Silicon Palms

Author: Aaron

  • Brazil Poker Pro

    BPP-250x250.jpgIn the country of Brazil the supreme court ruled that Poker is a game of skill, and is not classified as a game of chance like, say, Bingo. For this reason there are legal poker rooms throughout the country and online poker may be growing faster in Brazil than any other market on earth, which has prompted many of the biggest online poker companies to sponsor top players and spend allot of money in marketing and advertising their brands inside Brazil.

    Brazil Poker Pro was launched to get twitter followers andprovide poker information in Portuguese and in a short few months the site has grown in popularity and created a buzz on Twitter and Facebook amongst Brazilian poker aficionados, some relationships with followed and strategic partnerships were formed and now less than 4 months later BrazilPokerPro.com is generating revenue and has a promising future to become a key voice in the poker community of Brazil.

    The main author of Brazil Poker Pro is a an authority on the topic, extremely passionate about poker, has won some significant poker tournaments both online and in the big poker rooms of Sao Paulo but most importantly he’s very prolific and likes to publish a new story every day, as well as Tweet to his large group of followers and friends and Facebook. We’re seeking more strategic partners and thinking about adding another author, once the traffic reaches 1,000 visitors per day. Also, we’d like to hire an assistant to help us keep up with the social networking.

    Nowadays with the built-in translation tools found on Google chrome, or available at the click of a mouse to Babelfish etc… the information on Brazil Poker Pro offers value to any poker player, no matter the language they speak.

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  • Speaking Brazilian Portuguese

    Garota de Ipanema - album coverOne of the great benefits of mastering Brazilian Portuguese is being able to fully appreciate the music by understanding the lyrics. Brazil enjoys the largest recording industry outside of the United States, so the number of brilliant artists and the wide variety of genres (most people have never heard of), is truly staggering. Perhaps the first time I’d ever hear this beautiful language was by recorded music, as my father had an extensive jazz collection, and even before I was born the bossa nova was played in my house and now today the first song I can sing in Portuguese is the Garota de Ipanema (The Girl from Ipanema).

    Legend has it that the Portuguese language was brought to Portugal by the Knights Templar and was the last Romance language created from Vulgar Latin by an order of monks who were language makers, somewhat like today’s software makers, that means that Portuguese was on the cutting-edge of the evolution of Latin, maybe a: Latin 5.0 at that time. Now there are some 800 million total Romance language speakers, worldwide, the largest segment of which would be about 500 million Spanish/Castilian and the French with 250 million are just slightly ahead of the worldwide population of Portuguese speaking people, however Brazil has the largest population of Portuguese speaking citizens and then a slightly lessor number of Italian speaking people. I’ve been told that it’s easier for Portuguese speakers to understand and adopt the other Romance languages, for example many Brazilian’s can understand Spanish but my friends from Costa Rica, for example, found it really difficult time to understand Portuguese.

    Once upon a time the Portuguese were a great seafaring nation with a colony spread far and wide over the globe, today it is the fifth most spoken language in the world, the most widely spoken in the southern hemisphere, and the third most spoken in the Western world. In addition to Brazil and Portugal, it is used in Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor, as well as in the former territories of Portuguese India (Goa, Daman, Isle of Angediva, Simbor, Gogol, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli) and in small communities that were part of the Portuguese Empire in Asia as Malacca, Malaysia and East Africa as Zanzibar, Tanzania.

    In modern times the language has a home, if you can imagine that? The world’s only museum for a language was opened in 2006 in Sao Paulo, in a refurbished building (see photo) that was once the central train station, Estacao da Luz where 300 thousand passengers arrive and leave the station everyday, in a neighborhood of the same name. The Portuguese language lives and grows in this fabulous refurbished building which was chosen for the museum because of the fact that, it was mainly here that thousands of non-Portuguese speaking immigrants arriving from Europe and Asia via the Port of Santos into São Paulo got acquainted with the language for the first time.

    Estação_da_Luz.jpg

    The famous Brazilian singer, songwriter and composer, Gilberto Gil spoke at the opening of Estacao da Luz, with these remarks:

    The language speaks for you. The purpose of studying and interacting with a language in a museum, cultural and exchange programs, orthographic agreements, and the development of new words show how important it is. The language is our mother. This museum covers most, if not all, the aspects of the written and spoken language, of the dynamic language, the language of interaction, the language of affection, the language of gestures and of any other aspects that this museum was meant to promote.

    Looking around online I found some very good resources, both free and subscription, plus found a large variety of YouTube videos, some making the nearly impossible claim of having you speaking Portuguese in 30 days, The reason I say “nearly” impossible is because if you already speak another Latin language then it is possible to be conversational in a relatively short period of time, depending on your memory, study habits and your latent ability for languages. For myself I will be satisfied to reach the conversational status before the end of 2011 and plan to use this blog to post updates, from time to time, on the best resources I find.

    The amount of positive comments from Rosetta Stone was what won-me-over to try their software but I also liked the course offering (especially price) and free downloads, blog and Facebook group associated with the company called Transparent Language and a really cool Blog called Tecla SAP.

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  • Pursuit of Happiness

    A Little Happiness

    Image via Wikipedia

    To become successful in life requires a long list of important steps, lots and lots of persistence but above all else; determination. There are several great manifestos, filled with the keys to achieving success and several thousand (or more) places where you can obtain this information, all of which is meaningless until it’s assimilated to become knowledge, then put into practice to become wisdom. This process is known as “The Pursuit of Happiness”.

    If we were to amass all that’s ever been written or spoken about happiness and then distilled it down to the purest idea, that which we could consume like a magical elixir, it would be this: the secret to success is in your mind. Now I know that may sound rather simplistic, and yes it’s been said by a thousand different people but herein lays the road-map to enlightenment – master your mind, moment by moment, and make yourself manifest your destiny.

    There’s so much more than can be said on this topic and so many ways to come to the same conclusion but anyway you slice and dice it, you’ll always come back to the same understanding. My favorite comparison of the mind, is the computer. Since the operating instructions for the applications to create happiness are default programs installed on the hard-drive (brain), and came delivered that way from the factory. It happens that sometimes we get more excited by new programs and become distracted by the gee-whiz shiny new applications, and forget the need to keep things simple.

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  • Best Wishes for a New Year

    2010-2011.jpg

    In trying to think of something fitting to write about, to mark the passing of 2010 and the inception of 2011, I kept thinking about the meaning of happiness, then when I was searching WikiQuotes to read some inspired thoughts about happiness, I came across this simple and brilliant quote:

    Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
    • Mahatma Gandhi

    Interesting to note, that one of Gandhi’s greatest admirers was Albert Einstein, he talked and wrote about Gandhi often, even stating in an interview that he thought Gandhi was the greatest Politician of our time, and that we ought to adopt more of Gandhi’s policies. While I searching a little deeper, I came across one of the most spiritual quotes from Einstein that I’ve ever read, and once I grasped it, I knew this is what I wanted to share for my New Year message.

    In 1950 Albert Einstein wrote the following profound nugget of knowledge, then nearly 20 years after his death, it was published in the New York Times, and again the same year in the New York Post. My wish for 2011 is that Einstein’s idea will manifest itself on our planet, in a faster and greater way, maybe as a peaceful cultural-revolution. I believe that we all have within us, enormous capacity to change (for the better), and it’s just a matter of awakening, to what needs to happen. Let’s make it happen!

    A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe”, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security. ~ Albert Einstein

    Letter of 1950, as quoted in The New York Times (29 March 1972) and The New York Post (28 November 1972). Source: WikiQuotes

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  • Brazil for Offshore IT Outsource

    Brazil for Offshore IT Outsource

    I recently returned to Sao Paulo, Brazil after 6 months in North America, if there were an economic downturn in the rest of the world, they forgot to mention it to Brasileiro’s. This country is drunk with economic excess, even the street vendors are upgrading equipment and spending more money than ever to build-up their businesses. The signs of growth are everywhere in this city, especially in the Event Planning and management Corporate Event Planner, which is sprouting new high-rise condominiums, like springtime grass on a newly seeded soccer pitch. The economic growth Rio, for a change, is even more accelerated than Sao Paulo.

    FIFA World Cup 2014
    FIFA World Cup 2014

    Brazil’s commitment to sport can be seen in the further venue investment that is already under way in Rio. The world-famous Maracanã stadium will close next year for two years of refurbishment. The areas around it will be renovated, with access and transport links improved as the entire neighborhood is reborn ready for host the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Work is already underway on the ongoing development of the Olympic Training Center (OTC), which includes many of the state-of-the-art venues built for the 2007 Pan and Parapan American Games. The OTC will be at the heart of the Rio Games – and international sport for years afterward. Athletes and coaches from all over the world will be offered scholarships to what will be a new regional hub for sport.

    2016 Olympic Games
    Olympic Games, Rio 2016

    With a strong economy and now guaranteed funding, Brazil’s economy is now the tenth largest in the world – and predicted to be fifth by the 2016 Olympics. Brazil is the world’s second biggest food exporter, one of the world’s largest oil and ore producers and the fifth largest advertising market. This diverse economy is the engine that drives South America and one of the world’s top 10 consumer markets. Brazil has the highest levels of Internet use in the world and according to the Brazilian Association of Information Technology and Communication Companies (commonly known as BRASSCOM), Brazil’s offshore IT outsourcing market hit $1.4 billion in 2008, rising 75 percent in a single year, making this one of the best places in the world for a web development company.

    Experts predict that an additional $500M will be spent just on IT and web development for the FIFA World Cup of soccer in 2014. The overall Latin America market for outsourced services, is expected to grow 12 percent in 2010 to $8 billion, according to Forrester Research. That’s on top of the $19 billion that local companies spend on IT consulting services. However, Brazil has approximately 250,000 IT professionals, 23,000 annual IT graduates, and infrastructure capable of supporting double-digit growth, this places Brazil firmly at the heart of the IT services supply chain in the Southern Hemisphere.

    In October 2009, a report from Gartner claimed that “Brazil’s economic footprint combined with having the largest domestic IT consumption in all of Latin America, as well as international recognition as one of the most promising and rapidly emerging economies, makes it a natural destination to evaluate for IT services.

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  • We all want to be young

    Sao Paulo, Brazil has some brilliant film producers and Internet marketing minds. Recently a Brazilian company that specialize in behavioral sciences and consumer trends released a short movie called “We All Want to Be Young”, this brilliant film is the outcome of several studies developed by BOX1824 over the past 5 years.

     

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  • Casino Beach Launch

    Surfs up PromotionReefer Poker Announces Surf’s Up Promotion to Celebrate Launch of the best online slots casino
    Malta, June 29, 2010 – ReeferPoker.com, in partnership with ReeferCasino.com, has announced the launch of their new online casino partner; CasinoBeach.com.
    As part of the jg wentworth launch promo for this new Real Time Gaming casino, the group of sites, which includes the social network ReeferPeople.com, has created a promotion that has players visiting all of their sites on a hunt for branded surfboards.

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  • Layer Cake Analogy

    Layer.jpgOne of my favorite movies is called “Layer Cake” a 2004 film set in London that focuses on an unnamed successful cocaine dealer (played by Daniel Craig). At only 29, he has a respected place amongst England’s Mafia, and is secretly planning to retire from the business. There’s a couple of quotes in the film that I find particularly relevant to my career, first is the main advice of the entire plot, imparted upon the main character by the wealthy businessman near the end of the story:

    The art of good business is being a good middleman.

    This is a meaningful quote to me because for most of my career I’ve been working at being a good middleman, even if you consider the purpose of web publishing, more often than not, it’s about providing information to readers related to places, people, products or knowledge in the hopes of bringing them together to consummate a deal. Web publishing is about being a good middleman, it’s important not to forget that the surest way to become successful in this business, or any business, is to help other people get what they want.
    Another favorite quote is from the same character, the successful businessman to the dealer:

    You’re born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you’re up in the rarefied atmosphere and you’ve forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.

    My slant on that advice as it relates to web publishing is that, over time, if you consistently publish respectable web content and learn the tricks of the trade, sharpen your product-knowledge and focus in on reaching your target market, the day will come when the work get’s easier, generates more revenue, and brings you closer to that point in time, when you own a valuable web publishing business and control your destiny.
    Silicon Palms has continued to grow, the products have improved and more and more opportunities are introduced to me, whereas one upon a time I had to seek products to sell. Now the process has become easier and more lucrative. Perhaps the rarified atmosphere of having forgotten what shit even smells like has finally arrived?

  • Online Trading System

    Online Trading System

    Bell System Telephone Switchboard
    Photograph of Women Working at a Bell System Telephone Switchboard
    10PIPS Review
    With the large choice of trading systems available, with almost any trading markets can be traded on certain systems, including commodities, stocks or Forex, it’s very difficult to choose a whole trading solution. The leading trading systems are very good at what they do; however, a comprehensive solution for all trading instruments with a simple interface is very rare. 10PIPS offers a real multichannel online trading system; its goal is to present a trading solution for all the available instruments with a variety which increases all the time. To create this solution an innovative system was built which is focused also on the ease of use with no lack on professionalism.

    Trading easily with 10PIPS
    The use of 10PIPS trading system is friendly and very easy, beginning with the short start up process which takes a very short time, continuing with the fact that the trader doesn’t have to spend much time on learning how to trade; and with the simple, straight forward trading process.
    10PIPS system can be used by a novice trader; however, with a great package of professional tools, experienced traders will also find all their trading needs. With such a large variety of professional trading instruments which increase daily and a very quick response time, it’s hard to find a system which presents a more comprehensive solution.
    It seems like 10PIPS puts a lot of faith in their system and believes that people who used it once will eventually choose to use it for all their trading needs. This can be seen in the fact that the use of demo account has no limitations – unlike many other online trading systems.
    You can start using 10PIPS trading system in seconds with no registration forms needed, or even payment method details (for practice account) – unlike other online trading systems. Just enter 10PIPS website and click the download button. When the download is completed, choose a user name and password and the system and you are ready to trade!
    10PIPS’ benefits:

    • Short registration process
    • Large choice of trading instruments and channels
    • Simple trading process
    • Direct deposit, using the system’s interface
    • Sophisticated charting system
    • “Trade through charts” function

    10PIPS.com – Bottom line
    Professionally Developed by Internet experts, with a great, simple design and a focus on usability, 10PIPS system is one of the strongest trading tools available today. With a comprehensive package of tools and a strong focus on the trader’s needs. With all that and the strong financial backing, it’s seems hard to find a better solution for trading online! And we were just kidding with the photo of women working switchboard.

  • Vancouver Winter Olympics

    winter_olymic_pot.jpgOn this day 50 years ago I entered this world on a night that was so stormy in Vancouver that electricity was knocked out through much of the city and phone lines were down in North Vancouver. It was in the very early hours at Lions Gate Hospital, so I’m told, that my mother delivered me. Truthfully, she’s the person who deserves the congrats not me, and her and my Dad deserve a great many thanks for encouraging me to participate in sports. As a child I was taught to ski by my second birthday and since my parents were ski instructors at Mt. Baker in Washington State, I grew up “ski racing crazy”, so it was especially enjoyable for me to watch the various skiing events taking place on the slopes where I used to race.
    To say that I’m thankful for the 50 years of life (btw: I’m 49 years old today) is grossly understated. I’ve enjoyed the most marvelous lifestyle so far and it’s about to get even better. What a blessing to have spent so many days every winter, for the first half of my life, up in the mountain pursuing my own gold medals. Sure I’ve had my fair share of bad days too, everyone has got to, or we’d never recognize the good one’s but all things considered I’m content with my lot in life, I like who I’ve become and don’t regret the decisions I’ve made, although on blazing hot days in Brazil (like today) I sometimes miss the snow-covered mountains of British Columbia.
    Love is the key to a good life. Luck and love may have something to do with my own level of happiness but just like the famous quote: “The harder I work, the luckier I get” (either Gary Player or Samuel Goldwyn said that) when applied to my life, relates to the understanding that the more I learn to love life and the people in it, I luckier I get with love in return. In case you’re wondering; I think I’ve been very, very lucky in love and life and consider myself very fortunate just to have been born and raised in Canada.
    Vancouver Winter Olympics, from my perspective, as seen from the comfort of my home in Brazil, exemplifies everything that is wonderful and decent about Western Canada for the manifestation of the Olympic spirit. Peace on earth and goodwill towards mankind and may the best competitor win! Let the world bear witness that there is only one love, no-matter how many interpretations and expressions of beauty there may be for athletic perfection, in the end it’s all about harmony and forgetting our differences to work together for the common good of sport, to make something bigger and better than the sum total of all our parts and purposes. The people of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver have done an excellent job hosting the Winter Olympics and made us proud to be Canadian, even if we don’t win enough Gold medals.