Just Say No

Anyway, do female to male leap year marriage proposals really happen? I've never heard of one.

Words to Remember: Montanha-russa

Port: montanha-russa - substantivo, singular, feminino
Eng: roller coaster - noun

Yes, a roller coaster translates to montanha-russa - Russian mountain - in Portuguese (or 'The' Portuguese for article afficionados). This because it turns out that roller coasters were first devised in Russia.

So there you have it: one more useful word for your vocab stash. And yes, you can use the term in the roller coaster of emotions context (for those with pregnant acquaintances).

- Pregnant woman... "Eu estou grávida e sinto uma montanha-russa de emoções."

- You... "Ok, adeus."

Noteworthy Morons: Argentina _ _ _ ***

"Noteworthy Morons" or NM, intends on celebrating idiots that make a habit of assassinating common sense and have long developed acute immunity to logic.
Argentina - a nation (believe it or not) - has been bestowed the honor of being the first clutz, of what will hopefully be a long list of dweebs, to receive this acknowledgement. The South American nation has displayed great levels of backwardness, in a region ripe with ferocious competitors of moron, and hence made it to the list that is NM.
So what elevated this country to such notoriety, why discriminate you ask: isn't this just one more, of a long list of characters, that could have provided script fodder to the screenwriters of "Dumb and Dumber"? Are you not making a big deal of what seems to be just another wack job - a common estupido of estupidos? The answer lies within the pages of "The Economist" which simply decided to stop publishing Argentina's inflation index. Yep, you know you've made it to the gallery of clown when the foremost publication of economy and finance decides you are a big fat liar, and that there is no amount of decimal point tampering that can cover it up.

So Congratulations Argentina. Or, as The Economist calls you:
"Senhorita Footnote _ _ _*** 25%"

Dumbass.

Picture from here.

Why "Three O'Clock High" is the Better Carnival

Because the crafty little story behind said movie, along with a great soundtrack, transports the spectator - in harmony - to an interesting climax. Does Carnival do that? Well, if it does then I just don't feel it.

So good riddance to Samba.
And hello to the tangerine dream below.

The Keystone Cop

He starts out like this:

"Keystones are not needed. So we don't need a page about keystones. Ah well, let's just fill up this page with miscellaneous observations about beams and arches. Actually, you will probably have already realised from the existence of three-pin arches that the keystone is inessential"

Yet also includes this:

"Since this page is rather negative about keystones, we could also mention an article in Arab Construction World Nov 2005 / Vol XXII - Issue 7, in which Hakan Sandbirg points out that the value of the keystone is that it reminds us that "until the structure is complete, we have to keep thinking" - an important point"

And so I just couldn't stop reading and finished the whole chapter on, well, keystones - from this great site.

________

In keeping with the general video friendly theme of the blog I've added some Keystone Cops documentary footage below ( Although the article was awesome I just couldn't find any interesting video footage about actual keystones).

'Tis The Season to be Drowsy. . .

Yep: it's Carnival. For me a time to hibernate, and let the sambums have their fun ( only kidding sambums, we're pals).
Anyway, to prove that I am cool and also hip to the Carnival scene some Gilberto Gil has been made available below. The song would probably be heard during a Festa Junina instead of a Carnival celebration and I know what you're thinking: interesting, Festa Junina is far superior to Carnival and you are wise to notice. True, thank you.

Around the House

Lovely vid. All is improvisatition (with a professional touch).



From these guys.

The Gritty Guide to Expat Haircuts

People often complain about having a bad hair day, or never being satisfied with the haircuts they receive (with expats being major whiners due to the whole language barrier sob story). Only the chosen few, however, bother to research what their hairstyle should be: the style which matches their features. And, because matching hair to features basically means discovering the shape of one's face to then find a hairstyle that is suitable to it, then the task at hand is not at all difficult.
Since I'm hot - and of good Christian upbringing - I've decided to enlighten the meek (who won't inherit this capillar Earth) with a little guide on how to get proper expat haircuts, and then communicate said info to their Brazilian hairdressers in Portuguese.

Ok, first let's find your facial shape, and visit the site where our tips will be translated from: to do this we must click here.
Alrighty then, now do as the link says and measure; take your time so to get it right.

So now you've realized that there are five facial shapes, and have found the one you belong to. I have classified them below in both English and Portuguese. And beside each shape directions are provided, in Portuguese, regarding the proper haircut for that specific face. Make sure you feed this info to your hairdresser, along with the sample picture linked under "examples", before superfluous chit-chat begins (of the sort which includes novelas, and ends with " wow, that's really more insight into your love life than I am comfortable with").

Facial Shapes to Hairstyles/Formato Facial e o Corte Compatível

Square..... (Quadrado): O corte sugerido para este formato de rosto possui comprimento médio ou curto. Os contornos devem ser ondulados ou arrendondados. Evite cabelos longos, e penteados retos.
Examples: Masc, Fem

Diamond... (Diamante) Este formato de rosto lhe dá muitas opções de cortes. É possível ser bem experimental. Entretanto (notice the bold emphasis of Entretanto) não se esqueça de enfatizar as belas maçãs (beautiful cheekbones) do seu rosto, e não escondê-las com muito cabelo em sua cara. Se você tem um formato diamante bem acentuado opte por um corte curto, lembrando sempre de deixar um pouco de peso/volume de cabelo na nuca ( Nuca is Nape,) para equilibrar suas maçãs faciais.
So yeah: the beautiful cheekbones de seu rosto thing is key for diamond heads.
Examples: Masc, Fem

Heart.... Coração: Um Bob na altura do queixo é aconselhavel para este tipo de formato do rosto já que faz com que a área do maxilar pareça mais larga, e portanto mais equilibrada com o resto do seu rosto. Penteados mais longos também funcionam, mas evite estilos cujas alturas sejam na copa, ou penteado para trás e/ou super curtos.
Examples: Masc, Fem

Oblong/Rectangular... Retangular: Cortes de comprimento curto ou médio são indicados. Utilize camadas ao redor do rosto: elas irão suavizar os ângulos faciais. Evite penteados muito longos.Examples: Masc, Fem

Oval..... (Oval: Duh :-)) Este formato facial é bem equilibrado e proporcional. Por isso um rosto oval aceita praticamente qualquer tipo de corte, e penteado.This is considered the perfect shape for a face, so count your blessings oval heads. And ovaladies: call me.
Examples: Masc, Fem

So, there you have it.
I hope this was informative, and can be of practical use. Um bom corte para todos.

R.I.P Whitney

"So when the night falls, my lonely heart calls. . ."



Thank you, and God bless.

Bilingual Bumper Philosophy

Storm a-Brewin'

In Venâncio Aires, Brazil.

A destination covered quite well in an American guy's travel journal , which I found on-line. Read the part where he arrives in town and is greeted with a custom made sign, designed by his hosts. Hilarious, and kind of endearing.

Pictures from these guys (thanks "these guys").

Duh, It's so Obvious Brazil - The Travessia Elevada

In this DISOB - Duh, It's so Obvious Brazil - the Grittmeister touches upon elevation, of the street kind ( yes, tough street lingo from a refined poet).

I am talking about different planes between street and surroundings. This "revolutionary" concept is already in use in some parts of Southern Brazil from what I have observed. Now isn't it obvious that a simple elevation at crossing points and intersections would increase visibility, hence safety, and reduce accidents plus their incurring costs: usually the public health system has to care for uninsured pedestrians.
I don't want to get into the emotional toll accidents inflict on families since that is just too harsh.

Now look at this elevation being all gritty and useful in a Southern Brazilian city.



DUH BRAZIL.

On Why I'm Hot

Holly for a Laugh

Holly Walsh: brilliant, and lovely.
By the way, when she references "loo roll" that means toliet paper.
See, a comedian that is not only funny; but speaks funny as well.

If I Should Fall From Grace with God

Bury me at sea
Where no murdered ghost can haunt me
If I rock upon the waves
Then no corpse can lie upon me

How can one not love them ?

I still do after all these years, and hell, I can't resist so here's another one.