Brazzil

PURAKI IN KAMPUS NUM TEM NUTCHISSIAIS BOAIX

but why does my internet connection still work like s**t? Why does my telephone still work like s**t? Why do the roads still have potholes in them the size of moon craters? Why am I still paying 13% per month for my "check especial"? Why does a Honda Civic cost me 30,000 dollars? Why does a gallon of gas cost me $5.78 in a country that boasts, "auto-suficiente em petroleo"?

Get my drift? People may be getting richer in Brazil, but things are getting more expensive as well....much more expensive. And as far as the gov't. making whole-hearted investments in education and infrastructure they only do what they must and that doesn't look like it's going to change anytime soon.

it must be nice to write these articles from your office in New York.

Our Chief Detractor is on his well deserved Christmas vacation.

I don’t think it’s uncalled for to celebrate some of the moves Brazil has made forward recently, however I’d not bend over backwards to argue that the nation is doing great. Selectively cherry-picking one or two stories can paint a rather rosy story in terms of how Brazil is currently fairing, although most of the examples cited; a reduction in deforestation, a growth in the National PIB, and a possible invention using Manioca to replace plastic bags and wrapping, has ZERO affect on the lives of most Brazilians as Bo has already pointed out.

Last week an International study was released placing Brazilians at the bottom rung in terms of global education. A national study also released days later showed Brazilian youths spent the LEAST amount of time in school than any other country in Latin America. This is not only sad, but a major failure to provide one of the most basic ingredients for the nation’s future and major failure that will take decades to rectify.

Mr. Fitzpatrick already spoke to the issue of violence and corruption quite nicely in another article on this site, and although the Brazilian Real is strong and arguably stable, prices for EVERYTHING are still skyrocketing with little to no explanation and just as little questioning on the part of “o povão” and the press.

Now, I don’t want to be a stick in the mud, and I actually do cheer for Brazil’s success and have recently debated, in a positive light, Brazil’s strides (albeit small) forward with rather overly pessimistic Brazilians, but I think we need to stand back a little and take a deep breath before declaring victory on stupidity, corruption, greed and officialdom which still plague this otherwise lovely nation. I´d avoid calling out the ney sayers or Detractors as you´ve called them, becasue they´ll come a running and they are really well armed.

Like I mentioned, maybe it was the site administrator that gave the rather taunting title, but make no mistake about it, Brazil still has millions of detractors and they’ll slice through these rather weak indicators of success as easily as a knife through requijao. I think a little humility is in order, so that when advances are made they are seen for what they really are (baby steps towards progress) and not some nationalistic hubris.

Car sales went sky high.

Do you know that in Brazil you can buy a car and pay in it in 7 years? Today any poor can buy car and pay it in 80 installments. If it means anything then it means it has been easier for people to sink in debt at outrageous interest rates and NOT that their economic power has risen.

So many bogus statistics.

It's great to hear about Brazil these days. It seems that the country is really growing fast and is finally reaching the status of South America's giant. Too bad the government is not investing enough in education. When it decides to do that, everything will follow. Now that the economy has become stable, what's the government waiting for to gibe Brazilians what they need? Great article, it made me miss Brazil, a country which I love.

If I had the chance to buy a car in 80 installments, I would. And I wouldn't see it as 'sinking in dept' but as having a good opportunity to make more money. My wife and I are hard working people in America. I work long hours as a construction worker and she makes food and takes to different construction sites to sell. It is hard work, believe me. She takes public transportation and pushes her cart and can only take a limited number of meals. If we could afford a car, she could grow her business very quickly, double the number of sites she visits daily and sell lots more. But we can't. If we had the chance to buy a car like that, we would. And we would probably be able to pay for it in less time. There are different ways of looking at things, what some see as opportunity others think is exploitation. My wife and I are both educated people, with college degrees, but employment in America is not the way it was. These are hard times here.

Well, here comes one detractor... I won't dispute the fact that the macroeconomic situation improved a lot in Brazil. However one glaring mistake by the author is the fact that it's become much more easier for ordinary Brazilians to take out loans to finance residential construction (e.g. private homes), under much better conditions compared with only a couple of years ago. And this fact alone is IMHO much more important than other things she mentioned in her article . Why did she omit this? Is it perhaps that she is a member of that mythic Brazilian "classe media alta", which despises and actually DOESN'T SEE / NOTICE an "ordinary Brazilian" in her midst? That same "classe media alta" that would like to build an atomic bomb while millions still live in shanty towns, under worst possible imaginable living conditions?

That Brazilian "classe media alta" is the worst scum of all the scums I've seen so far in my life, trust me.

But I digress - I'd say that a situation improved somewhat, yes, but as an European who also lived in North America - trust me, Brazil is still millions of years away from more developed countries. This goes especially to Brazilians who have never travelled anywhere so don't actually have anything to compare Brazil to, therefore now probably thinking "gosh Brazil is great". Well - it's not!

Now, I don’t want to be a stick in the mud, and I actually do cheer for Brazil’s success and have recently debated, in a positive light, Brazil’s strides (albeit small) forward with rather overly pessimistic Brazilians, but I think we need to stand back a little and take a deep breath before declaring victory on stupidity, corruption, greed and officialdom which still plague this otherwise lovely nation. I´d avoid calling out the ney sayers or Detractors as you´ve called them, becasue they´ll come a running and they are really well armed.

Gee Gringo, you are more and more diplomatic everyday

Good comments, though.

If I had the chance to buy a car in 80 installments, I would.

If you have to pay a MONTHLY interest rate of 0.99% on your car loan, you would certainly not buy the car. I fully agree with "A Brazilian" and Bo about buying cars in Brazil. Recently it was announced that for low income group can buy a car in 100 installments. It sounded great on the local TV. The next day a professor of economy appeared on the same channel and explained that between buying a car or a house in 100 installments, a construction worker should opt for the latter. Besides the car being expensive in this country, the interest rates, insurance cost and road taxes are extremely high.

I understand about your viewpoint that your wife will be enable to make more money if she had another vehicle. Would you be able to borrow money from a U.S. bank for much lesser interest rate?

Oh, one more thing to add is that the real reason for extending the period of payments here is to keep the auto industry going. Until two years ago, the auto industries were exporting cars, because our prices were competitive in the international market. Now with our "Strong" currency , car exports have come down and at this point of time, the government cannot afford to permit the auto manufacturers (all of them are foreign firms) to lay off the workers, generating more unemployment in the manufacturing sector. So it is a pretty good strategy to stimulate demand among the low income group and MAKE MORE MONEY charging them high interest rates on their car loans. Believe "A Brazilian" when he says that that the article contains "Bogus Statistics" and is "Deceitful".

This article is as misleading as the one titled "Everyone Is Looking for the Real Brazil. We Found It"

Great article, it made me miss Brazil, a country which I love.

Why don't you move back to Brazil which you love so much, along with ex pat Brasilians like Clara and others? You all can put it in our dumb heads that "Education is the keyword" and launch a crusade.

hay have you ever been to a tote the note car lot .
most have a $500 down and so much a week , but add gas , insurancs ,ware and tare and you will have to more than double the
sales.
life in the US is hard if you work it takes at least 6 months to get even not to break even

The best news is that the transaction tax has been defeated and Lula is saying no new taxes and arguing that economic growth will make up for the lost revenue. The political consequences would be significant
if the predicted revenue effect were to occur and a pro-business candidate could try to ride it in the next election by proposing policies to streamline the Brasilian tax code and other persistent
bottlenecks in the economy.

Like I mentioned, maybe it was the site administrator that gave the rather taunting title, but make no mistake about it, Brazil still has millions of detractors and they’ll slice through these rather weak indicators of success as easily as a knife through requijao. I think a little humility is in order, so that when advances are made they are seen for what they really are (baby steps towards progress) and not some nationalistic hubris.

Couldn't have said it any better gringo. And believe it or not, here in the northeast, which is anything but a haven of higher learning, these types of articles can actually be dangerous. As the semi-toothed, chest thumpers up here just love to take articles like this and run with them. Thinking all is "joia" in mudville, mighty Lula hit a homerun.

...
written by J.Good, 2007-12-20 12:58:21

If I had the chance to buy a car in 80 installments, I would. And I wouldn't see it as 'sinking in dept' but as having a good opportunity to make more money. My wife and I are hard working people in America. I work long hours as a construction worker and she makes food and takes to different construction sites to sell. It is hard work, believe me. She takes public transportation and pushes her cart and can only take a limited number of meals. If we could afford a car, she could grow her business very quickly, double the number of sites she visits daily and sell lots more. But we can't. If we had the chance to buy a car like that, we would. And we would probably be able to pay for it in less time. There are different ways of looking at things, what some see as opportunity others think is exploitation. My wife and I are both educated people, with college degrees, but employment in America is not the way it was. These are hard times here.

Two people with college degrees in the United States and can't buy a car? They have programs for recent graduates. You can even buy a car if you have bad credit, albeit at higher interest rates but still cheaper than here in Brazil...all you need in the states is a job. Does anyone else think this to be a bit strange? I think our buddy J.Good is "Caspering"....lol.

college grads and he's a construction worker and she's on the bus with a grocery cart selling lunches to the construction workers?? LMAO!

I take it you both graduated in aerospace engineering!!!!


I hope no one was naive enough to swallow that crock of s**t....lol.

I don't understand all the anger against the author here. The article says clearly that it is bringing to light some of the optimistic things happening in Brazil this year. I think that's exactly what it is, an optimistic view. And it does mention that all is not well. One cannot deny there has been quite a lot of progress in Brazil in the last couple of years. Still lots to go, I agree. But why all the anger and judgement on the writer? I think it's vicious. Every time someone writes something optimist about Brazil, all this reaction seems to come about. This is suspicious... not the articles, at least most of the time. It's too bad.

Improved in what way? The only good things this government has, like the economic stability, were achieved like 12 years ago by the previous government.

On the other hand we have plenty of corruption and waste of public money, a lunatic in Venezuela publicly saying that he will wage war if things aren't the way he wants, and a bunch of other lunatics scheming in order to implement totalitarian regimes in the other Latin American countries. Meanwhile the propaganda machine is working furiously, you can't go a day in Brazil without seeing "statistics" in the news proving that Brazil is great (despite the fact that we have 50K murders a year, ever-groing favelas, etc).

What I dislike about this government, besides the insanity of its leaders who wish to ressucitate socialism, is that they talk too much. Seriously, if things were great we would see it! Why does everything look the same?

[quote(despite the fact that we have 50K murders a year, ever-groing favelas, etc). ]


Actually much closer to 60K..and that was last count. I would wager it IS 60K per year now.

Seriously, if things were great we would see it! Why does everything look the same?

hear, hear Abe....this certainly doesn't sound like "Abe Razillion I", more like "A Brazilian II".

I don't understand all the anger against the author here.

As for as I can read, nobody is expressing anger at the author, but the distinguished commentators are just questioning her stats and her attempt to create an illusion among the readers.

The article says clearly that it is bringing to light some of the optimistic things happening in Brazil this year.

Optimism is very good trait to have, but over optimism does create an illusion and complacency (especially on the part of the elected "Rulers"). For example, the other day, I read an article that said saying the percentage of people who have migrated from D & E classes to C. The author of the article failed to mention the methodology that was used to conduct the poll.

I think it's vicious.

Who is being vicious?.Please cite ONE name.

Every time someone writes something optimist about Brazil, all this reaction seems to come about.

It is VERY EASY to write an optimistic article sitting in an office in Manhattan, but I would have more respect if she comes down to Brazil,spends at least 6 months to see what the reality is on the ground.

Tucker, let me assure you that nobody is involved in a vicious campaign against the author of the article. Just we want her to remember that the readers also have some degree of intelligence and are not all that gullible. I may not have a degree from the University of Wisconsin ( What degree does she have,by the way?), but I am not going to swallow all the optimistic numbers she is trying to shove down our throats.

Great news indeed for the top 3% of the population. Their investments, property, and bank accounts are brimming. Surely they will be handing out big bonuses to their entourages, which will make them feel even better about themselves. So this story is certain to reinforce their assumptions that Brazil is on the way to being a first rate society. Oh, they know the problems; same as yesterday...blah, blah, blah.

President Lula also has gifts for them since he will do away with CPMF. What joy there must be in the towers of Sao Paulo! Perhaps they will rain down checks to celebrate the new year. Of course his friend, the corrupt Senator Calheiros, remains in position after being found guilty of corruption running the Bolsa Familia. So the tax will go without a plan to replace the funds for needy families. The article above presumes to tell the world that Brazil is now richer, so all Brazilians are now richer. This is a prime example of media manipulation to raise expectations of foreigners investing in Brazil with no regard for the greater society.

The is only one statement to sum up this womans article; and in a parody of Marie Antoinette of France, "Let them eat words!"

Marie Antoinette of France, "Let them eat words!"

They ate their words,but she lost her head! Thanks for reminding us of the history.

Now with all the new oil, let’s charge them gringos $500/barrel….

FU Bush and all your people

How many countries have the US deposed popularly elected leaders and replaced them with puppet military/civilian dictators who were willing to sell out their own people to American multinational corporations?

You and your american people are herein accused of killing innocent people, babies, mothers and the elderly, for pure greed blindness. You know, our blood is not cheaper than yours, Mr. Bush!

May you and your people burn in hell until the end of time!

Costinha

Euro......not so sure !
Brazilian Real.......Ohhhhhh yessssssssssssssssssss.......as long as Brazil has an acceptable inflation rate AND the World
Highest Interest Rates....after inflation !
Guess WHO is paying ? YOUUUUUUU the idiots who applaude !!!!
There is no better autogoal....on earth !

and to the smart Costinha " Now with all the new oil, let’s charge them gringos $500/barrel…. "
Ohhhhh yesssssss...that would be good----for you Brazilians !
Are you not paying TODAY TWICE the american price per gallon ? Thus just guess what would your price....in Brazil !!!!
Yeahhhhhhhhhh.....another autogoal that you should pursue.
You are so smart that you transport your grains for over 1000 kms to the ports...by trucks.....mostly in unpaved roads...instead of barges !

Viva Brazil, Viva Lula and his 4000 thieves, Viva their Brazilian education as great as the one Costinha received.
In my view America should send back the over 1 million illegal Brazilians.....also in container trucks.

But still by far the lowest economic growth rate in BRIC !
RIC should fire B

Who the hell do you think you are? Really…. Get off your american high moral ground because your country, the United States of America with its deceptions, has no credibility anywhere on this earth including Brasil, rather then presenting a menacing threat to every nation in the world.

Americans are the target of terrorists because, in much of the world, your government stands for dictatorship, bondage and human exploitation. You are hated because your government has done hateful things. The list is too big to place it here, but it’s public knowledge.

Get this through your thick obnoxious typical American mindeset… Your opinion makes no difference, you are “inconsequential.” Did you get that?

Leave us alone… Brasilians do not care what americans may or may not think of us, it makes no difference in our lives!

O Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre sera!

Costinha

Did you take your medicine today….huga-bunch???

Yours truly,

Costinha

It appears that our Detractor-in-Chief has cut short his X-mas and New year holidays to contest the veracity of this article.

BTW, did anyone notice that the original title of this article no longer contains "Where Are the Detractors Now?"

RIC should fire B

Ric has no authority to fire B

- Yessssss....but from such a low base......rising is easier !
- Do you know that in Brazil there is ONE car for 8 citizens ? Do the same math now for developed countries....and you will see how LOW the numbers of cars are....in Brazil !
- And only 10 % of your roads are paved. And 50 % of those 10 % dont even have basic maintenance and have millions of potholes. Which just add additional costs to the maintenance of the cars. And with your sky high interests rates even on car purchases....you end up paying TWICE the price of the car MINIMUM ! And the resale value is lower due to the lower or inexistant roads maintenance. Yesssss cars age much faster and are probably worthless after 7 years.
- Most cars are more expensive in Brazil...than in developed countries, FOR THE SAME MODEL...EVEN IF PAID CASH !
- Guess what is already happening, and worse....what will happen in a few years time....in traffic jams in a country not building/maintaining the adequate roads/highways infrastructure !!!!! A mess such as in Bangkok or Mexico is just inevitable and is..... guaranteed

written by kcostinha, 2007-12-21 22:15:48
Now with all the new oil, let’s charge them gringos $500/barrel….

FU Bush and all your people

That's what'll hapen to YOU costinha if you try and f**k bush's people. You seem to forget how dependant Brazil is on the U.S. as a trading partner amongst other things. Brazil's entire market is intertwined with the U.S. economy.... If the U.S. get's f**ked....believe me, Brazil gets f**ked long before.

How many countries have the US deposed popularly elected leaders and replaced them with puppet military/civilian dictators who were willing to sell out their own people to American multinational corporations?

You and your american people are herein accused of killing innocent people, babies, mothers and the elderly, for pure greed blindness. You know, our blood is not cheaper than yours, Mr. Bush!

May you and your people burn in hell until the end of time!

What exactly do you think the Brazilian military is doing in Haiti?

what an ignorant dickweed.

- Do you know that in Brazil there is ONE car for 8 citizens ? Do the same math now for developed countries....and you will see how LOW the numbers of cars are....in Brazil !

I saw in the newly released report that states brazil is tied with 4 other countries in being the world's 6th largest economy and noticed there were a total of 1.4 million new cars sold in 2005. I would venture to wager that the state of California sells more new cars than that in one year. Brazil has very few cars indeed, yet has MORE people that die in auto accidents than in the U.S. every year. Besides the road conditions being an issue....no one has ever taught a brazilian how to drive a car correctly, what the rules of driving are, and respect for his fellow motorists.

no one has ever taught a brazilian how to drive a car correctly, what the rules of driving are, and respect for his fellow motorists.

I should have wrote...."no one has ever taught 99.9 of brazilians...."

as I have met ONE brazilian in my ten years here that knows how to drive...my ex-brother-in-law.

When you are right, you are right!

Americans own more cars or should I say, the lending banks do. Just like they own more homes that now they can’t pay for as banks foreclose so many and themselves, going bankrupt.

Well, american people and their institutions are following their government, that is, Always Living Outside Their Means!

bo(bão), You ain't very sharp...for a guy with a pointy-head!

Huggies

Costinha

I forgot…. Now I understand your apathy for Brasil, your ex was Brasilian and she left you for a Brasilian man who took your wife and beat your ass on the way out!

Hehehehehehe

Huggies

Costinha

It's 100% understandable that you would be ignorant to the fact that americans finance their cars because in many cases they get 0% interest over 60 months or more!! Naturally, leaving them to invest their money and MAKE interest from the banks...instead of pay. Same things with home purchases. But as I said, what can one expect from someone that only knows about short term loans and thinks 4% per MONTH is a good deal and when he dips into his 500 check especial limit every month is charged .5% per day!!

Buys "A vista" in america c**kstinha s u ck er!! One doesn't when he get can lower interest rates at a bank than he can MAKE in a safe, mutual fund investment.

Although I'm sure he would opt to DEE-VE-DEE a blender at bompreço 12X!!!


hehehehehehe


A big Kiss

*********************************
americans finance their cars because in many cases they get 0% interest over 60 months

*********************************
Ohhh…really?

Did you ever read the fine print “FOR QUALIFIED BUYERS ONLY,” translates to less than 1% of 1% of the american consumers with low credit rating…. Most Americans are one to two paychecks from becoming homeless, that’s a fact!


Naturally… with the name bo(bão), perhaps I'd explain it to you, but I left my crayons in my other jacket. If you are not a moron, you are doing a first-rate impression of one.

I think I'll promote you from Village to Town Idiot…..Hehehehe

Huggies

Costinha

“FOR QUALIFIED BUYERS ONLY,”

Really? I know a guy that declared bankruptcy three years ago in the states that just bought a brand new car with 0% interest financed for 5 years last week!!

Ya see c**kstinha, you really should "live" in a place and experience it before you talk your senseless idiotic horses**t which only proves how ignorant you are.

People that have TERRIBLE credit in the U.S. get credit cards at 18% apr...that's ANNUAL percentage rate for your illiterate ass c**kstinha.....and here in Brazil?? 10% per month!! And if you're late, it goes to 28% per month!!!


Like those apples?

And the only "huggies" around here are on your ass....




And they're even made by an american company!!! Brazil can put a rocket in space...lol, after how many times, but can't make a bar of soap, a bottle of shampoo, or a diaper to put on c**kstinha's ass!!!

Bo, I wouldn’t waste your time with a blunt instrument like Costinha, he’ll rabbit on about the death of 5 Iraqis like it’s the end of the world, but will blindly stroll past thousands of bodies in Banalandia scratching his fat belly and get pissed because the blood is staining his 3 year old havianas.

His experience with the US and its economics is about as good as my experience with Saturn and its geology. Actually, I’ve probably got a better chance of getting to Saturn in this life time than Costinha does of getting to the US, that’s why he’s so bitter. Né, meu pobre otário?

Gee Gringo, you are more and more diplomatic everyday

Shhh, don´t let a Brazilian hear that.

Costinha,

First let me ask you a question, have you ever lived here? I don't think you have, please correct me if I am wrong. Buying cars here is as easy as buying milk at the store. That is why I have sent 2 BMW's to Brazil and have sold for 2x as much. Get that? I can buy a brand new BMW today and pay as little as 2.9%, some national cars have 0.0% per year. That allows me to travel or invest my money elsewhere. Even tough I may be going to live in the Netherlands next year, I can tell you that America has a lot more (general population) purchase power than Europeans. I have lived in Europe before, for many years, and most people drive in old cars because it costs so much. The housing issue has to do with greed from buyers and the bank. I met a broker at a party last week, and he knows of a guy that would sign you to a loan without much paperwork. That is the main issue here, illegal deals from buyers and lenders.

Americans contribute to huge amounts of money in Europe. Even tough the exchange rate disfavor travel, still most of my friends are going to spend X-mas in Italy or the U.K. How about you? If America catches a cold, Brazil will die from pneumonia (same goes for the rest of the world). Tell me of one major world economy that is not intertwined with America. I already know the answer.

I don’t know what you are smoking… but I want some of that s**t!

I don’t know which America you are talking about… The America I know, prime rate is today at 7.25%, the rate they charge commercial accounts not individual consumers. For people rating high in credit scales you must add a minimum of 0.75 to 1.0 to prime, for most vehicle lenders, including for new cars, boats or even airplanes. In America most cannot afford $700 monthly car payments so they usually circumnavigate by stretching loan terms to as long as 8 years in some banks.

The so called 0% at 48/60 months is nothing but a bait, besides if you read the fine print it says “For Qualified Buyers” which means unless you have perfect credit, you don’t need to apply, the case of most Americans. The hot cars, the ones dealers have no problem selling, will never be offered at those rates unless you want a Kia or perhaps a Hyundai, take your pickle.

Also, if Americans were so well off as you say they are, the house bubble would never burst as it has. People are simply upside down on their mortgages. Whether you like it or not, the middle class in America is shrinking further and further, most are one to two paychecks from total bankruptcy.

Now then, FYI, to send luxury automobiles to Brasil you must pay a 300% tariff over sticker price. If you are moving to Brasil, your private car has to be at least one year old before entering Brasil; and that only happens once in your lifetime!

Shelly, I know you are very f**king busy (or maybe vice-versa), but don’t be such tight ass because next time you fart you may crap out a diamond!

All My Luv

Costinha

PS: For the other american floating cacas (Grin-Go-Home & bobão), I feel your love, the feeling is mutual.


Hehehehehe

The rates you have given are typical for used cars. New cars, as per interest rate.com are a lot less than what you stipulate. I have lived considerably more outside of Brazil than in, therefore I know the import rules regarding to taking your own car into the country. As I said, I have sold 2 BMW's and have one there myself. Your ranting just shows how little you know about America. If you are careful, make good judgments this country will give you a much better standard of life than in Brazil. However, if you mess up, you will have to pay for the consequences. It is not different from Europe or Brazil. Actually, try doing business with our country is a piece of s**t. My father has opened an office in Florida and in less than 4 months all paperwork was through. Now in Brazil, he basically had to harass people to get anything done.

http://auto-loan.interest.com/auto-loan/negotiate_best_car_truck_price_10012007.html

Now, idiot. Do the math, one in 172 loans goes into foreclosure. This means that even though a lot of people are loosing their homes, a lot more still have a mortgage. Nobody is denying that the housing market has created a problem for the US economy, the sub-prime market is an issue, not the fixed term loans. I am sure more loaners have fixed than sub-prime mortgage. Anyway, if you care to take a look around, you will find that the rate of foreclosure has declined in a lot of states. It also depends on the State, Nevada has been the hardest hit, here is the link for you to read: http://www.researchrecap.com/index.php?tag=housing

Anyway, don't be such an ass, Brazil has a lot more to loose if the recession continues in the States. Your opinions have shown me how little you understand about this country, economy in general and you are not very well cultured.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/14/AR2007061400513.html

I have asked you a simple question, is that a difficult task for you? "Tell me of one major world economy that is not intertwined with America. I already know the answer."

Care to answer??? Obviously, first you need to take the stick that is right up your ass. Second, Brazil is a country for the dreamer, I am a realist. When Brazil will become a First World country? Not in our lifetime.

Vc é uma pessoa intelectualmente vaga e não tem nada pra contribuir pra a melhoria do Brasil.Provavelmente mimada demais pela tua mamãe rica. Vc fala tantas besteiras . Em qué estado vc nasceu e ao onde vc mora?.Vc tem um vocabulario tão limitado em inglés que me da uma impressão que o dinheiro que a sua mamãe gastou em FISK,CCA, etc; não deu nenhum resultado.

Vc é realmente uma pessoa sem nenhuma intelegência. O minimo que vc pode fazer é aprender um pouco mais sobre o mundo (em Portugués). Quém sabe, daqui há alguns meses, vc vai ficar mais sabio e menos ignorante.

Feliz Natal e ano 2008.

- Brazil's entire market is intertwined with the U.S. economy.... If the U.S. get's f**ked....believe me, Brazil gets f**ked long before. -

You rightly describe the problem and then like a jellyfish accept your fate of swimming in a sewer. This is a big problem for many people in the middle-class. Ohh, if we do anything the US doesn't like they will flush us deeper into the sewer!

My friend, that is exactly what their propaganda machine has taught you to believe; that if you stand up for your rights they will step on you! So I will try to re-educate your with a little news:

"Brazil rejects US companies increase in price for AIDS drugs. Brazil tells them they will produce the drugs themselves if the price is not acceptable."
*** US companies agree to Brazilian demands and roll back prices for the drugs ***

"Brazil is the largest market for Coca-Cola products outside the US. Coca-Cola is the beverage backed by the US Republican Party. (Democrats back Pepsi)"
*** If Brazilians stop drinking Coca-Cola products even Bush will change his tune. America may be the dominant trading partner, but the consumer sits in the drivers seat. Will Brazil be hungry if America does not import your food, or will America be hungry if Ford cannot sell its cars in Brazil? ***

All my life the elites have said, "Technology will advance everyone in this world. Technology will mean everyone can eat, everyone can have medicine, everyone will have work for better society." Well, my friends, we have the technology! The fact that we are discussing these issues across the world proves we have the technology! I have worked most of my life advancing the technology. Yet, the same game is being played, using the technology to keep the status quo in place. Not just in Brazil and the developing world. Please distinguish between Americans and US empirical policies. Americans want the same things Brazilians want. The elites in the US have just as little regard for the American people! If you doubt this please refer to the URL below;
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/opinion/22herbert.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Profit as a result of work, ideas, talent, etc is to be commended and encouraged. Greed as a result of lying, scheming, stealing, corruption, forced labor, etc must be seen for what it is; a cancer that is killing humanity to enrich a few beyond any resemblance of equality between men. They are buying and selling your freedom and your humanity. Americans are sending their children as soldiers around the world to enforce the profits of the few. They are in the same trap, subject to the same rules, and mainly ignorant of why they are killing people on the other side of the planet. They will tell you its because of 9/11, but this behavior did not start on 9/11. It started more than 600 years ago, but they will use 9/11 to justify their greed for another 100 years!

Happy Holidays to the World. Have Hope; the Prince of Peace shall return to bring Justice to this world.

Happy Holidays to the World. Have Hope; the Prince of Peace shall return to bring Justice to this world.

I join you in wishing Happy Holidays to the world . But I am curious,Lloyd. Are you self proclaiming yourself as the "Prince of Peace"?

And during your holidays, you better spend some time in writing an essay and explain to intellectually less endowed persons such as myself who this "Evil Empire" consists of.

BTW, you might be happy to know that I don't drink neither Coca-Cola nor Pepsi. That means I belong to the "Third Party"

Profit as a result of work, ideas, talent, etc is to be commended and encouraged.

Not in Brazil nor in the "evil empire".

Well, my friends, we have the technology!

Who has the technology, Dr.Cata? Who are "We"?

Lloyd, you better meditate during the holidays and come up with some sort of explanations. Many bloggers in this site love to lay ambush for unsuspecting commentators.

In the meantime, you have great Holidays.Merry X-mas and a Happy 2008

For people rating high in credit scales you must add a minimum of 0.75 to 1.0 to prime,

And once again...that shows your ignorance of the american market! Any ignoramus that lives in the U.S. is aware that if he buys a car and receives financing of MORE than 5% per year he got a TERRIBLE deal, unless he has TERRIBLE credit! And as I've stated, a guy I know bought a brand new Hyundai last week for 0% interest over 5 years...and he declared bankruptcy 3 years ago!

what kind of financing can you receive if you have PERFECT credit?? 1% per month! And if you do NOT have perfect credit???


You're s**t out of luck!! Sorry, you have a blemish on your credit in Brazil and NO bank will give you a loan. Start saving up your money for the next several years, and sell some piece of property you have, to buy a Honda Fit "a vista"!!

written by Shelly, 2007-12-22 18:57:54
I have asked you a simple question, is that a difficult task for you? "Tell me of one major world economy that is not intertwined with America. I already know the answer."

There isn't one Shelly....we all know that. We always see that WORLD markets follow in lock-step with the NYSE!

One has to forego his "rebate" if he opts for 0%!! OK Costinha...."rebate"?? What is that?? LOL!! Yeah, c**kstinha, in the U.S. purchasers get thousands and thousands of dollars back in FACTORY rebates....not dealer. Here in Brazil when negotiating to buy a new car you'll be VERY lucky if you can negotiate a 1-2,000 reais discount...and that's paying in cash!!

Zero-percent financing

Although zero-percent financing is attractive on many new cars, buyers need to look at the trade-off if they are offered the choice of taking a rebate instead. The average incentive auto companies gave new car buyers grew to nearly $4,000 in 2004, according to CNW Marketing, which tracks the automotive industry. With this much of a rebate, you can come out ahead with independent financing.

If you were to buy a $20,000 car, for example, and take a $4,000 rebate, you’d have to borrow only $16,000 from an outside lender. At 7.51 percent (the average rate for new car loans as of December 2004), that would cost you $386.86 a month, for a total outlay over four years of $18,569.28 -- $1,430.72 less than the $20,000 total you’d have paid by foregoing the rebate and accepting the dealer’s offer of zero-percent financing.

http://www.lendingtree.com/smartborrower/Car-loan/Auto-loans--Interest-rates.aspx

-----Recently Bloomberg news in Germany was giving advice and the reporter told people to trade their American dollars for euros or, yes, Brazilian reais.------

Good advise by the Bloomberg news, and it makes sence for the "investors" since they can buy the Brazilian debt and receive 12% per annum plus the % on inflation during that period of time.
Yhese rates of return DO NOT exist anywhee on this or any other planet, unless of course you are dealing in some sort of illegal activity

Now my question to you Ms Porto, who is going to pay those "investors" premium?

and during the next 24 months when the real goes back to 2.5 or 3:1 to the dollar..then what? Sorry, but the brazilian economy has been stable for the last 5 years....do you know what the inflation rate was like during the previous 40 years??? 4,000,000,000,000,000 percent!!! That's right...that's 4 QUATRILLION PER CENT!

Now my question to you Ms Porto, who is going to pay those "investors" premium?

This question was answered by another distinguished commentator:

Guess WHO is paying ? YOUUUUUUU the idiots who applaude !!!!

It is enough to replace "YOU" with "WE, the Brazilian tax payers, small savings and checking account holders"

… I refuse to listen to your senseless babble! You are more hot-air inflated than your dad’s blow-up doll of Denis Rodman.

I know you are pissed off at Brasilian men, come on now… with so many gorgeous brasilian women no brasilian men with any self-respect is going to pay any attention to your pimply hairy ugly ass.

One more point, I have seen your type before, moved to the US and shortly thereafter, you are more american then Reagan himself. Don’t be fooled… You can’t escape the american racism inventory, you simply don’t fit no matter how much you may try…. in skin tone, name, religion, national origin, language, culture, etc. etc. etc. Now if you want to serve in Iraq, they will sign you up real quick. You are a fool! The ugly american anglos are schizophrenic, self rightness, obsessed, and they will always polarize you, soon or later.

And you know what, with my Brasilain passport I am welcome all over the world, I am never a terrorist target. Brasil does not antagonize other countries, its embassies are not blown up, its ships and airplanes are not hijacked. Now, conversely, we all know about the american institutions. So in the final analysis, I am perfectly happy in Brasil but I don’t believe I can say the same about you in the terrorism sponsored United States of America.

Now then, quit yapping at my heels like a little pink poodle with a perm.
BIG kiss in your nadegas…

Costinha

Bate a sua cabeça na parede varias vezes… e pare de ser problemática histérica, volte pro zoologico, sua macaca!

Se você continuar agindo que nem uma tonta, eu não vou deixar a vossa senhorita cheirar o saco do meu cachorro. Agora, vai lamber o pinto do seu porteiro Dona Burraldina Buceltides.

Feliz Natal e ano 2008.

Costinha

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22373762/

"One more point, I have seen your type before, moved to the US and shortly thereafter, you are more american then Reagan himself. Don’t be fooled… You can’t escape the american racism inventory, you simply don’t fit no matter how much you may try…. in skin tone, name, religion, national origin, language, culture, etc. etc. etc"

One more point to you. I have never suffered discrimination in this country. One I am Dutch descendant, WHITE dear, blond and blue eyed. Usually, I get the "wow, I didn't know there were white people in Brazil". kind of sums up who I view most Americans, not all off course. I have enough American friends and they all have lived or have been in South America. You probably hate this place because of discrimination, not me. I have a wonderful job, a great house and a perfect safe life for my kids. Not in a million years would I be able to live safely in Brazil. You cannot argue eloquently, so you have one more tactic, personal attach. Typical of someone with mental and psychological complex. Now, as far as having a problem with Brazilian man, you are way off. I did not marry one because my English man is sexy, has a wonderful accent a true gentlemen. Any Brazilian girl would die for this guy.

Now, I have lived in Europe and the US. I can say and give an opinion, you have a distorted opinion of this country because you have been discriminated. I have been very welcomed here, in England, in France, in Italy, in Spain, in Portugal (you get the drill?). It is your attitude towards others and how you see yourself that is a problem. I am a Brazilian girl, with Dutch in my blood who happens to live in the States. You are a pitiful man and your antics are sophomoric. Costinha you are a disgrace and you do a great disfavor to Brazil. You do not represent me or my country.

And you know what, with my Brasilain passport I am welcome all over the world...

except where they have problems with illegals!!

"attach. " attack

You missed the best story of all João!! And it was right under your nose. At the bottom of the page of the link you posted!!!!


updated 8:31 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Not even Santa Claus is safe as the violent Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro celebrates the Christmas season.

Drug traffickers in a Rio slum opened fire on a helicopter carrying a Santa to a children's party, apparently mistaking it for a police helicopter, police said on Tuesday.

"They thought it was a police operation and started shooting. Luckily, nobody was hurt," a police official said.

The helicopter had to return to its base after the attack.

Two bullet holes were found in its fuselage.

Police said the pilot, contracted to take an actor dressed as Santa to the party in the Nova Mare slum, was flying over the neighboring Vila Joao shantytown when it was fired upon on Sunday.

Santa later returned to Nova Mare by car to distribute Christmas presents.

Most of Rio's 700-plus slums are controlled by drug traffickers and are not regularly patrolled by police, who instead go into the slums in military-style raids, often using helicopters and armored vehicles.



I guess that's all the U.S.'s fault too n'eh c**kstinha? Brazil now has the 6th largest economy in the world....wooooooooo!!!! Where is all the wealth?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22309678/

"And you know what, with my Brasilain passport I am welcome all over the world, I am never a terrorist target. Brasil does not antagonize other countries, its embassies are not blown up, its ships and airplanes are not hijacked."

You are so ridiculous, it is really suffer from inferiority complex. Now dear, who would want to hijack our ship? Which one? I used to work for the Brazilian navy, in Niteroi. Let me tell you what we have there. Old second world war junk from long gone era. Any dam country could attack us. My husband worked on the program where the gov. purchased old German nuclear subs. Guess what happened? The idiots got the sub stuck on the bottom of the Guanabara Bay, a true gem! Not only that, they also had a simulator to train the idiots and the equipment still siting there not being used. Brazil cannot safeguard its museums, have you heard of the last theft? You are a joke! I have 3 passports and can travel anywhere in the world, without a visa. We don't antagonize other countries, I agree with you, but our "peace for all, let's make love" attitude gets us where? We cannot safeguard our nation and we won't for a long time. It takes time, money and training to be able to defend a nation.



What kind of s**t have you been smoking?

That story was all over CNN, it is quite sad, not even Santa is safe in Rio-Brazil!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wor...157089.stm


Kockstinha, now you need to stop watching TV Globo, it is brainwashing you!!!

I used to work for the Brazilian navy, in Niteroi. Let me tell you what we have there. Old second world war junk from long gone era. Any dam country could attack us. My husband worked on the program where the gov. purchased old German nuclear subs. Guess what happened? The idiots got the sub stuck on the bottom of the Guanabara Bay, a true gem! Not only that, they also had a simulator to train the idiots and the equipment still siting there not being used.

One of my best friends is an old retired brazilian navy man....78 years old. He tells the same stories. Brazil is as prepared to defend itself or attack a nation as a tree full of squirrels. I LMAO at your post.

And c**kstinha, why would brazil need to atagonize other countries and kill foreigners when brazilians kill more brazilians every year than most countries do during war!!!

First things first… What do you want from me, a sperm sample?

Secondly, you are more pathetic then what I had anticipated, you f**king c**kroach. Now I can see that you spit on the plate that you eat from. Integrity is not your forte, is it? Dishonor is your repertoire, you YUK f**k!

In fact, I would be willing to discuss your gripes about Brasil as I do with many friends, but not in front of these bottom dweller gringo bastards whose only singular intention is one of disinformation, chaos, and humiliation of other cultures and people.

Shelly baby, how many times do I have to flush you before you disappear? Get my drift, honey buns? I don’t give a “flying s**t” what your opinion or that of your american friends. Do me a favor, place the following words into a well-known phrase: OFF f**k

Beyond that, I used to think that you were a gibbering idiot. Now I have a much lower opinion of you. Moreover, next time you want to speak to me, send me a picture of your butthole so that I may pre-qualify you… Bitch!

Dear bobãp:

PUT YOUR WHORE COW MOTHER IN THE BARN!


Costinha

PS: Os Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre sera!

it's great to see when someone has absolutely no ground to stand in a debate!


See post above!

Mr Cro Magnun seems to think it’s far game to run and hide from the males on this board (you can’t muster more than a single line when dealing with me you freaking coward), but finds the cajones to come out slugging with one of the opposite sex? So not only is this primate a raving xenophobe but a sexist raving xenophobe no less. Given his penchant for gutter talk, his breast feeding days were probably extremely traumatic (mommy issues); then again sucking on a crack whore’s tit in a favela with drugs stuffed into your dippies would spin most heads into all sorts of mental problems I reckon. Ah Brazil!

I will give Constipation credit for one thing though; he has single-handedly brought everyone together (posters who almost never see eye to eye on issues) in their repulsion of him. From Americans, to Gringos (I’m not an American, but to the likes of Costinho, anyone outside of Rochina is an American/Gringo), to Brazilian Nationalists and brasucas, it seem the one thing everyone here can agree on is that Costinha is a retarded fool, and the classic example of the ilk of idiot Brazil could happily do without.

On that note, I’d like to wish all posters a Merry Spending Season and a Happy pay off your Visa Card in 2008.

Wow!!!
I think cocostinha just lost it.

I declare shelly the winner!!!

Bwaaaaaaahhh!!

Because americans deceptions go unchallenged. Have you noticed that any democratically elected government that americans don’t like they re-label them as a Regime. On the other hand, american installed puppet military dictators who are willing to sell out their own people to american multinational corporations, go unnoticed. That’s the definition of hypocrisy.

You may have millions of nuclear weapons, pour trillions of dollars in the so called defense, and no matter how technically advanced you may be, you are still not safe. Americans always mention that they are targeted because they stand for democracy, freedom and human rights in the world. Nonsense!

Americans will only be safe the minute they start speaking the truth, stop threatening other nations in lieu of pure greed, stop carpet bombing small countries and killing the innocent, don’t let CIA assassins literally get away with murder. In country after country, America has thwarted democracy, muffled freedom and trampled human rights. That’s why it is hated around the world. And that’s why you are the target of terrorists.

America is like the bully kid in the neighborhood who hits everybody until the day someone stands up and socks him in the eye. That’s the black eye (9/11). Uncle Sam, you must change our ways!

Good day,

Costinha

PS: Os Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre sera!

May I call you: say “Sheik of AssRapia” or perhaps “Mayor of DumbAssCus?” That Pimple On Your Ass Turned Out To Be A Brain Tumor…huhh!

Grin-Go-Home - I know you have standards. I know you have ambitions. I know your a*****e bulges outside of your Richard Simmons brand hot pants like a freakish Camel Toe… May Your Hairy a*****e Be A “Penis Dartboard” For A Thousand Years!

Hehehehe….Hahahahaha….KKKKKKkkkkkkkk

Talk to someone who cares, infectious retard.


Costinha

PS: Os Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre sera!

Despite our differences and hot disputed issues, let me wish you all Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

Costinha

On that note, I’d like to wish all posters a Merry Spending Season and a Happy pay off your Visa Card in 2008.

Thank you so much for your good wishes. Took your advice and bought myself a LCD TV at Casas Bahia in 12 installments (sem juros e sem correção monitaria) and charged it to my Visa card.

Now I can watch my favorite Novelas on the brand new TV

You better shop around for a brand new car to be paid in 100 installments. Happy holidays and seasons greetings.

You missed the best story of all João!! And it was right under your nose. At the bottom of the page of the link you posted!!!!

No Bo, I had already picked up the news about our LIVE Papai Noel being shot at through the local media. I posted the link since we were all talking about the high interest rates in Brasil and how people like to buy in installments without realizing that they are really spending more than they can afford. I thought the way the guy protested against consumerism in the name of Santa Claus was an original idea and a peaceful protest.

As for our Papai Noel, years ago the only peril he faced was getting dehydrated wearing the heavy clothes during the warm X-mas weather we have here. I used to suggest that we should Brazilianize the Santa Claus and permit him to wear a "bermuda" and a T-shirt, while retaining his beard. Now that he is being shot at, we should seriously think of dressing him up in red bullet proof vest and arming him to teeth.Why expose an old man to danger, while he is bringing joy to the kids?

BTW, wish you all a very Merry X-Mas and fantastic 2008.

Empire -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire

In several threads I have given 'examples' of Empire in todays environment. As one US Supreme Court decision defining 'pornography, "I may not be able to exactly define it, but I know it when I see it!"

The US practices throughout the modern world certainly fits many of the standards of Empire. My definition generally reaches beyond US policy, but the US sits in the leadership position. My definition reaches into the functioning of the mercantile markets throughout the world, because Empire controls those markets, both in guns and butter. It is basically conceded that the dominating position of the US and EU in global markets versus those markets in the Southern Hemisphere(SA & Africa), allows the US / EU / WTO / IMF / World Bank Axis to 'control' both monetarily and militarily those markets to the south. This control is voluntarily conceded as a member of any of these alliances. So even when there is instability or stagflation in the US or Europe the monetary agents of the Empire shift the burden of their instability to captive markets.

It is a stretch to say the Soviets had the status of Empire at any time after the Bolshevik Revolution. Their global market impact simply was too weak to withstand the monetary/military onslaught on the Reagan era policies. The US organized a consortium of nations into a $4 TRILLION military gambit that the Soviets simply could not match. Much of that money was borrowed from Japan as the lead monetary provider(see US borrowing from Japan and Japanese financing of US deficits). Today the Chinese are the lead financier for US deficits, and essentially pumps enough liquidity into the US treasury to finance the Iraq War. Although US spent many years castigating the Chinese as a Communist Totalitarian Regime, the markets could not stand without the Chinese as a 'consumer' society. So China, as a Consumer Power, HAD to be included in WTO; bringing it into the AXIS, if not into the structure of the Empire. That was the game being played on Russia, but the Russians blinked because they were about to become a 'captive' of Empirical Monetary Manipulation, without becoming a co-partner in the global marketplace. Russian assets were in the process of being 'bought on the cheap' by Empirical Market Managers. Putin blinked and re-nationalized GazProm; the Russian energy sector. Not a good 'business' decision, but the correct decision for the Russian people; unquestionably.

So, I give you another example...when the G-8 leaders negotiates to forgive the debt of 'certain' emerging nations, and to invest 1.5&#xof; GDP to poor nations, but these decisions conflict with the political agendas of the IMF and the World Bank. So you see that leadership decisions by the Group still does not overcome the will of the Empire to influence developing and emerging economies. IMF and World Bank objections and foot-dragging on the implementation of these decisions allow political interference and economic restructuring by the agents of the Empire.
Therefore, a weak dollar, which has been weakening actually for the last 5 years, is still good enough to 'dump' into the Brazilian market. Buying Brazilian national assets with tons of US paper. On the up side for Brazilians is that the Real increases in value, allowing those with 'savings' or 'assets' to profit on the currency transactions. Those without savings and assets become that much poorer as inflation is 'exported' into their markets until the situation balances always in favor of the Empire.

From there your on your own...

purchased old German nuclear subs.

Shelly dear, wrong info. They were not NUCLEAR subs,but diesel ones. I don't think that the Germans have Nuclear subs. However, the Nuclear power stations in Angra were purchased from the Germans during our Military government.

If my failing memory still serves me correctly: The Germans and the Japanese are forbidden to manufacture Nuclear subs by their post war constitutions and hence the question of Brazil buying used Nuclear subs from Germany does not arise at all.

Regardless, wish you a very merry Christmas and a great New Year.

"Moreover, next time you want to speak to me, send me a picture of your butthole so that I may pre-qualify you… Bitch! "

Wow, you are such a big man, I am sooo scared....baaahhhh. Did you mama handled you too much? Can't make an argument and once again your last resort is personal attack. I really don't care about your opinion. Your rethoric is sophmoric. You lack finesse and education and you do not represent us, TRUE Brazilians. You are the cancer of our society, a mestatized disease that spreads through every layer of society. We have enough people like you in the senate and you and the like are the reason for Brazil's failure. You cannot blame history or America for the state of disarray in our country. You are a dreamer, a pipe dreamer. If you are younger than 18 years old, I understand your frustration, but if you older you are a retard.

I think you have deep issues from early childhood, your mama may have suddenly stopped giving you her breast to suckle. Do you still live at home or have you managed at 35 to leave your parents? Take care and don't forget, psychotherapy helps and Prozac too!

You are right, they were diesel-electric. Nevertheless, old junk brought with you hard earned money. Have a Merry Christmas and a great 2008 ahead!

"In fact, I would be willing to discuss your gripes about Brasil as I do with many friends, but not in front of these bottom dweller gringo bastards whose only singular intention is one of disinformation, chaos, and humiliation of other cultures and people."

My gripes with Brazil is that a country with rampant corruption, death, unemployment, kids living on the streets, crime taking over what it was once "safe cities", Rio has over 700 slums, drug barons decide when, where and how we should live our lives, public schools are in a state of disgrace, social discrimination against blacks, so called morenos, assault on our environment, illegal logging, infant mortality rate above Zimbabwe's, child prostitution, you get it?

I have more my friend. Brazil has everything to be the best country on this planet. However, people like you wish to portray a false picture of Brazil. I would never feel safe in Rio or anywhere else. My children deserve a better education, a better life. The US has numerous top universities. Brazil??? I called the oceanography department in Sao Paulo to get a joint research program, I was bounced from one place to the next. Typical Brazilian way of doing (or not) business, pure incompetence. I have a problem when I hear from the US Wildlife and Fisheries that they will suspend temporary the funds to conservation programs in Brazil, because the money is not being used for the upkeep of national parks. I heard that last week, a true shame. They are revising all of the application for the wildlife without borders program. People like you like to suckle on American dollar and complain. If it wasn't for the Americans, the last piece of the Mata Atlantica would probably have disappeared. They have invested millions of dollars in Minas Gerais, Rio, Amazonas, Pantanal, Jaguar Conservation, Golden lion Tamarins. Brazilians left alone will kill everything in the name of progress. If you don't think I am telling the truth, go to INPAS website and Greenpeace and see the video there.

Anyway, back to the main point. I love Brazil, it is a country that I have good memories. I want it to keep it that way, more tourists die in Brazil than anywhere else. My children are precious, I would never put them in danger, in Rio and some cities in Brazil, because they look European, they are a target.

"America is like the bully kid in the neighborhood who hits everybody until the day someone stands up and socks him in the eye. That’s the black eye (9/11). Uncle Sam, you must change our ways!"

9/11 is a sad event, let me tell you that the people that died on that day deserve more respect. You are a thug, a barbaric and uncivilized human being. I do agree with what you said to a point. Not only 9/11 was an attack on America, but on humanity in general. I cannot sit here and agree with a comment like this one. My next door neighbor was in the Pentagon and was lucky to come home. Living in Northern VA, we all know someone that lost a friend, a husband, a son, wife... You have no idea what it was like on that day, to be so close, I live in Leesburg, near the FAA. To me, the US government should prohibit people like you entering this country, you are a danger to my kids and this nation.

"First things first… What do you want from me, a sperm sample? "

How much do you think your sperm costs, 5 reais? That would be too much, I would be willing to pay 25 centavos. No thanks, we don't have mental illness in our family and would like to keep the gene flow free of abnormalities.

You are like the movie “Fatal Attraction”… Getaway from me, bitch witch, I don’t appreciate you, I don’t like you, and certainly, I will never love you!

Despite your way-off assumptions about myself, guess what??? Your email is mwaterma@gmu.edu at George Mason University, in the state of Virginia. I can easily pull more data on you if I want it to… You need to become a little more careful with the internet and cover your tracks. I followed your “smelly scent” in several proxies all over the internet. You are not as smart as you portray yourself here on this board; I bet it takes you an hour to cook Minute rice, right? Michelle don’t drink on an empty head, honey! By the way, your stink reminds me of a dead sardine in tropical sun for a week.

Now then, Michelle Waterman, let me tell you a secret, yes I am Brasilian and very proud of it, my grandparents came to Brasil from southern Germany many many moons ago. And yes, I have blue eyes and natural blonde hair. My academic background is in Mathematical Physics, and I speak 5 languages fluently. However, be it as it may, that does not make me think for a moment that I am superior to any of my peers in any form. Unlike you, who speaks with an air of superiority as if you have higher moral grounds which you don’t. In fact, we already established your lack of character as you bash your own mother nation, before the anarchist americans here.

You really are one dumb person, and I am willing to bet that any of your advancement in the academia was not due to your academic competence, but by licking your professors’ scrotum. Base on the assumptions/inferences you made about me so far (and way off), you seem to have a real warped vision of reality. Imagine you designing rockets for NASA, those poor astronauts would be condemned to never return to earth because once again, your erroneous assumptions.

You Know How Men Are From Mars And Women Are From Venus? Well, You're From Uranus! I consider this case closed.

Good day

Costinha

"Despite your way-off assumptions about myself, guess what??? Your email is mwaterma@gmu.eduThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it at George Mason University, in the state of Virginia."

Who has fatal attraction here? Wow, you really went out of the way to find me, thanks pal! Now, what you have posted here is not any news to anyone. Everybody knows that I live in Virginia, Leesburg, in Lansdowne in a 1.5 million dollar home. I have said that, never lied from the beginning. You sir, on the other hand are a liar. You cannot possibly have a degree. How come someone like you have an education? I beg to differ, you cannot even speak Portuguese properly, let alone 5 languages! Now that you know who I am, "let's establish something here. From my analysis, you have suffered severe discrimination. You are not a white, but a mulatto which is fine with me you really should be proud of who you are. I never suffered one ounce of discrimination in this country. Your experience in this country was bad, mine has been so far good. I would like to move from Leesburg, but right now I can't.

Secondly, the only thing people didn't know was my real name. I have a gringo name, thanks for proving my point. Secondly, I don't bash my nation, I critique and heavily because I can. I can and I will, people like you want to keep the lower class in a perpetual state of poverty.

You Know How Men Are From Mars And Women Are From Venus? Well, You're From Uranus!"

This sort of deranged comment proves my point, a kid could do better!

Have a good night, you should be in bed by now!

Have a Merry X-mas e um Feliz Ano Novo!

With love from,

Michelle Waterman

Those without savings and assets become that much poorer as inflation is 'exported' into their markets until the situation balances always in favor of the Empire.

Nice post Lloyd...and agree with it. That is why I have made statements to those saying to invest in the real "now", at this moment in time, that it is NOT wise. The dollar is cheap at the moment, the real is strong, but naturally that doesn't mean the dollar will keep getting cheaper and the real will keep getting stronger, to the contrary actually if typical market patterns apply, which I can't see why they wouldn't.

My partners and myself, for example, made a fairly large commercial land purchase here in Brazil 3.5 years ago, when the dollar was more than 3 to 1 and the british pound was anywhere from 5:1 to 5.7:1. Since we paid "a vista" we got a good deal and actually paid around 35-40% less than what the market value of the land was at that moment in time. Since then, our land has double in market value, but since we purchased at a good bit less than market value, and now one dollar is worth 1.8 reais, and one pounds is worth 3.5 reais, we have made quite a hefty profit just from those situations. I actually wouldn't mind being able to sell the land at this moment, convering the reais back in to dollars or pounds, and calling it a "nice profit".


www.mjrdevelopments.com

www.rosegardenbrazil.com

Secondly, I don't bash my nation, I critique and heavily because I can. I can and I will, people like you want to keep the lower class in a perpetual state of poverty.

but that's the way it always is Shelly, I'm sure you know that by now!! If you're a brazilian and you speak about the realities, the problems, that exist in brazil, you are labeled a TRAITOR, and if you're a gringo, well, god forbid. I got verbally assaulted in a shopping mall here in Aracaju around 8-10 months ago because I was participating in a conversation with other BRAZILIANS and talking about the thieving politicians in this country and particularly state where I live, to the point that security guards came to where we were since he drew everyone's attention to the situation by screaming at the top of his lungs.

There is so much ignorant pride here that Brazilians literally die from it day in, day out.

????There is so much ignorant pride here that Brazilians literally die from it day in, day out. ???

The same situation hapenned to me in a barracka here in Maceio, but in my case it was me and another "gringo" speaking in english about the sad situation a corruption that we encounter.
A table way two Brazilians that obviously were taking english lessons at Fisk or wizard, started in to the point that me and my friend could not take any more of their insults, which at that point we both got up and invited them to step up and defend their honor?

They shut the f**k up and left.

But this nationalistic mentallity should not surprise anyone. The governament is brhind it 1000% you only have to watch Brazilian TV to understand why all this nationalism, it's the governments way of placating the populace which is mostly illiterate or border illitarate.

I say you take away football, cachaça and carnival then maybe the Brazilian will really stand up and fight.
cheers

The problem is, people that deny the facts live in the land of fantasy. I don't. I would like to face the issues and deal with them, instead of putting them under the carpet and pretend that everything is O.K. As a Brazilian, I am a traitor by those uneducated, with a vision less than 20/20. However, where are the facts to back the facts up? You got insulted, sorry my friend, nationalism means a lot more than just defending your country in a conversation. Nationalism means, at least to me, that you take charge for the problems, acknowledge them and deal with it.

Last week I had an interview with the USWF, I was ashamed to hear that my hard earned American tax dollar was going into Brazil to fund programs which there is a suspicion of "embezzlement" going on. I think in the end I will have to visit the National Parks to make sure the programs are implemented. Another Brazilian works there, and she also says we have some serious issues. I guess Costinha doesn't realize the bad rep**ation that Brazil has regarding to implementing the programs and use the money for the upkeep of conservation programs.

But as I have said, Americans have funded considerably conservation programs in Brazil with my tax money. Nice to suckle on someone else's money and then complain.

The same situation hapenned to me in a barracka here in Maceio, but in my case it was me and another "gringo" speaking in english about the sad situation a corruption that we encounter.

Let me think. Maceio is the capital of Alagoas, right? The land of Collor, Calheiros, Helena ,etc;, right? If I were you, I wouldn't be too worried. Even the Southern Brasilians are "Gringos" there and are to be exploited.

Seasons greetings to you.

Michelle, are you into Scientology??? If so, then I can understand your warped view of the world. The 1.5 million home, 3 beamers etc… You seem to have a few excesses of your own. I know, you going to say next that you worked for it!

You see, it’s easy for you to bash those not so fortunate and voiceless, as you mentioned the 700 plus favelas of Rio, people like any of us, but regrettably living in recycled cardboard boxes. I hear their outcry as they come to terms with their level of misery, their exposure to meager living sufficed by struggle to appease daily hunger, their only faithful pitiless companion. You know what, they are not nameless crowds; they are my brothers and sisters. I vote, you are 100% hypocrite.

Frankly, you are hardly equipped to talk on behalf of these human beans while setting in your Virginia mansion, to say the least. Instead, with all those bucks, why don’t you do something tangible to alleviate their suffering, in Brasil or in the United States. I guarantee you can find them in your own area. I have seen a lot of folks in the US carrying the sign “work for food.”

I am amazed the way you carry an air of self-rightness, of speaking the truth… Get off your flat ass and get a life, you spoiled heifer. What you are doing here is not speaking the truth, but bashing Brasil left and right. Give me a break, griping and bashing Brasil in websites like this one along with your faggot american friends accomplishes NOTHING, but humiliates and patronizes the Brasilian society. You should be ashamed of yourself! Are you a CIA operative?

Your suggestive opinions of speaking the “truth” are simply bankrupt, absurd and pure comedy. What you are doing is fermenting these american bottom crawlers to spew their venom. Sure Brasil has problems, every country does, but unlike the United States, Brasil’s foreign policy is not rogue and peaceful in nature.

Your approach does not contribute, it does not solve corruption issues neither helps the inequality in our country. As a Brasilian, your behavior here is simply unacceptable. I pledge I will listen to you in Portuguese, but not in English, on any topic regarding Brasil, fair enough?

Furhtermore, if you were honestly advocating changes in our society, your means certainly is not the way! When you mentioned that the “United States hard earned tax dollars was going into Brazil to fund programs” makes me believe that your are indeed corrupted and brainwashed by the american lifestyle built on overindulgence and conspicuous consumption. Honey, the United States gives NOTHING for free but death! You have fell under their spell. Open your eyes and smell the roses! American friendship is phony and hypocritical, they will always sacrifice others in their own interests, while forgoing comforts themselves. Such way of life is no longer sustainable.

Now then… toma vergonha na sua cara e para de falar mentiras absurdas que não convencem ninguem.

All my love…

Costinha

“Don’t Do To Others As You Don’t Want Done To You”… Simple really, and yet Americans can not grasp such idea, I guess it is in their DNA to loud, arrogant and obnoxious!

Dear bobã and andy (the Prick):

Why don’t you go to say Paris, France, sit on any local Café and startbashing the French in your typical loud, arrogant and obnoxious american English. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to predict what would happen to you, sissy boys.

Andy, the Prick, I am glad I was not sitting on that same bar in Maceió when you were bashing my country. I guarantee you your face would not look the same today. Got my drift?

Both of you could you use your brain for something besides holding the stupid haircut?

Costinha

Os Estados Unidoes é uma merda e sempre será!

Querido,

This I would gladly talk to you in Portuguese, you have my email. Now, I have worked extensively in one favela in Rio, have you? My father still does, every Saturday. Today, you are sitting in a comfortable room, my dearest father is distributing food to those who cannot afford it. I have done and do more for Brazil than you could ever imagine. To put it simply, we have been involved with charity work in Rio for over 15 years. I have given people on this board several entities which accept volunteers, are you willing to help? If not shut the hell up because you don't have a clue.

Agora, vamos conversar em Portugues. Voce realmente vive no mundo de ilusoes. Eu vivo na realidade do dia-a-dia e voce? Costinha, nao sei aonde voce vive, dois anos atras eu fui ao Rio de Janeiro e fiquei preocupada com a situacao em relacao a seguranca dos meu filhos. Para de acreditar em papai noel, nos Brasileiros no exterior contribuimos muito para a economia do Brasil. Eu mando sempre dinheiro, tenho casa e carro no Brasil. Nossa familia tem um negocio que emprega mais de 5,000 trabalhadores. De gracas a Deus que voce tem um lar, muitos no Brasil nao tem essa oportunidade. Aqui neste espaco tem sempre um politico ou um empresario lendo o que se fala do Brasil. Quem sabe eles um dia decidirao fazer algo positivo para a nossa sociedade, eu ainda tenho esperanca. Brasil e recorde em corrupcao, abuso sexual de mulheres, morte, mortalidade infantil, analfabetismo, prostituicao de menores, e voce ainda acha que eu tenho que ficar calada? Fala serio! Nao fale tao mal dos americanos, esse tipo de conduta nao e digno de alguem que tenha educacao. Mostre e ensine a eles que nem todos Brasileiros sao ignorantes. Voce fala que eles sao hipocritas, voce faz o mesmo e ate pior. Muitos no Brasil nao sabem escrever o propio nome e nem sabem a capital do nosso pais. Vai la no Nordeste e ve com os seu propios olhos a ignorancia do povo. Sao pessoas boas, mas sem educacao. Voce acha que o Brasil tera um futuro sem cuidar das criancas? Elas sao o nosso futuro e voce nao faz nada para melhorar a situacao. Deixa eu te explicar bem claro o que esta passando no Rio. Muitas mulheres na favela sao abusadas sexualmente por bandidos. Nove meses depois nasce uma crianca, inocente que ja tem o futuro destruido. Esta inocencia dura uns tres anos, aos 5 our 6 anos ja e soldado do trafico.Voce leia mais e procure sobre este assunto, tenho certeza que encontraras o que digo. Ou voce faz alguma coisa agora ou amanha nao reclame. Cansei de gente como voce, patriotismo idiota nao resolve nada. O Brasil ta cheio de patridiotas, que mal sabem votar. Nacionalismo nasce da vontade de fazer algo pelo seu pais, o que voce tem feito? Sentadinho ai na sua casa, vai la com o meu pai que ele te mostrara a realidade do Brasil. Tem muito americano aqui que ajuda no que pode. Bo tem negocio no Brasil, com certeza ele emprega Brasileiros. Por favor, sua visao distorcida nao representa a voz do Brasil e nem a minha.

Beijos para voce e um bom Natal e que voce seja muito feliz.

Michelle

You are totally wrong. The conservation program I mentioned to you is funded with money from this country. Get a life, accept it. By the way, we ask for the money by applying to the program, not the other way round. So I guess you should go to every single university in Brazil and make your case, let's see if they will listen to you. Unless you have been involved in research in Brazil, you know that we have insufficient funds.

Just spoken to my old folk, 200 kids will have food and a toy today, amazing! Next year I will be going with them and will work this year from here to develop a website for the organization, are you willing to help? My dad went yesterday at 8:00 a.m. and left about 8:00 p.m. How about you? Have you done anything to help anyone this season? You are a hypocrite! You and the thousands of Brazilians who live in a state of denial contribute ZERO to our society.

Your continued ranting does to prove what an infantil ass hole you are.
The assumption you make are off the wall, No I am not an American, you dumb f**k, and should you want the opporunity to bash my face drop me a note and lets see if we can get together in Maceio.

Sure Brasil has problems, every country does, but unlike the United States, Brasil’s foreign policy is not rogue and peaceful in nature.

Ask the Haitians what they think.

Costinha :Os Estados Unidoes é uma merda e sempre será!


And this is from someone who pretends to have a degree, in what did you say, in lavador de privada?

Sure Brasil has problems, every country does, but unlike the United States, Brasil’s foreign policy is not rogue and peaceful in nature.

Yes, we are peaceful with our neighbors or shall I say we open our legs to Bolivia and Venezuela because we don't have the cojones? We are peaceful? WTF? Our society is violent, more people die in Brazil than in IRAQ in a day! We are not peaceful, we are neglectful that is a whole different story. You certainly need to stop living with you mamma and stop smoking weed!

Andy Prick:

Give me your email, I am heading to Fortaleza early next year, I am from Rio. I want to discuss your likes and dislikes of Brasil in person. You will put your money where your mouth is, sunny boy.

Michelle (FDP)

Voce vai continuar co a sua babaquice em Ingles? Se a resposta e sim….vamu pra briga sua viralata. Agora, se voce quizer discutir em Portugues numa maneira civilizada, eu estou pronto para bater um bom papo. Beijo nas tetas!

Costinha

My name is because the pricks on this site are trying to block me... But I get around their bulls**t.

Michelle (FDP) Voce vai continuar co a sua babaquice em Ingles? Se a resposta e sim….vamu pra briga sua viralata. Agora, se voce quizer discutir em Portugues numa maneira civilizada, eu estou pronto para bater um bom papo. Beijo nas tetas!


This is a news site in English, if you do not wish to continue here, you are more than welcome to leave. In fact, you will do all of us a favor, please pack your " saco de roupa suja" and find another website that caters to Portuguese only. I have answered you in Portuguese, but I will not be unfair to our bloggers and leave them out of the discussion.

Alias, o seu lingajar e bem pobre!!! Eita analfa, volta pro buraco da onde voce saiu. Nobody is trying to block you, you are deranged and a megalomaniac. You don't know what a civilized conversation is, you have proven to be less capable than my 5 year old.

vamu pra briga sua viralata

Estou morrendo de medo, bem baixo nivel, voce tem diploma em limpador de piroca de prisoneiro!

Justiça do Rio autoriza 670 presos a passar festas de fim de ano em casa

Publicada em 22/12/2007 às 11h21m
Agência Brasil
RIO - A Vara de Execução Penal do Tribunal de Justiça do Rio autorizou a saída temporária de 670 presos para passarem o Natal e o Ano Novo com a família. Para ter direito à saída temporária, o preso precisa estar cumprindo a pena em regime semi-aberto e apresentar bom comportamento nos últimos 12 meses.

O presidente do Conselho Penitenciário da Secretaria de Administração Penitenciária do estado do Rio, Leandro Barboza, disse que os 670 presos autorizados a sair no fim de ano já tinham obtido esse benefício durante o ano ou tiveram direito a visitas periódicas à família. Além de beneficiados com visitas periódicas à família, muitos deles trabalharam fora da prisão nos dias úteis.

- Todos demonstraram durante o ano que estão aptos a receber a saída de Natal, pois já tiveram oportunidade e retornaram normalmente, como os juizes determinaram - acrescentou Barboza.

Os presos autorizados à saída temporária no período do Natal serão liberados na manhã de domingo e deverão voltar ao presídio até o fim da tarde de quarta-feira. No Ano Novo, a saída será dia 30 deste mês e a volta, no dia 2 de janeiro.

Leandro Barboza informou que, apesar do controle das unidades prisionais e da fiscalização da Vara de Execução Penal sobre o comportamento do preso durante o ano, cerca de 5% dos detentos liberados no ano passado não voltaram na data prevista.
Assine O Globo e receba todo o conteúdo do jornal na sua casa

.
The phrase “evil empire” was applied to the former Soviet Union by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and American conservatives, particularly conservative "hawks," who took an aggressive, hard-line stance that favored matching and exceeding the former Soviet Union's strategic and global military capabilities.

.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

To all members of this forum.

Merry X-mas everyone....even you costinha. Must be sad that Santa didn't make it to your house since they shot him while mistaking him, not for a thief, but for the police!!!

Bo tem negocio no Brasil, com certeza ele emprega Brasileiros. Por favor, sua visao distorcida nao representa a voz do Brasil e nem a minha.

You're 100% correct Shelly. Unfortunately, our lawyer is getting rich from all the people that have tried to screw us and other groups of foreigners making investments that we know that have been screwed that we've steered to him.

A Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2008 to all our fellow bloggers. May the New year bring Joy,Health and Wealth to everyone.

Thanks for the Greetings.

The phrase “evil empire” was applied to the former Soviet Union by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and American conservatives, particularly conservative "hawks," who took an aggressive, hard-line stance that favored matching and exceeding the former Soviet Union's strategic and global military capabilities.

Yes,I know it. But this new "Evil Empire" is different. There is a new and interesting blogger by the name of Lloyd Cata who is talking about "The Empire" which has nothing to do with Reagon´s Evil Empire. Bo and I are interested in hearing more about his theory. May be you would be interested too after reading his comments. He asked some questions in another thread and I will try to locate and reproduce them-probably this evening.

In the meantime, you have a nice X-Mas day.

Seasons Greetings
written by João da Silva, 2007-12-25 09:50:02
A Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2008 to all our fellow bloggers. May the New year bring Joy,Health and Wealth to everyone.

Right back at ya João....to you and yours!!!


Merry X-mas!!

Right back at ya João....to you and yours!!!


Merry X-mas!!

Thank you so much, buddy. Same to you and yours. Hopefully in 2008 we can give hell to this mysterious "Empire" of Lloyd!

Hopefully Lloyd got our X-mas greetings too.Have a great lunch with your wife and the lovely kid of yours.

administrar milhões (país) e bilhões (planeta) de pessoas não é fácil e nada se resolve somente com o pensar...


é preciso educação para acabar com problemas como violência e corrupção...


e agir...

se vc pensasse... fosse dormir... e no dia seguinte quando acordasse tudo estivesse resolvido... seria perfeito! não?

mas as coisas não acontecem assim...

o que não podemos fazer é ficar repetindo os erros do passado...


ou simplesmete sair por aí falando ou fazendo besteira...



ensinem as pessoas sobre a independência financeira... sobre a empatia... a diversidade cultural e racial... sobre de onde realmente viemos...


Sem mentiras e ilusões!


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sintam-se a vontade para fazer a tradução, apesar de entender o idioma... tenho dificuldade com a escrita.

obrigado.

Dear Friends,

Wishing you all a great New Year ahead!

Merry X-mas to everyone.

Michelle

Thanks for the lovely X-Mas message, Mac.Brz. Although I am sure that most of the foreigners that live in Brazil would understand your message, I will attempt to translate it into English for those who have absolutely no knowledge of Portuguese:

To govern a country of millions and a planet of billions is not an easy task and no problem will be solved just by thinking about it

It is necessary to EDUCATE people to solve the problems such as corruption and violence

And to take ACT

Wont it be perfect if you go to sleep and wake up the following morning that all the problems have been solved, no?

But in reality, the things don't happen this way

What we cannot do is to continue repeating the errors of the past

Or simply go out talking or doing silly things

Teach the people about financial independence...... about empathy......about cultural and racial diversity...about our origin (roots?)

Without Lies and Illusions

Commentator´s note: "Feel free to translate the message.Though I understand English, I have difficulty in writing.Thank you."

Translator´s notes: 1) Do not criticize my translation, but try to better it 2) We need more Brazilians like MAC.Brz who could express their thoughts in Portuguese and you all can reply in English. This is a better way to discover "Real Brasil"!

Sorry. Some corrections:

And to take ACT

Should read: And to ACT

Wont it be perfect if you go to sleep and wake up the following morning that all the problems have been solved, no?

Should read:Wont it be perfect if you go to sleep and wake up the following morning THINKING that all the problems have been solved, no?

May be you would be interested too after reading his comments. He asked some questions in another thread and I will try to locate and reproduce them-probably this evening.

Ok, Ricardo. Here are the exchange of comments:

Llyod Cata
written by João da Silva, 2007-12-19 16:42:13

From Europe the criminals and bastards of the Empire have infected this hemisphere and now you have their morals and truths for your own.



Llyod, you have mentioned many times about this "Empire", without specifying the name. Are you referring to the Vatican, Spanish and Portuguese elite, erstwhile Soviet Union,Italian Mafia, etc;? Or are you talking about the erstwhile British empire? Since you are a Telecom engineer, you are obviously aware that the Brazilian Telecommunications system is under the ownership of the Italians, Spaniards and Mexicans (Major players). This leads me to believe that the "empire" you talk about is an "axis of evil" that consists of Italy,Spain,Vatican and Portugal.

Please clarify.
João
written by Lloyd Cata, 2007-12-20 13:21:19
- This leads me to believe that the "empire" you talk about is an "axis of evil" that consists of Italy,Spain,Vatican and Portugal. -

Very perceptive, but those are just the Latin portion of the Empire. The Vatican being the 'silent' theological head. Note how Spain was quickly recruited to involve itself in Iraq. Italy being the poor cousin in NATO and the EU. Portugal to a lesser degree because no one can figure if Portugal is actually European(Othello?), and who cares? That has been a good thing to keep Brazil 'non-aligned'; a position that has served very well internationally and diplomatically.
Although rude to answer a question with a question I beg forgiveness!
1) Can the US and its 'allies' go to war with the implicit agreement of the Vatican? (Onward Christian Soldier?)
2) The UN Security Council just renewed its agreement to the criminal invasion of Iraq, and the US turns Brazil away from a seat on the council, why?
3) Through the British Commonwealth, Africa remains a captive commodity exchange for Europe. Why? Why shouldn't South America be in the same position with an American Commonwealth?

For the best indication of how I define Empire please continue to watch the action with Libya. Mr. Khaddafi was once labeled the worlds foremost terrorist by the Empire. Now he has been rehabilitated!!! He pays a paltry $2 Billion to get the charges dropped (which he received in advance from 'commercial partners' wanting to do business). Now he is the 'star' of North Africa. Invited to Paris and London. More billions than he can spend. For this I will not ask you why! I will tell you that the Empire has smiled on Mr. Khaddafi so that he can control North Africa. He sits in a strategic position on the Arab councils and the African Union. He has the most disciplined army in North Africa. The Islamic ascendency and sectarian bloodshed going on right now is part of this agenda. Libya historically has had agents in all the major Arab and African capitals.The Empire needs a 'leader and strong man' to maintain it hegemony in Africa. That is how the Empire works, eh? (see US Marines Anthem - "halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli")

As an engineer I am trained to analyze data to solve problems. Coincidence is like deja-vu, I know it can happen, but I don't have the evidence, so I can only decide on the facts.So I return to the the subject of the 73 year old "velhinha". She has given us a window on the truth in Brazil. Her death is the mirror in which all Brazilians today must look. NO! Do not turn away! I do judge anyone, that is God's purview, but I am a witness for the truth and my testimony, hopefully, brings truth to light.

The exchange of comments continue:

João
written by Lloyd Cata, 2007-12-20 13:26:00
Pardon,
the last line should be;
I do not judge anyone, that is God's purview, but I am a witness for the truth and my testimony, hopefully, brings truth to light.
Llyod Cata
written by João da Silva, 2007-12-20 21:40:32
Interesting comments, Llyod. Again absolutely fascinating. Before I fully respond to your comments, I would like to know if you live in Brasil. You sound like a Naturalized American citizen, born in another country. You might be surprised to know that I also ask myself the same questions you put to me (as to a certain extent, I am well read too). I have a strong feeling that we are operating on the same frequency.

What makes it more interesting is to read that 3G cellular licenses have been given to all the firms from the countries I mentioned before and Nextel helped to jack up the prices in the auction, though did not win the bid in any area.

Your comments also confirm the theory of "A Brazilian" that U.S. is not the "Empire". Extremely interesting Dr.Cata and the plot does thicken.
Interesting comments Lloyd...
written by bo, 2007-12-21 12:33:54
and would be interested in hearing more. One comment in regards to who the "empire" truly is, it's difficult for me to believe anything other than WASPS in the U.S. Do the jews weild great influence....of course, the vatican? Naturally. But at the end of the day it's WASPS in North America that has their finger on the button and in control of 800 world wide military bases.
Bo/Lloyd
written by João da Silva, 2007-12-21 15:25:32

One comment in regards to who the "empire" truly is, it's difficult for me to believe anything other than WASPS in the U.S.



Bo, I think Lloyd is talking about an "Evil Empire" that wants to bring a new world order and not about the U.S or the WASPS. I am glad you too are interested in hearing more.

Lloyd, two more things I forgot to add were that even in the energy field and building of highways in Brazil, the Spaniards are quite active.I would not be surprised if they get into building of Sea Ports also. I wonder if they have so much money to invest. It does sound strange to me.

Joao, knowing the Spaniards quite well, they do have money and quite a lot. Spain has been the only European country which has grown uninterruptedly for the past 11 years. Not even England has managed it. I have been all over Spain, because of the Euro, the Basque country and the sea ports are very busy indeed. I read El Pais, it will give you a fair account on the Spanish economy. You may well know that they are the leading force when it comes to wind power. Today, Acciona has announced that they will invest € 240 million in North and South Dakota.

Here it is a comparison of the Spanish economy and its European counterparts. Even though the economy is slight slowing down, the growth can be from North to South, East to West.
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/Espana/duplico/volumen/economia/ultimos/anos/elpepueco/20071224elpepieco_2/Tes
Aunque el vicepresidente del Gobierno y ministro de Economía, Pedro Solbes, acaba de rebajar las previsiones de crecimiento para 2008 al 3,1%, España mantiene todavía unas expectativas mucho mejores que el conjunto de la Unión (2,4%); Alemania, (2,1%) Francia (2,0%), Reino Unido, (2,2 %) e Italia (1,4%).

So, to sum it up, I won't be surprised if they get involved in Brazil, revamping our sea ports. And as for Portugal, I have been to Lisbon and it is O.K. Nothing special. Most fountains won't working, the city is just not as nice as Madrid, Sevilla, etc. You can see that Portugal was an important world power, but now it is the ugly duckling of Europe. As the English nicely say: "the poor cousin". The best places to visit, if you are looking for undeveloped beaches are Luz, Homen do Leme, Ingleses.

By now it is another day and the problems from the day before last still remain. Little by little we try to help. Little by little those not yet gone under slip farther and farther from the grasp of hope.

Despite receiving well wishes and thank yous for what we assisted Papai Noel in providing this year, the past day brought little cheer. Dengue has struck the niece of one of our good friends. Chuva.

I am sorry to hear about the little girl, I wish you all a quick recovery.

Best Wishes,
Shelly

Joao, knowing the Spaniards quite well, they do have money and quite a lot

Not the individual, but private investors

You're 100% correct Shelly. Unfortunately, our lawyer is getting rich from all the people that have tried to screw us and other groups of foreigners making investments that we know that have been screwed that we've steered to him. smilies/sad.gif

Tell me about it. I have encountered the scum bags before. Luckily I have 3 lawyers in our family and I always deal with my cousins first. I don't know how much the honorarios go in Brazil, but one in Rio eventually figured out that I lived here and tried to charge me 1000 Reais for a simple consultation. Luckily, my parents were in the office with me and we payed the Brasileiro price not the "you live out and must be rich" fee.

Not the individual, but private investors smilies/wink.gif

Where did their money come from? Fortunes of Gen.Franco? I know that Lloyd is talking in riddles, but he is trying to make a point.Lets wait and see what he has got to say.

In the meantime, wish you a Merry X-Mas (hope you cooked some decent food at home!) and hope to talk to ya before the New Year.

Despite receiving well wishes and thank yous for what we assisted Papai Noel in providing this year, the past day brought little cheer. Dengue has struck the niece of one of our good friends. Chuva.

Cheer up, mate. Your niece will be alright."Pensamento Positivo". My sincere wishes for her speedy recovery.Just ensure that she is being given the right medication.

"but now it is the ugly duckling of Europe. As the English nicely say: "the poor cousin".

YOU MEAN OF THE EUROPEAN UNION?

"but now it is the ugly duckling of Europe. As the English nicely say: "the poor cousin".

**CORRECTIONTO THE ABOVE** OF THE LATIN / WESTERN COUNTRIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

Michelle, teu nome é lindo e eu queria dizer q tu realmente subiste no meu conceito.

Eu te achava só mais uma gringa loca e histérica com mania de perseguição feminista ,
mas tu te mostraste uma guria (a idade não importa...é só uma maneira carinhosa) sensacional
quando tu escreveste em português. Se só 10% dos brasileiros fossem assim...
Ah, e se qualquer guria no Brasil iria gostar do teu marido, tu, definitivamente, és o sonho de qualquer
homem, não importa a nacionalidade, pelo ao menos os q valorizam um algo mais.
Eu não to te trovando, que seria sem cabimento algum, já que tu és casada,é só um elogio rasgado mesmo, bem de cultura latina.
Mas de qualquer forma, tu deves ser uma holandesa muito bonita, já que aqui nas áreas rurais do RS,
as holandesas costuman ser mais bonitas que as "alemoas", e olha que eu sou descendente de alemão...

Um Feliz Natal pra ti, pros teus filhos e pro resto da tua família!
E só pra não deixar de ser brasileiro, um beijo pra ti!

PS: Tu realmente não tens noção do que eu pensave de ti e como eu mudei a imagem q eu tinha de ti com o teu post em português.

Bo, pelo amor de Deus, sai daí, pelo amor de Deus!

Vem pro Sul, meu velho, olha onde tu tá enfiado...
Eu aposto contigo q teus negócios iam dar mais certo aqui, no verão, quado eu vou pra Santa Catarina, eu vejo vários gringos donos de pousada, com outros tipos de negócio, amaioria com parceiros daqui, e todos eles me parecem bem felizes...

Aqui, o q mais se quer é gringo pra trazer experiência e aumentar o nível dos negócios, não interessa o q for.

Eu já entendi q o teu negócio é praia, então que diabos tu tá fazendo aí no Sergipe (meu Deus do céu...)?
Tu já vieste pra Santa Catarina? tenta passar um final de semana em Floripa, não preciso dizer mais nada...

E se nada disso te convenceu, ao menos as guria aqui são beeeeem melhores...

É isso aí, meu velho, um abraço!

and I've travelled to the south of Brazil...it is different, without question, much different than here in Sergipe. Not a lot can be said for Aracaju besides the weather, which is fantastic. But it is a nightmare in many respects and the "people" that live here make it so. Education is definitely "wanting". Even the so-called educated people are rude. If you've been around this site for any length of time Marcos then you know I have a daughter that lives here with her mother...my ex-wife. And she's #1 on my priority list. Participating in her life, being a father, is my most important task at this moment in life. So I'm kinda stuck here for the time being.

um abraço para vc tambem!!

Tell me about it. I have encountered the scum bags before. Luckily I have 3 lawyers in our family and I always deal with my cousins first. I don't know how much the honorarios go in Brazil, but one in Rio eventually figured out that I lived here and tried to charge me 1000 Reais for a simple consultation. Luckily, my parents were in the office with me and we payed the Brasileiro price not the "you live out and must be rich" fee.

Well, thank goodness I have two good ones today, after quite a bit of trial and error. But boy do I have some stories. I meet foreign investors all the time here in Brazil....particularly from England. And man, the vast majority of them wish they'd have met me BEFORE they made their investment. As they were not only grossly overcharged, "the gringo gouge" as I like to call it, but many of them weren't instructed on the correct way on how to go about buying their property sending their investment monies directly to brazil themselves. Hence, they don't qualify for an investors visa, and more importantly when they go to sell their property they won't be able to get their money OUT of brazil!!!

It's unreal the number of people that "lie and wait" on the ignorance of foreigner investors to "enrolar". And many of them are not brazilians but their very own countrymen!! Although, at least here in the northeast, there's certainly no lack of Brazilians waiting to pounce on them either.

I guess Costinha doesn't realize the bad rep**ation that Brazil has regarding to implementing the programs and use the money for the upkeep of conservation programs.

Brazil has a terrible international rep**ation when it comes to "justice" and being "fair" as well, not to mention "siphoning" off international funds that should be going to public programs or organizations. Whether they be international loans or grants (free money-gifts). I'm sure most here have heard of the "Hague" Council. Well some years ago the Hague proposed an international law on "parental kidnapping". More than 100 countries participate in the Hauge including Brazil and this new "parental kidnapping" law was adopted in over 100 countries, once again, including Brazil. Approximately 6 years ago the Hague Council here in Brazil, which is located in Brasilia, had to fire EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE...which consisted of more than 40 Brazilians, because they REFUSED to abide by the Hague Council's ruling when it was detrimental to Brazilians!!! But when it benefitted Brazilians in other countries naturally they screamed at the top of their lungs for "justice", and to "uphold international law!" Things like this never cease to amaze me. The attitudes that many have here where it's blatently obvious that "justice" is of no concern, they'll flip-flop on an issue in a heartbeat if it means winning, or coming out on top in a situation. Their morals depend upon what day it is and which way the wind is blowing. I seriously don't know how people like this live with themselves....I know I couldn't.

Brazilians left alone will kill everything in the name of progress.

The only problem with ending the Amazon is not the destruction of the forest but the fact that it is not used wisely. If we explored it more rationally, why not?

Shelly said that in Brazil people want to see others in the "lower class". I would like to make clear that as a Brazilian I disagree, this is sounds more like a leftist rant to me than anything else. They consider people to be like puppets and if they are in a bad situation then it can only mean that the "others" are the guilty of it. Doesn't the individual have responsibility for his own life?

Second, the American self-righteousness, at least from some Americans including some that come to this site, is a fact and after learning about that country I think it is connected with protestantism. Protestantism suffers from the same evil as Islam does, i.e., it has many misinterpretations. Do you disagree with some church? All you have to do is to open up a new one. The problem is the interpretation of the bible is too flexible and it lends itself to be used by people for their own private businesses.

How is it possible that a lunatic in the middle of the desert can use the Alcoran to tell others to explode themselves? Why isn't he "excommunicated"? He can't be, because the interpretation of the Alcoran is free and there are many out there. The same happens with protestants. Then in the US you have a lot of lunatics searching for prophecies in the Bible, creating Star Trek-like descriptions of raptures and other bizarre events, politicians using the name of God very cheaply for furthering their own agendas, etc. Talking to such Americans is just as effective as trying to be reasonable with a terrorist.

In the protestantism anybody can step up and say "God wants this... God wants that..." and transform his own wishes and prejudices in "God's will", similarly to islamic fundamentalists. That's why you see so much self-righteousness coming from Americans in forums, and some patronizing tone as if that country was perfect or something like that. And with all its symbols and "destiny" indoctrination, believing in "America" is almost a form of faith.

That doesn't mean that all Americans are like that, the same way that not all muslims are terrorists. But the ones that are can be very irritating, and who's not familiar with their culture might find them outright hypocritical, dumb, rude, ignorant or worse.

- The American Justice System:

As some on this site would like you to believe the american justice system to be fair. What justice? It can be unless you are poor, non-white, non-Christian or homosexual.

Did you know that you are 90% more likely to be put to death if you are black killing a white person than a white killing a black person; or doing time in prison if you are black caught doing crack versus whites doing cocaine; the american justice system is anything but just, unless of course you have money like Mr. OJ Simpson or big businesses (Exron), political influence like Mr. Nixon, or be government workers like the Backwater killers slaughtering innocent Iraqi civilians assisted by coward American GIs, Guantanamo Bay legal torturing, denial of due process to Mr. Jose Padilla, a US citizen.

American justice is in contempt of anyone not fitting “their agenda,” american justice is a contradiction, american justice is a double standard, american justice a lie!

- USAID:

The American Foreign Aid = Covert Operations if not straight up Armed Intervention. Any dealing with Americans almost always is based on lines of deception (99.9%).

The so called NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) are covert instruments to destabilize unfriendly governments, purely and simple. The Non-Government label is a disguise as they actively conduct clandestine activities to gather intelligence. The IMF and World Bank are among some of these covert operations.

NGOs, notionally independent, reputedly humanitarian groups are well integrated into Washington's overall strategy for consolidating global supremacy. As such, they have played major roles in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. NGOs and Brasiliaqn sovereignty is no exception; their eyes now are on the Amazon. They will try to tell you that the forest is the “lungs of the world” when in fact, the atmosphere is actually and mostly generated by plankton. The hypocrisy is such that this statement comes from the world’s biggest polluter.

You can probably expect some re-evaluation from Washington regarding their policies in Brasil due to the recent huge oil findings in our country, perhaps even some initial appeasement (ass kissing). Be alert!

Let me repeat one more time, he United States gives NOTHING but they take EVERYTHING, if you let them!

Costinha

PS: Os Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre será!

your second hand mouth si going to get you in a fix .

law is not fare any where in the world but i will take the US law over Brasilian law any day

open your eyes with a open mind not a closed mind and open eyes .

the black water people were not goverment employed
but then take a lok at your own police in brasil and see what they do and get away with .

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Home » Blogs » nonickhere's blog
Flags [PIC]
Fri, 12/21/2007 - 06:18 - nonickhere

The winner of the 2005 print Epica d’Or was Foote Cone & Belding, Lisbon, for the Grande Reportagem "Flags" campaign.


United States


China


Colombia


Burkina Faso

I would like to make clear that as a Brazilian I disagree, this is sounds more like a leftist rant to me than anything else.

Well said.Suddenly we are in the midst of a class warfare, which is very alien to our culture.

One question I have for you: You must be aware that on Monday an Italian judge indicted 13 Brazilians for "War Crimes" and demanding their extradition to face charges. Of course, the judge did not name them. My question: Why are the Italians so anxious to discredit the Brazilians?

and what war was this from ???????

If I want any s**t out of you I'll squeeze your head.

Costinha

PS: Os Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre será!

and what war was this from ???????

I was sarcastic when I said "War Crimes". It is about some residents of Brazil with Italian citizenship that "disappeared" during the Military government. His honor, the Italian judge has indicted 13 unnamed Brazilian citizens, wants to extradite and try them in Italian courts.It came in the news yesterday. I don't know if you remember that Spanish Judge Gusman trying to extradite Pinochet to Spain. I have a feeling that this Italian wants to do the same thing to the Brazilians. Also included are some Argentines (Videla), Uruguayans and Chileans. I did not see Capt.Astiz of Argentina included in the list. Probably, he got his Italian citizenship and now has become a judge there

This is not the first time the author's strong writing brings about all kinds of controversy. But I do think this time around the forum got kind of lost. It's good to see an article getting so much attention, but instead of thinking minds, I see a lot of anger here.

written by Shelly, 2007-12-22 16:14:06
Buying cars here is as easy as buying milk at the store.

Really? With no bad credit, a stable job in the Marine Corps, and even $3,000 dollars down (saved while time spent in a war zone), at an E-3 pay I could not purchase an $8,000 (or maybe it might have been a $12,000) new car, on a 5 year payment plan, without a co-signer (meaning no payment would get credited to my credit history and co-signer would be held responsible for the cost of the car ultimately).

I don't find that equatable to the ease at which one can walk into a corner store and purchase a quart of milk. Sure, with enough money one can buy anything with a certain amount of relative ease. In the United States, almost anyone can eventually save up and buy a used car (presumably even a new car). I could have bought a used car (and it's problems) with $3,000 or even a $1,000. H*ll, you can buy a car that rumbles, is falling apart, and looks like it got shot up in Kosovo for $200 in the United States. So, yeah, one can buy a car (and even the cars mechanical problems), but depending on what one is looking for and depending on a number of other variables it may not be as "easy as buying milk."

This is not the first time the author's strong writing brings about all kinds of controversy.

I beg to differ. I did not find the author´s writing to be "strong" nor "controversial". Besides, if you go through all the comments, not many vented their "anger" at her and just questioned her points. Contrary to what you say, the boys and girls who are commenting over this article are of right thinking razor sharp minds.

BTW, 2 days after she published this article, she did publish another thought provoking and hilarious one in this site.Everyone missed reading it or they opted not to comment as they thought their comments might hurt her feelings.

Since you understand written Portuguese, here is the relevant link for you to read:

http://www.estadao.com.br/esta...0978,0.php

Shelly said that in Brazil people want to see others in the "lower class". I would like to make clear that as a Brazilian I disagree, this is sounds more like a leftist rant to me than anything else.

I respect your opinion. However, as a Brazilian myself and an environmentalist, I have been exposed to some information that not many people have. I am sharing with everyone here my experience working with the US and Brazil. As I said before, I have a family member who was kidnapped while doing her job, which was to enforce the current environmental laws and she tried to stop the illegal logging. She had "jaguncos" and the natives, they handcuffed her and she was incommunicado for a while. I had an interesting interview this week, with the USWF and they have several problems regarding the grants being sent to Brazil. I also have a very well know professor from USP, from the oceanography department here with us, she also complains of the same problem. Brazilians are destroying everything. We dump untreated sewage into oceans, I have done extensive research on coral reef diseases, I will be glad to e-mail you some of my work. I have found that sewage is the main cause of several diseases, I am also going to the Bahamas, D.R. and Puerto Rico this year. My hope is to use my knowledge and help our country eventually treat the sewage before dumping into our oceans. A simple primary treatment will reduce more than 40% of pathogens.

Do I sound like a leftist? Well, better sound like something than nothing at all. I hope that my work with the Latin American and Caribbean program will enrich and teach me valuable lessons, I hope one day I can help Brazilian businesses to understand that if you don't take care and protect what we have, our natural resources are for the present, but also it should be kept for the future generations. Are your grandchildren going to enjoy the Amazon or Mata Atlantica? If you know, the Atlantic Forest is in great danger and only a small percentage is left in Minas Gerais and we are going to train many Guarda-Parques in forest fire control from conservation program.

I don't agree with a lot of things that America does. I don't agree with the war in Iraq, with the American foreign policy in Latin America. Having said that, we need to take responsibility for our failings, we cannot blame them for every single God Dam thing on this earth. I believe in what I see. I do believe the program I am going to be involved in is genuine, otherwise I would not participate in or advocate change. There are many Brazilian universities applying for the grant, we ask for it, not the other way round. I believe that for my family, for now, this is the right place for my kids. Two of my little kids are Americans, I cannot hate their country. I don't want them to be blind and forget about seeking justice for those who cannot do it for themselves, but I won't teach them to hate their country or Brazil. They are lucky, growing up in a such diverse environment, I am from Brazil, my husband from England and they are Americans. I hope they can be ambassadors hope and tolerance towards others independent from culture, religion, country or sexual choice.

It is time for Brazil to take charge for its own failings, the only thing we do is complain, but very few people actually do anything to change or help others. We have this behavioral problem that we like to think that we are peaceful, fun-loving-merry-go-round attitude, we like to point a finger at America or other cultures. I ask you, what are we doing to change? Brazil is the world 6th economy, are we going to share our wealth with the poorer class, educate our children? It is time to grow-up! I am doing my part, hope each one of us here is clear and understand what we have to do to change the "jeitinho" attitude that plagues our society.

Really? With no bad credit, a stable job in the Marine Corps, and even $3,000 dollars down

.

For me it has been easy. I have a stable job, good credit-same for my husband. I bought mine at Carmax, my husband from a Arab dealer in Manassas. We came straight from the U.K. not credit history in this country and were able to get a loan for two cars and a house. I understand that not everyone gets the same treatment, but try doing it in Brazil or in England, I bet you that you would not be able to by anything for more than 2 thousand pounds.

It boggles the mind to think that the credit system here allows some to buy and some not to, even tough they have credit. This is the American incompetence that certainly needs some regulation or change in attitude. You guys don't like big government telling you what to do, but you and I are a perfect example of a screwed-up financial system that is in need of a reform.

Obviously, I should have been more clear, my bad. Compared to Brazil, buying a car here is a breeze.

Obrigada pelos elogios. Posso escrever tanto em portugues como em ingles. Obviamente que se esta acima da capacidade de alguem em escrever em ingles, nao importa tambem podemos tentar resolver os problemas em portugues. O que nao vale e o xingamento e a baixaria. As vezes e dificil nao entrar no jogo, tambem perco a paciencia, mas devemos sempre manter as relacoes aqui de uma forma diplomatica. O mundo passa por problemas tao horrendos por falta de diplomacia, nao e mesmo?

Feliz Ano Novo pra voce!

Shelly

- USAID:

The American Foreign Aid = Covert Operations if not straight up Armed Intervention. Any dealing with Americans almost always is based on lines of deception (99.9%).

The so called NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) are covert instruments to destabilize unfriendly governments, purely and simple. The Non-Government label is a disguise as they actively conduct clandestine activities to gather intelligence. The IMF and World Bank are among some of these covert operations.

Where are the facts to back your claim? Please be very specific, I am willing to listen if you are detached from all the emotional verbatim. First, the NGO's do a great service to the world. I deal with Conservation International, Nature Conservancy (in Arlington). Basically, you are saying that everyone that works in the office-where I will be working,is a liar? Common now, let's have some common sense here. We ASK FOR THE GRANT, NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND!!! How many times do I have to say it?

Secondly, we all know that the American justice system is a shamble and the least democratic. More blacks are in jail than studying at our universities. If a black kid is caught with marijuana he is going to juvenile detention. A white kid, not so. That is called racial profiling. So what you said is not news to us. How about in Brazil? Dear, we do the same. We let the white middle class junkie go and keep the black favelado in. We judge everyone based on race, skin color and wealth. Don't pretend that we are all high almighty, because for a long time, the Brazilian novelas portrayed black people as maids or servants, or have you decided to "forget" it that GLOBO racially profile the cast.

Thirdly, try not to offend people.

Thanks.

Drop me an e-mail, anytime. I cooked just a turkey breast, ate some cranberry sauce, stuffing, vegetables, gravy, yummm!!!

The kids had a good time, which is nice, but we were alone this year. Normally we have my in-laws in or my folks, but this year we had a quiet time. My in-laws arrived today from the U.K. My father-in-law is not doing so well, has high blood pressure and it is beginning to show signs of Alzheimer's disease. Very sad, he forgets a lot of things, like he could not remember the combination number for his suitcase, took some cash out from the bank and forgot where he put it. I think we are preparing ourselves for a very hard year indeed.

Cheers and hope you have enjoyed X-mas too.

P.S.: Do you know of a recipe of Bolo gelado? My mum used to cook it with coconut and pineapples? I asked her but she lost it?

but now it is the ugly duckling of Europe. As the English nicely say: "the poor cousin".

**CORRECTIONTO THE ABOVE** OF THE LATIN / WESTERN COUNTRIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION."

You cannot blame just the latins (Italians, Spaniard, Portuguese, French). Actually, the Spanish economy is doing much better than its counterparts. So your comment is nullified, you should exclude the Spaniards. Also, the Eurozone has included so many poor nations, that we (I have British citizenship) will be paying for everybody else's misfortunes. Who else will be considered Europeans? The Chinese? I understand the "strength in numbers" attitude that Europeans have, but you cannot deny that allowing Turkey to join Europe or Greece for that matter is a ridiculous idea. Where are they going to draw the line, after the east of the Eural Mountains?

they cant stop letting in home countries of so many imigrants in there countries .

it would offend them as a people , religon , color ,

europ will and is becomming the tower of bable
people in the US think they have a battle with ileagles come to europ !!!!!

at least they dont have to fight the ACLU if you want to pray to your god on goverment land

& CK eather grow up or crawl back under that rock you live under

shelly have fatima asking her mother for her way of cooking you bolo

Your response had nothing to do with what I had written. It's a fact that the US has plenty of religious fundamentalists and religion is used very cheaply in different scenarios given the "flexible" nature of protestantism.

It's also a fact that people should be responsible for their own lives. If someone finds himself not good now, does it mean that "the others" are responsible for it? This kind of thinking of yours is the most common thing in Brazil. But we need to create powerful people and not whiny and dependent. And we don't do racial profile with anybody because we aren't the US, the only difference is that we don't give jobs to incompetent people because of their color in order to satisfy some quota system.

I do agree with Costinha that NGOs are a threat to national security. It's a mistake to consider them as representing the society. They represent someone's agenda, nothing more. Their very reason to exist, i.e., to defend some "cause", already implies that no debate is needed since the acceptance of the truthfulness of such cause is a prerequisite for joining it. If it were false, it would mean they have no reason to exist, so there's no debate and all "causes" are assumed to be true.

How many Brazilians are part of such NGOs? How can it be suggested that it represents the "will of the people"? If it is someone's will then it certainly isn't Brazilians' will. Not even as a democratic tool it works. When were the Brazilians consulted about the decisions of some NGO? When their opinions were even taken into account?

NGOs are a new way to interfere in other countries according to some private interest and still show off as some "noble cause". It is not necessarily done by other governments, but by individuals and groups with certain interests. Actions against them should be taken.

Michelle My Balls… You are the world's greatest proof of reincarnation, no one could get that dumb in just one lifetime!

Kissies in the Tities

Costinha

PS: Os Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre será!

P.S.: Do you know of a recipe of Bolo gelado? My mum used to cook it with coconut and pineapples? I asked her but she lost it?

While Forrest has delegated the task of getting the recipe to Fatima, the following link may give you the basic recipe:

http://tudogostoso.uol.com.br/...elado.html

All you have to do is to click on the above link, print the page. When you receive the version of Forrest´s Mom-in-law, you can choose the one you like the best (I am sure hers will be more creative than the one in the link!)

Happy New Year´s party with "Bolo Gelado"!

Abrigato, mi amigos & amigas for your comments. I have been a little out of touch as I think I have found a new love. So if my further comments should appear to ramble, pardon moi, por favor. Because of todays news I cannot share her details with you at this time, but let me say that she is one of the most beautiful women in the world, one of the smartest women in the world, and one of the most politically active women in the world. Loving and possessing are two different things and I shall love her always even if she is never mine. O Brazil, I do love you too!

I must clarify something before I go further here. I never said, "Evil Empire". That is for you to decide the merits of The Empire. It is for you to determine what is your best interest for freedom in this world. What I will say to you here is there are groups who have given unto themselves the power of life and death throughout the world. Some call it Empire, some call it Globalization, some The New World Order; whatever. The fact is that they are real, they are unseen, and they have agreed to unite and cooperate in a manner to manipulate people, markets, and nations. It is their contention that their agenda is for the betterment of mankind. Their latest venue being; The World Economic Forum(WEF).

Many people will say, "How can that be, when so many good people belong to this organization, So many good people come to discuss the real issues facing humanity, So many of the people attending are trying to find solutions to the problems in the world? Good people, God-fearing people, people of impeccable character are there to discuss the direction of world affairs. How can they constitute an Empire to dominate the world?"

The condition of the faithful of all Faiths throughout the world are under attack. The fundamentalists of Islam are not different than the evangelical fundamentalists. Churches, mosques, and temples are infected with those who prefer to give death rather than to uplift humanity. The only truth I have heard so far in the American campaign for president comes from the least likely person to win; Ron Paul. He said, "When facism comes to America it will be draped in the American flag and carrying a cross". Such a simple truth. An Islamic friend of mine pointed out that the new US laws, called the Patriot Act, are not new to prevent terror. These are laws that facists in the American political system have wanted for a long time. "Secret Societies", i.e. Skull & Bones, Opus Dei, etc, are where the levers of power reside. Their membership, their agendas, and their influence encompass the world. And so we must add WEF to the list of Societies, though not secret, because they consist of the new elites who have the money but not the power to influence the dictates of The Empire.

In Brazil also, you will find such elites. After all, the biggest corruptions must be agreed and consummated with the help of others who have committed such corruptions. Notice the 'new' affiliation between the Bushes and the Clintons! The father(GHWB) calls Bill Clinton his son and they are now ass-hole buddies of the first degree. The exploits of Prescott Bush, the grandfather, are notorious.
This is why the ruling elites are not that interested in educating the masses. As long as they have enough people with enough information to perform the functions of society that advances the cause of The Empire; it is enough! Some of the people require advanced studies and these people are nurtured and kept on a very short leash. The masses cry for real education, knowing they are being cheated, but unable to reform education in the US or Brazil. Can we agree that this is an agenda of The Empire to keep the 'class system' intact? This is a link in the chain preventing the access of too many people to the knowledge leading to the levers of power. Fidel knows this, so he sends doctors for the body and teachers for the minds of the people. He will send soldiers if conditions permit(see AFrica). He is permitted to directly confront the Empire in 'proxy' wars where The Empire must fly a false flag and cannot be seen as the provocateur. On this battlefield he can confront them. Right now, US and Cuban intelligence agencies are calculating the landscape of the next confrontation. The Empire must prevent more Cuban meddling in Africa, so the Americans are called to form a 'new army', AFRICOM, to keep the status quo, which is not really the status quo because this is the first time that the US has committed a military agenda for the entire continent of Africa. Intertwined with the European equivalents who have been in Africa many centuries, this new army 'protects American interests' on the continent, but in truth maintains the condition of Africa for The Empire. The swing of resources from US and European control to Asian and Latin markets is frightening with respect to The Empires power and influence. Again, the American people are asked to send soldiers to defend The Empire. The Americans are stretched thin without compulsory military service, so in several areas we have NATO as the proxy for the Empire. In fact, you may add NATO as a branch of the Empire for military purposes.
Therefore, NATO members with influence in South America are being recruited to advance the agenda of the US, subsequently the agenda of The Empire. Here we have Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, and other NATO members, corrupting, investing, and recruiting for the advantage of The Empire in South America.

*** As I write this commentary, I have just learned of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. Again, another champion of the people has been killed to maintain the agenda of The Empire. My sincere condolences to the Pakistani people for their loss. The media will tell you it was Al-Queda, it was extremists, it was Islamic fundamentalists, but thinking peoples know who gains the most from the death of this woman.(to be continued...) ***

So, my friends, hopefully I give you another example of The Empire; in the construction of US forces(AFRICOM) and European forces(NATO proxies) to subvert the peoples, economies, and resources of Africa and South America. I have said before that I believe in coincidence, and have experienced deja-vu, but I cannot ignore the evidence of truth.

e harmony
written by Shellly, 2007-12-27 01:58:17

Really? With no bad credit, a stable job in the Marine Corps, and even $3,000 dollars down

.

For me it has been easy. I have a stable job, good credit-same for my husband. I bought mine at Carmax, my husband from a Arab dealer in Manassas. We came straight from the U.K. not credit history in this country and were able to get a loan for two cars and a house. I understand that not everyone gets the same treatment, but try doing it in Brazil or in England, I bet you that you would not be able to by anything for more than 2 thousand pounds.

It boggles the mind to think that the credit system here allows some to buy and some not to, even tough they have credit. This is the American incompetence that certainly needs some regulation or change in attitude. You guys don't like big government telling you what to do, but you and I are a perfect example of a screwed-up financial system that is in need of a reform.

Obviously, I should have been more clear, my bad. Compared to Brazil, buying a car here is a breeze.

Ok, now this I don't doubt - at least in respect to speaking "in general" about the "average person" in each country.

The United States still has the largest auto market on earth: from trucks to cars.

:lol: But I still prefer purchasing milk rather than dealing with car salesmen - some of the most unscrupulous people on earth.

The only problem with ending the Amazon is not the destruction of the forest but the fact that it is not used wisely. If we explored it more rationally, why not?

Shelly said that in Brazil people want to see others in the "lower class". I would like to make clear that as a Brazilian I disagree, this is sounds more like a leftist rant to me than anything else. They consider people to be like puppets and if they are in a bad situation then it can only mean that the "others" are the guilty of it. Doesn't the individual have responsibility for his own life?

I guess you don't read what you write. My answer has everything to do with your post. At least the first part of it. In terms of religion, I am not going to get into it, I choose not to.

Thanks for the recipe, I knew you guys could help!

Abrigato, mi amigos & amigas for your comments. I have been a little out of touch as I think I have found a new love. So if my further comments should appear to ramble, pardon moi, por favor. Because of todays news I cannot share her details with you at this time, but let me say that she is one of the most beautiful women in the world,

Scott, you traitor, you are under the influence of the excess amount of Ethanol you have been consuming? You should be court martiald and SHOT on the spot. You found a new love, you philanderer? How many loves per week do you have? Of course, we are not asking you to share her details with us since we do not like to get into the intimate details of others lives,but DEMANDING to know who the hell she is. Of course this is just to UPDATE our already thick file on you. You do not APPEAR to ramble, but ARE rambling and we do pardon you, since you confessed this fact already.

I must clarify something before I go further here. I never said, "Evil Empire".

Of course, you never said "Evil Empire" and I was the one who stole Ron Reagan´s phrase. But you have to agree that this phrase sounds more ominous and threatening. But what are we supposed to do with all the rest of your comments?Wait till you get back? Not acceptable.Your report will be analyzed by other bloggers and you will be questioned.

In the meantime, you have a great time with your new lady love

*******************************************************
********
Good News, Bad News, and The Truth
written by Scott Fouru, 2007-12-27 13:40:09

… I have found a new love … but let me say that she is one of the most beautiful women in the world, one of the smartest women in the world, and one of the most politically active women in the world…
*******************************************************
********

He ain’t talking about “Michelle, My Balls (aka Shelly the Belly)” … That’s For Sure!

Hehehe…

Costinha

PS: Os Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre será!

I know the truth hurt but you ought to face it… America Is An Evil Empire In Its Entirety.

Take a chill-pill brother


Costinha

PS: Os Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre será!

Watch this….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaN6Rx8X6_I&feature=related


Hehehe

Costinha

Watch this….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whhbPVrb5KM&feature=related

Hehehe

Costinha

Can you come out and play, BUTT ASS UGLY? I miss my Heifter On Hoofs!

All my luv….

Yours,

Costinha

But don’t forget to take the trash on your way out…

Hehehe

Costinha

My comments are as they appear. You continuously ask me to comment on my own comment. Perhaps you can add to those comments or please provide data to show where those comments are incorrect. Questions have answers, comments have feedback, and the universe has balance.

I will not name her, but I will give you a hint;
I always wanted to visit Europe, not in the way I visited Asia. Maybe it was Chernobyl that changed my mind. So, until I saw her, Europe was not on my agenda. Now I feel I must go. Is it not funny how love changes your mind and the direction of your feet?

Oh..oh…. She is grounded. I told her “all you need to fear is Obama and your Mama!”

Well, her mama told her “I didn’t raise you to become a scum bucket or traitor. I must admit, I agree with the old lady!


Yours truly,

Costinha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnZ4VbJ7MHg

Her photos during that occasion at

http://www.voyeurweb.com/contris/PrivateShots/ps200712/20071217-50249/index.html

Way to go, maybe she is worth it after all!

Costinha

So it is that Americans look silly for electing someone of such poor verbal abilities! I am interested to learn what others think how such an imbecile could be 'democratically elected' by a supposedly educated populace. The distance between Clinton(Rhodes Scholar), who had good economic and foreign policy, to Bush who cannot speak a coherent sentence. Even his own party is embarrassed for him. Fortunately, for him, The Empire props him up, and he is a better listener than speaker, when he is awake. The question remains how it is a politician who speaks on the third grade level rises to the leadership of The Empire? Is there something unique in the American election process that can produce this effect?

I do not yet have the answers to these questions, but I keep in focus that Hitler was also 'democratically elected' by the German people! Is there some information that would connect these two events? After all, this is the premise of Empire; that the Emperor does not necessarily 'run' the ship of state. A child may be Emperor, and in some eras this was the case, so we must start from that premise to understand the functioning of Empire and its formation and function. Mr. Bush is not the first Idiot Emperor, although he does rank with the least intelligent. His tantrums are historical and documented for all to see; from the rebuke of the generals who told him what was need for the war, to his disregard for the American people in Katrina, health care, and education. Like the spoiled child he shouts to the world, "I am The Decider!".

Is he not his fathers son, even though his father is ashamed of his performance and prefers the company of Clinton to that of his idiot son? To be sure, it is the father who carries the secrets of The Empire, and as the former head of the CIA, and as president, all the intelligence agencies, sworn to take these secrets to his grave. Five minutes inside the head of George Herbert Walker Bush would certainly chill the bones of Genghis Khan! Without a doubt, he is still the most complete source of information on the planet with respect to the structure and agenda of The Empire. The only question today is who pretends to The Throne? With America in decline, shall the torch pass again to Europe? (It is entirely feasible that the Chinese will rise in time to such pretensions, but that is not in our lifetime! Remember, the Soviets also entertained such pretensions.)

i am a Brazilian. I have no desires, no will, no likes, no dislikes. I had been fashioned to resemble as closely as possible a human model which I had not chosen and which did not suit me. Day after day since my birth, I had been made up: my gestures, my attitudes, my vocabulary. My needs were repressed, my desires, my impetus, they had been dammed up, painted over, disguised and imprisoned. After having removed my brain, having gutted my skull, they had stuffed it full of acceptable thoughts which suited me like an apron on a cow. And when it was verified that the graft had taken, that I no longer needed anyone to control the waves which welled up from the depths of my being, I was let go. I could live freely.' roam 'in the context of the culture that makes us what we are
Brazilian.trying to deal with the network of chains that bind us: chains composed of gender, class, 'race' and religion and how the family transmits the past into the present and in doing so, hides the chains from our view.

I a country that does not give the BASICs rights to its people ,
that allows the wealthy to run as they see fit , that allow es the government to take what ever it wants , in in return say nothing to admit nothing .
but to place the blame on some one else everything is someone else fault
while we the people are set aside in the same country we are to be proud of
kept dumb by the government schools ,
kept hungry by the selling off of our food stocks .
denied good things to buy as the import tax is placed to high to deal with .
but every 4 years we set out to elect the new lords of the land not who is best but who we feel will not steal more from us than the last one.
all the new programs will not help Brazil or its people till we stop kidding ourselves we need change .
stop all the corruption .
stop all the lieing .
stop[p all the theft .
stop the killing of our young .
stop lieing to ourselves .

grow up and face it we need help !!!!
and it must start from within the host government , if not we need to replace them one way or the other

Food for thought ?

Don't Muslims ever wear out their Korans and replace them? What do they do with the old one?
What do Muslims NOT consider to be desecration? What happens to Islam if a dog touches the Koran or goes on it?
Does the fact that numerous infidels operated the presses and packed each book in its shipping container and unpacked it at the book store not mean Islam was desecrated? Those same printing presses might have been used to produce the Bible or the Torah. Infidel ink in the Koran!



Ten Obvious Reasons Why
Islam is NOT a Religion of Peace


#1 10,000 deadly terror attacks committed explicitly in the name of Islam in just the last six years. (Other religions combined for perhaps a dozen or so).

#2 Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, had people killed for insulting him or criticizing his religion. This included women. Muslims are told to emulate the example of Muhammad.

#3 Muhammad said in many places that he has been "ordered by Allah to fight men until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger." In the last nine years of his life, he ordered no less than 65 military campaigns to do exactly that.
Muhammad inspired his men to war with the basest of motives, using captured loot, sex and a gluttonous paradise as incentives. He beheaded captives, enslaved children and raped women captured in battle. Again, Muslims are told to emulate the example of Muhammad.

#4 After Muhammad died, the people who lived with him, and knew his religion best, immediately fell into war with each other.
Muhammad's favorite daughter, Fatima, and her husband, Ali (the second convert to Islam, who was raised like a son to Muhammad) fought a war against an army raised by Aisha, Muhammad's favorite wife - and one whom he had said was the "perfect woman."
Not only was her husband, Ali, eventually murdered, but Fatima (who survived the early years at Mecca safe and sound) died of stress from the persecution of fellow Muslims only three months after her father died.
Three of the first four Muslim rulers (caliphs) were murdered. All of them were among Muhammad's closest companions. The third caliph was killed by the son of the first. The fourth caliph was killed by the fifth, who subsequently poisoned one of Muhammad's two favorite grandsons. Muhammad's other grandson was later beheaded by the sixth caliph.
Within 50 years, the Kaaba, which had stood for centuries under pagan religion, lay in ruins from internal Muslim war.

#5 Muhammad directed Muslims to wage war on other religions and bring them under submission to Islam. Within the first few decades following his death, his Arabian companions invaded and conquered Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Zoroastrian lands.

#6 Muslims continued their Jihad against other religions for 1400 years, checked only by the ability of non-Muslims to defend themselves. To this day, not a week goes by that Islamic fundamentalists do not attempt to kill Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists explicitly in the name of Allah.
None of these other religions are at war with each other.

#7 Islam is the only religion that has to retain its membership by threatening to kill anyone who leaves. This is according to the example set by Muhammad.

#8 Islam teaches that non-Muslims are less than fully human. Muhammad said that Muslims can be put to death for murder, but that a Muslim could never be put to death for killing a non-Muslim.

#9 The Qur'an never once speaks of Allah's love for non-Muslims, but it speaks of Allah's cruelty toward and hatred of non-Muslims more than 500 times.

#10 "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!"
(The last words from the c**kpit of Flight 93)






These Pictures tell it all!

Muslims have stated that England will be the first country they take over!
These are pictures not shown on American TV or in American Newspapers (as they might help Bush's war on terror), but were forwarded to me by a Canadian Friend who thought Americans ought to know!

You believe in freedom of speech, until someone says something that offends you. You cling to every scrap of bulls**t you can find to support your ludicrous belief system, and reject all empirical evidence to the contrary. You know the difference between patriotism and nationalism -- it's nationalism when foreigners do it. You hate anyone who seems smarter than you. You care more about zygotes than actual people. You love to blame people for their misfortunes, even if it means screwing yourself over. Your knowledge of politics and government are dwarfed by your concern for Britney Spears' children. You think buying Chinese goods stimulates our economy. You think you're going to get universal health care. You tolerate the phrase "enhanced interrogation techniques." You think the government is actually trying to improve education. You think watching CNN makes you smarter. You can't spell. You believe in an afterlife for the sole reason that you don't want to die. You think lowering taxes raises revenue. You think the economy's doing well. You're an idiot.

Exhibit A: You couldn't get enough Anna Nicole Smith coverage.

Sentence: A gradual decline into abject poverty as you continue to vote against your own self-interest. Death by an easily treated disorder that your health insurance doesn't cover. You deserve it, chump.

Some much bologne and verbal abuse. Can you spell "shut your fat f**king face, a*****e"?

I swear, if you don't shut the f**k up, I'll finger-f**k your eye sockets, get a bowling ball grip on your pumpkin head, and throw you back into the gutter where you belong.

As it's the happy holiday season, may the Dove of Peace s**t in your mouth.

Yours truly,

Costinha

http://www.estadao.com.br/econ...1965,0.htm

DOES THE TRUTH HURT

THE ART OF THE VERBAL FIGHT IS TO DO IT WITHOUT
USING YOUR TYPE OF LANUGAGE

Tu es uma merda, sempre o seras e sereis.

"Tu es uma merda,e sempre o seras e sereis".

I know that was you, stinky odors don’t lie. Please stand downwind from me!

Yours truly,

Costinha da Costa

Your description of Cocostinha was poetic. May I include more to your wonderful poetry?

I, who would rather believe in a lie and do so because truth is my Pandora's box. My eyes have spoken to my mouth, but what comes out is what my ears have been told. Lie, the opium that keeps me in my Nirvana, it allows me to live in a world where fantasy and reality are so entwined, that I do not if I am real or a mere puppet in the hands of the puppeteer.

Shelly the Belly, Are you the fourth Stooge? You are such funny clown!

Hehehe

Costinha da Costa

PS: Os Estados Unidos é uma merda e sempre será!

Thanks to the demand from China for commodities, things are looking good for Brazil today. On my humble island of Itaparica some streets are going to be graded and covered with bricks paralelepipadas. Some new health clinics and schools are being built. More street lights in the neighborhood. The local muinicipal government is getting 60 million reais for improvements. This is a much needed step forward and something that hasn't happened in over 20 years in my neighborhood. Let us hope this trend may continue.

Caro Joao ontem o The New York Times published a nice article about Brazil.

I enjoy reading positive articles about Brazil.

Here is a copy of the article:

Op-Ed Columnist
“New Day in the Americas”
By ROGER COHEN
Published: January 6, 2008
The New York Times

Juan Bautista Alberdi, an Argentine constitutionalist and liberal, noted in 1837 that “Nations, like men, do not have wings; they make their journeys on foot, step by step.”

Latin America, long susceptible to the utopian mirages of revolutionaries and caudillos and still not immune to them, has struggled to absorb this truth. But, as Michael Reid observes in his new book, “Forgotten Continent,” durable mass democracies have emerged across the region.
In recent years, these democracies have rolled the dice with an extraordinary variety of leaders, including Michelle Bachelet in Chile; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the metalworker who rose to govern Brazil; and Venezuela’s barracks-bred Hugo Chávez.

The results have been uneven. Chávez has tested everyone’s patience with oil-fueled bluster about winged Socialist revolution. But step by prosaic step, the continent has moved toward open societies and the global economy.

This progress has come despite gross income disparities, which have made cities like São Paulo labyrinths of riches and ruin. Lula’s unlikely rise reflected the hope that these social chasms could be bridged, just as the early success of Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee reflects a society hungry for change and tired of hedge-fund titans skirting the taxes ordinary folks pay.

The Brazilian journey has often faltered, giving rise to the nostrum that this was a country with a great future condemned to its eternal contemplation. Annual murder figures in the tens of thousands testify to enduring social problems. Tom Jobim, who composed “The Girl From Ipanema,” noted that Brazil is not for beginners.

Still, as Lula has intuited with his astute pragmatism — is anyone else a friend of both Chávez and President Bush? — the tide is flowing this country’s way. Brazil’s future is now. There are five reasons: land, raw materials, energy, the environment and China.

Vastness defines Brazil; the agricultural use of its territory is nowhere near exhaustion. Already the world’s largest exporter of coffee, beef, sugar and orange juice, it is fast increasing exports of other foodstuffs, including chicken ($4.2 billion worth in 2007, up from $2.9 billion in 2006) and soya. More than 220 million acres — an area greater than that currently under cultivation — remain unexploited outside rain forests.
Another fast-rising export is iron ore. China, which is investing heavily here, wants all it can get, just as it wants food (as does India) and energy. Brazil has an abundance of the latter, and could have much more.

Set aside for a moment Brazil’s vast hydroelectric resources and its recent discovery of a huge deepwater oil field off the southeastern coast.
What will count over the long term is its world leadership in plant-based fuels, particularly ethanol from sugar cane, which produces eight times as much energy per hectare as the corn from which most U.S. ethanol is made. Combine that with near limitless farmland, and Brazil’s important future-to-present shift comes into focus.

As Reid writes, “If China was becoming the world’s workshop and India its back office, Brazil is its farm — and potentially its center of environmental services.”

The country’s leadership in nonfossil fuels and the unparalleled biodiversity of its Amazon rain forest make it a natural leader in the 21st-century struggle with global warming.

None of the above would be significant if Brazil were unstable. But like most of the continent, it has become more predictable. China has realized this and is rapidly developing its commercial relations with Brazil and other Latin American countries. The United States has also pursued a range of free-trade agreements, with uneven results.

Over all, however, the continent has been left with a sense of U.S. neglect, sharpened by Bush’s unfulfilled pre-9/11 promise of a new focus that would reflect the presence of more than 40 million Latinos in the U.S. The next president should make looking south a priority, with Brazil as pivot for intensified engagement.

Latin America’s transformation in recent decades has been underestimated. It has been political and economic but also cultural. Deep prejudices against indigenous, mestizo and mulatto populations have been confronted and, if not defeated, undermined. In historical terms, this has been a time of empowerment for the dark-skinned.

The Americas are changing and, despite the anti-Yanqui rhetoric of Chávez, becoming — step by step — more one.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01...cohen.html

.

- “New Day in the Americas”
By ROGER COHEN -

A very astute synopsis of where Brazil is today. I believe somewhat consistent with what I have explored on this site. However, Mr. Cohen does not attempt to go beyond the surface pressures on Brazil to align itself with Western markets or to stand on free market principles.

An example of this is the recent referendum on the gun laws in which the US National Rifle Association(NRA) contributed $20 million to the Brazilian pro-gun platform. Talk about meddling in the internal affairs...and so it goes. If this had occurred from a Chinese entity, I'm quite sure it would have stirred Brazilian sensibilities, yet as an American NGO these funds are accepted as status quo. I.e., influencing Brazilian opinion is quite legal on the part of foreigners or anyone else with enough money. In the present context, why is these funds constitutional under US law, but the "alledged" funds from the Venezuelan entity to the Argentinian electoral process is criminal. Has the NRA registered as an agent of a foreign government?

Not to worry! The US focus on its southern neighbors is about to go into high gear. It cannot be otherwise, and as Americans like to say, "we're in it to win it!". The US "has to have the resources of Latin America", and it has to have them as cheaply as possible, preferably below market rates. The US cannot compete with China now in the open market with the Chinese having a surplus of dollars to pay market prices. The US agenda must have a component which locks markets into the New World Order framework. That framework generally comes with a military/security component(see Eastern Europe/NATO). Corruption of both the military and democratic institutions is the agenda that will allow US/EU domination of the Brazilian market and resources. The Chinese simply do not have, as yet, that kind of access into Brazilian society.

As far as "empowerment for the dark-skinned", this is a factor that goes into the calculation of how best to manipulate the society. "Deep prejudices against indigenous, mestizo and mulatto populations have been confronted and, if not defeated, undermined." I am not sure that the MST, favelados, or Amazonas would agree considering the gross income disparity. This statement appears designed for the buyer as a marketing point that I would hear at the end of a corporate sales event.

Brazil's future is indeed NOW. The direction of that future has components in the past, but past practices must be seen clearly for what they will and will not accomplish for Brazil's future.

As far as "empowerment for the dark-skinned", this is a factor that goes into the calculation of how best to manipulate the society. "Deep prejudices against indigenous, mestizo and mulatto populations have been confronted and, if not defeated, undermined." I am not sure that the MST, favelados, or Amazonas would agree considering the gross income disparity. This statement appears designed for the buyer as a marketing point that I would hear at the end of a corporate sales event.

This was a racist comment derived from either a very American race obsession or a leftist that believes there's a "class struggle", of which the "racial struggle" is part of. We don't have such things, you do.

My wife (Brazilian) and I are planning to move down to Brazil from the USA. I am learning Portuguese. Every day i was there, I asked questions and got to know the system better there. Ignorance is not within me, it helps to learn about things in Brazil. Society here is not as "warm" as it is down there. People are nicer and more welcoming in Brazil. The secondary education system (colleges & universities) there is pretty good. Of coourse cars are more expensive. The imported ones are. The government is pushing the Brazilian public into purchasing Brazilian-made cars and trucks. After doing calculations... The prices of domestic produced appliances are almost equivalent to what we pay here in the USA. I think Lula should bolster the military a little bit, to protect Brazil's borders from thugs and other unwanted characters. As an American (born here)... Bush IS an will always be an idiot. I am surprised he was not impeached, even after millions of idiots re-elected him to presidency in 2004. I love Brazil... I applaud the Brazilian government for their huge efforts, despite the corruption. Heck... The US government has a lot of corruption too! Look at how many Secretary of States & Press Secretaries quit under the Bush Regime! I am a registered voter, and I will not vote because I do not trust anyone anymore. I do not care who is on the ballot. It's like a friggin circus. Eu amo Brazil!!!!!!!

This was a racist comment derived from either a very American race obsession or a leftist that believes there's a "class struggle", of which the "racial struggle" is part of. We don't have such things, you do.

This is bulls**t, don't try to say that we don't have a class struggle or a racial struggle, because we do. We try to portray our country as "less tense" than the US, but in reality the opposite is true. We as a society judge people based on skin color, income, education and so forth. We are a class society, not much different from here or Europe. You can try to fool others, but not me.

From BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wor...719134.stm

"

But in 1946 a Unesco study revealed that while most Brazilians approved of racial tolerance, in practice racial discrimination was widespread.

Fifty years later in 1999, a report by the Minority Rights Group International showed that discrimination had continued: black and mixed race Brazilians still have higher infant mortality rates, fewer years of schooling, higher rates of unemployment, and earn less for the same work.

Black men are more likely to be shot or arrested as crime suspects, and when found guilty, get longer sentences.

Yet there is no national black movement in Brazil, no open racial conflict, no apparent racial tension. Black Americans who live in Salvador say they feel much more at ease there than in the racially divided USA.

See, the picture ain't rosy as you want to portray. If you are Black in Brazil your chances of getting a job diminishes considerably. People who like to deny this, are those who want to keep the lid on a boiling pot.

...and here is the proof that we do have a Black movement in Brazil. BBC also need to do their homework!

http://www.mns.org.br/index2.php?programa=quemsomos.php