mvan1

I travel often and frequently to Brazil. I generally use wifi when it is available on a flight. It is a long flight between GIG or GRU and the U.S. (more than ten hours). During the long trip, I purchase wifi to help ease the hours on those long trips. I use the aircraft wifi for ordinary things including e-mail, whatsapp and so forth. On occasion, I look at that "other site" and have never had a problem accessing it. However, several years ago when I first tried to access this site from an aircraft, I got a message telling me that the site is blocked because of its content. I usually try at least a few times to access this site while on each subsequent flight but I can never access it. For those who do not know "the other site" the content there is not much different than on this site, except this site has more revealing photos. I just left Brazil and used an air carrier that I do not regularly use for Brazil, United Airlines. Considering that I was on a different airline, I thought I would be able to access this site from its wifi. Wrong. Although I did not get the message telling me the site was blocked, for its content, I could not access this site. I simply got repeated messages telling me that I was not connected to wifi. That was silly because I was connected and I could reach any other site I tried. I also could reach the "other site" without any problem. Both United and American use Panasonic for their international wifi. Is it Panasonic that sets the rules for what content can be accessed? I make many trips back and forth to Brazil and also use wifi when it is available. Not once was I ever able to access this site while the other site is always available. It is only the photos that cause the site to be blocked? Does anyone have any idea why this site cannot be accessed from wifi aboard an aircraft? Does Oz know?

Brazil's President Temer threatened to bring in the army to clear the roads. Here is another update about the strike - https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-latin-america-44258652 Another thing, Airlines posted this travel waiver for Brazil. Notice that UA's waiver extends until June 3 - Civil unrest - Brazil (American Airlines) If you’re traveling to/through/from: Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF) Brasilia International, Brazil (BSB) Manaus, Brazil (MAO) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GIG) São Paulo, Brazil (GRU) The change fee may be waived if you: Are traveling on an American Airlines flight Bought your ticket by May 24, 2018 Are scheduled to travel May 24 - 29, 2018 Can travel May 24, 2018 - June 3, 2018 Don't change your origin or destination city Rebook in the same cabin or pay the difference Current as of Saturday, May 26, 2018 8:27 AM Central. Information is updated as it is received. Please visit Today's Operations for the current status of our operations. Travel waivers currently in effect Event Travel to/from/connecting through Original travel date(s) Additional information Brazil Industrial Action Airports: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GIG) Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU) Original travel date(s): May 25, 2018 - May 29, 2018 Flight changes: The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new United flights departing between May 25, 2018, and June 3, 2018, as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed. For wholly rescheduled travel departing after June 3, 2018, or for a change in departure or destination city, the change fee will be waived, but a difference in fare may apply. Rescheduled travel must be completed within one year from the date when the ticket was issued.

There will be no coup! The truckers and the government reached a temporary agreement for fifteen days to unblock the highways. Those planning to visit Brazil after the temporary agreement ends, stayed tuned with Brazil news so that you do not get caught up in the strike, if the strike is resumed. Here is the latest news on the strike and the fifteen day agreement to unblock the roads: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/brazils-government-and-protesting-truck-drivers-reach-agreement/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+(The+Rio+Times) Even today, after the agreement, the streets are almost empty of traffic. This is because the truckers would not deliver fuel to gas stations. People with cars could not buy gas to drive. Here is a medley of various reporting on the strike that almost ruined my stay here: Truck drivers' strike paralyzes Brazil Los Angeles Times 4 hours ago Brazil president says striking truckers could be removed ABC News 1 hour ago Brazil authorizes army to clear trucker protest Reuters 4 hours ago More for status of trucker strike in brazil? Brazil schools close as truckers' strike enters fifth day - ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/.../brazil-schools-close-truckers-strike-enters-day-55433784 1 hour ago - A nationwide strike by thousands of truckers brought much of Latin America's largest nation to a halt on Friday, prompting Brazilian President ... Truck drivers' strike paralyzes Brazil - Los Angeles Times www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-brazil-truck-drivers-strike-20180525-story.html 4 hours ago - Thousands of Brazilian truckers angry over fuel price hikes blocked roads Friday, the fifth day of a strike that led thousands of schools to close, long lines to form at gas stations and several flights to be canceled. The strike continued despite a deal reached late Thursday ...

As tourists to Brazil, why do we care about the truckers strike? The international airport at Sao Paulo (GRU) and the international airport at Rio (GIG) are many miles (kilometers) to and from the cities. There is no metro to and from the airports. THE MAIN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS ARE BLOCKED BY THE TRUCKERS - We as visitors to Brazil will have trouble getting to and from the airports. Flights can be missed. It could take hours to get into town following a long flight. Or hours getting to an airport only to arrive too late, thus missing a flight. Clearly, anyone on this forum who visits Brazil can be negatively affected - particularly those visiting now or soon. As a side note, I am in Brazil. Even taking Uber or a cab to the saunas is slowed down because many major highways and streets are blocked. A ride to Lagoa that normally takes about twenty minutes took more than one and one-half hours tonight with the driver using side streets to get around some of the traffic and blocked roads. Check out this articled that was just published: https://www.enca.com/money/brazil-close-to-paralysis-as-truckers-press-on-with-strike Brazil close to paralysis as truckers press on with strike MONEY Thursday 24 May 2018 - 11:16pm Truckers prepare a barbecue as they block the Imigrantes highway SP-160 during a protest against high diesel fuel prices in Sao Paulo, Brazil May 24, 2018. Photo: Reuters BRASILIA - Brazil appeared on the verge of a standstill on the fourth day of a nationwide truckers' strike Thursday as road blockades caused severe shortages of fuel and food, despite a move by the state-owned oil company to defuse the crisis. Airports and gas stations were running out of fuel, food prices were spiralling and agricultural exports were hit. Truckers have attempted to put a stranglehold on the movement of goods in Brazil to protest fuel price rises. The increases are the result of a politically sensitive decision made in late 2016 to allow the Petrobras oil giant autonomy over its pricing, as well as a rise in world prices in recent weeks. But the determination of the truckers has caught centre-right President Michel Temer's government flat-footed, five months ahead of presidential elections. Petrobras yielded to pressure on Wednesday and temporarily reduced fuel prices, sending its shares plunging more than 13 percent on the Sao Paulo stock market by late Thursday afternoon. But the truckers Thursday were still blocking main arteries in 24 of the 27 states in the vast country, which has only limited rail services. In the port of Santos near Sao Paulo -- the largest in Latin America -- there have been virtually no arrivals or departures of trucks for three days, the management said, even if the "loading and unloading operations of ships continues normally" for now. In the capital Brasilia, the airport was allowing only planes to land that had enough fuel to take off again. Five other airports including Recife in the northeast and Congonhas in the economic capital of Sao Paulo, fuel reserves could run out on Thursday, the G1 news site said. Various abattoirs have also halted operations, affecting a key export sector. A one-off measure Prices of fruits and vegetables were rocketing in some places to 400 percent, due to supply problems. Pump prices were also higher, and long lines formed at many gas stations. A spokeswoman for Rio's fuel retailers' union Sincomb told AFP that the main service stations were last supplied on Monday. "There is a lack of fuel in practically all the service stations that we have contacted," she said. As a way of defusing an increasingly out-of-control situation, Petrobras Wednesday announced a temporary price reduction of 10 percent. "It is a one-off measure. It doesn't represent a change in pricing policy," Petrobras chief Pedro Parente told journalists. "These are 15 days for the government to reach a deal with the truckers." But the head of the Abcam truckers' association, Jose de Fonseca Lopes, was unimpressed. "It is not what we need,", he told CBN radio. Temer is to meet with truckers' representatives late Thursday, following the failure of talks on Wednesday. The movement appeared to have some popular support. "I think that this has been provoked by poor management by the federal government," said Ana Maria Lobo, a driver waiting in line at a gas station in Sao Paulo, who also noted "all these corruption scandals." In another temporary measure, the lower house of congress decided late Wednesday to suspend the introduction of two taxes on diesel until the end of the year. If the Senate approves the measure Thursday, the truckers "are ready to suspend the movement" said Fonseca Lopes. But the spokeswoman of the National Transport Confederation (CNT) told journalists Thursday that blockades would continue until the president signs the measure into law. The proposed suspension of the diesel taxes has sparked tensions within the government. "There is no agreement yet. I am not against it but I would like to know where the money is coming from," said the minister in charge of relations with parliament, Carlos Marun. AFP

You said a similar thing is common in Europe. However, Europe has a wonderful alternative to trucks. Europe has an exceptionally efficient train system. Brazil does not have a train system except for very short routes. A truck blockage of highways in Europe is merely an inconvenience, not a major calamity as it is in Brazil. For the past few days, truckers have blocked many major highways in Brazil and the blockages are getting more frequent and with more highways. Brazil relies on buses and trucks and cars to get things and people transported on its highways. If Brazil's highways are blocked, the economy suffers and so do the people. Already, supermarkets in Rio and Sao Paulo are rationing food. Today, another attempt to end the truckers strike failed.

Truckers in Brazil are angry over fuel prices. Part of their anger is expressed by blocking highways in large cities, including Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. One way tourists might get around some of the blocked highways and/or streets is to use the metro whenever possible. Of course, this is after you get to a city from a blocked airport. Getting to an airport could be even a greater problem because there is no metro to airports. One bit of "advice" from the aricle says: " Individuals in Brazil are advised to confirm flights, avoid all protests as a precaution, stock up on essential goods, and allow for extra time to reach their destinations." The worst shortage (in my opinion) is the truckers failure to deliver aircraft fuel to airports. There are reports of delayed and canceled flights because of lack of fuel. Some incoming flights are not allowed to land unless the airplane has enough fuel to get out of Brazil after it lands. For a more complete description of the problems related to the truckers strike, read this article that describes many of the problems caused by the protesting truck drivers: https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/122021/brazil-truck-driver-strike-causing-major-disruptions-update-1

Brazil's economy is in the pits. Many Brazilans cannot find a job. Most foreigners are prohibited by Brazilian law from working in Brazil. However, if a foreigner wants to work in Brazil, and if that same foreigner has an occupation considered vital to Brazil, the foreigner can usually and legally work in brazil. There are unusual instances around the vital requirement but exceptions are rare. Several years ago, Brazil allowed approximately 4,500 doctors from Cuba to work in Brazil. In fact, the Cuban doctors were encouraged to work in Brazil. Brazil was short on physicians. The Braziian government actually paid Cuba for the doctors to immigrate to Brazil to perform medical services. Bottom line - The poster who left Italy to work in Brazil must have a vital occupation in order for him to legally work in Brazil.

Does this give you an idea how the pound has done recently? For a longer history of exchange activity, you can google the question. British Pound(GBP) To Brazilian Real(BRL) History Graph Chart : 10D | 1M | 3M | 6M | 12M

Exactly - Looking back over the past year, it is easy to see that the U.S. dollar is exchanging quite favorably against Brazil's currency. - that tells you the U.S. dollar is strong and daily fluctuations don't markedly matter.

Great observation by tomcal. Good idea to move this thread - it has nothing to do with south of the border!

Ignoring the non standard English and any implication to religion, I think the following is appropriate for this discussion: "let him who is without sin cast the first stone"

Face it, there are more people flying - the airlines can get away with just about anything because the economy is able to withstand all the bag fees, close in fees and all the other nonsensical fees charged that were formerly included in a ticket price.

Is that bad? Should he sit in a rocking chair and give up on life and enjoyment because he is old? If he is happy with the way he looks and what he does, why should that be an issue to you or anyone? You will be old one day! What will they say about you?

As many people know, for many years, American Airlines was voted by travelers as having the best frequent flier program of any U.S. carrier. After the merger and after the change of management together with the overall devaluation of its loyalty program, American Airlines is now the worst of the three major U.S. air carriers. That is also confirmed by travelers. That is quite a legacy for the AA new management. They must be very proud of themselves for going from first to worst -

What is the matter with his hair? It looks pretty normal to me.

Those who are frequent fliers realize that American Airlines is a major player in bringing passengers and freight to and from Brazil. Even though flights to and from Brazil are full, American has made the decision to cut back on the number of flights to and from Brazil beginning this year. Sometimes managers of companies make decisions that make no sense to anyone except to the person who made the decision. The reduction in flights will mean crowded flights and less flexibility for seating and scheduling. Those who belong to American's loyalty program will also suffer because of fewer upgrades available. It is almost as though American is encouraging passengers to use their competitors for travel to and from Brazil. American is blaming the cut backs on the Brazilian economy. This is nonsense. Even if Brazilians don't fly, the aircrafts are full and FREIGHT is a major money maker for American Airlines. Here is an article that discusses the cutbacks in flights: https://www.thebrasilians.com/2018/04/10/american-airlines-cancels-flights-to-brazil/

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2024.html

Hi, thanks for responding. Did you know that military service is mandatory for most young men in Brazil? Therefore, if a Brazilian soldier is paid a nominal amount for his duty in dangerous areas, that just goes with the requirement of the law. If garotos did not feel it is worth working in a sauna, they would not do it. Plain and simple. By the way, most garotos do not make anywhere near 13,000 reais monthly.

Read your sentence again. Is that what you really meant? You might want to clarify what you wrote as it implies that you go to the saunas in Brazil to escort. I have not seen where you previously wrote in other posts "I have said numerous times I go to the saunas for the same reason - - - escorts do."

Come on, let's be fair. Garotos have expenses for travel to the sauna and must pay sauna admission. Some garotos live a long distance from a sauna and spend a lot of travel time. I know some garotos who travel more than two hours each way to a sauna. While a garoto is in a sauna, he is spending his time. The expense to get to the sauna and to enter the sauna and to wait around hunting and hoping for a client, means that a garoto puts in more than just a few minutes or even one hour to make his money. Don't forget, some garotos go to a sauna and do not meet a client. Those garotos are out the expenses for travel and entrance plus their wasted time. There are the special garotos that get many clients in a night. Those are not the typical garoto. While it might seem like a garoto is making money for little time and effort, it is only an illusion. We must factor in travel, entrance and their time invested hunting for a client. True, a garoto makes more than the average non skilled worker in Brazil but most garotos put in a lot of time for the money they make in the saunas.

You can watch it on your computer for free at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1LKvpYOHFg If you have a streaming device, you can watch it on your television. Don't forget, it is a very very strange movie - It was also the last performance of Marlene Dietrich

It is the luck of the draw - mostly -

Not only the example you gave, what about this: http://affinitymagazine.us/2018/02/17/brazil-army-to-take-control-of-rio-security/

As many people know, Calvin Klein owns a house near Rio de Janeiro (or he did own one not long ago). About ten years ago, it was fairly common to see him at 117 and sometimes he went to Sao Paulo and he could be seen at Lagoa. I have not seen him for at least five years in the saunas. I remember reading that he met a handsome garoto in Rio and made the garoto one of his favorites. The garoto became one of Klein's models. This was probably five or more years ago. Has anyone seen Klein in the saunas? Just curious.

Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself? He will not last the four years he was elected to serve. As far as I know, someone who gets impeached and will be sitting in a prison cannot run for reelection.