- Corruption rang in the year and it’s only fitting that as
2014 comes to a close, there is another story of scum-baggery and deceit
hitting the planet. This one comes from Brazil, where the says it's temporarily suspending the country's biggest builders
and engineering firms from bidding on contracts while it investigates a
colossal corruption scandal. The oil firm Petrobras announced the c*ck-blockage
of 23 companies from bidding on
projects while an internal probe and an investigation by prosecutors roll on in
search of evidence of alleged kickbacks and money laundering. Among the
companies accused of shady operating practices and earning a ban from bidding
are top builders Odebrecht, Camargo Correa and Andrade Gutierrez. The good
news, because this is capitalism and it is democracy – and therefore, the
wealthy have chances to get what they want regardless of the situation and
regardless of whether they’re wrong or hideously wrong - the banned companies
have the right to protest and appeal. As part of the case, federal prosecutors
are seeking the repayment of some $380 million from companies in connection
with their investigation and that’s just the start. They have vowed to expand
the probe further and those dollar amounts could rise in a hurry based on their
findings and how good the affected companies are at buying off federal
prosecutors. A total of 39 individuals, including many top executives, could
face a range of criminal charges based on the results of the investigation……….
- Hey America….you won't give a damn about soccer for nearly
four more years, but when you do, just know that your national team will have a
bit more talent than when you last paid attention to it. The U.S. men’s
national team that exited the 2014 World Cup in an offense-deprived loss to
Belgium still isn't one of the best soccer squads in the world, but it received
a boost this week when Arsenal youth star Gedion Zelalem not only snagged U.S. citizenship, but
also proclaimed his intention to suit up for the U.S. U.S. Soccer Federation
president Sunil Gulati confirmed the news that the 17-year-old was joining the
ranks of other dual nationals who have pledged their international soccer
futures to the U.S. like Julian Green, Aron Johannsson and John Brooks. Those
three played for the U.S. at the World Cup and they’ll eventually be joined by
Zelalem, who acquired his citizenship courtesy of the Child Citizenship Act,
which allows the minor children of naturalized U.S. citizens to obtain
citizenship themselves. His father, Zelalem Wolydes, recently became a U.S.
citizen. Zelalem represented Germany at the youth level but can make a one-time
flip-flop to become eligible to play for the U.S. national team. He traveled to
Washington, D.C. earlier this week to complete the naturalization process,
ending a flirtation with U.S. Soccer that included speaking to coach Jurgen
Klinsmann "on the phone a few times" about his chances with the USMNT.
What’s great about all of this is that Americans will happily cheer for a guy born
in Germany to Ethiopian parents for a couple weeks as long as he helps them win
games, then go back to ignoring soccer once the U.S. is eliminated from the
World Cup………..
- Do it, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Give your state’s elderly and
infirmed the chance to legally get their drink on without a family member
having to drive them to the nearest watering hole and take them out into the
big, fast, scary world. Patrick is currently weighing a law allowing senior
living facilities to serve alcohol. The bill has widespread support on
account of the people who live in such facilities being very close to shuffling
off this mortal coil and therefore being entitled to booze it up if they want.
Critics have pointed out that there could be problems mixing people with questionable
self-awareness and mental capacity with multiple medications. Oh, and there is
also the matter of entrusting facilities that regularly lose track of elderly
people who move at a snail’s pace and have trouble maintaining basic levels of
sanitation and care with the right to serve up Michelob, Rolling Rock, Jack
Daniels and Grey Goose. Sure, alcohol would provide another avenue for care
facilities to gouge their patients and families of patients for cash, but is
that really a headache they want to deal with? The new bill would also affect local
businesses and restaurants, many of which already serve liquor to residents of
nearby senior centers. Those establishments are currently the go-to place for
people visiting a patient and needing a drink, unless one counts the
industrious souls who smartly sneak a flask or bottle of the good stuff into
the care facility so they can enjoy a drink with grandma or grandpa………
- Music can change the world. Young Fathers are hoping it
can also change the city of Edinburgh’s restrictive noise laws and curfews that
are choking the life out of its live music scene. The hip-hop trio have offered to
hold talks with council chiefs in their home city in an effort to boost their
careers/improve the region’s live music scene. Young Fathers met at Edinburgh
under-18 club night Bongo’s Lick Shot and began their climb from there and
claim that they want to negotiate "a better deal" for local
promoters. Their proclamation follows a November meeting between local
promoters and council chiefs at Edinburgh venue Usher Hall to address complaints that the council were “too
draconian” over local laws and noise restrictions. “Edinburgh is a vibrant,
beautiful city. It’d be great if it had a thriving live music scene,” Young
Fathers member Alloysius Massaquoi said. “It’s so frustrating and I think a lot
more could be done. It’s obviously not good at the moment. We’ve been trying to
do events for years, and it’s pretty bad when someone from the council turns up
with a noise meter, saying ‘You can’t go any higher than this.’” He’s right
because there is no bigger buzzkill than a tool with a noise meter ruining
everyone’s fun at the show, especially when the performer is the 2014 Barclaycard Mercury Prize winner. “The
council has been aware of the problem for years, so it’s positive that they’re
now taking the initiative on it,” Massaquoi added. “I don’t see why we couldn’t
speak to them about the issues. It’d be good to get an explanation from them to
understand how and why it is.” Council promised to get in touch with the group
and issued a bullsh*t statement about being eager to Young Fathers’ views on
the issues……..
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