Friday, December 29, 2006

New York City winter




Prior to arriving here in NYC, I thought, "Come on - there is no way this city is better than Tokyo, Paris or London. Maybe it's just hyped".

Dumb me.

It is so much better than any of the previous.

Times Square can't really be compared to anything - It even dwarfs Shibuya, Champs Elysees and Piccadilly Circus (the closest matches).

The assortment of bars and restaurants is unbelievable.

Shopping is just another piece of entertainment, even for the most crowd-averse of beings.

The vibe, ... oh the vibe. It feels as though the whole city has a beating heart, a living soul, an edge. An overwhelming edge.

But the people live up to billing of being a little bit rude.

Friday, December 22, 2006

2006 - music, for me

Time for the famous "The Best of"

Albums I got ahold of this year, heard from beginning to end and have entered my all-time greatest:

1. The Revolution Will Not Be Televied, Gil Scott-Heron

2. At War With The Mystics, The Flaming Lips
3. Carioca, Chico Buarque
4. Under the Iron Sea, Keane
5. His Band and The Street Choir, Van Morrison
6. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
7. Cartola (2o LP), Cartola
8. The Best of Fela Kuti
9. Perfil, Adriana Calcanhoto
10. Astral Weeks, Van Morrison


Top Songs - 2006 discoveries
- "Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung" - The Flaming Lips
- "Lady Day and John Coltrane" - Gil Scott-Heron
- "What's Happening, Brother?" - Marvin Gaye
- "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" - Gil Scott-Heron
- "Atlantic" - Keane
- "Dura na Queda" - Chico Buarque
- "Preciso me encontrar" - Cartola
- "Street Choir" - Van Morrison
- "Inverno" - Adriana Calcanhoto
- "Bole Chudiyan" - Kavita


Still heard a lot of:
- "Woman of the Ghetto" - Marlena Shaw
- "Somewhere only we know" - Keane
- "The Hardest Part" - Coldplay
- "Venus in Furs" - Velvet Underground
- "Inner City Blues" - Marvin Gaye
- "Roads" - Portishead

Sunday, December 17, 2006

The UK travel journals - part IV

West Ham United 1 x 0 Sheffield United

Upton Park, East London.

The game from which Tevez ran away.

I was there.



The UK travel journals - part III

One of the greatest moments of my trip was a quick yet interesting visit to the headquarters of my favorite paper, The Guardian, so often quoted in here.

That was all thanks to the lovely Liane Katz, now Liane Dabbous after marrying my good mate from Insead, Alex. While in a lunch with them I found out that Liane is the editor of Guardian Unlimited Travel! I could not refuse an offer to visit, which I did on my way back to Heathrow from Luton.

Follows some pics taken to prove!


Me (yes I'm chubby these days)


Liane, thank you!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

The UK travel journals - part II

So the first Englishman I talked to on this trip was the driver that went to pick me up at Heathrow. His name is Ken and he drives a Volvo sedan with cream leather interior. Nice.

The 30-minute chit-chat on the way to Harpenden is, as expected anywhere in the world, revolving around weather, football and beer. So the weather is dreadful (it really is, I have to say) in spite of the pilot of my plane affirming it was a 'mildly warm' (sic) morning in London at amazing 12 degrees - yay.

The conversation got going when he noticed I really followed the Premiership. While I got into details of Liverpool's weekend match against Boro, he remarked that he doesn't really follow the first division which, in his words, is getting 'wretched by money'. His football passion was actually League Two (fourth division), in which his hometown team played: Wycombe Wanderers.

Ken also convinced me that Magners cider was the best British drink at the time. I had no argument at first, but later conceded. It is great. Much better than Blackthorne which was till this trip my favorite cider, but which now I rate as too 'gazzy'.

The UK travel journals - part I

Having been to Heathrow twice before, I certainly did not rate it among the best airports I had been to, but until I arrived there once again I wasn't quite sure why that was. Now I remember.

Upon arriving in there, I feel like I'm going to prison. Its tight, cornered walkways are crowded, and the low ceiling makes it hard for the body odor coming from the passengers to escape. And judging from what I smelled, the deodorant in Ghana and India is not of the highest quality - flights from Accra and Mumbai picked up their luggage in the same belt I did.

Architecturally, one can't even say that Heathrow has its moments. There is no grandeur, no spacious lounges, nothing to alleviate the fact that you have just been double-digit hours in a long-haul flight. Colors are dull, with the shades of cement gray, rubber black and unpolished metal only being disturbed by the yellow signs that indicate Flight Connections - in agressive serif font, so uncommon in large banners of that type.

Is it so unpleasant for British people to head back to their country, and be reminded of their dreadful weather, food, and women (not all of them though...), that they had to build an unwelcoming airport too?

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Why I've been out

I've been in the UK for work since Nov 20. Scarce internet access. But soon will be back and intend to post my travel diaries.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Google maps

maps.google.com já cobre o Brasil, inclusive com mãos de direção. Também dá pra colocar os mapas de ruas em cima do Google Earth. É impressionante.

Google vai dominar o mundo.

Ou melhor, já domina.

Monday, November 13, 2006

All is not lost...


I lay on the couch at my girlfriend`s place and watched Arsenal v Liverpool while she took a nap on my lap. On one of the occasional waking-ups she had, she witnessed Mark Gonzalez receive a ball from an Alonso steal on the edge of the area, then neither cross nor shoot - just do an utterly shitty kick aimed at nowhere - which prompted her to exclaim "Jesus, why do you support this team? They are so crap"

I did not want to start some ellaborate musings on why I have become such a fierce, addicted supporter of LFC. But she actually had a point - Liverpool played really bad at the Emirates. To be fair, at the beginning of the match, circa Crouch`s disallowed goal, it was not that bad. Finnan cleared brilliantly at Henry's foot and made everyone proud. Kuyt came back to chase balls and a couple of his speculative shots were thrilling. But... still it wasn`t like when we play at Anfield.

So what has been happening?

Truth: Away form has been dire.
Home: Played 6, Won 5, Draw 1, Lose 0.
Away: Played 6, Won 0, Draw 1, Lose 5.

But: Away fixture list was the toughest it gets.
Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, Everton and Bolton are, indeed, the worst places to go to. Of course, if you wanna be a champion, you gotta be able to steal some points from the big guys at their homes, but it`s not like we were being outclassed at Watford.

Having said that, Man U thrashed Bolton at the Reebok, and Everton lost at home to Villa. And 0-3 scorelines are always embarassing.

Truth: New squad members are struggling to adapt
This is not the year when we`ll see the best of Gonzalez, Fabio Aurelio, or Paletta. Just see how much Agger has improved from hsi start.

But: What's going on with Gerrard?
The captain is the person of whom it was expected to lead the team in situations like yesterday. But his positioning leaves him as a peripheral, sometimes nonchalant figure.

Truth: We'll miss Sissoko
Any team would miss the best anchor midfield in the world these days (I dare people pointing me a better one. He's fitter and more effective than Makelele, Gattuso, Gilberto, Edmilson....)

But: Who's his replacement?
Oh Rafa, now we curse the day when you let Didi Hammann, the Kaiser, the German Shepherd, leave. He was so important at Istanbul and Cardiff. Now Zenden makes do at the centre, and that way we won't go far.

Friday, November 10, 2006

"America..... f*** yeah!"

www.borgenproject.org

Very Interesting. I stumbled into this while reading

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Development_Goals

where by the way I ended up while reading

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bolton

which i was reading out of curiosity after getting astonished by

cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/10/bolton.congress/index.html

[browsing is cool].

Some parts that try to link the story:

"THE BORGEN PROJECT IS BRINGING U.S.
POLITICAL ATTENTION TO SEVERE POVERTY.
The plan to end world hunger is underway and agreed to by every nation on earth. Are you ready to force U.S. leaders to achieve the Millennium Goals?"
(from the Borgen Website)

"Bolton, (...) interim U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (...), began his term by laying out a list of wanted amendments to details of the 2005 World Summit to be held in New York City in September 2005. These included stopping the UN use of the term "Millennium Development Goals"."
(from Wikipedia)

"Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee (...) said he would block Bolton's nomination.

Sen. George Voinovich (...) read a list of complaints by Bolton's subordinates who said he had a reputation of bullying his colleagues, taking facts out of context and exaggerating intelligence.

Carl Ford, the former chief of the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, called Bolton "a quintessential kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy" and a "serial abuser" of subordinates."
(from CNN)

So this guy is what Mr Bush is sending to tackle the Millenium Goals. Oh boy. Thank god they just changed the Congress.

Things like this amaze me - how much internal American problems end up impacting the whole world.

This is why I stayed up late watching the vote count live on CNN last Tuesday.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Train stations

I like train stations a lot. They're great for those moments when you wanna remain anonymous among the crowds.
So I was brosing and found some B-side pics on the topic. I mean, pictures I took but probably did not publish before.


Me in Frankfurt Hauptbanhof. Liked that. Huge. But honestly, less impressive than Tokyo's Shinjuku or Paris's Gare de Lyon (no pics from those though, sorry)


Berlin U-Bahn Hallesches Tor.


Main exit of Canary Wharf station. One of my favorite own pics ever. Yes this one is an A-side. Hence the deja vu.

Monday, November 06, 2006

What I'm listening to

"Hamburg Song"
Keane


I
Don't wanna be adored
Don't wanna be first in line
Or make myself heard
I'd like
To bring a little light
To shine a light on your life
To make you feel loved

No,
Don't wanna be the only one you know
I wanna be the place you call home

I lay myself down
To make it so, but you don't want to know
I give much more
Than I'd ever ask for


Will
you see me in the end
Or is it just a waste of time
Trying to be your friend

Just shine, shine, shine
Shine a little light
Shine a light on my life
Warm me up again

Fool,
I wonder if you know yourself at all
You know that it could be so simple

I lay myself down
To make it so, but you don't want to know
You take much more
Than I'd ever ask for


Say a word or two to brighten my day
Do you think that you could see your way

To lay yourself down
And make it so, but you don't want to know
You take much more
Than I'd ever ask for

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Looming

"(...) poderemos ter, em 2006, uma Libertadores com um nível de rivalidade jamais visto para o torcedor brasileiro: Vasco e Flamengo, Inter e Grêmio e São Paulo e Santos. Para deleite absoluto e eterno da rede Globo! E, por que não, da tradição do futebol brasileiro."
(trivela.com)

Monday, October 30, 2006

Olympic timber

A "green conscience" article.

Papua's ancient rain forests have recently come under a great threat of deforestation after the Chinese government has placed an order of 1 billion US dollar or 800,000 cubic meters of the threatened merbau (intsia spp) rainforest timbers, to be used in constructions for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Jap food

duas recomendações de comida japonesa em SP:

Sushi Isao
R da Glória, 111 1. andar Sala 12
Liberdade

Esquema "festival de sushi" onde o melhor não é o sushi, são os sashimis fresquíssimos, os camarões gigantes empanados (com molho coreano), o gohan quentinho, as ostras geladinhas, e, claro, o ambiente totalmente japa. Faixa de preço de uns 50 reais a conta.


Nagayama
Rua Bandeira Paulista, 369
Itaim

Não é o bar, na esquina; é o restaurante do lado. Se eu fosse vc resistia aos sashimis (bem bonitos por sinal) e pedia direto um tempura udon. Eu só comi udon bom assim em Tóquio. Acho que não preciso dizer mais nada. A conta sem caipirinha de sake deve sair uns 60 reais.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Vintage Hyypia

From Liverpoolfc.tv messageboard

"Rather than join the sniping about Zenden, Crouch, whoever... I thought I'd raise a glass to a true Liverpool legend.
A flawless performance tonight from Sami. Won every header, but not just won the headers, won them commandingly. Every pass perfect and at least two crucial and absolutely immaculate challenges. Top drawer in every respect and very far from being past it (regardless of the strength of the opposition).

But not just tonight. Seven and a half years, nearly 400 games - an inspirational captain for many of them. A model professional in how he conducts himself both on and off the pitch.

Remember last season... Sami's head split open...sprints off the pitch for stiches...sprints back on with a huge bandage on and immediately leaps like a salmon to clear the danger at a corner with a thumping header.

Remember the 4th minute against Juventus in the Champions League quarter final...what a volley.

Remember the treble season, 58 matches played and not a single booking.

Remember 2 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 2 European Super Cups, 2 Charity Shields, the UEFA Cup and that night in Istanbul. Quite probably the greatest red never to have won a league title."

Posted by PlasticGloryHunter 18 October 2006 09:54 PM

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Bold statements

Como diria meu tio, tem 4 coisas que deveria ser proibido tentar convencer os outros a fazer: mudar de partido, mudar de religião, mudar de time, e comprar produtos Amway (rs).

Mas me sinto na obrigação de externar minha posição nesta eleição tão importante para o meu país.

Acho enganoso tomarmos a nossa decisão de voto com base nos "rótulos" que a mídia e os partidários mais aguerridos ficam nos empurrando goela abaixo:
- Os pró-Alckmin levam a discussão pro campo do "competente" contra o "incompetente", do "ético" contra o "corrupto"
- Os pró-Lula insistem no "do povo" contra "da elite", "social" contra "reacionário"

Lula não é tão incompetente assim, e nem Geraldo é tão reacionário; da mesma forma, Geraldo não é tão ético assim, e Lula não é tão "do povo". Poderia escrever parágrafos e parágrafos a respeito, mas não é o caso.

A pergunta que importa é: já que os candidatos são tão parecidos, como tomar a decisão?

Pra mim (que votei Cristovam no primeiro turno), a decisão é entre modernidade e retrocesso. Entre mérito e clientelismo. E nesse caso a escolha é Alckmin. Votar em Lula é perpetuar erros, e se enganar que estamos melhorando.

Votar em Lula é perpetuar o clientelismo - a prática da política de favores, de toma-lá-dá-cá, de esmola pro pobre em troca de voto. Lula infestou a administração pública com "companheiros", ex-sindicalistas que nada ou pouco entendem de gestão e ficam cumprindo papel de Rainha da Inglaterra nas empresas públicas, loteando cargos e decisões. Práticas de administração pública no Brasil seriam consideradas abomináveis nas empresas de ponta do país, e ainda assim persistem sob as vistas grossas do Presidente.

Votar em Lula é ir na contra-mão da eficiência estatal. Estado eficiente não é Estado mínimo - é Estado que sabe gastar. Nem quero entrar na discussão do Aerolula, por exemplo; vamos falar de inchaço da máquina. Claramente o Brasil tem mais servidores públicos do que precisa. É por isso que os impostos são tão altos, é para custear essa estrutura. Estado forte não é Estado inchado - é estado bem desenhado e com instituições sólidas. E Lula não tem feito nada pra levar o Brasil nessa direção.

Votar em Lula é se enganar que estamos ajudando os pobres, quando na verdade tapa-se o sol com a peneira. Lula gasta com a esmola do Bolsa-Família mas não propõe solução para desenvolver o Nordeste economicamente. Não acho que o Bolsa-Família deve acabar (o nosso problema de distribuição de renda é tão grave que exige soluções drásticas), mas queria ver uma solução de médio-longo prazo para a pobreza sendo desenvolvida em paralelo. Lula não tem nenhuma.

Votar em Lula é se enganar que estamos indo contra o "demônio neo-liberal". Lula não baixou as taxas de juros de maneira significativa para promover o desenvolvimento, mesmo com a economia mundial em expansão. FHC, em contrapartida, aumentou juros pois teve que lidar com sucessivas crises econômicas de âmbito global (México, Rússia, Ásia, Argentina). Lula não entende nada de macroeconomia e só pensou em não "incomodar o mercado".

Votar em Lula é se enganar que a política externa é de sucesso. Vou até dedicar mais parágrafos a isso, pois é impotante. Capa da revista The Economist da semana passada falava que Lula cada vez mais perde espaço para o louco Chávez no jogo geopolítico. E não me venham falar que a The Economist foi comprada pelo PSDB... (essa foi a Veja - e essa é um lixo mesmo).

O Brasil passou a ser menos relevante mundialmente, como demonstrado pelas candidaturas ignoradas nas votações para secretário-geral da OEA, da OMC e de vaga no conselho de segurança da ONU. Evo Morales humilhou o Brasil ao tomar as refinarias da Petrobrás - e Lula ainda disse que o cara tava no direito dele! Só porque é mais um "companheiro", Lula não quis bater de frente. Até o Kirchner demonstrou muito mais culhão do que Lula jamais teve, ao decretar moratória e sair ganhando.

Outro argumento frequente dos petistas é que Lula investiu no Mercosul. Vamos acordar para o fato que o Mercosul está falindo!!! Bloco econômico de sucesso é aquele onde os paises integrantes se unem para serem mais fortes no tabuleiro global. E o que houve no Mercosul? Argentina e Uruguai estão colocando cada vez mais sanções aos produtos brasileiros, e vão fechando acordos bilaterais com os EUA. O Chile, que seria um ótimo parceiro, debanda e fecha mais acordos bilaterais ainda! Até o celebrado Celso Amorim, no fim das contas, negociou "tão bem" que a Rodada Doha da OMC foi pro espaço. Ou seja, perdemos infinitas oportunidades de vender mais nossos produtos, mas "mantivemos nossos interesses soberanos"... zzzz....

Como prova de que não está funcionando o Mercosul, basta ver que, ao invés de se unirem, as indústrias calçadistas de Brasil e Argentina se digladiaram, e agora ambas estão minguando por causa da concorência chinesa. Só em Novo Hamburgo-RS 20.000 pessoas perderam o emprego porque as fábricas fecharam. 20.000! É mais que a fábrica da Volks em SBC.

A discussão Lula-Alckmin também não é sobre economia; acho que a essa altura ninguém mais se ilude com isso. No fundo, ambos buscam a mesma orientação econômica, que é a social-democracia. Aliás sugiro ler um pouco sobre social-democracia no link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy

Corrupção, não dá pra garantir que não vai haver. Aliás, infelizmente, o mais provável é que continue havendo - 4 anos é muito pouco pra acabar com um mindset de 5 séculos (novamente sugiro ler "Raízes do Brasil" do Sérgio Buarque de Hollanda). Mas não votar em Alckmin porque abafou CPIs e votar em Lula após a quebra do sigilo do caseiro é, no mínimo, hipocrisia.

Por fim, queria acabar com esse mito de que privatização é coisa do demônio. Telebrás privatizada significou melhora gigantesca na prestação de serviços de telefonia. Vale prvatizada criou uma companhia "classe-mundial" ao invés de um elefante branco. Banespa privatizado tem aumentado o crédito no Estado ao mesmo tempo em que presta melhor serviço. E com essas companhias tendo mais lucro, elas pagam mais imposto e o Brasil ganha; elas sendo estatais inchadas, NÓS é que temos que pagar impostos pra sustentá-las. Querer ficar com as estatais é que nem um pai que não quer que o filho saia de casa porque não quer que ele saia da sua vista.

Se eu acho que Alckmin é perfeito? Não!!! Longe disso. Não tem nem cara de estadista. Mas ele é uma aposta pela modernidade do Estado, por um Brasil que funciona, e que, funcionando melhor, pode prestar serviços básicos de muito mais qualidade; funcionando melhor, tem economia mais forte, com mais empregos e portanto mais renda, sem precisar de esmola pra ninguém. Eu acredito nesse círculo virtuoso e é isso que me fará votar nele.

Também tornaram-se vazios os argumentos de votar no Lula "pela causa", pelos "trabalhadores". Esse argumento é totalmente válido para votar na Heloísa Helena. Lula e seus amigos só querem transformar Brasília na sua casa-grande.

Monday, October 09, 2006

Woman of the ghetto

Possibly my favorite song in all time.

There is a great review about it on
http://shakeyourfist.blogspot.com/2006/09/woman-of-ghetto.html

Here goes my personal transcription of the lyrics.


Woman of the ghetto (live version 1973)
Marlena Shaw
lyrics

(ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging...)
(la-la-la-la-la-la-la, ...)

I was born, raised in a ghetto
I was born and raised in a ghetto
I'm a woman, of the ghetto
Won't you listen, won't you listen to me, legislator?

(ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging...)

How do you raise your kids in a ghetto?
How do you raise your kids in a ghetto?
Do you feed one child and starve another?
Won't you tell me, legislator?

Enthralled through
I know that my eyes ain't blue
But you see I'm a woman
Of the ghetto

I'm proud, free,
Black, that is me
But I'm a woman of the ghetto

(ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging...)

How does your heart feel late at night?
How does your heart feel late at night?
Does it beat with shame, or does it beat with pride?
Won't you tell me, legislator?

(na-na-na-na-na-na-na, ...)

Puts me in the mind of,
come and cross the water in a boat
Chained, tied, together

They said, "no, no, they're really not man, and women,
just chain 'em up, tie 'em up, chain 'em up, tie 'em up,
chain 'em up, tie 'em up, work, work, work"
There's where the movement came from

Say no, no...

My children learned just the same as yours
As long as nobody tries to close the door
They cry with pain when the knife cuts deep
They even close their eyes when they wanna sleep

Now peace, you say
is all that you ask
But self-respect is a separate task

You may be sitting up there
in your ivory tower
60 stories tall

I know that you may have checked out at least one ghetto
But I wonder have you lived there at all?

Places like Watts,
ah, Holland, tell me
Chicago, ah tell me
Washington got some too
I have been up on the mountains, I

And I'm free at last
I say I'm free at last
I've seen the children dying
And I've been one of the mothers who was crying

(ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging...)

I am a woman
I am a woman
I am a woman, yes I
I said that I am,
I mean that I am,
I'm the woman, I'm the woman, I'm the woman of the ghetto

Strong, true,
A woman
A woman

You can walk through the streets of the ghetto at night
Whole lotta pretty, some ugly sites
Along comes the sleek limousine
Say "hey baby I got ten...
Look at me, I'm clean"
So she takes a little dope
What the hell everybody got to go

I got a baby
I got a baby
I got a baby i want to feed and I'm not really giving it all

up, just a little ten-cent piece or two
Ah, the black woman...

But I ain't gonna raise your babies no more
I got a few on my own,
I wanna keep strolling,
I say I am a woman

gi-gi-gi-gi-ging, I am

I
I am
I am

Remember me
I'm the one who had your babies, I

gi-gi-gi-gi-ging, I am
I am
I am a woman
Of the ghetto

Woman,
I'm a woman, yeah yeah yeah
Just a woman...

(I liked it)
(Marlena Shaw!)

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Debate

So I'm watching the live TV debate between Lula and Geraldo.

And it's all as expected - Geraldo goes and asks about corruption, Lula comes and says that he is punishing people; Lula says that the former government only sold state companies (which he calls "state patrimony") while he is more concerned in investing in the "social side"....

But as I watch it, what i really wonder is - how much does a debate change things? Especially in this case.

Take my example - I'm gonna vote Geraldo. So I have a natural bias to take each of his arguments as solid and prepared, as well as to consider Lula a liar and an incompetent.

And then I can truly visualize some Lula voter in the Northeast thinking that Geraldo is asseptic and elitist, while Lula is trustworthy for being "from the people'.

Oh, sorry, then I remember Lula voters don't watch TV. Otherwise they wouldn't vote Lula for sure.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

just a quick train from Waterloo station and they're home

Noteworthy that 7 out of the 11 players that started Holland's match against Bulgaria today ply their trade in the Premiership.

For the record they started with Van der Sar; Bouhlarouz, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst; De Jong, Landzaat, Sneijder; Van Persie, Kuyt, Robben.

And why is Dimitar Berbatov on the pitch for Bulgaria? Wasn't he injured?

Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung

Running to the station holding hands
Now the volcano is flowing red
Something there will change us into sand

Now we'll be forever holding hands
Lava and tephra will form our bed
Now the royal flames of Pompeii bless
All our senses...

(The Flaming Lips)

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Travel and Living

Been recently hooked on Discovery Travel and Living.

I was never a huge fan of Discovery Channel or any of its branches, but after a special program on Cantonese Food on T&L can`t really stop watching it.

I realy like the specials they've got on food and the backpacking series. Makes me wanna move my fat ass from the couch and do something, whether it be turning on the stove or filling clothes in a rucksack.

Reminds me of my days as a budget traveler in New Zealand and Scandinavia.

( Plus they've got international poker championships. )

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

We couldn't care less

Ok - so last days till the election and it is not really the main subject on conversations. At least not for me. I'm more worried about the next Liverpool starting line-up.

I wouldn't say the election doesn't worry me - maybe I'm just resigned to watch the favourites win and everyone else around me is as well. Even in my favorite news websites election news less flashy than, say, Uefa Champions League, Daniella Cicarelli, stock markets, and the usual crime stuff.

Also noticeable is that there have been more news about the "scandal" about buying information on one candidate - one candidate from one state! - than the candidates' proposals. Probably because most candidates don't have concrete proposals... Even Alckmin doesn't have a proper economic plan, I read the other day. I guess candidates realized that people won't ask them about plans - even after they win! As much commonplace as it is, election time is all about the best-dressed, the nicest first-lady, hugging the kids and tra-la-la.

It makes me think of another thing I read - that the media these days are more busy trying to create and praise the so-called "celebrities" rather than actually confront and discuss issues that actually matter to the people. But then again, if the people couldn't care less about what supposedly matters to them, and just wanna be fed with sports digests and celeb gossip, let's give them bread and circus! Who cares if GDP doesn't grow? I mean, what is GDP again?

Or maybe I'm just reading too much into "Raízes do Brasil". I have been convinced that the damage done by our Portuguese colonization cannot be fixed and we're all damned to be lazy bastards. Myself included.

Let's just pray for the best.
(yet another typically Sebastianistic-Catholic-Portuguese catchphrase).

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Raízes do Brasil

Resolvi usar melhor meu tempo acordado em aviões (porque, na maioria das vezes, durmo mesmo) para ler livros, ao invés das revistas que, ultimamente, só me trazem informação inútil.

Comecei meio audacioso - peguei emprestado "Raízes do Brasil" do meu irmão. Não, o meu irmão não escreveu esse livro, é claro que estou falando do clássico da sociologia que Sérgio Buarque de Holanda (vulgo pai do Chico) escreveu em 1936. Para minha surpresa, encontrei um livro interessante de ler, que reserva momentos "ah é..." em cada página, e que ajuda a entender porque os brasileiros são assim, desse jeito, malandros, bon-vivants, misturados racialmente e por aí afora. O livro intimida um pouco com algumas palavras difíceis, mas em vários parágrafos é solto, proseado, factual, e a cada virada de página há uma explicação reveladora.

o mais legal é que, nesses 70 anos desde que o livro foi escrito, pouca coisa mudou - o brasileiro continua assim, malandro, celebrado inclusive em uma peça de teatro do Chico. Ou seja, Sérgio identificou algo que era verdade, e provavelmente explicou isso usando as causas certas.

Recomendo.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

The new Brazil

January 2005 I bought my first FourFourTwo magazine in a newsstand in Orchard Road, Singapore - a yellow cover written "The New Brazil - Meet Kaka, Robinho, Adriano and six other reasons to get you excited"

Apart from the dubious homosexuality in the headline, the magazine displayed a magnificent 15-page report that told details of these players that I myself didn't know. Apart from those three, they also profiled Juan, Julio Baptista, Elano, Renato, Diego, Luis Fabiano. The first three have since become regulars in the national team, while the latter, from whom maybe more was expected, have wandered in a bit of obscurity and sub-utilization by their teams.

Between that month and now, more young promises arose - Daniel Carvalho, Fred, Nilmar being the most well-known. In spite of that, the status of "unbeatable" achieved by the first team made it difficult for these oyoung talents to come to sight within time of the World Cup. So we ended up with a kind of highbrow team that failed to deliver, maybe because eberyone there was in a comfort zone and did not feel the pressure to deliver their best.

Given all that, I got extremely pleased by the national team's performance this afternoon against Argentina. For a lot of reasons - Usage of young players, defined tactics, freedom given to Robinho's creativity, and some more which I will not write now.

Suffice it to say I always dreamed of watching Brazil play two lines of four, British style. Elano is perfect for right-midfield, and Robinho as an in-and-out second striker is brilliant. Fred is also sniffing the goal in a more lethal fashion than his lurky predecessors, Ronaldo and Adriano. I wonder if we played Gilberto and maybe Renato in central midfield, Kaka on the right, Robinho on the left, ROnaldinho as in-and-out striker, and Adriano slotting home, if anyone's to stop us.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

What I'm listening to

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" Gil-Scott Heron

Excellent lyrics in this rap-meets-blues-meets-jazz 1970 album which is so up-to-date still today. Gil was clearly ahead of its time and influenced none less than Grandmaster Flash to turn hip-hop into a whole new music genre.

Though Gil's social criticism is as fiery as Flash's or even Public Enemy's - for instance, he complains about not affording a doctor while the government spends money to put a "whitey on the moon", and mentions racist behavior in several ocasion - his musicality is filled with subtlety and smoothness. Many of the tracks are followed by only a flute and some drums, sounding a bit like bossa nova at times.

My tag: Essential.

"Under The Iron Sea" Keane
Quality pop for bitter hearts that is perfect soundtrack for driving, flying, or working. The pianos and desperate vocals from the excellent previous album are still here, but now joined by stronger drums and more distorted guitars - Keane goes hard rock.

I was kind of disappointed by Coldplay's sequel to "A Rush of Blood..." and then was wary Keane couldn't match their masterpiece either. Guess what, they've done it.

My tag: Enjoyable.

"At War With The Mystics" - The Flaming Lips

Months after having bought this, I now fully comprehend the message here. I was looking for existentialist questions such as in "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" but this is a Michael Moore-style album. Half the songs have some reference to George W. Bush in a sense, and when you figure that out you think the other half also means something political.

A bit more experimental in guitars than the previous album, "Mystics" can frigthen at a first hearing for its awkwardness - but then you realize that every beat, every distortion is meant to put the listener in an agitated state of mind, one which incitates action. These days, after listening to the chorus in "The Wand" and "Haven't got a clue" I suddenly felt like joining a Greenpeace parade. "Every time you state your case the more I want to punch your face..."

My tag: Real life.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Finally! I was quoted by the Guardian

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1862725,00.html

Ctrl+F, "Pedro Fernandes"

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Keane

Estou ouvindo o novo CD do Keane, "Under The Iron Sea". Era difícil fazer melhor que "Hopes and Fears" mas eles se esforçaram e acho que conseguiram. É muito bom.

Friday, August 18, 2006

My Premiership season predictions

OK. I signed up for Liverpool's website premium access service so I'll be able to watch ALL of their games online. I even put a small bet on William Hill for Craig Bellamy to be top striker (at 21-1).

But none would be complete without my Premiership predictions.


Champions: Liverpool
I am serious. Our squad makes us definite contenders. Our attack has particularly improved so much - it'd already be great with Bellamy, Crouch and Fowler, but Kuyt is a cherry to the cake. Pennant and Gonzalez are real wingers, not midfielders-made-wingers like Garcia and Kewell. Sissoko is already better than Makelele, and, therefore, the best tackler around. And Chelsea will be all eyes on Champions League.

Champions League: Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs
Spurs have what it takes to make it into top 4 this year, even without Carrick. They still got a very consistent midfield in Zokora, Davids, Jenas and Lennon. And Keane/Defoe/Berbatov is a formidable strikeline by any standards.
Arsenal and Chelsea, there is no way both don't make it, so I guess Man U will be heading out of the elite this time around. Unless they hire Adriano and Hargreaves in the next couple of days.

Uefa Cup: Man U, Newcastle, Portsmouth
What? Portsmouth in top 10? Ya. I will cheer for Harry. Got fond of him last semester, mostly because of the signing of D'Alessandro I started following Pompey and they're a very likeable team. Plus they added Campbell and Kanu to Pedro Mendes, Gary O'Neil and co.

Blackburn, Everton and West Ham are my other predictions for the top half of the table.

Relegated: no clue
Obvious guess would be "Watford, Sheffield, Reading", but who knows. Villa is looking ahead for a dreadful season, and so are Fulham and Boro. But these three never seem to go deep down the table no matter how poorly they play.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Vote

Queria declarar meu voto dois meses da eleição.

Antes de mais nada, por que faço isso? Afinal o voto é secreto e é um direito meu mantê-lo assim.

Bom, faço isso porque acho interessante gerar debate, faço isso porque acho que não tenho falado tanto sobre o assunto como deveria, e porque queria deixar claro o que eu queria ver em um candidato. Vai que um deles lê....

O que eu quero ver é:

POLÍTICA

- Candidatos de plataforma social-democrata, e não liberais (i.e. que privilegiem distribuição igualitária de renda ao invés de geração indiscriminada de riqueza) - essa tá fácil, pois não tem nenhum liberal sério no Brasil

- Candidatos que preguem a reforma política - chega de voto obrigatório, chega de legendas de aluguel, chega de nepotismo, chega de inchaço da máquina

ECONOMIA

- Candidatos que dêem força para as micro e pequenas empresas

- Candidatos que tentem tirar do buraco regiões que estão economicamente na UTI (por exemplo, interior do RS)

- Candidatos que priorizem o turismo e a agricultura extensiva (dois setores onde temos inúmeras vantagens competitivas naturais)

ÁREA SOCIAL

- Candidatos que reestruturem o sistema educacional, preocupando-se em ensino fundamental de qualidade, com professores qualificados e bem-pagos, ao invés de discutir bobagens e desserviços como as cotas nas universidades

- Candidatos que dêem um basta na calamidade da segurança pública, pondo o exército pra resolver nossa guerra civil contra PCC e similares

Já tá difícil de achar candidato que se encaixe nessas 7 coisas ao mesmo tempo, então deixa eu parar por aqui se não fico louco.

Enfim, as of today, meus candidatos são:
- Presidente: Cristovam Buarque
- Governador: José Serra
- Senador: Eduardo Suplicy
- Deputados: voto de legenda - PSDB

Friday, July 28, 2006

El Obelisco

This is actually just a way to boast about the zooming properties of my camera. Both pictures were taken from the same point! (by the way, Hotel Republica in Buenos Aires, in front of the Obelisco).

Monday, July 24, 2006

£39,99

with short sleeves. long sleeves go for £49,99.

my brand-new object of desire is
Liverpool's new kit.

Friday, July 21, 2006

geeky gadgets

This post seems very geeky at first. But go to #1 in Consumer products (the self-assembling tent), that has to be the coolest thing I saw this year.

Business Week Top Design Products

Sunday, July 16, 2006

50 albums

Another post of the series "I-have-nothing-new-to-talk-about-but-read-something-amazing-at-The-Guardian-and-leave-the-link-here".

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1821230,00.html

Monday, July 10, 2006

Last piece of Cup punditry

Imitating a report from the

Guardian


Best player Zinédine Zidane. Whatever Materazzi said, the things Zidane did dressed in white in the four final matches put him in the same place as Maradona, above Cruyff and Platini, which means, definitely one of the greats ever. Fare you well.

Worst player Roberto Carlos. Did not attack, did not defend, failed miserably in the elimination goal and claimed it was not his fault. Next time he'd better not say 'there's an 80% chance Brazil wins'. Jackass.

Biggest gripe Asian and Central American football. There should be one place for each, and for the sake of diplomacy only.

Biggest joy Watch Argentina attack Serbia, Germany attack Ecuador, Spain attack Ukraine and Brazil attack Japan. That is the dictionary definition of flair.

Best match Argentina v Serbia. OK, I watched it in Buenos Aires so I may be a little bit biased. But it was, holy cow, amazing football.

Worst match France v Korea. I did not watch Switzerland v Ukraine and I was told it was worse. Lucky me. I only endured this white-against-pink thing because I was in an airport lounge at 3 am.

Best quote "Gilberto is playing so well, it's gonna be fucking hard to put Emerson back" - Parreira caught by TV lipsynch.

England in one word Anticlimax.

Team of tournament (4-4-2) Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Rafael Marquez, Grosso; Zokora, Frings, Ze Roberto, Zidane; Saviola, Podolski.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Planes

No. I'm not talking about my plans. It's really about airplanes.

First I talked to a friend these days (Michelle) who, recently, could not work for a full day, stuck first in an airplane and then in an airport because of bad weather.

It happened to me already, more than once actually, to get flight delays because of weather - especially early mornings going from São Paulo to Curitiba or Porto Alegre. Foggy cities are these - forget the stereotype of sunny beaches and bikini girls that is generally associated with the word Brazil. Porto Alegre, with its German/Italian descendants and its weather, is more like a suburb of London.

Anyway, as much as weather delays has bothered me in the past, I think it must happen so much more frequently in America, because of the "hubs". In South America, flights between small- to medium-sized cities are not frequent, so the majority of the flights are direct.

But in America (except for Southwest Airlines), all flights kind of converge to big airports first (the hubs, like Atlanta or Dallas) and then people connect to another small city. Like Michelle went from Miami to Little Rock via Dallas, which is a kind of a triangle in the map. Then, if the big hub has a problem, it is suddenly EVERYONE'S problem.

Here the delays are much more due to agressive targets of turnaround time set by the airlines. I've seen Gol, the low-cost carrier, land, let a full plane of people out, put another full plane of people in, and then takes off in SEVENTEEN minutes. Seriously. I've been told their target is 25 minutes, and their network is designed to that, but my POM classes taught me about variance in service time - and hence there are a lot of delays caused by late people, bags that don't fit as cabin luggage, wheelchaired guys, and so on.

Apart from the delays, Gol is pretty OK - I've flown easyjet in Europe and Gol is far better in my opinion. Though my friend Tim disagrees - a delay in a Gol flight he took made him miss an Europe connection and sleep in the Rio airport lounge for a couple of days.

Anyway, Gol has a general perception of being inferior to TAM (the other carrier), which I disagree - apart from the delays. Gol planes are newer and faster. Turnaround is faster. They have a great inflight magazine. Flights are 30% cheaper on average. I'm sending my Mom off on vacation to her native state in the Northeast in a Gol flight with no regrets.

Plus the stewardesses at Gol are hot and wear sexy clothes. Yoo-hoo.

(soundtrack - "What's happening brother", Marvin Gaye)

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Owen Hargreaves, man of the match

This was on the Guardian today and I felt like saying it too, because I couldn't agree more.
Copyrights, if I am infringing any, to Mr. Richard Williams.

Where, on Saturday, was the Englishman prepared to take control of the game as Zinédine Zidane would do in France's defeat of Brazil later that night? The only candidate was Owen Hargreaves, who both converted his penalty - the one Englishman to do so - and secured the man- of-the-match award with 120 minutes of non-stop tackling, intercepting, running and passing. Alone among his colleagues, he displayed a dynamism that seemed to come from within. What also makes him unique among the squad, of course, is that he has never lived in England. The two things may not be unconnected.

Before Hargreaves was born, his parents left Britain to make a new life for their family in Canada. They succeeded, and in so doing may have laid the mental foundation for his son's career. Owen Hargreaves arrived in Munich as a 16-year-old and began a long struggle to establish himself among the superstars in the first team at Bayern, in a country where he knew no one and had to learn the language from scratch. When times were difficult, when he was dropped or suffered injuries, his parents' example of ambition and self-sufficiency can have done him no harm.

Hargreaves may also have benefited from the Bundesliga's 34-match season and its mid-winter break. Whereas he faced up to Portugal's challenge with what the English like to see as their characteristic qualities of energy and doggedness, his native-born team-mates struggled to turn their talent and desire for success into the currency of coherent football.

Adieu les jeunes, allez les vieux

I have not much to say about yesterday's matches that has not been said elsewhere.

Maybe suffice it to say I cheered a lot, both for England and for Brazil.

Well there a couple more things I wouldn't miss saying.

England looked really bright in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. They created chances through slick passing and some timely, at times brilliant, intertwining between the midfielders. But then Rooney was out, and all that was left was counter attacking with a tired Gerrard on the left and an anxious Lennon on the right. I really don't wanna say much more about that game because it was really painful to watch Portugal take hold, and what a particularly bitter cherry on top to have Stevie miss the penalty.

Brazil, the same. To me, only 3 players leave this WC better than they came in: our outstanding centre-backs Lucio and Juan, and the man-for-all-seasons Zé Roberto. All else to be said is wasting time on undeserved topics.

Will cheer now for whoever wins between Portugal and France, for these teams have something Brazil doesn't: a real skipper, someone who leads the team by example, by deed, and by history. Figo and Zidane are by far my favorite players in the Cup. I had dismissed France here previously, but now I bow to the master. Voilá, Zinedine, definitely the best player ever since Maradona left.

There is a chance I do not write about World Cup football anymore. So my days as a wannabe pundit are over. I liked it. Made me feel good.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Relishing

It is a very exciting thought that 10 players involved in the 1998 finals will have the chance to meet again for a second contest.

At that evening in Paris, France's line up contained Barthez, Thuram, and Zidane, who are starters now. Trezeguet, Henry and Vieira were not first-choices.

For Brazil, the ubiquitous Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo started, with Emerson and Dida on the bench.

France's game was and still is revolving around Zidane being deployed behind the main strikeforce. The difference is that now Henry plays alone upfront (though being assisted by the excellent Ribery) and not conjured with Argentina-born Trezeguet.

Brazil's game, on the other hand, included two specialist sitting midfielders, two offensive midfielders (a passer in Leonardo and a carrier in Rivaldo), a fixed striker (Ronaldo) and another in a supporting role (Bebeto). In a sense, it stays the same, however with improved midfield players and no capabilty of either striker to play facing the goal instead of facing the play. Maybe if Robinho starts he'll resemble Bebeto's role in a better way.

But - before I miss the point - let's all anticipate a great match with a lot of tension and rivalry. Frenchmen, trust me, I think we want to beat you more badly than the Argentinians. And that is REALLY bad for you guys. 98 did not heal yet. Argentina 90 was healed already with Copa America, Confederations Cup and many other instances. But 98 was not.

Friday, June 23, 2006

You know what, we do like Ronaldo

I don't have children, but as expected I have parents, and as a child I used to think that the last thing I ever wanted to happen in my life was if my parents were disappointed in me. Like, if they ever looked at me and thought, "Jesus, he could've been so much more". I guess I wouldn't like to feel like that towards my future children either (but don't let them read this, I don't wanna be overbearing).

Why am I saying this? Well, it is a bit of how we Brazilians feel about Ronaldo. It's not that we don't like him; it's just that we know he is capable of doing a lot. He's raised his own bar so high we expect him to reach it again every time.

He is definitely not as fast as in 1998, but he is a hell of a better player. His vision and reading of the game improved by quantum leaps; he holds the ball in front of the area for long enough to distribute it the best way, or to time his shot until it cannot be missed. Adriano's goal against Australia and his own second goal today stand to prove.

As much as his namesake Ronaldinho dictates the game in midfield, Ronaldo is the valve in attack, the key decision maker that defines who will deliver the mercy shot at the keeper. He has become the Riquelme of the centre-forwards - a master of technique, guile and directness instead of the pacy virtuoso of the late 90's.

And Ghana without Michael Essien will be a great opportunity to keep showing that. Unless the coach resumes to the stupid formation that puts him and Adriano in the very same position.

---------

In 2002 Brazil played the third game with some reserves, having already qualified. We played in white shorts, and scored four goals; two of them by Ronaldo and one by the reserve left-back.

Same in 2006.

---------

I do like Australia. Maybe a Liverpool fan bias for Kewell, but I also think Brett Emerton is one of the best midfielders in this Cup (at least one of the most influential for his team) and Viduka is also looking very sharp. But Italy might prove a bit too much, especially without Emerton.

And why didn't Schwarzer play today for Christ's sake?

Anyway, I had bet before the Cup on Australia and Ecuador reaching the Last 16.

---------

I cannot start my day properly without reading World Cup Blogs at the Guardian.

Monday, June 19, 2006

My second round thoughts

My best and worse for the second round of World Cup matches.

Top three:

1. Maxim Kalinichenko
Who? Obviously it is the obscure reserve Ukrainian midfielder who happens to be a lookalike from LOST's Sawyer, unknown to the planet until he single-handedly destroyed Saudi Arabia (ok, not much of a strong opponent, I have to admit) eclipsing no less than Andriy Shevchenko. Bet we'll be seeing more of him in the next Champions League. And maybe Ukraine meets Brazil in quarter-finals, who knows....

2. Robinho
I wouldn't go so far to say he's better than Ronaldo already. And Ronnie surely deserves a lot of credit for his performance against Australia, when his ability more than compensated the enlarged waistline. BUT there is no doubt the team gets far more dangerous with Robinho. He should've scored once or twice against Australia - in the second goal, he hit the post - and we all remember what happened a year ago when he started alongside Adriano in the Confederations Cup. Well, some remember better than others. Like the Argentines.

3. José Pekerman
He is not the biggest gambler of the tournament because Marco Van Basten is there. But it is undeniable that betting on the questioned Abbondanzieri, Burdisso, Mascherano, Maxi Rodríguez and Saviola (against the more estabilished likes of, say, Lux, Zanetti, Verón, Kily González and Diego Milito) is paying off enormously. By far the most consistent, threatening and entertaining football being played in Germany is Argentine. Tanta gloria, tanto fútbol, desplegado por el mundo....

Worst three:

1. France
Uncroyable. I have to say that the only reason I endured watching 90 minutes of Korea 1-1 France was because I watched it at an airport lounge, with my flight 2 hours late, the TV was in front of me and I was too tired to move but too tense to sleep. Wish I had a magazine. France are dismal, dull, disorganized, uninterested, desolé and so forth. They started promisingly with one or two forays from Sagnol and a couple of runs infield by Malouda, plus Henry's goal, but that was it. A pity for Zidane, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a team without him draw with Togo and get back home - deservedly.

2. Drawing and seeding system
Unbelievable that the Ivory Coast is out and that either Ghana or the Czechs will be out, while either Korea, Switzerland or France will be in the Last 16. Blame the inexplicable Fifa team rankings and the seeding system. Maybe blame Pelé.

3. Sven-Goran Eriksson
What to say. Where is the holding midfielder? Why was Rooney rushed in? How come Downing and Lennon get in the field and do not receive balls? Why did you call up Walcott if you'd not play him for Christ's sake? Luckily for him they'll play Ecuador in last 16 before the winner of Portugal v Holland in quarterfinals, who'd be the first REAL opponents since the beginning of qualifying.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Que Copa hein!

Excellent action so far. I'm thrilled by the quality of the matches and of the strikes. And it's also great that favorites are generally winning, and well. Generally.

My favorite World Cup things so far (not in order):
  • Ivorian defenders and defensive midfielders- short but quick and industrious. Will go far, definitely.
  • Tomas Rosicky - I can only dream of him playing alongside Henry, Fabregas, Hleb et al next season.
  • Kaka - when I said in 2002 he'd be better in his prime than Rivaldo in his prime, I was laughed at. Laugh now suckers.
  • Online narratives by The Guardian - a no-miss. Brit humor to its prime.
  • Pundit blogs by The Guardian - same
  • The Leipzig stadium - too bad it'll host only third division matches.
  • TV Terra: free online videos of best moments and goals one minute after the match - a blessing for workers. I can type in my spreadsheet and check Togo missing a handful of goals at the same time!!!!
  • Lastly: The Iranian pennant - a piece of a Persian rug! As the Guardian (brilliantly as always) put it,
It's not often that other countries are urged to follow Iran's lead, but in the world of football pennants, the Middle Eastern minnows are blazing an impressive trail. Before Iran's opening game against Mexico, captain Ali Daei received the lacklustre, traditional triangular number from Mexican Rafael Márquez. The Iranian, meanwhile, proudly handed over a huge, ornately decorated picture frame housing what appeared to be a bit of carpet with some squiggles on. Márquez looked a little embarrassed, like someone who'd brought a four-pack of Foster's to an ambassador's reception. Other teams should follow suit. When England play Trinidad & Tobago, David Beckham should ditch the Three Lions flag and give Dwight Yorke a picture of the tennis player scratching her backside, that one of the hunky man holding a baby, or, even better, a Jordan calendar.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

More World Cup predictions

Please note this is being written before the World Cup starts.

Today and maybe tomorrow I pick some games that will be very interesting to watch in the next couple of weeks. All in Brazilian time.

FOUR UNDERRATED GAMES

SWITZERLAND V KOREA REPUBLIC
Friday 23.06 Hanover (16:00)

Last match of the group, very likely that both teams will reach this point level on 3 points (having lost to France and beaten Togo).
Given that both squads are even, and known more for teamwork rather than individual talents, expect a lot of diligence and maybe a lot of goals.
My guess: Korea suffocates the Swiss and wins 2-1.


AUSTRALIA V JAPAN
Monday 12.06 Kaiserslautern (10:00)

Both have points to prove and a lot of expectation on their shoulders. The winner, if one comes up, will take on Croatia on a different spirit, with much greater likelihood to progress. The loser has to gamble it all against Brazil.
The fact that this is the first match of the group actually favors the likely winner vis-a-vis Croatia. They'll be able to plan their style of play much more accordingly.
My guess: Australia outmuscles Japan 2-1. But Japan`s goal will definitely be classy.


ECUADOR V COSTA RICA
Thursday 15.06 Hamburg (10:00)

Minnows, yes. Boring, nope. Both will enter HSV's stadium feeling certain they can win. Both will be all-out forward. Both defenses are kinda lame - maybe Ecuador's a bit less lame. Expect plenty of goals.
My guess: Ecuador wins 3-2, but please don't ask me who scores.


SPAIN V TUNISIA
Monday 19.06 Stuttgart (16:00)

An easy guess? Not so sure. Spain will come off scattered after a battle against Ukraine (though I truly think they can win), and Tunisia will have cruised past the Saudis in the first round.
Note that the North Africans are an experienced, organized, and even skillful team, who were African champions till last January. They will be tough to crack, but will also provide some entertainment like they did in last Confederations Cup.
And Spain will always be the most unpredictable team at a Cup.
My guess: a thrilling 2-2. Xabi Alonso scores from 30 m at minute 80-something when Tunisia leads 2-1.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

BBC World Cup predictions





I might be the biggest BBC pundit wannabe in the southern hemisphere.

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5020068.stm


Who will win the World Cup?

England. They are the only ones who can choke Brazil in the midfield. Some other teams have defenders good enough to cope with Ronaldo and Adriano - Italy and Argentina for instance - but when it comes to stopping supply, England can and will be decisive. There's a lot of strenght of character in players like Gerrard, Lampard and Terry, for instance, that does make an impact at that level. No one in Brazil - not even Emerson or Cafu - speaks out loud on the field like any of those three, or even like Gary Neville for that matter.

If not England, then Argentina, Brazil, Italy (in this order of likelihood) and no one else. Full-stop.

Team to watch

I'll go for Portugal here - they're not less strong than in 2004 and everyone knows how good Scolari is in the big stage.

In the "big guns" pool, I see Argentina and Italy doing good World Cups too in spite of their tough groups. Germany will make last 8 more due to lack of opposition than for merit.

Player to watch

I would have said Andriy Shevchenko before his injury. I'll choose then Kaka, who is more useful to Brazil than Ronaldinho, in my view.

Brazil has some tendencies to indulge in dull moments, especially when Adriano and Ronaldo get tired, or when Ze Roberto and the full-backs miss many passes; that is when Kaka's work rate and consistency are most fundamental, more than Gaucho's trickery.

And I think Steven Gerrard will end up as England's top scorer.

Surprise player

A couple of Mexican defenders are truly world class - especially keeper Osvaldo Sanchez and centre-back Carlos Salcido, both of whom I saw in action twice at the Libertadores this year. I think Mexico will end up between last 8 and semifinals, and much of that will be owed to a defence that, trust me, is much more than Rafael Marquez.

I also think Franck Ribéry in France, Cesc Fábregas in Spain and Javier Mascherano in Argentina will have their market values significantly increased after the Cup.

Surprise team

I used to tip Australia until recently, but Japan and Croatia will be tough to beat given what they've shown in pre-tournament games. I also used to think Ukraine would go far, but after warm-up games I'm not so adamant anymore they'd beat France or Korea comfortably at a last 16 tie.

So my strongest bet for surprise package will be Mexico, and the weirdest last 16 team will be Ecuador. As for the biggest losers in the group stage, Poland, Sweden, Holland, Switzerland.

What are you most looking forward to at the World Cup?

Betting a lot and mocking the loooooooooooooosers!!!!

Friday, May 26, 2006

Me on the BBC forum

I posted the following comment on a BBC Sport forum on "Who are the best players NOT going to the World Cup":

I have two sit-out starting 11s, one entirely made of Brazilian players, and the other, international. Notice how strong Brazil C would be:

Gomes (PSV)
Belletti (Barcelona)
Caçapa (Lyon)
Alex (PSV)
Fábio Aurélio (Valencia)

Rochemback (Middlesbrough)
Elano (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Daniel Carvalho (CSKA Moscow)
Diego (Porto)

Alex (Fenerbahce)
Mancini (Roma)

My international sit-out team:
Given (IRL)

Zanetti (ARG)
Samuel (ARG)
Hyppia (FIN)
Wome (CMR)

Veron (ARG)
Scholl (GER)
Recoba (URU)

Makaay (HOL)
Martins (NIG)
Etoo (CMR)

For the record, BBC's sit-out starting 11 is Given; Lauren, Jorge Andrade, Maldini, Pernía; Baraja, Pires, Quaresma; Giuly, Vieri, Etoo.

Monday, May 22, 2006

At war with the mystics

Tinha um crédito na Livraria Cultura do Shopping Iguatemi aqui em Porto Alegre, e no fim de semana queria passar lá e comprar um CD. Estava em dúvida entre Tim Maia Racional, o novo do Pearl Jam (com um abacate na capa), o novo do Chico ou algum dos novos da Marisa Monte.

Acabei comprando o novo do Flaming Lips - sim, novamente Flaming Lips. At War With The Mystics. Pink Floyd meets Beck meets Mutantes meets Moby meets Ziggy Stardust meets Sgt Peppers meets Pet Sounds --- peraí, já estou começando a achar que Flaming Lips é Flaming Lips e ponto! Se for começar a comparar fica louco.

Confesso que ainda não ouvi inteiro - assim como Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots tem um tempinho de adaptação antes de julgar, é um disco muito denso, com muitas mensagens e musicalidades. Não é como disco novo do U2 que dá pra gostar automaticamente.

Por enquanto gostei de "My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion" e "Vein of Stars". Ah, também lembra u pouco Stone Temple Pilots. Ok, ok, essa foi a última comparação.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

song on my mind

you're an accident
waiting to happen

you're a piece of glass
left there on the beach

well you tell me things
i know you're not supposed to

then you leave me
just out of reach.

(u2, "who's gonna ride your wild horses", achtung baby!, 1991)

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

My Stevie Wonder tracks

Não consigo parar de ouvir o CD customizado do Stevie Wonder que ganhei do meu amigo Tomas em dezembro.

Faixas:
"Love's In Need Of Love Today"
"Have A Talk With God"
"Village Ghetto Land"
"Sir Duke"
"I Wish"
"Knocks Me Off My Feet"
"Pastime Paradise"
"Summer Soft"
"Ordinary Pain"
"Saturn"
"Ebony Eyes"
"Joy Inside My Tears"
"Ngicuelela / Es Una Historia / I Am Singing"
"As"
"Another Star"

Toooooodas são ótimas! Ultimamente estou ouvindo muito "Summer Soft", mas já tive fases de ouvir no repeat "As" (que já mereceu post isolado no blog), "Another Star", "Knocks Me Off My Feet", "Love's In Need Of Love Today"...

thanks Tom!

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

composition

i'm actually really cheery tonight.


Two Englands


Possible starting line-up
























Counter-attacking option for the second half

Monday, May 08, 2006

Bold Sven

Oh yes. Sven was bold.

England's call up for the cup is shocking, to say the least. Especially considering their coach's historic conservativeness.

Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon in. Both below 20, none capped.

Shaun Wright-Philips and Jermain Defoe out. Both with several starts to their name.

Downing, Jenas and Hargreaves could be questioned but were hinted. The two teenagers, nay.

I thought about his selection for most of my day today - yes I did, I'm totally in World Cup mode these days - and I guess I got onto his thought process after all.

1. No Rooney or anything like him. So no useless heavy lads, let me take a smart kid.

There are several strong English strikers around these days - Andy Johnson, James Beattie, Dean Ashton, Marlon Harewood, Darren Bent - and they're not bad at all, but, let's face it, none gets the ball deep and creates space like Rooney does. They're all standing strikers, and they would neither start a game or be a good option during a match, for two reasons:

  • they wouldn't start because that kind of striker needs a team built around them, feeding them, and Eriksson wouldn't play such tactics when, in absence of Rooney, he could build the team around Gerrard and Lampard. Besides, the plays are already directioned towards Owen who's a much better finisher.
  • they wouldn't come as second-half options because Crouch does the same thing but is taller and holds the ball better. Full-stop.
So Eriksson realized he needed a sharp finisher, with good balance, and pace, to partner Owen in moments of need or even replace him. The Jermain Defoe of last season would be excellent, but not this one with a certain confidence crisis.

Walcott, on the other hand, I've never seen play (and neither has Sven) but is apparently a smart, cool finisher, with balance and pace, and with a career in Under-17s. If he's got the mind that Wenger says he does, he can enter and make a difference.

It is not uncommon for managers to select teens with potential to join World Cup squads - Brazil 94 had Ronaldo, and Brazil 02 had Kaká. However, those two were highly unlikely to feature (only the latter did, a couple of minutes against Costa Rica in a worthless game), whereas in a team with three forwards in which one hasn't played for six months and the other gives such limited options as Crouch, Walcott's chances of featuring increase a lot.

2. England's midfield might be great, but it is not wide. Let the width join in then.

I will assume that Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard and Joe Cole are starters. These are four of the best midfielders in the planet, four men with skill and drive, who finish superbly and dedicate themselves to every second of the match (well, maybe Beckham not every minute). So how to best use them to counter the loss of Rooney?

Simple answer, to me, would be to put a holding midfielder behind Gerrard and Lampard and let them push forward and shoot from the outside the same way Rooney would. That way he'd use the best out of them without putting them running into each other. Carrick has proven that, today, he is the best man to be in that holding role. Carrick, to us Brazilians unused to watching Tottenham matches, is like a blend of Gilberto Silva's marking with Juninho's passing.

That way, Beckham and Cole would right and left. But, let's face two facts:

  • Beckham is still a great passer and crosser, but has never been famous for running a lot - and now he is older.
  • Joe Cole is quick, skillful and decisive - but will cut inside 2 out of three plays.
So picture Sven, in a semifinal against Brazil in Munich, on the 7th of July, in a tough 0-0 game and with Peter Crouch as "the" option to turn the game in the second half. Brazil is pressing and England should try counter-attacking. What can he do?

He could send in Shaun Wright-Philips instead of Beckham for sure. But what would be the gain? It'd be dribbling mostly, since SWP is not that much faster than Becks. But counter-attacking is much more about pace than dribbling, especially against Brazilian 30-plus full-backs. Who could he send in?

Stewart Downing on the left has had an impressive season. Runs a lot and is precise on the crosses. Tick.

On the right, Aaron Lennon is definitely faster and arguably as skillful as Wright-Philips. Lack of international caps is surely compensated by a much steadier season at White Hart Lane. Tick.

Wright-Philips could still join in as a direct replacement for Beckham, should the captain be unfit and Lennon be deemed to fresh to start a match, right? Totally right. But then so would Jermaine Jenas, with the plus that the Tottenham midfielder also fits in as reserve right-back (saving a precious spot) and centre-midfielder. Not to mention his great season, while SWP sometimes warmed the bench, and other times warmed the Stamford Bridge stands. So my favorite player of the 2004-2005 season (while in Man City) misses out and hopes his portion of transfer fee pays for the disappointment.

Hargreaves, then, covers for Carrick, Gerrard or Lampard, maybe because Scott Parker is unfit, and that is it for the England midfield.

The sheer number of players with the capability of playing high-quality football in central midfield, together with the trying character of the wingers, indicates that Sven plans to use direct passing and midfield approximation as first tactics, leaving the crosses for after the sixtieth minute, when opposition would be tired.

Watch out for some quality passing then.

And let's hope, here in Brazil, that our coach could be 10% as bold. At least at reserve left-back.

(why is it that I was more anxious on the England call-up than I am in the Brazilian one?)

Friday, May 05, 2006

From en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procrastination

"Procrastination is the deferment or avoidance of an action or task which requires completion by focusing on some other action or task. For the person procrastinating, this can result in a loss of productivity, stress and a sense of guilt. While it is normal for individuals to procrastinate to some degree, it becomes a problem when it impedes normal functioning. Chronic procrastination may be a sign of an underlying psychological or physiological disorder."

"Traditionally, procrastination has been associated with perfectionism, a tendency to negatively evaluate outcomes and one's own performance, intense fear and avoidance of evaluation of one's abilities by others, heightened social self-consciousness and anxiety, recurrent low mood, and workaholism. Slaney (1996) found that adaptive perfectionists were less likely to procrastinate than non-perfectionists, while maladaptive perfectionists (people who saw their perfectionism as a problem) had high levels of procrastination (and also of anxiety)."

(...)
(...)

Acho que vou no médico.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Não vou mentir

Tá bom.

Não vou falar que, quando o juiz mandou voltar o primeiro pênalti do Rogério, eu não pensei "agora fudeu".

Isso depois do gol do Palmeiras e da expulsão do Leandro. E do Palmeiras surpreendentemente jogando melhor.

Mas não era pra ter sido tão sofrido assim, hein. E tomando chuveirinho na pequena área aos 49. Maior prova que "clássico é clássico e vice-versa".

Estava eu pensando se uma derrota do São Paulo hoje seria mais bizarra que a derrota do Corinthians pro Palmeiras em 2000. Acho que sim. Aquele Corinthians era melhor que este São Paulo, mas este Palmeiras é velho e tosco. Aquele Palmeiras pelo menos tinha Marcos, Alex e Júnior, que são craques incontestáveis e estavam no auge. Este, minha nossa, acudam.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

"... war is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate...."

It may not have come to the attention of the foreigners to Latin America that, yesterday, Labor Day Holiday 2006, witnessed what was maybe the fiercest unexpected unilateral action of one South American country against another since 1865. For South Americans, used to repression from their own governments, but oblivious to threats right across their borders, it was a shock.

I am talking about the announcement from the Bolivian president, hard-hat on, parading in a Brazil-owned gas refinery, that he was 'nationalizing' the country's gas reserves - i.e., taking over. Moreover, he demanded that all installations be handed over within 180 days, or else - - - or else? Well it was not that clear, but apparently it was left open that force could be used.

There's a lot of political background to that annoncement that I will not delve into here - Bolivia's past, Venezuela's rise, President Morales's campaign, President Lula's support, and a lot else - and the right-or-wrong discussion of whether the investments belong to the investors or to the country also deserves a lot more discussion than this blog entry might provide. This being a mere account of my personal thoughts, though, leaves me the space to talk about what has struck me most in all this soap-opera: talk of military action.

First of all let me compliment the handling of the situation by the Brazilian government so far - they recognized sovereignty of Bolivia, opened for talks, and at the same time assured Brazilian citizens that we would not run out of gas. Bear in mind that this is a country that has invested heavily in gas-powered automobiles, especially for people who drive a lot like taxi drivers. Ruling out the possibility of shortages is not only the only statement that REALLY matters to the people - it also gives Bolivia a sign that we're not desperate (for the fact that Bolivia is our main supplier) , but they should be (because we're their main customers, and can apparently find gas elsewhere).

But the most shocking news of the day, to me, was a poll on iG (a Brazilian news portal) that asked people of what kind should the Brazilian reaction to President Morales's act should be - diplomacy, economic sanctions, or military action. And it was even! Roughly a third of respondents chose each option.

It makes me think that Brazilians are a bit bloodthirsty, and too fond of reality shows to start 'dreaming' of televised attacks by our Army to the coca fields of Bolivia, going to the rescue of "our refineries".... Well I swear I haven't dreamed of that, but truth is we have never had a reason to wage war on a neighboring country - maybe the 1978 world cup - and this could be a reason for a more beligerant leader to be keen on pushing the button.

Luckily it seems that such a thing won't happen. Lula and Evo are too good buddies to even have sanctions declared, talk about war. But Evo shouldn't expect the same consideration (paternalization, maybe?) from private investors. Or American-owned businesses in Bolivia. Allende would know better.

Anyway, we chickened out on a war - either military or economic. Maybe the path chosen is worse for some (like Petrobras) in the short run but better for all in perspective. Let's see what happens next.

I wonder what Santiago De La Mora makes of this whole thing.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Divagando sobre o grupo C

Recém-saído de um fim de semana na serra gaúcha completado com presença no Beira-Rio testemunhando Inter 1x0 Santa Cruz, gol de Rentería.

Divagando no fim de semana sobre inúmeros assuntos como o futuro de Sasha Meneghel, cheguei à conclusão que tenho um grande dilema nas minhas apostas à copa (assunto que tem ocupado muito da minha cabeça ultimamente): não sei o que fazer no grupo C. Pode dar qualquer coisa, literalmente.

Em comum, todos têm enorme vontade de dar a volta por cima, e para isso a mera passagem às oitavas servirá, já, para todos. Argentina quer se recuperar da eliminação em 2002; Holanda, da ausência na Ásia; Sérvia, quer mostrar força na primeira copa e sair da sombra da Croácia; e Costa do Marfim, provar que futebol africano pode, sim, ser eficiente.

Para atingir seus objetivos esses times vêm com remédios distintos. Argentina e Holanda deixam de lado jogadores experientes (como Verón, Ortega, Seedorf, Stam e Makaay) e trazem times muito jovens e muito ofensivos, com algumas das maiores revelações dos últimos anos (Messi, Robben, Tevez) e capitães carismáticos (Cocu e Sorín). Já Costa do Marfim e Sérvia têm elencos entrosados, defesas fortes (Dragutinovic e Vidic nos europeus, Touré e Eboué nos africanos) e atacantes que jogam muito mais pelo país que pelos clubes (Kezman e Drogba).

Fiquei pensando e acho que as combinações de resultados são uma colcha de retalhos. A Argentina pode ganhar da Holanda (que deve se abrir), mas acho que é segurada pela muralha da Sérvia e pode até perder pros contra-ataques letais dos marfinenses. A Costa do Marfim pode perder da Sérvia (que não vai sair pro jogo), mas contra Argentina e Holanda podem tanto ganhar no contra-ataque como perder por mero volume de jogo. A Holanda, no papel, pode ganhar de qualquer um, mas resta ver se a combinação jogadores jovens + esquema ofensivo + técnico inexperiente segura o tranco.

A minha previsão pra esse grupo muda literalmente toda semana, mas por hoje é mais ou menos assim:

10/06 em Hamburg - Argentina 1 x 1 Costa do Marfim
11/06 em Leipzig - Sérvia 0 x 1 Holanda
16/06 em Gelsenkirchen - Argentina 2 x 0 Sérvia
16/06 em Stuttgart - Holanda 0 x 1 Costa do Marfim
21/06 em Frankfurt - Holanda 1 x 1 Argentina
21/06 em Munich - Costa do Marfim 1 x 0 Sérvia

Com esses resultados teríamos Costa do Marfim em primeiro com 7 pontos, e Argentina em segundo com 5.

Mas a minha opinião anda muito volúvel esses dias. Especialmente em se tratando de copa.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Lost

This blogging hiatus is partially due to my acquisition of the box of DVDs from the first season of LOST.

One night I watched 8 episodes in a row.

(8 times 45 minutes each.)

The other night I watched 4 in a row, the last one at 3 am when I had to wake up at 5 to take a flight.

It is damn deeply addictive.

You know what I like in it?

1. it is a reality show fan's dream - random people put together in an odd and unfriendly environment, and being followed around at every corner, but with interesting flashbacks from people's past

I am not a big fan of reality shows - no, seriously, not really, I hate it (except American Idol) - but there is a Survivor-esque feel to LOST that glues you to the sofa and just makes you watch it more and more.

2. it shows stereotypes.

Quoting my (dearly missed) friend Vikas Khanna, from New Delhi/India: "One thing Insead taught me about stereotypes: they're all true."

Vikas was talking about natinalities of course. LOST is more about stereotypical book/film characters. It has the hero doc, confident in the outside but anguished in the inside; the good burglar; the bad guy; the rich girl, Paris-Hilton-lookalike; the creepy hunter; the fat joker dude; the black guy, the "most normal" ; the Asian guy and his work ethic; the Muslim soldier, committed to every task; and so forth.

3. it reminds me a lot of a personal situation.

I was thrown in a strange tropical island with a bunch of strangers from different places, different cultures and different expectations, and after a period of finding out how to survive, we were all struggling to gain trust and confidence, and we eventually had to learn how to live with each other in the best way possible.

That pretty much sums up my year away doing an MBA.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Dusting off old albums

Random choices from my iTunes that made my day better:

Play by Moby

A Thousand Leaves by Sonic Youth

Both kinda old. Both I know by heart. Both fantastic and deserve to be praised.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

2014

Another quote from the Observer (Paul Wilson's column) on a prolific blogging day.

"Brazil has not hosted a World Cup since 1950 so it must be due a turn soon. The tournament is going to South America in 2014, which seems the only possibility of Brazil getting a look-in during my working lifetime, and if Pele wishes to start lobbying for his own country rather than someone else's for a change that'll be all right with me. These observations are prompted by a quote I came across from Frederico Chaves Guedes, better known as Fred, the Brazil forward who played for Lyon against Milan in midweek.

Here is what Fred said: 'I did not play well at the start of the season. I struggled with the food in France after moving here from Brazil. I lost four kilos, and it is not easy to perform then.'

So this guy moves to Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France, no less, and finds the food so unpalatable he manages to lose over half a stone. Not only could he make millions from marketing that diet, his unhappy experience begs a burning question. Just how good must the food be in Brazil? I'm not sure I can wait until 2014 to find out. "

"Are they all what they're cracked up to be?"

I was gonna write on the Indian restaurant I ate at today in Porto Alegre but this is a bit more timely.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1750190,00.html

Best parts:

"[Parreira's] scouting trips to Europe this season have revealed a multitude of worries. From his expected starting line-up in Germany, there is only one player whose excellence is beyond debate - the peerless Ronaldinho. As for the rest, the form guide is littered with inconsistency, injury, complacency and some downright awful displays."

""[...] as Tostao, the 1970 World Cup striker pointed out: 'There isn't a convincing substitute for Roberto Carlos.' Serginho, who has been playing that position with more defensive acumen for Milan, is 34, and Parreira is conscious his squad is already old enough."

"Defence is obviously Brazil's problem area, so it was a blow for Parreira to see midfield shield Emerson made to look geriatric by Arsenal."

"The general view among Brazilians is that the players are saving themselves for the World Cup. But, just because it worked last time around - when Brazil were so listless in the build-up to World Cup 2002 they almost failed to qualify, and we all know what happened next - does not mean they can turn it on again when it matters. Parreira can content himself, though, that Cafu has played only 14 matches for Milan this season, Ronaldo 24 for Real Madrid."

"Parreira will not tinker with his favoured formula. Brazil's manager is a conservative sort, loyal to his favourites. How else to explain that Juninho's polished performances for Lyon are not convincing enough for a first-team run? Or that his outstanding team-mate at Lyon, Cris, has not nailed a spot in defence?"

Fight Test

Comprei o DVD do Flaming Lips e é muito legal.

"I don't know where the sunbeams end
and the starlights begin, it's all a mystery"....

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Excuses, excuses, excuses

I dodged the sushi dinner!

Well I did not go, eventually. Things happened and I gave a lame excuse. Anyway.

I don't wanna sound like my sister's blog, but this has been typical of me these days. Avoiding my problems. I guess I arrived back to Latin America with a lot of plans and did not expect some things not to work out as I had thought, and saw myself with less energy to overcome obstacles than I thought I had.

Vague, I know. But I took some resolutions as to things that are not smooth in my life, that I will from now on try to put into practice. For the time being, let the following specific information be disclosed: I will look for an apartment more actively and I will finally finish an overdue project at work.

Soundtrack: "Summer soft" by Stevie Wonder.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Pedro the sushiman

Yes, I once took a sushiman course.

No, I cannot cook sushi.

Well, I wouldn't rule it out completely, I mean, I guess I remember the theory, but having not put it into practice for the past year-and-a-half makes a difference, I would say.

Here and there, I admit I have bragged a little more than I should've about my fish-slicing and rice-rolling abilities. It is a great bar talk and it draws the attention (and interest) of girls. Now, however, the magic has turned against the wizard - one of the persons I entertained with this metrosexual man-cook tale has actually invited me to a dinner in which I'm supposed to cook my own sushi... Deeper than that, I'm supposed to go and buy my own fresh fish! Oh Lord help me....

I might be making a needless drama because it is actually really easy to cook sushi and sashimi. I mean, to do it an acceptable level, of course. Please, invitees, do not expect anything like the fish market in Tsukiji (Tokyo) - but that is actually the best sushi in the planet so I might be putting the expectations too high. Let's say it should be better than the sushi they serve at regular self-service all-you-can-eat restaurants in São Paulo........

More updates to follow after the dinner.

Friday, March 31, 2006

What to see at the Premiership

I have to admit that as thrilling as I consider the English Premiership to be, times have stood in a kind of a lull for my beloved Liverpool. We are 5 points behind Man U, but 10 ahead of Spurs. We've crushed Everton already, and that's something that reallly counts. But no big surprises await the Kop nation in the following weeks, I reckon.

I am not saying I do not think it is a bad championship at all, especially considering the doldrums that are the mid-tables of Spain and Italy these days. When I do my daily click at BBC Sport to check the latest news, I have been focusing my attention on two places: Lancashire and South England.

4000 holes and three tough teams

Lancashire is a county up north (slightly south of Liverpool) that is famous for being mentioned in the Beatles song "A Day In The Life". This year the region's fans have a real reason to celebrate because the its three major teams (Bolton, Blackburn and Wigan) are serious contenders for European competition next season.

Bolton kind of screwed up in this year's Uefa Cup but are a solid and competent team that might use this experience to do a lot better next year. Blackburn are famous for being the team that everybody hates - especially for its stud-in-the-socks mentality and bad boys like Robbie Savage and Craig Bellamy - and hence they are as tough to crack as a turtle shell. And Wigan has faded a lot since its amazing run in the beginning (maybe content with being runners-up in the Carling Cup) and have let Arsenal steal their once seemingly secured a Uefa Cup spot; even so, it has surely been the most memorable year for the Latics.

Pompey, hooray

As for South England... well it is more of a South American connection than anything else. Since Portsmouth signed Andrés D'Alessandro on loan I cannot help but follow them and see if the former River Plate star is playing well. Especially because the relegation fight is really tough - much more than last year I guess, when there were more teams competing - and it is sure that the two that will join Sunderland at the Championship in 2006-7 will come from a shortlist that includes Pompey, West Brom and Birmingham. The latter have a lower morale these days than Milhouse from The Simpsons, and WBA pulled it off last year (still with Kieran Richardson) but do not seem that confident this time.

Portsmouth, on the other hand, have won some interesting away games (such as West Ham) and have players that can cope with the task of winning more games than Brum and WBA. Pedro Mendes, a former Tottenham reserve, has been particularly impressive. And I wonder when D'Alessandro will start scoring some of his own.

So whoever feels like saying that England does not have thrilling football... well, you might wanna follow things in a closer look.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Geena Davis x Martin Sheen

I noticd there is a new TV series that tries to show the day-by-day of the White House. Surely a copycat following in the footsteps of "The West Wing", I thought, and given my predilection for the latter I had every reason to be skeptical and suspicious about this new show.

Then I realized that
(1) the president is Geena Davis - that's where the cliff she jumped into at the end of "Thelma and Louise" leads to, then: the White House! - and she is as convincing being tough as Mr Bean would be;
(2) the deputy press secretary (I couldn't really figure who the press secretary was) is Tiffany from "Once and Again" - from hippie single mother to press secretary, hooray, - and I wonder whether she interviewed for the job with C.J. Cregg (from "West Wing"), oh Lord she would be crushed like a cockroach.
(3) there is a kind of a strong focus on the daily life of the president's family - her siblings having breakfast with the first-gentleman (is that the correct term? whatever) and going to school, her leaving Situation Room to get a call on the mobile complaining about school change, and so on - and I felt like a couple years ago when I watched A LOT OF "Once and Again".
(4) people don't really look as busy as they do in West Wing - I don't know but they just seem a bunch of incompetents. Or a bunch of actors mocking a White House.

I may be too critical, and in fact I cannot say I was too hurried to change the channel - it is actually amusing, though in a Once-and-Again way, of people-having-all-sorts-of-trouble-juggling-personal-and-professional-lives, rather than in a West-Wing-way of I'm-in-the-créme-de-la-crème-job-in-public-andministration-and-therefore-I'm-so-good-and-I-love-my-job-but-it's-so-tough-and-I-got-no-personal-life. It's a different kind of series altogether, full stop.

Anyway, after it the new "24" season started and THAT was really good.