Politics...Are you interested?

Do you care to know the candidates, proposals, political parties, or you’re the kind that turns off the TV at the time of political propaganda? And selects the candidates on Election Day?

I would not be surprised by your answer,
Much of the voters are tired with all this “bla bla bla” of political. All this neglect on the part of voters reflects the policy unconvincing which we are accustomed, where we Brazilians witnessed everyday scandals and more scandals.

Postal scandal
This scandal occurred in May 2005 after allegations of irregularities in the Brazilian Post and Telegraph.
The crisis began when a videotape showing a former employee of Post and Telegraphs, Mauricio Marinho, dealing with an alleged kickback entrepreneur interested in participating in an auction, and have the backing of citing federal deputy Roberto Jefferson, Rio de Janeiro.
Jefferson initially denied his involvement in the corruption practiced in the company, but when pressed, He denounced other corruption scheme, calling (Mensalão), a revelation that led to the eventual discovery of another corruption scheme even more serious.

 

Mensalão

Who can forget the scandal of "vote-buying" (Mensalão) in 2005?
A major political crisis in 2005  which consisted of the scheme to buy votes from parliamentarians, for personal and illegal purposes. The scandal involved a huge number of Brazilian politicians, businessmen and even politicians internationally.

                          

Renan Calheiros

A series of corruption allegations reaching Renan Calheiros made headlines in the Brazilian press in 2007. The case was called Renangate. The senator is accused of trafficking in influence, setting up a scheme of embezzlement of public funds into ministries controlled by the PMDB, and other illegal transactions. Sob public pressure, Renan gave up the presidency, though without abandoning the mandate.

  

Despite all these scandals in Brazilian politics, what is the positive conception of politics? What is really politics? What is democracy?

Politics is called art or science of organization, direction and administration of nations or states
Democracy is government of the people, for the people, it represents popular sovereignty to the will of a nation and an equitable distribution of power.

The political situation today it is easy to understand when we consider that we live in a society where a fraction of individuals who act politically in their demand, nothing more, nothing less, benefit.
But Politics is the art of governing, is the use of power to defend their rights of citizenship.

However  we are living in a country where these concepts are distorted every day, it is necessary to exercise our duty as citizens in Brazil, consciously and with integrity. Always believing that our choices reflect the Brazil of tomorrow. For this we must know the proposals, see the historic candidate, watch the debates on TV, exposing our ideas respecting the view of others.

Politics is a serious thing to be remembered only in times of elections, where we are practically forced to vote, or else suffer a penalty. However, all individuals are susceptible to policy analysis because, as science is no longer valid to express the concern of placing all individuals in the process of building society.

 

The lack of ethics in politics is the cause of most ills affecting society. It is necessary to give place to an egalitarian government, combating illegal politics, so we can change our conception of what is politics.

What is your conception about politics?

 

By    Elizama Pastana

Pets

Most people really like them, they are essential to our lifes.

Incredible, and unique, you can spend the happiest

 moments

 with them.

Pets are special animals that we choose to live with us, to give attention, love and care. There are different kinds of pets that you can have. Birds, dogs, and cats.

They are funny, hilarious. They make you happy and they make some jokes, and you fall in love much more for them. Or when they fool around and make that face seams that they are apologizing. Than they become so close that make part of our family.

We love and care them as a child, a brother.

I had a dog named lion, and when my mother scold me and them he came to me and seemed that he knew that I was sad and he licked me until I got happy again. Sometimes they are connected with us and they feel our feeling, necessity, with a glance.

Hachiko: a dog's story

An American adaptation of a Japanese tale about a loyal dog named Hachiko. This very special friend would accompany his master to the train station every day and return each afternoon to greet him after work. Sadly his master departs one day, passes away and never returns to the station. Hachiko faithfully returns to the same spot at the station the very next day, and every day for the next nine years to wait for his beloved master. During his daily visits, Hachiko touches the lives of many who work near and commute through the town square. He teaches the local people love, compassion and above all unyielding loyalty. Today, a bronze statue of Hachiko sits in his waiting spot outside the Shibuya station in Japan as a permanent reminder of his devotion and love.

See more in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachiko:_A_Dog's_Story

Dog owners do look like their pets, say psychologists

Researchers found that members of the public could predict which breed of dog a person would own almost twice as accurately as they should be able to, just by looking at a photograph of their owners.

There were a number of physical reasons why owners looks suggested which dog they would have, including what clothes they wore and their build, said Dr Lance Workman, from Bath Spa University.

Dog owners really do look like their pets.

Cockatoo

There are many species of cockatoos, 

but the most common species seen in captivity (in no particular order) include the Moluccan, Goffin's, umbrella, sulfur crested (greater and lesser), and bare eyed cockatoos.Cockatoos are very lively and affectionate birds. They are quite "cuddly" and bond very closely with their owners. However, their sociability and need for affection means they demand a great deal of time from their owners. Deprived of affection, cockatoos will become depressed or exhibit neurotic behaviors. They are intelligent, playful, mischievous, and they can be exceptionally loud. They are somewhat excitable so sometimes don't do that well around young kids.

What does make people have a pet?

Do you have any funny story with your pet?

What kind of pet would you like to have? Why?

If you were a pet, Witch one would you like to be?

What does make pets' owners look like their pets ?

By Paulo Renan Araujo.

URBAN LEGENDS

Who never heard the legend about a giant alligator inhabit the sewers of New York City?

                     An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of apocryphal stories believed by their tellers to be true. As with all folklore and mythology, the designation suggests nothing about the story’s truth or falsehood, but merely that it is in circulation, exhibits variation over time, and carries some significance that motivates the community in preserving and propagating it. 

                                Despite its name, an urban legend does not necessarily originate in an urban area. Rather, the term is used to differentiate modern legend from traditional folklore in pre-industrial times. For this reason, sociologists and folklorists prefer the term contemporary legend. 

                   Urban legends are sometimes repeated in news stories and, in recent years, distributed by e-mail. People frequently allege that such tales happened to a “friend of a friend” - so often, in fact, that “friend of a friend” (“FOAF”), has become a commonly used term when recounting this type of story. Some urban legends have passed through the years with only minor changes to suit regional variations. One example is the Bloody Mary story, recently published in a famous comic book in Brazil “Monica’s Gang” as the Blondie Mary. The legend goes exactly as described in the story and just like the drawing, the story is specifically about a blonde girl. By adding the Brazilian legend with the American one, Monica’s Gang came up with the story Blondie Mary. 

Now, let’s meet the American version:

“A long time ago there was a little girl named Mary. She grew very ill and fell into a deep coma. The local doctor was old and feeble and without knowing any better, he believed she was dead. He informed the family and they had a funeral and buried the poor girl alive! Mary’s family lived very close to the graveyard where she was laid to rest. The first night, Mary’s mother thought that she heard a scream coming from Mary’s grave, but no one believed her. Days later, Mary’s mother convinced the family to dig up her grave. When they did, they found Mary dead, but they also saw scratches on the top of the coffin and Mary’s fingernails were bloody from her efforts to escape the grave”.

Now if you follow these instructions, you may be able to see Mary for yourself. At midnight on Friday the 13th, turn off all the lights in your house. Go to the bathroom and turn on the water in the shower and the sink. Flush the toilet, look into the mirror and say “Bloody Mary” 5 times. She will appear in mirror. You need to hurry and turn on the light or she will stab you in the back.

Whatever their purpose, story telling has been a passion of humankind throughout history, and urban legends are nothing new. They are, in a sense, social theater, and are here to stay, good and bad alike. It may be wise to pay a little more attention, however, the next time someone starts a story with, “You know what happened to a friend of mine?”

Now, what about you? Do you believe in Urban Legend?
Do you like to hear these kinds of stories?
Do you know any? If yes, share with us!

Come on, don’t be afraid. It’s almost Halloween, time for spooky stories!!!!

By Caroline Azevedo Montello

Brazilian Popular Music

"Music is part of the Brazilian soul, and rhythm is in the way people speak, in the way they walk, and in the way they play soccer (...)

Music is a passport to happiness for Brazilians, an escape from everyday frustrations and (for most) a hard and difficult material life. 'There's an amazing magical, mystical quality to Brazilian music. Their music is paradise' says jazz flutist Herbie Mann"(Chris McGowan and Ricardo Pessanha)

Música Popular Brasileira, or MPB, literally "Brazilian Popular Music", designates a trend in post-Bossa Nova urban popular music. Signifying much more than the sum of the three words would indicate, "MPB" is a contemporary trend that has brought the world many renowned Brazilian artists. The term can mean either any kind of music with Brazilian origins or a voice and guitar style that arose in the late 1960s.

As much as bossa nova, MPB was born out of an attempt to produce a Brazilian "national" music, thus revitalizing traditional styles. MPB made a considerable impact at that time, boosted by several televised music festivals, where the acronym was popularized. The beginning of MPB is often associated with Elis Regina´s interpretation of the mysterious Arrastão, by Vinícius de Moraes and Edu Lobo in 1965, on the nationally broadcast Festival de Música Popular Brasileira interpreting this song which won the first prize Gold Medal and Elis won the singing prize. 
  

Chico Buarque is a leading MPB singer–songwriter

The conjuncture that created the MPB movement ceased to exist after 1969, but the acronym has survived, even though with a less specific meaning. Transforming from a left-wing musical movement, MPB became the core of Brazil's urban middle-class music, and the term still indicates a certain aesthetic quality in modern Brazilian music.
 

Bebel Gilberto: daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha

Several artists associated with the MPB sound since the 1960s and 1970s remain active, including Chico Buarque, Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins, Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque, and Maria Bethânia. Younger artists whose work has been identified with MPB include Maria Rita, Bebel Gilberto, Marisa Monte, Vanessa da Mata, Adriana Calcanhotto, Sabrina Malheiros, and Roberta Sá.

Just to conclude I would like amplify our discussion, not talking just about one style of music, but about its importance in our society -- music as whole.  Imagine the world without music... it would be a very quiet place, don't you think? Music is a reminder of how things once were, an indication of how things are, and a view of where society is headed. Music is a direct reflection of the picture of society. Music can be a way to deliver messages, a poetic medium, a fine art, or nothing more than a source of entertainment. No matter what it is used for, music is the perfect art.

After this brief description of MPB, I would like to know your opinion about some topics involving ONLY brazilian music:

1. What kind of music do you usually listen to? Which one(s) do you recommend? (please mention some singers and/or bands)
2. How important is music in your life?

That's all folks. I hope you have enjoyed my post.

 

Marla Sabrina.

What counts as cheating now?

People have always cheated (just take a look at the Bible). But throw in e-mail, text messaging and Facebook, and these days you have a lot more opportunities to cheat, plus even more confusion about what cheating actually is. I've decided to take the mystery out showing some stories about betrayal. But first let's take a look at some definitions.

In a very broad sense, cheating involves betraying a partner’s expectations about the type of contact they have with others.

When a husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, violates one’s expectations about what is appropriate, people feel betrayed. Keep in mind that relationships are not based on logic, but they are influenced by our emotions.

Accordingly, cheating is difficult to define because people differ in the type of contact they feel it is appropriate for a partner to have with someone else.

For example, some people believe that it is unacceptable for a partner to:

• Flirt with others
• Engage in sexual talk with someone else
• Exchange personal e-mails or text messages
• Deny being married or in a relationship
• Spend time with specific individuals
• Engage in specific types of contact – sleeping in the same bed with another person
• Purchase intimate gifts and presents for others
• Chat online with someone else (online affairs)
• Have sexual contact with someone else (physical infidelity)
• Become emotionally involved with someone else (emotional infidelity)
• Develop a crush or feelings for another individual
• Share their most private thoughts and feelings with someone else
• Become best friends with someone of the opposite sex
• And the list could go on and on….

Now take a look at these two stories:      

o

1)“My boyfriend and I have a great, honest and, in my humble opinion, sexually satisfying relationship. Recently when he went to a bachelor party, I joked about him getting lap dances, and he said he wouldn’t. It wasn’t like I forbade him—he said he just wasn’t into that stuff. When he got home, I made a crack about the lap dance and could tell by the look on his face that he’d had one. I was pretty devastated. He didn’t understand why I was so angry, since it was ‘normal’ bachelor-party behavior. It wasn’t that he got the lap dance (though it’s not an image I’ve enjoyed having in my head); it’s that he said he wouldn’t—and did it anyway.” —JENNY, 34, Portland, Ore.

2)“When I was in college, I dated a guy for two years who said he wasn’t comfortable with the ‘boyfriend’ label. Among friends, I called him my ‘significant other,’ but when I was with him, I just went with the flow and assumed we were exclusive. He was the first guy I slept with, the first I brought home to my parents, the one I spent every holiday and birthday with. Then he started fooling around with my best friend’s roommate, and a month later they were a couple. I confronted him, and he said he didn’t think we were officially ‘together,’ so it wasn’t cheating. He also felt justified because she and I weren’t close friends! Everybody knew but me—that’s what hurt the most.”
—NICOLE,* 22, New York City

 Now guys I want your opinion. Considering the stories

above:

a) Is getting a private dance at a strip club cheating?

b) Is it cheating if the relationship isn't official?

c) If the first story happened with you, would you

forgive?

d) Have you ever forgotten a betrayal?

You can choose any of these questions to answer, or all them!

See you!!

Lucy Holanda