Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Pinocchio Sestak



Sestak's nose is surely growing due to all of his rampant dishonesty.  Apparently, Sestak has potentially violated House ethics rules barring earmarks going to for-profit groups.  But, now Sestak & Co. is spinning this story in an effort to explain away such dishonesty.

From NRO: At issue is whether Sestak’s congressional office was aware that Devitt, who requested a $350,000 earmark as chairman of the Thomas Paine Foundation, also heads a for-profit group called New Way Energy, LLC., which would have “partnered” with his foundation to develop a potentially for-profit wind prototype.


The problem is: The Thomas Paine Foundation exists only on paper. Calls from Battle ‘10 to the foundation were unsuccessful. An automated message noted that the number had been disconnected. The foundation hasn’t filed a federal tax return in six years. In 2004, its most recent filing year, its budget totaled $195, with “program expenses” amounting to $65.

The Thomas Paine Foundation “partners” with the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia, an atheist advocacy group, though in comments to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Devitt said the latter advocacy group had “nothing to do with the request.”

April Mellody, spokeswoman for Sestak’s campaign, blamed Devitt for misleading congressional staffers when applying for his earmark. But Devitt told the Tribune-Review, “I don’t believe I misled them.”

Nachama Soloveichik, Pat Toomey’s communications director, told Battle ‘10, “Either Congressman Sestak isn’t telling Pennsylvanians the whole truth about his latest earmark violation, or his office is guilty of gross incompetence.”


Critics have emerged, including Pennsylvania Republican Chairman Rob Gleason, who have questioned how thoroughly Sestak’s congressional office researches earmark requests.

The earmark request has been rejected by a House appropriations subcommittee. But that it was even proposed by Sestak raises the question of what Sestak’s office considers “due diligence.” What would qualify a foundation — with no prior research and development experience and whose most recent programs budget totaled $65 — for a $350,000 wind-energy grant?


With his involvement in "jobsgate" and this new accusation, Sestak is certainly proving himself to be an extremely untrustworthy candidate for the Pa Senate seat.  This is why as many Pennsylvanians as possible must get out and vote for Pat Toomey, who is trustworthy, in the November election.

Another 13 hour party


Our good friend Lilian turned 39 this weekend. As is our group’s want, we pooled our resources and threw one heck of a party out at the house in Itaipú. The house is all but deserted these days, but that just made it easier for everyone to camp out on the floor overnight. (No drinking and driving!)


So it was 10 hours of BBQ with a DJ mixing it up followed by 3 hours winding down with Victor playing old standards on the guitar. In spite of the tepid weather, the kids enjoyed the pool.


I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.


Here are the kids in front of what must be the largest stag horn fern on the planet.


Just for the record, I am not the only one who cannot stay perky for the full 13 hours.


The next day we fired up the BBQ once again to finish off the meat (not to mention work our way through the left over beer).


In case you are not familiar… hammocks were made for the day after a rockin’ party.

News Report: Rivers State Governor May Not Get Second Term

                                 [Governor Amaechi]

The insistence of governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on the demolition of water fronts in Port Harcourt, capital city of oil rich Rivers state, Nigeria, which have pitched him in political battle with indigenes of the riverine area may cost him his second term ambition, chidi opara reports learnt. Amaechi is an Ikwerre from the upland area.

Over

Monday, August 30, 2010

Three Things You Should Know About Islam

A Prayer: St. Albert the Great on Conscience

I recently came across this prayer from Tantamergo at A Blog for Dallas Area Catholics:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who seekest those who stray and receivest them when returning, make me approach to Thee through the frequent hearing of They Word, lest I sin against my neighbor by the blindness of human judgement, through the austerity of false justice, through comparing his inferior status, through too much trust in my merits or through ignorance of the Divine Judgement. Guide me to search diligently each corner of my conscience lest the flesh dominate the spirit.



Flor de Luiz to the rescue

There’s nothing like having a florist in the family to whip up an arrangement for a birthday present.

We went to celebrate our friend’s 80th (?) birthday last week. Delicious food, dynamic DJ, open bar and lots of WAY FUN widows over 70 years old cutting a rug. Let it be a lesson to us!  Grrls just wanna have fun!!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Liberals and Muslims Paths Converge

I have been thinking about how much both liberals and Muslims have been working together lately.  Both of their paths seem to converge and now they are working in concert to impose intolerance on other religions such as traditional Christianity and the Jewish faith or those religious peoples' that do not follow the religion of Islam. I mean before this Ground Zero Mosque debate, when have you ever heard or seen liberals defending any person's right to religion?  Liberals are usually attacking Christianity and shouting "separation of Church and State" from the rooftops, pushing the secularization of America to the enth degree, but for some reason now they are defending the Muslims and the religion of Islam when that particular religion was either perverted or correctly applied when 19 Muslims murdered 3000 innocents on September 11, 2001 only a stone's throw away from Ground Zero.  But, separation of Church and State means absolutely nothing to liberals in this intance.

Liberals want to "transform" America and destroy all that America is from within, while Muslims want to destroy the West, especially America, from the outside and create a Caliphate.  Both liberals and Muslims want to destroy America and make it their own -albeit in different ways- but they are committed to working together to destroy America. And, that is where their paths converge, to destroy America by working together to dismantle any trace amounts of America being a Judeo-Christian nation, and our Republic.    

Just recently I found an article written by Michael Youssef that exposes a writer on an Arab website who proceeded to explain to her Arabic readers about the Unitarian Church and many “other Christian denominations,” referring mainly to mainline denominations, and why Muslims should be supportive of them.


She said they are not like those “traditional Christians” who believe in the divinity of Christ. They, like us “Muslims,” believe that Jesus was just a good prophet: ‘To be sure, they do not believe in Mohammad as the true prophet of Allah, but we can get along with them.”

Then, Michael Youssef points out, yet, one more reason why both Muslims and liberals, or Muslims, Unitarians and the liberal mainline denominations are working together -- they all reject Biblical truth.

We must stop both liberals and Muslims
from destroying America!!!


Saturday, August 28, 2010

Albert Pujols Receives Badge of Hope at Beck's Restoring Honor Rally

Rule 5 -- Jessica Biel

I love this Rule 5 idea that Stacy at The Other McCain started to entice the eyes, in order to increase the traffic to our blogs.  It is cool. Hope all of you enjoy my rule 5 today featuring Jessica Biel.
















Here is a video of Jessica Biel in a couple of pool scenes:


Jessica Biel Pool Scenes. Watch more top selected videos about: Summer Catch, Jessica Biel

News Report: Governor Ohakim Of Imo State May Change Political Party Again

                                          [Governor Ohakim]

Surrounded by intra-party problems, the governor of Imo state of Nigeria, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim may change political party again. Ohakim who was elected on the platform of Progress Peoples Alliance(PPA) in 2007 defected to Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) shortly after.

If the Imo state Chief Executive thought that the defection would bring

Friday, August 27, 2010

Racial Demagoguery by the Left Five Years After Hurricane Katrina

I found this great article by Michelle Malkin on the Left's infatuation with using the race card for political opportunistic purposes five years later, after Hurricane Katrina. 


This weekend, on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, civil rights activists and hip-hop stars will hold what they call a “healing ceremony” to commemorate the disaster. President Obama will speak at a separate event in New Orleans on Sunday.


But don’t expect any of these reconciliation-seeking leaders to confront the indelible stain of racial demagoguery left by the left in Katrina’s aftermath. Hating George W. Bush means never having to say you’re sorry.

The Olympic gold medal for racial grievance-mongering went to rapper Kanye West, who railed during a supposedly nonpolitical nationwide telethon that the government was shooting “us,” that “those are my people down there,” and that “George Bush doesn’t care about black people!” West’s vulgar exploitation of a charity drive—which was meant to unite America—left most viewers with the same aghast, frozen expression as the one on comedian Mike Myers’ face as he tried to rescue their fundraising segment from the sewage.

Not to be outdone, the Congressional Black Caucus convened a press conference to blast news reporters for describing Katrina victims as “refugees.” Yes, really.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson echoed their complaint: “It is racist to call American citizens refugees.” Refugees are, by dictionary definition, “exiles who flee for safety.”

How this could be construed as bigoted remains as much a mystery as the source of unhinged Huffington Post blogger and self-proclaimed “social justice advocate” Randall Robinson’s bogus claim “that black hurricane victims in New Orleans have begun eating corpses to survive.”  CONTINUED

Finding the groove

It’s pretty much understood that Brazil is an expensive place to live these days.
When I first visited Brazil it was totally different, mostly because the currency exchange rate back in 1999 was 4:1 Real to the Dollar. So every US dollar bought 4 Reais worth of goods/services. We were living large back then, coming to visit with US dollars in our pockets.

The problem these days is two-fold: living here, shit is expensive and wages are stupid low. Plus the exchange rate has cooled to 1.7:1 Real to the Dollar. That is, one dollar only buys 1.7 real’s worth of goods/services. A far cry from the previous spend thrift days.

We are living local. Exchange rates are nearly irrelevant, except when we occasionally transfer funds from the States. For the most part we earn our wages here and pay the cost of living here. And it is not easy. Brazil is an expensive place to live.

Many ex-pats are earning US wages at their local US company office, plus getting perks above and beyond their wages like housing, maid service, nanny service, car and/or driver service, health club membership, travel costs to and from the US several times/year, and on and on. It is another world.


But I’m here to say that you can live here on much less. While travel and entertainment costs can be high, just enjoying a normal life at home is quite affordable. This is where the Brazilian focus on family and friends comes into focus. It does not cost anything to enjoy our friends or to spend time with our family.

Luiz and I definitely took a hit on the income front when we moved here. But we have re-learned the joys of personal relationships as life enhancers. Less (stuff) is more.


Ultimately I would rather work less and spend casual time with my friends than work constantly (like we did before) and focus on brief getaways for respite.

Everyone has their own priorities. We have found ours and are quite happy.

News Report: Nigeria’s Major Presidential Aspirants Hope For A Coalition Government

Nigeria’s major presidential aspirants for the 2011 election are hoping for the formation of a coalition government, chidi opara reports have learnt on good authority.

These major presidential aspirants are: Rtd. Major-general Muhammadu Buhari, a former military President, rtd. General Ibrahim Babangida, also a former military President,  Mr. Abubakar Atiku, a former Vice-president, Mr. Ibrahim

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Great Deceiver

Life is hard for so many

I am struck by the images portrayed in this documentary video of an elderly woman living in a Rio favela who is simply trying to get to her doctor's appointment at the hospital. Simple, practical, without complaint. But should it be so difficult?

Take a look at Dona Maria's trip to the hospital.



Those readers who have known me for longer than my blogging days know that I have been a social justice and social service advocate (and fundraiser) for my entire professional life.

You will hear more from me in the future about how we might all offer some real assistance to favela residents like Dona Maria. Stay tuned. It is difficult to stand idly by.

This video and others are posted at Mundo Real.

Citizen Report: Ohakim Snubs PDP Disciplinary Committee

                                          [Ikedi Ohakim]

Reported By: Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha

Governor of Imo state, Mr. Ikedi Godson Ohakim was summoned to appear before the PDP disciplinary committee on 25th August 2010 by 12pm to explain his political actions which are said not to be in tune with the ethics and practices of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) These political actions

Celebrating Blessed Mother Teresa's Centenary


Mother Teresa's 100th Birthday Marked
Uploaded by NTDTV. - Discover videos of people, family and friends.









 
 
 

Mother Teresa's centenary
Uploaded by Newsxlive. - Discover videos of people, family and friends.


I have posted more on Mother Teresa's Centenary here.
 
 





Happy 100th Birthday, Blessed Mother Teresa!!
 
 
 
 

News Report: Assasinated Former Niger Delta Militant Leader Was Killed In "Hit And Snatch" Operation

                                [Niger Delta Militants]

Contrary to reports that the assasinated former Niger Delta militant leader, Mr. Soboma George, alias "So Blow" was killed by a rival gang, indications have emerged that he may have been killed in a "hit and snatch" operation, undertaken by a specially trained strike force.

Eye witness accounts has it that at about 6.00pm on tuesday August

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

News Report: Tension In Nigeria's Main Oil City Over Suspected Assasination Of A Former Niger Delta Militant Leader


There is tension in Port Harcourt, capital city of Rivers state of Nigeria over the suspected assasination of a former commander of the Movement For The Emancipation of Niger Delta(MEND), Mr. Soboma George by a yet unknown rival gang. George was reportedly assasinated yesterday evening at the Borokiri area of Port Harcourt.

A chidi opara reports network member reported that there was sporadic

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

"Hallelujahs" (by Chris Rice) Sung by Kenneth Cope

Russian Hacker, BadB, Arrested

Thank goodness this criminal hacker has been caught by authorities, and arrested. Now, he can do no more harm to any of our computers anymore.

MOSCOW — On the Internet, he was known as BadB, a disembodied criminal flitting from one server to another selling stolen credit card numbers despite being pursued by the United States Secret Service.


And in real life, he was nearly as untouchable — because he lived in Russia.

BadB’s real name is Vladislav A. Horohorin, according to a statement released last week by the United States Justice Department, and he was a resident of Moscow before his arrest by the police in France during a trip to that country earlier this month.

He is expected to appear soon before a French court that will decide on his potential extradition to the United States, where Mr. Horohorin could face up to 12 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 if he is convicted on charges of fraud and identity theft. For at least nine months, however, he lived openly in Moscow as one of the world’s most wanted computer criminals.

The seizing of BadB provides a lens onto the shadowy world of Russian hackers, the often well-educated and sometimes darkly ingenious programmers who pose a recognized security threat to online commerce — besides being global spam nuisances — who often seem to operate with relative impunity.
MORE 

Monday, August 23, 2010

Luiz health update

While this darn “watch and wait” period drives us crazy, Luiz’s Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia seems to have found a nice and stable path that it has been sticking to for the past 33 months.

Luiz makes the trip to the National Cancer Institute every two months (or as my Brazilian English students would say: “every two and two months”) for a check up. Honestly, the stress of the bus ride over followed by sitting in a stuffy smelling, overcrowded, public cancer facility waiting room with patients in all stages of their disease – is sure to be worse than just a phone consult if his complete blood count numbers have not changed in any real way. It’s always good to get a physical exam, for sure, to check for swelling of the lymph nodes, but perhaps that could be every four months.

But hey, I’m just the guy who wants to spare Luiz the hassle and discomfort.

[Happy blood]

We’re happy to report that all of his indicators remain stable and any change is within the margin of error. His platelet count went up again this time. My favorite.

I never get tired of reporting that his disease indicators are nearly identical to his time of diagnosis.

[Blood, like Luiz's, struggling to stay happy]

Thank you everyone for you support and words of encouragement to the both of us.

Driving and congestion

Anyone who has traveled the roads of Brazil knows that they are dangerous, filled with scofflaw drivers in the extreme. The number of traffic accidents seems to climb to ever higher levels each year over holiday weekends.

There are some people in our circle of friends with whom I refuse to be a passenger in their car. They drive too dangerously and refuse to slow down or stop weaving in and out of fast moving traffic. Sorry, I would rather take the bus.

Busses have a reputation for being driven by crazy drivers as well (municipal as well as inter-municipal) but I have to say that in the past 10 years or so I have noticed a big improvement in safety on inter-municipal busses: slower speeds, less aggressive maneuvering, etc. I feel safe traveling by bus.

Given the growth of the middle class, the greater access to consumer credit and the government’s tax holiday on car purchases, Brazil has seen a real explosion in personal car ownership in recent years. This has definitely translated into way more cars on the road and heavy traffic.

[This classic photo of gridlock in São Paulo makes the rounds whenever this topic comes up. Click to enlarge.]

When you combine all these cars with minimal road capacity PLUS drivers who see no reason not to use the shoulder as an additional lane, or to turn right from the center lane, you’ve got trouble. Congestion is a serious problem in urban areas.


But then I saw this article about a traffic jam in China that has been going on for 9 days (and counting) and stretches more than 100 kilometers. I thought we had it bad.

Uh oh - we do have it that bad.  This morning's news reports 99 kilometers of congestion in São Paulo due to an accident.  Oh well, at least there will be vendors walking between the lanes selling biscuits and beverages.

News Report: Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Of chidi opara reports Nominated For Award By ‘Nigerian Initiative”


The Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of chidi opara reports, Mr. Chidi Anthony Opara and other Nigerians have been nominated for ‘Ambassador Of Hope For Nigeria” awards by “Nigerian Initiative”. The award ceremony is slated to take place in Ikeja, Lagos on 3rd October, 2010.

Below is the text of the letter that conveyed news of the nomination to Mr. Opara:

Subject: VIP/GUEST INVITATION

Sir,

Having

Sunday, August 22, 2010

"Weve Got To Stop the Mosque at Ground Zero"

Citizen Report: Police, Others, Lend Support to MakeYourVotesCount


Reported By: Uzodinma Nwaogbe.
Director, Makeyourvotescount.org

Stakeholders in the quest for credible elections in Nigeria have lent their support to efforts by MakeYourVotesCount (MYVC) to get Nigerians actively involved in the electoral process. Government agencies -- Civil Defence Corps, Police, and National Orientation Agency – central to credible elections in the country commended MYVC

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Some things are just stupid crazy

I've been following a new discount website that delviers a daily special at a local business to my email.  It can be 60-, 70- or 80% off the original price.  Kinda fun.

Forgive me if I laugh.

Today the discount was at a "Tex-Mex" restaurant in Priatininga.  You may recall I recently saw this place out of the window of my passing bus and thought I might go there.

Well, according to the "discount" opportunity the usual chicken wrap costs R$19.50 (offered today for an exciting R$7.00).  WTF?  A chicken wrap for $20?!  There is problably R$2.00 worth of food in that item.  Where do Brazilian restaurantuers come up with this stuff?  Can you say highway robbery!?

Sorry guys -- never.

Back in San Francisco you can get a "wrap" or a burrito for US$4 that is as big as you arm and impossible to eat in one sitting.

Farmers' market inspires a fantastic lunch


Twice a week there are farmers’ markets in our neighborhood. On Thursdays it is along a tiny side street a few blocks away. Cute, simple, fresh produce and a fish monger. On Saturdays it occupies a long street on the other side of the park and includes a cheese seller, several flower stands, fresh eggs, easily 20 produce stands, a basic kitchen utensils stand, a couple cookies/crackers sellers and that same fish monger.

Anyway, today we got inspired at the market and decided to cook up a fish and shrimp mouqueca with rice and pirão.


We bought veggies, shrimp and fish fillets, plus some apple bananas and strawberries for dessert. On the way home we stopped to buy coconut milk.


Luiz and I shared counter space in the kitchen, he de-veinied the shrimp, and I chopped all the vegetables (it is usually the other way around but this time I called dibs on the vegetables). Then Luiz went to work assembling the tasty lunch in one of our stone pots.

[That tall pot filled with pink stuff is all the shrimp heads/shells and veggie scraps simmering into an intensly flavored shrimp sauce to be used later to make the pirão.  Yum!]


OMG! I love it when food tastes this great. I could have eaten three plates of the stuff. But I was disciplined and stopped after a full plate of flavorful Brazilian-style seafood wonderfulness.

News Release: Nuhu Ribadu’s Presidential Election Campaign Aide Steps Down As Coordinator Of MakeYourVotesCount

                                               [Chido Onumah]

The Coordinator of MakeYourVotesCount.org, (MYVC), Chido Onumah, have stepped down to pursue other interests. Mr. Onumah whose disengagement from MYVC took effect from August 1, 2010, has officially joined the presidential campaign organization of the former Chairman of the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

"Dilma Boy" video goes viral

Remember the “Obama Girl” YouTube video that went viral during the last US presidential campaign? Not to be outdone by its northern neighbor there is now a “Dilma Boy” video making the rounds.

Since satire and jokes about presidential candidates is forbidden by law (on television and radio) in Brazil during the final weeks running up to the October 3rd election, you might find a little silly relief watching this true devotee crooning about his passion for Dilma Rousseff (the front runner from the Workers’ Party) and his confidence in her victory.

This video does little to advance a political argument, and I think comparing Dilma Rousseff to Evita Peron is a bit over the top, but it does remind us that Brazil, with its 72 million+ internet users, is going digital in this election.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Friday Funnies!

I am heading out of town for a couple days and won't be able to post again until Monday.  I hope everyone has a great, fun, and relaxing weekend!! Here are a couple funny baby videos and a funny Mr. Bean video. Enjoy!





Dismantling America

Thomas Sowell on Shredding the Constitution and thus dismantling America:
"We the people" are the familiar opening words of the Constitution of the United States-- the framework for a self-governing people, free from the arbitrary edicts of rulers. It was the blueprint for America, and the success of America made that blueprint something that other nations sought to follow.

At the time when it was written, however, the Constitution was a radical departure from the autocratic governments of the 18th century. Since it was something so new and different, the reasons for the Constitution's provisions were spelled out in "The Federalist," a book written by three of the writers of the Constitution, as a sort of instruction guide to a new product.

The Constitution was not only a challenge to the despotic governments of its time, it has been a continuing challenge-- to this day-- to all those who think that ordinary people should be ruled by their betters, whether an elite of blood, or of books or of whatever else gives people a puffed-up sense of importance.

While the kings of old have faded into the mists of history, the principle of the divine rights of kings to impose whatever they wish on the masses lives on today in the rampaging presumptions of those who consider themselves anointed to impose their notions on others.  CONTINUED

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

You Just Might Be a Dhimmi If . . .

You just might be a dhimmi if…you believe in “tolerance” and “openness” to Muslims while displaying the opposite to Christians.


You just might be a dhimmi if…you believe that Islam is a religion of peace

You just might be a dhimmi if…you are in favor of a mosque being built just a stone’s throw away from Ground Zero where 3000 innocent people were murdered.

You just might be a dhimmi if…you are in favor of being sensitive to Muslim beliefs while advocating the ultimate act of insensitivity toward the families of the victims of 9/11.

You just might be a dhimmi if…you take this Imam’s word at face value, trusting him more than the common sense suspicions of your fellow concerned Americans.

You just might be a dhimmi if…you see a mosque being located just two blocks from Ground Zero as being good.

You just might be a dhimmi if…you think that Sharia law is compatible with our constitution.

You just might be a dhimmi if…you think that Sharia law wouldn’t be covered under religious freedom.

You just might be a dhimmi if…you think that these insensitive Muslims who are trying to build a mosque very close to Ground Zero are trying to “build bridges” with between Islam and Western culture.

You just might be a dhimmi if…you don’t want a background check on the imam to insure that absolutely no funds are coming from organizations with ties to terrorism.

If your dhimmitude emboldens and leads to Islamic extremists committing another terrorist attack, the dead will be so thankful for all your tolerance and openness toward the religion of peace.

Stop the dhimmis!

We must stop the dhimmitude!

Being a florist in Brazil


If you have planned a wedding or a corporate party or a teenager coming of age party here in Brazil you are familiar with the cerimonialista – the party organizer. They reign supreme. But as far as I can tell they dumb down the event and cut corners which leaves you, the party host, to feel a bit exposed about the shortcomings of your event and they stuff extra cash into their pockets at your expense.

OK – so I have an opinion here. I’m sure there are great cerimonialistas working for the rich and famous that spare no expense to create a fabulous party. But the rank and file? It’s a racket. Buyer beware.
Party organizers pride themselves in being “one-stop-shops” that will attend to all your needs for one low price. Everything is included. But having witnessed many, many such parties I have to report that the name of the game is to cut corners to pocket cash. It is disgusting, frankly.

Seriously, nearly every bride I have spoken to who had her flowers “included” in the buffet/event price was horribly disappointed. They report getting a bouquet that was the wrong color, or composed of flowers they specifically said they did not want. Table centerpieces were ridiculous in their simplicity or near-dead nature (perhaps recycled). People are totally surprised with what they get since no specifics were arranged in advance. They were told not to worry because it was all included.

Sorry folks, but you get what you pay for.


I admit I am being a bit defensive given the way Luiz gets treated by cerimonialistas who want to hire him for peanuts to be a work horse using provided trash flowers to create a silk purse out of a sow’s ear (there's one for you Fabio). He no longer agrees to work with these people. Luiz is the real deal – an artist - and must be hired independently to bring out the best in a bride’s dream for beautiful flowers. Unfortunately there does not seem to be an awareness here for what is possible and what it costs to see it through.


It has been difficult to find business partners who are not just looking to exploit Luiz’s international education, training and talents for their own gain. Sometimes it has been downright ugly.


In the end Luiz has found his opportunities and market niches, but it has not been easy. Business practices do not always translate.  To see more of Luiz's work visit his website http://www.flordeluiz.com/index.html