Who else think...

...a mission given should always be a mission accomplished?

2007-10-19T08:14:00.001-07:00

If you've liked City of God, you have to see the new brazilian movie Elite Squad (http://imdb.com/title/tt0861739/)

My brother praised it to us, saying it was so good; people had bought the pirate DVDs in record rates even before the original movie was released on the cinemas. Best thing yet, was they still went to the cinema to watch the movie anyway, breaking new records!

This is a piece of great-almost-prefect movie. This humble blogger of yours always have something wrong to say about almost every movie she watches, but woah! - not this time.

It is a good feeling when you see someone trying to shout to the world what is going wrong.

Someone trying to shout, to provoke you, to shake you out of the normal inert ways we get used to, trying to play blind to so many things going wrong with humanity.

The story is basically about good cops against bad cops. Of course there'll be tension, and fight and violence. Don't forget, to be a movie about policemen, you gotta have the criminals.

I mostly liked the movie because it shows what happens when you get honest good-hearted people around those who are dirty and corrupt, the weak people who ended up giving up and taking the easy way to fortune and supposed success. But more than that, you see how easy it is for them to start thinking there is no other way than to give in, to become part of the system, to be enticed. Sometimes, better most of the times, one cannot see other way out than go to the path of corruption and bad ways.

And I am pretty sure politics in Brazil are the same, Either you're in for the dirty, or don't get involved at all. Having close people to me involved with that, it is hard for me to just swallow every little bit of things they do knowing it is wrong, the phrase 'if it is not me, it will be someone else' comes to mouth more than once. The occasional charity they do maybe make them sleep comfortably at night. And I truly believe this behaviour is what makes Brazil, a country which does have everything to be a great nation, stay behind.

But yes, I was talking about the movie… It is about the Elite Police Squad created to take thing seriously into they hands in Rio de Janeiro. As they say in the movie, when they get involved is to kill and not be killed.

Unfortunately, by what I can understand, people in Brazil misread the movie. They've made the guys on BOPE (the squad) heroes, because they killed and tortured in name of justice. They should not be praised because of that. That is wrong. It is to use the Salomon laws of an eye for eye and how do you prove yourself better than someone who does the same thing to you and you say is wrong? (same plot ad THE KINGDOM - another brilliant movie by the way).

They should be praised because they seem not to be corrupt, and because they did the job they took in hands, A mission given is a mission accomplished. No matter what.

We can't have the illusion of believing everything they tell us, I very much doubt they are oh so clean like in this movie.

No one and nothing is never 100% perfect or clean. I do believe majority of BOPE is clean, and I believe that's what people want to see.

Brazilian people lack care. From police, hospitals, schools, government. To see BOPE working their backsides off to protect what is right from wrong is a rush we usually don't feel.

The movie is great because it shows the two, three, four sides of the same story. It makes it totally believable, convincing, and intriguing. It gives people hope that in the middle of so many things going wrong, there is something good happening. The acting is out of this world, the directing had a major breakthrough.

There is no stereotype at all. There are good people turning bad and bad turning good. You gotta love when that happens in the movies.

The movie is a piece of great cinema because the script is well formed. The story is well told.

Some journalists said the movie is fascist because police kills criminals.

It goes beyond that in my opinion. The movie gives the hero role back where it belongs. Not in the hands of traffic gangs which give schools, hospitals and food to favela families an assume the government role in society. But to the police, to honest guys who love and believe in what they do. If killing and torture is part of it, it is a very bad, sad day for humankind, but it'd be naïve to think with sweet talk and imprisonment you'd get anything from boys who turn to be men who are more like animals.

Again, I don't believe in killing criminals. I believe in giving kids a chance in life. An equal chance to everyone. So they can make a choice. It is easy for medium/high/higher/sky-high classes to judge them and say they should all die. It is not that easy. Some boys will ever know life as it is seen from above alright. Bad thing it is above a morro*, looking down for policemen coming to get you.

The movie shows exactly that. In a stunning competent and truthfully way.

At least that is what I'd like to believe. And I bet the whole Brazilian nation would like as well.

…BBC should stop taking people’s money?

2007-10-18T07:02:00.001-07:00

One of the things that took us by surprise when we first came to UK was the fact we have to pay to watch television. The wicked TV License (worth £135.50 per year) was introduced when BBC was first crated. The government didn't want to cover the costs of setting up such huge network, and so said the people had to pay for it if they wanted to have TV.

I think it was a fair enough proposition.

But nowadays?

I believe there's no reason to keep this going. The fact they've now announced thousands of job being lost, and more repeats being aired, I think is all a big joke.

They pay millions and millions to personalities to present their shows (i.e. Jonathan Ross, Chris Moyles, Graham Norton, etc…) and these guys are not even that popular!!

The whole problem is you've gotta pay no matter if you choose to watch BBC or not. So there is no choice, and in my view this should be unlawful as it is a monopoly for the TV market.

Other channels get their money on the usual way of making new/crisp good programmes (oh well, ok, not always good) and getting revenue from advertising slots, so what is BBC different? I don't want to pay £135,50 just for the luxury to have 4 channels with no advert on them! That is ludicrous.

If BBC was putting the money to good use, that'd be one thing. But all can see happening is programmes getting repeated over and over again (like it happened with A pint of lager and packet of crips before), the same things with the usual multimillionaire staff going on (which we hardly watch anyways) and my money going to their pockets.

Sadly, honest people are left now unemployed once again and we are left with programmes hardly watched.

I signed the petition to end BBCs feast, maybe if all this huge fortune is taken from them they'll start doing something that matters. It's the least I can do.

If you want to join the campaign -> http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bbcresistance_com/

...peace and trees should not compete?

2007-10-12T02:39:00.001-07:00

Now, can anyone explain to me what Al Gore, and the environment has to do with bringing peace into the world?
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1288130,00.html

I understand the environment is an issue, but such long-time impact, shouldn't we all be trying to make life bearable and learning how to live with each other? Isn't that what PEACE is all about?
How can these Nobel judges ignore there is a war of some sort going on almost every country of the world? I doubt between 50 applicants, there wasn't anyone making their bit to make the world a better place.

We need to learn how to live with each other. How to tolerate and accept differences. Racial, religious, economical. We need to learh how to help ourselves.

More than using my simple words, I'll take George Carlins ones, the guy is a pure genious!

"We're so self-important. So self-important. Everybody's going to save something now. "Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales, save those snails." And the greatest arrogance of all: save the planet. What? Are these fucking people kidding me? Save the planet, we don't even know how to take care of ourselves yet. We haven't learned how to care for one another, we're gonna save the fucking planet?"

…

"Besides, there is nothing wrong with the planet. Nothing wrong with the planet. The planet is fine. The PEOPLE are fucked. Difference. Difference. The planet is fine. Compared to the people, the planet is doing great. Been here four and a half billion years. Did you ever think about the arithmetic? The planet has been here four and a half billion years. We've been here, what, a hundred thousand? Maybe two hundred thousand? And we've only been engaged in heavy industry for a little over two hundred years. Two hundred years versus four and a half billion. And we have the CONCEIT to think that somehow we're a threat? That somehow we're gonna put in jeopardy this beautiful little blue-green ball that's just a-floatin' around the sun?"

Here is the full text, just magical -> http://www.chaparyan.com/2005/04/george-carlins-planet-is-fine.php

This looks like an attempt to once again turn the focus on americans and how they always supposedly always save the day. And because they messed up big time with the problems that really matter, lets give them an effing Peace Nobel Prize for saving some trees!

I am both shocked and disgusted. Al Gore and company will get US$ 1.000.000,00 along with the prize, and for what? Maybe buy some trees, trying to compensate all this CO2 we've been using mindlessly. Then we will have another thousand years of human people on Earth. Probably killing eacher, fighting for money and power. Because instead of learning how to be togheter, we learnt how to not print an e-mail, or turn off the water while brushing your teeth.

… procrastination is a needed sin?

2007-10-09T07:08:00.001-07:00

(quoting answer.com) Procrastination is the deferment or avoidance of an action or task to a later time.

More than just that, I believe procrastination is the art of finding other things to do when you are completely and utterly sure you'd better be doing something else.

Then, you find excuse why you should put the first task "on-hold" until you sort the secondary one first.

-- Is when you put secondary things you have to do before the priority ones --

Yes, I agree with theories which say procrastination leaves you more anxious, and gives you an increased sense of self-worth. Is like all these things you have to do, makes you who you are, makes the time fly.

What good would it'd be if you finished all your tasks and then, there is nothing else to look forward to?

"The better you are, the better you better be" (David Allen).

People will always look at you sitting there with a smirk on your face, and what will happen? They'll find more stuff for you to sort out. It's not like if I done my job properly I'll have the rest of the day to take a bath, or watch as much daytime television as I like, or go shopping. No way, you gotta stay in their eye range, so they see you're there, typing something, probably taking ages to do something which would take only some hours, minutes, even seconds to sort out.

Don't get me wrong. I do take my job very seriously. And I even quite like it. But I have learnt from the very early stage of my professional life, this is the way to get this done and even get appraised for it.

So procrastinating! Gosh, I am so good at it, I even start procrastinating on the post talking about it! – I love the way it works.

Work 2 minutes, procrastinate another 5.

- Write a post for you blog (after all everyone is counting you your news girl, you can't let them wait!),

- read a post from another blog (you need to know how your friends are!),

- check what is on ebay (god forbid you miss a bargain!),

- read an email (you need to know if it is something urgent there, you never know),

- get up get your water (you have to drink 2 litres a day, can you believe it?)

- check the news (you need to be up to speed with the world, what if the manager asks what I think about the Burma situation or the bottled PM?)

- check the gossip (what if the boss asks me who I want to win in Big brother)

- check the weather (will I need my brolly or not?)

- and…

- so…

- on..

- …

Maybe procrastination is the crutch for lazy people. Running from the obligations because they are too boring or too important, instead of getting rid of them at once.

Maybe it's just a way to put fun in your life, make it more interesting, making the life at IT office look as if is oh so exciting and terribly busy, then, you have everything done, at last.

But be aware! Don't fall into the trap of actually forgetting about your priorities. Otherwise it'll be hell to pay. There is a guy here who is always being told off by the boss. He is the one who spends 7 of the 8 office hours on discussion forums, talking chit chat with people and always ALWAYS forgetting he has a job to do. Tip of the day: Never get to much of a procrastination dose. It can be fatal!

...fate is a b1tch?

2007-09-27T01:22:00.001-07:00

Ok, here is the deal.

Once again I see myself on one of those moments where I have to choose my future and what to do with it. Once again it is work related.

I purely hate these times. Honestly.

I hate the fact the future is in my hands and I'll be the only one to be blamed if anything goes wrong. I am one of those people who hates change even if it is the slightest one. If I have to move the furniture around, I'll take weeks deciding and building up courage to do so. If I have to change paths on the way home – to change the routine, you know – it'll take a good reason to convince me. That's how pathetic and systematic I am. I am rarely enthusiastic by any change in my life, from ordering a new sandwich at Burger King to buying a new house.

One of my mottos is "Everything will be alright at the right time" (maybe a bit lost in translation). This summarizes how I'd love to leave everything to fate and destiny to decide my life. I'd be happy for it to tell me what to do and when to do stuff*.

But nooo…. It doesn't work like that. How does it work?

You have to make up your mind about things. You have to toss and turn in bed, and discuss with hubby for long almost 3 hours, you have to seek affirmation from your friends you are doing the right thing. And after you finally thank-god-I-couldn't-stand-another-minute-listening-to-you-rumbling-about-it make up your mind, you end up doubting very much so you are taking the right decision.

So in my opinion fate is a b1tch. Not only that, it is a lazy prankish b1tch. Because it is supposed to lead our lives in a way we can refuse to run its course. And yet again it gives you so many choices to make you believe you're deciding things yourself ** What a joke!! J

*This is just a figure of speech. Of course I wouldn't want to have my life controlled. But having a crystal ball showing the future and what it could hold for me if I took either side, that'd help a LOT, wouldn't it?

**This is one of my everlasting conflicts between concepts of freewill, destiny/fate and God being omniscient.

…freedom of speech rules?

2007-09-20T07:17:00.001-07:00

One of the things I like the most about blogging, is the fact I can share my opinions with people sometimes I don't even know face-to-face. Discussing different point-of-views without getting in a war would be the start line of my so-planned-never-gonna-happen revolution :) Making people see each one is different to each other and trying to accept (accept, and not simply tolerate) them …

But then again, this is subject for another post.

What I want to do now is to reply some of the very rare comments I get on this blog.

As the comments link have been disabled by the company I work for, this is the best way to share my views on your opinion ;)

On the subject of the Mocoto restaurant, which was opened by a Brazilian and closed 5 months ago, I am glad to see people agree with me. Apart from the fact I don't know who said £5million was spent; it is not hard to imagine that was the real figure at the end. Qris made a very valid point when saying this smelt like a money laundering scheme. We from Brazil know that unfortunately our people have a way to make everything turn into our advantage. It is something hard to explain, it's like a cultural thing when most of the time you try to bend the law and the rules in favour of oneself. Of course I am not saying everyone does it on a large scale, but everyone has done it before one way or another (throw the first stone the brazilian who didn't, lol). So, this is a very real and possible thing which could have happened, and I tell you one thing, the odds are against the guy being an innocent incompetent restaurateur.

The point Beatrice does is worth repeating here:

"Consider that a man spends a million to make another million - and then another and another. Consider that some at least of those millions find their way back into the economy of his country - and ask yourself if after all the people of that country will not somehow be the better for it?"

I've read an article on a Times (or was it the independent?) weekend magazine which said this guy came from a very rich family – old money then – and he was already a very successful and respected entrepreneur in Brazil before opening Mocoto here. The fact is we know none of this money would have found its way back to Brazil. Maybe it is hard for you to grasp that concept, because English people are more…how can I put it politely …? English people are more correct. In 90% of the case with brazilian rich people their money is nowhere near a brazilian bank account or funding good causes (unless they get tax relief). They are in swiss banks, one of those banks the brazilian government will never find out about and come knocking on the door asking for the tax on it to be paid. Unfortunately that is the true, and the hopes of what you're saying would happen actually coming to reality are very slim. Maybe they broke here because once in their lives they had to pay their dues and not try and swerve from the laws. Believe you me, I wish this could be true =(

On the topic about the movies cliché about stunning girl gets together with geek boy, Luciana you are spot on with your comment. That's what I try to explain to Joe all the time. There's even something else. How could we ever compete with photoshop and special effects? So, he'll have to settle down for little old me, porky and all =)

On the hook about beauty, comes my post about my diet. Luciana, I gained more than 10 Kg after I came to UK, believe it or not. I always loose weight before going to Brasil, around 5-6Kg, so what you see is actually just 4Kg more than when you saw me on the civil wedding ceremony 5 years ago =) My 2008 resolution will be to maintain my body weight and try to make it even better throughout the year and not only when I go to Brasil. This way I can enjoy feeling good about myself all the time and not feel the pressure when the time for the trip has come. I need to remember more how I am feeling now when I come back. Qris has commented here and she knows how hard it is to cope with everything. I believe what we ex-pats think, is if isn't enough to be away from home, from our family and closest friends (although now I have 2 beatiful and special friends here – they know who they are ^_^), we already have to cope with the terrible winter and cold miserable summer, why should we have to put up with starving and cutting down the foods we love? Chocolate, pasta, cheese, fried and frozen garbage are always the best ones to give us comfort. But I guess the point here is concentrate on what is good happening around us. We do have a good job (unlikely so many illegal Brazilians living here), we have good people around us here as well, the transport works, the quality of life is a galaxy away from the one we get in Brazil. We have to be stronger than our body and conquest its cravings. There's a phrase a friend told me which sums it all. There is nothing more delicious than being gorgeous (well, I took the liberty to replace thin by gorgeous here). With this in mind, I am finding a new will power. This should be a mantra thought to girls everywhere. Hope it helps you as well Qris. To Beatrice I can say I am facing this with no pressures at all. Is not like I am starving or not eating what I like. I have a treat per day and I think that is what makes most difference. Instead of having a chocolate bar, I stick to 2 squares. No more chips on lunch time (when I'd have them everyday before), but I have a nice salad or a healthy sandwich, most of the time I am bringing a packed lunch I made myself. I am very lucky because I love my fruit and veggie! I am also exercising at least 3 times a week, even if it is just for 20 minutes or so.

Overall, thanks girls for whishing me so well. The last update is I lost almost 2Kgs (4lbs) in 2 ½ weeks, and that includes the trip to Paris, crepes and ice cream then. Is not enough for people to notice the change but I am on the right track (I hope!)

On the last topic – not a very popular one, lol – about Formula one, Luciana – at the last paragraph I meant I am terrible at lying and I think I don't have the gene the good liars/cheaters have =) So every time I lie, everyone knows about it because is written on my face!

Off-topic one – Beatrice, I am sure once I finish the novel I'll miss it. I am trying to read it as it was the blog when we have to wait to see what happens, and its trilling. Hope you keep your second blog and keep writing and visiting other blogs. You are a very special blogger around, it'd be a shame to loose you…

…giving something a second change is rewarding?

2007-09-17T03:51:00.001-07:00

So, hubby and I went to Paris this last weekend. And O-M-G, how I loved it!!

First time round, some 5 years ago, we went on a bus trip which left London on Friday morning and came back Sunday eve. It was cold out there, and we had to keep up with the bus dropping us off and picking us up, so time was strict. We also went to the Paris Motor show and Versailles Palace. Those were great, but meant we rushed through Paris, seeing only the major places, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph and Montparnasse. And, as we didn't get out of the bus that much, we missed out the interaction with the locals.

But this time round, it was brilliant! A weather with a temperature of 23-25oC meant it was perfect. The Hotel we stayed in was simple, but clean, with friendly staff and oh so close from the city centre! Twenty minutes walking and we would be at the Opera or the Louvre! The city had such nice air, everyone was cheering for the Rugby and it was just beautiful!

No queues at the Louvre or to see Mona Lisa meant I had surreal moment there. Just going up the stairs on the way to see Da Vinci's most famous work, I had this feeling of having a dream, you know when you can't believe you're somewhere you'd never think you'd be in a million years? But there I was, seeing her. Bigger than I though and trying to see if her eyes followed me across the room (yes, they DID!). La Madeleine was spectacular, a very special visit. You don't expect to see an actual church inside the Parthenon-like building. But it was a beautiful church, and the service was in English so we even started for a bit. We also went to the Opera, yes, that's right, this is the one which inspired the Phantom of the Opera musical. Unfortunately, due to a special event they weren't letting us go inside further than the first set of steps, but it looked spectacular! Concorde Place was where they beheaded people during the revolution and jut taking the left we went through the Jardin des Tuileries – both are beautiful and peaceful spots, you'd never guess they would be places where such atrocities happened. We also walked through the City Centre and went to see the NotreDame, which we didn't have time to go in last time, and this time missed the opening of stairs to go up by a few minutes =( Finished by 7:30PM and we were so tired (remember we walked all day long, after waking up at 4:00AM to get the train) we just didn't have the energy to go out have dinner. All we wanted was to sleep and relax.

Sunday, we began at 10:30AM with The Rodin Museum and Garden; we were struck by seeing the sculptures "live" there on our reach and some we could even touch! I remember going to see Rodin in the Tate in Sao Paulo and was such a huge queue we gave up =( But now looking at his works on the place they were conceived topped it all! From there, we went to Eiffel Tour, sitting on the grass gave us the most serene feeling! The Sun shining on us, oh what more can you asks for? We tried to go up the Tower, but as the top level was closed we decided to leave that for a next visit. From there a lengthy walk to the Arc de Triumph, but this time we went the whole way up to the top. The views were breathtaking and priceless – luckily it was for free as it was a national day =)
Coming down, we walked the Champs-Elysées, stopping to see the sunglasses shops, although we only took the names of sunglasses we liked so we can buy it cheaper somewhere else. And then, it was a Metro to the Sacré Coeur, where it was another treat for the eyes. The place where this cathedral sits is amazing, so French-like and where you don't feel the city rush one bit! It was worth all the hills we had to go up. Last stop from the trip was Moulin Rouge, and it was kinda funny all these tourists going to see it, because it is on a red-light district but when you get to the venue all you can think of is the glamorous of the movie (even though you haven't seen it is an unavoidable scene which springs to mind).

We really needed this perfect lovely weekend after this year busy time with guests and messed up routine. We were both in a good mood, and enjoyed everything on this trip. Only thing which spoiled it a bit was the fact we didn't feel inspired by any restaurant to go in and eat. Most of them were overpriced, and didn't offer French traditional food =( So we just enjoyed the crepes and croissants, lol. The locals were friendly and helpful, so much different feel than the first time round. Now I can say I'd happily live in Paris for a bit if I ever had to.

… it feels good when cheaters get what they deserve?

2007-09-14T05:45:00.001-07:00

A while ago I wrote about cheaters, and one of the examples was the Formula1 plot where the McLaren stole Ferrari's secrets.

Today FIA ruled they must pay a £100million pounds fine and are banned from the constructors championship.

These are good and bad news together, because it shows the system still works and also they know how to make a point.

By excluding McLaren from the competition, all squads will learn this is wrong and there is a huge price to pay for it.

It is right because McLaren took advance of Ferrari's work and talent to use the technology on their cars, and by that they got the chance to combine with their own developments and get the best car on the track.

It is wrong because this money will probably go to the already billionaires F1 organizers. Its not like the sport will benefit from it. Its not like it will be given to charity. It is good Mclaren is scarred financially and morally because what they did was utterly wrong. But the money should go to a better cause.

I also think the drivers should be penalized for a numbers of races. You'll never know if they were the best drivers or if they just won because the car was enough to win it by itself.

Of course the british press thinks this is all overreacting and exaggerated punishment. But it is because this is about not only a british company but it also holds the only hopeful brit on the grid, so, fair play to them.

Me, I don't know how to do it.

I think I have the gene which is responsible to writing the fact you are lying/cheating all over your face so everyone knows about it! ^_^

…the hardest part is convincing yourself you need it?

2007-09-03T03:07:00.001-07:00

Today I start my diet. As part of my annual trips to Brazil comes the preparation for it, and one of the most important ones is to look beautiful. I do want compliments when I go back and much prefer those tha the bitter comments I'll get otherwise. More than that, this time I do feel my heath is taking its toll on the hectic life lived the past months. I am used to eat my fruit and veg, but with all the flat refurbishment

And people coming to stay every month (no kidding, I has someone around since February and more than once they stayed more than a month) was hard to keep the menu going the way I like it. I ended up eating out – A LOT – eating what other people would make – with far much more salt, sugar, oil and fat than I am used to – and lunch resumed to sandwiches, and white bread is never good for you.

It is not like I fell I am fat, to be honest I feel like I've been fatter before, but I can feel on my clothes getting tighter, my hair and nails getting weaker, so I have to stop this vicious cycle and do something about it.

With the trip insight, I have the perfect motivation. And I know it always helps me to get there. My worst problem is when I come back from Brazil. I always look for comfort on the food. Its not it makes happy, but the way my mind works is to compensate the fact my family and friends are so far away and I have to put up with it, so it's only fair I don't have to torture myself because I want to eat something and I can't.

But I am glad I took the first steps, of identifying something is wrong and trying to fix it.

I truly believe I must comvince myself something is really wrong with me to put it right, and not only weigh-wise

The target is to loose 8Kg (~16 Lb) till December. I know I can do it, and anything I achieve will be a victory, even more if I start feeling better as well =)

Wish me luck!

…we should include movies on our revolution?

2007-08-23T03:41:00.001-07:00

Okay, this is the second part of my revolution theory. The media must suffer a coup as well.

Yesterday, as a treat to hubby – who will be 28 tomorrow, oh my god how time just flies by you! – we went to see Transformers on the big screen.

I have to confess I loved it. I loved the visual and the audio. I got goose bumps during Optimus Prime speeches, but maybe that was just the PMT in action ;)

The plot is pretty much weak, but we have to understand this is a kid's movie, it's got to be simple so they know what this is about.

The acting, apart from Sam and the hacker, was really poor. I loved the two of them but the rest was really annoying! Oh, the joys of overacting.

The ministry of defense could not be worse ! The Australian girl gave on my nerves.

And now we get to the part where my revolution start. The girlie girly girlidie girlididdie girl who is the movie hero. Why the good boy always has to fall for the sexy, slim, abs of steel, lighted eyes women?

Why the men are always the geek ones who end up cuddling the hottest girl in the universe? Why not, like the man, the girl could not be an ordinary, bit of fatty, geek with glasses girl?

This pressure to be more than perfect disgusts me. Its because all this obsession about the way you look and what you have that makes the world so possessive and live in a capitalist regime where the means justifies the end.

Well, at least hshe was a brunette *sigh*

Of course there was a geek on the movie - it's a movie about robots for pete's sake! – but even her was gorgeous! Beatiful long shining blonde her. I wonder where she has the chance after sitting down for almost twelve hours a day in front of a computer to treat her her, go to the gym and take care of the house…

As I said, this is a kid's movie. They get impressed by that. Oh what the hell, we adults do as well! It is all on their little and our big minds what good, intelligent, successful people should look like.

Instead we should be learning what counts is REALLY what is inside.

So, my second law of the utopia revolution is people will get cast for media figures like in real life. What is likable to happen?

Utopia meaning I know it will never happen, because it will never sell. If people wanted fantasy to be like real life they'd look on the papers, not go to the movies. But it's a sad sad thing we humans species must fight against, and try not to see the need to be like in the movies after all ;)

Like Lauryn Hill once wisely said: "Fantasy is what people want, but reality is what they need"

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Note: They have blocked all my blogs access from work L So my visits to my dear blog-friends will be rare from now on, I'll try once a week, so don't think I forgot you =)

…people should think deeply before spending 1 million pounds?

2007-08-10T07:38:00.001-07:00

Ok, by now, even you know me just from reading this blog, you should know I am a kind of hippie person, who think the world should be living some kind of not-imposed-but-chosen-socialism system, where everyone would live, work, grow and prosper together – cutting out all the power-trip-fear-controlled-sh*t which in my view is the instigation for violence, sadness and frustration age we are witnessing these days.

That said, I was the first one (if not the only) to be outraged with news of a brazilian entrepreneur opening a brazilian restaurant in London – but wait for it – spending ONE MILLION pounds for such plan. The restaurant was in Knightsbridge, same plot where Harrod's is by the way. It spread across 3 floors. It had not wonderful but good reviews when it first opened - but one million pounds? Come-on!!

For someone who came from the very country indeed where the social differences are appalling, he knew what this money - oh, what the heck – half of this money let's say for the sake of the argument could have done for kids in the streets, families without a job, hopeless souls who have nothing to loose turing to the bad side of the story of a country that is either too weak or frightened to fight back.

So when I had some friends asking me if I wanted to go to visit Mocoto, I usually was even afraid to sound rude and boring with all my lecture about how I found everything wrong with this place. I was adamant I would never ever set my foot there. I preferred much more, if I had to, help honest brazilian people trying to make a living from honest little restaurants where you can have the real deal. Much more with a friend who works at the embassy, I have contacts of wonderful brazilian cooks who can make traditional brazilian meals with delivery at your door step and a fair prices. I would never pay gold money to a guy who was obviously sitting on the dosh (as we say in Brasil) and just wanted his pockets to be even fatter.

So today I rejoiced read this news , which one of these friends who heard my hippie-lecture sent to me.

Mocoto is closed after 6 months on the go. No more money for those who don't know how to spend it wisely.

It's a shame one million pounds is already gone, but at least it is good to know people are not gullible, are not stupid just to do something because its trendy or expensive.

I am happy to see life is, after all, fair.

PS: The head chef of the restaurant was called Darryl Healy. Makes you wonder, how authentic the "first authentic brazilian eaterie" – as it branded itself – planned to be, and in fact was.

... It’s sad people still think feudalism is ok?

2007-08-01T07:03:00.001-07:00

Someone very close to me left me astonished last night.

During a trivial chat, she dropped the bomb saying she thought people should live on their own economic class to avoid discomfort.

First of all, I have to explain how things work in Sao Paulo – the place I came from. It is an energetic city, HUGE (territory and population-wise) and dynamic place.

There is what I can describe only as an infinite social and economic gap, between the poor and wealthy people.

When I say poor, I mean really poor - on the brick of misery. And when I say wealthy, I mean stinky rich, millionaires, billionaires even.

There is also a medium class, those who are not quite down or up there, but have their own house, a car for the family, the kids are on private schools and everyone is employed. Most are graduated or have even higher level education.

Usually, you have everyone living on the same places, but the extremes are more concentrated. The poor live on the favela (shanty-towns) or somewhere where everyone is kind of crowded, the crime rates are higher and are much more difficult to get to by tube or bus. The wealthy live on closed-gates communities, where they all stay isolated from the world outside – or on very high buildings surrounded by guards, CCTVs, 4, 5 gates, all to guarantee their security and peace of mind.

I come from the middle class. I've studied on public schools from the ages 13-19, we lived on a 4 stores building with 8 apartments per floor (my parents still live there)

We always had one car only and were never ashamed to walk the bus, the tube or simply walk.

I know nowadays the middle class is moving closely together to protect each other. The crime wave is coming with a force where it does not matter anymore where which car you drive or which clothes you wear to affect you. Some nice good at heart people are forced to go to the closed gate communities and sometimes they are not even that rich.

That is fine by me.

It is a natural movement, a fight for survive.

But now, to hear yesterday, this person, who I have always somewhat admired, say people should not ever live together on the same places completely takes me by surprise. People should be fighting to live the way we live in London, in England, in Uk for that matter – and not be preaching segregation by how much one is worth. Being forced to move is fine, when there is no choice, but there is – in my opinion – a HUGE step to be taken in finding that correct and saying is the right thing to do.

Her point was that when rich people live close to poor people, the poor ones will get envy and the rich ones uncomfortable and guilty. By living on the same kind of area everything is blended and you don't care by the amount of money you earn, you can enjoy a bit more the rewards for your work.

When you go to the streets here, you never know if someone living on that borough is poor or rich. You don't judge someone by the car they drive. The clothes they wear.

People could have a huge estate and be broken. Could drive a mini and be loaded. Wear Prada and own their souls to the bank.

It takes time, and knowledge to start realizing where the rich live, which car they usually drive, where they work and what they do. But it's all mixed, blended, hidden.

I believe it is as close to ideal as it will ever get.

People in Sao Paulo have the right to live in a better house, drive a better car, and wear the clothes they wish. Even if I don't agree with millionaires in a world where people kill each other for envy and lack of perspective, I agree people don't have to be the hippie I vindicate. Now, supporting the cause rich people living along poor people is not only wrong, it is ignorant and short-sighted. Poor people could be inspired and touched by rich ones. Rich ones could develop a sense of charity, not the give-your-money-away charity, but give-a-little-of-your-life charity. Help others, show them they can get where you are without robbing or killing anyone.

But who am I to say anything?

Once again I have to admit I am a hypocrite who ran from it all. Took the easiest way out and don't have to get involved anymore.

I am not the hippie onem, giving out money, or time, let alone my life to help others.

Who knows one day the revolution will come and things will change? I'll tell you one thing, I'd love to be part of that if that day ever comes…

… There will always be cheaters?

2007-07-27T07:41:00.001-07:00

Okay, this week was the week for two things in the British media.

Rain and Sport cheats.

Ok, as there is nothing we can do to change rain, so no point in go moaning about it, let's talk about sport cheats.

First of all, the one I don't care about. Tour de France.

I've lost track of how many now were expelled, suspended or lead to whole squads withdrawing from the race. One of the guys actually did blood transfusion **what??** to get more energy and assume 1^st place on it. Now, what is the point of training and sacrificing a whole year (if not even more) to something and than be helped by something illegal and which is unfair to the rest of the competitors?

As I said, I don't give a toss about tour de France. But I respect those who do, and for them I feel angry and disgusted by these runners behaviour.

Now, second. Formula One. Now this, I love.

Since getting married, I kind got completely hooked to it. When I was a girl, I used to loathe it. Every time my dad would turn the TV on Sunday lunch, would be to watch bloody F1 (yes, in Brazil the race is usually around lunchtime as well) and we wanted to watch the kids programme, or a movie. It was painful to watch cars going round and round with no apparent purpose. I wish I knew different, those were the best years of the sport.

So, when I got together with hubby, he taught me everything about cars. His enthusiasm and passion (more like love) for the subject made me turn around and now I am a biggest fan than he never was. I get physically anxious when I cannot see the qualifying or the race ( don't even get me started on the fact I didn't see the race last week because of the adorable * NOT* guests).

Ok, but we are talking about cheats. And what a cheat.

It is worth a movie. Right out one of James Bond plots. There is spying, theft, ultra confidential secrets and a huge document containing all technical details of a machine. So they go and build a machine like that one, and then, because they have time on their hands – come on, most of the work was already done anyway – they make it better and use the new machine for themselves.

Yeap, I am talking about thieves McLaren getting their dirty hands on Ferrari's plans. It was proved they had it, and it was in power of one of their guys.

So, yesterday, when they announced McLaren would not be punished AT ALL by the F1 committee, my jaws dropped.

We f1 fan already know they are favouring Mclaren because of oh-so-talented-the-media-wants-to-marry-you newcomer Lewis, but this is way out of line.

The least they could do is to show Ferrari Mclaren's plan, now wouldn't that be fair? (altough I assum it would never happen)

I almost gave up on the sport, but I know I won't. F1 is one of the sports you keep hoping someone will crash (but not get hurt, of course), break down or get really stupid so the one you support can win it.

I was sincerely hoping this would be a Ferrari year. This would give Massa a chance to be champion and I always thought Raikonnen deserved it as well, he always breaking down last season with that stupid little car and he was a magnificent driver.

But maybe this explains why they cheat in the first place.

They want so bad to win they don't believe they can do it themselves. They have to resort on dirty tricks to save their dreams, their money, their lives dedicated to a one and only subject: to win.

There will always be cheaters.

There will always be kinds who will grow to be adults who never learnt a lesson I've learnt from very early age. "The most important thing not to win but to take part". And do your best. If your best is not good enough, go back, practice and then you'll deserve a honest clean win.

Funnily enough, I've always won load of medals and trophies on competitions (sport and intellectual). Not always first place, but my best made me happy. Not obsessed with the win, but it was fun to take part and I guess this contributed to the winning.

There will always be cheaters, they will try and get away with it. And sometimes, like McLaren, they will.

They will say no one knew anything about it and it was all a mistake.

Maybe they will even go to win the competition. But will they sleep peaceful at night? Will they be satisfied with their fake win?

That I'll never know. And I am proud of it.

...it takes a politician to understand one?

2007-07-24T02:06:00.001-07:00

I've promised myself I would not join the debate about the plane crash in Brazil, after posting about it last week.

But today, once again I was astonished by claims made by the BBC and it was just pretty damn hard not to write about it.

What made me even angrier was the fact these news are nowhere to be seen on Brazilian news websites, what is a pity in my view, this should be broadcasted for everyone to know what the so-called govern-for-the-people is doing to the country!

The issue now is hundreds are turning to buses or cars as a resort to travel and I seriously think this is more dangerous in Brazil than any flight. Even with the risks. Sources tell us that in average, 30.000 (thirty-thousand) people die on the roads every year in Brazil (see the Brazilian source here). Let's remember there were 353 dead from the last two air accidents. And that is another thing the press keeps quiet about. I am afraid now bus companies will start trying to take on more than they can, and that's another tragedy waiting to happen.

Here is the BBC article, with my comments:

Brazil rejects outside air help

Now, why on Earth Brazil would refuse that? Help should always be welcomed. Even more when there are lives on the line.

The head of Brazil's airport authority has dismissed calls for the country to accept foreign help to address concerns over its aviation system.

An international air traffic controllers group said foreign experts should intervene in the wake of the crash in Sao Paulo that killed 199.

I completely agree with it. Something must be very wrong for the country to have two huge crashes in less than a year. When you have people coming from abroad, it is international interest to intervene.

A radar outage worsened the air traffic crisis in the country over the weekend.

But Infraero head Jose Carlos Pereira said the proposal was just an attempt to intervene in Brazil's affairs.

And what is wrong with that? Its clear to me Brazil does not have the competence to sort out its own problems.

Efforts to return Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport to normal are meanwhile being hampered by heavy rain which caused a landslip near the main runway.

Yeap, this just shows it is all falling apart - quite literally now - and how "efficiently" people responsible for running Brazil air control are taking care of the situation.

The head of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations, Marc Baumgartner, said on Monday that Brazil should bring in foreign experts to oversee its aviation system.

He said the Brazilian authorities were trying to save face following the crash at Congonhas and accused them of putting the travelling public at risk.

"We think they need an independent view," he told Reuters news agency. "It has the advantage of being neutral and it has worked before in other countries facing aviation crises."

He is so right, I can't put it into words. This is exactly what is happening. It is known fact by now the whole issue with air traffic started after it was demilitarized and became another place for nepotism and corruption. The last thing they want is someone independent and knows what they are doing to tell the whole nation what is wrong and how to fix that. It is disgusting how they put power and money over safety and life.

But his comments prompted a scathing response from the head of the national airport authority.

"They're a bunch of idiots wanting to intervene in our affairs," Jose Carlos Pereira told reporters.

"Brazil doesn't need international help. They should care for their air space and we'll take care of ours."

Typical ignorant Brazilian politician reply that is. This Jose Carlos Pereira should be put in jail for the last two accidents we had. No matter what reason, if the runaway was slippery, or the plane had problems, or was human fault from the pilot. This should all been identified and corrected before the crash. The runaway should not have been reopened, the plane should not be allowed to take off, and the pilot should have been better trained. There should be an organ to investigate, regulate and enforce what is right from wrong. The feel I have is they are treating air travel as good as road travel in Brazil. Terribly disorganized where anyone does what they want, when they want and how they want, under terribly maintained roads and along terrible drivers and dangerous vehicles.

Air travel in Brazil has been severely disrupted since last September, when a Boeing 737 clipped wings in mid-air with a private jet and crashed in the Amazon jungle, killing all 154 people on board.

And still, no one was blamed for that, and no action to avoid that in the future was taken, if not the contrary.

Flight delays and cancellations have become routine, as air traffic controllers, fearing they were being blamed for the accident, have staged periodic work slowdowns to protest at what they say they are bad radar and radio equipment and poor pay.

Who would not believe them? The poor situation they work under is being alerted for ages before the accident, but again, the press played dead.

On 18 July an Airbus A320 skidded off the wet runway at Sao Paolo airport and hit a cargo terminal and gas station, killing 199 people.

It was the deadliest air accident in Brazil's history.

Lets hope is the last.

...it is hard to resist the curiosity?

2007-07-23T03:45:00.001-07:00

I have never read Harry Potter. I don't plan to, to be honest.

What I wanna do (as I plan to do with the so-talked-about series Lost) is to wait for all the movies to be finished. Then I will rent all at once one very cold cosy winter weekend and watch it all at once.

I really hate being curious, if you want to see me climbing up the walls, tell me you'll say something later. You won't see the end of it!

That is why I always have to read the book until the last page (actually I always ready the last phrase before I even begin the book) , watch movies until the credits are rolling (and I don't like missing the start either) no matter how bad they are. This has put me in a lot of trouble, because I actually feel anxious when I cannot finish something I started, sometimes everybody will have walked out the room and I'll be there, eyes fixed on the screen waiting for the terrible movie to finish.

But why did I bring all this out again? Oh yeah! The last **or at least until the next one** Harry Potter book was out this weekend. And now I wanna know how it finishes. But I don't wanna read it – would take too long - or wait two years **even longer** to know it from the movies. I wanna know it here and now.

I don't know no one who reads it, and I don't have any good source on the net to look for it.

But I'll do it. I am sure, my moments of boredom will be fulfilled with this task now.

Anything to get my fix of curiosity satisfied these days J

We will always have hope

2007-07-20T08:50:00.001-07:00

Everyone by now must know about the terrible flight crash we had this week in Sao Paulo Brazil.

Now begins the blame game.

I was astonished by the fact the papers here were the first to blame the crash on the fact that the "popular pressure" caused the accident. How? Why, that is so obvious (sarcastic). The runaway, which was being refurbished after a judge banned big Boings landing on it ***ok, STOP!!!** this is the first thing wrong here – why on earth should a judge do that? Shouldn't it be decided by engineers, professionals, air companies, the airport itself?? **carrying on** was reopened because the public wouldn't take more grief from the airports – not accepting any more delays.

Yes, if you don't know, Brazil has a huge air traffic crisis since our last air crash, 9 months ago when two planes crashed and the great scandal about the conditions air traffic professionals work were unveiled.

To protect the public they were working on a very slow pace, making sure they took the rewarded breaks, and that brought chaos to a system that is already busy and overscheduled.

The way the press had put it here (and I am sure all biased on the press releases ,we Brazilians ourselves release) its like we are all a bunch of selvages, climbing airport desks and making riots to get to our flight. But I know the picture is not like that. Of course some or other will do take desperate measures when they really have to travel, after all they bought their ticket is only fair they'd have the right to flight right?

WRONG! All those who were on the news punching air traffic workers should be ashamed of themselves. They contributed to what they now call "public pressure" image.

In here when an airport or runaway is closed that is that. Not even the Queen, or the Pope or Paris Hilton will change it.

If you have to wait 3 days sleeping on the airport you will do so. Not quietly, I agree, but everybody understands it at the end. They know their lives are being protected by those actions.

In Brazil we have a serious problem.

We don't trust anyone. We don't trust politicians, we don't trust professionals, we don't trust the law, and we don't trust the media. We only trust God (and some people not even that).

This can make things very messy. We don't have guidance, so people get lost between the right and wrong too easily.

There were two other skidding almost-accidents incidents on the same airport a day before. You almost didn't see that in the press.

The press didn't say the new surface wasn't ready and the "grooves" what should be added to it to give more adherence to the plane were missing.

Maybe if people knew it, they would not fly from the airport, they would refuse.

But politics, religion and business are so together over there they say whatever, wherever and whenever they want. People don't have guidance. No one was interested in having another airport closure, loose loads of money for passengers cancelling flights and avoiding future trips. Too much costly to divert the planes because of two little near-hit accidents. The government was already under fire because all the problems they are having since demilitarizing the Air Traffic and made it another job hanger*.

The poor souls taken on these accidents weren't to blame, and now these people who made their decisions based on money will have real grief to deal with.

Now it's easy to say people must react and ask for solutions, but you know what I predict? They'll say it was a mechanic failure, a human failure. Neither the plane is there anymore to be proof, either the poor pilot who is gone and cannot defend himself.

People will be misguided again, and forget in a few weeks this happened.

Unfortunately, maybe this will happen again. The only chances are those responsible for the go-no-go decisions start cleaning up their act and do something about it, fast.

Do we have a hope?

Yeap, we Brazilians always say, "hope is the last to die"

*job hanger – government institution which is used to employ all politicians and directors family, friends and favour owners. They usually don't know what they are there to do nor how to do it. They are more common than you'd imagine.

...visits should be like the scouts?

2007-07-16T07:33:00.002-07:00

Don’t get me wrong, I lurve receiving guests - even more if they are family, after all, this is one of the things I miss the most from the homeland.
Throughout the year we receive many guests, from 4 to 8 a year! So I am kind used to it now.
But maybe because it has been just hubby and me for so long, and the fact I am so attached to my routine, it’s being so difficult to cope. And the facts there is a lot of them who came this time -all at once.
Most part of the current group is the type who is used to pay for everything to have all arranged on the snap of a finger - from cooks, to drivers, and people to carry your luggage.
What makes things more difficult is the fact they are people who also have a huge good heart. We now the moment we need anything, anything at all, they’ll be there to help us, and they’ve proven that more than once. So we have to be thankful and restrain ourselves to saying the wrong thing or come across as lazy or not cooperative.
On the other side…There are so many wrongdoings on their staying I could literally, write a book – it goes from being late to being complaining. And OMG do they know how complain?
Nothing is good enough, hot enough, could enough, near enough, far enough, sweet enough, long enough, pricey enough, cheery enough, exciting enough, cheap enough, pretty enough, ugly enough… the list is endless.
The worst of all is they didn’t prepare themselves. They didn’t know and didn’t bother to look for places to see, food to eat, hotels to stay or cities to visit.
So we have to take care of it all. Decide for them where to go, and almost always, we get it wrong. Despite our best efforts, it always goes wrong.
And then, we have to put up with moaning, whispering and bickering, not to our faces, but always on the background.
It’s hard to keep up with that!
But then, you’d say, a good thing about visits, they have a date to go.
But not in this case! Of course they don’t know when they’ll be leaving! They have changed that three times and still don’t know.
Their trip is like that, dynamic, always taking a different turn and being played by ear. Isn’t that great?? NOT (best Borat style, lol)
I guess I am stressed because hubby and I were trying too much to make this pleasurable to them, as we do to all our guests, but nothing works, because they didn’t plan anything.
Our visitors have, until now, always done their homework, at least a little teeny tiny bit.
But not these ones now, they are completely and utterly lost.
No hard feeling towards them, but I sincerely hope, for the sake of us all, they never ever come altogether again.

That’s why I say, guests should always be like the scouts, always be prepared: for the house to be a mess, for the food to be tasteless, for the place to be horrible…
This way you can be sure to enjoy every second of your stay and appreciate what the host has done for you – i.e. us :)

... there is a fight club scheme in place?

2007-07-13T02:38:00.000-07:00

I think these news are great.

Isn't it just like there is some kind of conspirancy where a guy responsible for loading the £10 trays with £20 notes is doing it deliberately?

Like trying to give back money the banks are robbing them anyway in the first place with all fees, and fines, and gigantic year-after-year profits?

After all, is the second time it happens in a week!

"Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy things we don't need." - probably best movie quote ever !

..IT professionals have some level of autistic behaviour?

2007-07-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

Before you start throwing rocks at me, let me say I am and have been an IT professional for 11 years now, so I perfectly know what I am talking about...
AUTISM: pervasive developmental disorder characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication, by an extremely limited range of activities and interests, and often by the presence of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors.

It’s not like I am saying we are retarded, morons or stupid. It is only we do have a deviation of behaviour which makes us less social based on normal standards.
And the more I think about it, the more I see the point my colleague made to me last year.
1) IT people hardly say good morning to each other.
The far a conversation in the office will go is “how was your weekend”? Or “have anything special planned for the weekend” ? (speaking of which, these two questions drive me insane so expect a post on it soon!)
2) We are always happy to chat on messengers or via email though.
Since I was a kid, I dreaded speaking on the phone. At one point when I was about 9, I got through a kid’s TV programme competition line and hang up because I couldn’t bear to talk to them. This came back to me when I first got here and I used to hate having to speak to anyone I didn’t know. Meanwhile I was making friends through blogs and keeping the closest relationship ever with my friends in Brazil, via e-mail. Nowadays I still prefer a chat, email or text message. Even with people I do know. Not because I am making excuses, or avoiding them. Just because I think I’ll always lack that gene which should have came from my mom, who speak hours on the phone and face to face without even realizing how the times goes by.
My current boss and colleagues are always firing emails for the most insignificant reasons. To ask if everything is ok, if it is raining outside, if they can leave early. And we are all sharing the same bank of desks.
3) Our hobbies are almost always things we do alone
I love doing my web designs, and watching TV. I love staying at home, on the comfort of my own house.
Hubby (who also works in IT for god know how long) loves his cars, and trackdays - something he has to do and enjoy, alone.

I do believe all IT Professionals have some mild level of autistic behaviour. Some people I know even sweat and shake when they have to talk with someone.
Some still go and socialize with people, but usually there will be another thing going around - Alcohol. It makes them relaxed and able to talk to each other.
My boss is not so bad, though. She has a fair net of friends here, after almost 6 years in this place, but then again, she still is e-mail crazy and avoid at all costs phoning people up.
Another colleague has a serious problem - he just wanna talk to you if it is about himself and will talk over you every time he has a chance.
I am a self-confessed geek. I don’t how long I could go for without a computer, and do you wanna see me climbing the walls for freedom? Cut the TV and the ADSL (broadband internet) cable.

I truly believe people who start in IT but are normal, can’t take the pressure of living in such lonely not-talking-to-someone-every-30-minutes kind of life and change careers as fast as they can (and I have loads of examples about these types!)

Of course there will always be the exception to the rule, and I also know 2 or 3 normal people working in IT, but they are a very rare breed.

Hubby and I are fighting against it. We made some brilliant friends over the course of last year and now. We are always going out and meeting people, having nice friendly conversations.
I am trying to say hello and good morning to everyone I have spoke a word before and sometimes even to people I don’t know. But it is hard. When people just lower their heads or avoid eye contact, you usually feel like the worse creature in the face of the earth. ~~In a way, it is good I adopted this ideal we are all autistics, it’s a fantastic thing to blame for people not wanting talk to me!~~
Edited: I Beatrice pointed it was a very bad taste joke coming from me. I am sorry for that and have now striken that from the post.
I never, in any case meant this as a joke. I was just expressing my opinion that we IT professionals really must have some kind of condition which makes us less social or socially dysfunctioned than normal people. It was just a reflexion and I didn't mean it as a "remark", but just wanted to make a point it is in a much low level, a characteristic of IT professionals must have. I am sorry if it sounded like something else, it was never my intention.

…we should all speak up more?

2007-07-09T04:07:00.000-07:00

I’ve read on a Brazilian website today that they are planning to make a movie based on the life of Jean Charles de Menezes, the poor soul that left us in 2005 after being mistaken for a terrorist.
When the shooting happened, we all over UK were so afraid, that any news regarding the threat was big news. So we kept with eyes on the news websites, alerts on the mobiles and anything which would help us cope with it.
Most people just wanted forget about it and move on, but there would always be those ones who want revenge, they want blood paying for blood – they wanted to see someone who they could blame for all this despair we were submerged in.
When after a few days of the bombings police shot Jean Charles dead I knew instantly they should not have done that.
Even if he was a terrorist, we don’t live in a country where death penalty is installed. We praise the fact the police does not carry guns and you can feel safe this will be the last of your worries - being shot in England. And I am not saying that in the sake of hindsight, I genuinely felt that way.

But my boss for example, rejoiced. She said “that is what the bastard deserves. Good”. I could not believe my ears. How could someone just say something like that? We didn’t even know if it was a bomber or not.
Things got worse the next day, when people now knew he was just a Brazilian worker. Still people would blame him for wearing the wrong jacket; running and jumping the barriers, if he had not to fear why wear a padded jacket in such warm day? Why run from the police?
The true is, give it a few more weeks, and everything came to light. Jean was wearing a jeans jacket. He did not run. He did not jump the barriers.

But people still believe nowadays the police did the right thing, if they had the slightest doubt he could have been a terrorist they had to go and shoot him. Some people (like my boss) still don’t know – and won’t believe ya when you say the contrary – he didn’t run OR jumped the barriers.

I keep thinking to myself. How can these people still defend the police force, when it could have been their son, boyfriend, husband, father who got shot by mistake?

Isn’t there a question which should be made why the police took so long to stop Jean, search and question him (oh yes, that is right – he took the bus before reaching the tube station – and he wasn’t stopped at all, they just came and shoot him – end of story). If he was really a terrorist, what are the chance the whole circus they generated could have ended lives anyway?

But no, the high-rank officer on duty that day was just promoted last month or so.
No one was brought to justice.
I hear rumours the family got a good compensation from the MET (metropolitan police) but is that enough? Know those who killed your son are walking free and could kill more is ever paid off?

I am happy Henrique Goldman is planning to do this movie. And they say Selton Mello will play Jean’s part. I love his work and I know if he is in it, it’s about 99% guaranteed it will be good.
And at least someone is making something about it all, not to let it “end up in pizza” as we say.
I wish I had the guts to follow all my ideas and start a good revolution, like in Brazil in the 60s and all the Rebel Years romance stories.
But I think I am either too lazy or too afraid to get out of my confort zone and do it.
Sadly, the only exit sign for the thoughts in my mind is this blog.

...the weather forecast service is crap?

2007-07-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

This morning I was astonished by the weather forecast BBC gave us all.

Here we are, desperate for a bit of sunny news, and what do they say?

"It will be a dry day today and fingers crossed it will continue over the weekend"

Finger crossed?? I don't pay TV license to cross my fingers ! I want competent , reliable news, and if you can't give me any - let's face it, you can believe any forecast in the world as much you can believe in horoscopes - just don't tell me to hope for the best. You were supposed to give me scientific biased info. Fat chance we'll have that then...

But I'll tell you what I'll do with my fingers.

Some may say is also the "V" for victory gesture, but I do have another meaning just for you me dear! Turn you hand around and you'll know what I am talking about (well, at least if you live in UK you will, lol)

…there is something behind this entire attention media to the so-called terror threads?

2007-07-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

Watching one of my favourite programmes on Television, Family Guy, there was this episode when Louis is elected mayor of Quahog and needs budges to clean the city lake. Because no one accepts that as a fair reason to spend money, all she has to do to convince them is to mention the word “terrorist” and people would throw dollars at her and run for their lives. It was like all the problems just vanished, and all the people’s life, money, attention and fate depended on the fact there was a threat, hanging which would somewhere/somehow/sometime become reality.

I am not saying what we see today in London and UK papers are fabricated facts. I do believe there is a big risk of another tragedy happening in London. But that is a bit of an obvious statement isn’t it?

As we live here, the more we learn about this “great mixture of race and culture” the UK so much praise itself for, and more we know the litter which is put behind the carpet as well. As we know there are people amongst us who are prepared to using the smallest reason to vengeance to put it in practice and hurt people, even themselves.

What I am saying is that the press, along with the government and some (if not all) big companies must be behind a curtain people from Quahog usually put themselves on. As soon as the t-word is spoken is like all our primitive fears are flourished, we stop anything we are doing and pray we are as far from the place in question as possible. So that is when all those who want to take advantage of the situation come in.

The PM is suddenly this huge hero, responsible, confident, certain bad things will happen “not if, but when” (not a shade of the questions if he is really prepared for the job and what he should do in power we had last week – that just disappeared from the news completely!)

If he is so certain - why the hell he doesn’t do more important things and take more measures to stop it? If they know the cells, the plans, go in and do something! I am not saying to repeat the fiascos they performed last years, raiding houses of innocent people, just for the sake of the news. Just be competent and let us know when you get the results, its all we ask, really!

But no! It is easier to put in test our knowledge in “seeing anything suspicious” and our ability “to report that to any member of the staff”.
The Metropolitan Police motto everyday is “ask the members of the public to remain vigilant at this stage”. Ok then, can we all stop being vigilant at any stage? Were we allowed that before last week when this whole shenanigan started?

The true is, we are always vigilant. But we are always afraid. Even to report to a member of staff. Or to confront anyone on the same carriage as us if the luggage belongs to them. What if it does and the guy decides to blow it there and then on the spot? If you haven’t said anything you could have survived until your stop… What if it doesn’t belong to anyone? Imagine the panic, the delays getting home – AGAIN! What if it belongs to someone and you just made a fool of yourself playing constable for the day? There are so many ifs, by the time we build up the courage, it will either be all gone, or you’ll have reached your final destination anyway – of course, remembering to carry on all “your personal belongs with you” (quoting a comedian I heard once – is there any other type of “your belongs” than “personal”? Should it be “Take all public belongs you can see on your way with you”? If it is my belong, of course is personal - d’oh!)

I must confess I do read this news. I am not looking for anything atrocious or bad news coming (as some people do). The reason I am constantly on the BBC news website is just to check the travel news. If there is any other security alert it will be another pain we have to go through. Isn’t it enough we have to fear for our lives, but to put it on hold as well while an empty crisp bag is checked by a team of 50 men and 10 dogs??

Better than that is the guy in Stanstead who last night forgot a luggage unattended. Of course the airport was evacuated. Of course the guy came forward later saying the luggage was his.
But goes to proof we did all fail our spotting-anything-suspicious A Levels.

There is one thing I am really afraid of though. All these cry wolves are a tactic to something bigger coming.
Give it two weeks, nobody will care to check packages anymore, the police will be embarrassed by so many false alerts and controlled explosions, they’ll start to ignore the signs – again.
More “members of the public” will start to agree with me and think everything is just a scheme for the government to get more money from us.
Then, we will be in trouble.