Brazil is in Poor Company

What is one of the top ten economies (by GDP) doing at the bottom of a list with the Central African Republic, South Africa and Swaziland? Turns out that Brazil, though considered by many to be an extremely important rising economy has an income distribution similar to countries better known for counting on foreign aid as more than 80% of their government expenditures or or are completely surrounded by another country. The global statistic website Nation Master verbs that the richest 10% of people in Brazil hold 48% of the country's income. For comparison, the global average is 31.4% with Sweden towards the best at 20.1%.

Brazil also struggles with corruption, according to Transparency International they are "roughly comparable to Burkina Faso, Saudi Arabia and Panama." With elections looming in 2010, it's important to consider the potential for change in governance and economic policy. Will global attention during the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic games give Brazil the incentive it needs to promote its tiny middle class or government transparency?

See also: Brazil in 2006

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Every Rose has its Thorn

Aculeate [ê-'kyu-lee-yêt]

Definition: Having a stinger, like a bee or wasp, or sharp prickles, like a rose or thistle.

If you know someone with a prickly personality, you will find today's word handy, "Otto Mattick has aculeate tongue capable of inflicting considerable mental pain if roiled." You could also call Otto's barbed words 'aculeate.'

From YourDictionary.com

Clandestine ≠ Covert

For all you wanna-be spies out there, clandestine activity is not the same as covert activity.
Just an FYI.

La Movida Madrileña

My current Spanish project is about the Movida in Spain, the crazy decade after the end of years of dictatorship. Similar to the free-love, beatnik period of the 60's an 70's in the US, a previously conservative Spain was able to let its hair down and culturally catch up to the world around it. This time period gave the world the musician Alaska and other Spanish punk/pop/rock artists as well as a dramatic increase in drug use. I think the animation  El mamut captures the sentiment nicely, as well as the musical Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar, which is similiar to the popular US musical Rent in its portrayal of young people trying to survive with AIDS during la Movida. To read more, check out madrid-uno.com.

Summer time = biking time

I just discovered MADSEN Cargo Bikes, right after buying a cruiser and attaching a milk crate for my belongings. I'd say this:
  is much prettier and probaby more stable than anything I put together.

Tapestries as DIY sound insulation

In the Middle Ages, many cavernous halls displayed woven tapestries as symbols of status. However, living in a time of fiberglass insulation and central heating, we often forget the lack of sound-deadening qualities these large, cold halls exhibited, making large tapestries more than pieces of art, but a sound-proofing tool that protected againsted the damp, chilly winters. Tapestries had the further advantage of being easily transportable between residences while often depicting historical events.

Source: Dayton Art Institute, Wikipedia

How do they keep from poking each other?

Narwhals (monodon monoceros) are crazy looking creatures known as Artic unicorns. Seen here on BBC New's website, narwhals are rarely captured on film at all. The tusk is actually an over-grown left incisor that can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 20 pounds.