Big Brother Bullshit - start again!

Brazil has more to say about who will be the next BBBastard than who is minding the nation.

Brazil is a nation of media-zombies. Not the people’s fault, when the country still has over 70% of illiterate voters, many of those struggling to earn their daily bread, not get killed on the latest drug war, try to find some comfort while living in a “favela” under unsanitary conditions, and still gawking madly at a bunch of empty-headed, sexually driven media whores wiggling their genitals (not even good looking ones at that) and struggling to earn 1 mil in that “circus maximus”.

Their host calls them “heroes” when the working man has to put up with an indecent salary (when he / she can find one), feed the kids, get them some education (although Brazil’s president states that an education is unnecessary) and hope to keep their heads above the sewage (water is for the well to do).

The media frenzy has reached its 9th edition, spurting the next pseudo-actress to feature the next ridiculous soap-opera (another mind-numbing best seller) and flaunt their man-made attributes (any self-respecting God would not have done any of that).
The poor folk, lacking education, health and any decent chance of a proper living, hasn’t got a prayer. That will never change. They are too useful as they are.
And the ruling party, self-appointed “proletarian representatives”! (PT and their evil cousins) learn the lesson well. They are even worse than the usual suspects (read “all other parties”). No one is innocent anymore.

We care more about voting arsewipes off the TV show than minding who is ruling the government. No surprises here.

No escape: pig pandemics apart, the Big Brother franchise is a world wide plage. Check out their UK cousins @ http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-&-entertainment/big-brother-unveils-%27all-idiot%27-house-20070531180/

Bad, bad Senate! No freebies!

Brazil's Senate "might" review its internal rules regarding freebies for its members' families. Than again, they might not.

For the last 79 days, the largest newspapers in the land have uncovered a succession of scandals regarding private spending with tax payers’ money (air tickets, phone bills, parties, etc.). And the worse bit is that the Senate just goes on approving and masking any accountability issues. They protect their own and there is the old “wall of silence”. Who will watch them, if they approve their own laws? That is what goes on in Brazil. For those who red Portuguese, here is the official senate website with their accounts – mind you, many aren’t listed at all. http://www.senado.gov.br/sf/senadores/verba/Asp/Apresentacao.asp Weird enough, Brazil has such a bad, crooked image abroad, it’s president and government (by proxy) were depicted in a South Park episode, regarding an effort to conceal alien stolen money, or something like that – O.K., all other countries did the same, but this is Brazil's 1st appearance ever! Rings a bell? (the Edward G. Robinson reference is very good! See?)
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/220763

Pirate Bay in Chains - political trial?

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8003799.stm) - "A court in Sweden has jailed four men behind The Pirate Bay (TPB), the world's most high-profile file-sharing website, in a landmark case."

I guess one cannot underestimate the power of big-business entertainment companies, when they decide to crucify someone.

It was decided that they " assisted in making copyright content available ". But we shared them files. That means, of course, you and I must also be considered culprits, of the worst kind. REAL MONSTERS! How dare we scoop a few buck from poor Warner Bros, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI, Columbia Pictures, and the like? How will they feed their cats?

If those four lads are going to jail for providing infrastructure, the real criminals (that means all you millions of people that use it currently) must get heavier penalties.

I am waiting for a SAS special élite task force to knock down my door at any moment. That is why I prepared myself with my "do-it-yerself" laser saber and my own army from "World of Warcraft" fiends. "We will sell our skins at a steep price, I promise you!". Are you laughing? Don't. If this becomes a fad, we will drop back to pre-web days and life will change somewhat.

By the way, “no copyright content is hosted on The Pirate Bay's web servers; instead the site hosts "torrent" links”. And “Millions of files are exchanged using the service every day. “ Go figure.

Fatso-o-Matic: Brazil's gov spends far too much but promotes far too little social benefits

Brazil's government just made officials a "free for all", happy-go-lucky spending spree, with itself, creating a far bigger social gap now even with decreasing funds and nowhere near enough social investments. It is an ever-growing monster that is never satisfied.

Now, after a wave of political scandals on illicit spending, Brazil's senate leaders increase the amount of hired officials, use government-issued mobile phones for their relatives (with monthly bills rating up to US$ 5 thou!!!) and book travel expenses for friends and family. All that while layoffs and unemployment rates rises sky high.

Some wiseass government speaker mentioned that the government, while increasing the number of public servants, is doing its share to promote more jobs. With 181 “directors” getting premium salaries in Brasilia, this guy must have been the “bull director”.

In times of global crisis and tightened belts, instead of setting things right and blocking the locally known “happy wagon train” of public spending, the senate decided to make the unaccountability of public spending official. Now senate members can book travels for friends, family and whomever without having to explain its reasons. Another slap on the face of us, poor tax-paying citizens (read “morons”).