O Rio de Janeiro, my adopted hometown, so many great things will be happening to Rio in the next few years, my hope is that is will finally come back to the glamourous city that it once was.
Decades of military rule followed by incompetent government both on the municipal and state level has left Rio an empty shell of what it once was. Crime, intertwined with corruption, hasnt helped either.
With the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016, Rio will be at the forefront of international attention. Hopefully the news will be positive.
Here is a list of some of the news from Brazil over the past few weeks.
1. Madonna just spent a week in Rio de Janeiro and secured a 7 million USD donation from local billionaire Eike Batista for her foundation in Malawi. Madoona is the patron saint of cougars....
2. The popular sports of frescoball and soccer have been banned on the beaches in Rio between 8 am and 5 pm until March. Overcrowding and stray balls add up to injuries during the summer. Its unfortunate because they are both popular sports and are part of the beach culture. Some of my friends consider it a human rights issue!
3.Want to spend a week in Rio de Janeiro in style during Carnaval? If you can muster up the money, this penthouse on Copacabana Beach is fit for a king.
4.Petrobras (the national oil company) is showing its strength and is now the 4th largest oil company in the world. Their off shore blocks are proving to be very rich in reserves. Their stock has now rebounded to pre crisis levels.
Showing posts with label Carnaval. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carnaval. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 18
Sunday, February 22
Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro
In celebration of the first night of the big Carnaal parade in Rio de Janeiro, here is a great tune by Marcelo D2, hip hop and samba...brilliant
Quer dançar? quer dançar? então prepara
A maldição bateu sambou nunca mais pára
E tá na cara a raiz tá cravada no chão
Do tronco ao fruto com a nave mãe fazendo a conexão
E sangue bom eu disse sangue bom
Tem coisas que invadem o coração já disse o joão não
Ninguém faz samba porque prefere
Sobre o poder da criação força nenhuma no mundo interfere
E fabricado em série é o coringa do baralho
Resitência cultural casa do caralho
E passo a passo foi tomando conta de mim
É coisa fina dj com tamborim
Fortaleceu meus braços abriu minha cabeça
Um ser humano digno aconteça o que aconteça
Hip hop rio um punhado de bamba
E sabe o que que é isso a maldição do samba
O gringo subiu o morro e bebeu cachaça
Fumou maconha e obteve a graça
Depois do samba sua vida nunca mais foi a mesma
Show time a batida arregaça o melhor som da praça
O grave racha o muro e o agudo quebra a vidraça
Na vida tudo passa não a nada que se faça
Mas rima após rima não é de graça
Show time agora sabe como é que é samba no pé
Samba samba no pé
A percussão é eletrônica a favela na internet
O coco é enlatado e a banana é com chiclete
A maldição do samba
O flow é na batida e o relógio tic-tac
É papel e caneta o coração deu piripaque
Globalizado ou não eu mantenho os meus laços
Do hip hop ao samba é compasso por compasso
Nem feliz nem aflito nem no lugar mais bonito
Nada mais interfere no quadro que eu pinto
A benção velha guarda o samba de terreiro
A maldição te pega no rio de janeiro.
A maldição do samba
Quer dançar? quer dançar? então prepara
A maldição bateu sambou nunca mais pára
E tá na cara a raiz tá cravada no chão
Do tronco ao fruto com a nave mãe fazendo a conexão
E sangue bom eu disse sangue bom
Tem coisas que invadem o coração já disse o joão não
Ninguém faz samba porque prefere
Sobre o poder da criação força nenhuma no mundo interfere
E fabricado em série é o coringa do baralho
Resitência cultural casa do caralho
E passo a passo foi tomando conta de mim
É coisa fina dj com tamborim
Fortaleceu meus braços abriu minha cabeça
Um ser humano digno aconteça o que aconteça
Hip hop rio um punhado de bamba
E sabe o que que é isso a maldição do samba
O gringo subiu o morro e bebeu cachaça
Fumou maconha e obteve a graça
Depois do samba sua vida nunca mais foi a mesma
Show time a batida arregaça o melhor som da praça
O grave racha o muro e o agudo quebra a vidraça
Na vida tudo passa não a nada que se faça
Mas rima após rima não é de graça
Show time agora sabe como é que é samba no pé
Samba samba no pé
A percussão é eletrônica a favela na internet
O coco é enlatado e a banana é com chiclete
A maldição do samba
O flow é na batida e o relógio tic-tac
É papel e caneta o coração deu piripaque
Globalizado ou não eu mantenho os meus laços
Do hip hop ao samba é compasso por compasso
Nem feliz nem aflito nem no lugar mais bonito
Nada mais interfere no quadro que eu pinto
A benção velha guarda o samba de terreiro
A maldição te pega no rio de janeiro.
A maldição do samba
Friday, February 20
Beware of the Girl from Ipanema
Over the past few months, I have been following the David Goldman custody case ad nauseum, because of the fact that whatever the decision the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court makes on his case, could inadvertantly affect me and my two boys born to a Brazilian father.What David's ex wife did to him is beyond any form of decency. She was deceitful and manipulating, you can see it in her eyes in the home videos.
There is an article in the Financial Post about a Canadian businessman who is going through a custody battle with his estranged Brazilian wife. At the end Francois Larivee says the biggest mistake was to marry a Brazilian. I tend to agree with him.
I have lived in Brazil for the last 13 years and I can tell you with all certainty, the Girl from Ipanema is a myth. Men from Europe and America land on the beaches of Brazil and think they have found their dreamgirl. A dream that quickly becomes a nightmare. Tall and tanned and young and lovely??? Only in the song...Reality is that they are short and fat and looking for a sugar daddy to get them out of Brazil..I have sat on airplanes coming out of Brazil next to men absolutely smitten with a girl they met on the beach, whose mother needs money for surgery...Wake up guys!!!!! You are just a bank account for them.And for all of you men going down to Brazil for Carnaval and a good time? Do yourself a favor and wear a condom that YOU provide, because if you get a woman pregnant down there, be prepared to pay at least 30% of your salary in child support, regardless of where you live in the world......
I have a few female Brazilian friends whom I adore, but a number of women from Rio are worthless and unscrupulous. I was part owner of a beauty salon in Barra. My business partner basically made me do everything while she had to pick her kids up from school, go to the beach etc. When I finally decided to get out of the partnership,and have her buy me out, she stopped payment on the cheques she wrote to pay for my portion of the partnership. It has been wallowing in small claims court for over 4 years. She has lied to the subpoena officer by telling her minions to tell the officer that she no longer lives at the said address, yet her children attended school with my son. The money she owes me is not going to make or break me, but its the principle.
There is an article in Macleans about a Montreal businessman who met a 17 year old Brazilian girl and is now fighting a court battle with her in regards to his millions.
The thing I have found in Rio is people are attracted to my internationalism, like it is some sort of status symbol to have me as a friend. Its all great in the beginning, but the same thing that attracts people to me becomes a reason for their contempt further down the road. They think I am pretentious. What a laugh!! ME? Hardly. I had the opportunity to travel the world at a young age and be surrounded by the glamourous life. I learned other languages and delved into the cultures of the places where I lived. I don't rub it into people's faces, and I love to share tidbits about other cultures to people around me.
I want to be clear that I have nothing against Brazilian people, but unfortunately there are enough women(and men) in Brazil who ruin the reputation of the ones who are decent. .
There is an article in the Financial Post about a Canadian businessman who is going through a custody battle with his estranged Brazilian wife. At the end Francois Larivee says the biggest mistake was to marry a Brazilian. I tend to agree with him.
I have lived in Brazil for the last 13 years and I can tell you with all certainty, the Girl from Ipanema is a myth. Men from Europe and America land on the beaches of Brazil and think they have found their dreamgirl. A dream that quickly becomes a nightmare. Tall and tanned and young and lovely??? Only in the song...Reality is that they are short and fat and looking for a sugar daddy to get them out of Brazil..I have sat on airplanes coming out of Brazil next to men absolutely smitten with a girl they met on the beach, whose mother needs money for surgery...Wake up guys!!!!! You are just a bank account for them.And for all of you men going down to Brazil for Carnaval and a good time? Do yourself a favor and wear a condom that YOU provide, because if you get a woman pregnant down there, be prepared to pay at least 30% of your salary in child support, regardless of where you live in the world......
I have a few female Brazilian friends whom I adore, but a number of women from Rio are worthless and unscrupulous. I was part owner of a beauty salon in Barra. My business partner basically made me do everything while she had to pick her kids up from school, go to the beach etc. When I finally decided to get out of the partnership,and have her buy me out, she stopped payment on the cheques she wrote to pay for my portion of the partnership. It has been wallowing in small claims court for over 4 years. She has lied to the subpoena officer by telling her minions to tell the officer that she no longer lives at the said address, yet her children attended school with my son. The money she owes me is not going to make or break me, but its the principle.
There is an article in Macleans about a Montreal businessman who met a 17 year old Brazilian girl and is now fighting a court battle with her in regards to his millions.
The thing I have found in Rio is people are attracted to my internationalism, like it is some sort of status symbol to have me as a friend. Its all great in the beginning, but the same thing that attracts people to me becomes a reason for their contempt further down the road. They think I am pretentious. What a laugh!! ME? Hardly. I had the opportunity to travel the world at a young age and be surrounded by the glamourous life. I learned other languages and delved into the cultures of the places where I lived. I don't rub it into people's faces, and I love to share tidbits about other cultures to people around me.
I want to be clear that I have nothing against Brazilian people, but unfortunately there are enough women(and men) in Brazil who ruin the reputation of the ones who are decent. .
Tuesday, February 12
Body Image
Rio de Janeiro is a city that is blessed with curves at every corner. The famous Brazilian Modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer, states that the core inspiration of his work comes from the curves of the Brazilian woman.Then there are the curves of the mountains that rise above Rio de Janeiro. Depending on the angle, the Sugar Loaf Mountain looks like a penis emerging from the ocean.From a distance, the Tijuca mountain range looks like a woman lying on her side...
With all of this sensual surroundings,it is no wonder that its all about curves.
When I first arrived in Rio in 1993, I was amazed at how well the women looked after their bodies. They had tight torsos,strong thighs and high butts.Brazilian women by nature are small breasted,which for me was a relief after working in the fashion business where it was either 'heroin-chic' or big breasted Victoria Secret models.
The creme de la creme of amazing bodies would parade down the Sambodromo for Carnaval. Men would be paralized and open jawed and women would watch in awe as these Amazons shook their way down the avenue.
Fifteen years later,things have drastically changed. The small breasts have given way to silicone. The local magazine here in Rio actually did an article stating who was 'turbinada'(slang for having implants put in) and who was not. The pressure increases in summer time and especially at Carnaval.Plastic surgeons are booked up in advance and the local gyms become flooded with women trying to get it together for the 'meat festival'.For all of those who failed Latin, Carnaval comes from the Latin meaing the farewell to the flesh before the 40 days of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday....and I am not even Catholic!!!
Carnaval is over for yet another year.Thank God!!!! There is nothing more irritating than to listen to the average Joe talking about the physical attributes of Adriana Bombom(translation - Adriana Chocolate Sweet) and Viviane Araujo.These two Brazilian beauties go on a Spartan diets of egg whites and potatoes,along with hours spent doing leg presses that equal body builders. Its no wonder that a famous author commented that their legs are rivalling those of professional soccer players.Adriana Bombom's stomach was so 'worked out'that the costume she used actually hid her midriff. The school directors thought she was too muscular.
The extremes continue. Skinny and anorexic or bodybuilder with not an ounce of cellulite. Whatever happened to the 'Body' of Elle McPherson and Cindy Crawford???? Healthy models that had flesh and shape.
I have talked to straight male friends from all over the globe and the message is the same. Yes those models on the pages of Elle and Vogue are beautiful, but they look like they will break if you touch them. Woman that work out too much also scare men...too masculine.
WAKE UP FASHION EDITORS. STOP CAVING INTO A BEAUTY IDEAL CREATED BY MISOGENIC, HOMOSEXUAL FASHION DESIGNERS!!!!!!!!!
WAKE UP SHOPPERS!!! REFUSE TO BUY CREATIONS BY STYLISTS THAT CONTINUE TO USE UNATTAINABLE IMAGES OF WOMEN....
With all of this sensual surroundings,it is no wonder that its all about curves.
When I first arrived in Rio in 1993, I was amazed at how well the women looked after their bodies. They had tight torsos,strong thighs and high butts.Brazilian women by nature are small breasted,which for me was a relief after working in the fashion business where it was either 'heroin-chic' or big breasted Victoria Secret models.
The creme de la creme of amazing bodies would parade down the Sambodromo for Carnaval. Men would be paralized and open jawed and women would watch in awe as these Amazons shook their way down the avenue.
Fifteen years later,things have drastically changed. The small breasts have given way to silicone. The local magazine here in Rio actually did an article stating who was 'turbinada'(slang for having implants put in) and who was not. The pressure increases in summer time and especially at Carnaval.Plastic surgeons are booked up in advance and the local gyms become flooded with women trying to get it together for the 'meat festival'.For all of those who failed Latin, Carnaval comes from the Latin meaing the farewell to the flesh before the 40 days of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday....and I am not even Catholic!!!
Carnaval is over for yet another year.Thank God!!!! There is nothing more irritating than to listen to the average Joe talking about the physical attributes of Adriana Bombom(translation - Adriana Chocolate Sweet) and Viviane Araujo.These two Brazilian beauties go on a Spartan diets of egg whites and potatoes,along with hours spent doing leg presses that equal body builders. Its no wonder that a famous author commented that their legs are rivalling those of professional soccer players.Adriana Bombom's stomach was so 'worked out'that the costume she used actually hid her midriff. The school directors thought she was too muscular.
The extremes continue. Skinny and anorexic or bodybuilder with not an ounce of cellulite. Whatever happened to the 'Body' of Elle McPherson and Cindy Crawford???? Healthy models that had flesh and shape.
I have talked to straight male friends from all over the globe and the message is the same. Yes those models on the pages of Elle and Vogue are beautiful, but they look like they will break if you touch them. Woman that work out too much also scare men...too masculine.
WAKE UP FASHION EDITORS. STOP CAVING INTO A BEAUTY IDEAL CREATED BY MISOGENIC, HOMOSEXUAL FASHION DESIGNERS!!!!!!!!!
WAKE UP SHOPPERS!!! REFUSE TO BUY CREATIONS BY STYLISTS THAT CONTINUE TO USE UNATTAINABLE IMAGES OF WOMEN....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)