… it feels good when cheaters get what they deserve?

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?

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?

 

 

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"

 

----------

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?

 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?

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?

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?

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.