World Cup Fever!!

****Updated: Friday The June 13th: Team Japan's Pokémon plane sadly a hoax. Click here****

****Updated Thursday June 12th 7pm: Brazil defeats Croatia 3-1****

Cocaine Princess here.

Whew, I can't believe it's been 4 years since the last World Cup. Today officially marks the 20th FIFA World Cup, taking place in Brazil. Ah, what a marvelous country it is. I have such fond memories of my visit there but that's for another day.

32 teams will be playing and to say South America and Europe is crazy about soccer would be an understatement.  The countdown clocks have clicked down towards zero. The air force is on alert. Navy frigates patrol the coastline and an army of 147,000 police and soldiers has been mobilized. Roads usually choked with traffic are emptying of cars. Schools have been closed. Offices are finishing early. Hundreds of millions of TV sets are being tuned in to the same event.

While Pitbull, Claudia Leitte and Jennifer Lopez perform the official song, "We are One," demonstrators on the streets are planning to chant a discordant message about inequality, forced evictions and overspending on the $11.5 billon event.  

Graffiti in many cities asks "Copa pra quem?" ("Who is this cup for?") and several giant murals have appeared in recent weeks depicting the suffering caused by the tournament. 

Graffiti by Brazilian street artist Paulo Ito depicting a starving child with nothing to eat but a football. Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP

A piece by the Brazilian artist Cranio depicting a man flushing money down a toilet bowl. Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP

If you recall the 2010 World Cup was filled with not just controversy (mostly centering around refereeing) but also conspiracy theories. It'll be interesting to see what controversies and conspiracies plague the 2014 game. 

How cool is this?! Japan's national team flew in a Pokemon-themed plane to Rio.

So my Lovely Ones, what team are you rooting for? Me? Hmm, I always feel torn having to choose between Team England (my birthplace) or Team Colombia (my background) Oh, who am I kidding! When it comes to soccer, there's only one team that rules supreme. The team that will take home the 2014 World Cup.....

GO BRAZIL!! 

Today's opening match: Brazil vs. Croatia. 

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Tomorrow is not only Friday the 13th but there's also a Full Moon and it will be the last full moon on Friday the 13th until 2049, so go and get your howl on!!

  
My loyal and dear readers, it's almost Friday.

Whatever your plans are have a loving weekend. ~x

XOXOXOXO,

Cocaine Princess