segunda-feira, 30 de abril de 2012

Chief Joseph, 1840-1904: A Great Nez Perce Indian Chief


Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, also known as Chief Joseph the Younger
Source: VOA NEWS

SHEP O’NEAL: People in America -- a program in Special English by the Voice of America. Every week at this time, we tell the story of a man or a woman who played an important part in the history of the United States. Today, Larry West and Warren Scheer begin the story of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Indians. He is remembered as a hero of all American Indian people.
LARRY WEST: Chief Joseph loved peace.  But he was forced to lead his people in war.  He loved freedom and his land.  But he lost both.  Chief Joseph’s story begins with his people and his land.
WARREN SCHEER: An old man looks out at a green valley. Tall dark mountains stand above it. Snow covers the mountain tops. In the clear water of a lake dance the dark shapes of the mountains.
The old man's name is Tuekakas. White men call him old Joseph. The Wallowa Valley is the old man's home -- and the home of the Nez Perce people -- for as long as anyone can remember. It lies in the northwestern part of the United States. Today, the land is part of the states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
No one knows exactly when the Nez Perce first came to the valley. From earliest times, the people hunted and raised cattle there. They kept horses, the kind called Appaloosas.
LARRY WEST: The Nez Perce did not own the land. They had not bought it from anyone else. They possessed no documents of ownership. But they believed the land was theirs, simply because that was where they lived.
For almost seventy years, the Nez Perce showed friendship to the white farmers, churchmen and explorers who came to their land.
Old Joseph, the chief, had been a friend to the white men. But in eighteen seventy-one, as he looked out across the valley, he could see a time of trouble coming. White people had discovered gold in mountains on Nez Perce land. More and more white farmers were asking the United States government to open the land for development.
To do that, the Indians had to be moved. The government usually offered the Indians money or gifts to leave the area. Different deals were made with different Indian groups.
WARREN SCHEER: Several years before, the white governor of the territory met with old Joseph. He asked the chief to sign a treaty. The governor said he wanted the land divided so the Indians and white men could live separately. "If the two groups are to live in peace," the governor said, "it is necessary for the Indians to have a country set apart for them. And in that country they must stay."
Old Joseph was furious. "Take away your paper," he said. "I will not touch it with my hand."
Other Nez Perce chiefs, however -- beyond the valley -- signed treaties to give up their lands. Those chiefs and their people became Christians. They cut their hair short. They forgot the ways of their tribe.
Old Joseph's people did not forget. They wore their hair long. And they loved the land.
LARRY WEST: Old Joseph had been chief for many years. Now he was dying. He called for his first son. The son, like the father, was named Joseph.
Old Joseph spoke. His voice was the voice of a dying man. But his words were the words of a strong, proud spirit: "My son," the old man said, "when I am gone you will be chief of these people. They look to you to guide them. Always remember that your father never gave up his land.
WARREN SCHEER: Young Joseph was thirty-one years old when his father died. His people called him Heinmot Tooyalaket. Those were the words the Nez Perce used to describe the noise that lightning makes in the mountains.
The young man had a wide face. His hair was tied on both sides of his head and hung down on his chest like long, heavy ropes. He wore chains of seashells around his neck. Small pieces of colored glass shone brightly on his clothing. Already, the Nez Perce knew him for his good judgment, his kindness, and his ability with words. And now they would know him as their leader -- Chief Joseph.
Chief Joseph remembered his dying father's words. He said: "This land has always belonged to my people. We will defend this land as long as Indian blood warms the hearts of our men."
LARRY WEST: In eighteen seventy-three, Chief Joseph sent a message to the President of the United States, Ulysses Grant. He asked that no more white persons be permitted to live in the Wallowa Valley. President Grant agreed. But two years later, under pressure from farmers and gold-hunters, the president broke his promise. More white people came. Some stole cattle and horses. Some insulted the Indians.
Always, Chief Joseph kept the peace.
In May, eighteen seventy-seven, the government told General Oliver Howard to meet with the Nez Perce chiefs. He was ordered to tell the Indians that they must leave their land. The government had a place in Idaho for all Nez Perce people. It was called the Lapwai Reservation.
General Howard did not like his orders. To his friends he said it was a great mistake to take the valley from Joseph. But the general had spent many years in the army. He obeyed his orders.
To the Nez Perce chiefs he said: "I stand here for the president. My orders are clear and must be obeyed. You have thirty days to leave the valley. If you delay even one day," General Howard said, "the soldiers will force you to the reservation. And all your cattle and horses will fall into the hands of the white men."
WARREN SCHEER: The chiefs had a difficult choice. They could leave. Or they could fight. Joseph and the other chiefs had only ninety warriors. They knew they could not defend the valley with such a small fighting force. Chief Joseph said: "I have carried a heavy load on my back ever since I was a boy. I learned then that we were but few, while the white men were many, and that we could not defeat them.
LARRY WEST: Some of the Nez Perce chiefs wanted to stay and fight. They were willing to try, even if there was little chance of winning. But Joseph said, "To protect my people from war, I will give up my country. I will give up everything."
So the Nez Perce prepared to leave the Wallowa Valley. To get to the reservation in time, they had to leave behind many of the things they owned. They took some cattle and horses, and what food and possessions they could carry.
Chief Joseph had promised them peace. But peace would not follow them.
That will be our story next week.
(MUSIC)
SHEP O’NEAL: You have been listening to the Special English program, People in America. Your narrators were Larry West and Warren Scheer. Our program was written by Barbara Dash. The Voice of America invites you to listen again next week at this time, when we will complete the story of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Indians.

sexta-feira, 27 de abril de 2012

A Tribute Chico Anysio, the king of comedy


Source: Check out the website www.maganews.com.br
People – A TributeChico Anysio, the king of comedy

On March 23, Brazil lost this comedy genius. But
 his work and more than 200 characters will stay forever in the memory of the Brazilian people

  For many Brazilians, Chico was the greatest Brazilian comedian of all time. He created memorable characters such as Alberto Roberto, Justo Veríssimo, Professor Raimundo, Bento Carneiro, Coalhada, Painho and Salomé, among others. A total of 209 characters! Besides acting [1], Chico wrote the scripts [2] for his characters. He was so creative that he wrote many books and was also a painter [3] and composer. Chico worked for some years as a radio broadcaster [4] before debuting on television in 1957, working at the now-defunct TV Rio. In 1968 he was hired by Rede Globo and for more than four decades his characters introduced creative and intelligent humor to tens [5] of millions of Brazilians. One of the most successful programs that he produced was the Escolinha do Professor Raimundo. He also acted in some movies and soap operas. 


Women, children, and cigarettes
 Francisco Anysio de Oliveira Paula Filho was born in Maranguape, Ceará state, on April 12, 1931, and moved to Rio de Janeiro when he was a child. As a teenager he was not sure what he wanted to do in his professional life. He thought of studying to be a lawyer, but also dreamed of being a soccer player. But his passion and his talent for comedy shone through [6].  Chico Anysio was married six times and had eight children. His last wife was Malga di Paula, who was much younger than him. Chico's career lasted 65 years as a comedian, but could have been longer if not for cigarettes. He smoked for 40 years. 


Matéria publicada na edição de abril da revista Maganews.
Fotos – Rede Globo
Áudio da edição impressa – Aasita Muralikrishna

Vocabulary
1 to act - atuar
2 script – roteiro / texto
3 painter - pintor
4 radio broadcaster – aqui = locutor de rádio
5 tens – dezenas
6 to shine through – exp. idiom. 
= falar mais alto / prevalecer

 

quinta-feira, 8 de março de 2012

Massai, the tribe that drinks blood

Source: Maganews
Life abroad
Massai, the tribe that drinks blood
They live in a region inhabited by wild [1] animals. They are tall, strong, and eat raw meat [2] and drink animal blood [3].  They are brave, and they are one of the most famous tribes in the world
  
   Between the north of Tanzania and the south of Kenya (two of the main African countries), there is a region full ofcattle [4] and wild animals. Here lives one of the most famous tribes in the world: the Massai. The men and women of this tribe are tall, beautiful, and strong, and they like to wear the color red. They raise cattle and live in mud [5] huts [6]. The Brazilian Márcia Pavarini visited one of these huts some months ago.“The Massai do not like visitors and hate [7] tourists taking photographs. But with the help of my guide (who is a Massai) I got permission to take photographs and was even welcomed by a Massai village leader. He offered me raw meat and a cup of animal blood (their traditional food). I politely [8] refused [9],” she said.
                              Lion hunting 
The Massai are considered to be a people. Some youths hunt [10] lions with spears [11] they make. Some of them, after killing a lion, use this as a way to impress beautiful young girls from the village.


Romantic wedding?
   When a girl turns 15, her parents take her to the hut of another family’s. There she is introduced and “offered” in marriage to a young man from the other family. If the young man shows an interest in the girl, he (or his family) will have to give some cattle to the bride’s [12] family and only after this will the engagement [13] be official. 

A strange ritual
   Until not long ago, when a Massai tribe member died, his body was not buried. The Massai simply took the deceased [13] to a far away place and left the body to be eaten by hyenas and other wild animals.


Tanzania and Kenya
Tanzania and Kenya are two of the best-known countries on the African continent. They are neighboring nations with much in common, besides a hot climate and being home to the Massai. In Tanzania the population is 36 million, while in Kenya it is almost 35 million. Poverty is rife in these countries, where the life expectancy is no more than 53 years old. 

Pictures:  Márcia Pavarini

Vocabulary
1 wild – selvagem
2 raw meat – carne crua
3 blood – sangue
4 cattle - gado
5 mud – barro
6 hut – cabana
7 to hate – odiar
8 politely – educadamente
9 to refuse – recusar
10 to hunt – caçar
11 spear – lança
12 bride – noiva
13 engagement – noivado
14 deceased - falecido
15 rife – adj.  predominante / volumoso

terça-feira, 14 de fevereiro de 2012

Adele, a singer who touches millions

Music
Source: Click on the link Maganews For more information click on the title and visit the best and genuine Brazilian Maganews

Adele, a singer who touches millions
Through moving songs such as “Someone Like You,”  Adele has shown the world that you can be successful without wearing extravagant outfits [1] or doing sexy dances

Adele had a fabulous 2011. Her second album, “21”, was the biggest-seller in the UK and in several other countries last year. The album includes two of the biggest hits of 2011: “Someone Like You,” and “Rolling in the Deep.” In November, Adele had surgery on her vocal cords. To recover fully from the surgery [2], she will have to go a few months without singing. Adele does not wear extravagant outfits or do sexy dance routines at her shows. She has won over the world through her ​​beautiful voice and her emotional interpretations. Adele tends to write songs about heartbreak [3]. In 2008 she released her first album, “19”, when she met the love of her life. In 2009, however, she was abandoned by the man she loved. Adele used music as her therapy and composed several songs ‘inspired’ by the end of her relationship. “Someone Like You” is one. Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born in Tottenham, in London, on May 5, 1988. Her mother, Penny Adkins, was left by her boyfriend during the pregnancy and had to raise [4] her only daughter alone.

Matéria publicada na edição de fevereiro da Revista Maganews.
Áudio – David Hatton

Vocabulary1 outfit – roupa / vestimenta
surgery – cirurgia
3 heartbreak – exp. idiom. = desilusão amorosa
4 to raise - criar

sábado, 11 de fevereiro de 2012

Thank you for your kind support, have a blessed Sunday.



No matter if you believe in Jesus, Allah, if you are Jewish, Buddhist, Catholic, Protestant, I desire a wonderful and blessed Sunday for everyone, thank you for sharing such beautiful thing, my dear friend and reader Thaisa Pedron. 

sexta-feira, 10 de fevereiro de 2012

Interesting website: English Media Lab

Hello everyone, how's your life doing? What did you do this days and tell about your improvements in the language? Well, today I've searched on the net and I found out a great website. As usual I decided to share with you. Check this out: English Media Lab there you can find out a lot of useful exercises and games. Excellent for English learners, students and teachers. I recommend it for you. 

 
Source: http://www.englishmedialab.com

segunda-feira, 6 de fevereiro de 2012

'FADING LIKE A FLOWER'


LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND TRY TO COMPLETE THE LYRICS 

1.   
In a         where the    descends alone
I ran a long 
long way from   
To find a
     that’s made of   
I will try, I just need a little   
 
To get your face right 
         of my mind
To see the 
    
 through different     

WRITE IN MISSING WORDS

CHORUS
Every time I  you oh I try to  away
But when we meet it 
 I can’t let go
Every time you 
 the room I feel I’m  like a flower

UNSCRAMBLE THE WORDS

2.
Tell me YWH
When I scream there’s no 
YRLPE
When I reach out there’s nothing to 
IDFN
When I sleep I break down and YCR
Cry, yeah 

CHORUS

WRITE IN MISSING LETTERS

3. 
Fading like a r
Fading like a r
Beaten by the s
Talking to m
Getting washed by the r
It’s such a cold 
cold t
Oh, it’s a such cold t

CHORUS

Voice of America, the best way to learn English


Surely you have heard about one of the best way to learn English, interactive and dynamic way, of course, I'm talking about Voice of America. Check out the link VOA NEWS and keep in touch the best English content, besides you can visit the VOANEWS' Fan page on Facebook VOA Learning English and keep in touch with people around the world and native English speakers, free English class. See you around and keep in touch through English tips. For more English material, visit the menu on Learn English websites, keep studying, keep practicing.

quinta-feira, 2 de fevereiro de 2012

Williams Confirms Bruno Senna for 2012


Williams F1 today confirmed that Bruno Senna will contest the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship for the Williams F1 Team. Bruno will make his debut with the Williams F1 Team in Jerez on 9th February at the first of the winter tests
Frank Williams, Team Principal, said, “Bruno only started racing when he was 20 years old but quickly proved his talent in F3 and GP2.”  Bruno commented, “I feel very privileged that Williams has selected me as one of their race drivers. The team has a great heritage and I hope I can help write a good chapter in their history. The evaluation process has been intense and methodical but the time I have spent in the factory has demonstrated that the team has great people and all the resources needed to achieve better things this season.
“It will be very interesting to drive for a team that my uncle has driven for, particularly as quite a few of the people here actually worked with Ayrton. Hopefully we can bring back some memories and create some great new ones too. I also want to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today. I am very proud to be Brazilian and more motivated than ever to demonstrate what I can do. Ever since I first sat in a go-kart I never wanted to do anything else.”
A profile of Bruno Senna
Born in São Paulo in 1983, Bruno Senna showed talent from an early age when he raced karts against his uncle, Ayrton, on the family farm. However, Bruno was a relative latecomer to professional motorsport, not making his competitive race debut until 2004 in the Formula BMW UK Championship at the age of 20. Since then he has made an impressive rise through the ranks to make his Formula One debut in 2010.
In 2005 Bruno began the first of two seasons competing in the British F3 Championship with Räikkönen Robertson Racing. After picking up three podiums in the final races of 2005, Bruno went on to take five victories en route to securing third in the 2006 Championship.
In 2007, Bruno graduated to GP2 with Arden International. He finished fourth on his debut in Bahrain and scored his first win in the feature race in Spain at the following event. He signed for iSport International in 2008 and claimed his first win of the season in the Monaco feature race. In total, Bruno claimed two wins, six podiums and three pole positions, narrowly missing out on the title.
Bruno had his first taste of Formula One in 2008 when he took part in a one day test for Honda. However, when the manufacturer decided to pull out of the sport, Bruno switched his attentions to sports car racing. In 2009 he took part in three Le Mans Series races (claiming podium finishes in two of them) and also had the opportunity to compete in the famous Le Mans 24 Hours. This proved a useful stepping stone in his career as Bruno joined the newly formed Hispania Racing team for his Formula One race debut in 2010.
Bruno started the 2011 season as official reserve driver for Lotus Renault GP. He competed in eight races after replacing Nick Heidfeld from the Belgium Grand Prix onwards, qualifying seventh for his first race. After qualifying within the top ten once again in Monza, Bruno secured his first Formula One points with a ninth place finish.
Bruno joins Pastor Maldonado at Williams F1 for the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship season starting in Australia on the 18th March. 

 BIOGRAPHY: BRUNO SENNA
Nationality: Brazilian
Date of birth: 15th October 1983
Place of birth: São Paulo, Brazil
Lives: Monaco
Height: 1.8m
Weight: 69kg
Marital status: Single
Hobbies: Cycling, swimming, boxing, music and PS3

Picture - Glenn Dunbar/LAT
The Williams F1 Communications Office