Blue tape /death squads/crabs

While prepping walls for painting, I consider  the similarities to writing.

Taping  woodwork  and ceilings is similar to structuring chapters.


My writing method is to hurl the words at the paper and edit the splatter later. The cleanup is easier with words than paint. Hence, I never run out of blue tape.

All the activity in the world and I just don't feel like commenting on scandals and wars.

Lyrics and words attract my attention but I'm stuck in neutral.

My interrest in detective stories has found me  returning to book about South America. I'm reading  Ernest Mallo's  Needle in a haystack,  a  book about Inspector Lascano's attempts   to do solid investigations while Argentian death squads prevail in the late 1970's.

9/19/13

Blue theme continues. Last night someone  threw a blue crab on the ice during the Caps NHL exhibition game at Baltimore arena. In the ealy 1970's we  were an AHL affiliate of the Red Wings, the home of squid tossing.

9/29/13

Parker Bilal's series on PI Makana's work solving crimes in the repressive military early 2000's Egypt is interesting. Add to the mix that he's of Sudanese descent  and you're in for a treat. I'll try to get back with more on Dogstar Rising, the second book of the Makana series.

10/1/13

No shutdown blues here. Gridlock works

11/20/13

The level of poverty  and child prostitution in Brazil  is overwhelming.  I shuddered a few times while reading  two detective Silva novels, Dying Gasp & Perfect Hatred by  the late Leighton Gage. Snuff movies, etc.

1/22/14

Will Venezuela need to use death squads, the  country is a mess.

4/26/14

Gage's books  gave me a better view of  Brazil and now  we're seeing  daily the results of the pre- World Cup crackdown. 

6/4/14

Brazilians beware: your President has spoken

Ms Rousseff, who faces the possibility of fresh anti-government protests, said they would not be allowed to disrupt the tournament.

6/9/14

Tear gassin in Brazil http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-27761723  apparently they didn't TCOB before the World Cup.

If the strike runs on until Thursday, it could affect the opening match between hosts Brazil and Croatia.

6/11/14

BRAZIL is a night/day mare waiting to happen and I always chuckle when leaders say this: President Rousseff:

"Rest assured of this, the World Cup accounts are being meticulously scrutinised by the country's auditing institutions," she said.

6/18/14

Caramel spread from Uruguay- that's what bothers Brazils these days.
link

8/19/14

Argentinians don't want to go home  after the World Cup and they don't need a Visa to be there. A Govt Id is good enough. West Ghanans applied for asylum. Open door policies can put a strain on public coffers.

8/25/14

It appears decapitation is a  trend. Brazil prisoners decapitated in Cascavel jail riot.  link

10/06/14

Is the World Cup good for your country? Many folks are discussing FIFA corruption and the prohibitive costs of hosting WC.  link

 Brazil's presidential race will go to a second round after incumbent Dilma Rousseff fell short of an outright victory in Sunday's election.....But the past 18 months have been marred by recession and corruption scandals, and protests over poor public services and the World Cup costs.

The same arguments against hosting the Olympics exist.

1/21/15

Pedro Garcia Arredondo, ex police chief in Guatemala in 1980,  was found guilty of ordering officers to keep anyone from leaving the building as it burned. Crazy , crazy story

link

1/30/15

I need to learn more about how releasing de Kock in South Africa help nation building. South African apartheid-era death squad commander Eugene de Kock has been granted parole Original sentence two life terms + 212 years) after 20 years in jail.  link

4/25/15

Ghost Runner #3 in the Makana series by Bilal was a riveting read. The  desert town of Siwa was  bizarre, and the idea that a town like Koloshna, a meeting place for mercenaries and intellegence operative, exists  give one pause.. Even though you could see where the Serafina story was going it was still interesting.

5/11/15

So Libya won't address  the reasons people are fleeeing its shores. Instead it wants the EU to shoulder the burden. libya

Libya has criticised EU proposals to authorise the use of force against people smugglers taking migrants across the Mediterranean to Europe.

5/12/15

Libya attacks Turkish ship

A Turkish dry cargo ship’s third officer was killed and several other crew members were wounded after the ship was shelled off the Libyan coast and attacked from the air

5/18/15

The Burning Gates, #4 in the Makana series,  is a solid book. Bilal manages to  wrap up a tale involving Saddam bad boys, American mercenaries,  etc w/o being too preachy and w/o a happy ending. The running side story of Makana  thinking  his dead daughter may be alive is growing.

8/3/15

While Brazil decides whether it should clean its water prior to  hosting the 2016 Olympics, the IOC recognized Ultimate Frisbee.

8/14/15

I'm not the biggest tree hugger, but what's with the IOC  mediocre response to the dirty water in Brazil. link. If I were an Olympic sailer or rower, I'd be worried.

The AP viral testing, which will continue through the Aug. 5-21, 2016, games, found not one water venue safe for swimming or boating,

8/17/15

Obviously , it's not dirty water but dirty politicians . link

Overwhelmingly white and middle class, the protesters in Sao Paulo were having none of that argument. In generally jovial mood, they condemned the ruling Workers Party for its role in the corruption scandal surrounding Petrobras.

9/24/15

Perhaps, Pope Francis should direct his "non-political" enviromental speeches at those in charge of Brazil's water venues?

2/2/16

Zika outbreak, dirty water for the Olympic swimmers, but Rio Olympics is still a "go" ??????.
Police state  growing.  rio

2/15/16

It could be time to take the2016 Olympics away from Brazil.

3/23/16

Suddenly no news on the dirty water in Brazil and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has said impeachment proceedings launched against her in Congress amount to a coup attempt. Yes, that where we need the Olympics.

3/29/16

Bad water, shaky government: welcome to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. impeachment

The PMDB, the largest party in Brazil's ruling coalition, has voted for an "immediate exit" from President Dilma Rousseff's government. The move could hasten impeachment proceedings against President Rousseff, correspondents say.

4/6/16

Getting worse: Brazil may also impeach Vice-President Michel Temer

4/12/16

If impeachment vote goes to the Senate and Ms Rousseff is suspended, Vice-President Michel Temer, from the opposition PMDB party, would take over temporarily.

4/18/16

House votes to impeach Roussef- now up to Senate

5/13/16

Where are all the really  serious enviromentalists  and health care advocates who appear to pick and choose their targets. At least Prof Attaran remains consistent while the  IOC and WHO say don't worry we got this. Attaran

"If the IOC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) do not have the generosity of heart to delay the games to prevent children being born and disabled their whole lives, then they're among the cruellest institutions in the world,'' Prof Attaran said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press news agency.

6/22/16

and a golfer alerts the world. Rory McIlroy opts out of the Olympics in Brazil over Zika concerns.

8/14/16

Argentine President Mauricio Macri has asked Brazilian and Argentine fans at the #RioOlympics to cease their hostile chants and name-calling.  Could this escalate into violence or is it similar to Redskins(NFL) fans who don't like the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) rooting for any team that plays against them?

10/27/16

It turns out that #rorymcilroy may have used  the existence of the #zika virus to  avoid following through on his decision to play for #TeamIreland. He could've played for TeamGreatBritain.

11/8/16

#RioOlympics weren't much help. The Brazilian government has frozen the bank accounts of Rio de Janeiro state, ordering it to pay millions of dollars in overdue debt.

11/9/16

#Rio gets worse. The demonstrators, mostly firefighters, police and prison officers, spent three hours inside the Rio assembly chamber,  and some wrecked windows, doors and offices.

11/17/16

Brazil is in such bad shape that  protesters demanding a military coup  forced their way into Brazil's lower chamber of Congress in the capital, #Brasilia. Be careful what you wish for!

1/26/17

2016 Olympics - #Zika  health issues

2017:   largest outbreak of #yellowfever #Brazil since 2000.

3/22/17

Yes, #Brazil is a nightmare. Waldomiro Costa #Pereira, a land rights activist was killed by five gunmen at a hospital in Brazil where he was recovering from a previous assassination attempt. His guards were surrounded and there's no report on whether they let it occur or were shot.

5/30/17

#zika hasn't gone away. It's spreading and now #india is trying to cover up it's appearance.It was first identified in monkeys in Uganda in 1947.

6/23/17

#OperationWeakFlesh, NOT a sex worker sting or minister's sermon. United States suspends all Brazilian meat imports

7/13/17

Rough times in #brazil : 

Ex-Brazil President #Lula sentenced to nearly 10 years for corruption

Sugar and oil prices decline

Sanitation issues not being addressed.

8/7/17

Looking for water in #Brazil near #Rio don't stray or you'll be shot at by Terceiro Comando Puro gang.The mother, who was with her family, was hit twice in the abdomen.

8/8/17

#IOC chairman #thomasbach is far too kind in giving #Brazil more time to deliver infrastructure promised as its Rio Olympics legacy, Bad aftertaste lingers.

9/11/17

#Batista 's lawyers  accidentally sent a tape to the prosecutor's office incriminating Mr Batista. This not an Onion report on #Brazil

10/25/17

Brazil's President #MichelTemer secured enough votes in the lower house of Congress to avoid facing trial on corruption charges,  and investigations can't resume until he steps down at the end of 2018. Again not an Onion report

10/28/17

When Hollywood folks preach, I go deaf. A photo of #madonna, the rebel with w/o a clue,  dressed in army camouflage fatigues with military police in Rio de Janeiro has gone viral including  a post on the official military police account of Rio de Janeiro. Now that's rich.

11/30/17

#sidewalkgentrification of wealthy #Rio neighborhoods is a new trend.The Homeless, now called rough sleepers, feel insulted. These days everyone's feelings are hurt 24/7.

2/20/18

Brazil: Federal police intervention in #rio ,  soccer riots, prison riots, and the army is moving to protect its  border with #venezuela.

4/10/18

Could Brazil be shifting to the right? Are #brazilians , particularly the young, so frustrated that they'll vote for #Bolsonaro who is second in the presidential polls after former President Lula, who may not be eligible to run because of his corruption conviction.

5/26/18

#Abcam  backs down on trucker strikes after Pres Temer threatens to use the army in Brazil
On Thursday they rejected a deal to scrap fuel taxes and maintain a 10% reduction in pump prices for a month in return for the protests being suspended for 15 days.

7/23/18

#Bolsonaro is only allowed 10 seconds of free television time but leads by 10 points Brazil's Presidential polls. He vows to loosen gun controls to fight crime.

8/15/18

#Bolsonaro has the bullet and bibles crowd behind him and is scaring the he!! out of the mainstream press in Brazil. Pundits say no- Business groups say yes. We'll see!

9/1/18

Brazil's electoral court has voted to bar ex-president Lula da Silva, the front-runner, despite currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for fraud, from running in October's election. His Workers Party has 10 days to swap the candidate names on the ticket.

9/4/18

 Two hydrants closest to the #Brazil National Museum were not working and  water had to be brought from a nearby lake to fight the fire .

9/6/18

Lula banned!  Jair #Bolsonaro jumps to top of the presidential polls in #Brazil with 22 percent of the vote.  Is another right-leaning populist going to win a Presidency?

9/30/18

The Left has the same playbook everywhere: Under the banner "Not him," protesters came out in dozens of cities including Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to voice opposition to #Bolsonaro who they view as racist, homophobic and misogynist.

10/10/18

#Bolsonaro  didnt make it 50% to win the Brazilian presidency so he ll face Haddad on Oct 28 in round 2. His PSL party did well and this slogan has helped:  "prosperity, liberty, family, on God's side" or the path of Venezuela."

10/16/18

Will the conservative governments of #Macri in Argentina, #Pinera in Chile,  #Duque in Colombia and likely #Bolsonaro in Brazil start to  sway countries such as Venezuela to move to to right?

10/29/18

#Bolsonaro won 55.2% of the vote against 44.8% for Fernando Haddad of the left-wing Workers' Party. I thought the margin of victory would be narrower ,and  he needs to find some buddies because his PSI party is a not the largest among 30 parts in the Brazilian Congress.

1/6/19

 One of the triggers for  the wave of violence in #Brazil is gangs are retaliating for government plans to impose tighter controls in the prisons: blocks on mobile phone signals and an end to a policy of separating prisoners according to gang membership.

3/16/19

USA will strengthen military ties with Brazil to a level usually reserved for NATO allies during #Bolsonaro’s visit to DC Tuesday. This may involve talks on Brazil hosting a USA military base.

3/23/19

Unasur, started by the late Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is defunct. It's replacement #Prosur includes Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Guyana.  Bolivia and Uruguay sent representatives to the meeting in Santiago, Chhile, but did not join the bloc. Venezuela was not invited to the bloc because it's not interested in a full validity of democracy.

4/4/19

#Bolsonaro  is in Israel  to sign agreements on science and technology, trade, defense, agriculture and other areas. It's noteworthy to see the triangle  of Trump/Bolsonaro / Netanyahu.

 5/8/19

  #Bolsonaro loosened restrictions on gun imports to #Brazil and allows people to carry more ammunition. "Public security starts inside your home" is his slogan.

5/31/19

Some soccer news:  FIFA’s appeal committee  rejected an appeal by former Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Marco Polo Del Nero against his life ban from the sport for violating ethics rules on bribery, offering and accepting gifts, etc .

7/19/19

 #bolsonaro is becoming a solid ally. Two Iranian ships have been stranded for weeks at Brazilian ports, unable to head back to Iran due to lack of fuel, which  #Petrobras refuses to sell them due to sanctions imposed by the USA.

7/30/19

 I bet #Bolsanoro  uses the military for a long time to handle the prison nightmare.  57 people were killed, including 16 who were decapitated, during a gang battle that erupted in a prison in northern Brazil.

8/2/19

 #Trump designated Brazil as a major non-NATO ally which makes it easier for the country to purchase U.S. weapons and defense equipment.

11/27/19

I wonder how this is going to shake out. Brazilian police arrested four volunteer firefighters for intentionally setting fires in the #Amazon rain forest.The police alleged the four had privileged information and photos of the fire and used them to raise money from donors.

12/11/19

 Brazilian President #JairBolsonaro referring to Greta Thunberg:  "It's impressive that the press is giving space to a brat like that"

April 21, 2020

Gilberto Aparecido dos Santos, AKA #Fuminho,  the fugitive leader of  PCC, one of Brazil's most powerful gangs, was arrested in Mozambique's capital, #Maputo. He had been on the lam for twenty years. Has Sean Penn been consulted- I'm kidding!