Family Album 36

Source: Family Album

Renée Zellweger

Source: Speak Up

Language level: Intermediate

Standard: American

RENÉE ZELLWEGER

Being Beatrix

Peter Rabbit’s author, Beatrix Potter, lived from 1866 to 1943 and her life has inspired a major feature film. Miss Potter stars Renée Zellweger in the title role, while the cast also includes Ewan McGregor (not to be confused with the Mr. McGregor of the Peter Rabbit story) and Emily Watson, Miss Potter enables the Texan-born Zellweger to try not an English accent, something that she has already done in the Bridget Jones movies. Here she talks about the challenge of playing the famous children’s writer:

Renée Zellweger

(Standard American accent)

When people closest to her would describe her, they would describe her as “merry,” or “jolly,” “joyful,” “happy” and “glowing,” that she had a glow, that her…what was it?...her…she had “laughing, brilliant blue eyes,” which was…I mean, so many contradictions when your read the information about who she might have been, you know, she’s this very creative, outgoing…very…expressive person, on one hand and, quite the contrary, she…was very introverted and uncomfortable in public and in big crowds and felt very displaced, didn’t want to be outwardly expressive, that she spoke quietly, but…she was very assertive, you know, she was very certain and yet reserved, I mean, so many contradictions and so much information to choose from, and all of it hearsay, for the most part.

THE LAKE DISTRICT.

Although she was born in London’s fashionable Kensington area, Beatrix Potter preferred life in the English Lake District. The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published in 1902 and this was followed by more than 20 popular books. Miss Potter’s royalties as an author enabled her to buy up some 15 Lake District farms, which she would later leave to the National Trust.

Renée Zellweger:

I can understand the appeal of wanting to be away from the exchanges that you have on a daily basis, because of the public persona, I understand that you’d want to go to places a bit more remote to that your exchanges are a hit more natural, especially for a person who is so introverted and private, you know. . I completely understand it. And you could see, walking around, the quit that it brings, the quit that she probably craved and …access to all those things that she liked most, the things that inspired her, everywhere. I mean just the colors, I mean, when you think about the colors that she used in her paintings, I mean the light’s just a little bit different and, you know, it just…the quit enables you to sit in it for a while and take it in and you can see how that would just feed this woman’s work and make it so rich. Why wouldn’t she want to be there, you know? You could…feel it.

THE DIRECTOR

Miss Potter is directed by the Australian Chris Noonan, whose last film was a delightful comedy about a little pig called Babe. Renée Zellweger clearly enjoyed working with Noonan:

Renée Zellwegen

He’s probably the nicest man on the planet, we all sort of kind of…we all sort of decided half-way though that he must be the nicest person alive, never raises his voice, is just very gentle, and, at the same time has a very quiet confidence and is curious. He has a lot of fun, he has a child-like curiosity that’s ever present. He’s looking around and wondering, wondering “uhum, what next?” He’s always discovering something as it goes along. And he’s a very likeable man and I enjoyed this. It seemed to, I don’t know, t just, it seemed like a perfect partnership, you know, the…the lady who created these beautiful stories that resonate with children, and Chris and his curiosity and his gentle manner and how he handled the telling of the story. It just…it seemed right.

Rio flood death toll hits 800

Source: www.maganews.com.br

Rio flood death toll hits 800

Death toll in the floods in Rio de Janeiro state hits 800. More than 21,000 people have been left homeless. The most affected areas include Teresopolis, Nova Friburgo and Petropolis

State governor Sergio Cabral has declared seven days of mourning for the victims of the disaster.   Local media reported rescuers had to reach worst-hit areas on foot because vehicles cannot cross blocked roads. Mountainous areas north of Rio de Janeiro have been hit by the heaviest downpours in 44 years. The rain caused rivers of mud to rush down the mountains and tear through towns, levelling houses and throwing cars over buildings.

Natural disasters:  prevention is the best weapon

Nature alone is not to blame for the large numbers of victims in Rio de Janeiro state.  Brazil has not yet learned how to deal with natural disasters. The best weapon in this case is prevention. Many deaths could have been avoided if the families had not built their houses close to rivers or streams. Local city halls could also contribute by banning house building in areas at risk, such as above or below hillsides that could slide.  

Picture (Nova Friburgo) - Valter Campanato/ABr

Osama in Heaven, the last laugh

Source: www.speakup.com.br

Standard: American accent

Language level: Advanced

Osama in Heaven

After dying a violent death in an Afghan cave, Osama Bin Laden made his way to heaven, where he was met by George Washington: "How dare you attack the nation I helped conceive! "shouted Washington, slapping Osama in the face.

Patrick Henry came up from behind: "You wanted to end America's liberty, so they gave you death!" Henry punched Osama in the nose. 

James Madison came next and said: "This is why I allowed the government to provide for the common defense!" He took a sledgehammer and hit Osama's knees.

Osama was subjected to similar humiliation by John Randolph, James Monroe, and 35 other people who had the same love for liberty and America. As he rolled around on the ground in agony, Thomas Jefferson threw him back toward the gate where he was to be judged. 

As Osama awaited his journey to his final, very hot destination, he screamed: "This is not what I was promised!"

An Angel replied: "I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you. What did you think I said?" 


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Family Album 35

Source: Family Album USA

Access the Power within you

You were born to be happy, you were born to be a winner, access the power within you and continue struggling...Never give up, positive thoughts...Forever. Have a wonderful night...Have a nice day, no matter wherever you are, just believe yourself.

São Paulo

For more info please visit the website www.maganews.com.br very interesting Magazine, excellent for English teachers and students, affordable price. Para mais informações visite o site, revista excelente para professores e alunos preço acessível 

São Paulo

A beloved [1] city, despite its problems

There is no shortage [2] of problems in São Paulocity, but even so two recent surveys have revealed that it is growing in Brazilian’s affections

   

    Flooding [3], chaotic traffic, a lack of security, and a deficient public health service. These and other problems are routine for people living in the capital of São Paulo State.  However, despite these problems, residents of São Paulo are happier with the city today than they were nine years ago. At least, that is what a survey carried out in January 2010 by the Datafolha Institute says.  The same institute had carried out a survey in 2001 which said that over half the paulistanos wanted to leave the city.  As the years have gone by, many of them have changed their minds [4]. Datafolha’s latest survey says that most residents of São Paulo are not thinking of leaving the city. The Institute asked residents what score [5] they would give São Paulo. Over half of interviewees – 51% - gave scores of eight or more out of ten. Despite its problems, São Paulo has much to offer, such as great job and business opportunities, and an excellent range [6] of leisure [7] and service options. The Datafolha survey was published by the newspaper  Folha de SP on January 24^th, on the eve [8] of the city’s anniversary. 

“The best city in Brazil”

In 2009 the magazine Viagem e Turismo (published by Abril) carried out a survey among its readers to find “the best city in Brazil.”  São Paulo came first, thanks to the wealth of options in restaurants, shopping, nightlife and the quality of hotels. The State capital is visited by about 11 million tourists a year. Of this total, 50% go on business, 39% on leisure, and the rest for healthcare, to study, and visit family.

Matéria publicada na edição de número 53 da revista Maganews.

Áudio – David Hatton

Foto (Catedral da Sé) – Jefferson Pancieri (SPTur)

Vocabulary

1 beloved – amada / querida

2 shortage - escassez

3 flooding (or flood) – enchente

4 change (one’s) mind – mudar de idéia

5 score – aqui = nota / conceito

6 range – variedade / abrangência

7 leisure - lazer

8 eve – véspera