Monday, December 18, 2006

THE CITY OF THE LONER - Chapter Two



2 - THE NAMELESS CITY


All together, there were one hundred. Counting the man, who came to be known only as Loner, there were one hundred and one. Just a few people, an insignificant number in relation to the objective. Later, more would come. Hundreds and hundreds, thousands,would become a myriad with a common goal. Their worthy cause united the men and kept them motivated, undaunted by the magnitude of the work at hand. The challenge of building a city had to be met, so they unfurled their flags and marched forward in battle.

The first building they raised was the museum, so that they could preserve the history of the city as it developed. The building with its noble lines and ample space was walled in and surrounded by vast gardens. Two grand stairways projected from its façade. Each a main entrance, the one on the left led to an immense lobby and corridor heading to the founders’ gallery, which would hold portraits of the hundred pioneers who joined Loner. The frames are displayed on the walls just as they were placed at the time of construction. Just the frames.

The stairway on the right led to another lobby whose corridor directed people to a gallery which had been reserved for portraits of future authorities. Frames had been tastefully arranged, but just as in the founders’ gallery, the frames were empty. In a room to the left of the founders’ gallery were the city archives, where important papers and historical documents were to be displayed or stored. Incredibly, all of the shelves, display cases, and files were completely empty.

In symmetry, the heraldry room to the right of the other gallery had been reserved for banners and coats of arms. It was also bare.

From the ceiling of each room hung enormous crystal chandeliers, some with more than two hundred lights. They seemed brand new. In fact, everything in the museum — the furniture, the polished marble floor, the red carpet runners — was in perfect condition. Was the museum a useless work of art?

No, and if people were to think so, they couldn’t be more mistaken. Each day groups of tourists visit the stately building seeking information and emotion because, above all, that’s what tourism’s about.

Who wouldn’t be impressed to learn that the museum was the first building raised in the City?

Who wouldn’t be moved hearing the story of the loner and his decision to build a city?

When schools were in session, especially on weekends, children stood on long lines for the museum. They were anxious to see and to hear and to discover the secrets of the fascinating loner.

“Whose picture should be in that big frame?” someone would address a teacher.

“Over there? That should be the portrait of the loner.”

“Who was the loner?”

A group of children, buzzing with curiosity would approach asking questions. They wanted to know everything related to the museum, asking questions and listening to answers until their thirst for knowledge was quenched.

“Excuse me, mam, the plaque says this is the Heraldry Room. What is heraldry?”

“Heraldry is the art or science of coats of arms.”
“And what are coats of arms?”

“A coat of arms is a kind of shield, insignia, an emblem. For example, the design on the pocket of your school uniform is the school’s emblem. It’s like a coat of arms.

“Teacher, after completing the museum, what did the loner build?”

The answer came unexpectedly by a stranger, a tour guide who joined the group, explaining, “After the museum, the loner and his friends constructed buildings that the community would need in order to survive."

“And what were they?” asked a few of the children speaking at the same time.

“A town hall, a church, a courthouse and, of course, waterworks, the City’s Waterworks.

“And what about houses? Houses for the loner and his friends?”

“ Oh,” the tour guide explained, “They built the houses last of all.”

“Did they move to the City right away?”

“They only brought their families when everything was ready. Then they moved here to stay.”

“And why did they name this city the City?”
“It’s a long story” the tour guide warned the group, but I’d be happy to tell you if you have time. You’ll have to ask your teacher.”
“We’d love to hear all about it,” the teacher answered smiling.
The guide asked the group to sit on the stairs and get comfortable before she began the tale. She told them about the loner’s problem. He was anxious to inaugurate the city, but couldn’t find a name worthy of the beauty surrounding him. He dreamed of a name that would be melodious, a name that would be easy to pronounce, and pleasant to the ear.
The guide continued, “The loner asked his friends for help, but after long meetings and debates, they decided that it would be better to get input from the population. So, they set up a giant suggestion box in front of the museum, where people who wanted to, could include their choices. They were allowed to make as many suggestions as they could. The suggestion box would be opened at a festival, where a commission of judges would announce the best name. And that’s exactly what they did. What they didn’t expect, however, was that facing so many beautiful names, and embarrassed to admit it, the commission couldn’t make a decision.
“So, what did they do?” asked a little girl with her pencil in hand ready to jot down the response.

“Well,” the guide sighed, “they had to postpone the celebration. They set a new date, but when the day arrived, the same thing happened. So again, they set a new date, and once again the judges were undecided. From postponement to postponement, from festival to festival, they got nowhere, and while the people waited, they referred to their new home as the City. Repetition became habit, habit became tradition and eventually, the tradition gained acceptance. So, that is how this city became the City, and no one even thinks about changing its name.

“Please, could you explain why the people here don’t have names either,” the teacher requested helping to give her students the benefit of the guide’s deep knowledge of the City’s history.

“It does seem strange,” he explained, “that the people here don’t have full names. Yet, everyone is identifiable because each person has a word that describes him or her. This word isn’t a typical full name, just as we know that the City doesn’t have a name. Still, because each person has a descriptive word, no one loses his or her individuality. Some of these words originated from the activities their owners performed. For example, I am Guide because of the job I do. Is there anyone here who doesn’t know what we call our mayor? Mayor, of course. Who could forget that our baker is Baker? And that the leader of the municipal orchestra is Maestro. These are simple examples of labels that are logical because the reasons for their
choices are easily understood. Others, on the other hand, are not so clear. One is Pilungo and another Calunga; both are City Club soccer players.

To illustrate his point, Guide addressed a child sitting on the first step, “And what about you, What do people call you?”
The little girl answered. “I am Yellow Karandash.”
“And do you know the story of these words?”

“Yes, my mom told me. She said that when I was born I was as skinny as a pencil and as blond as corn silk. So, my dad chose two words. ‘Karandash’ means pencil in my father’s language, and ‘Yellow’ comes from my mom’s language. My father is Russian and my mother is American.”

“Did you hear that?” the guide continued. I don’t need to go on about this subject. You all seem to understand why we don’t need names in the City.

“Okay. Next, tell us about the man-made lake, the Lake of the City,” suggested a few children at
once. Others joined in, calling out together so that no one could be heard clearly:

“Tell us about the lake.”
“Tell us about the river.”
“... about the waterfall.”

Guide always enjoyed explaining and the enthusiasm of this group motivated him.

Teacher got the group to settle down.
“Calm down, children. Please.”
Guide raised a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence and order in the group.

“All right now,” he said, “I’ll talk about all three. Let’s begin with the lake,
which was the first project.”

The children listened quietly as Guide began.

“I know that all of you love the lake. There’s no special reason for loving it, but it evokes strong feelings. It’s a love that comes from afar, from generation to generation, like the blood running through our veins. Our old folks tell us that when Loner and his friends finished digging the lake, they were disappointed. The water was cold and dirty, the color of red clay.
The loner was right to be sad: the lake would be of no use to the City. Then one night, he and his friends got together and spoke of the love that had gone into digging the lake. They all felt that love in the heaven and on earth and in the stars which reflected on the surface of the lake. Awestruck, they
watched the transformation. The icy water became warm; the cloudy red became crystal clear, revealing pebbles and rocks in its depths as well as colorful fish. It was as if the lake were a gigantic aquarium."

The children gazed dreamily hypnotized by the Guide’s story. They were rapt in silence.

“The lake was enchanted,” Guide concluded, confident that the children and their teacher were truly a captive audience. Instead of continuing the story, he started throwing out questions to stir up even more interest.

“Have you ever noticed that, even though everyone uses the lake to swim and fish and compete in water sports, the water is always clean and crystal clear? Did you know that whoever drinks water from the lake never leaves the City? And that if they have to leave at all, it is just for a short time? Did you know that those who do leave and come back to the City return with double the love in their hearts and commitment to contribute more and more to enrich the land? It is true. It happened to Baker and to Maestro and to Chief of Police. When Baker came back to live here, he installed a modern pastry shop. Maestro organized our superb orchestra and marching
band that you love so much. As for Chief of Police, after a few months living out of town, he returned and built a prison — the Maximum Security Prison. These are just a few of the many examples.

The lecture was interrupted by the arrival of another busload of tourists to visit the museum.

Guide excused himself to greet the next group.

“Thank you so much, Guide,” said Teacher.
“for the wonderful tour you gave the children and me.”

“Thank you. Thank you,” the children called out.

“We loved it,” others joined in.

“We’ll come back again.”

Everyone loved the tour, and I in particular, more than anyone else. After all, Guide freed me from having to explain why the City and its population didn’t have names. The tour also saved me the trouble of telling about the man-made lake, Lake of the City. It’s too bad that he didn’t have time for the river or the waterfall, but I’ll write about them later. I promise.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE




"Get Married?"

Arthur took his college roommate, Samuel, home for Christmas, and after dinner, spoke to his father,

- "Dad, I need to tell you something. Samuel and I want to get married, and we'd like your blessing."Arthur's father practically exploded, his face turned red, and was literally speechless for ten minutes. When he finally regained his composure, he replied,

- "Arthur, you cannot marry Samuel!!! For Christ's sake, Arthur...
- He's Jewish!"

Saturday, December 16, 2006

THE CITY OF THE LONER - Chapter One



PART 1

BEGINNINGS

"Era ele que erguia casas
onde antes só havia chão."

"It was he who built houses where there had only been the soil."

Vinícius de Morais



1 - THE LONER



I’m writing just to kill time. Time which only exists within our minds in the frequencies of our emotions. Outside, time moves quickly. It runs. It flies. Here, it is only the clock in the patio that keeps me aware of its passage, speaking to me by means of hands that inch and chimes that sound each quarter hour. For me, they drag. At times, I surprise myself, fixing my eyes on the long, thin second hand, escorting its efforts from one mark to the next, slowly plodding, never arriving, something certainly obstructing the sand in the hourglass.
It is terrible to be imprisoned.
The silence is torture.
Since I arrived, I‘ve been tormented by the stillness. I have no one to talk to, no reason to speak. If only Jailer would open his mouth... He’s stubborn in his muteness. Hermit-like, he’s built a private world, inaccessible to me. Sitting in his armchair, eyes closed, ears isolated by headphones, he knows everything that’s going on in the City, but keeps it all to himself. There is no happiness or sadness; there is nothing, in fact, to stir him or make him show any feeling.
He is on the living dead.
Or of the dead living
So, all I can do is to wait.
Wait and wait.
I must control my anxiety and learn to put up with waiting. If not, when the ninth day arrives — the day of my liberation — I will be insane.
Luckily, after Judge and Chief of Police brought me back here, I got the idea of how to save myself and kill time. I asked Jailer for paper and a pencil and began to write before time could bury me in this silent hell called Maximum Security Prison.
Because here, only my thoughts are free.
Unburdened by obstacles, they cross bars, break through prison walls, and go where they want to. Sometimes they are distant, in the City with my friends, sometimes at home with my mom and dad, or at CC, the City’s Sports Club with my teammates and Champion, the coach. My thoughts are also with the fans, those marvelous fans who cheered me on, yelling my name until the bleachers trembled. My thoughts are even free within time — time, which here does not move, though racing on outside. My thoughts have absolute freedom. They can return to my hometown’s past and accompany a man, who alone and lonely, climbed the mountain.
The loner reached the summit, which for him was the top of the world. He stopped to absorb the beauty surrounding him. It was almost night, and the setting sun dazzled him with its final, red rays.
Soon after, it was the moon’s turn.
Charming, goldenly feminine, the moon enchanted the night, overpowering the stars that blanketed the loner. Lying on the ground, amazed by the heavens, inhaling the sweet fragrance of grass, he slept peacefully. He dreamt dreams born of a clean conscience, heavy healing dreams, deep as those of children. His very soul was at rest.
Unfortunately, he missed the dawn. When he awoke, the sun was shining high overhead, illuminating the splendor of the mountainside. Bursting with compassion, he could not accept that this masterpiece of nature had no human audience to admire it. He pitied all who had left this life without having the opportunity to share the view he now contemplated alone. It would be selfish not to share this joy with others — many others — who would thrive living in this place, this gift of God. Others, many others, a city...
The loner was filled with inspiration. “Yes, a city,” he thought. “My friends and I will build a city right here, and the inhabitants will flourish.”
Many generous thoughts spun through the mind of the loner before he began the fatiguing way back down the mountain. Running most of the way, he descended and returned home to invite his friends to help him in a great task: the founding of a city.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

THE CITY OF THE LONER


Hello Everybody! A few days ago we have posted a note in this Blog about "The City of The Loner," a book by Luiz Gonzaga Lopes. The author is a very good friend of mine. A good writer and above all an excellent poet. The book tells us the creation of a city. A city of our dreams... You will all have the chance of reading it. The City of The Loner will be posted here a chapter every week. Make good use of it. Hugo Caldas



PREFACE

SIMPLY ACCEPTING
THE FANTASTIC

Martha Luhrs Viegas

In this preface, I must confess a horrible truth.
I have lived in Brazil teaching literature for over thirty years at the American School of Recife, and during that time I have not read Brazilian classics.

During my first years here, I actually plodded through some Jorge Amado, stumbling all the way through untranslatable idiomatic expressions (How could I guess that “street boy’s feet” was the name of a cake?) and running into brick walls of regionalism. “Oxente!” (A Northeastern expletive not found in dictionaries) I know a bit about this or that masterpiece, but only second hand, from accompanying my Brazilian American sons through their high school literature classes.

The truth is that I am lazy and I am a coward. When I have time to read, I want the relaxing ease of my own mother tongue. When I contemplate the time and work needed to truly understand between the lines, I shudder and reach for English.

I have not given up, however, and must thank Luiz Gonzaga Lopes for sharing his works and for asking me to translate The City of the Loner. By rewriting his text in English, I had to face idioms and regionalism and to deal with them. Amazingly, in the process of translation these problems did not daunt me.

What I realized during my voyage into the author’s mind is that what readers of translation need are not only understandable sentences, but an entire mind-set to prepare them for cultural differences.

During my first attempts to read Brazilian literature, I had no concept of magic realism. I could not make the leaps from my scientific reasoning to simple acceptance of the fantastic. I could not understand the concept of “cumplicidade” – the idea that being an accomplice could be a positive aspect of relationships. My cultural baggage was too full of preconceived notions and a dependency on provable facts.

I thank my dear, patient husband for sharing his culture with me, and I thank Luiz Gonzaga Lopes for challenging me to open my eyes to new worlds. I hope that my translation will help English readers to venture into a new world with an open mind, and to enjoy the humor and beauty of proud community life in The City of the Loner.





Thursday, October 26, 2006

LAUGHTER’S THE BEST MEDICINE

Castaway
From a passenger ship one can see a bearded
man on a small island who is shouting and
desperately waving his hands.
“Who is it?” a passenger asks the captain.
“No idea. Every year when we pass, he goes
mad like that” answered the captain!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." Mark Twain - American humorist, novelist, short story author, & wit (1835 - 1910)

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

NOTES ON THE FORM OF ENGLISH

THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE - PART II

This verb tense, the most difficult for us, Portuguese-speaking people, is as you already know formed by the Present Tense of To Have and the Past Participle of the Main Verb. It can be used in three different ways:

1 - AÇÃO REALIZADA NO PASSADO E CONTINUANDO NO PRESENTE.

I - Equivale ao INDICATIVO PRESENTE

e.g.
- She has studied English for two years.
Ela estuda inglês há dois anos.
I haven't gone to Rio since last November.
Eu não vou ao Rio desde novembro.
She has worked as a teacher for more than six years now.
Há mais de seis anos que ela trabalha como professora.

II - Equivale ao PERFEITO DO INDICATIVO

e.g.
- Parisians have always boasted about their famous Eiffel Tower.
Os parisienses sempre se vangloriaram da sua famosa Torre Eiffel.
Her father has been away from home for 5 months.
Faz cinco meses que o pai dela deixou a casa.
I have never seen anything so terrible as the genocide in Ruanda.
Nunca ví nada tão terrível como o genocídio em Ruanda.

III - Equivale ao PERFEITO COMPOSTO DO INDICATIVO

e.g.
- I have noticed the way you wear your hat.
Eu tenho notado o modo como você usa seu chapéu.
Brasília hasn't had great politicians in the past 50 years.
Brasília não tem tido grandes políticos nos últimos 50 anos.
The President's authority has been questioned theses days.
A autoridade do Presidente tem sido questionada presentemente.

2 - AÇÃO RECÉM TERMINADA

e.g. - He has just arrived from his trip to Tibet.
Ele acaba de chegar da sua viagem ao Tibete.
The plane has just left for New York.
O avião acaba de sair para Nova Iorque.
What have you just done?
O que você acaba de fazer?

3 - PASSADO INDETERMINADO

e.g. - It has rained a lot, that's why the streets are flooded.
Choveu muito, é por isso que as ruas estão inundadas.
He has never done any business under the counter.
Ele nunca fez nenhum negócio por debaixo dos panos.
Have you ever been to Bahia? Havent't you? Well, go then.
Você já foi à Bahia? Não? Então vá.

(to be continued)

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

NOTES ON THE FORM OF ENGLISH

A VERY FIRST APPROACH TO THE
USE OF THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE


Formação: Presente do Verbo To Have + Particípio Passado do Verbo Principal.
Uso 1 - Indica uma ação que iniciou no passado e ainda continua.
e.g. I have lived in Recife for 45 years.
He hasn't seen his girl friend since last September.

Uso 2 - Com as palavras Ever, Never, Already e Yet.
e.g. Has she ever eaten "Russian Caviar"?
Have they already studied their lesson?
Has she read that magazine yet?
I have never tried caviar.

Uso 3 - Com períodos de tempo não findos.
e.g. He has gone to Rio Three times this year.
She's typed ten letters today

Monday, October 23, 2006

RULES OF THUMB

Let's play with the letter "S"

1 - The commonest way of forming the plural of nouns is to add "S" to the singular:
e.g. Book - Books
House - Houses
Boy - Boys

2 - The Third Person Singular of the Present Tense ends in "S":
e.g. She looks gorgeous in that red dress
He speaks English and French
She drives her car recklessly

3 - The apostrophe before a final "S" stands for a Possessive Case:
e.g. This is Mary's book
That is Mr Booher's automobile

4 - The apostrophe before a final "S" also stands for IS:
e.g. Peter's a nice guy. Peter is a nice guy
He's waiting for you at the airport. He is waiting for you at the airport

5 - The apostrophe before a final "S" stands for HAS:
e.g. He's (he has) gone to Paris on his Annual Leave
She's (she has) been sleeping for 24 hours

6 - The apostrophe before a final "S" stands for LET'S = LET US:
e.g. She is tired, let's take her home.
Forget the football game, let's go to the movies instead.

7 - The apostrophe after a final "S" indicates the possessive form of the plural:
e.g. The Girls' results were better than the Boys'.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY

"TEACHERS OPEN THE DOOR, BUT YOU MUST ENTER BY YOURSELF"
(Chinese Proverb)

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"It's paradoxical that the idea of living a long life
appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old
doesn't
appeal to anyone." Andy Rooney

TONGUE TWISTER

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN READ ENGLISH ?
TRY THIS TONGUE TWISTER!


Mr. See and Mr. Soar were old friends. See owned a saw and Soar owned a seesaw. Now See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw before Soar saw See, which made Soar sore. Had Soar seen See's saw before See saw Soar's seesaw, then See's saw would not have sawed Soar's seesaw. But See saw Soar and Soar's seesaw before Soar saw See's saw, so See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw. It was a shame to let See see Soar so sore just because See's saw sawed Soar’s seesaw.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

MIRROR, MIRROR

The little girl knelt in the confessional and said,
"Bless me Father, for I have sinned."

"What is it, my child?"

The girl said, Father, I have committed the sin of vanity.
Twice a day I gaze at my face in the mirror and tell myself
how beautiful I am. The priest then, took a good look at the girl,
and said, My dear, I have good news for you:

"That isn’t a sin, it’s only a mistake!"

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

ABOVE
- Acima de. Superior. Mais de.
1 - Indica posição superior a um outro objeto e equivale a “acima de”.
e.g. - The clouds are heavy above us.
She lives on the floor above her parents.
The seats in this circus are placed one above the other.

2 - Significa “superior a”.
e.g. - That is above my comprehension.
It is above your will

3 - Significa “mais do que”.
e.g. - The candidate had above a thousand supporters with him.
I esteem him above the others.
The fish weighs above a pound.

Monday, October 09, 2006

RULES OF THUMB - 2

THE USE OF SUFFIXES

The suffixes ment (act of, state of), er (one who does) and ness (act of, state of) can be added to words to make a noun. Add one of these suffixes to each word below so that the new word will make sense in each sentence.

1. (state) The President made a _______________to the Congress.
2. (teach) Our English___________went on vacation this weekend.
3. (deaf) People’s___________is the result of noise pollution.
4. (preach) His brother is a_____________in the Baptist Church.
5. (govern/agree) The_____________signed an_________with the senators.
6. (paint) Picasso, the famous______________was born in Spain.
7. (sad/play) We saw the team’s_______when their best_______was hurt.
8. (fresh) _____________is important in vegetables.
9. (measure) Paul doesn’t know the exact____________of the garage door.
10. (sing) Sinatra was the best American_______of this century.
11. (pay) Please, do not forget your monthly___________.

DRIVING

A permission to drive a car is called a License. In most countries you need to take a written test and a practical driving test to get a Driver’s License. In Massachusetts - USA for example, a person who is 16 years old can get a Learner’s Permit that allows him/her to drive with a licensed driver. With this permit, they are not allowed to drive between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless they are driving with a parent who is a licensed driver.
Learners can get a Driver’s License when they are 18 years old.The cost for a Learner’s Permit is $15.00 US. For a Driver’s License is $20.00 for the driving test and $33.75 for the Picture License.


RULES OF THUMB - 1

Look at these two meanings of “Drive”:
Drive as a verb – means to control a car or any other vehicle.
e.g. we usually drive to school.

Drive as a noun – means to have purpose and energy for a goal or plan.
e.g. He has the drive to succeed.

When we drive a car, we usually have a location/place we want to reach.
When we have drive we have the purpose/energy to get to our goal/destination
which may or may not be a location/place.


Which sentences refer to driving a car ?

a) My wife drives very fast. (She really does)
b) He has a lot of drive.
c) Jack and Jill are driving to the airport now.
d) She is driven to finally reach her goal.

Remember: “DRIVE CAREFULLY AND DEFENSIVELY”

Sunday, October 08, 2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"A REAL FRIEND IS ONE WHO WALKS IN WHEN THE REST OF THE WORLD WALKS OUT."

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

Good Ol’ King Arthur

A knight and his men return to their
castle after a long hard day of fighting.

"How are we faring?" asks the king.
"Sire," replies the knight, "I have been
robbing and pillaging on your behalf
all day, burning the towns of your enemies
in the west."

"What?!" shrieks the king.
"I don't have any enemies to the west!"
"Oh," says the knight. "Well, you do now Sire".

GFN - Good For Nothing

Johnny Weissmüller, the screen's most famous
Tarzan, was hired for the role without a screen test.

RULES OF THUMB

Idioms using the word "Eat"

To Eat like a bird
= to eat very little
To Eat like a horse = to eat a lot of food and to eat often
To Eat your heart = to suffer from jealousy and envy
To Eat your words = to take back your words; to apologize for something that you said
To Eat out of your hand = to have someone do exactly as you wish
To Eat dirt = expression of triumph, said to a vehicle overtaken in a race

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

BEFORE
– Antes de. Perante. Diante. Ante.
Indica posição em frente a um objeto.
Indica também prioridade, precedência em classe,
ordem ou sucessão.

e.g.
- I shall be there before 6 o’clock.
The holiday season starts a fortnight before May 1st.
You must mail this letter before that package.
“I’ll have these players play something like the murder of my father
before
mine uncle”. (Hamlet, Act II. Scene II.)

BEHIND – Atrás. Indica a posição do objeto atrás
do outro ou seguindo um outro. Indica que um objeto
fica após a remoção de um outro.

e.g.
- He died leaving a glorious name behind him.
I keep leaving my umbrella behind me.

BELOW - Abaixo de. Indica inferioridade de classe, de dignidade etc.

e.g.
- When the Sun sets it goes below the horizon.
An Earl is below a Marquis in rank.
Should I sign my name below the dotted line ?
The city of Recife, people say, is below the sea level.

OCTOBER 12 - COLUMBUS DAY

The second Thursday in October commemorates Italian navigator Christopher Columbus' first landing in the "New World" on October 12, 1492. Persistent with his belief that the world was round and not flat, Columbus sailed west in the attempt to find a better trade route to Asia. In this 1492 voyage sponsored by Queen Isabella of Spain, he stumbled upon one of the Caribbean islands which he believed to be an island of the Indies near Japan or China. He died never knowing he had stepped onto land that few Europeans, if any, knew existed. Today the celebration of Columbus Day and what it commemorates remains controversial.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

UNDERSTANDING ALL THAT PROGRESS


Computers are unquestionably part of everyday life and the Internet has, since the middle of the 1990s, revolutionized communication. Computer technology is becoming cheaper and more available around the world. However, due to the fact that this technology is relatively new and changes rapidly you ought to be familiar with the equipment and its possibilities. The Internet along with the Computer are becoming part of everybody’s lives and here’s some vocabulary that may come in handy as you navigate the World of the Wide Web. H.C.

Word List

@ = at
dot com
- a website company
site – website - a place to go on the world wide web
start-up - a new company
e-commerce - shopping on the web
online - on the Internet
search engine - helps you look for different websites on the web
web browser - helps you “browse” or look around the web
www– world wide web

Some “e-breviations”

e-mail – electronic mail
e-card – electronic greeting card
e-ticket – electronic airline ticket
BTW – used in e-mail – means “by the way”
FAQ – “frequently asked questions”
HTML – the standard language for writing documents on the web
URL – a web address, like www.bixiguento.com
ISP – internet service provider, the company that gives you internet service.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"It is easier to love humanity as a whole
than to love
one's neighbor." Eric Hoffer

RULES OF THUMB

The word "thankful" comes from the noun "thanks."

e.g.
- I'd like to say thank you. I'm am very thankful.

Here are some more adjectives that end in FUL

helpful - someone who helps others
cheerful - someone who feels happy, or full of cheer
tearful - someone who is sad or their eyes are full of tears
powerful - having a lot of power
painful - causing pain
colorful - having many colors; full of color

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

A Bit Too Late?

The orthopedic surgeon I work for was moving to a new office, and his staff was helping transport many of the items. I sat the display skeleton in the front of my car, his bony arm across the back of my seat.

I hadn't considered the drive across town. At one traffic light, the stares of the people in the car beside me became obvious, and I looked across and explained,

"I'm delivering him to my doctor's office."

The other driver leaned out of his window said,

"I hate to tell you, lady he said, but I think it's too late!"

GFN - Good For Nothing

Fingernails have a life span of three to six months.
That's how long it takes them to grow from base to tip,
progressing at the pace of 1.5 inches a year
or 0.000000047 inches a second!

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

NEAR - Perto de. Indica proximidade.

Empregado antes do Particípio Presente
equivale a “a ponto de”.


e.g.
- You were near falling into the pool.
He lives near the church.

OF - De. Caso genitivo. Posse.

e.g.
- A glass of water.
The pages of the book.
The privileges of the Royal Family.

OFF - Longe de. Fora. Indica separação. Distância etc.

e.g.
- Take off your hat.
She fell off the bike.
The stream is two miles off.

Monday, October 02, 2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"A classic is something that everybody wants to have read
and nobody wants to read."
Mark Twain

NICE POETRY

“A PEAR IS TO PARE AND THEN TO EAT.
THE OTHER IS A PAIR TO PUT ON FEET”!
Nice poetry, isn’t it ?
Check the pronunciation of PEAR - PARE and PAIR !!

RULES OF THUMB

POSITION OF ADVERBS

1 – Advérbios de Tempo Definido: NO COMEÇO OU NO FIM DA FRASE:
e.g. - Tomorrow there will be corn on the cob for dinner.
e.g. - The radio operator heard a familiar voice Yesterday.

2 - Advérbios de Tempo Indefinido:
PRECEDEM O VERBO:
e.g. - People Seldom attend operas in Brazil.
e.g. - She Often carries things too far.

3 -
O Advérbio vem DEPOIS DO VERBO TO BE:
e.g. - He was always considered a very tough person.
e.g. - Everytime I give her a ring she is never available.

4 O advérbio vem sempre NO MEIO DO TEMPO COMPOSTO:
e.g. - Have you Ever been to Bahia ? Haven’t you ? Well, go then!

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

No Respect At All

- My boss was complaining in a staff meeting the other day that he wasn't getting any respect.
Later that morning he went out and got a small sign that read, "I'M THE BOSS"!
He then taped it to his office door. When he returned from lunch, he found that someone had taped a note to the sign that said:

- "Your wife called, she wants her sign back”!

Teaching Tips & Ideas

THE WORD “SICK”:

If you feel sick, you feel physically or mentally ill; not healthy or well.

To feel sick
- to feel unwell or ill.
e.g. - I went home early from work because I felt sick.

To get sick
- to throw up; to vomit
e.g. - I got sick on the plane because of the turbulence.

To call in sick - to tell your employer that you're not coming to work because you don't feel well.
e.g. - Betty called in sick three days last week. She had the flu.

To be as sick as a dog - To be very, very sick.
e.g.
- I was as sick as a dog. I was in bed with a fever of 42 degrees.

Friday, September 29, 2006

GFN INFORMATION

Today we start a brand new section in this BLOG.
It’s called the GFN Information. Now, what does GFN stand for ?
GFN
is the acronym for "Good For Nothing."
The point is that, the information which is brought to you
is absolutely worthless. Below you will find the very first GFN!!

“Matches used in the U.S. in 1840 could be lighted from either end”

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"THE WORLD OF TOMORROW BELONGS TO THE PERSON
WHO HAS THE VISION TODAY."

Robert Schuller

THE TITANIC *

There are many stories related to the sinking of the “Titanic.” Some have just come to light due to the success of the recent movie. For example, most people don’t know that back in 1912, Hellman’s mayonnaise was manufactured in England. The “Titanic” was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment, scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after leaving New York City. The Mexican people were eagerly awaiting delivery and were disconsolate at the loss. So much, that the Mexican Government declared a National Day Of Mourning which they still observe today.

“Would you say that the Mexican people still observe a day of mourning in memory of those who died in the tragedy or maybe it’s because they just can’t forget the 12,000 jars of Hellman’s mayonnaise that were lost in the sinking ?” H.C.
(* vocalize - tai´taenik)

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

The Bad Looks Of…

A doctor examined a woman, took the
husband aside, and said: "I don't like the
looks of your wife at all."

Me neither doc", said the husband.
"But she's a great cook and really good
with the kids !"

Teaching Tips & Ideas

Prepositions

BEYOND
– Além de. Fora do alcance. Inacessível.

e.g. - Do not go beyond this place.
He lives beyond his income.
It is quite beyond my will.

BY – Por intermédio de. Junto de. Por.
Usada com Expressões de Tempo indica que a ação
será concluída naquele tempo determinado.
Empregado com os Reflexivos tem o sentido de “Só”. “Isolado”.
Emprega-se também nos Juramentos.

e.g. - Richard was despised by all.
I always go to Rio by plane.
“Old Blue Eyes” was known by his voice.
You should never swear by God.
I’d like to sit at that table by the window.
I will have it ready by the end of May.
The investigation shall be finished by Xmas.
Nobody helped me. I was by myself.
By my honor. By all means.
By night. By no means.
By land. By sight.
By the way. By name.
By heart. By airmail
By day. By chance.
By sea. By and by.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

REMINDER

To sing our very first song, go to "Blog Archive" and click on"SING A SONG".
Click on the link and have a good time. H.C.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I can teach a man to sail, but I can never teach him why."
(Timothy E. Thatcher)

BIZARRE

Another Mathematical Genius at Large

Louisiana - There is one bandit in Louisiana who had better give up armed robbery until he learns how to count. The man walked into a small store, put a $20 bill on the counter and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter.
The total amount of cash he got from the drawer was $15.

RULES OF THUMB

Some of you have constantly asked me what's the meaning of "Rules of Thumbs".

Well, the thumb is that short, thick finger on your hand, the one that helps you hold things.

The noun “thumb” is used in a lot of expressions:
to give someone the thumbs up/down
to give someone approval/disapproval

Thumb Verbs

'Thumb is also used as a verb.
to thumb a ride (informal)
to hitchhike; to try to get a ride by standing on the road sticking out your thumb.

Thumb Idioms

Here are some idioms with thumb.
Can you guess their idiomatic meanings by thinking about their literal meanings?

To stick out like a sore thumb:
Betty sticks out like a sore thumb in that yellow dress. Everyone else is wearing blue.
(Betty looks very different from everyone else; she looks a little foolish.)

A green thumb:
He has a green thumb. He is good at making plants grow. Everything in his garden flourishes.

A Rule of Thumb is a practical rule - a rule of principles that provides guidance to appropriate behavior. A guideline.
“You should pay your best attention to the The Rules of Thumb listed in every issue of this Blog”.

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

BESIDE - Ao lado de. Junto.
e.g. - She always sat beside me.
Our house was located beside the river.


BESIDES - Além de. Indica também “More Than”. “Over and Above”.
e.g. - Besides, I have no desire to go there.
She told me many other things besides.
I have three other books besides this one.


BETWEEN - Entre. Indica que o objeto está entre duas coisas ou duas pessoas.
e.g. - He sat between my father and myself.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
I shall go to France between May and July

Friday, September 22, 2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“BETTER TO REMAIN SILENT AND BE THOUGHT A FOOL THAN TO SPEAK OUT AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT”. (Abraham Lincoln.)

RULES OF THUMB

Fun and Funny

If you have problems with the words "fun" and "funny," look at these two sentences and see if you can feel the difference:

1. George is so funny. Every time I talk to him he makes me laugh.
2. I really enjoy going to the beach. It's so fun!

Both words are adjectives. We use "fun" to say that something is enjoyable; we like doing it.
We use "funny" to talk about things that make us laugh.

Here are some more examples:

Funny
- Larry's joke about the Portuguese student was so funny I almost died laughing.
- Chaplin’s movies are always funny. Everyone in the theater ends up laughing.
- Rose is really funny. She has a great sense of humor, and always makes people laugh.

Fun
- My vacation in Rio was so fun! I went to Copacabana beach and to the Sugar Loaf.
- Jane's a really fun girl. It's always an adventure going out with her.
- Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party. It was really fun.
- I don't like going windsurfing. I think going to the movies is much more fun.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

Grammar Lessons

Two crazy teachers (they exist) were driving through Kansas. As they were approaching the town of “Nacogdoches”, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the name of the town.

They argued back and forth until they stopped for lunch. As they stood at the counter, one teacher asked the blonde attendant.... ( the color of her hair is not important) "before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are now... very slowly?"

The girl leaned over the counter and said,

"Maacc-Doooooonnnnnaaaaaalllllllldd'sss."!!!

Monday, September 18, 2006

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

FOR – Indica o fim ou recompensa, já obtida ou para ser obtida, da ação expressa pelo verbo. Para. Por. Em lugar de. Indica o objeto a favor do qual a ação se faz. Precede o nome do destino onde se quer chegar, quando acompanhado dos verbos que pedem esta preposição, tais como: “To embark for. To steer for. To leave for. To start for. To make for. To sail for”. Usa-se para denotar a duração de tempo e extensão de espaço. Emprega-se no sentido de “quanto a, em relação a” etc. Antes do preço de alguma coisa.

e.g. Mercenaries fight more for money than for glory.
Tiradentes died for his country.
Stop talking for God’s sake!
Don’t worry, I will do the dishes for you.
When will the plane leave for London ?
Because of the rain we made for the woods.
Humanity has not enjoyed the blessings of peace for many years.
World War II lasted for 6 long years.
For
myself I ask no favor.
She is tall for her age.
He sold his old car for a few dollars.

TWO DIFFERENT VISIONS OF LIFE

The rich industrialist from the North was horrified to find the southern fisherman lying lazily beside his boat, smoking a pipe.

- "Why aren't you out fishing?" asked the industrialist.
- "Because I have caught enough fish for the day," said the fisherman.
- "Why don't you catch some more?"
- "What would I do with them?"
- "You could earn more money," was the industrialist's reply.
- "With that you could have a motor fixed to your boat and go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would make enough to buy nylon nets. These would bring you more fish and more money. Soon you would have enough money to own two boats . . . maybe even a fleet. Then you would be a rich man like me."

- "What would I do then?" asked the fisherman.
- "Then you could really enjoy life."
- "And, said the fisherman, what is it you think I am doing right now?"

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in
the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.
Bill Watterson

SING A SONG

SONGS IN CLASS - SHOULD WE USE THEM?

Yes, learning becomes something fun and enjoyable. Music warms up the atmosphere and creates conditions for the approach of a new subject. Students improve their English vocabulary and may develop listening and pronunciation skills. Students also feel gratified and proud of being able to use English from the very beginning of learning it. And last, singing together helps socialization.

When should we sing?

When we want to encourage then to learn. When we notice that they are tired. When they ask us to. When the song has something to do with the lesson we’re studying. At the end of a term and at the beginning of a new one. On the eve of a special holiday, students’ birthday, Xmas, etc.

What songs should we sing?

The ones which contain the vocabulary and grammatical structures, we want to emphasize in that particular class. Folk songs, which are familiar in both the students’ culture and the culture of the new language they are learning. Songs that are not familiar in the students’ culture but they are likely to hear because of the international nature of the songs. Hit Parade Songs which are also known here. Try different styles and use songs by those singers having (Sinatra, for example) a very clear pronunciation. Do not forget though to ask your students what they would like to sing. And last but not the least, "Singing Is An Excellent Pronunciation Drill." H.C.

And here's our very first song.

(See if you can comprehend the indistinct noises of people
talking and laughing - a guy calls the waiter - as well as the
dissonant sounds of glasses being supplied with fancy drinks
etc. Just imagine that there's a moonlight and you are on a
boat cruising The Antilles).

Please welcome Mr. Jimmy Buffet

(Donwload the song from this link)

ATENÇÃO: A INSTRUÇÃO DE USO DO LINK VAI EM PORTUGUÊS PARA QUE FIQUE CLARO E FÁCIL O ACESSO À MÚSICA:
1. Clicar com o botão direito do mouse no link
2. Abre-se uma janela e você clica em "abrir em nova aba"
3. É só acompanhar a música e cantar.
4. Para sair e parar a música, clicar com o botão direito na aba. Abre-se outra janela - clicar em "fechar aba". That's it!

On A Slow Boat To China

Spoken:
"And now from the Grand Ballroom"
"The S.S.???proudly presents our boy singer: Jimmy Buffet"
"Take it away Jim"

I'd love to get you
On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone

Get you and keep you
In my arms ever more
Leave all your lovers
Weepin' on a far away shore (waiter!)

Out on the briny
With the moon big and shiny
Melting your heart of stone
Honey I'd love to get you
On a slow boat to China
All by myself alone

(instrumental)

I'd love to get you
On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone
A twist in the rudder
And a rip in the sails
Driftin' and dreamin'
Honey throw the compass over the rail

Out on the ocean
Far from all that commotion
Melting your heart of stone
Honey, I'd love to get you
On a slow boat to China
All by myself alone
Honey, I'd love to get you
On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone

Special Effects: Exotic Productions

Thursday, September 14, 2006

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

The Birds & The Bees

A father asked his 10 year old son if he knew about the birds and the bees.
"I don't want to know!" the child said, bursting into tears. "Promise me you won't tell me."

Confused, the father asked what was wrong.

"Oh dad," the boy sobbed, "when I was 6 I got the there's no Santa speech. At 7, I got the there's no Easter Bunny speech. When I Was 8, you hit me with the there's no Tooth Fairy' speech."

Finally the boy said, "If you tell me that grown-ups don't really make love, I'll have nothing left to live for!"

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"IF YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHICH ROAD YOU TAKE!" (Cheshire Cat)

Teaching Tips & Ideas

SEVERE LINGUISTICS DIFFICULTIES
TH – Sounds – Silent Letters

Hugo Caldas

Many students use to substitute an “S sound”, a “D sound” or a “Z sound” for the TH sound. Though there are all kinds of exercises for the TH sounds, here’s my favorite:

“Three –Thousand –Three – Hundred –Thirty –Three -Trees”!

If every student can say this sentence correctly, we feel that they have more or less mastered TH sounds and are able to go to other subjects.

Another common error is the pronunciation of silent letters:
The L in Walk, Talk, Chalk, the T in Listen, and Castle, the B in Climb and Lamb are frequent but the silent letter which is most usually pronounced is the W in the word ANSWER.

Here’s what I believe to be the cure for that sort of error. The drill is a conversation between two people and it should be read first by the teacher then by the class - divided into two groups - then, by two students then by individuals. If repeated a great many times it will sound kind of stupid but on the other hand it is quite presumable that the “W sound” will be gone forever.


Here’s The Drill:



A – Will you come to the movies, Sir? What is your answer, Sir?
B – Yes, I will come to the movies, Sir! That’s my answer, Sir!
A – There’s “Singin’ in the Rain” on screen and, Sir!
B – Sandwiches and Popcorn and ice cold Coke, Sir ? Yes, I will come
to the movies, Sir!
A – Is this your final answer, Sir?
B - Yes, this is my answer, Sir! My very final answer, Sir!

(vocalize - an' .ser)

RULES OF THUMB

Too or Very?

Too is used to describe a quality that has passed some boundary of possibility. Something that goes beyond a certain point, whereas VERY is just used to intensify a quality. To make it stronger. Both go in front of adjectives or quantifiers (much, many).

Here are some examples with Too:

She’s too short to reach the top shelf. Could you help her to get that book, please?
Joe is too young to get married. He’s only 18.
This white shirt is too long for me. I’d better try that red one again.
There are too many people in the streets tonight. You should stay home for a change.

Here are some examples with Very:

I love New York very much; you know that, don’t you?
It’s very cold outside. Make sure you wear gloves and a hat.
Mrs. Patterson is very old. I suppose she must be over 97 now.
I think Diane Lane is very attractive, don’t you?

Fill in the blanks with TOO or VERY.

1. These shirts are_____ big for you. We'll have to go shopping for new ones.
2. Mother thought the show we saw last night was_____ funny, but she didn't laugh_____ much at all.
3. You have to see this film! It's_____ interesting.
4. What do you mean, she's_____ young for me? I'm only fifteen years older than she is!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Why Can't I Own a Canadian?

The letter below was recently emailed to me by a good friend. I realise it's from a few years ago but I thought I might share it here with all of you. H.C.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstances.

The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by an East Coast resident which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.

Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted fan,
Jim

Monday, September 11, 2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"IF THINGS DO NOT SEEM AS GOOD AS ONCE THEY WERE,
THEY WERE NOT AS GOOD AS NOW THEY SEEM TO BE"
(unknown)

RULES OF THUMB

HERE’S THE POINT

Common Prefixes

Prefixes are elements placed before a word to create a new word.
Look at the following examples:

Anti -
against - antisocial (a person who does not like being with other people) antiwar (a person who does not believe in war; opposed to war)

Hyper
- beyond the ordinary - hyperactive (a person who is very active; more active than other people) hypersensitive (a person who is very sensitive; extra sensitive to things)

il - in - im - ir -
illogical (not logical) insufficient (not sufficient; not enough)
impossible (not possible) irresponsible (not responsible)

Poly -
many - polyglot (a person who speaks many languages)
polygon (a shape with many sides and angles)

Post -
after - postseason (after the regular season) postscript
(PS; additional remarks at the end of a letter)

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

"A Bible Lesson"

Nine year old Joey, was asked by his mother
what he had learned in Sunday school.

- "Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent
Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission
to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got
to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a
pontoon bridge and all the people walked across
safely. Then he used his walkie-talkie to radio
headquarters for reinforcements. They sent
bombers to blow up the bridge, and all the
Israelites were saved."

- "Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher
taught you?" his mother asked.

- "Well, no, Mom. But if I told it the way the
teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

INTO – Em. Dentro. Indica movimento para dentro de algum lugar.

e.g. She poured the tea into the teapot.
The babies got into the cradle.
They went into the garage.
She fell into the pool.

ON – Indica contato de superfície. Usa-se também para ruas e avenidas, dias da semana e para especificar um dia ou uma data.

e.g There is a painting on the wall.
He lives on Madison Avenue.
I always go to the beach on Sundays.
On Xmas Eve.
The invasion of Normandy started on the morning of June 4 1944.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Love is… “when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she still says he is “handsomer” than Robert Redford."
Chris, age 8

RULES OF THUMB

QUIZ

Select the word that best completes the sentence

Reference - Conference - Deference - Inference

1. I am traveling to São Paulo next month for a class __________.
2. A sign of hard times is that she will need a personal __________ to get the job.
3. Young people of today should treat their elders with __________.
4. She made the __________ that it was snowing by looking at the window.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

Idiot?!
A woman was letting her husband have it with just a touch more venom than usual, saying, "You're an idiot! You have always been an idiot! You'll always be an idiot! If they had an idiot contest, you'd come in second!"
- "Why would I come in second?"
- "Because you're an idiot!"

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

NEAR - Perto de. Indica proximidade. Empregado
antes do Particípio Presente equivale a “a ponto de”.

e.g. You were near falling into the pool.
He lives near the church.

OF - De. Caso genitivo. Posse.

e.g. A glass of water.
A couple of pigeons.
The pages of the book.
The privileges of the Royal Family.

OFF - Longe de. Fora. Indica separação. Distância etc.

e.g. Take off your hat.
She fell off the bike.
The stream is two miles off.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

WEIRD NEWS

Horse Sperm

Horse sperm are the latest trouble for actor William Shatner, best known for his role as Capt. James T. Kirk of "Star Trek" and as lawyer Denny Crane in "Boston Legal"

Now, what's getting him sued for potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in Woodford Circuit Court is, well, frozen horse semen.

Shatner's second wife, Marcy Lafferty Shatner, whom he divorced in 1995, is suing him for breach of contract over the breeding privileges of three American saddlebred stallions.

In a civil suit filed late last month, Lafferty claims that Shatner, an American saddlebred horse breeder who has owned Central Kentucky horse farms since the mid-1980s, broke an agreement in their 1995 divorce settlement that specifies those privileges.

Shatner, 72, who lives in Lexington and Studio City, Calif., has not yet filed a response to the suit.

RULES OF THUMB

Do you think that jam is only something you eat on your bread?
Look at the examples of how we use the word ”jam”.

I always have my toast with strawberry jam.
jam: a sticky sweet spread made of fruit.

I'm sorry I'm late. I got stuck in a traffic jam.
traffic jam:
when there are so many cars that you can't
move.

Hey, Chris, I'm in a jam. Can you lend me $10 until tomorrow?
in a jam: in a bad situation

QUOTE OF THE DAY

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.
Anatole France

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

THE CHAUFFEUR

Mrs. Winterly was a very rich woman. Her husband was a multi-millionaire. She was quite young and he was quite old. She was twenty-eight and he was fifty-eight. They lived in a very large house in England. Mrs. Winterly never cooked or cleaned the house. She never worked and she never drove a car. When she wanted to go anywhere she would call Charles. Charles was her chauffeur. Mr. Winterly travelled a lot. He flew to many countries to do business. Mrs Winterly did not like to fly so she often stayed at home. Once Mr. Winterly went to America for a week. Mrs. Winterly decided to go shopping so she walked to the garage to find Charles. She found him in his room above the garage. Mrs Winterly looked at him and said in a whisper,
“Charles, take off my hat”
“Certainly, madam,” Charles replied.
Then he took off Mrs. Winterly’s hat.
“Charles, take off my coat.”
“Certainly, madam,” Charles replied.
Then he took off Mrs. Winterly’s coat.
“Charles, take off my shoes.”
“Certainly, madam,” Charles replied.
Then he took off Mrs. Winterly’s shoes.
“Charles, take off my dress.”
“Certainly, madam,” Charles replied.
Then he took off Mrs. Winterly’s dress.
Then, Mrs. Winterly looked deep into the eyes of the chauffeur and said,
…“AND DON’T YOU DARE TO WEAR MY CLOTHES AGAIN!”…
(extract from Lessons With Laughter – London 1996)

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

TO - Para. Em direção a. Até. Pode ser usado para designar lugar e hora.
A saúde de. De acordo com.

e.g. We walk to the office every morning.
He works from 9 to 5.
You should catch the A Train to New York.
Happy birthday to you.
A quarter to seven.
Give me the key to my car.
I bet ten to one that he wins.
I drink to your health.
She dressed to the fashion.

Monday, September 04, 2006

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

IT DOESN’T PAY…
A good man passed away and went to heaven. He was greeted by St. Peter, who congratulated him and said he could have anything he wished. The fellow requested something to eat and a telescope so that he
could look around. While eating the sandwich he peered through the telescope down at the folks in hell and saw that they were feasting on lobster, filet mignon and caviar. “How come people down there are eating gourmet food?” he asked St. Peter. “I earned my place in heaven, but you gave me only a tuna-fish sandwich!
Well, replied St Peter, “it doesn’t pay to cook for just the two of us.”

STUPID QUOTES OF THE DAY

“It’s no exaggeration to say that the undecided could go one way or another.”

“I have opinions of my own – strong opinions – but I don’t always agree with them.”

George Bush, US President

Teaching Tips & Ideas

Sunday, September 03, 2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession.
I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance
to the first”! Ronald Reagan former President of the USA.

Very peculiar the above sentence, don't you think?
It reminds me of a certain country down equator. H.C.

RULES OF THUMB

IT’S NOT THAT EASY BEING GREEN

So, you think you know what green is, right ? "It's a color!" you say. "The color of grass and emeralds and little, round peas, and long, thin string beans!" Okay, that is true. Green is all those things. But green is also SO MUCH MORE! Here are some uses of green you might not know:

green - inexperienced (as in green like a young tree)
e.g. I think he's too green to bear this kind of responsibility, but his boss wants him as a manager.
green - not ripe (describes fruit)
e.g. These papayas are still green. You'll have to wait for a couple of days to eat them.
green - concerned about the environment.
e.g. More and more people are becoming green: they are recycling and looking for ways to get rid of waste that don't pollute the land, water and air.

greens - leafy, dark green vegetables such as spinach and kale.
e.g. Kids don't like to eat greens. They prefer ice cream and candies.

Green Expressions

to have a green thumb
- to be good at growing plants.
e.g. My wife has a green thumb, and I sure don't.
to be green with envy - to be jealous of something someone else has.
e.g. When Helen was given a pay increase, her friend Martha was green with envy.
to give the green light to something/someone - to say that a project can proceed; to say yes to a plan.
e.g. Bob’s last project went so well that the boss gave him the green light immediately.

Green Things
Green card – official permission for a foreigner to work and live in the USA.
Greenhouse – glass building where plants are grown all year round.