Passionada

Passionada is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Dan Ireland and starring Jason Isaacs, Sofia Milos, Emmy Rossum, Seymour Cassel  and Theresa Russell. The screenplay is by the brothers Jermanok and David Bakalar was the producer.

The story of the film is set in New Bedford, MA- USA where a large population of Portuguese descendants live. Some stars of the film attended the world première in New Bedford.

Celia Amonte (Sofia Milos) is a beautiful Portuguese-American woman who lost her husband, a fisherman, to an accident at sea. Eight years after his death, Celia remains loyal to her late husband's memory, even though her teenage daughter, Vicky (Emmy Rossum), frequently encourages her to start dating again. Vicky meets a handsome Englishman named Charlie Beck (Jason Isaacs), who gambles for a living. and makes him watch her mother perform at a local nightclub, where she sings the fado. Charlie is immediately taken with her, but Celia isn't especially interested in him. In time, Charlie's charm eventually conquers Celia and a romance begins to bloom…

I enjoyed the film very much.

Summer's almost gone

Summer`s almost gone by THE DOORS

Summer's almost gone
Summer's almost gone
Almost gone
Yeah, it's almost gone
Where will we be
When the summer's gone?

Morning found us calmly unaware
Noon burned gold into our hair
At night, we swam the Laughing sea
When summer's gone
Where will we be
Where will we be
Where will we be

Morning found us calmly unaware
Noon burned gold into our hair
At night, we swam the Laughing sea
When summer's gone
Where will we be

Summer's almost gone
Summer's almost gone
We had some good times
But they're gone
The winter's comin' on
Summer's almost gone

Nutri Ventures- encontro com Michelle Obama

Os fundadores da Nutri Ventures, Rodrigo Carvalho e Rui Lima Miranda, foram recebidos na quarta-feira por Michelle Obama na residência oficial do presidente dos Estados Unidos. Trata-se da primeira empresa estrangeira a ser escolhida para integrar o grupo de trabalho patrocinado pela primeira-dama norte-americana no combate à obesidade infantil e marketing alimentar para crianças. A empresa portuguesa é a criadora de uma série de animação com o mesmo nome, que incentiva as crianças a terem hábitos saudáveis. 

Lê Nutri Ventures nos EUA

The First Kiss

Thomas Edison (1847-1931), the famed American inventor developed many devices that increased our quality of life. Some of them were the phonograph, the motion picture camera and the light bulb. In 1896, he made history again by recording the first kiss in the history of cinema, which was considered scandalous at the time.

Use commas

 Read: Punctuation saves lives

A Vírgula

Prince Harry in cold chamber

Prince Harry, Patron of the Walking With The Wounded charity, spent around 20 hours in a giant freezer in Warwickshire alongside his four teammates - all of whom have amputated limbs after sustaining injuries in Afghanistan - to simulate the tough conditions he will face when he treks to the South Pole this winter. After emerging from the huge testing facility, in which temperatures dropped to as low as minus 55C, the Prince blew into his hands and rubbed them together to warm up as he chatted with his teammates over tea and biscuits.

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/news-and-diary/prince-harry-emerges-24-hour-south-pole-cold-chamber-training

Prince Philip on unemployment

The Duke of Edinburgh has made memorable accidental remarks during his reign as the Queen's consort. In 1981 he was interviewed for the Jimmy Young Show. Asked about the current levels of unemployment he replied: “A few years ago everybody was saying we must have more leisure- everybody´s working too much. Now that everybody got more leisure, they are complaining they´re unemployed. People don´t seem to be able to make up their minds what they want, do they?"

The Guinness Book of Royal Blunders. London 1995 page 50

Portuguese in the Old West

Land, As Far As the Eye Can See: Portuguese in the Old West was written by Donald Warrin and Geoffrey L. Gomes and provides a history of the opening, conquest, and development of the American West by narrating the deeds of Portuguese pioneers. It is the 21st volume of the Portuguese in the Americas Series, which documents the variety and complexity of the Portuguese-American experience.

This updated version was published by Tagus Press at UMass Dartmouth, Department of the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture in March 2013. 

Year 10- extensive reading

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Read it here!


Download books

http://americanenglish.state.gov/ebooks

September song

Hopefully the rest of September will be as beautiful and calm as this September song:

Oh, it's a long long while
From May to December
But the days grow short
When you reach September

When the autumn weather
Turns leaves to flame
One hasn't got time
For the waiting game

Oh, the days dwindle down
To a precious few
September, November

And these few precious days
I'll spend with you
These precious days
I'll spend with you

Oh, the days dwindle down
To a precious few
September, November

And these few precious days
I'll spend with you
These precious days
I'll spend with you
These precious days
I'll spend with you

Remembering 9/11:

Today is the twelfth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.Here is a look at covers from THE NEW YORKER

9/11/2001,” by Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly, September 24, 2001.

“What So Proudly We Hailed,” by Carter Goodrich, November 5, 2001.

“In the Shadow,” by Carter Goodrich, December 6, 2004.

“Soaring Spirit,” by John Mavroudis and Owen Smith, September 11, 2006.

“Reflections,” by Ana Juan, September 12, 2011.

The Pledge of Allegiance

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Americans honour and respect their flag. When students say the Plede of Allegiance before school starts they must put their right hand over their heart. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855–1931) and was formally adopted by Congress in 1942. It has been modified four times since its composition. Congress added the words "under God" in 1954 due to the red scare over the Soviet Union.

1892

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

1892 to 1922

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

1923 

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States, and to the republic for which it stands; one Nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."

1924 to 1954

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United Statesof America, and to the republic for which it stands; one Nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."


1954 to Present

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Some might argue that it is a nationalistic slogan. Evidently, it is an emotional appeal to patriotism which may not be to everybody’s liking, but I am aware that children in the United States are not forced to proclaim vocally their allegiance. It is also a sign, perhaps, that the United States is still a “new” country, for in older countries like Portugal, there is no need to make such pledges.

Now an unidentified family of a student at a school in suburban Boston, has filed a lawsuit against the phrase ”under God” saying it violates the Equal Rights Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution. It is the first such case to be tried on the state level: All previous attempts have been argued in federal court on the grounds that "under God" was an unconstitutional violation of the separation of church and state.

How will this end up?

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/09/fox-news-host-atheists-dont-have-to-live-here/?sr=fb091013foxatheist12p

World´s happiest nations

Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden are the world's happiest countries, according to the survey of 156 countries. The United States came in at number 17, but it still lags behind Canada (6), Australia (10), Israel (11) the United Arab Emirates (14) and Mexico (16), according to the 2013 World Happiness Report. The United Kingdom came in at 22 between Venezuela (20) and Brazil (24)

"People can be unhappy for many reasons -- from poverty to unemployment to family breakdown to physical illness," the report said. 

Improvements in the quality of life have been particularly prevalent in Latin America and the Caribbean, while reductions have been the norm in the regions most affected by the financial crisis or recent political and civil turmoil.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/09/business/earth-institute-world-happiness-rankings/index.html?sr=fb090913happynations8p

Congratulations, Denmark!

World´s happiest nations
(Explained by: GDP per capita , social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make
life choices, generosity, perceptions of corruption)

156. Togo

155. Benin

154. Central African Republic

153. Burundi

152. Rwanda

151. Tanzania   

150. Guinea

149. Comoros

148. Syria

147. Senegal

146. Madagascar

145. Botswana

144. Bulgaria

143. Afghanistan

142. Yemen

141. Chad

140. Cambodia

139. Malawi

138. Gabon

137. Sri Lanka

136. Niger

135. Nepal

134. Georgia

133. Liberia

132. Mali

131. Burkina Faso

130. Egypt

129. Congo (Brazzaville)

128. Armenia

127. Sierra Leone 

126. Haiti 

125. Tajikistan 

124. Sudan

123. Kenya

122. Cameroon

121. Myanmar

120. Uganda

119. Ethiopia

118. Macedonia

117. Congo (Kinshasa)

116. Azerbaijan

115. Iran

114. Djibouti

113. Palestinian Territories

112. Mauritania

111. India

110. Hungary

109. Laos

108. Bangladesh

107. Bosnia and Herzegovina

106. Serbia

105. Iraq

104. Tunisia

103. Zimbabwe

102. Mongolia

 101. Somaliland region

100. Swaziland

99. Morocco

98. Lesotho

97. Lebanon

96. South Africa

95. Dominican Rep

94. Mozambique

93. China

92. Philippines

91. Zambia

90. Romania

89. Kyrgyzstan

88. Latvia

87. Ukraine

86. Ghana

85. Portugal

84. Honduras

83. Kosovo

82. Nigeria

81. Pakistan

80. Montenegro

79. Bahrain

78. Libya

77. Turkey

76. Indonesia

75. Jamaica

74. Jordan

73. Algeria

72. Estonia

71. Lithuania

70. Greece

69. North Cyprus

68. Russia

67. Mauritius

66. Belarus

65. Nicaragua

64. Hong Kong

63. Vietnam

62. Albania

61. Angola

60. Uzbekistan

59. Turkmenistan

58. Croatia

57. Kazakhstan

56. Malaysia

55. Peru

54. Paraguay

53. Moldova

52. El Salvador

51. Poland

50. Bolivia

49. Ecuador

48. Malta

47. Guatemala

46. Slovakia

45. Italy

44. Slovenia

43. Japan

42. Taiwan

41. South Korea

40. Suriname

39. Czech Republic

38. Spain

37. Uruguay

36. Thailand

35. Colombia

34. Cyprus

33. Saudi Arabia

32. Kuwait

31. Trinidad and Tobago

30. Singapore

29. Argentina

28. Chile

27. Qatar

26. Germany

25. France

24. Brazil

23. Oman

22. United Kingdom

(21. Belgium

20. Venezuela

19. Luxembourg)

18. Ireland

17. United States

16. Mexico

15. Panama

14. United Arab Emirates

13. New Zealand

12. Costa Rica

11. Israel

10. Australia

9. Iceland

8. Austria

7. Finland

6. Canada

5. Sweden

4. Netherlands

3. Switzerland

2. Norway

1. Denmark

http://unsdsn.org/files/2013/09/WorldHappinessReport2013_online.pdf

Sunset at Montmajour

A new painting by the Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh (1853- 1890) has come to light.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which holds the largest collection of the artist's work, announced on Monday the discovery of a newly identified painting, a landscape titled "Sunset at Montmajour". It depicts a landscape in the vicinity of Arles in the south of France, where Van Gogh was working at that time. The museum attributed the painting to Van Gogh after "extensive research into style, technique, paint, canvas, the depiction, Van Gogh's letters and the provenance."

Starting September 24, it will appear in "Van Gogh At Work," an exhibition currently on show at the museum in Amsterdam.

Van Gogh achieved little recognition as an artist during his lifetime, but his reputation blossomed in the years after his suicide at the age of 37, following years of mental illness.

His works now hang in leading museums and galleries around the world.

In its statement, the Van Gogh Museum didn't divulge the full story behind the discovery of "Sunset at Montmajour," saying it would be published in the October edition of The Burlington Magazine, a fine art publication, and at the museum.

Louis van Tilborgh and Teio Meedendorp, two senior researchers at the museum, said the painting had belonged to the collection of van Gogh's younger brother, Theo, in 1890 and was sold in 1901.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/09/world/europe/netherlands-van-gogh-new-painting/index.html?sr=fb090913vangogh1030a

I am a great admirer of Van Gogh´s work. In 2010 I had the opportunity to visit “The Real Van Gogh- The Artist and His Letters” in the Royal Academy of Arts in London where I learned about his amazing writing skills. His correspondence, displayed next to his paintings, showed a remarkable ability to communicate ideas, feelings, art and life in an emotive language. What then surprised me most about the letters to his brother Theo was his ability to join his writing with tiny sketches of his work.

A more recent post: The Museum Quarter in Amsterdam

The Stories of Seven Royal Babies

The Royal Baby Book: A Souvenir Album is an official publication to celebrate the birth of Prince George who was born in London on 22nd July 2013.





It looks back at seven heirs to the throne from Queen Victoria to Prince George through items from the Royal Collection, the Royal Archives and the private collections of members of the Royal Family. 

It also includes unpublished images of the Queen from her childhood. The photographs were taken by her parents and show that the future Queen's love of horses began from an early age: Princess Elizabeth began to learn to ride in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace at the age of just three and a half, and was able to ride on her own by the time she was six.

To our firefighters

Eight Portuguese firefighters died this summer while serving our community, fighting against the numerous fires in the north of Portugal.

An hommage to firefighters in Linda-a- Velha

by Luís Cruz

I think we can´t thank firefighters enough for dedicating their lives to protecting our safety. The number of those that were caught by the fire is increasing every week. They were all very young and I can´t stop thinking of their families. They are indeed all heroes, although this is never enough consolation for all those that have suffered a loss.
Hopefully, in some way, we can prevent this from happening in the future.

My father worked as a volunteer firefighter before he got married in 1944. I can understand my mother’s concern with my father’s volunteer work.

Googling

1st day of school (2013 doodle)

15 years ago, Google, the American multinational corporation specializing in Internet-related services was founded by entrepreneurs Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were Ph.D students at Stanford university. 

Nowadays, even Waldo can be found…

Reference:

Embaixada dos EUA em Portugal ( facebook)

Douro in the World

 

The Douro Valley is shaped by the Douro River.

Between 4-10 September 2013 there will be a Douro ”Mission USA” to show this beautiful landscape, its history and the exceptional Port wines produced in this area that are known worldwide.

Porto Wine

Some enterprises of the region joined this initiative and will show 

the cheese and jam of this region.

I think it will be a success. With so many delicious products who can resist them? 

After the recent Harvard Design Prize to Metro do Porto, it will become very fashionable to know this region well.

Ronaldo, the only one

THE BEST!

in A BOLA 07 SET 2013

Harvard Design Prize for “Metro do Porto”

The Veronica Rudge Green Prize in Urban Design is a Harvard University - Department of the Graduate School of Design - award. This prize was established in 1986 on the occasion of the celebration of Harvard’s 350th and the GSD’s 50th anniversaries and to mark the visit of the Prince of Wales to Harvard and the GSD. The Prize is awarded every two years to recognize excellence in urban design projects during the previous ten years. Siza Vieira, a renowned Portuguese architect received the first award. 

On its 11th edition (September 2013) Eduardo Souto de Moura is awarded the prize as the coordinator of the project “Metro do Porto”. 

Award-winning projects are selected because they make an exemplary contribution to the public area of a city and improve the quality of life in that context.