest by those who have the capital to do so. There is very little venture capital in Brazil. There is an infinitude of wealth in the United States, that is in constant motion, it is an entrapenureal society, whose Infrastructure has been a primary cause of the wealth of the United States. I would like to see Brazil find its economic self.

An idea unmanifested is contained, Bill Gates unmanifested is contained. The next great powers are China and India. What they lack is natural resources. Brazil will provide labor not intellect.

The cost of the movement of goods in Brazil is an impairment to the economic development of Brazil.

The last greatness of Brazil was Bossa Nova. I had to go to Paratay to hear it sung live.

Dont critize yourself leave it to others.

It is the nature of a man to promise a woman anything for her favors, it is the nature of a woman to belive him.

I am the site, the book is Tzadik.

Brazil is ruled by the 10% that can afford a ticket to fly to Paris.

How does that prevent the circulation of ideas? I am far from being part of the 10% and I can afford travelling. Besides, we live in a time where someone writes something in China, 5 minutes later someone reads it in Africa, and someone criticizes it in Europe. Things go as fast as the speed of thought. We know what happens around the world instantly. Ideas cannot be contained. Not here, not anywhere else.

This is just the digital means, but the older means such as books, newspapers and TV didn't disappear all of a sudden.

You seem to be completely unaware of the level of migration inside of Brazil, there are always people coming and going everywhere. Your claim of "control of the population" falls apart only with the quantity of nordestinos in São Paulo, ignoring all other migration destinations. As a matter of fact, many of the "favelas" exist due to the unorganized migration, people that come with nothing and have nowhere else to live.

Brazil has its entrepreneurs, that's the source of the richness of the southeast, and that region has a lot more than 10% of the population. This is not counting the other states and regions that might have the same situation. I think you should do a better job at criticizing something, at least know a little of what you are talking about.

You finalize you text, that had zero verifiable data in it, with the biggest cliche we could see from an american. "India and China". They are certainly doing pretty well, but their problems didn't disappear like magic, there are still great social problems in those places. And remember that around the 70s Brazil was growing at 11% per year rate, that fact alone doesn't mean it will last forever.

Quotes aren't wisdom, or are they?

Country information


Brazil is the world’s fifth largest country, extending over half the landmass of South America. Its national economy is one of the most powerful, but its wealth is highly unevenly distributed amongst the population of over 160 million. Brazil comes second only to Bangladesh in the unevenness of its wealth distribution.

Whilst some of the most advanced technology in fields such as medicine and engineering has been developed in the country, the majority of people are denied access to their basic rights and the benefits and income generated remain concentrated in the hands of the elite.
Despite its significant levels of agricultural, mineral and industrial production, 60% of the population live in poverty. 32 million people are estimated to go hungry daily, while 20,000 have been found to be working in conditions that approximate to slavery.

So what if an idea travesls globably at the speed of light, you become MERELY familiar with it, but if you fly to Hong Kong and view for yourself the Port of Hong Kong, the thousands of container ships that are moved daily you begin to really see the possibility of global shipping. You merely know you do not really know, you denegrate experiential knowledge. If you do not commit, ie money to your perceived idea you do not know the validity of it in the non cyber world. . .it is mastabatory, you can 'know' how to have a child, but until you do you really dont know how to have a child you merely think you do.

10% of the elite in this country determine the lives of 90% of the lives of everyone else. It would be wise of them to invest in infrastructure, roads, trains, electricity, water, education. . .it was the Interstate Highway system that opened the United States after World War II that allowed investment in individual enterprise, that created industries, towns, cities, jobs, where there were none. . .Half of Brazil is empty there are hugh natural gas deposits in the Amazon that will take twenty years to access. Make travel easy, desireable, spread the population to new cities. They made Brazilia from nothing. What was the last great city built by the government. The people of Brazil have no real sense of the greatness, vastness and potential of their country. They may have seen it on the Net, but they have not experienced it in reality.
To believe that cyber reality is reality is a delusion. The fact that it is an instantaneous delusion is of meaningless value.

Knowing when you dont know something A.Brazilian ,is wisdom. You dont know what you dont know. It is like what is the sound of one hand clapping, it is quite simple A Brazilian, it is a slap across your face.

Brasilia was the only great city built by the government, maybe some parts of Belo Horizonte before that. Brasilia was the only city planned from the start. Others just grow, out of control. Not too different from everywhere else.

As far from "merely knowing" from "actually knowing", well, that didn't do much difference for americans, did it? Otherwise the average american would as much knowledgeable as a some country's scholars about socio-economic aspects of some part of the world, or maybe even more. The truth is that most can't point in a map where Iraq is, and that has been on the news for quite some time. "China... India... errr... future...errr...." is not exactly really knowing something.

By the way, do you know anybody that "really knows" ancient Greece or ancient Rome? Or maybe some other ancient asian kingdom? Or american pre-colombian civilizations? Are all of that knowledge "delusion"?

Your percentages of "who rules who" is not far from the truth, but it's the exact same thing in the US. A few rule what the fate of most will be, it was always like it in the past, and I think it's very unlikely to think it will ever be different.

The question I made didn't require an answer, it was a kind of statemet in itself. But you didn't catch that, did you? Let me help you, you don't need to answer this one too.

But don't feel intimidated, we wouldn't want that. After all, we are the ones being slapped on the face by such a great knowledge.

The quality of life in the United States is infinitely 'better' than in Brazil. And it is pathetically true that the average 'American' doesnt have a clue about geography, believeing that Africa is a country. But inspite of the ignorance of the vast majority of "American" citizenry it has the best, most advance institutes of higher learning in the world. Harvard, Mit, Yale, Darmouth, U.C.L.A., Berkley, Stanford, and a hundred others.

The value of experiential knowledge is infinitely more significant than seeing pictures of Mach Pichu, to see the magnificence of the stones so huened that a piece of paper cannot be placed between them gives a meaning to the reality that a picture cannot, or words cannot.

The U.S a nation of law and order, (nothing is absolute) and it is within that frame that wealth and freedom are acquired and enjoyed by all citizens, as 'inaliable rights'. Why is the highest standard of living of food, lodging, clothing , medicine the norm?

It is because it is a nation governed by the rule of law. Brazil would do well to follow suit for it is the source of its problems. You do recognize that Brazil is awash in problems dont you?

Brazil is a fearful country that is self debilitating. It will in time change, but it is not changing fast enough. There is a fear of change in Brazil. It is a country where the people underestimate themselves, except of course the elite 10%. So while they are busy practicing graft, corruption, fear. . . the country moves at a snails pace and millions of people live lives of 'quiet desperation'. Brazil will become an economic victim of countries that are moving at 'economic light speed'. Have you seen Shanghai, it has more high rises than New York, one third of the worlds population live in China and they are on the economic move. And they, unlike Brazil are good at business. They will have Brazil for lunch.

I have been in Brazil for two years now. Petrobras and alternative fuels are the greatest economic forces, and its manufacture of business class planes, but there is so much more that needs to be done.

And why does Chavez have a million man army? And what happens when Castro dies. And Bolivia and Nicaragua? And what the hell is Chavez doing in Rio condeming O'Globo to standing ovations, is this the portent of the end of a free press. It was O'Globlo that had the integrity to expose the corruption of Lula's cabinet. Expose' is a begining then prosecution. But if you eliminate O'Globo, what then?

'The times they are a changing' said Bob Dylan, and indeed they are. Act rather than react.

The U.S. actually knows how to produce more food than any other country on the planet. It actuallly knows how to land on the moon. It actually knows how to build super sonic aircraft. It actually knows how to employ shunts, by pass surgery, genetic therapy. It does not merely know these things, it really knows these things, and an infinity of others, like how to create the computer and the net for which you are so fond.

It is the answer to a great Zen koan. . . 'what is the sound of one hand clapping' It is given to the student by the master. One of the answers, after ten years of meditation and study, when the master asked the student 'was the sound of one hand clapping' the student answered by the action of slaping the master. It was the sound created by one hand clapping. I recently came upon that on a Zen site. . . I thought it amusing. The koan is a question that is designed to stop the mind and put the novice in the world in a state of being, not thinking. It is the belief of Zen that it is the mind that separates the self from existence. . .another answer was 'the moon rising the smell of jasmiine. . .essentially a poetic answer, the answer wresting in the impossibility of answering that which has no intellectual answer. . .the novice has solved the Koan when he is able to speak the moment without thought. . .and in so doing reach a state of enlightenment. . .that words cannot define truth they can only speak of it, like what is said between the lines of poetry. . . I thought the slap a very cleaver resonse by a very cleaver student. . .the master had no need to ask him the question again. . .the story is not mine I only shared it with you on the subject of wisdom or your lack of it.

written by A brazilian, 2007-02-24 15:56:18

I used "Europe" above because you were referring to infrastructure of transportation, and I think they beat the US in that matter. So, I assumed you were using them as "an example".

Another classic remark that shows yet again, his ignorance.

Your opinions about corruption, fear of change are just that, opinions. You give no context for it, just generalizes it. It doesn't sound correct.

Have you seen Shanghai, it has more high rises than New York...

Have you seen the rest of China? It has more starving people than Brazil. Have you seen Sao Paulo? You are full of wishful thinking. Certainly China is a great country, and it's heading to become one of the main powers, but the situation has not removed the all its problems by magic. China has problems, just like any other country.

I would like to understand why americans are such "ass-kissers" when it comes to China and Asia in general. You almost kiss their feet in reverence, with some sort of unconditional faith in them.

The whole press in Brazil is comprised of a lot more than just "O Globo" and if you paid any attention to the "press about the press", you would see a lot of criticism on the coverage of the scandals. You probably think that Rio is all of Brazil and "O Globo" is all of the press. The coverage was ridiculous, totally one sided and they just wanted to bring the president down in a sensationalistic way. If they had been more neutral, maybe the outcome would be different. They were incompetent, and the public just doesn't trust them.

About Chavez, who cares? Whatever he says means nothing. So he didn't like what "O Globo" said about him? Who cares? The time of supression of press is over, since we have the internet you cannot stop people from writing what they think, this is not coming back.

Not sure why every american cites "Chavez's army". He is not crazy to attack any other country in here, it doesn't make any sense. What would Venezuela possibily gain from such an attitude!? It's illogical. And they would just give the pretext the US needs to invade them! Just use your brain and see how ridiculous this idea is.

Chavez thinks he is some sort of "leader" in latin america, a self-delusional lunatic. Maybe argentinians believe in him because his money helped to take that country from the bottom it was a few years ago! Who else? Bolivia, whose only "action" is to nationalize international companies? Wow, the world is indeed falling to his populism.

There are a thousand other buildings that have been built in Shanghai that I have not listed. You have no idea of the enormity of the megalopolis that Shanghai and Hong Kong are. You are egotistically naive to think that this monster is not going to devour every natural resource that Brazil has in order to feed as you put it its 'starving masses'. It just shot down a satellite in orbit, it is a nuclear power with intercontinental balistic missels. . .your term 'ass kisser' manifests a global intellect of high school proportion. . .you have no idea of what is going on. . .you merely think you do. . .you have never been to Shanghai or Hong Kong, but you have an opinion. And as to Chavez and Ahmadinejad, and Noriega, Castro and Morales as being irrelevent, maybe. . .they just bought three billion dollars worth of weaponry. . .jet fighters, tanks, 500,000 assault rifles, for what? And you think O'Globo is irrelevent? They are one of the largest producers of media, television, newspapers with the largest distribution in Brazil (more or less, as you Brazillians are so fond of saying).

But dont bring the President down 'his whole cabinite all his ministers were corrupt, takers of graft, bundles of cash in suitcases, and Lula had no idea that any of this was going on. . .and you elected this example of consciousness. . .where is the justice, what happened to the transparency, where are the court cases how were they decided?

Hell who cares, its Mardi Gras, have a Cacaçha. . .but the 'dogs of war are loosed'.

Ciao, obrigado

What would Chavez gain you postulate? Economic equality, equal distribution of the wealth, POWER, king of South America.
Who would be able to stop this military onslaught? Brazil? Chavez and Lula are brother's under the banner of the workers.
It is 1930 again and if you dont learn from history you will repeat it.

'Kiss ass' you mistake kindness for weakness.

The United States is not going to invade Venezuela, they are going to eliminate his oil infrastructure, or just him. What was Argentina thinking when it started the Faulkland Island War? Delusions of grandure. It seems South America suffers from a profound sense of inferiority and victimization.

Shanghai
High-rise Buildings (completed)
# Building Name [Complex Name] Photos Height Floors Year Status
1. Jin Mao Tower 41 421 m 88 1999
2. Shimao International Plaza 2 333 m 60 2006
3. Plaza 66 [Plaza 66 Nanjin Xi Lu] 9 288 m 66 2001
4. Tomorrow Square 5 285 m 55 2003
5. Hong Kong New World Tower 3 278 m 61 2002
6. Bocom Financial Towers 6 265 m 52 2002
7. Grand Gateway Shanghai.. [Grand Gateway] 1 262 m 52 2005
8. Grand Gateway Shanghai.. [Grand Gateway] 262 m 52 2005
9. Bank of Shanghai Headquarters 2 252 m 46 2005
10. Maxdo Centre 3 241 m 55 2002
11. Coud Nine 238 m 58 2006
12. International Ocean Shipping Building 2 232 m 50 2000
13. Plaza 66 Tower 2 [Plaza 66 Nanjin Xi Lu] 228 m 46 2006
14. Bank of China Tower 10 226 m 53 2000
15. Raffles Square 4 222 m 49 2003
16. Changfeng Hotel 2 218 m 53 2005
17. Shanghai Dong Hai Plaza 1 217 m 52 2004
18. World Finance Tower 4 212 m 43 2000
19. King Tower 2 212 m 38 1996
20. Pudong International Information Port 3 211 m 40 2001
21. Sofitel Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong Hotel 2 207 m 47 2002
22. Nan Zheng Building 2 205 m 49 1998
23. Lippo Plaza 3 204 m 38 1998
24. Shanghai Sen Mao International Building 4 203 m 46 1998
25. Huaxia Financial Squar.. [Huaxia Financial Squar..] 202 m 42 2005
26. Huaxia Financial Squar.. [Huaxia Financial Squar..] 202 m 42 2003
27. Golden Bell Mansion 5 200 m 45 1998
28. Radisson Hotel Shanghai New World 2 200 m 46
29. World Plaza Shanghai 5 199 m 38 1998
30. Bund Center [Bund Center] 2 198 m 45 2002
31. Wenxin United Press Building 2 197 m 43 1999
32. Lan Sheng Building 2 196 m 39 1997
33. China Insurance Building 5 196 m 38 1999
34. The Center [Walton Plaza Complex] 196 m 45 2004
35. CITIC Square 5 193 m 45 2000
36. Huaneng Union Tower 4 188 m 38 1997
37. CAAC Pudong Tower 3 188 m 38 2001
38. Bao'an Tower 1 188 m 38 1997
39. Shanghai Futures Building 2 187 m 37 1998
40. China Merchants Tower 1 186 m 38 1995

41. Shanghai China Merchants Plaza Office Building 1 186 m 39 1998
42. Aurora Plaza 12 185 m 37 2003
43. Pudong Development Mansion 3 185 m 36 2001
44. Ciro's Plaza 2 181 m 39 2002
45. Union Square II [Union Square] 1 180 m 35 2005
46. Union Square I [Union Square] 1 180 m 35 2005
47. Pudong Shangri La Hote.. [Pudong Shangri-La Hote..] 3 180 m 43 2005
48. Citigroup Tower 8 180 m 41 2005
49. Shanghai Property Information Exchange Center 2 180 m 35 2000

50. Harbour Ring Plaza 1 178 m 36 1998
51. K. Wah Center 1 178 m 40 2005
52. Four Seasons Hotel 1 172 m 37 2002
53. Shanghai Central Square 2 169 m 38 1998
54. Shimao Riviera Garden .. [Shimao Riviera Garden] 169 m 53 2002
55. Shimao Riviera Garden .. [Shimao Riviera Garden] 169 m 53
56. Azia Center 1 169 m 32 2005
57. Construction Mansion 1 168 m 45 1997
58. Jiu Shi Tower 5 168 m 39 2000
59. Shanghai International Tower 1 168 m 39 1997
60. STV Mansion 2 168 m 32 1999
61. Shanghai Commercial Center 165 m 1995
62. The Portman Ritz-Carlt.. [Shanghai Centre] 1 165 m 48 1990
63. United Plaza 3 160 m 43 2001
64. Jing Yin Mansion 2 160 m 39 1998
65. Golden Sail Plaza 3 158 m 39 2003
66. Shanghai Times Square 155 m 38 1996
67. Suncome Liauw's Building 1 155 m 29 1999
68. Tomson Riviera Tower I [Tomson Riviera] 153 m 44 2006
69. Jin Jiang Tower 1 153 m 46 1988
70. World Trade Tower 2 153 m 31 1996
71. Hua Mao Building & Hotel 1 152 m 27 2001
72. Shanghai Central Plaza 1 152 m 34 1999
73. St. Regis Hotel 4 151 m 38 2001
74. Shanghai Industrial In.. [Shanghai Industrial In..] 2 150 m 40 1995
75. Hong Kong Plaza II [Hong Kong Plaza] 2 150 m 38 1999
76. Hong Kong Plaza I [Hong Kong Plaza] 2 150 m 38 1999
77. Haitong Securities Building 2 150 m 35 2003
78. Broadcasting Building 2 150 m 28 1996
79. Shanghai International Pharmaceutical Trade and Ex.. 148 m 28
80. Posco Plaza 147 m 34 2000
81. Hongyi Building 1 147 m 29 2005
82. China Financial Center 145 m 44 2000
83. The Summit Building V [Walton Plaza Complex] 1 145 m 43 2003
84. Purple Mountain Hotel 1 145 m 42 1997
85. Westgate Mall 1 144 m 38 1997
86. Jian An Hilton International Hotel 1 144 m 43 1988
87. Guanghua Tower [Fudan University] 143 m 29
88. Shanghai Kerry Everbri.. [Kerry Everbright City] 142 m 39
89. Shanghai Kerry Everbri.. [Kerry Everbright City] 1 142 m 35 1997
90. Jianhui Mansion 1 140 m 36
91. Heng Ji Plaza 1 140 m 30
92. Gran Meliá Pudong 2 140 m 35 2006
93. Shanghai International Trade Center 2 139 m 37 1991
94. Bank of China Pudong 1 138 m 32 1997
95. Shanghai Pudong Customs Building 14 137 m 25 1996
96. China Telecom Trade Tower 1 134 m 34 1997
97. Shanghai Kerry Centre [Shanghai Kerry Centre] 2 133 m 30 1998
98. Ocean Tower 132 m 28 2002
99. Lin Ling Building 1 132 m 33 1996
100. Harbour Superintendency Administration Building 131 m
101. Yin Dong Building 130 m 30
102. Central Tower 130 m 36 1997
103. Shanghai Materials Mansion 130 m 30 1997
104. Guangming Building 2 130 m 32
105. Dongchang Mansion 130 m 2001
106. Royal Pavilion 2 [Royal Pavilion] 1 129 m 40 2000
107. Royal Pavilion 1 [Royal Pavilion] 1 129 m 40 2000
108. Union Mansion 129 m 36 1989
109. Bei Wai Tan Twin Tower.. [Bei Wai Tan Twin Tower..] 129 m 33 2006
110. Bei Wai Tan Twin Tower.. [Bei Wai Tan Twin Tower..] 129 m 33 2006
111. East China Electric Power Building 1 128 m 25 1989
112. Renaissance Yangtze Shanghai Hotel 128 m 39 1990
113. Telecommunication Building 125 m 20
114. Baosteel Tower 125 m 30
115. Shanghai Times Square .. [Shanghai Times Square] 1 123 m 30 2000
116. Garden Hotel 1 123 m 34 1990
117. Huadu Mansion 1 122 m 30 1995
118. Hua Sheng Building 1 122 m 25 1998
119. Pudong Municipal Building 1 120 m 24
120. Marine Apartments 120 m 2001

121. Ruizhou Apartments 120 m 1999
122. Shanghai Xinhua News & Information Building 120 m 1998
123. Jujin Tower 1 119 m 25 1999
124. Sky City Mega Tower [Sky City/Everbright Ci..] 1 119 m 30 1996
125. Hailun Hotel 116 m 35 1991
126. Jiu Shi Fuxing Mansion 2 116 m 25
127. Sofitel Hyland Hotel 1 115 m 34 1993
128. Commodity Trade Center 114 m 33 1989
129. Zhongda Chemical Trade Center 1 113 m 33 1997
130. Universal Mansion 1 112 m 32 1995
131. Shanghai Centre West A.. [Shanghai Centre] 1 112 m 32 1990
132. Shanghai Centre Apartm.. [Shanghai Centre] 112 m 32 1990
133. Jinsui Building 1 110 m 38 1997
134. China Coal Building 1 110 m 34 1997
135. Yangpu Center

136. Shanghai Securities Exchange Building 4 109 m 26 1997
137. International Commercial Center 109 m 2000
138. The Summit Building VI [Walton Plaza Complex] 1 108 m 31 2003
139. Foreign Trade Negotiation Building 107 m 33 1990
140. Yu'an Mansion 107 m 30 1995

141. Regent Place 2 106 m 33 1997
142. Shartex Plaza 1 106 m 29 1992
143. Milky Way Hotel 106 m 35 1989
144. Hong Feng Building 2 [Hong Feng Building] 106 m 34
145. Hong Feng Building 1 [Hong Feng Building] 1 106 m 34
146. Fangyuan Hotel 106 m 32 1990
147. Union Friendship Tower 106 m 30 1985
148. Guidu Hotel 106 m 29 1990
149. Shanghai Library 106 m 24 1996
150. Galaxy Hotel 2 106 m 35 1989
151. Ocean Hotel 105 m 32 1988
152. Jinchang Cultural Hotel 105 m 30 1990
153. National Center 1 105 m 32 2002
154. Bank of Communications 105 m 17 2000
155. Shi Liu Pu Building 2 105 m 17 2000
156. Regalia Apartments 104 m 33 1995
157. Aijian Apartment No. 3 [Aijian Apartment] 104 m 31 1989
158. Guo Li Mansion 1 104 m 24 1998
159. Shangri-La Residence [Shanghai Kerry Centre] 2 103 m 28 1997
160. Hongqiao Hotel 103 m 34 1988

161. Han Zhong Plaza 1 [Han Zhong Plaza] 103 m 19 1996
162. Palace Court Pacific Plaza I 1 103 m 32
163. City Hotel 1 103 m 27 1989
164. New Hongqiao Building 102 m 27 1988
165. Jie Fang Daily News Building 102 m 27
166. Finance Ministry 2 101 m 35 2000
167. Aijian Apartment No. 4 [Aijian Apartment] 101 m 30 1990
168. Pacific Hotel 101 m 28 1990
169. Sheraton Grand Tai Ping Yang 101 m 27 1990
170. Jiafu Garden 2 [Chez Moi Project] 101 m 32 2001
171. Jiafu Garden 4 [Chez Moi Project] 101 m 32 2001
172. Jiafu Garden 3 [Chez Moi Project] 101 m 32 2001
173. Keshifa Building 100 m 38
174. Grand Gateway Garden I.. [Grand Gateway] 100 m 34 1999
175. Grand Gateway Garden I [Grand Gateway] 2 100 m 34 1999
176. Concord World Phase On.. [Concord World] 100 m 34 1997
177. Concord World Phase On.. [Concord World] 100 m 34 1997
178. Yinzhou Building 1 100 m 32 1997
179. Shanghai Far East International Building 1 1 100 m 31 1999
180. Pudong Shangri-La Hote.. [Pudong Shangri-La Hote..] 19 100 m 30 1998

181. Shanghai Lucky Hotel 100 m 30
182. Qianjiang Mansion Offices 100 m 28 1997
183. Shangdong Qilu Industry Mansion 100 m 28 1996
184. China Hi-Tech Tower 100 m 27 1998
185. No. 1 Department Store Group Building 100 m 25 1997
186. Marine Tower 1 100 m 25 1996
187. Jinli Mansion 100 m 1999
188. International Science & Technology Palace 100 m 1997
189. Hua Yuan Building 100 m 2001
190. Suntime International Mansion 100 m 30
191. Yin Qiao Building 100 m 28
192. Cimic Tower 100 m 22
193. Sunshine World 100 m 28
194. Longyu Mansion 100 m 27
195. OTV Building 100 m 18
196. Shanghai Book City 2 100 m 27
197. Shanghai Zhongrong International Building 100 m 18 2004
198. Pudong Postal Building 100 m 27
199. Chinese Enterprise Mansion 2 100 m 27
200. Baoding Mansion 99 m 29
[Previous page] [Next page]

[ in feet ]

I will take your reply as an agreement with everything I said, since you didn't contradict it any meaningful way. You just posted a list of buldings from Shangai, but didn't mention anything from the rest of China. That's because you don't know it. Brazil has nuclear capability, Petrobras is always beating record after record of deep sea exploration, it has the best technology for farming in tropical weather, and it is proeminent in many industries, such as of small and mid-sized airplanes. By the way, I heard Brazil was selling some to Venezuela some time ago, not sure if this deal happened.

I am not saying China is not great, it is, and will probably be one the greatest countries of this century. What I am saying that a bunch of rednecks such as yourself have absolutely no idea of what it means, and just can balbuciate a few words you read in Newsweek or some other magazine.

I never said "O Globo" was irrelevant, but it's very far from being "the press". Globo organization produces diverse types of media, and that's not only "news" stuff. There has never been any form of repression of freedom, just a comment made by Chavez because "O Globo" criticized him while he was in Brazil, which, I believe, is his right since we have something called "freedom of speech".

Americans would love to see war around here. When they don't use Chavez as a bait for this talk, they use "organized crime" in favelas. You are dreaming that Hugo Chavez would invade Brazil, but he has no reason to unless he is out of his mind and start acting illogically. Even if they do, they possess a great oil richness, other countries would see it as a perfect excuse to take "another dictator down ".

Things are much more complicated politically than the simple mind of some rednecks want to believe.

Your description of "King of South America" is simply priceless.

You speak English very well. The word 'red neck' is very specific. It refers to the mule drivers that worked hauling goods in the South, and because of the intense heat of Georgia and Alabama and the like their necks would get red, thust he name.

The term 'red neck' means someone with poor language skill, and an antipathy to the Black Race, they lack formal education, usually a grammar school education, and drinking and fist fighting are a good part of their ethic. They are closely alighned with the term 'good ole boy' which has a moral bearing to it as well as the attributes of 'manliness and courage'. . . they engage in such aphorisms as 'that dog will hunt' meaning that a particular business venture or idea has a workability to it.

The point of Shanghai was that this extraordinary city was built in the past eight years, the list was meant to visually amplify the dimensions of the Chinese and ultimately the Indian economic Sunami that is about to hit the shore of every nation on the Earth.

You use expressions like 'any meaningful way' (designed to denegrate the argument presented), but you did not comprehend any of it. It is more linguistically subtle than I had given you the ability to comprehend. It was about merely knowing and really knowing. We merely know that China, but when we see a list of hundreds of 'skyscrapers' we begin to experience the idea of China dimensionally differently.

On my way to Paratay I passed by the atomic reactor, this is not nuclear armament. I am not talking about nuclear generated electricity.

Though you are doing very well in your Englis you miss the essence of much what is being said, it is liking trying to read Joyces's, 'Ulysses'. . .it will not be comprehended, it is beyond subtlty.

Your contention that 'Americans would like to see war around here' is patently false. Of what use would a fascist militarized, South America benefit in anyway the United States? How has Cuba in anyway benefited the United States over the past 40 years or so?

One of the ways we know you are poorly adept at English is that we never use the word 'stuff' as in 'news stuff'. . .Ironically words like stuff are characteristic of the jargon of 'southern red necks'. . .

Hugo Chavez is as you put it 'out of his mind'. . .he is by all definition a 'red neck'. . .a philistine, a boor, a meglamaniac.

Your positing that the minds of 'red necks are simple' is in essence spoken without knowledge. . .Mark Twain could be considered a 'good ole boy' a 'red neck' if you well. . .I am not sure how familiar you are with Twain's writing, but he is surely most brilliant, and Will Rogers, he too could be considered a 'good ole boy' a 'red neck' if you will, he too is one of America's great wits. . .

I dont know if it is by accident, your simplistic use of language and its understanding, but your language and style is petulant, prissy and simplistic with just a touch of visciousness. . .I am glad you found 'King of South America' the political cartoon showed Chavez on a throne with a crown sitting over a map of South America.

I suggest you be less mean when you speak English. . .your English and ideas are quite good. . .meanness is a defense, against being mocked, either for an idea poorly manifested linguistically, or the idea itself.

You become clicheic in your language when you use expressions 'since we have something called freedom of speech' it would have been enough to say since we have freedom of speech, omitting the 'something called' in English less is more. Or 'things are much more complicated politically than the simple mind of some rednecks want to believe' pointlessly hateful and by the fact that you have no experiential knowledge of 'red necks' having drunk beer with some good ole boys on a back of atruck shooting mail boxes with a shotgun yiping it up on some country back road in Georgia your generous use the term is absurd.

Start your sentences with 'I'. . .personalize it 'I think this I think that' it is much more powerful and 'honest' . . .to pontificate is pretentious when what is pontificated is patently false, or cartoonish. . .

But be kind in your language you have no need of vitriol. . .abusive venemous language used to express blame, censure or bitter deep seated ill will.

As a 'good ole boy' once said, 'you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar'

Obragado, ciao

And you still didn't say anything about China as a whole, just Shangai. Just say you don't know, there's nothing wrong about it, we are learning all the time.

The US is benefitted by governments that are loyal to them so american businesses can have access to other countries markets, and Hugo Chavez is definitely not one of them. This doesn't mean that a war is good for the US, but that his fall would be convenient. There wouldn't be an agitator with petro-dollars to finance socialist politicians all over South America, that could put "US unfriendly" policies in place.

In the minds of some like you the war with Chavez is imminent. I don't see how. A war is not something that easy, it takes a lot of money and usually the countries that have war get devastated, both in human and economic resources. He wouldn't do it just to be "the King of South America" because it would only weaken his position and give a perfect pretext for those wishing for his fall.

You might not have liked my style of writing, but I loved yours! Especially the first post and the extensive usage of the word "f**k".

You do not have a style of writing. You understand half of what is said. If you are interested in learning how to swear in English . . .you can Google dictionary of swearwords.

F**ktard is one of my favourites it is a contraction of 'F**king retard.

s**t 'in the minds of some like you war is eminent' your reasoning is specious and you manifest a simplistic sophistry.

First Hong Kong, then Shanghai, then Kowloon, then the rest of China they comprise a third of the world's population, Shanghai was built in eight years. . .all of those buildings.

What will China accomplish in another eight years, they are developing exponentially.

And by the way war is good for the U.S. it is a military industrial complex, why do you think the stock market is at record highs?

We manufacture munitions, planes, tanks. When there is war business is good.

We supply half the worlds food, medicine, cyber technology, satellite and rocket technology when their is peace businesss is good, look at the stock market in the nineties'. . .you are an intellectual gnat. Your learnning curve is a flat line.

a brazilian

Even if they do, they possess a great oil richness, other countries would see it as a perfect excuse to take "another dictator down ".

So I guess brazil would go running to Uncle Sammy n'eh snuggles? The s**t hits the fan, and most come running to sammy.

BTW aesaac, please note the writing styles, vocabulary, syntax, etc, in A brazilians posts throughout this thread and others. You will definitely see a big difference. This last poster is whom I refer to as "A brazilian II", he/she has better english and can actually put together an organized thought, while "A brazilian I" truly should be scribbling on cave walls with crayons saying "não foi eu" while wearing a Ronaldo (who is white by the way-in a country where racism does NOT exist according to Abe Razillion) jersey.

What would Chavez gain you postulate? Economic equality, equal distribution of the wealth, POWER, king of South America.
Who would be able to stop this military onslaught? Brazil?

These are your words. And I showed you why this is unlikely to happen. You, in the other hand, just used name calling. Is it an evidence of your capabilities? I would assume so.

And still haven't commented on the rest of China. Give up. Admit you don't know it.

Chavez is a buffoon, a clown, but he has delusions of grandure. He purchaed three billion dollars worth of armaments three months ago. . .he and Iran are doing what? And Bolivia and Nicaragua? What do you think they are about? The betterment of mankind?

I commented on China but you, perhaps because of your English, was unable to understand that in ten years the poverty of rural China will be as arcane as slavery in Brazil.

You do not know what 'name calling is' it is your lack of linguistic understanding of English that is responsible for your conclusions.

The word 'assume' begins with 'ass' it is an old line from a movie, you should be familiar with it, but alas you live in a linguistic closet. If you want to know about the rest of China do the research yourself. . .I have done business in China, I have commented about China 'ad nauseum' You are intelllectually myopic, 'evidence of my capabilities' you do not have the education to ascertain what my capabilities are. There is a petty bitchiness to your writing. The British have a word for you it is not the vulgar word as used in the United States. . .It is a cunt, you are cuntish (used as a disparaging term for a person one dislikes or finds extremely disagreeable.The term is sometimes used as a non-specific derogatory epithet in reference to a person of either sex in Australian English, specifically male; the Macquarie Dictionary defines cunt as "a despicable man"). Your behavior is fatuous.

Is it wrong for a country to defend itself? Ever since the unlawful war of the US against Iraq all the usual leaders that hold some antipathy towards the US got paranoid (Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, etc), and I think they should be. Buying armament not necessarily means they are planning to attack anyone.

The idea of Venezuela to attack Brazil makes no sense, and I already showed you why.

As for China, you haven't yet shown any knowledge about its situation. You are repeating the usual ideas generally publicized, but can't point out any specifics or possible challenges they face, nor any knowledge in other parts of that country.

Everything you have said so far is nonsense. It can be also be seen as wishful thiking.

The stuff in the armories gets old. Even nukes have to be maintained. A lot of stuff has to be thrown out anyway.

And arms factories like the one east of Modesto will go out of business for good if they don´t get some big contracts once in awhile.

No one would go to war just to fire shells and get them replaced with new, improved ones. But the numbers of how much a war cost rarely takes into consideration the fact that a lot of that stuff would have to be disposed of anyway, and at high cost since it is hazardous.

Just don´t send it to Betteravia or Kettleman City.

All the USA has to do to bring down Chavez is refuse to process his crude. The stuff is so bad that it takes a really good refinery to get it ready for cracking. Not every country has such refineries.

Thanks for the entertainment. Two guys that have the idea that they can´t be wrong.

The question is fatuous.
The war in Iraq is not 'unlawful' its lawfulness was passed by the United States Congresss. That is the definitinon of 'lawfulness' in the United States.
Venzeuela does not have to physically attack Brazil to effect Brazil ie. Petrobras and Bolivia
It is foolish to argue with a fool. What is it you want proven about China? Read the N.Y. Times, Barrons, The Wall Street Journal.

It was interesting about the 'cracking'. In what country does this take place?

By armament I am talking about Boeing, Martin Murietta, Ratheon, Haliburton, Submarines, Aircraft Carriers, etc.

A thing is true or it is not. I am interested in information not opinion.

Cracking is a method for breaking down hydrocarbons with heat, using steam for example. At the bottom is road tar (longer molecule chain), up through fuel oil, Diesel, motor oil, kerosene, gasoline, benzene, etc, and LPG at the top.

Any country that refines crude will have cracking towers, but to make something besides road tar from the poor quality Venezuelan crude takes more sophisticated equipment, and in this hemisphere, only the USA has that capability, from what I understand.

Brazil has it. I heard of such process being described by a friend. We have refineries that do it.

Or they wouldn´t be refineries. But only specialized refineries are equipped to take road-oil quality crude and make something more marketable out of it. And the only place around here that can do that is the (hated) U.S.A.

Rednecks, Red Caps, Red Hats, Bluebloods, Black Panthers, Boys in Blue, Brownbaggers, Greenies, Gray Flannel Suits, Orangemen(a few), Pinkos, White Trash, Yellow Backs, among others. Some purposely left out.

No, it's not. Brazil also has it.

I´ll take your word for it. But why does our Avgas come from Trinidad?

Brazilians angry about president Lula's re-election have crowded comment space here.

You can see by the deprecating remarks: Brazil lacks genius, there's a cultural change going on for the worse in Brazil, no way Brazil can lead anything.

That's the kind of bad mood, by the way, that whoever trying to get stuff done has to cope with in this country, coming especially form 'ancient régime' denizens.