Microsoft is buying Skype!!

Microsoft has confirmed it will buy the internet phone service Skype. The $8.5 billion deal will connect Microsoft with the 663 million people around the world who use Skype. It is the most money Microsoft has spent to buy another company.

Report
One is the giant business, whose software powers more than 90% of the world's computers. The other is the firm, which has revolutionised the way many communicate. Now Skype is being swallowed up by Microsoft.

It's just eight years since Skype started helping people to make calls over the internet for nothing, and this is the third time it's been bought and sold.

For more, click on:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/05/110511_witn_skype_page.shtml

What is Skype?
Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg, our purpose is to break down barriers to communication. Skype is owned by an investor group led by Silver Lake and which includes eBay Inc, Joltid Limited and Skype founders Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Andreessen Horowitz.

Skype had an average of 145 million connected users per month in the fourth quarter of 2010. Skype users made 207 billion minutes of voice and video calls in 2010, approximately 42% of which was video.

Obama's speech in Brazil ! Audio in English!

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Rio de Janeiro!
AUDIENCE: Hello!
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Many welcomes!
THE PRESIDENT: Alô, Cidade Maravilhosa! (Applause.) Boa tarde, todo o povo brasileiro. (Applause.)

Since the moment we arrived, the people of this nation have graciously shown my family the warmth and generosity of the Brazilian spirit. Obrigado. Thank you. (Applause.) And I want to give a special thanks to all of you for being here, because I’ve been told that there’s a Vasco football game coming. (Cheers and boos.) Botafogo — (laughter.) So I know that — I realize Brazilians don’t give up their soccer very easily. (Laughter.)

Now, one of my earliest impressions of Brazil was a movie I saw with my mother as a very young child, a movie called Black Orpheus, that is set in the favelas of Rio during Carnival. And my mother loved that movie, with its singing and dancing against the backdrop of the beautiful green hills. And it first premiered as a play right here in Teatro Municipal. That’s my understanding.

And my mother is gone now, but she would have never imagined that her son’s first trip to Brazil would be as President of the United States. She would have never imagined that. (Applause.) And I never imagined that this country would be even more beautiful than it was in the movie. You are, as Jorge Ben-Jor sang, “A tropical country, blessed by God, and beautiful by nature.” (Applause.)
I’ve seen that beauty in the cascading hillsides, in your endless miles of sand and ocean, and in the vibrant, diverse gatherings of brasileiros who have come here today.

And we have a wonderfully mixed group. We have Cariocas and Paulistas, Baianas, Mineiros. (Applause.) We’ve got men and women from the cities to the interior, and so many young people here who are the great future of this great nation.
Now, yesterday, I met with your wonderful new President, Dilma Rousseff, and talked about how we can strengthen the partnership between our governments. But today, I want to speak directly to the Brazilian people about how we can strengthen the friendship between our nations. I’ve come here to share some ideas because I want to speak of the values that we share, the hopes that we have in common, and the difference that we can make together.

When you think about it, the journeys of the United States of America and Brazil began in similar ways. Our lands are rich with God’s creation, home to ancient and indigenous peoples. From overseas, the Americas were discovered by men who sought a New World, and settled by pioneers who pushed westward, across vast frontiers. We became colonies claimed by distant crowns, but soon declared our independence. We then welcomed waves of immigrants to our shores, and eventually after a long struggle, we cleansed the stain of slavery from our land.
The United States was the first nation to recognize Brazil’s independence, and set up a diplomatic outpost in this country. The first head of state to visit the United States was the leader of Brazil, Dom Pedro II. In the Second World War, our brave men and women fought side-by-side for freedom. And after the war, both of our nations struggled to achieve the full blessings of liberty.

On the streets of the United States, men and women marched and bled and some died so that every citizen could enjoy the same freedoms and opportunities — no matter what you looked like, no matter where you came from.
In Brazil, you fought against two decades of dictatorships for the same right to be heard — the right to be free from fear, free from want. And yet, for years, democracy and development were slow to take hold, and millions suffered as a result.

But I come here today because those days have passed. Brazil today is a flourishing democracy — a place where people are free to speak their mind and choose their leaders; where a poor kid from Pernambuco can rise from the floors of a copper factory to the highest office in Brazil.

Over the last decade, the progress made by the Brazilian people has inspired the world. More than half of this nation is now considered middle class. Millions have been lifted from poverty. For the first time, hope is returning to places where fear had long prevailed. I saw this today when I visited Cidade de Deus — the City of God. (Applause.)

It isn’t just the new security efforts and social programs — and I want to congratulate the mayor and the governor for the excellent work that they’re doing. (Applause.) But it’s also a change in attitudes. As one young resident said, “People have to look at favelas not with pity, but as a source of presidents and lawyers and doctors, artists, [and] people with solutions.” (Applause.)

With each passing day, Brazil is a country with more solutions. In the global community, you’ve gone from relying on the help of other nations, to now helping fight poverty and disease wherever they exist. You play an important role in the global institutions that protect our common security and promote our common prosperity. And you will welcome the world to your shores when the World Cup and the Olympic games come to Rio de Janeiro. (Applause.)

Now, you may be aware that this city was not my first choice for the Summer Olympics. (Laughter.) But if the games could not be held in Chicago, then there’s no place I’d rather see them than right here in Rio. And I intend to come back in 2016 to watch what happens. (Applause.)

For so long, Brazil was a nation brimming with potential but held back by politics, both at home and abroad. For so long, you were called a country of the future, told to wait for a better day that was always just around the corner.

Meus amigos, that day has finally come. And this is a country of the future no more. The people of Brazil should know that the future has arrived. It is here now. And it’s time to seize it. (Applause.)
Now, our countries have not always agreed on everything. And just like many nations, we’re going to have our differences of opinion going forward. But I’m here to tell you that the American people don’t just recognize Brazil’s success — we root for Brazil’s success. As you confront the many challenges you still face at home as well as abroad, let us stand together — not as senior and junior partners, but as equal partners, joined in a spirit of mutual interest and mutual respect, committed to the progress that I know that we can make together. (Applause.) I’m confident we can do it. (Applause.)
Together we can advance our common prosperity. As two of the world’s largest economies, we worked side by side during the financial crisis to restore growth and confidence. And to keep our economies growing, we know what’s necessary in both of our nations. We need a skilled, educated workforce — which is why American and Brazilian companies have pledged to help increase student exchanges between our two nations.
We need a commitment to innovation and technology — which is why we’ve agreed to expand cooperation between our scientists, researchers, and engineers.
We need world-class infrastructure — which is why American companies want to help you build and prepare this city for Olympic success.
In a global economy, the United States and Brazil should expand trade, expand investment, so that we create new jobs and new opportunities in both of our nations. And that’s why we’re working to break down barriers to doing business. That’s why we’re building closer relationships between our workers and our entrepreneurs.
Together we can also promote energy security and protect our beautiful planet. As two nations that are committed to greener economies, we know that the ultimate solution to our energy challenges lies in clean and renewable power. And that’s why half the vehicles in this country can run on biofuels, and most of your electricity comes from hydropower. That’s also why, in the United States, we’ve jumpstarted a new clean energy industry. And that’s why the United States and Brazil are creating new energy partnerships — to share technologies, create new jobs, and leave our children a world that is cleaner and safer than we found it. (Applause.)
Together, our two nations can also help defend our citizens’ security. We’re working together to stop narco-trafficking that has destroyed too many lives in this hemisphere. We seek the goal of a world without nuclear weapons. We’re working together to enhance nuclear security across our hemisphere. From Africa to Haiti, we are working side by side to combat the hunger, disease, and corruption that can rot a society and rob human beings of dignity and opportunity. (Applause.) And as two countries that have been greatly enriched by our African heritage, it’s absolutely vital that we are working with the continent of Africa to help lift it up. That is something that we should be committed to doing together. (Applause.)
Today, we’re both also delivering assistance and support to the Japanese people at their greatest hour of need. The ties that bind our nations to Japan are strong. In Brazil, you are home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. In the United States, we forged an alliance of more than 60 years. The people of Japan are some of our closest friends, and we will pray with them, and stand with them, and rebuild with them until this crisis has passed. (Applause.)

In these and other efforts to promote peace and prosperity throughout the world, the United States and Brazil are partners not just because we share history, not just because we’re in the same hemisphere; not just because we share ties of commerce and culture, but also because we share certain enduring values and ideals.


We both believe in the power and promise of democracy. We believe that no other form of government is more effective at promoting growth and prosperity that reaches every human being

not just some but all. And those who argue otherwise, those who argue that democracy stands in the way of economic progress,
they must contend with the example of Brazil.
For more see: http://ironicsurrealism.blogivists.com/2011/03/20/transcript-obama-speech-rio-de-janeiro-brazil-march-20-2011/

What is Carnival like in Rio?Como é o Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro? 2011!!

THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFE-TIME!!!


The Rio Carnival Parade or Samba Parade is undoubtedly the highlight of the Rio Carnival, a totally unique event in the world. It is something everybody has to experience at least once in life.
The Samba Parade is a highly orchestrated show of vast proportions. You will experience (and probably dance to) such a spectacular show that you certainly have never seen before. The Samba Parade is often referred to as 'The biggest Show on Earth'.

The venue of the Samba Parade, the Sambodromo, can seat around 70,000 people.

Thus you should buy your Samba Parade tickets well in advance not to get disappointed. Do not leave it to the last minute as tickets sell out and prices increase with time.

Seat types
There are two types of seats: grand stand seats and numbered seats,
Grand Stand seats (bleachers or "arquibancadas") offer free seating with no allocated seats. You can get as high and will sit wherever you want and can.

Allocated/numbered seats are either in boxes/suites or there are on numbered chairs.

Boxes are covered and offer VIP seating and services (the suites) or open in front of the sectors.

The front boxes ("frisas") are right on the samba run-way.

Suites offer the only covered seating and are the most comfortable and stylish boxes, offering special services such as free food and drinks the whole night.

The numbered chairs are at the very end of the the samba run-way, at Apotheosis Square. They are placed on steps for better views

Near the drummers' niche:
The drummers of every school stop, perform and play in the drummers’ niche where the atmosphere is the most intense. The front boxes in front of Sector 4 are located just opposite, offering the best acoustics and full view of their performance.


Who is who in the Parade

King of Carnaval (King Momo)
"Momo" is the name of the god of mockery in the Greek mythology, and according to Carnival tradition, King Momo should be jolly and as big as a house. Legend suggests that he was expulsed from the Olympus to come and settle down in Rio, the City of Carnival. The Rio Carnival officially opens with the delivery of the key of the city to King Momo. When King Momo sambas, everything - sequins, feathers and flesh and all people around should also samba with him. He opens all major Carnival events including the Samba Parades.

Queen and Princesses of Carnival
The Queen of Carnival is chosen by contest based on her beauty, self-assurance, sociability, ease of expression, congeniality and samba abilities but all in all she must have the "carnival spirit". The 2nd and the 3rd place candidates in the contest are named the Princesses of Carnival.

Carnival Designer (Carnavalesco)
He is responsible for the artistic work of designing, producing and directing the school's parade. Sometimes they chose and write the schools's theme of the year, too. They design every costume and float, choose and supervise the purchasing of materials, administer the construction and manufacture of floats, costumes and accessories.

Wing (Ala)
They are the building blocks of a school's parade - the school is split into several of them. A group of 20-100 people wearing the same costume and having the same purpose. The costume will illustrate a particular aspect of the school's theme. Every wing has a president who is responsible for the costumes (production and sales) and co-ordination of all the wing´s members' parade.

Vanguard Commission
This is the opening wing of a school. A group of 12-15 dancers with a highly choreographed routine, who parade at the front of the school, "introducing" it to the crowd.

The Flag Bearer and her Escort
She is carrying and presenting the school's flag, as the symbol of the School, while the couple is dancing down the Avenue. He is there to protect her (originally he had a knife to make sure that the other schools are not damaging the flag, making them loose the competition). Their dance is the most elaborate and elegant. The schools have more than one couple of flag bearers but only the front one (in front of the drummer group) is important and gains scores.

Swirling Ladies (Baianas)
Older women dressed in glitzy variations of the traditional costume of Bahia state, with huge skirts having tubes inserted inside so that they lend themselves for some beautiful swirling. Swirling down the Avenue, they represent the soul of the samba schools, their African roots. They are old ladies of the community, who have already been with the same School for many years like the samba dancers. This is an absolute honor and the samba school pays for their costumes. They are much respected and often get a round of applause when passing by.

Percussion Band (Bateria)
This is the beating heart of the School comprising of 250-350 percussionist mainly drummers. It lends life and energy to the whole parade.

Vocalists
There is main male well-known vocalist who is accompanied by many others. They are usually on top of the sound truck right behind the percussionists or march along the samba run-way.

Queen of the Drummers
A beautiful female samba dancer in front of and introducing the Percussionists to the crowd. She is supposed to motivate and inspire the hundreds of male drummers behind her.

Samba Dancers (Passistas)
A small wing of the finest samba dancers of the school - no more than 15-20. It's very hard to dance the samba at Rio´s speed whilst moving forward at nearly walking pace for 700m (1/2 mile) - the samba dancers are a star turn. They are chosen through competition each year and is certainly high honor to take this role.

Stewards of the Flow (Harmonia)
Each float and each wing has a number of dedicated stewards to ensure that the flow is kept up. They will wear the T shirt of their wing or float. There are penalty points if the school takes too long to parade and points are also lost in the Rio Samba Parade if there are any gaps between or inside the wings.

For more: http://www.rio-carnival.net/samba_parade/samba_parade.php

Black Swan! ... Cisne Negro !!!! O Lago dos Cisnes!!!

                              
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake was composed in 1875 as a commission by Vladimir Petrovich Begichev, the intendant of the Russian Imperial Theatres in Moscow. Like The Nutcracker, Swan Lake was unsuccessful after its first year of performance. Conductors, dancers and audiences alike thought Tchaikovsky's music was too complicated and hard to dance too. The production’s original choreography by German ballet master, Julius Reisinger, was uninspiring and unoriginal. Much is unknown about the original production of Swan Lake – no notes, techniques or instruction concerning the ballet was written down. Only little can be found in letters and memos. It wasn’t until after Tchaikovsky’s death that Swan Lake was revived. Much of the Swan Lake we know of today was a revision by the famous choreographers Petipa and Ivanov.


We do know that Tchaikovsky had much control over the stories content. He and his colleagues both agreed that the swan represented womanhood in its purest form. The stories and legends of swan-maidens date as far back as ancient Greece; when the Greek god Apollos was born, flying swans circled above their heads. Legends of swan maidens can also be found in The Tales of the Thousand and One Nights, Sweet Mikhail Ivanovich the Rover and The Legend of the Children of Lir.

Swan Lake is known for its demanding technical skills all because of one extremely gifted ballerina, Pierina Legnani. She performed with such grace and discipline, the audience and everyone else who saw her claimed she set the bar. Every girl to dance the part of Odette/Odile after her was compared to Legnani's performance. Legnani performed 32 fouettes (a fast whipping turn on one foot) in a row – a move many ballerinas resent because of its extreme difficulty. However, Swan Lake remains a favorite for many girls because of it’s extreme difficulty; technically and emotionally. The prestige that comes with performing Swan Lake flawlessly is invaluable. http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/historyofballet/a/swanlakeproa.htm

Movie: Black Swan                                        
Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the wide-ranging thriller genre. However, this genre often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre in addition to the typical traits of the thriller genre. Also, occasionally this genre will border into the also wide-ranging horror genre.

Synopsis: A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, BLACK SWAN stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself... A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, BLACK SWAN stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company (Mila Kunis). A Fox Searchlight Pictures release by visionary director Darren Aronofsky (THE WRESTLER), BLACK SWAN takes a thrilling and at times terrifying journey through the psyche of a young ballerina whose starring role as the duplicitous swan queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect.

 BLACK SWAN follows the story of Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter,s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her. -- (C) Official Site Less
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_swan_2010/

Welcome 2011 !!

                        

Escrever para mim sempre foi um exercício espontâneo de momentos de inspiração nos quais as palavras precisam ser liberadas de algum lugar onde a razão não consegue encontrar explicação... Seja lá qual for o motivo que me impulsiona a este ato, é essencial que ele  se manifeste. Só assim, de alguma forma consigo "make  use  of " deste espaço para  traduzir meus pensamentos e sentimentos que both  in English and Portuguese fazem parte de algumas horas dedicadas a ensinar vocabulário e estruturas gramaticais inseridos em contextos  que acredito facilitar o aprendizado da língua . Na verdade, sei que encontrei uma "lame excuse" para compartilhar um pouco do muito de tudo que me toca e me é importante.

2011 já é um ano especial pelo o que está acontecendo , pelo o que ele vai simbolizar e por tudo o que está por vir... Em cascatas a água washed away 2010 and warmly welcomed 2011 em uma cachoeira de eventos que vem expressando uma energia de consciência renovada .

No último mês recebi alguns novos alunos "in despair" looking forward to learning English de maneira que vejam resultados concretos na prática do dia a dia.

Quando uma  aluna me falou em nossa entrevista: "é preciso ética, respeito e transparência nas pessoas, instituições e nos serviços prestados", I got emotional !! That is is!!   Outros, não coincidentemente, me contaram histórias que revelam a ansiedade e busca por algo mais na escolha de onde e como realizar seus objetivos.

No livro que acabei de encontrar when browsing around at a bookstore,"Espírito de Empresário" de Boris Tabacof, ele diz: Minhas décadas de vivência, me levam à convicção de que o quadro funesto que resulta desta competiçõo desenfreada é causado por não se colocar nas empresas o desafio da aplicação de normas morais e éticas que não são utópicas e que são certamente factíveis .... antípodas desta corrida pela riqueza e poder a qualquer custo.... A atitude do empresário alcançaria sua condição de cidadão  preocupado com o convívio, a segurança e  a aplicação da justiça."

Para completar,uma ex aluna que reiniciará as aulas depois de 10 anos, me  falou de um livro chamado "O presente do mar"de Anne Morrow Lindebergh, 1955.

Pesquisei e li um prefácio da filha da autora que diz assim: "as palavras da autora oferecem uma oportunidade de respirar, de viver com mais calma. O livro torna possível desacelerar e descansar no presente, sejam quais forem as circumstâncias. O mar não recompensa os que são  por demais  ávidos ou impacientes. Escavar tesouros mostra não só a falta de paciência e avidez, mas também falta de fé. Paciência, paciência, paciência, é o que nos ensina o mar. Precisamos nos deixar vazios , abertos e sem exigências, como a praia , esperando um presente do mar..."

Uma hora qualquer, no rítmo das ondas do tempo, a justiça pode chegar...

Enquanto escrevo , escuto este video acima que acabei encontrando em meio a minha pesquisa  e  me  inspirou a escrever...

Dilma Rousseff takes over Brasil from Lula!! Dilma toma o lugar de Lula!

                                                                                
Coming down to earth ! ( be realistic)

Dilma Rousseff takes over a booming economy—and rising inflation and interest rates, lack of investment in infrastructure and a fiscally incontinent legislature

AS SHE steps into Brazil’s presidency on January 1st, Dilma Rousseff can be cautiously pleased with herself. In choosing her 37 ministers she has made a reasonable job of satisfying the competing demands of her party and coalition, regional and ideological blocks and her own desire for a third of them to be women (she managed nine). In making Antônio Palocci, a former finance minister, her chief of staff she showed self-confidence: some thought she would balk at putting such a powerful political figure in a central role.
In the run-up to her inauguration, Ms Rousseff also received pointed reminders of the difficulties ahead. In a statesmanlike victory speech on October 31st she stressed that her priorities over the next four years were to eliminate extreme poverty and improve the quality of health care and education while maintaining economic stability and low inflation.
For more read on THE ECONOMIST
http://www.economist.com/node/17797502?story_id=17797502&CFID=152848612&CFTOKEN=97794663
Read and watch the video on  EURONEWS: http://www.euronews.net/2011/01/02/brazil-s-foreign-policy-challenges-grow-with-economy/

Aprenda inglês o quanto antes!!A telepresença é uma evolução da videoconferência.

Muito interessante a matéria a seguir:
CONHEÇA AS SALAS DE REUNIÃO HIGH TECH DE R$ 1 MILHÃO :"A sensação é de que eles estão no mesmo ambiente, mas, neste caso, o interlocutor de Mendonça está a milhares de quilômetros de distância, mais precisamente no escritório da empresa em Chicago, nos Estados Unidos".

Entretanto, se o profissional  NÃO  TIVER O NÍVEL DE CONHECIMENTO DO INGLÊS NECESSÁRIO PARA ATENDER A ESTA NOVA EVOLUÇÃO , ele não terá chance de participar e interagir com o mundo lá fora através desta nova tecnologia. É bem possível que as chances de um crescimento profissional também sejam reduzidas.Mais do que nunca ,as barreiras geográficas estão se tornando inexistentes!!

Para quem almeja  ser PRESENÇA e  pretende viajar pelo mundo dos negócios virtualmente, procure aprimorar o seu inglês fazendo um curso personalizado na AVZM  ou de Imersão Vip que oferecemos no Canadá  ,Viplli ,para profissionais que dispõem de pouco tempo para se ausentar do trabalho e  têm urgência para adquirir fluência do idioma.

http://economia.ig.com.br/empresas/comercioservicos/conheca+as+salas+de+reuniao+hightech+de+r+1+milhao/n1237854064102.html