Johnny Mathis, an American singer of popular music
I have always loved romantic songs and I have been listening to Johnny Mathis’s songs which enchant my heart. Mathis is such an exceptional singer who has an interpretation that wonders all. He has sold more than 350 million records since 1956 until nowadays.
Mathis was born on September 30th, 1935, in Gilmer, Texas. Although his parents were domestic workers, they were searching for better chances and the family then moved to San Francisco when he was very young
At that time, his father used to work for a time as vaudeville performer and he realized that his son loved too, so he decided to buy a piano to encourage his efforts. He started out singing at elementary school and church events. Then, he studied with Connie Cox for six years learning vocal scales, classical and operatic skills. At George Washington High School, Mathis was well known not only by his singing abilities but also as a top athlete on the basketball team and fields sports.
Afterwards, he was spotted by Helen Noga and given a job as singer on weekends at Ann Dee’s 440 Club where George Avakian, a Columbia’s jazz producer, found him. His first album was a slower selling jazz album, “A New Sound in Popular Song”, but in his second album, the producer preferred him singing romantic ballads. In 1956 Mathis recorded two of his popular songs: “Wonderful, Wonderful” and “It’s not for me to say”. Also, that year he was invited to sing in films.
Although he is frequently described as a romantic singer, his discography includes jazz, soul, blues, country, soft rock and so many others. Mathis recorded over 110 albums and his Merry Christmas album in 1958 made him the third most successful recording artist ever. He received the title “The Voice of Romance” and three Grammy awards.
Mathis continues his career. However, he limited his concert engagements to few appearances for a year since 2000.
I wish I could go to a concert of Johnny Mathis some time because I’m a fan of this fantastic American singer!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Simone - News
Fire destroys snake collection in Brazil
On the last May 15th, a fire destroyed one of the largest world’s snake collection in the laboratory of reptiles of Butantã Institute, São Paulo.
The fire started around 7:30am and it was controlled only one hour after. The building where the reptiles were kept didn’t have anti-fire system or fire hydrant. Then, either a short-circuit or an electrical overload were two suggested hypotheses to be the probable cause of the fire. In fact, the fire was a lamentable incident because the maintenance of grid was being done frequently, and the last one had just been performed some hours before the fire started.
Although nobody was hurt, the fire destroyed a collection that had been started 120 years ago and which had about 85 thousand snakes and 450 thousand arachnids (including spiders and scorpions). There were many species not described by the science yet and others rare or extinct ones.
According to fire-fighters, the temperature reached about 1200C and the fire spread quickly because the species were preserved in glasses containing alcoholic and formalin solutions. Immediately after the fire was controlled, all the live animals were removed and taken to a safe place.
“Unfortunately, it is an irreplaceable heritage to our country” said one of the Institute’s researchers.
While the fire causes are being clarified a new project of recuperation of reptile’s laboratory is being prepared.
On the last May 15th, a fire destroyed one of the largest world’s snake collection in the laboratory of reptiles of Butantã Institute, São Paulo.
The fire started around 7:30am and it was controlled only one hour after. The building where the reptiles were kept didn’t have anti-fire system or fire hydrant. Then, either a short-circuit or an electrical overload were two suggested hypotheses to be the probable cause of the fire. In fact, the fire was a lamentable incident because the maintenance of grid was being done frequently, and the last one had just been performed some hours before the fire started.
Although nobody was hurt, the fire destroyed a collection that had been started 120 years ago and which had about 85 thousand snakes and 450 thousand arachnids (including spiders and scorpions). There were many species not described by the science yet and others rare or extinct ones.
According to fire-fighters, the temperature reached about 1200C and the fire spread quickly because the species were preserved in glasses containing alcoholic and formalin solutions. Immediately after the fire was controlled, all the live animals were removed and taken to a safe place.
“Unfortunately, it is an irreplaceable heritage to our country” said one of the Institute’s researchers.
While the fire causes are being clarified a new project of recuperation of reptile’s laboratory is being prepared.
Maria José - U1 - Trave log: A TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE
Ten years ago I went to Mozambique to visit my friend Mazula and his family. We had been introduced by my friend Nélia and then he became my close friend. We spent a lot of time talking about Africa and Brazil histories and we’ve found some close relationship between Mozambique and Bahia costumes. I’ve really learnt a lot from him.
He did his PhD at USP and when he finished it he went back to Mozambique.
Before going back there, he invited us, Nélia and me, to visit his country. We promised to visit him and I started planning the trip. I was very happy, because I had dreamt of knowing Africa, as many afrodescents dream.
I started looking for information about documents (visa), vaccines, currency… But I’ve found information about the country, too. I’ve researched about religion (it’s very important, because we should wear adequate clothes when we’re abroad), languages, food, health service, tourist places
Unfortunately, Nélia gave up the trip. If I intended to visit my friend I would have to go alone. I was afraid, but I decided to go ahead with my trip plans. In February I took an overnight flight to Johannesburg and then, another to Maputo, capital of Mozambique. Mazula was waiting for me at the airport and I felt a relief when I saw him.
In Maputo, during the day, I visited the downtown, The Municipal Supermarket, the University and at night I went to restaurants for some traditional food and clubs or met Mazula’s family and friends. I’ve bought beautiful handicrafts.
I managed to walk alone few times, because they were afraid about my security, but I didn’t have problem anywhere. Mozambique people were always friendly. They have Portuguese accent and enjoyed listening to my accent. They like our soap opera and are Roberto Carlos fans. Could you imagine this situation to me?
After Maputo I went to Xai-Xai, a district that has the beautiful beach of Bilene. There I saw the Pacific Ocean I felt an unspeakable emotion. At the other side of the ocean there was India…
Everything was perfect, but I didn’t have a friend to talk to about that amazing experience. So, I sent a lot of postcards to my friends and I could share a little of my happiness. At night I remembered my family and I missed them. I phoned my home, but it was very expensive.
Two weeks later, I went back home, but I’ve changed a lot during those fifteen days. That trip was unforgettable. I love Mozambique!
He did his PhD at USP and when he finished it he went back to Mozambique.
Before going back there, he invited us, Nélia and me, to visit his country. We promised to visit him and I started planning the trip. I was very happy, because I had dreamt of knowing Africa, as many afrodescents dream.
I started looking for information about documents (visa), vaccines, currency… But I’ve found information about the country, too. I’ve researched about religion (it’s very important, because we should wear adequate clothes when we’re abroad), languages, food, health service, tourist places
Unfortunately, Nélia gave up the trip. If I intended to visit my friend I would have to go alone. I was afraid, but I decided to go ahead with my trip plans. In February I took an overnight flight to Johannesburg and then, another to Maputo, capital of Mozambique. Mazula was waiting for me at the airport and I felt a relief when I saw him.
In Maputo, during the day, I visited the downtown, The Municipal Supermarket, the University and at night I went to restaurants for some traditional food and clubs or met Mazula’s family and friends. I’ve bought beautiful handicrafts.
I managed to walk alone few times, because they were afraid about my security, but I didn’t have problem anywhere. Mozambique people were always friendly. They have Portuguese accent and enjoyed listening to my accent. They like our soap opera and are Roberto Carlos fans. Could you imagine this situation to me?
After Maputo I went to Xai-Xai, a district that has the beautiful beach of Bilene. There I saw the Pacific Ocean I felt an unspeakable emotion. At the other side of the ocean there was India…
Everything was perfect, but I didn’t have a friend to talk to about that amazing experience. So, I sent a lot of postcards to my friends and I could share a little of my happiness. At night I remembered my family and I missed them. I phoned my home, but it was very expensive.
Two weeks later, I went back home, but I’ve changed a lot during those fifteen days. That trip was unforgettable. I love Mozambique!
Fabio - B1 - email to a friend
Hi!
How are you? I’m fine.
I study English at IME Jr. I’m in a class with ten or eleven students, most of the students are from São Paulo city, like me, some people are from other states. My teacher’s name’s Elton. I am getting to know them better each day, they’re good and very nice people.
I live with three friends of my undergraduate course, physics, in a small house near the university in the west area. They’re very nice and we help each other before the tests. Last year I lived with my family in the east area, but it is very far and it took me many hours traveling in the bus and subway. It was very tiring. My family is my father, my mother, and two brothers. My father is a teacher and my mother is a social assistant, my brothers are students like me.
I have always lived in São Paulo city. It is a good place, with its problems like a traffic problems and criminality and its virtues like things that I don’t remember now, but I like this city anyway. I go to some rock bars like Kazebre or Manifesto sometimes, it is very nice to see concerts and go out with my friends.
See you.
How are you? I’m fine.
I study English at IME Jr. I’m in a class with ten or eleven students, most of the students are from São Paulo city, like me, some people are from other states. My teacher’s name’s Elton. I am getting to know them better each day, they’re good and very nice people.
I live with three friends of my undergraduate course, physics, in a small house near the university in the west area. They’re very nice and we help each other before the tests. Last year I lived with my family in the east area, but it is very far and it took me many hours traveling in the bus and subway. It was very tiring. My family is my father, my mother, and two brothers. My father is a teacher and my mother is a social assistant, my brothers are students like me.
I have always lived in São Paulo city. It is a good place, with its problems like a traffic problems and criminality and its virtues like things that I don’t remember now, but I like this city anyway. I go to some rock bars like Kazebre or Manifesto sometimes, it is very nice to see concerts and go out with my friends.
See you.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Rafaela - B1 - email to a friend
Dear Yara,
Are you OK? I'm fine, studying a lot, this weekdays as tests begin!
So I live with my mother and my brother, my parents separated when I was 10, but I always see my father. My mother is a saleswoman, and my father is a realtor, my brother is 16 years old and studies.
We live in an Interlagos district of the southern zone of São Paulo, it is a quiet neighborhood, there are three supermarkets, a public hospital and there is the Interlagos circuit which is famous for hosting the championship of Formula 1, among others as bars and some restaurants.
Well, we talked more in class!
Kisses, Rafa
Are you OK? I'm fine, studying a lot, this weekdays as tests begin!
So I live with my mother and my brother, my parents separated when I was 10, but I always see my father. My mother is a saleswoman, and my father is a realtor, my brother is 16 years old and studies.
We live in an Interlagos district of the southern zone of São Paulo, it is a quiet neighborhood, there are three supermarkets, a public hospital and there is the Interlagos circuit which is famous for hosting the championship of Formula 1, among others as bars and some restaurants.
Well, we talked more in class!
Kisses, Rafa
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Claudio - U1 - Something about home
I live in an apartment with my wife and my little son. Last February, we moved to this place. We are very happy with our new home. The neighborhood is different. There are more trees and the life seems to be better. Here, we can stay away from the noise of the cars. A big city like São Paulo offers many opportunities for a job or a study. However, we are always in a hurry, we are afraid of robbers and we drive everyday in heavy traffic.
The new apartment is bigger than the previous one. The bedrooms are really spacious and comfortable. The living room is decorated with folk pictures; there are small sculptures by modern artists, too. We like that kind of mixture between different kinds of art. In a corner, we have the piano. I bought it two years ago when I started to study music at the University. We have some other musical instruments in a specific music room where, sometimes, we use to play music on the weekends with friends. In that place, we have a library with several books about music, scores and compact discs.
I love my kitchen because I like to cook very much. My grandmother was the one who inspired me to learn to cook. I began cooking meat, rice, potatoes and pasta. She taught me many things about Italian and Spanish food. One of my favorite foods is ravioli! I enjoy inventing a meal for us. Today, we prepare more natural food than before.
In my parents’ house, we used to cook a lot. Usually, we invited many friends for a dinner; after that, we played the guitar and sang popular songs. We are a "musical family" in which everybody likes to make music. My father sings folk songs and my brother plays his own works in the guitar. I compose contemporary classical music and I study some scores writing papers about that.
We decided to move here because we wanted a safe and more natural place for our son. Unfortunately, life in big cities is more and more unsafe and we have to look for private security. I hope it will change and we will have a more peaceful life in the future.
The new apartment is bigger than the previous one. The bedrooms are really spacious and comfortable. The living room is decorated with folk pictures; there are small sculptures by modern artists, too. We like that kind of mixture between different kinds of art. In a corner, we have the piano. I bought it two years ago when I started to study music at the University. We have some other musical instruments in a specific music room where, sometimes, we use to play music on the weekends with friends. In that place, we have a library with several books about music, scores and compact discs.
I love my kitchen because I like to cook very much. My grandmother was the one who inspired me to learn to cook. I began cooking meat, rice, potatoes and pasta. She taught me many things about Italian and Spanish food. One of my favorite foods is ravioli! I enjoy inventing a meal for us. Today, we prepare more natural food than before.
In my parents’ house, we used to cook a lot. Usually, we invited many friends for a dinner; after that, we played the guitar and sang popular songs. We are a "musical family" in which everybody likes to make music. My father sings folk songs and my brother plays his own works in the guitar. I compose contemporary classical music and I study some scores writing papers about that.
We decided to move here because we wanted a safe and more natural place for our son. Unfortunately, life in big cities is more and more unsafe and we have to look for private security. I hope it will change and we will have a more peaceful life in the future.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Ednei - B1 - Profile
Surname: Antunes
First name: Nelson
Age: 80
Job: Police officer (retired)
Religion: Evangelic
Birthday: February, 21
Country: Brazil
He is my father, he is married to my mother and they have ten kids. Like in the comics, my father is my hero, he always gives me support in everything. I'll talk here about the history of my father because he has a beautiful life story.
He usually wakes up at five o´clock in the morning on weekdays, but in 2001 after waking up he had a heart attack when he was in the bathroom. It changed the lives of my family. My father was taken to hospital and he had two heart surgeries, after many (several) weeks my father recovered.
Now, he likes to fish, play pool and watch soccer. In his free time, he goes to our family ranch, he loves the nature. He likes to eat fish and he loves to ride a bicycle.
My father has not seen me for two years, but we always talk on the phone, he says he misses me, and I miss him too.
First name: Nelson
Age: 80
Job: Police officer (retired)
Religion: Evangelic
Birthday: February, 21
Country: Brazil
He is my father, he is married to my mother and they have ten kids. Like in the comics, my father is my hero, he always gives me support in everything. I'll talk here about the history of my father because he has a beautiful life story.
He usually wakes up at five o´clock in the morning on weekdays, but in 2001 after waking up he had a heart attack when he was in the bathroom. It changed the lives of my family. My father was taken to hospital and he had two heart surgeries, after many (several) weeks my father recovered.
Now, he likes to fish, play pool and watch soccer. In his free time, he goes to our family ranch, he loves the nature. He likes to eat fish and he loves to ride a bicycle.
My father has not seen me for two years, but we always talk on the phone, he says he misses me, and I miss him too.
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