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BRAZIL BEAT: Keep quiet Dad

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

TERESOPOLIS, Brazil (AP) — Brazil reserve midfielder Willian had some advice for his dad after he visited the team’s training camp: Don’t talk too much!

Severino da Silva told local media this week that he thinks Willian has to be Brazil’s starter the rest of the World Cup, putting his son in a difficult spot with Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

“I already spoke to him and asked him not to say anything else from now on,” Willian said Wednesday, with a laugh. “My father is very passionate and sometimes he talks too much.”

Willian came in as a second-half substitute in the last two Brazil matches at the home tournament, a 0-0 draw against Mexico and a 4-1 win over Cameroon.

“My father respects all the players, he respects Felipao,” Willian said. “I think that if you ask any father he will say that he wants his son to play, it’s normal. He is my idol, someone who always supported me. I’m only here today because of him.”

— By Tales Azzoni – www.twitter.com/tazzoni

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GOODBYE TO FOUR CITIES

MANAUS, Brazil (AP) — The Brazil World Cup has 12 host cities, but four will be done by Thursday afternoon.

Manaus, the Amazonian city that caused so much consternation as players and coaches dreaded the humidity and heat, hosted its last game Wednesday, Switzerland defeating Honduras 3-0.

Manaus’s Arena Amazonia was one of the most talked about venues, and players worried about the state of the pitch in the days leading up to the tournament. However, games went on without any serious problems related to the turf.

Brazilians still worry whether the 40,000-seat stadium will get enough use after the World Cup.

Thursday’s match between Algeria and Russia will be the last match in the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, a city of 1.8 million south of Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba and Estadio das Dunas in Natal had their last matches Tuesday.

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HELPING FLOOD VICTIMS

TERESOPOLIS, Brazil (AP) — Fifty kids who had their lives affected by the 2011 flooding that killed nearly 1,000 people in the Teresopolis region got to meet Brazil’s team before practice on Wednesday.

The children lined up on one of the training fields and the players talked to them for a few minutes. The youngsters received soccer balls and were allowed to watch the team practice.

The kids were selected from the neighborhoods that were most affected by the heavy rains that ravaged the region in early 2011. The Brazilian federation said some lost their homes and relatives in the tragedy. The floods are considered one of Brazil’s worst natural disasters.

At the time, Brazil’s training camp was used to help authorities in the logistics to search for those missing in the floods.

— By Tales Azzoni – www.twitter.com/tazzoni

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CHURCH OF FOOTBALL

SAO PAULO — There’s really only one place along Sao Paulo’s hectic Avenida Paulista, where you can escape the constant noise of traffic and the hurried movement of people. But even inside the tranquil confines of Paroquia Sao Luis Gonzaga church you still can’t entirely get away from the football fever engulfing Brazil.

Inside the chapel, worshippers kneel in silence. But on one of the empty pews there is a church brochure explaining its World Cup related activities and the public debate surrounding the event.

In the back of the church, discount clothing is being sorted for the needy and a small TV with an antenna is broadcasting a fuzzy image of the Argentina-Nigeria game. Oohs and aahs are heard as Lionel Messi does his magic.

For some, the football obsession goes too far.

“Here in Brazil, everything is about football and that’s why I don’t like it. It’s too much,” said Greta Santos, 21, who came to the church for some quiet after her lunch break.

— By Aron Heller – www.twitter.com/aronhellerap

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SO MANY NEYMARS

SAO PAULO (AP) — The name Neymar is not common in Brazil, or at least it wasn’t until a few years ago, when the star player began scoring goals as a teenager.

Since he started playing professionally with the Santos club in 2009, 371 Neymars have been born in his home state of Sao Paulo, according to the state’s association of registries. Only two were given that name between 1992 and 2008, and one was Brazil’s striker, who was born in Mogi das Cruzes, a suburb in the outskirts of the city of Sao Paulo.

Before Neymar moved to Barcelona last year, he led Santos to the 2010 Brazilian Cup, the 2011 Copa Libertadores and three state championships. He also won FIFA’s award for the best goal of the year in 2011.

If Brazil thrives in the World Cup, expect more Neymars in nurseries.

— By Adriana Gomez Licon – www.twitter.com/agomezlicon

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HULK-ING PHOTO OP

TERESOPOLIS, Brazil (AP) — Fans visiting Brazil’s training camp are lining up for a smashing photo opportunity with a huge statue of the superhero Hulk dressed in a national team jersey.

The statue, located in front of a restaurant just outside the training camp, wears the Selecao’s yellow No. 7, the number worn by the striker who goes by the same name.

“We came to try to see the players, but if they don’t let us, at least we got a photo with someone who we know is part of the team,” joked 17-year-old Brazilian fan Luana de Aguiar.

Brazil’s training sessions in the mountain city of Teresopolis, about an hour from Rio, have been closed to fans, although hundreds show up at the gates every day to try to get a glimpse of their idols.

— By Tales Azzoni – www.twitter.com/tazzoni

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FRENCH CUSTOMS 1, COUNTERFEITERS 0

PARIS (AP) — That’s the score after officials at Paris’ main airport seized a shipment of 30 counterfeit FIFA World Cup trophies, in the first such bust of this year’s World Cup.

The shiny gold-colored statues were to be sold to souvenir shoppers in France. The official World Cup replicas are sold by FIFA for about $130.

The phony trophies had been shipped from China and were intercepted by customs officers at the Charles de Gaulle airport on June 18, the customs office said Wednesday.

The customs office said the trophies will be destroyed.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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