You don’t know what to ask for Christmas?  What about this cute cat??? This funny video shows how to wrap a cat for Christmas very easily! Thanks, Santa Claus!

And also watch the Digital Story of the Nativity, or how would be the Nativity of Jesus in the modern era of Web 2.0.

The world would end in 2012, but since Neymar decided to play in the 2014 Football World Cup, the end of the world has been postponed.

This is one of the countless “Neymar Facts” that have appeared throughout this week on Twitter, after Neymar to have become a decisive factor for the firing of Dorival Júnior, coach of Santos.

Read in the  “Sem Saco” Website a list of some of the funniest Neymar Facts (in Portuguese). To read the automatic translation of the text (by Google), click here.

P ≠ NP

His name is Vinay Deolalikar, a researcher at HP, and he could become one million dollars richer if it’s really true what he wrote in his latest scientific paper: P ≠ NP!

A Wikipedia biography article was already created for him, and Wikipedians are already, as usual, fiercely debating whether or not his notability is (already) enough to be on the online encyclopedia.

Is it going to be another hoax? Or this time we’ll have a definitive answer to the million dollar question of Computer Science?

Copa 2 de Julho has started again in 2010! It’s the fourth edition of one of the most important brazilian Sub-17 soccer competitions. Brazilian Sub-17 National Team will participate again, defending the title conquered in 2009. Galícia Esporte Clube will also participate once more.

 Take a look at the fixtures and results of Copa 2 de Julho 2010.

BIG-4?

Brazil
Italy
Germany
4rgentina

What do these teams have in common? What unites them? The eternal favorites of every World Cup, the four great powers of world football, the lions whose roaring on the pitch shakes the lambs, although sometimes their roar sounds concealed or weak.

These four countries, two European and two South American, which account for 375 million people (5.5% of world population) distributed in almost 13 million km2 (8.7% of Earth’s lands), have together 14 world titles! That is, they won 78% of the 18 editions of the most important and popular global sporting event. We can call them the elite, indeed!

Only four World Cups have not fallen into the hands of BIG-4, three of them won by the host country: the first World Cup, in 1930, won by the Uruguayans; 1966, won by the English, and 1998, led by the French. The only exception, when a country outside the BIG-4 won away from home, occurred in 1950, when Uruguay became champions after the celebrated “Maracanazo” in Brazilian fields.

14 titles out of 18 World cups, it seems incredible, does not it? But there’s more: if we consider both the champion and the runner-up, we will find another statistic, still more overwhelming: until now, in ALL the World Cups at least one member of the BIG-4 became champion or runner-up. Really: in the four occasions that the BIG-4 countries did not win, they got the second place: in 1930, Argentina lost to Uruguay. In 1950 and 1998, Brazil lost to Uruguay and France, respectively (with a curiosity: both teams wore blue shirts). And in 1966, it was Germany’s turn, when they finished second to the creators of football.

No kidding, let’s repeat: in ALL the World Cups, Brazil, Italy, Germany or Argentina finished first or second! Not to mention that on six occasions, the final was played between themselves: in 1970 and 1994, Brazil beat Italy. In 1982, Italy beat Germany. In 1986 and 1990, Argentina and Germany met in the final, with one victory each. And the last time was in 2002, when Brazil and Germany met in an unprecedent duel, which ended with the fifth title of the most dominant team ever.

Take a look at the statistics of the big four:

The numbers are really impressive, though they also show that Argentina is clearly the younger brother of the BIG-4, since it is the member with the fewest titles, the fewest finals and the fewest presences among the four semifinalists.

Therefore, when Spain faces Germany in Durban Stadium, on 07/07/2010, will be at stake not only the historical opportunity of “La Roja” reach her first world final. It will also be disputed the prestige of the BIG-4, the elite of world football, this time represented by Germany, though maybe their players are not aware of it. Will the Germans fail and leave the Netherlands and Spain face each other in a World Cup final, thus imposing a new football world order? Or, as always, the strength and tradition of the BIG-4 will be imposed again, and we  will see once again one of their representatives at next Sunday’s final?

What do you think? Who will win in Durban? And what makes the BIG-4 countries, every four years, alternate themselves between the two top spots in world football? Will Spain be able to break this taboo that has lasted 80 years?

UPDATE: The match has just finished! With a beautiful head from Puyol, charged after a corner by his Barça fellow, Xavi, Spain managed to break the 80 years taboo and make history twice: by reaching a World Cup final for the first time, and by debunking the BIG-4!

I’ve recorded this video from my balcony, just after the match. Catalonya makes a big party this night. Holland, be aware!