Brazil is advancing rapidly and it is apparent in view of modern world developments. Bush is finally declaring the policy to diminish US dependents on oil. I am sure it was not his idea but he was a spokes person. Americans should use alternative fuels. Sure…
Brazil uses them already and has been for a long time. In 2006 Brazil became self sufficient in term of oil. It means it satisfies its need with its own oil. Majority of cars sold in Brazil can use alcohol or natural gas in addition to the gasoline. Brazilian agriculture is more productive than North American. Climate is an issue but there are many countries with good climate. However Brazil is the only one that made use of it.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Goodbye America!
One of my Brazilian friends recently decided to visit the USA and renew his green card. He lived in the USA for 10 years, married then divorced and finally moved back to Brazil. There were only 2 days left on his card before it expires.
Well, he was stopped at the immigration for further investigation. He spends 4 hours in the immigration office at the airport. They interviewed him, they checked his criminal record – clean, they checked his taxes – he did not pay anything for last 6 years since he was not here. Finally they told him that he can abandon his permanent residency “voluntarily” and they will give him a visa or he can go through another procedure and court to get his status back. He said Goodbye America and released his status. Immigration gave him 6 months visa and after two weeks here he left the USA for good.
I researched this on the immigration site but could not see anything that would allow immigration to do so but it did it!
Well, he was stopped at the immigration for further investigation. He spends 4 hours in the immigration office at the airport. They interviewed him, they checked his criminal record – clean, they checked his taxes – he did not pay anything for last 6 years since he was not here. Finally they told him that he can abandon his permanent residency “voluntarily” and they will give him a visa or he can go through another procedure and court to get his status back. He said Goodbye America and released his status. Immigration gave him 6 months visa and after two weeks here he left the USA for good.
I researched this on the immigration site but could not see anything that would allow immigration to do so but it did it!
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Brazilian Music and artists - the top of my list
Two things that Brazil never stops supplying to the world are music and football. Brazilian music is on the top of my list followed by French and Italian. I find contemporary Anglo American pop music very boring and unimaginative. If you wish to buy CDs or some downloads to familiarize yourself with Brazilian Pop I’ll drop a few names to start with.
Roberto Carlos is a must. Brazilians call him Rei – the king. He performs great melodies with the best arrangements one can find. He did it for a long time. He has many albums. Any many mixed CD will do.
Yvette Sangalo and Daniela Mercury are very energetic women performing Latin pop with a lot creative beats. With their music you can dance, do aerobics and just drive to work. They are loved by young and old crowd.
Vanessa de Mata is a bit different with more of a native beat, guitar and new age sound. Seu Jorge is another original and philosophical performer for people who appreciate different.
Zeca Pagodinho is traditional samba performer with excellent chorus in the background. Paulinho da Viola is an original composer and performer. He is very good with a guitar. Sometimes he performs with an orchestra. Revelacao is a great samba bands. Banda Calypso is very original. At first I though it was corny. I could not understand why the young and the old liked them. Well, their melodies are simple and very catchy and will play in one’s head for a long time.
Two names in my list do not fit any category. Gilberto Gill (Gil) is an excellent performer and the current minister of culture in Brazil. Ney Matogroso is a very original and pleasantly sounding artist. Both are in category of their own.
There is also another group of young artists such as Scank, Sandy and Junior etc. I like them but I find them more of a trans-cultural performers. So If you want to be familiar with what young people and teens listen to in Brazil – they are good samples. I just do not find them to be origianl Brazilian sounding.
Roberto Carlos is a must. Brazilians call him Rei – the king. He performs great melodies with the best arrangements one can find. He did it for a long time. He has many albums. Any many mixed CD will do.
Yvette Sangalo and Daniela Mercury are very energetic women performing Latin pop with a lot creative beats. With their music you can dance, do aerobics and just drive to work. They are loved by young and old crowd.
Vanessa de Mata is a bit different with more of a native beat, guitar and new age sound. Seu Jorge is another original and philosophical performer for people who appreciate different.
Zeca Pagodinho is traditional samba performer with excellent chorus in the background. Paulinho da Viola is an original composer and performer. He is very good with a guitar. Sometimes he performs with an orchestra. Revelacao is a great samba bands. Banda Calypso is very original. At first I though it was corny. I could not understand why the young and the old liked them. Well, their melodies are simple and very catchy and will play in one’s head for a long time.
Two names in my list do not fit any category. Gilberto Gill (Gil) is an excellent performer and the current minister of culture in Brazil. Ney Matogroso is a very original and pleasantly sounding artist. Both are in category of their own.
There is also another group of young artists such as Scank, Sandy and Junior etc. I like them but I find them more of a trans-cultural performers. So If you want to be familiar with what young people and teens listen to in Brazil – they are good samples. I just do not find them to be origianl Brazilian sounding.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Brazilian National Character
Every year thousands of prisoners from Sao Paulo state prison are allowed to spend Christmas with the family on temporary leave. It is a privilege but it is not for a few fortunate. It is not hard to get. One out of eight of them do not return back from temporary leave. The state knows that and people know that. But they take chances…
Yesterday one of the released prisoners took a mother and her daughter hostage in their house. After the negotiation with the police the stand off ended and hostages were released. I am not asking you what would happen in such case in your country. In the USA it would not happen at all. I will not go into reasons why because there are too many. It is more interested why it happens in Brazil? I feel like because the society and citizens are willing to take chances to help a few unfortunate to reintegrate into normal life. And citizens do not sue the government for doing that. I feel that it speaks much about Brazilian national character. I do not know if it is Catholic heritage (Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world) and Brazilians know how to forgive? I am sure that not everyone who agrees with such law. And it is obvious that citizens and society take chances.
Yesterday one of the released prisoners took a mother and her daughter hostage in their house. After the negotiation with the police the stand off ended and hostages were released. I am not asking you what would happen in such case in your country. In the USA it would not happen at all. I will not go into reasons why because there are too many. It is more interested why it happens in Brazil? I feel like because the society and citizens are willing to take chances to help a few unfortunate to reintegrate into normal life. And citizens do not sue the government for doing that. I feel that it speaks much about Brazilian national character. I do not know if it is Catholic heritage (Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world) and Brazilians know how to forgive? I am sure that not everyone who agrees with such law. And it is obvious that citizens and society take chances.
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