There is a lot of pre-World Cup stuff going on in Brazil, and it has nothing to do with the final team roster, defensive strategies, or "fútbol," as they say down there. As we saw in yesterday's news reports (via Fausta's Blog), there was a large demonstration with "FIFA go home" signs": For many Brazilians, the Cup has become a symbol of the unfulfilled promise of an economic boom for this South American nation. But the boom has fizzled.  And now the World Cup’s $11.5 billion price tag – the most expensive ever – and a list of unfinished construction projects have become reminders of the shortcomings that many believe keep Brazil poor: overwhelming bureaucracy, corruption and shortsighted policy-making that prioritizes grand projects over needs like education and health care. And it gets worse.  They are still trying to finish facilities for the Cup in Curitiba, Cuiabá, and Porto...(Read Full Post)