Merry X-Mass Brazil

Just watch this video and have your own  thoughts!

2014 and the World Cup ... or not!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

A President That Cares ... Less!

Isn't it scary? While our mainstream media barely touches the issue, international news is outraged about our dear President Dilma Rouseff's spendings while traveling to meet the new Pope - and she isn't even catholic!

And if that wasn't enough, she now went with her ex-president friends to Mandela's funeral spending some more. And as usual making a fool of herself.

For the money spent on just these two trips we could easily build and equip a small hospital or 2 schools - actually no, since we here overprice everything we might be able to buy just a very small ambulance with that kind of cash!

Anyways, just wondering, for how long will this folks take this kind of shit without reaction?

I don't know. What I know, I am on the verge of becoming a mayor criminal since congress is talking about the criminalization of anyone who dares to speak out and criticize our politicians!

"Am, excuse me! Can I get one of them cells like them ones our convicted politicians get? With HDTV, bar, room service and stuff!!! I'd very much appreciate that!"

Dilma's travel expenses!

This is Rio de Janeiro! Come and enjoy!

I'd really like to translate all this, but I guess the pictures speak for themselves.

You still thinking about spending your money to come to the World Cup? You better bring your swimsuit and some fins!

http://veja.abril.com.br/noticia/brasil/rio-cidade-submersa-obras-recem-inauguradas-nao-resistem-a-primeira-chuva

Brazil and the World Cup 2014

It's been a while since I last posted. Thinking about why, there is only one answer that comes to my mind: I just can't believe!

I can't believe that people, mostly the younger ones, went to the streets to protest about the raise of public transportation prices - got a cut back - but are quiet paying a "new" fee that they charge you now, whenever you re-charge your pre-payed public transportation card!

I can't believe that people continued going to the streets protesting about the lack of education, health care, security, over pricing and in special about corruption within our government, got their asses kicked by an overreacting brutal police force, got arrested and falsely accused and ... got convicted of crimes they never committed, but the rest of the nation looks away.

I can't believe that these same people who where abused, stolen of their elementary rights, slapped in their faces on a daily basis and still, went back home and to business as usual.

I can't believe that they finally - and I say finally because we are being abused of for decades now from our government - stood up for their rights and, well, made fools of themselves.

And I can't believe, that I am one of them!

Yes, I went to the streets to! I protested against politicians that abuse of their privileges, that steal public money and give themselves more and more benefits, while the people suffer more and more! I got beaten by police just because I was there. And yet, I am back in my cousy home - just wondering.

You, out there, you want to know the truth about Brazil?

Well, we brought corruption to a new level! We kind of PHD-ed when it comes to stealing public money. Or over-taxing. Or lying to the people and the World. We allow our politicians to give themselves privileges you cannot dream of. Yes, we actually charge, trial, convict some of them and still pay their revenues while incarcerated! And their pensions!

We are being lied to, we are given crumbs while a few eat caviar, we have to stand in line and pray to get medical attention while them abuse of the best private hospitals in the country. Yes, our politicians have private health care that we, the tax-payer pay for but we cannot afford private insurance ourselves.

We have the worst education, the worst health care, no security at all and yet we can afford to build the most expensive Soccer World Cup in history! Well, at least we try to. The money is already spent, but nothing, not one construction is finished and functioning. I do not want to talk about infra-structure - it would be to funny - or sad! Just one example, it rained this night here in Rio de Janeiro, a few hours of fine rain and maybe a couple of minutes of heavy one - and - the city is a chaos! Half of it under water and the other half in traffic jam.

I am happy that I do not like soccer at all. Otherwise I'd be very concerned about visiting one (any) of the stadiums build for the Cup. If you have the smallest knowledge of construction or engineering you will see that what they have done, is a potential risk to anyone who enters a stadium. But this will be the last of your problems when you come to the World Cup. It will begin at your arrival at the airport. Continue on the way to the hotel, and if you make it to a stadium alive and with all your belongings, than you start hoping that it won't collapse.

Brazil is a joke (unfortunately one that causes thousands of deaths every year) and Brazilians are clowns. Selfish, arrogant, stupid idiots with whom you can do whatever you want and will hear no complaint - as long as you don't talk about their favorite soccer team.

The worst, I am one of them.

collapsed even before finished

just after a little rain

First spray than ask

do not hurt yourself or get sick

do not argue soccer

sentenced yet happy and well payed

yes we care - about us

WHAT REALLY IS HAPPENING IN RIO!

Police committing crimes, arbitrary arrests, shots fired from lethal weaponry, unconstitutional, violence, aggression, censorship, police making state terrorism in Rio de Janeiro.

We can not claim our constitutional rights, we can not meet, we can not protest, can not defend ourselves legally, we can not express ourselves, we can not shoot video or take pictures.

You want to know why?

Because federal, state and municipal government have plans to subdivide and sell the city regions with high real estate potential, arbitrarily and ilegally expelling the poor from their homes, to overvalue the sites and then sell them at exorbitant prices. Destroy and sell our heritage, as the building of the Old Indian Museum Complex and the Maracanã to private investors and make millions with these bargains; sell our areas of environmental preservation to hotel groups and mega real estate companies; invent pharaonic and useless, totally overpriced revitalization projects as the Port Wonder, and cable railways; make a lot of money with speculation in the property market and construction.

Lots and lots of money!

And we're messing up with their plans.

We mess up when:

we disturb the order and silence settled over all this, screaming and shouting WE DO NOT WANT THE WORLD CUP, so that investors might begin to fear to inject money in stocks of companies engaged in these scams.

 

When we expose to the world the sickness of our country's leaders and their government acts and leave more evident all the dirty tricks that involve the production of mega-events such as World Cup and Olympics.

 

When we disturb the plans, financial calculations, charts and profits of mega-corporations / governments by delaying or preventing their performances: as the demolition of the old school Friedenreich.

 

When we destroy the image of our government and country abroad, scaring away new potential investors who would act not only in the period of mega-events, but mostly afterwards.

 

When we cause fear within tourists, who might stop coming here of fear of demonstrations, cutting down the input of rivers of money into multi-million dollar hotel chains friendly with our governments.

 

Our government planned for years ahead mega-events as a way to allow the entry, movement and handling a tons of money. They plotted, calculated, planned, closed agreements, signed contracts, did the math, distributed their shares of money from the sale of the city by the lucky occasion these mega-events would generate.

 

They began to execute this grand project.

 

AND NOW WE ARE DISTURBING ALL THIS.

 

And they are DESPERATE!

 

They did not see this coming from a population who for so long was behaving passively before the atrocities, injustices and robberies of the government.

Now, they do not know what to do!

 

So the only thing they came up with was to declare war to the people: weapons, oppression, censorship, lack of control, mismanagement, fear, violence, terrorism, aggression - the most stupid and uncontrolled reactions of a government before the despair of not knowing what to do with the situation and the possible loss of profits and benefits.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. The drop of water that made the barrel overflow. 

Brazilian government pushed it to far. Thought they could go on forever, as long as they maintain the people happy with "bread and games"! 

But no, this time they are wrong. The world will recognize and will turn their back to Brazil's government and will embrace the Brazilian people and help us become the country we deserve to be. 

Now it is the time for change, real change.

Incredible People

After more than a week of manifestations, people on the streets of Brazil claiming for change, police aggressions against peaceful protester, finally, our president Dilma Roussef pronounces herself to the public.

At 21:00 hrs of June 21th, 2013, after a couple of minutes on TV mumbling basically nonsense in a tone of voice that reminded me of my mom talking to me when I was 8 years old, this is the respond she had from us - the people:






I LOVE BRAZIL!

Let This be an Example for All - Brazil Revolution - #oGiganteAcordou

If this doesn't make you proud, I don't know what does!

For the first time in history Brazil is on the verge of becoming an example for the entire World. Example of pure and real democracy. Example of how the people can change what politics wont. A nation known only for its carnival and soccer, its beautiful woman and for its corruption, high prices and mal-functioning.

Now, Brazil will become known for its beautiful people, strong people, rightgeous people, caring - loving and fighting people! But specially, for its peaceful people! People that changed a nation by loving it, by standing up for it and by fighting for it with - flowers!

Please Brazil - DO NOT STOP UNTIL IT'S DONE!

The World is behind us! Supporting us! Looking UP for us! For the first time!

The Beginning of The End - Brazilian Revolution

First there was the usual. Abuse!

Government abuse by charging the highest taxes in the world. By paying the highest salaries and benefits to themselves. By providing the worst public service possible.

But this is not enough. Our politicians if not invented, certainly took corruption to an absolute and frightening professional level.

And than there are their partner. The industry. In special, the ones providing services to the mass like transportation, telecommunication, media, etc. Following the model of their mentors - worst services and products for highest prices.

There were and there are no limits.

But now I believe they pushed just a little to far. And this is what is happening now:

I never thought I would see anything like this happening here during my lifetime. But I was wrong, and I am happy about it. Finally people are going on the streets claiming what is theirs. And when at first most of us looked at these relatively small groups of mainly students, not believing that this would go anywhere, now, more and more are joining in!

And politicians are scared! Try to talk it down and since this is not helping, now they are criminalizing these actions and labeling activists as criminals and terrorists.

But this won't help eather!

The world doesn't believe them anymore. And while main stream media is still on the side of the government, journalists on the street are feeling for themselves (literally) government's censorship and dictatorship.

And police, government's brutal arms, are slowly realizing that by fighting the movement, they are fighting themselves. While most are still shooting teargas and rubber at us, few are already unhappy with the situation and are speaking out. Very low still, but I am sure that soon we will hear their voices loud and clear, amids ours.

And now the best part: This is Just The Beginning!

I truly believe that this is the start of something big! It is big enough to move people all around the world to join Brazil in solidarity

AUCKLAND (22/Jun) https://www.facebook.com/events/550748674973719
BARCELONA https://www.facebook.com/events/202433683240284
BERLIN https://www.facebook.com/events/165396716966531
BOLOGNA https://www.facebook.com/events/468817986538368
BOSTON https://www.facebook.com/events/238595646265111
BRISBANE (23/Jun) https://www.facebook.com/events/260842227391920
BRUSSELS https://www.facebook.com/events/594266403939531
BUENOS AYRES https://www.facebook.com/events/193499234142111
CALGARY https://www.facebook.com/events/674695089212397
CHICAGO https://www.facebook.com/events/474892132587144
CIUDAD DE MEXICO https://www.facebook.com/events/163069633872720
COIMBRA https://www.facebook.com/events/200661703420881
COLONIA https://www.facebook.com/events/186464351518068
CORDOBA https://www.facebook.com/events/571135546270345
DEN HAAG https://www.facebook.com/events/363696367086327
DUBLIN (16/Jun) https://www.facebook.com/events/268625579944061
EDMONTON https://www.facebook.com/events/153694814817084
FIRENZE https://www.facebook.com/events/560400697344845
FRANKFURT https://www.facebook.com/events/175117009324268
GENÈVE https://www.facebook.com/events/657023217645222
GLASGOW https://www.facebook.com/events/470942426322399
GOLD COAST https://www.facebook.com/events/185294188298493
GOTEBORG https://www.facebook.com/groups/brasileirosemgoteborg
HAMBURG https://www.facebook.com/events/341611152632858
HELSINKI https://www.facebook.com/groups/brasucasdafinlandia
LA CORUNA https://www.facebook.com/events/506258462756431
LISBOA https://www.facebook.com/events/131690073703767
LONDON https://www.facebook.com/events/183382041822867
LOS ANGELES https://www.facebook.com/events/137690836432279
LYON https://www.facebook.com/events/146679695525200
MADRID https://www.facebook.com/events/625940557418200
MELBOURNE https://www.facebook.com/events/139107326291772
MILAN https://www.facebook.com/events/142032179324313
MONTREAL (16/Jun) https://www.facebook.com/events/185780441587055
MÜNCHEN https://www.facebook.com/events/367062640060027
NEW YORK https://www.facebook.com/events/520028848044341
OSLO https://www.facebook.com/events/149879805201189
OTTAWA https://www.facebook.com/events/164282003743339
PADOVA https://www.facebook.com/events/166566683514943
PARIS https://www.facebook.com/events/147318595459350
PERTH https://www.facebook.com/events/535224996513409
PORTO https://www.facebook.com/events/645859998777392
ROMA https://www.facebook.com/events/460194267403747
ROSARIO https://www.facebook.com/events/487784637957259
SAN DIEGO (16/Jun) https://www.facebook.com/events/1387526288126068
SAN FRANCISCO (22/Jun) https://www.facebook.com/events/498561580217088
SANTIAGO https://www.facebook.com/events/355649721227566
SIDNEY https://www.facebook.com/events/169844843193848
SIDNEY https://www.facebook.com/events/278546472284919
STOCKHOLM https://www.facebook.com/groups/brasileirosemstockholm
TOKYO https://www.facebook.com/events/609751042382657
TORONTO https://www.facebook.com/events/128677670672718
TURIM https://www.facebook.com/events/261371487339249
VALENCIA https://www.facebook.com/events/136456916554894
VANCOUVER https://www.facebook.com/events/186329608197344
VIENA https://www.facebook.com/events/137857749748322
 





So, what now Dilma?

100% Transparent - Or shall I say NAKED!?

More and more we read and/or see in the news, and by news I seldom mean the
mainstream news and yes, social media news and other alternative sources of information's, about the government cutting into our rights.

Well, first of all, I do not believe we ever had any rights other than the right to shut up, vote, pay taxes and to live according to their ideas. What I believe is that we have privileges, temporary privileges that can be taken any time government wants - but this is a whole other story.

So let's see if this is some kind of new idea.

The United States was founded by a bunch of upper and middle class white guys telling us that all men are equal, except for the slaves they kept on their farms taking care of heavy duty work and serving their families. And all men had the same rights (as we read in the Bill of Rights), except again, woman, for they somehow where not equal enough to vote just to mention one example. In 1940-something, Japanese American where sent to concentration camps simply because their parents were born in the "wrong country"! Honest, law obeying citizens locked away, well that's what I call rights!

But let us be fair, this is not an US only situation, but for time sakes let me just stay here for a while.

So, in recent history we have the so called Patriot Act. Congress signed this paper and gave government more rights to "protect us"! By giving government something it had to be taken from somebody. Guess who lost rights here!!!!???

And now we hear this guy, Edward Snowden, whistle blowing about government spying on our e-mails. Again!

So, they listen to our phones, read our mails, watch us on the streets, and so on! Yes, we know! They do that all the time and are doing this ever since!

Honestly, I don't give a damn thing! If they think they need to read my boring mails and watch me all day long, well so be it - I have nothing to hide and I believe most of the people don't! But, here's a thought;

Same rights for all!

If I have to practically strip naked when going through security at an airport, so do they! If they can read my mail, so I want to read theirs to! If they know who killed JFK, if the moon landing was real or fake, if there are aliens among us, than I want to know this to!

But, if you government and special interests groups want to keep some secrets, so get the fuck out of my life and leave me alone!

Do not argue with me that this is all for my protection! We are 6 billion people on this planet and maybe, just maybe, 1% of them are evil and terrorists, the majority is not! And this majority is interested in food, water, knowledge, health, friendship, love, basic prosperity and don't waist not even a second of their time thinking about how to kill someone, or invade some other country or any shit like that!

I don't mind walking around naked all the time so that you can see all I am doing, but I know that you don't want me to be sniffing around your business! So better wake up, cause the more stuff you invent to control us, the more you get us curious about what you are doing. Just a thought! Slow down and get real! You are in "public service", remember? Do I have to explain to you what that means?

I guess not.

So, have a great day everybody. Enjoy live and summer and let us all get naked! This should be fun!

New World Order

Yeah, right.

As long as I can remember I've seen so called science fiction movies showing us a future
world with only one world government. I've seen movies were robots are almost humans, in one (Bicentennial Man) in fact, it (the robot - Robin Williams), at the end, is declared human by this one world government. And than, I hear all these conspiracy theories about a group of people manipulating all and everything to achieve this goal: The New World Order.

Science fiction, conspiracy theory my ass!

If you read (or watch) the news with just a bit attention, if you research a little into the past and compare news from than with evolution, for instance in technology, politics, medicine and science, if you compare with today's news and how the world is developing, well than you can come only to one conclusion:

we have been and are still being systematically prepared for things to come, so that when it comes we won't hesitate to accept these new circumstances and we give in, just the way it has been planed.

The thought of a One World Government were people (humans) are finally treated equally, were resources are used for the good of all, were we as a race take care of each other and were we live free and in peace - is cute. Naive though.

Come on, humans are ambitious, notorious liers, jealous, greedy, the only species on Earth known that kills other from its own and from other species just for fun, or for profit. We were given precious gifts called intelligence, thoughts, emotions, memory, vision and what we use it for, to conquer, steal, betrail, murder, to gain "power" over other, to profit! How can a species like this ever live in peace and harmony? What has to happen for this to become reality?

I'd love to see a brighter future for humanity, specially since I have to little girls that have their lives still in front of them, but you know what, I will continue hoping and I will try to do my best to make it happen, but I also will prepare these girls and teach them to be sceptical, curious, aware, smart and strong, for I will not allow for them to become no ones puppets!

Do good, be kind, spread love but keep your eyes open! Do not trust what you hear or read nore what you see! Question everything and above all, THINK! Use your brains for what it is intended to. Have an opinion based on what you research and not based on what other tell you. And help other see!

In case you wonder, no, I am no lunatic, haven't been recently through any trauma, the only thing I changed, I threw my TV in the garbage and I read no more newspaper. I select what I read and what I watch - it is so easy now since internet - and I question! I question everything. Not because of fear, no, because I am curious and I want to know what really is behind all this crazy nonsense around me.

Last but not least. As soon you stop watching TV and reading newspaper and magazines you realize in what a wonderful world we actually live and that this place is really worth fighting for. That people are mostly friendly and that we all are looking for the same kind of things, love on top of all! And suddenly you become aware that all this shitty stuff is made just by few, a minority. But since the media gives them so much attention we actually believe that it is big! It isn't!

And when I say minority I mean also them ones that believe they have us all in their hands! You to wake up fellows! Not everybody is asleep. Who knows, after all, things might work out differently than you expected!

New World Order, yeah, right!

Well That is Convenient

Anyone can tell me why it is that I am feeling kind of strange when I read the news around the World and than read this?

Specially when it was them same Romans that crucified God's only son?

Awkward, or is it just me?

Romans 13

New International Version (NIV)

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.


The more I read the Bible, the less heavenly it looks to me. Sorry, just the way I see it!

Have a good one! 

The Paradox of Water and The Insanity of Mankind

Why are people willing to pay for something that they can have for free? Well, almost for free. And worst, most of the time they pay for worse quality while the free stuff is better!

What am I talking about? Water!

Check out the graph

 

And this is just one example of human insanity. We are all complaining and scared to death about the worlds evolution, simpler, about our future, but we don't realize that it is us that are creating this horror story! 

GET REAL!

Stop listening to media and politics and stop this ridiculous consume oriented behavior and open your eyes and get real about what you really need! I guarantee you, it is not the 50" HD 3D super flat TV-Set you saw at the mall!

DO NOT believe everything you see and read and what Government and media tells you! They don't give a shit about you! They just want to keep you working your ass of to pay taxes and to buy the shit they tell you that you need, so that they can keep earning more and more while you work more and more to maintain this craziness!

No, I am not bitter, just tired to hear everybody complaign but noone mooving a finger to change anything. You want change, move your ass an do something! You don't want to do that, stop whyning! If you believe you can't change anything you might aswell sit back and relax and watch this freakshow and enjoy it!

Have a nice day!

Every Body Knows, but Noone Seems to Care!

When you stop to analyze things that are happening around you all day, every day, this - in
case you are privileged to have a brain and know how to use it, you'll realize that we are just fucked up!

Sorry in advance for the not very formal language I'll probably use in this post. Not my style, but I believe the only way to be totally honest about these issues.

We've been lied to basically since mankind. We've been induced to do things we would never agree to, if ... well you know, if we used our brains. Politicians are our elected representants so that we have someone to blame for all the shit that is happening, regardless the fact that it was us that put them into office in the first place. Industries only purpose is to make us produce shit that we don't need so that they can sell us this stuff for money we don't have.

Few live in total wealth, the upper class people that run and control everything while the middle class works its ass of so that the upper class can continue to enjoy their money. And the poor people, well they are just there to scare the middle class people to death so that they continue working like shit, never to become poor!

We live in constant fear, some of us, actually most of us, because the media tells us that we have to. Fear of loosing our jobs, fear of becoming sick, fear of germs, fear of our neighbors, fear of relationships, of sexuality. Fear for our security because some Godless brown people's only thoughts are how to screw us up, and by us I mean the western world or the white people. Religion tells us to fear God! There is just no safe haven for us. Everywhere we look we have to fear something, so that our politicians and the industry can offer us "security"!

Politicians offer us security by cutting our constitutional rights so that they can invade our privacy, to protect us. Industry sells us security in form of goods, weapons, fences, insurance policies (??? you got to be kidding). And talking about rights, what the fuck are our rights other than just some privileges that can be taken away every time it suits someone?

And if it is not enough that other lie to us, no, we lie to our self all day long to! And that is the worst part of all this bull shit.

We know that government is corrupt, that we pay taxes so high and that most of this money goes into someones pocket instead of it's original destination. We know that industry is producing goods that are no longer made to last, that they want us to consume more that we need. We know that banks are the worst because they manipulate us to spent money that we don't have and that doesn't exist and than go and charge us interests for it (so called credit cards are just one way to do so). We know that the world produces more than enough food for all its population and still, millions of us hunger and starve to death!

And what do we do about it? We blame the others or we find excuses why not to do anything at all. I am impressed on how people are smart enough to find or invent excuses for them self, but not smart enough to actually do something to change.

Change! Another fine illusion. Do you really believe in change? Who or what is going to change? Specially if you don't change! How is this going to happen? Some miracle? Magic? God?

You know what I believe? Change is already happening, but the kind of change you won't like. The world is changing, better yet, the planet is changing. And just as it did and does for 4.5 billion years now. Whenever something is out of order, the planet takes care of and changes it. Some call it evolution! Sooner or later the planet will wipe humanity out of its face, regenerate, create new species, maybe smarter that we are, and will go on it's journey around the sun, just as it has been for so long now. All what will be left of us, maybe some plastic.

Oh, by the way, the planet doesn't care if you are rich or not! Upper class will be as dead as the rest of us. No privileges here.

So, since you are not willing to actively do something, you might as well sit back and chill. One  thing is for sure, to worry and or to fear will not help you in any way. Won't change a thing.

Blooper

Today, just a short video I made in 2007. It is the extremely funny part of a not so funny registration to a TV Show in Brazil. Well, see for yourself:

I Want to be Free!

Oh I am getting so tired. Every day I read or hear or see or all of them, people complaining,
dieting, writing, filming, justifying (the list goes on and on) about what they, better, we should or not do, eat, drink, think, etc.,etc.,etc.!

Please try to follow me here and let us see if we can just simplify things a little.

Yes, Government and Industry are out there to screw us. This is nothing new and will not change in the near future. Junk food is trash and if we cut our meat consumption just in half we'd safe millions of tons of water and other resources, we would pollute a lot less and we could probably feed all living creature on this planet with no big deal. These are just some of the bigger issues. Let's simplify more.

We, I, you are all looking for a better life. Some how. Never the less we are not happy and if we look around we only see what could be better and what we should do different, specially when we read them specialist reports or see some of these TV programs that tell us that we are doing everything wrong.

And what for?

You know what I think? We listen to much to what other people tell us! We don't think for our self and make our decisions based on what is really good for us or not. If we did, we'd have never ever bought that 500 inch HD 3D HDMI WHATSOEVER TV SET that also makes you coffee in the morning and washes your dishes after dinner. It is worthless, specially because what you see in it is trash to. We don't need the biggest house or the newest and fastest car, the latest smart phone (specially those since they make us look really stupid if we compare), none of this. We need peace of mind and a bit more freedom!

Peace of mind so that I don't judge myself just because I had some chocolate during my latest diet (from witch I know it won't help anyways), or that I smoke or drink or, or, or! It's none of any ones business. As long as I do not affect others with my actions I do whatever I want and what makes me feel good!

Freedom to make my own decisions and to life a life with less charging, more happiness and humanity. Leave the social networks alone for a while and do some social networking "old Style" - on the street, face to face with your friends, people you actually know!!!

Yes, life is not perfect. If I eat to much junk I probably will die a few years sooner (maybe) but at least I will have lived happier. If I don't wear the latest designer clothes less people might be my friends, but the ones that are, at least are real friends. Take yourself and love yourself just the way you are and not the way others want you to be. Be happy with yourself and kind to others by letting them be their self to.

We have an average of 75 years to live, women a little more, so do you really want to spend this time wining and complaining and going for someone or something you are not, or would you rather pursue a life that is simpler and less stressful and happier????

I know what I want, and as long as I don't hurt anybody, I'll be exactly what I am, the way I am and happy as I am. I want to enjoy the few years I still have left. With a smile on my face, sleeping well, not worried about a pound or two that I might be over weight, or whatever! I want to be free!

Honestly, what!? (Viewer discretion advised)

I didn't want my first post in 2013 to be a complaint, but, sorry, I need to get this of my chest.

Have you ever, and by you I mean YOU, said to a cook:
"Oh my, you must have some great pans, your food is delicious!"
or to a mechanic:
"Great, my car is working again! What tools did you use?"
No? Maybe you said to a painter:
"Look at this marvelous painting! You must have some great brushes!"

No? Of course not, this would be stupid!

But why in Christ's name, every time I am out shooting and someone sees my gear they go:

"Wow, this is some camera you have there. It must take great pictures!"

NO! The camera doesn't take good pictures!! I do!

A camera doesn't make good pictures, just like an oven doesn't bake good bread or a brush doesn't make art. It is the person behind the tool that does it!

Yes, you can go into the grocery store and get some ready mixed flower, add some water or milk, stick it in the oven and 15 minutes later you get yourself a cake. The same way you can set a modern camera to full auto and you will get fairly good pictures. But you will never, ever get even close to the taste a cake has, when made with real ingredients by a real baker.

I started taking pictures in 1974 (make your math), long long before auto focus or picture styles or programs were incorporated into modern cameras. Long before digital was an issue. I actually had to study to go from a snapper to become a photographer. And as a matter of facts, because of these constant changes in technology I am still learning, on a every day basis!

So, please, the next time you're at a wedding or some other event and you see a photographer at work, go and acknowledge him for what he is, a professional. And if you have any questions about photography, ask. If the situation allowes I am sure he will be glad to explain you how things work. I know I will. And remind yourself, the camera is a tool! An instrument, and if you don't know how to play it, you always be a snapper - with some good results if you are talented, but to make that really great shot, the money making picture, you have to study - ALOT !!!!

Have a great 2013!