tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post4410571398860706973..comments2024-03-28T06:22:38.753-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/28/24: Other people, other places....Neil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-6576874059591307172013-07-27T09:15:29.090-05:002013-07-27T09:15:29.090-05:00It was a joke. One of my best friends is Belgian. ...It was a joke. One of my best friends is Belgian. You are right though, "More fierce than the Dutch" is the definition of damning by faint praise. They also gave the world Tin-Tin. Enough said.Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-80343912165081517172013-07-27T08:40:15.234-05:002013-07-27T08:40:15.234-05:00Neil,
You might want to read up on the history of...Neil,<br /><br />You might want to read up on the history of Belgium during the first world war and rethink your statement about a "nation of capitulators and pacifists". They did try to remain neutral which did them no good when Hitler's troops smashed through the country. Even so, they still held out for 18 days while their neighbors in the Netherlands folded after only five days. That's the difference between being a nation of cheese eaters compared to chocolate consumers. Of course, Holland always gets a break from the press compared to Belgium. :-) <br /><br />It doesn't make much sense to me. Holland gave the world clogs, cheeses and oodles of dikes. Belgium gave us "french" fries, waffles and chocolates. Zonkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17924587109596922187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-3052012497145381342013-07-26T19:14:33.572-05:002013-07-26T19:14:33.572-05:00I don't think Neil was saying the Olympics sho...I don't think Neil was saying the Olympics should have been held in Chicago. In fact I think the majority of people were glad the Olympics were not held in Chicago. It is a losing proposition. I don't think Montreal has paid up yet for the Olympics they held and that was in 1978. I think the Los Angeles Olympics was the only one to make a profit and that is because they had most of the structures already in place. <br /><br />You don't need an Olympics to make people aware of your country. The majority of people already know about Brazil.sanfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580867647162091670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-89743372885715027992013-07-26T16:49:06.799-05:002013-07-26T16:49:06.799-05:00Congrats Neil. You have now joined The Simpsons in...Congrats Neil. You have now joined The Simpsons in pissing off Brazil. Now you have to do the same to France & Australia & you'll match them!Clark St.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09634234069783123180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-85819856695742723192013-07-26T16:47:06.989-05:002013-07-26T16:47:06.989-05:00Here is Google Translate version:
Inflation Out of...Here is Google Translate version:<br />Inflation Out of Control? I think the friend walks watching too much TV Globo. Despite all the media terrorism, inflation is still close to the lowest level in history, and the government's target - in the second half will fall further, expect to see. Unemployment, but this has never been so low in our history. 20 million people have escaped poverty line. Brazilian social programs are recognized by the UN as an example, just happen to "More Doctors". Economy arrest? Go see the current situation in Spain, Portugal, Italy and many developed countries, including the United States today, to see what is "saving stop." The whole world is plunged into a serious economic crisis and the situation just is not worse in Brazil because the government has not taken the same conservative measures the times of FHC. About corruption scandals, I think you urgently need to read the book "The Privataria Tucana" bestseller in Brazil, based on all legal documents obtained in justice, to know what is really corruption. Your model should be the honest politician José Serra,'m wrong? Pathetic. Not to mention that Mensalão, you probably refers to as the "biggest scandal in history" began in government and Toucan, just because of media friend and a totally legal part, has not been tried. Friend reads See and watch the National Journal and thinks he knows everything Brazil. Very sad.Clark St.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09634234069783123180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-49960006336706256682013-07-26T15:52:52.152-05:002013-07-26T15:52:52.152-05:00@Scott. I'm shocked, that you would suggest I ...@Scott. I'm shocked, that you would suggest I go after the most benign country in Europe, an innocent nation of capitulators and pacifists, the straight road between Germany and France, the Chimay-swilling, lilly-livered ... it just comes naturally, doesn't it, Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-40534122882203790012013-07-26T15:10:42.876-05:002013-07-26T15:10:42.876-05:00Inflação fora do controle? Acho que o amigo anda a...Inflação fora do controle? Acho que o amigo anda assistindo muita Rede Globo. Apesar de todo o terrorismo midiático, a inflação ainda está perto do menor índice histórico e dentro da meta do governo - no segundo semestre vai cair ainda mais, espera pra ver. O desemprego, este sim, nunca esteve tão baixo em toda nossa história. 20 milhões de pessoas saíram da linha da pobreza. Programas sociais brasileiros são reconhecidos pela ONU como exemplo, acabou de acontecer com o "Mais Médicos". Economia parada? Vá ver a situação atual de Espanha, Portugal, Itália e inúmeros países desenvolvidos, inclusive os EUA atualmente, para ver o que é "economia parada". O mundo todo está mergulhado numa crise econômica séria e a situação só não está pior no Brasil porque o governo não tomou as mesmas medidas conservadoras dos tempos de FHC. Sobre escândalos de corrupção, acho que você precisa ler urgentemente o livro "A Privataria Tucana", best seller no Brasil, todo baseado em documentos legais obtidos na justiça, para saber o que é realmente corrupção. Seu modelo de político honesto deve ser o José Serra, tô errado? Patético. Sem contar que o Mensalão, que você provavelmente se refere como o "maior escândalo da história", teve início no governo tucano e, apenas por causa da mídia amiga e de um judiciário totalmente parcial, ainda não foi julgado. O amigo lê a Veja e vê o Jornal Nacional e acha que sabe tudo de Brasil. Muito triste.Daniel Xavierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07282056667334180677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-30598811570678839362013-07-26T13:21:44.490-05:002013-07-26T13:21:44.490-05:00Now you've picked fights with Canada and Brazi...Now you've picked fights with Canada and Brazil, what country will you anger next through satire?<br /><br />I would vote for France, but they seem to have thick skin about this sort of thing. Might I suggest picking on Belgium? Those waffle eating choco-monsters have it coming, if you ask me! scottmprizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05005945296255906630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-8392911802753463852013-07-26T12:18:21.994-05:002013-07-26T12:18:21.994-05:00Sucesso do PT? inflação fora de controle, economia...Sucesso do PT? inflação fora de controle, economia parada, maiores escândalos de corrupção da historia.... <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-19991202569256622782013-07-26T11:01:03.116-05:002013-07-26T11:01:03.116-05:00Neil,
I'm one of those who was glad that Chic...Neil,<br /><br />I'm one of those who was glad that Chicago didn't get the olympics. Given the finances and the commuting nightmare, it would have been a disaster for ordinary people. However, I had a hard time understanding why they put it into Rio. Tourists are prime targets down there if you believe any of the online travel advice sites. I still don't get it.David P. Grafnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-77997555686695117272013-07-26T11:00:13.986-05:002013-07-26T11:00:13.986-05:00THAT is much more of a graceful and sweet post, Ne...THAT is much more of a graceful and sweet post, Neil – I am the one who mentioned the 1968 riots to you via Twitter ☺ <br /><br />You have to put your first article in context to understand all the anger it caused among Brazilians. Let me just start by saying that the media in Brazil is very concentrated. It is a true oligopoly, not to say a monopoly. One TV station – founded with the support of Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 60’s – controls 70% of the Brazilian open TV market. Three newspapers and one national magazine, together with this TV station, dictate the main stream public opinion in a country with 200 million people. It is shameful. Media in Brazil is not democratic. And this media, who belongs to 3 or 4 families, has a very clear side: they are against the Workers Party government (the party that brought the Games to Brazil), no matter what. So, you can imagine, every time they find an international article criticizing Brazil, specially when it comes from our rich and admired American cousins, they gladly echo it. Your article was everywhere in the last couple of days. And what was just meant to be a lighthearted article for Chicagoans, as you said, became political ammunition for the opposition in Brazil, which the corporate media is its loudest voice – because of the successes of the Workers Party in the last 10 years in Brazil, the real opposition (the other parties) is very weak right now, so the corporate media took its place. <br /><br />Other point to pay attention to is the fact that USA has hosted 9 Olympic Games already, among Summer and Winter editions. The whole South America has hosted none. Ever! And to see an American complaining because you are not hosting the Games for the 10th time didn’t play well to our ears. Where is the Olympic Spirit? ☺ This, together with the problems you pointed out yourself about Chicago, who looks like Rio in many aspects – not the weather – , and the many other arguments brought to the table by the article reader’s commentaries – many of them not in a very kind way, to say the least – you had a combination of ellements to make Brazilians very angry. <br /><br />Although one can argue, and many do, that Brazil has enough problems to solve before thinking of hosting such a big event, the Olympic Games is an opportunity for a country that is being asleep for decades to show the world we are here. Although a big chunk of the money will certainly deviate to corrupt pockets, the investments that will come with the Games can make a big difference to the life of many citizens and businesses. Although Brazil is far from being an Olympic sport’s power, the Games in Rio can mean a big push to our athletes. And on and on. <br /><br />Like the taxi driver, I am a Brazilian living in the USA. America has welcomed me with arms wide open. And because of that I really regret your boss not allowing you to go visit Brazil so we could do the same to you. Right before we steal your wallet ;) <br /><br />Best! <br />DanielDaniel Xavierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07282056667334180677noreply@blogger.com