Update from Brazil

[bigbdm4]

Well, for starters, everybody is pretty pissed off about the latest security stuff, fingerprinting, photos, and being held for hours in a room without even a toilet for relief.  I am speaking about high level Brazilians who tried to come to the USA.  It's all over the TV in Brazil.  It's big news, and it's not good.  The big complaint is why some countries in Latin America have been singled out, especially Brazil, while other countries enjoy an exempt status.  I think I know why, I read it in a Robert Crumb story about forty years ago.  I couldn't believe it back then, but it sure seems to be true now.  By the way, none of the Brazilian doctors who tried to come here had bones or feathers in their hair, or paint on their faces.  They all had expensive clothing and even more expensive university degrees.  

But the Brazilians are quick to respond.  If you want to go there, be prepared to be fingerprinted like a gangster, mug shots, thrown in the tank, relieved of your shoe laces, and like they are going to take the toilet paper so you don't try to escape or hang yourself.  At least they have a toilet for you to cozy up next to, unlike here.  "Once upon at time you dressed so fine, threw the bums a dime, in your prime.  How does it feel to be on your own?"  Like a rolling stone.  

To me it's like eating a peach.  I still miss Dwayne Almond.  Anyway, there is a fine layer of fuzz on the outside that you have to wash or rub away to get at the sweet juicy fruit.  Gee, listers, let's all wonder which fuzz that might be when we pack our bags to go there.  Personally, I prefer rubbing, especially the wrong way, washing is reserved for what is worthy of water, the valued things, not fuzz.  I have to say that the fruit inside is so sweet, don't mistake the fuzz outside for the entire fruit, like somebody did the other day, I posted about that.  Don't think that the Brazilian people don't like you, or don't want to receive you, that would be catering to the fuzz and ignoring the fruit under the skin.  Understand?

Another update, now.  The dollar is strong, about three for one dollar.  You can eat lobster in the best restaurant for five bucks.  You can stay in a nice hotel for twenty a night.  Carnival is coming soon, and then everything will triple in price, especially the time of day, because that is what Carnival is all about, the time of the day and the night, the sun and the moon, the time in between, and the year, according to which heavenly body you happen to subscribe to.  That's why they get so crazy.  But Carnival is another story.

Good luck!

Big B

[Pete E]

... in response to Update from Brazil, posted by bigbdm4 on Jan 5, 2004

We have a terrorist problem.The perpetrators are 100% Arab.
But its not politically correct to single out one group of people,even it contains all the terrorists.So we frisk grandma and piss off countries like Brazil.Probably every country,Brazil seems to be the main one to retaliate.
I support Bush in general but I think he is getting advice from some do dos and he isn't bright or observant enough to figure out its BAD advice.
ITS OK TO PROFILE IF YOU HAVE A GOOD REASON TO.NOT TO IS STUPID AND INEPT AND REDICULOUS.Concentrate your efforts on the problem,not image.Inconvenience people hugely only if it is USEFULL,not for political correctness.
One other pisser to me,the whole 9/11 thing could have been avoided with 4 guns in 4 cockpits.But do we do that now?No.Seems some people think unless you are a full cop you shouldn't have a gun.The pilots that don't already have firearms training could get it in a day.We do NOT need marshalls,even if we could put one on every plane.They are more vulnerable than a pilot with a gun behind a good door.
I could believe Clinton would do something like this but BUSH?? It seems to go against everything he stands for.
Tom Ridge is a guy in a suit without a clue.All image,no function.We need a proffesional,not a politician in that job.I would fire Norm Mineta instantly for his opposition to guns in cockpits.Why do we have to be so stupid that some 3rd world bozos can get at us?

Pete

[beenthere]

... in response to Blame it on political correctness, posted by Pete E on Jan 6, 2004

[This message has been edited by beenthere]

Pete, I hope you're not so naive to think that soon (if it hasn't happened already) Al Queda won't be recruiting people of all nations, to carry out their deeds.  It has already been discovered by British intelligence that many of their recruits have British and American passports.  Not to mention the hispanic fellow who was arrested a few years back..........with all due respect, I'm glad you're not the director of homeland security.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Blame it on political correctness, posted by beenthere on Jan 6, 2004

British and American passports?Yup,and still arab as hell.
The convert from another culture is probably a rare item.Nuts thinking they are getting 70 virgins for blowing themselves up with alot of innocent people seem to come from one source.Nobody else in the world is that f--king stupid.You going to hire somebody to do that?I don't think so.Every other group in the world has one thing in common,they want to survive.
I'm for efficiency,not show.Concentrate on the problem.Energy spent on useless and unneccesary things detracts from the real issue.AND creates unnecesary hassle delay and cost.And makes enemies out of people that would otherwise be more friendly to us.
So unless there is some evidence,or even REMOTE likelyhood that some group from Brazil is going to try to harm us,spend the effort and money wiping out the real problem.
STOP STUPID BEAURACRACY!

Pete

[beenthere]

... in response to Re: Re: Blame it on political correctnes..., posted by Pete E on Jan 7, 2004

It's kind of funny, because to be honest sometimes it's hard to distinguish some latins from arabic people.  I remember watching Paul Rodriguez ( the mex-american comedian), and he made a joke about how every mexican had an uncle that looked like Saddam...........we're at war and everyone needs to realize it.  I have a feeling the worst is yet to come.....let's hope not.

[Cali James]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Blame it on political correc..., posted by beenthere on Jan 7, 2004

There's a reason they look similar, the Muslims (Moors) captured Spain around the 8th century and were there in one form or another for at least 6 centuries until the Catholics regained control.  There must have been some interracial mixing going on.

[DavidMN]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Blame it on political co..., posted by Cali James on Jan 7, 2004

Good point...and after Spain and Portugal depleted Latin America of gold and silver, and kicked out the Jews and Moors from the Iberian peninsula, they began a several hundred year period of (relative) decline. The Moors had a large influence on the Spanish/colonial architecture many people are fond of and you can't listen to good flamenco music without hearing the arabic heritage in it.

I think the U.S. education system gets too touchy-feely with their multi-culti talk and curriculum, but in a very broad sense a diversity of cultures, religions, ethnicities is key to a prospering, innovative country.

-David

[surfscum]

... in response to Re:  Blame it on political correctness, posted by DavidMN on Jan 8, 2004

Yeah, it's done wonders in places like Yugoslavia.

[DavidMN]

... in response to Re: Re:  Blame it on political correctne..., posted by surfscum on Jan 8, 2004

Yep, I guess freedom is a necessary ingredient, too. ;-)

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Blame it on political correctness, posted by Pete E on Jan 6, 2004

Pete

Big B won't want to hear this, but Brazil needs us more than we need them.  If the US said no entry or exit between the US and Brazil until they play by our rules, they'd drop their entry rules and they'd be asking "How high do you want us to jump?".  They want our tourist dollars and they want to come to the US.  Simple facts of life.

Steve

[bigbdm4]

... in response to Blame it on political correctness, posted by Pete E on Jan 6, 2004

If you believe all that, I just wonder how it tastes.

Your foot, that is.  I mean, surely you know, what with it being in your mouth and all.  Probably like bubble gum, in my opinion, that is the world you seem to be living in, and the only place you seem to us to bother to walk around.  

Big B

[bigbdm4]

... in response to Re: Blame it on political correctness, posted by bigbdm4 on Jan 6, 2004

Sorry if the last came out wrong, it was directed at another.

B

[Bueller]

... in response to Re: Re: Blame it on political correctnes..., posted by bigbdm4 on Jan 6, 2004

It's OK, no one cared.

[Bueller]

... in response to Blame it on political correctness, posted by Pete E on Jan 6, 2004

My thoughts exactly. Mineta wasn't even a Bush appointment; he's a holdover from the last administration. Why he didn't have a can tied to his tail two years ago for gross stupidity is beyond me. The pilot can't be armed because he might miss and hit a passenger, but the Air Force might be ordered to shoot the whole plane down. Huh?

[Pete E]

... in response to Yep, posted by Bueller on Jan 6, 2004

That pilot will be alot more accurate shooting a guy at the door than a marshall shooting in the main cabin.
I like Norm Mineta,he was a good guy when I worked at the City of San Jose and he was Mayor.But the political correct crowd got to him.I don't think too many democrats make the cut on defense.Who was that dutz,congresswoman from S.Cal,said the pilots have enough to do flying the plane,Yeah,if they are not dad and a nut is at the controls.
If we could take a poll of those who died on 9/11,what do you think the opinion would be on a gun in the cockpit?
I bet you wouldn't get a single vote against it.Some nuts have killed the pilots and are going to crash you in to a building.You wouldn't shoot their a-s?

Pete