pieces

Both Caroline and Rebecca now drive pre-2007 CR-Vs.

Now, I am not a car person. In fact, until I actually drove a Jaguar, a car so much fun to drive because all I had to do was think about where I wanted it to go and it was there, and such a smooth ride, and so much power… but I digress. Really, I’ve never understood the desire to buy a high-end luxury vehicle. I mean, the thing is only going to last a few years, and is doing nothing but depreciating, so you’re going to have a ridiculous payment for forever (because you’ll just have to buy another one when this one dies, or before that, as I don’t know too many high-end car owners who actually drive their vehicles into the ground). I drive a Civic, and although I can’t cart quite as many people and as much stuff around as I might want to, it was good to have when I had to parallel park in Baltimore, because wow I suck at parallel parking. A Civic, for crying out loud, should not be difficult to parallel park. Yeah, as attested to by the people who used to practically fall out of my car they were laughing so hard at my first, oh, 300 or so, attempts.

I’ve once again gotten off subject.

So anyway, although I’ll never drive a Lexus, I have always wanted a CR-V. It seems like the perfect size, and actually gets great gas mileage for an SUV - really, not any worse than an Accord, if I remember correctly from when Jack bought his.

That is, until this year’s model came out. I mean, what were they thinking? The Honda Element is not a pretty car. The goal should not be to make cars that the same marketing group that designed the Element thinks is pretty. I was so irritated the first time I saw that ad, because I do plan to drive my Civic until it won’t run anymore, meaning I won’t be getting a pretty 2006 CR-V. It will be more like the 2010 model, which better not look anything like this, or I won’t be buying from Honda.

So yes girls, I’m jealous. And the only way to keep me from stealing your vehicle will be to drive me around in them, at least once a month.

:)

Because it is.

And I’m not talking about styling your hair, people.

I was just watching a commercial where someone comes out of nowhere to tackle the guy on the screen (and no, I don’t remember what the ad was for - you see, for most fo the commercials I really like, I have no idea what product they’re selling - a major flaw in the marketing, if you ask me. The big exception to this are the current Mac ads).

Anyway, how do I respond?

“Come on, can’t you find someone that knows how to tackle properly? I mean, that’s a great way to separate your shoulder.”

I am learning so much.

I love this game.

In my Portuguese class, we’ve started watching the Brazilian TV series “Cidade dos Homens” (City of Men). It takes place in a favela near Rio de Janeiro. Favelas are the Brazilian slums. Rather than being located in the inner city, they are actually on the outskirts of the cities, and in Rio, they travel up the hillside, with a spectacular view of the beaches and ocean. Created through displacement, people settled illegally on this public land. They used whatever they could to build houses, and tapped into public sewer and electric lines whenever possible. Because of the steepness of the hills, there is generally no access for vehicles, and the houses can be several stories high. The favelas are controlled by the drug lords; the police rarely enter.

The miniseries “Cidade dos Homens” was created after the success of the 2002 movie “Cidade de Deus” (City of God), which was based on a book written by a guy who grew up in the favela of the same name and did years of interviews and research. I’m not sure how much of the miniseries is dramatized, but the book is supposed to give a pretty accurate glimpse of Rio in the 70’s and 80’s. I’ve decided to read it, and despite its length (550 pages), I’m going to attempt it in Portuguese, as I want to get a real feel for the culture.

I find it hard to comprehend the level of violence protrayed in the series. I’ve never heard of anything quite like it in a place not actively fighting a war, civil or otherwise. And yet, just down the road are the beautiful people strutting their stuff on the beaches. The split between the lower and upper class is extreme. Other than seeing the makeshift houses built in the hills, someone who lives or is staying in downtown Rio never has to have any contact with the favelas.

Oh, and check out this link:
Rocinha

And a new blog I’m reading:
…and again he asked, “why?”

As if figuring out the difference between Windows Home vs. Windows Professional wasn’t confusing enough for the average consumer, you now have FOUR options when ugrading your Microsoft OS to Vista (*shudder*) - Home, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate.

Because really, why would they make it easy?

Oh, right, because the world is starting to realize that Macs are cool.

I know, it’s been passed around, but it’s so funny.

That truck? It was a semi.

All I can say is, I have a feeling that I am going to feel like I was hit by a truck tomorrow.