Wickets and Guayaba

Difference between Republicans and Democrats

2011-10-13T09:04:00.003-03:00

Found this on Facebook and had to share..

If you ever wondered which side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test! If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn’t buy one. If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed. If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn’t eat meat. If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone. If a Republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life. If a Democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect. If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation. A Democrat wonders who is going to take care of him. If a Republican doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels. Democrat’s demand that those they don't like be shut down. If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church. A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.. A Democrat demands that the rest of us pay for his. If a Republican reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh. A Democrat will delete it because he's "offended".

Cachita by any other name smells as sweet..

2011-03-14T12:02:00.015-03:00

I remember the first bedtime story I ever heard. I remember who told it. It was Mima Fela, my dad's stepmom, but she loved me like a "real" grandmother, probably more so, because her two children from her first marriage never gave her grandkids. She told me the story of La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, or Our Lady of Charity, the patroness of Cuba. In her version, one of the three Juanes was called "Danielito". A good storyteller knows how not to spoil a tale with facts. I figure anyone reading my blog is probably family and knows the story, but just in case, here is a quikie, wikipedia version:

The story behind the La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, began around 1608(sometime between 1604 and 1612 depending on the source). Two brothers, Rodrigo and Juan de Hoyos, and their slave, Juan Moreno, set out to the Bay of Nipe for salt. They are traditionally called the "three Juans". They needed the salt for the preservation the meat at the Barajagua slaughter house, which supplied the workers and inhabitants of Santiago del Prado, now known as El Cobre. While out in the bay, a storm arose, rocking their tiny boat violently with ongoing waves. Juan, the slave, was wearing a medal with the image of the Virgin Mary. The three men began to pray for her protection. Suddenly, the skies cleared, and the storm was gone. In the distance, they saw a strange object floating in the water. They rowed towards it as the waves brought it towards them. At first they mistook it for a bird, but quickly saw that it was what seemed to be a statue of a girl. At last they were able to determine that it was a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the child Jesus on her right arm and holding a gold cross in her left hand. The statue was fastened to a board with an inscription saying "Yo Soy la Virgen de la Caridad" or "I am the Virgin of Charity." The statue was dressed with real cloth and the Virgin had real hair and skin of a mixed woman. Much to their surprise, the statue remained completely dry while afloat in the water.

That is just the story of the apparition.

Let me tell you another story, about the patroness of Brazil, Our Lady of Aparecida, or as she is known here, Nossa Senhora Aparecida. Stop me if the story sounds familiar: (again, a quickie wikipedia version)

The official account of the Aparecida apparition took place in October 1717, when Dom Pedro de Almeida, Count of Assumar and Governor of the Province of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, was passing through the area of Guaratinguetá, a small city in the Paraíba river valley,^[1]^[4] during a trip to Vila Rica, an important gold mining site.

The people of Guaratinguetá decided to hold a feast in his honour, and though it was not fishing season, the fishermen went down to the Paraíba waters to fish for the feast.^[1]^[4] Three of the fishermen, Domingos Garcia, João Alves, and Filipe Pedroso, prayed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and asked God's help.^[1]^[4] They were unable to catch any fish, and after several hours in the river, they were ready to give up when João cast his net once more near the Port of Itaguaçu.^[1]^[4] Instead of fish, he hauled in the body of a statue with a missing head.^[1]^[4] They cast their net again, and brought up the statue's head.^[1]^[4] After cleaning the statue, they found that it was a black version of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.^[1] Legend has it that when the fishermen recovered the body, then the head, the slender figure of the Aparecida Virgin became so heavy that they couldn't budge it.^[2]

After that, according to the official account, they named their find Nossa Senhora da Aparecida Conceição (English: Our Lady of the Appeared Conception), wrapped it in cloth and continued to fish; now their catch was so great that they returned to port because the weight of the fish threatened to sink their craft.^[5] This was the first miracle attributed to Our Lady of Aparecida.

A bit similar to the first story right? Also a bit similar with the "black" virgin, La Virgen de la Regla.

There is more....

Look again carefully at the image on the left, and Cubans reading the blog, tell me who it is...

See where it says NS Navegantes? It is Our Lady of Navigators. The image is identical to the one Cubans use for La Virgen de la Caridad! Same aparition, different name. For some reason, even though the story says it was three boys, the image has changed over the years to show a somewhat older dude in the boat. Don't know how or why. Anyways, I always thought it intersting how the stories were similar in the case of the patroness and how the same image was known by a different name.

BTW, yes, yes, I know and understand, there is only ONE Virgin Mary and all are the same, just different manifestations and apparitions of the same person.

When it rains, it pours..

2011-02-28T13:59:00.002-03:00

I found a job, and that is wonderful. I am greatful, I really am. But for the rest of it, I kinda feel like this:

See, at this point in the series, Martin Sheen, the president has just lost his personal secretary. He is about to disclose to the nation he has MS and is unsure if the public or the dumocRATS will accept him. He is having a crisis of faith and conscience.

Things here right now are rough too. But hey, that's life sometimes. Thumbs up to those who know the latin without having to google it.

Life in a Bigger City

2010-12-28T07:54:00.003-03:00

Well living in a larger city does have advantages. Now, in Garanhuns, the job market was very informal, meaning I really did not need all the documentation. Here you do. Now I went after these docs in Garanhuns, but the delay and lack of informed public servants was frustrating. Here, I was able to resolve one document a day, which is incredible compared to what I went through in the Northeast. I got my CPF (kinda like a Social Security card) yesterday and the reason I never got it before was because in Garanhuns everyone I spoke to was unsure of the procedure for people from other countries. The Federal Police here took care of a log jam and rerouted my card here. I got a document from them with my "real" ID card number too. Today I get my "work permit". Slowly but surely things are moving along.

Goodbye Garanhuns...

2010-12-13T07:18:00.004-03:00

After close to 5 years, I must bid farewell to Garanhuns. I mentioned it earlier, but my wife has gotten pretty sick. Leukemia and cancer of the uterus. She went ahead with the kids to the city where her sister lives where the hospitals are better equipped and in fact one of them specializes in Leukemia. This is all bittersweet for me. I've only lived in3 places and Garanhuns by far was my favorite. But things change, nothing is permanent, and it's not like I really have a choice in this one. No one knows what will happen as far has my wife goes. New place, need to make new contacts, look for a job, start over, and hope for the best. I don't know how often I will be able to post in the beginning, but I will try to do my best. So long Garanhuns and thanks for the memories,

Why I haven't posted in a while..

2010-10-14T13:42:00.002-03:00

A lot has happened, and is going on. My (common law) wife has been diagnosed with leukemia and uterine cancer. Double whammy. Earlier this year she moved to another city where her sisters live and the hospitals are better equipped to treat her. In the middle of December I am moving down to be with her.

So how am I dealing with all this?

I remember this:

And if you fancy the original:

ENJOY!! :)

The Brazilian Tom Jones

2010-06-18T06:49:00.001-03:00

FIG/ WinterFest 2010

2010-06-18T06:37:00.004-03:00

The main acts for "Festival de Inverno", the WinterFest, have been announced. This is the huge 10 day music festival here in Garanhuns. The main acts appear at Praça Gualadajara.

July 15 = Alceu Valença

July 16 Neguinho da Beija-Flor e Gal Costa

July 17 Skank

July 18 The Fevers & Adilson Ramos

July 19 Elba Ramalho

July 20 Reginaldo Rossi

July 21 Devotos, Pitty

July 22 MV Bill & Marcelo D2

July 23 Paralamas do Sucesso

July 24 Lulu Santos

You need to take my word for it, these acts are HUGE here in Brazil. Each has its own following, and the crowds should be bigger this year. The Tourist Board estimates that over a million people visit throughout the 10 days of the festival.

Of Course There Is NO Meida Bias..

2010-06-05T07:50:00.002-03:00

And all this time you thought the media bias tilted to the right! Here is major cunt (sorry ma) Helen Thomas, a veteran White House correspondent for Hearst showing us how she is impartial in her reporting:

There you have it folks. A darling of the left. Fair and balanced reporting. Goes to show what those hypocrites are capable of. Where is the outcry of "insensitivity" and "racism" and "prejudice"?

The Lost Finale: Beware the Snowglobe!!

2010-05-05T12:56:00.003-03:00

Remember how St. Elsewhere ended? The camera panned out and showed the building inside a snowglobe. There was an autistic boy playing with it, and it shows one of the doctors to in fact be a worker inside his home, and he says "I wonder what Timmy (I forget his name, lets call him Timmy) dreams about all day long". It kinda hinted that the entire series took place in the head of the kid. Well, sit by and wait for it, cause that is what they are setting up.

Rubik's Cube Art

2010-04-26T13:33:00.003-03:00

Very cool pics of art done with Rubik's Cubes, from Jacob Davenport...

What if the Injuns' had Immigration Control?

2010-04-26T12:51:00.001-03:00

Via Below the Beltway

Communist Party Goals for America, 1963

2010-04-24T07:57:00.002-03:00

Check off how many Obama and the Dems accomplished. From Gateway Pundit.

Obama & Dems Make Great Strides… In Achieving Communist Goals for America

Posted by Jim Hoft on Sunday, April 18, 2010, 8:35 AM

You read that right…
In 1963 The Honorable A. S. Herlong, Jr of Florida recited the Communist Goals for America in the House of Representatives on Thursday, January 10, 1963.
It looks like the communists, working through the democratic party, have made some great strides under the current Obama-Pelosi Regime.
It’s frightening. Via Free Republic.

Mr. HERLONG. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Nordman of De Land, Fla., is an ardent and articulate opponent of communism, and until recently published the De Land Courier, which she dedicated to the purpose of alerting the public to the dangers of communism in America.
At Mrs. Nordman’s request, I include in the RECORD, under unanimous consent, the following “Current Communist Goals,” which she identifies as an excerpt from “The Naked Communist,” by Cleon Skousen:
[From "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen]
CURRENT COMMUNIST GOALS
1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.
6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.
7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.
8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev’s promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.
9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.
10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.
11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)
12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.
13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.
14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.
15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.
16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.
17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers’ associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
18. Gain control of all student newspapers.
19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.
20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.
21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to “eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms.”
23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. “Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art.”
24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them “censorship” and a violation of free speech and free press.
25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as “normal, natural, healthy.”
27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a “religious crutch.”
28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of “separation of church and state.”
29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.
30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the “common man.”
31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the “big picture.” Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.
32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture–education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.
33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.
34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.
36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.
37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.
38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].
39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.
40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.
41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.
42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use ["]united force["] to solve economic, political or social problems.
43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.
44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.
45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction [over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction] over nations and individuals alike.

The democrats are not reshaping America into a European socialist-style government… They’ve gone past that. Not even Hugo Chavez has been as aggressive as this bunch.

The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling

2010-04-23T14:07:00.003-03:00

I mentioned before how when I was a kid "they" said a piece of the Amazon Rain Forest "disappears" every day, and how when I was an adult it would be but a memory. With that in mind, I present "predictions" made during "Earth Day, 1970"

“We have about five more years at the outside to do something.”
• Kenneth Watt, ecologist

“Civilization will end within 15 or 30 years unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind.”
• George Wald, Harvard Biologist

“We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation.”
• Barry Commoner, Washington University biologist

“Man must stop pollution and conserve his resources, not merely to enhance existence but to save the race from intolerable deterioration and possible extinction.”
• New York Times editorial, the day after the first Earth Day

“Population will inevitably and completely outstrip whatever small increases in food supplies we make. The death rate will increase until at least 100-200 million people per year will be starving to death during the next ten years.”
• Paul Ehrlich, Stanford University biologist

“By…[1975] some experts feel that food shortages will have escalated the present level of world hunger and starvation into famines of unbelievable proportions. Other experts, more optimistic, think the ultimate food-population collision will not occur until the decade of the 1980s.”
• Paul Ehrlich, Stanford University biologist

“It is already too late to avoid mass starvation.”
• Denis Hayes, chief organizer for Earth Day

“Demographers agree almost unanimously on the following grim timetable: by 1975 widespread famines will begin in India; these will spread by 1990 to include all of India, Pakistan, China and the Near East, Africa. By the year 2000, or conceivably sooner, South and Central America will exist under famine conditions….By the year 2000, thirty years from now, the entire world, with the exception of Western Europe, North America, and Australia, will be in famine.”
• Peter Gunter, professor, North Texas State University

“Scientists have solid experimental and theoretical evidence to support…the following predictions: In a decade, urban dwellers will have to wear gas masks to survive air pollution…by 1985 air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one half….”
• Life Magazine, January 1970

“At the present rate of nitrogen buildup, it’s only a matter of time before light will be filtered out of the atmosphere and none of our land will be usable.”
• Kenneth Watt, Ecologist

“Air pollution…is certainly going to take hundreds of thousands of lives in the next few years alone.”
• Paul Ehrlich, Stanford University biologist

“We are prospecting for the very last of our resources and using up the nonrenewable things many times faster than we are finding new ones.”
• Martin Litton, Sierra Club director
“By the year 2000, if present trends continue, we will be using up crude oil at such a rate…that there won’t be any more crude oil. You’ll drive up to the pump and say, `Fill ‘er up, buddy,’ and he’ll say, `I am very sorry, there isn’t any.’”
• Kenneth Watt, Ecologist
“Dr. S. Dillon Ripley, secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, believes that in 25 years, somewhere between 75 and 80 percent of all the species of living animals will be extinct.”
• Sen. Gaylord Nelson
“The world has been chilling sharply for about twenty years. If present trends continue, the world will be about four degrees colder for the global mean temperature in 1990, but eleven degrees colder in the year 2000. This is about twice what it would take to put us into an ice age.”
• Kenneth Watt, Ecologist

O Bicho Vai Pegar

2010-04-19T10:58:00.006-03:00

O bicho vai pegar. It's a "gíria", and expression. It's also the name they gave to the animated film franchise "Open Season". O bicho vai pegar is the Brazilian equivalent of "The shits gonna hit the fan". This one needs a bit of explaining:

Sete, after three years in the first division of the state championship, was finally relegated this season. The first two years we spent the entire season in the relegation zone only to escape on the last day. This year we were relegated before the season even ended. Now, most every other team receives help from the "prefeitura", city hall. Not here. Most everything is just empty promises. The directors this year decided they had enough and made a statement. All around the stadium they painted in big block letters "City Hall does not help (promote) soccer in Garanhuns." This is gonna be a topic for some time to come around town!!

All I can say is at least I got my salary paid in full and on time every time I did a job for them these last two years, which is more than I can say for the first season

The Brazilian Barry White

2010-04-17T13:23:00.002-03:00

One silly way I amused myself when I first moved here was finding people "separated at birth". I took Brazilian figures, singers, politicians, actors, and looked for their "equivalent". This one, hands down, is my favorite. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Tim Maia, the Brazilian Barry White. An interesting bit of trivia, we share the same birthday (29 years apart). Hands down this is my favorite Brazilian singer.

communism mozzarella pizzaria

2010-04-17T07:28:00.003-03:00

For some reason, someone in Caxias do Sul, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of Brazil, Googled "communism, mozzarella, pizzaria" and ended up on my blog. If you got any theories I'd love to hear them.

For the record they were using Windows OS and a Firefox browser.

Huband Gives Bible to Wife's Killer in Court

2010-04-15T12:47:00.002-03:00

I don't know what to make of this..

Husband Gives Bible to Wife's Killer in Court

By Laura Italiano

(The New York Post) - A husband shocked a Manhattan, N.Y., court by giving his wife's murderer a Bible and encouraging him to save his soul, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

"God is going to be with you," Noel Pumarejo sobbed, his hand on a boxed bible and his eyes on David Andrango, 32, who stabbed his wife to death over $10,000 in missing gold when they worked together at an Upper East Side boutique three years ago.

"Just read this Bible, and come to him (Jesus), and save your soul. God bless you, David," he told the convicted killer.

The judge showed less mercy -- sentencing illegal immigrant Andrango, originally from Ecuador, to 25-years-to-life imprisonment.

The store where Sandra Pumarejo worked as a bookkeeper fired Andrango after he swiped $10,000 in raw gold -- but she promised not to call the cops if he would pay it back, and even helped him work out a restitution schedule.

Andrango stabbed her to death in the jewelry store days later, after paying only $400 back.

"I know that nothing will bring her back," Andrango said Monday, when given his own chance to speak.

"I didn't think very well before acting," he said, through a Spanish interpreter. "I've lost my family, my children. But I will keep you in my prayers forever, all of you," he told Noel Pumarejo.

"All of you. I can't look you very straight in the face. I am ashamed.

"Thank you for the Bible. I will take it with me all of the time. I will always read it," he added.

Noel Pumarejo was gracious about the man who murdered his wife of 19 years after the sentencing, saying, "Now I want for him to be saved, too. I don't care about the sentence. I just care for his soul."

Source: The New York Post

And now, for something completely different

2010-04-15T07:02:00.001-03:00

My name is René Rouco Machin.. Oh, it is very easy to understand, I want to be a human being

2010-04-14T11:10:00.002-03:00

I found a blog called The Voice of El Morro. It is one of several Cuban bloggers who are on the web now. From what I gather, he presents several people, their livesm their stories. here is one of them:

My name is René Rouco Machin, born on July 30, 1969. My parents left Cuba, they live over there in Arizona. I have children, I have a wife, I live here at number 88A Star Street, between Yumurí and Pinar del Rio, Parraga, Havana, Cuba. Come, I invite you, I would like to introduce my family.

On September 8, 1994, just around noon, I left on a raft from the East of Havana, from Guanabo beach, and after three days of poor navigation, when we thought we would die, a helicopter picked us up on the high seas and took us to a giant ship that looked like a city. It took us to Guantanamo Naval Base where we spent a few months. There I passed the lie detector test. Some people say false names and things, not me, I lay down and they attached some cables to me; but nothing more, I didn’t lie. They never tortured us or beat us, but what they did give us was some loaves of bread that were so enormous that I couldn’t eat the whole of them and I tried to hide them because of the habit of hoarding and because I was so sorry to throw away food so rich. But the Americans, they didn’t like that, they said that the food could spoil. You can clearly see they don’t understand the hunger my family suffered in Cuba.

At the end of that year, they sent me to Panama in a Boeing 227. That I remember well, it was the first time I had been in a plane, which was impressive. On arriving in Panama, they took us to the military base of Chiriqui, very near the famous Canal, where they assigned us to different apartments. I ended up in number 4 which was sponsored by Celia Cruz and Willy Chirino who helped us with clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc.. From that time, I hold a very beautiful picture and memory. Breakfast was given to us by a short Cuban who said he owned the store “The Machetazo” (“The Great Machete”). Awesome name, pal, and tremendous solidarity. And, if you let me, today I would like to thank everyone who helped us without a second thought, especially the daughter of Willy Chirino and Celia Cruz, whom I have always in my heart.

After a year and a day of being on that base in Panama, they gave us American residency for being under U.S. patronage. Days later, they told us that those who would voluntarily return to Havana would have no problems, the government would not retaliate against us, and that, when we went to the American Embassy in Havana, they would give us political asylum and we could leave Cuba without any problems.

My son was then a year old, I missed him, I was 23. So I did not think about it and, of over 32 thousand Cubans on U.S. bases who had left on a raft, I was one of the 756 who voluntarily returned. But arriving at Jose Marti airport, they took us directly to Combinado prison. I was released after 20 days, yes; but from that day I have not been left alone. I want to leave this country so that no one reports me to a police station, that they don’t hit me or imprison me for the sole reason of being black, or ugly. I want to live and smile like everyone else, to work, to make love to my wife without having to be ashamed of not having a penny, I want to take my family to eat at a restaurant, I want to say freely what I think without fear of being wrong or of not being right. I want … Oh, it is easy to understand, I want to be a human being.

Sete makes the National News.

2010-04-06T08:19:00.002-03:00

In the four years I have been here in Garanhuns I have worked in some way, shape, or form with Sete de Setembro, the local team. The first two I was in the front office and the last two I have worked on game day. These last two I have worked the gate that separates the "arquibancada" (the seating area) from the playing field. On the one hand I get to be right up close, any closer and I would be on the field, On the other, since I control access to who gets on the field, I have to spend a good part of the game telling people "No, you can't come in". It gets to be a problem when I know who the person is, but the person does not have the proper credentials to get in. For example, there is a local radio reporter who does not have the credentials from the Pernambuco Soccer Federation. I know this guy is a reporter, I know he is there to cover the game, but what can I do. The game marshal says only those with the proper credentials get in and I have to keep the gate closed and not let the guy in. Then there are those who just want to get in and ask a player for a shirt or something. It can be stressful if I don't keep my mindfulness.

Anyways, in those four years I have seen a lot. I have seen fans throw chairs onto the field. I have seen two fighting roosters go at it minutes before the game starts. Once two dogs ran onto the field and started copulating mid-game. I thought I had seen everything till Sunday.

Now, understand that our local team is one of three teams fighting for one spot to avoid relegation to the second division of the state championship. Sunday we were playing one of those two teams, Vera Cruz, from Vitoria de Santo Antão. After a lackluster game, Sete scored and held a 1-0 lead in the closing minutes. Now, the stadium lights have been a problem for some time now. When they turned them on, the bottom row (it's two 3x3 sets of lights) did not turn on. Vera Cruz scored what seemed to be a goal, but the ball ended up OUTSIDE the net. The ref first signaled goal, but since he saw the goalie had walked around to get the ball, he came in for a closer look. He saw no openings in the net, so he waved off the goal.
score remains 1-0. Just a side note here, this is the second time this same team, Vera Cruz, has a legitimate goal waved off. They had a goal taken away three years ago.

So the game continues. Now remember I told you the stadium lights had not properly turned on all the way. One of the stadium workers decided to turn off the lights completely and turn them back on, hoping they would all come back correctly. At this point the ref stops the game while they warmed up. He added the extra time and in the final minute, Vera Cruz scores and the game ends tied 1-1. Needless to say both teams went after the ref after the game. Vera Cruz for having a goal taken away, Sete for feeling that more time then necessary was added to the end, and the tie helps no one. The ref has even admitted his mistake and said "oops, sorry.." This all made the NATIONAL news!! Jornal Nacional on Globo showed it all last night and William Bonner even added personal commentary to the whole thing. Vera Cruz wants to have the game annulled, which is easier said then done. Having a marriage annulled by the Catholic Church is easier then getting a game annulled.

I wonder if Guy Fawkes and Judas are one and the same

2010-04-05T10:05:00.002-03:00

An interesting Easter time tradition here in Brazil is the "Judas Doll". A dummy (a doll, not the village idiot) is dressed up and people in the neighborhood beat on it with sticks, stick firecrackers in him, and sometimes light him up. A lot like I figure Guy Fawkes day must be like. I saw two on my street yesterday when I took the dog out for a walk.

Bloggar Garanhuns

2010-04-03T16:02:00.004-03:00

This morning I went to a very interesting event called BLOGGAR. A clever play on words, GAR are the initials for Garanhuns, and a Blog, well you know what that is. The event brought together local and regional bloggers for an exchange of ideas. While many of those already knew each other previously, some were simply "online" acquaintances. The idea is to help everyone produce a nice looking blog, maximize reach and audience, and for those interested in making some $$, getting ads on to the site. Today was pretty much an overview of the blogging world, with ideas to hold future similar events. I mention this because maybe the other ex-pats may want to consider holding a similar event where you live. I will advise again when we hold our next one and let you guys know how it goes.

Letter from Cuba

2010-04-01T16:16:00.002-03:00

This "joke email" is making the rounds in Brazil. I translated it and posted it. It would be funnier if it wasn't so realistic. At least some here get the irony..

All the family in Cuba was surprised when a coffin arrived from Miami with the corpse of a beloved aunt. The body was so tight in the coffin that her face was pasted on the crystal display ... When they opened the coffin they found a letter stuck to the clothes with a pin, which read:

'Dear Mom and Dad:

I am sending you the remains of Aunt Josefa to do her burial in Cuba, as she wanted. Sorry for not being able to accompany her, but you will understand that I had spend so much on all the things, and take advantage of the circumstances.

You will find inside the coffin, under the body, the following:

9 cans of Bumble Bee tuna,
10 8oz bottles of shampoo and conditioner Paul Mitchell
12 jars of Vaseline Intensive Care (very good for the skin. It is not for cooking!)
12 tubes of Crest toothpaste,
12 toothbrushes,
10 cans of good SPAM (they are from Spain)
4 cans of sausage El Miño.

Share with the family, no fights!

On her feet are a pair of new Reebok shoes size 39 for Joseíto (it's for him, remember when Uncle Pupo died he didn’t receive anything and cried for weeks).

Under the head there are 4 pairs of new socks for c Antony’s children of, they are of different colors (please, I repeat, no fighting!). She is wearing 15 sweaters Ralph Lauren, one is for Robby and the other for the children and grandchildren.

She also uses a dozen Wonder Bra’s (my favorite), divide among women;

Also there 20 Revlon nail polish removers that are in the corners of the coffin. The three dozen panties Victoria's Secret should be distributed among my nieces and cousins.

Our dear aunt is also dressed with nine Docker's pants and 3 pair’s of Levi jeans. Dad, stay with one of each and the others are for boys. The Swiss watch Dad asked me for is on the left wrist. She is also using the jewelry mom asked (bracelets, rings, etc.).

The collar she is using is for cousin Rebecca, and also the rings that she has on her feet. The eight pairs of Chanel stockings that she wears are to be shared between the neighbors and friends, or if you want, sell it (please do not fight for these things, do not fight).

The dentures put in auntie's mouth are for Grandpa, who even though does not have much to chew, with these it will be easier (they were very expensive).

The bifocals are for Alfredito because they are the same prescription he uses, and also the hat on her head. The hearing aids she has the ears are for Carola. They are not exactly what she needs, but use them anyway because they are expensive.

Auntie's eyes are not her own, they are made of glass. Take them out and you will find the gold chain for Gustavo and a diamond ring for Katiuska’s wedding.

The platinum wig, with golden reflections, which she is wearing is also for Katiuska, which will shine, beautifully on her wedding day.

With love, your daughter

Carmencita.

PS1: Please, make an outfit to wear her aunt's funeral and hold a Mass for the repose of her soul, because she really helped even after her death. As you noticed the coffin is made of good wood (resists termites) you can take it apart and fix the feet of Mama's bed and other home repairs.

The glass coffin serves to frame abuelita’s photograph that years ago needed replacing. With the lining of the coffin, which is white satin (U.S. $ 20.99 a meter) Katiuska can make her wedding dress.

In the joy of these gifts, do not forget to dress to her for funeral!

With love,

Carmencita ..

PS2: With the death of Aunt Josepha, Aunt Blanca fell ill. Make requests in moderation. A bicycle will not fit or neither will 1968 Lada carburetor, nobody’s even heard of that here.

Do they give Pulitzer's for Headlines?

2010-03-30T06:58:00.002-03:00

I found a great site that makes up a good chunk of my twitter feed. Here is today's post, which is one of the greatest thing's I have ever seen.