Alligator at Florida supermarket

Employees at a supermarket in the southern U.S. state of Florida were forced to close their doors to a nearly two-meter-long alligator that had stopped in the store's entrance on Sunday morning, causing the automatic doors to open and close until they were locked.

Local police officers tried to attract the reptile away as customers gathered to watch and snap pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6TA3NjP6iI

The alligator eventually made its way to nearby woods. Officers searched the area but could not find the animal.

The Everglades National Park is home to 36 threatened or protected species including the alligator, the american crocodile.

http://www.voanews.com/

The most spectacular libraries in the world

University of Coimbra Library 

The newspaper, The Telegraph, showcased a list of the most speactacular libraries in the world.

 Mafra Palace Library

Portugal features twice in the list, with Coimbra coming first and Mafra fourth!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10382588/The-most-spectacular-libraries-in-the-world.html?frame=2705756

United Nations Stamps: Endangered Species

On 10 October 2013, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued a set of 12 stamps showing endangered species. The series was launched in 1993 to highlight the need for the protection of endangered species throughout the world. For this year's Endangered Species stamps the topic is the wonder of nocturnal animals.

The US$ 1.10 stamps show the following endangered species: 

Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus) 

Mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz) 

Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) 

Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

The artist is Fernando J.S. Correia from Portugal, a biologist who holds a MS degree in Animal Ecology and specialized in Illustration and Scientific Communication.

The € 0.70 stamps depict the following endangered species:
Banded civet (Hemigalus derbyanus)
Pharaoh eagle-owl (Bubo ascalaphus)
Greater slow loris (Nycticebus coucang)
Long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus spp.)

The artist is Emily S. Damstra from Canada, a natural science illustrator.

The F.s. 1.40 stamps depict the following endangered species:
Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii)
Potto (Perodicticus potto)
Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta)
Livingstone's flying fox (Pteropus livingstonii)

The artist is Sara Menon from Italy who has got an academic degree in Conservation of Cultural Heritage.

http://unstamps.un.org/unpa/en/products/Endangered_Species_2013/US_1.10/index.html

Make or do?

I have been grading tests since yesterday and realized some students still find it difficult to use the verbs make and do.

In fact these two words have very similar meanings besides the fact they are translated into Portuguese with the same word (fazer). It is often difficult to choose between them.

Do

However, we use do when we are talking about an activity without saying exactly what it is.

Do something!

I don´t know what to do.

What are you doing?

He likes doing nothing.

Do is isually the correct word when we are talking about work.

I dislike doing housework. I hate doing the cooking/ the shopping/the cleaning/ the washing up. I think I should get a maid to do all that.

Do is also used with the following expressions:

Do good/ harm/ business/ one´s best/ a favour.

Make

Make expresses the idea of creation and construction.

My mother has just made a delicious cake.

Let´s make a plan!

I always make my bed in the morning.

Make is also used with the following expressions:

Make an offer/ an arrangement / an attempt/ an effort/ an excuse/ an exception/ an impression

Make/ a mistake/ a noise/ a profit/ a speech / a suggestion/ a decision/ a claim/ a comment/ a promise/ a protest/ a start/ a success/ a change/ a point

Make love/ war/ peace/ progress

The internet provides many explanations and exercises. Try these:

Play the game

Exercises

Queen Mary´s Dolls´House

Queen Mary´s Dolls´House is probably the largest, most beautiful and most famous dolls’ house in the world. 

It is not a doll´s house in the usual meaning of the word, a children´s toy. Standing over 2 metres high, it is a replica of an aristocratic residence with salon, library, dining room, private apartments, servants’ rooms, kitchen, wine cellar, a garden and a garage full of vintage miniature limousines. Did you know that Queen Mary's Dolls' House has electricity, running water, working lifts and flushing lavatories?

It was created by the British architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, who was responsible for public memorials to the First World War, like the Cenotaph in Whitehall, and the British embassies in Washington and New Delhi. The house was built between 1921 and 1924 and was the star at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924, planed ”as an advertisement and celebration of the economic products of Britain and her colonies… to promote international trade and economic growth after the disruption of the war”.

The house was an idea of Princess Marie Louise, a grandchild of Queen Victoria and a childhood friend of Queen Mary, King George V´s wife who had a passion for miniature objects.

                                                 Queen Mary

The dining room with a beautiful table set for dinner 

and the library with amazing miniature books, and  the chimneypiece of white marble and lapis lazuli are the highlights of this exhibition you shouldn´t miss when you visit Windsor Castle.

Now you can explore it here.

References:

Windsor Castle Official guidebook. Royal Collection Publications, 2004

Queen Mary´s Dolls´House. Official guidebook. . Royal Collection Publications, 2006

The Paradise

I´ve been keenly watching the BBC TV show “The Paradise” (season 1, 9 episodes) based on Emile Zola´s novel Au Bonheur des Dames. The story is set in 1875 and portrays the daily lives of workers in the first English department store. It is not only quite entertaining with its contrasting characters, romantic storyline and the day to day drama of people who work closely together, but also quite interesting. Some recurrent topics include the prospect of local stores fighting to compete with a huge commercial enterprise, women in the workplace and the establishment of shopping as a modern pastime. 

If you miss those classical TV shows as “Pride and Prejudice” and “Persuasion” or enjoy modern tales as “Downton Abbey”, you will find “The Paradise” quite a delight as a period drama with intrigue and fun characters.

I could not have enough of it. When will the next season premiere? November?! Must I wait that long?

O PAIPA

Hoje, dia 16 de Outubro, comemora-se o Dia Mundial da Alimentação.

“Sistemas sustentáveis para a segurança alimentar e nutrição”, constitui o tema geral das comemorações do Dia Mundial da Alimentação, em 2013.

O “PAIPA – Projeto de Apoio à Intensificação da Produção Alimentar”, que se desenvolve na Guiné-Bissau graças à cooperação portuguesa tem presente, quer a necessidade de aumentar a produção de alimentos quer a sua variedade. Desse modo, apoia com o envolvimento direto dos habitantes locais a produção de arroz (base alimentar de toda a população guineense), utilizando processos e maquinaria moderna, como tratores, debulhadoras e descascadores. Incentiva também, com aconselhamento técnico, o desenvolvimento da horticultura (cebola, tomate, repolho, etc.), através da formação de cooperativas de mulheres.

Nas fotografias, tiradas no ano passado, vêem-se bem os jardins hortícolas de duas aldeias (tabankas) da região de Bafatá, onde o programa começou.

A produção de arroz aumentou muito significativamente, dando segurança alimentar às respetivas populações, assim como já foi possível ter excedentes resultantes da horticultura, sobretudo cebola, que permitiu a sua venda nos centros urbanos, dando um rendimento acrescido bastante importante para as mulheres agricultoras.

 Este ano o PAIPA já se estendeu para algumas zonas de Gabu, aí mais dedicado à produção das espécies de milho regionais. Sem qualquer dúvida a cooperação portuguesa através do PAIPA promove um projecto integrado e sustentável para a segurança alimentar e nutrição da Guiné-Bissau com plena participação das gentes guineenses.

World Food Day 2012

Entrevista ao nutricionista Dr Júlio de Castro Soares (2012)

https://www.facebook.com/PAIPA.DC

Alice Munro Won Nobel Prize in Literature

Photo: PETER MUHLY/AFP

The Canadian short-story writer, Alice Munro, won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature on October 10. Announcing the award in Stockholm, the Swedish Academy said that Ms. Munro, 82, who has written 14 story collections, was a “master of the contemporary short story.”

Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, issued a statement praising Ms. Munro as the first Canadian woman to win the Nobel in literature. “Canadians are enormously proud of this remarkable accomplishment, which is the culmination of a lifetime of brilliant writing,” he said.

You can read here:

THE BEAR CAME OVER THE MOUNTAIN (The New Yorker, 1999)

RUNAWAY (The New Yorker, 2003)

PASSION (The New Yorker, 2004)

THE VIEW FROM CASTLE ROCK (The New Yorker, 2005)

DEAR LIFE-A CHILDHOOD VISITATION. (the New Yorker, 2011)

ON “DEAR LIFE”: AN INTERVIEW WITH ALICE MUNRO (The New Yorker, 2012)



http://www.openculture.com/2013/10/read-14-short-stories-from-nobel-prize-winning-writer-alice-munro-free-online.html

James Galea's Unbelievable Trick

One of the top magicians in Australia, James Galea made his US television debut with some unbelievable magic.

A propósito de Angola

Fortaleza de S. Miguel, Luanda

Não fiquei nada surpreendida ao tomar conhecimento das recentes declarações do presidente de Angola, que se chama José Eduardo dos Santos e está na presidência, desde 1979, portanto há 34 anos, quase tanto tempo como Salazar. Angolanos que conheci tinham atitude idêntica, que me faz lembrar aqueles pobres e complexados novos-ricos, mal agradecidos.

Há que ter muita paciência com estas velhas táticas do senhor eng. Santos, o qual é formado em Baku, ex-república soviética do Azerbeijão, no tempo da União Soviética e aí ter aprendido e cultivado no partido e no estado as táticas comunistas. 

E veio-me à memória as fotografias, que reproduzo da Fortaleza de São Miguel de Luanda. Uma bela fortificação estrategicamente edificada no ano de 1634. Foi a primeira estrutura defensiva permanente construída na bela baía de Luanda. 

O interior da casamata estava revestido com paineis de azulejos, de azulejaria portuguesa do século XVIII, reproduzindo momentos históricos do século XV ao XIX, assim como a fauna e flora de Angola. Infelizmente foram vandalizados pelos angolanos e cubanos, após a independência e permaneciam no estado que se vê na fotografia, em 2006. Aliás, naquele ano, os únicos edifícios dignos visíveis ainda eram do tempo colonial. 

Tem que se mostrar alguma piedade perante um país que teve 13 anos de guerra colonial, finda a qual, em 1974, Angola era uma potência africana próspera e economicamente vibrante. Após 27 anos de guerra civil, entre 1975 e 2002 e 11 anos de paz, constata-se um país rico em recursos naturais, mas de gente muito pobre e que figura entre os mais corruptos de todo o mundo, conforme todas as fontes. Indiscutível, a esmagadora maioria da população de Angola pouco ou nada desfruta da riqueza, já hoje produzida, no país. E Luanda talvez ainda se pareça com os paineis de azulejos, esburacada, suja e agressiva. Assim, em vez de olhar para a sua própria terra… pois é, não admira que o presidente angolano procure uma escapatória e, claro está, a antiga potência colonial dá sempre jeito. Felizmente, Portugal tem quase novecentos anos de História e não são engenheiros formados na terra defunta soviética, que provocarão abalo. Talvez irritante pela tonta arrogância. Porém, trata-se de apenas mais um episódio.

No hotel em Luanda em 2006.

The Night Watch

Rembrandt van Rijin (1606-1669).Amsterdam archers under the command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, also known as “The Night Watch”. 1642. Canvas 379,5x453,5 cm

Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, reopened April 13 after an enormous 10-year rebuild.Watch the video to see a popular presentation to the public of the painting in a shopping centre.

The painting explained.

Christopher Columbus

    Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) was a Genoese navigator, explorer and colonizer. From the Portuguese, he learned about efficient travel in the Atlantic and the direction of the winds.

   When he proposed to King John II of Portugal to reach the Indies (comprising India, China, the East Indies and Japan) by sailing westward, his idea was rejected because Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese navigator, had recently returned with news of his successful trip to the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, from which an eastern route to Asia was now possible. Columbus, therefore, turned to the Spanish crown for support. 

    On August 3rd 1492, he left the port of Palos de la Frontera with a small fleet of three ships: Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta. Seven weeks later, on October 12, he landed in an island of the Bahamas, which he later called San Salvador. 

   Thinking he was in Asia, Columbus promptly named its inhabitants “indios”- Indians  - natives of the Indies. Afterwards, he made three more voyages, between 1494 and 1504, in which he made new and important discoveries, such as exploring more islands and the coast of mainland South America. Nevertheless, he never reached Asia, which was the original goal of his expeditions. 

   Columbus was married to Filipa Moniz Perestrelo. Her father, Bartolomeu Perestrelo, was the first governor of the island of Porto Santo in the Archipelago of Madeira. Columbus lived in this island and his first child, Diogo, was also born there. The house where he supposedly lived is now the House/Museum of Christopher Columbus.

     The anniversary of Christopher Columbus´ arrival in the Americas (on October 12, 1492) is celebrated in the USA as Columbus Day.

How Portugal became the first global sea power

Reference:

Grimberg, Carl. História Universal vol 9. Publicações Europa-América . Lisboa 1967

Nobel Prizes

Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel left U.S. $5,000,000 in his will to finance prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace. Nobel died on December 10, 1896. The prizes were first awarded in 1901 and have been awarded annually on the anniversary of his death. Each award consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a sum of money depending on the income of the foundation.

The Bank of Sweden inaugurated a new Nobel Prize for Economics in 1969 in Memory of Alfred Nobel.

In 1949, Egas Moniz was awarded the Nobel Prize of Medicine for his discovery of the therapeutic of leucotomy in certain psycoses.

In 1998 José Saramago was awarded the Nobel Prize of Literature for his parables sustained by imagination.

Don´t Spoil Your Children!

In https://www.facebook.com/9gag

October 9- World Post Day

On May 6, 1840, Britain issued the world's first postage stamp, the "Penny Black" featuring an engraving of Queen Victoria wearing King George IV´s State Diadem.

Read about World Post Day here.

Quinoa

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Full recipe is here!

Note: I was told you´d better mix the cheese with the other ingredientes instead of using it only on the top of each mushroom. 

It worked really well and was delicious! 

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has officially declared the year 2013 to be recognized as "The International Year of the Quinoa” due to its high nutritional value.

Try this recipe Quinoa Salad. It is delicious.

100th anniversary of Cambridge exams

2013 is the 100th anniversary of Cambridge English exams.

The first Cambridge English Proficiency exam was taken by three people in 1913. Now, over 4 million candidates a year take Cambridge English exams around the world . To celebrate the centenary there is a programme of events around the world and a new book, Cambridge English Exams - the first hundred years.

Watch here the Cambridge Centenary Conference (CCC) with presentations, slides and videos.

I thank the APPI for sharing the link above.

http://www.cambridge.org/pt/elt/teachers/?site_locale=pt_PT

Would you care for a sandwich?

The first sandwich is usually said to have been eaten by John Montagu (1718-1792), the 4th Earl of Sandwich. He often spent the entire day gambling, ordering his valet to bring to him meat between two slices of bread so that he could go on playing while he ate without getting the cards and his hands greasy. 

Although he was not the inventor, many people started ordering “the same as Sandwich”. In 1762 Edward Gibbon´s journal provided the first written record of the word sandwich.

Cucumber sandwiches are a classic afternoon tea recipe in England.

The club sandwich is made with three slices of toasted bread and two decks of filling held together by a hors d´oeuvre stick.

It is thought to be named after the double-decker club cars that came into use on American railways at the end of the 19th century.

The title of Earl of Sandwich is from the 17th century and is associated with Sandwich, Kent. The current earl was born in 1943 and is the 11th Earl of Sandwich.


Harrison, Ian (comp). The Book of Firsts. Readers´s Digest, 2003

The Simpsons- 25th season

The Simpsons returns to FOX this Sunday, October 6th. Creators of the long-running animated series say a regular character will be killed off this season.

Do you have any ideas as to who that might be?

http://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/02/a-simpsons-character-will-die-this-season-but-who/

Best Global Brands 2013

Apple replaced Coca-Cola as first among the 100 most valuable brands.

View the list here

International Day of Older Persons

October 1 is the International Day of Older Persons, a day to appreciate the contributions that older people have made to society.

By 2050, the number of older persons will be twice the number of children in developed countries. This trend will have profound effects on countries and individuals as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message.

Two songs about growing up and getting old (older)…

EXPO 98 foi há 15 anos

EXPO 98: Os Oceanos, Um Património Para o Futuro

A Expo 98 realizou-se há 15 anos- de 22 de maio a 30 de setembro de 1998 -para comemorar os 500 anos da chegada de Vasco da Gama à Índia. A zona oriental de Lisboa sofreu uma grande transformação. Foram construídos diversos pavilhões para acolher exposições dos diversos países participantes alguns dos quais servem agora a população no atual Parque das Nações.

A case of resemblance

 Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia

 King George V of the United Kingdom

The resemblance between King George V and Tsar Nicholas II was so remarkable that numerous instances of mistaken identity occured. Probably the worst was at the wedding of the then Prince of Wales to Mary of Teck in 1893. At the reception Prince George was mistaken by one of the guests who asked him if he had come to London on business or simply for the wedding. Prince George replied that as it was his wedding he felt he should attend.

Tsar Nicholas II, who was murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1917, and King George V were both first cousins. No wonder Prince Philip said in 1967:

“I’d like to go to Russia very much – although the bastards murdered half my family.” 

Regan, Geoffrey. The Guinness Book of Royal Blunders. London 1995

Idioms as easy as ABC...

idiom (n): an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.

How many do you know?


as easy as ABC

- very easy

Learning how to use a computer is as easy as ABC for children.



cut class

- to not go to class

I decided to cut class in order to study for my geography test.



eager beaver

- someone who works very hard and is very enthusiastic

The young girl is an eager beaver and always comes to class before the other students.



fill in the blanks

- to supply the missing informaton about a situation.

I didn’t know what had happened at the party but Susan filled in the blanks for me.



have one's nose in a book

- to be reading a book

The boy loves to read and always has his nose in a book.



hit the books

- to begin to study hard

After relaxing all weekend I hit the books on Sunday evening.



learn (something) by heart

- to memorize something so that you can repeat it without thinking

The children learned all of the songs by heart for the school play.



pass with flying colours

- to pass something easily and with a high score

I was able to pass the science test with flying colours.



school of hard knocks

- the experience of learning about life through difficult experiences.

The girl left school at sisteen and began to learn about life at the school of hard knocks.



teacher's pet

- the teacher's favourite student

My sister was always the teacher's pet .

© Clever Pants 2012

www.clever-pants.com

The Library of Congress Web site

In the Library of Congress Web site…

You can read about "Amazing Americans" or visit "Join America at Play”, where you'll see a film of an early break-dancer from 1898.

"Jump Back in Time" and find what happened on the day you were born.

Click on "Explore the States," where you'll find fascinating facts and stories about all the states.

If you've ever wondered what the first cartoons looked like, then click on "See, Hear and Sing."

I hope you will find this Web site entertaining, fun to use and that you will learn something from it. I thank the Embassy of the USA in Portugal for sharing it.

Explore the Library of Congress Web site

A new James Bond novel

Solo is a James Bond continuation novel written by William Boyd, who carefully researched Ian Fleming´s novels. It was published on 26 September 2013.

Who is James Bond?

The book keeps on featuring impressive hotels like the opening scene in The Dorchester Hotel in London. Here are some of the most memorable:

10 hotels featured in James Bond movies

Prince George´s christening

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have just announced the christening of Prince George will take place on Wednesday, 23rd October at The Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace. Prince George will be christened by The Archbishop of Canterbury.

Chapel Royal: The Queen`s Golden Jubilee Window (2002)

One of the Chapel's most notable organists and composers was George Frederick Handel, who was appointed by George II. Handel composed the great anthem 'Zadok the Priest' for the coronation of George II in 1727 and it has been used at every coronation since. It is also sung each year at the Royal Maundy service in which the Queen distributes Maundy money. 

Queen Victoria was married in the Chapel, and her marriage certificate, hand-written by the Archbishop of Canterbury and signed by both bride and groom, hangs on the wall in the vestry.

In 1997, the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales lay before the altar where her family and friends could pay their respects in private, before the Princess's funeral in Westminster Abbey.

The Chapel Royal is not open to the public except for services.

World Tourism Day

A FNAPLV e o Dia Europeu das Línguas

A Federação Nacional das Associações de Professores de Línguas Vivas (FNAPLV) escreveu um texto para celebrar a data do DEL 2013. 

Texto da FNAPLV