- Riot Watch! Riot Watch! It may be time to end the race and
officially declare South America this year’s championship continent of rioting
because multiple nations have been locked in a constant cycle of turmoil since
the new year began and perhaps no nation has been as ass-deep in anger of late
as Brazil, where rioters lit buses on fire, blocked roads and clashed with
police during a general strike that brought transportation to a halt in many
cities across Latin America's largest nation. Lighting massive vehicles on fire
and throwing hands with police are two hallmarks of any good riot and this one
was coupled with a strike protesting major changes to labor law and the pension
system being considered by Congress. The strike seemed to energize thousands of
angry Brazilians fed up with corruption and worried about the country’s future
amid a deep recession and rising unemployment. Perhaps nowhere was the vitriol
more apparent than Rio de Janeiro, where demonstrators brawled with police in
front of the legislative building for several hours and chased that with an inspiring
display of lighting several buses on fire. Over in Sao Paulo, thousands marched
toward the home of President Michel Temer and hurled rocks at police, who
responded with stun grenades when protestors attempted to barrel through
barriers set up to stop them. Nationwide, millions stayed home, some because
they supported the strike and others because they simply had no way to get to
work. Temer is still struggling to get his proposals through Congress, which is
an issue because his administration argues that more flexible labor rules will
revive a comatose economy and warns the pension system will go bankrupt without
changes. Temer tried to downplay the day of rioting to labeling the protesters
as "small groups" that blocked the roads and streets, but he just
seems to be living in the land of denial about what’s happening in his
country…….
- Hi there, sports fan. Have you been wondering what a
past-his-prime, low-class, minimal-IQ Olympic swimmer has been up to since he
and three teammates fled Brazil last summer in the wake of a massive scandal in
which they vandalized a gas station and its restroom, then lied about being
robbed at gunpoint to cover up their drunken antics? If so, you’ll be thrilled
to know that Ryan Lochte is competing in the pool for the first time since his
self-created, alcohol-fueled scandal during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The
man with more Olympic medals than IQ points to his credit finished second in
the 100-yard breaststroke in 53.92 seconds and won the 200 individual medley in
1:44.21 Friday at the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring Nationals in Riverside,
California. It’s one of the few places he can compete right now, as he is
banned from domestic and international U.S. national team competitions through
June 30 as part of his 10-month suspension. The reason the Jeeee-uh! One is
able to compete because the age-group meet is sanctioned by a different
governing body and now that the six-time Olympic champion lives in Los Angeles
- a perfect fit for an ass hat like him - going to Riverside wasn’t too far of
a drive. He’s also engaged to former Playboy model Kayla Rae Reid and the
couple are expecting their first child in June. Once the kid is born and the
suspension ends, Lochte plans to swim in
the U.S. Open on Long Island in early August. He’s also inked endorsement deals
with swimwear maker Tyr and PowerBar after losing all of his previous deals
following his idiocy in Rio…….
- Maybe this is a question for a housing or health and human
safety expert, but doesn’t moving from one lead-paint-laden residence to
another lead-paint-laden residence defeat the whole purpose of trying to escape
the lead paint at the first residence? That’s a question worth pondering upon
learning that lead paint was discovered outside nearly half of the units
intended for families leaving an Indiana public-housing complex due to - wait
for it! - lead contamination. Court documents show that lead paint was found
near 13 units intended as emergency housing for families leaving East Chicago's
West Calumet Housing Complex and yes, these are people fleeing what is one of
the most economically troubled, frequently dangerous areas in the country.
These folks were expected to move into homes where lead paint was on the
outside of the building or in door frames or jambs, window casings, housing
lintels, porch areas, or stair posts or railings. That’s not really what you’d
hope for when seeking a new domicile for families who previously lived at a
complex that was built on a site previously occupied by a lead-products factory.
Last summer, officials did soil testing which found some yards with lead levels
more than 70 times the federal safety standard and they quickly looked to move
people out. The testing wasn’t exactly voluntary; it was required under a civil
rights agreement reached in November. Through April 21, 17 West Calumet
families had moved into the emergency units and into new led-laden dwellings.
Of course, East Chicago Housing Authority officials claim the paint hazards
were remediate and the housing agency believes it is in full compliance with
federal regulations, but not everyone agrees. The Chicago-based Sargent Shriver
National Center on Poverty Law refuted those claims, arguing that the lead
inspections "expose widespread noncompliance" with federal laws. All
in all, proof that bureaucracy is gonna keep bureau-crating, no matter what
problems that may cause…….
- Keep on Bjork-ing, Bjork. The bizarre, eccentric Icelandic
pop singer who loves to incorporate art and creativity into her musical career
is at it again, releasing what would normally be a yawner of a book project,
except she hopes to make it a must-read. She’s releasing a career-spanning
songbook, titled ’34 Scores for Piano, Organ, Harpsichord and Celeste,” a title
that on the surface makes it seem like the single most boring book ever
released by any musician, anywhere, at any time. But let’s see what’s
inside….arrangements from ‘Debut’, ‘Post’, ‘Homogenic’, ‘Selmasongs’,
‘Vespertine’, ‘Medúlla’, Björk’s Drawing Restraint 9 soundtrack, ‘Volta’ and
‘Vulnicura.” Yup, that does sound boring as hell. But according to the tome’s
description, it “reimagines what can be achieved with traditional sheet music,
continuing Björk’s history of exploiting new technologies for creative
innovation.” Nope, still sounds boring as hell. This book, which may be so
immensely popular that pre-ordering is essential, will be released on June 5
via Wise Publications. Further enhancing its rock and roll credibility, it was
made in collaboration with pianist Jonas Sen, design house M/M Paris and
engraver Werner Wolff. For those who aren't on board with this project, just
know that you have lots and lots of company on the subject………
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