The Procrastinator (some) Times Sunday 13th of July Edition

EDITORIAL

Morning everyone! Today is the final game of the World Cup. Although I was not paying too much attention at the beginning, these last couple of weeks my life is been absolutely football-centered, also my two favorite teams reached the final and I'm happy. I know that is contradictory to like Germany and Argentina, but honestly, I couldn't care less. There will be World Cup stories in our news section, including a very peculiar one where Brazilians consider Mick Jagger some sort of football jinx. Also in news, a great reportage by Canal + Spain tells the story of Alcatraz, the rugby team of the Hacienda Santa Teresa in Venezuela and its unbelievable origin. Very inspiring.

 Robots will take over the world by 2045 according to physicist Louis del Monte's prediction in our Science & Technology section, and watch out for the summer super moons. In Culture & Entertainment we share the trailer of the controversial James Franco/Seth Rogen film The Interview, and an interesting exploration of the young French filmmaker Raphaële Bezin about appropriation techniques in cinema. Finally, In Dog We Trust by La Guía del Perro share some tips to protect your pets from the heat.

Happy Sunday, happy reading and Brasil, decime qué se siente...

NEWS

Photo via The Atlantic.

Kabbir Chibber's article in The Atlantic titled The Best World Cup Ever? is not super fresh (Brazil still had hopes of winning the World Cup) but some of his points are right, as by a lot of measures, it's been an unusually exciting, convention-defying tournament, and "no matter who wins, this is the start of a new era in world soccer." Read full article in The Atlantic. E.T.P. 3'

Screenshot of the BBC compilation via BBC.

This is the first time that I get to watch the World Cup outside Latin America and I can truly say that I miss South American commentators. The English definitely lack passion. Maybe that is why I found cool this mini-compilation made by the BBC of the best commentaries in foreign languages. "Watch and listen to how fans from other parts of the world experienced some of the World Cup's best goals. James Rodriguez's stunner for Colombia against Uruguay, Miroslav Klose's record-breaking goal for Germany and Argentina's semi-final shootout win against the Netherlands all feature in our round-up of TV and radio commentaries from other countries." Watch video in the BBC. E.T.P. 3'

An attempt to use the Curse of Jagger against Argentina. Photo: AFP Photo/Odd Andersen/Getty Images via The Guardian.

"Since appearing at a USA game with Bill Clinton at the World Cup in 2010 - and subsequently watching them lose - Mick Jagger has become something of a footballing curse. After witnessing Germany's 7-1 thrashing of Brazil earlier this week, the Rolling Stones' singer has now been forced to defend himself against angry tirades on social media. "I can take responsibility for the first German goal but not the other six!" he said." Read full article in The Guardian. E.T.P. 3'

Image: Screenshot of Informe Robinson: Alcatraz via Canal +

Thanks to my friend Su, I had the opoprtunity of watching the report Informe Robinson: Alcatraz produced by the Spanish TV channel Canal +. This is an incredible story that shows the best and the worst of Venezuela taking as a case study the Alcatraz Project, developed by Alfredo Vollmer, the CEO of Santa Teresa, one of the most important companies of Venezuela that makes our famous Santa Teresa rhum. Back in 2003, when three robbers assault his property, Mr. Vollmer, instead of looking to punish them and let things spiriling down as it use to happen in the country so often, decided to make that event an opportunity for implementing a real social change, because in that community as in the world in general, "we win together, or we all lose." The Estimated Procrastination Time for this video is 34' and I swear, it will be the best half an hour of your day. Just click here. (The video is in Spanish and it takes a little bit to charge, but be patient, is worth it).

Photo via BBC.

Finally, the WTF news of the section is also about Venezuela: "We're used to a seemingly endless range of taxes and surcharges when we fly - passenger taxes, departure taxes, fuel levies. But Maiquetia International Airport in Caracas has taken this a step further - passengers flying out now have to pay 127 bolivars tax (£12; $20) for the air they breathe." Read full article in BBC. E.T.P 2'