This looks ominous. There’s only seven weeks to go before the World Cup begins in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro will be the center of it all, but local police and the army are dealing with a grim-looking security situation. Late last night, violence erupted and a young male dancer was shot dead by police. Brazil has been cracking down on the slums of Rio and setting up permanent police posts for the last several years.

Some friends of mine are going to see some matches at this year’s World Cup. I had to pass because it’s just too expensive to go and I’m trying to save money. But I’ll be watching in earnest on TV. I’m rooting for USA, but expect Brazil to be a formidable competitor, as they always are. With the World Cup taking place on their home turf, they’ll be tough to beat.