`Viagra effect' killing Brazil

THE widespread tendency in Brazil for men to remarry women several decades younger, called the ``Viagra effect'', is undermining the country's pension system, researchers warn.
The report, by Brazil's National Social Security Institute, showed a trend of men in their 60s marrying women half their age was leaving a big pool of young widows collecting benefits for much longer than anticipated.
``The social security system was planned so that the wife receives her husband's pension for only 15 years or so. With growing life expectancy and remarriages with much younger women, benefits today stretch out over 35 years,'' the author of the study, Paulo Tafner, said.
He said the trend started in the 1970s -- well before the advent of the little blue pill that has since the mid-1990s helped men carry their sex lives well into old age.
According to the report, two out of three men who are separated remarry, while only one out of three separated women find a new husband.
Brazil has a mixed public-private pensions system.
Those in the public system receive the equivalent of their salary after retirement, while those with private funds receive a maximum of $2,180 a month.
Under current laws, when a retired man dies, his wife continues to receive his full pension until her own death.
According to the institute , 94 per cent of pensions go to women.

I was a...

You Were a Porcupine

You have created your own path in life, and you encourage others to do the same.
Even as life progresses, you always maintain a sense of wonder and innocence.
What Animal Were You In a Past Life?

Hoff-fest Comes To A Close

It seems as soon as it started, Hasselhoff had to go back to the small, strange world he lives in, but he did leave this to commemorate his time spent with us today. Let's have a moment of silence in this crazy German guy's honor...

Why I Stay At Work

While I was bored at work, I was browsing through some Lost (great show) forums and found this. It was completely unexpected which made it a lot funnier.

Spiderman is Rich

According to several sites I've surfed through, Spiderman 3 is going to cost over $300 million to make, the most money a movie has ever cost...EVER! Anyways, I am super pumped about the premiere in May, and from the trailer I've seen (Quicktime|Youtube) this movie is going to be the most exciting and suspenseful superhero movie to date. Another topic proving point: Topher Grace left That 70's Show to be in S3. Spiderman must be the only superhero to actually get paid for his work, as Superman obviously doesn't.

Zune Zune Zune

If you haven't heard by now, I apologize, but Microsoft is putting out a new media player, codenamed Argo, that is supposedly going to rival the iPod. Woah, you mean the iPod that has been around for years and has created one of the biggest electronic phenomenons ever? Yeah, that 'un. Recently, many sources have begun calling the new Microsoft product the Zune, and it looks pretty darn cool so far.

Now, this is a cool looking product, and if it does all they say it can do, we are looking at a very good rival for the dominating iPod. Unfortunately, it seems that games are most likely not going to be included - LINK. Anyways, stare at the picture for a while, but this product has no official release date as of yet, at least that I know of. I will report more about the specifics of the machine as I learn more. Drifting back to boredom...

Bots!!

One of the most interesting things I have found while at work is a small MMO game called BOTS, being developed by the formerly bankrupt company Acclaim. Under new ownership, the company has started distribution of free MMOs for all to play. The company gets their profit from special "Money Items" (super creative, too) that are specifically for people who will pay for them and cannot be sold or traded. Anyway, BOTS is the first game to come into Open Beta, while Acclaim's other game, 9Dragons, is still under development.

Now, BOTS is an Action MMO, based around the four arrow buttons, Z, X, C, and V, as well as the space bar.
V - Attacks
C - Jumps
X - Blocks
Z - Transforms
V+X - Shoots (w/ gun)
C+X - Special Move (must have item equipped)
Anyway, that's the basic formula. It's a 3D game that lets you go in 8 directions, and has a fixed isometric view, similar to Diablo. You start in a lobby and join or create a room, from which you can play Sector (PvE) Maps, PvP Maps, or Base vs. Base maps. The Sector mode is where you primarily level up and gain money as well as items from bosses. Sector games are small levels, each varying in length with a set time limit, where up to 8 people can go through the level, gaining experience and money. Exp. Helps you level up, and money lets you buy new parts (most important purchases) and other stat boosting items. The game has a great, tight-knit and very accepting community, rare in online games today, and allows for a quick getaway for any person, casual or hardcore gamer, or maybe if you just want to chat. Just click the big BOTS button and you're in!