Why Sleep Apnea Raises Risk of Stroke, Heart Attack

I confess during the night, according to my mum and my wife I snoring aloud, that's a problem indeed, check it out why. I've been talking about the importance of VOANEWS website and Fan page for English teachers and Students for more info, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ybEOUUlXoc&feature=relmfu 


Source: VOALearningEnglish Gostou promova apra amigos, liked? Telling for friends?

Words and Their Stories: Clothing Expressions, Part One

Source: http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/words-stories/Words-and-Their-Stories-Clothing-Expressions-Part-One-128099963.html

Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s see if I can name a few off the cuff, or without any preparation.

People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have ants in their pants. They might also fly by the seat of their pants. They use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge. Sometimes, people may get caught with their pants down.  They are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say she wears the pants in the family.

Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can burn a hole in your pocket. Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants.  If you have less money than usual, you may have to tighten your belt. You may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully. But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money, you will have that skill under your belt.

I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really take my hat off to them. Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it at the drop of a hat – immediately, without waiting. And sadly, you cannotpull money out of a hat. You cannot get money by inventing or imagining it.

Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are too big for their boots think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people. I really do. You can bet your boots on that. Yet, truly important people are hard to replace. Rarely can you fill their shoes or replace them with someone equally effective.

My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie, and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe. They think he is a realstuffed shirt. But I know that my father wears his heart on his sleeve. He shows his feelings openly. And, he knows how to keep his shirt on. He stays calm and never gets angry or too excited.

Also, my father has never lost his shirt in a business deal. He is too smart to lose all or most of his money. This is because my father rolls up his sleeves and prepares to work hard. He often has a special plan or answer to a problem that he can use if he needs it. He is like a person who does magic tricks. We say he has a card up his sleeve.

(MUSIC)

This VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES was written by Jill Moss.  I’m Faith Lapidus.

JAPANESE'S DESCENDANTS VISITING CARNAUBA'S ROCK ART PAINTINGS

First of all, I'd say to you that I use to post entries about my daily routine, and of course to talking about the tourism or tourists who visit the tourism spots. Today, for example, I guided two descendants of Japanese, but they are Brazilian who both Ricardo and Cuniagh live in Sao Paulo and they decided to visit Carnauba dos Dantas (town) guided for a friend of mine, also tour guide, Eduardo. 

In conclusion we visit both Xique-Xique I and II, afterwards we visit Biva's Castle and a religious spot, Monte do Galo. Check out the pictures bellow. 

                          From left to right: Eduardo, Ricardo, Dona Maria and Cuniagh, Dona Maria is owner of Xique-xique Ranch. 

                          Ricardo and Cuniagh shooting the rock art paintings. 

                         Cuniagh, me in the middle and Ricardo 

SBT celebrates its 30th anniversary

Source: http://www.maganews.com.br/
Television SBT celebrates its 30th anniversary

The station began broadcasting [1] on August 19, 1981.  To remember a little of its history, SBT is airing [2] a weekly program called "SBT - Festival 30 anos"

    

  Silvio Santos began his career in television in the early 1960s. By the late 1970s he was considered the greatest presenter in the history of Brazilian television. But it was only on August 19, 1981, that he achieved one of his biggest dreams: to own his own TV station. Early programming was modest, with movies, cartoons and a bit of journalism. The biggest attraction, of course, wasthe traditional "Programa Silvio Santos," shown on Sundays. Over the years the station enriched its programming and grew a lot. Now, Silvio Santos' channel competes with “Rede Record” for second place in the Ibope ratings, after Globo.

---

A journey through time....

In May SBT put together a special program to tell a little of its history.  Presented by Patricia Abravanel, one of Silvio Santos' daughters, SBT - Festival 30 Anos has been featured on Saturday nights. In total, 17 programs will be shown by the end of August. Watching this program is liketaking a trip back in time [3] and remembering landmark [4]  programs, such as "Jô Soares Onze e Meia" and "Casa dos Artistas," as well as enjoying again old editions of the comedy show, "A Praça é Nossa."   The program also provides an opportunity for the public to watch special features on the series "Chaves" and to watch again some of the greats of Brazilian television, like the late [5] comedian, Ronald Golias.

Matéria publicada na edição de número 62 da revista Maganews.

Foto (divulgação) Patricia Abravanel - Festival SBT 30 Anos.

Vocabulary1 broadcasting – transmissão 

2 to air - exibir

3 to take a trip back in time – fazer uma viagem no tempo

4 landmark – aqui = marcante

5 late - saudoso

 

Keeping the Right Distance (Audio)

Keeping the Right Distance (Audio) 

By Rachel Roberts

Source: 

http://www.speakup.com.br/extras/ed288/exed288a.html

All credits for SPEAKUP Magazine and this is only a promotional advertising only education purpose by English tips blog. I also recommend English learners that keep in touch through SpeakUp in your country and take out a subscription, very helpful and resourceful English material. 

Rachel Roberts (Standard British accent):One of the most influential thinkers on the subject of cultural differences is Gerard Hendrik Hofstede. He defines culture in two ways: “culture one” is what we in the west usually mean by “civilisation” or “refinement of the mind”. It also refers to the results of this refinement, like education, art and literature. “Culture two,” on the other hand, corresponds to the way we are programmed to think, feel and act – a kind of “mental software.” We demonstrate culture two in everyday things, such as greeting, eating, showing or not showing feelings and keeping a certain physical distance from other people. It’s not genetic. It’s a set of values that we learn together with the other people who live in our social environment. Interestingly, values are among the first things children learn. In fact development psychologists believe that most children have established their basic value system by the age of 10. After that it can be quite difficult to change and, as we acquire these values so early in life, we are rarely aware of them.

POWER DISTANCEIn his studies Hofstede focused on four main areas: power distance, collectivism versus individualism, femininity versus masculinity and uncertainty avoidance. Let’s take a closer look at the first of these. Hofstede defines power distance as: “the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.” In other words, people in countries with a high power distance – like Malaysia, the Philippines or Mexico – expect and even desire inequalities. This doesn’t mean that Malaysian workers enjoy being worse off than their managers. It’s more a question of respect. For example, in the family parents are more authoritarian and teach their children obedience. If your Mexican or Romanian girlfriend says her parents expect her home by 10pm, you should take that seriously, if you don’t want to cause her problems! In schools, teachers are seen as wise gurus who decide what is best for pupils to learn. Teachers in Italian schools may have noticed that students of Filipino or Sri Lankan origin are often more attentive and respectful than their native classmates. Similarly at work, subordinates like to be told what to do. The ideal boss is seen as a good father, who “deserves” privileges, status symbols and a much higher salary. In politics wealth, power, and status go together. Politicians often gain power through charisma and family connections, and always do their best to look impressive. A large house, a chauffeur-driven car and even a playboy lifestyle can be important symbols of this power. 

CASUAL COUNTRIESIn countries with a low power distance, such as the UK, New Zealand and Austria, hierarchy is not appreciated and inequalities are kept to a minimum, or at least out of sight. Parents often treat their children as equals, and teachers are not so much all-knowing sages, as experts who transfer or channel impersonal truths. There is a smaller difference in salary between management and subordinates in the same company, and privileges and status symbols for the boss are usually considered inappropriate. Subordinates usually call their boss by his or her first name and expect to be consulted on important matters. People in positions of power will usually try to play their status down, emphasising that they are just like anybody else. Perhaps this explains why the British public was so shocked by the expenses scandal amongst their politicians. Brits don’t expect politicians to have special perks or a particularly extravagant lifestyle! 

FORMALITYMultinational companies would do well to bear power distance in mind. For example a management technique like “Management by Objectives” is very popular in the United States, but can be inappropriate in countries such as Malaysia or Mexico. In these countries managers would find it hard to delegate important tasks to their subordinates, and subordinates would feel uncomfortable participating in important decisions. Amongst European countries, France has one of the highest levels of power distance, so remember to be very formal and deferential when dealing with French management. On the other hand, don’t be surprised if a Danish or Irish colleague remains unimpressed by your titles. He or she will probably expect to use your first name, even if they are at a lower level professionally. And if you go to work for a British company, be prepared to show some initiative! As always, flexibility and acceptance are the key to good relations.Next month we’ll take a look at the differences between collectivist and individualist societies. In the meantime I’ll leave you to ponder over where your country stands in the power distance scale. 

THE EXPERT Gerard Henrik Hofstede

Gerard Hendrik Hofstede was born in Haarlem, the Netherlands in 1928. Between 1965-71 he founded and managed the Personnel Research Department of IBM Europe. He conducted a survey about the values of people working in local IBM subsidiaries in over 50 countries around the world.

THE RETURN OF VINYL

Source: www.speakup.com.br

Language level: B1 LOWER INTERMEDIATE

 source of the picture topnews.in

The return of vinyl

Life isn’t easy for the music industry these days. Illegal downloads on the internet have destroyed CD sales and artist now depend primarily on concert tours for their income.

Yet there is one piece of good news: according to official figures from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, there is a significant increase in sales of vinyl records.

The “death of vinyl” was announced when CDs came along in the early 1980s. Yet “the vinyl revival” began a few years ago. The trend is believed to have originated with teenagers in New York. They followed in the footstep of dance DJs who preferred its warmer and richer sound. This also led to a boom in new generation turntables.

In 2009 the United States saw a vinyl sales increase of one million records. Today US vinyl sales were almost three million that year. In reality this accounted for less than one per cent  of total music purchases, but it was still good news for the music industry.

In the same year 223.000 vinyl records were sold in the UK. To get an idea, the figure for 2001 was 180.000: the figure for 1979, vinyl’s peak year, was 89 million! Experts say that the 2009 figure could be higher because official statistics do not include sales from smaller records shops and albums sold at concerts.

The positive trend is also confirmed by the fact that major retailer HMV has increased its vinyl “floor space” by 50 per cent over the past two years.

As NIGEL House of Rough Trade explains, young listeners are attracted to vinyl because they love its tactile quality and because it represents a badge of honour, the ultimate proof of loyalty to their favourite artist. It shows that they are serious about music.”

INTERVIEW (audio available)

Standard: British accent

Speaker: Justin Ratcliffe

Language level: C1 ADVANCED.

ROUGH AND READY

With the advent of the CD, or “Compact Disc,” in 1980s, experts said that the “vinyl” gramophone record would die. And then, with the advent of the digital download, the “death of the CD” was also announced. And yet it is difficult to make predictions: today vinyl is enjoying a revival. Last year in the United States more than 2.8 million vinyl records were sold. It was the best result in 20 years, even if it is still a fraction of total music sales.

To find out more, we went to Rough Trade, Britain’s largest independent record shop. Nigel House is co-owner of “Rough Trade East” in London’s Brick Lane. He talked about the vinyl revival, as music played in the background.

Nigel House

(Standard British accent)

No, I think it’s a worldwide phenomenon. I think in America maybe CD sales are going down, but vinyl sales and download sales are going up, so sometimes like…there was an album out by Vampire Weekend last year and I think sometimes like 30 per cent of the sales were download and another 20 per cent were vinyl. And there’s a group called Fucked Up. Who (are) from America, and 50 per cent of their sales where from vinyl.

PERSONALITY

We then asked Nigel House about the reasons for the revival.

Nigel House

Well, I think it’s the complete antithesis of a download because, with a download, it’s great for some things, for a pop single or something, it’s great: click, buy, you’ve got it there and then, but the whole experience of going out and buying something going into a record shop and buying a record, it’s something that’ll live with you forever. I also think that when you get home and you put them on you shelves, or put them on the floor or whatever, when people come round to see you, or to come round for dinner or whatever, it’s part of your personality, it’s part of what you’re about is, you know, in your music collection, or your book collection. Now, that’s why I think there’s always going to be a room for physical product in this world of book and music.

And some musical genres are particular suited to vinyl:

Nigel House

I mean, some music just sounds better on vinyl! Reggae: you cannot listen to reggae on CD or download, you need those crackles, you need that feel of a Studio One record that is thick; thick vinyl, crackles all the way through, but it’s got that feel, you can almost be there in Jamaica!

THE “PUNK” ATTITUDE

Nigel House says that the American rock duo The White Stripes played an important role in the vinyl revival:

The White Stripes had a lot to do with it, they kind of got back to basics. I suppose, with their style or music and they did a lot of singles that were very collectible and they also did a free single with the New Musical Express this was about three - or four years ago – and  that really kick-started the 7-inch market.

People want to do vinyl, groups want to do vinyl because it’s more authentic. I suppose, it’s less “corporate,” and it’s a bit more punk rock, I suppose. It doesn’t have to be punk rock music, but it’s got more attitude. Doing a vinyl pressing, it’s just a bit more “anti-corporate,” I suppose. 

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Source: www.manythings.org/voa/stories

All credits of this entry originally posted by VOANEWS as well as "All text, audio and video material produced exclusively by the Voice of America

is public domain. However, some images and graphics are licensed for use and
covered by all applicable copyright laws." Only Education purpose. 

Our story today is called, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. " It was written by Ambrose Bierce.

The occurrence, or event, in our story takes place during the Civil War of the eighteen sixties between the American states of the north and the states of the south. A group of soldiers is hanging a southern farm owner for trying to stop northern military movements across the Owl Creek Bridge.

In the last moments of his life, the southern prisoner dreams he has escaped. And everything that happens in the story is really the images in the prisoners mind just before he dies.

Here is Shep O'Neal with our story.

Narrator:  A man stood on a railroad bridge in Alabama looking down into the swift waters of the Owl Creek River below. The mans hands were tied behind his back. There was a rope around his neck. The rope was tied to part of the bridge above him. Three soldiers of the northern army stood near the prisoner, waiting for their captains orders to hang him.

Everybody was ready. The prisoner stood quietly. His eyes were not covered. He looked down and saw the water under the bridge. Now, he closed his eyes.

He wanted his last thoughts to be of his wife and children. But, as he tried to think of them, he heard sounds -- again and again. The sounds were soft. But they got louder and louder and started to hurt his ears. The pain was strong. He wanted to shout. But the sounds he heard were just those of the river running swiftly under the bridge.

The prisoner quickly opened his eyes and looked at the water. "If I could only free my hands," he thought. "Then I could get the rope off my neck and jump into the river. I could swim under the water and escape the fire of their guns. I could reach the other side of the river and get home through the forest. My house is outside of their military area, and my wife and children are safe there. I would be, too…"

While these thoughts raced through the prisoners mind, the captain gave the soldiers the order to hang him. A soldier quickly obeyed. He made the rope firm around the prisoners neck. Then he dropped him through a hole in the bridge.

As the prisoner fell, everything seemed black and empty. But then he felt a sharp pain in his neck and could not breathe. There were terrible pains running from his neck down through his body, his arms and his legs. He could not think. He could only feel, a feeling of living in a world of pain.

Then, suddenly, he heard a noise…something falling into the water. There was a big sound in his ears. Everything around him was cold and dark. Now he could think. He believed the rope had broken and that he was in the river.

But the rope was still around his neck, and his hands were tied. He thought: "How funny. How funny to die of hanging at the bottom of a river!" Then he felt his body moving up to the top of the water.

The prisoner did not know what he was doing. But his hands reached the rope on his neck and tore it off.

Now he felt the most violent pain he had ever known. He wanted to put the rope back on his neck. He tried but could not. His hands beat the water and pushed him up to the top. His head came out of the water. The light of the sun hurt his eyes. His mouth opened, and he swallowed air. It was too much for his lungs. He blew out the air with a scream.

Now the prisoner could think more clearly. All his senses had returned. They were even sharper than before. He heard sounds he never heard before -- that no mans ears ever heard -- the flying wings of small insects, the movement of a fish. His eyes saw more than just the trees along the river. They saw every leaf on the trees. And they saw the thin lines in the leaves.

And he saw the bridge, with the wall at one end. He saw the soldiers and the captain on the bridge. They shouted, and they pointed at him. They looked like giant monsters. As he looked, he heard gunfire. Something hit the water near his head. Now there was a second shot. He saw one soldier shooting at him.

He knew he had to get to the forest and escape. He heard an officer call to the other soldiers to shoot.

The prisoner went down into the river, deep, as far as he could. The water made a great noise in his ears, but he heard the shots.

As he came up to the top again, he saw the bullets hit the water. Some of them touched his face and hands.

One even fell into the top of his shirt. He felt the heat of the bullet on his back.

When his head came out of the water for air, he saw that he was farther away from the soldiers. And he began swimming strongly.

As he swam, the soldiers fired their rifles. Then they fired their cannon at him. But nothing hit him. Then, suddenly, he could not swim. He was caught in a whirlpool which kept turning him around and around. This was the end, he thought. Then, just as suddenly as it had caught him, the whirlpool lifted him and threw him out of the river. He was on land!

He kissed the ground. He looked around him. There was a pink light in the air. The wind seemed to make music as it blew through the trees. He wanted to stay there. But the cannon fired again, and he heard the bullets above his head. He got up and ran into the forest. At last, he found a road toward his house. It was a wide, straight road. Yet it looked like a road that never had any travelers on it. No farms. No houses on its sides, only tall black trees.

In the tall black trees, the prisoner heard strange voices. Some of them spoke in words that he could not understand.

His neck began to hurt. When he touched it, it felt very large. His eyes hurt so much that he could not close them. His feet moved, but he could not feel the road.

As he walked, he was in a kind of sleep. Now, half-awake, half asleep, he found himself at the door of his house. His lovely wife ran to him. Ah, at last.

He put his arms about his beautiful wife. And just then, he felt a terrible pain in the back of his neck. All around him there was a great white light and the sound of a cannon. And then…then…darkness and silence.

The prisoner was dead. His neck was broken. His body hung at the end of a rope. It kept swinging from side to side. Swinging gently under a hole in Owl Creek Bridge.

(MUSIC)

Announcer: You have just heard the American story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." It was written by Ambrose Bierce. Your storyteller was Shep O'Neal.

Listen again next week at this same time for another American story told in Special English on the Voice of America.  This is Faith Lapidus.