VOD: Barefoot thieves in Rio

First impressions of Brazil, this video shows 20 industrious ‘workers’ on the streets of Rio.

Rio is much more upmarket than Sao Paulo, the first major city I visited when I was in Brazil.
I found Sao Paulo run down.

The only reason people weren’t interested in robbing me was I didn’t have any money.

New fangled

With the advent of the mobile phone, we have this kind of footage.

Said to have been shot over a period of a ‘few hours’.

Trade advice

If I were going to Rio, I’d go to Ipenema rather than downtown, as this is the kind of thing you can expect happening.

Here’s the video.

Street robber in Rio, Brazil
Street Robber in Rio, Brazil

China to lay off 1.8 million workers or 6 million workers

I wonder if they’ll do it by text.

Here’s the article, taken from the Guardian.

*Update: News from Reuters is that the figure may be closer to 6 million. http://qz.com/630094/chinas-massive-state-company-layoffs-could-triple-to-6-million-people/

China slowdown

China expects to lay off 1.8 million workers in the coal and steel industries, or about 15% of the workforce, as part of efforts to reduce industrial overcapacity.

It was the first time China gave figures that underlining the magnitude of its task in dealing with slowing growth and bloated state enterprises.

Yin Weimin, the minister for human resources and social security, told a news conference on Monday that 1.3 million workers in the coal sector could lose their jobs, plus 500,000 from the steel sector.

China’s coal and steel sectors employ about 12 million workers, according to data published by the National Bureau of Statistics. “This involves the resettlement of a total of 1.8 million workers. This task will be very difficult, but we are still very confident,” Yin said.
Continue reading “China to lay off 1.8 million workers or 6 million workers”

VOD: More Chinese baggage handlers

Those Chinese baggage handlers strike again….

‘If a job’s worth doing’ mentality clearly demonstrated in this gem of a video of a Chinese baggage handler in action captured by an Australian tourist.

Chinese baggage handlers

Expect your luggage to be treated like this…

Looks like a China Airways logo in the foreground.

As you can see from the reactions on the Facebook post, netizens agree, your luggage will be handled in this way and you should pack accordingly.

Benefits of fasting

Fasting. People have been doing it from the beginning of time.

Saves money, and it’s good for you.

I took to fasting when I used to live on my own.

Survival of the fittest

There is scientific evidence to suggest that fasting is better for you neurologically, and physically.

Our cells are designed in such a way that, the bad cells get digested by the good after a period of fasting to make up the calorific shortfall.

Like a survival of the fittest.

Defect cells are just ironed out.

I’ve no doubt that the body builds up a cache of toxins from food, drink and any other alcohol and drugs, which is stored in the fat of the body.

Getting rid of this every once in a while regenerates the body, and allows it to start afresh.

21 days

When I was in France, I didn’t eat for 21 days.

That’s pretty extreme, and I ended up very skinny.

Michael Tyler
Skinny me

What it did do is cleared my guts, metabolism and body of any fat or excess, and wiped the slate clean.

I feel better for that.

Here’s the article Continue reading “Benefits of fasting”