Grappling with Tragedy

I read the news from around the world everyday. Calgary Herald, Le Monde, New York Times, O Globo are all on my favorites.
I read about the war in Afghanistan, kidnappers in Somalia, human rights issues and so on. Human triumphs and tragedies. I am distanced from these stories because they 'happen to other people'.
That all changed over the weekend. I received the horrible news that one of my son's soccer teammates was a victim of a murder on Friday night. Today is Monday and I am still coming to terms with what happened. The boy's father was charged with second degree murder.
Just last Thursday, the young boy was playing what was to be his last soccer game. Who would have imagined that the man who was standing next to me when the boys came out of the dressing room at the end of the game would be the one who put an end to his son's life only 24 hours later? Why didn't I see a sign of something wrong? Everything looked so completely normal between father and son.
The soccer team is devastated and a grief counsellor is on call for the boys and the families to help us through this grieving time.
Tragedy can and will strike close to home. You just always believe that bad things only happen to other people....It doesn't.

Dragons Den...Update

In a post I wrote about a year ago, I talked about the Dragons Den on CBC. I did a rundown on each one of the Dragons, based solely on the persona they portray on the Den. I am proud to say that I think I got them all right.
My two favorite Dragons are Arlene Dickinson and Brett Wilson. Since my first post about the Den, I had the pleasure of meeting Brett Wilson, and he really is the same guy on television as he is in real life. He invests in people, not just products and ideas. If he doesnt do a deal, and says he is out, at least he has good reasons for his decisions and he doesnt belittle the contestants or humiliate them like Kevin OLeary does. Brett is tough ,yet fair.
Arlene is also tough yet fair and I like that she does give constructive criticism to the contestants. She sees the pitches with aa marketing eye, and I think she really knows her stuff.She also sticks up for single moms!!! I have had alot of people asking me about her white streak of hair. I wish I knew what to tell them, but it is either a natural streak or she paints it...only her hairdresser knows.

News From Brazil

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.