A King called Roberto Carlos

Source: http://www.maganews.com.br

People

A King called Roberto Carlos 

One hundred million albums sold (more than twice any other Latin American artist). Over 50 albums and dozens of smash hits.  This is part of the résumé of the most successful Brazilian singer-songwriter ever

Roberto learned to play the guitar and piano when he was a child. He moved to Niterói as a teenager and at that time met another teen who would become his best friend and musical partner:  Erasmo Carlos. The King’s first hit came in 1962, with Splish Splash.  The following year he wrote two of his biggest hits: É proibido fumar and O Calhambeque.  Roberto produced a light and irreverent kind of rock. In 1965 Rede Record invited Roberto, Erasmo and singer Wanderléa to present the showJovem Guarda, which was on TV for three years. In 1966 Roberto and Erasmo fell out over professional issues, but the following year they made up. Roberto also starred in successful films between the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s.

Romanticism, religion, and a new phase

In the beginning of the 1970s Roberto began a new phase, with less rock and more romanticism.Brazil also got to learn about his religious side. Songs such as Jesus Cristo and A Montanha were big hits. His superstitious side also appeared, and he would not wear brown clothes, for example. Roberto began to sell albums in the USA, Europe and Latin America, and stars such as Julio Iglesias and Ray Conniff recorded his songs. In December 1974 Globo broadcast the first Roberto Carlos special, which has remained a tradition at the end of the year for the channel. Roberto has been married three times. His greatest love, Maria Rita, died in 1999, after a battle with cancer.

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Vocabulary

1 more than twice any other – exp. idiom. = mais do que o dobro de qualquer outro

2 smash hits – grandes sucessos

3 résumé – currículo

4 ever – de todos os tempos

5 to fall out – se desentender

6 issues – questões

7 to make up – aqui = fazer as pazes

8 brown – marrom

Foto – Sony / divulgação

Family Album, USA 71

SOURCE: FAMILY ALBUM

OFF TO THE BEACH!

Source: Speak Up

Language level: B1 Lower Intermediate

Speaker: Justin Ratcliffe

Standard: British accent

BRITISH HOLIDAYS ARE BACK

“Enjoying the Holiday?”I said to Shirley in the local café. Shirley looked at me didn’t say a word. She was dressed in her while uniform and blue apron, and she was sweating. Her customers were dressed in T-shirts and sunglasses, carrying beach balls and deck chairs. Shirley ran around, pouring cold drinks, preparing sandwiches and trying to keep the flies off the food.

Walking down Albert Road today, it seems as if everyone is on holiday. Mr. Venn’s piano shop is shut. Leo’s delicatessen has a sign: “on vacation.” Everybody is in shorts or swimming costumes. Most of them are already sun burnt. Britain’s weather is not reliable but, when the sun comes out, you can be sure we’ll get burnt!

BESIDE THE SEASIDE

“In the old says,” said Shirley, when things calmed down, “British beaches were full ever summer. With cheap rail travel, the Victorians became obsessed with holidays by the sea. Bridgton and Margate in the south, Blackpool and Scarborough in the north: all desirable destinations for rich and poor. Great hotels were built, music halls, palaces and piers.” She showed me postcards of typical British beach scenes. Beach cricket. Ice cream. Large ladies in small swimsuits. Men in deck chairs, their heads covered with a knotted handkerchief.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

“The Emperor Louis Napoleon III of France and Empress Eugene loved the British seaside, “Shirley said. “Graham Greene describes their sute in his novel Brighton Rock.”

“So what happened?

“Cheap flights,” said Shirley simply. “When they could afford it, everybody flew abroad: Spain, Florida, Tuscany. The seaside became unfashionable. Grand hotels fell into decay; piers fell into the sea. Michael Ryan and Stelios Hai-loan-nou have a lot to answer for.” I looked at the crowds heading for the sea: “But now it’s changing?

Shirley nodded and wiped her forehead. “Global warming. Flights are expensive and damage the environment. Luckily Britain’s getting warmer. I sell English wine now, and people love it!”

The British seaside is back. Get out the bucket and spade. Send your friend a saucy postcard, and let’s building a sandcastle. You must excuse me: I’m off to the beach.

HOLIDAY GLOSSARY

Holiday comes from the Old English “halidgag” or holy day. The word meant a religious day. Today, the holidays mean any break from work or studying, but especially the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks.

If you are on holiday, it means you are not working: it can also mean you are travelling. In the USA, on vacation has both meanings.

A new variation is the stay-cation, which entered the dictionary in 20099. In this economic crisis, many people stay at home for their holidays, so they can save money and enjoy the things they normally don’t have time for.

House-swapping is another great way to have a holiday without paying for hotels. In fact, I’m borrowing my friend Harry’s house in Scotland next week. Harry called it “pigsitting” because he lives on a farm –like babysitting. Only with pigs – but this is not a real word! It’s always a good idea to look up national holidays of any country you visit. It may be difficult to shop or do business, or there may be celebrations. Try these sites: http://www.holidayyear.com http://www.bank-holidays.com

A gap year can be taken between school and university: a chance to travel, work and discover yourself. Later in your career this is “taking a year out.”

A break from the military (or prison) is called furlough, if you have permission. If you don’t, you are AWOL –“Absent Without Leave” –and in big trouble!

José Alencar: the warrior rests

For more info check it out and I recommend for Brazilian Students and teachers take out a subscription of this wonderful magazine.

Source: www.maganews.com

Life Lesson

José Alencar: the warrior [1] rests [2]

The former Vice President left behind a precious example of life for millions of Brazilians. For 14 years he faced cancer with courage, determination and faith

  

    A flat tire [3], a traffic jam [4], family problems, arguments [5] at work, toothache [6] ...These and other common problems in our day-to-day lives are enough to put many people in a bad mood andwipe [7] the smile off their faces. Like millions of Brazilians, José Alencar also faced these problems. But his daily routine also included something far more serious: a fight against a terrible disease. Alencar, however, seemed immune to stress and bad moods. Over the past eight years Brazil has become used to seeing an almost always good-natured [8] and relaxed Alencar. It was with optimism, serenity, courage and great faith that he faced a 14-year-long battle against cancer. During this period he had seventeen operations. This hard-fought battle [9] ended on March 29.Alencar left behind his wife Mariza Campos Gomes da Silva and three children: Maria da Graça, Patrícia and Josué. He also left behind a beautiful and striking [10] image in the minds of millions of Brazilians.

From poor childhood to Vice President of Brazil

   José Alencar was born in Muriaé in Minas Gerais state, on October 17, 1931.He lived animpoverished [11] childhood alongside 14 brothers and sisters. Alencar began working aged just seven years old and at 14 he left his parents house to work as a clerk [12] in a fabric store. At 18 a great chance came his way. His older brother lent [13] him money, so he opened his own store. And so began a successful business career. In 1967 he and a partner founded Coteminas, which would become one of the largest textile companies in Brazil. In 1993 he entered politics and in 1998 won a seat in the Senate. In 2002 he took the most important step in his political career when he was chosen to be Lula's running mate [14] in his presidential campaign.

Matéria publicada na edição de número 60 da revista Maganews.

Foto – Agência Brasil

Vocabulary

1 warrior – guerreiro

2 rest – descanso

3 flat tire – pneu furado

4 traffic jam – engarrafamento

5 arguments – discussões

6 toothache – dor de dente

7 to wipe  – “varrer” / “apagar”

8 good-natured – bem-humorado

9 hard-fought battle – dura batalha

10 striking image – imagem marcante

11 impoverished childhood – infância pobre

12 clerk – balconista / vendedor

13 to lend – emprestar

14 running mate –  pessoa que faz parte de uma campanha política

FAMILY ALBUM, USA 70

Source: FAMILY ALBUM, USA

The Wild West, Cowboy for a day, part I

COWBOY FOR A DAY

Source: Speak Up

Alone cowboy on a horse silhouetted against the big Sky: it’s a classic image of the American West. But what is the reality of life for modern-day cowboys? How much skill does it take to ride a horse and to herd castle? “Dude ranches” are a popular form of agritourism. Riding in an important part of ranch life –but you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy your stay. You can ride an easy trail, watch ranchers and wranglers at work, hike, fish, or just sit back and enjoy this views!

Historically, dude ranches date back to the 1800s, when Westerners opened their homes to tired and hungry visitors. Money from guests and tourists soon became an important source of income to ranchers struggling to earn a living room livestock alone. Today there are several hundred dude ranches across the USA –many of them members of the Dude Ranches’ Association, which was formed back in 1926.

INTELLIGENT ANIMALS

Todd and Cindy Larsen run Crow Cree Guest ranch, a ranch of around 1.600 hectares near Belle Fourche in the west of South Dakota. The Larsens moved here in 1983 and have been operating as a guest ranch for past four years.

The relationship between cowboys and horses lies at the heart of Western culture. Horses and cattle are intelligent animals, says Larsen, and have their own personalities, too. Riding a horse for the first time isn’t easy –climbing into the saddle is one thing. But making the horse go where you want to is another thing altogether!

Cartoon Characters

Source: Speak Up

Language level: Pre-Intermediate

Standard: American

Speaker: Chuck Rollando.

Comic book heroes usually have good solid American names: Clark Kent (Superman) and Lois Lane, Peter Parker (Spiderman) and his girlfriend Mary Jane. Bruce Wayne (Batman) was named after the Scottish hero Robert the Bruce and the US general “Mad” Anthony Wayne (who also inspired actor John Wayne’s pseudonym).

LITERARY LABELS

Mary names are adapted from literature and history. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were named after Renaissance painters: Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael. Calvin and Hobbes are named after theologian John Calvin and philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Garfield the cat is named after his creator’s grandfather, who is turn was named after James Garfield US president 1880-81. Yogi Bear sounds like Yogi Berra, a baseball hero famous for his comical sayings.

Nemo, in Finding Nemo, is certainly named after captain Nemo, the underwater explorer in Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Nemo in Latin means nobody, so the name also recalls Odysseus, who tells the Cyclops that his name is Nobody.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Matt Groening named The Simpsons after his own family (he changed his own name to Bart, this is an anagram of “brat,” which means terrible child). Bart’s neighbor Millhouse was named after President Richard Milhous Nixon: the most unfortunate name the creators could think of! Flanders is named after the street in Portland, Oregon, where Groening grew up, while Krusty the Clown was based on a clown he saw as a child called Rusty Nails.

South Park’s Eric Cartman is based on the creator’s friend Matt Karpman. The Chipmunks – Alvin, Simon and Theodore – are named after the executives of Liberty Records, their label. ren and Stimpy were the creator’s former landlord and college roommate, while Bugs Bunny’s name came from artist Bugs Hardaway.

WHAT YOU SEE WHAT YOU GET

Daffy means daft or silly: perfect for Daffy Duck. Cruella de vil, from 101 Dalmatians, is obviously a cruel devil. Tintin’s little white dog is called snowy: his fishy friend is Captain Haddock, and the absent-minded physicist is Professor Calculus. In Toy Story Woody is made of wood cowboy outfit is like the costume of folk singer, Woody Guthrie. His sense of humor is more like Woody Allien’s. Buzz Lightyer takes his first name from astronaut Buzz Aldrin, while Rex the dinosaur is a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Any male cat is called a tom, but Tom and Jerry (originally Jasper and Jinx) make us think of the First World War. When British soldiers were called Tommies and Germans Jerries. Twenty Pie (from Sylvester and Tweety) probably got his name from his strange accent when he sings “I’m a sweet (tweet) little bird in a gilded cage.” Wile E. Coyote (in Road Runner) is a wily coyote.

ALLITERATION AND RHYME

Many names sound good because of alliteration or rhyme: Porky Pig, Woody Woodpecker, Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole: Fred Flintstone, George Jetson (and his wife Jane and daughter Judy): Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and their nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie. Scooby Doo, originally named Too Much, got his name from Frank Sinatra’s improvised singing at the end of the song “Strangers in the Night.” Mickey Mouse was originally called Mortimer, and may reflect Mickey Rooney’s success with silent movie character Mickey McGuire.

Julius Caesar’s wars against Vercingetorix are to blame for the names in Asterix.Obelix is a big as an obelisk. Cacofonix sounds terrible. Dogmatix, Geriatrix, Unhygienix and Vitastatistix are obvious jokes: and Getafix the druid makes drugs for everyone.

Last, but not least, there are the sever dwarfs from Snow White, whose names reflect their characters: can you name them?